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April 18, 2003
Sunny days
Well, I’m almost afraid to say anything about the weather since the last time I did we ended up getting snow three times in a week but it seems as though things are looking springy again. I just LOVE being able to take Ella outside. Jamie and I both really think it’s important for kids to spend time outside and Ella seems to agree. And an added bonus is that she is so easy when she is outside. When we are home inside I feel as though I constantly have to be entertaining her or trying to pry her off my legs so that I can get things done. When we go out she is just the most independent little thing. She walks around checking everything out, looking at all the sights and playing on any toys that are around. We could be at the park for two hours and all she wants from me is an occasional sip of water and to be pushed on the swing from time to time (and to blow bubbles if she sees the bubble soap in her stroller).
Outside, once again she is giving me the gift of being able to rediscover the world through her eyes. She can find the tiniest seed on the ground and when she brings it to me it’s as though I’ve never seen it before, or at least never bothered to really look at how neat nature is. The other day she was beginning to learn the hard sad fact that you can almost never catch a bird. Birds fascinate her and there were a number fairly near us on a field. I could almost see her little brain switch from watching them to ‘I think I’ll see what they feel like’. But, alas, no matter how fast she toddled they flew away faster. She was so disappointed, I could tell. But then I showed her a feather on the ground and she brightened up. Also, whenever we have a good afternoon outside she is ready and able to take her second nap of the day. That makes life better for everyone involved!
What’s in the news?
Ella is so smart. In the morning I usually read the paper and Ella entertains herself. Like I mentioned above, she is constantly trying to crawl on me or get me to do something with her but knows that she won’t get far while I’m reading the paper. So the little smarty-pants goes right for my heartstrings. She knows how excited and happy I get when she identifies letters so she will start peering over my shoulder yelling out “A! E!” I just can’t resist her and we usually spend the next 10- 15 minutes with her on my lap looking through the headlines and advertisements for large, capital letters.
The bad news
Trauma—life in the ER
I have been dreading this day for a long time, although I knew there was a very probable chance it would come. It all started when Ella climbed up onto the chair we use in front of the computer. She likes to bang on the keys and is a little too rough to be messing around on it unsupervised. So I pulled the chair away from the desk and told her she couldn’t play on the keyboard right now. Upset with me, she lunged forward for the keyboard and basically just did a very un-graceful swan dive right into one of the drawers on the desk. And the tears started. And the blood started. A cut probably an inch long right along the ridge of her eyebrow and it was really spurting, on her clothes, my clothes and all over her furious little face. It was so gory that it took me a moment to assess the situation and realize exactly what had happened and what the damage was. Thank god Jamie was home, so he held her while I went to call the pediatrician to see if I should bring her to him or to the ER. By the time I spoke with him, probably 5-10 minutes later, the bleeding had slowed way down and the crying had subsided to a dull whimper that elevated whenever we dabbed at the cut. So I was advised to bring her to the pediatrician since she might not have needed stitches.
So off Ella and I went to the pediatrician’s (one minute from my house) and he took one look at her and said that, while the cut didn’t seem that bad it and of itself, it was gaping in such a way that she should get stitches to reduce scarring. When I heard she needed stitched I burst into tears. I felt like such a moron but I had been so tense and traumatized and this was my worst fear come true. So embarrassing but I doubt it is the first time and adult has been teary in their child’s dr’s office (Please comfort me on my TTM board if this has happened to you. I felt pretty silly).
Back home again and I packed up some stuff and headed off to the ER. Fortunately there wasn’t a huge wait and Ella was in a great mood, walking around looking at the books and the television and other kids. We did all the paperwork and got settled into our little room where Ella was jumping on the floor and peaking at the patient in the stall next to ours. At this point Jamie showed up to relieve me since I had a test that day at school. I wouldn’t have left if things were still up in the air but Ella was doing very well and Jamie had taken the day off of work so that I could go to my class (day care was closed this week). As much as I was still anxious about the whole thing, I have to admit that I was glad not to have to be there for the stitches. Jamie said it was tough to watch. They gave her Novocain but then also restrained her by wrapping her in sheets and securing her to a board. I guess she screamed at first but then calmed down, even before they were done. When I came home she was in perfect spirits, had eaten well and was playing with her daddy. If not for her hospital gown (that Jamie kept on her since she looked so cute in it) and a bandaid on her eye I wouldn’t have known the difference.
I have to say, that girl is such a trooper! She almost always can shake off any bump or bruise with a minimum of fussing and today proved to be no difference. I definitely think Jamie and I were much more shook up by the events then she. I am a wee bit relieved, however, as I have gotten past a hurdle that I have been so anxious about for so long. I know bumps and bruises will come no matter what, I just hope they all go this smoothly.
The good news
The other big, exciting news that happened on the same day (what a day) is that Ella got accepted into the Pre School that was my number one choice. I loved this place from the moment I saw it—from the facility to the staff to the programs-- and it also happened to be one of the most affordable and extremely convenient to our commutes. In other words, it has everything I want with no downsides, but I really didn’t think she stood a chance to get in, due to a long waitlist. I had called the director after visiting a number of places and had totally sweet-talked her, telling her how much I loved the facility and asking her advice on other places similar to hers and asking if different attendance choices would give us an advantage on the waitlist and all that happy brown nosing. I don’t know if that helped or not (actually, I think it did, since she referenced our conversation) but today she called and said that they had a full time slot available immediately. This means Ella would go for the whole summer, which I didn’t want since I will be home full time, but of course I can take her out whenever I want and I definitely think it is worth it. As I said to the director, I hope she will be attending for the next 3-4 years and I don’t want to miss out due to a three-month discrepancy. And this place is so much more affordable that I think we will have saved the $$ we will have spend this summer within six months, especially since I think we will qualify for their ‘low income’ rates since I won’t be making any $$ while in school (a silver lining, I guess).
Anyway, I am beyond excited about this development. We haven’t said yes officially yet since I want Jamie and Ella to see it first (we have an appt. next Monday) but I can’t imagine this won’t happen. Just goes to show what a little persistence and sweet talk (with some good luck thrown in) can get you.
Well, I was originally going to wait until after Easter to post this but it is getting pretty long and ‘newsy’ already so I guess I will go ahead. I hope everyone has a great Easter, we are really looking forward to Ella's first egg hunt.
Thanks for reading!
Bonnie
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