Wow I can't believe I have so many posts detailing the girls' milestones and little anecdotes from daily life on here!
I honestly haven't been on here in many years. I started postng to FB around 2009.
How about some recent updates?
JoEllle is now 15 and Alexa is 12!!
JoElle is finishing up her first year of high school! She has all A's and we are very proud of her! Her favorite subject is biology, so she came to me recently as I slept on the couch (Covid-19 has me crashing on the couch after Tim's kicks me out of our room so he can work!)
She was talking so fast and I was so groggy."Mommy, I want to change my track to science!"
"What in the world are you talking about," I muttered.
JoElle kept talking faster than I could comprehend, plus I couldn't see her holding the paper she was trying to ask me to review since I am blind without contacts! I finally woke up enough to let her know I needed to put my contacts in and please give me a few minutes to wake up!!
JoElle explained that she wants to change her high school track from Computer Science to Science.
At first I didn't really think that was a smart move since she wants to be an engineer. But when she showed me she will take physics and two sciences her senior year, including AP Biology, I was sold!
She will still take some technology coursed and she already completed year one of Computer Science. JoElle has been teaching me what she is learning in 9th grade biology, and they are learning concepts and details I have never even heard of and I took AP Biology in High School! But to be fair, I wasn't interested in science like my brother and sister, so I honestly only studied what I needed to make an A in the class, and I didn't commit it to my long term memory. The way JoElle explains these biology concepts is very interesting. So, I have learned some things from her recently!
JoElle loves to watch Korean dramas during her spare time. She also likes listening to K-Pop like BTS and Blank Pink. JoElle is learning Chinese for fun! I am excited she want to learn a third language. She is finishing up her second year of Spanish.
JoElle is now on week one, round 2 of physical therapy from a major hip fracture along the growth plate. She injured it Dec 20, 2019 while doing a front aerial on floor at gym. She practiced gymnastics on it three times before I realized we had a real problem. Tim and I thought it was muscular so I took her to Airrosti chiropractor because they manipulate muscles to relive pain and then give PT type workouts for home. The dr was concerned that it was still hurting so bad a few weeks later, so she sent us for an xray.
The x-ray showed a fracture so the dr immedietly informed us we needed to see an orthopedist.
It had been a while since she went to a sports med dr, so I asked Texas Dreams, where she does gymnastics, and was given a few names. I called around an the first one that called me back and got us in in just a couple days. The orthopedist ordered and MRI right away.
It took a few days for results, but Tim had prepared JoElle for the worst; that she might not compete this season again. She was unable to compete last year for Level 9. That's a long story for another day...
Dr. Muller, her orthopedist, informed me that it was a major hip fracture along the growth plate. He advised that it should take 4-6 weeks to heal, since she had injured it two weeks before she saw him.
JoElle was still going to practice every morning and doing arms and abs. Pain really wasn't getting much better. Feb 17th she starter PT, but her pain was an 8 our of 10. She told her dr and he decided she could start PT. Week one was fine. Week two was not. Her pain had gotten a little better with the first week of PT and then she was back to an 8 after only two weeks.
I decided to take her back to the orthopedist. The PA we saw decided to repeat the MRI.
The results took the whole week; dr had to wait for the hard copy of the MRI in the mail.
Dr. Muller called me and told me her hip looks much better and take off another 4 weeks. She had already been off two weeks per her dr.
So now it has been over 12 weeks and she started that first week last Friday. So far her pain is very low or not at all! Finally!! She is eager to get back into shape. Her gym is closed due to Covid-19, and she confided in me that it's a relief that she will not be the only one who needs to get back into shape! USAG had cancelled all meets through summer, which included state, regionals, national. The Olympic trial were cancelled and the 2020 Olympics has been delayed until 2021.
Showing posts with label JoElle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label JoElle. Show all posts
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Friday, April 17, 2020
Several posts...
Last week in August: JoElle loves to sing a new fave song. Last Sunday she started to sing "I love you, I love you" and I thought she was making up her own song...but I found out she is singing the Barney song from school. Oh you really have to her her sweet voice singing "I love you...." over and over!!!!! She sang it to Nana on the phone, too. She also sings some of the other words, but she mainly repeats this over and over! I love it!!
August 17, 2006 19 months old today!
JoElle used the potty twice today at school all by herself! Her teacher, Ms. Staci, has to put her on the potty by herself while she watches the other kids in the class, so JoElle holds herself up there all by herself on the big potty. Then when she is done, she jumps down and says "I flush" and she loves to flush it.
Yesterday, JoElle told her teacher "potty, potty" and Ms. Staci was talking to a parent, so by the time she was done talking, JoElle told her "pooh pooh" and she couldn't hold it; but she told her teacher BEFORE this time! She is picking it up, but some nights she wears us out because we have to go back and forth to the potty.....
Ms. Staci is impressed that JoElle is using 3 word sentences. In fact, on Sunday, JoElle told me and Tandi " I need a new diaper" She said all five words, it was crazy, but Tandi heard her too, I swear!
JoElle always says "please" now; she is starting to say "thanks" without any prompting at all. She also says "I'm sorry" without prompting, too. Also, she puts her hands together to pray at the table and in bed before we even get a chance to tell her it's time to pray! She is a very sweet girl.
Tonight JoElle pointed and Daddy's belly and said "belly" then she said "nice!" hehe she is silly. She is also saying "yucky" and "yuck", "stinky" "oooweee" for a smelly diaper, "messy" and "mess" and "nasty". I told her "Daddy will be back" when he went outside to turn the water off, so she said "be back, Daddy, be back"
Last night, JoElle was sweeping the living room floor but she came to me and asked me "up?" I told her to first go put up her broom then she can come up with me. So, she walked over to the wall, propped her broom in the corner, and came back to me! Then she sang "The Wheels on the Bus" to herself and fell asleep on me. I taught her a new part, we made up "the Daddies on the bus say I love you...I love you...." so when we got out of the car, she saw Daddy and said "I love you" How sweet
August 11th, 2006 Trip to visit Nana and Aunt Carol
JoElle and I stopped by Aunt Carol's and Nana's house tonight after work and she went swimming with Nana and cousin Emily. At first I just held her over the side of the above-ground pool and she kicked and kicked and laughed heartily. Then, Nana got in with her. At first she reached out to me to hold her and cried "mommy mommy" but then she decided she liked it and she was kicking her little feet trying to swim. This is only her second time this summer to go swimming and the first time, at Uncle Aaron's apartment, she wasn't so thrilled that the water was so cold. After watching Emily float on her back, JoElle decided to try floating on her back too, and she was not afraid to lean back and get her head wet. I was really surprised!
Another little girl named Carly was over and Carly had JoElle cracking up like I have never seen before; it was hilarious. JoElle just keeps going and going; we didn't leave until 10:00 and she was still going strong. Oh yeah, did I mention that she ate half of my steak? She wolfed it down.
August 10, 2006 Potty times
We are having great successes with potty training! Today at school she used the potty; her teacher asks the 2 year olds if they are ready to go potty, and JoElle tells them "ready, ready" and runs into the bathroom.
Then at home, she used it again just as soon as we got home and twice more with Daddy that night. We are putting her in Dora pullups and she is really starting to act like a big girl. Daddy helped out the potty training by helping JoElle take her doll to use the potty, sitting her on the potty and putting her in one of JoElle's pullups. Great idea Daddy!
When I was leaving to go to a meeting to learn about writing opportunities at church, JoElle bawled and bawled; she has never cried this much for me, it was very sweet! I cherish these moments because all too soon she will be grown and I will long for the days she cried for me with those beautiful brown eyes and reached her arms to me to hold her.
It is quite amazing the unconditional love that little ones give to you. I know that we are all born sinners, yet watching her and interacting with her, JoElle is such a reflection of God's love. She loves her Bible, she calls Jesus "daddy" at times and He is, her heavenly Daddy. She loves to pray and sing about Jesus.
August 9, 2006 Happy Birthday Aunt Carol! We love you!
August 8, 2006 - 18 months old
Today JoElle accidentally hit me and she turned to me and told me "sorry" with a sad, inoccent look. She was so sweet! Plus, her sorry sounded like "sowwy" so it was that much cuter! Then she also told me "thank you!" without prompting - she is great at telling us "please" when she wants something and also "help me."
Also tonight Granny taught JoElle how to blow bubbles and to put the little stick into the bubble container to get more soap in order to blow more. She was really excited that she could blow them by herself! She kept saying "Wow!" and chasing them around, trying to eat them!
