First Day of Kindergarten

We can hardly believe it, but Hannah started Kindergarten!  Seems like yesterday we were just bringing her home from the hospital!  Congratulations, Hannah, we're so proud of you!

Conversations with a 3 year old

Parker is our funny guy.  He loves to laugh.  He loves to be tickled.  He loves to run.  He loves to ask why.   He also loves to be the backseat driver!  

A few months ago, Parker became fascinated with 'STOP' signs.  Any time we drove by, near or upon a STOP sign, he would scream at the top of his lungs, "MOM!  STOP!".  And if you ask him what he wants to be for Halloween?  You guessed it... A STOP sign!

Conversation #1

The Setting:  Driving Hannah to school, still in my pajamas, still half sleeping, sipping tea and answering Parker's never ending curiosities

Parker:  "Mom, Stop.  STOP, there's a STOP sign!"

Me:  "Oh, honey, that STOP sign isn't for us, it's for the other lane of traffic"

Parker:  "Why?"

Me:  "Because we are on the busier street so those cars have to stop and wait their turn".

We continue our drive and take our exit to Hannah's school.

Parker:  "Mom, STOP!  There's a red sign.  MOM!  You didn't STOP and it was a red sign!  Mom, you're supposed to STOP!".

Me:  "Parker, it's okay, that sign just has a little bit of red on it, and it was a triangle shape, it's called a YIELD sign, not a STOP sign.  So we don't actually have to STOP we just have to drive slow".

Parker:  "But it was red,  MOM!  Red means STOP!"

I don't actually remember what I said next, but it was quite a challenge trying to explain the different shaped signs having different rules.  

Conversation #2

The Setting:  Living room.  I'm on the couch trying to catch a quick nap after a rough night with Hannah, while Parker gets to watch a cartoon.  

Me:  "Okay, bubbie, let's watch a cartoon so Mommy can take a quick nap."

Parker:  "Okay, I want Curious George."

Me:  "I can't find any, honey.  How about The Backyardigans?"

Parker:  "Yeah!".

I am just about to nod off when Parker YELLS:

Parker:  "MOM!  I HAVE SOME BAD NEWS!"

Me:  Sitting up wide eyed with worry.  "What is it?"

Parker:  "I only like The Backyardigans now, not Curious George."

Me:  sighing with relief that it isn't anything terribly serious.  "Oh my, that is bad news."

Parker:  "Well, sometimes I still like Curious George."

Me:  "Well, that would be good news then!"

 

Conversations with a 5 year old

This summer, I was blown away with how 'grown up' Hannah became.  Her mannerisms and tone of voice were more adult like than I remembered.  It was only when we had the following conversations, that I realized just how 'intellectually' grown up she had become.

Conversation #1.

The Setting:  hiking in the woods on a beautiful summer afternoon.

Hannah:  "I wonder how this all started?"

Me:  "How what all started, honey?"

Hannah:  "You know, the trees, the sky, the Earth."

Me:  "Ohhhh."

Hannah:  "Like, who had the first baby?"

Me:  "Well, honey, there are lots of theories....."

Hannah:  "Theories?  You mean like the theories about dinosaurs?"

Me:  "Exactly!"

Hannah:  "Mom, did you know that turtles were alive when the dinosaurs lived?  They survived because the dinosaurs thought they were rocks!"  This is followed by a huge belly laugh, since that is probably the silliest thing, you know, that the dinosaurs didn't know they were turtles.

We did have a great conversation about how 'this all started'.  But it was awe inspiring watching her grasp such a philosophical thought.

Conversation #2.

The setting:  The beach, building sand castles and pools with water.  Parker is worried that we won't have enough water.  I assure him the ocean is large and we will have plenty of water.

Hannah:  "Mom?  Will the ocean ever run out?"

Me:  "Oh no, honey.  There's actually more ocean than there is land on Earth."

Hannah is quiet for a couple of minutes and then her thoughts are verbalized.

Hannah:  "So, what happens if there are too many people and we run out of land for everyone to live on?"

Me:  Completely shocked, I pick my jaw up from the sand and say "Yeah, it's a growing problem, actually."

WOW!  Aren't children just amazing?  It is a gift to be raising my two great kids.  And everyday I am grateful that I get to see the world through their eyes.  They are constantly teaching me things.  For example, these conversations?  A lesson, that Hannah is comprehending things I didn't think she was old enough to understand, let alone question and grasp.  

This just in from Boston....

We are ecstatic to report that Hannah is looking perfect!  

We met with her rheumatologist yesterday and he confirmed our feelings:  Hannah is looking just perfect.  In fact, he said, just looking at her, one wouldn't know she has JRA.  

We've been feeling like Hannah has been doing well all summer.  No illnesses, she's eating great, growing quite a bit (she's gained 3 pounds and grown 3/4 of an inch since June!) and her energy level is right up there with her peers.  

Her doctor informed us that we can start a plan to wean her off of the Enbrel (the stronger of the two meds) immediately.  So, instead of four injections per month, it'll be three injections per month.  Woo hoo!  Who knew that would be worth celebrating!  Keep your fingers crossed that her little body will continue to be healthy with less meds.