Catching Up

I know...it's been a while since I blogged.  Thanks for noticing, Mom :)

The kids have been in school for over a month now.  I am LOVING it.  Sam goes 3 half days a week to preschool, so for 9 precious hours a week, I have just my sweet, fun-loving baby girl at home.   I get her all to myself!

Hmmmmm, let's see...what has gone on since I blogged last?  Oh yes, the Buddy Walk!  It was awesome.   Hot, but awesome.   I do have to admit though, that my emotions kind of take a wild ride when I see so many people with Down syndrome.  I look at them and think "Is this what Faith will be like?"

Here are some, but not all, of Team Faith Journey

Thanks to all of my wonderful family and friends that support me in this journey!

Okay, moving on....

Faith has not one, but TWO teeth now.  And, they are BOTH molars!   I expected that she would get her teeth later than a typical baby, but I guess I just assumed she would get her bottom front teeth first.  Oh well...she doesn't seem bothered in the least by her new pearly whites.

We've been plugging along in physical therapy and speech therapy.  Faith has been a movin' machine, even walking, albeit stiff-legged with her little push toy.  And she's been known to climb up on chairs and scare the heck out of her Mama!

See?

We had an OT evaluation this past week, and guess what?  The OT said that she didn't even NEED therapy at this point!  She said that Faith 'scored' at the developmental level of a 14-15 month old (she is 16 months old) and was really doing quite well.   Like I needed her to tell me that, right?   Anyway, they will evaluate her again in 6 months to see where she is at then.  The therapist thought that the 'gap may widen' the older she gets, so we will keep on top of things and go from there.   I was SO proud of my little peanut when she accomplished just about every task the therapist asked her to do.  She was so cooperative and happy the whole time--it was funny because almost every other kid in the place was screaming and crying.  I love my happy girl!

I'm coming up on a very busy week... I have seven, yes seven, appointments on the calendar.  Watch out Starbucks, here I come!

This is the face of Down syndrome

This is the little girl that will change the way you think about people with disabilities.

She sure changed me.

She is more alike than different.

When It's Hot Outside...

We go to the North Pole!  We spent the day at Santa's Workshop today as part of a family event through the Starlight Children's Foundation.

Faith and Gracie on a 'little kid' ride

Not too sure once it got going...

The big Candy Cane Slide

He loved it, really.

Faith, not so much...she was pretty quiet

Yes! It's over!

Eli won't admit it, but he liked it too.

Josh made quite a face!

Getting ready to ride the Space Shuttle

Major butterflies in our tummies on this one!

Dad's turn!

Riding the train...something is very exciting to Faith.

Sam and Daddy

Sweet, toothless Gracie

View from the train...Danger!

Another view from the train...some old wagon.

Gracie on the 'old time' car

Sam loved getting to ride all by his big self!

All of the excitement wore Faith out...nap time!

It was still stinking hot, but a few degrees cooler than down the mountain anyway.

Thank you Starlight Foundation!

Uh Oh....Here Comes Trouble!

Even though it was 90* in my house today (okay, maybe it was only 82*, but it sure FELT like 90*) I had a hankering for pie.  Peach pie.  Homemade peach pie.  So, while I was making the crust, I turned around and found this in my oven drawer...

Please, excuse the mess all over her dress...she eats like SUCH a baby!

Am I cute or what?

I'm not in trouble, am I Mama?

I can't wait to taste the pie I helped make...sorta!

Icky Sicky

Poor Faith.  She has yet another fever.  This is her 5th fever in about 8 weeks.   Only one of those fevers has an explanation...the one she got as a reaction to her MMR shot.     Last week at this time, she was running a fever up to 103* for about 8 hours.  Then, it was gone, just as quickly as it came.   I didn't worry too much because he blood work had just come back and it was fine.  Her 'counts' were pretty awesome and she was not neutropenic.  Now though, I worry, because like I said,  five fevers in the last 2 months seems worrisome to me!

As soon as I noticed that she was warm to the touch first thing this morning, I stuck the thermometer under her arm.  101.2*.   I called the pediatrician's office and of course, they wanted to see her.   3 hours later, enclosed in a tiny room, after an exam and a urine catheter, and me needing a drink because I had my 4 year old with me too we were sent away with a diagnosis of 'probably just teething'.   Her lungs were clear, her throat wasn't red, her ears were fine, she was playing happily...okay, she is teething, I'll go with that.

Hours later, she is running a 103.8* fever and cranky as all get out.  Red rimmed and teary eyes, along with her 'sad lip'...oh man, the sad lip gets me every time!

Somehow, I'm thinking it's not from teething after all.  Ugh.   But, school is in session and we've been around a lot of kids, so it's not surprising she is sick.   I just hate it when my girl is sick.   We did a lot of cuddling and nursing today...she was Velcro baby at her finest!

Here's to a good night's sleep and a MUCH better tomorrow.

16 Months

I can hardly believe my little love is already 16 months old.  Amazing!

Faith, what are you up to these days?


* You are 29.5 inches tall

* You weigh just over 18 pounds

* You are wearing mostly 12 month size clothing, though you can still fit in some 6-9 month size

* You have figured out how to climb up onto the coffee table (!)

* You are taking steps on your own, just a couple at a time

* You are signing more these days and understanding even more than you sign

* You got your first tooth!  A molar on the upper right side...and it looks like more teeth are coming soon!

You are developing at the level of a 12-13 month old, according to our therapist.   I love to watch you take your little steps.  I love to watch you cuddle your baby dolls and give them open mouth kisses. I love to watch you bear crawl your way around the house at full speed.    I love watching you look up to your brothers and sister with delight in your little almond eyes.

Faith, you are a wonderful blessing...full of happiness and joy!  You are a delight to wake up to each morning and fall asleep with each night, and each moment in between is even better!

I love you to the moon and back my little girl!

It's Buddy Walk Time!

Will YOU walk for Faith?

Register here:  http://buddywalk.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=430567      

under the name "TeamFaithJourney"...

If you can't walk with us, please consider making a donation to help Faith and others with Down syndrome in our community.

Thank you for your support!!