JoElle also finally jumped OFF the ground! Before she would try to jump and would get really low with her knees bent and bounce up, but she never actually left the floor. So, when Granny came home from work, JoElle jumped up in the air and landed on her bottom. She thought it was hilarious, so she repeated it at least 20 times.
JoElle is starting to tell Daddy "I love you" when he tells her he loves her. It just melts my heart to hear her say this!
Our bedtime routine is very precious to me, after we give everyone who is here hugs and kisses, I carry JoElle to her room, look into her beautiful brown eyes and put her in her bed. At this point, she gets really excited. Then she clasps her hands together and looks at me, waiting to say bedtime prayers. After we pray to God, she pounds on the bed with her hands, like when she it at the table, then she says amen and puts her hands over her hand, kinds like "hooray!" Then we give kisses, I tell her I love her and as I am leaving, I blow more kisses, tell her I love her some more, and sometimes she waves, sometimes she says "Bye bye" really loudly. She watches me shut the door, then she is out cold.
Yesterday for the first time, JoElle got out of her bed and came out of her door without us getting her up. I guess she was wondering what was taking me so long to come get her up (I was running late!) She was standing at her bedroom door, with wild hair, one hand in her hair and one rubbing her eyes, she looked a little confused!
On the mornings when Daddy is already gone before us, we always tell Daddy bye bye anyways - to our bedroom, she thinks he is the room. She gets upset if we don't tell him bye.
Oh yeah also tonight she tried to go swimming in her bathtub. She kicked her little legs out and tried to swim.
She started gymnastics last Saturday; the class is for 18 months to 3 years. JoElle loved to jump on the trampoline and fall down. As soon as her coach said "Let's move to the next rotation" JoElle was marching off in front of everyone, leading the way (but I don't know how she knew where we were going?). She loved the music circle and dancing, of course, she always loves to boogie down. Also, she likes hanging from the bar, she pulls her legs up really high, almost to the bar, all by herself. Her coach was surprised at how strong her stomach is. She likes to do barrel rolls down the mats, and she can almost do a forward roll (i.e. flip) all by herself!
July 31, 2006 18 months
JoElle has become pretty attached to her Elmo doll. She doesn't HAVE to have him, but she likes to have him with her in the car, she asks for him as soon as we get in the car, and she loves to give him big hugs! She also likes to put shoes on him and her other doll and make them walk around the house. She tells them "walk, walk", oh yeah there are two babies in her class part of the day, who are still learning to walk, so she tells them "walk, baby, walk!" Her teacher, Ms. Sharon, tells her to leave them alone, not everyone is walking when they are 11 months old.
She is quite the pro at putting her shoes on (sandals); she loves her sandals and her dress up shoes. She can even put my shoes on really well. She walks around in my sandals all the time. It is amazing how many words JoElle is repeating. This past week, she picked up on "messy" as one of her faveorite words, along with "towel" "napkin" and "medicine" She will remind me to give her medicine by telling me "medicine!" Hehe great kid, huh?
JoElle can name so many things now, she loves the bus at church- she points and shouts bus, then starts motioning bus with her hands from the song "The Wheels on the Bus", speaking of which, the other day we were driving to a friend's house to drop off a meal and she saw a big 18 wheeler, she calls them buses. So she started singing this song by herself, she was doing the baby part- the babies on the bus go "wah wah wah", she is so cute when she does this, she says wah wah wah in a real whiny voice with her hands rubbing her eyes like she is crying, then she sang "all...town" (she couldn't quite remember "through the")
At times we can get her to tell us her name, it sounds so precious coming out of her mouth! She loves to read, she points to letters and says "O" "E" because we spell her name with her all the time!
The potty training is still going pretty well, she tells us potty all the time, sometimes she goes, sometimes not, but she loves toilet paper, I have to ration out the toilet paper with her, one day I walked out of the bathroom to get her clothes and I came back and she had stuffed a ton of toilet paper in there as she sat on the potty. Another time, I turned around to throw her diaper away and she was on our potty without her little potty on top, and she fell in!! It was funny, she didn't cry but for 3 seconds, then she was ok with it.
The other night we were at Tim's bosses house and JoElle actually used the potty over there! I was very proud of her! She got so much attention over there from everybody! She wasn't shy at all, sometimes she starts out a little shy, but it never lasts. She didn't get into anything at their house and she didn't cry at all, even though we stayed until 10:30, way past her bedtime. Tim's boss and her husband kept telling us, she is such a great kid, she doesn't get into trouble! OK so we know THAT is not true, but she really is sweet. She loved wiping her mouth, hands and tongue on their kitchen towel that they had hanging up. She also called her glass glasses, she is really stargting to apply words to new objects.
The other night she was scratching her leg and she told us "itch" One of her favorite colors is blue, she definitely knows what is blue and loves to tell us "boo"
One of her favorite games is still "This little piggy" she loves the "wee wee wee" part because I tickle her up to her chin. If you pause at this last part, she will say "wee wee wee" in her cute little voice and then giggle.
I love the way she shares, she loves to share with everyone, even her dolls. She always gives them blankets, her milk, her water, her shoes, etc. Sometimes she can be selfish, like all of us, but most of the time she is very sharing. She will step back and let other kids play first, then she will play when they get tired of it in a few seconds. Sometimes, when she knows they want something that she has, she will tease them with it and laugh. She can be a little sly. Every once in a while she gets tired of trying to be nice and will say "mine" and sometimes hit if the other kids won't share with her, but then she gets sad because she knows she wasn't supposed to do that. She hates to let anybody down.
I know I say this all the time, but she is such a joy to us and everyone else she meets. We love her so much!
July 13, 2006
Tonight before choir practice, JoElle and I stopped at McDonald's. She sat next to me on the bench like a big girl, swinging her legs, eating fries!I looked at her and was thinking about how I used to have to hold her, make sure she didn't fall, hand her food, but now she does this all on her own, she evens grabs the ketchup from me and dips her fries....
I can't believe how old she is now. She acts so grown up, did you see the pics of her in her dress up shoes with her phone? She looks like a little teenager! She also loves Mommy's shoes. She can put her shoes and my shoes on all by herself.
Oh yeah, on the 4th, she picked up calling me Mommy again instead of Mama, I think this time it's going to stick. She started calling me Mommy back on June 2, then went back to Mama....she has her own mind!
This week at day care, she wrestled a little boy in her class who is twice her size, he didn't know what to do, he started yelling help me!! Her teacher was laughing because JoElle is so little and he is so big, but he couldn't even move! She was playing with him like Daddy plays with her, he "pins" her down and starts counting....
She also finally had enough with one of her friends, Becca, and hit her when Becca wouldn't let her play under the table strapping in the baby seats. This is the first time she has done this, usually she justs walks away and finds something else to do...
My friend Robyn told me that when she was dropping her daughter off at their daycare, and JoElle was sitting on their little kid's couch in her classroom and all the other kids were gathered around her! I think she is already exerting her leadership qualities!
She is also very social, she loves the other kids and teachers. Monday when I picked her up, she didn't want to go home, she started crying because she wanted to stay and play! I thought she was supposed to cry when I leave her and not when I pick her up!!!???
JoElle loves her Elmo doll that knows her name and her little Dora chair, she also loves to ride around on her "bike" (I call it her bike...it's really a trike/ rocking trike). She propels herself around the kitchen, she can't quite reach the pedals yet.
Yesterday, she used the potty at school in the big potty. Is it really time for her to learn to use the potty already? How crazy....
July 1st, 2006
JoElle's favorite words this week are Ana, ice-she loves to eat ice- water, and march--she loves to march around the house.
June 21, 2006
JoElle learned to say "shower" (in reference to water, she was talking about the water sprinkler at day care for use in case of a fire, I'm not sure how she knows water comes out of there??
June 20, 2006
JoElle learned to say "purple" Oh yeah she used her potty again, she was excited too that she used it!
June 19, 2006
JoElle said "Katelyn, Bubba" (friends at school) and something else...can't remember...
Over the weekend she started saying "I want Mama, I want Daddy, I want Ana" very cute!Oh yeah, she loves to say Ana...over and over. Aunt Ana, she was saying your name again tonight!!! On Father's Day, JoElle was loving on her Aunt Ana, she kept leaving me to lay on Aunt Ana; how sweet!
August 17, 2006 19 months old today!
JoElle used the potty twice today at school all by herself! Her teacher, Ms. Staci, has to put her on the potty by herself while she watches the other kids in the class, so JoElle holds herself up there all by herself on the big potty. Then when she is done, she jumps down and says "I flush" and she loves to flush it.
