Today Bee is riding in the car with me and she is practicing saying the names of of two cute girls who are from Finland. She was doing good, rolling the r's nicely and everything. Then we had the following conversation.
Me: Did you know, those names are Finnish names.
Bee: They are?
Me: Yes, the girls are from Finland, so they have Finnish names.
Bee: They're from Finland?
Me: Yes.
Bee: Oh, do they speak Finnish?
Me: They're from Finland, so yes, they do speak Finnish.
Bee: Well, Mom! I'm from China and I don't speak Chinese!
I had to tell her she had a good point. Am I Smarter Than a 6 Year Old? Hmm...I don't think so!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
9 Year Well Child Check
Today we got to go see Dr. Benson again. I love to see him. He is such a sweet doctor. I hope he is around for a long time still.
Mei does worry about shots. She just worries herself sick about if she's gonna get a shot. I did tell her that last year they told her that unless something changes she would not have to have a shot until she's 11 years old. So she was happy for a while then. But when we left she worried, and when we were in the car she worried, and when we got to the clinic she worried, and while we sat and waited she worried. As soon as sweet nurse Kasey called us back Mei asked her, "Do I have any shots?" The nurse told her that usually 9 year olds don't have shots, but that Dr. Benson had the last say. When Dr. Benson walked into the room, the first thing he did was say, "First I have something very important to tell you. There won't be any shots today. Would that be ok with you?" Mei grinned and said, "Yes, that would be ok." He says, "Yes, I know sometimes some people worry about that shot a bit, so I just wanted to make sure to let you know right away." So she relaxed finally.
Next thing the doctor did was check her growth and mark her growth chart. I'm always excited to hear this, because it just seems like she grows so much every year. This year she grew 3.25" and gained 8.6 pounds. This put her at 65% for height and 55% for weight with a 50% BMI on the growth chart. So, as I thought she has just shot up even more in the last year. I'm looking back and the last 3 years she has been at 50% in all 3 areas. When she was 5 she was 50% height and 40% weight, when she was 4 she was 50% height and 25% weight. Interesting to look back. And looking forward - it won't be long and she'll pass me up. She's only 8.25" shorter than me! Yikes!
We talked about her allergies. They were even worse this past year. I had only noticed cats and horses, but now I'm sure she also has plant allergies. The doctor suggested that we put her on a once a day dose of Loratadine (Claratin). He also said we probably won't ever want to have our windows open, just use the AC. We do that because our neighbors don't clean up their yard and it literally stinks so bad we can't sleep with the windows open. So I guess that worked out well. It's good to know that it was beneficial for Mei that they were closed. Makes me feel a bit better about being forced to keep the windows closed.
We talked about her anxiety. I told Dr. Benson of the various therapies we had gone through in the past year and the sensory issues that we have learned of. He asked Mei when she's in school, does she like it better and can she learn better if there's lots of noise and commotion or is it easier for her if it's calm. She said, she can learn better and likes it better if it's quiet and calm. She told him that she was at a parade and that it was so loud there. He said, well he's proud of her that she went to a parade even tho it's so loud for her. And that after something like that, then she would probably feel much better if she would do something very quiet and calm for a while. He said that it probably wouldn't be a good idea to go to a parade and then go straight to a sleepover with a whole bunch of girls, that it might be just too much commotion for her and too hard one her. He told her that he wouldn't be surprised if she is an author when she grows up, or something similar to that. It was great, him saying that. Mei talks all the time about that she is going to be an author (along with other things:) when she grows up. I wouldn't be surprised if she is. Right now, she loves to write.
We talked of other things too, but mostly just the normal doctor visit stuff.
And so another year of growth behind us. What will the next year bring? Even more growth, I am sure, in more ways than one.
Mei does worry about shots. She just worries herself sick about if she's gonna get a shot. I did tell her that last year they told her that unless something changes she would not have to have a shot until she's 11 years old. So she was happy for a while then. But when we left she worried, and when we were in the car she worried, and when we got to the clinic she worried, and while we sat and waited she worried. As soon as sweet nurse Kasey called us back Mei asked her, "Do I have any shots?" The nurse told her that usually 9 year olds don't have shots, but that Dr. Benson had the last say. When Dr. Benson walked into the room, the first thing he did was say, "First I have something very important to tell you. There won't be any shots today. Would that be ok with you?" Mei grinned and said, "Yes, that would be ok." He says, "Yes, I know sometimes some people worry about that shot a bit, so I just wanted to make sure to let you know right away." So she relaxed finally.
Next thing the doctor did was check her growth and mark her growth chart. I'm always excited to hear this, because it just seems like she grows so much every year. This year she grew 3.25" and gained 8.6 pounds. This put her at 65% for height and 55% for weight with a 50% BMI on the growth chart. So, as I thought she has just shot up even more in the last year. I'm looking back and the last 3 years she has been at 50% in all 3 areas. When she was 5 she was 50% height and 40% weight, when she was 4 she was 50% height and 25% weight. Interesting to look back. And looking forward - it won't be long and she'll pass me up. She's only 8.25" shorter than me! Yikes!
We talked about her allergies. They were even worse this past year. I had only noticed cats and horses, but now I'm sure she also has plant allergies. The doctor suggested that we put her on a once a day dose of Loratadine (Claratin). He also said we probably won't ever want to have our windows open, just use the AC. We do that because our neighbors don't clean up their yard and it literally stinks so bad we can't sleep with the windows open. So I guess that worked out well. It's good to know that it was beneficial for Mei that they were closed. Makes me feel a bit better about being forced to keep the windows closed.
We talked about her anxiety. I told Dr. Benson of the various therapies we had gone through in the past year and the sensory issues that we have learned of. He asked Mei when she's in school, does she like it better and can she learn better if there's lots of noise and commotion or is it easier for her if it's calm. She said, she can learn better and likes it better if it's quiet and calm. She told him that she was at a parade and that it was so loud there. He said, well he's proud of her that she went to a parade even tho it's so loud for her. And that after something like that, then she would probably feel much better if she would do something very quiet and calm for a while. He said that it probably wouldn't be a good idea to go to a parade and then go straight to a sleepover with a whole bunch of girls, that it might be just too much commotion for her and too hard one her. He told her that he wouldn't be surprised if she is an author when she grows up, or something similar to that. It was great, him saying that. Mei talks all the time about that she is going to be an author (along with other things:) when she grows up. I wouldn't be surprised if she is. Right now, she loves to write.
We talked of other things too, but mostly just the normal doctor visit stuff.
And so another year of growth behind us. What will the next year bring? Even more growth, I am sure, in more ways than one.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Happy Birthday 9 Year Old!
Wow! I can hardly believe it - she's 9 years old! Didn't I just receive that call telling me I had a daughter?! Time goes so fast, too fast.
I have to be honest, I tried to buy her out of a party. But she was having none of that! She wanted a party! So a party it was. She's been so excited waiting for this day to arrive. Oh, the planning she did was so much fun to hear. But there was a little worry in there too, that it wouldn't be right. Of course I knew it would be all good and fun, but a worry for her. We decided we will have it at Lion's Park on Saturday, the day before her actual birth date. It's always fun to go to a park and then there's lots of space for play and running and having lots of fun.
Wednesday we had a Farmer's Market come to work and we can get a bouquet of flowers at a very reasonable price. Mei loves flowers so it was a good reason to buy some flowers. Here are some of them.
Grandpa Jack called during the week and told us he's coming for the weekend. He arrived on Friday during the day. How special to get to have Grandpa Jack help celebrate. Of course there were presents from Uncle Irv and Auntie Jen too, and those came with Grandpa along with a gift from him. Friday evening Mei and I went to pick up her lovely 'I love shoes' cake she had picked out earlier in the week. It turned out so cute!
