RAISING JOEY

Well…

IT’S A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Unfortunatly, my scanner isn’t wanting to work with my new printer even after installing the new software to make it compatible with Vista so as soon as I can get it figured out I’ll post my ultrasound pictures! Everything looks wonderful!

Our little Leah Rose looks like she’s going to be a little beauty!!!

Update

I LOVE MY NEW COMPUTER!!! I can’t believe how much faster it is than my old one. This one takes like less than 2 minutes to boot up where as my old one took like 10 minutes! AMAZING! I’m still trying to get used to Windows Vista though, I’m so used to my old school windows!

 We had a great weekend! I spent most of Friday saving all of my pictures to disks so I could save them here onto this computer. I would have had it done a lot sooner but my lovely ancient  CD burner wasn’t wanting to help me out. Anyways once I got most of that done I decided it was time for a break and Joey & I headed over to my in-laws for our usual Friday evening dinner.

Saturday my computer came so I spent most of the afternoon setting it up and then we had to go to the Irish Club to work the sound system for my father in law. The cool thing was that we got in for free to hear Jerry O’Sullivan. For any of you who are into Celtic music, you’d love his music. He’s one of the best uilleann pipes players out there. Not to mention my mother in law watched Joey so Patrick and I had a night out together!

Yesterday we went to church and from there we went to the Daffodil Festival. I’ll be sure to post pictures later. We ate lots of good food and saw lots of pretty flowers. Joey loves getting out and just watching people. We also ran into a family we know from the CT Down Syndrome Congress.

Onto today… today is the big day! At 2:00 I have an ultrasound appointment! We’re going to find out if I’m having a boy or girl!! Well, as long at the baby cooperates, we’ll find out what it is :) Be watching this evening for the big annoucement!!!!

A couple good articles

I just wanted to thank Jaden’s mommy for posting these articles yesterday that I thought were worth re-posting.

Demand Grows For Children With Down Syndrome. Adoption Agencies Say Interest Is High. From the Columbia Daily Tribune, author unknown. Families with prenatal diagnosis need to read this one! There are so many families who are willing to adopt, why abort?

Having A Sibling With Down’s. Written By India Knight. From The Times Online. A great article about an older sibling and her little sister with a little something extra.

Then I found this article this morning, A Grandfather Bonds With His Grandson. Found in on NewsTimesLive.com (a local website here in Connecticut). It’s a wonderful article about the struggle it took for the boy’s grandfather to accept him and having Down syndrome. I needed a kleenex with this one!

New computer coming soon!

I’m so excited! Thanks to my brother in law who works for a company that gets discounts for Dell Computers, I have a brand new computer on it’s way to our home! I’ve never owned a new computer before. All of my other computers have come from the pawn shop that my brother works for back in Ohio. I paid The computer that I’ve been using has been dying a very slow death for the past couple years. I’ve had this PC since I was in high school (which makes this computer about 10 years old). But I’M SO EXCITED! Thanks to our tax return, we’re able to get a new computer! This morning my sister in law called to tell me that she checked online and Dell has already built it and it’s already on its way here. I might have it by tomorrow! So if you don’t see me online for a couple days, it’s not that I don’t want to, it’s because I’ll be getting my new computer hooked up, files and pictures transferred and everything else that I need to do to get it up and running!!!

Favorite Ingredient Friday

Chili-Pasta Skillet 

Ingreidents

1. 1 pound ground beef (I use turkey)

2. 3/4 chopped onion

3.  1 15 oz can red kidney beans (drained & rinsed)

4. 1 8 oz can tomato sauce

5. 1/2 cup elbow macaroni (2 oz)

6. 1 4 oz can diced green chile peppers, drained

7. 2-3 teaspoons chili powder

8. 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

9. 1/2 cup shreaded monterey jack or cheddar cheese

Directions

-In a large skillet cook meat and onion until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain off fat.

-Stir in beans, undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, uncooked macaroni, chile peppers, chili powder, and garlic salt. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered about 20 minutes or until macaroni is tender, stirring often. Remove skillet from heat; sprinkle mixture with cheese. Cover and let stand about 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.

