Day 31 for 21: Day 14 Pumpkin Patch

We went to a church that had a pumpkin patch..thought it was really neat bc on the sign it said Pumpkins for charity..and so I asked them about it and they told me  that all the money they raise from selling pumpkins goes directly to a charity.

Very hard to get both looking at me…but I can usually get at least one to look at me;)

Well one out of five isnt bad for looking at me either….haha!!!

They found there pumpkin right away and wouldn’t let go of it..and of course had too  carry it around by the stem..Jianna on the left and Jayla on the right


Even though Avery couldn’t walk she made it very clear as to what pumpkin she wanted..and was very happy with her pumpkin that she chose!!!

31 for 21: Day 13 happy Birthday Destiny

Today’s post has nothing to do with Ds..its all about celebrating our oldest birthday.
Happy 11th Birthday Destiny!!!! 

 

Wow…has it already been 11 years since we welcomed you into this world…Its really crazy how fast time flies..it really does just seem like yesterday…Destiny was 13 days late..My due date was Oct. 1 and every day that went by seemed like eternity..I was just dying to meet my baby..we didn’t know if she was a girl or boy and it was driving me crazy.. she is the only one that we didn’t find out..I couldn’t do it again..She was my hardest labor/delivery. I labored at home for 48 hrs. I was going on about 48hrs of ZERO sleep. I was going in to be induced bc I was two weeks over and well I was far enough on my own that I didn’t need to be induced..yay for that!!!  But I had horrible back labor with her…I had an epidural and I still felt everything..the front and the back..I almost went crazy..not kidding… Back labor is no fun..you don’t know if you should grab your stomach or your back bc you are in so much pain..with no relief from anything..I pushed the longest with her..three and half hours..I was exhausted..and finally the dr decided it was time to get the vacuum out to help…and I will remember it as plain as day..I had a new dr. he had just came into the practice that I was going to the last couple of weeks and of course I had to get him.. .I don’t advise that…Anyways as he is getting the vacuum out he looks at the vacuum and says what’s this???…..excuse me mister..but WHAT>>>>!!!!!!  I about lost it..You don’t know what it is and you are about to use it doing what…The nurses felt the need to explain to me later that it was just not what he was used to and it was a different one…I don’t really care he should not of said that in front of a laboring woman..that was almost to the point of going loco.. She finally arrived at 12:37pm and she came out not screaming..me and Jared just stared at each other..we were sooo scared as to what was going on..They rushed her over to the table and were working on her for what seemed like forever..and FINALLY she screamed and it was music to my ears…

Not the best picture bc I had to scan it in…but look at how tired I look…and how young..my oh my…I was only 19 when I had her..My first born..The one who made me a mom…who made me feel that love like no other. I had only just met her and I was totally smitten in love with her..she was perfect..just perfect…and her daddy was totally in love with her too…He was such a proud first time daddy too…I love this picture of them…in fact Destiny has it beside her bed in a frame..she likes it too The second picture was when she was 6 days old…check out all of her hair..she was born with some hair..and she still has some hair..tons of it!!

We both couldn’t get enough of her…That day on October 13, 2001 we became first time parents..we became a family of three. Thank you GOD for blessing us with Destiny 11 years ago and making us parents and blessing our family..

Destiny is very much a girlie girl..she loves to shop..she loves clothes..she loves, loves shoes..She loves fancy things..she is always particular about her hair..and always wants to look good before leaving the house..The girl is hilarious..Want to hear her last joke…We were at Spinx with my SIL after the buddy walk and I told Destiny to run over and give her a bottle of water..and as she is handing her the water she tells her “making your life easier” which is the Spinx sayin..its all over there signs…lol!!  She loves to play piano..and she plays it soo well..I love to listen to her. She is very smart..she loves to read and loves to go to the beach, loves horses..begs to have a horse almost every day..its not possible we don’t have enough land yet. and loves to swim..she taught her self how to swim.  She loves art too..she was in the art club last year.and I just got a letter the other day telling me that they had chosen her art to be displayed in the Spartanburg Arts Center..so we are going to go and see it on Monday..and she just told me that she thinks that they also chose a piece to be displayed at the District One office. She is a great singer and is on the honors choir at school..(which she is going to have to perform) She don’t like to get in front of people..kind of shy like that..she wont do the talent show at school bc she don’t want to get up there in front of everyone and play piano..but she will do it at her recitals..she makes no sense..She wont do any sports what so ever bc she doesn’t want any body watching her. She is very helpful around the house. She can cook supper..and she loves to bake..she has pretty much taken over the baking in our house..I hardly do any bc she wants to do it all the time. we have had our failed attempts but at least she is learning..right?? She is good at it too..she knows what she wants and just goes with it.. She does all of it all by herself now.no help from me..But she can also just get bored and start picking..and she wont stop..she will pick on all of the girls..One thing is for sure though…She loves her sisters..and she loves Avery.

31 for 21: Day 12 Eye Patch

Well hello patch!!!!  Looky at what we have to start wearing now..Avery has to patch her good eye for an hour everyday for three months.

Why you ask???  Her left eye has been turning in for quite some time now and I finally got the eye dr to do something. I have noticed it getting worse and not any better. Her vision seems to be right in the middle and good so he don’t feel like she needs glasses. He said he was surprised that she wasn’t either farsighted or nearsighted bc most times you see that with the eye turning in. While patching the good eye and not letting any light in it is suppose to strength the bad eye and force it use it and send some signal to the brain that she needs to use that eye..

