Doctor Appointment

Lara went to her check up at the developmental pediatrician's office on Wednesday. It's surprising how these things have become so routine and worriless now, compared to the beginning. Lara was quickly examined and the appointment was pretty short. I am relieved to say that Lara still does not need any special treatment because, although her muscle tightness is fairly significant, it is not interfering with her progress. She continues to impress her therapist with her progress in walking; Gretchen will often just shake her head in amazement when she sees how well Lara is doing. For this reason, there is no need to rush to put Lara through the torture of Botox injections, though certainly we will do that at some point down the road.

The doctor also told me about a surgery that we may want to think about when Lara hits the age of 5. As he explained it to me, I kept thinking, "HOW, WHY, would I ever even want to THINK about putting my daughter through that?????" But I also understand the great importance of keeping an open mind about everything. It sounds like this surgery could put Lara at a near completely normal level of form and function, which would also mean no minor surgeries later for her. But things could go wrong in this surgery, and the risk is a little too high for my comfort. Anyway, that's just for Dustin and I to think and pray about, and we've got a few years. The doctor said Lara is a great candidate for this surgery-because of what she IS able to do physically, and because "she is smart."

Lara and I spent the morning together after therapy, shopping and eating. Lara asked if we could go to the Olive Garden (that's my girl!!). I was annoyed. A couple sitting next to us did not watch their daughter, who looked to be about 18-24 months old. They let their child get down to play on the floor, but then they stopped watching her. So she decided to come over to our table, where she started playing with our chairs and knocking them into our table while we were eating. Inappropriate is somewhat of an understatement. One thing humored me though. Sometimes the parents would look around at their daughter and smile with pride. They were so smitten with her that I could see that they could NOT see that what the toddler was doing was rude. I've fallen into this trap plenty of times, but I am getting better. It's a trick that toddlers have, you know-looking so cute and being so innocent...but I try to remember that not everyone is quite as smitten with Lara as I am. I might think she is just playing and being cute, but you know, THAT other couple may just NOT really like her slamming their chairs around when they are trying to eat. Just maybe not.

However, I have actually been starting to get uncomfortable with being with Lara in public-she embarrasses me!! :) I don't like to be noticed, or seen; I like to blend in and escape attention. I cannot do that with Lara...oh, noooo. Everywhere we go, people will stop and whisper behind our backs ("Oh, my gosh, she is so cute. Look at that red hair. She is just a darling." blah blah blah), or stop and stare, or stop to talk to Lara. I want to shout, "Stop looking this way!" I talk to strangers way more than I used to, and it doesn't help that Lara greets almost anyone we pass with a big smile and "Hiiiii!!!!!!!!" Now, I know this is about Lara and not about me, but I feel like there's a big neon sign over our heads that blinks, "Look! Look at us!" And, no, it's never the rude stares, or rude comments-it's always the sappy, gushy kind. I swear, I'm not bragging, and I appreciate anyone who wants to gush over my daughter. But it truly is wearing on my introverted nerves.

Okay, well, this is long enough. By the way, our other little girl's name will be Claire. That is not her official name, but that is what we call her. There's a 5% chance I may change my mind later, but for now, that's what it is! I think it's elegant, but names always strike a different cord with different people. Most people like it. I put a poll up on my facebook, and I think Claire won out. I don't know why I am telling people early, because that's an open invitation to criticism. Heehee. I guess Dustin has finally worn off on me after 10.5 years so I don't care. Geeze Louise, I'm gettin' old.