New Pics from Darmia, Auntie Donna and Uncle Shawn

We've had a really busy few weeks. Amelia is well. Still transitioning into school. She's been spiking these high fevers at night, I give her tylenol and breathing treatments and it's gone by morning and she's not showing any signs of being sick. Completely acting like herself and laughing at my silly songs and her cartoons. I spoke to Amelia's Pediatrician about it and we both agree it must be neurologically based. Lots of times kids with neurological disorders have trouble with the brain controlling the body's temperature. So that's been tough, because it means we're up all night and then she is sleepy for school. Also, her G-tube site is still a mess and I've been having to cuaterize it every other night, with silver nitrate sticks, which is horrific. I know the granulation tissue (the tissue that grows out of a g-tube site, trying to heal the "wound" which is the hole the g-tube is placed into) isn't supposed to have any nerve endings in it...it's a crock! Amelia screams and cries bloody murder. It's literally torture. The only thing that keeps me doing it is the knowledge that if I burn all this stuff off and clean up the site, I'll be able to stop doing it one day -- hopefully soon. She recovers pretty quickly tho if we turn the right cartoon on.

Speaking of which...our young miss has become extraordinarily finicky over which cartoon episode is put on for her. So funny and at times irritating. Nestor and I have gotten into arguments over this because I'll say "Enough! We're teaching her obnoxious habits, that she can get her own way every time she puts her hand in the air" (this pointing technique she's developed means "CHANGE IT NOW!!!!", subtle) whereas, Nestor feels like this is the only place in her life where she has any control and we should honor this small request; "she doesn't get to choose what kind of food to eat, which clothes to wear, where she wants to go or have the voice to make demands of us...so let her have this small concession if it makes her happy." sigh. I have to agree with this arguement. However, lets just state right now that after watching the first 2 seconds of what-used-to-be-her-favorite Backyardigans episode, it's not so easy to just keep putting on one after the other. We went thru 9 in a row the other night before she finally gave in and allowed us the viewing pleasure for about 15 minutes before raising her hand in the air to demand the next viewing choice. I'll tell ya...four letters, D-I-V-A.

Here are some pics that were sent by Amelia's Aunt Donna today. They're from Darmia's birthday party (a few weeks ago I posted about Amelia's fun time there) and from Amelia's spring break when we met up in central park with Aunt Donna, Uncle Shawn, Darmia, their friend, Alex with his newly adopted, 3 legged pooch, Alice.

Amelia and Mommy painting Tinkerbell at Darmia's birthday party

Amelia making friends, as Mommy finishes the project

Amelia napping next to Daddy, while Alex rubs Alice's belly

Daddy enjoying the day -- with a very fancy cup holder!

Uncle Shawn and Mommy listening intently to someone saying very important things!

Clearly, these photos were taken by Auntie Donna with help by her assistant, Darmia -- which is why they aren't featured. We promise to include them next time!

Try doing this in Grand Central!

I promise to update soon, but my friend Jodi posted this to her blog and it made me so happy. I had to share it with all of you. Enjoy!

A Milestone to Note

Amelia at school

This weekend we went to our friend, Darmia's 4th Birthday party(daughter of dear friends, Donna and Shawn). We've been attending Darmia's Birthday parties for the past 3 years and it is always with lots of tears and drama (Amelia's, not Nestor's) that we make it though a dreaded hour.

Well, my friends, Amelia is now 3. She goes to school. And now...she attends Birthday parties!!! That's right. We were there for over an hour and Amelia was so into it. She didn't cry, fuss or scream at me. The kids were doing plaster craft (SO FUN!) so I picked out a "Tinkerbell" plaster craft and pushed her stroller up to the very long table where everyone was painting. She was happy as pie to be sitting amongst the kids with a smock on. I started painting the piece -- thinking she would just watch...but out came her little hand for the paint brush. So, hand over hand, we painted Tinkerbell. It was really awesome! And it looks even lovelier;)

There was pizza and cake. Again, at the long table with all the kids, Amelia tasted the whipped buttercream frosting. Then, there was music and dancing. Amelia started to complain then, so I took her out of the stroller and walked her over to where the other kids were doing the "Chicken Dance". It must be that Latin blood, because our girl was so happy to be up and dancing (oh, my aching back tho!) -- but the complaining stopped and she was into it!!!

We left at about the 1-1.5 hour mark. We collected Amelia's plaster craft and headed out. What a great party and a real milestone for The Serrano's.

This weekend we're going down to Baltimore for Passover AND another Birthday party! Our little cousin Austin turns 1. Amelia is such a party animal!!!!

A Quick Update

In a nutshell....

Amelia stayed home Monday, went to school Tuesday, spiked a fever Tuesday nite, stayed home Wednesday and Thursday and is in school today (Friday). We started her on heavy duty antibiotics on Wed. and her ENT upped her Zyrtec dosage 50% when we went there yesterday for an appt. This morning she woke up soooo clear. I couldn't hear her breathing -- and I can always hear her breathing. She looked so comfortable. Unfortunately, it's only for 7 days and then we put her back to the old the dosage. At least she'll get thru this cold better and we know in the future that's an option to dry her up.

It looks like Amelia will be getting the strabismus (eyes) and tube (ear) surgery on May 7th. The tubes we've done twice -- no big deal -- and the strabismus...well, we have a fantastic eye surgeon (Yes Dad, you're the best eye surgeon..but we need pediatric, ok?) and he told us getting the eye surgery is like getting the tubes done. Takes 5 minutes and no big thing, so....there we are! I'm excited to see her eyes look directly at me, straight on. It'll be good to get that taken care of.

Amelia has been making all kinds of incredible sounds and gestures. She is soooo vocal. She'll look directly into your eyes and talk to you. I just wish I had a book called "Amelia Speak" which could interpret each sound. Also, she is now making big demands on us to turn on the TV, in which she points at the TV and yells at us. And heaven forbid you put on the wrong program...that arm goes right up again and she will howl until you put something else on...and heaven forbid that's wrong...you get the idea. We love it all. Although we have created a bit of a monster. However, I would prefer she make her preferences known. Such a fine line between encouraging communication and creating a spoiled child who gets everything she wants when she wants it. What to do, what to do? At this point we've been encouraging it -- anyone have an opinion? I'm not kidding, we can go thru 7-8 episodes of her favorite cartoon until we reach an acceptable choice. We live in fear of that arm going up and pointing at the TV.

Busy weekend ahead of us. A friend's birthday party and hoping to see Nestor's sister and family too. Then we go to Baltimore for Passover next week, where we have more birthday parties and family stuff planned. It never slows down...just the way I like it!!!