Countdown is on…

I’ll have to admit. I’ve been in sort of a “blog block.” I try not to write each and every post about Mary Clare’s health issues, but it seems they are almost always on the forefront of my mind, no matter what is going on. Little miss has been a bit high maintenance lately, too, so that certainly doesn’t help. Things are winding down for the school year and with that comes a whirlwind of non-stop activity until summer. The countdown is on. McCanless finished up her group piano lessons with a lovely recital. I was at home with Mary Clare, but saw a video of her amazing performance via Iphone thanks to Uncle Robert! She performed her rendition of Mary had a Little Lamb to perfection! I was so proud. We have several new pieces of original art-a pottery fairy house and several paintings thanks to the amazing art class she was in and completed last month. This week, we are gearing up for dance recital. She will be in five dances this year. Amazing. She loves it and can’t get enough. I’m so proud of her. She is truly an amazing person. She loves art, music and dance. In my book these are skills you can’t fake. (You can, however, hire math tutors!) She has done super in first grade this year, but is ready for summer fun to begin. She’s also declared that she will be attending overnight camp for a week this summer, something Mel and I both agree will be a fantastic experience.

Mary Clare slept in today until 10 a.m., had a full day of play and came wandering into the den tonight at 10 p.m. demanding that her daddy or I come to bed with her. (After being in bed well over an hour.) Not sure when we’ll get her back on a schedule. She went with me today to take McCanless to dance and she thoroughly enjoyed herself. I guess she hasn’t really been around many children lately, so she was thrilled to see the little dancing girls and to be able to run around the studio and play. Mentally, she’s definitely ready to take on the world. I think I’m having a hard time with that reality. Mel and I both treat her like she’s 18 months old, something we both know will bite us. (Already is.) Not sure if it’s the “youngest child” or the “heart baby” or just “MC,” but she has us both wrapped. It’s pretty bad. Even McCanless completely spoils her and gives in to her every request. Mary Clare is a mess and so funny.

This weekend, Mel was off, so we headed to the beach. I was so consumed in Mel and the girls and taking in every moment first hand, I didn’t even think to grab my camera at any moment. No shots, whatsoever. We had a ball. Mel and the girls slept in, I made coffee runs alone (heaven), we ate Krispy Kreme donuts. We visited all of our favorite restaurants and ice cream shops. We sat on the beach for hours and we even played hookie and stayed until Monday. The girls, although so very close to each other, are so very different. On the beach, Mary Clare roamed from family to family in search of friends. She made no qualms about walking up to total strangers, young or old, boy or girl and plopping down beside them to “share” their toys or snacks. She had groups of older children -new friends-at her beck and call and gathered all around her. While McCanless determinedly jumped her rope, roamed alone looking for shells or sat under the umbrella just relaxing with her Junie B. Jones book, Mary Clare was like a little fairy floating around and socializing on the beach with everyone. She is certainly her father’s daughter, while McCanless is turning out to be more and more like her mother, enjoying her quiet and alone time.

Mary Clare also had two seizures on Saturday. The first one, was a grand mal lasting only about 20 seconds while we were on the beach. The second, another grand mal, was at a restaurant on Saturday evening, again lasting only about 20 seconds. It is amazing how differently we react now after a seizure. Dare I say we are used to it? Honestly, seeing my child have a seizure is the single most horrific thing I have ever witnessed first hand and I don’t think I will ever get over it. The images of her seizing are burned into my memory. But her sweet little dimple and infectious laugh seem to make those images melt when I see her. Every day those images get pushed back a bit further. My heart doesn’t pound as loudly as when she had her first seizure. My hands don’t nervously shake as long after. We don’t even call her doctor. We do what needs to be done, make sure she is okay and we move on. Exactly what so many other parents of epileptic children do. We’re no super heroes. We’re not doing anything special. We do have an amazing little girl who just happens to have a half heart, epilepsy, a strong will, a huge sweet tooth and a very hard head.

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