We spent over a week in Colorado visiting family and friends. We spent a lot of time in the car going from place to place and I can’t get over how amiable Jackson was. The day we flew to Denver we got him up at 4 a.m., spent two hours on the plane (not once did he get fussy), drove an hour to get our car, drove another ½ hour to see Grandma Sandy for an hour, stopped and got cheeseburgers at McDonald’s, drove another hour to Loveland to go to the hospital to see my best friend Tami who just had heart surgery, and spent a couple of hours at the hospital before heading to Tami’s house for the night. It was a long day and he only had about a ½ hour nap. But throughout the day he was happy, content, and sweet. “Who was this kid?” I kept wondering to myself. The old, seizure prone Jackson would have been screaming on and off all day and we would have been miserable. The seizure free Jackson was unbelievable. This was a much better trip than I had anticipated. It’s hard for any parent to be on their own for a week without the support of the other parent (I have no idea how single parents do it), but add traveling to 2 different states, staying at 3 different homes, and visiting lots of people with a 3 year old who doesn’t understand what is happening and your “vacation” can turn into a nerve wracking adventure. This time though, it was anything but.
The best part of our vacation has been seeing how our friends and family react to Jackson. Most of them haven’t seen Jackson for 6 months to a year. Each and every one of them couldn’t believe how long (tall) he hadn’t gotten and how different he was without seizures. When you are with him every day you see the little changes but not the overall change so it is fun to hear others reaction and comments about his progress. I am also reminded by our friends and family how lucky we are to have them in our lives. No one looks at Jackson as if he is different. No one makes negative comments. Instead they celebrate his development and achievements. They shower him with love and through that love they support Kevin and I in our journey as Jackson’s parents. And though nothing is said, it is that support that keeps me going most days.
Even though he is sick, Jackson is still pretty happy and is having a fun vacation. He gets in the pool a few times a day, has been taking some long afternoon naps, goes to the beach every evening for a walk, gets ice cream after the beach walk, and stops at the playground by the beach to do a little swinging. Not a bad way to spend your sick days. Life is pretty tough down here in sunny Florida. Somehow Jackson, Kevin and I are managing to get through the days.
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