Mellany: #8

It's been another great, fast year and our Mellany is now 8!!! She's changing so much and really growing into an incredible young lady!

Here's a little bit about our Mellany:

• Mellany's favorite subject is still art! She is constantly drawing, coloring, cutting, gluing...and she is really good at it. Her creativity amazes me on a daily basis. She loves to draw/create things and give them to others.
• She loves to leave notes around the house for the rest of us.....she also likes to get notes from us....especially in her lunch box.
• She still loves to snuggle! Especially at night when we tuck her in. This is also when she loves to have conversations. 
• Her love language is quality time and gifts. 
• She is always willing to help, always! 
• Mellany loves her brothers and has a special bond with each of them. One of her most favorite things to do is play teacher with them....
• She is doing great in school: Spelling and math are her favorite things besides recess, lunch and specials. She is really good at spelling and is awesome at math facts! She is loving 2nd grade and has an incredible teacher that speaks her same "language".
• Mellany's teacher, Mrs. Rider, gave a great report at parent/teacher conferences. She said Mellany is so kind and friendly to everyone. If someone is having a bad day, Mellany is the first to talk with them and comfort them. If someone is getting left out, Mellany is the first one there. She said she is compassionate, genuine and empathetic. I could have cried I was so happy and proud hearing that! 
• She is still a girl who loves her routine. She would eat the same 3 meals every day, wear the same 7 outfits every week, etc. etc.  She loves to use the calendar I put together so that she knows what's coming in the next day, week, etc. 
• When it comes to food she definitely likes what she likes but is also willing to at least take a bite of something new and try it. She has come so far in her eating habits! Our rule is to try as many bites as your age (so now she has to eat 8 bites) and she does this no questions asked. There are times she doesn't even make a comment about not liking something until I ask her, which is HUGE! 
• Her favorite sports are dance and swimming
• She is always singing a song, either one that she has made up or one from the radio. Her favorite right now is JoJo and Descendants songs. 
• No matter what the temperature is outside, she wants to be outside playing. Swinging and riding her bike are her favorite.
• She has become extremely independent and is wanting to take on more responsibility around the house, which we love. She loves having "jobs" to do to earn money. 
• She enjoys helping me cook. Baking is her favorite! 
• Her favorite things to play with are her barbies, American Girl dolls, play games on her tablet, hatchimals, legos, twisty pets, LOL dolls and puzzles. She also really enjoys reading now that she can read to herself. 
• She does not know a stranger. No matter where we are, she finds someone she knows and wants to go talk with them and say hello. If she doesn't know anyone in the place we are at, she usually finds a new friend. Her heart is the most genuine heart I've ever seen and she just loves people! 
• She follows directions pretty well for the most part. There are times she does get distracted, but for the most part she does a really good job with this. She also wants to ensure that others are following directions too. 
• Mellany is very specific about the clothes that she wears. She has really gotten into Under Armour outfits this past year and loves to layer with a t-shirt and hoodie. Dresses are preferred for church and are way better if they twirl. She won't wear shoes that make her feet sweaty, and pants must be pull-on with no buttons and have to be just the right kind of fabric. She mostly wears sneakers to school because of recess but will wear boots to church and out and about as a family. 
• She is about 50% homebody and 50% extrovert and loves to get out....She loves to go shopping, go to the movies, paint at our local pottery place, eat out....but at the end of the day, she wants to come back home (just like her mama!)
• Occasionally, Miss Mellany will show us a little attitude. It quickly dissipates, but it is there. 
• Her favorite movie is Descendants 1, 2, & 3
• Boys have become a topic of conversation just recently so we are trying to navigate this as best we can. 

8 Year Wellness Exam

Weight: 61.7 lb

Height: 4 ft 5.5 inches (She's in the 91%!!!)

I would love to say that this appointment went smoothly, but it didn't and I can't. I did not even get one single picture.

The kids all knew they would be getting flu shots which automatically made them nervous (though it would have been way worse if I hadn't told them at all!). So the whole time we waited for Dr. Fahler they asked nervously questions about their shots in-between playing with toys. When Dr. Fahler did come in Mellany visited with him, answering all his questions and making conversation like she was 10 years older. (I was so proud!) We discussed her eating habits and how far she has come, what she likes about school, what she loves to do in her spare time, taking care of Winston and her nose bleeds. He seems concerned about her nosebleeds so he is referring her to an ENT (which we see in November) and ordered a blood draw.

After talking with the boys about trucks and transformers Dr. Fahler left the room and the kids knew it was time for the nurse to come back for shots.....and things really started falling apart. When the nurse came in, Mellany had tears in her eyes but bravely said she would go first like she had told me earlier (we had made a plan to go according to age, oldest to youngest). I helped her lay down, talked with her about what was happening, then counted to 3 and it was over and done! Then it was Johnny's turn......Johnny was already screaming and hiding under a chair in a ball. So in a quick change-up I picked up Charlie who was not yet crying.  I told him that it was his turn. I told him that he would get the most awesome sticker and band-aid and even reminded him of our cake pops that we always get for shots; and while that all helped calm him down, I still had to hold him on the bed amidst some crying. But, we counted to 3 and the nurse got it done! At this point Johnny was still crying under the chair. I tried talking him out but it didn't work so I just had to grab him and pick him up. He began screaming even more and I was trying my best to calm him down through conversation about his sticker options, cake pops, etc etc. But it didn't work. Another nurse in the hallway heard his screams so thought she would come in and help. I finally laid him on the table, told him what was happening and began to count and again, the nurse was done by 3! As soon as it was over, Johnny had a few whimpers while I held him and then was completely calm! And we were finally done with that! Everybody had their flu shots! Whew! We grabbed some stickers on the way out of the room and headed downstairs to labs.

I wish I could say that was it and we were on our way, but we still had to have Mellany's blood drawn. As we took the elevator down, she started tearing up again. After waiting close to 25 minutes and sobbing off and on through nerves, they called us back. I told the nurse right away that Mellany does the best when she knows what is happening, is able to ask questions and nurses explain to her all the details. She said "Ok" and then proceeded to do just that. (I was so thankful! Because Mellany really does do so much better when she understands all the details!) Mellany breathed through the entire blood draw and focused so intensely that she didn't even answer questions that the nurse was asking her. And in just a minute or so, we were headed back out of the room. I couldn't have been more proud! The nurse even commented that she did better than a lot of adults do! She was super proud of herself too, I could tell, and couldn't wait to tell her dad! She even wanted a picture taken of her bandage when we got home.

After the blood draw we made it out to the car (a whopping 2 HOURS later) and headed for Starbucks to get cake pops and McDonalds to get happy meals for dinner! I don't know who of the 4 of us was more happy to be out of that office! I'm so thankful that we don't have to go back for another year and that Mellany is such a healthy girl!

Celebration!

Mellany's actual birthday was on a Friday this year so she was able to go to school and celebrate with her friends by having cookies for a snack. I also brought happy meals for her and Charlotte as a special lunch! That night, she had her 3 best friends over for a sleepover in the camper! The boys headed to Simon's house so it was just the girls plus John & I. They got to eat in the camper, open presents, play outside and watch a movie before heading to bed. In the morning they were able to play a little after eating breakfast and then headed home. 

Her party was definitely a success! I think John & I had just as much fun as they did! This group of girls truly is a blessing. They all get along so well and have so many things in common while each having their own individual characteristics they bring to the group......it's just so awesome!