I Want To Get A Shot

Campbell, the morning of her 4 year old well-visit.

Campbell had her 4 year old well visit today and Campbell's been excited about this appointment for over a week. Why? Two reasons . . . she loves her pediatrician Dr. Hanson and she says she wants a shot. That's right . . . she wants a shot. Before I give you an update about her appointment today, let's rewind the story to a week ago . . . . Last Wednesday, Campbell caught a little cold. On Thursday Maggie caught the cold too. While Campbell was able to fight the cold, Maggie didn't do so well. Martha took her to the doctor on Friday. On Saturday, Martha took her back to the doctor and her cold had turned into pneumonia. Maggie had to get a shot of Rocephin. What's this got to do with Campbell you ask . . . Campbell was quite jealous that "Maggie got a shot and I didn't. I'm sick, she's not and no one will take me to the doctor."

I'm not sure where this came from, but Campbell has always loved her pediatrician Dr. Hansen (to the point that when I took her to the ER to get her chin derma-bonded from her fall several months back, Campbell got upset that the "doctor" who came in wasn't Dr. Hansen). Secondly, "I wanted a shot." Who knows . . . .

Campbell and her BFF Dr. Hansen

Anyway, today I picked her up from school and again, she was excited that she was going to get "four shots because I'm four." Martha and I talked with her prior letting her know "Campbell, you know the shots are going to sting and might hurt a little . . . " She said, "I know, but I'll be okay." Wow . . . this is a tough girl.

[Side note - worrying about Campbell's appointment today and the reality of her getting 4 shots today, I updated my Facebook status with this: "I'm sad .... Campbell has her 4 year old well visit today (which she's excited about). She's getting several shots today (again something she's excited about), however I know they are going to hurt her ... This makes me sad ... Her excitement will come crashing down."]


Martha and Campbell waiting for the Doctor

So we were walking back with the nurse and she reminded us that "Campbell will be getting 3 s-h-o-t-s today?" Yes, we, she, knows . . . what . . . Campbell's only getting 3 shots. Did you hear that Campbell? "I WANT 4 SHOTS"

The doctor came in and checked Campbell out . . . she got a clean bill of health (I'm sure Martha will give an update on her stats at a later time). Her only question for the doctor . . . "where are my shots?" I'm really worried about Campbell . . . what's her fascination with shots?

The nurse came in, carrying the tray of shots. Campbell was excited . . . she leaned over and tried to pick one of the shots up. The first order of business was a finger prick (for a hemoglobin count). She was a trouper. Then the nurse asked that she takes her left arm out of the shirt, we did, and that's when the excitement high came crashing down . . . . . Needless to say, she got upset and after each shot (3 of them), the crying became more and more. After the 3rd shot, she jumped in my arms and just sobbed . . . . Martha and I were so heartbroken for her. Moments like this make being a parent hard.

Anyway, after 3 minutes of crying and saying, "I want to go," we left and we did what every parent does for a child after the 4 year old well visit (the shots) . . . we went to Dunkin Donuts.

Campbell and her two donuts for being such a big girl

The rest of the day went by okay. She was so happy to show off her war wounds to anyone who would listen.

Showing off her war-wounds

To close this story . . . Campbell hurt herself this evening as Martha was putting her to bed. She jumped from one bed to another and her right thigh hit the footboard and it hurt . . . she began crying. I told her, "It's a good thing I gave you some medicine earlier (Tylenol) so it will help the pain." Through the tears and crying we heard, "I don't want to go to the doctor. Please don't take me to the doctor. I don't want a shot."

Wow . . . what a tough parenting experience.

5 on Friday

Here are 5 reasons I'm loving my girls this week:

1.  Campbell has decided she wants to be a firefighter when she grows up.  This is mostly due to her love of Michael, one of our friends who is a firefighter.  Michael has always held a special place in Campbell's heart. This picture of them is from my sister, Sara's wedding.

