Whoops...turned the corner too fast when transporting baby and mulch!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wordless Wednesday
Peek-a-boo...I see my parents
Whoops...turned the corner too fast when transporting baby and mulch!
Whoops...turned the corner too fast when transporting baby and mulch!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Can People Tell?
Reading a post at lunch from Finnian's Journey got me thinking...We've often wondered if Sweet Pea's DS characteristics would become more obvious as she grew up and we were pretty certain that they would. At first, that was a very hard idea to deal with, but now it is just a fact of life. It appears that it is already happening as in the last 48 hours we have had two separate instances where people have recognized the signs...
1) We were at our local park celebrating another friends 1st birthday on Sunday. As we were leaving we ended up seeing an older man with DS right in front of us. He turned around and said hi to Sweet Pea and then said something that we didn't understand, but his mom who was with him obviously did as she responded "no, she doesn't". After a few seconds my husband and I figured out what he had said and responded, "yep, she has Down syndrome". The mom was shocked and said that her son could always tell. He was very proud of himself and gave his mom a big kiss on the cheek. Turns out that he is 39 years old and his mom told us what a blessing Sweet Pea would be to us even if it seemed hard now. We thanked her and told her that we were starting to see things that way. When I told my mom about the encounter later she explained that it might have been the "young boy" that she had taught through the local park system when I was a baby! His mom would come to the classes and she remembers them to this day. What a small world!
2) We were at Trader Joe's yesterday and as I was checking out the checker started talking about how her cousin has Down syndrome like Sweet Pea. She goes on to say how smart she is and how she never had any health problems or anything. The way this lady was speaking it was clear that she wasn't just embellishing. This gal really was smart and very typical. It makes me think that maybe she had mosaic DS or something, but it really doesn't matter. The point is that she recognized that Sweet Pea was special and wasn't afraid to talk about it.
I think it will continue to be easier to tell that she is extra special and that is ok. While I'm sure it will cause some awkward stares from some, I bet other people will be more willing to introduce themselves and share how someone with DS touched their lives. It's amazing how many people have a link to someone with DS and yet I had not a clue about it before Sweet Pea was born. Just another example of how Sweet Pea is making me a better person.
1) We were at our local park celebrating another friends 1st birthday on Sunday. As we were leaving we ended up seeing an older man with DS right in front of us. He turned around and said hi to Sweet Pea and then said something that we didn't understand, but his mom who was with him obviously did as she responded "no, she doesn't". After a few seconds my husband and I figured out what he had said and responded, "yep, she has Down syndrome". The mom was shocked and said that her son could always tell. He was very proud of himself and gave his mom a big kiss on the cheek. Turns out that he is 39 years old and his mom told us what a blessing Sweet Pea would be to us even if it seemed hard now. We thanked her and told her that we were starting to see things that way. When I told my mom about the encounter later she explained that it might have been the "young boy" that she had taught through the local park system when I was a baby! His mom would come to the classes and she remembers them to this day. What a small world!
2) We were at Trader Joe's yesterday and as I was checking out the checker started talking about how her cousin has Down syndrome like Sweet Pea. She goes on to say how smart she is and how she never had any health problems or anything. The way this lady was speaking it was clear that she wasn't just embellishing. This gal really was smart and very typical. It makes me think that maybe she had mosaic DS or something, but it really doesn't matter. The point is that she recognized that Sweet Pea was special and wasn't afraid to talk about it.
I think it will continue to be easier to tell that she is extra special and that is ok. While I'm sure it will cause some awkward stares from some, I bet other people will be more willing to introduce themselves and share how someone with DS touched their lives. It's amazing how many people have a link to someone with DS and yet I had not a clue about it before Sweet Pea was born. Just another example of how Sweet Pea is making me a better person.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Letter to Sweet Pea
Dear Sweet Pea,
365 days ago you made your entrance into this world and nothing has been the same ever since. I've grown more and more in love with you each and every day and can now truly say that I love you with all my heart and soul. Don't get me wrong, there are still days that your extra chromosome causes me some emotional pain and anxiety, but without it you wouldn't be who you are. We still wish that you weren't extra special in the chromosome way because you always would have been extra special even without that extra number twenty one. But it is all ok and you are doing wonderful!
We certainly didn't expect you to be doing all that you are when that pesky (mommy is censoring her language here) genetic counselor told us that you wouldn't read, write or drive a car. He set the bar for you way too low and we are lucky that we have met so many other young kiddos with DS to prove him so wrong and to help us learn how to set proper expectations. You do things at your own pace and in your own way and that just makes you extra sweet. Your excitement when you accomplish something is contagious just like your smile and laugh are infectious.
