Dirty Pillows and Ice Cream
Are you intrigued yet?
That's what Noah wants for his birthday. I kid you not.
He has this obsession with pillows. Okay, that's a slight exaggeration. I guess it depends on how you define obsession. Let's just say that he is in love with his pillows. They're kind of like his blankey. He wants to take at least one in the car with him all the time - and he goes around the house stealing all the pillows and then piles them on his bed and rolls around in them.
Oh, to be a 6 year old autistic boy.
So, anyway, we went to Austin last week for our mini-vacation - which may not seem like a vacation to most of you - considering that we go to Austin all the time, but we got to stay in a hotel with a free breakfast buffet, a swimming pool, and basic cable.
The kids thought they were at Disneyland.
Well, since we were in Austin, Noah did some of his RPM therapy at HALO and his therapist, Erika, did a session on his upcoming birthday. She asked him what he wants and he spelled out:
P-I-L-L-O-W
Eight in fact.
EIGHT. Eight Pillows for his birthday.
He's a bit extravagant, isn't he? I suppose he's going to want a new bed to fit all those pillows on, too. Maybe a new duvet cover. A whole new bedroom set.
Nah, he's cool. He let Erika know - through a series of choices - that he wants 8 pillows exactly like the ones he has.
And his current pillows...... well, they're nasty.
So nasty in fact that you might want to run some Purell over your hands if you happen to come into contact with them.
He can't stand the pillow cases because - as he told Erika (again, though choices) - he likes to look at the edge of the pillows. He likes pillows that have a seam all the way around them that stick out a bit.
And since he doesn't like pillowcases, and he takes them everywhere - in the car (which is a disaster zone in its own right), to the park, outside on walks - well, you can imagine that they're pretty dirty and gross.
And heaven forbid if you happen to wash one and it gets all funky and messed up and... clean.
Anyway, he dragged his dirty old pillow into the HALO clinic and informed Erika (through spelling and choices - remember, he's nonverbal) that he wants eight pillows exactly like the ones he currently has.
Brilliant.
Does anyone have some pillows sitting on their curbside that they would be willing to donate?
Apparently, germs are not an issue.
Oh, and he also wants to return to Austin for his birthday and go to Phil's Ice House and Amy's Ice Cream on Burnet (NW Austin).
A 7 hour round trip to get a $2.35 cup of ice cream.
Truthfully, I think he just likes to climb on the cows.
The point being, however, is that we pretty much have to go. We actually weren't planning on returning to HALO until next semester because, frankly, the gas is killing us and Erika's fees literally just doubled because she's now in the second year of her apprenticeship. But if we ignore Noah's birthday wish, then he'll question why he has to do RPM anyway if we don't listen to what he has to say. And we're in a critical period with his therapy, so we really need to let him know that his voice is important.
Plus, we get to go back to Austin. And I love Austin.
I wonder if they make shirts that say, "I left my heart in Austin".
I digress.
So. There you have it. October 16th. We'll be turning a half-day's drive into a little boy's 7th birthday wish. And we get to see the smile on his face when he realizes that we listened to him.
And his smile is beautiful.
I'd drive to the ends of the earth and back just to see that smile.
So, 7 hours won't be so bad.
***********************************************************************************
A slightly sad side note: The hotel room threw away 2 of Noah's pillows. We brought 4 with us and on the day we were checking out, they came in and cleaned the room. I guess they thought the pillows were theirs - and they were embarrassed at how gross they were - and they chucked them. Noah did okay until halfway home when he started crying hysterically - and then got home and saw his empty bed.
Seriously. That's how dirty they were/are. The hotel room actually chucked them.
Anyone want to come over for a party at my house next month? I have 8 pillows that I need to drag through the dirt, run over, and spill juice on. It should be fun.
That's what Noah wants for his birthday. I kid you not.
He has this obsession with pillows. Okay, that's a slight exaggeration. I guess it depends on how you define obsession. Let's just say that he is in love with his pillows. They're kind of like his blankey. He wants to take at least one in the car with him all the time - and he goes around the house stealing all the pillows and then piles them on his bed and rolls around in them.
