Whirlwind

Phew. It's been one of those weeks where breathing is a luxury: Hearing aids, a baby blessing ceremony/open house and endoscopy all in the span of four days. At this rate, we're planning to take up stem cell research as a hobby over the long holiday weekend.

Hopesy has emerged from the hubbub like a champ. She was feeling so miserable last week we almost canceled a blessing ceremony we planned at our house on Sunday. We postponed her hearing aids and were about 5 minutes of continuous screams away from taking her to the hospital on Friday, when Dr. Spitenup had a suggestion: Mylanta. Cherry Flavor if possible.

Eureka. It was a magic mood changer.

Despite our worries, she was a doll as dozens of people pawed over her for five hours Sunday. Kids ran buck wild. Our house is too small. We spent far too long cleaning and cooking. And it was easily one of our favorite parties ever. If it could have gone better, we're not sure how.

Tuesday, she got her temporary hearing aids. They're a bit big, but Hope doesn't seem to mind them at all once they're in. We worried about behavior issues and were warned to ease them in gradually, beginning at 10-minute intervals. But she acts like she's been wearing them for years.

We capped the excitement Wednesday with an endoscopy, a surgical procedure that snakes a tube down her throat to try to find what made her so fussy last week. We thought it was reflux. Spitenup, true to form, isn't so sure. The scope didn't find major damage that would indicate a bigger problem.

We're not sure where that leaves us -- or what to make of how much Hope enjoyed sedation. As the drugs kicked in, it was as though all her old favorites -- Dice-K dolls, ceiling fans, balloons -- were tickling her toes. She smiled. She laughed at nothing in particular. She dug the world, then she dug sleep.

And we dig her. It's been one of those weeks of extreme emotion -- up, down, anxiety, fear, frustration and elation -- that, when we finally get a spare second, make us realize that we're very lucky and proud.