*This recipe came out of the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook and I made it last week for the first time and it was easy, quick and tasted pretty good!

For more recipes or to participate, go to Overwhelmed With Joy!

Thinking Blog Award

I first want to give a big thank you to The FlipFlop Mama for awarding me with the Thinking Blogger Award. It’s nice to know my blog makes people think. When I started blogging, it was before Joey was even thought of. I had just moved up to Connecticut and away from my family and friends. I wanted a way that my friends could keep up with what was going on in my life and I thought blogging was the best way. Then I got pregnant with Joey, then we found out that he has Down syndrome. After he was born, my blog became Raising Joey and it became a way for my friends and family to keep updated on Joey and I also started using it as a way to share various articles on Down syndrome. Through Raising Joey, I’ve met many other parents online, some of the parents also have children with Down syndrome, others don’t, but it’s been a great way to give and recieve advice on parenting.

Boy, it’s not easy picking out other bloggers that make me think! The 5 bloggers must…

1.  If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote.

The 5 people I nominate are…

1.  Rhett’s Journey- This mom went through more than any parent should endure when her son became very ill and I prayed constantly for Rhett to make a full recovery and once he did, it made me think of how much I truely love my own son.

2. This Little Blog Of Mine- She’s a single mom who works as a 911 dispatcher and I admire her for who she is and what she’s gone through raising her children.

3. Overwhelmed With Joy- I was very surprised to see that she hasn’t been nominated yet (if you have, I couldn’t find it on your blog) Anyways, she has a weekly recipe exchange with fellow bloggers and it’s helped to make me think of new recipes to cook for my husband to help add more to our menu. She also writes about her son and her process in trying to adopt her and her husband’s second child.

4. The Road Not Chosen- This mom inspires me to stay strong and remember my faith in the Lord daily. Her blog is mostly dedicated to her son Evan who has been going through a tough time recovering from surgery.

5. Flaugh’s Flaws- Heather has been become a very good friend of mine online and if we were to ever meet in person, I know we would definetly be very good friends. Her blog is about her son Tanner and her stuggles in being a mom, a student and working. I don’t know how she manages to do it all!!!

Another reason I love the Irish!!!

One Thousand To Lose Hair To Raise Money For Down Syndrome published in the Gallaway Advertiser on April 26, 2007.

One thousand people in the city and county will have the hair on their heads, chests, and legs stripped bare in a fundraiser to raise money for Down Syndrome services in Galway.

The Hair Today…Gone Tomorrow head shave fundraiser on June 9 is the first project in the annual Making Galway Proud Initiative, and those who can’t bear to part with the locks on their head can participate by having their chests or legs waxed.

The initiative which has been running for the past four years was established by the building community to create awareness for low profile charities in Galway.

In year one the initiative raised enough money to send two 40ft containers with toys and clothes for the children of Imizamo Yethu in Cape Town in time for their first Christmas and build 100 new homes in the village.

In year two the Circle of Life art competition run in conjunction with Judy Greene was a huge success raising €400,000 for autism services in Galway.

Last year four organisations in the city — Galway Hospice, Meals on Wheels, Galway Alzheimer’s, and Galway Contact each received a new vehicle and a cheque for €10,000 to help them further their work for the elderly in Galway.

This year’s campaign entitled Climb Every Mountain aims to help parents climb one of the many mountains they meet throughout their struggle for a better life for their Down Syndrome children.

Other projects planned for the year include fun events like ‘Developer’s Housewives’ and ‘The West Thing,’ as well as the annual “Making Galway Proud Ball”, which has become a staple event for the group.

Wordless Wednesday

One year ago this week…

For more Wordless Wednesdays or to participate, go here.

Pulling to stand!

Well, of course he actually did it when we turned our heads and he’s only done it twice, but HE DID IT! He pulled to stand!!! We grabbed the camera after the first time and had to wait a while for the second time but this has like made my week!!! I missed both times he actually pulled himself up but just look at how good he gets up on his knees now too!!

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

The R Word

Soeren Palumbo is back in the news after his wonderful speech (which can be found here) & about his mission to stop people from using the R word.

