Catch Up!

We have been busy! Busy with work... busy with play! I haven't found much time to blog. It is always like this at the beginning of a school year. I can't seem to keep my head above water, and then all of a sudden, everything is OK. Right now, I am still in the drowning phase and hoping it ends soon. The kids have had lots going on, too!

Over the last couple of weeks, they both had their four year checkups. Rush was first and went to see Dr. Glaze. I asked him about several things that had been nagging at me about Rush. The biggest thing was his CRAZY sleep patterns. They have both always been pretty good sleepers. Since Rush potty-trained over a year ago, though, he has had the strangest sleeping habits. (I personally think, he wakes up to use the bathroom and can't get himself back to sleep very easily in the early morning hours.) He won't go to sleep at night until nearly 10 pm most nights... even though he is put into his bed a little before 8. He also wakes up before 6 am most mornings. Ummmm.... this is not fun. I was also really concerned that he wasn't getting enough sleep. Guess what? The doctor said it is probably just a phase that he will outgrow. He said as long as his behavior is ok, and he seems happy, then things are ok. Sooooooo... we continue. He did say that if it seems to be affecting his behavior or if it continues after he starts "real school" and doesn't get naps anymore, to let him know. He said they can do sleep studies on children to see if there is something more serious going on. So for now, I will just have to get used to that fuzzy little head popping up beside me on the bed in the early morning hours. Thank goodness he's cute!

The stats at four years old:
Rush:
Height: 39 inches
Weight: 32.5 pounds (Has gained 3.5 pounds since January!!! Woot!)
He is still a little guy, but he is growing!!!

Rush's favorites at four:
Toys:He loves all toys, but he is currently loving his Star Wars figures that his Uncle Chris brought him. They are straight from 1977. He also loves to build things out of blocks. He also plays with his trains and cars a lot. He LOVES toys. He will play by himself in his room and is very content to be in charge of his own entertainment.
Foods: strawberries and pancakes
Books: He loves books about trains and cars.
Learning: He is currently drawing stick people and will occasionally practice writing his letters. He likes to do things on his terms and doesn't often want to show off what he has learned. Rush remembers information about things he is interested in. He can talk about lots of different things, and he remembers information that is pretty complicated for a four year old as long as it is about a topic that interests him.

Bike riding is going better!

Sydney Frances went for her appointment this past week, and unfortunately, she had already gotten the full scoop on the shots she would be getting right down to where the nurse would be pinching her arms and legs. (Note to self... always schedule her first because Rush is the more laid back child. Fran can't handle the anticipation and stress.) I did not tell her about the appointment until the morning of because I didn't want her to have lots of time to get worked up about it. I also didn't want to spring it on her that afternoon because Gigi was picking up Rush from daycare. We didn't remind her of how she had just the week before shouted with glee on Rush's appointment day, "Everybody has to get checkups sometimes, Rush. My GIGI is coming to get me!!! Rush, you are going for your checkup, and I am going to my Gigi's. Rush, checkups keep you healthy, so you need to go. While I go to my Gigi's!!!!!!!!!" Little did she know that her appointment was scheduled for the next week. :-) Dr. Glaze came into the appointment and asked me if I had my list of questions ready. Haha! My list about Rush obviously stood out in his mind, but he was surprised to hear that I only had a couple for Fran. Didn't even have to write them down...
(Yes, I know I worry about Rush too much even though he is really perfectly fine. I am working through this.) Miss Priss checked out just fine, too. Still on the small side, but perfectly healthy! Unfortunately, when you are a Drama Queen, getting shots requires you to limp and drag your leg behind you once you arrive at home. Thankfully, she has moved on... kinda.

Four year old stats:
Sydney Frances:
Height: 37.5 inches (first time she has ever been shorter than Rush... they are usually even)
Weight: 33 pounds

SF's favorites at four:
Food: chicken nuggets with ranch
Toys: Barbies and Barbie car
Books: Pete the Cat books
Learning: She is writing lots of letters, and she does like to show off what she has learned. She is drawing stick people, but she doesn't love to color things. She will often scribble over things that need to be colored so that she can practice writing. She also loves to sing songs and memorizes them quickly.

Since the kiddos were born prematurely, they have to have a vision screening at age 4. Dr. Glaze said he thinks their vision is great based on the screening they do at the pediatric clinic, but he said we should see a opthamologist to rule out a condition called retinopathy of prematurity. They had a screening at 3 months old. They told us at that appointment to follow up when they were four years old. I seriously could not imagine as my Mama and I sat in that appointment four years ago that they would ever be four. At the time, I was pretty sure I was never going to sleep a full night again, so it was hard to imagine four year olds. Yet here we are. I still think I am going to take my Mama to the appointment with us, though. The last one was somewhat unpleasant, and even though we no longer need the second set of hands to hold a baby, I think I need the moral support.

I also wanted to post a few pictures of my Frannie in an outfit that belonged to me as a little girl. My Mama Jo made it for me, and I remember it. I LOVED this outfit. It is white with little ties on the shoulders and has a little "dutch girl" embroidered on the front. It just fits Frannie this year, and even though I haven't let her wear it out of the house, I did put it on her and let her play around it in. If I can think of a place we could go where she wouldn't get it dirty, I will let her wear it before it gets too cold.

P.S. The hands on the hips thing is a new addition to Fran's picture-posing. She is something else.

Coming soon... Frannie went to her first Auburn game. It was fun, and it deserves a post of its own!

A preview: