A Pandemic Birthday Celebration

Yesterday we celebrated not one but two events. Well, to be clear, Riley was only interested in one…HIS birthday. Father’s Day was just a slight blip on his radar and only after some rather blatant helpful hints did he acknowledge it. 

With the pandemic, we were not able to go out for Riley’s usual birthday Udon. But we were able to have my sister’s family over for take-out. They are part of our extended family bubble. It’s the first time we have gotten together and thankfully the weather cooperated so we were able to be outside. 

2 Bowls of Plain Udon - that face says it all!

My sister's family - they sat together at their own table. 

This year Riley’s list had only 4 items on it. The number one desire was a t-shirt. A particular t-shirt. A t-shirt like the one we got in Jamaica when we were on a cruise 3 years ago. Seriously???  He usually starts his birthday list as soon as Christmas is over so it gives me a LOT of time to do the research. Long painful story short…I found one. 

Riley hasn't quite caught on that I wrap presents in different boxes. He was slightly confused as to why he would be getting slippers. 

His new "home" shirt!  He came down wearing it while we were still eating dessert. 

Oh...and because we can't have more than one "home" shirt at a time...found this in our hamper this morning...

25 Years in the Making...

If you are new to Riley World and would like to take a stroll down memory lane with me...Click here or on the photo to have a look at the first 19 Chapters in Riley World

Twenty-five years ago, you came into this world. Two and a half decades. One quarter of a century. When the heck did I get so old?!?!? 

Little did we know that life, as we knew it, would never be the same.

When you were born, you were the same weight/length as J2 was...only you were bald.
When you were born, 1 in 150 were diagnosed with autism. Today, it is more like 1 in 59.
When you were born, the movie Rain Man was the closest thing to autism that people could relate to.

Growing up, I was never a very patient person. Becoming a parent, well…never changed that.  

After J2, I thought nothing or no one would ever be able to test my patience like he did. I was wrong.

You changed me.

Who knew there would be so many doctors with such long, LONG waiting lists. 
Who knew there would be so many forms to be filled out. So, SO many forms. 
Who knew there would be so many tears. Tears of joy, sadness, laughter and often times, hysteria.

You have brought autism awareness to so many.

In the early years, it was in the form of a high-pitched scream that would silence a food court. Pretty sure it caused hearing loss to anyone within a 5-block radius.  

As you grew and matured, the awareness you spread was not so ummmm…loud and overwhelming for others (or us). I imagine it had to do with the popularity of earbuds/noise-cancelling headphones.

Nowadays it is your charm and endearing qualities that attract people to you.

You changed our world.

You have changed the lives of many.

You continue to change the world.

Happy 25^th Riley-man!  
We are so proud of you!  ❤

It's Riley World's Birthday!!!

I haven't exactly been keeping up with my blogging these past 2 months and I'm not so sure I would've blogged last night if it wasn't for a certain someone's birthday today. 

We've been building up to this day since Mother's Day was declared "finished"...right after he gave me the card G strong-armed him into making me. Before you judge let me explain. Riley had been talking about making me a card for Mother's Day for at least a month prior and sometimes you just need to make good on your promises. :) Here's what he came up with...

Yea.  Not exactly Hallmark quality but a Riley World creation...priceless.  

With Father's Day just 2 days before R's birthday, I had a little more pull when it came to him "making" G's card because as with all things Riley World...once the card is given, the occasion can be declared "finished" and we can move on to the next event. Mainly Riley's birthday.  

Oh...here's G's Father's Day card. 

In case you couldn't tell, that's G and R on the left. Although it's pretty obvious since he drew it to scale.  

I had a look back at the blog/FB posts I had written on Riley's birthday over the past 3 years so as not to repeat myself about how he has changed our lives for the better; made me a better person; blah, blah, blah.  ;)  I kid. Seriously, what I wrote last year for his 21st Birthday...still holds true. 

So today for Riley's 22nd birthday, we will be doing exactly the same thing we did last year and the year before and the year before that...going to his latest favourite restaurant with the family. 

He will have exactly the same thing he had last year and the year before and the year before that...2 bowls of plain udon with "no seasoning" and a C-Plus Orange Pop with no ice. 

He will open exactly the things he wrote on his birthday list and will be as excited and as happy as if he won the lottery. Because that's what makes Riley World tick. Exactly the same thing year after year after year and who's going to argue with this face...

Happy 22nd Birthday Riley!!!

Riley World's 21st Anniversary!!!

Ever since you were little one of your nicknames was Riley-man. Not sure why. It just was. And today you will be 21 years old. You are your nickname.   

I remember when birthdays were not any fun for you. 

And now…you can not wait for your birthday or Christmas or Easter or any other special event. It may have taken you a bit longer but boy oh boy are you ever embracing it now.

I remember when doing any type of group activity was not in the cards. 

And now…you are participating in Special Olympics and “giving it all you’ve got!”

I remember when you had to be put under general anaesthesia to get your teeth cleaned. We did that twice. 

And now…you put it on your visual schedule as if it were just another thing to do on any given day and are a rock star in the dentist chair.

I remember when you were a “particular” eater.  And now…oh wait.   Never mind.

I remember when any sign of crust would be the end of the world. 

And now…not only will you just pick off the offending parts but you will eat grilled cheese sandwiches cut into squares OR triangles. BAM!!

Yes I STILL cut off the crusts but if I happen to miss a spot...you will just pick it off.  :D

In your 21 years…

You have taught me that life is not black and white. It is mostly grey. Not an ugly grey. A nice slate grey. 

And now…there are more rainbows then grey.

You have taught me to live one day at a time. Mostly because that’s all I could handle in the early years of Riley World. 

And now…well…ummmm…I’m still living one day at a time because now you’ve entered Riley World: The Adult Years and it’s scary. Very scary.  

You have taught me to have a sense of humour. Because laughing was a whole lot better than ugly crying. 
And now…I can laugh even more because now there are places that sell beer and wine even on Sundays.

But mostly…you have taught me to be patient. Boy have you taught me. Over and over and over again. You have tested my will to live sometimes.  ;)  
And now…21 years later, I think I am a better person because of you. 

Happy 21st Birthday Riley-Man!  

I Love You, Mom

I Met a Boy...

22 years ago I met a boy. Even though I never dreamed it could happen to me…it was love at first sight. He had brown eyes, brown hair and when he would wrap his fingers around mine my heart would melt.

22 years ago my life changed forever. You have taught me many things through the years. I have questioned many things I have done along the way. I only have one more question…are you ever going to move out???  ;)

Happy 22nd J2!!  

Love, Me

J2 Reaches the Age of Majority

It was a mere 365 days ago that my first born was no longer a teenager. Today he is considered the age of majority everywhere. in. the. world.  What is even scarier…I HAVE A TWENTY-ONE YEAR OLD SON!!!

I was looking through some old photos (yes…J2 was born in the pre-digital days) and sat weeping softly in the corner reminiscing about the past 21 years. As you can see I have become a little obsessed with PicMonkey. 

From an early age J2 wanted to follow in his big brother’s footsteps. 

 

I was trying to come up with something sentimental yet not tooo sappy...after all we are talking about a 21 year old young man. What better way than through a song and as luck would have it I found these lyrics from the third verse of the number one song on BillBoard Magazine’s Top 100 songs of 1993:

I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you've dreamed of
And I wish you joy and happiness
But above all this I wish you love.

Happy 21st Birthday J2!!! 
I <3 you!