Natasha got up around 8:00 a.m. and came straight to the couch to tell me that her head hurt. She went right past the tree and the presents and didn’t even see them. She sat at the kitchen table holding her head in her hands while I dispensed more Tylenol. I’m not sure the two are connected now and perhaps she may have allergies that I’m not aware in addition to tooth pain from her dental surgery.
Once she became a little more alert I took her back to the living room and she saw the presents and smiled and said “thank you Mama” She dived in like and Energizer bunny and paper was flying everywhere. She was so grateful for what she received and you could tell that although she didn’t get the bike or the telephone she asked for she was still very happy indeed.
She received hair bands, clips, socks, tights, crafts, Twister, and a hoodie. Judy Peacock sent her a huge box from Old Navy and she couldn’t rustle through that box fast enough. Pants, shirts, hoodies, tops, jeans, and the cutest shoes with brightly colored snowflakes all over them… She just kept saying “Thank You” and we called Judy later that morning to let her speak to Natasha. She loves calling Texas and she knows she gets to speak to Judy. “Helllllloooooo” “Merry Christmas” “Thankkkkkkkkk You”
We enjoyed another meal of Ramen noodles for breakfast and a hotdog so she is slowing down in terms of food. It’s nice to see her feel comfortable and she knows she can go to the refrigerator anytime she likes. She is doing well after the dental surgery but keeps a sprite with her most of the time. She doesn’t seem to care for milk but juice boxes seem to work at times. She keeps trying to feed Maggie and Beau and I think she knows it stresses me out. I had Nina interpret for me that Beau is very sick and can only have certain food. She loves to tease me that she’s going to give him some food but she always pulls back before she does and laughs and giggles. As soon as Beau came home from the vet hospital he has been her dog and she tells me every day that Beau is hers and Maggie is mine. They both love her and let her do just about anything to them without complaint. They guard her like gold at Fort Knox.
The Tylenol is still causing her to sleep often so she slept for four hours only to get up and head to the refrigerator. I finally got her to eat warm grilled chicken and I believe she ate half the bird. She loved it and I was glad to get something healthy down her for a change. After we finished lunch I took her to my office where she could see the bird feeder outside that I had just filled up… Several types of birds and squirrels came by the window for their food and she loved seeing them up close. She grabbed my I Phone and started taking pictures to show Nina.
She asked if she could go in the “machine” and see Nina and so she didn’t know we already had plans to meet all of Jo’s family at the Drury Inn. I packed her a beach towel and some shorts and t shirt and off she went for her first polar bear plunge into the heated pools and Jacuzzi. She was a bit tentative in the beginning because she didn’t have a swimsuit but once she understood she could get in with her shorts and t shirt she got in the Jacuzzi and the girls splashed each other and laughed and spoke in Ukrainian most of the night. Later she was jumping into the pool and started swimming with the girls. They would run outside into the heated pool back inside into the other heated pool and back and forth they went for an hour. Natasha knows how to swim a little and seemed very comfortable. With Nina she fears nothing and Nina treats her like a sister. She’s loving and caring when she needs to explain things to her and silly and comical when she thinks she needs to lighten up. Natasha is soaking up all the love and warmth around her and she knows how much we love her…
She decided she wanted to spend the night at the Inn with Nina so she could see Santa Claus and enjoy more memories with Nina. As much as I wanted to keep her all to myself I knew she would be happier spending time with the kids and just being a little girl. She also gets to swim again which proved to be by far the most fun activity they have done so far. Jo Miller, Jeff and Donna and all of their extended family have opened their arms to Natasha and she feels the “circle of trust” amongst all of us.
I left knowing she was content and went home to bake cookies and wrap a few more presents for our Christmas visit with the Schafer/Swihart family. I opened the door and Maggie and Beau went looking for Natasha. They circled the Ponderosa for 45 minutes before they finally gave up and settled down…