Swinging in the Rain

Hi everyone,

I started the week on a very sensory note, with no sleep and very badly disposed. I struggled at my physio assessment on Monday morning and shrieked and screamed when being touched. Mom spent the rest of the day issuing deep pressure hugs and brushing me. This is obviously not a short term approach but it was a start. After seeing Di for physio we stopped to see Granny. It was such fun, Ryan and Tamsin were both there and we giggled and played peek-a-boo for a good hour. Shannon’s cat Nala has a litter of kittens and I thought they were just the cutest things I had seen to date.

Back home I slept and had lunch and for dinner, Mom and Dad had Chinese takeaways while I had healthy vegetables and meat, however, I managed to secure myself a piece of chicken with chopsticks, and I became the chopstick sensei. It should be noted that I had 1 chopstick in each hand, but it is a good start. Daddy passed out really early from pure exhaustion and stress, and back in my bed I had a terrible night, to the point that I found Mom on the floor next to my bed with her hand on top of me. I dispatched her for a drink and started my morning in such a bright mood, Mom was shell shocked for a couple of hours though. I was summarily handed over to Dad for an hour and a half, and we had good giggles.

The brushing continued into Tuesday and I accompanied Mom to get some packing materials and was out early. Before leaving I started showing Mom my comprehension abilities, in that I was telling Mom we should go, when she slowed me down and asked me to put my shoes on and she would turn off the TV and get her shoes. Before Mom could do anything I was off the couch saying, “NO Nunu do it”. I switched off the TV, and ran to find Mom’s shoes. After Dad visited Opa, we had a fish lunch and headed to Gavin to have my orthotics fitted. I must say more play ensued with Gavin as he is really cool. He fitted and shortened my fittings and we were on our way. We stopped home for a pit-stop and then headed to Dad’s appointment at 5, it was close by so we went to the HaaHoo Park (Delta Park for those not speaking ITNG language).

There were more firsts, Mom helped me to the middle of one of the big twisty slides and I came down with delight. Mommy offered a hand to get me up and I announced, No Nunu do it. I went up and down the slide, popped over the side, taking a few years off my Mom’s heart every time I did it, not to say adding to the grey hairs. I slid down the slide, countless times with no hands, and on my bottom sitting forward, no less. Mom was in awe. It was well worth the wait to see her so excited. Mom really wished Dad was there, but I’ll reserve some firsts for him as well. I went to chase the HaaHoos through the trees, but that was when we had to go collect the Dad again.

What an exciting day for my folks.

Wednesday was last class of B-sharp Beetles for the year, I am a little sad about this but will see a new advanced class in the new year. A different time and day, needless to say I am quite nervous but excited all at the same time. Mommy is still trying to find a small school that will take the risk of having me on the property, so no talk of a school just yet even though I am more than ready to go. We have decided that only 2 mornings a week for now, as my sensory integration still needs work and we don’t want to overload my system.

Thursday was shoe shopping day as my inserts don’t really fit into any of my existing shoes so we headed to Mommy’s favourite kiddies shoe store in Hyde Park. It was quite a challenge for the old folks as I wouldn’t sit still for one thing. I kept running out the store giggling like crazy thinking that this was the greatest fun in the world. We had our annual family photographs done at a different studio this year later that afternoon. The group photos didn’t turn out so great, but the Nunu pictures are cool. Keep a look out; I will publish those soon. It was raining for the rest of the afternoon, so indoor play was the result, so to speak. I insisted on doing some ‘high in the sky’ (i.e. swinging), but Mom and Dad weren’t too keen, owing to the rain. Eventually they gave in and I got into the swing. Despite the swing being under the patio, each forward stroke of the pendulum reached the rain. After ½ an hour’s swinging, ‘under the patio’ I was sopping wet! I loved it.

Shopping was the order of the day, on Friday. Mommy has been really slack about presents this year and needed to quickly shop for everyone. It was a marathon, which included me having lunch and my snooze in the shopping centre. I did however manage to meet with Mickey Mouse at Sandton, but spent most of my waking moments asking to see him again.

Saturday we headed off to get more gifts and some more outdoor activities while the sun was shining but all too soon it was raining again so we headed home. The rest of the day was spent indoors.

Mom and Dad headed off to Yeesh for me on Sunday so that I could play. We met Ryan and his folks there so a little reunion was the order of the day. Back home after a snooze, major cupboard cleaning was going on and I had great fun playing in the piles of things lying around on the floor. Some Christmas decorations made it out during the day and I took great delight in making the Tree sing and singing with it at the top of my voice.

I wanted to save my best news for last. I have started rote counting, i.e. 1, 2, 3. However much to my Mommy’s confusion my counting started 9, 8, 7. It was soon discovered that Daddy is on a drive to teach me the theory of nine’s pioneered by Scott Flansburg, The Human Calculator. He was in South Africa recently, and Dad being a numbers fanatic practically screamed like a teenage girl at a Justin Bieber concert at the thought of meeting him. Dad didn’t meet Scott, but has endeavoured to use his techniques to teach me maths.

In closing, Maddison Nelson is doing well after surgery despite a little setback during the week. Thank you all for your prayers for her, I am sure her parents are very grateful. She is having her next surgery on Wednesday and I am sure she would appreciate some more positive light and energy.

All my love,

Jarrod

Photo 1 Showing off for my physio assessment

Photo 2 Do Not Disturb – Artist At Work

Photo 3 Aaahhh, a perfect hue

Photo 4 Some stamping

Photo 5 Mmmmm, how’d my hands get full of paint?

Photo 6 JB, the Human Paint Brush

Photo 7 Tummy art

Photo 8 Can’t understand why I’m not allowed beyond this point!

Photo 9 Cute with Sonic

Photo 10 Busy, busy, at Be-Sharp Beetles

Photo 11 Bopping to the tunes

Photo 12 Hoops to music

Photo 13 Stepping hoops

Photo 14 Giggles with Dad

Photo 15 Daddy time

Photo 16 Drumming with Daddy

Photo 17 The customary Be-Sharp Beetles stamp on my tummy

Photo 18 Bob The Builder (aka me!) helping Daddy with some DIY

Photo 19 Sopping wet after swinging in the rain

Photo 20 Sliding at the Haahoo Park (Delta Park)

Photo 21 Loving it

Photo 22 Going back for more

Photo 23 Guess who . . .

Photo 24 Sliding giggles

Photo 25 Rope swinging at Yeesh

Photo 26 Giggles with Mommy at Yeesh

Photo 27 Yeeehaaaa

Photo 28 Quick stop for a bite

Photo 29 Having a drink