Saturday, May 30, 2009

Celiac Test

Negative!!
I was worried about this test because my sister happens to have it. But, I guess we are in the clear on this one!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Holiday Weekend


Things have been crazy around here and I am beginning to fall behind on everything...again. The big birthday bash forced me to get the house clean and to catch up on photos/scrapbooking, but now I'm just trying to stay a float again. The photography business is picking up so I have been working a lot in my studio and I'm also preparing for a rummage sale.
Anyway, back to what I was going to post about...we had a nice holiday weekend and here are some highlights...in pictures of course.

Logan checking out some penguins at the zoo. He enjoyed actually being able to get out of the stroller a little bit this time.

Devin looked so cute in his hat and glasses. It was nice that Devin is able to walk the whole zoo now. He getting to be such a big boy!

This is how Logan and Aubrey ride!

Aubrey enjoyed the swings...they were her color! After the zoo, we headed up to the cottage for the rest of the weekend.
Devin and Grandma enjoying some smores by the fire.

Logan was a fan of his first smore!
Logan also enjoyed his first walk at the cottage. Look at him go!
Devin is now the proud owner of a new fishing pole! It was too windy to go out on the bay this weekend, but hopefully he will get to try it out soon.

Some test results

Logan:
CBC-All normal
Thyroid-Normal
Still waiting on the celiac test.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Logan's 2 year check-up

Yesterday, I took Logan to his pediatrician for his 2 year well check.

Weight: 25lbs 7oz (16% on the regular chart-75% DS chart)
Height: 32 inches (3% on the regular chart-50% DS chart)

Ever since he was 6 months he has been at exactly 50% for height on the DS chart. His weight started off above 90% at 2 months and stayed there until this last check-up and he has fallen down to 75%, which is not a bad thing. But, he did loose a pound over the last 6 months. His doctor was happy with his growth and was glad to hear that his over health over the last year has been fantastic!! What a change from the first 12 months of his life. I think we saw a doctor just about every week for a while and now, over the past 12 months, we have had nothing but well visits and routine check-ups at the ENT, audiologist, cardiologist and ophthalmologist.

At this appointment, we discovered that one of his ear tubes had completely fallen out and the other is out of position and will likely fall out any day. I plan to make an appointment with the ENT to make a plan for watching for fluid and to continue to monitor his hearing closely. We do hope to avoid placing another set of tubes, but that will all depend on whether he has a lot of ear infections or fluid over the next few months. His tubes did last at least a year and that is much longer than the usual 6 months.

Logan also had blood drawn for a CBC, to check his thyroid function and to check for celiac disease. Hopefully we can avoid medication and/or a drastic change in his diet.

My one wish for Logan right now is that he would have more energy. He tires easily (really always has) and wakes up from sleep very slowly. I think this can be typical of children with DS, but I am not sure. For a two year old, he definitely does not share the same energy level of typical kids his age. I am also not sure whether to pursue the reason behind this, or just to write if off as just the way Logan is. I may just be looking to far into it, but if there is something I could do to improve his energy, I would do it. I just feel awful when he lays down on the floor when he should be running around exploring the world. He does lay down in the middle of the floor like this often, at all different times of the day.

It is still awesome to see him walking! The newness of it hasn't worn off yet. He continues to get better and better at it everyday!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

FYI: Free Eye Exam

As you can see, Devin now wears glasses. We found out last week that his farsightedness has gotten worse and he now can benefit from wearing glasses all of the time. We also took Aubrey in for her FREE infant eye exam and we found that she is also a little farsighted. Yes, a baby between 6 months and a year can get a free eye exam! Pediatricians can miss things like lazy eye or other more serious eye problems that can be found with this exam. Many of you have asked how we know that Devin, Logan and Aubrey are farsighted and how the doctor can know their eye glass prescription. Well, the optometrists shines a light in the baby's eyes (I believe they are looking at the reflection that then comes back out of the eye) and they also do a few other things to check visual acuity, motility, alignment and overall eye health. Logan sees a pediatric ophthalmologist, but that doctor does a lot of the same things. Logan and Aubrey are supposed to go back when they are three because they were found to be a little farsighted but, for now, they do not need glasses. Their doctors recommended that they come back when they are three. I have also heard it recommended that kids see an eye doctor at 6 months, 2 years and 4 years, but our doctors have recommended 6 months and then 3 years if no problems were found as a baby. (Logan went at 6 months and again around a year and has been cleared til 3 yrs old)

