week ending dec 14, 2008

Week ending Dec 14, 2008: Chloe and Alex love their weekly gymnastic class and they seem to be making progress in their cartwheels, trampoline jumping, and uneven parallel bar tricks. Chloe had been practicing cartwheels on the trampoline, and had perfect form except for the landing (which was usually a form of crash landing) up until last week when she was able to land them. Now she can do cartwheels in the living room.

Gastroenterologist follow up. I’ve been gradually cutting back on Chloe’s Nexium to see how little we can get away with. The pediatrician said that Chloe’s symptoms may come and go, and Chloe was doing so well on so little Nexium that I let her stop taking it altogether. After 4 days of no medicine Chloe started complaining about pain. It took several days back on the Nexium to undo the damage done with a few days off. We did get some good news at the gastroenterologist, Chloe’s grown at least an inch and gained 5lb since her summer appointment, which is amazing and great since the pediatrician commented about how “skinny” she was in October. The side effect of growing so much is that she’s outgrown all her shoes. More on that later. Before we left the office, the doctor asked the kids if they’d been good this year. They both shrugged shyly. I guess they don’t remember last year’s inquisitions from random strangers as to whether they felt worthy of a big haul from Santa. Pop psychology today dictates that parents not classify our children as “good” or “bad” but identify specific actions as acceptable or unacceptable, so the kids have never really thought about whether they are good, and I have never threatened them that Santa won’t bring toys if they don’t behave. In the car after the appointment I told the kids that some people say that Santa only bring toys to the good boys and girls. Chloe said “is that true?” I said I didn’t know. She said “I think it is just made up.” I thought that was a cute answer.

As to the shoes, we’d just bought Alex a new pair of dress shoes when Chloe started to complain that all her shoes didn’t fit. I thought she was just jealous that Alex had something new, but when the appointment confirmed that she’d grown a great deal, I took her shoe shopping. We found some great bargains and bought 3 new pairs of shoes. I was really surprised that with all the pink sparkly lighted sneakers out there Chloe picked these black sneakers. She’s really outgrowing the pinks and lavenders and now is showing a preference for gold and sparkly things.
The twins have adopted a weekly ritual with their father. They all 3 sit together in the recliner and watch “Ship Shape TV” which a half hour long show boat maintenance and repairs. I usually grab a shower while they bond and then the kids give me the low down after it is over. They really pay attention!