Easter & the zoo

If you aren't following the blog on Facebook, you've missed out on a few things recently.  First, I've put up some cute pictures (some of which you'll see here).  Second, today I posted a (not-at-all-graphic) play by play of the excitement that we had during day 1 of our attempt at potty training.  Third, I spent Saturday morning in the emergency room because I couldn't breathe, and it turned out that I had croup (aka laryngotracheitis aka no-one-gets-that-after-they're-like-5-years-old, right?). 

Between trying to recover, allergy attacks, potty training boot camp (well, not really), and school being closed for the week, I don't have the time to really write.  Instead, pictures:


Collecting eggs is fun . . .

But not as fun as BUBBLES!

(Parker was a big fan of the bubbles, too.  He was like a bubble pac-man.)

Then, on Monday we went to the zoo . . .

Impressively, her love for alligators remains as strong as ever, months after it started.  She just adores them.

Alligators!  I see them!

This was when she saw that one was swimming towards her :)

 

A zoo trip, and self-directed OT

Miss Maya had the day off today, so we packed ourselves up and headed to the zoo.  While she's always loved the zoo, it's funny to think back on how her favorite animals have shifted.   She delights in holding her nose near the penguins and sea lions to tell me that they're "stinky" (really, they are---the fishy smell is overwhelming), she doesn't care much about looking at them.  The gorillas, who like to hang out right at the other side of the glass, have never held her interest for more than a second.  The current favorites:  alligators, tigers, and rhinocerous.  Why?  Who knows.  But she was in love. 

Fake rhinocerous, I love you almost as much as the real thing :)

Mommy, a tiger.  A real tiger!

The cover of the zoo map (which she clutches the entire time we're at the zoo) is a photo of the tiger.  She kept looking at it, then showing it to the tiger. 

Hey tiger, this is you!  Check it out!

This might be my favorite picture of the day:

Tiger: Wow---I can't believe what I'm seeing through these bushes.

Maya: Wow---I can't believe what I'm seeing through this window.

In other zoo news, she simultaneously desperately-wanted-to-ride and was-terrified-of the bug carousel.

She was exhausted when we got home.  She had a snack and then was having some sort of tantrum-y fit, whining and pointing and trying to throw herself out of the booster seat.  I took her out and carried her around the kitchen, muttering "what, what, what is it that you want?  I don't understand" and my mind wandered, again, to our quest for a communication solution.  As it turns out, she wanted the white board & dry erase marker (she lunged as we passed it on the counter).

She sat on the floor and drew (and I sat at the table and checked my email)  and suddenly I heard "Done!"

Done with what?

As it turned out, she was giving herself some fine motor practice with the marker cap.  I don't know if she's done this at school or what, but it was seriously cute to watch her practicing her to cap a marker, and triumphantly yelling "Done!" when she had it, well, done.


That's one focused girl  :)

I'm exhausted, the universe is out to get me, and it may all be worth it, anyway

This week is just a little crazy. 

• Mon: I had a job interview
• Tues-Maya had a doctor's appointment in the morning. I had a support group meeting in the evening. 
• Weds--I met at school with Maya's teacher, then took her to feeding therapy. 
• Today-I worked at a consulting gig. 
• Tomorrow-Maya has an assistive technology evaluation at school (I'll be going, too) -This happened much faster than expected, and I had an emergency phone consultation with an awesome AT guy last night to help me prep for the meeting. 
• Saturday-I'm working at a different job
• Sunday-Frantically clean up the house before Monday
• Monday-A reporter (&camera man-shudder) are coming to meet with us about a possible story

Each of the 2 jobs required prep work and the trading of dozens of emails, as did the AT evaluation tomorrow.  Add to this the continued communication book making, iPad screen developing, writing, and general life responsibilities, and I am frazzled.  Maybe beyond frazzled, actually.  I'm kind of catatonic.  In the mornings, I am focused and multitasking.  When Maya comes home, I am animated and doting.  Once she's in bed, my eyes glaze over as I work on the computer, answer emails, etc.  I'm staying up too late, I'm getting up too early, and I'm willing myself to just make it through to next Tuesday. 

As is typically the case when too much is on my plate, I'm rushing and cutting corners, which inevitably makes more work for myself.  I entered my online banking code incorrectly 3 times today, got locked out of the account, and had to spend 20 minutes on the phone convincing them that I really am myself.  I'm wiped out.

Now that you understand my mental state, you'll see the humor in this story.

The job that I helped with today was grading standardized-style tests.  Last week I did some work from home to help develop rubrics for part of the test, and it was really enjoyable to work on something that was not special-needs related.  Suddenly I remembered that I used to have a career in academics, and I used to enjoy it.  I was really looking forward to sitting in a room full of adults today, coffee cup on my desk, #2 pencil in hand, and grading whatever chunk of the test I was assigned.