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Monday, May 18, 2009

The Birthday Party

The day went way too fast! Thank you to all of our family and friends for spending Logan's special day with us! Logan is so lucky to have all of you in his life. He is so loved.

I took the kids to Burger King on Logan's birthday (last Wed) to play and have lunch. Logan got this crown and he actually loves wearing it, so he wore it all day at his party! He was king for the day!
Logan's party theme was cars because they are one of his favorite things to play with. He likes to make car sounds and even pretends that some foods are cars when he is eating....it's so cute.
My brother made these cute cars for the wall to match his cake...he is so creative!Logan, enjoying his cake! (oh, and yes, he can drink out of juice boxes now!)The day was so busy that we didn't even get a chance to open his gifts until late on Saturday...so if you left before we got to it, here is what he got. Thank you!!! He enjoyed playing with all of these toys today and even wore some of the clothes today as well. Like I said before...he is such a lucky little boy!


Friday, May 15, 2009

Walking in the grass!


Logan walked over 10 steps all at once in the grass yesterday! It was so awesome to see him getting around outside for the first time! I could tell by his clapping and smiles that he is going to love being outside this summer...I am going to be a busy woman. :)

Look how far he got before he sat down! (I was a little late with the camera.)

Baby Pushups

No Aubrey, that's not how you crawl! But that is impressive.
Aubrey has been trying all sorts of ways to move and this is the latest. For some reason she thinks that this will work. It's a new one for me.


Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Mr. Talented

Logan has added a new instrument to his repertoire recently...the harmonica! I have been meaning to get this on video and I will continue to try. He plays it SO well and insists on playing it while walking around. He also has a little dance that he does while standing and playing.


Saturday, May 9, 2009

Happy 2nd Birthday Ruby!

Today, DSFN had our monthly playdate and it also happened to be Ruby's birthday! Logan got a chance to play with all of his friends and also celebrate with Ruby and her family.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

My buddy and me

These two are so cute together lately. They currently both like cars!
Logan has had to start sharing lately so when Aubrey is by one of his toys he literally moves (pushes) her to the side so that he can be by that toy. Thankfully, Aubrey just goes with the flow and doesn't seem to mind. She also always has the biggest smiles for Logan and Devin. I can tell that they are her favorite people in the world.


Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Daddy...



Did I mention that Logan now signs Dad, but not Mom. Also, Aubrey says dada all day long! I know she is just babbling, but Dale has to make a big deal out of it every time. It just figures!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Drumline Solo by Matt (DS in the news)

As most of you probably know, one of Logan's favorite things to do is play his drums. So when a friend of mine told me about this local story, it really hit me close to my heart. To see Logan do this someday would be incredible! I also have to say though that it makes me sad at the same time. It makes me wish that Logan could dream as big as to be an equal part of the band like all the other students...but I will dream for him today, that he will someday be a part of our high school band if that is what he wishes to do.
This video starts off with the drumline doing there thing, but pay attention as is goes on as Matt gets his chance to perform. Also, the story from our paper can be read here.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Logan Walking!

This little stinker went from crawling to walking everywhere in a matter of 24 hours. He even pivots around to change directions and can stop and start as he goes along. His PT had to evaluate his skills a couple of weeks ago and she put him at an 11 month old level, but after seening him in action yesterday, she said that eval should say 12-15 months now! She was VERY impressed with the huge changes in just the last two weeks! In the video, he is walking without his orthotics. With them on, he does walk with his feet a bit closer together, but I know he would rather not have them on. He does tend to trip over his shoes when they are on.