Eating Breakfast

This morning my Epona decided she wanted to eat breakfast at school; after eating at home also. And she wanted momma to go w/her; so i did and sat there and was watching her eat. Though we only had a few minutes, it definitely was worth those few precious minutes. It was priceless just sitting there and conversing w/her over nothing more than Cinnamon Toast Crunch and orange juice. She tried the biscuit and gravy; though it was not up to her liking, and her face of distaste was funny.

But something else got to me; besides just conversing w/her. It’s how grown-up she acts at school. She showed me where the cafeteria was and corrected any time I did something out of step/place. It’s going into her world and she was leading me around by the hand. She knows the lunch room ladies by name and they know her dietary issue; that kind of surprised me. (Guess I thought only the previous grammar school was that good; I should have known better I guess. Remember I was biased to the previous grammar school as I had worked there.) It was awesome simply hanging out w/her.

Germany & Greece in One Day

This afternoon we made it two Oktoberfests; here in our little town and one in Music city, and then we went to the Parthenon while we were in the neighborhood. Unbeknown to me, the Parthenon was hosting a wedding ceremony this afternoon and the park surrounding it was holding the annual Dog Day celebration.   The Oktoberfest here in town was largely indoors at the Antique and Feed Store; this was not a good idea w/Rhi Rhi. The crowd was enough to stress me; she started acting out so we left rather quickly. On our way out, she ran into a couple friends that we have been meaning to see. This would be the first time we saw them; she found them at dinner also. They did not have no peace until she was sitting down to eat and they were leaving!!! Somehow I don't think they minded at all; we will need to go visit rather soon.

Overall while we were in Nashville today, Rhi Rhi dii pretty good. We provided her the chance to jump around in one of those air-blown gizmos. She was really chilly as she was wrapped in a jacket and blanket while we were strolling along; it was about 60-65 outside, not chilly at all. Alas she seems to be really sensitive to any chill in the air this year. At the Parthenon she was a handful, alas I should have known she was at her limit.

After an exciting day around Music city we ran to the local Wally World and pick up a few things; one being a .98 squeaky toy for the dog. Actually we picked up two since I know she will chew through one in no time flat; she only got one. Rhi Rhi got her hands on the second one and now its in the bed w/her. I would have never thought that a dag gone squeaky toy would be her new best friend; ignore the fact that the squeak is driving me nuts, but hey...if she is happy then my day goes a little easier. The downside is she was also chewing on the thing and regrettably its a choking hazard. Therefore I get to be the evil mom and take it from her if/when she resumes chewing on it tomorrow. I will have to find a substitute quickly.

And my friend Dawn had a good idea when it comes to getting Rhi Rhi an mp3 player. I have one that I no longer need as it fills up to quickly; yet it would make a good one for Rhi Rhi I think. It is not too expensive and I already have accessories, such as a water tight case, for it. Now the hard part will be getting earphones for it since she does not like the ones that go in your ear.

And we are finally getting somewhere w/the potty training w/the help of Starburst candy of course. Rhi Rhi also broke her dad's heart tonight when she cried all the way to town. We had put her in his car and I drove mine into town following them. Hubby called me saying she was screaming and crying for me; she would not leave my sight all day, except when she runs off w/Boogie. Her little idiosyncrasies are coming back w/a vengeance...Lord mercy

Just A Little Wet

It's interesting how energetic a preschooler can be, but then they eventually do get tired. That is unless they have something special about them like Rhi and her SPD. We are getting to the point where she is constantly on the go again and I mean the kind that if you are not fully aware of where she is and what she is doing, you are likely to find something flooded or broke or both (if you are really lucky). I'm very thankful that my friend, KW., had put her on a sleep schedule while she was watching her for me. Mind you since its a game of chase, nothing much else gets done. Oh she does find time to annoy the dogs and seeing as how she has no/little sense of danger and does not comprehend that a growl from a large dog (Rottweilers, etc) means they want left alone then guess what that means...you got it, mom is staying on top of that too.

