Kindergarten Screening

What an emotional day! The twins had their screening for kindergarten last week and I was more nervous then they were and a complete wreck! I found myself crying several times during the process. Keaton was shy and scared when we walked into the building, but when I told him he could have the iPad if he participated his attitude changed. He responded well, answered the questions, and stopped fussing. The school's goals for kids is to see them score 70 or higher in all four areas. The screening process allows the schools to separate the children so that all the classrooms are "even" and the delayed kids aren't all in one room, and the overachievers in the other. Out of 100 points, Keaton's scores were: Gross Motor: 78 Problem Solving: 83 Language: 99 Self Help: 97 The fourth one, self help, isn't actually called that but I can't remember the title. It was the questionnaire complete on what he is able to do himself: get dressed, brush teeth, use bathroom, pour cereal into a bowl, etc. McKenna walked into the building semi confidant until mommy left her side and then she was a stressed out mess. She struggled to participate and kept asking for mommy and crying. Manipulation doesn't really work for McKenna, so promising her the iPad or candy didn't do a thing, even though the offer was given. Her scores were: Gross Motor: 4 Problem Solving: 13 Language: 26 Self Help: 10 After the screening took place we met with the principle and we were strongly encouraged to put the twins in summer school, especially McKenna. She feels that introducing McKenna to her kindergarten teacher before the fall, allowing her to understand a classroom setting and the school process will really help McKenna overall. So, mommy came home and signed them up for summer school and cried while doing it. It's five days a week, 7:30-2:30. That's a long time for them to be away from mommy. They are use to two days, and only five hours. While I do understand this fall that will be their schedule, I struggle making them do it sooner then is necessary. They have 12 plus years of school ahead of them, so I'm not sure summer school is truly the best thing for them. However, I do want them to be comfortable this fall going to school and it is comforting knowing the principle is going to try to assign them the same teacher for fall as they have this summer and hopefully this summer will allow them a better understanding of school routine and in a smaller setting. We were also encouraged to help McKenna build her upper body strength and balance skills. With her gross motor skills where they are they would really like to see that area strengthened and it apparently helps build all other areas of their education, especially with reading and writing. So in addition to signing them up for summer school they are now signed up for gymnastics. McKenna had her first class today and cried the entire 45 minutes. It was embarrassing and stressful. I hate seeing her so afraid of things and it shows me just how much I have babied her. Keaton was able to participate the last 4 minutes and we have switched them to a wednesday night gymnastics class that will allow Keaton to do gymnastics as well. He was so excited to get to join the class at the end of it, so he will no doubt love being in the class the full time. He was the only boy on the floor, so hopefully that won't bother him. McKenna still has her dance class too, on Tuesdays, and we will finish that out end of May. Hopefully between summer school, dance class and gymnastics this will really help McKenna to catch up. It will be fun to see the day when she is the top of her class and we are looking back to see where she has come from. Keaton is doing really well with most areas. He is reading books now. He can read small chapter books. He gets frustrated very easily and gives up quickly when he doesn't succeed the first time. That will be our biggest struggle with him and no doubt difficult to teach a child to not be a quitter. It's part of him being a perfectionist I assume. Keaton is very nervous about starting kindergarten and doesn't want to leave his pre-k. He loves the kids in there and he loves school. We are hoping once summer school starts he just loves it so much he won't want to have the month summer break before the real school year starts. Hopefully he will be joining karate soon, and basketball.