I opened the book to my section of the test and started grading my 3 short answer questions.  My brow furrowed as I skimmed the first answer, and I flipped back to take a look at the passage . . .

 . . . which was all about a boy who wished he could play in the NBA, but he couldn't, because he was in a wheelchair.

Seriously?

Seriously.

Screw you, universe.  All I wanted was a few hours off.  Just a little mental break. 

The last question asked "Why was Justin sad when he went to the NBA game?" and I had to read over 300 answers of "He knew he could never fulfill his dream of playing in the NBA because of his disability."

(sigh)

On a happier note, Maya went on her first class trip today!  Her class went to the zoo (which she loves).  Last night I made her a zoo communication board that she could bring with her today (just one laminated sheet because I knew the book would be too heavy to bring).  Her (fabulous) teacher emailed the parents some pictures, and my eyes teared up when I saw this one:

She used the board, and the teacher said she loved it.  She got to talk at the zoo.  And after she came home, she kept telling us "zoo! zoo!" (by pointing) and showing us all of the animals that she saw.  (If you ask her if she saw the penguins, she smiles and holds her nose---that penguin house is so stinky!)

 it's blurry because it's heavily cropped

This was cropped out of the group photo of all of the kids + all of their partners for the day.  Look at her clutching her words.  She's really getting attached to the word book, she knows it's how she can make herself heard.

Totally makes the late nights working on that stuff worth it, I think.

Computers & Camels

The title means that I'm going to tell you about 2 things: 1. Computers.  2.  Camels.  Separately, not together.  I'm doubtful that camels and computers are a good combo.  (Although, my college mascot was a camel, so I guess right now I actually am a camel with a computer . . . but I digress.)

First of all, this post is being brought to you from my fancy new home workstation.  I set up a desk space with a monitor, keyboard and mouse---allowing me to turn my laptop into a desktop.  Why?  2 reasons.  First of all, for Maya.  I want her to start touching a keyboard and mouse, but I certainly don't trust her with my (breakable) laptop.  The external keyboard is a much better idea, and the big monitor screen lets her easily see what's happening.  2.  With my sudden influx of free time, I feel like it's time to put my money where my mouth is and see if I can really become a better writer.  I've started taking a writing class, and I wanted a "work place", as opposed to on the couch/at the dining room table with the laptop. 

So, win-win.

Here's the set-up:

We got these great keyboard stickers to make the letters easier for Maya to see (she doesn't have any vision issues, but it just makes sense to me to make the keys big while I'm trying to introduce them to her).  They peel off easily, too . . .don't ask me how I know that.  It's not like I put 2 of them in the wrong places or anything.

Keyboard before the stickers:

Keyboard after the stickers:

I only put on some of the stickers---letters, numbers, arrows, and enter.  I saved the extra ones, but they didn't seem necessary for her.

They work great for her---she noticed all of the letters right away.  I'm still getting used to the fact that the keyboard seems to be yelling at me.

On another note, we went to the Bronx Zoo this morning and Maya went on her first camel ride!  Here's a video:

*one label got cut---it was supposed to say "This glance over my shoulder was to tell Dave 'she loves it!'"

A good time for everyone!

Well, almost everyone.

Check out my new poll in the upper right hand corner.  I want to know more about when you come to the blog---take a second and vote, please :) I tried to add options for "I came here from a link on another blog/site" and "I came here from a google search" but couldn't get the annoying poll thing to add the options.  So, sorry.  Feel free to comment with a write-in answer if you're so inclined.

Shake a tail feather* (literally)

Spring was in the air at the Bronx Zoo today, and all of the boy birds were trying their best to impress the girl birds. 

Like this turkey, all puffed up:

"Look at how big and impressive I am!"

"Maya, go stand by the turkey" 

 "Um, I don't think so, Mommy"

"Daddy, save me!"

But the coolest by far was a male peacock, displaying his full plumage to a very bored looking female:

Ta-DAAA!!!

 Hey.  Hey you.  Look at me.

I know you can see me.  How'd ya like this angle?

PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!!  (This was when he shrieked and charged her.)

Right after that, I started taking some video (on the cell phone, but still pretty good quality): 

(you've got to watch at least until 0:56 to see the bird tushie shake.  It's the undisputed highlight.)

:)

Celebrate good times, c'mon!*

A very quick update . . .  I got a few emails/ims this weekend asking "How did the preschool meeting go?!" and I replied "You didn't check the Facebook page, did you?" (Reminder: The Facebook page is public, so you don't have to be a member of FB to see it.)  It's just the easiest way for me to put up a mini-update, such as:  The preschool stuff is done, and went well!

