Our Texas Trip – Part 2

In my previous blog, I shared with you some of the difficulties Aaron had as we went to Texas to see our other children.  Kyle and Andrea live just east of Houston, and our son Andrew was going to be in town there for an NHRA race – he works for one of the teams.

Aaron loves talking to his siblings on the phone.  He could go on for hours, literally, talking about all his interests.  But suddenly the idea of actually being with them was not so appealing.  It’s the traveling and leaving his comfort zone that he simply cannot handle. 

We all know Aaron very well and have come to expect his anger when his world is upended.  During Christmas, we refer to Aaron’s Annual Christmas Meltdown as we know it will inevitably occur.  So on this week of vacation and visiting, we were fully expecting Aaron’s Annual Vacation Meltdown.

We started our week off in a safe mode, doing something Aaron loves – shopping!  He was happy to go to Sam’s with me and Andrea, carting home extra goodies that he chose.  He was more relaxed and happy that day, until we told him that the next day we were going to the Aquarium Pyramid in Galveston. 

His discomfort level rose as he contemplated tackling one more unfamiliar place.  But when we showed him a video of some of the displays there, his interest overcame his doubt.  And oh my goodness, what a day we had!

The building itself is beautiful:

And once inside, Aaron was beside himself excited!  He loved every single minute.  Everyone nearby heard and saw his joy as he laughed and pointed and talked up a storm.  The day was truly delightful.  Here are some pictures.

Near the entrance, with Gary and Andrea:

He LOVED the penguins: 🙂 🙂

The tunnel was amazing:

He got to pet the Manta Rays, but the first time he bent over in a deeper area he started to fall in the water!  He would have totally fallen in had Gary and I not grabbed him.  His soaking wet shirt and shorts didn’t bother him in the least.  We went up to a safer place and he carried on while Gary and I held on…to HIM!

A visit to the gift shop ended with us buying Aaron a stuffed penguin he wanted.  On the way out of the aquarium, we passed one more penguin display, where Aaron showed the live penguins his stuffed penguin.  The reaction of the one of the penguins, and of Aaron, was priceless.

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We ate lunch at Jimmy’s On The Pier.  It was very windy outside but so beautiful!

What a very fun and wonderful day for all of us, full of happy memories!  I’ll share more in my next Texas blog.  Thanks for reading!

Author: Patty hesaidwhatks

I'm Patty and I write about our adult son who has Epilepsy and Autism, who still lives with my husband and me, and who is a package full of many surprises and joys and challenges and TALK! Lots of talking, which creates laughter and some other reactions as well. I also write about how God shows Himself to me in everyday life.

24 thoughts on “Our Texas Trip – Part 2”

  1. Patty how sweet to see Aaron’s joy at the aquarium. I can’t get enough of it. I love the way that you segued him into wanting to go, after his initial reluctance, by showing him the video. I know you have had to become an expert in the psychological technique of gradual desensitization to warm Aaron up to the thought of an adventure. You are by now such an expert in all kinds of psychological interventions you should have a Ph D. I looked at the pictures of the pure and simple joy on Aaron’s face over and over again. Every time that I know that you guys will have to pull Aaron out of his comfort zone even I get nervous about it. And then I see these pictures of him enjoying himself to the core and I just breathe a deep sigh of relief and smile (as I know do you and Gary).

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  3. This whole blog gives me such joy!! I’m so glad it was a happy happy trip for everyone. So wise to show Aaron in advance all the fun he was going to encounter and did he ever! Those smiles! I know yours was just as big as the family! Bless bless! Maybe next year he will actually look forward to the trip. 😃

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  4. Aaron has such a contagious laugh! 😄 It’s great to see you all had a good time 🙂 I visited that aquarium with my husband and in-laws and it is such a nice place. You got some really wonderful pictures, and I hope you got some wonderful memories, too! 💖

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  7. Ahhh love all of this! What a fun video…our family leaves for a Texas trip in two weeks..Waco, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and then South Padre Island…I may very well have overfilled the itinerary 😬🙄
    Your ‘pier picture’ is making me even more excited!!

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      1. Thank you Patty! I’ve enjoyed stories, pics, and the video from your trip! Love that we can share our fun memories with one another here on WordPress.❤️

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  10. How cool that he got to hang out with penguins! My daughter would love that! I cracked up at Aaron almost falling in the water. That’s always my fear whenever we go to aquariums! Haha!

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