Summer is almost here! It has felt like summer for a few weeks now, but I define "summer" as the weeks kids are out of school. Last year was the first year I actually counted the weeks...I have a feeling it will become a tradition. I'm busy coming up with our "Summer Fun List" which we will definitely be needing this year as I'm sure all creativity will go out with door with a newborn in the home. I also feel like I should give you a few updates on how things are going with the kids.
Anellah is finishing up preschool and will begin Kindergarten next year! I'm was pretty surprised but oh-so-thankful when she was approved to have a nurse with her during the entire school day next year. I didn't even have to fight for this! She is enrolled at the school across the street which is a charter school and we are looking forward to walking to school together every day. She is on track academically and although she is still a bit behind in some areas like gross motor and speech, she can definitely keep up with her peers and loves school! She has started to read sight words and continues to love being read to.
Medically Anellah's liver continues to function "ok." Her labs have shown decline over the past couple years but the progression is slow. We do not have any plans for surgical treatment at this point as her liver continues to function at a "good enough" level and we have to wait until things are really bad to warrant surgery. She takes a medication for her liver three times/day and is a CHAMP at swallowing pills! Many adults could learn from her! The current risks are some elevated risk for illness (her white blood cells are low) and risk for bleeding (her platelets are low) but these don't affect her much on a day to day basis. For the first time I think I can finally say that her diabetes is "well controlled." She has a continuous glucose monitor which is not entirely accurate and can be frustrating at times but, in the end, it has been very helpful in regulating her blood sugars. She is very good about being told she cannot have sweets or has to wait until later to have sweets (although we don't specifically tell her this is because of her diabetes, but rather tell her it is because that is what's healthy) and she is becoming quite adept at checking her blood sugar independently. Checking her blood sugar requires poking her finger and applying blood to a test strip in her meter, then calling out the number to Mom or Dad.
Anellah is my big helper...and she is actually helpful! Everyday when I tell her that quiet time is over she asks, "Can I wake Capper up now?" She runs upstairs and starts dancing for him or singing loudly or talking to him or tickling him or fixing him pretend food. It is such a joy for me to listen to and also a relief that it means he will wake up happy! She also helps with chores: folding laundry, putting away her laundry, cleaning up her toys, putting away her shoes, clearing the table, etc.
Capper is NOT a baby or even a toddler anymore, he is definitely a little boy. He also attends "preschool" three mornings/week for 3 hours at a time. He is very verbal although we don't necessarily understand everything he says. He is potty trained...for pee. Pooping is a different issue but it will come! I'm just happy he was able to get out of diapers before we have a new one in diapers! Capper wants to do everything his big sister does so he is pretty adept at doing things independently. He also gets rewarded by being given chores to do, although he is not quite to the point where his chores are actually helpful. He can pick up his toys, put away his shoes when we get home, and put the silverware away.
Anellah- 5 years old
Anellah is finishing up preschool and will begin Kindergarten next year! I'm was pretty surprised but oh-so-thankful when she was approved to have a nurse with her during the entire school day next year. I didn't even have to fight for this! She is enrolled at the school across the street which is a charter school and we are looking forward to walking to school together every day. She is on track academically and although she is still a bit behind in some areas like gross motor and speech, she can definitely keep up with her peers and loves school! She has started to read sight words and continues to love being read to.
Medically Anellah's liver continues to function "ok." Her labs have shown decline over the past couple years but the progression is slow. We do not have any plans for surgical treatment at this point as her liver continues to function at a "good enough" level and we have to wait until things are really bad to warrant surgery. She takes a medication for her liver three times/day and is a CHAMP at swallowing pills! Many adults could learn from her! The current risks are some elevated risk for illness (her white blood cells are low) and risk for bleeding (her platelets are low) but these don't affect her much on a day to day basis. For the first time I think I can finally say that her diabetes is "well controlled." She has a continuous glucose monitor which is not entirely accurate and can be frustrating at times but, in the end, it has been very helpful in regulating her blood sugars. She is very good about being told she cannot have sweets or has to wait until later to have sweets (although we don't specifically tell her this is because of her diabetes, but rather tell her it is because that is what's healthy) and she is becoming quite adept at checking her blood sugar independently. Checking her blood sugar requires poking her finger and applying blood to a test strip in her meter, then calling out the number to Mom or Dad.
Anellah is my big helper...and she is actually helpful! Everyday when I tell her that quiet time is over she asks, "Can I wake Capper up now?" She runs upstairs and starts dancing for him or singing loudly or talking to him or tickling him or fixing him pretend food. It is such a joy for me to listen to and also a relief that it means he will wake up happy! She also helps with chores: folding laundry, putting away her laundry, cleaning up her toys, putting away her shoes, clearing the table, etc.
Capper - 2 years old
Capper is NOT a baby or even a toddler anymore, he is definitely a little boy. He also attends "preschool" three mornings/week for 3 hours at a time. He is very verbal although we don't necessarily understand everything he says. He is potty trained...for pee. Pooping is a different issue but it will come! I'm just happy he was able to get out of diapers before we have a new one in diapers! Capper wants to do everything his big sister does so he is pretty adept at doing things independently. He also gets rewarded by being given chores to do, although he is not quite to the point where his chores are actually helpful. He can pick up his toys, put away his shoes when we get home, and put the silverware away.
He has always had a lot of ear infections and has always been a mega-drooler. Over the past year he started snoring and over the past 6 months it has gotten significantly worse. I finally took him to an Ear, Nose, Throat doctor a couple weeks ago. She took a quick look at him and said, "yep, I can help you out!" He will be having surgery to have his adenoids and tonsils removed along with tubes being placed in his ears on June 9th (one week from today). Currently he is sleeping on an enormous wedge pillow (shout out to my friend Vanessa for supplying it! It has made a huge difference!) and often getting Triaminic before bed just so that he can sleep through the night. He doesn't always sleep well and still snores a lot, he does have sleep apnea too. In a few weeks these issues should be completely resolved though, we are very thankful to have been able to schedule the surgery so quickly and so close to home (it will be at Oakland Childrens' Hospital).
Other than constantly having ear infections, sinus infections, and a cold, Capper is doing well and growing up so much! He is enamored with Daddy and it's very fun to watch their special bond.
Baby - Due July 30
We are looking forward to meeting our little girl the end of July or beginning of August. Things are going well with the pregnancy especially since I cut back my work hours to just 6 hours/week. The baby moves a lot; I think she knows she is going to need to fight for attention if she is not going to be left in the dust with her two Big Personality siblings.
Anellah has lots to tell us about her baby sister and it's pretty cute how excited she is to meet her. But that's another story for another day.
Thank you for taking the time to read this long post and keep us in your thoughts and prayers!
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