You have such a wonderful group of friends that are cheering for your every accomplishment and milestone that you reach. You are touching more lives than we ever could have imagined such a little girl could ever touch. You are making your mommy a much better person and I'm so thankful to you for helping me take a fresh look at life and all the joy that it brings every day. I'm learning to not take things for granted and to enjoy the simple things. It may sound cliche, but it is absolutely true. Watching you struggle to reach a milestone that most other kids achieve quite readily makes my heart break, but also makes it that much more glorious when you reach it! You can do ANYTHING that you set your mind to and don't let anyone EVER tell you differently. It may take you longer and you may have to work a lot harder, but you can do it and your mommy, daddy, aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, cousins, friends, etc will all be there to help you in any way that we can.
"She sure has an opinion on everything" is getting to be a common statement made about you and that is a good thing. You get it from both your mommy and your daddy so we shouldn't be surprised by it. I promise you that I will try to listen to you better and let you take the lead in more ways. Sometimes I have to be in the lead, I am the mom so you are going to have to deal with that, but there are other times where it isn't important that you do things my way and I promise to try to relinquish control to you as often as I can. I'm sure you are going to teach me new and creative ways of doing all sorts of things and we both will be better because of it.
I can't imagine my day without you there with me and I miss you while you are at daycare but know that you are having a fun time with all your little friends. I'm glad that we have found a daycare that loves you so much because I feel safe having you there. I don't worry about if you are being taken care of or being loved. I know you are!
Your a beautiful little angel and we love you with all our hearts. Don't ever stop smiling and teaching us to see the good in life!
We love you!
Mommy and Daddy
365 days ago you made your entrance into this world and nothing has been the same ever since. I've grown more and more in love with you each and every day and can now truly say that I love you with all my heart and soul. Don't get me wrong, there are still days that your extra chromosome causes me some emotional pain and anxiety, but without it you wouldn't be who you are. We still wish that you weren't extra special in the chromosome way because you always would have been extra special even without that extra number twenty one. But it is all ok and you are doing wonderful!
We certainly didn't expect you to be doing all that you are when that pesky (mommy is censoring her language here) genetic counselor told us that you wouldn't read, write or drive a car. He set the bar for you way too low and we are lucky that we have met so many other young kiddos with DS to prove him so wrong and to help us learn how to set proper expectations. You do things at your own pace and in your own way and that just makes you extra sweet. Your excitement when you accomplish something is contagious just like your smile and laugh are infectious.
You have such a wonderful group of friends that are cheering for your every accomplishment and milestone that you reach. You are touching more lives than we ever could have imagined such a little girl could ever touch. You are making your mommy a much better person and I'm so thankful to you for helping me take a fresh look at life and all the joy that it brings every day. I'm learning to not take things for granted and to enjoy the simple things. It may sound cliche, but it is absolutely true. Watching you struggle to reach a milestone that most other kids achieve quite readily makes my heart break, but also makes it that much more glorious when you reach it! You can do ANYTHING that you set your mind to and don't let anyone EVER tell you differently. It may take you longer and you may have to work a lot harder, but you can do it and your mommy, daddy, aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, cousins, friends, etc will all be there to help you in any way that we can.
"She sure has an opinion on everything" is getting to be a common statement made about you and that is a good thing. You get it from both your mommy and your daddy so we shouldn't be surprised by it. I promise you that I will try to listen to you better and let you take the lead in more ways. Sometimes I have to be in the lead, I am the mom so you are going to have to deal with that, but there are other times where it isn't important that you do things my way and I promise to try to relinquish control to you as often as I can. I'm sure you are going to teach me new and creative ways of doing all sorts of things and we both will be better because of it.
I can't imagine my day without you there with me and I miss you while you are at daycare but know that you are having a fun time with all your little friends. I'm glad that we have found a daycare that loves you so much because I feel safe having you there. I don't worry about if you are being taken care of or being loved. I know you are!
Your a beautiful little angel and we love you with all our hearts. Don't ever stop smiling and teaching us to see the good in life!
We love you!
Mommy and Daddy
12 Month Marker
Here is what she is doing by her 1st birthday:
Weight: 17lbs 1oz - Lighter than at the 10 month check up, but doctors aren't worried about her. She has been sick so much the past two months that they hope she will start gaining weight if/when she gets healthy for more than a few days.
Height: 27 1/2 inches
Head: 43.5 cm
Foods: Not much changed from last month...Eats lots of puffs, carrots, sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, chicken, turkey, ham, pears, pear juice, some bananas, chicken noodle, chicken vegetable, cereal and teething biscuits. Typically (when healthy) 4 bottles and 2 boobs a day with 3 of the bottles being formula plus 3 meals of food.
