Adventure #7: Fishing trip

We went on a real adventure today:  fishing!  The Tillamook Anglers, along with other sponsors, hosted their 20th annual fishing day for disabled kids.  This event is entirely free for particpating families.   The Tillamook Anglers are a non-profit, volunteer group who maintain the Whiskey Creek Fish Hatchery in Tillamook.  They raise 100,000 Chinook Salmon to release in the ocean every year.  They also support their regional food bank with salmon donations. 

Our first adventure was just getting there.  For some reason, Geoff and I both were thinking that Tillamook was about 40 minutes from our house.  Yes, we should have determined this before we left, rather than assuming it was going to be around each bend.  So, after an hour and a half, and turning around twice, we finally made it to the Whiskey Creek Hatchery.                            http://bit.ly/n1UKBs

Owen was just itching to fish as soon as we got there.  Noah wouldn't understand fishing, so he opted just to come along for the ride.   The fishing was set up inside the fish hatchery.  It was like fishing in a barrel!  Plenty of volunteers were lined up along the hatchery to help the kids bait their hooks and get their poles into the water.   Noah and I walked around the hatchery where I made the unfortunate discovery that in his chair Noah is butt high to everyone.  As we were walking through he decided pinching butts in the crowd was such fun!  I walked through issuing apologies along the way.   Noah and I decided to explore the grounds where it was much less crowded while Owen and Geoff fished. 

The hatchery sits right on Tillamook Bay.  Noah and I followed the path around the rainbow trout pond to look out on the bay.  It is beautiful with the spooky ghost trees, calm water, and seagulls.  After catching 4(!) fish, Owen and Geoff came to join us.  We did some more exploring and played a game of bean bag tic tac toe.  The game was set up with large tarp mats on the ground to make a board where the kids could throw the bean bags.  Noah decided that he wanted to lay down on the tic tac toe mat in the grass and then run around to lay on everyone's tic tac toe mat.  After we gathered him back up we went to get lunch.

Lunch was a provided part of the event and it was awesome.  A choice of hamburgers, hot dogs, or fried chicken with sides, ice cream (Tillamook of course), soda, coffee and hot cocoa were offered.  We took our picnic lunch to enjoy in the grass by the bay.  We ate our lunch while various prizes were raffled off.  Alas, I did not win the smoker I was coveting.

After lunch we packed up our fish and headed home.  We had a great time.  I never thought we'd be able to try out fishing as a family.  I am always so touched when organizations reach out to the special needs community to help us and our kids do family fun events.  Many activities are just so much more difficult to pull off if you are trying to do it with someone who is disabled.  This well organized event allowed us to try out fishing in a fun and no stress way.  The best part is on the way home Geoff and I realized we had this amazing outing and hadn't gotten out our wallets once.    Thank you Tillamook Anglers!

Adventure #6: Kindergarten!!

This has been a slow week as far as us getting out into the community.  For one really big reason:  Noah started kindergarten today.  Geoff and I, with knots in our stomachs, drove him to his new school.  We had plenty of worries that any parent experiences sending their child off to kindergarten and a few more that may be unique to a special needs parent.  Like all parents we worried about the transition to a school setting and how well he would get along with his teacher and the other students in his class.

One of our biggest, and maybe more unique, concerns is that Noah is non-verbal and can't communicate to us about anything.  This made explaining what was happening difficult, because we really don't understand how much he comprehends when we talk to him.  It also means he can't tell us if anything goes wrong during the day that he needs our help with.  Like if there are any mean kids he needs us to beat up. 

Another unique concern was we weren't sure if his teacher and classroom aids had experience with someone like Noah.  Noah has been difficult to diagnose for a reason, he doesn't quite act like other kids.  He is considered Autistic because he meets the criteria for a diagnosis, but every doctor believes there is more going on with Noah than ASD.  Noah can hit, kick, bite, head butt, oh, and his new one, pinch your swishy bits when he feels overstimulated, like he needs attention, when he is mad, or just thinks being naughty will be funny.  Would the teachers be prepared for that?