Yesterday, JoElle told her teacher "potty, potty" and Ms. Staci was talking to a parent, so by the time she was done talking, JoElle told her "pooh pooh" and she couldn't hold it; but she told her teacher BEFORE this time! She is picking it up, but some nights she wears us out because we have to go back and forth to the potty.....
Ms. Staci is impressed that JoElle is using 3 word sentences. In fact, on Sunday, JoElle told me and Tandi " I need a new diaper" She said all five words, it was crazy, but Tandi heard her too, I swear!
JoElle always says "please" now; she is starting to say "thanks" without any prompting at all. She also says "I'm sorry" without prompting, too. Also, she puts her hands together to pray at the table and in bed before we even get a chance to tell her it's time to pray! She is a very sweet girl.
Tonight JoElle pointed and Daddy's belly and said "belly" then she said "nice!" hehe she is silly. She is also saying "yucky" and "yuck", "stinky" "oooweee" for a smelly diaper, "messy" and "mess" and "nasty". I told her "Daddy will be back" when he went outside to turn the water off, so she said "be back, Daddy, be back"
Last night, JoElle was sweeping the living room floor but she came to me and asked me "up?" I told her to first go put up her broom then she can come up with me. So, she walked over to the wall, propped her broom in the corner, and came back to me! Then she sang "The Wheels on the Bus" to herself and fell asleep on me. I taught her a new part, we made up "the Daddies on the bus say I love you...I love you...." so when we got out of the car, she saw Daddy and said "I love you" How sweet
August 11th, 2006 Trip to visit Nana and Aunt Carol
JoElle and I stopped by Aunt Carol's and Nana's house tonight after work and she went swimming with Nana and cousin Emily. At first I just held her over the side of the above-ground pool and she kicked and kicked and laughed heartily. Then, Nana got in with her. At first she reached out to me to hold her and cried "mommy mommy" but then she decided she liked it and she was kicking her little feet trying to swim. This is only her second time this summer to go swimming and the first time, at Uncle Aaron's apartment, she wasn't so thrilled that the water was so cold. After watching Emily float on her back, JoElle decided to try floating on her back too, and she was not afraid to lean back and get her head wet. I was really surprised!
Another little girl named Carly was over and Carly had JoElle cracking up like I have never seen before; it was hilarious. JoElle just keeps going and going; we didn't leave until 10:00 and she was still going strong. Oh yeah, did I mention that she ate half of my steak? She wolfed it down.
August 10, 2006 Potty times
We are having great successes with potty training! Today at school she used the potty; her teacher asks the 2 year olds if they are ready to go potty, and JoElle tells them "ready, ready" and runs into the bathroom.
Then at home, she used it again just as soon as we got home and twice more with Daddy that night. We are putting her in Dora pullups and she is really starting to act like a big girl. Daddy helped out the potty training by helping JoElle take her doll to use the potty, sitting her on the potty and putting her in one of JoElle's pullups. Great idea Daddy!
When I was leaving to go to a meeting to learn about writing opportunities at church, JoElle bawled and bawled; she has never cried this much for me, it was very sweet! I cherish these moments because all too soon she will be grown and I will long for the days she cried for me with those beautiful brown eyes and reached her arms to me to hold her.
It is quite amazing the unconditional love that little ones give to you. I know that we are all born sinners, yet watching her and interacting with her, JoElle is such a reflection of God's love. She loves her Bible, she calls Jesus "daddy" at times and He is, her heavenly Daddy. She loves to pray and sing about Jesus.
August 9, 2006 Happy Birthday Aunt Carol! We love you!
August 8, 2006 - 18 months old
Today JoElle accidentally hit me and she turned to me and told me "sorry" with a sad, inoccent look. She was so sweet! Plus, her sorry sounded like "sowwy" so it was that much cuter! Then she also told me "thank you!" without prompting - she is great at telling us "please" when she wants something and also "help me."
Also tonight Granny taught JoElle how to blow bubbles and to put the little stick into the bubble container to get more soap in order to blow more. She was really excited that she could blow them by herself! She kept saying "Wow!" and chasing them around, trying to eat them!
JoElle also finally jumped OFF the ground! Before she would try to jump and would get really low with her knees bent and bounce up, but she never actually left the floor. So, when Granny came home from work, JoElle jumped up in the air and landed on her bottom. She thought it was hilarious, so she repeated it at least 20 times.
JoElle is starting to tell Daddy "I love you" when he tells her he loves her. It just melts my heart to hear her say this!
Our bedtime routine is very precious to me, after we give everyone who is here hugs and kisses, I carry JoElle to her room, look into her beautiful brown eyes and put her in her bed. At this point, she gets really excited. Then she clasps her hands together and looks at me, waiting to say bedtime prayers. After we pray to God, she pounds on the bed with her hands, like when she it at the table, then she says amen and puts her hands over her hand, kinds like "hooray!" Then we give kisses, I tell her I love her and as I am leaving, I blow more kisses, tell her I love her some more, and sometimes she waves, sometimes she says "Bye bye" really loudly. She watches me shut the door, then she is out cold.
Yesterday for the first time, JoElle got out of her bed and came out of her door without us getting her up. I guess she was wondering what was taking me so long to come get her up (I was running late!) She was standing at her bedroom door, with wild hair, one hand in her hair and one rubbing her eyes, she looked a little confused!
On the mornings when Daddy is already gone before us, we always tell Daddy bye bye anyways - to our bedroom, she thinks he is the room. She gets upset if we don't tell him bye.
Oh yeah also tonight she tried to go swimming in her bathtub. She kicked her little legs out and tried to swim.
She started gymnastics last Saturday; the class is for 18 months to 3 years. JoElle loved to jump on the trampoline and fall down. As soon as her coach said "Let's move to the next rotation" JoElle was marching off in front of everyone, leading the way (but I don't know how she knew where we were going?). She loved the music circle and dancing, of course, she always loves to boogie down. Also, she likes hanging from the bar, she pulls her legs up really high, almost to the bar, all by herself. Her coach was surprised at how strong her stomach is. She likes to do barrel rolls down the mats, and she can almost do a forward roll (i.e. flip) all by herself!
July 31, 2006 18 months
JoElle has become pretty attached to her Elmo doll. She doesn't HAVE to have him, but she likes to have him with her in the car, she asks for him as soon as we get in the car, and she loves to give him big hugs! She also likes to put shoes on him and her other doll and make them walk around the house. She tells them "walk, walk", oh yeah there are two babies in her class part of the day, who are still learning to walk, so she tells them "walk, baby, walk!" Her teacher, Ms. Sharon, tells her to leave them alone, not everyone is walking when they are 11 months old.
She is quite the pro at putting her shoes on (sandals); she loves her sandals and her dress up shoes. She can even put my shoes on really well. She walks around in my sandals all the time. It is amazing how many words JoElle is repeating. This past week, she picked up on "messy" as one of her faveorite words, along with "towel" "napkin" and "medicine" She will remind me to give her medicine by telling me "medicine!" Hehe great kid, huh?
JoElle can name so many things now, she loves the bus at church- she points and shouts bus, then starts motioning bus with her hands from the song "The Wheels on the Bus", speaking of which, the other day we were driving to a friend's house to drop off a meal and she saw a big 18 wheeler, she calls them buses. So she started singing this song by herself, she was doing the baby part- the babies on the bus go "wah wah wah", she is so cute when she does this, she says wah wah wah in a real whiny voice with her hands rubbing her eyes like she is crying, then she sang "all...town" (she couldn't quite remember "through the")
At times we can get her to tell us her name, it sounds so precious coming out of her mouth! She loves to read, she points to letters and says "O" "E" because we spell her name with her all the time!
The potty training is still going pretty well, she tells us potty all the time, sometimes she goes, sometimes not, but she loves toilet paper, I have to ration out the toilet paper with her, one day I walked out of the bathroom to get her clothes and I came back and she had stuffed a ton of toilet paper in there as she sat on the potty. Another time, I turned around to throw her diaper away and she was on our potty without her little potty on top, and she fell in!! It was funny, she didn't cry but for 3 seconds, then she was ok with it.
The other night we were at Tim's bosses house and JoElle actually used the potty over there! I was very proud of her! She got so much attention over there from everybody! She wasn't shy at all, sometimes she starts out a little shy, but it never lasts. She didn't get into anything at their house and she didn't cry at all, even though we stayed until 10:30, way past her bedtime. Tim's boss and her husband kept telling us, she is such a great kid, she doesn't get into trouble! OK so we know THAT is not true, but she really is sweet. She loved wiping her mouth, hands and tongue on their kitchen towel that they had hanging up. She also called her glass glasses, she is really stargting to apply words to new objects.
