Watch the video for exclusive footage of the famous Michael Weiler Fairy Ride (patent pending).
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Three Years Already?!
Yes, Clara had her third birthday this past week. In some ways it has gone pretty slowly, actually, but in other ways it seems just like yesterday that we were coming home from the hospital, anxious, excited, and scared. I have been terrible at updating the blog, and so I'll give a quick run-through of what's been going on:
ME: I am doing fine, still singing with the Augusta Collegium (and even had a solo in our December concert and will sing in a duet and a trio in our next one!), trying to workout regularly, still in the Primary presidency, still trying to get pregnant, and still being Clara's mom.
MICHAEL: We found out in November that he he was accepted to the orthodontic residency here at MCG, for which we are very grateful. Even though initially I wanted to move away, I am very glad we're staying and already see so many blessings from that decision. He is busy trying to complete requirements in preparation for graduation in a few months, as well as get everything lined up for his Board exams which are also looming. He is doing great things with the Young Men in our ward and is just all around awesome. Clara especially loves her daddy and asks for "fairy rides" incessantly (where he wraps her up in a blanket and whirls her around the room or drags her on the floor (he coined the phrase). He and Clara are little buddies and he can make her laugh like no one else.
CLARA: Clara is doing well. She is learning to sleep in a toddler bed, which has been a bittersweet milestone because now she refuses to take naps. So, we put her to bed at 6:00pm, which is okay, but I really wish she'd just sleep in the afternoon because she is so tired! I still make her have a "quiet time" in her room for an hour and a half, though, so I can get some things done. We took her to the pediatric neurologist last fall and again a couple of weeks ago. Her MRI and bloodwork were unremarkable, and the neurologist, Dr. Sekul, felt like although she has some autistic features, that she is so mild and the diagnosis would end up being more of a handicap for her and for me later on. She was very encouraging and felt that by the time she was in fourth or fifth grade, many of these issues would be resolved. Clara's biggest struggles (besides the usual fine motor/gross motor delays) are speech and socially. Her speech is very echolalic, and she has a very difficult time generating phrases creatively that she hasn't heard from us or from a show she has watched. It is improving, but it is challenging. Socially, she avoids other children, although she will watch their play from a distance. While at first glance it may seem that she just prefers to be alone, she actually seems to really want to be with other kids but she doesn't know how to handle it sensory-wise or what to do. I'm not really sure yet, and I hope that with the mother's group that I started her in as well as the mother's day out program she'll attend in the fall, that hopefully she will feel more comfortable and interact more with other kids. I am trying very hard not to worry about what things will be like in a few years or in ten years but to focus on what I can control--today. And since she's already asleep, I can't do anything about it, so I need to stop thinking about it!
ME: I am doing fine, still singing with the Augusta Collegium (and even had a solo in our December concert and will sing in a duet and a trio in our next one!), trying to workout regularly, still in the Primary presidency, still trying to get pregnant, and still being Clara's mom.
MICHAEL: We found out in November that he he was accepted to the orthodontic residency here at MCG, for which we are very grateful. Even though initially I wanted to move away, I am very glad we're staying and already see so many blessings from that decision. He is busy trying to complete requirements in preparation for graduation in a few months, as well as get everything lined up for his Board exams which are also looming. He is doing great things with the Young Men in our ward and is just all around awesome. Clara especially loves her daddy and asks for "fairy rides" incessantly (where he wraps her up in a blanket and whirls her around the room or drags her on the floor (he coined the phrase). He and Clara are little buddies and he can make her laugh like no one else.
CLARA: Clara is doing well. She is learning to sleep in a toddler bed, which has been a bittersweet milestone because now she refuses to take naps. So, we put her to bed at 6:00pm, which is okay, but I really wish she'd just sleep in the afternoon because she is so tired! I still make her have a "quiet time" in her room for an hour and a half, though, so I can get some things done. We took her to the pediatric neurologist last fall and again a couple of weeks ago. Her MRI and bloodwork were unremarkable, and the neurologist, Dr. Sekul, felt like although she has some autistic features, that she is so mild and the diagnosis would end up being more of a handicap for her and for me later on. She was very encouraging and felt that by the time she was in fourth or fifth grade, many of these issues would be resolved. Clara's biggest struggles (besides the usual fine motor/gross motor delays) are speech and socially. Her speech is very echolalic, and she has a very difficult time generating phrases creatively that she hasn't heard from us or from a show she has watched. It is improving, but it is challenging. Socially, she avoids other children, although she will watch their play from a distance. While at first glance it may seem that she just prefers to be alone, she actually seems to really want to be with other kids but she doesn't know how to handle it sensory-wise or what to do. I'm not really sure yet, and I hope that with the mother's group that I started her in as well as the mother's day out program she'll attend in the fall, that hopefully she will feel more comfortable and interact more with other kids. I am trying very hard not to worry about what things will be like in a few years or in ten years but to focus on what I can control--today. And since she's already asleep, I can't do anything about it, so I need to stop thinking about it!
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