Piano Moving and Cleft Notes :-)

Last week Ella had her 6 month check up with the cleft team. She came through with flying colors. We started with the speech pathologist and speech testing. They found Ella was hyper nasal a little but she also had a stuffy nose. Then we visited with Dr Wood. He didn't agree that Ella is hyper nasal and we are going to wait and see how she sounds the next appointment. The last part of the day was an appointment with the Pediatric Dentist. Our appointment was the morning after a snow storm and the dentist lives a fair distance from the hospital. She did her best to catch up but we were called in an hour late. I thought about rescheduling but wanted them to check the tooth and Ella was doing great in the waiting room. I guess the tooth growing in is normal for Cleft kids. We just need to keep it clean to protect the bone. In July Ella will be fitted for a mouth guard. She will wear a face mask at night. I am not looking forward to that fight. But, it will help encourage her upper jaw to grow out more. That will correct her bite. Right now her lower front teeth are in front of her upper teeth. It also affects her speech. She will have to wear that mouth guard for a year or so.

Elizabeth did so well on her attitude and behaviour that her grounding has been lifted. We have the understanding that if there is repeat behavior she is grounded again. I will also make sure to get her to bed early enough so she is rested.

Friday I had a babysitter and went out with Todd to a birthday party. It was fun but sure made me tired on Saturday. Its good to hang out with my friends but I did get a little down at the end of the night. I don't get a chance to get together with these friends every time they go out, but I really enjoy time spent with them.

Saturday morning I started prepping the dining room for paint. I patched the holes and then took the girls to Ella's gymnastics. On the ride home between classes, Elizabeth said she was getting car sick and was tired. So, we didn't go back for her class. We'll do the class on Tuesday as a makeup. Thankfully Elizabeth didn't get sick but was tired. I primed the patches and the girls watched tv in their tent and sheet fort. Todd came over and stayed to help. Thanks a ton Todd. I had not asked anyone to help but was happy he volunteered.

After the walls were dry, Todd and I moved the piano. Hard to believe but it was pretty easy. Today I cleaned the living room and dining room and watched tv with the girls. It was a very nice Weekend.


Its good to see the treadmill getting used - just didn't know it would be as a jungle gym.



Shortly after these pictures were taken, I asked the girls to take a break from painting. :-)


The piano in its new location... along with a cute dancer.


This is where the piano used to be. Its a little area right off the front door. The wallpaper was put up in 1966 by my dad. I have been slowly taking it off but need to find something to take off the dried on glue. But, my plan is to take the paper off, paint the walls and put up carpet squares in matching colors. The girls can then put up art work and pictures in their play area. We tried tape but its not sticking great. I saw the idea about carpet squares (with double stick tape) on a decorating show. When the girls are all done with wanting a play area, maybe that will be a reading spot.


This poster board was my idea to help Elizabeth with reading english. She does great with chinese but still struggles with english. I am not worried but I know it bugs her sometimes because she compares herself with her day care friends. I was going to write down phrases she already knew but she started telling me a story so I had to document it. Pretty good for a 6 year old. On the other side of the poster board, there are pictures we cut out from magazines with descriptive sentences below some. It will be good for both girls. See why we need the carpet squares?