Monday, April 30, 2012

This and That - The Week in Review

When I last posted I had just met Gracie's new teacher at daycare and I was very optimistic.  Gracie was starting to really take to her.  While you would think that would be good news...not so much, as the teacher decided this age group wasn't for her and she quit.  Friday was her last day.  Gracie's really struggling at daycare right now and rather than hiring a new teacher they will be joining her room with another preschool room.  I love the teacher in there, but the number of kids is pretty high and overwhelming for Gracie.  We'll give it a little time to see if this will work for Gracie and if not, we'll begin the daycare search again.  This makes me a little sad as there are so many things I really liked about this setting. 

On Wednesday of last week Gracie had a GREAT day at school.  She seems to really be working hard and starting to feel more comfortable and cooperative.  I love her teacher at school, she is so awesome with Gracie.  I just realized that Gracie only has 8 more days of school before summer break.  I really like this teacher and this program.  We were so fortunate to be able to transfer her so late in the year. 

On Thursday we had Gracie's routine (every 4 month) appointment with her pediatric neurologist.  Gracie was super chatty, loves the desk staff and Dr. N.  She told Dr. N. that she wanted to Skype from her computer.  That got a laugh.  Gracie is doing great from a neurology standpoint.  We did talk about Gracie's anxiety about transitions and the related tantrums that go with it.  We want to continue to handle these with behavior management for right now, but if we don't see results or if things get worse we have a Plan B and a Plan C.  Plan B is to give Gracie some Vitamin B6 and Omega 3 supplements.  Some kiddos with Sotos Syndrome have found success with that.  It's still more that we will have to put in her system, so we'll hold off as long as we can.  Plan C is to try an anti-depressant for the anxiety issues.  Kiddos with Sotos tend to find benefit with this as well.  So not ready to go the route of Plan B & C quite yet, but it's nice to have those in our back pocket should we need them.

On Friday, Goofy came to daycare to visit.  Gracie wanted nothing to do with Goofy, she watched him from afar.  We had heard this, so were surprised to hear Gracie tell us how Goofy was at daycare over and over and over again all weekend.  She kept telling us that "Goofy waved".  I guess she was just taking it all in.

On Saturday and Sunday Gracie was in the best mood!  She was happy and talkative, she dealt with frustrations and transitions beautifully.  It was an incredibly delightful weekend for all us.  Grandma and Grandpa D. have arrived in town for the summer, so they joined us for supper on Saturday night.  Gracie was happy to see them, but was quiet as a mouse the whole time they were there.  If she wanted anything she would whisper it in my ear.  I guess she'll have to get used to them again.

Last night we went for a walk and it started to rain.  Gracie had a ton of fun playing in the rain.  It was cold, so we made her keep her hood on, but I can't wait for a warm summer rain.  I think she will love playing in it.

Gracie was in a great mood this morning, until we got to daycare.  She was close to tears when I left.  That just breaks my heart.  Hopefully her day is going better. 

Have a great week.  It sounds like it will be a bit warmer.  I hope so.

Love,
Lisa, Jeff, and Gracie

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

A Good Week

For those of you interested...Gracie was indeed excited to see Jeff when he picked her up from daycare last Tuesday after his trip to D.C.  She started crying happy tears, raised her arms to be picked up, and whispered "daddy"...as it was nap time at daycare.  That night she was the happiest little girl.  She kept wanting to do family hugs.  Gracie is definitely happiest when all three of us are home. 

Gracie had a good weekend.  She spent all day on Saturday with daddy while I took a day to go shopping with Gracie's Auntie Sheila (who just happens to be my sister).  Jeff and Gracie had a good day and even went to the playground to have fun on the swings and slides.  Auntie Sheila, Uncle Chris, and Cousin Jason all joined us for pizza at our house.  Gracie thought this was great fun. 

On Sunday, we had a fairly lazy day of just hanging out and playing outside.  It was a little cooler out, but the sun was shining and that is a perfect day for Gracie. 

On Monday it was back to school for Gracie.  Her routine was thrown off by an unscheduled tornado drill.  She had a hard time recovering from that, but did participate in some of the activities willingly.  She did have some fairly aggressive behavior toward peers and adults at one point, but did recover.  We'll have to keep a close eye on that as that goes along with her Sotos Syndrome diagnosis.  She did stamp a picture for mommy at school and was so excited to give it to me when she got home.  She carried her backpack into the house last night and was all smiles as she unzipped it and handed me the special picture she made me.  Gracie was in a very good mood last night and had a good night as long as she was sleeping with her head on my stomach. 

Today I met her new teacher at daycare.  I only met her for a few minutes, but I'm very optimistic...I think I'm going to like her!

I hope your week is going well.

Love,
Lisa, Jeff, and Gracie

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Daddy's Home!!!!