The other night she was scratching her leg and she told us "itch" One of her favorite colors is blue, she definitely knows what is blue and loves to tell us "boo"
One of her favorite games is still "This little piggy" she loves the "wee wee wee" part because I tickle her up to her chin. If you pause at this last part, she will say "wee wee wee" in her cute little voice and then giggle.
I love the way she shares, she loves to share with everyone, even her dolls. She always gives them blankets, her milk, her water, her shoes, etc. Sometimes she can be selfish, like all of us, but most of the time she is very sharing. She will step back and let other kids play first, then she will play when they get tired of it in a few seconds. Sometimes, when she knows they want something that she has, she will tease them with it and laugh. She can be a little sly. Every once in a while she gets tired of trying to be nice and will say "mine" and sometimes hit if the other kids won't share with her, but then she gets sad because she knows she wasn't supposed to do that. She hates to let anybody down.
I know I say this all the time, but she is such a joy to us and everyone else she meets. We love her so much!
July 13, 2006
Tonight before choir practice, JoElle and I stopped at McDonald's. She sat next to me on the bench like a big girl, swinging her legs, eating fries!I looked at her and was thinking about how I used to have to hold her, make sure she didn't fall, hand her food, but now she does this all on her own, she evens grabs the ketchup from me and dips her fries....
I can't believe how old she is now. She acts so grown up, did you see the pics of her in her dress up shoes with her phone? She looks like a little teenager! She also loves Mommy's shoes. She can put her shoes and my shoes on all by herself.
Oh yeah, on the 4th, she picked up calling me Mommy again instead of Mama, I think this time it's going to stick. She started calling me Mommy back on June 2, then went back to Mama....she has her own mind!
This week at day care, she wrestled a little boy in her class who is twice her size, he didn't know what to do, he started yelling help me!! Her teacher was laughing because JoElle is so little and he is so big, but he couldn't even move! She was playing with him like Daddy plays with her, he "pins" her down and starts counting....
She also finally had enough with one of her friends, Becca, and hit her when Becca wouldn't let her play under the table strapping in the baby seats. This is the first time she has done this, usually she justs walks away and finds something else to do...
My friend Robyn told me that when she was dropping her daughter off at their daycare, and JoElle was sitting on their little kid's couch in her classroom and all the other kids were gathered around her! I think she is already exerting her leadership qualities!
She is also very social, she loves the other kids and teachers. Monday when I picked her up, she didn't want to go home, she started crying because she wanted to stay and play! I thought she was supposed to cry when I leave her and not when I pick her up!!!???
JoElle loves her Elmo doll that knows her name and her little Dora chair, she also loves to ride around on her "bike" (I call it her bike...it's really a trike/ rocking trike). She propels herself around the kitchen, she can't quite reach the pedals yet.
Yesterday, she used the potty at school in the big potty. Is it really time for her to learn to use the potty already? How crazy....
July 1st, 2006
JoElle's favorite words this week are Ana, ice-she loves to eat ice- water, and march--she loves to march around the house.
June 21, 2006
JoElle learned to say "shower" (in reference to water, she was talking about the water sprinkler at day care for use in case of a fire, I'm not sure how she knows water comes out of there??
June 20, 2006
JoElle learned to say "purple" Oh yeah she used her potty again, she was excited too that she used it!
June 19, 2006
JoElle said "Katelyn, Bubba" (friends at school) and something else...can't remember...
Over the weekend she started saying "I want Mama, I want Daddy, I want Ana" very cute!Oh yeah, she loves to say Ana...over and over. Aunt Ana, she was saying your name again tonight!!! On Father's Day, JoElle was loving on her Aunt Ana, she kept leaving me to lay on Aunt Ana; how sweet!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Present for JoElle's Teacher
We made chocolate chip cookies a few days ago, so we decided to give some to JoElle's teacher, Mrs. Watson. I figured, get it out of the way early so I don't procrastinate until it's too late...
But just chocolate chip wasn't good enough for JoElle, she also wanted to make gingerbread cookies! She decorated them for her teacher and they came out cute. Forgot to snap pics before sending them off today, but oh well!
JoElle made Mrs. Watson some art work, too. On one pic, she wrote "I love u Mrs. Watson" and "U are the best"
Speaking of writing, she is writing sentences and coming real close to spelling things correctly! She moved up to Level 2 readers at school, her reading is coming along so well, we are proud of her! JoElle has learned her 3rd set of sight words already within less than two weeks or so (kinda lost track with Thanksgiving)
But just chocolate chip wasn't good enough for JoElle, she also wanted to make gingerbread cookies! She decorated them for her teacher and they came out cute. Forgot to snap pics before sending them off today, but oh well!
JoElle made Mrs. Watson some art work, too. On one pic, she wrote "I love u Mrs. Watson" and "U are the best"
Speaking of writing, she is writing sentences and coming real close to spelling things correctly! She moved up to Level 2 readers at school, her reading is coming along so well, we are proud of her! JoElle has learned her 3rd set of sight words already within less than two weeks or so (kinda lost track with Thanksgiving)
Friday, September 17, 2010
JoElle lost her first tooth!!
After a few weeks of wiggling, JoElle lost her first tooth and she is extremely excited! We were ate Applebee's about to eat dinner with Nana, the tooth was wiggling away and she was getting ready to eat some ribs, so I helped grab it out before she lost it or swallowed it! It was only holding on by one little side.
The night before, when she was brushing her teeth, her mouth filled with blood and she was crying hard! She was scared of all the blood, plus said it hurt. Alexa started crying with her!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Kindergarten days
After about a week of school, JoElle finally quite crying. The first day, she was fine. But then the next few days, she cried right before they go to the gym, before lunch. She told me she missed me and was already hungry, even though they eat a snack in the morning, since lunch isn't until 12:30. But then Friday of the first week, she cried hard when I left her, and the next Monday she was crying so much, she wouldn't let go of me and I had to ask for help getting her to let me go.
So, Tim took her the next two mornings, and after that she wasn't crying anymore!
Now, she is asking to go to school on the weekends! She is doing very well in school. After 2 weeks of school, she had her first set of sight words memorized and can spell them, too. She is reading some already, she is bringing home readers and can read them to us. JoElle is excited about reading! Alexa is learning to read some of the words with JoElle.
So, Tim took her the next two mornings, and after that she wasn't crying anymore!
Now, she is asking to go to school on the weekends! She is doing very well in school. After 2 weeks of school, she had her first set of sight words memorized and can spell them, too. She is reading some already, she is bringing home readers and can read them to us. JoElle is excited about reading! Alexa is learning to read some of the words with JoElle.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Kindergarten!
JoElle started Kindergarten at Pearcy, she had a great first day...
But Alexa cried quite a bit at home and asked for Jojo all day!
But Alexa cried quite a bit at home and asked for Jojo all day!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Where has the time gone?
Wow, I haven't posted anything about the girls in MONTHS!! CrAzY, where do I even begin?
How about- JoElle is getting so big! She weighs 46 lbs, had to get size 6 shorts, skirts and shorts- her 5T won't even fit over her bottom or thighs- her muscles have gotten HUGE from 3 times a week gymnastics practice, 1.5 hours each time...
Speaking of gymnastics, she is rockin' it! Back in April or so, her class was going to be broken up and sent to different teams, her coach, Ms. Tamara, wanted the girls to stay together, she told us that this is the best group of girls, balance of girls and parents, she has had in the past 30 yrs and she wants to stay with them for another couple of years, so she told the gym owners she would coach them for competitions.
So, JoElle and her team will be competing at Level 2 starting in just over a month, their first meet is Aug 21st at their gym. Her coach said they could have started at a higher level, but it would have been more competitive, more stressful, the girls would be less successful on all skills and events, so she wanted them to start at 2, get experience, and she will continue to teach them higher level skills. They were working on level 4 and 5 skills before it was determined they would be competing.
JoElle looks so great with her hands, arms, legs, feet, very graceful, but she is super fast, so powerful, she has to try to SLOW DOWN and control her movements. She has her entire floor routine memorized, I did NOT think she would get it, it seemed to have so many components, but now after about 5 weeks of practice, she has it, just needs little tweaking, like where arms go, and they just started working on cartwheel-roundoff, so she has to practice that a bit more, almost there- she is just going too fast.
