"Your toddler will do what they need to do, and not necessarily what you say. If you're patient, then they will be patient. If you speak gently, then they will be gentle. Whatever you want them to be, you have to start becoming."
-Helen Hunt
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
A Little Dirt Doesn't Hurt?????
We spent last weekend outside since it was beautiful and sunny. Savannah was anxious to get the garden in order so we could transplant our seedlings. In the process of getting things squared away, we filled the wheelbarrow with potting soil. Soon, Lila was trying to climb in so I decided to get out some shovels and let the girls dig their hearts out. Never, in a million years did I expect it to lure the other kids from our cul-de-sac, eight in all. Even Adeline would go over and dig for five minutes or so until she was maxed out and needing a break. While she was back and forth, Savannah and Lila Grace were in the dirt for two solid hours.
Soon I noticed their was a "who can get their hands the dirtiest" competition. I, not so wisely, decided to get a bucket of water out so everyone could wash their hands. Lila had other plans.
Dirt + Water = MUD!!!
Yep, handfuls of dirt were added to the bucket and then poured into pots with holes in the bottom. Those holes drained the muddy water right back on Lila's body.
Do I dare say this will be the dirtiest Lila Grace will ever be? We had to strip her down outside in order to save my house. The bath was intersting but what was more entertaining was when I held Lila up to the mirror to give a glimpse of her dirty self. She didn't like the "yucks" once seeing them in the mirror.
Water. . . the fatal flaw
Go ahead and double click on this picture so you can get a feel for the extent of her dirtiness.
Impressively dirty for Miss Belle
Nothing quite compares wot her sister though. Lila was thirlled to be naked because she could squish her feet in the big mud piles. Don't worry, I took her in before she streaked through the neighbor's yard.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The Haircut II
Here is the after picture of Adeline (excuse the drink, she was very into her smoothie). I love her hair when it is wet and clean. It still gets a little out of control after a night of sleep. She looks so grown up!
To give you an idea of how much and how long. . .
Miss Lila didn't have much in the way of her cut locks
Friday, April 17, 2009
Haircuts and ER
We took the girls for their first haircuts today. I wasn't going to cut their hair for at least another few months but Adeline has reached her limit with all of her tangles. Her hair was more than halfway down her back. One of the most difficult things we have to do with her is comb her hair in the morning. It has always wacked out her sensory system which results in yelling and throwing EVERY morning.
I decided to pay the extra money and take the girls to my hair lady - that is if you can call her my hairstylist if I only see her twice a year?? Anyway, I knew she would be patient, the salon would be less crowed, empty in fact, and she wouldn't judge Adeline if it went poorly. All I needed was twenty sets of eyes on my screaming and kicking child at the Hair Cuttery. Mia did a great job with the girls. Adeline wanted to go first and sat for all of the combing! She ended up sitting through most of the cutting but got restless about 15 minutes in. It took quite awhile because she has A LOT of hair. Now her hair sits above her shoulders in a stylish cut. She looks really cute with it down.
Lila Grace went second and didn't want Mia to touch her. Eventually, she warmed up and was all smiles. Only and inch or two came off of her hair but it looks much cuter.
We headed to the park afterward to let the girls play around. I guess we should have headed home for naps because Adeline decided to fall backwards and hit her head. She was climbing up to a higher level on the playground structure and lost her balance. She fell back and smacked her head on the lower level. Because she has low tone and is physically weak, her reflexes don't kick in to catch her as they would in a typically developing 2.5 year old. She usually rallies after five minutes of crying but didn't this time. She cried with her head limp on our shoulders for 15 minutes with no signs of calming down. This was followed by vomiting which sealed the deal for an ER trip. My gut told me she was fine but I knew I would never sleep or let her sleep without getting her checked. The vomiting was just too weird.
After a rather smooth and quick ER visit, less than four hours, we were on our way with a normal CT scan under our belts. Adeline was given Versed to sedate her for the CAT scan which was ironic. It is the same medicine that I declined for her previous surgery. It makes kids loopy which makes the separation before surgery easier. It worked for the scan because she was swaddled, strapped and then taped to a stretcher that moves through a donutlike machine without a fuss. She was perfect, sweet and still. She came out of the scan singing Twinkle Twinkle at the top of her lungs and counting to 10. That all ended abruptly and she became a thrashing monster that didn't quit until in her own bed (the reason I have always declined this additional sedative for surgeries). I was the mom with the thrashing kid in the parking lot that got an evil eye from every passerby. I thought taking her outside while Alex finished up the discharge would help. Boy was I wrong. I am pretty sure that I will stay far, far away from Versed in the future.
Here are the before and after pictures of Lila.
Blowing Kisses
Only before and during pictures of Adeline, the after will have to wait
Had to include a picture of my very patient big girl who spent the day tagging along and then in the ER waiting and waiting
I decided to pay the extra money and take the girls to my hair lady - that is if you can call her my hairstylist if I only see her twice a year?? Anyway, I knew she would be patient, the salon would be less crowed, empty in fact, and she wouldn't judge Adeline if it went poorly. All I needed was twenty sets of eyes on my screaming and kicking child at the Hair Cuttery. Mia did a great job with the girls. Adeline wanted to go first and sat for all of the combing! She ended up sitting through most of the cutting but got restless about 15 minutes in. It took quite awhile because she has A LOT of hair. Now her hair sits above her shoulders in a stylish cut. She looks really cute with it down.
