New Swing, a Mini Vacation, and a Pool Party

  • Post category:House / Vacation
  • Reading time:3 mins read

New Swing

After the pergola was built, we had been talking about how nice it would be to attach a swing to it for James. Back in June we tested out a swing that we bought.

 

James sitting in a blue hammock‑style swing suspended from a wooden pergola, wearing a striped outfit and white socks. Stacy and her dad stand on either side—one in an orange shirt and jeans, the other in a red shirt and dark pants—with a patio table, chairs, stroller, and covered grill visible behind them in the backyard setting.
The swing we tested out in June

 

Unfortunately, this didn’t work out to well for James. It was a bit difficult to get him in and out of, and he just seemed uncomfortable in it. Stacy’s dad put his thinking cap on and designed and built a new swing for James. James had received a platform swing through early intervention (EI) that he used as a base for the new and improved swing. I’m not sure if this is the same manufacturer, but the platform swing is similar to this:

https://www.southpaw.com/platform-swing/

He then found a piece of wood that fit between the ropes and was long enough for James to lay on. And of course, because he owns a carpet store, he added carpet pad and carpet to the top of the board to make it more comfortable. Here is the finished product:

 

James lying on his belly on a suspended platform swing outdoors, wearing a red T‑shirt, dark shorts, and white socks, with a small pillow under the head. An adult in a blue shirt and black pants sits nearby supervising, with a patio, grassy yard, and decorative metal animals visible in the background.
New tummy time swing

 

We think it turned out really good and will work well for James. He was a bit upset at first, but quickly calmed down and seemed to enjoy it. I think we’ll get lots of use out of this swing. Thanks dad!

Here is a video that Stacy took of James using the new swing for the first time:

 

 

Mini Vacation

We had our annual get together with my mom’s side of the family at Lake Lawn Resort a couple of weeks ago. We used to get together every Easter, but with some of the kids off at college and in sports, it was hard for them to get away Easter weekend, so this year we decided to go to Lake Lawn in the summer when the kids were out of school. We left last Sunday, made our usual stop at Anderson’s Candy Shop in Richmond, Illinois for some of their awesome chocolates, and spent Sunday and Monday nights at Lake Lawn before heading home on Tuesday.

A major storm blew through Sunday night that brought down lots of trees, but fortunately, it didn’t look like the resort suffered any damage.

 

Large tree fallen across a grassy yard, with broken branches and leaves scattered around the trunk. Several orange safety cones mark the area, a buillding at Lake Lawn Resort with a light roof sits behind the debris, surrounded by standing trees and green foliage.
Large tree down after the storm Sunday night

 

Monday night they had a bonfire and provided all of the ingredients to make s’mores.

 

Evening gathering around a circular fire pit by the water, with several people seated in wooden chairs as flames glow against the stone patio. James in a stroller with a blanket draped over him sits in the foreground, and lights along the dock and distant buildings reflect across the water.
Enjoying the bonfire and s’mores on Monday night

 

Because James doesn’t close his mouth, we decided to put a medical mask on him to keep him from inhaling any bugs or smoke from the bonfire.

 

James sitting in a stroller at night, wearing glasses and a white face mask, with a brown‑and‑red neck pillow patterned with small shapes. The stroller canopy is partially extended, and a dim light illuminates the seat while a person in beige shorts and white socks stands nearby in the background.
Wearing a mask to keep bugs and smoke out of his mouth

 

We finished off the evening sitting by the lake. We didn’t stay long. The sound of water rolling into the retaining wall was really soothing and was putting us to sleep. If you can’t tell, James was already passed out.

 

Stacy and James outdoors at night, Stacy sitting and looking toward the camera while James rests in a stroller with a “Special Tomato” canopy, wearing glasses and supported by a patterned neck pillow. The background is dark, suggesting a quiet moment near open water.
Sitting by the lake

 

 

Pool Party

Ever since James came home from the NICU he has had palliative care. The organization that provides his palliative care hosted a pool party yesterday that we went to. He was a bit upset when we first got him in the water, but he eventually calmed down and relaxed.

 

Stacy in a red swimsuit with white polka dots supporting James wearing a green‑and‑white flotation vest in a swimming pool, with two children playing in the water in the background during a recreational or therapeutic swim session.
James was a little bit upset when we first got him in the water

 

Stacy in a red swimsuit with white polka dots holding James in a green‑and‑white life jacket and gray shirt, supporting them in the clear blue water of a swimming pool with lane markings visible on the bottom.
He eventually calmed down and relaxed

 

Stacy and Jeff sitting on white lounge chairs near a pool fence: Stacy in a red swimsuit with white polka dots holding James wrapped in a pink and yellow hooded towel, while Jeff in blue floral swim trunks sits beside them looking toward James. Bags and towels rest on nearby chairs, with trees and a road visible beyond the fence.
Drying off after our swim

 

Bathroom Renovation is Complete!

I am happy to report that the bathroom renovation is complete. It turned out so nice that I think it deserves its own post. I will start to get the pictures together and try to have it posted next weekend. But for now, it’s late, I have to be at work in the morning, and I need to get some sleep.