(Written during our traveling) Julia and I are in Newark airport waiting to board a plane to Atlanta and another to Milwaukee. David should be at the end of the line and bring us home. Three weeks of vacation is enough for Julia, and for me. She wants her Daddy and her Puppy House. I want David and to sleep in my own bed. And a few minutes of quiet for myself. Parenting Julia for three weeks in hotels, homes, and all over Pittsburgh, Jersey, New York, and Maryland has been exhausting, but so curiously, I have enjoyed almost all of it. I see such growth in her every day. It is astounding to be present for her and with her. She is learning to depend more on me, and on David also, for emotional support. And after almost two years, I feel like I know something about this daughter of mine.
Julia opens her eyes wide when she searches for mine. She meets my eyes easier and she initiates the meetings more often. She has so much more to say – I am repeating myself over and over, but her language continues to change. She is asking questions, and her ‘wanting to talk’ has taken on a more direct and longer scenario.
Julia: Babja.
Babja: (Is not listening.)
Julia: Babja
Babja: Yes, Julia.
Julia: I want talk to you.
Babja: Okay.
Julia: (Quiet now)
Me: Julia what do you want to say to Babja?
Julia: I want . . . I want . . . I want . . . . talk ‘bout pets.
So this is not brilliant conversation yet, but she is closer. Last night, she also interrupted me in the car when I was talking to my mother. She said, "Julia want to talk Mommy." I see in this a recognition that I am doing something that interferes with Julia’s ability to talk to me – there are things going on outside of her. She is seeing that she is not the world in toto.
Today, our late morning plane is cancelled because of some leaking hydraulics, and she tells David on the phone, "We late because plane is broken," capturing the message and relaying it to the person who needs to know. We change our flight, have some lunch (and thank goodness she is willing to eat chicken fingers – not a favorite – and a salad, have a bit of candy – sour and green – , and sit quietly to watch a movie. We were lucky to decide to get off the broken plane at the first mention that the air conditioning was to be turned off and to move to the forming line behind just a few people who were inquiring about connecting flights. We waited pretty patiently, got our later flights, and found somewhere to eat lunch, and then seats to watch a movie on the little DVD player. She gives me time to write, and I write and take breaks to watch some important movie scene with her or to talk about broken planes, mommy and daddy planes, and just where Daddy is right now. She also asks where Cheshire went, where Abby is, and if Michael is going to school.
It is almost 8 pm and Julia and I are now bound for Milwaukee. We are above the clouds and have a view of the sunset that is magical. Julia is watching Spirited Away and I will join her soon. She has been such a good traveler today. She has moved and changed when necessary, she has waited on lines and eaten what was available. She has not complained, whined, or tantrumed. She has been cheery, has talked to strangers (especially one guy who wore a golden dragon and white tiger on his shirt) and followed my direction. She has also yawned a few times in the last few minutes. I am so happy and proud of her behavior.
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
22 August 2008
A visit with MiaoMiao!
It is still hard to have Julia stand side by side with her peers and for me to make any comparison. Why I still find need to compare her to anyone is a good question. If I am expecting her to develop into such an individual, her only measure is what she did yesterday and what she will do tomorrow.Yesterday, we visited Julia’s orphanage sister, MiaoMiao. I drove to Pennsylvania and we spent about 4 hours with MiaoMiao, her sisters, and mother. I am so very glad that her mother wants us to stay in touch and keep up some kind of relationship for the girls, but I am worried some. MiaoMiao, a year and a half younger and home about 6 months less than Julia, is far beyond Julia in her maturity, her communication and social skills, her use of her intelligence. She accepted Julia and played with her. Julia was first uncomfortable – sitting on the front lawn of the house as MiaoMiao danced around her – and then very happy to see her, but will/was MiaoMiao embarrassed or disappointed by her friend’s behavior. Does she think that Julia is a baby, unable to understand her, stupid? Julia is who she is and is making the progress that she is making. I want to continue to be in touch with MiaoMiao, albeit on a very limited basis because of our distance, I want to save the friendship so that they both have it when they are grown. I do have a bit of fear that Julia will be rejected.
Cheshire said, that she perceived some discomfort in MiaoMiao. Cheshire compared it to my relationship with Carolina, almost mute with alzheimer’s – that I am living, moving on, going past my dear friend, and she is frozen where she is, no longer able to be anything more than be physically present and my friend only in memory which may be all mine. The relationship between Julia and MiaoMiao is not so dramatic, but I can patiently visit Carolina and do what I can to connect, be sad, but still be there. My question is whether MiaoMiao can be that patient with Julia.
Julia and MiaoMiao played dress up, which Julia rarely does. She was a princess, and then a ballerina. MiaoMiao put a braid in Julia’s hair, and presented her handiwork, mentioning how she dressed and braided Julia. Julia very happily explored her friend’s house and room, and played with her toys and her sisters. It was interesting to see Julia and MiaoMiao play together with the same kind of tiny toys – poly pocket instead of little pets – both of them seem to have an interest in the very small. MiaoMiao has developed into a girly girl, with dolls and dress up and princesses. Julia tends to sit more on the tom boy side of the fence, although nothing compares to being dressed as a ballerina. When Julia draws figures now, she sometimes adds crossed lines to the shoes which makes the person or animal or fish into someone "doing ballet."
All the girls sat at a big kitchen table to have lunch together – hard boiled eggs, hotdogs, watermelon, and little cupcakes. Julia was in heaven. She tried to direct all the girls, as she does. She was able to answer a few questions that the sisters asked. (She really has her age down pat and answer the "how old are you question" of almost anyone.). Julia and MiaoMiao were referring to each other by their American names most of the time, although neither rejected the other for the names they were called in China.
The girls went to ride bikes on the drive way, and as MiaoMiao rode loops on her two wheeler, Julia struggle on a bike with training wheels. We took a walk around the block with one of the sisters pulling a wagon that Julia and MiaoMiao rode in. What did they talk about? Julia is still so alive in the present, I wonder how she regards MiaoMiao.
When it was time to leave, both girls wanted to stay together, but it was Julia who wanted the extra hugs. MiaoMiao did run to the car and did wave very hard. Oh, I hope they can stay friends.
19 August 2008
Tuesday visiting
Tuesday, yes, Tuesday, we visited old family friends. Nadia the woman of the household we visited is the only and much beloved daughter of Nicholas whom my siblings and I call Uncle Nick although there is no blood relation between us. The families are distantly related through marriage – Nadia’s father is cousin to the father of another Nicholas who married my mother’s sister. Nadia suggested that Uncle Nick was great-grandpa to Julia and Julia cheerfully complied. She is very willing to call older people grandma and grandpa, and when she does this, I always wonder if she visited or was visited by the people who lived in the old peoples’ home that shared grounds with the orphanage. She did this last year when she met friends of my mother and did it again when she saw them again this year.
Uncle Nick was a childhood friend of my mother’s half-brother, Nick, our real Uncle Nick, when they both lived in Ukraine. Both came to the United States as young men, my mother’s brother after years of being brought up by paternal grandparents who were less than happy to be saddled with a young boy after their son died and his young wife immigrated to America. My grandmother did not save sufficient funds to get her son to the US until he was 16 years old. By that time, she had re-married and produced two daughters. I wonder at his thoughts and feelings as he entered a family and got to know the mother who had left him in her old country when he was a little more than an infant. She expected to make a start in America, and to have a home ready for her husband and son when they joined her as soon as the husband was released from the Russian Army. Instead, the husband died during boot camp, probably of influenza, and Uncle Nick had to grow up a virtual orphan.
