Mini Vacation
We went on a mini getaway over Easter weekend, which was the first time we had gotten away since we went to a wedding in 2021. For that trip we boarded Maggie at a doggy day care that she had gone to a couple of times and ended up coming home with kennel cough. We didn’t want to put her through that again, so we found a hotel that allowed dogs for an extra fee and brought her with us. Unfortunately, it rained most of the weekend so we couldn’t get out and do much. Maggie was also pretty stressed by being in a new environment, so it wasn’t the greatest of vacations, but we survived.
If we were to take another vacation with the dog, we’d either need a bigger van, or need to figure out a better way to haul all our stuff and be comfortable inside the van. Our kids have so much stuff! James travels with his Nap Nanny, percussion vest, oxygen concentrator, oxygen tank, tabletop suction machine, formula, meds, diapers, and clothes. Maggie has her bed, food, and treats. Stacy and I pack pretty light and only need one duffel bag each.
We have a rooftop cargo carrier that I was able to squeeze Maggie’s bed, James’ Nap Nanny, and a couple of duffel bags into. Everything else needed to go inside the van. It’s kind of like playing Tetris, trying to get everything to fit while leaving room for all of us to sit comfortably. Hopefully our next van will either be a little bigger or have the option to put a trailer hitch on it, which would give us the ability to add a second cargo carrier—or a trailer—for all our kids’ stuff.
After we got home from our trip on Sunday morning, we unpacked, relaxed for a little bit, and went to Easter dinner with family.
Birthday Party
A couple of weeks ago we attended a birthday party for another boy with special needs at Dave & Busters. Hold on a sec. It was his 18th birthday, so that make him a man with special needs, wouldn’t it? This brings up an interesting question. When someone turns 18, they are considered an adult, right? But what about those with an intellectual disability? Are they still considered an adult even though their mental age is that of a minor?
Anyway…it was a pretty awesome party. They rented out a huge room; had a buffet set up in another room; candy and cookies and cupcakes; a DJ; a face painter; a balloon artist; and each guest got a t-shirt and a card preloaded with money to play games. I’m not even going to try to estimate how much they spent on the party, but it had to be pretty expensive.
We’ve always had large gatherings for James’ birthdays for two reasons. With his significant medical issues, we don’t know how long he will be with us, so each year is a celebration of survival. We also use James’ birthday parties as a way to say thank you to family and friends who have been there for us and supported us as we somewhat blindly navigate our way through raising a medically complicated kid. None of our parties thus far have come even remotely close to the size (and expense) of the party we just went to. Stacy and I briefly discussed what we should do for James’ 18th birthday, but then we quickly shifted our conversation to his 15th birthday which is just six months away. We have another three and a half years before he turns 18. Let’s not rush the kid.
Here are a few pictures from the party:
