Frustration!

I've been trying to get Joey to start eating more solid foods and boy, is it getting frustrating!! He's been doing so well with stage 3 gerber foods that I figured it was time to try new foods. He absolutely HATES those meltable puffs, the minute he sees them, he clamps his lips shut. Same with teething biscuits, except with them, he also starts crying. I had made myself Kraft Mac & Cheese for lunch yesterday (healthy huh?) and Joey was watching me with such curiosity that I figured, "what the heck, lets give it a try". So I took some and cut them up into small pieces and gave it a whirl. He has the idea down of chewing, but doesn't do it enough or strong enough to mash up his food. This morning I tried scrambled eggs but he decided he didn't like them. I even put ketsup on them hoping that would help. There has been other foods I've tried with him but he just isn't wanting anything but his canned baby food. Also, some new foods he just gags on. It's like he forgets to chew, he just wants to swallow his food the minute it hits his lips! His OT had me go out and buy those mesh things you can put food in for the baby to chomp on but he once again, throws a fit when I try to give it to him. Tonight I'm going to make something for dinner that I can put into the food processor and chop up for him to see if that works.

I guess I'm just frustrated but I know I need to keep working with him and he'll eventually take to other foods. I just needed to vent to my fellow moms :)

One Year Checkup

Joey and I just got back from his one year check up with his pediatrician. Things are looking great! He's 18 pounds, 3 ounces and is 28 inches tall! He also got 3 vaccinations which he wasn't too happy about getting. Dr. B was thrilled with how well Joey is doing.

Did I mention he's starting to stand?! He can't pull to stand yet, but if you stand him up next to the couch, he's holding himself up for about 30 seconds at a time. Joey's PT about had a heart attack today when she was working on his standing. He also wants to crawl so bad, but instead of pushing off with his knees, he tries to use his foot and falls back down. He'll get it soon enough!!

I've had a darn cold the past couple days and it's driving me crazy. Whenever I think it's getting better, I start feeling like crap again. It just stinks since I'm pregnant, I can't really take anything besides Tylenol and benadryl to feel better. I can't even take a nice, hot bath (lord, what I would pay right now to soak in a nice hot bath!)

Also, I forgot last week that I promised pictures of Joey in his new bath seat. He absolutely loves the thing! I think he'd stay in the bath for a hour if we'd let him!!

Mr. Attitude

Last week I started giving Joey stage 3 fruits and veggies and the other day I gave him stage 3 meat for the first time. The first couple bites he gagged on a little, then after that he actually did really good. So yesterday, Joey's OT wanted to watch him eat and was very happy with how he was chewing and swallowing the stage 3 meat. I had bought some biter biscuits and meltable puffs at the store last week so she wanted to see how he reacted to them. To put it mildly, he doesn't like them at all. We put a puff on his tongue and he got sooooo mad and started screaming! So, after it melted and he swallowed it, he went back to being happy so we tried giving him a biter biscuit. He liked playing with it, but the second it touched his tongue, no way! Started screaming again. Joey's OT warned me it might take multiple tries to get him to eat more solid food, but I didn't think he would react the way he did. My little Mr. Attitude.



This morning, he once again wasn't in the best of moods. He would play for a little while, get mad and would start crying. I'm guessing either his teeth are bothering him or he has a tummy ache. So, I just gave him prunes in case he's constipated again and Tylenol in case it's his teeth. Either way, it'll help him out in the long run. Right now he's crying to sleep in his crib and I'm patiently waiting for him to fall asleep so I can take a nap too! It's only 10 am, and I already need a nap!

I hope after his nap, Mr. Attitude has gone for a vacation and my Mr. Happy Joey is back!

20 Froggies

When I was little, my Grandma used to sing a song called "20 Froggies" to me and my cousins. Years went by and I forgot about the song. After Joey was born, and I went home to Ohio for a visit, she was holding Joey and started to sing it. After Grandma had her open heart surgery and stroke over the summer, I feared that I would never learn the words to the song I grew up hearing her sing. I didn't want the tradition lost. Up until today, I could only remember the first verse, I couldn't remember the rest of the lyrics for anything and today it hit me to do a google search and I found it! Now I can continue singing the song to my son that I grew up loving my grandma to sing to me! I can't wait to tell Grandma that I found the song online!

Twenty Froggies
BY GEORGE COOPER

Twenty froggies went to school
Down beside a rushy pool
Twenty little coats of green,
Twenty vests all white and clean.

"We must be in time," said they,
"First we study, then we play"
That is how we keep the rule,
When we froggies go to school."

Master Bull-frog, brave and stern,
Called his classes in their turn,
Taught them how to nobly strive,
Also how to leap and dive.

