Shayna continues to give us bedtime trouble. The silent replacement method didn't work for her as seeing us simply made her giddier with each replacement. We now just move a little cart that lives in her room across the access to her bed. Once she falls asleep we move it away and put the stool back so she can get out in the morning/after nap. She's turning into an absent-minded professor like her Aba as she gets so involved in whatever she's doing or investigating. Getting her attention takes a monumental effort but I love her toddler-intensity.
Nahum had a wonderful Seattle trip/conference last week. It's the biggest unofficial astronomer conference so he had many old friends to visit with, wonderful talks to listen to, and new scientists to make collaboration plans with. It was also a great opportunity to expose his post-docs and grad student to the science going on in the rest of the country. He also dined with Uncle David and Aunt Vickie (took us sailing last summer and we spent Thanksgiving with in Newport News) then took them to a showing of Picasso's works (his favorite artist).
While he was gone, Shayna and I were all on our own. The start of the week was good but Tuesday night began a battle with viruses and Thursday got Shayna on anti-biotics for ear infections for the first time ever. The ears had her with a 101.5F temp that brought us to the doctor and totally freaked me out as I'm not used to a sick kid. The virus however had it's butt kicked by her but her ears did make her suffer. (I'm still in awe how the person with a chemically suppressed immune system battles viruses better than either Nahum or I.) I managed to wait until Friday to get violently ill with Shayna's stomach/intestine bug being passed around, which was good because I could barely do anything but lay in bed or hug the toilet. Becca was finally back and better so took Shayna for a couple morning hours while Lynn (Shayna's former PT) took an afternoon and evening shift with Shayna. Since she was recovering herself, she was quite calm but also a great sport about Ima having to lay in bed or on the couch all day. (I think she really enjoyed seeing Lynn so much and Lynn knows about working with kids as a fun grandma so even did some real craft projects with Shayna, not just the coloring she and I do. Lynn has a calm, comforting presence that helped both of us feel better about the situation. It was a gift to have her available, I just hope we didn't pass it to her.) Nahum stayed away from me but couldn't resist his usual Shayna worship and is now suffering the consequences with the bug. SJ better stay put another week until this yuckiness clears our house.
Even with colds at the end of December (Carole took care of us then) and stomach bugs now, we've managed to have some fun. Here are some pictures from the last month.
Dec 25: Rocking in the ball pit with Hannah by Fredrick and some calmer sticker time while the dads talked.
If the pillow is near her bed, she'll haul it in for sleeping. Her head starts to slide off so before my nap I always remove it other wise she'll get stuck.
Dec 30: Reading with Grandma Carole.
Jan 4: Going down the "big, big slide". Shayna loves to talk about this slide. It's only up at the beginning of each month at the gymnastics studio and Shayna gets so excited each time. She won't go up or down by herself, mainly because the other kids are much more rambunctious and pushy. Luckily, I enjoy it too.
Jan 8: 37 weeks, stretch-marks and all. Shayna likes to touch and kiss my belly so this picture was totally impromptu with her.
Jan 16: I let her run around naked for 5 minutes between pjs and day clothes and she went straight for the ball pit. This is her cheesey, camera grin face.
Kol Ha'Kavod!!!
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