Saturday Soccer

We are about a month into soccer and I finally arrive with camera and batteries to catch the action. Rex had a great game this afternoon. He scored a goal and had some great passes. He is really starting to understand the different positions and always try’s so hard. I love that he has so much fun and really is a good sport. He is such a good hearted little guy. Riley stayed home with dad today to stay out of the cold and hopefully get over this nasty cold and ear infection he has been battling. With the sudden change in the weather Rex needed some warm clothes to wear under his soccer shirt. I lost of how many stores I went in trying to find a plain long sleeve shirt and some sweat pants for him. When Riley was born many people joked about how hard it would be to find clothes to fit...he was kind of square when he arrived. I think most people think that kids with Ds are short and chubby because they can't do much well it really comes down to short long bones that make them shorter than average. I've heard several mom joke about starting our own line of clothing. Well, I wish I had an ounce of an ability to sew because I'd be all over this. So, any takers to sew a line of clothing for Hurricane Riley and his Big brother Rex. Riley isn't the only one in the family that has some short legs.......I'm pretty sure Rex could benefit from the short stocky kids clothing line too :-)

October 2nd 2009

 October has rolled into our house with germs. Well really they are left over from September. Riley has been feeling much better today after a pretty punky week. I finally hauled him into the Dr’s yesterday even and his lungs were clear but he did have an ear infection. So we started a round of antibiotics and he seems to be doing much better today.

Enough better that I took him to school. He and I both needed to get out of the house and he loves seeing his friends. His PT started his reevaluation and his speech therapist finished his evaluation today. Last week his OT started his evaluation as well so in the next few weeks we’ll have an entire set up fresh evaluations. Just in time for his transition to the public school preschool when he turns three.

I've finally bought some new batteries for the camera so tomorrow will bring some new photo's but for now I'll leave you with these of my lil chubby baby.

Down syndrome Awareness Month

Ready or not October is here.  October is Down syndrome awareness month and I have signed up for the 31 for 21 challenge and will be attempting to post everyday this month in honor of Riley.  I've been trying to think up something very clever as a theme to carry out the entire month and well........I'm still working on that.  While doing all that thinking I have also been pondering what this blog has ment to me and why I contintue to do it.  It all started as a way for me to share about Riley and all the craziness that my life has been.  It was a stress reliever and a way to meet other families that are traveling similar journeys.  In the last year much has changed but I still find my self wanting to blog and share our day to day journey.  I have found so many blogs that I enjoy reading but those that I find myself going back to daily are those that show real life in an honest and open way.  That is my desire as well.  To show anyone that wants to know, that having a child with Ds is at times a bumpy road.  Sometimes it is hard and scary and other days it is beyond wonderful.......in other words we are a lot like other families bouncing along life's road. 

Approximatley 1 in 800 live births a child with Down syndrome is born? And did you know that approximatley 90% of parents who receive a prenatal diagnosis of a child with Down syndrome choose to terminate their pregnancy? 

These stats play over and over in my mind, but especially lately.  Our family recently went to a bbq and met several new families.    I left this bbq feeling like I had been grilled about all things Ds.   While I love to talk about Riley and often do so even when people don't want to know,  I left that evening thinking "wow I'd love to meet new people and not feel like we were a circus show".  Though when you sit and think about the fact that 90% of people that find out prenatally that will have a child with Ds will terminate it makes me crazy.   That is the part of my brain that makes me want to steal the schedules of all the OB's doing  amino's  and plant myself in the waiting room with Riley showing everyone how wonderful he is.  Ya, I know I'm a bit twisted but thats just how my brain works. 

My point to all of this is that hopefully just one person reading this decides to carry a child to term intead of ending the pregnancy because they are scared then all of this will be worth it and more. 

Its getting to be that time again........

October is rapidly approaching and that means its time for 31 for 21 again.  This is one of the big reasons I started blogging a year ago.  I wanted to play along with all the fun bloggers I know.  The goal of the project is simply to build awareness about Down syndrome.  So  follow the link, check it out and join in.  You don't have to blog about Down syndrome or even have a child with Ds to play along.  All you have to do is help build awareness, and commit to blogging every single day for the month of October.  Why you say?  Well October is Nation Down Syndrome Awareness month.  Well if that isn't enough of a reason then this next one should seal the deal :-)



This beautiful little man joined our family on November 30th, 2006. 