Lila Grace went second and didn't want Mia to touch her. Eventually, she warmed up and was all smiles. Only and inch or two came off of her hair but it looks much cuter.
We headed to the park afterward to let the girls play around. I guess we should have headed home for naps because Adeline decided to fall backwards and hit her head. She was climbing up to a higher level on the playground structure and lost her balance. She fell back and smacked her head on the lower level. Because she has low tone and is physically weak, her reflexes don't kick in to catch her as they would in a typically developing 2.5 year old. She usually rallies after five minutes of crying but didn't this time. She cried with her head limp on our shoulders for 15 minutes with no signs of calming down. This was followed by vomiting which sealed the deal for an ER trip. My gut told me she was fine but I knew I would never sleep or let her sleep without getting her checked. The vomiting was just too weird.
After a rather smooth and quick ER visit, less than four hours, we were on our way with a normal CT scan under our belts. Adeline was given Versed to sedate her for the CAT scan which was ironic. It is the same medicine that I declined for her previous surgery. It makes kids loopy which makes the separation before surgery easier. It worked for the scan because she was swaddled, strapped and then taped to a stretcher that moves through a donutlike machine without a fuss. She was perfect, sweet and still. She came out of the scan singing Twinkle Twinkle at the top of her lungs and counting to 10. That all ended abruptly and she became a thrashing monster that didn't quit until in her own bed (the reason I have always declined this additional sedative for surgeries). I was the mom with the thrashing kid in the parking lot that got an evil eye from every passerby. I thought taking her outside while Alex finished up the discharge would help. Boy was I wrong. I am pretty sure that I will stay far, far away from Versed in the future.
Here are the before and after pictures of Lila.
Blowing Kisses
Only before and during pictures of Adeline, the after will have to wait
Had to include a picture of my very patient big girl who spent the day tagging along and then in the ER waiting and waiting
Thursday, April 16, 2009
School Pictures
The twins' school tried out a new photographer this year. I can't believe the time that was put into the girls. Sibling pictures. . . who does that?? These are the proofs (which have a yellow tone) that were sent home. Not perfect but absolutely amazing considering I wasn't there to help. You should see the class picture. Each and every child looks reasonable. These are two year olds remember!
(double click on the picture)
(double click on the picture)
A New Routine
Being that I put the girls to bed solo on most nights, I am always looking for ways to make the process easier and less tiring. I have to admit that bedtime is my least favorite time as I am tired and so are my girls. Before it has always been a two round production. I give the girls a bath and clean everything up. Next, the twins and I a read two stories in their room followed by Adeline's bottle of pediasure. I have always held her and made it more of a snuggle time. Of course the Pediasure means we have to get back up from the snuggle to brush teeth and then finally, I chase the twins down for bed. Round two immediately follows which includes showering Savannah, reading her stories and then giving her a snuggle before bed. All in all it takes a good hour and a half, if not two hours. This puts me into the nine o'clock hour before I am kid free.
Lately, I has switched it up. It doesn't come without a cost though. I have taken the "baby" out of the routine which saddens me a bit. Now we get everyone bathed and dressed. The helping Savannah shower without the twins getting involved is still tricky. Adeline feeds herself her bottle and then all girls brush their teeth. Each girl picks a story and we sit on the couch together and read. Since the twins can sit through just about any length of book that Savannah enjoys, it works nicely. It also adds one more story to each girl's day. After stories the twins go right to bed for their second wind of sisterly banter across the room. While they do whatever it is that amuses them so much, I lay down with Savannah and talk about her day for a good ten minutes. This way all girls are in bed by 8:00 (which Savannah really needs but never got) and I am free by 8:15. What a world of difference it makes! Let's hope we can continue. Daddy isn't going to like it when he gets home because it really does make you feel as though the twins are big girls.
I guess the baby is gone
Lately, I has switched it up. It doesn't come without a cost though. I have taken the "baby" out of the routine which saddens me a bit. Now we get everyone bathed and dressed. The helping Savannah shower without the twins getting involved is still tricky. Adeline feeds herself her bottle and then all girls brush their teeth. Each girl picks a story and we sit on the couch together and read. Since the twins can sit through just about any length of book that Savannah enjoys, it works nicely. It also adds one more story to each girl's day. After stories the twins go right to bed for their second wind of sisterly banter across the room. While they do whatever it is that amuses them so much, I lay down with Savannah and talk about her day for a good ten minutes. This way all girls are in bed by 8:00 (which Savannah really needs but never got) and I am free by 8:15. What a world of difference it makes! Let's hope we can continue. Daddy isn't going to like it when he gets home because it really does make you feel as though the twins are big girls.
I guess the baby is gone
forsythia
Since today is full of bright sunshine, I deemed it the perfect day for our Forsythia painting. With a little brown paint and tissue paper the girls created their own branches of the bright yellow flowers. Miss Dot (OT) helped Adeline join in which gave her the opportunity to paint, crumple and glue. I couldn't have commanded the focus she needed had it just been me and the girls. Lila was apparently pooped after painting and falling flat on her head while climbing around on the chairs. Before I knew it she went upstairs, crawled in her crib, turned her music on and covered herself up before falling asleep.
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