Winter

A couple of months ago Elizabeth saw the movie Dolphin Tale. It is a true story about a dolphin who was injured and lost her tail. With some dedicated people they were able to make her a prosthetic tale to allow her to swim and survive. Elizabeth loved the movie and talked incessantly about it and Winter the dolphin. What really drew Elizabeth to Winter was the fact that Winter needed help just like her and that Winter had to see an Orthotist and have phsyiotherapy too. It was endearing to hear her talk about Winter being just like her as she lately has been having difficulties noting her differences from her peers.
On our vacation to Florida we were able to go to the Clearwater Marine Hospital where Winter now lives. This trip to visit Winter was looked forward to more than going to Disney. Elizabeth had fun seeing Winter, holding her prosthesis and seeing all the other marine animals that lived there. Her love for marine life now is greatly appreciated as it has almost replaced her loved for dinosaurs.

Following Grams and Gramps

My parents decided to have a well deserved month away in Florida and we decided to tag along for a week. The weather was perfect for the beach and swimming. Elizabeth harassed my sister Katy and had her on the move the entire time we were there (Auntie Katy really enjoys her tv routine, sleeping in and her afternoon nap). Grams, Auntie Katy, Daddy and Elizabeth spent a day at UniversalStudios where Grams and Auntie Katy accidentally experienced an upside down roller coaster and lived to recant it. Elizabeth is now a pro boogie boarder and loved riding the waves. She also lived in the pools and can now swim in the deep end with no floaties at all (we stay very close). Of course we had to have lunch at t-Rex cafe again and visit build a Dino for a girlfriend for her beloved Rexy. Harrison fared well through all the adventures he had a couple of dips in the pool and had his feet in the sand, I think he would have enjoyed it more if his poor tummy would stop ailing him so much.

Grams and Gramps were great hosts and I am sure are now enjoying the quiet now and Auntie Katy may need to sleep for a week from all the excitement she had.

Hang Out

Elizabeth and Harrison's favorite past time is playing in the hangout. Harrison fusses in the morning until I put him down so he can play with Elizabeth. Most often he just gazes at her and rubs his slobbery fists' on her while she sings and occasionally there will be a yelp from Elizabeth as he has a handful of her hair.

Elizabeth who is learning how to spell has labelled their 'hainowt' and places the 'occupid' sign when they are at play.

This time also gives me a couple minutes to get dressed which I really appreciate.

Independent = Keeping out of Trouble

I have had some phone calls home from Elizabeth's school and Elizabeth herself will admit to some 'antics' she is doing at school. Her 'antics' have included meltdowns/tantrums, interrupting others, purposely yawning and saying how bored she is when her teacher is teaching a lesson. I am so horrified to hear what she has been doing and dread when I see her school's number on the phone. She knows these little 'antics' would not be okay at home yet she was doing these puzzling things at school.

As I have said we are so blessed to have such a great teacher and she knew this was not the typical Elizabeth and with her, the SERT and myself we problem solved why she was getting into trouble. I had thoughts that she was getting a bit smothered by her helpers and was telling them in her way to back off. So now as Elizabeth says is newly 'independent'; she is given more freedom at recess and is joining kids at tag (with her aid close by but not holding her hand), she can now have a bathroom buddy instead of her aide and her teacher has paired her with some of the advanced students for enriched work. The 1:1 time with her SERT to work on her fine motor skills now happens in the classroom with her peers as well.

With all these changes Elizabeth has had 3 weeks of great days. She has been happily earning stickers to trade in for Skylander creatures for her favourite videogame which may start to get expensive but is worth it.

Just like his sister

Harrison seems to have the same love for books that his sister has. When Elizabeth showed him her old book he squealed and happily looks at her books while on on his tummy.

Elizabeth is now reading chapter books and anything else she can find in print. She is boosting her knowledge with encyclopedia's on bugs, fish and any other living thing. I frequently find her in the middle of night reading her books and she will read in bed if she gets up too early (for that I am very thankful).

3mths

The little guy is now 3mths old. He topped the scale at 13.8lbs 2 weeks ago and is continuing to get rounder each day. He is working quite hard at sucking on his hand but just has not yet figured out how to get his thumb uncurled yet. As long as his tummy is not ailing him he is a pretty happy fella, he loves his baths, music and swatting at his toys on the play gym. He is only getting up 2-3 times a night to feed which is nice. I still have a limited diet to keep his tummy from discomfort, he still cannot tolerate any food containing dairy and weekly new foods are added to the list of what I cannot eat. I am hoping as he matures it will get better.

He had his first Daddy day as Elizabeth and I went to the movies together. He happily took a bottle of breastmilk from daddy which we will do more often, Harrison really loves to be around his Mama and won't look at anyone who may take him from me. He adores his sister despite the fact that she asked for him to be returned for a 'no wawa' version.

Mudman

We have had another unuasully odd winter here in Canada with little snow. Unllike many people we love the snow and are quite sad that we have not had any impressive snowfalls. Elizabeth is so upset about no snow to play in and stated 'mother nature is fired'. Some of the neighbourhood kids and Elizabeth managed to find enough snow to make mudman who was a combination of mud, snow and carrots. We are still hopeful for a big snowfal and cold enough weather to keep it from melting but it doesn't look too good.

True love

A belated Valentines post but worthy of mentioning Elizabeth's ongoing betrothal. Since preschool Elizabeth has been betrothed to her prince named Hayden and despite not seeing each other often she still professes her love for him. When I ask her what she she likes about her 'true love' her answer is simple 'because he is handsome and he wears AFO's.'

We were able to get the two together for a playdate and Elizabeth was given flowers and a hot wheel by her beau.

We will have to ensure supervision on their future playdates as she stated when she is older she is going to kiss him behind our shed. For now we can rest knowing that hot wheels is the hottest topic between them.

The string works (sometimes)

Elizabeth is now proudly showing the gap in her mouth from 2 missing teeth. She was getting quite perturbed that she had not lost any teeth like her friends. Despite the fact that I am a Nurse I cannot deal with wiggly teeth as it grosses me out. Daddy happily helped out to deal with her wigglers and Elizabeth bravely agreed. So with some string and a yank out came her first tooth but the second was a toughy and the string broke with each try. Her grilled cheese at lunch did the trick and now Elizabeth is $2 richer.

2 months

The little guy is now 2 months old. He developing some pretty large rolls of chub and has doubled his birth weight at over 12 lbs. The Pediatrician who we adore diagnosed him with reflux (no surprise to me but getting medical practitioners to believe a parent instead of inferring they are neurotic would be a whole different lengthy post) so with the help of Zantac and me completely avoiding dairy/caesin and whey products has made him into a much more comfortable baby. I would definitely have to say he still is not the happiest baby but it is nice to see him more relaxed. I do have to say I MISS/CRAVE chocolate and cheese.

I still need to hold him upright for 30 minutes after eating to avoid choking and heartburn this leaves for little time as he still eats every 2 hours so we can't get out too far or often.

It is amazing to see him with Elizabeth his eyes widen when he hears her voice and he will happily play if she is on the floor with him (this does not happen with his Dad or myself). She reads to him and sings to him and he coos at her, I just love it and it is so helpful to have someone entertain him while I am busy.