A Very Special Tomato...

So much has happened since I wrote on Friday!  

I made a huge batch of Veggie Stew for Gavin - and this time added a new ingredient.  Fresh Beets!  I've never had beets that weren't from a can, so this was all new to me.  Sara and I found instructions on You Tube and discovered that you could use the greens as well as the beets.  Gavin really likes beets so this should be a delicious batch for him.  The amount I make typically lasts about two months.  This time, Gavin was right in there helping me as I pureed it all.

And I'm grateful to Miss Sara, of course, for helping me peel and chop pounds of Parsnips and celery!

During stew making, I got word from the wheelchair clinic that they were going to have a Convaid Rodeo in that afternoon if I wanted to come by to see it.  This is the "adaptive stroller" that is more like an umbrella stroller that I want for Gavin.  It will grow with him for many years - and comes with tie downs that he can use on the bus!  Gavin and I jumped in the car and took the hour drive to the hospital to see if we liked this chair.  I do.  A lot.

There's only one problem.  It's highly unlikely that insurance will cover it.  They only cover one wheelchair every three years...and we just ordered his regular wheelchair.  This Convaid Rodeo starts at well over $2,000 - and that's just the BASE model.  They charge you extra for everything.  Kind of a crime.

But it sure folds down flat, doesn't it?

Brian stayed home with Sara while we went to the hospital.  He had a tough day with a bad cold, so I was really grateful to have Sara at the house so Gavin and I could do this together.  The chair was not the correct size for him, obviously, but I can tell he'd be very comfortable in there!!

I've been searching to find a used one that would fit him and meet our specifications (some have a lot of supports that he wouldn't need - some don't have enough, etc.) - but no luck yet.  That's the bad news.

Want the good news???

Remember my home Craig's List sale?  In the end, I made $406.50.  Everything I didn't sell at home, I put in the Just Between Friend's Consignment sale.  My total gross sales there came to $677.75. When they take out the consigner fees, I will get a check for $464.43.  Follow so far?  So all in all - selling my stuff brought in $870.93!!

And then - Saturday.  Saturday morning I pulled $250.00 out of my stash...picked up a box of Cheez Its and a bag of Tootsie Pops (road trip essentials, yes?)...picked up my Mom and we drove and drove and drove to Queens, New York.  I was meeting a woman to buy the other adaptive stroller I wanted for Gavin - the Special Tomato EIO Push Chair.  My Mom and I shared the box of Cheez Its and a bunch of stories during the long ride...and enjoyed the beautiful, sunny day.  When we finally arrived at their house, she was sitting outside with the stroller and her adorable daughter.

Their daughter's story is similar to Gavin's!  In the beginning they were told all the negative things and, like us, they ran out and bought everything and anything to help.  Their daughter is also mostly undiagnosed - just like Gavin.  But also, like Gavin, she surprised everyone with her progress. She is now walking and communicating!!  Seeing her walk and wave to us - and knowing she's the same age as Gavin - gave me such hope!!  I wish I had taken their picture!!

They never ended up using that Special Tomato chair for their own little special tomato because she never needed it!  The plastic was still on the chair!  Gavin looks great in it...and it will grow with him for several years.

He can even lay flat and fall asleep in here if he was that kind of kid!

And it passed Brian's inspection.  Whew!

But that wasn't the luckiest moment of our trip.

They also wanted to give us (yes, GIVE US!) a Leckey Squiggles Stander.  Gavin had this same stander way back when.  We ended up giving it to our friend, Karen, for her newly adopted daughter.  We know what a great stander it is.  I plan to give it to Gavin's classroom - there are a couple friends of his that could really benefit from using it at school.  

But even that wasn't the luckiest moment of our trip...

...because in the end, I bonded with a total stranger.  There's something about being able to talk to another special needs Mom.  We just 'got each other' without having to say much.  We stood in the driveway and chatted for some time.  And we vowed to stay in touch.  I'm actually hoping they will drive down soon to spend the day with us.  I do believe that meeting this family on Craig's List was not by chance.  I have a feeling we will be very good friends.  Life is so interesting, eh?

The rest of the weekend was low key.  Brian continued to get better while Gavin continued to get worse.  When Gavin is congested, everything is hard.  Eating...drinking...and sleeping.  He's still very pleasant, though!  There were a couple "boogie baths" to help clear out his nose and lots of suction.  Gavin won't be going to school tomorrow, which is such a bummer.

But Brian had more pep - especially today!  The two of us played "Pirates" outside on the playground.  You should see him scale that rock wall - he's so fast!

And so proud when he gets to the top!

 And I was so happy to have him "catch me" as I came down the slide.

When I came in from playing with him outside, Ed took over inside so I could snuggle with a sick Gavin.  But I couldn't resist capturing this on film.  Ed said they were playing "Drive Through" with the play kitchen... 

There is nothing more attractive than a man who plays with his children.

Oh, well...maybe one thing.  A man who cooks well.  On that note, Ed just told me that dinner is served.

I love my little family.