Tonight, she earned the Top Cat award for working the hardest, she worked so hard today! She fell on the high balance beam while working on her tuck jump, but she just kept going! She was absolutely beaming and glowing tonight afterwards!
She is really really great at the balance beam, I think it will be her best event, although she looks good on everything- vault is hard for her....she has to learn how to push with her shoulders so she doesn't hit her head on the springboard.
Now, on to Alexa...
Wow, she has really grown and grown up too!! She weighs 35 lbs! She weighs more than many of the 5 and 6 yr olds that work out with JoElle! She wears 4 and 5T and she is only 2!!
She talks so well, she understands so much, she is showing how very intelligent she is, so many examples, can't think right now, but wow, she amazes us constantly.
Alexa is extremely strong willed, she has quite a temper, is very blunt, but then is also so very sweet and polite! She is great saying thank you, you're welcome, please much of the time, is learning yes sir and yes ma'am. She loves to try to be mommy to JoElle- telling her "No ma'am!", "Be careful Jojo", "stop climbing Jojo", "Shhhh! Too loud!" etc etc
Alexa has been super fussy these past two weeks, not sure why, but I do know she needs to nap but she quit officially napping months ago...we are going to try to work on that again though starting tomorrow.
She is understanding potty training, tells me she needs to go, holds it sometimes, sometimes goes poo poo on the potty, but then she gets stubborn and doesn't want to b/c I am asking her to... So we still have a ways to go.
She is not that interested in chocolate milk, but JoElle still loves her milk! They both still love their fave blankets. They still play really well together, but really get on each other's nerves at the same time!
Alexa LOVES to play with her Little People and blocks. JoElle has also gone back to playing with both, actually I have never seen her concentrate so much on them, lining them up, making them do gymnastics, etc. She learned from Alexa that it is fun to sit quietly -sort of- and play with toys. They fight over the people of course, but they are figuring it out!
Alexa is starting to lose interest in Fresh Beat Band, although she asks for it all the time. She is liking Wow Wow Wubbzy! while JoElle is losing interest in it! JoElle mostly likes the dramas on Disney, esp Wizards of Waverly Place, sometimes Hannah Montana- on our trip to Corpus Christi a few weeks ago (oh yeah that's another post, mental note...) that was all she could watch, she loved it, Alexa watched too.
JoElle is only on sleeping pills right now, but she would like to get off of them. Her dr wants her to stay on them b/c trazadone is also a mild anti-anxiety medication. She is very nervous about starting school, but we are constantly encouraging her and reassuring her. I am more worried about Alexa than JoElle, what will she do without her big sister???????
How about- JoElle is getting so big! She weighs 46 lbs, had to get size 6 shorts, skirts and shorts- her 5T won't even fit over her bottom or thighs- her muscles have gotten HUGE from 3 times a week gymnastics practice, 1.5 hours each time...
Speaking of gymnastics, she is rockin' it! Back in April or so, her class was going to be broken up and sent to different teams, her coach, Ms. Tamara, wanted the girls to stay together, she told us that this is the best group of girls, balance of girls and parents, she has had in the past 30 yrs and she wants to stay with them for another couple of years, so she told the gym owners she would coach them for competitions.
So, JoElle and her team will be competing at Level 2 starting in just over a month, their first meet is Aug 21st at their gym. Her coach said they could have started at a higher level, but it would have been more competitive, more stressful, the girls would be less successful on all skills and events, so she wanted them to start at 2, get experience, and she will continue to teach them higher level skills. They were working on level 4 and 5 skills before it was determined they would be competing.
JoElle looks so great with her hands, arms, legs, feet, very graceful, but she is super fast, so powerful, she has to try to SLOW DOWN and control her movements. She has her entire floor routine memorized, I did NOT think she would get it, it seemed to have so many components, but now after about 5 weeks of practice, she has it, just needs little tweaking, like where arms go, and they just started working on cartwheel-roundoff, so she has to practice that a bit more, almost there- she is just going too fast.
Tonight, she earned the Top Cat award for working the hardest, she worked so hard today! She fell on the high balance beam while working on her tuck jump, but she just kept going! She was absolutely beaming and glowing tonight afterwards!
She is really really great at the balance beam, I think it will be her best event, although she looks good on everything- vault is hard for her....she has to learn how to push with her shoulders so she doesn't hit her head on the springboard.
Now, on to Alexa...
Wow, she has really grown and grown up too!! She weighs 35 lbs! She weighs more than many of the 5 and 6 yr olds that work out with JoElle! She wears 4 and 5T and she is only 2!!
She talks so well, she understands so much, she is showing how very intelligent she is, so many examples, can't think right now, but wow, she amazes us constantly.
Alexa is extremely strong willed, she has quite a temper, is very blunt, but then is also so very sweet and polite! She is great saying thank you, you're welcome, please much of the time, is learning yes sir and yes ma'am. She loves to try to be mommy to JoElle- telling her "No ma'am!", "Be careful Jojo", "stop climbing Jojo", "Shhhh! Too loud!" etc etc
Alexa has been super fussy these past two weeks, not sure why, but I do know she needs to nap but she quit officially napping months ago...we are going to try to work on that again though starting tomorrow.
She is understanding potty training, tells me she needs to go, holds it sometimes, sometimes goes poo poo on the potty, but then she gets stubborn and doesn't want to b/c I am asking her to... So we still have a ways to go.
She is not that interested in chocolate milk, but JoElle still loves her milk! They both still love their fave blankets. They still play really well together, but really get on each other's nerves at the same time!
Alexa LOVES to play with her Little People and blocks. JoElle has also gone back to playing with both, actually I have never seen her concentrate so much on them, lining them up, making them do gymnastics, etc. She learned from Alexa that it is fun to sit quietly -sort of- and play with toys. They fight over the people of course, but they are figuring it out!
Alexa is starting to lose interest in Fresh Beat Band, although she asks for it all the time. She is liking Wow Wow Wubbzy! while JoElle is losing interest in it! JoElle mostly likes the dramas on Disney, esp Wizards of Waverly Place, sometimes Hannah Montana- on our trip to Corpus Christi a few weeks ago (oh yeah that's another post, mental note...) that was all she could watch, she loved it, Alexa watched too.
JoElle is only on sleeping pills right now, but she would like to get off of them. Her dr wants her to stay on them b/c trazadone is also a mild anti-anxiety medication. She is very nervous about starting school, but we are constantly encouraging her and reassuring her. I am more worried about Alexa than JoElle, what will she do without her big sister???????
Thursday, April 8, 2010
First night of no sleeping meds!
JoElle fell asleep so easily tonight for the first time in 6 months without 1 full Trazadone and for the first time in over 3 years without Benadryl.
I am so excited! But, do not expect this to be every night. Yet. I know she will get to that point, most likely when school starts and she is practicing gymnastics 3 times per week, 1.5 hours each time.
Tonight was gymnastics, her coach was tough on them and JoElle learned to pull herself up on the high bar, flip underneath, hold it at the top, then flip back over, lowering herself s-l-o-w-l-y. Very impressive as tonight was the first night for her to practice this.
Her coach also told me and Tim to keep her in gymnastics and let her practice as much as possible b/c gymnastics is JoElle's "thing", and it is, I know I am her mom, but the girl is is gifted in the arena.
If only I worked out and ate like her, would have a great body, she is very lean, muscular, and she can pick up 2-3 times her body weight, not to mention the back kickovers, handstands and flips she is doing on the bar, pretty amazing! She has been at this gym and with her coach for almost a year now, I can't help but just wonder, what if she had started even earlier? She would have some crazy mad skills, flipping across the floor and on the bar I am sure :)
She is close to a back handspring/flip- you know with no hands down- I don't know the terminology until JoElle, sighing, tells me, "Mommy, that is a cast, not XYZ..don't you know?" Then I gently reminder her that, no I do not know until SHE teaches me, as I have never done gymnastics before myself.......
Has anybody written a book Gymnastics for Dummies b/c I could sure use it. I never did gymnastics, or anything else for that matter as a child, just ask my mom, I was stubborn and or scared or both..... no wonder where Alexa gets it...
I am so excited! But, do not expect this to be every night. Yet. I know she will get to that point, most likely when school starts and she is practicing gymnastics 3 times per week, 1.5 hours each time.
Tonight was gymnastics, her coach was tough on them and JoElle learned to pull herself up on the high bar, flip underneath, hold it at the top, then flip back over, lowering herself s-l-o-w-l-y. Very impressive as tonight was the first night for her to practice this.
