Sunglasses

They give her just a little bit of extra sass!  : )

Chinese New Year Week

It's Chinese New Year week!  The Year of the Horse was really good to us, as it brought our daughters home, so we know that the Year of the Sheep will be great because they ARE home!

I meant to do so much more than we did this week, but C and I both had horrible colds, we had a doctors appointment involving lots of vaccines, some of the coldest days this year took place and Sam was out of town most of the week.  It was just a lot of hurdles at once, so our craft week was very light, as the girls just needed down time (ok, I needed down time!).  I hope I'll have it more "together" next year, and we'll be able to start some fun CNY traditions.

Day 1 - Chinese "Lantern" Glitter Garland

The girls aren't quite ready yet to make the lanterns out of construction paper so I thought this was simple and cute.   We may even hang onto it for next year.  Maybe add a "lantern" each year?

I took some spent tp rolls, hole punched two holes, had the girls add glue designs to each roll, 

then we dropped each roll one by one into a paper bag with glitter, turned on some fun music, and the girls got to shake, shake, shake that bag!

They came out nice and sparkly - a good imitation of a lantern!  When they were dry the next day, the girls took turns stringing them onto a ribbon.  It was a great challenge for their fine motor skills!

When it was all done we hung them up under the mantle by our other lanterns so they would sparkle!

The girls thought this project was a lot of fun and I am finally ok with with being a household where we are covered in cat hair, dirt or glitter (or all three)!   It's just more fun with all of those embellishments!

Day 2 - Firecracker Decoration

I'll go ahead and say that this project didn't turn out at all like the picture on line, but we gave it a good try!  It was supposed to look like a bundle of unspent firecrackers on a string...  It came out looking like a bundle of painted toilet paper rolls on some yarn.   Oh well!    The girls got to paint!

They both enjoy painting and I am thankful for washable paint!   As an artist, I want my girls to use quality materials that work and perform like they are supposed to, but it's nice not to worry about clothes and furniture!

Once, they were dry, we decorated them with markers.  The paint dried fast, but it dried pink rather than red.   That was a little disappointing.

The girls didn't mind.  They scribbled away on their firecrackers.  

I'd like to try these out again when the girls are older.  They kind of look like something you put on someone's trailer hitch when they've just been married!

Day 3 - Kumquat Tree Thumbprint Paintings

I didn't know this, but kumquats are considered to be a symbol of good things in Asia!  I saw this little project online.   These were so cute and took very little time!   I painted the branches beforehand, but you could do this in two parts if you like!

The girls added their little thumbprints - they enjoyed stamping them onto the tree and trying to say Kumquat!  : )

After they were dry we added a little basket/pot to put the tree in.  It gave it a nice touch!

"Oh, Mama, do you have to take SO many pictures of us all of the time?!"

These were on target for their skill level and will make a cute keepsake of their thumbprints.  C and FL are still pointing to them and talking about making them!

   We finished up the week and celebrated the start of Year of the Sheep by ordering our favorite Chinese take out, dressing the girls up in their silks (they were so excited!) and setting the table special for our meal.   When I pulled out their silks, they ran over squealing with happiness!   C started saying, "Shoes, shoes, shoes!"   She remembered when we took pictures in China they also had special shoes to match!   I bought them a couple sizes big so they could wear them more than once.

It was a busy week with colds, doctor appointments and a special day to celebrate, but it was still a fun one! : )

Happy Valentine's Day!

It was messy, normal, mish-mash Saturday.  People (and animals) still had to be fed, cleaned and loved, but it was a Valentine's Day with 3 people that I love, and all of those three people were here, under one roof. 

So, we celebrated by making our beloved Papa a pound cake, per his request.

You think the girls protested?

When they see me pull the mixer out they know what's coming, now. : )

They want to try and taste everything!  Butter, sugar, flour, baking powder, vanilla extract...

She was calling my name with the spoon in her mouth.  I asked her if she wanted me to take her picture - YES she said...  She will pose almost any way for a picture if you laugh.  She likes to be silly and loves attention!

The beater was too sticky for FL.  But this little one...

Oh, my, she loves it!    Maybe go easy on the sugar next time!   They are sweet enough!

Happy Valentine's Day, no matter what it looks like!

Cleft Palate Surgery Pre-Op Appointment

Our pre-op appointmentis in the books!  The girls were fantastic, as always and the appointment took way longer, as always.  It was poke-free, which I know makes FL very happy.  However, our appointment was at 11 and we saw the surgeon around 3.  : /  It seems that every appointment we go to in Birmingham takes much, MUCH longer than we anticipate, so I've learned to prepare, despite the reassurances that the next appointment will take no time.  Once again, we closed down the clinic for the day, but that's water under the bridge, so to speak, and I need to move on.

