Winter Blahs

We are getting really sick of the winter thing! We have been stuck in the house for weeks, but hopefully the forecasters will be correct and tomorrow will bring us a little reprieve. Currently it 6 degrees (-14degree windchill).

Today I took the day off to take kids to doctor appts. Kylin had a swallow eval and an upper GI series. They are looking to see that there is no structural GI problems, as we are getting a few steps closer to ridding ourselves of the G-tube. She has been eating so well! (knock on wood) The other night I made spaghetti and Kylin had three helpings! She also had 2 helpings of mandarin oranges and 2 helpings of cottage cheese and an Oreo for dessert. Dad commented that his portions are getting smaller and smaller, as he has to share with 3 people who eat decent portions now rather than just sharing with Mom.

When Kylin drinks water/juice, she tends to cough and we did the swallow eval today to make sure that isn't aspirating into her lungs when she drinks. They felt all looked well and suggested maybe adding baby food to her juices to see if it helps. I think she tries to drink too quickly which then causes her to cough also. We are planning to see speech therapy soon, and we will work on her oral motor muscles with exercises which may help also.

Preston will begin speech therapy this afternoon. I have him napping early, so hopefully he is in a decent mood and will cooperate. He is talking all of the time and is trying sentences more and more. He doesn't usually do very well with "evaluations" as he tends to get frustrated easily and then refuses to cooperate.

Both kids are really saying lots, and progressing well, but the pediatrician still wants to ensure that we work with it aggressively while their little brains are still able to take in lots of info. He asked at our last appt. how many words both kids could say, and he used 50 words at this age as a minimum. As I sat and wrote down what they say, I am up to a list of approx. 100 words that one or both kids say. I know there are some I've missed, but we will see what the therapists have to say.

We had a very nice Valentine's Day, the kids had a party at daycare and got lots of Valentine's from their friends and providers. They also got nice Valentine's from both sets of Grandma's and Grandpa's. We came home and had pizza and resumed our normal routine of bath and bed. I was amazed at how much candy they received yesterday, almost more than at Halloween! Both kids kept begging for "M nemm's" (M&M's) until they went to bed.

Last week we put an offer in on a house which got accepted, so we will close and move in Mid March! I can't wait to have a nice kitchen again! These rental kitchens are not motivating for cooking/baking. We will now have a fenced in yard and an outdoor playhouse (with electricity) for the kids to enjoy.

Kylin is unknowingly being weaned this weekend from her pacifier. Lastnight she fell asleep without it, and didn't wake and ask for it all night. She has asked for it a few times this morning, and I said I lost it and she seemed fine with that and went about her day. She has not seen a pacifier since yesterday afternoon, so hopefully we will soon be pacifier free!!!!!!!!!!