A day with Haven and Haze

Every child is unique, and Haven is more unique than most. She was born with neurological damage. She is now seven, and she says “Yes,” very clearly and with conviction. Most other words are difficult for her. She loves to sit in my lap and let me read to her, she is very tenderly affectionate. Needs help negotiating stairs. She knows colors and can say most of them, and she comes up with surprising words, like “Alligator,” but rarely constructs a sentence.

Her sister, Haze, is five and her only pronoun is “we.” She interprets for Haven, speaks for Haven. Sometimes she misinterprets. Sometimes they hit each other or grab things from each other. But mostly they are a unit. 

I took a dozen scarves for them, and the scarves were a great hit. They became capes, fairy wings, hats, gowns, belts, clouds, and (Haze’s idea) “dragon breath.” 

Cristina, mother of Bella and Evan, gathered wonderful clothing for all the great-grandchildren, and Haze and Haven were so thrilled with it all, they made a huge thank-you card and I suggested they Facetime with Bella and Evan. Haze and Haven had never done Facetime before, and they found it a little puzzling. The cousins met each other for the first time in a little rectangular thing I held in my hand.