Growing Girls

I just tucked the kids into their beds and am amazed at how large their sleeping bodies are.  How do they both take up the entire bed now, when just a few years ago they were little tiny lumps in the bed?  Granted, they are in toddler / kid beds that need to be upgraded soon, but I'm still amazed by their enormity.  They are four years old and six years old.  I realized I did not mention their birthdays, but they happened.  Eliana turned 6 in May and we celebrated with a cooking school birthday party.  (Just a few weeks before her diagnosis, I shudder to think of what her blood sugar was after that party!!!)    

 

Leah turned 4 in September and we had a backyard birthday party that turned indoor birthday party because of the weather.  Her birthday request was that no one sing "happy birthday" at her party, but Sister Bluford couldn't help herself.  Leah covered up her ears.  Her birthday wish was for a puppy.  She did get a toy puppy that really barks, walks and wags his tail, and he is going to have to be a good enough substitute for now.

Eliana and Leah have each moved up academically, to first grade and to the "Fishies class" respectively. Leah is enjoying being a Fishie. She is there three days a week, and stays for early care and lunch bunch, so they are long days.  Her teacher is very energetic and creative and she is learning a lot!   Leah started speech therapy services a few weeks ago and is already progressing well.  She continues to be a happy, social, cooperative and playful little one.  Her sense of humor has fully emerged and she loves making us laugh.  Her favorite things are mermaids, puppies and chewing gum (the gum is a newly earned privilege that came when she turned four).   Leah truly does want a puppy more than anything.  She prays for a dog at every meal.  She draws pictures of dogs and stops people on the street to ask if she can pet their dogs.   And of course, she is still obsessed with Casper, her Nana's dog.  Here is Leah excited for her first day of school: 

 

Eliana is doing great in first grade now, but had a rough start to the beginning of the year.  She’s never been overly thrilled when it is time to separate, but this one was particularly difficult.  I am sure that having to deal with her diabetes for the first time at school was part of it.  To make things more challenging, she has been having a lot of ongoing belly problems.  There were tears for the first few weeks, but then she settled into the routine.  On days when she managed to go into school without tears she received bravery prizes in a magic flowerpot.  The flowerpot has been helping us out for a few years now, and is definitely a motivator.  This photo of  Eliana on the first day captures her feelings about the new school year pretty well.

Eliana still complains about going to school, but she has gotten much more comfortable and into a routine, and I believe she is enjoying first grade.  She has a lot of confidence about math, and says that diabetes has taught her to be an expert with numbers.  I love watching her reading and writing progress.  In fact, I have to share a story that she wrote, that is based on a story that I had told her from my childhood.  (Translation to follow!) 

Candy Store Walk

When my Mom was little there were 13 kids on her block.  The kids begged and begged to walk to the candy store.  The big kids said they would hold hands with the little kids so the moms said yes.

We're still working on the details, like spelling and punctuation, but I love that she remembered this story and wrote about it all on her own.  I love these ages of four and six, and watching the kids do things they have never done before, and not knowing what new and exciting things they'll do next!  It is a blessing to be their Mommy!