Amy in Champaign

My baby is getting big. She now actually opens her mouth (she never used to). So much cuter that way.  And because she still has puppy fur but is noticeably getting bigger, she looks even more like a teddy bear to me.

Took this photo of her yesterday as we drove to Champaign to visit Amy in her new home.

Notice she's wearing a bow.  Her first bow.  And technically Amy paid for it.  It was 45 cents, and I dug through her wallet for change. 

Let's talk about Amy though.  This was my first time visiting her in her new home, and I was impressed.  It's open, has a yard, a back porch, and they welcomed the dog.  None of her housemates were home at the time, but I met staff, who seemed friendly.  I giggled upon seeing Amy's room, which she shares with another person.  There's only one bed in the room.  

"Wait a second," I said "I thought you had a roommate."  

"I do," Amy corrected me, "She doesn't like to sleep in beds."  

Oh, so Amy shares a room with a woman who sleeps in a recliner.  No judgement, just surprised. 

I'm happy for her though.  Happy that she's just close enough that I can technically drive to visit her after work (although I can't do that often, I'm exhausted today), and happy that she's in a home that at least right now, she's proud of. 

Amy's Moving On Up

Amy is moving!  To Champaign,  next month.
A new home.  New caretakers.  A new life for here.  It's incredibly exciting.

In celebration, this video again.  Uploaded nearly a year ago as the hunt for a new home brought Amy to a place in the Chicago area, that didn't work out.

Coping with Kitties

A tough day for Amy today. And understandably. A staff shortage at her home forced her to lie in bed past noon-that's 16 hours of bed rest. She lay wide awake for four hours waiting to be given her mobility as she listened to everyone else in the house move about. It's unacceptable and will be taken care of, but until then, Spencer and I cleared her head with cats.

As kids mom always took us to the local Humane Society. We'd hold cats, sometimes dogs, and once in a while take one home. The visit to Naperville's shelter was a nice reminder of those days and a good chance for Amy just to see some felines as she no longer has the opportunity to live with them.

So Much Family Time

Six months after graduating from college I moved to North Dakota.  12 hours from Illinois.  A drive too long for a weekend trip, a plane ride too expensive to do regularly.  I had effectively, although unintentially, separated myself from my family.  I won't lie, it was nice.  Every weekend was mine.  I found other families to cling onto in the Praire State, grew deeper friendships than I ever had or have since, and when I did see my siblings, my parents, my aunts and uncles I found I was greeted with more warmth than ever before. 

Now two and a half years since leaving North Dakota, my family is a bigger part of my life than ever.  My mom is gone and Amy, trapped with her disability and in a less-than-ideal home, needs interaction.  Me?  I have always had middle child syndrome.  I'm used to being the distant sibling, the one to reach out to friends rather than family.  It's all changing now.  In the last year I've adjust to seeing family atleast every month, more recently to seeing my younger sister atleast biweekly.  My older sister, always my friend, is now my best friend. I miss those North Dakota days of planning around only myself, but yet as I look for my next job, I'm hoping to keep this closeness going, and to try to fight my middle child ways of drifting away.  And so, fingers crossed as I interview tomorrow, for a job that will let me stay somewhat close to the ones I love.

Another Family Gathering: Pool Party at a Hotel for Amy's 25th Bday This Past Weekend

Amy the House Hunter

Amy has been wanting to move out of the house she lives in for years.  Monday she toured a potential new home.  It may not be the perfect fit, but it was exciting to dream.

Some fun I had with iMovie regarding the day...

A HOME FOR AMY TRAILER

CLIPS FROM THE DAY

Amy on the Metra

In order for sister Amy to have independence she needs to be able to get around without fully relying on family and caretaker rides.  And so over the weekend: the Metra experiment.  Amy and I hopped on board and treked to a neighboring suburb.  Turns out her bulky chair does fit on the train.  BUT actually getting it on the lift to load into the train in a timely matter, not the easiest task for her. We sufficiently delayed both trains we rode on.  It doesn't mean the Metra is off limits though, just that she needs a little help getting loaded and unloaded.  Either way, check out her smile.  Success!

In other transportation news: my Scion, wrecked by a hit and run driver nearly a month ago, will be in the shop another two weeks.  Seriously?!  And Spencer, who's car was stolen a month and a half ago, finally found a new way to get around.  He bought this 70's Schwin in Champaign at a used bike-sale.  His purchase will hopefully encourage me to take my bike out for a spin now.