Caution! Autism on Board.

A few months ago Jesse’s dad, Dalton, called us up and invited us down to visit in Texas. He and his wife, Patti, rented a beach house just south of Galveston and we were invited to join them for a week of fun, sun and as much relaxation as Kamp would allow. We thought about hopping a flight, but figured that, although it would have been awesome to be on “Good Morning America” we’d have to drive rather than take Kamp on an airplane. (We would have totally gotten kicked of the airplane.)

We packed up the car, set Kamp up in his little corner all snug and tight and began our journey. Twenty-one straight hours to San Antonio, Texas. We felt like it was be better to get the drive over in one shot – the bulk of which could be done while the kids were asleep. In theory, it seemed like a good idea. Seemed that way.

Kamp did well through the drive down. He had his movies. His favorite snacks. His odd assortment of toys.He was happy. Content. Although he didn’t really sleep like we had hoped, there were no major meltdowns; just the normal screams and thuds we’d become accustomed to.

When we finally got to San Antonio, Kamp had a great time! We saw a few family friends (To protect their identities, we’ll call them Brock and um…Tara.) I protect their identities because Kamp stripped down (naked) and went for a dip in their pool. Before he got out, he decided to leave a little something for them to remember him by (he pooped in the pool).

At another friend’s home (Let’s call ’em Ben…and Lisa), he walked in, helped himself to a slice of pizza in the kitchen and polished off a few empties on his way out – all without saying a word. We got to eat the BEST Mexican food in the world, Teka Molino, and set off for a few days of sun, Gulf, and BBQ – a lot of BBQ.

We spent a few great days with family, and Kamp never wanted to get out of the water. That boy is obsessed with water. Hadley got to spend some quality time with her Grandparents, and Max’s fear of water was alive and well – still is.

The Return Trip

To help me describe our journey home, I refer to the classic film, “What About Bob.” When Bill Murray’s character, Bob, goes on a long bus ride and discovers that his beloved gold fish, Gil, has had a melt down. Watch the movie and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Kamp had been out of his routine for over a week. He had been in new places (e.g. the beach, new houses and the BIGGEST toilet ever), and he had been holding it in for as long as he could. We endured a few car tantrums, but nothing could have prepared us for the mother of all melt downs we endured when we decided to pull over and grab some food at the Wendys in Moab, Utah.

It was very busy, we were all dirty and grunge from our long drive, and when we got in the back of a very slow moving line, Kamp  assumed his normal position on top of Jesse’s shoulders. He was hungry, tired and at that moment decided to let a handful of unsuspecting lunch patrons know how he felt about his life.

Out of nowhere he began screaming and trying to get down from Jesse’s shoulders. He hit Jesse and laid on the ground screaming refusing to get up (it literally sounded as though he was being beaten in the middle of Wendy’s). He kept kicking, hitting, and slapping at his Dad all while screaming. Jesse finally picked him up and dragged him outside.

Do you know what you do when that happens? Nothing. You get your food, avoid eye contact, wipe the sweat off your brow (from the anxiety surge), hold your head as high as you can, and remind yourself over and over that you don’t care what those people think all while feeling like if someone said something, you would explode into tiny little pieces. Needless to say, that day, the folks at Wendy’s got lunch and a “show.”  That one was on the house!