Oh, to be a 6 year old autistic boy.
So, anyway, we went to Austin last week for our mini-vacation - which may not seem like a vacation to most of you - considering that we go to Austin all the time, but we got to stay in a hotel with a free breakfast buffet, a swimming pool, and basic cable.
The kids thought they were at Disneyland.
Well, since we were in Austin, Noah did some of his RPM therapy at HALO and his therapist, Erika, did a session on his upcoming birthday. She asked him what he wants and he spelled out:
P-I-L-L-O-W
Eight in fact.
EIGHT. Eight Pillows for his birthday.
He's a bit extravagant, isn't he? I suppose he's going to want a new bed to fit all those pillows on, too. Maybe a new duvet cover. A whole new bedroom set.
Nah, he's cool. He let Erika know - through a series of choices - that he wants 8 pillows exactly like the ones he has.
And his current pillows...... well, they're nasty.
So nasty in fact that you might want to run some Purell over your hands if you happen to come into contact with them.
He can't stand the pillow cases because - as he told Erika (again, though choices) - he likes to look at the edge of the pillows. He likes pillows that have a seam all the way around them that stick out a bit.
And since he doesn't like pillowcases, and he takes them everywhere - in the car (which is a disaster zone in its own right), to the park, outside on walks - well, you can imagine that they're pretty dirty and gross.
And heaven forbid if you happen to wash one and it gets all funky and messed up and... clean.
Anyway, he dragged his dirty old pillow into the HALO clinic and informed Erika (through spelling and choices - remember, he's nonverbal) that he wants eight pillows exactly like the ones he currently has.
Brilliant.
Does anyone have some pillows sitting on their curbside that they would be willing to donate?
Apparently, germs are not an issue.
Oh, and he also wants to return to Austin for his birthday and go to Phil's Ice House and Amy's Ice Cream on Burnet (NW Austin).
A 7 hour round trip to get a $2.35 cup of ice cream.
Truthfully, I think he just likes to climb on the cows.
The point being, however, is that we pretty much have to go. We actually weren't planning on returning to HALO until next semester because, frankly, the gas is killing us and Erika's fees literally just doubled because she's now in the second year of her apprenticeship. But if we ignore Noah's birthday wish, then he'll question why he has to do RPM anyway if we don't listen to what he has to say. And we're in a critical period with his therapy, so we really need to let him know that his voice is important.
Plus, we get to go back to Austin. And I love Austin.
I wonder if they make shirts that say, "I left my heart in Austin".
I digress.
So. There you have it. October 16th. We'll be turning a half-day's drive into a little boy's 7th birthday wish. And we get to see the smile on his face when he realizes that we listened to him.
And his smile is beautiful.
I'd drive to the ends of the earth and back just to see that smile.
So, 7 hours won't be so bad.
***********************************************************************************
A slightly sad side note: The hotel room threw away 2 of Noah's pillows. We brought 4 with us and on the day we were checking out, they came in and cleaned the room. I guess they thought the pillows were theirs - and they were embarrassed at how gross they were - and they chucked them. Noah did okay until halfway home when he started crying hysterically - and then got home and saw his empty bed.
Seriously. That's how dirty they were/are. The hotel room actually chucked them.
Anyone want to come over for a party at my house next month? I have 8 pillows that I need to drag through the dirt, run over, and spill juice on. It should be fun.
Comments
I say, invest in 16 pillows and every 3 days or so, run the current 8 through the wash, keeping them sort of clean.
Not.
Sorry. I am the queen of unsolicited advice. Ignore at your leisure.
Blessings,
Sandwich
Gosh you made me cry with your words!
"And his smile is beautiful.
I'd drive to the ends of the earth and back just to see that smile."
Remember how you once said Rohan reminds you of Noah. I agree - it is the brilliant smiles they have. I'd drive to the end of the earth to make him smile too :)