For various reasons, we’ve decided to end this blog. We have begun a private (password protected) blog. If you’d like an invitation, please let us know. (You can send e-mail, leave a comment, or message us through facebook.) We’d love to have you visit our new blogging home:)
Grace: ”Skala: Grace starts with guh. Say Guh Guh.”
Askala: “Guh Guh.”
Grace: “Great job Askala. Now say Guh.. Guh.. Grandma.”
Askala: “Guh.. Guh.. Bamma.”
Grace: “No silly Skala. Say Guh.. Guh.. Grandma.”
Askala: “Guh.. Guh.. BAHMA!”
Grace looks at Dad and giggles… so does Askala.
Askala’s speech is taking off. She wanted to go outside. As I reached for her pink coat she said: ”No tink toat” (no pink coat). ”Bwoo toat pwease mama” (Blue coat please mama).
I know I’m a bit biased but I am super-impressed - she even had the colors right!
Andrew’s initial testing has come back and it is good news. The medications are doing what they should and a progressive illness was ruled-out. Andrew did well following instructions and being patient. We ate at Jonny C@rinos and shopped before coming home. Lunch was divine and shopping was disastrous.
I am so relieved with Andrew’s good results. The stress was overwhelming - and a valuable lesson for me. Andrew continues to feel better but he still tires easily and sleeps more than usual (some nights 14 hrs). His joint pain has improved but is still present in the mornings and after activity (probably residual from the streptococcal infection). Andrew has one more test later this month - a little more invasive. I also anticipate good results from that test. We are following protocol for Andrew’s chronic persistent asthma - ruling out anything else that may be contributing.
Back at home the twins had school with Kim and Katy. I heard they did well and only fought a little.
Late Friday I got the call - I’m heading to the national NAPNAP conference - next week!
We remembered Uncle Justin with a balloon release and songs of praise - graveside. We love you and we miss you Justin!
The days are flying by. I am so happy with my decision to be home full time right now.
Our new nephew baby Gavin!
Saying goodbye to Sarafina.
Playing hospital and nurse practitioner.
School - 2 of our 3 home visitors.
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Maddie’s 10th birthday celebration with an upside down cake!
Grace preparing Great Grandpa’s Birthday card at Sunday School.
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Grace and Cousin Megan having way too much fun.
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OUTSIDE!! HOORAY!!
Playing hard=needing to rest.
Grandma and Grandpa - no more dry ice please!
LENA study and free hair!
Andrew’s on the mend! He’s feeling better and his kidneys are performing as expected! He’s building up stamina on his new bike. He continues to have a productive cough with wheezing - but he is feeling better. Next week Andrew has tests scheduled to look for underlying causes of ongoing pulmonary congestion. We would be thrilled with negative results and to just chalk this up to a long winter.
Askala’s ear infection didn’t resolve as we hoped. Her left ear (auditory neuropathy/dysfunction) is still acutely infected. We’re doing another round of oral antibiotics and looking at a new T-tube if warm weather doesn’t help. We stopped to play at a park before driving home. The trio practiced ladder climbing and throwing sticks into the river. At home we rode trikes and went back to the park to buy time until bedtime. With only 20 minute naps today I was counting down the minutes.
The twins’ Mussie-mate’s mom (anthropologist and teacher) wrote a letter to her district concerning race. Most days I don’t overtly think about race b/c I’m white. There are times I am blown away and deeply saddened. Meghan tackles the issues with poise and grace.
Tonight’s the eve of another full time quarter of school:) My classes look great, the weather’s awesome and we’re gonna use teamwork to tackle my biggest quarter yet which will bring me to the half-way mark.
The little ones and I have been enjoying plenty of outside time since they must practice their newly acquired trike-riding skills. When I’m resisting the fresh air, they politely dress themselves or each other and say “please mama.” Warmer weather is on the way along with gardening, biking, and long walks.
Grandpa and Andrew enjoyed hockey on Friday night while Aric, Grace, Maddie and Grandma Nancy enjoyed the musical Willie Wonka. Grace is still talking about the musical and Andrew’s still talking about the fights!