Taught them how to dodge a blow,
From the sticks that bad boys throw.
Twenty froggies grew up fast
Bull-frogs they became at last.

Polished in a high degree,
As each froggie ought to be.
Now they sit on other logs,
Teaching other little frogs.

Much better this morning

Joey went to bed last night without any problems a little after 9:00 but he woke up at 12:30 crying. Luckily I was able to pat his back until he fell back asleep. This morning he's been a little cranky here and there. He's been taking a nap for the past 1 1/2 hour. I'm hoping the rest of the day will be ok.

Patrick didn't have to be to work this morning until 10:00 so I got to sleep in an extra hour! Thank you Sweetie, I need that!

Yesterday the weather man said we were suppose to get 1/2 inches of snow last night. Well, he was wrong! Well, I woke up this morning and looked out of the window and we got nothing :( I was actually hoping for a little snow. Oh well, I'm sure we'll get some at some point!

Also, yesterday I went grocery shopping at Shop Rite. They're having their can-can sale so I once again stocked up on canned goods and anything else I could find for a good price. As I was walking around, they announced in the deli that they had pre-cooked turkey dinners for up to 10 people on sale for $9.99! This included mashed potatoes & gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, creamed spinish and an 11 pound turkey!You just have to heat everything up! So along with half the store, I rushed over there like an idiot to get my turkey dinner. So tonight, I "cooked" for my in-laws and we're having a turkey dinner! I also got my 12 cans of veggies 12 for $3.48!

Please restart my heart!

Ok, well that was scary... I was just giving Joey a bottle of juice when he started choking, like I'm talking didn't take a breathe for about 30 seconds, juice coming out of his nose, gasping for air choking. I just hope he didn't aspirate, but it sounded like he did. He just cried himself to sleep so we'll see what happens. It scared the crap out of me though...

catching up!

Joey has been taking an extra long nap this morning so I've been taking full advantage of it! I've actually gotten caught up reading all of my favorite blogs. I now have a total of 46 that I've suscribed to on bloglines and I read all that had new posts today! I also got caught up on the dishes, got a load of laundry in the washer and re-potted a couple of my plants that had outgrown their pots, which meant since it's raining and too chilly to do it outside I had to re-pot them on my kitched floor which meant I had to sweep the floor. And I even just ate my lunch without Joey trying to grab it out of my hands!

Speaking of the grabbing, Joey is full fledge into the grabbing stage! Everything he sees, he wants. The TV remote, the phone, food I'm trying to eat, anything! Last night, I was sitting on the floor clipping coupons and who rolls over to me and trys to help? Joey!! But hey, it kept in occupied for 30 minutes playing with the paper!

Be sure to cheer for Ohio State tonight when they play!! GO BUCKS!! OH-IOOOOO!!!!!

What a difference!

It's amazing the difference in Joey since his surgery last Friday. I always thought he was an alert little guy before, but now he's completely different. I didn't realize how much he couldn't hear. He never used to jump when there was a loud noise or wouldn't always turn his head when we called his name. Now he does! He's actually gotten so startled that after he jumped, he started crying! I just can't get over the difference!!!

One of those days...

Sorry I haven't posted since Friday, we had a BUSY weekend! My best friend from Ohio flew in and then the 2 of us went and picked up are other friend who is stationed in Groton at the Navy base. Anyways, it was a great weekend. I really needed to see someone from Ohio.

Last night Joey started getting sick. Running a fever, and cranky. Gave him some tylenol and put him to bed. He woke up a 2:30 crying and still had a fever. More tylenol. Woke up this morning still with a 102 fever and crying. I called his doctor and he told me to go ahead and take him to the ER. After bloodwork, labs, ect, it came up that Joey has a bad UTI. So now he's on antibodics and still feeling crumy but seems like he's doing a little better.

On the way home from the hospital, I called my OB to see if they could get me in sooner than my appointment next week or make me an appointment with someone to talk to about my miscarrage. I can't sleep very well at night and I've been crying whenever something reminds me of my baby. Needless to say, I'm a wreck! I also asked if they got the pathology results back from why my little baby didn't survive. The results are in and the receptionist said someone would call me. Well, it's 6:41 and no one called! I'm not too happy about that.

Geez, I can't wait till I can go to bed and hopefully tomorrow Joey will feel better and maybe I'll get some answers about my little baby.

How do I grieve?

I've never really had many people to grieve passing away. My grandma and my dad's best friend are the only 2 people close to me that have passed away. Losing your own child doesn't compare to anything I've ever felt before.

Today, I tried getting my life back to normal since my mother is back home and I'm back to taking care of Joey by myself. We did our normal daily activities, but I kept finding my mind drifting from one subject to another. I still can't concentrate. It's like I suddenly have ADD or something.