 The “R” Word, One Student Would Like to See The Word Not Be Used Anymore (Be sure to watch the video that goes along with the article). Written by Rob Johnson.

When Knowing Can Be Harmful

Here’s another article about prenatal testing from the The Bismark Tribune written by William Schuh.

Weekend Update

We had a really nice weekend. Didn’t do a whole lot, just a nice quiet weekend. Exactly what we needed. Friday I took Joey, Pat’s mom and twin sisters to Mystic Aquarium for the twin’s 14th birthday. It was the PERFECT day to go, the temperature was in the mid 60’s, the bad part, everyone else thought the same as us and it was too crowded. We managed to have a great time minus the crowds and afterwards stopped over at Ol’ Mystic Village to do a little shopping and to get lunch.

 Saturday we didn’t do much. Well, I went to Walmart, Kohl’s and the grocery. Speaking of Walmart, I had to go return my new hair dryer I had bought to replace my old one. Remember last week when my faithful old hair dryer died? Well, I went and bought a new one. The next day went to use it and the darn thing wouldn’t even turn on! So, Saturday was the first day I’ve had time to go return the darn thing, so I’ve been dealing with wet hair this whole time. I’m getting ready to use my new one for the first time so cross your fingers that this one works!!

Saturday evening, Pat’s friends came over for a bonfire. I’m so grateful for such a nice weekend!!!

Anyways, yesterday besides going to church, stayed home and relaxed. Joey had a great time playing and rolling around. His two top teeth still haven’t cut through yet, but it’ll hopefully happen anyday now. The one on the right looks like it could pop though anytime! Poor little guy, chomps away on his fingers. He won’t hold onto a teething ring or even chew on his toys. When he does, it’s only for like two bites then he throws the toy aside and goes back to his fingers.

Some Mothers Get Babies With Something More

Written by: Lori Borgman Columnist and Speaker

My friend is expecting her first child. People keep asking what she wants. She smiles demurely, shakes her head and gives the answer mothers have given throughout the ages of time. She says it doesn’t matter whether it’s a boy or a girl. She just wants it to have ten fingers and ten toes. Of course, that’s what she says. That’s what mothers have always said. Mothers lie.

Truth be told, every mother wants a whole lot more. Every mother wants a perfectly healthy baby with a round head, rosebud lips, button nose, beautiful eyes and satin skin.
Every mother wants a baby so gorgeous that people will pity the Gerber baby for being flat-out ugly. Every mother wants a baby that will roll over, sit up and take those first steps right on schedule (according to the baby development chart on page 57, column two). Every mother wants a baby that can see, hear, run, jump and fire neurons by the billions. She wants a kid that can smack the ball out of the park and do toe points that
are the envy of the entire ballet class. Call it greed if you want, but we mothers want what we want.

Some mothers get babies with something more. Some mothers get babies with conditions they can’t pronounce, a spine that didn’t fuse, a missing chromosome or a palette that didn’t close. Most of those mothers can remember the time, the place, the shoes they were wearing and the color of the walls in the small,suffocating room where the doctor uttered the words that took their breath away. It felt like recess in the fourth grade when you didn’t see the kick ball coming and it knocked the wind clean out of you.

Some mothers leave the hospital with a healthy bundle, then, months, even years later, take him in for a routine visit, or schedule her for a well check, and crash head first into a brick wall as they bear the brunt of devastating news. It can’t be possible! That doesn’t run in our family. Can this really be happening in our lifetime? I am a woman who watches the Olympics for the sheer thrill of seeing finely sculpted bodies. It’s not a lust thing; it’s a wondrous thing. The athletes appear as specimens without flaw - rippling muscles with nary an ounce of flab or fat, virtual powerhouses of strength with lungs and limbs working in perfect harmony. Then the athlete walks over to a tote bag, rustles
through the contents and pulls out an inhaler.