Nadia’s father married before my Uncle Nick, to a woman named Genya They had one daughter, the very Nadia we visited. She, in turn, married John and had two sons, who produced a set of triplets (two girls and a boy), another daughter, and a son. One of Nadia’s sons is an artist who draws political cartoons for the NY Post and decorated St. Agnes’ Church in NYC (incredibly gorgeous) and authored and illustrated a kids’ book with his young son. Nadia and her parents (and parts of her extended family) lived in the same neighborhood on Baldwin Street in Newark, New Jersey, in the 1930's that my mother and her family lived. Their life was probably typical of the time and revolved around their church with everyone participating in choir, dance troupes, after school and Saturday Ukrainian classes, and sports clubs. From what I gather, and have gathered all through my life, our families have always been very warm and close. My mother talks of Nadia’s aunt, Olga, who favored my mother (and put bows in her hair) when her own mother was busy caring for an ailing husband and supporting their household, and possibly neglecting her youngest daughter. Nadia at 10 was the flower girl in my parents’ wedding with a long ruffled dress and long hair in fat baloney curls. She was very beautiful as a child (actually all her life) and I often thought that the pictures of her was what my mother would have preferred for her own daughter. I remember Nadia visiting my family when I was very young – 4, maybe 3 even. She brought me a big, fat, blue book that had nursery rhymes, short stories, and portions of chapter books in it. I cherished this book, the first book that was all my own, and to this day, my favorite gift to any child, especially young children, is a book. I once told Nadia how much I thought of this gift to a rather shy, fat, and plain little girl and she laughed off its importance. And that is part of her as well.
Nadia is in possession of a rich spirit and her home is full of memories. Paintings and sketches adorn the walls – both John, her husband and one of her sons are responsible for much of the art work. Then there are pictures of parents, relations near and far, children, and grandchildren. There are cabinets and cases that enclose crystal, china, and dolls from a few generations of girls and souvenirs of lives lived with great curiosity and spirit. Nadia and her family have kept their connections with Ukraine and Ukrainian relatives alive. Both she and her father visited often and for long periods of time, and send supplies often. They have hosted relations coming to the US and have helped those left behind.
Nadia’s spirit is expansive and rich. Her welcome to all of us was effusive. She knows of my life mostly through my mother’s reports, she met Cheshire when Ches was about 9 and playing violin for my parents’ 48th anniversary party. She welcomed Julia, admiring her beauty and spirit, and finding for her perfect toys and presents, some hidden and some out to be played with immediately. Nadia took Julia into her basement and offered her dolls. I think that Nadia loved/loves dolls and I understand the happy possibility of sharing a doll with a child. But Julia is Julia, and dolls are not her favorites. I was not there but Nadia regrouped and found a playschol camper set which Julia immediately set upon. Julia was more than excited. She has a bit playschol toys – little people, a hotdog stand, and some plastic clothes – from Matthew, but I have not found any sets that I like and think appropriate for Julia. This set with a travel camper, a family of five, and tiny accessories kept her occupied for hours. Julia pulled all of the pieces apart from their plastic holders and set tiny tables, put people onto tiny chairs, and even arranged tiny flowers. And when later Nadia asked her to bring some of it to the diningroom table to show her father, Julia ran to the porch room, gathered up some of the pieces into her skirt and brought them to the table. This reaction of Julia’s, so ordinary, is nonetheless such a leap! Julia is now responding by doing. Oh, I hope this continues in school. How much easier it would be for Christy and her therapists if Julia started doing what she was asked to do.
The visit with Nadia was so tinged with the old fashion visits I remember from my very young years. An hour visit that turns into the rest of the day. The children – child in this case – playing part of the time in another room, and the adults talking, catching up and telling stories, giving time to the oldest ones to say something and listening to an occasional opinion for the youngest of the adults. Well, I don’t remember the last, but saw it happening in this house. Cheshire was listened to, advised and offered all wishes, support and love. I got to talk about Julia and her challenges as both John and Nadia worked with children, some with special needs, during their working years. And again, I was listened to, advised, and offered love and support.
We ate cold cuts and cheeses and peach pie and poppyseed cake that we had bought in a bakery. My mother praised my poppyseed cake, but Cheshire found the store bought (the first store bought that she has ever eaten) good enough to indulge in three pieces – so uncharacteristic of her. Nadia told us about her own pies even though this too was bought. Nadia’s tasks right now are taking care of her aging father – 99 this year, a bit feeble but very alert – and her ailing husband. She seems to do it with such good cheer and very few complaints – those being only in relation to how her charges are unable to enjoy things as they used to. Her good cheer and devotion is natural, and both Ches and I felt that Nadia enjoyed every day. I was so happy to be included in this visit. I am so glad that Cheshire got to know such a woman. Nadia fills all of us with her expansive spirit, and possibly we caught her excitment for every day.
Uncle Nick was a childhood friend of my mother’s half-brother, Nick, our real Uncle Nick, when they both lived in Ukraine. Both came to the United States as young men, my mother’s brother after years of being brought up by paternal grandparents who were less than happy to be saddled with a young boy after their son died and his young wife immigrated to America. My grandmother did not save sufficient funds to get her son to the US until he was 16 years old. By that time, she had re-married and produced two daughters. I wonder at his thoughts and feelings as he entered a family and got to know the mother who had left him in her old country when he was a little more than an infant. She expected to make a start in America, and to have a home ready for her husband and son when they joined her as soon as the husband was released from the Russian Army. Instead, the husband died during boot camp, probably of influenza, and Uncle Nick had to grow up a virtual orphan.
Nadia’s father married before my Uncle Nick, to a woman named Genya They had one daughter, the very Nadia we visited. She, in turn, married John and had two sons, who produced a set of triplets (two girls and a boy), another daughter, and a son. One of Nadia’s sons is an artist who draws political cartoons for the NY Post and decorated St. Agnes’ Church in NYC (incredibly gorgeous) and authored and illustrated a kids’ book with his young son. Nadia and her parents (and parts of her extended family) lived in the same neighborhood on Baldwin Street in Newark, New Jersey, in the 1930's that my mother and her family lived. Their life was probably typical of the time and revolved around their church with everyone participating in choir, dance troupes, after school and Saturday Ukrainian classes, and sports clubs. From what I gather, and have gathered all through my life, our families have always been very warm and close. My mother talks of Nadia’s aunt, Olga, who favored my mother (and put bows in her hair) when her own mother was busy caring for an ailing husband and supporting their household, and possibly neglecting her youngest daughter. Nadia at 10 was the flower girl in my parents’ wedding with a long ruffled dress and long hair in fat baloney curls. She was very beautiful as a child (actually all her life) and I often thought that the pictures of her was what my mother would have preferred for her own daughter. I remember Nadia visiting my family when I was very young – 4, maybe 3 even. She brought me a big, fat, blue book that had nursery rhymes, short stories, and portions of chapter books in it. I cherished this book, the first book that was all my own, and to this day, my favorite gift to any child, especially young children, is a book. I once told Nadia how much I thought of this gift to a rather shy, fat, and plain little girl and she laughed off its importance. And that is part of her as well.
Nadia is in possession of a rich spirit and her home is full of memories. Paintings and sketches adorn the walls – both John, her husband and one of her sons are responsible for much of the art work. Then there are pictures of parents, relations near and far, children, and grandchildren. There are cabinets and cases that enclose crystal, china, and dolls from a few generations of girls and souvenirs of lives lived with great curiosity and spirit. Nadia and her family have kept their connections with Ukraine and Ukrainian relatives alive. Both she and her father visited often and for long periods of time, and send supplies often. They have hosted relations coming to the US and have helped those left behind.
