  So things are seeming much better ( urlLink as detailed here ). Aside from John's emergence as Boundaries Dad, the weekend's biggest developments included Ellie coloring for the first time and Aidan taking a whole new leap into abstract thinking.
Ellie crawled up to Aidan's easel while I was making dash letters for him and pulled herself to a stand, then proceeded to grab a crayon and hit the paper with it. Now, a day and a half later, she's already progressed to making streaks instead of just percussion dots. Aidan's questions have moved past "why" to full sentences that indicate he's been thinking critically about something for a few minutes before throwing out the words.
He's been using full sentences for a long time, but his questions are what seem to be reflecting a new level of depth. Accordingly, he seems to be having a hard time finding words again. I think this is just what comes along with his little brain spurts. When Michie was here this week she was asking about Ellie's ear and how that's healing. I told her I took Ellie back to the pediatrician and he said it seemed to be clearing up on its own. Mich had learned in her classes (PA program) that pressing in on the tragus (the outer bump thingy on your ear, I want mine pierced actually) is a good way to find out if a child has an ear infection because it will be pretty sensitive if he or she does.
She pushed on Ellie's and Ellie proceeded to cry out for several minutes straight. So I got all worried about Ellie's ear thinking maybe it hadn't cleared up after all. I spent the next few days giving the kids echinacea and taking it myself along with garlic and onions. I massaged her sinus bones and jaw when she nursed. I put her crib back on the incline for her naps.
Then, yesterday I was relieved to push in on her tragus with no response at all. Who knows what did it, but I think she's finally better. Now that that's better, she has a runny nose. Something new is probably on its way, no doubt caught at the doctor's office last week! 
