Cast is off!

Drew took Rachel to the doctor this morning and all is fine; the cast came off. They still don't know what the problem was, but it's apparently all gone. Drew said Rachel wanted to take a couple of small steps at first, but by the time he got her to school, she was ready to join her class (she's in the "Purple" group as opposed to the "Pink" group) for their weekly trip to the Wednesday farmer's market.

When I picked her up tonight she had two scrapes on her knees, proof that she is definitely better. She said she fell on the ground at school and Joe, one of the teachers, picked her up and held her while she cried.

Aside from some whining and crying (for some reason she didn't want to leave school today), we had a really delightful night. I warmed up some smoked brisket and roasted potatoes for me and made a plate of rotini for Rachel and, by gum, she ate the WHOLE THING. It was basically an adult portion on a kid's plate. I was so impressed. She was so helpful tonight, too -- when the flowers I bought at the Salem farmer's market began leaking water, she immediately said, "I'll clean it up!" and went right to it after I handed her a paper towel. She asked permission to color while I was making dinner, and after dinner she cleared her plate and placemat. Then she said cheerfully, "I clean up my toys," and put all the markers bakc in the box and returned it and the coloring book to...where, I don't know, but the point is she put them away -- and asked very nicely for a lollipop, which I gave her after explaining, "Do you know why you're getting this, Rachel? Because you ate ALL your dinner and because you were so helpful to Mommy tonight."

Cute things she said while taking a walk:

"I love you, Mommy. I missed you while you were at fireworks."

(This was after she politely asked if I liked the fireworks and I said they were OK, but I was lonely because I missed being with her and Daddy. She answered that "I don't like the fireworks because they make a loud noise," and I said, "I know, Rachel, and that's OK. Next year I'll stay with you instead of going to the fireworks.")

We stopped at the playground a block away, and Rachel insisted I watch her while she climbed all over the play structure. (Like I was going to take my eyes off her? I find nothing more entertaining than watching her play!)

"When you were little, Rachel, you were so scared to go on the twisty slide," I remarked.
"Why?" she said.
"Because you were so little, and everything was so big."
"I couldn't talk," she said. "I just went 'WAAA!' I didn't have words."

As we were leaving, Rachel said, "Next time can we come here for a long time?"
"Sure, Rachel," I said.
"I'm thinking when PopPop is here," she said.

Sure thing. PopPop, are you up for it?