Daddy's Log 20101114

With the rainy weather and cooler temperatures we have been spending our time indoors, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Although it is the start of the feeling of being cooped up.

Christina has continued being more talkative and is taking it to the next level. She is more verbal each week. It seems speech is a favorite activity at school also. It is difficult to find a speech activity Christina is not willing to do.

Soon is Christina's surgery, it always gives me a queezy feeling as the time approaches. It has proven beneficial for Christina, but that feeling and thoughts of 'what if' swirls constantly. The doubts raise their heads higher and more often as the day of surgery approaches.

The next topic:
I have been working on some more web stuff. I am trying to consolidate pictures for everyone and make them easy to view online. The total is over 30,000. I'll figure out a reasonable layout and finish it up one of these days. I also setup another blog for a friend. You will have to be patient as he is learning to post and get the look just right. I will post a link here soon. I've been pondering doing more myself, but that would require a bigger step I am willing to take right now. Getting the pictures online done and updating the slideshow come first. I want to make the slideshow more customized towards Christina. I chuckle as that probably means I'll add some pink.

I have to share (again) a smile from Christina. I see it most often when Christina is walking and I am 'following' her. She turns her head and looks up at me with big eyes and a smile. Her eyes have a sparkle that says "I'm doing it dad". As I have said many times before children are pure and have an energy within them. Never could I have imagined the feeling when Christina shares that with me. Christina shares herself with every smile. And to add to my list of wonderful daddy moments, after supper tonight when I picked up Christina made me smile. Christina gave me a hug and I gave her a hug back, then she said "daddy", I replied "yes", and Christina followed with "I love you", I replied "I love you too". I had to give her another huge hug. As much as I run that through my mind and cherish every bit of it, the best part came after. The look on Christina's face as we looked at each other when she realized that I understood what she said and responded. That smile, the look in her eyes, the unspoken words "I'm proud of you daddy". That was the best part.

Time to update Christina's blog. Enjoy the day.

Daddy's Log 20101024

Saturday morning Christina woke up at 03:00. To quote an old movie; "what does the '0' mean, oh my god it's early". Christina was wide eyed and cheery. We sat downstairs for a little while and then I told Christina she had to go back to bed. I put her back in bed with some hugs and kisses and crawled back into bed myself. I listened until the princess fell asleep. She slept in until about quarter to nine. We had several choices of activities for the day, but took it easy. I don't want Christina to get sick. It was rainy all day. We played a little, read a little, worked on some letters and sounds. She took a long nap too.

Daddy's Log 20101010

This weekend held a good workout. Christina had lots of energy and wanted to go go go. Saturday Christina was amazing; she wanted to walk outside, not in the gait trainer, so we walked up and down the sidewalk. With a couple of stops for her to get her legs going she walked several blocks. I had to reward her the best I could, so big hugs and a shoulder ride she got.

Friday Christina was full of hugs and looked adorable. After some play time we danced before bedtime.

Now that I used the word it is missing something; due to the use of the word 'amazing' in infomercials, it just doesn't have the ummpf it should. Makes me chuckle how every infomercial I see or hear uses the word 'amazing'. So when I use it to describe Christina or her activity it is best thought of as '$yf@#% amazing'.

Sunday Christina and I met Mark, Kelli, and the girls at the Y. We had a great time. A young boy in the locker room had questions about CP when he saw Christina. It gave me a good feeling to help someone understand more about CP.

Daddy's Log 20101003

I have been fighting off a cold and have been succesful so far. Burning the candle at both ends has not helped, but there are just so many hours in a day and stuff has to get done.

Friday night I started a roast in the crock pot. The roast barely fit and I have a big crock pot. We got one meal out of it so far and I figure leftovers should last me four more meals. I'll have two this week and freeze two.

Saturday night I started ribs in the oven. Hmmm, they smell good. Christina thinks it is funny when she watches me put more barbecue sauce on them. And when she feels the heat from the oven she gives a giggle. The first time I had a tough time figuring out what she was laughing at. Christina was in her gait trainer and no where near the oven. I did not pull the pan out, I just pulled out the rack and basted the ribs right in the oven. It took a while before the wave of heat reached Christina. When it did the giggles started. Now we open the oven door so Christina can feel the heat and for me to smell the ribs. Smiles for us both.