It aint no wonder nothing got done today; much to everyone's dismay. While I was on the phone last night w/my friend Priscilla, I was cleaning up a flooded out bathroom and wathicng Rhi and etc, etc. Rhi Rhi had dumped the entire bowl of dog water and then turned on the faucet. Earlier in the evening she decided to play in the dog pool outside; despite the temperature and such, she was soaked from head to toe. It seems that Rhi has a tactile need for water at this point in time, oh and Ohio State things also. Don't ask...While cleaning up after Rhi Rhi Priscilla said something about having my hands full and I agreed and advised her that it only gets worse when I go back to work full-time. I thought for sure she was going to flip about what little help I get from Rhi Rhi's daddy; it was funny.

I guess I had forgotten what it was like to run all the time w/her; its been awhile since the SPD has made such a large appearance w/her. At least the potty training seems to be doing good w/the assistance of some Starburst candies. Anyway I'm outta here so will catch up more tomorrow I hope. 

Jumping Right Into It

Not sure if its appropriate to start out a new blog w/a gripe or two, but hey its my little corner of the world where there is no front needed. While my son was reading on a fave author or a fave book this afternoon; mind you he is smart, he was reading about something he said sounded like him...Asperger's syndrome. Guess I never really thought about it but he does fit the description almost to a "T". I asked him if he wnated me to pursue it and try to get him an IEP...for some weird reason he declined. Alas that was my weird thought for the moment/day.

Assessment on Rhi for speech said she was close to acceptable range for her age; this was something we already knew. At the age of one she was diagnosed w/developmental delays; her fine/gross motor, social, cognitive and such were all at least 9 months behind. Shortly after that came the daignosis for SPD or Sensory Processing Disorder. And as soon as I can get the new doc in our new town to get her referral to OT I think I want to pursue a few other things that are slowly becoming evident.

My daughter also has acid reflux and seasonal allergies mixed into this little hodge podge mess; it proves to be interesting for sure. We moved to Tn from Oh in hopes that it would help w/her and Boogie's allergies and it has. It has also helped w/other health issues; alas I had gotten lax though on her main ones and did not push her IEP. Now that we are pushing it, the doc office is being silly. I'm used to pediatrician that would bend over backwards to get whatever I needed for Rhi Rhi; I'm not sure this family doc will. We shall see.

The last week or so Rhi has not been feeling herself; its just little things that most tend to brush off. Yet even her preschool teacher is noticing little things. Rhi is choking on things she has never choked on before this week, she is also bossy and not listening...these are not things normal to her. Granted she is bossy, yet she seems to have forgotten her manners. She has become clingy to me real bad again; I can't even leave the room we are in together w/out her freaking out. And the best part is...I have been her main caretaker from birth; Boogie is a close second and daddy somewhere in third, I'm the only one she screams after. And this of course offends her daddy; he takes it personal. Not like I need another child around the house, alas it seems I have one. Then again Dawn understands a bit into that scenario.

Rhi seems to be seeking the comfort of tightness in her clothes. Her jeans are tighter than a teenager trying to impress her bf and she is into the feeling of football jerseys all of a sudden. Its near impossible to strap a three year old into a car seat w/out getting into her personal space around her face. She just seems really off candor right now; I wish I knew what threw her off as I want my littlest one back. This little she-demon is a harsh does of reality. Her demeanor is flighty and she flies off the handle if the breeze blows the wrong hair. Such as it is, now that I'm feeling a little better its time to jet and finish up other chores. Hopefully this will get to be more than a gripe session but guess one has to start somewhere.

Despite how wrong things may go in Rhi's world, I can count on a small list of songs to make it better when they come on the radio or (miraculously) on Boogie's cell phone. There seems to be something about Alan Jackson's voice (on his new cd) that will calm the savage winds of this three year old little girl. And then there are a few others such as Big Green Tractor or Small Town USA or American Ride that can also calm these savage winds. 

An Honest Effort at Least.

After keeping up with my friend's blog about her Princess and then combine that with the weekend I just had w/my Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde daughter, I think that maybe she has a good thing going here. Though I don't know how useful it will be, all I can do is hope and see. So over the next couple of days we will try to make a go of it here...