it's all in the jeans

   I remember going on vacation with my side of the family the summer when  Emma was about 18 months.  It was a nice family owned hotel where we got free breakfast - full sit down, take your order breakfast.  We all met - one of my brothers and sister and their spouses and my folks- for breakfast and while I was feeding Emma, my (newly married) brother in law and I were discussing feeding babies.  He said, "There are so many rules!  How do you learn all the rules?"
    I think I replied that you just learn as you go.
   Most of the time, life is like that.  You learn as you go.  You figure it out.  And, hopefully, you get some really good advice as you roll along (hehe - pun intended!)  Sometimes you learn the "rules" before you break them.  Sometimes you do research and learn and sometimes, you make up rules as you go.
   And what does this have to do with jeans?  It is one of those "rules".  Things you learn that would be good to know - such as frozen waffles make good teethers.  Good tips. 
   A good tip in the world of chairs is to check out pants designed for chair users.
   I have been (slowly) taking the buttons off the back of Jarrad's pants.  You wouldn't think that something so small could cause irritation or pressure sores but that is a possibility and even though he is good with his pressure relief, you can't be too careful.  Pressure sores are HORRIBLE!!  When we were learning about them in the hospital, one of the therapists said that we might have to get special pants to help avoid them.
    WHHHAAATTTT????

    Seriously?   You are talking about clothes?  On top of the medical and accessibility expenses?  And let me tell you that the way she described said pants was NOT pretty - all funky padding and cutouts -not cool.  And it really wasn't what we could handle at the time.  We needed to get him out of the hospital and home first.
   When  we did get settled and Jarrad started back to work, we started to think about things like pockets that he couldn't use because of where they were on the pants and other details such as his back side.  As in not showing it.  Easy to fix if wearing sweats; not so easy to fix while wearing dress pants or regular jeans.  Me, having remembered the therapist's words googled "wheelchair jeans".
    What I found was a lot pants for folks who use a chair because walking is very hard - ie for geriatric patients.  Like the photo to the left.  And this standing model was under the "wheelchair section".
   We did find - after much searching - a couple of sites for pants and jeans that were designed for paras and quads.  One site in particular had jeans designed by someone who uses his products.  AND they were modern.  They look nice and have usable hip pockets and calf pockets. They were ordered and Jarrad (and I) love them! 
    Ok.  Why get special jeans and why these in particular?
    1.  Modesty.  No one wants his or her butt to hang out or unmentionables to show.
    2.  Skin Integrity.  No seams, no buttons - smooth fabric to help prevent sores
    3.  Pockets.  The ability to use pockets without things falling out.  By the way - regular carpenter jeans don't work.
    4.  Me.  Selfish, I know BUT I am able to get a better grip on these so that I can help Jarrad more as he transfers into the van (I feel safer). And he looks so cute!

 5.  And these are just plain nice.  No, really, google "wheelchair jeans" or pants and see.  (It's a bit scary!)
6.  Endless Ability has great customer service.
    So your new "rule" is: You aren't going to go out and buy a new wardrobe right away but just like you added pieces here and there before, you are going to do it in the future.  Might as well get something that fits your body the right way.  

(PS -They are coming out with khakis soon.  I am so excited!)

(PPS - not compensated for this review)