Gracie was sick all weekend.  On Saturday she was very quiet and just wanted to hang out looking at books and playing with her iPad.  I knew she wasn't feeling quite right when I asked her if she wanted to go outside and she wanted no part of it.  Hmmmm.  We did make a trip to Target which she seemed to enjoy, but then was ready to go home again. 

Saturday night was rough for her, she had alot of congestion and was very restless.  You could tell she just didn't feel well.  When she awoke she was grumpy and goop started coming out of her nose and she has been drooling a ton, which is always a sign she can't breathe through her nose.  She started running a fever as well, so it was a pretty quiet day for us. 

On Monday, I stayed home from work with Gracie.  She ran warm all day, but her temperature was manageable and she had a pretty good night's sleep.  She did not want to wake up this morning.  She was excited that she got to go to daycare to see her friends.  That was until we got there.  They were short-staffed, it was chaotic, and there was noise coming from everywhere and she held onto me so tight and had such a sad face.  I finally had to pry her off of me and I left a little girl in tears.  It about ripped my heart out to leave her like that.  I checked in with daycare about 9:30 a.m. and she had a rough transition to her normal room this morning.  They did get her calmed with music and by reading a book to her.

Just heard from Jeff, after being gone for 8 days to Washington, D.C., he is back home.  He is going to go pick up Gracie and spend the afternoon with her.  I think that will be good.  Even though we Skyped daily, Gracie was really missing her daddy.  I wish I could see her face when he picks her up at daycare.

I hope you're having a great week.

Love,
Lisa, Jeff, and Gracie

Friday, April 13, 2012

Healthy...But Not So Happy. :(

Gracie continues to be healthy!!!  YAY!  She has had a rough week emotionally though.  The departure of her beloved teacher at daycare has taken it's toll on Gracie.  They are shorter-staffed and although all of the teachers and one of the subs are doing everything they can to make her feel comfortable, she is moved from teacher to teacher a bit more and quite frankly it is out of her routine.  I know she will adjust in time, especially when a new permanent teacher is hired, but until then her world is more emotionally exhausting and this is very evident by her behavior in the evenings.  So we are spending alot more time "talking" and snuggling and I'm trying to give her as much security and TLC as possible. 

Gracie has wanted a lot more computer time this week and quite frankly I've let her have as much as she wants.  It's a happy place for her. 

This morning Gracie and I were laying in bed and we were talking about her new baby cousins.  We were talking about who their mommies and daddies were, and the following conversation took place:

Me:  Gracie, do you have a mommy?
Gracie:  NO!  (With a huge teasing smile on her face.)
Me:  Do you have a daddy?
Gracie:  NO! (The smile even bigger.)
Me:  Do you have any family?
Gracie:  YES!
Me:  Who is in your family?
Gracie:  Reindeer!  (Smile still huge.  I must also mention there was a Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer book on her bed.)

She is such a little goofball sometimes.  I love it!

Have a great weekend. 

Love,
Lisa, Jeff, and Gracie Reindeer

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Spring Break

Gracie had spring break from school last week, so Jeff and I took some days off to play too!  Our first day of fun was a trip to the zoo.  Gracie LOVES going to the zoo and had a great time.  It wasn't as much about the animals this time as it was about open space outdoors to walk and run.  Her favorite animals were the fish as always and she loved riding the mono-rail or "choo-choo" as she puts it. 

The other two days were spent just hanging around town, playing outside, and enjoying family time.  On Saturday afternoon the Easter Bunny brought Gracie a basket of goodies, consisting mostly of books and a little bit of candy. Her two favorite books are "Pete the Cat", which they are reading in school and I think we may have read it 100 times on Saturday.  The other favorite is "Chica-Chica Boom-Boom" and came with a CD of the story and music to go along with it.  They are learning this one at daycare, so she was loving that too. 

On Saturday night I let Gracie know we were going to Grandma and Grandpa B's for Easter.  She was so excited to hear this, she kept saying everyone's name and asking if they would be there too.  On Sunday morning we got her all dressed up in a little frilly skirt outfit and little white sweater.  She looked so cute.  She was very good in church, but would get upset when the noise level got too loud or a song would end.  At the end of service she ran up to the stage and danced her little heart out.  Then it was time to go to G&G's house.  She did GREAT in the car.  She had so much fun with G&G, her cousins, aunts, and uncles.  She was a very good girl all day and was quite talkative.  She enjoyed the Easter egg hunt outdoors, not for finding eggs but for running with the big kids...as far away from mom and dad as possible.  There were two new babies there too, both under a month old and Gracie loved being by the babies.  Every time I would hold one, Gracie would escort me to a big comfortable chair, indicate that I should sit down and then she would sit down on one side of my lap with the baby on the other side.  She would love to touch them and just look at them and tell me that they had a "nose".  Gracie was so tired that she barely moved all night long.

