Say Hello the Newest Member of Our Family

  • Post category:Holidays / School
  • Reading time:5 mins read

Our New Addition

Well, we did something that we have been talking about for years. We finally got a dog! I’d like to introduce you to the newest member of our family, Maggie Mae.

 

A medium‑sized dog with a shaggy light‑brown coat stands indoors on a wooden floor. The fur around its ears and muzzle is darker, and the dog looks toward the camera with light‑colored eyes and its mouth slightly open, showing teeth. Red carpet sections sit nearby, and the background includes a wooden cabinet and a floor vent. The scene has a cozy, lived‑in home feel.
Say hello to Maggie Mae

 

She was found as a stray in Alabama and transported up here by a local dog rescue. They think she is about five years old and a sheepdog/terrier mix. One of our main concerns about getting a dog was how she would react to James, and all of the noises his machines make. We arranged for her foster mom to bring her over to see, and she passed the test with flying colors. She didn’t pay much attention to James and suctioning James and making his pulse ox beep didn’t faze her at all.

Before we adopted her, they told us that she was heartworm positive and that the rescue was going to pay for the treatment so we wouldn’t have to worry about it. She received her first injection to start killing the worms today. I think there is a series of three injections she will need, spaced a month apart. Please say a few prayers for quick and full recovery.

 

James lies under a colorful Captain America blanket on the floor, wearing a red‑and‑gray striped shirt and resting his head on a white cloth. A brown dog lies beside them on the same blanket, close and relaxed. Nearby are medical supplies, including a suction machine with tubing. The room has a carpeted floor, a wooden desk, a bookshelf, and various household items like books, cleaning supplies, and a laptop. The scene shows a calm home environment with the dog staying close to James.
Maggie keeping James company

 

 

School

A collage sits on a wooden background with playful doodles and the words “Back To School” at the top. The left photo shows James in a wheelchair covered with a colorful blanket decorated with cartoon bandages and hearts. He holds a sign that says “FIRST DAY OF 16th Grade.” Behind him stands his nurse wearing dark clothing and a black face mask, carrying a blue water bottle and a bag. A window in the background has a sign that reads “Oxygen in use.” The right photo shows a yellow school bus seen through a window screen. In the bottom corner of the collage, the words “Fresh Start” appear.
First day of hybrid 6th grade

 

Although the school went to a hybrid format at the beginning of the school year, where the kids go to school two days a week and do remote learning the other three days, James was unable to go to school until the school district found a one-on-one nurse for him. After six weeks of being completely remote, they finally found one, and he got back into the classroom on October 5th. He will be in school for about half a day on Mondays and Tuesdays and then be remote the rest of the week.

That first day back in the classroom was very rough on him. He was not doing well at all when he got off the bus after school. His heart rate was around 150 beats per minute and his 02 sats were in high 70s/low 80s.

 

James lies on his cushioned recliner with a nasal oxygen tube in place. At the top of the image, a sticker reads “FEELING WORRIED” alongside a worried‑face emoji. Near the bottom, another sticker shows a sad cloud with tears. The scene has a quiet, medical‑care atmosphere.
Rough first day back in the classroom

 

Stacy did her thing and about an hour and a half later, things were mostly back to normal, he was content, and sleeping. We think it was a number of things that contributed to his “episode” when he got home. He had been out of school for about six months, so he probably wasn’t used to all of the “moving and shaking”. He had a very busy schedule and didn’t get a chance to get tummy time before he came home. That’s one of the things he needs to help drain his secretions. And he had a new nurse that hadn’t dealt with all of James’ needs.

He got a good night’s sleep and was ready to get back to school Tuesday morning. His schedule wasn’t as busy, so he had a much better day. After he got home from school, we had to go on a nature walk for an assignment for his science class. Good thing his slippers didn’t scare away any of the plants!

 

James sits outdoors in his stroller with a red and black frame on a concrete surface near a building. He wears sunglasses, a red neck pillow, and a light‑colored shirt with visible text that says “I’M A FUNGI.” A white blanket with a yellow cartoon pattern covers their lower body, and blue slippers shaped like dragons or monsters are on his feet. The chair appears designed for comfort and support in an accessible outdoor setting.
Went on a nature walk after school for a homework assignment

 

It was just that first day of going back to school that was rough on him. He’s been fine ever since.

For the most part, Maggie is a pretty low-key dog, which is good because she isn’t supposed to get her heart elevated while she has heartworms. She doesn’t pay too much attention to James and couldn’t care less about his virtual classes…until this past Thursday. James had a virtual music class and they had to use wooden spoons as drumsticks. All of a sudden Maggie was interested in what James was doing. It took us a few minutes to figure out why. She is on a special diet while she is fighting the heartworms and Stacy uses a wooden spoon to mix her dinner. We think she thought that one of those spoons was her dinner spoon and was going to get dinner soon. Sorry Maggie, you have to wait a little bit.

 

James, sitting in his wheelchar with a headrest is being assisted by Stacy wearing a bright pink top. Stacy helps position two drumsticks in James' hands. In front of them, a brown‑and‑white dog sits attentively, looking up toward James. The background shows a home setting with furniture, a cardboard box, and shelves. The scene captures a calm interaction involving support, engagement, and the dog’s focused presence.
Virtual music class

 

 

Halloween

For Halloween this year James was an FBI agent. Since Halloween was on Friday, which was one of his remote learning days, he was able to wear his costume to school on that Tuesday before Halloween. His nurse was his prisoner. Her mask works well with the costume. Kind of reminds me of Silence of the Lambs.

 

James and his nurse are dressed in themed costumes inside a colorful classroom. James sits in a wheelchair wearing a black vest labeled “FBI” and a matching black cap. Beside him stands his nurse in an orange jumpsuit and a black face mask, resembling a prisoner costume. The background includes bright floor mats, shelves filled with books, and a bulletin board decorated with educational materials. The scene has a playful, themed‑event feel.
James was a FBI agent, and his one-on-one nurse was his prisoner for Halloween

 

On Friday, which was actually Halloween, they had a virtual Halloween party. Maggie played the part of his prisoner this time. She does look a bit guilty, doesn’t she?

 

A Halloween‑themed collage features two photos decorated with orange starbursts, a jack‑o’‑lantern graphic, and a cartoon ghost with the text “HAPPY SPOOKY SEASON! boo.” In one photo, a dog wears a black‑and‑white striped outfit labeled “PRISONER.” In the other, James wears an FBI hat and a black shirt with “FBI” printed on it, along with a plush dog toy draped around his neck. Another text overlay reads “i love halloween.” The collage has a playful, Halloween vibe.
James, the FBI agent, and Maggie, the prisoner for Halloween

 

 

Epilepsy Awareness Month

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month. As usual, Stacy will be posting daily facts about epilepsy on James’ Facebook page. I, in turn, will take those daily facts and create two blog posts. The first one I’ll plan to post on the 15th and will include the daily facts from days 1 through 15. On the 30th I will post the remainder of the daily facts.