Maria Rose

Maria’s bike was supposed to be delivered Tuesday, but with weather delays, it didn’t arrive until yesterday. It’s beautiful!! Nice purple color with lime green decals, huge white cat horn (hmmmm), and that new car smell — really! I think it’s the seat. Manolis put it together by himself (the mama wasn’t feeling well and was too grumpy to assist), Uncle Andy’s going to perform a quality control inspection, and I’m sure she’ll go out for a spin after school today. Of course I’m going to miss it because I’m going out to dinner with my girlfriends (for the first time in many, many moons).

Andy updated the software (or some damn thing) for the blog, so hopefully it’ll be easier to add photos. If not, I’ll just post some pictures to my Facebook page….because I’m so hip…

We got a new kitten today! Her name is Bella (she was named Gizmo, but that didn’t fit). She’s tiny, black, long-haired, and very sweet. She was born with micropthalmia (tiny eyes), so she can’t see very well. Something that would discourage others from adopting her made it clear to me that we HAD to have her. Kijana (our other cat) isn’t so sure about her. Maria seems mildly amused with her. We have to watch Maria and Bella together because Maria could really hurt Bella (and vice-versa, I’m sure).

Where does the wine come in? I was talking to my friend, Monica, on the phone, put Maria in her stander, and put her next to the counter. I had a glass of wine on the counter and Maria grabbed it. I was waiting for the crash of breaking glass, but all there was was red wine everywhere–all over the floor, Maria’s tan pants, Maria’s light-colored shirt. And there was the glass of wine, still in her hand, going toward her mouth….. I was impressed that she was holding the glass so well and that she didn’t drop it!

Now that Maria’s bike is paid for (THANKS to everyone who donated!!), they’re building it and we should be getting it the 1st week of February. Can’t wait!!

Cathy just put the last payment down on the bike so it should be headed our way soonish. Thanks again to all the people who contributed.

Maria’s definitely more interested in mobility lately. When I had her Sunday she went about 30 feet in the walker without any help at all. I envisioned actual walking but it’s not exactly that. She hangs there, propelling her self inch by inch with the toes of one foot as the other foot drags. It’s not fast or elegant but it’s purposeful and steady which is what matters. I know she’s going to love the bike.

Here is an email I got today from Sara, one of Maria’s teachers:

We are all so excited today here at school!!!!

Maria walked in her walker from Cindy’s room. Down the hall about 50 feet … then back and into my room. She then walked across my room too.

We provided direction but she did all the steps on her own!!!!!

Go Maria!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG –how come she doesn’t do that for us at home?! Doesn’t matter, as long as she’s doing it somewhere! Like Sara said–Go Maria!!!!

I don’t know what’s gotten into Maria, but she is feisty this new year!! There was the bed incident, then today in occupational therapy, she was sitting on a bolster like you’d sit on a horse with Chris, and she started pedaling her legs–one right after the other! And then she struggled and brought one leg over, like you’d dismount a horse, because she wanted to get down.

We put her on the bike (like the one we’re going to get for her) and went for a walk and two different times she pedaled it by herself for several pedals! Both times the (lack of) steering was what stopped her (once she almost went off the sidewalk, the other time almost into a post). Holy moly!! I think we’re going to see great things from Maria this year!

One more sign of good things to come in the coming year–when Maria & I were coming home from getting Sprinkles cupcakes last week in a huge rainstorm, we drove right through the end of a rainbow! It was the darndest thing I’ve ever seen! So here’s the secret to getting the pot of gold–drive so fast that the rainbow and its little leprechans can’t hide fast enough.

Maria decided to bring in the new year with a bang. Apparently, at about 1 or 1:30am, Manolis heard a noise and went to her room. He pushed on the door and felt resistance, so he thought it was me playing a trick on him. He pushed harder and discovered that it was Maria laying on the floor behind the door!!! She got out of her bed through the little opening at the foot of the bed between the rail and the foot board, and rolled over to the door. He said she was cold. (it was cold in here last night, well relatively cold) OMG! I don’t know if it’s wonderful or awful. It’s both really.

So here’s to a new year full of miracles and magic for Maria (and to her extended village)!

