Susan Senator

It's 7/11, and I'm slurping a huge coffee in its honor. Actually. I slurp huge coffees every morning, but this one is especially delicious because NS got up before me and made it for once! And in about a half hour I will have a foamy latte, because my sister brought her mini espresso machine.

This is Laura's last day here after which she will go down to the Cape with her kids to see our parents. It has been a great visit. Ben and Kim have played nonstop. No fights at all, although they almost never do anyway. Paul has played more with them than he used to, because Max is a bit more independent and busy. And fifteen. But he will still get out the video camera and film their movie. For a few hours I kept seeing Ben, Kim, and Paul running around in costumes and black capes; can't wait to see what they made!

Natty hovers around the edges of their activities. Once, when they went out to play, he joined them, even rolling down the hill once with them. Laura went with him on a walk to Starbucks, which really melted my heart. She just loves him so much and always tries. Even though the night before he had probably the worst outburst in months. Poor Ned has blood blisters on his hand.

But having Laura there to observe the entire thing led her to wonder if Nat's meds are at a low at dinnertime, which is when the outbursts happen generally (even with the daily note, efforts to eat all at once, spices accessible). She is a seasoned pediatrician, and she suggested that we split Nat's evening Resperdal, giving him one of the halves right when he gets home from school, and the rest at bedtime. I emailed my doctor and asked what he thought of this. He gave us the green light, so last night we tried it.

Nat took his meds and went on the walk with Laura: the Starbucks for an M & M cookie, about a mile away. When he got back, there was just a minimum of questioning about dinner, and when would everyone be back and at the table. And that was just me! No, I'm kidding. What I'm saying is Nat seemed to feel really great last night. Of course now I don't know whether it was the boost in Resperadone or if it was Laura's sweet attention!

He even had Laura read him two stories. She told me that while reading Dumbo, he gets very quiet during the parts about Dumbo's mother. Oh, Sweet Guy! I will never let mean people flip your ears!

Here it is, the loveliest part of that movie:

Baby mine, don't you cry
Baby mine, dry your eyes
Rest your head close to my heart
Never to part, baby of mine
Little one when you play
Don't you mind what you say
Let those eyes sparkle and shine
Never a tear, baby of mine
If they knew sweet little you
They'd end up loving you too
All those same people who scold you
What they'd give just for
The right to hold you
From your head to your toes
You're not much, goodness knows
But you're so precious to me
Cute as can be, baby of mine
--Dumbo's Mom