WHAT'S NEW WITH THE KIDS

Jonathan is finally getting his top teeth. He has had his bottom two teeth for a while. I was beginning to wonder when the others would show up. He can also stand in one place and keep his balance but he can only do one or two steps before falling over but he is trying. So he can't walk yet but he can climb up the coffee table and almost get over it, when its turned on its side. He has also learned to climb up on the couch. He thinks that's great. He climbs up looks at you and then tries to crawl away real fast so you can't catch him. Jonathan giggles all the time about everything. You just have to look at that boy and say anything and it will send him into fits.

Sarah has recently given us quite a scare. Last month she had a rather high fever (101-104)all day long. We took her to the doctor he said to keep a watch but there was nothing wrong with her, other than the fever. The next day it was gone and it never came back. Then a couple of nights ago she woke up screaming. It was one of those I'm terrified kind of screams. When we got to her she was freaking out saying there were bugs on her. We looked and there were no bugs. She was so scared, it was around 2:30 when this happened, she would not go back to sleep until around 5:30. The whole time she made jono and I look at her hands and feet because she thought there were bugs on her. We got up at around 7:30 took Mary to school and then all mourning she would have me check her hands and feet. At around 2:00 that afternoon she is playing and all of a sudden again with that scream and she climbs up me she is so scared. It seemed like she was having hallucinations. I call Jono and he said he was thinking the same thing about last night. I call the Doctor. Who is really the best pediatrician. He gets on the phone with me and I say "I know this is crazy but..." He tells me to bring her right in, we go and she freaks out a little in the office, he says keep a real close eye on her we may have to do a spinal because this could be a viral infection or she has developed a phobia. He asked if this started after the fever. We are like yes this being afraid of bugs started after the fever. So we watch and what we have realized is this. Once in a while, when she makes us check her hands and feet there are little hairs on her. We think that she feels these and thinks that they are bugs because she has developed an intense fear of bugs. We live in Florida it's the dry season, we have an exterminator, but no body can keep the palmetto bugs out. A couple of weeks ago after the fever she saw a palmetto bug on the floor and screamed. Jono got it but after that any little spec on the floor is a bug to her. Hairs are a bugs to her. We had to talk to Mary and tell her that never ever can we tease about bugs. Luckily she has calmed down and we haven't had anymore problems. I'm worried that if she sees another bug she is going to freak out again and then we will have to take her to a therapist for play therapy. I think that's what the doctor called it. We have to wait and see if this is an extreme phobia or just a one time deal. Everything else is going fine. She is excited for Christmas, although she doesn't quit get the concept. She thinks its somebodies birthday. I left Sarah alone for like 2 min. the other day and she opened a present from under the tree. I had bought a pair of play shoes for her. She had them on walking around. I took them off and put them away and she kept asking "where did my shoes go. Where's my shoes." I think she has forgotten I re-wrapped them for Christmas.

Mary just had the eyes, ears test at school. Every thing checked out great. She can not wait for Christmas. Every day we have to go over, when is Christmas, Don't forget we have to make cookies and we need to remember the carrots for the reindeer. Today she begged for hours to open "just one" present. This is going to be a fun Christmas. Mary is at that perfect age where all you have to say is Santa will be checking his list and she snaps to attention. Recently, she has taught Sarah a performance from Zack and Cody. The one were Maddy and London are fighting. It goes like this she says to Sarah. "Oh no you dint." one hand on hip. Hip shacking. the other hand finger wagging. Sarah replies" oh no you dint." Then they start flapping there hands in front of them. (Girl fight, I suppose.) Then they kinda growl at each other and hug and fall to the ground and roll around. It is hilarious. This has gone on all day for the past two nights. I know its from Zack and Cody because I asked Mary what are you doing and of course she taught the lines to me and we had to act it out.