Maria and I left early last Thursday morning (1 1/2 days after Manolis went back to Greece) for the Oregon Coast. It’s our annual girls weekend (JCND, that’s Just Chicks, No … well, you get the picture). It’s our 10th anniversary (tho’ I missed a few in the middle), and Maria’s 4th one (she was in my belly for her 1st one). There were about 10 women and Maria this year. Mostly friends from Klamath Falls, or friends of friends. Maria really enjoyed the sand on the beach, loved being in the middle of things–although she did get a bit overwhelmed at times and took long naps each day to get away from all the chatter.
Poor little Maria got no new toys and no new clothes in Oregon (shocking, isn’t it??), but I did buy her a wonderful drum from Bolivia. They’re shipping it to us, didn’t want to deal with carrying it on the plane. Can’t wait to get it!!
Auntie Carolyn last saw Maria in November and was amazed at how much she likes to stand, how much better she’s sitting, her head and trunk control, many improvements. The other women seemed a bit scared of Maria last year, but almost all of them interacted with her this year. Someone told me that I seemed more relaxed with her this year, too, so that probably helped them not be afraid of her.
I was hoping our trip would cure her of her newest bad habit–she opens her mouth very wide and acts like she’s gagging or choking. I think she started it as an attention-getter, but often it gets out of control. She sometimes throws up when she’s doing it, but the worst is when she gasps for air, like she’s having an asthma attack, and her eyes roll up into her head, and she looks very distressed. It’s bad enough when she does it in private, but in front of others it’s really awful; they don’t know if she’s in trouble or being tortured or what. We asked the neurosurgeon and feeding therapist about it today. Feeding therapist is at a loss (like us); neurosurgeon wants to rule out seizures or shunt problems, so he ordered an EEG and a one-bang (quick) MRI. Yippee.
Uncle Andy came to get us at the airport when we got back from our trip. When we got to the house, he put her in her high chair, and she squinted her eyes and got a huge, sharp-toothed grin. It was SO cute!! I think she was just so happy to see him, she just had to grin! That night when I put her to bed, she just layed there for the longest time, quiet, with her eyes open, happy to be at home in her own bed.
We met a substitute nanny today (my co-worker’s wife), who’s been an aid for special needs kids at a nearby preschool, so she’s comfortable with Maria’s “issues”. Our regular nanny has to go to Hawaii for a few weeks to help her mom out. Bad timing (busy times the next few weeks), but when is a good time to have a sick mom?? Never.
It’s awfully quiet and lonely at home without Manolis. I think Maria really misses her daddy. We talk most days. I called him last night right when I put Maria to bed because she just seemed out of sorts; it did seem to help. When he’s on the phone, she tries to grab it and lick it–just like what she does to his face!!