We should get her out more

Once upon a time, any trip outside our home ended in a complete Eloise meltdown. It didn’t matter if it was quiet or loud, light or dark, inside or outside, cold or hot, or she was carried or pushed — Eloise couldn’t handle it.

As she grew older, however, things changed and it became the opposite— she loved getting out and having new experiences.

Yet these last few years it’s been harder to get out with her. In fact, it’s been around 6 months since we’ve really tried going out with her more than a handful of times. (And most of them didn’t end well.)

Why have we hesitated to bring her out if she likes it so much?

• Four days per week she has therapies at home in the morning
• During the fall winter and spring she is ill with a virus more often than not
• When the virus season finally ended, her mysterious vomiting started (imagining cleaning up projectile vomiting made us avoid almost all public outings)
• With her new food regimen she was demanding to sit 5-6 hours per day on her little potty (if she wasn’t on it for over 2 hours in the evening over dinner time, she would break down sobbing)
• We had to break her food into small meals every 1.5 hours for 30 minutes each time 

Looking at that list, no wonder going out has felt too hard.

But, yesterday, the stars suddenly aligned. I had to go get some things printed at a mall and Brian suggested I bring Eloise with me. 

I paused. Indeed, these last months Eloise has gotten easier when it comes to vomiting, potty, and food — which meant taking her with me to a nearby shopping mall was an actual possibility. So I did it.

It was beautiful — the instant we entered that huge building with lights and noise and people, she began grinning from ear to ear and laughing. She was so happy (okay there were a few small meltdowns but she recovered quickly). 

https://youtube.com/shorts/4kcjheYvc-M?si=sriRfMuZa45vLsZs

Even hours later at home Eloise was still so excited from our venture out that she was giggling to herself and happily wiggling.

My heart felt so full and content. These are the moments I love the most.

Here’s to hoping Eloise can grow healthier and more stable over time, and that we can grow more brave and adventurous to bring her with us.

Love from us to you

Mallory, Brian, Eloise, K, and Baby G