Nadia’s spirit is expansive and rich. Her welcome to all of us was effusive. She knows of my life mostly through my mother’s reports, she met Cheshire when Ches was about 9 and playing violin for my parents’ 48th anniversary party. She welcomed Julia, admiring her beauty and spirit, and finding for her perfect toys and presents, some hidden and some out to be played with immediately. Nadia took Julia into her basement and offered her dolls. I think that Nadia loved/loves dolls and I understand the happy possibility of sharing a doll with a child. But Julia is Julia, and dolls are not her favorites. I was not there but Nadia regrouped and found a playschol camper set which Julia immediately set upon. Julia was more than excited. She has a bit playschol toys – little people, a hotdog stand, and some plastic clothes – from Matthew, but I have not found any sets that I like and think appropriate for Julia. This set with a travel camper, a family of five, and tiny accessories kept her occupied for hours. Julia pulled all of the pieces apart from their plastic holders and set tiny tables, put people onto tiny chairs, and even arranged tiny flowers. And when later Nadia asked her to bring some of it to the diningroom table to show her father, Julia ran to the porch room, gathered up some of the pieces into her skirt and brought them to the table. This reaction of Julia’s, so ordinary, is nonetheless such a leap! Julia is now responding by doing. Oh, I hope this continues in school. How much easier it would be for Christy and her therapists if Julia started doing what she was asked to do.
The visit with Nadia was so tinged with the old fashion visits I remember from my very young years. An hour visit that turns into the rest of the day. The children – child in this case – playing part of the time in another room, and the adults talking, catching up and telling stories, giving time to the oldest ones to say something and listening to an occasional opinion for the youngest of the adults. Well, I don’t remember the last, but saw it happening in this house. Cheshire was listened to, advised and offered all wishes, support and love. I got to talk about Julia and her challenges as both John and Nadia worked with children, some with special needs, during their working years. And again, I was listened to, advised, and offered love and support.
We ate cold cuts and cheeses and peach pie and poppyseed cake that we had bought in a bakery. My mother praised my poppyseed cake, but Cheshire found the store bought (the first store bought that she has ever eaten) good enough to indulge in three pieces – so uncharacteristic of her. Nadia told us about her own pies even though this too was bought. Nadia’s tasks right now are taking care of her aging father – 99 this year, a bit feeble but very alert – and her ailing husband. She seems to do it with such good cheer and very few complaints – those being only in relation to how her charges are unable to enjoy things as they used to. Her good cheer and devotion is natural, and both Ches and I felt that Nadia enjoyed every day. I was so happy to be included in this visit. I am so glad that Cheshire got to know such a woman. Nadia fills all of us with her expansive spirit, and possibly we caught her excitment for every day.
Nadia, Babja (my mother), and Uncle Nick. And below, Julia gets into the act.
Julia shows Babja and then Great-grandpa Nick her new toys that Nadia magically produced from her basement.
Great Granpa investigate for himself and shows Julia a things AND two.
13 August 2008
Julia update
Julia's behavior has been eratic after this long away from home. We have another week to go. This is the longest she has ever been away from home and I am very glad that we are doing it. I hope we hold it together for the rest of our travels.
She is loving the visiting. She hugs and kisses all the relatives, is so excited to play with Michael and Sarah, and tries to get Cheshire's attention whenever possible. She is also trying very hard to start and maintain conversations. She names things and whose house is whose, talks about her favorite movie characters, and talks about what she is making out of clay. She is also willing to do her writing work and to do the listening therapy. We are not making great strides in anything but the fact that we can keep our work going and Julia can keep talking, I feel very good about the traveling time.
She is loving the visiting. She hugs and kisses all the relatives, is so excited to play with Michael and Sarah, and tries to get Cheshire's attention whenever possible. She is also trying very hard to start and maintain conversations. She names things and whose house is whose, talks about her favorite movie characters, and talks about what she is making out of clay. She is also willing to do her writing work and to do the listening therapy. We are not making great strides in anything but the fact that we can keep our work going and Julia can keep talking, I feel very good about the traveling time.
11 August 2008
Short notes
We had a piddling around day with rainy weather to keep us inside or dashing to or from the car. Best part of the day was to get Cheshire with us for a few days. Tomorrow, Maryland and Lisa!
Julia was very fidgety today -- all day and even tonight getting ready to sleep. It seemed impossible for her to be still no matter what she was doing. I know we are not do enough physical stuff for her, but we took two walks and played in two playgrounds. I am hoping the better weather will get us outside more often. The fidgety behavior is such a reminder that Julia is not like everyone else. She needs a sensory diet and she needs help to gain control.
I am reminded that we had a day like this when we were in Door County just before we saw some very visible results from the listening therapy. She is also trying very hard to connect with Cheshire and her Babja (my mother). Her conversations are bizaar sometimes but she tries so hard.
I put the new CD in tonight for 10 minutes.
Julia was very fidgety today -- all day and even tonight getting ready to sleep. It seemed impossible for her to be still no matter what she was doing. I know we are not do enough physical stuff for her, but we took two walks and played in two playgrounds. I am hoping the better weather will get us outside more often. The fidgety behavior is such a reminder that Julia is not like everyone else. She needs a sensory diet and she needs help to gain control.
I am reminded that we had a day like this when we were in Door County just before we saw some very visible results from the listening therapy. She is also trying very hard to connect with Cheshire and her Babja (my mother). Her conversations are bizaar sometimes but she tries so hard.
I put the new CD in tonight for 10 minutes.
07 August 2008
Thursday
It is hard to write everything -- even the important things. Sometimes I am not disciplined enough to delve into the behavior, the doings, the learnings that will show me what Julia is learning and how she is developing. I favor instead easy tellings of events of our days. And then, sometimes all I can write is the events and that has to be enough. Breaking through to a place where I write what matters, what I can really learn from, and what can help Julia in the future is where I want to be.
Julia's behavior has been better on this trip than on any other. She does ask about going back to her house and every so often is not pleased that it will be almost two weeks before we are home. She is testy and stubborn at times, sometimes even sitting down on the ground or shouting "no" to make her point, but she is quickly talked down from this impulsive behavior. She is also much more concerned about how I feel. She asks if I am angry or sad, she tells me that she is happy in order to please me. This solicitous behavior alternates with a defiance towards me and a rejection of anything that I say. Tonight, we were working on two letters -- P and R -- and I was trying to have her draw the main line of the letter and then put in the half circle. She did not want to make the letters this way, and yet she seemed to know that her way of making the letters -- drawing a circle and then a line down -- just didn't look like the letters. She has done this sort of this before and at times I've gotten frustrated. Tonight, I kept at her in a calm and steady voice and manner. I told her how I knew she could do it. I told her that she had to listen and do as I say because my way would enable her to make her letters correctly. I told her how smart she was and that listening to me and following my directions would make her smarter. How much did her understand? I am not sure, but this constant patter allowed her to give in in some way and to do what I asked of her.
Julia has also been favoring David when ever he is with us. I know that she gets much more of me than of him, and she enjoys being Daddy's girl, but I feel like she does reject me whenever she can. I don't take this personally. Just maybe this is an attachment issue that we need to work on. Poor David! These last five nights, she has slept in a double bed with him while I have the other bed to myself.
And oh, she loves staying up late! That girl can keep on going way past what I remember Cheshire doing. She will almost never fall asleep anywhere but in bed and anytime but at night. This concerns me to the extent that she might be staying viligent and not allowing her self to rest anytime during the day.
We have been pretty good keeping up with her brushing and theraputic listening during this week. I will be starting her on a new CD later this week. Just 10 minutes during one of the half hour listening times. We'll see what changes it brings.
Julia's behavior has been better on this trip than on any other. She does ask about going back to her house and every so often is not pleased that it will be almost two weeks before we are home. She is testy and stubborn at times, sometimes even sitting down on the ground or shouting "no" to make her point, but she is quickly talked down from this impulsive behavior. She is also much more concerned about how I feel. She asks if I am angry or sad, she tells me that she is happy in order to please me. This solicitous behavior alternates with a defiance towards me and a rejection of anything that I say. Tonight, we were working on two letters -- P and R -- and I was trying to have her draw the main line of the letter and then put in the half circle. She did not want to make the letters this way, and yet she seemed to know that her way of making the letters -- drawing a circle and then a line down -- just didn't look like the letters. She has done this sort of this before and at times I've gotten frustrated. Tonight, I kept at her in a calm and steady voice and manner. I told her how I knew she could do it. I told her that she had to listen and do as I say because my way would enable her to make her letters correctly. I told her how smart she was and that listening to me and following my directions would make her smarter. How much did her understand? I am not sure, but this constant patter allowed her to give in in some way and to do what I asked of her.