JoElle's coach read my mind tonight, was going to ask her if she would be adding a day of practice anytime soon, before I could ask, she told me they would add another day so the girls will practice 3 days per week- JoElle was driving me crazy early in the week, begging to go to gymnastics- she told her coach she wants to go every day, and she means it!
Her coach also told me and Tim to keep her in gymnastics and let her practice as much as possible b/c gymnastics is JoElle's "thing", and it is, I know I am her mom, but the girl is is gifted in the arena.
If only I worked out and ate like her, would have a great body, she is very lean, muscular, and she can pick up 2-3 times her body weight, not to mention the back kickovers, handstands and flips she is doing on the bar, pretty amazing! She has been at this gym and with her coach for almost a year now, I can't help but just wonder, what if she had started even earlier? She would have some crazy mad skills, flipping across the floor and on the bar I am sure :)
She is close to a back handspring/flip- you know with no hands down- I don't know the terminology until JoElle, sighing, tells me, "Mommy, that is a cast, not XYZ..don't you know?" Then I gently reminder her that, no I do not know until SHE teaches me, as I have never done gymnastics before myself.......
Has anybody written a book Gymnastics for Dummies b/c I could sure use it. I never did gymnastics, or anything else for that matter as a child, just ask my mom, I was stubborn and or scared or both..... no wonder where Alexa gets it...
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
JoElle is in the No Cavity Club!
It's official, JoElle went to her first dentist appt and she is officially in the No Cavity Club, sticker and all!!
I was thinking I would get fussed out for not bringing her in earlier since hse is now 5, so I was excited about the no cavities, but even more so I was SO happy that she went back with the dentist and the assistants ALL BY HERSLF! This would not have happened a few months ago, she would have cried and wouldn't let me go, she would not have answered the dentist's questions.
The dentist talked to me briefly about JoElle's depression and anxiety and I was able to educate her a bit on how it can start as early as 3 or 4, she thanked me for all of this so she can be looking for it in her patients, she hasn't seen anyone younger than 6 in her office suffering from depression.
So again, our situation might have lasting positive influences on others, I love this dentist, she is great, and a woman obviously and she is also black, I think it is important for JoElle to see that it doesn't matter what gender or race a person is, they can do what they want if it is God's will.
I got to see JoElle's X-rays, you can see her 6 year old molars starting to come in, they have been coming in since she was 4.5, the dentist estimates another two months till they actually cut through. These will be her first permanent teeth!
Then she will start losing her baby teeth, bottom first, then top, etc. pretty much the way they came in is the way they come out and get replaced by permanent teeth!
I was thinking I would get fussed out for not bringing her in earlier since hse is now 5, so I was excited about the no cavities, but even more so I was SO happy that she went back with the dentist and the assistants ALL BY HERSLF! This would not have happened a few months ago, she would have cried and wouldn't let me go, she would not have answered the dentist's questions.
The dentist talked to me briefly about JoElle's depression and anxiety and I was able to educate her a bit on how it can start as early as 3 or 4, she thanked me for all of this so she can be looking for it in her patients, she hasn't seen anyone younger than 6 in her office suffering from depression.
So again, our situation might have lasting positive influences on others, I love this dentist, she is great, and a woman obviously and she is also black, I think it is important for JoElle to see that it doesn't matter what gender or race a person is, they can do what they want if it is God's will.
I got to see JoElle's X-rays, you can see her 6 year old molars starting to come in, they have been coming in since she was 4.5, the dentist estimates another two months till they actually cut through. These will be her first permanent teeth!
Then she will start losing her baby teeth, bottom first, then top, etc. pretty much the way they came in is the way they come out and get replaced by permanent teeth!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Heights from the Stock Show
Alexa got to attend her first Stock Show!!
JoElle went when she was around Alexa's age, with her cousin Peyton, but was too short to ride much.
This year, JoElle is 42 inches (with her tennis shoes), so she can ride lots of rides.
Alexa is 32 inches, so she could ride everything in the kid's area, too. Key word is "COULD", she cried on two different rides, had to be taken off, so every time we got near a new ride she would tell me...."I don't want to!"
Alexa told me "I want to swing!" and pulled me over there, but once it started moving, all she could say was "Mommy! MOMMY!!!!
Some history behind JoElle's medical condition
JoElle was 4 when she was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression, but we already knew things were not "normal" when she was only 1; she quit napping before she was even 1, she never could go to sleep at night, even when she was a toddler, then she started crying when she was 2 when I would drop her off, but it wasn't the normal separation anxiety either, then it got even worse after 3- she would stand in her room, naked, not sure why she was in her room (to get dressed), she would ask me, "Mommy, why do I just stare all the time?"
From 3-4 I was at home with her and Alexa so she did ok, we found ways around the difficulties, she went to sleep every night with 2 benadryl still late,at 10-11:30 p.m.
Then it just nose dived when she was 4 and she started mother's day out, I was teaching there, I started seeing her zone out, cry, become despondent, become defiant to me, I thought she was just choosing not to listen, finally realized she just couldn't concentrate on what I was saying so then I started thinking ADHD.
But as I talked to her, I found out her mind was racing with lots of thoughts, she described it like someone spinning a wheel in her head, the wheel would stop on different random things. One such thing was on hurting herself, taking a bad pill, her "wheel" was telling her to cut out her eyes, to cut off her nose, and to cut her wheel out of her head, but she knew not to and didn't want to.
Obviously, we were really concerned. The dr's and hospital all confirmed severe depression and anxiety. Once it was under control, we were still seeing some focus issues and too much energy. She is on sleeping pills to sleep. So we tried ADHD med, for a 5 yr old, the FDA has only approved Adderrall, it did not work, she lost 3.5 lbs in 5 weeks.
So we all agreed to take her off the med, I offered up the question of being bi-polar, so now we are treating her with mood stabilizers, which is actually for seizures, again the only one approved for under 6, but some of my friends have taken it and it has worked as a mood stabilizer. She was having seizure, we just didn't know, she would stare and we couldn't get her attention, then she would tell me she it was like she couldn't breathe and she was upside down, then right side up. Everyone says what she is describing is a seizure.
She is doing better though, we have found a great charter school in our city, called the Classics Academy, please pray she is picked FIRST in the lottery at the end of March. I feel strongly that this is where she is supposed to be, so does Tim. But it is in God's hands. It's free since it's a charter school, but they teach Spanish from K on, and they teach the Trivium way, grammar of every subject is important. Plus, they learn some Latin in the morning and an English world derived from it. The principal actually hired Tim at Fidelity Investments back in 2000! Isn't that crazy!?
From 3-4 I was at home with her and Alexa so she did ok, we found ways around the difficulties, she went to sleep every night with 2 benadryl still late,at 10-11:30 p.m.
Then it just nose dived when she was 4 and she started mother's day out, I was teaching there, I started seeing her zone out, cry, become despondent, become defiant to me, I thought she was just choosing not to listen, finally realized she just couldn't concentrate on what I was saying so then I started thinking ADHD.
But as I talked to her, I found out her mind was racing with lots of thoughts, she described it like someone spinning a wheel in her head, the wheel would stop on different random things. One such thing was on hurting herself, taking a bad pill, her "wheel" was telling her to cut out her eyes, to cut off her nose, and to cut her wheel out of her head, but she knew not to and didn't want to.
Obviously, we were really concerned. The dr's and hospital all confirmed severe depression and anxiety. Once it was under control, we were still seeing some focus issues and too much energy. She is on sleeping pills to sleep. So we tried ADHD med, for a 5 yr old, the FDA has only approved Adderrall, it did not work, she lost 3.5 lbs in 5 weeks.
So we all agreed to take her off the med, I offered up the question of being bi-polar, so now we are treating her with mood stabilizers, which is actually for seizures, again the only one approved for under 6, but some of my friends have taken it and it has worked as a mood stabilizer. She was having seizure, we just didn't know, she would stare and we couldn't get her attention, then she would tell me she it was like she couldn't breathe and she was upside down, then right side up. Everyone says what she is describing is a seizure.
She is doing better though, we have found a great charter school in our city, called the Classics Academy, please pray she is picked FIRST in the lottery at the end of March. I feel strongly that this is where she is supposed to be, so does Tim. But it is in God's hands. It's free since it's a charter school, but they teach Spanish from K on, and they teach the Trivium way, grammar of every subject is important. Plus, they learn some Latin in the morning and an English world derived from it. The principal actually hired Tim at Fidelity Investments back in 2000! Isn't that crazy!?
Friday, February 5, 2010
JoElle's weight
JoElle is still losing weight... she is not even on Adderall anymore, and hasn't been for several weeks now. She is eating like crazy, more than she ever used to, is drinking a ton of chocolate milk....