For those who may be walking the road of medical care for a cl/cp child, I will tell you some of the things I do that have really seemed to help us.

- Sam and I run through the whole day and plan out stops.  

- We stop at the same rest area/potty each time.

- Everything is packed the night before (I don't let the girls see me pack) and loaded into the car the day of.  Dollies, etc. are also loaded the day of. : )

- I pack toys and snacks that we don't normally use/have in addition to what we normally have.  Stickers, books, crayons/coloring books, lacing cards, special blankets for toys, Goldfish, Cheerios, gerber puffs, applesauce cups, fruit squeezy pouches, bananas, clemetines, etc.  Sometimes, we will have juice if we eat out.  We have dental issues, so I try to avoid acidic things.  I don't pack sugary foods because spikes and dips in blood sugar are not fun and don't help our moods.

- If it goes in the car, it has to be easy clean up.  Spills cause stress and we don't need any more stress.  Water only in the car, and dry snacks (apple slices would be an exception).  I choose snacks that make them happy. : )

- I pack plenty of food for Sam and myself.  If our blood sugar gets too low, then we can't be the patient parents that we need to be. : )

- I do my best not to pack too much.  Everything needs to fit in the diaper bag and one other reasonably sized bag.

- Be well rested, committed to the day and whatever changes will come up, have a good attitude and try and make this a positive experience.  When I go to these appoitments, I try and stay away from my phone.  I use it as time for holding my girls and building attachment.  We talk about everything, I try to engage them and we sing A LOT of songs in the car. : )  This time is 100% about them, their feeling and needs.

- Eat often. : )

- I do my best to use the same parenting methods in the home and outside the home.  That being said, I try and set my children up for success.  

- We don't talk about the actual doctor visit until the morning of.  I try and give them an explanation of what docotor we will see and what they will do.  For example, today I told them we would see Flora Lin's doctor who would help her with her cleft (we've talked about her cleft many, many times before this).  He would look at her ears and her cleft.  We are all done with Charlotte's docotr.  This is Flora Lin's doctor.  I briefly showed them what the docotor would do (I looked in and touched her ears, looked in her mouth and touched her lips).  As I talk to them I use signs that they know well.

- As each doctor comes in, I tell the child simply what they will be doing.  Sometimes, I let the doctor check my ears, etc. first if I think the child is about to loose it. At our first appointments, the girls were afraid, didn't trust us and communication was mroe of an issue.  As i've done the things mentioned each time, they are now more relaxed at appointments and the drive.

- Eat often. : )

- Hug, kiss and smile more than usual.

- Dress them in something comfortable, but that they like and is a little special.  Our girls love their cowgirl boots.  Right now, they are also into stockings, overalls, and things with pockets, buttons, zippers and bows.

- Find the fun.  We spent some time taking little walks and following a blue pattern in the floor.  We tried walking in different ways on the blue part.  We talk about the things in the waiting room, espeically the other children.  Babies, drinking bottles, little girls that also have special boots, men with hats on, etc.

- Rotate what you are doing often.  We quickly go through stickers, books, looking at pictures, eating and drinking.  Right now, going potty is also a big activity for us! ; )

- Bring sanitizing wipes, spray.  This gave me more peace of mind with chairs, tables, toilets, etc.  I wasable to say "no" less and worry less. : )

- Eat often. : )

- Even the best laid plans are upset.  Be as prepared as possible and leave as much margin as possible in your day.  We had an appointment at 11.  We saw the doctor at 3.  We stayed positive and upbeat for our girls and had enough to entertain and feed them to carry us through that time.

- Choose kindness towards your children and in front of your children.  You can't go wrong with kindness. : )

A long wait for all of us!

Sometimes I get in the picture!

FL saw the audiologist again, but her ear was still too clogged for them to determine how much she can hear out of it.   We also saw the ENT.   Tubes will be placed during surgery and her ears will get a good cleaning.  

I had a good talk with the speech therapist, and since she is doing so well cognitively with her communication I can relax and just be her mom instead of mom and therapist until we've been home about six months.  : ). After that, I will really start to pursue therapy for her.  We'll do little things here and there, but nothing big for now.

We met with the surgeon again and he assured us that her cleft was very "straightforward" and he didn't expect any complications.  It was a good meeting.

After that we closed down the anesthesia unit as their last patients.   We went through a Question answer session and recieved our instructions.  It still seems a little surreal at this point.

And that was our day at the hospital clinic!  On to more pictures!

She knows she's funny!  Look at her eyes!

Oh, silly Flora Lin!   Can you tell they don't get juice often?!

So so good!

And you know we had a dancing session in the exam room!  Here, Charlotte is reenacting scenes from Saturday Night Fever.  Flora Lin is doing the Funky Chicken. : )

It was a long day, but we made it!

