Friday, August 27, 2021

Friday, August 27, 2021

Tonight's picture was taken in May of 2005. Mattie was three years old and the stool that he was standing one, was made by hand. Peter and Mattie built this John Deere tractor stool together. Mattie loved all vehicles, and needed a stool to reach the sink in the bathroom. Mattie was the kind of child who was going to do things when he was ready. Not on a pediatrician derived milestone check list. To inspire Mattie with potty training and becoming more independent in the bathroom, the stool was an incentive. It actually worked well and once Mattie was ready, he caught onto potty training quickly. On an aside, this stool is so well made that I continue to use it to reach things in my clothes closet.

Quote of the day: Today's coronavirus update from Johns Hopkins.

• Number of people diagnosed with the virus: 38,500,016
• Number of people who died from the virus: 634,438

Last night Peter and I were sitting on the couch and Sunny joined us. This is very rare, as he's not a couch person. In any case, he is slowly adjusting to his new environment. 

Thankfully I slept last night! Being in my own bed helped a lot as did having air conditioning. I got up at 6:30am, as we had the plumber coming. The previous plumber we had wasn't a good match for us, and never completed the work. Today's plumber will be working with us and is lovely and competent. I have no idea what the former owner was thinking but with this big backyard, there is NO hose bib! Making it impossible to water the garden. We are fixing this issue! 

It is very difficult unpacking when managing workmen and jumping from one issue or question to another. I started the morning by cleaning off the driveway and garage. They were both filled with red clay/mud from when the electric company was here and dug up lines. It made no sense cleaning inside, because as soon as you walked outside, and stepped back in, mud got everywhere. Along with plaster dust footprints.... which are my nemesis right now. 

This afternoon, we had a terrible rain and thunder storm. That sends Sunny right into my parent's closet. Apparently Sunny deems this as the safest or most quiet place in the house. 

While juggling the plumber, I began cleaning out the built in shelves in the office. Each was filthy! Grime from the previous owner as well as plaster dust lining each shelf. It was a big mess. I have decided to use most of these shelves to highlight Mattie Miracle and Mattie. 

The Lego dome is from Mattie's Taj Mahal that he built with Peter, during treatment. It was a huge structure. About two years ago, I broke it down and only kept the dome. Next to the Taj, is a memory box I made with one of our Walk logos. The heart painting was given to me by Mattie on Valentine's Day. It says Love Mommy." On the bottom shelf I received a tulip orange candle from a psychologist in the Netherlands. She is a Mattie Miracle fan and wanted me to have this. 

When Mattie died, we created an obituary. The Washington Post actually sent us the plaque of the obituary that you see on the lower shelf.

Today we brought Indie to the new house. We boarded her with the vet since Tuesday. We felt this was the best thing to do with her, so that we wouldn't lose her when the movers left the doors open. I learned from our hospital days with Mattie... no one reads signs. So I did not feel comfortable leaving Indie in a room with a sign on the door telling movers not to open the door. 

Meanwhile, we ordered a big cat tree for Indie. We wanted her to have a nice surprise awaiting her. We knew she would like it, because she had smaller versions of this at the townhouse. Indie gravitated to it immediately and began looking out the windows in Peter's office. 

The queen of the office!