She was 40 lbs just over 6 weeks ago, the after 4 weeks on Adderall she had lost 3.5 lbs. She had no appetite (one of the side effects) plus her stomachache and headache never went away (also side effects).
She is now at 35.5 lbs. We are charting it on the Wii Fit, it just keeps going down it seems.
Alexa is almost 2, and she weighs 30 lbs. She also is wearing the same size clothes as JoElle.
I am a bit worried about her, but I know she has to start gaining, right?
Update: as of April 1, 2010- JoElle is now up to 42.5 lbs! All of it muscle :) She started to eat normally 6 weeks ago when she stopped taking the antidepressant and the mood stabilizer, it is so great to see her growing again and eating without us having to remind her all the time. Oh yes, she also grew taller, by about an inch or so, not sure exactly as we haven't measured, but judging by her pants getting extremely short and needing 5T, I would say 2 inches at least!
She was 40 lbs just over 6 weeks ago, the after 4 weeks on Adderall she had lost 3.5 lbs. She had no appetite (one of the side effects) plus her stomachache and headache never went away (also side effects).
She is now at 35.5 lbs. We are charting it on the Wii Fit, it just keeps going down it seems.
Alexa is almost 2, and she weighs 30 lbs. She also is wearing the same size clothes as JoElle.
I am a bit worried about her, but I know she has to start gaining, right?
Update: as of April 1, 2010- JoElle is now up to 42.5 lbs! All of it muscle :) She started to eat normally 6 weeks ago when she stopped taking the antidepressant and the mood stabilizer, it is so great to see her growing again and eating without us having to remind her all the time. Oh yes, she also grew taller, by about an inch or so, not sure exactly as we haven't measured, but judging by her pants getting extremely short and needing 5T, I would say 2 inches at least!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Tough Day with JoElle and our outcome
thanks for the prayers, and @Elizabeth, thank you for being so willing to help, you have a very giving spirit. We are treating JoElle with mood stabilizers, so it is very up and down. Even throughout each day, very much of the up, then the down. Not depression, just not able to control herself. She cycles fast like me.
Tim and I just sat down and drew out a rewards chart and ideas of rewards, like spending 15 minutes alone with one of us doing an activity of her choice, piece of candy, staying up an extra 15 minutes, watching a fave show before bedtime, etc. We are going to get a large presentation board to put it on, then use velcro, so JoElle can move it herself when she does the things we want her to do. This is her positive motivation, so she will NEVER go backwards.
What we are targeting is: 1) Listening and obeying the first time 2) Eating twice per each time slot (oh yeah, we are breaking it into three times periods each day- time she wakes up to nap/ rest time; from time rest time is over till Daddy gets home; and from the time Daddy gets home till bedtime)
3) Keeping room clean- which we will define for her
4) Brushing teeth twice a day and taking a bath
5) Being Calm and having self control (again explanations will be illustrated as we do CONSTANTLY!)
Then, I am going to pull out of my garage my color chart from when I taught first grade, and when she doesn't do the things she should, I will have her change her color. There will also be a few rules- be nice to Alexa, be nice to Mommy, and be nice to Daddy. I don't think at this point there will be a negative consequence, I think she will just not be happy to have to change colors.
Then, if she DOESN'T have to change colors, she will get to add a paper gumball to a paper gumball machine, when it is full she will earn a BIG prize, not sure what yet :) but it will different each time.
Tim and I just sat down and drew out a rewards chart and ideas of rewards, like spending 15 minutes alone with one of us doing an activity of her choice, piece of candy, staying up an extra 15 minutes, watching a fave show before bedtime, etc. We are going to get a large presentation board to put it on, then use velcro, so JoElle can move it herself when she does the things we want her to do. This is her positive motivation, so she will NEVER go backwards.
What we are targeting is: 1) Listening and obeying the first time 2) Eating twice per each time slot (oh yeah, we are breaking it into three times periods each day- time she wakes up to nap/ rest time; from time rest time is over till Daddy gets home; and from the time Daddy gets home till bedtime)
3) Keeping room clean- which we will define for her
4) Brushing teeth twice a day and taking a bath
5) Being Calm and having self control (again explanations will be illustrated as we do CONSTANTLY!)
Then, I am going to pull out of my garage my color chart from when I taught first grade, and when she doesn't do the things she should, I will have her change her color. There will also be a few rules- be nice to Alexa, be nice to Mommy, and be nice to Daddy. I don't think at this point there will be a negative consequence, I think she will just not be happy to have to change colors.
Then, if she DOESN'T have to change colors, she will get to add a paper gumball to a paper gumball machine, when it is full she will earn a BIG prize, not sure what yet :) but it will different each time.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
FB Status of JoElle's 1 yr old Teacher
JoElle was baptized today by Keith Christie!
FB Status of JoElle's teacher when she was 1:Stacy Lee
"I proclaim Jesus as my Lord and Savior and I AM NOT ASHAMED!"-- JoElle Coats (5 yrs old and got baptized today) I am reminded of the beauty of a child-like faith. Thanks, Jo Jo! ♥On My page:
Megan,
Thank you for having me today! It was so rewarding to see JoElle get baptized. I know God will continue to use her to touch many many MANY lives. This shows how great you and Tim are as parents. :) Awesome job! I hope to be at least half the parent you are when my time comes. haha
Love,
Stacy
Ms. Stacy had such a big impact on JoElle's little life, from 10 months to 2 yrs old. It's amazing the love she poured out on JoElle and the encouragement she was to JoElle and to our family. She came to birthday parties, even to watch JoElle once at ASI gymnastics when she was just a toddler. JoElle looked forward to every day of class with Stacy. She taught JoElle Christian songs, Scripture, and truths about God from the Bible.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
JoElle's dr appt
JoElle's dr appt with her psych. went well.
He automatically noticed JoElle had lost weight since the last appt, about 5 weeks.
So, in 5 weeks, she had lost 3 lbs from Aderrall. She only weighed 30 lbs, so this is 10% of her body weight. She couldn't eat much at all, didn't have an appetite, her stomach hurt constantly, her head hurt constantly. Her anxiety was increasingly getting worse, she couldn't stop biting her nails at all, then she needed one of us to sleep with her. She was starting to cry all the time again.
We all agreed to take her off immediately.
I suggested she might be bi-polar instead, as it is often mistaken for ADD/ADHD. Her dr won't diagnose her as such at this age. But, neither will my dr or my mom's dr.
Instead, he put her on a med that works like a mood stabilizer, but is actually an anti-seizure medication. So, Dr. A. is treating her as if she were bi-polar, without calling her such. Crazy, huh?
One of the worst things going on that concerned us so much was that JoElle was going into these catatonic states, we could not get her attention, she would just stare. Then, after a few minutes, she would snap out of it, complaining that she felt like she couldn't breathe and she was going upside down, right side up, upside down, and she was scared.
I thought this sounds much like a panic attack. The Dr. said it could also be a type of seizure, hence the med he put her own. Also, until she is 6, she cannot take any mood stabilizers labeled as such, per FDA regs.
The pharmacist confirmed it sounds like a seizure and the med is a good one. The only thing to look for is increased anxiety within the first 4 days. So far, none of that. Of course, it has only been 1 day.
On a positive note, even on the Aderrall, she decided she was ready to be baptized. AND she decided she was ready to go back to her Sunday School class with Mrs. Kay and Mr. Eddie. She did it, and stayed second hour. We are so proud of her!!! She made a friend, Lauren, who is also lonely a lot in there with the other kids, and who also is a good gymnast.
Yesterday was a good day for JoElle. She is still on Prozac and then Trazadone to sleep, plus this new med. She is sleeping well b/c of the med, tried to take her off, didn't work.
He automatically noticed JoElle had lost weight since the last appt, about 5 weeks.
So, in 5 weeks, she had lost 3 lbs from Aderrall. She only weighed 30 lbs, so this is 10% of her body weight. She couldn't eat much at all, didn't have an appetite, her stomach hurt constantly, her head hurt constantly. Her anxiety was increasingly getting worse, she couldn't stop biting her nails at all, then she needed one of us to sleep with her. She was starting to cry all the time again.
We all agreed to take her off immediately.
I suggested she might be bi-polar instead, as it is often mistaken for ADD/ADHD. Her dr won't diagnose her as such at this age. But, neither will my dr or my mom's dr.
Instead, he put her on a med that works like a mood stabilizer, but is actually an anti-seizure medication. So, Dr. A. is treating her as if she were bi-polar, without calling her such. Crazy, huh?