Favorite food: Still sweet potatoes and turkey
Favorite toy: Real phones...just waiting until her drool kills one of them
Favorite song: tie between the Wheels on the Bus and the Grand Duke of York
Accomplishments: combat crawling!!!! She doesn't do it much yet, but she is doing it with her arms finally and I think she will do it more now that she knows she can. This really started on Sunday so we are so excited! She also now drinks many meals from a munchkin straw cup, improving on her use of "more" and starting to do a modified "all done" (one hand in the air and often with the bib in it trying to rip it off), loves to play with paper and tissue and napkins and won't immediately put them in her mouth so we can actually let her play with them, eating puffs well but still without a pincer grip, knows how to pull her left arm out of the car seat strap when it's time to come out, initiates peek a boo and holds the cloths up herself (her feet "dance" when she is excited and it's so cute to watch them when the rest of her is hidden) and she will turn pages when reading books. Successful ear tube surgery and EGD! Survival of a 107.8 degree fever and parents that were worried sick!
Works in Progress: moving from stomach to sitting (almost has it but normally requires a little help still), two lower teeth are trying to come in...one on each side of her existing two bottom teeth, "giving five" and blowing kisses
Sweet Pea-isms: Still enjoys moms chin as a teething toy and it hurts more than it used to now that she has two real teeth. It's still too cute to make her stop though. Mommy will wear a chin bruise as a badge of love. Pants like a dog when she gets excited.
Sounds: Still tons of da and ba and the tongue is not out nearly as far as it used to be. She also seems to be attempting to mimic our words (all done is the main one). Loves to put her hands in and on our faces when we are talking or singing.
Facial Expressions: Sucks her lower lip into her mouth (mommy loves this one), puckers up (if only when we were trying to teach her to give kisses)
Sleep: Bedtime is between 7 and 7:30pm. We are waking her up for a twilight feed before we go to bed but otherwise she sleeps until 5:30 or 6am at the earliest. Often she will be awake but entertain herself in her crib while her mommy and daddy sleep a little later. She has a very bad habit of sleeping in on the days that mommy and daddy need to be somewhere early so that they can't take advantage of it. It's quite cruel, but funny none the less.
It's been a busy month and I'm sure I have forgotten a few things, but hopefully I captured most of them.
We loved spending her first birthday with friends during the day and family in the evening. She had a great time! Here are some pictures, but more will be coming as time permits...
Sweet Pea got her very own Rody!!!! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!
Sweet Pea loved riding on her friends new rocking horse!
Weight: 17lbs 1oz - Lighter than at the 10 month check up, but doctors aren't worried about her. She has been sick so much the past two months that they hope she will start gaining weight if/when she gets healthy for more than a few days.
Height: 27 1/2 inches
Head: 43.5 cm
Foods: Not much changed from last month...Eats lots of puffs, carrots, sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, chicken, turkey, ham, pears, pear juice, some bananas, chicken noodle, chicken vegetable, cereal and teething biscuits. Typically (when healthy) 4 bottles and 2 boobs a day with 3 of the bottles being formula plus 3 meals of food.
Favorite food: Still sweet potatoes and turkey
Favorite toy: Real phones...just waiting until her drool kills one of them
Favorite song: tie between the Wheels on the Bus and the Grand Duke of York
Accomplishments: combat crawling!!!! She doesn't do it much yet, but she is doing it with her arms finally and I think she will do it more now that she knows she can. This really started on Sunday so we are so excited! She also now drinks many meals from a munchkin straw cup, improving on her use of "more" and starting to do a modified "all done" (one hand in the air and often with the bib in it trying to rip it off), loves to play with paper and tissue and napkins and won't immediately put them in her mouth so we can actually let her play with them, eating puffs well but still without a pincer grip, knows how to pull her left arm out of the car seat strap when it's time to come out, initiates peek a boo and holds the cloths up herself (her feet "dance" when she is excited and it's so cute to watch them when the rest of her is hidden) and she will turn pages when reading books. Successful ear tube surgery and EGD! Survival of a 107.8 degree fever and parents that were worried sick!
Works in Progress: moving from stomach to sitting (almost has it but normally requires a little help still), two lower teeth are trying to come in...one on each side of her existing two bottom teeth, "giving five" and blowing kisses
Sweet Pea-isms: Still enjoys moms chin as a teething toy and it hurts more than it used to now that she has two real teeth. It's still too cute to make her stop though. Mommy will wear a chin bruise as a badge of love. Pants like a dog when she gets excited.