All weekend we kept things mellow, Christina is sick and I don't want it to get worse. I am hoping she gets over it quickly. We have kept it at bay so far. A good night's sleep on Friday helped. Saturday Christina woke up at 23:00. After some holding time in the chair she was ready to go back to bed. Smiling when I laid her down there was no fussing and only one peep after I closed the door.

Daddy's Log 20100927

Today Christina rode the school bus for the first time. All seemed to go well. Christina enjoys partaking in the same activities as the other children. I am sure she will enjoy the bus rides, at least for a while.

Sunday we went to the UCP Family Picnic. Christina ate well and enjoyed the time there overall. She won a few prizes and liked the music, singing, and cake walk.

I am not sure how to word it, but seeing Christina in her chair on the bus was difficult. Someday I may go into detail; for now, I'll leave it as it was difficult. For those of you who have sent kids off to school on the bus for the first time are probably relating thinking "yes, I remember those days". Thank you, but you would be wrong. Seeing her on the bus going to school was the easy part today. For those of you who 'see' what I do, thank you. And my thoughts are with you too.

Pictures

Bath Time
Bath picture removed per Angela's request.


Reading

Daddy and Christina

International Fall Festival Parade

Saturday Christina wanted to walk and walk and walk, so outside we went. We found lots of room for her to use the gait trainer. She could go any direction and go however far her little legs would take her. She enjoyed being outside and chose to point the gait trainer away from the sun.

Of course we had many trips walking up the stairs and sliding down. Christina was up early on Saturday morning and wanted slide down the stairs as soon as the morning routine was done.

Sunday along with the usual play we went to the UCP Family Picnic. Christina showed off her beautiful smile and her attitude. The princess did not want to sit in her chair. That was OK, she had been in it for a while so I told her she had to wait for a little longer and then she could go 'up'. This gave her the chance to calm down and sneak out a smirk. Shortly after more games started. Christina enjoyed the music and the cake walk. And of course dinner was a hit.

Thank you to UCP-WCW, Ayres, and the other sponsors who put on the picnic.


Fishing for prizes.

Daddy's Log 20100919
The International Fall Festival downtown kept Christina and I entertained on Saturday. Christina showed off her smile and received lots of compliments. I can not describe how hard she laughed when seeing the zebra. The zebra just stood there, but Christina laughed hysterically. Even when we went back for another look she started laughing.

A good portion of the day was spent climbing the stairs and sliding down. Christina loved it; as for me, my legs and bum are sore.

Christina has been getting better at showing me what she wants when I do not understand what she is trying to say. She walks to the bathroom, refrigerator, pantry, stairs, door, bedroom, to name a few to get what she wants.

Friday night Christina decided about 45 minutes after laying down that she wanted more hugs. I'm not sure if she woke up from a dream or had not fallen asleep yet and wanted attention. In any case she wanted me to hold her and walk around. I told her I would hold her in the chair for a little while and she was ok with that. Five minutes later I told her she had to go to bed and she gave me a big grin and a hug. Back to bed she went.

Getting ready for bed.

Saturday we went to the International Fall Festival. Christina enjoyed the animals, especially the zebra. Christina also really enjoyed the bands in the parade. She is a fan of the drums.

Christina also did very well walking through the crowd of people. I was impressed how well she handled all the people walking quickly by her.

Watching the parade go by.

Daddy's Log 20100909

Christina had a good day at school. When she first saw me she started to cry and wanted up. I held her hand and told her we were going to walk to the van. Marie, her teacher, pushed Christina in her Kid Kart while I held her hand. When Christina saw the van she stopped crying and waited for me to pick her up.

Christina and I played and had a good time. She did wonderful walking in her 'pony' and using the flash cards.

When it was time for Christina to go with Angela the princess gave me extra hugs and held on tight. I miss Christina.

Daddy's Log 20100912

Christina and I had a busy weekend. The Sport Motors Harley Davidson/UCP raffle was on Saturday. On Sunday we went to the fall festival at Draman Church. Both events were fun. We also did lots of walking and singing.

Friday evening Christina was in a cuddly mood. We played a little and did some walking, but she really wanted cuddle time and wanted me to walk around with her. I offered a compromise, yet I did really enjoy the cuddle time.

Saturday Christina slept in quite late. It worked out well to give us time to go to the UCP raffle at Sport Motors Harley Davidson. It was nice to see everyone and Christina was full of smiles. Christina ate well while there, they had charcoal chicken, beans, chips, pickle and a roll.

Sunday we went to the Draman Church Fall Festival. Christina really liked the music. She also enjoyed the animals. The cow found her hair lickable.