#820 Saturday 15 February

WB big time ..... the full moon has struck again.

Today I'm in the office for my once a month stint of being the receptionist on a Saturday.

#819 Friday 14 February

DB
Last night she was even more hyped up .... I thought it was shaping to be a doozy of a night.  So it was out with the big gun .... melatonin!  Sho nuff, within 15  minutes she was out to it and it was a good night after all.

At present we're looking for a replacement for Chris and Lara .... it's a big ask!  We will really miss them when they move on.  So far another German girl is the top contender.  She will be Number 17.   I keep you posted.

#818 Thursday 13 February

DB
Lately she has been so hyper at bedtime that it becomes a management challenge to calm her enough to settle for sleep.  She really enjoys her routine ... she has the undivided attention of mummy and daddy .... and she revels in the attention.
Noami has a set of bedtime stories that have to be repeated every night. .... Green Sheep, Red Riding Hood and Cinderella ..... all told in Naomi style!

.... and the impending full moon on Saturday is a factor as well.

#817 Wednesday 12 February

YWB

It's 2:30am .... I think Kaylia has gone back to sleep after changing the bed .... but not me.

Last week a snake was seen in the garden .... and yesterday a skin (after shedding) was found.  It looks to be a fairly large snake from the skin .... we'll have to be wary!   Our bobtails are failing in their duty.

#816 Tuesday 11 February

DB
Therapy was good yesterday.  She's progressing really well and it's time to re-vamp her program already.  This happens whenever she has reached a point of 100% success at all exercises.  The new program then develops new challenges for her.
The work on social development is paying off .... she is learning to play games ... and loving it.  She is playing at "shopping" and learning the language to use and the social cues.  Once again, this is all stuff that is normally just absorbed by a child as they grow .... but Kaylia has to be taught because the observing/learning switch is still "off" in many areas.  The switch is "on" for many things but not all.

One of the many things that are still a source of wonder to me is the ability to give Kaylia a verbal instruction and have her listen to the instruction, understand it and carry it out.  This is amazing!  Not long ago we would struggle to gain her attention .... then try and make her understand ..... and then she might or might not do it.

#815 Monday 10 February

WB
Phew .... yesterday was bad.  I'd forgotten what a nagging, anxiety day was like.  She has been calm and happy for so long that I'd become complacent and thought that that phase was over.  It was a whole afternoon of relentless demands for something that cannot be satisfied ... and no amount of explaining made any difference.  The only thing that worked was the old faithful of a car ride and some shopping .... but as soon as we got home, it started again.  It finally stopped around 6pm after some intensive pacing behaviour.

Today should be OK .... school followed by therapy.  It can still mess up therapy though.

#814 Sunday 9 February

DB

During the night an email came in .... one of the "please help me ... send money to this address in Africa" ... The strange thing is that it was from the email address of someone I've known in the past .... and it used his name.  The language in the email was very clearly not what this person would write .... so I'm positive that the email is a scam .... but it shows how vulnerable we are to the danger of having our identity stolen!

Oh Kaylia ...??  She's lolling about beside me .... it's sleep-in time and she's loving it as usual.  She's got an itchy foot so she uses my toe nail to scratch it!

Evening

Well!!!   I've been too optimistic!  This afternoon we've been thumped on head by the "transition blues" .... Big time!  Kaylia has been in a bad anxiety state all afternoon .... lots of nagging .... very unpleasant.   The only things that calm her are car drives and constant reading of "Where is the Green Sheep?"

There's going to be a huge sigh of relief when she goes to school tomorrow.  School is the thing she wants.

Later

Phew ..... it seems to be over.  She's happy again.