Shots and Salvation

What an amazingly full day today! It started out this morning taking Rebecca to her four month appointment. Here are some pictures from Friday and Saturday.

Chad graciously played with Hannah and Zach so I could fly solo with Rebecca. Good thing because the pediatrician was behind schedule (again) and our 9:45 turned into 10:00. That, of course, just means they change your location but then you get to wait some more in a smaller room. So I got to catch up on the news instead of watching Playhouse Disney or Nick Jr while we waited. It also meant that I was able to listen fully to the doctor when we chatted about Rebecca.

So if you have noticed the red spot on her right cheek, you are not alone. A small rash appeared several weeks ago due to the constant drainage from her tear duct. The cold weather caused her skin to crack and she has contracted a bacterial infection. Since this infection is highly contagious (that was great news) then she is on a steroid cream for the next week. Plus she got some medication for eczema on her cheeks. She has only had one dose of the two medications and she already looks tons better.

So now for the amazing part. They weighed my chunky girl and I about fell in the floor when the scale read 16 pounds 6 ounces. YIKES! She is in the 92% for weight! That means she has gained almost 3 pounds in two months. She is also 26 inches (94 %) and both stats explain why she is outgrowing all her clothes. Plus the doctor said she is going to outgrow her infant car seat by her six month appointment, so we are going to have to graduate her and I will need to start toting her on my hip or the baby carrier when we go places. My mom has an extra car seat that she is donating to our cause. You rock, Mama Kitty! So that graduation will take place at the end of March-ish.

The day ended on an incredibly awesome note. The kids and I went down to Brookshire's to pick up Rebecca's very expensive medication around supper time. As a treat, I stopped at Sonic for kids meals (and perhaps an M&M Sonic Blast). While parked there, Chad called from the high school where he had been giving music lessons. He was so excited to tell me that he had the privilege of leading a 13 year old boy to Christ this afternoon. I was just amazed as he explained all the things that had to take place for him to even meet the boy and then to be there when he prayed the sinner's prayer. God is just so incredible!

So I am just plain tired tonight. Maybe Rebecca will sleep good. She was very unhappy throughout the day because of shots in each leg and she fussed, wanted to be held, and then would scream - LOUDLY - when I touched either of her legs. So now I am off to bed . . .

Update on Zachary

Zach had his assessment with ECI this morning. His new speech therapist, Maria, is so incredibly nice and she and Zach got along sooooo well. She and the ECI liaison were with us for over an hour asking lots of questions, interacting directly with him and observing him. At the end of the assessment, they advised that he is about one year behind on his communication skills - exactly as I suspected. He has mastered his alphabet, but is just beginning to learn how to string words and syllables together using all those wonderful sounds. I asked if there could be an unpleasant reason for this delay and Maria said that some kids work on mastering motor skills first and then catch up later with their communication skills. My boy has definitely been working on those motor skills so I guess he is ready to talk with us now!

When they asked me for my primary goal of the speech therapy, I said "Two way communication, please!!" A few minutes later, Zach solidified that request by having a meltdown and crying to me in a language that is all his own. He does this every time he gets upset. He gets frantic and desperately tries to get us to understand him, but he is so upset that he can't seem to access any communication skills. It generally escalates ending in a full blown tantrum. I was actually glad they got to witness it because it helped Maria better focus the plan of action.

So his speech therapy officially begins in two weeks and will be every Friday for one hour for 12 weeks. In the time between sessions, I will work with him using the techniques Maria provides. Hopefully you will begin to notice a difference in him each time you see him. Maybe we get some language mastered sooner rather than later so we can get on with potty training because I really think this boy is ready!

Zachary's Turn!

For the last few weeks, Zachary has begun to strip down and sit on the potty. Mostly he just enjoys throwing toilet paper in and flushing. Today I got a big surprise when he actually peed!! I was very thankful that he sat far enough back that it landed where it was supposed to. I keep trying to show him how to "be a man," but he wants to be just like his big sister so we are in a sort of dilemma. I'll just count my blessings and believe that he will get this all figured out in the months to come. So I am reminded of Hannah's favorite phrase . . . "Zachary's turn!" She is ever the fair one, always making sure little brother gets the opportunity to receive whatever wonderful treasure she is getting. Potty training is no different. She likes to go potty and then announce that it is "Zachary's turn!" Turns out she is right!

And Zachary really does love his sissy. Tonight he climbed up in her bed and snuggled under the covers next to her. I was somewhat surprised and asked if Hannah would like Zach to sleep in there with her. I got a flat "No." She was also perturbed that he moved two of her friends to lay down. As soon as Daddy took him to his room, the friends were moved back into their assigned spots!

Grocery shopping

I finally took the plunge and went somewhere with three kids (not counting the doctor's office). I ran out of time on my MDO yesterday and still needed a few groceries to make Chad's b-day meal, so I decided to bite the bullet and take all three of my urchins to Brookshire's. It wasn't very busy and they always have nice clean carts with all the seatbelts attached (hey, don't laugh until you've tried to take two unbelted preschoolers around Wal-mart). They actually did pretty good. Everything I needed was around the perimeter so I didn't have to yell at them for grabbing items off the shelves when we go down the aisles and encounter two-way traffic. Ah, sweet bliss. Some day I will work up the courage to let Hannah walk, but that day was definitely not today. One baby step at a time! :)

More of Hannah's Handiwork

I just came across these and laughed myself silly. Enjoy!!

Arrrgh! Pirate Rebecca!

Here is a picture Hannah took of Rebecca this morning with her new camera. I just cracked up and had to share!

