Vermont Part 1
We arrived in Vermont Sunday noon after a very long trip. We left Friday night about 7 pm midst heavy thunder storms. Needless to say, our traveling time was very poor. By the time we got to my dad's house in Troutville, VA it was 9:30 and we were not very excited to try to travel any more in the storms. So we spent the night there. Of course, they were gracious hosts. They quickly found beds to put all of us up. We were told that the storms were to continue through the next day all the way up the coast. But we would rather drive in the rain during the day than at night. So we had a very good night's rest.
Monday was long and greuling. With two 3 year olds we had to make numerous stops. We stopped at the fast food places, a mall, rest areas, etc. But not only did we have to take potty breaks for the girls, but Rick needed them too. I think the strange places confused him and he didn't seem to know how to go by himself. So I ended up taking him into the ladies restroom with me. We got a few strange looks at times but no one said anything. It seemed to work out fine.
I have learned that some of his anxiety spells are related to his needing to use the bathroom. He gets very anxious and shaky. He just can't tell us what he wants. But if we ask him if he needs to go to the bathroom, he usually says yes. Or nods his head. Then after going he is better and more relaxed again. It seems we are constantly learning new things to help him.
We got to Schenectady, NY about 9:30 pm Saturday night and decided the girls ... and all of us ... had had quite enough traveling for one day. Even though it was only 3 hrs to our destination, we decided to spend the night with our long time friends, Howard and Bonnie Spink. Again, our hosts were most gracious. Cheryl and Tamara, with their daughters, slept upstairs in the bedroom there and Rick, Erin and I had the camper to ourselves. When we woke up Sunday morning, there was a good bacon and egg breakfast waiting for us. We got on the road about 8 am, much to Cheryl's chagrin.
Of course we were all very glad to be at our destination. The last few minutes of our travel I was watching Rick closely. He was very alert and watching the scenery. I asked him if he knew where he was and he said yes. He seemed to be more alert than he was the entire trip. When we got to Bev's house (his sister) and he saw her, he just hugged her and hugged her. He became teary.
Rick's cousin, Lafe, came over with his friend, Lisa. Lafe is a professional musician and sings and plays his guitar and harmonica. So we sat around the dining room table singing for an hour or two. Rick really enjoyed this. He sang out loudly on all the songs he knew. It was just a good time for all of us.
Monday was rainy so we didn't get to do any outdoor activities. We decided to go see Rick's cousin, Jackie's new home. It is in Northfield, VT and she and her husband, Jerry, have 10 acres of land with 4 horses. Rick was so happy to see Jackie. He hugged her a long time. Then he got quite teary and crying. I believe it was tears of joy. He loved looking out the window at the horses. This may have been a little nostalgic for him and may account for some of the tears.
Monday night, Bev had made reservations for us to make stepping stones using old brick she had picked up from the river bed on the Coburn home place. She told us that the farmhouse had originally been planned to be brick. The brick was all made and then some one wanted to buy it so it was sold. They made a second batch of brick but ended up selling it too. Therefore, the house was made out of wood. So the brick we used was probably as old as the brick that was supposed to be used for the Coburn homeplace.
Bev and I spent time hammering the brick to break it into little pieces so that we could use it to make designs on the stepping stones made out of concrete. It was a lot of fun and now we have useful souvenirs of the Coburn homestead. Mara and Emma had a good time playing in the rain. They got quite soaked.
This morning was rainy again. We were hoping to go horseback riding today, but our plans got changed. We just hung around the house this morning. Rick's friend, Bob Forrend, came by and visited and had lunch with us. He has been a great friend to Rick since high school. Rob, Bev's son, and Cheryl and Tamara, went to the movies this afternoon. I stayed here to let the girls take naps. Rick, Bev and Erin went to the farm to feed the pony. They just got back. So I guess I will go now. I will make more entries later on. I will add pictures when I get home. We will be leaving VT on Saturday morning.
