Margate, NJ -- summer 2008

Maya, Bubbie and Amelia -- HUGS!

Amelia and I just got back from a week at the beach at my folks' beach house. Nestor was in LA working on the show "Medium", so we took the opportunity to spend a week with my Mom and Dad aka Bubbie and Zadie and my sister's family, Aunt Jackie, Uncle El, Ezra (4 yr) and Maya (1 yr). What a time! Constant chaos and Amelia finally knows what it's like NOT to be an only child (I know she has her big bro, Spike -- but he's not competitive with her and certainly doesn't steal her little people car or star stacker, not yet anyway). So funny. Amelia certainly became a little possessive and concerned when little Maya was around to steal her stuff.

Ezra with Amelia, on the pump for dinner and holding hands while they watch the Backyardigans

Let me just say right off, Amelia hates the beach. We went the first day; I put her in her cute little bathing suit, packed the beach tote and sunscreened us all up. We drove the few blocks to the beach and as soon as we hit it...out came the tears. She was rubbing her eyes and distributing the sunscreen all in her eyes -- tearing up terribly, skin all blotchy and sooooooo uncomfortable. We got to the beach blanket -- covered in sand because my neice and nephew had already been there tearing up the joint. We thought maybe it would be better if we took her to the wet sand and edge of the water to see the ocean. This proved to be just as miserable for her. So the tears continued as we took her back up the chairs and blanket. Finally, Amelia passed out on my Mother's lap after all the crying.

Meanwhile, our friends from Therapies 4 Kids, the Petits (see Tator Tot Chronicles), who live 45 minutes from Margate -- were making their way thru Saturday beach traffic to meet us for a day at the beach. Best laid plans and all....it took them a long time to get to us and by that time I had called him to say that Amelia and I would be heading back to the house as soon as she woke up. The good news is that they came by the house later that day and it was so fun to get Amelia and Tatem back together to play, along with Tatem's handsome twin, Jude and older sister, Kat. Ezra and Maya also enjoyed the Petit crew where there was lots of chaos -- and beers for the parents!

Needless to say, Amelia and I didn't go back to the beach over the week -- but there was lots of other stuff to do. We went to the library each day -- which is also three blocks away. Amelia, Bubbie, Zadie and I went to Smithville one afternoon, which was really nice. A charming little village that dates back to the 1800's. One day we met up with some friends of my sis' at Ocean City and went on some rides and had dinner on the boardwalk. Another day we went to Storybook Land which was really a blast! Amelia went on lots of rides and looked at so many things. We went on one ride which were antique cars, Tin Lizzies, and she was steering up a storm --which is her favorite thing these days. One evening we went to AC to Caesar's, where we enjoyed the water show in the mall shops. Amelia seemed to like the between-the-show water acrobatics, which were small little dances with light cheery music -- but when the real show began -- the loud rock music, harsh lights and smoke upset her. Not a fan! So much so, that when we left the mall area and then walked back through, she started crying and shaking her head "no" until we got to the food court and she saw that we weren't going back to see another "water show". We went to "The Walk" on our last day there, which is the outlet shops in AC. Amelia scored big time! Bubbie and Zadie bought her a gorgeous "back to school" wardrobe for the fall...does it matter that she isn't actually going to school? I couldn't believe it -- but I bought her 4T. She's only 27 pounds -- but she's 37 inches long...4T is 38.5 - 41.5 inches -- by the time the cold weather comes...OY! While buying up Oshkosh, there was a woman shopping with her 26 yr old son, who has CP. He was sweet and looked as unhappy as Amelia being pushed through the isles. He laughed when I mentioned this fact. His Mom and I spoke for awhile about therapies and development. She talked about how much her tender, loving son has taught her and everyone else around him. "A lot of hard work" she said "but worth every bit of it." What a strong woman with a wonderful take on things.

Storybook Land

The girls on the Merry-Go-Round -- Amelia actually fell asleep right after this photo was taken and I had to take her off the ride. So cute!

On the flying elephants -- the operator of the ride was a sweet older gentleman who asked us at the end if we wanted to ride again. He asked if Amelia has CP, he told me his 44 yr. old son has CP and "gets around pretty good and loves the computer".

and the ferris wheel -- she wasn't crazy about hanging around while the operator let the other cars out at the end of the ride.

On Saturday, Jackie, El, Zadie and their kids drove back to Baltimore. Amelia, Bubbie and I drove back to NYC. We had an uneventful trip and got back to be greeted by Nestor, who had flown in from LA Friday night. The four of us spent Sunday together. I made a nice dinner with my Mom and Nestor made up a wonderful batch of mojitos from a mix we bought in Smithville -- along with some fresh mint. DELISH!!!!! My Mom and I did a little running around this morning and then she left on the train this afternoon. It was sad to see her go.

On Labor Day we will be going back to Long Island for the month of September. We are really looking forward to this trip out. We'll be in full swing -- HBOT, Therasuit and the Ronald McDonald House. Yippeeee!