Success

Brandon went to camp for 5 days and 4 nights at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and it was a great success.  The first day I bought him to the school and the school had the sign-in process very organized with a 10 step sign in process.  It went very smooth.  Then we went off to his dorm.  Waiting in his room was the Sgt Peppers Vinyl album opened with the picture of the 4 Beatles.  Brandon grinned with happiness.  Brandon then met one of the volunteers for the week and he was a local musician who also loves loves loves the Beatles.  I knew it would probably be okay for the rest of the 5 days.  The TSBVI has really changed since I lived close by.  It has it's own swimming facility, own therapy center, own health center and tons of staff and volunteers. 

The first night and the next day were very rough for Brandon.  He called me several times screaming and crying wanting to go home.  I became very close to picking him up.  But by Tuesday I did not hear a peep.  I was worried when I picked him up that he would be a wreck.  But just the opposite.  He was singing, happy, talkative and glad to see me, but clearly happy he was there.  One of the staff asked him if he would come back next year and he said yes.  A big thumbs up.  Pretty brave of Brandon to stay with strangers without the benefit of understanding him speak for 5 days.  I am really proud of him. 

SO BIG SUCCESS.  Looking forward to next year already.  We have some transition and job news upcoming.  More later. 
Leah

A Little Mommy Time a Little Closer to Independence

Brandon and Hannah at Camp Chit Chat

Sunday, Brandon heads to the Texas State School for the Blind for a 5 day, 4 night summer camp.  He will stay on campus and have five full days of pure fun. At least I hope he thinks it is pure fun. 

Although I travel some for my job and occasionally take a few days of fun travel, Brandon has not left our house for those type of trips.  My brother Jim or some of Brandon's aides fill in while I am gone.  Brandon's routine is not disrupted too much.  The last time Brandon attempted to go to camp and spend the night at a camp, was many years ago at Camp Camp.  Camp Camp has great camps for kids.  Each week of camp is dedicated to some specific topic or diagnosis.  Brandon went 2 years to the week long camp concentrating on kids using communication devices.  The camp was called Camp Chit Chat.  Cute! The last year he went to the camp, he left with his aide Hannah.  They drove down to camp, checked in and spent the first night.  The next day for the first time in a very long time, I took a little mommie time and went to Wimberley to walk around, shop, eat and listen to music.  I was with a friend and within the first hour of my Wimberley day the phone rang.  It had been raining on and off all week.  It was Hannah telling me that they were moving all the kids to higher ground in the cafeteria.  All the kids would sleep in the cafeteria until the water went down in the sleeping areas.  I could hear Brandon in the background screaming.  He didn't sound happy and the whole thing did not sound good.  I called the Sheriff's department in the county of Camp Camp.  The sheriff said that the camp was flooded and there was no way in or out of the camp.  However, if the weather cleared the road may recede enough for someone to get out.  Otherwise, they were expecting worse weather and the kids would not be able to get out for the rest of the week.  He told me if it was his child he would try to get him out if the weather clears enough to drive on the road.  I came home immediately.  A few hours later he called me back and said the road was clear enough to get out and that Hannah and Brandon needed to leave right then before the next round of rain.  Hannah packed up Brandon and they left.  It was a long trip back with my whole family sitting by the phone.  Hannah and Brandon made it back safe and the weather just continued to get worse.  To this day if you say Camp Camp to Brandon he starts screaming.  So we have not done another "spend the night" camp since then.

Brandon is now 18 and any opportunity for transition is good.  Brandon was selected to participate in a camp held at the Texas School for the Blind and we jumped on the opportunity.  Brandon has been many times to the School for the Blind programs and really does like them.  Therefore, he is not too stressed about staying at the facility. 

I have to admit, I have no idea what I will do with myself for 5 days and 4 night, but I am sure each day and night will be packed with things you cant really get around to doing when there is more than just you.  I will miss my little buddy, but I am looking forward to a little mommie time. 

We do have some job and move updates, but I will update this blog after Brandon finishes camp.  Brandon and I had a great time at the Texas Parent to Parent conference.  I attended the 2 day transition portion of the conference and Brandon attended the teen transition camp.  I gave an update on Brandon's network and became refreshed in my belief of a great life for Brandon in the future. 

More later.
Leah