Aric takes credit for organizing closets and clothing into bins for each child this weekend. Realizing we missed winter Hanna’s for Askala was enough cause to tackle a gigantic task. 8 big totes, all filled with used clothing- now organized by size, season, and child. The big gaps Maddie-Grace and Andrew-Melaku equal a lot of waiting clothes. We’re blessed by gifts of used clothing from friends and family which help us keep our clothing budget affordable.
Saturday afternoon we took the crew shopping. We had one exchange and were happy to find racks of 80% off clothing. Grace is pleased with her new tutu and leggings and Maddie has a good start for school next fall. There were a few frantic moments with 3 screaming children and me - humbling. We re-grouped and ate pizza as a family.
Sunday Askala wore a recorder for her participation in the LENA study (hearing loss birth to 6). Aside from special clothing with a hidden pouch there was nothing that stood out. We did, however, need to gain consent from anyone who might be recorded. She stayed home from church and I turned off the tape twice: a naptime battle and hair detangling. We have 11 hrs+ of recording. Tomorrow we’ll mail everything to the University of Iowa.
Sunday was also Grace’s “first” Palm Sunday as a Sunday School Student. She reluctantly stayed with her seasoned teacher Odean (who, with his wife, taught both Aric and me - 30 yrs ago). I got a bit teary watching her shyly parade into church (with Odean) and her palm branch. Grace stood on stage for special music - looking terrified. But afterwards she was quite proud! We sat in the front row with Melaku so Grace could easily find us. Melaku so badly wanted to be on stage too. I kept telling him “next year.” The first hymn (the next song) of the service came 10 minutes later and Melaku made a bee-line for the stage. He was ready to perform! My super-sensitive boy reacted strongly when I gently removed him from the stage. We struggled for 10 minutes to regain composure and then he left with Daddy. Melaku and Askala really could be standing with the Sunday School kids in a few short months since our church starts at age 3. I’m not ready for that! By the way the twins sang with Papa Raman and his guitar today, I think I better get ready b/c they aren’t waiting for me:)
After lunch we traveled to visit Sarafina (our Golden Retriever in her new home). There were many happy and sad tears shed. Sara’s doing wonderfully. A few of our favorite Sarafina stories include Sara following her owner into the hay mow to “help” with daily chores. She also sleeps next to her owner and wakes her by placing her paws on her belly/chest in the morning. Sara caused a mini tiff when her arrival and bonding came before a previously scheduled engagement - situation now reconciled:) The farm cats learned to stand their ground - so Sara quit chasing them. Sarafina seemed to enjoy our company and the twins were especially glad to see her. Melaku and Askala both rubbed Sara’s head and ears. The “H” family feels blessed to have Sarafina and we are blessed by this special family. We will continue to visit Sara - perhaps picking her up for the afternoon. The H family is expecting a miniature foal this summer - our kids can’t wait. On the flip side, we are experiencing an improvement in allergy symptoms despite the rising pollen counts.
We stopped by the Heitritters tonight for an awesome surprise! Don’t let Laura’s last entry fool you - she’s sure to update soon!
Another exciting surprise tonight was a new bike for Andrew. Andrew loves cycling and I hope this will be a fun activity for him as he regains his health.
..pictures coming soon
Bright and early our day began with “school” for the twins. Miss Kim brought fun toys and we sang several rounds of Old Mac Donald to appease Melaku. Bragging about better behavior last night did backfire and there were some fantastic displays of emotion: damaging my ego while giving experts a glimpse of what I describe as “troublesome” is not all bad. Imagine a hefty dose of toddler drama plus a little more… that’s what we’ve got going on here. The good news: when the environment is just right we do really well.
Aric and I brought birthday treats to Maddie’s 4th grade classroom this afternoon. The kids and teachers tried injera and doro wat. They especially liked the familiar brownies and soda. Maddie’s classmates asked great questions ’till we cut them off at the end of the school day. What a thoughtful group!
Aric’s at night class and I’m thankful for warm weather and leftovers.
Grace learned how to peddle a trike this afternoon. This feat is the result of healthy sibling competition:) Askala’s not far behind - most trikes are not make for tiny tots.
We received our University of Iowa LENA (hearing loss birth to 6 yrs) study supplies today. Saturday is recording day. When Askala wakes up we’ll dress her with a vest and recorder. We’ll record until she’s asleep for the night. We completed two assessments for speech this week and Askala’s speech is remarkably good given her hearing loss. We’ll see if the researchers agree.
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