Another walk

Based on Liz's insight on yesterday's post, I decided to try a walk again this morning.  The 86 degrees didn't seem quite as warm today, perhaps because the sun stayed behind the clouds the whole time.  I took water for e, but she apparently did not feel the need for it, since she swallowed very little.  And when we got back to the house it didn't take me as long to cool off as yesterday.  So maybe I will try more often to be outside.  The change of scenery is good for both e and me.

Thanks, Liz!

It's hot!

When I saw the cloudy sky about eight this morning, I stepped out on the deck to see how warm it was.  Since it didn't feel too bad I got out the stroller, got my sunglasses and water bottle, and took e for a short walk.  Perhaps "stroll" would be more accurate.  We saw sprinklers watering grass, heard doves cooing, noticed a couple of children carrying backpacks.  In less than thirty minutes we were back home unlocking the front door and stepping into the house, which felt cool even though the thermostat is now set at 77.  Then I checked the weather report; it was 88 outside, heading toward 106.  We both drank some water.  It was our first walk in two or three weeks.

Going from the house to the car to a store, the heat doesn't seem too bad, though parking lots are much hotter than grassy areas.  Perhaps if I walked every day I would get used to being out in the high temps, but I don't expect to try.

Bounce!

Yesterday I put e in her jumperoo, which is a seat surrounded by a tray with various toys that spin or move and suspended by three large springs (covered, of course, to prevent injuries).  Previously she has just sat in it; even though her feet reach the floor she didn't try to bounce.  Until yesterday.  What glee on her face as she realized what she could do by bending her knees and pushing!  And E and I also beamed.

"Round and Around"

Several months ago I saw a picture of a similar quilt on Bonnie Hunter's blog.  Someone (her name was not given) attending one of her workshops had brought it in for the show-and-tell time.  It intrigued me:  the use of small pieces, the movement, the randomness.  It seemed a great way to use lots of scraps.  This is the second piece I've made at E's.  I finished it last week.  It's about 46" by 48", composed of over 900 1" by 2" (finished) rectangles.  As I worked on it, I called it a Legos quilt because the pieces reminded me of the little blocks.  Most of the rectangles were cut from odd-shaped scraps left over from other projects.   The stitching began with two blocks side by side in the center then each round increased by one on a side till I decided it was large enough; the outermost row has 22 rectangles on each side.  As I approached the end of the pieces I'd cut, the quilt seemed to call for some kind of border or frame; I had enough of the bright blue to do the job.  I had planned to try a new quilting stitch, a spiral, but after 5 or 6 attempts, I just did stitch in the ditch, outlining the long rows.  The binding is a rainbow stripe.

It was really fun to make; I smiled a lot as I sewed.  I did not buy any new fabric for the project, using scraps I already had on hand.  It will live in my room at E's house.

I've already begun the next quilt, which is a mix of four-patch, 4" squares and 4" by 8" rectangles, again made from scraps and fabric I have on hand.  I'm trying to refrain from buying anything new until I make a significant dent in my stash!

Growing

Yesterday was one of those days when I was tired and wished e would have taken her second nap.  Yet, looking at her play with the beads on stiff wire toy (like we saw on a larger scale at the dentist's office when our girls were younger), how could I wish to be elsewhere?  She is exploring her environment, rolling around the living room, attracted by Oscar's rubber toy, trying to pet the cat, "talking" loudly and enthusiastically, sitting up by herself for 20 minutes or more...she is growing up!

"The Singing Thing"

Last Saturday, three friends from Trinity, Randy and I attended a workshop at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Sonoma led by John Bell.  He is described as "born in, resides in, and belongs to Scotland...and manages to survive without the benefit of a wife, car, cell phone, camera, or iPod."  He teaches, preaches, and is a leading expert on congregational song; he wrote several hymns in the hymnal that Trinity uses.  The workshop addressed the question "what enlivens the songs of the church in an increasingly globalized world?"  He gave the background of numerous hymns (most of them new to me), taught them to us (some by rote, others with the printed page), and led us in singing them.  These were not what I call "praise songs," with lots of repetition and the emphasis on the individual.  Most of them had thoughtful language and strong, contemporary imagery.  He talked about why we often have trouble with new songs in the church--they're not in our memory yet, we have no connection with them.  After the workshop, the church provided supper, then John led us in a worship service with lots of Scripture and music.

I thought it was a great way to spend the day, especially because Randy and I got to sing and worship side by side, which hardly ever happens any more since we attend two different churches.  (By the way, I have now served as organist/pianist at Trinity for 8 years.)  It's true that being stuck in stop-and-go traffic on highway 37 wasn't fun, but we talked a lot and discovered new things about each other.  And then we got to make music!

Week 20

The other day K asked if we have a schedule at Grandma Bootcamp, which reminded me of a blog post by an elementary teacher friend who wrote about the summer calendar for her two sons.  She listed numerous activities they wanted to do then put as many as feasible on the calendar--play dates with friends, trip to the beach, a Giants baseball game, etc.  When our daughters were young I created a three-month calendar with daily squares large enough to list swimming lessons, camp, whatever.  We used a different color marker for each girl so we could quickly see who had which event.  I liked being able to see the whole summer at once. Little e is not ready for things like that yet, but I do try to spend time each day making music with her, reading her favorite books (and new ones), sitting outside listening to the birds, working on her physical skills.  K's query made me think about being even more intentional with what we do, to strengthen e's entire being.  She does go back to bed about 8:30 for 40-90 minutes, then again around noon; she gets three bottles, spaced about three hours apart.  I guess that counts as a loose schedule; I haven't tried to say at 10 we read, at 10:20 we sit at the keyboard, at 10:30 we play on the floor.  We flow from one activity to another as e loses interest.

