Northern Trip with K

Please forgive me that this post is several weeks late in me writing it. A lot has happened since K and I have gotten back from our Northern Trip for Spring Break.

My Grandmother died on 4/6/11 (see In Loving Memory of My Grandmom ). This was about a week after our trip - we had gone up north to see her since she was dying. My Grandmom had stage 4 throat and lung cancer. She was surrounded by her whole family like she wanted - no one could have passed away any better then to have all their loved ones around them everyday.  I was not ready to write about the entirety of the trip or her death until now.

Friday March 25th we left for the airport. DH drove us and let us off at the drop off site at the curb. K and I were about 2 hours early for the flight. We checked in one bag, and I had my laptop bag, K's bookbag of toys, and my purse. Also I had my heavy jacket and K's winter jacket attached to her bookbag. We went through security with no problems and no melt downs. After putting our shoes back on and bags all loaded up on mommy the pack mule we headed for our terminal.

K and I stopped at this restaurant and sat by the windows so she could she the planes taxing in and people loading and baggage being put on to the plane. We shared an order of fries and had a soda for me and grapefruit juice for her. I pointed out the planes and explained that we would be getting on one and going high into the sky. I told her that the suit case was going into the belly of the plane. K sat there and watched the planes and kept saying "Airplane".

Once we got to the terminal, we spoke to the employee and I explained that K has Autism and this is our first time flying. The employee told us to load when they first start the preloading process. So that is what we did. We got on the plane without a hitch. K had the window seat. I was in the middle. I explained to the passengers around us that my daughter has Autism before we took us just in the event that K had a melt down.

But everything was fine. One of the air hostess did tell me that K could not play her noisy toy unless she had a headset. But K was ok with that. K had plenty of other things to do. We watched a movie. K was utterly and totally fascinated with the window. She could not get enough of looking out the window. When we were high up into the sky she looked out the window and said "ocean" when she saw all the clouds. Also I kept giving her lollipops and laughy taffy which helped with her ears popping. It go to the point where K would say "Ears pop. Candy please." Sometimes, she said "Ears pooping" instead of popping.   We shared a can of cranberry juice. K got the cup with ice and I had the can. We landed in our northern destination with no problem and on time.

LESSON LEARNED FROM FIRST FLIGHT: Do not bring out the noisy toys and take out all batteries. Do not over back on the toys - have a small backpack that the child can where themselves. Get a small portable DVD player instead of lugging heavy bulky laptop bag - or get smaller more stream lined laptop bag - this will save your back. Also pack other snack items (see return trip home).

From there, my cousin picked us up. We went to get some "real" pizza from this great place she knew. Then after eating, we went back to her house for the night. K explored her home and fell in love with running up and down the stairs. When K would go up the stairs, she would then go into one of the bedrooms and lay on the bed. Either I or V (the cousin) went in to the room to get her, K was all giggles and smiles. After that we all went to bed. In the morning, V made us a nice breakfast of eggs, toast, and sausage. K was not really in a mood to eat. But she did eat toast and got jelly all over V's table and chair. V had crayons and stock paper for K to Grandmom a card. So K colored for a little bit and wrote her name. After cleaning up from breakfast we headed to the town where my dad lives. (My Dad lives down the road from my Aunt and Uncle - this is where my Grandmother lives).

We (more like I) stopped for coffee since V does not drink or own a coffee pot. That was the only downside of breakfast. Then we stopped at a florist so I could get flowers for Grandmom. The florist had purple roses - I HAD to get then for Grandmom - since her favorite color is purple. I got three roses - one for K, DH, and myself. Then we continued on our way.

Now while I was in the florist, K decided she would gross out her cousin V. K stayed in the car with V. K had her finger in her nose. V told K "Ill that is nasty". K took her finger out of her nose which had a big booger on it (yuck!) and then ate it. V said that was nasty again. K with a big grin on her face, stuck her tongue out which had the booger on the end of her tongue at V. Then K put her tongue back in her mouth and ate the booger laughing. V told me all about this once I got back into the car.

Now finally one the way, V was going to drop me off at my Dad's (which is where we stayed for the trip). But in talking she drove past the rode. So we stopped to see my Grandmother first.

So I will stopped this post now and continue with part 2 later.