We decided that we would have Mei open the gift from her uncle and aunt before we go because we knew what was in it and didn't want to take it to the park. So she opened it and I took pictures as she opened it. It was a laptop! She was so happy. She said, 'It's what I've always wanted.' And she has. I don't know how she got that into her head, but for the last year and a half or so she has just wanted a laptop. She's saved money like crazy and it's always been for a laptop. Somehow Jen and Irv heard and they said they would get her one. At Irv's work they replace their laptops every 2 years and they just did that so he took his and they cleaned it out and sent it for her. It is very nice, has all the newest programs on it. She loves to write stories and she has already written and saved numerous stories she's written. Needless to say, Bee was a little envious and came and whispered to me, 'Mom, it's what I've always wanted too.'
On Saturday about 12:30 the girls and I, and the neighbor friend went out to the park to get the party ready. We got the place all decked out in streamers and balloons and all the party stuff on the tables, and then the girls ran off to play. A couple times a big gust of wind came along and blew the gifts off the table, but nothing was breakable so I dusted them off and put them back on the gift table once again. One time it started to sprinkle just a few drops and I kept wondering if we had been smart in trying to have a party in a park. But it barely sprinkled and the sun kept on coming back. Soon guests started arriving and Dad and Grandpa Jack came and the party really started. As soon as everyone got there we decided to have cake so Mei could open the rest of her presents. We tried and tried to light the candles, but they would not stay lit, so finally just lit one and she blew it out and we sang happy birthday to her.
Finally after I'm sure at least 1,000 times asking when she can open her presents she got to open her presents. In the last year she finally discovered the 'brand name' thing. All her friends have clothes from Justice and she's really wanted something from there. So I did most of her birthday shopping there. She was very excited about all of her presents. She's often shy or self conscious to tell people, but she's always truly thankful and so excited for all gifts from everyone. I hear so often about how nice it was of so and so to give her such a nice thing.
The kids played pin the tail on the donkey and amazingly most of the tails were spot on! :) They all got prize bags and went off to play on the playground and at the water pumps. The adults were able to spend a lovely afternoon in beautiful weather visiting with one another as the kids played. I really enjoyed the day, and I think the birthday girl did too.
I know there's someone else out there that is thinking of our precious girl this day. If there was one more thing I could do this day, it would be to pin a message on a shooting star and shoot it right to you to tell you that our daughter is so loved and precious beyond comprehension. I'd try to tell you that I know what a gift you've given us in this gift of our daughter. This Mama's heart just aches for you as we light our birth family candle and send our thoughts your way on a green balloon sent away in the wind. Thank you other mama, for this birthday we celebrate today!
We decided that we would have Mei open the gift from her uncle and aunt before we go because we knew what was in it and didn't want to take it to the park. So she opened it and I took pictures as she opened it. It was a laptop! She was so happy. She said, 'It's what I've always wanted.' And she has. I don't know how she got that into her head, but for the last year and a half or so she has just wanted a laptop. She's saved money like crazy and it's always been for a laptop. Somehow Jen and Irv heard and they said they would get her one. At Irv's work they replace their laptops every 2 years and they just did that so he took his and they cleaned it out and sent it for her. It is very nice, has all the newest programs on it. She loves to write stories and she has already written and saved numerous stories she's written. Needless to say, Bee was a little envious and came and whispered to me, 'Mom, it's what I've always wanted too.'
What's in the bag?
A laptop!
I'm so happy! It's what I've always wanted.
Calling Aunt and Uncle to thank them.
Presents ready to go to the park, along side the birth family candle.
On Saturday about 12:30 the girls and I, and the neighbor friend went out to the park to get the party ready. We got the place all decked out in streamers and balloons and all the party stuff on the tables, and then the girls ran off to play. A couple times a big gust of wind came along and blew the gifts off the table, but nothing was breakable so I dusted them off and put them back on the gift table once again. One time it started to sprinkle just a few drops and I kept wondering if we had been smart in trying to have a party in a park. But it barely sprinkled and the sun kept on coming back. Soon guests started arriving and Dad and Grandpa Jack came and the party really started. As soon as everyone got there we decided to have cake so Mei could open the rest of her presents. We tried and tried to light the candles, but they would not stay lit, so finally just lit one and she blew it out and we sang happy birthday to her.
Some of the littlest party attendees...
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