The Birthday Boy!

The Birthday Boy!

We are still recovering from Ram's birthday. We had a great time with our friends and it was one of the best visits despite Banana and Sheepy brining with them coughs. Poor Ursula didn't get much sleep because Sheepy came down with an earache the day after the birthday.

The kids had Thursday and Friday to play about, and some serious Legoing was done, as well as trapeze practice. Part of the fun of the trapeze for some was using the milk churn on its side to do some log rolling. When Ram came to bed on Friday night I asked why he was upset with things,and he told me that the milk churn makes too much noise. So the next morning, rather than just say that they couldn't do it anymore, we sought a solution. It came very quickly. We got an old rug down from upstairs and put that down on the floor. Problem solved!

I always like to think things through and find a win win solution, rather than just being confrontational and telling people to stop what they are doing.

Saturday was birthday day, and although we were hoping that Ram could hold out until Dxh got there to open presents, because we werent' sure when he was arriving, Ram couldn't wait. He got a wonderful book from The Dog Walker called The Dastardly Book For Dogs, some more Lego (you can never have enough) and a new Gameboy Game called Harvest Moon.

Of course the main present didn't come out until later in the day. My son has had a right of passage and has his first air rifle! I know that for some people, especially those in towns, you may find that a shock, but here in the deepest countryside, and with the people that we associate with, this is a really big thing.

Ram is taking it very seriously, and despite his usual blank expression, you could see that he was really pleased. He is looking forward to improving his skill. Mind you, his first shot hit the bull's eye so he won't have far to go!

Ram didn't want every one coming at the same time, so in the afternoon we had another family round for tea and cake. The kids got on well, but by the time they left it was clear that Ram was flagging. Luckily Robin Hood was on and we all sat down to watch that together.

We didn't plan anything for the next day, so that the kids could just chill. It was lucky really because Sheepy came down with earache! We ended up with a day of films. We watch the newly released Harry Potter DVD, one that they brought with them, which was great because we can't go to the cinema (way to loud for autistic kids!) so we often don't get to watch films until a year later when they come out on DVD.

Then we watched the current rental DVD which was Flushed Away. A lovely animation just right for kids who are stress or under the weather. Then they watched Matilda which just happen to be on TV, and then there was a fourth one, that I can't even remember! But then someone had to be in the kitchen making food!

After Ursula and family left on Monday it was clear that Ram had been holding himself together and had only just made it to the end. He sat for the entire morning in a chair with a blanket over him, listening to me read. Then the whole afternoon was spent watching TV that we had recorded while there were here.

Ram decided that he didn't want anyone around for the rest of the week, including his Dad. And indeed, we have spent the last few days doing very little.

To people outside the family they probably saw a lively boy enjoying his birthday. What they don't see is the after effects, and just how much energy is taking up in appearing to be normal.

But no matter, Ram had a wonderful time, and I am sure it was made all the more bearable by knowing that he would have lots of time to recover.