3BTs & Ode to a Hot Water Bottle

1. Meeting school teachers, administrators and therapists who were actually happy to meet us - especially Ellie. I was overwhelmed nearly to tears by their expertise. An example of this was their handling of Ellie's auditory defensiveness which has been a real barrier to Ellie participating in any activities with other kids. When her auditory defensiveness kicked in over an unfamiliar song and the dreaded clapping in under a nanosecond, without communicating it to each other, the teacher and two aids simultaneously changed to whisper singing the song and ceased clapping altogether to accommodate Ellie. Doesn't it make you want to tear up? Hope and more hope that Ellie might get to be a part of this amazing program.

2. Also during the same circle time song - which was a hello song sung to each child - when it came to Ellie's turn - she stopped winging and actually paid attention to it. It was like she was thinking, "Oh? OK! It's still all about me so this is fine." Our Lady Muck is definitely showing us that she is ready for school especially at a place where they truly understand her processing issues and were enthused about all her amazing potential. Cross your fingers for our Warrior Princess.

3. Filling up three hot water bottles each night. Not only the hot water bottles themselves, which are one of life's best inventions, thank you very much Slavoljub Eduard Penkala (1871 - 1922), but the fact that we each have one and they are all red. I think Ellie's gives her the comfort of feeling something warm by her in the cold wee hours of the morning, which has allowed her, without our assistance, and I say this ever so softly as not to jinx it, sleep through the night for the past three nights. Oh, Sleep Through The Night Gods, thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!