The Jump Zone

The kids and I took a big chance today, and it paid off.

We went to one of those jumping places - you know, the warehouses with inflatable slides and obstacle courses that are all probably secretly owned by chiropractors. Every time we go to one of these bounce houses, I know I will get pulled into the fun, even if all I had planned to do was take pictures. That part I don't mind. Keeping up with both of them on my own in such a place makes me a little nervous.

My first experience with one was last December when my niece had her birthday party at one. I was recovering from pretty major surgery and wanted to sit on the sidelines. The laughter drew me in, and before I knew it I was jumping around like hot popcorn. Several kids tried to bounce me off an elevated mid-section of a circular racetrack. They succeeded not only in catapulting me off the thing, but in mid-air I did a back flip. It was like flying in slow-motion, and the whole time I was airborn, I thought "stitches, don't fail me now!"

Fortunately, today's was a little calmer experience. The bouncing always seems to put Ian in a groove that lasts all day. Man, can that kid climb. He would get to the top of a slide and wait for Ainsley and me so we could all go down together. They both took turns choosing our next adventure, and neither one complained.

Ainsley wandered off once - and I was terrified when I couldn't find her. After searching every inch of the place, I finally looked in the boys bathroom. There she was, staring at a urinal, trying desperately to figure out how to use it.

Ian has been extremly together the rest of the day. He has listened well, transitions have gone smoothly, he sang songs on our walk to the post office.

Lately, I have observed that physical exercise seems to be having a more positive effect on Ian than any of the supplements we've been giving him on the advice of our allergy/immunology specialist. I plan to spend some time over the next few days researching my theory that we may have taken a misguided path. Sigh. All in the name of hope.