Monday was long and greuling. With two 3 year olds we had to make numerous stops. We stopped at the fast food places, a mall, rest areas, etc. But not only did we have to take potty breaks for the girls, but Rick needed them too. I think the strange places confused him and he didn't seem to know how to go by himself. So I ended up taking him into the ladies restroom with me. We got a few strange looks at times but no one said anything. It seemed to work out fine.
I have learned that some of his anxiety spells are related to his needing to use the bathroom. He gets very anxious and shaky. He just can't tell us what he wants. But if we ask him if he needs to go to the bathroom, he usually says yes. Or nods his head. Then after going he is better and more relaxed again. It seems we are constantly learning new things to help him.
We got to Schenectady, NY about 9:30 pm Saturday night and decided the girls ... and all of us ... had had quite enough traveling for one day. Even though it was only 3 hrs to our destination, we decided to spend the night with our long time friends, Howard and Bonnie Spink. Again, our hosts were most gracious. Cheryl and Tamara, with their daughters, slept upstairs in the bedroom there and Rick, Erin and I had the camper to ourselves. When we woke up Sunday morning, there was a good bacon and egg breakfast waiting for us. We got on the road about 8 am, much to Cheryl's chagrin.
Of course we were all very glad to be at our destination. The last few minutes of our travel I was watching Rick closely. He was very alert and watching the scenery. I asked him if he knew where he was and he said yes. He seemed to be more alert than he was the entire trip. When we got to Bev's house (his sister) and he saw her, he just hugged her and hugged her. He became teary.
Rick's cousin, Lafe, came over with his friend, Lisa. Lafe is a professional musician and sings and plays his guitar and harmonica. So we sat around the dining room table singing for an hour or two. Rick really enjoyed this. He sang out loudly on all the songs he knew. It was just a good time for all of us.
Monday was rainy so we didn't get to do any outdoor activities. We decided to go see Rick's cousin, Jackie's new home. It is in Northfield, VT and she and her husband, Jerry, have 10 acres of land with 4 horses. Rick was so happy to see Jackie. He hugged her a long time. Then he got quite teary and crying. I believe it was tears of joy. He loved looking out the window at the horses. This may have been a little nostalgic for him and may account for some of the tears.
Monday night, Bev had made reservations for us to make stepping stones using old brick she had picked up from the river bed on the Coburn home place. She told us that the farmhouse had originally been planned to be brick. The brick was all made and then some one wanted to buy it so it was sold. They made a second batch of brick but ended up selling it too. Therefore, the house was made out of wood. So the brick we used was probably as old as the brick that was supposed to be used for the Coburn homeplace.
Bev and I spent time hammering the brick to break it into little pieces so that we could use it to make designs on the stepping stones made out of concrete. It was a lot of fun and now we have useful souvenirs of the Coburn homestead. Mara and Emma had a good time playing in the rain. They got quite soaked.
Tuesday turned out to be a very nice day. So we went to Stowe to go Alpine Sliding. As we got up to the village and up the mountain, Rick became more and more animated. He kept pointing to things and making comments like, "There it is." We knew he was recognizing places. When we went into the bathroom, he told me. "I want to go up the mountain." "I've seen too much." I've seen so much." He was so excited to see these places again. He couldn't articulate what he was seeing but we knew he knew what he was seeing and was happy about it.
This morning was rainy again. We were hoping to go horseback riding today, but our plans got changed. We just hung around the house this morning. Rick's friend, Bob Forrend, came by and visited and had lunch with us. He has been a great friend to Rick since high school. Rob, Bev's son, and Cheryl and Tamara, went to the movies this afternoon. I stayed here to let the girls take naps. Rick, Bev and Erin went to the farm to feed the pony. They just got back. So I guess I will go now. I will make more entries later on. I will add pictures when I get home. We will be leaving VT on Saturday morning.
posted by Unknown at 1:25:00 PM
2 Comments:
Joyce,
I have been thinking of you while you are in Vermont. I'm glad Rick has been able to see his home again! -Stephanie (Williams Center)
I didn't know you were posting while we were in VT. I could have put some pictures on then.
--Tamara
Post a Comment
<< Home