Julia has also been favoring David when ever he is with us. I know that she gets much more of me than of him, and she enjoys being Daddy's girl, but I feel like she does reject me whenever she can. I don't take this personally. Just maybe this is an attachment issue that we need to work on. Poor David! These last five nights, she has slept in a double bed with him while I have the other bed to myself.
And oh, she loves staying up late! That girl can keep on going way past what I remember Cheshire doing. She will almost never fall asleep anywhere but in bed and anytime but at night. This concerns me to the extent that she might be staying viligent and not allowing her self to rest anytime during the day.
We have been pretty good keeping up with her brushing and theraputic listening during this week. I will be starting her on a new CD later this week. Just 10 minutes during one of the half hour listening times. We'll see what changes it brings.
05 August 2008
Tuesday is Hienz country
Maybe Carnegie is closer to the truth since the Museum of Natural History was funded and stocked by the old man himself. Julia was in heaven! And David and I were just in awe. This is an old museum with old bones that have been fixed and refurbished, but there is no way to duplicate this stuff. Most of what we saw was real which is different from lots of new dino exhibits, and the sheer number of prehistoric skeletons was more than impressive. The dino is the picture is outside the museum and is just one of the long necked monsters that is inside. Below is Julia hugging a leg.
Julia knew so many of the dinos from their bones and was not at all intimidated by the size.
She also had no trouble using the touch screen computers with more pictures and information. She did skip the boring all info pages infavor of the pictures.
More on today, tomorrow
Julia knew so many of the dinos from their bones and was not at all intimidated by the size.
She also had no trouble using the touch screen computers with more pictures and information. She did skip the boring all info pages infavor of the pictures.More on today, tomorrow
02 August 2008
Saturday thoughts
So often, there is a comment to a post that essentially says, 'I used to do that behavior,' 'I needed that particular comfort,' 'I still feel the need to ____ and I am normal.' I find myself thinking and feeling the same way. I like the feel of No. 2 pencils on a page for any sort of writing, I love my heavy quilt in the winter, certain music changes theway that I feel. And I really loved the way that crayons feel when they are very warm and coloring on warm paper. Julia has her own set of sensory needs and they are intensified. The longer that she has been home, the less “odd” or out of the ordinary her responses are to sensory stimulation, and the more her behavior corresponds to the “range of normal” reactions. She still needs hugs and a lap for the siren of an ambulance or a fire truck, and still needs a heavier quilt, at least at home, to feel comfortable. I wonder if this easing into the normal range of response to sensory input is changing something in her core, or if it is some basic changes in her core that pushes her behavior into the normal zone?
The new normal: I wrote a response to a post on the yahoo Attach-China board that touched upon how, as parents of kids with special needs, we must go through the mourning of the child we had dreamed of and set the new normal. By no means do I mean, that my new normal for Julia is defined by diminished expectations. I expect her to do her best and reach the highest heights of her abilities, but I do not expect to treat Julia like a child of her chronological age any time soon. I do miss the possiblity of talking to a 7 year old like Cheshre or the myriad of children who I have known at 7. I also do worry at times that we will never get to a real conversation, but concentrating on the here and now, I engage Julia is familiar conversation about lunch, her day, her pets. My worry is reciprocity and most of the time Julia doesn't ask me anything. Every so often she will ask if I am okay, or something about food, or something about the dog. It is a beginning and renews hope.
I wonder how long I will be talking to Julia as a 3-4 year old. I get an incling of loving and caring for serverely differently able people, something that I never let myself understand. I took it as a given that when I was a child, I was less loveable, less acceptable because of my differences. I see now how not necessarily true that is. I could love Julia no more if she was in any way different from what she is right now.
I love packing for travel. The winnowing down of possessions to the essentials – more winnowing when we travel by plane, but engaging enough when there will be limited space in the car for baggage. Julia's books, toys, movies, and music. How much reading should I brng for myself? Can I make myself read the whole of a philosophy book by bringing nothing else? And snacks? Do we need them? Am I bringing the exact same clothes that I wore last year? So, I don't think about this often at all. And if anyone took care to notice, they might see that all our trip pictures had me in the same outfits, changed only due to season and weather. Yes, that sweater is 20 years old! Yes, I took that shirt to China in 2006, to Vietnam in 2001, and probably to England in 1999. Either I tend to wear clasic clothes or I am dreadfully out of style.
The new normal: I wrote a response to a post on the yahoo Attach-China board that touched upon how, as parents of kids with special needs, we must go through the mourning of the child we had dreamed of and set the new normal. By no means do I mean, that my new normal for Julia is defined by diminished expectations. I expect her to do her best and reach the highest heights of her abilities, but I do not expect to treat Julia like a child of her chronological age any time soon. I do miss the possiblity of talking to a 7 year old like Cheshre or the myriad of children who I have known at 7. I also do worry at times that we will never get to a real conversation, but concentrating on the here and now, I engage Julia is familiar conversation about lunch, her day, her pets. My worry is reciprocity and most of the time Julia doesn't ask me anything. Every so often she will ask if I am okay, or something about food, or something about the dog. It is a beginning and renews hope.
I wonder how long I will be talking to Julia as a 3-4 year old. I get an incling of loving and caring for serverely differently able people, something that I never let myself understand. I took it as a given that when I was a child, I was less loveable, less acceptable because of my differences. I see now how not necessarily true that is. I could love Julia no more if she was in any way different from what she is right now.
I love packing for travel. The winnowing down of possessions to the essentials – more winnowing when we travel by plane, but engaging enough when there will be limited space in the car for baggage. Julia's books, toys, movies, and music. How much reading should I brng for myself? Can I make myself read the whole of a philosophy book by bringing nothing else? And snacks? Do we need them? Am I bringing the exact same clothes that I wore last year? So, I don't think about this often at all. And if anyone took care to notice, they might see that all our trip pictures had me in the same outfits, changed only due to season and weather. Yes, that sweater is 20 years old! Yes, I took that shirt to China in 2006, to Vietnam in 2001, and probably to England in 1999. Either I tend to wear clasic clothes or I am dreadfully out of style.
26 July 2008
More, more, more picture
Yes, we ate in a restaurant that had goats eating grass on the roof. Julia loved the split pea and ham soup, and then we all attacked the home made herring that is a speciality of this restaurant. 
Not a great picture of Julia but the wooden guy looked so good.
After an ice cream dessert, Julia finds a dino friend to ride into the sunset.
And a dino for Dad as well.20 March 2008
Spring Break
Julia is on spring break -- which I think should be called "Still-winter Break." Yes, it is getting warmer bit by bit and the snow is melting. Again, bit by bit. BUT we are spending most days in the 30s with a few reaches to the low 40s.
Anyway, the break. I had planned lots of out of the house activities, but Julia has wanted to spend her time here, at home, inside, playing by herself and with me. All okay.
She is watching Sesame Street! Really watching it -- counting when they count and saying her ABCs when they do that. I actually wish they would do more of that -- they used to when Cheshire was watching it. Lots of the "lessons" in the skits are going over her head, but the birthday party short film, which they've shown every day, is accompanied by Julia singing. She wants a pinata. LOL.
We had a play date yesterday with a friend from school. Julia and A run around together in the school yard and build lego in the class room. They are both on the spectrum and have some socializing challenges. It was interesting to see them interact -- some of the time they played together and other times they were at oposite sides of the house. It was also a start, a good start. Even though A was not a model kid to "teach" Julia about appropriate socializing, the play date gave me more confidence. We need to move towards finding a model friend -- as recommended by the Waiseman doc. This would work better if I had a friend around here with a kid willing to learn to play with Julia.
