Recap of well check ups

So to pick up where I left off...Riley is great in all areas! Even Bree got the a-okay in most areas, but obviously there are delays with not being able to sit up on her own and not eating by mouth. I did discuss in length (and this is not the first time) with Johanna about the H1N1 shot and we have decided to get it for both of our girls, and for ourselves. We feel that it is necessary for our family. They have already had their regular flu shots and Adam and I will get ours when they come in on base.

The rest of their well check up appointment consisted of discussing Riley's sleeping habits, and giving Bree her one year old shots. Poor little girl, she had to get four separate shots! She was a trooper though and after just a few moments of cuddles and love she was settled back down again. She has had a rough two days since having her shots, but we are keeping an eye on her. She has not had a fever yet, but just seemed pale, flushed and lethargic. I think from now on I am going to ask to have any shots split up so she does not receive so many at once. Her little body doesn't seem to be able to handle it.

Tomorrow Adam and I will be clearing Riley's room of any "super fun" toys and just leaving baby dolls, stuffed animals, and books in her room. We are going to be more strict with our bedtime routine: teeth, bath, pj's, book, "rocka rocka" (rocking in her chair), then kisses and bed. We will then put the gate up, and not answer to any pleading calls of "Mommmmmmyyyyyy!". Hopefully with consistency this bedtime thing will become easier. Wish us luck!

"She's not normal"

Today, for the first time in a long time, I heard these words uttered and I found joy, and laughter, within them. I had asked our PA a question about Bree's language development and where she should be at. It went something like this: "Where should a twelve month old be at with their language? Riley has always spoken well, and more than she should be for her age so I do not have a good conparison." Johanna quickly replied "Yeah, she's not normal." I abruptly laughed and said "I never thought I'd be happy to hear those words, usually it's not a good thing." Ha ha! Riley puts together sentences, and will openly express how she feels about things. She told me today: "I 'cared" (I'm scared) because there was a dog barking next door. I commonly get "C'mon Mommy! I show you sumpin!" So, yes...Riley is not normal, and that is GREAT!

Bree is right where she should be with language according to Johanna. She says 3-5 common sounds, Ma, Da, Ba, squeals, and babbles to herself. She can look around the room and find who you are asking for. (If you ask, Where's Riley? or Where's Sister? she will look around until she finds her..if you follow her eyes you can tell it is purposeful) She engages socially with you by touching your face, she starts games and expects you to comply with them. So, for being a preemie, she got the a-okay today. We are still going to do PT, Speech therapy and we will be starting OT here soon.

I will update more later as Riley just got up from her nap and is now whining and crying for me to go "make castle" with her. (play in the sandbox!)

Thank you...and let the pondering begin!

Thank you for all your suggestions and tips on the bedtime fiasco! Adam and I had a busy day today, and haven't gotten a chance to 'pow wow' together and discuss this all. I do agree with Danielle, that we need to set some rules and stick to them. Lately, we've been going with the flow, and bending the rules back and forth. I am afraid that is what has cause our current predicament. Tonight, I just put her in her room with the gate up, said goodnight and walked away. I was able to do what I needed to for Bree, and listen to hear what Riley was up to. She played for a few, then fell asleep on her bean bag. I just went in and moved her to the bed, so that seemed to have worked for tonight. I think for a while I might be moving her toys out of her room and only leaving a few 'night time' appropriate toys, like stuffed animals and books. Just until she gets the hang of this "bedtime" thing. :)

On a side note, after the fiasco on the last house we tried to buy (it ended up having issues with the title and having to cancel our purchase) we went looking for houses again today and found a promising one. Sooooo, we are starting this process again. Wish us luck!

Any help?

We are having a time of it with Riley and bedtime. We have tried every method except for duct taping her to the bed (which we are considering). She gets up constantly, plays with everything, and pretty much does everything she's not suppose to. We've tried putting her to bed later so she's more tired, nope...we've tried sitting with her until she falls asleep (which is what Adam is doing right now)...that kind of works, but takes an hour of crying and correcting her to stay on her bed. I don't know what to do! I don't want to put her back in her crib...regressing just doesn't seem like the answer, but this is not working at all! Any ideas? I am open to anything...(and duct tape is still an option).

"Don't play with your food!"

Whoever made that saying never had a kiddo with sensory food aversions. Here in our house we encourage playing with food... but don't you worry, I make her help me clean up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I put some in her mouth...she wasn't happy!

 

All better!

 

Weekend review + Monday

The past few days have been crazy. Saturday night I logged onto my school to check up on a few things and to participate. While on there I discovered that three assignments I thought were due on Monday were that night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After sitting there for literally three minutes just staring at the screen I choked out Adam's name and informed him that I. was. not. going. to. bed. that. night. I literally said it like that. A two week unit was due that I had 1/4 of the way done, a minilesson that I had 3/4 done and a paper that I had 0 done. So, since the unit was worth the most I worked on that. 60 pages later and 11:30 at night I was done with the unit. I fixed up my minilesson and turned both assignments in. For some odd reason I didn't think I could bang out a quality paper in 5 minutes...huh, crazy? I planned to finish up my paper Sunday morning. We had a rough night with Riley and were up and down and up and down with her until Adam fell asleep on her floor....we thought Sunday would be football and schoolwork filled and relatively uneventful.

Riley had other plans. When Daddy was pushing up her sleeves for breakfast, he was holding her hand and he felt/heard her arm make a pop sound. After screaming and unable to move her arm, Daddy and Riley were off to the ER. Since I don't like to do schoolwork with kids awake (too much stopping and starting) Bree watched me while I picked up the house. Daddy and Riley returned with a diagnosis of "Nurse-maids" elbow...which was not a first...remember? So, we are being referred to a specialist to make sure all is okay with her since it is happening so easily and often.

 

The rest of the day was thankfully uneventful excluding the family drama. I made a sarcastic comment to my sister in law's facebook status, and not being one to back from things I started, I made my points when I was prompted by others. My first reaction was not one I am especially proud of, (I maybe maybe slipped a curse word or two in there...okay, so I did! But we all do it sometimes!), but all of my other responses were thought out, and not based upon my emotions. I made my points, and had my say. She didn't like what I had to say...sometimes it hurts to hear the truth. However, the only reason I said the things I did is because I care about her kids.

Mooooving on now...Are you ready for this???? Bree passed her swallow study with flying colors!!!!!!!!!!!!! No aspiration, no penetration, just perfect PERFECT swallowing! So, we no longer need to thicken juice if we try to get her to take it, and she can have as much food in her mouth as she will allow us to shove in there. YA HOOOOOOO!!! I couldn't of expected better results. You go Bree!

Loooooooonnnggggg day.

I am only posting for the sake of posting. It was an excessively long day/night/day. I will dwell more upon it tomorrow. It was filled with a 60 page unit, a paper, a minilesson, an ER visit for Riley, extended family drama, and 3/4 of Grey's Anatomy season premiere. (Yes, I said 3/4) On a good note...both our kids are sleeping and we are headed to bed ourselves. Night all...will talk to you tomorrow...after Bree's swallow study.