Aaaaand we're back on home turf

We went up to the big city on Monday. Tuesday was a "free" day and Wednesday Aaron had appointments at the Shriners. For now all is well with him and we can hold off any type surgery for another year. Although in the future he will need spine surgery. As he's growing his spine seems to have this tendency to curve despite the fact he's had surgeries to prevent this. Gravity takes a toll on a weak spine. The orthopedic surgeon wants to give Aaron time to grow because he's small. Also with growth he's hoping things level out and the surgery wouldn't be as extensive. Whenever I hear surgery for his spine alarm bells go off and my stomach falls to the floor because of what happened almost 8 years ago. Each and every surgery Aaron has this risk comes back to haunt us. It has taken a long time for Aaron to gain the mobility he does have now and it would devastate us both if he lost it all again.

As for any other types of surgery it is possible Aaron would need bladder augementation surgery. According to the urologist Aaron has a very small bladder. Mostly due in part to his paralysis. The urologist says we'll wait and see how Aaron grows and if his bladder grows with him.

Many years ago I took a picture of the view while I was on top of the hotel we were staying at, quite similar to the photo above. Two Christmases ago I put the photo into a special photo album for Aaron. Last December he'd been bugging me to go back to the big city. I pulled the photo out of the album and it became his best friend for the last 3 months. When we went up again this year I wanted to take Aaron up on the hotel rooftop to show him where I took the photo he so loved.

Aaron isn't all that verbal so it was a wonderful feeling to see his face upon the discovery of the origin of his favourite photo. He recognized the view right away and I could see through his mannerisms and actions that he was pleased to see this. It was a good thing he was strapped into that wheelchair as he kept wanting to stand up and see more!

I'm glad I decided to go up there so we have this memory for us. I also took a few photos for my Friday self portrait challenge group. I couldn't decide which one I liked best so I posted 3.

Of course what's a trip to the big city without a little shopping here and there? I really wanted to get us spring jackets but had no luck finding anything for either of us. I started tradition for him many years ago when we first started going up. I buy him a new pajama everytime we go. Since last year he's been able to make his own choices. I hold two up and he chooses which one he likes better. This year he chose a light blue and yellow top and pants by Joe Boxer. Very cute. I didn't get a photo of it. He also chose 2 video games. I love that he's making his own choices and thinking for himself. What a wonderful step in development!

When we arrived on Monday, as our usual routine, we go to the mall to find supper. I saw this cute little red purse. Everyday we went to the mall I walked by this little purse and stroked it, picked it up and admired it. But I walked away. Thursday evening on our last trip to the mall on my way out I stopped again to admire it and stroke it one last time. A lovely lady who was also looking at bags herself told me to just buy it since it was only 10$. And that was the voice I needed to hear so I bought it! I'm so glad I did because I probably would have been haunted by the red purse that I let get away. I bought the red wallet a few days earlier thinking it would console me for having not bought the red purse. It didn't work of course.

Finally after after a year and a half I was able to visit my favourite little store. When I went in March of last year I wasn't there long enough to visit the store. Last August when I went they were closed for some reason or another. I was very dissappointed. I love this store so much. It is Hello Kitty Heaven! I left with some pens and a cute shopping tote and a blue HK exacto knife that I didn't get in the picture because I'd given it as a gift for someone. One of the HK mechanical pencils is a gift for my favourite little Goddaughter, which I hope to see next week. The other HK pencil is to draw out my quilting designs. One of the Miffy pens is for a friend and the other two are mine.

All in all this was a good trip. Aaron tried my patience more than once and I had a moment when I wanted the world to just swallow me whole, when he he erased my mp3 player. Other than that I made it through the week arrived home safely and passed him off to his dad at supper time on Friday. I have all of today and plenty of tomorrow to myself.

Now I'm off to unpack our bags and go play in the sewing room. Oh how I missed it!