The Lodger and Us

The Lodger makes me laugh, most days.  He has a really funny view of the world and an amazing way of just getting on with things.  Yesterday he came out school telling me it’s Pancake Tuesday tomorrow in an excited how brilliant sort of way.  He then stopped and said “What is Pancake Tuesday?” A quick explanation and a reassurance that he will have a pancake for his special tummy and all was good.... well when I say good, I mean content but with a 1000 question follow up, repeatedly, throughout the afternoon and evening...... and the following morning.... but that's just how it is with The Lodger.  "Mum will I have a pancake?" "Yum, I love pancakes!" "Mum , I'm going to love my pancake!" "Mum, does everyone know it's pancake Tuesday tomorrow?" "Mum, can you make pancakes?" "Mum, will you make the pancake after school tomorrow?" "Mum, pancakes are great." "Mum, when is P...

Lodger, where are your legs? I don’t know. Where did Mummy leave them? I don’t know. Da. Yes Lodger. Why do you need them? To put them on you. Why? So we can go out. Why? Where are we going? To the shop. What shop? The fish shop. Why? To buy fish. Why are we buying fish? For lunch. I love fish. I love lunch. Where are my legs? Obviously not his actual legs. They are attached to him, luckily. Enough issues without removable legs. The Lodgers legs are his action boots , his plastic leg holders that help support his ankles while we wait for the muscles to grow.  I’m wondering if they ever will. The Lodgers Action Boots Where’s the fish shop? Near the hotel. What hotel? The swimming hotel. (W here we have gone swimming ) Why? Because it is. Why? Look a bird.  The art of ongoing distraction 101. Sometimes. Where? You missed him. Where? Over there. I don’t see him, Da. Da. I don’t see him. What bird? ...

The Lodger loves telling stories and his favourite story to tell is about his day. It's a joy to watch his face light up as he starts each new day telling us about his day yesterday.  Reading Books at the Recent Routine Hospital Stay It's also a stark reminder of the hard work he's put in over the last four and half years. We've gone from speaking with our hands using Lamh (Simple Irish Signs), using cards to prompt words(PECS), to using a handful of words and cued articulation (to show him where the sounds come from), to finally to talking in full sentences.  My job as an interpreter is fading fast and I'm delighted for him. The fact he can now communicate with mostly everyone has made his day to day life easier.  Recently more and more strangers are clearly understanding what he's talking about and he'll happily chat away with them FOREVER! It does mean we are steadily entering a new phase of PWS.... P erseveration!    The Lodger gets 'stu...