Summer Vacation Trip

We went to Rockford this past week and Aidan had a blast! He got to:

• Ride a trolley
• Blow the trolley whistle and ring its bell
• Climb on and around trains at the Illinois Railway Museum
• Visit his Great Grandparents
• Drive Great Grandma's scooter
• Ride an airplane
• FLY an airplane
• Ride on a boat
• Jump off a boat and swim in the middle of the lake
• Drive a boat
• Ride a four wheeler
• Ride in a canoe
• Paddle a canoe
• Light fireworks
• Roast marshmallows

Wow! What a week! It was a wonderful visit with Poppa, Grandma Holly, Auntie Arian, Auntie Mimi, Uncle Chris, and his many cousins (Autumn, Cody, Dani & Addy). He was super great for the 11 hour ride up and the 11 hour ride back, plus all the in between trips here and there.

We did have a couple of close calls as far as his autism. At the train museum he got super hungry and overstimulated and tired, and almost had a meltdown before we were able to get him food. Also, he had ice cream twice in one day and the dairy affected his behavior quite a bit – have to plan better next time! The only other really close call was the last day, visiting Great Grandma and Great Grandpa at their apartment. Aidan was at the end of his rope, tired and overstimulated and homesick. He started pushing and pulling and spinning Poppa's chair and after many times of being asked to stop, I asked him to come with me to the hall so we could talk. Aidan ran away and went in Great Grandpa's office where he proceeded to have a mini-meltdown (aggressive, stiff, arching his back, growling, nonverbal). We got him calmed down, gave hugs and left. Otherwise, it was an all in all awesome trip! Hopefully we can do it again soon. I know Aidan had a blast!

Mommy's Vacation

So we left Aidan with Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw Saturday afternoon and took off to Atlanta for the weekend, and ultimately the Tool concert on Monday night. It was nice to be able to get away and have some time for just me and Jeremy with no schedule, and no worries. We got to go to the aquarium, Ikea, and the zoo, and we also ate at a yummy Meditteranean restauarant downtown.

Sunday afternoon Aidan called (via Maw-Maw) because he had crashed his bike and needed his mommy. I talked to him for a little while and he told me what had happened and to come home and I explained that Jeremy and I had been at the aquarium and wouldn't be home for a few more days because we still wanted to go to the zoo. He wanted to go too, but I explained he couldn't because we were far away and only mommy and Jeremy were going this time, but he could go next time.

Monday Maw-Maw said he was really missing me. She said he asked where I was, and she laughed and said he knew I was in Atlanta. Then he corrected his question, pointed at a picture of me and asked if that was Mommy. Then another of me in high school (Maw-Maw confirmed it was me), then one when I was around 2 (again Maw-Maw confirmed), lastly one of me as a newborn (which Maw-Maw confirmed). Then he said okay and walked away. As if he wanted to confirm I was real. Strange how his little mind works.

One thing I really noticed through having so much phone conversation with him (I called and talked to him this afternoon when we headed home) is that he is SOOO much easier to understand now than he was not even a year ago. I think it's mostly because we spend so much time and effort talking with him - not just talking at him, but forcing him to have a conversation with us, and correcting him when he says something wrong, or asking for clarification when he says something we don't understand. I'm so proud of the progress he's made.

And it was great to have a vacation too. Now I just need a vacation from my vacation...

Aidan's Rocket Adventure

Aidan went to the Space and Rocket Center today with his Maw-Maw, Paw-Paw, Great-Grandma, Great-Grandpa, and Uncle Matt. I worried about him - I won't lie. I know how he reacts to loud places and lots of people. Besides - the place is boring if you ask me! But he did great according to Maw-Maw. He had his difficult moments of course, but we've been working with him, giving him tools to cope with his difficulties. Impatience was an issue, but that's obviously a normal 5 year old issue. On the other hand, he really wasn't sure about the Davidson Center (this is where the house the gigantic Saturn V rocket that took us to the moon). Every so often someone would push the button and the sound of the rocket launch would echo through the massive building. Apparently once he was able to push the button himself he handled things a bit better.

What did surprise me was his enjoyment of the Mars ride. Again his tools helped him. Mom told him how it would sound and feel (to the best of her ability). She let him talk to some older kids who had already ridden it, and they assured him it was fun and were nice enough to let him go ahead of them so he could see the ride from the outside. It's one of those where you get in and the box just rocks around a whole lot but you have a big screen inside that makes you feel like a whole lot more is going on - sort of virtual reality I guess. Then the facilitator showed Aidan where the button was to stop the ride if he needed to get off (or anyone else did for that matter) and the ride started. At first he might have been a little scared, but he had a blast overall. And I'm glad.

This weekend he gets to stay with Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw while Jeremy and I go to Atlanta for a much needed vacation. He'll be staying with them for 3 nights. I know he'll be fine - and so will I! See you when we get back!