Baby Harper and her parents are in Argentina, touring wineries and having culinary experiences with her paternal grandparents. There she is with her mom in Buenos Aires, beside a statue of a firefighter saving a child.
She stole her daddy's whole face.
Little girl is living her best life.
And—she took her first steps this week!
Meanwhile back in New York City, my daugher and I went for a Saturday morning breakfast at Metro Diner with my cousin Nickty, who's here from Trinidad, and our niece Dani, daughter of Nicky's sister.
It's a tradition: On the first morning that Nicky arrives in New York City from wherever she's traveling from, we go out for diner pancakes. For Nicky, who spent every weekend with me in the city back when she was in college in Washington, D.C., this is a defining taste of New York.
It's been a minute since I've shared a taxicab selfie. This one, taken yesterday as I traveled to see a new doctor, offered kind light. My former PCP went off to join a concierge practice, a quality of life decsion, she said. I don't fault her, but now I'm at a loss, as I certainly can't pay twelve to fifteen thousand a year to join her new practice, the province of business executives and the casually wealthy. I did like the doctor I saw yesterday, a young woman with a gentle spirit, who was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. She's very proactive, jumped right into diagnostics, made referrals, and observed a condition in me that absolutely no one else had identified, which is likely the cause of all the body pain I have that is not really joint related, and therefore not quite arthritis. For so long I've wondered where I took a wrong turn onto the path where my body is just one big inflamed instrument. Turns out I didn't take a wrong turn. I was born with this, my mother and her sisters likely had it, too. Though it was never formally identified in them, the condition is probably why my mom, slender as she was her whole life, suffered with flares of body pain, as I do. There's no cure really, just treatment to manage the symptoms and arrest the progression. The doctor referred me to a specialist to investigate further. Now, I know.
First- let me say- hurray for that doctor! And isn't it so odd how we blame ourselves for things that go on with our physical beings that have no relationship at all to choices we have made but rather to plain old genetics?
ReplyDeleteWell. Cross that one off your list! And by the way- you look beautiful. Are those glasses new? I love them.
It's so fun to watch that darling bebe growing. I love that her parents are taking her literally all over the world.
Is there anyplace better to eat a breakfast than in a diner? I doubt it.
I love the photos and yes, lucky little baby, cute as a button too:)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad a doctor looked at you with fresh eyes. It's so hard for people, even doctors, to look at something with fresh eyes. We tend to make up our minds and then find facts to support that decision, even with a diagnosis. It's also nice to know the it's a thing and not just in your head, which is a favorite thing that doctors like to do to women.
Sending hugs and you look gorgeous.
This is a page of beautiful people! I love the color of your eyes.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you finding a dr who actually looks and has curiosity. That is very rare.
Good to see you here, been missing your posts. That picture captures your beauty. And that beautiful baby, those tiny feet! x0x0 N2
ReplyDeleteBreakfast for supper is the best. The light in all these beautiful photos! Also, the light brought by that new Canadian doctor. Good news!
ReplyDeleteGood grief the taxi photo is spectacular. I would like to have some of that light to mask all of my sun damage. I'm glad you have a reason for the body pain, when you can put a name to something it's helpful for the psyche. Baby Harper continues on her path of being the world's cutest child.
ReplyDeleteyes indeed, Harper baby stole her Dad's whole face! Lucky that her dad is so handsome- Harper will enjoy beauty all of her days! Speaking of - you are amazingly gorgeous - don't even argue- and I LOVE your frames- so much! Daughter her usual sunny self, visitors bringing even more beauty to your world.
ReplyDeleteFinding an efficient, thorough and curious doctor is so lucky! Whew!
It must be such a relief to finally have a name and a diagnosis, regardless of pain and treatment. The sense of being understood and seen not as someone with weird symptoms but real experience is a huge step towards getting better. I hope this goes well for you.
ReplyDeleteYay to finally having an answer! You look so genuinely happy in the picture with your daughter. Olivia in the PNW
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful adventure for that sweet beautiful baby!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your doctor has gotten you on the track to some answers for your pain. Hope you find a solution that works for you.
I love your glasses and your lovely eyes! Fabulous selfie!
I am so glad that you found a doctor who could actually diagnose what is going on. I'm hoping whatever interventions she recommends really help relieve the pain.
ReplyDeleteYou do have the most beautiful family, and that taxicab selfie is truly lovely. Such sweet photos. (NewRobin13)
If she's from the McGill medical school, it is one of the best in the world. I have a grandkid at McGill (in another program) and am impressed all over by what she is getting. (Oops. Should add, although I am sure you know, that McGill University sits in the middle of Montreal, Quebec.)
ReplyDeleteI love the tradition. We have a pancake one here, too, for when the maple syrup is being made every spring.
And you are beautiful; all your photos show it.
Wow! Especially the first photo of Harper and her mother next to the statue of the firefighter saving a child and upon reading the good news that you have a knowledgeable doctor who was able to diagnose your pain. Sending love always.
ReplyDeleteHarper walking! look out world.
ReplyDeleteand seems like your old doc leaving turns out to be a good thing or you may have never been diagnosed.
I am sorry you have to manage this and that there is no cure but having the information the new doc provided is a good thing because you now know and can stay on top of it without always wondering or feeling alone. Miss Harper is a lovely little girl.
ReplyDeleteI've said it before, but that baby is so damn cute, I can hardly stand it. And I am glad that you got a diagnosis and hope that ease is on its way to you. That picture of you! So, so beautiful and soulful.
ReplyDelete