19 Months Update

Sorry it has taken so long to update on Abel and Belle, but here is a quick post as to what they are up to and how they are growing these days...

In December, their 18 month old check-up was changed into a sick visit and were prescribed medicines. So, our pediatrician had us reschedule their well visit for January at 19 months. Abel also had to get tubes in his ears the week before Christmas because he had 4 ear infections since August and his hearing was slightly below normal when he was tested. Thankfully, after the tubes were inserted and the fluid was drained, he had a follow up hearing test the week after surgery and his hearing was at 100%! They both weigh around 24 lbs and are a little shorter on the charts for their age. Their head circumference is good. (Due to my having to keep two toddlers from going crazy in the doctor's office, I can never remember both of their stats and percentiles to the exact numbers). Their pediatrician didn't want to do an autism screening on them until their next well visit, because by their adjusted age, they were still only 17 months. However, he said that just by looking at and interacting with them, he saw no signs of autism. They both say around  20 words, which is less than many toddlers their age are saying, but the doctor said that they are still within the "normal" range seeing as there is a wide range of "normal."

About Belle:
She is a feisty and an opinionated girl. Aaron and I know that we have to begin training her early to have a "gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in the sight of God" (1 Pet 3:4). Try as I may, I haven't gotten her to really enjoy her baby dolls yet. I just loved baby dolls when I was a little girl so I would really like to see her enjoy them too. But, Belle is not me and she may enjoy other toys better and that is okay too. Her favorite toy right now seems to be her "Abby Cadabby" tea set that we bought her for Christmas. She loves to pretend to pour her tea into the cups and give everyone a drink. She carries more than one tea cup around the house at one time.

About Abel:
He screams. A lot. Whenever he wants something or something doesn't go "his way," he screams. Aaron and I are working diligently to firmly tell him "No! Abel, use words to tell us what you want. You cannot scream." He loves our dog, Toby, and is constantly kissing him. It is kind of funny because I kiss our dog a lot and I think Abel has seen me do it so often, that in his little mind, this is just what you are supposed to do with a dog. Haha! The boy LOVES balls!!! I mean loves balls. He wants to hold a ball almost all of the time. He has a small soccer ball that he loves and two tiny basket balls too. He is always asking (screaming) for a ball.

Aaron and I love these two kiddos so very much and are so thankful that God chose us to be their parents.

P.S. Read Tracey's latest blog post about what is going on with their genetic siblings! :)