CMH

I was reminded yesterday, and then told Hope the stories, of some of our previous trips to CMH.  I remember Hope's first return visit to CMH for a check-up.  Papa drove us so I could sit in the back with Hope and her oxygen tank, etc.  She did great until we hit I-35/67th Street, at which point she began screaming.  That pretty much continued until we got to the hospital.  Addie, on the other hand, took a different approach on her many follow-up visits.  She was a fantastic traveller.  It was when we exited the parking garage elevators and entered into the lobby that she began screaming.  It happened every time we got there.  I still contend it was the familiar lighting.  I know that sounds odd, but I truly believe she associated the fluorescent lights with some unpleasant baby memories.  Now, for me, I never screamed on the way there. Well, not outwardly, anyway.  I will admit, however, that yesterday brought a fresh batch of memories back, most of which aren't great.  It was when we got to WDAF at the top of the hill (if you've been there, you know exactly where I mean) that my stomach started to cramp.  Nausea hit.  I wasn't sick, just heart-sick.  No matter how many times I visit CMH, I will always be left with the scary, gut-wrenching, heart-ripping memories. 

As for Hope, she's a mystery.  The neurologist admitted yesterday that she is going to have to do some research on what could be causing Hope's shoulder/neck muscle tightness.  She'll be having an x-ray and an MRI in the upcoming weeks which will then hopefully lead us in the right direction.  Prayers are definitely appreciated. 

Eight?

It's true.  Those teeny, tiny, puny, stubborn little babies of eight years ago have officially grown up into some pretty amazing young ladies.  I don't know how it happened.  Or when.  Have I aged eight years?  I think not.  Maybe I'm just improving with age...

Anyway.  We had a fantastically full birthday weekend for the girlies.  We spent Saturday afternoon (their actual birthday) at the 810 Zone in Leawood.  Who would've guessed that these three girly-girls would choose anywhere sporty as their birthday meal?  Not me.  And no, their dad hasn't rubbed off on them that much.  (Thank goodness!)  Somehow they just fell in love with the place, so that's where we went.  We took both sets of grandparents as well.  I'm pretty sure that was a new experience for them too.  We stopped at the Cheesecake Factory on our way home for some birthday cheesecake.  Yes, you read right.  I didn't have to make birthday cakes this year.  I did a happy dance.  They ended up spending the night with Meme & Papa that night, so that wasn't all bad either.

Sunday we took off for Manhattan...Kansas.  For whatever reason, and I have no idea what it is, Manhattan has become their new favorite place to visit.  They did get to spend time with Kerri, who made them dance for their birthday presents.  I like her style.  Every kid needs to do that.  On a side note, I very vividly remember putting on the elephant trunk masks and sniffing the baseboards in the basement for a Christmas gift.  Don't remember what the gift was, though...  Guess that says something about the process being better than the end result.  But I digress...  Sunday.  Manhattan.  We took in the K-State Marching Band's concert that evening.  That, by the way, was out of this world fun!  If you ever get the chance to hear them play inside, go.  Do it.  You might come out talking a little more loudly than usual, but it'll pass.  From there we went out to supper with some friends, who were brave enough to eat with the wild things.  Once, anyway.  We may never see them again now.  We spent the night in Manhattan and allowed the girls a day off of school the following day.  I'm thinking that should get us "Parents of the Year" honors, don't you?  I spent the ENTIRE morning in the Manhattan mall with the girls.  FYI, not my idea of a fun shopping trip.  Came home after a great lunch and dropped.

It was a fun weekend, and Hope tells me she wants to spend every birthday in Manhattan.  I'm just not sure about that.  Strange, though, that we're going to be spending my birthday next month in her favorite place.  How did this happen?  I have no idea...