With all of our reservations and concerns we brought Noah into his classroom.  He explored with interest and we quietly left while wringing our hands.  Geoff and I gave each other pep talks and went home.  While we anxiously waited for 10:45am to pick him up, the school called twice.  In utter panic I answered the phone both times.  First was the school nurse, calling to say he was having a good day.  The second was the classroom teacher calling to give me a report that he was doing really well.  Apparently our nerves were pretty obvious!  We were able to return to school much calmer than we left it.

Noah's first day of kindergarten was a success.  I am excited for him to spend time with new people and learn new skills.  Now we just need to conquer the school bus, but we are putting that off until next week!

Adventure #5: the dreaded Restaurant

Dining out with Noah is like taking a monkey to a restaurant.  He won't sit, he's trying to either run through the restaurant or climb on the table, he throws food, he decides squawking is really funny.  We haven't taken him to a restaurant in about a year.

Dining out isn't about eating a meal usually, its about having a fun, relaxing experience.  With Noah, its about one of us bolting down our food while the other walks around the block with him.  Totally not worth the $40-50 a typical restaurant bill runs!

Our goals for Noah (not just my little blog!) is to help him learn to be out in the wider world.  Sometimes you have to dine out.  For example, if we are traveling there is no choice but to eat out.  He will also be eating in a school cafeteria at some point and doesn't need to be scrambling up on the table.  Well, we decided to brave dining out with him again!

We did our best with the factors we could control:  went to a quick service restaurant and ate at a non-busy time.  Rachel's Classic Burgers   http://bit.ly/oskkbD  is a new burger place by our house that styles their burgers after In N' Out, every California transplants dream burger.

After placing our order, things were not looking good.  I tried placing Noah in the high chair, but he is 5 years old and super tall, so he just wanted out.  I tried distracting him with games of peek-a-boo and a granola bar, but he kept signing he wanted out.  Not a good start.  We get him out and try the chair.  He scrambles out and runs through the restaurant.  I have no idea where he was planning on going, I don't think he had thought it that far through.

We were back to our old Geoff walking him around and me wolfing down my burger so I can switch places with him.  After inhaling my burger I look out the window to tell Geoff I can switch spots with him.  But I see that Geoff is experiencing a moment of brilliance:  he is putting Noah in his push chair.

They stroll back into the restaurant and Noah is calmly sitting in his chair.  No frantic struggling to get down, no disruptively loud chirps, just sitting.  He even eats a little from his special seat.  The rest of our meal is peaceful and Noah sits in the comfort of his chair.

I wouldn't call this a home run, but we were able to problem solve to save the situation.  It is going to take many more outings to hopefully get him to understand the routine.  I left the restaurant thinking we could go back again as a family. 

Adventure #4: local parks

I am sure everyone out there has their favorite local park.  There is one special park you may not be aware of:  Camp Rivendale.  This large playground is specifically designed for special needs kids.  With chair style swings and a structure made to accommodate a wheel chair, every child should have access to all the fun.  Part of the Jenkins Estate complex, the park is located at 8385 SW Grabhorn Road (just up the hill from Farmington Road), in Beaverton.  The park is open from 8am to at least 4pm daily.

During summer days a day camp for Special Needs kids is offered to residents in the Tualatin Valley Parks system.  You can also rent the park for private parties.  We looked into this for Noah's birthday and it would have been about $600, so we passed.  Those are the two reasons you may find this park closed when you try to go up and play.  It is really worth coming back to find them open. Able bodied Owen calls this his favorite park. 

We went up on Tuesday to play and unfortunately found it rented for a party.  So, we went up the hill a little further to Cooper Mountain Nature Park.  Taken from the Tualatin Hills Parks Page:

Overlooking the Tualatin River Valley, Cooper Mountain Nature Park is located on the edge of Beaverton. The 230-acre park, at 18892 SW Kemmer Road, Beaverton, offers visitors 3½ miles of trails (with varying levels of difficulty) that traverse the park and pass through each of its distinct habitats - from conifer forest to prairie to oak woodlands. Visitors will be rewarded with grand views of the Chehalem Mountains, close-up looks at Oregon white oaks and a small prairie that has sat relatively undisturbed for hundreds of years.  