Goodbye Molly

It was with a heavy heart that we said good-bye to our kitty Molly on Friday. She finally started showing intense signs of her hyperthyroid condition and we made the decision to end her battle. She was 12 years old and could be so sweet. She could be a little high strung and definitely did not like kids or other female cats! But we will still miss her. She was laid to rest by her brother Noot under the yellow butterfly bushes.

So we are down to one kitty now. Sylvester looks a little sad and lonely. I told Chad today that I might have to make a trip to the SPCA soon . . .

What a busy week!

I am always amazed at how fast the weeks fill up. Chad and I always groan when we see an empty month on the next page of my daytimer. It looks so relaxing and inviting. Then reality sets in and those days fill up before we have time to open our mouths!!

Such was this week. Tuesday we went down to visit Grandma Rissmiller and say howdy to a visiting Aunt Carol. The kids were, as usual, rowdy and very excited to see Memaw. I was so grateful to have Aunt Carol's help in at least keeping track of them as Zachary has been a regular Houdini.

Here are the girls the morning before we went to Grandma's. Hannah absolutely loves her baby sister and can't wait for her to start playing. She asks me all the time if Rebecca is old enough now to play. So sweet!



Zachary's ECI worker came on Wednesday to get us set up in the program. Zach's assessment with the speech therapist will be on Feb 20. All the appointments will be in our home and, thank you Lord, they will be free since we will only be on the program until his third birthday in May. Yippee!

We enjoyed another fun-filled MOPS play day on Thursday at our house. The kids always have a great time, especially when Aunt Amy, Aidan and Keely get to come. The kids decorated sugar cookies and made a Valentine flower craft.

Friday, Donna daughter Makayla came for the day. Hannah loves Makayla, who is about 18 months older. She gets a lot of Makayla's clothes, many of which have princess or Dora references. If you haven't talked with Hannah lately, let me fill you in on a secret. She LOVES princesses and Dora!! So the kids played and watched some movies. I got a big laugh when I dug out the video that I did the voice overs for in 1999. Makayla sort of understood that it was my voice with the animated characters but Hannah kept telling me that the girl in the movie was NOT mommy. Later in the day I had a sad appointment, but that will need its own post.

Today was a very fun day. We took a family trip down to Allen to let Hannah pick out her prize for pooping in the potty three times. She is probably fully potty trained now but I still haven't switched her out of pull-ups at night. I am so proud of her!

Here is my big girl this morning. She just loves to dress up and "look cute" as she says. Chad lamented today that he fears that her wedding is going to be very expensive. :)



So her reward for potty training was a V-Tech Kidi Zoom Camera. This thing is just like our digital camera except hers also adds sound effects and borders to the pictures! It even takes movies and has games on it!! Here Hannah is showing it off.



In addition to getting Hannah her camera, we purchased some new door knob covers for Zachary's room. I laid him down for a nap and he amazingly popped the new covers off in less than five minutes. Last night we had to run him back into his room for about two hours. He has even learned how to move an object over to the gate and scale it to get over the closed gate. Somehow he will make it to his third birthday, but it will take a lot of self-control on my part!! We also picked up some paint for Zach's room and will paint as soon as time permits. I can't wait to show off his morphing John Deere bedroom.

So I am just plumb tired as I review this entry. I might just take a nap!

It's a Tongue Thing

My goodness, but this has been a busy week! We started on Monday with a trip for Zachary to the Ear, Nose & Throat specialist. The two hour appointment was tedious but Zach was a real trooper and only had a few minor melt downs. My favorite part was when we were in the sound proof booth and they were checking Zach's hearing at different decibels. The tech gave Zach a small calculator to use as a distraction between checks. It was obvious after a few minutes that he thought he had been given the remote control to the toys that turned on with her voice. It was very hard not to crack up. He passed his hearing test with flying colors.

The problem appears to be with his tongue. When he sticks it out it only goes down. He has never been able to raise his tongue much beyond his upper lip, so there appears to be a flexibility issue. So the next step is being assessed by Early Childhood Intervention Services. That will take place in the next few weeks.

We enjoyed a little white stuff in the middle of the week . . . too bad it was ice and not snow. It did make for some pretty pictures. The picture below really doesn't do it justice. The sun was shining on the trees and they all looked so magical. Sorry about the yucky pond. We just haven't had enough rain in awhile and it's starting to show it. The blue heron that visits our pond has easy pickings nowadays!






We had a MOPS play day on Thursday at Angela's gorgeous house. The girls all dressed up in princess costumes. They looked so darling! Hannah was of course a ham and wanted me to take her picture - several times - and then look at them!



We ended the week today with a scrapbooking party with some ladies from church. I didn't have a lot of creativity today so I can't say that I accomplished much but I sure did enjoy all the conversations. It was such a wonderful event that we are going to try to set up a craft night once per month up at the church. Maybe that will help jump start my tired little brain!

Goodbye Newborn

Can you believe that Rebecca turned three months on Wednesday? I remember the first three months of Hannah's life went by so slowly as I waited with anticipation what new nifty thing she would learn each day. Now life is so busy that I have to remember to keep an eye on the baby or I miss tons of stuff!

This picture was taken on our beautiful 75+ degree Thursday. She got to wear one of her darling hats that Aunt Lacey gave her.



This was from today. You can't see it, but her hair is still doing that funky thing. It lays down right after a bath but inches its way up before too long. It still looks oh-so-cute with a bow clipped to it.



So we have left the newborn stage for good. I'm a little sad that it zoomed by because it really is a sweet stage when you get to just sit there and rock them while they snooze away. She is officially an infant and only two months away from solids (I have decided to wait until 5 months this go around). She is already rotund enough. I certainly don't need to add any more calories to her diet! Is it just me or does this girl look identical to her sister? Hannah thinned down so maybe there is hope for Rebecca too!!