You Can't Run Away on Pre-op Day!

 It's pre-op/ENT day for someone who's hiding...

But you can't run away!   

We'll bring your silly sister who's happy to come, though a little under the weather. : )

With your family and your cowgirl boots, you'll have all the courage to face the day and days ahead!

Prayers appreciated!   We're anticipating a quicker and poke-free appointment!

Valentine's Week

Wow, what a week!  It was a busy one with appointments, our activities and a special day, but we made it and we made it fun!

Day 1 - Heart (fine motor skills) Activity Bags

I took ziplock baggies and put different acivities in each one.  I showed the girls how to complete them and left them out on the table all week.  It was so nice to have!  If we had a time were I needed to prepare a meal or get ready for something, they could pull a Baggie out of their choice and have fun!  At the same time, they were working on their fine motor skills.  I call that a Win-Win-Win situation!

Hearts and clothespins -  I liked this one the most.  Both girls could complete it without trouble, but it wasn't too easy.

Heart lacing cards - my girls don't go crazy over lacing cards, but they go crazy over ribbons and strings.  They could complete this one, but it was mostly about playing with the strings and ribbons. : )

Paper clips and bulldog clips on paper hearts -  this one was hard, but they both sought it out regularly.   FL's hands are stronger, but she had a really hard time with the bull dog clips, which surprised me.  C has one hand that isn't 100%, but she had no trouble.  Here she is demonstrating that you have to hold your mouth juuuuuust right! ; )

FL did eventually conquer the activity each time she did it -  No worries!

Marbles and Cookie Cutters -  One at a time, they placed a marble in a cookie cutter.  I have to give my friend, Kerry, credit for this one!  This was probably both girls' favorite.  Marbles went everywhere all of the time, but this was fun and just as challenging to put all of the marbles back in the bag!

This was just great!  I wish I could find something like this that they could do independently each week.  They liked having a choice and being able to pick up and complete it all by themselves.  Got any ideas?

Day 2 - Valentine's Day Cards

SPOILER ALERT!    We don't have it all together and haven't sent out our cards yet.   Please forgive us!  

I've always thought this card was cute and a great way to capture the little stage of hands and feet that grow way too fast.  It is somewhat messy ( or could be if someone takes off running!), so I did a lot of prep work.  

My floors look so clean here it just makes me want to laugh!

It was not easy with one adult when everyone is covered in paint, but we did it and it was fun!  It physically wore me out and the girls were a little sad that it didn't last longer.   If we do something like this again I will have another adult and a place where they can paint freely with their hands and feet. : )

FL did fine, even with her dislike of all things slimey!

Good job!   No pics of C doing this activity (she enjoyed putting her feet it paint, though!).  Helping the girls required all of my attention.

I kept one child busy with sensory bottles while I painted with the other.

The one above is not so great - I recommend using a little paint and making two to three stamps with a foot.  Practice first!    We used washable paint which takes the stress of messing anything up away.

Here's one of the better ones and the final result!   Won't this be wonderful to look back on in a few years?!

Day 3 - Valentine Heart Scissor Activity

This one was pretty simple, cut long strips of paper and a large paper heart...

Let the girls practice with scissors and cut, cut, cut!  We need lots of practice here!  This is challenging for my girls for many reasons.

I did some hand over hand with the scissors and put the glue on myself.  They stuck the pieces on that they liked best.

I thought they came out really cute!

Really, though, the girls' favorite part is clean up!

It works the gross and fine motor skills, right?! : )

Day 4 - Baking a Cake for Our Valentine

So fun - enough said! : )

Day 5 - Tape Art Hearts and Stickers

In this activity, you put painter's tape on paper in the shape of a heart and paint over it with an object you wouldn't normal use, like a hair comb.   I didn't have painters tape or extra combs, so we used masking tape, brushes and hands.  : ).  I put the heart on and let them add their own pieces of tape as well.

  

The girls looked like little monks in their oversized shirts, sitting criss-cross on the rug!  FL is posing, saying, "Oooommmmmmmm....."   

C was not all about the monk thing.   She was ready to paint!   I'm glad we saved this activity because it is too cold to take the girls out and some of us have caught a cold!

We started off with brushes....

But abandoned them for our hands!

With a little encouragement, FL tried using her hands, but went back to the brush.  New things are really hard for her and this was big progress!

Didn't they turn out cute?!   I'll do this again, but only with painters tape.  The masking tape once pressed down on just wouldn't come off without a fight!

C and FL's grandparents sent Valentines's stickers, which kept them busy for over 30 minutes!  Yay!

It was a week with a lot of love and a lot of fun!  Thanks for reading!  Happy Valentine's Day!