When a family plans a road trip, everyone is always excited. Except for the mom. Why is that? Because she knows she is going to be left with the packing and washing beforehand. And the buying of the supplies and snacks. And the remembering of what all has to go with said family. With most families, the car ends up being loaded down to the point that the back end is dragging the ground - no matter how much you try to conserve space.
At least, this is the case for our family. Several weeks ago when we started seriously planning for our trip to South Dakota, I started making lists. The first list I made was for Evan. His list wound up being the longest. Why is that? Well, to take a special needs child anywhere takes much planning and forethought. Throwing the stuff in the car and leaving just can't happen. So, I'm giving you a little glimpse into the Holloway Household and what it takes to go on a trip with Evan.
But let me just tell you this much - Evan is an AMAZING traveler! Any kid who can last 12 hours in the car without fussing is amazing, and that is just what he did. Here's how you make it happen:
1. Emergency medicines are a must. All families pack their Tylenol and Advil for a trip. But we have to remember more than that. We have to have emergency breathing treatments and meds in case of a long seizure. We also brought along allergy meds for Zach, who has been having a lot of trouble with allergies lately. And sunscreen. That goes for everyone! Also, all regular medicines have to be refilled before we leave so we don't run out of them while we are away.
2. Keep an eye out for any gadget that will make life easier on the road. For this trip, we had to find some sort of bed for Evan. We knew ahead of time that our room in Sioux Falls was not going to be very big - at least not big enough for 5 people. We used to take the pack 'n play, but he pretty much won't sleep in that anymore. Plus, it takes up too much space in the car. Sometime beforehand I found something called a Ready Bed on Amazon that wound up being the perfect solution for him! It was the right size to fit down in a tiny corner of the room. It had bumper pads that (mostly) kept him in the bed without falling out. And it had a blanket attached to it! It comes with a small battery operated pump that inflates it quickly and also deflates it down to the size of a sleeping bag. We were able to transport it in a reusable shopping bag! It was a great little find!
Another great find was the Sack 'n Seat. My step-mom had recommended it to me on Facebook, and I added it to Evan's gift list. He received it for his birthday, and thank goodness he did! It stayed in his diaper bag the entire trip and we used it several times - especially when we had to feed him in the hotel room.
3. Food that can be microwaved in tubs are a necessity for Evan. Since his diet is still so limited, we brought Easy Mac and oatmeal in microwaveable cups, which were invaluable. Applesauce pouches were great as well. He is not a big snacker, so those were a good choice for him so we could keep driving without having to stop to feed him.
4. Bring Gram on the trip. It's not a must, but she is a blessing to have sitting beside him in the back seat!
5. Don't expect him to cooperate for pictures. It just ain't happening. You've taken him out of his home environment. Smiling for pictures is asking too much.
6. Cute brother moments can happen at any time. Have camera ready!
7. The pool will be his favorite place. As you can see from this picture, our hotel in Sioux Falls had an indoor water park. Praise Jesus. Oh, and you have to bring his raft since he can't swim. At least it's thin and doesn't take up much trunk room! And swim diapers. Can't forget those!
8. You have to bring extras of everything - extra diapers, clothes, wipes, shoes, etc. Because you have to be ready for any situation that might come up! Walmart is not always right there when you need it!
9. Expect lots of snuggling. Evan loves to snuggle. That is a known fact. The snuggling happens more when you're in a hotel room. And that pretty much makes it all worth it!
At least, this is the case for our family. Several weeks ago when we started seriously planning for our trip to South Dakota, I started making lists. The first list I made was for Evan. His list wound up being the longest. Why is that? Well, to take a special needs child anywhere takes much planning and forethought. Throwing the stuff in the car and leaving just can't happen. So, I'm giving you a little glimpse into the Holloway Household and what it takes to go on a trip with Evan.
But let me just tell you this much - Evan is an AMAZING traveler! Any kid who can last 12 hours in the car without fussing is amazing, and that is just what he did. Here's how you make it happen:
1. Emergency medicines are a must. All families pack their Tylenol and Advil for a trip. But we have to remember more than that. We have to have emergency breathing treatments and meds in case of a long seizure. We also brought along allergy meds for Zach, who has been having a lot of trouble with allergies lately. And sunscreen. That goes for everyone! Also, all regular medicines have to be refilled before we leave so we don't run out of them while we are away.
2. Keep an eye out for any gadget that will make life easier on the road. For this trip, we had to find some sort of bed for Evan. We knew ahead of time that our room in Sioux Falls was not going to be very big - at least not big enough for 5 people. We used to take the pack 'n play, but he pretty much won't sleep in that anymore. Plus, it takes up too much space in the car. Sometime beforehand I found something called a Ready Bed on Amazon that wound up being the perfect solution for him! It was the right size to fit down in a tiny corner of the room. It had bumper pads that (mostly) kept him in the bed without falling out. And it had a blanket attached to it! It comes with a small battery operated pump that inflates it quickly and also deflates it down to the size of a sleeping bag. We were able to transport it in a reusable shopping bag! It was a great little find!
Another great find was the Sack 'n Seat. My step-mom had recommended it to me on Facebook, and I added it to Evan's gift list. He received it for his birthday, and thank goodness he did! It stayed in his diaper bag the entire trip and we used it several times - especially when we had to feed him in the hotel room.
3. Food that can be microwaved in tubs are a necessity for Evan. Since his diet is still so limited, we brought Easy Mac and oatmeal in microwaveable cups, which were invaluable. Applesauce pouches were great as well. He is not a big snacker, so those were a good choice for him so we could keep driving without having to stop to feed him.
4. Bring Gram on the trip. It's not a must, but she is a blessing to have sitting beside him in the back seat!
5. Don't expect him to cooperate for pictures. It just ain't happening. You've taken him out of his home environment. Smiling for pictures is asking too much.
6. Cute brother moments can happen at any time. Have camera ready!
7. The pool will be his favorite place. As you can see from this picture, our hotel in Sioux Falls had an indoor water park. Praise Jesus. Oh, and you have to bring his raft since he can't swim. At least it's thin and doesn't take up much trunk room! And swim diapers. Can't forget those!
8. You have to bring extras of everything - extra diapers, clothes, wipes, shoes, etc. Because you have to be ready for any situation that might come up! Walmart is not always right there when you need it!
9. Expect lots of snuggling. Evan loves to snuggle. That is a known fact. The snuggling happens more when you're in a hotel room. And that pretty much makes it all worth it!
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