Our family took a road trip to Omaha to support Uncle Jimmy and the WVU Mountaineers at the College World Series. Paige adores her Uncle (and her Aunt Sara) and since attending the Regionals and Supers the past two weekends in WV, she has memorized each of the starters names and numbers. She loves nothing more than to give a shout and get a smile, a wave, a high five, or a fist bump. She started the games requesting to color to get through them - that is a sign she is reaching for something to help her regulate. It’s predictable, it’s easy, it’s calming.  But not once here in Omaha at the games did she request that. She was locked in. So many people she came to know, and she was into the games. Staying 3 different places in 6 nights, traveling 7 of us crammed into a mini van, and each day being a different schedule… that’s particularly tough on her (more than most realize) and it comes out looking like she’s on edge, defiant… but she’s really just craving grounding and predictability. 

She had several appointments before we left for Nebraska. At each one she asked, “Can I tell him/her about West Virginia?”  {of course!} 
And then she went on… the fact that she was so eager and so willing to tell so much, was wonderful. Huge progress in that area. She doesn’t often trust herself to find the words and get them out. 

Seeing her interact with the guys - after the game or coming into the hotel - was a favorite for me. She is so genuine in her excitement and her appreciation of them. I’m not sure they’ll ever quite know what an impact their seemingly small gestures mean to her. 
To quote her (as she brushed her teeth last night), {big sigh} “Well that was fun!”

Yes it was girl, yes it was.