ChloeWatts.com

Sunday, March 21, 2010

March 21st, 2010 Posted in Daily News Post

Saturday was a full day, filled with fun, arguments, work, cooking and exhaustion. The night was more active than usual also so it was questionable what Chloe was going to be able to participate in with any enthusiasm. She came through on all of the above.

The morning was a mix of waking up. Chloe and I were the first to stir, then Dana and then Colin… somewhat… Typical 14 year old… Uncle Kevin was coming by to bring Colin with him for a full day of yard work for hire. Aunt Laura had asked us what we were comfortable with him doing. We accepted the electric lawn mower, as long as she didn’t mind if the cord got cut… but we opted out of the hedge trimmer. Keeping the fingers is a good thing, especially for someone who is trying to become a musician.

After we were finished with the tube feeding we started discussing Chloe’s shopping list. She was up for cooking dinner and dessert, with an appetizer plate to start. That was the first argument… sort of. Dana was trying to impress upon her how much work she was setting herself up for. They settled on the high side of Chloe’s desires.

With as good a day as it was we needed to get out in the sun. So we did a bit of that before heading out to the store. The garage was the project of the day. One could hardly walk in there for all the supplies, oxygen and other miscellaneous stuff. Dana finally gave me carte blanche on the area.

Mainly Chloe planned the store outing. She decided she didn’t want the walker or wheelchair, that she’d rather just hold onto the cart as if it were a wheeled walker. So, with her purse over her shoulder, we walked to the car, put the suction and emergency bag within reach, buckled in and took off.

We don’t have the handicapped window hanger yet so we lucked out getting an up front parking spot next to the carts. “Proud” is the word I’d use to describe what Chloe looked like as she pushed the cart across the one lane of the parking lot and through the front doors of Fred Meyer. However, then it was “tired” that showed up. She stood and looked around at the remodel job the store went through since she last stepped foot inside. We walked to the café and had her sit in the chair. I, then, was off to get the wheelchair, leaving Dana and Chloe to enjoy the atmosphere.

Back in the store with the wheelchair, and Chloe was off and rolling. She wheeled herself to all her favorite food groups… that are all of them at this point. The silent smiler was watched by all she passed and she seemed to feel quite comfortable in the environment. Then we wheeled outside to the garden center where Dana spent some quality time looking over all the plants and trying to decide on three nice ones to start the front garden area at the house. Chloe tried smelling a variety of plants and said she thought she could get a small scent out of a couple. Without air going through your nose you don’t really have a sense of smell. At the checkout counter was another small argument, as Chloe wanted to pay for the food. That didn’t happen but she was thanked for the offer.

After a good trip we were back at the house to finish the garage, get some sun, start another tube feed and more arguing about what was better for the cook. She wanted to start right away but there was way too much sun to let that happen. She wasn’t happy with Mama but parents still need to be parents.

While they basked in the sun, I finished the garage and filled the recycle bin. Kevin brought Colin home and said Colin had earned his keep. It’s good to hear. You know what I mean if you’ve ever had a 14 year old. He’s a great kid but lighting a fire under him is sometimes like trying to start water ablaze. He was happy with the opportunity and we were grateful to Kevin and Laura, once again, for making something good happen for Colin.

As soon as the feeding was complete then Chloe was going to start cooking. We were all absorbed in a variety of things, from homework, to home work, to music. It looked as though there was only about five minutes of feed left in Chloe’s bag, and after about 30 more minutes, I finally decided something was wrong with the pump. Air in the line kept it from finishing so we made adjustments and she was on her feet at the cooking station.

She and I worked on the appetizers first, Stuffed mushrooms and wheat crackers and garden style cream cheese. Then on to “Peeps.” I never knew there was so much work in making marshmallows… or so much mess! By the time we were back and forth to the computer receipt, we had our batch of sticky white stuff with a side of sugary yellow stuff. Then it was time to squeeze out the Peeps onto the wax paper. By the time we were through we had a bunch of indistinguishable blobs of white stuff, sprinkled with yellow stuff and Chloe was starting to look like the DoughBoy. They never really set up but I’m told that could take up to four hours. Chloe WAS able to sit and have three taste tests of the mixture and she said she could taste Peeps… her favorite Easter food!

Next up were Quesideas… (or however you spell it…) That was the main course. Of course, we forgot a few things at the store so we improvised. Scrambled eggs, mushrooms, tomato and cheese set in between two tortillas. I burned mine by didn’t let on too much… Everyone agreed it was a great job in the kitchen by chef Chloe.

Just before I left to go take care of Kitty, Dana called me into Chloe’s room. Chloe was apologizing to Mama for not knowing she was right and to me for being her only kitchen helper. She said, next time I’m just doing one course, one dessert or one appetizer. I assured her there was no apology necessary when she is doing something to try and better herself through knowledge of any kind. She tried, learned and advanced her knowledge in the kitchen.

Now we are back to rainy days but the sun is shinning inside from now on!

Be well,
Ron