Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Maggie received her foot braces today!

This morning we had a mini scream fest on our hands while Tom tried to fit Maggie's new plastic ware. But as soon as he left the room, Maggie squirmed off my lap onto her new little feet. The difference was remarkable! When I held her hands while she was standing, she felt so much more stable and firm on the floor. She was wiggling around and when I looked down, she was actually doing a running motion with her little legs. She wanted to go! So I took her down the corridor ... and it was bliss! For a little girl with new 'shoes' ...
Now if only I could capture all the places she will go and the new adventures she will have! That's an entirely different blog I suppose.

Growing Up

Maggie starts school on Monday.

In a nutshell: Maggie qualifies for a Special Education program. It'll cover education, speech therapy, vision therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy ... and definitely some play-time! Due to her broad range of issues, the school district did not have a school that they could recommend. So our case was handed over to the county. That means she could be going to any school within the entire county of Santa Clara.

Our feelings, in a nutshell: When I think about her starting school, I regret to say that I don't have a flood of nervous emotion overwhelm me. I feel bad that I probably should. But I thought about it and realized that maybe it's because I know she's ready. Maybe it's because I know that she's going to be okay. She will have fun with the other kids in the classroom. Even though she is so tiny and fragile, she is definitely one tough little cookie. I know she'll be able to handle it.

The only thing I do worry about is if they keep up with her feeding through her g-tube. They told us that there will be a nurse supervising. Let's hope there aren't too many vomiting episodes! I worry about the play-doh and crayons!!

But Ed always reminds me that there is a nurse. She's been trained to do this sort of thing. Ed doesn't seem to be nervous about the feeding. He's nervous about her going to school ... period. I suppose it does feel like public recognition that Maggie is growing up. And we're getting older :)

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Did I put my underwear on today??

Yes. I know it's an unusually odd question, but as I was driving today, running errands, I frantically grabbed a boob, wondering if I did in fact put on my undergarments this morning!! I just went through a drive-thru Starbucks (they have strategically placed cameras), picked up Maggie's medication at a very busy and public grocery store and then ran into an overcrowded and people populated bank. It would have ruined the day ... I'm sure. And made an embarrassing story to tell later.

But, as I was driving with the two kids in the back ooh-ing, ah-ing and then complaining when "Itsy Bitsy Spider" had run it's course on my iPod, I realized I had dressed myself successfully. Everything was okay. I did only have mascara on one side of my face though. But that's alright. Who would notice that?? The woes of motherhood!!

Despite the day's events, I think Maggie is coming down with a cold. Poor thing is sneezing every time she looks in my direction. My sister-in-law was holding Maggie when she herself got hit by the Mini-Niagara Falls. But the amazing thing about Miss Maggie though, is that despite her aches and pains, she still giggles and squeals. And expresses extreme contentment when on her Daddy's arm. Kudos to Maggie ;)

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Nothing To Do ... How Wonderful!

It's Thursday morning (it feels like it really should be Friday) and the kids are still sleeping.

Ben slept like a big baby bear in the middle of winter last night ... this is a good thing!! Maggie didn't sleep at all last night. I finally took her downstairs to the kitchen at 5 and asked her what she wanted. She signed 'thirsty'. So I filled her pink little sippy cup with some cold water and she sipped away. Then, she pushed the cup away. I asked her what she wanted to do. She pointed upstairs and signed "Sleepy". I propped her on my shoulder and headed back upstairs, counting the stairs as we went (a Maggie tradition). I put her down with her pink little blankie and a sorry-looking Tigger (that I should wash today). Finally, all was quiet for the next couple of hours so we could sleep :)

As for today, I'm excited to announce that I have absolutely NO appointments scheduled (pronounced "ssssshhhhhed-huled" with a South African accent). Sometimes all these appointments drive me silly, because I would just like one day to myself and my kids. No cleaning, no dressing, no getting ready. We can just laze about. We will do this today! For sure!!

Maggie is waking up. So I'd better jump into action. And Ben has been kicking in his crib for about five minutes. Let me put them in the car and go to the Drive-Thru Starbucks :) Whoever thought of that idea was a genius!! They get a thumbs-up from every mom in this neighborhood ... without a doubt! Have a wonderful day everybody ... don't forget to have your cozy cup of coffee :)

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

A crazy week ...

After a crazy two weeks of physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, an audiology test at Stanford, a fitting for foot orthodics in San Jose, a walker evaluation and an IEP assessment ... all for Maggie ... it is now time to relax a bit!

My week was crazy, yes, and last night I thought I was going to have a breakdown of some sort. But it all dissipated when my husband walked in the door with Haagen Dazs Strawberry ice cream. He took care of Maggie while I fed and bathed Ben. Both kids were put down to bed at 8 sharp and it was time to relax! And I forced myself NOT to think about anything that could cause stress. I'm glad to say it worked. I woke up feeling much better and ready to take on whatever needs addressing today!

So that being said, I'm going to list a few positive things that also happened this week, which I think, overshadowed all the bad, icky moments:

1. Maggie is drinking milk out of a glass!!! She actually swallows the milk! She started doing it about a week and a half ago and now drinks about 1/2 cup a day of whole milk! We are ecstatic and thrilled that she does it! What makes it most exciting is that she wants to do it.

2. She is picking up so many signs to communicate, that my husband and I are falling behind! She makes up these extremely intricate little hand signals, that just floors us. Of course then we spend a few days trying to figure it out.

3. As much as I hate taking her for audiology tests and orthodic fittings (because she screams bloody murder for the entire time), she is very easily distracted afterwards. She always gets excited and lets out an expression of utter glee when she knows that she will be getting some 'icey' afterwards (aka 'ice cream').

So there ... life after all isn't so bad :) It is quite exciting with these little ones ... I wouldn't trade it, for sure!