As to a schedule for myself, I usually take some quiet time during e's morning nap.  For instance this morning after I put her down I read a chapter in my book on solitude, prayed, and now I'm writing this.  Next I will practice some of the music for Sunday, if she is still asleep.  As I eat breakfast and lunch I read.  She does not sleep as much as when she was younger, but I still have some time to myself during the day.

This morning I learned that e does not like me to run the vacuum cleaner unless she is being held!

Separation anxiety

The other day e and I were playing on the floor, then I stood up and went to the kitchen, which is out of her sight line.  She immediately started crying loudly.  As soon as I returned to her, the tears dried up and she was her happy self.  I think this a sign of separation anxiety, which I read about in E's big book, Caring for Your Baby and Young Child, a true treasure-trove of information.  The authors say, "Just as she's starting to realize that each object is unique and permanent, she'll also discover that there's only one of you."  So when I'm out of sight she may exhibit distress.  It is a normal stage of emotional development, painful yet precious.  "...her desire to be with you is a sign of her attachment" to you.  The writers go on to provide some tips for coping with this.

Yesterday we saw the pediatric neurologist again.  He is pleased with E's progress and said, based on her "robustly negative" EEG and observations, thus far her injury has not declared itself and we can begin decreasing (very slowly) her medication.  Great news!!

K's mom and aunt arrived Wednesday night and will stay till Sunday.  They both exclaimed over E's growth since they last saw her.

Week 19

March, April, May, June... Yesterday marked the beginning of week 19 of my work/visit with e and her parents.  It feels like we have all settled into a routine and become comfortable living together.  I feel better equipped to care for e, aware of her needs and her cues for attention.  E seems more willing to treat me as just part of the family, less like a guest.  Weekends with Randy seem very short, but knowing there is an end in sight helps us both a lot.  Oscar, the dog, and I are getting along better.  Five years ago, or even one year ago, if someone had suggested I'd be spending months away from home like this I would have laughed away the possibility.  Now I'm laughing with enjoyment and thanksgiving at being allowed to participate daily in the life of this precious child and her parents.

Airports

Friday night E, e and K were meeting friends for dinner, so they dropped me off early at Sky Harbor. For a change the TSA pre-check lane was open so I breezed right through security, unlike last week, when it was not open and I stood in line for 15 minutes.  Go figure...the night I have extra time things move faster.  Some people might have used this extra couple of hours to explore the airport, but I just went to my gate area, bought a soda, and sat and read my book.  After a bit I ate the ham and cheese sandwich I made at E's, then the dried fruit.  I did walk around a little, looking at my fellow travelers. Most were dressed casually in shorts and sandals, though I saw some in suits who I assumed were businessmen.  My flight departed on time.

Yesterday I spent extra time at Oakland International because my flight was delayed about 90 minutes.  Two little girls and four adults sat beside me.  The children had stayed with their grandparents in the Bay Area while their parents went somewhere else.  The older couple brought the girls to meet their parents at the airport, then the family was flying home to Burbank while the g'parents stayed.  The parents heard reports of how well the girls played together, progress in swimming, etc.  They plan to all visit LegoLand next month.  I was trying to read my book, not eavesdrop, but I couldn't help it.  I have already volunteered to keep e if her parents want to take a trip someday without her.  After she is weaned, of course.

The other day I received an email congratulating me on achieving A-list status on Southwest.  This means I have made 25 one-way trips this year and am entitled to certain benefits.  We'll see if they're worth much.

This Wednesday K's mother and her sister arrive for a few days so his mom can attend the appointment with the doctor.  I have not met the sister before.

Normal!

Wednesday e had another EEG.  Since K and E both went with her I stayed home, since we knew the testing room was not much larger than a regular exam room.  That turned out to be a good choice, because in addition to K and E and the technician there was a trainee so the room was pretty full.  Little e did not enjoy having the electrodes attached to her head and provided a good learning experience for the trainee!  But she did sleep when the test called for it.  Yesterday the nurse reported that the doctor had read the results and proclaimed them normal.  Next week we have an appointment with him for more details and to discuss the next steps.

Although e is not crawling yet she does roll over in both directions, which enables her to move around a bit.  She also can stand alone for several seconds when placed by the couch.  What growth we're seeing!

Reading together

Yesterday I saw an example of e learning from something we do a lot of, reading.  Sometimes it seems the best way to calm her is to read a book.  She has a lot, from old standards like"Goodnight, Moon," to books by popular new authors like Sandra Boynton.  Many of them are board books that she can handle easily.  One of E's favorites is Boynton's "Barnyard Dance," with lots of animal sounds.  Another favorite that she will reach for when faced with a choice of several toys and this book is "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?"  She has a set of three books by Michael Muller about a Boston terrier named Mirabelle who has adventures with her human, Mr. Muller.  The simple words and pictures appeal to her, and perhaps she sees on some level the similarity between Mirabelle and her own Boston terrier, Oscar.

Yesterday I sat on the floor with her, holding one of the Mirabelle books in front of her, and as I read aloud she vocalized along with me, as if she were reading the book to me.  It was the most fun!