I didn't get a single word until she was mostly dressed this morning, and then it was something murmured unintelligibly against her arm when she inadvertently stuck her arm through the neck hole of her shirt and couldn't get it back out. Fortunately her shirt was stretchy and had a wider neck on it, or it would have been an even worse predicament. I think the lack of communication this morning could have been that she was truly tired. We went to a play her brother was in last night, and then ate cookies, and then she had to have a bath. She threw a bit of a tantrum on her way to bed, probably because of how late it was. After she'd been in bed for a bit the rest of us were going to bed and I could hear her laughing. I kissed her goodnight again and we went to bed. Hopefully she slept after that, but it was pretty late. If she laughed anymore I wasn't awake to hear it.
I am not aware of anyone else who can stand to have something stuck in between or on their teeth, but it doesn't seem to bother Rachel. When she eats something and it sticks on her teeth it just stays there until I brush them. It doesn't even have to be sticky. After she finishes eating and before brushing her teeth I always make sure she drinks something to clean them off a bit. We were running a bit late this morning and I had to brush her teeth quickly because the bus was waiting. Apparently the drink of water hadn't washed the oatmeal off her teeth, because after the first swipe the toothbrush had far more oatmeal on it than toothpaste. Mmmmm, toothpaste and oatmeal. Unfortunately I didn't have time to do it again, so hopefully it was enough to at least get her by until she gets home. I just need to quit thinking about it. Yuck.
Yesterday Grandma and Grandpa came. She smiled more and laughed more, but she turned away and wouldn't really interact with them. Or anyone else. She only barely acknowledged they were here. At one point she was in the other room and started laughing, but then it was hard to tell if she was laughing or crying. It sounded a little creepy, and I never did figure out what emotion she was displaying.
During the play she laughed when everyone else did (that's fairly normal), and I think she recognized her brother on the stage. I absolutely love her laugh. It just makes me smile. It is, unfortunately, a little loud at times. And sometimes she laughs at inappropriate times. Daddy bought some M&Ms during the intermission, and they came in handy. If she was a little loud, I would just pop one in her mouth and she would focus on the chocolate. Truly a girl after my own heart. There was one solo that seriously inspired her. Part way through I noticed I could hear something, and then I realized that Rachel was trying to sing along. As adorable as it was, I was grateful again for chocolate. If we had been home I would have encouraged her to keep singing, but not everyone has the same taste as I have in music. I know, they're the ones missing out, but it seemed best to keep her quiet.
She saw friends at the play, but wouldn't look at them. She responded negatively to anything anyone said. The thing that made me the saddest is that she kept saying things like "I'm a bad girl" or "I'm dying" or "I'm sad." I don't think she really means what she's saying, but it still makes me sad. When she says "I'm a bad girl" I think she means she feels bad, and she's a girl. I don't think she understands what dying means, just that it's got a negative connotation.
I didn't get the interaction I was hoping for with the visit from Grandma and Grandpa, but at least she smiled and laughed (and sang!). Now I think I'll go brush my teeth. Again. Without oatmeal.
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