GLIDING (6 YRS - 2 MONTHS)

Daddy has modified S bike, taking off the pedals to make glider bike. He has taken her "gliding" at the near-by school campus. He hopes that gliding will help her feel more comfortable with balancing and turning on a real bike. In the meantime she's having fun!

SHOWERING (5 3/4 YRS OLD)

S has taken to showering instead of a bath since she had her adenoids out. The doctor recommend showering for awhile, to keep the water out of her ear.

Due to the ear tubes, She started complaining about water getting into her ears. She dislikes that feeling of water in the ear and draining out (which is better than before -- where it didn't drain out).

Now, with mama out of commission, S has started showering by herself. What has made showering enticing by herself is the chair mama has in the shower. She likes standing on it and being directly under the shower head.

Of course, she's a lot like her daddy too who likes long showers like she does.

MAMA BROKEN (5 3/4 YRS)

S was on the bed with mama coloring one of her (beautiful hand-made) cards.Then she looked up and said "I don't like you broken." Mama just looked up and said, "I don't like me broken either." Mama gave her a little peck and S went back to contently coloring.

Mama's happy that she and S have the type of relationship where S feels ok to express how she feels.

CONNOR (5 3/4 YRS OLD)

Sarah carpools with Connor. At first, they were both quiet with each other. Connor would play pretend games in the car, usually about his favorite character Super Mario. Now, they both pretend to make donuts. They get along well with each other and S describes him as gentle.

S has recently picked up on of Connor's mannerisms, saying "yeah, yeah, yeah" in the same way he does and nodding her head, like him.

SELF-RELIANT (5 3/4 YRS OLD)

With mama broken, S has had to be more self-reliant. She has had to get herself ready for school/ camp by herself. e.g. eat breakfast, get dressed, brush her teeth and pack her snack to name a few things. These are all things within her capabilities to do, but now she is expected to do them with less or no supervision, company and prompting.

Before the surgery, S had an occasional outburst of tears and unwillingness to help. After the surgery, S has had no choice. Amazingly, she has done a good job stepping up to her new expectations.

In the big picture, S is learning she is ultimately responsible for herself.

SCARED (5 3/4 YRS OLD)

Prior to spring break, S teachers contacted mama that S was extra clingy at school and broke down crying a couple of times. Finally she admitted to her teachers that she was scared of mama's surgery.

Mama tried to talk to S about it, asking specifically what she was scared of. Mama was worried that S might be afraid mama would die. S was afraid that no one would take care of her. Mama tried to reassure her that daddy would take care of her. But S responded that it wasn't the same.

Finally, momma said, "it wasn't going to be the same. It will be okay. Life will be different with daddy in charge, but mama will be okay. Sarah will be okay and daddy will be okay.Everything will be ok."

MORNING RUSH (5 3/4 YRS OLD)

School mornings are often rushed. S wakes up between 7 and 7:30 am, but has to leave the house around 8:30 am, preferably earlier to make school by 9 am. Usually, she's late to school.

BRAIN CRUNCHER (5 3/4 YR OLD)

At breakfast this morning, S read the words "brain cruncher" at the back of the Life Cinnamon cereal box. These words were on the back of a puzzle with a cut out of a house and neighborhood. "What is brain cruncher?," asked S. Mama turned the question back on her and asked, "What did she think it was?"

She looked at the back of the box of cereal for awhile and replied, "the boy is eating brain." Mama looked and there was a boy on the box in the kitchen eating cereal, or in this case, 'brain.' S added, "it looks like he's drinking blood," pointing to a red carton of milk.

Mama laughed and said, "This must be the zombie family" and S also burst into giggles.

HELPER (5 3/4 YRS OLD)

S has had to do more things by herself now that mama hurt her knee, like pick after herself or get her own breakfast. Yesterday morning, she told mama, "I'm tired of helping you." Mama sympathized.

Mama think it's hard for S to be expected to take care of herself. It makes her want mama more. But, overall, despite her complaint, she's been an excellent helper!

MATH PROJECT (5 3/4 YRS OLD)

Ms. Anneke provides a list of math projects to do at home. The recent theme is time. They have been doing the months and time of day. One of the project was to draw a timeline of S's life. Mama thought this would be something she would enjoy.

Mama drew three boxes with lines underneath for labeling on a sheet of paper and said that she could provide more if S wanted to do more. S drew in box one, a picture of herself in a crib. In box two, a small stick figure of herself and in box three, a bigger stick figure of herself. She labeled it as follows (1) I was born, (2) I was a kid and (3) Now, I am 5.

Mama laughed and daddy said, "that pretty well sums it up for his life too."

CARDS (5 3/4 YRS OLD)

S has really taken to making cards. She often makes cards for mama and daddy and her teachers to express her love of them. She often writes, "I love you; you love S."

Since mama blew out her knee on Wednesday, she's made 3 to 5 cards every day. Tonight she added the words, "I hoepe you git deder." Mama had to ask her what she meant because she read it as "I hope you get deader." Actually, S meant, "I hope you get better."

Everyone had a good laugh.