Anyway, recently every time she sees a fire truck go by, she yells out "I'm going to be that one day!"  She told me the other day that she was never going to have babies because she was going to be a firefighter with Michael.  She also told Robbie that she was sad that when she is a firefighter she won't be able to talk to us anymore, but that she'd be with Michael. We've assured her that she can do it all: be a firefighter, have children, and still talk to her Mommy and Daddy.  I wonder if this recent career choice also happens to have something to do with this blog post and her adventures with firefighters then: http://robbieandmartha.blogspot.com/2011/05/too-much-excitement.html...

Very soon, her passion for firefighting (and Michael) may soon get even stronger.  Michael and some of his co-workers will be surprising Campbell at her school with the firetruck as part of her class's Community Helpers unit.  How sweet is that?!

2.  Maggie loves toys that she can push, especially our baby doll strollers.  What really amuses me is that she very often puts the most random thing in them, rather than baby dolls.  Especially her cups.  We've also found toothbrushes, toys, snack bowls...but it's usually a cup.  It's so funny to watch her running around the house pushing something completely random in the stroller.

3. Last weekend, the weather was rainy and cold and Campbell was so excited to go outside and play in the mud puddles.  When she got in, we made her some hot chocolate.  She told me: "I'm so glad my Daddy made me this hot chocolate.  It's really cooling me off."  Umm...ok. :)

4. Our girls love to read...anywhere.  Often when we're playing outside, I'll take my book and sit in my chair and read while the girls play (or try to while negotiating fights over toys, making sure they're not in the road, or being asked to draw fancy pictures with sidewalk chalk).  The girls have picked up on this and now they like to take books to read in their chairs.

5.  Today Robbie stayed home with both girls because they both had really bad coughs and neither slept well last night. Today, he texted me that Campbell had been in her room for over an hour and was playing teacher with her dolls and stuffed animals.  Here's our mini educator:

Who wants to bet her "students" had "learning differences"? ;)

Oh, and when Robbie told her she could be a great teacher one day...she said "No, I'm just pretending.  I'm going to be a firefighter."

Martha is Named Advocate of the Year

Martha receiving the SC CEC Advocate of the Year Award from State Superintendent of Education Dr. Mick Zais

Martha is Named Advocate of the Year

I'd like to take a minute to give Martha a shout-out for her recent achievement. . . . she was named South Carolina Council for Exceptional Children Advocate of the Year.   By the way, this is Robbie writing this one . . . . anyway, unbeknownst to her, she was surprised with this announcement on Saturday morning during the SC CEC Awards Breakfast.  She knew she was there to receive a certificate acknowledging her winning a $1,000 grant to buy her classroom some iPad . . . but she didn't know about this.  

Martha's principal, a district administrator, and her 2nd grade co-teaching regular education colleague all wrote letters of support for Martha.  The 2nd grade teache wrote:

Mrs. Compton is not just an advocate for exceptional children – she is an advocate for all children.  She actively seeks opportunities for advancement for her students.  She recognizes the need for integration amongst the students – both groups of children can learn from one another.  Lessons in character development, disability awareness, and of course, academic enrichment are priceless.

She works hard to ensure that her students are not recognized solely for their disabilities but for their abilities.  She treats each child as if he or she were her own.  I truly love working with Mrs. Compton.  She has an immense amount of passion and enthusiasm for this profession and her students.  She has inspired me in so many ways.  It thrills me to see the friendships and understanding that our students have formed for one another whenever they are together.

Through her efforts, Mrs. Compton is educating my students to be more aware of diversity in our school and in the “real” world.  It is my hope that these interactions and opportunities encourage my students to grow into caring, open-minded adults.  Through her, my students are learning that disability is a merely a matter of perception.

Martha Compton truly is a gem amongst teachers of exceptional children!

While the presenter was "listing the attributes" and talking specifically about the award recipient (Martha still didn't know they were talking about her), I started getting a little choked up thinking about how proud I am of Martha and all that she does . . . she is an phenomenal teacher and such a strong voice for a group of students who often don't have one.  I wouldn't wish "having a child with a moderate intellectual disability" on anyone, but if they do, they couldn't ask for a better, more passionate teacher.  