On Monday it was back to school and Gracie had her best day yet.  She was very cooperative and engaged.  She helped them sing the song when they read the book "Pete the Cat"!  She had a good day at daycare too and was in such a good mood last night.  We did get some sad news that Gracie's teacher from daycare is leaving.  We love her so much and Gracie has blossomed with her as a teacher.  This week was to be her last week.  I just got word that she was asked to leave mid-morning today and this was done in front of the children and of course they were all upset and of course Gracie was one of them.  The why's are not any of my business as I know that they had nothing to do with the care that was being given to Gracie -- she was given GREAT care.  I'm not happy with how the center asked her to leave in front of the children.  I have a feeling it is a stressful day for Gracie and I will have to give her extra TLC this evening. 

Gracie continues to be healthy, other than struggling with itchy, red eyes and congestion brought on by seasonal allergies.  She has been quite a talker lately and I think she is growing again!

Love,
Lisa, Jeff, and Gracie

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Strep Culture - NEGATIVE (YAY!!!)

Gracie had a good day yesterday at daycare.  Her daycare teacher was out ill and they had a few other absences, so she was shuffled a bit but did fairly well with it.  When I arrived to pick her up she saw me as she was playing outside, but she couldn't get to me as they are gated in.  I have to go through the building to get to her...a nice safety measure.  This however caused much anxiety and tears.  It took me about 5 minutes to get her to calm down.  Once that was over, she was happy again.

We headed to see her pediatrician for a quick check up and throat culture.  She was so tired she fell asleep in my lap in the exam room waiting for her check-up to begin.  Gracie's pediatrician, Dr. D. is soooooooooo awesome.  She has such a calming way about her and Gracie loves her to pieces.  Whenever she enters the room, Gracie pops off my lap to give her a big hug.  Dr. D. checked her ears -- they looked great.  Her nose is congested, her eyes are red, and her throat was a bit irritated.  No big surprise on any of them, her allergies are bugging her.  Dr. D. thought the g.i. bug of this weekend was just that, a virus.  She did say that it was a smart thing to have her swabbed for strep though, since she was exposed to it from multiple sources.  I'm happy to say the test came back negative. 

Gracie had a good evening and was a happy kid pretty much all night.  She is amazing us again with all the new things she is learning.  This morning I asked her how she was and she sometimes mistakes this question for how old are you.  She has been having a really hard time remembering that she is 4 not 3.  Any way her reply this morning was "I am 4 years old." 

Gracie had a very restless night, I know that congestion played into that.  She awoke at 4:00 a.m. and told me she wanted to read a book.  I suggested she go back to sleep.  At 5:00 a.m. she did fall back to sleep for about 20 - 30 minutes, but then was up for the day. 

I'm hoping she has another good day.

Love,
Lisa, Jeff, and Gracie

Monday, April 2, 2012

Stomach Flu

Gracie had a good day on Friday and was a happy girl when I got home from work and it was a good night.  On Saturday morning, I knew something wasn't quite right.  She was very restless and just wasn't acting like herself.  As I was holding her she threw up in my hair and down my back.  She proceeded to vomit three more times within an hour or two and then the diarrhea started.  After about two hours she fell asleep in my arms and when she awoke she was definitely feeling better.  By noon she was ready to eat some applesauce with her second dose of seizure meds for the day and some saltine crackers.  The first dose had been in her system for 30 minutes before she vomited.  I didn't redose even though I know many of them came up.  Thankfully we didn't have any seizure issues. 

By midafternoon Gracie wanted a turkey sandwich...and ate 1-1/2 sandwiches.  She ate a little bit of supper, but I certainly didn't want to force any food.  I let her dictate when she was hungry and what she wanted to eat.  It was a low key day of reading books, playing on her iPad, and listening to music.  She missed her friend Sri's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. 

On Sunday she was ready to play, but was a little more moody.  We played outside in the afternoon.  Two neighbor boys came over for a little bit to swing and slide with Gracie.  She was mondo excited to have them join her.  She was much more droolie on Sunday and she kept sticking out her tongue and touching it, but she doesn't seem to have a sore throat.  Now I'm wondering if she might have strep....it's been going around daycare.  Guess I better get her throat cultured.  She doesn't have any of the symptoms I would think of for strep, but reading up on it...there are alot more that I didn't realize and she is having some of them.  Stay tuned on that one.

Gracie helped me put her friend Sri's birthday present in a gift bag last night and she decorated the card with her beautiful art and some stickers.  She was so excited to help.  She kept telling Jeff "Sri's Birthday"!  This morning I had her carry the gift bag out to the car...it was kind of heavy, but she was so proud.  She enjoyed helping put it in Sri's locker too as Sri wasn't at daycare yet.

Hoping for a beautiful week.

Love,
Lisa, Jeff, and Gracie