The Week in Review

Sorry, I'm stealing from C4 there but I couldn't think of a more creative title. I also don't have any new pictures this week. Well, that's not entirely true; I have video on my phone of Caitrin walking (and walking and walking and walking) ALL BY HERSELF up at the park, but I can't figure out how to get it from there to here.

It was a heavily-scheduled week, or at least the first half was. Monday Caitrin had PT. Her therapist said she could see improvement in her posture and balance from the first week. She mentioned that we might want to consider orthotics because Caitrin's left foot turns in a little. But then I took her to the pediatrician on Tuesday for her 18-month well visit. She is 23 lbs, 6 oz (50th percentile) and 31 inches tall (25th percentile), so her growth is consistent. I mentioned to the doctor about the therapist recommending orthotics and he said they're absolutely not necessary, that almost all babies' feet turn in when they first start walking, and that Caitrin is exceedingly double-jointed, which may also contribute. According to him (and he worked with cerebral palsy patients at Hopkins, among his myriad other credentials) the condition almost always corrects itself by late adolescence if not earlier, and only causes problems in distance runners.

The pediatrician was very impressed with Caitrin's language development (it's not just me!). It's unbelievable; she is picking up several new words every day right now. She got her last HiB and Hep A vaccines and came through it unscathed for the first time ever. She's never been much of a crier, but every time previous she's had a fever for at least a few hours afterward. This time, we walked out of the office, noticed how nice it was outside, and went up to the park to watch airplanes! This was when she gave me the biggest surprise of my life. We walked around and around, Caitrin holding my hand. Every few minutes I would let go, take a few steps back and have her walk to me unsupported. We did this a few times, and then one time instead of coming to me, she got halfway and turned around and started walking in the other direction! And she didn't stop! She did this 2 or 3 times and finally I had the good sense to grab my phone and take some video. I've never been so proud of my baby girl. She is a firecracker!

Wednesday Sean and I had our follow-up appointment at S.hady G.rove. For as nervous as I was and as much trouble as we went through to get a babysitter, I'd have thought the appointment was going to be a long one. Not so. The doctor sat down with us, told us that all our prescreening was normal with the exception of morphology, and recommended three cycles of IUI. That's it, that's all, end of story. So beginning next cycle, IUI it will be. I can't believe we've actually got a plan in place. It's been forever just getting this far.

Now I'm going to turn 180 degrees and reveal the other big development of this week. It would appear that we are most likely going to adopt a retired racing greyhound in the very near future. Sean and I have been very fond of them since our honeymoon, when we stayed in a B&B whose owners had adopted a greyhound. She was so still that we weren't sure she was real at first! We learned that greyhounds are very calm and gentle-natured, that they don't shed, drool or stink like other dogs, that they're great with children and adapt very well to life as house pets. Last Saturday we made one of our regular trips to Petsmart with Caitrin, ostensibly so that she could see the fish and kitties. As it happened, a local greyhound rescue was having a meet and greet and three of their dogs were there. Sean and I were excited to see them and Caitrin, who has really shown no interest in dogs at all, loved these guys. Later Sean and I were talking and I told him that even though I've shied away from getting a dog for years (too much work, too little reward) that I could handle a greyhound. He agreed and said that we could think about it after the next pregnancy.

I started researching greyhound rescue and adoption, and by sheer coincidence I came across the website for the organization whose dogs we'd met at Petsmart. I read and read and discovered that they have an adoption application that you can submit online. I showed Sean what I had found and told him that I really think now would be a great time to adopt. Even if I do get pregnant soon, I could much more easily handle Caitrin and a pregnancy and a new dog than I could Caitrin and a new baby and a new dog. Plus, I'd argued, it'll give me someplace else to focus my energy; to perhaps be a little less sad. I got a call from the rescue on Wednesday, and they may have a dog for us already. I'm to call back Sunday to find out more.

So since then, I've been amassing "doggie stuff." All the rescues whose sites I've visited have great recommendations about what to get before you get your greyhound. We need a sturdy bed (check: $22 at Target), a hulking crate (at least 40"x28"x30"; check: $42 on eBay), a coat (because they're so thin; check: $9.95 on eBay), a muzzle (check: $10 from a rescue in Michigan), an elevated feeder (check: $19.95 at Wal Mart), and various and sundry squeaky toys, dental chews and treats. I've also bought It’s Me Or The Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet by Victoria Stilwell, as I’m a huge fan of It’s Me Or The Dog. I’ve determined that this dog is going to be one that people love to be around; one that I can take anywhere, who obeys commands and truly is man’s best friend. I'm really excited about this. It will in no way make me forget that I desperately want another child, but it will give me a positive outlet while we work on it.

I'm off to watch X-Files with my hubby before I collapse from exhaustion. Will continue to work on getting the video from my phone up here.