Fall Pics and such!

Sorry for the delay in writing...I thought Yan was better, then she got it again...she finally seems to be getting over it now. We were able to go to a fun party at "My Gym" (the fabulous kids fitness center where Yan takes classes. Miss Stacey is her wonderful teacher (dressed like the "Fairy for a Cure") and will also be her coach for the Special Olympics Gymnastics team that will start in January.) We also went "Trunk or Treating" with our friends Charles, Rebecca, Zara, Zena and Zola. Yan LOVED it!! She was so excited to collect all the goodies. The crazy thing is she just does not love candy. She's only had one piece. (I wish I could say the same ;-)

We welcomed fall by baking a "Fall Cake"...see, I can give a reason to bake a cake any day. Aside from pouring and mixing, Yan helped with the sprinkles. There were some yummy pieces that contained at least an inch of sprinkles on them...yummmmmy!

And then, you'll notice the Christmas in Kmart pictures. "You know your mom is an online toy seller...when you're comfortable posing for Christmas pictures in Kmart while shopping." Oy...should be a fun season!

A fine time to talk

Thank you for the prayers, Yan is starting to feel better and I'm enjoying her peppy little personality. With me (though not with others much) she is also trying to talk sooooooo much! I love it! I'm amazed how many words she gets out, especially through songs.

I was reminded today that this can cause problems. We went to the store and I was backing out of a parking place some guy lost his patience and tried to swerve and speed behind me. I was not happy. I said, "JERK"! All the sudden I heard this little voice pipe up, "ZERK". Oops...I had to explain and apologize...geesh, of all the times to imitate me! :-)

I have some pics to post; hopefully I will have a chance to do it tomorrow!

Hugs!

Today

Thanks for the prayers...it has been a horrible day. Yan is off the charts sensory wise and the Dr. had to get a look at her ears and throat today-which also involved cleaning out her ears and swabbing her throat for strep. It took three people to hold her down and she went crazy. She burst blood vessels all over her face (see picture).

Strep was negative, she has an ear infection and some other viral infection causing the rash. They also went ahead and did her shots. I usually am okay with doing what needs to be done, but I've just cried today because I feel horrible that she is so scared and so sensitive and I don't really know what to do. We've gone to see an OT for sensory issues, but she doesn't show these symptoms in a typical setting...pretty soon there will be a day that she can't be held down. I just wonder if some of the issues will ever clear up-I'm very scared and sad for her right now. Signing off for crying...thank you for the prayers...I know compared to so many things this is not big, but I'm really struggling with how to help her.

Something is off...

We're having a REALLY rough day today...and we've had several within the last couple of weeks. Yan has literally cried for 30-45 minutes at a time, over and over again. She's not eating much, she's taking naps, and as of 2 hours ago she has a rash spreading all over her. We're going to the Dr. in the morning (unless she starts crying again tonight and then we'll go the ER like they said)...but if you can spare some prayers we would appreciate it!

Thanks! Jenn

Reasons why I'm tired, or a record of the week!

So, maybe my new plan should be just to get one good post in a week...perhaps I could meet that goal. It's been a busy one folks. Yan has had me hopping lately.

About a week ago she decided to try climbing up on the table. I have no idea why, but I was startled by a large thud and screams. She seemed like she was really hurt and continued to cry for a long time. This is unusual for her, so I checked her over really well (I thought) and found nothing. She finally settled down and we went to gymnastics. She was fine the next day, but the following morning woke up and signed "help" when trying to put on her glasses. I thought her hair was just caught and tried to get them on her. Then I felt something sticky in her hair and wondered what she got into...thinking it was food, I went to pick it out until I saw blood everywhere. Here her glasses had sliced the top of her ear when she fell off the table...I felt HORRIBLE!!! With her long, dark hair I had totally missed it. That sealed the deal, no mommy of the year award this year. Can I tell you how happy I will be when she communicates exactly what is wrong??? It ended up getting infected and so she had to go on antibiotics to clear it up and go without glasses for several days. But, the good news is...it looks good now!

We've also been battling those first colds of the season right now as well. Thankfully hers cleared up with the meds...mine not so much. Still trying to sleep it off, which reminds me I need to go to bed soon!

Later in the week I decided that it would be fun to have Yan and Baby A paint pumpkins. I don't know what exactly I was thinking when I gave the 15 month old and Yan a paintbrush at the same time, but I can tell you that poison control was called before the end of the painting session (thank the Lord that the kids paints are really nontoxic) and a dual bath was given. However, they LOVED it!