The park also has, near the parking lot, one of those new modern playgrounds.  You know the ones, that have play equipment you aren't exactly sure what to do with. There is also a sand box, where we met with an unpleasant child.  This is officially our first experience with some kid being a jerk to Noah because Noah is different.  We have lived in a very happy bubble where all of our families and friends and their kids know Noah and love him for his quirky self.  This kid at the park was very vocal that Noah was really bothering him with the way he was playing.  Now, Noah can be a notorious sand thrower, but this time he really wasn't!  He was just chirping to himself and filling his cups with sand.  With no parents in sight I couldn't involve this child's parents and just had to tell him he needed to play nice and I would take care of Noah.  I took the kids on a walk and Owen was much more upset by this kid than Noah, I don't think Noah noticed.  I felt like we did leave the sand box to escape this child, but I would have done that with any kid that annoyed me! 

It takes more than one jerky kid to put us off our plan.  Noah is a part of this world and deserves to use the sand box as much as any other kid.  We will be back to Cooper Mountain Nature Park. 

Adventure #3: the Library

I know, I know the library doesn't seem like much of an adventure.  But if you haven't taken advantage of all the wonderful and free classes at your local library you are missing out.  Many of the classes we have tried out are for elementary aged children.  Owen has really enjoyed Jackson Bottom Nature Preserve talks and walks, Lego building, math camp, magic shows, book themed parties, musical performances, break dancing demos, drawing classes and sing along Christmas Carols.  Again, all of this fun, hours and hours of it, were free.  To view the Washington County Library Services events go here:     http://www.wccls.org/.  If this isn't your local library, check out your own library's page.  

Our local library doesn't offer any classes for Noah.  I have seen them listed in other library event calendars.  In the Washington County Library System the Beaverton branch at 12375 SW 5th, offers a once a month Special Needs Storytime.  We haven't check it out yet, I will report back when we do.  The next one is Saturday, September 3rd from 10:30-11am.  Here is their description:

This storytime is an option for families with children who have special needs that require a multi-sensory, yet low-key presentation.  Program content is intended for preschool/primary grades and features routine cues, alternate story formats, and a take-home activity.Registration is required.  Please phone (503)350-3600 to register or sign-up in person at the Children's Desk on the first floor of the library.  Registration begins one month before the program.

We went to the library yesterday and checked out a few titles.  Noah has become extremely hard on books, he is either tearing out pages or burying them in the sand box, or sneaking them into the tub, so no check out for him!  At the Hillsboro Main library at 2850 NE Brookwood Parkway, has the prettiest corporate park I have ever seen.  Several ponds and streams are surrounded by trees, plants and trails and benches.

We took a walk around the paths and brought bread for the ducks.  These ducks are VERY people friendly.  Before I knew it we had about 50 ducks and geese surrounding us and I was a little scared about what was going to happen when we ran out of bread.  Noah loved the ducks.   He really engaged with the ducks, he even tried to pet them, which had me a little concerned about tiny fingers.  


We walked the trails and brought a picnic to enjoy by the lilypad pond.  Yes, they have a lilypad pond!  So beautiful and fun and totally free (less library fines!). 

Adventure #2: Camping, sort of.

Every summer we make a "summer goals" list for the boys.  Owen's is filled with fun stuff, like going to Oaks Park and picking blackberries. Noah's is less fun, filled with therapy themed activities, for example "Learn 2 new ASL signs".
As we cross off goals from the list, one of the few we have left is one of Owen's;  to go camping.  I am just not sure how we are going to manage this one.
 
Noah still sleeps in a crib.  This is an incredible obstacle for getting him to sleep in hotels/tents/yurts, basically anything that is not his crib.  Geoff and I tag teamed sleep during our last hotel stay because Noah was up all night.  I mean, literally 11pm to morning.  So, I wasn't sure how we were going to fulfill Owen's camping goal as a family. 