Julia did not have especially good OT and speech appointments this week. She is more compliant and more willing to transition between activities, but she spent more time hiding in her shirt and acting tired. It made me feel like she was taking that step back after weeks of moving forward. Of course, I worry each time she does not move forward, but I also realize that I have to cut the kid a break. Sometimes I find it hard to be the one who prods her ahead and who is always teaching something, and at the same time who understands that not every day is a step ahead. I will learn.
Today, it is sunny, but chilly. Julia and I are going to drive up to Wisconsin Dells and go to an indoor water park. Tonight, we are expecting snow -- 4-8 inches (no comment necessary) -- and we will spend lots of tomorrow working with clay. We found a library book about kids working with clay and Julia is really excited about using it.
Anyway, the break. I had planned lots of out of the house activities, but Julia has wanted to spend her time here, at home, inside, playing by herself and with me. All okay.
She is watching Sesame Street! Really watching it -- counting when they count and saying her ABCs when they do that. I actually wish they would do more of that -- they used to when Cheshire was watching it. Lots of the "lessons" in the skits are going over her head, but the birthday party short film, which they've shown every day, is accompanied by Julia singing. She wants a pinata. LOL.
We had a play date yesterday with a friend from school. Julia and A run around together in the school yard and build lego in the class room. They are both on the spectrum and have some socializing challenges. It was interesting to see them interact -- some of the time they played together and other times they were at oposite sides of the house. It was also a start, a good start. Even though A was not a model kid to "teach" Julia about appropriate socializing, the play date gave me more confidence. We need to move towards finding a model friend -- as recommended by the Waiseman doc. This would work better if I had a friend around here with a kid willing to learn to play with Julia.
Julia did not have especially good OT and speech appointments this week. She is more compliant and more willing to transition between activities, but she spent more time hiding in her shirt and acting tired. It made me feel like she was taking that step back after weeks of moving forward. Of course, I worry each time she does not move forward, but I also realize that I have to cut the kid a break. Sometimes I find it hard to be the one who prods her ahead and who is always teaching something, and at the same time who understands that not every day is a step ahead. I will learn.
Today, it is sunny, but chilly. Julia and I are going to drive up to Wisconsin Dells and go to an indoor water park. Tonight, we are expecting snow -- 4-8 inches (no comment necessary) -- and we will spend lots of tomorrow working with clay. We found a library book about kids working with clay and Julia is really excited about using it.
02 September 2007
Julia in Jersey
This has been a great week for Julia and I. We spent the week in Jersey with my mother. For us it was a visiting and vacation! Julia played with Jennifer’s doll house and all the little furniture and figures that were inside. She enjoyed what her Babja (grandma in Ukrainian) cooked for her and the extra hugs and kisses she received.
We spent afternoons at the Knights of Columbus pool that my parents joined years ago. The pool is not well used now and so the kids who use it have unlimited space in the pool. This is different from our community pool in Madison in that the shallowest water is 3 feet, and so, the water was much colder than Julia and I are used to. This was not much of a problem for Julia but she did come out a number of times with almost blue lips and enjoyed the warm towel and snuggle to get warm. Julia found kids to play with each time that we went. She especially enjoyed playing with a little girl who was just 4. Julia and this little girl jumped into the pool holding hands, and Julia jumped by herself at least once. The two of them splashed and played and "attacked" two older boys who entered into a substantial splashing war. This physical play without the demand of mature vocal communication was just pleasure for Julia. She was loud but no louder than the other kids and kinda rough for a girl, but those were tough boys. Julia also met two of my mother’s friends an by the end of the first day, she was calling them "grandma" and giving out hugs and kisses when we left. I wondered whether Julia calling these ladies "grandma" was somewhat a sign of respect. She may have done something like this with older people who she saw in China.
David was driving Cheshire to school during this week and he stopped at both his parents and mine to allow the grandparents to see our world traveler before she returned to school. After he helped her set up her dorm room, he stopped again in Jersey. As it turned out we had a very nice dinner with all the grandparents and the three of us on Julia’s adoption day. It was low key but very nice to be together. And Julia discovered shrimp.
It is amazing to think that we have been together for a year. Julia really has burrowed deep into our hearts and her attachment to us is still such a source of wonder to me. After spending a little time with Miao Miao, I see how much Julia is behind developmentally. I don’t know the reason, but from what I can put together from what I know of Julia and what I’ve now heard of Miao Miao, I am coming to see that Julia was not treated well at the orphanage. She was probably not a favorite, not sent to school when her friend much younger than she was sent, the food was not plentiful although Julia came home a fine size, and the stimulation was lacking. Julia and Miao Miao played with sticks drawing in the dirt, and neither girl knew what crayons were in China. The pictures that Miao Miao brought home included shots of her with various caregivers, shots of her at school doing various activities with other children, at least one shot outside the orphanage, and shots in more than one set of clothes suggesting that the pictures were taken on more than one day. Apart from the one picture of Julia with Miao Miao and the boy, Na Na, Julia pictures were of her alone and either inside the orphanage or on the play equipment. I wonder now if Julia’s caregivers saw a reason not to treat her as they treated her best friend.
I am very angry and bitter about Julia’s treatment at the orphanage. I do not believe that Miao Miao was treated very well at the orphanage. Why was my darling child not treated as well as her best friend? And there is no one to ask these questions of.
Julia nudges me to put my arm around her for the scary part of a movie.
On Friday, we drove down to Point Pleasant, a beach community on the Jersey shore. It was grey and damp day and so not a real beach day and my mom didn’t want to go into the sand. We walked the board walk – for Julia this was a first although she did not think the board walk was anything special – and I bought many, many ticket for Julia to go on rides. Each time we try the kiddie rides, Julia’s behavior improves, and although we had a short time when she did not want to do what I wanted her to, she was mostly willing to follow my directions. And she did go on lots of rides. She is beginning to look like she is enjoying rides. When we have taken her on other rides, she has looked very serious. She observes very carefully, she steers the wheel in front of her, she watches others, but she rarely laughs or waves to her crazy parents who call out to her and wave like silly people as she passes us each time. This time she noticed us and seemed to be happy waving.
Julia loves little roller coasters and has been on a few. This time the coaster was a little bigger. It was still very must a junior thrill but it went up and down and in two circles before returning to the platform. I decided to go on with her because I thought it might scare her some. Well, she loved it. She told me later and even today that she was scared during the ride but she screamed and held up her hands and laughed.
Julia got to know her Babja this week. Julia was really ready for this and being together for a day at the shore was a great cap to the week together.
I was working on my own Kohr's chocolate cone -- a Jersey shore favorite -- and Julia needed some ice cream guidance. Thank goodness for grandmas!
We are on the way back home to Madison. Julia has been good in the airport coming and going. She is more patient waiting on lines, more patient when we put on her VCR and let her watch a movie, more patient if we need to change gatesWe are on the way back home to Madison. Julia has been good in the airport coming and going. She is more patient waiting on lines, more patient when we put on her VCR and let her watch a movie, more patient if we need to change gates
We spent afternoons at the Knights of Columbus pool that my parents joined years ago. The pool is not well used now and so the kids who use it have unlimited space in the pool. This is different from our community pool in Madison in that the shallowest water is 3 feet, and so, the water was much colder than Julia and I are used to. This was not much of a problem for Julia but she did come out a number of times with almost blue lips and enjoyed the warm towel and snuggle to get warm. Julia found kids to play with each time that we went. She especially enjoyed playing with a little girl who was just 4. Julia and this little girl jumped into the pool holding hands, and Julia jumped by herself at least once. The two of them splashed and played and "attacked" two older boys who entered into a substantial splashing war. This physical play without the demand of mature vocal communication was just pleasure for Julia. She was loud but no louder than the other kids and kinda rough for a girl, but those were tough boys. Julia also met two of my mother’s friends an by the end of the first day, she was calling them "grandma" and giving out hugs and kisses when we left. I wondered whether Julia calling these ladies "grandma" was somewhat a sign of respect. She may have done something like this with older people who she saw in China.
