It is Amazing how quickly kids grow up and start learning how to get what they want.  When I sat down at my desk tonight I smiled when I saw the picture Sharmi gave me this afternoon.  She has been begging for Mac n cheese for days.  This afternoon she tried again and said, “Mommy, I will give you this picture I colored if you give us Mac n cheese.”  In trying to get them to do what we want we have taught our children the fine art of negotiation. 

Sharmi’s swimming has made huge improvements in the last 4 weeks.  Four weeks ago she refused to put her head under water and freaked out if we weren’t securely holding onto her.  Last night, she held her head under water for12 seconds, she swam with her kickboard by herself without me even in the water, and she even swam several strokes to me all by herself on several occasions.  She keeps saying, ”I am so proud of myself.”  I ofcourse am very proud of her as well.  Chantal also thinks she has become quite the swimmer.  Last night she tried to swim to me and didn’t realize she couldn’t swim until she went under and swallowed some water.  Luckily I was close enough to catch her.   

Sharmi’s health is doing really well.  She had another visit to Children’s Hospital about 10 days ago.  She was so brave she didn’t even whimper.  She was so pleasant and cooperative you would have though I took her into an ice cream shop.  She was amazing.  Chantel was still worried though.  When we went into the lab for the draw Chantel asked, “Is it going hurt Sharmi?”  We told her it shouldn’t hurt much because she had magic cream on.  Then Chantel stood beside us with her hands half over her eyes and said, “I don’t want watch hurt Sharmi.”  The nurse was amazed at her concern and how well she expressed herself for a two year old. 

Dr. Thompson said that Sharmi’s labs were perfect.  I told her that several weeks earlier I was pretty concerned because Sharmi was overtired, her eyes were dark, and her coloring was yellow.  Dr. Thompson assured me that Sharmi looked great now and said that her platelets were better then hers or mine probably were.  It was nice to have the assurance.

Chantel has been fighting a little bit of a cold for a couple of weeks.  She hasn’t gotten it too badly yet, but it keeps hanging on.  Tonight she was so tired that I tricked her into falling asleep in my arms.  She was waiting to play “Duck Duck Goose” with Sharmi and I, but Sharmi was picking up hundreds of pieces of confetti that Chantel had spread all over her floor.  I am amazed at how patient and diligent Sharmi is at detailed tasks.  She had already picked up the confetti yesterday after the party off of the table, but then to pick it up out of the carpet for at-least 25 minutes was amazing.  She was very through and patient.  If only that patience flowed into other areas of life. 

Chantel’s learning is amazing me.  She is just as smart as Sharmi.  I am already able to see their different strengths.  Today Chantel built a whole house with foam blocks and brought two arm loads of little people and animals before Sharmi had talked me into helping her build her house for her.  Chantel is more of a “just do it” kind of girl and Sharmi wants to “do it the right way.” 

Chantlel has also learned her phonics.  Most children ask for you to draw a cat or dog or something, but Chantel asks me to draw by the phonics.  “Mom draw an “e” (I don’t know how to spell the phonics) once I have drawn the letter “E” she will then ask for drawings of elephants and eggs.   

Last week we enjoyed a warm day and went to the Zoo and Spaghetti Factory with Melissa and baby Amriel.  It was a lovely day.  We are looking forward to summer when we get more nice days so we can enjoy getting the beautiful outdoors more.

Happy Easter,

Cheris