Mini Vacation and a Birthday Party

  • Post category:Holidays / Vacation
  • Reading time:4 mins read

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.

 

A black door hanger hangs from a silver door handle. It shows a white silhouette of a dog above the words “Doggy on vacation in this room,” with “The Ridge” printed at the bottom. The hanger stands out against the smooth metal handle, giving a simple, playful notice that a pet is staying inside.
Doggy on Vacation in This Room

 

A hotel room with brown carpeting and two beds sits quietly in soft lamp light. Jeff and James lie on one of the beds. The other bed is empty but has a few items placed on top. A large brown dog lies stretched out on the floor between the beds. A duffel bag sits near the corner of the room, and a folded blanket or sheet rests on the carpet in the foreground. Dark curtains cover the window, giving the space a cozy, settled‑in feeling.
Watching cartoons

 

James rests on on his cushioned recliner on the floor, supported by patterned pillows and blankets. Medical equipment, including a suction machine with tubing, sits nearby within easy reach. Maggie, a light brown dog, lies on the carpet beside him, facing the camera and staying close. The room has a bed and household items in the background, giving the scene a quiet, home‑based caregiving feel with the dog keeping watch.
Maggie and James

 

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.

 

Inside a van, James sits in his wheelchair in the middle row, wearing sunglasses and covered with a plaid blanket. Stacy sits next to him in a purple hoodie with a white logo and glasses. Maggie sits in the far back seat, and Jeff is partially visible in the driver's seat, holding the camera. Bags and equipment are tucked into the back of the vehicle, giving the scene a candid, on‑the‑road feeling with everyone traveling together.
Packed up and ready to head back home

 

After we got home from our trip on Sunday morning, we unpacked, relaxed for a little bit, and went to Easter dinner with family.

 

A pastel pink Easter‑themed background decorated with flowers, eggs, and a small bunny frames two photos of James lying on on his cushioned recliner on the carpet. In both images he wears a blue checkered shirt and jeans. The left photo shows a close‑up of his face and upper body, while the right shows him stretched out full‑length. The collage is topped with the words “Happy Easter,” giving the whole layout a soft, holiday greeting feel.

 

 

 

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:

 

A birthday table is decorated in a superhero theme with bright colors and comic‑style accents. At the center sits a rectangular cake bordered in red and blue icing, topped with cartoon superhero figures and the words “Happy Birthday Dalian.” Around it are cupcakes with superhero toppers, cookies, candies, and chocolate bars. Blue lights glow across the table, and signs with words like “Wow!” and “Boom!” add to the festive, comic‑book look.
Cake, cupcakes, and candy

 

James sits in his wheelchair wearing orange sunglasses and a white shirt with a colorful superhero‑style logo — a large red and yellow “D” inside a blue shield with the word “Dalian” above it. Someone leans in to paint a small hexagon outlined in red and filled with orange on his cheek using a thin brush. Other people are visible in the background, one holding a phone that shows the same superhero logo. The scene feels lively and themed, like part of a fun superhero event.
Getting his face painted

 

A person wearing glasses, a white T‑shirt with a colorful “Dalian's Birthday” design, and a Bobo name tag twists two long balloons — one green, one brown — shaping them into a balloon creation. Another person stands in the background near a counter, and a TV screen shows a bright scene with people on it. A pair of white sneakers with red accents sits on top of a black suitcase or bag on the floor. The setting feels like an indoor celebration or party space with activity happening around the balloon‑making.
Balloon artist making James a monkey climbing a tree out of balloons

 

James sits in his wheelchair wearing orange sunglasses and a white T‑shirt with a colorful superhero‑style “D” emblem and birthday graphics. A patterned neck pillow rests behind his head, and a large green balloon sculpture rises up from the headrest. The background wall repeats the word “Chicago” in bold lettering. The scene feels festive and themed, capturing a bright moment from a birthday celebration.

 

An arcade machine themed around Despicable Me glows with bright lights and animated Minion graphics. The top reads “Despicable Me Jelly Lab” with a digital display showing a large bonus amount. Signs on the machine explain how to collect cards for extra rewards. The lower section has controls, ticket counters, and labeled slots for dropping or swiping cards. Stacy and James are in front of the machine, interacting with it amid the colorful arcade atmosphere.
Playing a game with Mommy

 

Stacy and James play a carnival‑style arcade game called “Carnival Classics,” standing at a brightly lit booth with a red‑and‑white striped canopy. Rows of clown heads glow inside the game as one player tosses balls toward them. A scoreboard shows a score of 20, and a sign near the play area reads “Double Points!” Decorative carnival phrases like “Step Right Up!” add to the colorful, energetic feel of the arcade.
Watching mommy playing a game