We made a trip to Chick-Fil-A this week before gymnastics. Yan was very thrilled that she finally got to meet "THE COW". He was gigantic and she kept running over to hug him. I was thrilled that she was not scared. Yeah Yan!!

Today we had an eventful time as well. I had to run in to the bank at Publix and ended up seeing a friend. Because I wasn't really shopping I didn't have a cart, and Yan has been doing so much better about staying with me that I didn't think I would need one. However, I started to chat with the friend and Yan started to wander. She came back and then would wander but come back again. All of the sudden she didn't come back. I couldn't see her, I realized she ran to the front and panic struck. I was pacing the front of the store, then ran to the parking lot, then ran back in. By this point the friend, a manager and I were all looking. The manager said, "Well, we can page her". I explained that she would most likely not answer the page! She said, if you don't find her right away we're closing down the store for a "Code Adam". Thankfully, Lisa, my friend found her and was headed down the aisle towards me! Does she know how many new grey hairs will sprout up tomorrow morning??? Oy!

After that, we went to a "Special Olympics" open house. Yan will be eligible to participate in January. She may start with gymnastics because wonderful Miss Stacey (her gymnastics teacher) is the coach. But man, those other athletes looked so much older compared to her! It was heartwarming to see so many people, some with different abilities, some not...playing, laughing and just being together.

So, here's the best part...the pics. Oh, and I thought I would throw in a couple extras. "Dress-Up" is still one of Yan's favorite activities, as is twirling...enjoy!!

The making of an artist!

I am so behind in posts. I've tried to upload more pics and videos, but they don't seem to work...here's another attempt. Life has just been busy lately and I haven't been able to keep up with everything. I thought I would try and post our "work" from yesterday. A friend, Kelly, blogged about her daughter drawing people and I realized that Yan and I really hadn't worked on people yet. So we took some time yesterday to learn how to draw a basic (circle/line) person. Yan LOVED it! She kept going and going until I had 16+ drawings. I loved seeing the progression.

So here, I present to you...the artist and her art. (Please do not be worried about the lack of smiles...I'm sure they will get "happier" with time. :-)

Random thoughts and happenings

Life has just been busy lately. I'm now taking care of two little babies now...they are keeping me busy, but are so sweet and fun. Yan LOVES them! She cracks me up because she covers them in hugs and kisses.

We've had a busy week. Right now I'm eagerly waiting word that some friends in Texas are okay. I so want to hear from them! Praying for them!

We also had a big scare Thursday night. I was so pleased to run into Angie ("Bring the Rain" Angie) at our post office. We had some time to chat and the girls were running around playing. Yan seemed fine and happy. We left to head off and do some other errands before gymnastics class. It couldn't have been 10 minutes and I looked over at Yan and her head was starting to bob up and down, she looked sick and then started choking. I was trying to drive and help her (not my brightest idea), but was finally able to stop at a friends house, who kindly met me in her driveway. Yan started choking and finally coughed up huge pieces of apple...which she had eaten about 4 hours prior to the event. Then, she seemed fine. But later in the evening ended up choking several other times. Very weird and scary for mommy. Needless to say, she slept right next to me that night.

(Okay, mommy bragging ahead...you've been warned.) You know, I'm constantly amazed by some of the things that she does. This week she astounded me. We went to kroger to do a bunch of shopping and came home. Lately, she has been trying to help unload the grocery bags and has just set things on the counters. Well, this week she decided to unload them, and put them all away in their proper spots. She knew that the cold ones went in the fridge and even knew to put the squeeze margarine and parmesean in the side hanger inside the refrigerator door. I was AMAZED!

She also cracked me up over a bit of a communication frustration this week. I have been trying to point out the different kinds of sports that we see when we drive around. We regularly pass a baseball and soccer field and a group of kids that play football. I tell her what sport it is and how they play (well, maybe not in "official" terminology, but in my "non-sporty" version). Well Thursday we passed the football kids and she was listening and enjoying watching them. Friday, she started playing ball in the house (with a little blue whiffle ball). She was trying some new "moves" and I thought was just being silly. She kept putting her foot on top of the ball and pointing. I was watching, but didn't get it. She kept doing it over and over and clicking for me to look. I finally said, "What are you trying to show me? I don't understand". She blurted out " FOOT ...BALL!" :-) I roared with laughter and she was so pleased that she got her point across. What a smart girl!! I love her!

Have to run...Sesame is over! Love to all!