So, Joey and I went out this morning to BJ's Wholesale Club to get diapers and other things we need in bulk. I walked around the store in a haze. I also bought Pirates of the Caribbean 2. We came home and I put the movie in. I couldn't even sit down to watch it during Joey's nap. I could barley watch my favorite soap opera. I couldn't do housework. My mind can't stay on one subject.

My appetite keeps coming and going. I'm only wanting to eat junk food, nothing healthy. I want to sleep all the time.

I know my hormones are extremely off whack and I'm sure that's the reason behind this. Writing this, I keep thinking of other things to write, but they make no sense. I'm trying so hard to cope, but it's so hard. I know it's affecting my husband and Joey too, I'm trying to stay strong for them, but it's hard. I know I need time to grieve, but it's so hard.

Still lost...

The past couple days have gone by easier than what I expected them to. I still feel lost at times. I've been losing my train of thought and can't focus on what I'm doing. My mind just keeps wandering.

I was looking so forward to having a baby in July. My two best girlfriends are both pregnant and the three of us were all due in the first two weeks of July. Now it's just the two of them pregnant. I was so excited for us to have our babies around the same couple of weeks. Now we're not. That makes it even harder for me.

I know it's been a lot easier on me since I was only 7 weeks pregnant. Don't get me wrong, it still hurts. It hurts a lot, in fact it hurts like hell knowing that I lost a baby, but it would have hurt a lot more if I would have been showing and felt the baby move.

I'm so grateful that my mom was able to fly up here to be with me. I was so scared to go to the hospital without my mom. Thank God, she was able to catch the first flight out Tuesday morning in time to go to the hospital with me. She's been a huge help with Joey so I've been able to take it easy and not do all that much. I've even been spoiled with a couple of my favorite meals that she fixes! What would I do without my mother?!

Today we even went out for lunch and then to the mall and went shopping for a little bit. We found a couple cute outfits for Joey and even a Christmas gift for my husband! It felt good to get out and try to get my life back to normal.

I-teeth oh my!

Well, little Mr. Joseph has decided to start the teething process. He has all 4 of his I-teeth coming in. They haven't broken through yet, but he has 4 lumps where they belong and the bottom two are much further along than the top. Poor little guy, I've heard that those teeth are the most painful when coming in, and lord knows how long it's going to take for them to come in, but hopefully it'll be sooner than later. The funny thing is that he's going to look like a little vampire! He has none of his front teeth yet. The bottom left one looks to be the closest. Let the teething begin!!!

hands & knees

We've been having the hardest time getting Joey to stay on his hands and knees. The minute we put him there, he puts his hands in his mouth and falls to the ground.

He has no problems lifting himself up onto his hands and will also lift himself up with his knees, but not at the same time. I know some of this has to do with his low muscle tone but if he would just keep those darn hands out of his mouth! Any suggestions?

My Blog Friends!

After reading Rebecca's post called The Whole Blogging Thing, it made me realize how much I've come to depend on my blog and other blogs to express my feelings and concerns about Joey and life in general. Back in Ohio, I had so many friends, I couldn't even count. I would have something to do every single evening if I wanted. When I moved here to Connecticut, I knew absolutely no one except for Patrick's family and a couple of his old drinking buddies. I now have a grand total of 5 friends here in Connecticut, 3 of which are parents of children with Down syndrome. For those friends, I am ever so grateful! Even with those friends, I have never been so lonely in my life! I was so accustomed to having someone to lean on whenever I needed a friend back in Ohio. But now, thankfully, I have my blogger friends whose lives are very similar to mine in being that you're parents, some with children with down syndrome, others not. You guys are my links to the outside world and at times it feels like I know you guys better than my friends who I know in person. It's nice to know I have fellow parents out there who can give me pointers and just sometimes listen to what I have to say. Thank you!

Wow, I didn't realize it's been since Friday that I've posted last. I go tomorrow for an ultrasound to see how far along I actually am. I really hope I'm more like 10 weeks than 5. That means one less one to go! We'll see tomorrow!

I haven't gotten much done around the house at all. I've been so tired. Not much in the way of morning sickness except for some evenings I get nauseated. And not to mention today I ate a bowl of cereal and drank a glass of milk and threw that up. When I was pregnant with Joey, the only thing I wanted was milk but NOT THIS TIME!

I got a call from one of my best friends, Eric, from back in Ohio today. He's coming December 7-10 to see us. I'm so excited! Since we're not going back to Ohio for Thanksgiving or Christmas, it's going to be so nice to see one of my friends. My parents are coming up for Christmas, but it's still not going to be the same. This will be my first Christmas not in Ohio.