I remembered the newest state park is not too far from us.  Here was the plan:  we go out as a family and spend the day, and then Noah and I go home to bed and return in the morning.  Brilliant. 

L.L Stub Stewart State Park, here we come!  Located in Buxton, just past Banks and before you get to Vernonia, on highway 47, The park is only about a 40 minute drive from our house.  The park has over 20 miles of trails for hikers, bikers, horsepeople, and even disc golf players.  It is absolutely beautiful.  Geoff just kept saying over and over, "It is so beautiful and quiet here."  Forests and fields abound and Dairy Creek runs through many of the trails.  The park even offers a Junior Ranger program on most evenings and mornings where kids 6 to 12 can be led on a hike by a Park Ranger.  The evening we were there the kids were going on a hike out to a beaver pond.  There are 2 large car camping loops, rustic cabins, a hike-in camp, and a horse camp.  There is a day-use area (with a $5 fee) and a off-leash pet area.  For reservations 1-800-452-5687.

We took the easy way out and rented a cabin.  For one night with service charges we paid $51.  It was so worth every penny!  Our cabin was really cute and not spider-filled like I feared.    With 2 double beds and a twin, there would have been plenty of sleeping room if we all planned on staying.  Our cabin had a table with 4 chairs inside, picnic table outside, and fire ring.

My two fears regarding camping with Noah were that he wouldn't understand staying in our camping area and that he'd dive head first into the fire pit.  He did enjoy roaming a little, but as soon as he discovered the dirt and gravel at our site, he sat down to get dirty.  We watched him close around the fire but no trips to the ER were required.  Both boys enjoyed a long hike (Noah in his push chair) and seeing the horses on the trails. 
No tears, no fussing, no complaining.   We had a homerun, perfect day.  Noah had so much fun, Owen got his wish to go camping.  Noah and I stayed until dinnertime.  He fell asleep before we even made it back to HWY 26.

Daddy and Owen had a far rougher night than Noah and I.  A brief thunderstorm and a irrational fear of bears robbed Owen and consequently Geoff of much sleep.  Noah and I, well rested, returned in the morning for more campsite play and to pack up.  Next year I think we may try all of us staying the night.  If Owen gets over his fear of bear attacks. 

Adventure #1: the Oregon International Airshow

While browsing the Oregon International Airshow website last week, I read:

Margaret Teufel Day
On Comcast Sunday, the Oregon International Air Show, presented by Standard TV & Appliance will continue its tradition of honoring special needs children by providing free Comcast Sunday admission to various non-profit organizations including the Special Olympics, The Portland MS Society, the Oregon Youth Authority, and the Make a Wish Foundation. If you have a child you would like to be included in this day, please contact the Air Show office via email or call us at 503-629-0706. 

 Well, I sent them an email Saturday afternoon and was shocked with a call Sunday morning that they were holding tickets for us!  So off we went, on Sunday, August 21st on our first adventure:  the airshow.

The airshow with a child with Autism can be tricky.  It is really loud, crowded, and in late August, super hot.  Right from the beginning though, the event for special needs kids was really well organized.  We had parking passes that allowed us to park on the air field right across from all the display planes.  We looked at all the planes and military vehicles and Owen was nearly recruited into the Army.  Noah wasn't really interested in this part.  He just enjoyed his box of raisins while we pushed him around in his special stroller.

Next, we went to watch the actual show.  With the Margaret Teufel passes we had reserved seats and a provided lunch of hot dogs, chips, and bottled water.  Best of all, the planes were taking off right in front of us.  Noah still didn't care...until the big military jets took off.  I am pretty sure if he wasn't already wearing a diaper, he would have peed his pants.  It scared him, but Owen was loving it.  We stayed to watch a few more planes and Noah grew no more interested.  He may not have gotten much out of the planes but I think he really enjoyed being out with his family.