Erin Go Brach

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everybody. I'm one-eighth Irish, after all, so I do celebrate it.

It's been a while since my last update, hasn't it? Sorry about that. By the time I thought to do it, we were on a plane to Vancouver and then I didn't get a chance while we were there. We went to visit Auntie Lourdess in the hospital again -- she was coming up out of her stem cell transplant, and it seemed to go well because she was feeling great pretty much the whole time we were there. (Of course, since then there have been more complications, so keep on with the good thoughts.) I had more fun this time, because now that I'm mobile and able to entertain myself, I was able to play with the toys in the hospital playroom. We spent a lot of time with Auntie Georgette, too. I love her so much -- she loves to play with me and she's so funny! We went to the World of Science and the aquarium together and had a great time. And of course it was nice to see Pappy and Grandma again (as well as give them a break to have some together time while we took care of my aunties).

The teeth have made tons of progress since last update. I officially have five now, with the sixth almost all the way out of the gum. If you have to grow some teeth, let me give you a piece of advice: Don't do it. This nonsense hurts like nobody's business, and I have not been thrilled with the whole deal. My folks should have bought stock in Orajel, because it's always gotta be on hand to help me cope. (Dad keeps saying I can eat steak soon, but that doesn't really help.) The upshot is now I can crunch on Cheerios and my rice crackers, which makes eating them even more fun. I'm also starting to eat peas and carrots, sliced bananas, and (if I don't throw them overboard instead -- they can be a little too sour sometimes) apples that haven't been pureed to within an inch of their life.

In other areas, I'm still making progress. Sleeping on my own is no longer the fight it used to be -- I'll go down for two to four hours at a time, depending on what time it is and how tired I am. (I still prefer to share the bed with Mom and Dad, naturally, but one step at a time.) I'm wanting to walk more -- I still can't do it without help, of course, I make Dad hold my hand -- and the last week or so I've been trying to figure out how to stand on my own, getting my balance so I can get going. Kucha's been really helpful for that, actually; she lets me push up on her back away from furniture and doesn't get mad when I fall down and land on her.

That's about all I can think about for tonight. Slainte!