David was driving Cheshire to school during this week and he stopped at both his parents and mine to allow the grandparents to see our world traveler before she returned to school. After he helped her set up her dorm room, he stopped again in Jersey. As it turned out we had a very nice dinner with all the grandparents and the three of us on Julia’s adoption day. It was low key but very nice to be together. And Julia discovered shrimp.
It is amazing to think that we have been together for a year. Julia really has burrowed deep into our hearts and her attachment to us is still such a source of wonder to me. After spending a little time with Miao Miao, I see how much Julia is behind developmentally. I don’t know the reason, but from what I can put together from what I know of Julia and what I’ve now heard of Miao Miao, I am coming to see that Julia was not treated well at the orphanage. She was probably not a favorite, not sent to school when her friend much younger than she was sent, the food was not plentiful although Julia came home a fine size, and the stimulation was lacking. Julia and Miao Miao played with sticks drawing in the dirt, and neither girl knew what crayons were in China. The pictures that Miao Miao brought home included shots of her with various caregivers, shots of her at school doing various activities with other children, at least one shot outside the orphanage, and shots in more than one set of clothes suggesting that the pictures were taken on more than one day. Apart from the one picture of Julia with Miao Miao and the boy, Na Na, Julia pictures were of her alone and either inside the orphanage or on the play equipment. I wonder now if Julia’s caregivers saw a reason not to treat her as they treated her best friend.
I am very angry and bitter about Julia’s treatment at the orphanage. I do not believe that Miao Miao was treated very well at the orphanage. Why was my darling child not treated as well as her best friend? And there is no one to ask these questions of.
Julia nudges me to put my arm around her for the scary part of a movie.
On Friday, we drove down to Point Pleasant, a beach community on the Jersey shore. It was grey and damp day and so not a real beach day and my mom didn’t want to go into the sand. We walked the board walk – for Julia this was a first although she did not think the board walk was anything special – and I bought many, many ticket for Julia to go on rides. Each time we try the kiddie rides, Julia’s behavior improves, and although we had a short time when she did not want to do what I wanted her to, she was mostly willing to follow my directions. And she did go on lots of rides. She is beginning to look like she is enjoying rides. When we have taken her on other rides, she has looked very serious. She observes very carefully, she steers the wheel in front of her, she watches others, but she rarely laughs or waves to her crazy parents who call out to her and wave like silly people as she passes us each time. This time she noticed us and seemed to be happy waving.
Julia loves little roller coasters and has been on a few. This time the coaster was a little bigger. It was still very must a junior thrill but it went up and down and in two circles before returning to the platform. I decided to go on with her because I thought it might scare her some. Well, she loved it. She told me later and even today that she was scared during the ride but she screamed and held up her hands and laughed.
Julia got to know her Babja this week. Julia was really ready for this and being together for a day at the shore was a great cap to the week together.
I was working on my own Kohr's chocolate cone -- a Jersey shore favorite -- and Julia needed some ice cream guidance. Thank goodness for grandmas!We are on the way back home to Madison. Julia has been good in the airport coming and going. She is more patient waiting on lines, more patient when we put on her VCR and let her watch a movie, more patient if we need to change gatesWe are on the way back home to Madison. Julia has been good in the airport coming and going. She is more patient waiting on lines, more patient when we put on her VCR and let her watch a movie, more patient if we need to change gates
19 August 2007
Coming Home
Coming home was a 24 hour adventure. Planes from Cochabamba to La Paz to Santa Cruz to Miami to Chicago. Then the shuttle to the parking lot and a drive home. I started on Friday at about noon and pulled into the driveway in Madison Crayon House at 3 on Saturday.
The day had a bit of a tough start. Cheshire had a stomach ache which put her in a pensive mood. Ches, Jason, and I took a bus to downtown Cochabamba to visit her college and say goodbye to her colleagues. The Catholic College of Cochabamba is a pretty school. Two and three story buildings with open air hallways around a very green garden with benches and tables.
Before and after going to the college, we saw a Cochabamba parade of children and the military. It was Flag day and each kindergarden and primary school was out in their uniforms to parade the flag. Very cute to see all of the uniforms. This was a parade to be in more than to watch. Watchers tended to be parents with cameras and younger sibs. The most interesting military display that we saw was a stationwagon with a 10 foot helicopter purched on top. And there were bands! Bolivia should have the best marching bands in the world!! Many, many, many bands. Mostly brass and drums with a sprinkling of clarinets and those walking zilophones. Some of the bands were high school bands and some were old men. The kids sounding a lot better than most of the old man bands.
We went home to a Beysa´s lunch made speical for us. Cheshire said that she likes to cook and her food was lighter than most of the Bolivian food we've have. She made a rice and corn soup which Julia would have loved. It was more tasty than congee but the same idea. Then we had spegitte and potatoes and a meat stew. It was very good and I really enjoyed it.
My plane from Cochabamba to La Paz was more than an hour late but I had a 5 hour layover in La Paz so it was just shorted by a little bit and I got to spend another hour with Ches and Jason. When I got off the plane in La Paz, I was confused as to where I was at the airport because of construction. I needed help with my two bags and I couldn´t see where the AA terminal was. A taxi dispatcher told me it was 5 Bs (about 85 cents) to get to the terminal, and I climbed in a cab thinking that it had to be a very short ride. The cabbie drove me out of the airport and onto the road to go into the city. I tried in my non-existant Spanish to tell him that I wanted to go the the airport terminal for AA but he didn´t understand. I tried to ask about some other airport because the ride was getting very long. He didn´t understand. Finally, I fished out my Lonely Planet book, found the phrase section (which is very sparce) and cobbled together some phrases to find out where we were going. He was taking me to the AA office in the middle of La Paz. I told him no, and to take me to the airport terminal. I made several attempts before he understood, and we wound up going through the center of the city (where we stayed back in 2002) to turn around. I must say that once I cleared up where we were going, I could sit back and enjoy the trip. I had wanted to go back into the city but didn´t want to carry my bags with me. This tour was great. When we got back to the airport (some 50 minutes later), we had to argue about price. Of course, he didn´t want the 5 Bs that I had been quotted, but I was not going to give him the 100 Bs that he wanted. I told him that I would give him 50 Bs, and tried to say that I did not want to go into town. He argued and threw up his hands at me but he finally took the 50 Bs. He was not happy and I wished that I could have apologized to him. Still, I thought it might be close to what he would have charged a Bolivian. And I practiced being a tough broad.
I had two very slight brushes with Bolivian security. In Cochabamba, they made me take my tooth paste and tooth brush out of my carry on because the plastic bag that they were in was too big. In La Paz, I left my new jacket in the internet shop before I went through security and even though I had at least an hour before my flight was to be called, security would not let me go back out. There was no reason but that it was the rule. I argued in my Spanglish until two other travelers befriended me. This too did not seem to make a difference but one of the guards took pity. I think it was because I told them that the jacket was new. They let me go back out but the female guard who was lower on the chain of command was a bit pissed with me when I came back.
Other than these little things, the trip back was eventless which was just perfect.
And one more thing -- Price of Coke Lite. In the little store across from Cheshire's apartment -- 3Bs for 20 oz. In the main part of the airport -- 6 Bs for the same 20 oz. In the waiting room after I went through security -- 10 Bs.
The day had a bit of a tough start. Cheshire had a stomach ache which put her in a pensive mood. Ches, Jason, and I took a bus to downtown Cochabamba to visit her college and say goodbye to her colleagues. The Catholic College of Cochabamba is a pretty school. Two and three story buildings with open air hallways around a very green garden with benches and tables.