We will go back in three months and check it again and see if it has helped any. He did mention an eye muscle surgery that might need to be done…I don’t want any more surgeries…I am sooo done with surgeries…Can she just get a break..please!!!!!!!!!! Praying that this will help and we can stay clear of any more surgeries!!!!

31 for 21: Day 11 One Month Marker

It has been ONE month since Avery’s surgery. ONE month down and ONE more to go..and we can say good ridden to the cast..and all of this is going to be one huge distant memory. Destiny just told me the other day too…Mom can you believe it Avery can get her cast off in almost a month. So apparently we are all counting down the days. We were told that Avery had to at least stay off of her feet for at least a month and after that she could walk if she wanted to as long as she left the cast on…So my girls kept saying tonight..Avery can walk tomorrow mom…Avery can walk tomorrow..I don’t know if they just think she is going to miracously get off the couch and walk bc it has been one month and that is what she did last time or what..but I informed them that she will walk when it feels comfortable to her. Who knows when that will be but my back is hoping it is soon!!! ;)

Avery seems to be adjusting well to life in the cast. We have only had one little accident in the cast. Apparently she was trying to get my attention and never got it and ended up going pee on the couch and it got all over her cast..so we had to take the top of and blow dry it and then turn it over and do the same with the back. I was thankful once again that the cast was removable to be able to do this. What does she do all day???  Well she stays on the couch and either watches tv or plays on the iPad. We have been trying to get her caught up on all of her school work. She just started homebound this week..took awhile to get it going…She will get 5 hours a week. Three hours from her regular teacher. one hour from one of her resource teachers.and one hour from her speech therapist.

We will go to her ortho dr down here on Monday and they will x-ray her and check to make sure that everything is still in place and then send everything up to her dr in Boston. Praying everything is healing good and it is still in place..bc then it means we are doing this all for something..
Since we are at the one month marker that also means that she can take a bath…YAY for an actual bath!!! I can take her cast of and lay her in a bathtub but after she is done she has to go directly back in the cast. I am tired of sponge baths and she is too…but she does enjoy to get her hair washed..kind of like being at a salon I guess. She soaks it all in..and just lays there with a huge smile on her eyes and says aw..aw..over and over again.

Apparently she has been watching Dora a little to much while on couch rest..ha! Bc Destiny came home from school and all of a sudden you hear Avery tell her “Hola” …and Destiny does a double take and looks at me strangely..and says since when has Avery learned Spanish..So she doesn’t speak English very good but you can defiantly  understand her Spanish..maybe we are teaching her the wrong language..lol!
Avery has been popping her right knee in and out…and she will then complain that it hurts..this is making me very nervous…Why???? Well one look at the picture…does this look right to you????

The way she does it has got to be moving her right hip in weird positions??? or maybe its just my thinking…and two..she has moved onto something else..So we have corrected her hips and she can no longer pop them in and out and know since we have done that she has found another joint to do it to. Her knee…Do I really have to go through all of this again this time with her knees???? I trying not to jump to conclusions and think the worse bc I do not know anything else..but you can be sure I will be asking her dr about it on Monday.

31 for 21: Day 10 Ten Things to Avoid to Say to New Parents

The National Down Syndrome Society explains there will be challenges in raising a child with Down syndrome, but there will also be many, many joys. It’s normal to be nervous about what lies ahead, but Down syndrome is a condition the baby has, it is not who the baby is. For family and friends, basic education about Down syndrome will diminish unsavory interactions for new parents and produce greater support.
Ten things to avoid saying to new parents:
10. “You are special people.”
Parents of kids with disabilities are typical. They do well one day and fail the next. They do not want to be on a pedestal.
9. “People with Down syndrome are always happy.”
According to the National Association for Down syndrome the most important fact to know about individuals with Down syndrome is that they are more like others than they are different. No one is happy all the time.
8. “Is it because of your age?”
Statistics point to more moms having children with Down syndrome under the age of thirty-five because women are starting families at a younger age.
7. “Maybe the child will grow out of it.”
Down syndrome is a genetic condition. It is not a disease or a sickness. Interventions and medical care help individuals with Down syndrome live full lives.
6. “Will you have more children?”
New parents are acclimating to a diagnosis. Don’t hurl them into the future with personal questions.
5. “Is he/she high functioning?”
Individuals with Down syndrome have strengths and weaknesses like everyone else. It is unrealistic and unfair to put newborns in boxes of functionality.
4. “She does not look like she has Down syndrome. Are you sure?”
Results of Down syndrome are absolute through a simple blood test.
3. “Did you know ahead of time?”
Pre-Natal screening is a hot topic with Down syndrome. Again quoting the National Association for Down Syndrome: ‘Two types of procedures are available to pregnant women: screening tests and diagnostic tests. The screening tests estimate the risk of the baby having Down syndrome. Diagnostic tests tell whether or not the baby actually has Down syndrome.’ Educated decisions regarding tests are vital but also personal.
2. “It could be worse.”
Processing a new diagnosis is valid. Award parents time to adjust to a different kind of normal for their family with love and support.
1. ‘I’m sorry’ or any statements of pity.
A child has not died. Condolences are not warranted. New parents want the excitement that comes with a new baby. ‘Congratulations’ is an appropriate response.

This post was published years ago by Examiner
I have actually got #4 a lot and it drives me crazy…