Second Test

Since Katie just barely failed her hearing test at her 4 year checkup, we had to go back in one month for a follow-up test.  She had a double ear infection at the 4 year checkup, which is why the pediatrician thought she failed the test.  We went in for the retest today.  Unfortunately, Katie still failed the test.  She heard noises at 30db but passing means hearing noises at 20db. 

Her pediatrician recommended taking 1 tsp Zyrtec daily in case it's related to seasonal allergies.  So we will do that and head back again one month from now for another retest.  Keeping my fingers crossed that the third time is a charm!

Azaleas

Every year in early spring, the azalea bushes under the tree in our front yard bloom.  They get bigger and better each year.  Even though the blooms only last for a few weeks, we enjoy them fully.  Here are a few pictures of the bushes.

First Harvest of the Season

Todd planted our vegetable and fruit garden back in mid-March.  There were several close calls with freezing temperatures after planting that required the garden to be covered with a tarp.  While looking at it this weekend, we noticed that the spinach plants were already producing quite a few leaves.  I came inside and looked up when to harvest spinach.  I watched a video on how to do it and what leaves to cut on the plant.  I found out that more leaves will grow after you cut back the plant a little bit.  I plan to freeze some of the spinach for later use and will eat the rest in a salad for lunch tomorrow.  So excited that we are getting something from the garden already!

Here is what I cut tonight:

Eye Appointments for the Kids

Katie and Michael had appointments at Johns Hopkins this morning for an eye checkup.  It's been about 5 months since Katie's last appt and about 9 months since Michael's last appt.  The appointments were actually rescheduled from a few weeks ago.  It just so happened that I was able to reschedule them during spring break so no school was missed.  Unfortunately, Michael had some sort of stomach bug the morning of the appointments.  Somehow, he managed to get through the appointments without vomiting on anyone.  I am amazed at the control he has when suffering through a stomach bug.  He is my hero!

All that aside, the appointment went really well.  Of course, there was the typical screaming about getting drops put in their eyes.  Katie used to be OK with it but after watching Michael throw the perfect fit, she has now mastered it as well.  This time the nurse went to give her a tissue after putting the drops in her eyes and Katie actually threw the tissue down and screamed at her.  Not her finest moment but I wouldn't want drops in my eyes either.

Michael went first.  He was able to read a good bit of the chart and did well on the depth perception measurement.  When he met with the doctor, he was extremely cooperative.  His lenses have not moved since the last visit.  His vision has gotten just a little bit worse but nothing major.  The doctor did write him a new prescription for glasses that will allow his vision to be corrected to 20/40.  This is great!

Katie was next.  At her last appt, the doctor wanted us to patch her right eye for one hour a day.  We did this and he said that he saw an improvement in her left eye.  He wants us to continue with the patching as he doesn't want to lose what has been gained.  A quantitative measurement of her vision was able to be obtained, which wasn't possible at her last appointment in November.  She is seeing better, although her left eye is still considerably weaker than her right eye.  She is also not showing any further lens dislocation at this time either.  She did not get a new prescription as her vision did not worsen.  This was wonderful news.

The doctor wants to see Katie back in 4 months so we will try to coordinate these appointments with our summer visit to Johns Hopkins.  He said that he could see Michael at that time as well so that's probably what we will do.  A good visit was just what we needed!

Egg Hunt

Today was Katie's Easter Egg Hunt at school.  She couldn't wait to go and has been talking about it all week.  We have several Easter baskets at the house so she picked out the one with pink and polka dots.  I dropped her off at school and planned to return when it was time for the hunt.

Ms. Beth, one of Katie's teachers, gave the ground rules for the egg hunt.  They all walked to the grassy area outside their classroom.  As soon as they heard the word "go", all of the kids started running toward the eggs.  There are 14 or 15 kids in her class.  Katie was off and she was picking up eggs quickly.  She didn't follow the rest of the kids but just went after the eggs.  After all of the eggs were picked up, the kids headed back to the class.  They all left their baskets outside.  The teachers wanted everyone to have the same amount of eggs so a few parents made that happen.