As I’ve told my own kids, be it on the way to physical therapy after a third knee surgery, or on a trip home from an echo cardiogram, there’s no such thing as a perfect body. Everybody will bear something at some time or another. Maybe the affliction will be apparent to curious eyes, or maybe it will be unseen, quietly treated with trips to the doctor, medication or surgery. The health problems our children have experienced have been minimal and manageable, so I watch with keen interest and great admiration the mothers of children with serious disabilities, and wonder how they do it. Frankly, sometimes you mothers scare me. How you lift that child in and out of a wheelchair 20 times a day. How you monitor tests, track medications, regulate diet and serve as the gatekeeper to a hundred specialists yammering in your ear. I wonder how you endure the clichés and the platitudes, well-intentioned souls explaining how God is at work when you’ve occasionally questioned if God is on strike. I even wonder how you endure schmaltzy pieces like this one — saluting you, painting you as hero and saint, when you know you’re ordinary. You snap, you bark, you bite. You didn’t volunteer for this. You didn’t jump up and down in the motherhood line yelling, “Choose me, God! Choose me! I’ve got what it takes.”

You’re a woman who doesn’t have time to step back and put things in perspective, so, please, let me do it for you. From where I sit, you’re way ahead of the pack. You’ve developed the strength of a draft horse while holding onto the delicacy of a daffodil. You have a heart that melts like chocolate in a glove box in July, carefully counter-balanced against the stubbornness of an Ozark mule. You can be warm and tender one minute, and when circumstances require intense and aggressive the next. You are the mother, advocate and protector of a child with a disability. You’re a neighbor, a friend, a stranger I pass at the mall. You’re the woman I sit next to at church, my cousin and my sister-in-law. You’re a woman who wanted ten fingers and ten toes, and got something more.

You’re a wonder.

Favorite Ingredient Friday- Vegetarian Edition

Cream of Onion and Potato Soup

1. 12 potatoes, peeled and cubed

2. 12 onions, chopped

3. 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

4. 6 tablespoons butter

5. 9 cups milk

6. 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

7. salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a large pot over high heat, combine the potatoes, onions and water to cover and boil for 30 to 45 minutes, or until tender. Drain the mixture, reserving 3 cups of the water. Transfer this in small batches to a blender and puree until smooth.

2. In the same pot over medium heat, combine the flour and the butter, stirring together well, to form a roux. Slowly add the milk, stirring constantly, until well blended. Reduce heat to low and add the pureed potato mixture. Let simmer, stirring occasionally for 5 to 10 minutes. Add the parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste.

For more Favorite Ingredient Fridays, go visit Overwhelmed With Joy!

Truckers Are Good Buddies

A great artcile about a group of truckers over in Ireland have found a great way to raise money for people with Down syndrome. Read more here, written by Denis Croke.

Feeding Update

This post is a tad longer than most I write, but it comes as a request from Christina who was wondering what Joey’s ST is currently doing with him.

Some of you know the frustration I’ve been feeling with trying to get Joey to eat solid foods and trying to get him to feed himself. It’s a struggle, there’s been a little progress which I am so grateful for. Last week, during Joey’s one year therapy evaluation, Joey’s eating habits were brought up. I took Joey’s PT, OT and his teacher into the kitchen so they could witness this for themselves. Luckily they agreed that Joey does need more help in this area so they’re all going to team together and help me to get him eating new foods. Yesterday his ST was over and she also agreed he needs more help in this area.

As for how much Early Intervention Joey recieves here’s my new schedule after Joey’s evaluation…

1. Physical Therapy once a week
2. Occupational Therapy once a week (starting next month)
3. Speech Therapy twice a month
4. Teacher three times a month
5. Nutionist will visit every 3 months

Last week, one of Joey’s therapists brought me a really interesting article written by Kay A. Toomey, PhD (who I researched online and found out that she’s one of the nation’s leading specialists in treating problem feeders) and I thought I would share it with anyone who might find it interesting.

Steps to Eating by Kay A. Toomey

Tolerates the food…

• being in the same room
• being at the table with the food on the other side of the table
• being at the table with the food 1/2 way across the table
• being at the table with the food approximately in front of the child
• looks at the food when directly in front of the child

Interacts with the food…

• assists in preparation/ set up with food
• uses utensils or a container to stir or pour food/ drink
• uses utensils or container to serve self
• touches with another food

Smells the food…

• odor in room
• odor at table
• odor directly in front of child
• leans down or picks up food to smell

Touch food…

• fingertips, fingerpads
• whole hand
• chest, shoulder
• top of head
• chin, cheek
• nose, underneath nose
• lips
• teeth
• tip of tongue, full tongue

Tastes food…

• licks lips, tongue licks food
• bites off piece & spits it out immediately
• bites pieces, holds in mouth for “x” seconds & spits out
• bites, chews “x” times & spits out
• chews, partially swallows
• chews, swallows with drink
• chews and swallows independently

(This article really helped me to gain more patience with Joey and not to be as frustrated with him and to make me realize that not all children tolerate eating the same way.)

We’ve also been using more “tasty” foods than the biter biscuits and meltable puffs to promote self feeding with Joey. He will now hold a Cheetoes Puff in his hand and when I dip it into pureed food, he will lick the food off (it’s a start!). Some other foods that have been suggested for Joey have been Veggie Sticks, pretzle rods, beef jerky (I can’t stand the smell of it so I’m not using that), and dried pineapple rings. I’m going to introduce something new next week.

As for speech, his ST is mainly still telling us to mimick the sounds he makes back to him, the “mama, dada, baba, nana” and any other sounds he might make with the exception of when he blows raspberries with his tongue. They said that he shouldn’t get in the habit of doing that because he could keep the habit until he’s much older. The other thing they suggesting we do with him in reference to his tongue is to not use sippy cups with a nozzle, rather use the ones with straws. This will help decrease his tongue thrusts.

I will leave you with one of Joey’s newest milestone… holding his bottle!!!!!

Wrapping Paper Fun #2

 I love the cheap entertainment children can find for themselves! This was taken at Joey’s birthday party in Ohio 2 weeks ago.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Wordless Wednesday

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Baby Bean Update!

I can’t believe how quickly I’m showing with this pregnancy. I’ve heard that after your first baby, you show a lot quicker but MAN! This is a picture of me and my best friend, Alicia, taken back when I was home for Easter. She’s 25 weeks and I’m 16 weeks pregnant (I do also have a couple more extra pounds than her so that helps for my baby bump to be larger too).

I just can’t get over how different things are this time too. Being pregnant is so much easier but then again, my frequent trips to the bathroom have been starting up again and I’m feeling the baby move more and more. I’ve been having odd cravings here and there. Last week, cole slaw, yes, people you heard me right, COLE SLAW!

Anyways, I just wanted to give you all an update on Baby Bean. Next ultrasound is April 30 and that’s the “Is it a boy or girl appointment?”!!!  

Scrubs Star John C. McGinley Ties The Knot!

SATURDAY APRIL 14, 2007 06:00 AM EDT

By Julie Jordan

Scrubs Star John McGinley: Wedding Photos! From People Online.

When Scrubs star John C. McGinley and fiancée Nichole Kessler tied the knot at their Malibu home on April 7, McGinley’s 9-year-old son Max almost stole the show.

After Max escorted the bride down the aisle, he darted back toward the house. “I barked out orders to make sure Max was okay,” recalls McGinley, 47, who plays the caustic Dr. Perry Cox on the NBC comedy. “You don’t usually have the groom [yelling] at the altar, but I couldn’t concentrate unless I knew Max was squared away.”

Turns out, Max, who has Down syndrome, was just fulfilling his best-man duties: He had gone to fetch Haley, one of the couple’s two chocolate Labs, to join her mate Hudson alongside McGinley for the ceremony. Says Nichole, a 34-year-old Ashtanga yoga teacher from Santa Monica: “The sweetest thing was Max walking back with Haley, then sitting down, thinking, ‘Okay, now I’m done.’ “

Though Max eventually opted to hang out in the limo watching a DVD of The Wiggles during the rest of the ceremony, there were more surprises. “When the officiant greeted us, she said feel free to hug or whatever, so I gave my wife a big, fat kiss,” says McGinley, who elicited happy murmurs from the crowd. “We didn’t have to be in opposite corners until pronounced man and wife.”