Before and after going to the college, we saw a Cochabamba parade of children and the military. It was Flag day and each kindergarden and primary school was out in their uniforms to parade the flag. Very cute to see all of the uniforms. This was a parade to be in more than to watch. Watchers tended to be parents with cameras and younger sibs. The most interesting military display that we saw was a stationwagon with a 10 foot helicopter purched on top. And there were bands! Bolivia should have the best marching bands in the world!! Many, many, many bands. Mostly brass and drums with a sprinkling of clarinets and those walking zilophones. Some of the bands were high school bands and some were old men. The kids sounding a lot better than most of the old man bands.
We went home to a Beysa´s lunch made speical for us. Cheshire said that she likes to cook and her food was lighter than most of the Bolivian food we've have. She made a rice and corn soup which Julia would have loved. It was more tasty than congee but the same idea. Then we had spegitte and potatoes and a meat stew. It was very good and I really enjoyed it.
My plane from Cochabamba to La Paz was more than an hour late but I had a 5 hour layover in La Paz so it was just shorted by a little bit and I got to spend another hour with Ches and Jason. When I got off the plane in La Paz, I was confused as to where I was at the airport because of construction. I needed help with my two bags and I couldn´t see where the AA terminal was. A taxi dispatcher told me it was 5 Bs (about 85 cents) to get to the terminal, and I climbed in a cab thinking that it had to be a very short ride. The cabbie drove me out of the airport and onto the road to go into the city. I tried in my non-existant Spanish to tell him that I wanted to go the the airport terminal for AA but he didn´t understand. I tried to ask about some other airport because the ride was getting very long. He didn´t understand. Finally, I fished out my Lonely Planet book, found the phrase section (which is very sparce) and cobbled together some phrases to find out where we were going. He was taking me to the AA office in the middle of La Paz. I told him no, and to take me to the airport terminal. I made several attempts before he understood, and we wound up going through the center of the city (where we stayed back in 2002) to turn around. I must say that once I cleared up where we were going, I could sit back and enjoy the trip. I had wanted to go back into the city but didn´t want to carry my bags with me. This tour was great. When we got back to the airport (some 50 minutes later), we had to argue about price. Of course, he didn´t want the 5 Bs that I had been quotted, but I was not going to give him the 100 Bs that he wanted. I told him that I would give him 50 Bs, and tried to say that I did not want to go into town. He argued and threw up his hands at me but he finally took the 50 Bs. He was not happy and I wished that I could have apologized to him. Still, I thought it might be close to what he would have charged a Bolivian. And I practiced being a tough broad.
I had two very slight brushes with Bolivian security. In Cochabamba, they made me take my tooth paste and tooth brush out of my carry on because the plastic bag that they were in was too big. In La Paz, I left my new jacket in the internet shop before I went through security and even though I had at least an hour before my flight was to be called, security would not let me go back out. There was no reason but that it was the rule. I argued in my Spanglish until two other travelers befriended me. This too did not seem to make a difference but one of the guards took pity. I think it was because I told them that the jacket was new. They let me go back out but the female guard who was lower on the chain of command was a bit pissed with me when I came back.
Other than these little things, the trip back was eventless which was just perfect.
And one more thing -- Price of Coke Lite. In the little store across from Cheshire's apartment -- 3Bs for 20 oz. In the main part of the airport -- 6 Bs for the same 20 oz. In the waiting room after I went through security -- 10 Bs.
13 August 2007
Monday in La Paz
Yes, South America. This is my solo trip of the summer to visit Cheshire. The flights down last night were fantastic - on time and not too crowded and friendly and easy. This is such an unusual experience on an airline these days. If travel was like this, we`d all be happier.
Cheshire looks great and we fell into our banter. I felt immediately at home in La Paz but that was only because Cheshire could do all the translating.. Oh, how I should learn Spanish. I would like to spend more time here but Spanish is mandatory.
Sweet Bolivian hotel-inn for the night with cold showers and heavy blankets, but more tv channels than we have at home.
I only have a few days here, so I am very glad that I know a little bit about the lay of the land. I might try to go around La Paz myself on Friday during my return. I have a 5 hours layover.
It is hard not having Julia and David with me, but it is also nice to have Cheshire to myself and not worry about a little one´s behavior.
Cheshire looks great and we fell into our banter. I felt immediately at home in La Paz but that was only because Cheshire could do all the translating.. Oh, how I should learn Spanish. I would like to spend more time here but Spanish is mandatory.
Sweet Bolivian hotel-inn for the night with cold showers and heavy blankets, but more tv channels than we have at home.
I only have a few days here, so I am very glad that I know a little bit about the lay of the land. I might try to go around La Paz myself on Friday during my return. I have a 5 hours layover.
It is hard not having Julia and David with me, but it is also nice to have Cheshire to myself and not worry about a little one´s behavior.
10 August 2007
New Orleans Pictures 2
Julia wanted to take a picture that made the butterfly wings on the ground look like her wings. So this was the best that I could do.
Julia rides a flamingo on a very hot afternoon.
Daddy and Julia investigate an octopus at Marti Gras World. Not like this!
Interesting interchange with Julia yesterday at the NO zoo. Certainly it was hot, hot , hot. I have no idea the temperature and humidity but it rivaled Nanchang last year and HaNoi years before. Julia and I walked around a relatively deserted zoo staring at panting animals and panting back at them. We saw a bear in a bathtub getting some relief and two elephants having their lunch pool side at the suggestion of their feeder. The alligators looked too comfortable and the snakes were perfectly at home. Julia and I tried to stay in the shade but at time we had no recourse but to march directly into the sun. After we had walked for a very long time and launched ourselves into the sun when Julia stopped and shouted, "hot, go away. Hot, stop." I tried to move her along and humor. I laughed and said that it was this hot in China last year where she lived. Julia answered back, "Not like this."
Last night, Lexis/Nexus threw a dinner/party at this huge barn used to build and store Marti Gras floats. It was like a backstage party for a play with many, many sets – maybe like Radio City Music Hall in its heyday. And all sorts of things too – from Shrek and Stitch to Greek gods, Moses, Marilyn Monroe, JFK and MLK, Jr. And more. Julia loved it and we took pictures with some of the figures. I loved it too. I have never been interested in going to Marti Gras but seeing that place . . . . We ate a wonderful salad and some chowder, a corn salad and a jambalaya. Julia collected necklaces throughout the night, and as we left, people donated theirs to her collection. She is a bling-bling queen.
New Orleans is another very interesting town. Maybe it is dying and we are seeing it in its death throws; maybe it is a phoenix and is preparing for rebirth. Certainly, its future is not clear. I wonder at the optimism of people who try to make living there. I am sadden that the national government has done so little to insure survival. So much is for rent, for sale, or in need of great renovation. Or all three. Some of the renovation is going on, but so much looks closed and closed for a long time. And we spent most of our time in and around the French Quarter, that part of time that is said to have "come back." We were offered a tour of city’s devastated neighborhoods, but I did not think it was appropriate to take Julia on a tour like that. Hearing what others had to say about the tour, it was the right decision. And I must say that for a day or so, I admit that I resented being somewhere that was such a wreck and paying as if it was complete. But if one more full price ticket at the half-empty zoo helps in some very small way for the city to come back to itself, then I am happy to pay. It is a different city from those I’ve seen here, closer to a place that was occupied by Europeans long enough for Europe to rub off. It is French, like HaNoi is French; it is Spanish like the lower district of La Paz is Spanish. New Orleans has a distinct culture that even the most casual visitor like ourselves can see. It is ours to preserve or lose.
This month is such a traveling month for us – I leave for Bolivia on Sunday. Julia and I have spent all our time together this summer. She is my shadow, reluctant in the roll at times, but I feel our relationship deepen. I know I will miss her as I have missed her when her babysitter, Sarah, has her for a few hours. I know she will miss me as well. I hope that the week goes well for David and Julia. I hope that Julia expects me to come home and will be happy when I do.
