Bizarre Blessing

This is another TMI post.  Probably.  But it is also one that is where I'm at.

Willow is a girl dog.  My first EVER.  I have had dogs, but only ever boys.  Boys, you either fix or you don't.  And unless there are nubile girl dogs around, it really doesn't matter much.  Especially if your dog gets car sick or you keep them at home. 

Our vet wanted Willow to go through one heat before her spay.  (Which was not even a discussion, if Willow is going out with us into the community, she MUST be fixed.)  Something about it being healthier...which I never could figure out why, something about all her hormones being happy systemically.  Whatever.  They are the experts.

I didn't really give it much thought.  I somehow thought it would be a few days kind of thing, tops.  SO wrong.  It's more like 2 weeks in larger dogs.  Yay.

Also, it looks like the dog is having a period.  No lie.  Yuck.  She's also all PMS-y and wants snacks and to nap.  So yeah. 

Elise is still all over her and wants to drag her around all over the house, so I bought her some reusable diapers that you put maxi pads in.  Elise thinks this is great.  She's all about the diapers.  She likes to choose the color and helps me stick the velcro on.  I never would have thought that she would have noticed or cared.  But apparently, if it involves her "Lillow", nothing is outside of her interest.

 

The bizarre part of this icky story, is that Elise has no comprehension that she may "become a woman" in the next year or so.  I've told her sisters, because they ask All The Questions, All The Time.  But if Elise were to start menstruating, it would be a completely blind-sided attack that would cause her to completely panic.  And the depressing part, is that I can do nothing to prevent that.  She has no concept of abstract ideas that don't fit into her interests.  The beauty of this whole Willow-in-heat fiasco, is that Elise is up close and personal.  It has suddenly become in her realm of interests and is noticed.  I cannot explain it the way I have with her sisters, but at least she will recognize it and it will not be frightening.  She will have an aquaintance with maxi pads and the idea behind them.  And so Willow has unexpectedly smoothed the way for the next giant hurdle in life.  I swear, I cannot thank this dog enough.

31 for 21: Another Dirty Job: The Tooth Fairy

Because I discovered that it is ALSO Sensory Processing Awareness Month, I thought I'd tell a fun bizarre Elise story...

Elise pulled out her loose tooth last Tuesday (that I had NO idea was loose as she won't let anyone in her mouth, EVAH) and she did NOT throw it away in the trash or hock it across the room...she's growing up!!!  (The last 3 she's lost have not even made it home.)  Now, if only she will let us put it under her pillow...hahahaha!!

She ripped the tooth at question out of her head while at the white board at school, with a howl of triumph held it high and shouted:  "The TOOF FAIWY is coming TONIGHT!!!"

However, the idea of the tooth touching her pillow made her gag...no kidding.  She retched and refused to house it...she ultimately refused to even let that "nasty" thing even in her room.

The funny thing?  She told everyone at school that the tooth fairy came and left her some money.  Not so true.

The next day, I hunted down a little organza gift bag, and we put the tooth in there and hooked it on the side of her bed...when bedtime came and Elise saw that it was safely ensconced in a bio hazard-proof container, she allowed it under her pillow. 

As she has no real concept of money and it's usefulness, (usually she carries it around in paper towels and gives it to her money savvy sister) she got a couple of quarters and a doll shirt for one of her Activity Support Friends.  Baby Pizza won the lottery and is now sporting an Alvin and the Chipmunks shirt...and, as usual, Amelia is 50 cents richer, and it was a kleenex this time.

:)

Thankful That We Are Not Alone: Melissa's Realization

Melissa is another guest I was blessed to spotlight during last year's Thanksgiving Project HERE and I am pleased as punch to have her on again this year!  I so enjoy her blog, Garden of my Heart.  Her blog is always honest, real, and beautifully written!  I loved re-reading her spot from last year and hear how her heart is growing along with her beautiful Rowenna!

Recently, we attended a Football and Cheese Ball party at a friend’s house. There were 5 kids there, all age 3 or younger. They tore the place up – in a good way – with their unbridled enthusiasm. They laughed and shouted and got into everything. The dads watched football, the moms talked.

It was a delightful fall afternoon and when we got home my cheeks hurt from all the smiling. Hubby reported he had a great conversation with the dads, and my daughter was sound asleep, exhausted from her play date.

Throughout it all, I couldn’t help but notice the ease among the group. The conversation flowed and the laughter was easy. And Down syndrome only came up briefly, despite the fact that all our kids sport that extra chromosome.

I am thankful to have this beautiful group of women to count as friends. I am thankful no one says anything about the milestones my daughter hasn’t met. I am thankful that they recognize and praise the things in her that I am so proud of – that she will eat anything, that she is curious, that she gives kisses. They see Rowenna.

Now for the soul-baring part of all this. It took until I sat down to write this entry to realize that - for the first time ever - I am thankful for Down syndrome.

I never would have met this group of women if my daughter hadn’t come with an extra chromosome. I never would have taken the time to put Rowenna in a playgroup, and I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t have had such an intense need for the support of other moms. Certainly I would have made other momma friends, but this is different than I expected.

These women have become sisters and I can no longer imagine life without their kindness, laughter, and support. We rally around each other when our littles need medical attention and we drag each other out for lunch or dinner when someone is having a bad day.

But best of all - the thing for which I am most grateful – there’s no explaining between us. When someone’s child needs a sensory break, it just happens, no questions asked, no odd silences. When a mom breaks out the thickener so her child can have something to drink, there’s no explanation. When someone’s child signs something, we all know enough signs to be able to respond.

We get it. We get what it means to live this life, challenges and joys and all. We don’t explain, we don’t apologize, we don’t worry.

So today I am so very thankful to be surrounded by these beautiful mommas, and I am thankful for this lesson learned: to see that there are things to be grateful for when it comes to Down syndrome.

I am thankful I am not alone.