#1661 Thursday 5 October

Yesterday was a Friendship Club session.. the final one for these holidays.  As usual she loved it.  On the way there, we were about 3 suburbs away when she began asking "Friendship Club?".....

Today she will be going to an event at CWBC!  It will be good to see how she manages.

Yesterday we had a visit from the builder appointed to repair the storm damage.  I am amazed at how fast the repairs are progressing.

Evening :  She's been brilliant as usual.  The "event" was a bit much for her and we had to cut it short.... but it was still good for her to be involved and to see what the other kids were doing.

#1660 Tuesday 3 October

She's been on a high all day..... starting with therapy this morning and continueing through the evening.   It hasn't helped that she has two new "captive slaves" to enjoy!  Catriona and Andrew are from Scotland and are with us for October (while BandS are off travelling.)  Today Kaylia was taking full advantage of new tickling fingers.

I'm getting better.... but I'm amazed at just how sick I was on Friday..... I keep learning of things that happened while I was out to the world.

#1659 Sunday 1 October

I'm feeling a lot better today... still in a bed worthy condition so I slept till about 3pm when 2 crises occurred which required my attention..... the minor one was that the bath taps couldn't be turned off and needed my tender skills..... and the important one was that Kaylia had inflicted a very painful injury on Naomi!  They had been on the bed and in her exuberant fashion Kaylia flung her arm about.... and her elbow connected with Naomi's forehead.  It was a strong blow and although it doesn't bother Kaylia, it is very painful for Naomi. This is a fairly regular occurrence for a child that has little awareness of what other people feel.... and a very high personal pain tolerance.

Bonita and Sverrin head off tomorrow on their month long trip to Melbourne and back.... when they will rejoin us.  While they are away we're going to have a "fill in"  pair to help us survive.  I shudder to think of trying to get things done without help.

#1658 Saturday 30 September

I've missed a few days.... I've been very sick.... I was shaking so much I couldn't even hold my phone let alone be conscious enough to use it.  It's a UTI and it's the worst I've ever had.

Kaylia I think has been oblivious... she usually comes and sits beside me when I'm on the bed.... but not this time.  I suspect that she was being occupied well by Nita and Sverrin.... they are gems.

I'll stop now.. It's still too hard to hold the phone.

4pm  I'm feeling a bit better now.  I've been pondering our wonder child..... how would I be managing if she were a normally developed 13 year old? Probably not well.... she would probably be testing my patience sorely.... whereas our Kaylia is low demand in many ways.... her constant pleasure with our company is a delight for me.

#1657 Wednesday 27 September

 

Last night I was wired up for a "sleep study" ...... wires all over my face and head..... and I was fully expecting Kaylia to be very annoyed by it all.  I expected her to at least insist that I take it off.... if not actually rip it off herself..... but no.... she just looked at me with a "You're weird" expression..... and carried on with "I like school."

Today she has Friendship Club in the afternoon...

#1656 Tuesday 26 September

Significant event!   In the morning she usually comes upstairs for a cuddles session ... which nearly always has some tickling involved.  This morning ... unprompted ....she asked me if I wanted an "arm tickle" ..... !!  This is very significant as it shows that she was aware of me as a person who might like to be tickled!  She has never shown this awareness before..... previously she has only been aware of her own needs.

#1655 Monday 25 September

It's a public holiday today..... Naomi gets a chance to rest..... so at 6am I'm downstairs with Kaylia..... she's on her iPhone.  The aim is to delay going upstairs as long as possible!  Kaylia has just put her face in mine..... she likes sleep in time.... it means lots of tickles and lots of stories about school, Bali and Busselton!

6pm   it's been a day of drives..... tickles..... bath..... drive...... and through it all, trying to control her looping.  It's hard work.  Most of it is standard routine for holidays..... but the looping is a new and unwelcome element.

Tomorrow she will have therapy in the morning and then in the afternoon we'll go over to Fiona Stanley Hospital to have her new brace adjusted so that it's more comfortable.