I didn't actually realize it was a new month until I sat down to type this tonight. It is March already... Where did February go? That was fast...
Amelia had a good day at clinic, eating everything there, doing quite well. Tonight, for her dinner, she didn't eat much of the meat (a steak cut that was a little chewy, and some broccoli, which I now refuse to cook because I seem to have ruined it two nights running), but she did eat her bread and butter, a goodly sized handful of blueberries, and half a bag of Kettle Chips (earlier in the evening), as well as hot milk and honey earlier, and milk with dinner. So, it could have been better, but it really wasn't THAT bad.
I know Katherine is concerned about what the metric is to determine if Amelia is ready to go home or not, but I am just trying to trust in the staff. We are also finding what things to introduce her to a little more slowly. Chicken seems to be okay, but steak is still a bit tougher... Probably meats that can be cut by fork and maybe butter knife and don't require a sharpened knife to cut are a better idea for the time being, or ground meats. I am still hopeful that by the end of next week, we will be trying to figure out how to pack up her ever-growing hoarde of stuffed animals (since we have been here, she has received 2 dragons, a wolf, a T-rex (it was supposed to be Katherine's) a HUGE teddy bear, an ever HUGER caterpillar, a sock-teddy bear, a small hedgehog, a peacock, and a dog with bunny ears, and those are just what she got since we were here, not what she brought with....). Soon, she and her stuffed animals will be able to take over the world! She is groeing an army of them!
Amelia is going on her third night of no tube feeding. She has been showing good signs of hunger during the day, and eating relatively well. If she continues, hopefully this will be her last weekend at Ronald McDonald House. We will definitely be glad to get home, but we have made good friends here too...
Janelle and Olivia, our first greeters here, and helping us figure out Kartini life. Jodi and Austin, friendly, easy to talk to, fun to hang out with. Joanna and Tyler, our military background friends and like-minded thinkers. Leanna and Bianca, Katherine's new friend and drinking buddy (the mom, not the daughter), and Leanna's husband Chris has been a good guy for me to talk to here as well. Even Shelley and Lizzy, quiet as they are, in their own way have been great to get to know. I am sure some we won't keep in touch with, others we will, but each of them has made our time here that much easier.
And the staff at Ronald McDonald House East, they are just phenomenal. Christy is just amazing. She is always so sweet with Amelia and always has a smile. Carlo, handling everything from the dead rat in the garden, to painting ceramics with the rest of us. Noemi and Clarissa and all the other smiling faces we see day in and day out. They have all made this feel less like a hotel and more like a home. They have all been so great.
So, yes, we are hoping our time is rapidly coming to an end, but yes, there are many people we will also miss here as well.
And to all of you, who have been thinking of us, coming by to see us, keep us more sane, praying for us, sending cards, calling, e-mailing, sending packages to Amelia. All of those things have helped break the monotony and helped us stay sane. Thank you all for those. It really has helped make the difference. Hoping that there aren't many more of these to write... Thanks all.
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