There were a few moments of tension during a conference call with the school director in which we were debating whether she really needs a one-on-one aide, but it was resolved when I brought up my safety concerns (she falls, hard, and will take out other kids as she goes down.  And she has potential choking issues and can't self-feed).  So she's in the school we want, in a nice small class, with a one-on-one, and she'll be bussed, leaving me free to lounge on the couch, paint my nails and nap all day. 

We had a lovely weekend of celebrations, starting with brunch after the meeting, and including 2 evenings with babysitters.  And on Saturday I went shopping, while Maya & Dave had some quality one-on-one time, including a trip to the zoo:

Hey you polar bear!  Look, I have a polar bear too!

Today we had to cancel our morning therapies to head to the hospital for a hearing test.  (It's not under sedation or anything, that's just where they do it.)  I'm not a fan of this test--we have to battle morning traffic to get down there, and the test involves sitting perfectly still and silently while she's on my lap and has to respond to sounds.  Last time the room she got scared by how quiet the room is when the doors shut, and if she loses focus the whole thing becomes kind of pointless.  And I think her hearing is fine, but we have to go every 6 months or so anyway.  Sigh.

Zoo . . . Hair . . . CHEW . . . Where?

If I come up with a nonsensical rhyming title, then it totally makes my jumbled update-about-everything post appear cohesive, right?  Right.

1. Zoo:  We went to the Bronx Zoo the other day and had a fun time.  Well, Dave had a fun time:

Maya was so scared that she re-enacted her DMV pose:

Until Mommy came to save the day:

(Hmm, who's having more fun?  Maya or Mommy?  Or the magical glowing prairie dog?)

Fun at the petting zoo:

Miss Maya is attempting vertical movement more and more!  Here, some teetery walking holding on to only 1 hand!:

It may not be graceful looking, but who cares . . .

2.Hair: My hair continues to fall out at an alarming rate:

Ok, it's not quite that bad :)  Actually, I convinced Dave to cut my hair (with the balding patches, I've been hiding from salon folks----I don't want anyone messing with my hair, and I don't want lots of people coming to stare at it).  So we did a chop at home:

(not the most glamorous pic, but you get the idea)

3. CHEW!!!!!!!!  This is the best update by far (and if you check our Facebook page, you're already in the loop on this one).  Maya has come so far with feeding therapy that today Erica (her feeding therapist) said "No more jars (baby food)----she's an eating girl now!"  So, in theory, Maya could only be eating normal food now (with some exceptions---she can't do very hard things, like apples.  She can't manage something very complicated, like rice.  And she can't really regulate how much she gets in her mouth at a time, so we still have to feed her most pieces by hand.)   She's an eating girl!!!!!!  Real food!!! 

Here, she digs into dinner (yogurt, blueberries, some snacky stuff, and a cereal bar--not pictured).  The sushi belongs to Dave & me:

4. Where?  We're going away on Saturday and Maya has been studying up for the trip.  Here, Dave helps her to plan our week's worth of activities.  See if you can figure out where we're heading :)

Pics from break

Birthday dinner:

Central Park Zoo:

Dave: "Cheese!"

Maya: "Forget the picture, Daddy, there's a giant bird next to me!"

Bronx Zoo:

Leaving the zoo is the saddest part of the day :(

Things I do, 2 awesome updates

My life in pictures:

I'm a great eater of baby foods :) This is one week's worth of jars (M-Sun), plus I eat a lot of yogurt and mashed potatoes! I'm struggling to progress to thicker textures, but we're working on it.

I go to the park! At the park, we do physical therapy-ish exercises, crawl around, climb on stuff, and swing!
My pants get super dirty from crawling around. Everyone else at the playground can walk, so I look ridiculous in my constantly blackened pants. Mommy wonders if people think that she doesn't wash my clothes.I'm figuring out how to climb and chase the big kids!

A few times a week, I go swimming :)

And when I wake up from my nap, I like to turn on the mobile and gather my book, baby, and bunny all together:

I like to sit in my giant egg. Ok, just kidding, these are from a trip to Central Park Zoo that I took with Mom & Grandma. I love the penguins and the petting zoo!





And every day ends with a fun bath with my daddy. He's the best bath giver in the world. Then I get all wrapped up like a little flower.

And . . . . DRUMROLL, please . . . . . . . . . . . .

2 giant milestones this week! On Thursday, I babbled my first consonant babbles. I now say "Mamamamamamama" whenever I'm tired or agitated :) It's super cute and mom & dad are psyched that I'm making more noises.

AND this morning I stood up----all by myself!!! All of a sudden mom & dad looked over and saw this:

I'm getting big & strong :)