And her fears continue...

The backstory:
It all started with Sarah being sick. She started looking sick after school on Friday, January 29th. She looked really flushed and started coughing a lot. Eventually she came down with a fever. The fever went on and off for about 6 days. I took her the to doctor that first Saturday just to check that she didn't have strep and scarlet fever, since she cheeks were so red. Negative. Coughing got worse. Fever continued. She would get up in the morning, bring her big blankie and all her dollies to the couch and lay down all day. This lasted for pretty much 8 days. I had brought her back to the doctor on Weds b/c her cough was so bad. She was up all night coughing like she was going to vomit. It was very scary. Dr Talma again saw her and said her lungs sounded ok but he gave me antiobiotics in case it continued. It did. She finally started getting a little better once she had the medicine. My poor girlie.

We had our Superbowl party Sunday so she was finally getting up playing. Then she went to bed late. It bad for an UGLY Monday. She was a nasty girl that day. SCREAMED that she didn't want to bring Justin to school. Then SCREAMED when she didn't want to go to school. Of course, she really didn't want to leave her big blankie or get off the couch which were the big problems.

Anyway, to get her motivated for school..... I looked up her school calendar to see what they would be doing that day. "OH fun Sarah, today you are making your Valentine bags. How fun!!"

And then....

I looked to see what she had missed the week before. And then I saw it! OMG! On Friday they made Oscar the Grouch. How crap. I can't even begin to imagine what she would have done. I am assuming she would have screamed but I just can't picture it all. I am assuming they would have had to keep her in another room during that time. No way would she have sat and done that project. Mick says she would have gone running from the room. Probably.

Anyway, I told her (my mistake) "OMG Sarah. I am so glad you were sick last Friday. They made Oscar the Grouch." She was frozen. She held up ok but she was internalizing it all and I didn't realize that.

When we got to school and I went to get her out of the van, she was all worried "What if the Oscars are still there?" Poor girl. I told her we'd talk to the teachers and ask.

They weren't. Big Phew. I told Ms Reena all about though in case she saw one of the few that had been left behind.

When I picked Sarah up Ms Reena told me that she had peed 4 times. What? I thought about it. She hadn't even had anything to drink that morning. Hmmm...

Next day she peed like crazy. At one point it was 8 times in one hour. I assumed it was stress, but......

I took her to the doctor on Weds (made an early appt and skipped school to take her) b/c she also mentioned that it hurt to wipe.

But here is where I figured her out: When I told her she wasn't going to go to school that day b/c we were going to go to the doctor instead, she was so happy and relieved. I was so confused and asked her why she was glad to miss school. Her answer: "What if they make Elmo today?"

Oh, my poor, poor baby girl. I had no clue she was thinking that way. I talked to her later and told her that they probably wouldn't ever be making another Sesame Street craft. But I really didn't see any progress until I told her that I would talk to Ms Reena about it. I told her I'd make sure she wouldn't ever have to see those crafts there and that she could trust me and Ms Reene. That finally seemed to relieve her. And it also seemed to be the end of the crazy peeing.

I still don't know why she is so scared of Sesame Street. All I can think is - MAYBE - just MAYBE - our trip to Sesame Place 3 years ago scared the crap out of her. She used to love Elmo. On our trip she hated the mascots but dealt with it. I am racking my brain trying to recall if her irrational fears started soon after that trip or not. I can't remember but it seems likely.

Anxiety overload

Sarah is crazy with anxiety lately. It was just a bad week for her.

Lately she has been scared of things that seem so funny to me.
- She was in the van and got so upset: "What am I going to do when I don't fit into my car seat anymore?" I told her not to worry, we would just get her a new booster seat like Justin's. More tears "But my seat doesn't move!" It took me several minutes to calm her down and to convince her that her seat was held in by belts that we would just remove.
- She gets so upset about what she will do when she grows and her clothes no longer fits her. Jeans. Pajamas. Dresses. Underwear. Shirts. All of these things have cause major upset in the last month when she worries about growing older.

So, this week was especially rough for her. I can't even remember it all.
- Justin had no school on Thursday so when we picked Sarah up from school, I took the kids to McDonald's playland. It was hell for her. She wouldn't even go near the small kid part. She was just a wreck. Too many kids. Too big. Just everything was wrong.
- We went to the mall on Friday. OMG! She was freaked out at the play area. Too many kids. Too much for her.
- She got nailpolish in her Easter Basket (so cute - Hello Kitty stuff.) She freaked and got so upset that I would touch her nails.
- We went to Sam's bday party at the Bouncey place. Wow. She just hates crowds and big bounceys. She wouldn't go on anything. She would only play some of the games.

Just a tough anxiety time for Sarah right now. I feel so bad. I have no clue what could help her.

But I am glad I decided to keep her at the same preschool for next year. I think she would have a hard time with a transition for next Sept.