Mini Vacation and Other Stuff

This is going to be another one of the shorter posts. Other than our little mini vacation earlier this week, it’s been rather quiet around here. As you’ll see in some of the pictures I’ll include below, the swelling from James’ surgery is pretty much completely gone now.

 

Mini Vacation

Inside a van, Stacy, Jeff and James ride together. Stacy is partially visible wearing sunglasses, while the driver, Jeff, also in sunglasses, wears a blue shirt with red and white lettering. In the back seat, James in a red car seat wears sunglasses and appears to be asleep with their head tilted back. A patterned curtain or sunshade covers the window behind them, giving the scene a casual, on‑the‑road family feel.
Off to a short getaway

 

Sunday through Tuesday we took our annual trip up to Wisconsin with my mom’s side of the family. For 40+ years it was an Easter weekend tradition, but with some of the kids off at college now, most of them couldn’t make it so we changed it to summer. For the most part it was a good weekend.

 

A tall water tower rises against a deep blue evening sky, its cylindrical tank lit from within and displaying the words “LAKE LAWN” in bright white letters. Metal beams and braces support the structure, creating a strong silhouette. In the foreground, James looks upward toward the tower, with part of his red neck pillow near his face, giving the scene a sense of scale and quiet nighttime atmosphere.
Water tower at the resort

 

Stacy’s one big complaint with travelling with James is the sleeping in the same room with him. If the air in the hotel room is too dry, James is very snorty (if that’s a word). If it’s too moist, he is really juicy. Either way, Stacy doesn’t get much sleep. I, on the other hand, sleep like a baby no matter what.

This time the hotel was on the dry side, which meant that James was dry, and his breathing was noisy…almost like he was snoring. Fortunately, there is a 24-hour Walmart down the road from the resort we were at, so I ran out at about 1 am Monday morning and bought a small travel diffuser to try to moisten the air a bit in the hotel room. I think it helped. We were able to get a few hours of sleep before we had to get up, get James his breakfast and meds, and start our day.

Here’s a pic of James watching cartoons on Stacy’s phone while we had lunch on Monday. You can really see how much the swelling in his face has gone down. If you need a reminder on how swollen his face was after his salivary gland removal surgery, look back at that post. You may notice some redness around his eye in the picture below. We have no idea why, but it went away on its own later in the day.

 

James sits in a stroller-style wheelchair with padded head and neck supports. A smartphone in a purple case is mounted on a flexible arm positioned in front of him. James' expression is calm, and the setting appears to be indoors with wooden furniture and tiled flooring in the background, capturing a moment of assistive technology set up for comfort and interaction.
Watching cartoons on Mommy’s phone during lunch

 

Monday night we went down to the indoor pool at the resort and there was nobody there. We had the entire pool to ourselves!

 

An indoor swimming pool glows with clear blue water. Near a tiled column in the center, Stacy supports James in the water, both partially submerged. The pool deck around them has wooden furniture, a ladder, and a stone fireplace in the background. White ceiling beams and bright overhead lights give the space a warm, inviting feel, capturing a calm moment of shared time in the water.
We had the indoor pool all to ourselves

 

New Wheelchair Finally Arrived

James finally got his new wheelchair. It was ordered in February…five months ago! We understand that the seating portion of the wheelchair is customized for James, but should it really take five months?! It would be different if he was an adult, but James is a kid and is continuing to grow. How much has he grown in these past five months and how long can we expect him to be able to use it before he outgrows it?

It is a Quickie Iris, which is a nice wheelchair and probably cost a nice chunk of money—I don’t know how much because insurance covered it—but I feel like we’re getting jipped out of 5 months of usage. Is it normal to take this long to order and receive a wheelchair?

 

James sits in a supportive wheelchair with padded sides, a headrest, and secure straps, wearing a striped outfit, black shoes, and white socks. The chair is positioned in a living room with a carpeted floor and a colorful rug. Behind James, a television plays a cartoon, and a wooden entertainment unit holds books, framed photos, and electronic devices, creating a warm, everyday home setting around the adaptive equipment.
Testing out his new wheelchair

 

James sits in a supportive wheelchair with head padding, torso straps, and leg supports, wearing a black‑and‑white striped outfit. The chair’s footrests hold his feet in place, and the sturdy frame surrounds him. Behind the chair is a wooden entertainment center with papers, a binder, and electronic equipment, including a television and a soundbar.
Testing out his new wheelchair

 

A close‑up of a red metallic wheelchair frame shows the model name “QUICKIE IRIS” printed along the side. The frame rests on a carpeted floor, with part of a wooden cabinet and other furniture visible in the background. The angle highlights the sturdy construction and branding of the adaptive equipment.

 

A close‑up of a wheelchair’s lower frame shows red and black metal tubing, a flat black tray for storing medical equipment, and part of a large rear wheel with a gray tire. Hinges and support brackets are visible around the seat area, highlighting the mechanical structure and adjustability of the chair.
It has a tray in the back for his suction machine

 

Epilepsy Warriors Foundation Fundraiser

James is one of the Faces of Epilepsy for the Epilepsy Warriors Foundation and there is a fundraiser coming up in February if anyone local to Chicago is interested. We don’t know any of the details yet other than what’s on this flyer. I’ll have to post an update when we know more.

 

A decorative “Save the Date” announcement features a mint and peach color palette with scattered gold dots. The text promotes a fashion show and luncheon scheduled for February 11, 2017, at Riverside Receptions & Conference Center in Geneva, Illinois. It notes that proceeds support the Epilepsy Warriors Foundation and lists multiple Warrior Ambassador Families, including Jeff and Stacy Fulkerson. The bottom credits Glancer Magazine as the sponsor, giving the design a polished, celebratory feel tied to advocacy and community fundraising.

 

 

Lunch and Coffee Date

Stacy and James went out for lunch with another mom of a special need child on Thursday and then out for coffee on Friday morning with James’ “girlfriend” and her mom.

 

James sits on a dark couch, leaning against Stacy in a bright green shirt. James wears a gray T‑shirt with characters from the movie Cars, including Lightning McQueen, and has short brown hair. His mouth is slightly open and eyes partly closed, giving the moment a relaxed, resting feel. A teal‑and‑white patterned bag sits beside them.
Out for Coffee