Happy Valentines, (post finished on Tuesday the 17th)

Sharmi is having a really good nap today(Saturday).  It is 5:00 and she is still sleeping.  I think she has been sleeping for about two hours.  She hasn’t been sleeping well for the last couple of weeks so this is really good for her. 

Two weeks ago Sharmi was on her steroids again.  She did really well compared to most weeks in the past.  I wish I had figured it out 18 months ago.  Insead of managing her side effects with codine like the doctor recomended I kept her on chamomile during the day for her nerves and benadryl day and night for the itching.  We were also able to prevent her from getting constipated from the vincrinstine which usually is a three day problem which creates toxicity in her body.  She slept much better and didn’t get as worn out.  However, despite doing well on steroid week, she had a rough week after that.  I don’t know why, but she was cranky and I noticed that her skin color was very yellow some days.  She seems to be better again now.  

Chantel has had an eventful week.  I am learning that she is a sly little one.  Last Thursday morning everything had been quiet for too long so I began the search around the house.  Apparently Chantelhad found an orange marker and a small note pad.  She must have gotten bored with the note pad and decided that Sharmi’s door and wall were a much better canvas.  She knew that she was doing something wrong because she had closed Sharmi’s door so she could be creative in peace.   I worked very hard to remove the marker but it was hopeless.  The rest of the day when Chantel would see the wall she said, “Oh oh…  No no…. naauy naauy (naughty naughty).”   It was so cute.  I had a hard time not smiling every timeshe said it.  It almost made needing to paint the wall again worth it.   

Sharmi is also growing so big and getting so smart.  She amazes us on a regular basis.  Friday afternoon she went shopping with her Daddy at costco and she was holding the list.  She pointed to the last item on the list and asked, “Daddy does that word say ‘pizza’?”  She was right.  I asked him if he had read the list or mentioned that they needed pizza and he stated that he hadn’t said anything about pizza.  I think she learned it from one of her stories, but I have not taught her that word. 

As you know Sharmiis into books and reading.  She can “read” several small books all by herself now, word for word.  She has actually memorized the story and knows which words go with which page.  What is even more impressive is when she reads the story and she intentionally changes every page to be the opposite of what the book reads.  When she does it she laughs and thinks she is so clever.  Being mom, I ofcourse agree wholeheartedly. 

This weekend her friends Jennifer and Logan came to visit us again for a few days.  She had a wonderful time playing with them.  After they left on Monday I asked her if she had had a fun time and she said, “Yes, but I am sad they are gone.  I hope they will come back to play again soon.” It was a very nice valentine weekend for all of us.  John baby sat for us Saturday night so Dean and I could go out with some friends. 

I hope your Valentines weekend was  filled with love.  I send my love to you and your families,

Cheris