Sarah Wants to be Just Like Her Sister

There are so many ways that Sarah tries to be like her big sister - some of the ways are good and some of the ways not so good. The good ones we will encourage, the bad ones we will try to stop.

While we are eating, Rebekah will put the wrong end of the silverware into her mouth and clench her teeth to hold it there. Sarah does the same thing. Rebekah gets a diaper out for Sarah's diaper changes and now Sarah wants to get a diaper for Rebekah's diaper change. Rebekah lays down on the couch and wants a blanket on her, so does Sarah.

Rebekah stands at the sink to brush her teeth and tonight Sarah moved the stool over to the sink and climbed up on it. Rebekah joined her on the stool, but it just wasn't big enough for both of them - Sarah ended up pushing her off. I brought Sarah's potty, which doubles as a stool, over to the sink so Sarah could stand on the potty and Rebekah could have the stool. Mom brushed Sarah's teeth and gave her some flouride drops. Then Sarah wanted to stand at the sink and brush her own teeth. She watched her sister, rinse her brush and then brush some more, so she kept wanting to rinse her toothbrush, too. Only she couldn't quite reach to get it under the water. She must have stood there brushing for 10 minutes while we got Rebekah her nighttime medications and Mommy brushed Rebekah's teeth and then got Rebekah her flouride. This was one of those times that it was really nice to see Sarah wanting to be just like her sister.

I hope that Rebekah will cooperate with potty training and Sarah will cooperate because she wants to be like her big sister. I plan (at least at this point) to try to start that Thursday after we come home from Rebekah's Dental appointment. We don't have much planned for Friday, Saturday or Sunday, so it gives me a few days to focus on potty training. Wish us luck and pray for girl's cooperation and Mom's and Dad's sanity. Mind you, I don't expect that they will be potty trained by Monday, but I can always hope, right?

Speaking of potty training... Sarah and Rebekah were playing in the playroom and Rebekah got Mommy's attention. Sarah had taken her pants off, unsnapped her onesie, taken her diaper off and peed on the carpet. Ugh! At least both girls say that Sarah did it all herself. How much can you trust a 4 year old and a 1 year old. I took Sarah in and sat her on the potty. She did not want anything to do with it. A little later, Daddy asked Rebekah where her potty was. She pointed to the little potty and Sarah went right over and sat on it then got up and Rebekah sat on it and they went back and forth for a few minutes - both fully clothed. Was Sarah trying to be like her big sister then, too?

They had another bath together. The girls splashed and had lots of fun. We have a little plastic plant waterer that they love to pour. Mommy was pouring from it and Sarah had both hands up trying to "catch" the water and Rebekah was trying to "catch" water too. Then Rebekah lifted her foot up to get the water poured on it and Sarah imitated her. It is really nice to see them enjoying baths.

Rebekah's diaper rash is still pretty bad. I'm trying to keep her as dry as possible and covered with cream. It doesn't seem to be hurting her too much, but it looks bad.

It has been nice to have some seemingly "normal" type days. Rebekah seems to be enjoying school and Speech Therapy. Hopefully she will do well at her Dental appointment on Thursday for a cleaning. Meanwhile, we still have her tube feeds.

Please pray for Oliver and his family. They are in the hospital preparing for his transplant.