Later, when McGinley recited his vows in front of the almost 30 guests, “everyone was in tears,” says Nichole. “Luckily I had tissue under my bouquet.”

Adds McGinley, a Millburn, N.J., native who got his big break as a tough sergeant in 1986’s Platoon and recently appeared as a contractor in the family comedy Are We Done Yet?: “I start talking about Nichole and Max in the same sentence and I’m gone. It was the most private thing I’ve ever done in public.”

During the reception in their living room, close family and friends such as John Cusack and John McEnroe feasted on sushi amid hydrangeas and orchids, and the bride and groom had their first dance to Ben Harper’s “Waiting on an Angel.”

The two then hosted an impromptu jam session in the garage – including a serenade by Patty Smyth McEnroe, who chose a song she had written for husband John – before calling it a night at 3:30 a.m. “Everyone was overwhelmed with warmth and love,” says Smyth McEnroe.

Following a May honeymoon in Italy, the McGinleys will return to L.A., where they’re remodeling their home to make room for more kids, a lot more. “I want seven,” proclaims McGinley, himself the second of five children. That’s just fine with his new bride. Says Nichole: “Bring it on!”

Johnny’s Inspiration

It really is amazing how one person can make a difference in the lives of many people. For those of you who haven’t watched this yet, take a minute and do so.

 The Simple Truths of Service, Inspired by Johnny The Bagger.

Still raining… but no more leak!

Thankfully the roof guy showed up last night around 8:30, took one look up in our ceiling said, “oh, that’s bad” and went outside to look around some more. THANKFULLY, it’s not the roof, the leak was actually caused by our gutter coming loose and buckling, which somehow made the water go up into the shingles which leaked into our room. Apparently it’s been fixed so I’m keep my fingers crossed that we have no more leaks anywhere else in the house in the next few days as we wait for this lovely rain to stop!

Rain, rain go away…

Well as many of you have seen on TV or for those of you who live up here in the North East, we’re getting one heck of a Nor’Easter storm. I just walked back into our bedroom to hear, “drip, drip, drip”, walk over to my craft table to see water all over. Thankfully, none of my pictures were ruined or my sewing machine doesn’t seem to be hurt. But if I wouldn’t have noticed it when I did, we would have had one heck of a problem. The ceiling tile was all buckled and full of water ready to fall, so Patrick took a nail and poked a hole in it and drained the water into a bucket. The water is still coming in but thankfully we caught it. Our poor landlord is at another house fixing a leak so he’s sending someone else over to help. The one thing I have to say is that I am VERY GRATEFUL that the leak isn’t over our bed!!!! Speaking of which, I’m off to check the status of the water level in the bucket…

Joey update

Well, I was right, it wasn’t just his teeth, the poor little guy has an ear infection! I knew there was something else! After a couple hours of Joey screaming his head off last night, we decided to take him into the ER. It took FOREVER to get back to a room but I’m glad we did, I don’t think I could have handled another day of the poor little guy crying like he was. They started him on antibotics (which I need to go get filled since they only gave him enough for last nigth. And seeing we didn’t get home till 3:30 am, I’m off to find an open pharmacy to get his prescription filled.

BUSY!

Wow, between trying to fix my “opps” with my layout on my page, taking Joey for his pre-op renal ultrasound to check over his kidney’s yesterday, spending time with my new sister in law who’s in town with Pat’s brother for the weekend and now today, taking care of a sick Joey, I’ve had no time for an update!

 Joey woke up at 5am this morning crying his poor little head off. Broke a fever later in the morning and still has it. We’ve been giving him tylenol every 4 hours and it just doesn’t seem to be helping. I’m not sure if it’s his new teeth trying to come in, an ear infection, another UTI, or something else. It makes me think something else because this morning, when he was in bed with us sleeping, I could feel his little heart just pounding away. It makes me feel so helpless not being able to fix what’s wrong with him. It would be so much easier if he could just tell me where he hurts.

We’re suppose to be getting awful weather starting tomorrow, another oh so lovely Nor’Easter. So it looks like I’ll be spending the next at least 4 days inside and not getting out in that crumby weather.  

Anyways, well I better try and get some more housework done while Joey is asleep in his crib.