
Our apartment is in this corner of the PRMH (Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House) . I'm ecstatic to share that all 3 windows in the corner tower are ours. Plus 5 on the other side. Really, it is cooler than our permanent digs.

Walking to the hospital for school (Marian gets an hour a day with the same lovely lady who taught her during her inpatient stay. In a very clean room that is wiped down after every student & with brand-new books, markers...). If you have super eyes and a bit of imagination, you can see my ripening belly & her mask and the stroller I decided not to replace (but I have months yet to re-decide...).

The development guy here (I forget his title) here is new to his job (and very nice) and, in making up these save-the-date flyers, wasn't finding an existing photo he liked. So he chose us! More Marian laying on the charm (She's really shy right now, actually. He was watching us interact alone the day he approached me).
Lots of sweet volunteers and--especially--guest chefs who come to cook dinner every night (such much good food here!) try to chat Mare up, but she's pretty stony. I can't blame her. She has been on permanent display for the last month + and probably wants her privacy back. Everyone stares, everyone notices. As someone who much prefers being under the radar, I cannot blame her, and say she doesn't have to talk to anyone she doesn't want to, but just ask that she not be mean. She just casts me desperate glances, I say something like, "oh, thank you very much, but she's shy right now. So many new people in the last month..." and we whisk back to our room, where she loves being. When we talk about it together, she realizes that it's great to have everyone want to be nice to you rather than want to be mean to you, but cannot play hostess to the world at age 6.