Onto a Joey update! He's still not sitting, but getting very close! He's sitting for about 20 seconds at a time and he really seems to want to sit on his own. He gets so frustrated! It seems like everyday he turns into more of a little person. His personality keeps coming out and he gets funnier each day. He's getting new facial expressions and says new sounds all the time! Not to mention he's rolling so much now! It also seems like he's wanting to crawl. He lays on his belly and his little arms and legs move so fast but he goes no where. He still needs more strength to get up on his hands and knees.

Ohhhh!! And today Joey turns 8 months old! I can't believe my baby is 8 months old! The time has flown by!!

Well, I guess that's it for now!

It's so funny, I never imagined that I would be pregnant again only 8 months after having Joey. I admit, I've been wanting another child, but I didn't expect it to happen that easily! But I'm so excited!! I go to the doctors on Wednesday for an ultrasound. We're not sure how pregnant I truely am. In October my period came 2 weeks early and was very light & short, so there's a possiblity that I was pregnant then. So I'm either like 5 weeks or 10 weeks.

Well, I want to write so much more, but Joey is calling, so I'm off for now!

Wordless Wednesday

I'm cheating, I can't leave this a wordless message although the picture speaks for itself... that's right folks, I'm 5 weeks pregnant! I just found out today!! I'm going to have my hands full starting in July with a newborn and a 17 month old!

For more wordless wednesdays, go here!

He's on a roll!

Wow, today has been an interesting day! While feeding Joey his lunch, he decided he was going to grab his spoon from me and try to feed himself (or at least play with the spoon). So he missed his mouth and got a spoonful of pureed chicken and noodles ALL OVER his face. Then of course started banging the spoon on his tray flinging more food all over the place! I guess I better get used to that, I'm sure there's more events like that to come!

Also, he's been rolling from his back to his belly with no problem and used to roll from his belly to his back with no problem but once he started rolling from his back to belly, he stopped. WELL... today he discovered that he can do both and is now rolling ALL OVER THE PLACE! Like combat GI Joe style. Rolls 5 feet in 5 seconds. I have no clue where this new milestone came from and it's good, but was very unexpected. Needless to say, I spent much of the day baby proofing as much of the house as possible. THERE'S NO TURNING BACK NOW! He's on a roll... literally.

Convention 2006

Yesterday was the CDSC's annual convention and it was a blast! Not only did we learn a lot more but we got to meet Chris Burke. His band performed and it was awesome! They actually had my mother in law dancing along to their music. We went to three different workshops.

The first workshop we all went to was on Oral Motor Therapy and its importance to speech production and clarity. I didn't realize that when I signed us all up for it, that it was Lori Overland's assistant so we pretty much got a repeat of when we went to see her a couple weeks ago. But it was still useful information.

The second workshop we all went to was on Otolaryngology (ENT) issues in children with down syndrome. We got so much more information on what to expect from Joey's upcoming procedure with his ears. The doctor who was there speaking agreed with our doctor about getting Joey's ears done now and also gave us some more advice. Like, did you know that instead of using Q-tips to clean out ears that it's better to use a dropper and put one or two drops of baby or mineral oil into someones ear to clean out the wax? I had no clue!

The third workshop my mother in law and I went to was on Medical Issues in Children and Infants With Down Syndrome. This was was also very informative. The doctor gave us more advice on Joey's problems with his constipation. While we went to that workshop, Patrick and my father in law went to a workshop on a due process primer. Since Patrick is an attorney, he wanted to hear what the other attorneys had to say about IDEA and other laws pertaining to children with disabilities.

Unfortunately, our forth workshop was canceled due to a death in the speakers family, it was suppose to be on Early Elementary Language. But we were all so tired, that we just decided to cut the day early and go home. We had been there since 8am and by that time it was 3:00.

Also, the keynote speaker, Steve Riggio gave a great talk about his daughter and their struggles with inclusion and other everyday difficulties. But I still think the highlight of my day was meeting Chris Burke!

Ok, just a quick update. Unfortunatly, Joey's urologist still wants to wait till he's a year old for the circumsision to apparently "let him develop more". I wanted to get it done now since at a year, he'll probably be able to take off his diaper and/ or rip off any bandage that might be on his little man parts. Oh well, I'm not too happy about having to have him put under twice in 4 months, but I'll have to live with it. Anyways...

Tommorow is the Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress's annual convention and I can't wait! It's from 8am-4pm so it's going to be a long day but worth it. We've signed up for 4 different workshops that focus on various issues with infants with Down syndrome. Also, the keynote speakers are Chris Burke and Steve Riggo who has a daughter with DS and is the vice chair for Barnes & Nobles. This is going to be such an interesting day! I can't wait! Hopefully tomorrow evening I'll have a recap of what all went on!