I took Christmas week off, and before we headed off to Oceanside to see Auntie Rose & family, we went to Tres Rios Wetland south of I-10, just east of 91st Ave. Doesn’t look like much from the road, the sign is tiny and hard to see. The area isn’t very developed (which is one thing I liked about it), but the birds! It was amazing. Right off the bat we saw a male Cardinal in all its glory! The snowy egrets, great egrets, great blue herons, and a cinnamon teal were my favorites (in addition to the cardinal, of course). Like a dingdong, I didn’t bring my binocs; probably good though since I was with Maria and Manolis–they’re not so into birds. Next time Auntie Rose comes, though, that’s where we’re going! There are 2-3 large ponds to walk around, a couple of boardwalks that take you in the middle of a wetland, and several benches to sit on to observe the birds. We had Maria in her stroller, of course, and there was no problem getting around; well, except for a small patch of loose gravel that was tough to push her through, but other than that, it was awesome!! Highly recommend this spot!

Wed we headed to CA, spent a couple days with Maria’s aunt and uncle and cousin Amelia. Amelia’s 4, and finally able to interact with Maria (although she was puzzled as to why Maria doesn’t talk, etc). They held hands a couple times and you could tell Maria liked having Amelia around. Rosanne and Paul did a bunch of work on their back yard. It looks great! Looks like a park or a resort or Mediterranean villa. They did a fantastic job!! (esp considering that a couple short months ago Paul was very, very ill with pneumonia from swine flu). It was a low-key trip–a little shopping, a little walk near the ocean, a lot of eating–the usual! Since we’re getting Maria her very expensive bike, she didn’t get much in the way of gifts to open, but fortunately she doesn’t sweat the small stuff! One of the things I got her was some cute brown cords with fancy designs on the pockets and a glittery belt. Trouble is, they’re low-rise pants, and when you’re still in diapers, it’s not a good look…

Today we had our quarterly review with the state. It was the shortest one ever. And the best news of all–we’re getting a new coordinator!! It’s pretty obvious the current one doesn’t care for me much (she kept asking nanny Sue what Maria is improving at, what she’s been doing, etc.). I just kept my mouth shut and tried not to cause any trouble. She was nice enough this time, and appeared to be trying, but I’m still pretty pissed off about our last visit, so I admit, I didn’t try very hard this time to be anything more than polite. Needless to say, I’m very happy that we’re getting someone new.

Maria’s been out of school for just over a week. 3 more days of freedom and laziness, then it’s back to her schedule. She’s still going to bed around the same time, but we’ve all been getting up kinda late. It’s been nice!

Because I’m totally shameless, I mentioned the bike thing to my clients. One of them wrote a very nice press release. Thank you, Christine!

I took Maria to see the Dave Matthews Band movie in 3D. I liked the 3D (hard to keep the glasses on Maria’s face, though), and I liked the parts where Dave Matthews was on, but at least the first 30 min was 2 other bands, who may have been fine some other day in some other venue, but I wanted to see DMB and could care less about the other 2 bands!!! By the time DMB came on, Maria was asleep. I think the other 2 bands tired her out because they were pretty loud and rowdy (esp the 1st one).

The other unfortunate thing was that I think we were the only ones in the theater. We were sitting up front in the accessible seating and the theater was dark the entire time (beginning and endiing also), so can’t be 100% sure, but when I looked back, I didn’t see anyone else. It’s no wonder because I didn’t see any advertisements, except for the email I got. NOTHING in the paper. Shame! And of course, we went to the 9:40am on a Sunday show–DMB fans are surely still in bed by then!

Maria basically slept all day. Concert really must have tired her out! Oh well, I guess Michael Jackson and the Wiggles still rule Maria’s music world!

Today, Saturday, was a busy day!! First we were with Alison, speech therapist in Peoria, then way down to Gilbert for a Jin Shin Jyutsu session with Debbie, and finally back to Peoria for occupational therapy with Chris. Debbie did her usual thing of treating Maria while Maria listens to Therapeutic Listening tapes, which are supposed to help her talk. Manolis and I always leave the room because the treatments go better when Debbie and Maria are alone.

In her OT session, Maria was sitting on Chris’s lap, looking at her. Chris would talk to Maria, then Maria would look right at Chris and move her mouth like she was talking (no sounds came out). Then Chris would talk, then Maria would move her mouth. This went on for more than 20 minutes!! Chris said Maria was breathing like she was talking (not sure if that makes sense, hard to explain in text). Back and forth, and back and forth, just like they were having a long, involved conversation!

It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen Maria do! I wish I’d had my camera to take a video! I almost cried. Sue would have cried if she’d been there. And for some reason 2 tears came out of Maria’s eye at the end of the session when she was laying down.

I have no idea what that was about, but it was absolutely amazing! It reminded me of the time when Helen Keller finally figured out that the W sign meant water and the whole language thing finally made sense.

Next week is another Jin Shin treatment, followed by OT, so we’ll see what else happens!