We're here in Las Vegas.
I'm not a gambler, so all the flashing lights in the casino have little draw for me.
But still, "when in Rome...", or more appropriately, when in Caesar's Palace...
So last night I blew $20 on quarter slots.
It took less than 5 minutes.
I did win early on, but I didn't know enough to cash out right then. Good thing I don't play poker I guess.
We've been struggling while we're here to find a happy balance for our family. We're having a nice time, and the hotel is really lovely, but whenever we leave the room we have to go through a sensory nightmare.
Outside it is blisteringly hot, inside it is goosebumps cold. The lighting in and around the casino is perpetual twilight, and everywhere, everywhere there are music, lights and people.
When I write it down, I realize that it's no wonder Daniel is focusing on the crazy patterns on the floor and spinning in circles at random moments as we walk from one place to another. When I really think about who my kid is, I'm surprised that he has managed as well as he has.
The highlight of this trip for him is the fantastic pool complex at the hotel. The lazy river and wave pool especially. We go every morning, before it gets crazy.
Yesterday, we were in the wave pool and he was like a little monkey on speed in his overwhelming glee. The pressure of the waves on his body gives him a joy that appeared to be un-contain-able. So after each wave he would jump onto to me and yell over and over "I love you mother", which creeped me out and so I would peel him off me over and over again.
Until....
It finally dawned on me in my small primate brain, that perhaps, just perhaps, this was another "sensory thing". So I asked him, "are you climbing on me just because, or do you need to feel pressure? Because if you need the pressure, just ask us and we will hold you tight."
He stood there looking at me for a few seconds, and then pronounced with a wide smile, "Pressure!"
So my husband and I took turns holding him after every wave. I know we looked strange out there, but after his time in the pool, he managed through a packed and crazy day, even when he was hungry... which is unheard of in our family.
So excuse me, but I need to get my bathing suit on....