As we rapidly approach his third birthday he continues to amaze us.  Not too long ago we took this video of him singing for us.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  When I'm having a bad day I like to watch it and it never fails to bring a smile to my face and usually a tear too.  He is my STAR!!!  This video acutally shows both my stars in it.  Rex is such an amazing big brother and he is helping Riley with the singing.  Trust me you'll enjoy the show.

My Star

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Road Trip

Over Labor Day weekend we were able to make a trip to Seattle to see Justin's brother and family.  Rex turned seven at the end of August and his birthday gift was a ticket to the Raider/Seahawks game with Justin  and Uncle Trent.  Justin has been making this trip each fall for the last few years and this year we decided that Rex was big enough to join in on the boys weekend.  Well Riley and I crashed the boys weekend and made it a family get away.  On the way over we packed a dinner and stopped at senic overview of the Columbia River.  Rex had to pose for just a minute.  You can see that we picked him up from school and headed out of town, poor kid didn't even get to change out of his school uniform.  It was super fun and we were able to squeeze in a trip to the Woodland Park Zoo.  This was a big treat for us because Spokane doesn't have a good zoo.  I thought Riley would love all the animals since he loves his videos and has so many animals and noises in his vocab.  Boy was I wrong.  He had an grumpy day and spent most of the afternoon yelling at us.......well until we bought him some kettle corn.  Then he was happy as a clam.  Rex had a blast.  I think he had as much fun reading the map and telling us which animal we were going to see next. 

1st Grade

   Rex on his first day of the 1st grade. Sept 1, 2009 He is attending All Saints  and is excited to meet his new teacher Mrs. Vogel. He is measuring a big 4' 3/4 inches and tipping the scales at just over 60 pounds.He is totally excited that he has huge feet.  I really don't think they are really that big but he is pleased to be HUGE.  Only 7 year old boys could possibly  be this excited over growing and being huge.

                                               

Riley will miss not having Rex to play with during the day.  He has sure enjoyed having him around all the time this summer.

Bye bye bubba. 

I'll miss you today!

Back in the groove.......

Well I guess a two month vacation is long enough from blogging. As I was reading some of the blogs I like to keep track of it hit me that it was time to start again. Not sure really why I took the summer off. Maybe the icky comments were a start but that shouldn't have stopped me for so long. Anyway I'm back!

It has been such a good summer and life is good. For anyone who knows me or read my blog knows that I have had a lot of issues with depressions and hormones over the last year. Last winter was very long and not so fun. This spring Kacey practically forced me to play softball. I think it was the fact that I was nearly crippled after each and every game that finally sent me to the massage therapist. I have found the most incredibly wonderful therapist, Amber. While she a licensed massage therapist I think she doubles as shrink and possibly triples as a psychic. She is one of the most intuitive people I have ever met. So my body is feeling better and I'm on the right track. One of the best things she has done is recommend that I talk to her friend that sell Gochi Juice. I started drinking a product called Tai Slim to help with weight loss and overall health and I have lost 18 pounds in about two weeks. I drink it with breakfast and lunch and then eat healthy. It has helped with my energy, sleep patterns, cravings, and overall food consumption. I haven't had a Pepsi in since I started drinking it and for me that is HUGE!!! I've only stopped for coffee a couple of times and mostly for the colon cleansing benefit that gives me :-) I know TMI. Anyway to say I'm excited is putting it mildly. It is a bit like someone has taken the paper sack off my head and I get to see and enjoy life again. I have been able to stop taking all of my Rx's except the birth control pills to keep my hormones in check. I LOVE it!!!

So the best part of feeling better is being able to enjoy the kids more. We had a really fun trip to Seattle over Labor Day. We were able to see Justin's brother and wife and their two adorable kids and I was able to visit some friends that I hadn't seen in years. My friend Kristi works for this chic salon in downtown Seattle and was able to get me in for a cut and color. It was fabulous!!! Nothing too fancy but a great cut and I love the hint of color.

School has started and Rex is a big 1st grader. Somehow this was harder for me than kindergarten. He is just getting so grown up on me. He has homework every night. Just one sheet usually but it is quite a routine. Between homework, dinner and reading our book its hard to squeeze much else in. We manage soccer one night a week. I can't even imagine what life will be like when Riley starts in sports and other activities.

Riley is doing great. He has 3 months left at the Guild School before he has to move to the public school. He has his evaluations for public school at the end of October so we will know more about his placement and schedule then. He has been singing along with things and adding more and more words to his vocab. He amazes me daily!! Well enough babbling. Come back soon for pictures. I have a ton to share!