Last night, Lexis/Nexus threw a dinner/party at this huge barn used to build and store Marti Gras floats. It was like a backstage party for a play with many, many sets – maybe like Radio City Music Hall in its heyday. And all sorts of things too – from Shrek and Stitch to Greek gods, Moses, Marilyn Monroe, JFK and MLK, Jr. And more. Julia loved it and we took pictures with some of the figures. I loved it too. I have never been interested in going to Marti Gras but seeing that place . . . . We ate a wonderful salad and some chowder, a corn salad and a jambalaya. Julia collected necklaces throughout the night, and as we left, people donated theirs to her collection. She is a bling-bling queen.
New Orleans is another very interesting town. Maybe it is dying and we are seeing it in its death throws; maybe it is a phoenix and is preparing for rebirth. Certainly, its future is not clear. I wonder at the optimism of people who try to make living there. I am sadden that the national government has done so little to insure survival. So much is for rent, for sale, or in need of great renovation. Or all three. Some of the renovation is going on, but so much looks closed and closed for a long time. And we spent most of our time in and around the French Quarter, that part of time that is said to have "come back." We were offered a tour of city’s devastated neighborhoods, but I did not think it was appropriate to take Julia on a tour like that. Hearing what others had to say about the tour, it was the right decision. And I must say that for a day or so, I admit that I resented being somewhere that was such a wreck and paying as if it was complete. But if one more full price ticket at the half-empty zoo helps in some very small way for the city to come back to itself, then I am happy to pay. It is a different city from those I’ve seen here, closer to a place that was occupied by Europeans long enough for Europe to rub off. It is French, like HaNoi is French; it is Spanish like the lower district of La Paz is Spanish. New Orleans has a distinct culture that even the most casual visitor like ourselves can see. It is ours to preserve or lose.
This month is such a traveling month for us – I leave for Bolivia on Sunday. Julia and I have spent all our time together this summer. She is my shadow, reluctant in the roll at times, but I feel our relationship deepen. I know I will miss her as I have missed her when her babysitter, Sarah, has her for a few hours. I know she will miss me as well. I hope that the week goes well for David and Julia. I hope that Julia expects me to come home and will be happy when I do.
07 August 2007
Hot days in New Orleans
Time for our annual summer journey to the hottest place we can imagine! Last year, Nanchang, this year New Orleans. David, Julia and I are at a clerks’ "convention," meeting really because there are only as many clerks of state supreme courts as there are states, plus some court administrators and families. We went to Key West two years ago, and last year David went alone because we were traveling for Julia the next week. David goes to meetings during the days and we play, and then we all meet up for great dinners.
It is really hot and humid here. Can it be more humid than Indy? This is VietNam humid. And the sun is intense. It feels much better walking in the shade. Julia is not much for this kind of heat – And she being the kid from on of the four furnaces of China. She has definitely adapted well to air conditioning and cooler climes.
Julia and I spent part of yesterday at the kids’ museum. Not nearly as up to date as the Indy museum but lots of good manipulatives. Julia loved making giant bubbles and Japanese sand gardens, and playing in a kid sized grocery store (she filled her basket with some of the same stuff I shop for every week – gosh, the kid is watching) and with a giant kaleidoscope.
With the help of some locals, we found a great place for breakfast. Julia had the best pancakes I’ve tasted in years. They were kind of like a rough flour Bisquick type of hot cake with some spice I couldn’t place. Julia ate three of them and then finished a bowl of rice (the restaurant was getting ready for lunch and Julia saw the rice and mommy begged for it) and some of my eggs. For supper, we had a shrimp etoufe (no, I can’t spell it). It was quite spicy and served with rice. Julia thought it was delicious. She also loved the chocolate covered strawberries.
Today, we walked around part of the French Quarter, visiting a church, eating New Orleans’ fried dough, and buying a few souvenirs. With that as our busy morning, we went back to the hotel room for a bit of a rest before visiting the Aquarium with David in tow. Lots of sharks of all different sizes to look at! Fish, turtles, snakes, a white alligator, and sea horses. Many of the exhibits had small models of the bones of the animal that we were looking at. Julia loved these little skeletons. I have to teach her more about bones so we can talk about similarities.
Julia is enjoying this trip. She did have a tantrum in the airport – with a 3 hour delay she may have been channeling what we all felt – but it was no where near as bad as at the beginning of the year. She loves flying and staying at a new hotel. I am tempted to comment that she must view her experiences traveling which are mostly her trip home in a positive light, but who knows. I do know that she does not act scared or anxious about our traveling which I am very happy about.
The hotel room also is a good place for down time for her. She plays with her little animals – dinosaurs, pandas, and a little statue of liberty – or watches a video. She seems to be able to be out and taking in new stuff for about 3 hours at a time before she gets overstimulated. On another note – David and I have to be careful about putting her between us when we go out for dinner. Although she rarely takes food from our plates for her own, she has done it a few times when we are sitting on large banquet tables. People tend to be gracious and excusing but I’d rather we not put temptation in her way.
It is really hot and humid here. Can it be more humid than Indy? This is VietNam humid. And the sun is intense. It feels much better walking in the shade. Julia is not much for this kind of heat – And she being the kid from on of the four furnaces of China. She has definitely adapted well to air conditioning and cooler climes.
Julia and I spent part of yesterday at the kids’ museum. Not nearly as up to date as the Indy museum but lots of good manipulatives. Julia loved making giant bubbles and Japanese sand gardens, and playing in a kid sized grocery store (she filled her basket with some of the same stuff I shop for every week – gosh, the kid is watching) and with a giant kaleidoscope.
With the help of some locals, we found a great place for breakfast. Julia had the best pancakes I’ve tasted in years. They were kind of like a rough flour Bisquick type of hot cake with some spice I couldn’t place. Julia ate three of them and then finished a bowl of rice (the restaurant was getting ready for lunch and Julia saw the rice and mommy begged for it) and some of my eggs. For supper, we had a shrimp etoufe (no, I can’t spell it). It was quite spicy and served with rice. Julia thought it was delicious. She also loved the chocolate covered strawberries.
Today, we walked around part of the French Quarter, visiting a church, eating New Orleans’ fried dough, and buying a few souvenirs. With that as our busy morning, we went back to the hotel room for a bit of a rest before visiting the Aquarium with David in tow. Lots of sharks of all different sizes to look at! Fish, turtles, snakes, a white alligator, and sea horses. Many of the exhibits had small models of the bones of the animal that we were looking at. Julia loved these little skeletons. I have to teach her more about bones so we can talk about similarities.
Julia is enjoying this trip. She did have a tantrum in the airport – with a 3 hour delay she may have been channeling what we all felt – but it was no where near as bad as at the beginning of the year. She loves flying and staying at a new hotel. I am tempted to comment that she must view her experiences traveling which are mostly her trip home in a positive light, but who knows. I do know that she does not act scared or anxious about our traveling which I am very happy about.
The hotel room also is a good place for down time for her. She plays with her little animals – dinosaurs, pandas, and a little statue of liberty – or watches a video. She seems to be able to be out and taking in new stuff for about 3 hours at a time before she gets overstimulated. On another note – David and I have to be careful about putting her between us when we go out for dinner. Although she rarely takes food from our plates for her own, she has done it a few times when we are sitting on large banquet tables. People tend to be gracious and excusing but I’d rather we not put temptation in her way.
Things to do and see in New Orleans
Giant bubble makers at the kids' museum!
Banana plants in Jackson Square in the French Quarter.
The giant jaw bones of a prehistoric shark.
Pearls of wisdom? Two of my favorite pearls?
A day of Travel.
Sitting on our luggage while the monorail takes us to the plane.
Yes, there are dinosaur bones at O'Hare airport. Why? Who knows, but for a dino-loving kid
Will our plane ever, ever come?
Nothing like room service after a long day of travel.
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