Tantrums and a Self-Directed Walk Outside

Yesterday was really exciting. Late in the day daddy responded to a medical call (for those of you who don’t know, daddy is a volunteer firefighter/emt). When he got back, Rebekah had wanted her tubes disconnected and was playing with Sarah on the floor. They were playing like “normal”. They were fighting each other over toys, pushing each other around, hugging each other and pulling each other around by the hand.

Then, Rebekah decided it was time to go "bye bye". All by herself she went and put on her shoes (ok, tried – getting the wrong foot in each shoe). She also got her hat and and put it on. Finally she went and got a jacket and tried putting it on. She also noted that Sarah needed socks and shoes (Rebekah had already gotten Sarah a hat). When daddy told her that we were not going anyway as it was night time she became indignant and headed for the door. Telling her she could go out by herself if she wanted to we opened the door and out she went.

Of course daddy quickly followed a few steps behind. She went down the walk and headed straight to the van pounding on “her” door. When daddy told her we were not going anyway in the van she turned and pointed to Grandma C’s car (that Grandma and Grandpa are letting us borrow). She was REALLY upset when daddy told her the car was not going anywhere either. Finally she walked to the mailbox and got the mail with daddy.

After coming back up the walk we told her it was time to go in. No go. Temper tantrums and more pointing to the van. Daddy said “okay, you stay out here by yourself then” and walked back inside (or at least she thought he did). After a short while of walking around in circles by herself she walked up the walk, pushed the door open and came inside.

Once inside she would not take her coat off and was throwing another tantrum. When mommy tried to help her Rebekah actually reached out and hit mommy which got her a “time out” until she took off her coat and shoes. After about 5 minutes she followed instructions. Rebekah then came over to her spot on the couch and got her tubes hooked up and ate as much crushed ice as we could give her. (Thanks to Grandma M for starting the crushed ice thing!)

If you are new to this blog you might wonder why an hour or two of typical child hood behavior deserves such space? Well, it has literally been months, many months since we have seen such behavior. To have her be able to play, to walk outside (which involves steps) and to engage in such behavior as to deserve a time out is WONDERFUL! It might not have lasted for too long, but for a very brief moment there were signs of life coming back to Rebekah and we were SO OVERJOYED.

It seems crazy, but please rejoice today when your child acts like a child. Rejoice for their good health and rejoice just because they can.

Now it is even more important that we get the final stuff in the van so that we can take Rebekah out more often and we thank those of you who are helping with that!