My Funny Girl

I guess it’s time to do a Taylor update.  Things have been so busy here in the office that I’ve barely had time to think.

I swear, that swing has been a sanity saver for me.  Of course, the days when it’s above 90 I can’t let her go out but that’s only been a few days this week. 

Taylor is a weird child anyway.  I know she has trouble regulating body temperature, but honestly.  She’s out on the swing now, it’s 81 degrees and she has to have a blanket.

I’ve always called her my little old lady because she has to have a lap blanket on when she’s sitting in her room watching TV.  It doesn’t matter how warm it is.

She just came in for a caffeine free diet coke (her drink of choice) and the box of cheese Ritz Bits to take outside.  I had to quit buying the box of small packages of Ritz Bits because she learned how to open the pack by herself.

I’d go in her room and there would be 10 empty packs on her desk.  Now with the box, I know when she’s getting them.

My almost 21 year old, little old lady, toddler is a funny girl and I wouldn’t trade her for the world.  Even if she’s making me crazy with her increased level of big seizures. 

She’s having at least 20+ big seizures a day right now.  But you know what?  When she’s done seizing, she smiles at me.  I think she knows I need to know she’s okay.  Well, as okay as she can be.  How she knows, I have no clue.  I just know that I need that smile when she’s done.  It’s like a relief valve for me.

Taylor’s in heaven right now…diet coke, Ritz Bits, the swing, and her mp3 player.  She’s singing so loud, I can hear her through the door.  One of these days, I’ll have to tape her singing and share it.  It’s the funniest thing…in a good way of course.

Oh yeah…what is with all the Chinese comments?  Am I the only one getting a ton of them.  I keep deleting because I have no clue what they say.  Hell, there was one on a serious post about Taylor’s health that said “happy days are here again”.  Seriously people?

Hair Washing Hell

I wonder how many mothers of special needs kids have the same problem I’ve had since Taylor was a baby.  She hates having her hair washed.  It was worse when she was a toddler.  She screamed so loud while I was washing her hair, the neighbors called the police for a “well-being check”.  I mean seriously?  She hated it that bad?  Oh she loved and still loves taking a bath, but get out the shampoo and she’s no longer a happy camper.

Fast forward a number of years and I’m a single mom working in the children’s shoe department at Nordstrom.  I work long hours.  By this time, my oldest daughter Courtney lives down the road and is expecting my first grandchild.  She watches Taylor for me.  Does Taylor cry when Court washes her hair?  Hell no!  I would do the exact same thing Court would do, and Taylor would still throw a fit.

Fast forward to now.  Taylor is 20 years old and still cries when I wash her hair.  Now granted, she did have brain surgery and does have a scar across her head from ear to ear, but I don’t think it bothers her much.  When she goes to my other daughter Brandy’s house, she even let Brandy blow dry it and use a flat iron on it.  Do you think she would let me even plug in a flat iron in her presence?  I don’t think so. 

The school would send home notes some days that Taylor’s hair was so cute.  I would have to send a note back saying if Taylor’s hair is cute, I didn’t do it, her sister did.

This has to be a “mom” thing.  You know, kind of like when your kids are so good at other people’s house and you wonder why they are monsters at home.  She must sense the fact that I’m mom and she’s supposed to cry if I wash her hair.  She grew up tactilely defensive but after several years of therapy when she was  young, that seemed to go away…except with her head.

Yeah, I know…kind of a silly post but I’m just wondering if anyone else has a similar situation.  On a good note, we got a really great swing for our deck on sale at Wal-Mart and boy does Taylor love it.  She’s been going out there everyday with her music and her magazines and just chilling.  I think that was the best spent money ever.