Hello everyone! It is a super rainy day here today – and I had to get up and out of the house early this morning for a mammogram, of all things! I was there at the office at 7:45 am, before I even had a cup of coffee. But now I am back home, my coffee and my kid are next to me, and we are going to be pretty lazy today. We have a late night birthday party for his little cousin Penguin girl. We don’t get to see Penguin girl or her sister as much as we would like, just conflicting schedules etc but we are excited to help celebrate her birthday tonight.
We took this past week off and it was a much needed refresh. Wyatt has been working so hard at both school and therapy and I felt he deserved some time off. We celebrated the eclipse in our own little way last Monday, with painting and snacks and a special playlist. Wyatt is not a fan of things on his face and I knew he would not want to keep his glasses on, so rather than chance it, we stayed around here. At peak I did take him out and we both viewed it for a few minutes before going back in. Wyatt absolutely loved having a whole afternoon to paint and craft so it was a good plan. That bunny painting is mine – he did not get his artistic abilities from me!
Tuesday and Thursday are spent pretty much completely at therapy, and Wyatt did awesome both days! We only have one week left of this special therapy, then we are right back at his regular therapy the following week.
Wednesday I had big plans to take Wyatt to the Toledo Zoo to see the baby elephant. Everything was on our side, including the weather. However halfway there Wyatt just burst out into tears which is very unlike him and I did not know why. Wyatt has a speech delay and there are somethings he just doesn’t express to us, and one of those is anything that is bothering him. He just can’t express it. I think it was a combo of a few things, with one being that Billy was working from home that day and Wyatt wanted his dad to be with us. Anyway, I turned around and headed back home just in case something was going on with him. The zoo will be there for us another day. We ended up reading and staying around the house, even though once we got home he perked back up and was acting normally the rest of the day.
Today it is raining again, an all day and night kind of rain. I am sure we will spend the day reading and playing board games, probably with a nap in there too. I have also been working on his room here and there, donating things he no longer uses or needs or fits. We are upgrading his room now that he is older, and it is coming along slowly but surely. The other day I packed up a ton of books to put aside until Billy builds Wyatt some new bookshelves, as his collection is outgrowing shelf space, and swapped all of his clothes out of his old dresser into a new dresser that is easier for Wyatt to access himself.
And speaking of accessibility! My cousin set up a GoFundMe for Wyatt, for a whole wheelchair ramp project. We have been wanting to get a ramp for Wyatt for a while now, and despite spending all last year trying to find assistance with this, nothing panned out. We want Wyatt to be able to go outside and play, under his own power, so that he can have more independence and freedom of movement. We will have to put in a back door where there is now a window, construct the deck/landing area, and then the ramp. The door will also be an accessible emergency exit in the back of the house, where we all sleep, and one day I will swap my office with his room and he can sleep there too. But we won’t do that for a long while. It’s a pretty big project! We have been so blessed – within 10 days we had raised all the money we needed for this! Billy and I are overwhelmed by the amount of generosity and just love we have encountered every step of the way, with people donating and sharing and contacting us with messages of support or different ways they could help. It has been amazing and we are beyond grateful. Construction will start pretty soon so we will be very busy around here very soon! I can’t wait for the day we can say to Wyatt, “Go outside and play!” and he will be able to do just that!
And that is about it from around here! Do something today that makes you smile, be it big or small.
Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs.. 
I love a lazy day. I’m glad you are able to get a ramp for Wyatt. Good luck seeing the baby elephant.
Have a great week.
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Thanks Laurel-Rain! I might extend spring break to Monday and try again to see the baby elephant!
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This rain! I know — April showers. But it’s getting old. I’m sorry about your Toledo trip — but you’re right. The zoo isn’t going anywhere. Three cheers on the gofundme campaign — did you mention it here? (I’ve been MIA a few days!) And your eclipse day craft day sounds perfect.
Are you going back to RicStar camp this year? We saw the premiere of the movie about camp (well, the Lansing premiere). It’s just wonderful. I’ll be doing a post on it, as it will be streaming for one week only (from Cleveland Film Festival). April 14-21. Judy said it’s filling up.
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This rain! 😭 Lol. I guess it’s good for the flowers though.
Thank you!! I didn’t post about it here; I wasn’t sure what to do! We just posted on Facebook.
We are!! I’m so excited. Wyatt got a scholarship from his health insurance actually, too, so that was exciting as well lol. I really want to see the movie. I need to look for where/how to watch it. Do I go to the website for the Cleveland Film Festival?
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Happy Friday to you. A nice catch up today. I do hope Wyatt can get a wheelchair ramp. That will be such a huge help and a blessing. Here’s to hoping you can get to the zoo another day soon –
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Thank you Jennifer! I am hoping to go soon. Now I have another reason to go – I learned they have a behind the scenes wombat tour, and we just learned about wombats in homeschool. Wyatt is now a big fan! Lol. So now we need to go see the baby elephant and the wombats!
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You know…I love rainy days when you know it’s not going to let up. They just give you an excuse to laze around (like I need one) and do nothing.
I love the Toledo Zoo. We used to go there every other year when I was a kid. My dad was in the USMC with a guy who lived in Toledo. One year, we’d go there. The next year, they’d come to us. We always went to the zoo both places. I would have to say, though (and I might be biased), the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is the best! A few years ago, we (my brother, sister, and I) found the kids from the Toledo guy on Facebook and had a reunion in Toledo. Of course, we went to the zoo, and I remembered many of the places.
I wish I’d known about the Gofundme. But, I’m so glad you got all the money for this new and exciting adventure for Wyatt!
Have a wonderful weekend!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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When we were down your way last year I wanted to stop at the Fort Wayne Zoo but I don’t think it was open yet or we didn’t have time. Lol. One of those! I can’t remember. It looked awesome though. We need to bop back down to go there!
That is so cool about visiting the zoo like that as kids, and your reunion there. That had to be so neat to meet again as adults and reminisce.
And thank you! We could not believe the amount of people who helped us out, or how quickly we raised the money. Billy and I are simply overwhelmed at the generosity and love and support we got!
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Lots of relaxing mixed in with some busyness – that sounds like a pretty good week.
I am so excited for Wyatt’s therapy and for that ramp! It’s going to be such a help to you and I can’t wait till see it when it is all done!!
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I am so excited for this ramp! It is going to be some hard work for a bit but then it will all be soooo worth it!!!
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Sometimes you just need a day at home. I remember when Will was in first grade he had an absolute meltdown after school one day which was completely unlike him and it turned out to be that. I was so glad I listened and we were able to take the time to get the downtime he needed in. As you said the zoo will be there another day when Wyatt is ready and excited to go! That’s so exciting about the ramp! That makes such a huge difference! Have a great week!
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It was so out of character! So I just turned the car around – well we were on the expressway so there was more involved than just turning the car around – and headed back. It sounds like you made the right decision that day too!
And I am so excited about the ramp! It is going to make life so much easier for us all!
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