Sounds: Still tons of da and ba and the tongue is not out nearly as far as it used to be. She also seems to be attempting to mimic our words (all done is the main one). Loves to put her hands in and on our faces when we are talking or singing.
Facial Expressions: Sucks her lower lip into her mouth (mommy loves this one), puckers up (if only when we were trying to teach her to give kisses)
Sleep: Bedtime is between 7 and 7:30pm. We are waking her up for a twilight feed before we go to bed but otherwise she sleeps until 5:30 or 6am at the earliest. Often she will be awake but entertain herself in her crib while her mommy and daddy sleep a little later. She has a very bad habit of sleeping in on the days that mommy and daddy need to be somewhere early so that they can't take advantage of it. It's quite cruel, but funny none the less.
It's been a busy month and I'm sure I have forgotten a few things, but hopefully I captured most of them.
We loved spending her first birthday with friends during the day and family in the evening. She had a great time! Here are some pictures, but more will be coming as time permits...
Sweet Pea got her very own Rody!!!! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!
Sweet Pea loved riding on her friends new rocking horse!
Happy 1st Birthday Part 1
Sweet Pea turns one in one hour! We will be at the pediatrician when the actual time of birth occurs, but I will sing happy birthday again anyway. Today is a busy day and so I will post a full posting this evening after she goes to bed. I am still in shock that it has been a year since she was born and this roller coaster ride began. It's a good thing I love roller coasters!
I love you Sweet Pea!!!!!
I love you Sweet Pea!!!!!
Friday, March 26, 2010
On the mend?
It appears that Sweet Pea is on the mend! Her temperature has remained just under 100 for most of the day. She has been fussy, but not too bad. We didn't give her any Tylenol or Motrin, but we did give her the antibiotics and some homeopathic teething tablets as it appears that she has two teeth coming in...one on each side of her two bottom teeth...her only two teeth to date. We sure hope something comes in on the top, but I'm good with them being delayed until the breast feeding is over.
We are going to start the ear drops again in her right ear as there was drainage there yesterday and when we spoke to our regular pediatrician this afternoon she thought it was a good idea. She has certainly been pulling at that ear so we get to deal with the fun of keeping her on her side for at least 5 minutes while the drops hopefully work their way into her ear. Mommy & Daddy have had to be creative with what is on the bus to make "Wheels on the Bus" last over 5 minutes!
Looks like we are going to have to pass on a 1st birthday party celebration with some mommies that I met during my pregnancy as we don't want to potentially infect the 4 other babies that are turning 1. It's sad that we won't be able to celebrate our kiddos birthdays all together, but I would feel terrible if Sweet Pea got one of them sick! Hopefully Sweet Pea will be healthy by her actual birthday on Monday and especially for her party next weekend.
Thank you for all the positive thoughts! We might actually get a good night sleep tonight...I sure hope I didn't just jinx it!
We are going to start the ear drops again in her right ear as there was drainage there yesterday and when we spoke to our regular pediatrician this afternoon she thought it was a good idea. She has certainly been pulling at that ear so we get to deal with the fun of keeping her on her side for at least 5 minutes while the drops hopefully work their way into her ear. Mommy & Daddy have had to be creative with what is on the bus to make "Wheels on the Bus" last over 5 minutes!
Looks like we are going to have to pass on a 1st birthday party celebration with some mommies that I met during my pregnancy as we don't want to potentially infect the 4 other babies that are turning 1. It's sad that we won't be able to celebrate our kiddos birthdays all together, but I would feel terrible if Sweet Pea got one of them sick! Hopefully Sweet Pea will be healthy by her actual birthday on Monday and especially for her party next weekend.
Thank you for all the positive thoughts! We might actually get a good night sleep tonight...I sure hope I didn't just jinx it!
Feeling Better Today
Quick update...Sweet Pea is feeling a bit better today. Although it could be a repeat of yesterday where she felt better and then went right back to a full fever. I'm going to keep a close eye on her, but her temp is only 99 currently so let's hope it stays that way for good now! She is off Tylenol and Motrin currently and hopefully she won't have to start those back up today. Last night wasn't too bad after about midnight until 5:30 so that was a nice break for a few hours.
She is definitely not her happy self today, but mommy is trying to keep her content at least. Her teeth I think are bugging her too which can't be helping anything. The poor little girl just can't seem to get a break.
Thanks for the positive thoughts! Keep them coming please!
She is definitely not her happy self today, but mommy is trying to keep her content at least. Her teeth I think are bugging her too which can't be helping anything. The poor little girl just can't seem to get a break.
Thanks for the positive thoughts! Keep them coming please!
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