One of the worst things going on that concerned us so much was that JoElle was going into these catatonic states, we could not get her attention, she would just stare. Then, after a few minutes, she would snap out of it, complaining that she felt like she couldn't breathe and she was going upside down, right side up, upside down, and she was scared.
I thought this sounds much like a panic attack. The Dr. said it could also be a type of seizure, hence the med he put her own. Also, until she is 6, she cannot take any mood stabilizers labeled as such, per FDA regs.
The pharmacist confirmed it sounds like a seizure and the med is a good one. The only thing to look for is increased anxiety within the first 4 days. So far, none of that. Of course, it has only been 1 day.
On a positive note, even on the Aderrall, she decided she was ready to be baptized. AND she decided she was ready to go back to her Sunday School class with Mrs. Kay and Mr. Eddie. She did it, and stayed second hour. We are so proud of her!!! She made a friend, Lauren, who is also lonely a lot in there with the other kids, and who also is a good gymnast.
Yesterday was a good day for JoElle. She is still on Prozac and then Trazadone to sleep, plus this new med. She is sleeping well b/c of the med, tried to take her off, didn't work.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Psch appt for J.
We had to take JoElle to her monthly appt with her psychiatrist, we have many concerns about possible panic attacks, she becomes almost catatonic, and when she snaps out of it, she says she couldn't breathe and she was upside down, right side up, and scared.
The outcome was to take her off of Adderall, which we were using to treat what appeared to be ADHD. Without it, she was not able to focus, stay still, couldn't stop doing flips, back kick overs, handstands, etc, ALL DAY AND NIGHT until she would have to take her sleeping pill, which is the only way she can sleep and stay asleep with no nightmares.BUT, it was causing her anxiety to worsen, it had gone away, she can't stop biting her nails, her stomach is hurting bad constantly, along with a persistent headache. After 6 weeks, these side affects should have gone away.
I suggested that she might be bi-polar, runs in the family, although no dr has "labeled" it such in my mom, my dad, or me. But we have the symptoms. For whatever reason, her dr is also trying to avoid diagnosing bipolar. Not sure why?
Her dr thinks instead of panic attacks, that she could have been having a form of a seizure. He prescribed what he called a mood stabilizer, but what I found out by asking the pharmacist is that it is actually an anti-seizure med, as there are no mood stabilizers approved for children who are 5.
The pharmacist warned me NOT to look up mood stabilizers, as it might frighten me a bit!
He did tell me to watch for an increase in anxiety over the next 4 days, if so, stop meds, call dr.
Other possible side affects to watch for- tummy ache, which she has already been dealing with.
After 4 days, Dr. A also said if no affect on her, then to give her half pill in the AM and half pill at 4 p.m. She is supposed to stay on Prozac in the morning, 4 p.m. this new med, and trazadone at night. We will see what happens....
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Art at the Kimbell
This morning, JoElle and I attended a free program at the Kimbell Art Museum in Ft. Worth called Pictures and Pages.
The ladies who run the program first read a book to us called "What would you do with a tail like this?" It was a great book with wonderful drawings of various parts of animals bodies, along with what they do with the body parts.
Then, we had a tour of specific paintings in the gallery, paintings which included different animals. The kids were asked to describe the strokes the painter used on various parts of the painting, then reach into the Feeling Bag to find a certain texture, such as the tiger's tail, or the pheasants feather. It was a great way to incorporate kinesthetic learning along with the sensory aspect.
Lastly, they kids chose which animal collage they would like to create. JoElle chose a monkey, I will post pics of it soon. She loved it and created a great collage.
Afterwards, we ate at the Kimbell's Cafe, oh the food is delicious! Mostly vegan, too, very healthy, and offers an array of hot teas, cold teas, lemonade to which you can add fresh mint, and of course coffee!
The ladies who run the program first read a book to us called "What would you do with a tail like this?" It was a great book with wonderful drawings of various parts of animals bodies, along with what they do with the body parts.
Then, we had a tour of specific paintings in the gallery, paintings which included different animals. The kids were asked to describe the strokes the painter used on various parts of the painting, then reach into the Feeling Bag to find a certain texture, such as the tiger's tail, or the pheasants feather. It was a great way to incorporate kinesthetic learning along with the sensory aspect.
Lastly, they kids chose which animal collage they would like to create. JoElle chose a monkey, I will post pics of it soon. She loved it and created a great collage.
Afterwards, we ate at the Kimbell's Cafe, oh the food is delicious! Mostly vegan, too, very healthy, and offers an array of hot teas, cold teas, lemonade to which you can add fresh mint, and of course coffee!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Updates on JoElle
So, JoElle has been on ADHD meds for almost 2 weeks now. I can tell a pretty big difference, but it has been crazy b/c of Christmas and New Year's, all the new toys, and no gymnastics.
Tim is not so confident in the efficacy of her medication regimen.
I feel like we have to hang in, see what happens over the next weeks.
I see so many positives, there have been a few minor setbacks, but nothing we haven't overcome.
I trust that God has great plans for JoElle!
Lately, she has been baptizing herself in the bathtub and today she told me she is ready to be baptized "for real." She is very excited! She is now able to pray again, when she was seriously depressed, she could no longer pray at bedtime, now the gift of prayer has been flowing from her mouth.
I wish I could record some of them, they touch our hearts tremendously and I know God is smiling down at her!
Tonight, in her prayer, she proclaimed loudly " I KNOW you are REAL, GOD, and you created EVERYTHING, and you can do ALL THINGS..." and her prayer continued, from her heart. She even prayed for those who do not do the right thing and say the right thing, asking for forgiveness for them and told God "I know you take care of everyone, but I will also help you take care of people, and feed them if they need food, I will be a superhero for YOU!"
Tim is not so confident in the efficacy of her medication regimen.
I feel like we have to hang in, see what happens over the next weeks.
I see so many positives, there have been a few minor setbacks, but nothing we haven't overcome.
I trust that God has great plans for JoElle!
Lately, she has been baptizing herself in the bathtub and today she told me she is ready to be baptized "for real." She is very excited! She is now able to pray again, when she was seriously depressed, she could no longer pray at bedtime, now the gift of prayer has been flowing from her mouth.
I wish I could record some of them, they touch our hearts tremendously and I know God is smiling down at her!
Tonight, in her prayer, she proclaimed loudly " I KNOW you are REAL, GOD, and you created EVERYTHING, and you can do ALL THINGS..." and her prayer continued, from her heart. She even prayed for those who do not do the right thing and say the right thing, asking for forgiveness for them and told God "I know you take care of everyone, but I will also help you take care of people, and feed them if they need food, I will be a superhero for YOU!"
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
JoElle and Meds
Yesterday I had to up her Aderall to an entire pill b/c it was not doing her any good, but today she scared me.
She fell asleep in the car on the way to counseling (which is very rare) and I could not rouse her for almost a minute. It was very strange.
Then, with her counselor, she fell asleep again and was hard to rouse. She was breathing fine and her heart was beating fine.
I confirmed with the pharmacist that ADHD meds do not make a person sleepy/tired/lethargic, so it must be the trazadone at night having lingering affects, since she is starting to become calmer from the medication.
I was proud of her that she asked to go to sleep with no sleeping aid, then asked for half a little later when she couldn't stay still and go to sleep.
We took her to Cook's Children's Hospital today for her EKG and no problems there. Very happy that her heart is handling the meds she is on.
She is calming down quite a bit, doesn't have much anxiety and not much depression either.
UPDATES: After only a couple of days, she was unable to fall asleep again at night with half a trazadone and is now back on a full pill, and is not falling asleep during the day.
She fell asleep in the car on the way to counseling (which is very rare) and I could not rouse her for almost a minute. It was very strange.
Then, with her counselor, she fell asleep again and was hard to rouse. She was breathing fine and her heart was beating fine.
I confirmed with the pharmacist that ADHD meds do not make a person sleepy/tired/lethargic, so it must be the trazadone at night having lingering affects, since she is starting to become calmer from the medication.
I was proud of her that she asked to go to sleep with no sleeping aid, then asked for half a little later when she couldn't stay still and go to sleep.
We took her to Cook's Children's Hospital today for her EKG and no problems there. Very happy that her heart is handling the meds she is on.
She is calming down quite a bit, doesn't have much anxiety and not much depression either.
UPDATES: After only a couple of days, she was unable to fall asleep again at night with half a trazadone and is now back on a full pill, and is not falling asleep during the day.
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