Amazing Amelia: Sunny and 75 Degrees

It's the strangest thing to be sitting here, in November, wearing cargo capris and a little cotton blouse. I haven't quite grasped the concept that although it may get chilly at night...it's going to be sunny and 75 degrees most days for us from now on.

Amelia is continuing to adjust really well out here. Her newest way to give Mommy and Daddy (and nurses, friends, family -- whoever happens to be standing there) a heart attack is to "rock and roll". She is probably around 45 pounds now and is learning to throw her weight around. Amelia sits in her chair for her feedings (similar to a Trip Trap Chair) or in her stander (which she is just growing out of and we desperately need to get her a new one) and throws her entire upper body from side to side! Nestor has been doing a recur on the show "90210" and asked one of the Grips if he could have a 35 pound sandbag (they use them on set to weight down lights, screens, props, etc, anything and everything really). The Grip said to Nestor "What do ya want it for? To weight down your garage door?" Apparently that must be a common request. Nestor had to politely explain our unusual circumstance and need for it. Needless to say, we now have her chair weighted with a 35 pound sandbag -- but no joke, I think we need another one!!!! It's a real discovery for Amelia to feel her body and it's movement in space. AND, she is moving it quickly! For those of you who know Amelia, she doesn't do anything quickly. Her movements are slow and somewhat floppy, so to see her bounding from side to side is exciting. We're not exactly sure how to work with it. Clearly Amelia is needing that stimulation, and I also think it's cool that she's found a way to provide it for herself -- but it's just too dangerous and scary to allow her to do with reckless abandon. I've started putting a velcro band diagonally around her like a seat belt when she's in her chair, she still does the "rock and roll" but can't get up as much momentum so the chair legs no longer leave the ground! -- as for the stander, I just put my hand on her shoulder and encourage her to stop rocking the whole thing from side to side (the stander is on it's last legs and I'm waiting for it to start splitting apart -- like Forrest Gump's leg braces in the movie). Anyone have any suggestions/ideas?

Amelia is really getting expressive in her vocalizations and facial expressions. She makes lots and lots of faces while she's playing. When I talk to her she'll scrunch her nose and mouth up in response a lot of the time. Her teacher at Lokrantz, Carolyn is one of the top teachers at her school and Amelia is doing so well in her class. Carolyn is very well versed in Augmentative Communication and Amelia has a 4 button switch at her school table that she uses each day. Also, Amelia has a health care worker who is always with her named Esther. She's really terrific with Amelia and gets her up and around the 3 hours Amelia's at school.

Nestor and I were able to steal away last weekend for a couple days, to Palm Desert for a Celebrity Gold Tournament benefiting Childhelp. It was a wonderful getaway for a wonderful charity. Childhelp is for children who have been abused and/or neglected. There were so many precious kids there and this event raised so much money to help with their facilities and programs. We were very honored to be there and be a part of it.

Here are some photos from Halloween at Amelia's school. Nestor is not a huge fan of dressing kids up unless they are part of the dressing up process. So my compromise is to put her into an outfit that is festive and exudes the "Spirit of Halloween." I thought the pants and top were hip and the skirt was actually chosen by Miss Amelia at a recent trip to Costco...so I guess she was actually a part of the dressing up process (so there!)