Kintropy In Action

Gabriel was invited to a birthday party out of our normal area. Where we live doesn't have a synagogue, so we go to one about 45 minutes away, and that is where Gabriel went to Sunday school. He had a really good friend there whose mother and I exchanged phone numbers. We never got around to getting together. Then she called and invited us to her son's birthday party.

The day was balmy and golden. Northwestern sunny days are rare, but when they do happen, they seem perfect. The air was warm with a cool breeze, and the trees made a shush sound in the air. The party was at a park. In the middle of this park was a huge grassy hill. The park attendants had stretched a plastic tarp down the hill and ran a hose over it. When the mother had mentioned slip-n-slide, I was thinking it would be the normal flat sprinkler sheet of yellow plastic perpendicular across a yard. This was something more.

I had brought a blanket for Hannah and me to sit on. So I settled us down and started her noon feed as I watched Gabriel run off with his friend and go stand in line for the humongous slip-n-slide. Hannah watched and clapped with enthusiasm. It took me about twenty minutes, but I realised something: people who stayed sitting up on the slide didn't get their faces and, importantly, their necks wet.

Hannah's neck still has a small hole in it, so water entry through there could still be dangerous. I realised Hannah, though, could do this without risk is she remained sitting. Unfortunately, I only brought back up clothes for the kids, not me. Then I considered Gabriel. He is six. He's pretty strong. His understanding of the importance of safety with Hannah has blossomed.

So when he wandered over I asked him, "Would you take Hannah down the slide?"

His eyes lit up. I think he craves big brother things to do with her. "Oh, yes, please can I?"

"Let's see." I looked at Hannah. "Hannah do you want to go down the wet slide." She smiled and clapped. I think there was a "Yeah!" thrown in there, too.

So I unhooked her g-tube. I grabbed a towel and a wash cloth and walked over to the line. I explained to Gabriel that he needed to keep her sitting up and hold onto her. I sat her between his legs and let go. I walked down the side as they made their progress. Hannah giggled and Gabriel laughed, "She likes it!"

They made it down in one piece, and Gabriel asked if they could do it again. So I asked Hannah and she screamed "Yeah!"

So up the hill we trudged again. They loved it; Hannah signed for more. But I was out of breath. She is around 36 pounds, and it was a big hill. The line on the top was pretty long too, so I copt out. Hannah was furious.

She did, however, also get to ride a merry-go-round and the swings.

It so sucks that I forgot our camera.

--Mom

PS. Gabriel wants to let the world know he threw up off the merry-go-round. A girl came and spun the merry-go-round really fast. He told her he was getting sick, and she didn't believe him and spun him faster. Hopefully, next time she will believe whoever tells her they are sick.