Here is a except of my letter of support:

I completely understand that to many people, the above incident sounds like a description of simply “what a great teacher does” - providing opportunities to expand skills and generalize these skills to multiple settings (including the community), and promoting awareness and acceptance; however, that’s what Martha is - a great teacher.  Martha uses every minute that she can to advocate for her students and all students with disabilities.  She is constantly looking for opportunities within her class, the school and the community to provide appropriate public awareness and acceptance for individuals with disabilities.  It gives me great honor not only as her husband, but also as a colleague within the special education profession, to recommended Martha Compton as the SC CEC Advocate of the Year. 

I know that I'm going to be "in trouble" for posting this . . . Martha is not one who likes this kind of attention . . . However, Martha, I love you so very much and am proud of you and for all that you do.  Congratulations . . . you deserve this honor and recognition.  

Not the best picture of me, but a great picture of Martha

I would also like to send a big thank you to Nana and Pop and Sara and John for making the trip to see Martha receive this award and to Nanny and FA for keeping the girls so we all could be together Saturday morning . . . thank you!

Birthday parties!

I know this post is a few weeks late...that's what happens when you have 2 children, work full time, and are spending more time exercising than blogging (15 pounds down and lots to go!).  

Campbell's 4th birthday was a really special one.  She really had so much fun anticipating the day and there was lots of talk about turning 4.  On the morning of her birthday, she looked in the mirror and announced she looked bigger.  

On her birthday, she had a special birthday celebration in her classroom.  We took a cupcake cake with princesses on it in the shape of a 4 and Campbell got to take a special book for her teacher to read to her class.  She wore a birthday "crown" that her classmates decorated for her.  It was a really sweet celebration.

The day after her birthday, we celebrated with another birthday party at Chick Fil A.  She loves that place and wanted to have it there again.  We were lucky enough that my friend, Jaime, could update the printables she designed for me last year!  The kids had a lot of fun playing and eating and Campbell was thrilled to have the Cow attend her party! She wore her birthday crown from school and had a blast opening presents with the help of her friends.

6 on Sunday

Here are 6 reasons I'm loving my girls this week:

1.  On the morning of Campbell's birthday, Robbie had to use his "stern Daddy" voice to get her to come to the breakfast table.  Campbell, reading his tone perfectly, responded in her sassiest 4-going-on-16-year-old voice "Daddy, I'm 4 now.  I can't go to time out."  After we stopped laughing, we let her know that even 4 year olds have to listen to their parents.

2.  Maggie loves pockets.  Seriously, nothing makes her day more than a shirt or dress with a pocket.  She walks around with her hands in her pockets all the time these days!

3. On the night of Campbell's birthday, we gave her the choice of going anywhere she wanted or having me cook anything she wanted.  What did she choose?  Chick Fil A.  I tried to tell her we were going to have lunch there the next day at her party, but she didn't care!  The girl loves it!

4. Maggie's new favorite words are "look" and "watch".  She says them all the time and then proceeds to show off some "trick".  It's so cute!

5.  This morning the girls woke up really early and Robbie got up with them (as usual, aren't I lucky?!)  Campbell told him at about 6:30 am when it was pitch black that she wanted to go outside and blow bubbles.  He had to politely decline that request.

6.  (This was actually from a while ago) When we were making the guest list for Campbell's birthday party, we asked her who she wanted to invite.  Her first two responses were the Chick Fil A cow and Mr. Chamberlain, her teacher's husband...whom she met one time when we went trick or treating at their house.  Mrs. Chamberlain didn't make the list ;)  (even though Campbell really loves her...apparently her husband really won Campbell over!)

Campbell is 4!

(please forgive my awful singing!)

Happy 4th birthday to Campbell!  She woke up so excited about her birthday and when she looked in the mirror, she concluded that she looked bigger. She got her annual birthday donut on our new birthday plate that I made and opened her gifts from Maggie and us.  Her new big girl bike looks so big but she rode it around the house like a champ!  She is going to have a celebration at school with her school friends and then a small birthday party at Chick Fil A tomorrow.