Milestones for McKenna

It took nearly five years, but a few weeks ago McKenna finally went underwater. Showers, swimming pools, baths are all very difficult for McKenna. She hates the water on her face and cries when we wash it. She started poring the water on her face from a cup in the bath, all by herself. And then within a week she decided she wanted to put her face underwater. It was only for a second or two, but she did it, and she was so proud of herself she kept doing it. She went to school the next day and told her teacher, Ms Jennifer, and didn't get the overreactive super excited response she was hoping for. Most people don't understand the difficulties McKenna faces or how far she has come. But for our family, we are so excited and proud of McKenna to reach this milestone. McKenna went to the foot doctor last week and they are switching her from her SMO braces to chipmunk orthotics. Due to the huge financial difference between the braces and orthotics, and because of how much easier the orthotics are to put on, we are really hoping that they will be enough supper to help correct her extremely flat feet. McKenna has had a slight wean from her tube feed. We usually give her one and a half boxes of formula and about three weeks ago we decreased her to on box. She seems to be handling it well. No huge appetite increase, but doesn't appear to have lost any weight and has actually gained a few ounces. We will keep her at this quantity for at least another month if not longer. We will be talking to her pediatrician this week for their five year check up and will be able to discuss with them at that point aha the best steps for McKenna would be to help continue tube decreases.

Spring Break

Our spring break was shared with a visit from Grandma Deb and Grandpa Bob. Our time was filled with fishing, kite flying, eating too much food, seeing Fantastic Caverns, watching The Lego Movie at the theater and we even went to Memphis for the weekend to see the family and celebrate Grandma Deb and Aunt Terri's 60th birthday. The kids did great and had wonderful behavior. You could tell they were exhausted by the end of the week though and they were ready to return to their usual routine.

Rash Drama

So glad we took Keaton to the doctor for his rash, although it brought unnecessary drama. Apparently the rash was just from being sick, but they made us do blood work to make sure it wasn't a blood disease. In the process, Keaton was crying so hard over fear of the needle in his arm that his blood wouldn't come out, causing the nurse to leave the truncate on his arm over three minutes, which caused an extreme rash/bruising all down his left arm. It was awful and took several days to go away. A week after rash went away Keaton woke up with another ear ache and has blisters in his ear. We are on our third antibiotic in four week time period. Luckily it appears this one has helped but we will see how long. He also has the beginnings of bronchitis.

AHHHHHHHH

SERIOUSLY!? We are ready for a break. Keaton has gone to the doctor three times in past two weeks for sinus infection, cough, high fever, and ear ache. He is on his second antibiotic which doesn't seem to be working. He had a fever all weekend long. Says ear is better, but now the fever is back so obviously he is fighting something. Now this morning he woke up with a rash all over his body. Will be calling doctor to take him back to the doctor. Thursday we picked McKenna up from school and she was hacking and had a low-grade fever. We normally would let her ride it out, but she has been coughing so much it was hurting her belly (as if she had done a bunch of sit-ups) and it was making her head hurt. Glad we took her in; she has pneumonia. They put her on an antibiotic which took away the fever within a day or two but she still has a head full of mucus. Due to snow and ice storm Sunday, school was canceled today. I normally wouldn't care and would be grateful about the cancellation because it means more time with the kids, but the roads all look clear so it's a bit odd to not have school. Keaton wouldn't go to school today anyway because of his rash, but McKenna has actually been asking to go to school. Oh well, there is always Thursday.

Friends

Don't know what I would do if God hadn't blessed our family with such great friends. Valentine's Day was so much fun with these kiddos, and I pray these relationships grow as our kids do.

Sick, again

My oh my, it is exhausting to see little ones sick so often. The twins got sick in January and are still fighting nasty coughs. Keaton went to the doctor three times last week: cough (doctor said wait it out), fever 104.4 (sinus infection and on Rx), ear pain (ear infection, while on Rx for sinus infection). His cough is finally getting better, and no fever for over a week. McKenna's cough has hung around for weeks and Tuesday afternoon it seemed to intensify. Last night, Wednesday, she coughed continually and got little sleep. It's funny that the school rules are kids can go as long as they are fever free for 24 hours, or on Rx for 24 hours. Well, no fever, and no Rx, so she has been going to school. That's how germs and viruses are spread. At the same time, everyone else is sending their kids to school in the same condition, so I feel justified even knowing my kids are getting others sick. If I wait until they are cough free they will get the cough the following week. As this blog is being written, McKenna is doing a breathing treatment/inhaler for her cough and I am just crossing my fingers and praying that it helps cough a little less today. She can't seem to talk or move without coughing, and she is finally becoming a very talkative/active little girl so I really don't want to tell her to slow down, or to stop talking.