Communication

 Wow nearly 2 months since my last post.  Life has been busy but Junior is doing well.  He had a birthday in September and is now 23 which is amazing.  He has started using his new communication device regularly and is quickly getting the hang of it.  Sarcasm is definitely his language of choice and his favorite folder on his device is "quick fires"(these are just quick comments or words).  Things like "don't make me use my angry eyes, this is boring, I am ignoring you, hey, come here, look at this, seriously, whatever" and many more.  

This picture is what I was told when I put on a tv show without asking him what he wanted.  

 

 

He was using the device and I noticed something needed to be adjusted so asked him if I could use it for a second to make the adjustment.  That would be a no.  

We all knew he could use the device but what has surprised us is how quickly he has figured it out and can jump from folder to folder and find what he wants to say to get his point across.  I had to have his speech therapist walk me through adding a text box because initially it was just set up to speak and I couldn't keep up with what he was saying.  The text box allows him to say far more and I can read it on the screen so he isn't needing to repeat himself or get frustrated when I can't work out what he is trying to say.  With him catching on so quickly our next step is to start adding other functions and also buttons that link him to games and activities such as a virtual piano or drums.  Our Alexa will be linked so he can use his device to turn on music, lights, etc.   We will then slowly add more things such as tv remotes, Netflix, cell phone(so he can text and eventually make/receive calls using his device)etc. Technology has come so far and this will allow him to have much more control over his own environment.  

He decided he wanted to play a game, clearly he didn't care what game he just wanted to play.  He said this then kept looking at the text box to repeat it over and over.  

 We did play some darts. 

 

 Junior's usual treatment time is about 7 in the evening but he was napping so I waited to start them. About 5 minutes later I hear this.(the hungry part he had said earlier and left there).  

 These are after he had asked to watch Resident Evil and I told him I wasn't feeling like it so how about something else.  He then asked for Arachnaphobia but I told him lets try for one more and he decided on Jurassic Park(yes he loves scary movies).  I put the disc in and ran into the other room for something.  Then I hear "hey hey look come here come here look" I go in and the disc was to the menu and he wanted me to push play.  I then tried to go in the kitchen and was told "look come here come here" he wanted me to watch with him.  

 

 

Another thing we have added is a page which allows him to interact with Yonder.  Such as him giving the commands.  This part is a process because Yonder has to learn to respond to the device but we are working on it.  He gives a command with the device then I give the command verbally.  Yonder is starting to respond when he hears the device command and I will start slowly not following up with a verbal command.  

It is wonderful to see him exploring and progressing with his new device and finding his voice. Life changing in so many ways.

Pumpkin decorating

Relaxing with his black lights, he thought it was great when he saw that the black light made his skeleton glow.

A little evening outing to Hobby Lobby this week.  His nurse who has been with us for many years is going out on maternity leave and he wanted to pick something out himself for her. 

Birthday Tree Makeover

 This past weekend Junior's tree got a Birthday makeover.  Hard to believe he will be celebrating a birthday in just a few weeks and of course we celebrate the whole month.  The top is a bit tilted but Junior thinks that makes it a Grinch birthday tree so I left it alone. 

As you can see he is very pleased with it. 

Yonder getting in on the fun.  

 

Sleepy smiles during treatment time.  The smoke continues to be quite bad and though Junior is doing okay respiratory wise he is very, very low energy. 

Watching BodyCam one of his current favorite shows. 

 Please keep my family(they live out of state, Junior and I are fine) in your prayers as a few are down with COVID at the moment.  We are so very thankful that they live in an area where a positive test is automatically followed by a Regeneron/or similar infusion (an antibody"cocktail" that reduces the viral load) if the person has a secondary issue.  Though still sick they saw a difference within hours and have not needed any hospital care.  

Also thank you for the amazing response to Team Junior's paintings.  I sent out several today along with a local pickup, and Junior is now well on his way to having the funds needed for his off road stroller/chair.  We had wanted to try to raise funds to have it by November but thought that was  quite a long shot and not likely.  Thanks to so many ordering paintings it has suddenly become very possible.  Such a blessing. 

 

 

 

 

Painting With Team Junior

 Junior and Yonder have been doing a lot of painting lately.  Junior loves choosing colors and directing the painting.  I decided to see if we could add stencils to his paintings since he could just push down with the brush to do those.  It took some trial and error since regular stencils shifted when he pushed on them and the paint smeared quite a bit.  Then we found there are stencils with adhesive on the back much like a sticker and they are perfect for him.  If his tone kicks in too much and he pushes a bit hard it doesn't move the stencil and smear the paint so they work great.  

These pictures are from our trial and error phase. You can see the smeared paint in the letters though they still turned out cool.  

Once I found the adhesive stencils Junior was very pleased.  

First he paints the stencil so we can let them dry.  Then I cover them so Yonder can do the outer painting.  Junior picks the colors and keeps an eye on each step to be sure its looking like he wants it to. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once Junior decides its just right we take off the stencil cover.

Yesterday we woke up to the smell of smoke and horrible air quality so it wasn't a good day for the dude.  Thankfully by evening the smoke was clearing and his numbers were greatly improved.  I suspect today will be a sleepy day for him as he recovers from the rough day yesterday. 

We are working on getting Junior a jogging/off road stroller so that he can go places his regular wheelchair can't.  To help in this cause team Junior is sharing their artwork for a donation toward his new chair.