A big week - Part 2

So we did it. We made it to Wales …and back! The weather was gorgeous and we had the best time. 

The car journey was a bit stressful and Little C refused to have the transdermal anti sickness patch stuck on him. He did agree to have a Kids Quells though. We set off at 8pm (motorway closure at 9pm meant a change of the original plan) and he was wide awake and very anxious but very determined. I was proud of how brave he was as I could see the panic so clearly in his face. I was glad when 30 minutes into the journey he fell asleep (part sleep, part Quells sedation I think judging by his inability to hold his head up!). He was still fast asleep when we arrived at the caravan and I carried him to bed. He woke up giddy and bouncing with excitement the next morning.

He had a great day playing with a friend at the park on the caravan site but by tea time we could tell he was starting to worry about the wedding the following day. He was asking a lot of questions about what would happen. We did a ‘social story’ and talked it through but there was just so much to factor into it - four car journeys, a hotel, getting ready, the whole days wedding. I think it was just too much and he couldn’t cope with the amount of things that the day would involve. By night time he was getting distressed and panicky and saying he couldn’t do it. Then by Friday morning he'd firmly decided that he wasn’t going.

A range of emotions from me - quiet anger initially, frustration, then after some deep thought (and a walk on the beach) the realisation that this trip was always going to be near impossible. He had already done so well to get here. Were we asking too much of him? I came to the conclusion that although it was disappointing that he wouldn’t be there, it was for the best. He had done so well. We shouldn’t spoil it by pushing him too far.

So Little C’s grandma and grandad made a last minute dash to the caravan on Friday morning to look after him (so so grateful!)

The wedding was a truly amazing day. We were able to enjoy every moment. I knew the whole time I was there that Little C wouldn’t have coped and that after an hour he’d have wanted to leave. So we made the most of it and partied, with Big C too, until the very end which we haven’t done in ages and it was brilliant! 

Little C was happy and full of beans when we arrived back the caravan the next morning and we carried on our holiday for another three fabulous days! 

We had just one day away from the caravan park when we went 2 minutes up the road to Manorafon Farm Park. This place is just the best. There is so much to do, it’s not too busy and the staff are just brilliant. The dinosaur event was a bit too loud for Little C and he was absolutely terrified of the T-Rex, but he still says the best part of the holiday was the dinosaurs! 

Little C has coped really well with the trip and apart from having quite a big burst of tics over the last few days, he seems okay and not as dysregulated as we had expected.

So overall our trip was a huge success! Knowing we can get away for a little holiday next year is such a good feeling and something for us all to look forward to. We’re already planning to go back at Easter.