Contemplating a Move Upstairs

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We are thinking about moving Josiah from his current room on the main floor of our home to a bedroom upstairs on the second floor.   The space he is in now is meant to be an office.  It has French glass doors, no closet and is rather small.  It’s also very close to the front door.  We have to be vigilant to keep Josiah in and the front door locked.

When all 5 kids were still home, they occupied the upstairs bedrooms.  We kept Josiah downstairs, to keep a close eye on him.  He was not a good sleeper (still a work in progress) and at times wandered the house in the wee hours of the morning.

Now that he’s 22 and outgrowing his current space, it feels like the right time to make a move.  Plus our home sustained extensive water damage last month with walls, a ceiling and flooring needing to be replaced.  Once we get it repaired, I think a move upstairs just makes sense.

I’m not sure how Josiah feels about it though. Read more…

Today’s Episode – WHAT Were We Thinking?

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I enthusiastically mentioned to Rick this morning that a visit to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts might be a great thing to do with Josiah today.  Since Josiah hasn’t been attending many activities with our local Down syndrome group or with any of the other amazing disability groups in our area I suggested we make a plan to do a new and exciting adventure each weekend.  Gradually exposing Josiah to different environments will open up his world a bit more and get him (and us) out of the house.

He recently spent a week on vacation in San Antonio with the Josiah Whisperer.  Just the two of them.  They explored every mission, restaurant and art show within a 20 mile radius, not to mention a trip to the Japanese Tea Garden and a hike (up hill at times) through the Natural Bridge Caverns.

The Whisperer blew up our phone with pictures of Josiah staring intently at art pieces and smiling at sculptures, meandering through art installations as if an art connoisseur.

So, surely a trip to our local Art Museum would be right up his ally.   I was actually quite proud of myself for even thinking of such a great idea.  Read more…

Oh, the Joys of Anesthesia

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Josiah has had quite a few adventures with anesthesia this year.  He had his 3rd surgical procedure of 2024 one week ago.  He doesn’t typically have surgical procedures.  It just so happens they were necessary this year.

Each time Josiah was blessed to have the world’s most amazing anesthesiologist by his side.  This man called our home prior to all 3 procedures to talk to us about Josiah’s needs.  He gathered quite a bit of information to formulate a plan so Josiah would be as calm and as comfortable as possible.  It made a huge difference.

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The Caregiver Song

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WANTED:  A CAREGIVER FOR ONE ADORABLE GUY!

Listen To the Tune of  ‘The Nanny Song’ from Mary Poppins. THEN apply that tune to the lyrics below!

 

If you want this here assignment, we’ve a boy a bit defiant

Doesn’t talk, or sleep, eats well, can leap

You must be firm, must be consistent, help him out, be his assistant

Help him in the bathroom, cut his hair, take him out, everywhere.

Never be bossy or rude, Feed him lots and lots of food

Love him like he’s your own child, even if he gets real wild

If you will never scold or leave him, he will never give you cause to feel grim

He won’t pull your hair out to make you scream, he may even share his chocolate ice cream

Hurry Caregiver, let us know.  Sincerely, from Jo’s mom and Jo.

Wings for All at George Bush Intercontinental Airport

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What an AMAZING day!

Two months ago Josiah was extremely self injurious, aggressive and destructive.  His quality of life was deplorable. His future at best, looked bleak.

This morning, he boarded a plane.

Josiah checked his baggage, secured a boarding pass, breezed through security, walked a very long way towards the gate, rode an electric cart, waited in the boarding area, walked through the plane, buckled his seat belt, enjoyed a snack on board and even visited briefly with the pilot in the cockpit before deplaning.

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