#291 Saturday 18 June

Once again we're at the HJ playground .... it's a good spot ... Kaylia loves the play and we get somewhere to sit ... and maybe a coffee.  What does 'play' mean for her?  If there are other kids around, it is part watching them and part stimming.  If she's alone, then it is all stim!  She loves getting up in the helicopter at the top and making the rotors spin (to the accompaniment of her stim sound ... hard to describe).

She's had a morning at the pool and an afternoon with mummy ... a good day!

Today we finalised an agreement for us (Naomi, Ian & Peter) to purchase the villa in Bali. This has been in turmoil since May but the deal has now crystalised and we can make our ongoing plans for the villa. It will be a managed investment in our super fund and of course we must travel there on occasion to supervise!

#290 Friday 17 June

The first day in the "new" school went well ... it helped that she has a ready made circle of friends there (from her pre-school time). She loves the travel to and from school!

#289 Thursday 16 June

For a change, Kaylia is my limpet! It's 6:30am ..... she's slept well .... (wet bed) but she's like me - she likes her feet to be cool. She is in the middle with her legs over mine reaching out from under the blankets! Funny thing!

This is a stressful time of the year ... BAS and tax returns = cash-flow hassles ... it becomes a real juggling act and I dream of weird things till it is all over.

I went for my weekly OT session yesterday ... I have 3 weeks to regain enough finger movement that I can make a "fist" ... or the surgeon will be annoyed with me. Apparently if movement is not regained by then, it usually takes much longer to recover. So the race is on!

Evening ... at the HJ playground after tea. Noisy kids .... Kaylia's joining in well . It's good to hear!

Today I had a doctor's visit .... the diabetes is now showing early signs of affecting my kidneys so I have to get serious. Exercise! Yuk! All my life I have hated exercise and now I have very little choice any more. At least the iPhone can make it a bit more fun!

#288 Wednesday 15 June

I'm in the city for work for the first time in nearly a month ..... I had no idea that this wrist op would knock me around so much. The locks have been changed In my absence and I'm waiting for someone to let me in. It's fortunate that I can do most of my work from home! Isn't the computer age a great thing!

It was a good night for Kaylia .... but she was a bit restless ..... so it was a bad night for mummy .... she turns into " limpet K" at such times!

Later:
Now it's bed-time again. She's tired .... I'm tired ... weesa all tired! (shades of Star Wars!)

Tomorrow is Kaylia's last day at Darlington school before starting at South Ballajura. The class is having a farewell party for her .... She won't really understand what its all about .... but it's a nice thing to do.

#287 Tuesday 14 June

See! I told you! Full moon tomorrow and she's up at 4:30am this morning.

A problem has developed with the 'ball-pit' .... a leak! (air - not balls!) the usual method of repairing a puncture won't work if the spa is empty ... it needs the pressure of the water to resist the air pressure. So we'll need to 'de-commission' the pit till we can find a solution.

#286 Monday 13 June

Kaylia had therapy again after school today. It makes a long day for her and she's zonked! I'm writing this in bed and she's fast asleep at 8pm.
Her awareness of the world around her is really improving and she's verbalizing much more of her thoughts than before. It feels as though you can hold a conversation with her now. Her questions are very simple .... but she is asking! This is real progress.

I worked a full day at the office today. It was busy and things just didn't stop. (See .... I'm making progress too!)

#285 Sunday 12 June

Ooooo ... wot a night! Wet bed and then she was up 'n dancing from 2am to 4am .... very noisy. I was trying to sleep downstairs and she was annoyed that I wanted to sleep rather than join in the dancing!
I should be pleased at this improving social awareness .......

It's 7:30am now .... sleep-in time.

Evening
She's had a good day .... a big swimming session with Mummy in the morning .... lunch at a playground ..... drive in the afternoon. We went over to the South Ballajura school (where she started pre-school) .... it was interesting to see her remembering.

Her swimming is going well. She is a very confident swimmer and Naomi is introducing her to the big pool. Kaylia is excited by this and Naomi is working toward Kaylia being able to swim laps of the full size pool. Swimming is clearly going to be a very important part of Kaylia's life.

The "ball-pit" idea has worked well .... it's turning into a very good 'down time' relaxation thing for Kaylia. She loves snuggling into the balls.

..... and she loves snuggling at bed-time! As you know, she is very conscious of routine ... and the bed time routine is that she comes to call for daddy and we have a cuddle, snuggle time while she watches a DVD .... she soon drifts off to sleep. It's a delightful routine ... much better than 12 months ago when bed-time was a real battle.

Oh .... by the way! Full moon on Wednesday! Hence the unsettled sleeping. The link between her behaviour and the moon phases is very strong.