Next up was the party in their class during snack time.  They were having pretzels, an Easter lollipop and ice cream sundaes.  Katie waited in line for her turn very patiently.  When it was finally her turn, she decided that she didn't want any of the ice cream and just wanted to sit with me.  After a few minutes (and when most of the kids were done eating), she wanted to eat her ice cream then.  She enjoyed it and ate some of the lollipop too.  As soon as we got in the car after school, she wanted to eat all of the candy she had gotten at the hunt!  Guess she wanted to have it all to herself.  Looking forward to the next hunt on Easter.

Katie's 4 Year Checkup

Today was Katie's annual well visit.  Todd and I were both able to go to the appointment, which I find is better when there are going to be shots involved.  Luckily, the pediatrician's office has changed the schedule on which they give shots and she only got 2.  I remember Michael getting 4 or 5 shots at the 4 year checkup!

Katie is 44 3/4 inches tall (99%) and weighs 40 lbs (82%).  I was surprised that her weight percentile was so high since she looks so long and lean.  This is the same size that Michael was at his 5 year checkup.  Her BMI was 14 (11%) and her BP was 90/62. 

She did not get the vision test, which they typically do at the 4 year checkup, since she already wears glasses.  Unfortunately, she failed the hearing test.  The doctor would like for her hearing to be at 20 decibels and the lowest she could hear was 30 decibels.  He would like to see her back in one month for a hearing recheck.  The reason that she failed the hearing test probably had to do with the fact that she had a double ear infection!  She didn't complain about her ears hurting at all and wasn't running a fever. 

Since we have a water filtration system in our house, the doctor also gave us a prescription for a vitamin with fluoride in it.  This will help her to get the fluoride that she needs without getting too much and damaging her teeth. 

Everything else looked good with Katie.  She is on track for her developmental milestones and we talked a little bit about her sleep issues.  We told him about the sticker chart and getting a reward for going to sleep by herself in her own bed.  So far, so good.  Once we get the bedtime down, we will work on keeping her in her bed all night.

Even though there was a little bad news with the hearing and the ear infection, it was a good appointment overall.

4

Today Katie turns 4!  I did really well with this birthday.  I think it's because it's not a milestone, like 3, where she turns into a preschool from a toddler, or 5, where she will be starting kindergarten in a few months. 

The past year has been a whirlwind of excitement as she experienced her share of firsts.  First day of preschool, first night away from home without Mom or Dad, first time writing her name by herself.  Katie's vocabulary is ridiculous and it's easy for me to forget that I am talking to a 4 year old.  She uses words like stylish and ingredients in everyday conversation.  Katie does a lot of listening and chooses her words carefully.  Even if you think she is not listening, she is.  She just takes her world in and gives it back when you least expect it.

Katie loves Hello Kitty, Max and Ruby, reading books to herself, Legos, coloring, playing dress-up (whether it be princesses or Batman), and spending time outside riding her scooter or bicycle.  She can get dressed by herself and loves to pick out her clothes.  She has quite a fashion sense, often pairing lavender rain boots with a pink outfit.  The only shoes she will wear to school are her sneakers, unless she knows that they are not going outside because she doesn't like to get sand in her shoes.


Preschool has been a wonderful learning experience for Katie, even if she wasn't so crazy about it at first.  I think she has made a few new friends and gets to play with the friends that she already has.   She still loves learning new things and we practice writing letters at home, as well as reading books to her.  She really likes to get some of Michael's books from school and "read" them to herself.

One of the things that Katie is still working on is sleeping by herself.  Ever since she moved out of the crib, sleeping through the night has been pretty elusive.  Someone has been laying down with her to sleep since shortly after she turned 3.  We have been preparing her for turning 4, when she is going to fall asleep by herself.  Keeping our fingers crossed that this transition goes smoothly.

The relationship between Katie and Michael is one of typical siblings.  She wants to be near him and do what he does.  I think it's hard for her at times to understand that she isn't the same age as him.  When they are not at each other's throats, they can be found playing nicely together.  Michael is very protective of Katie and will go out of his way to make sure that no one does anything to her that he doesn't like.  Of course, it's OK if he does the same thing.

Katie is the daughter we always wanted and makes our family complete!  Happy 4th birthday Katie....Mommy, Daddy and Michael all love you very much.