RAISING JOEY

New therapy

Joey’s new therapy team is wonderful! They’re on their second week of services and things couldn’t be more perfect! Look at how happy he was today with his physical therapist and his teacher both over today!

Music, toys, they know how to get to Joey’s heart!

Leah even joined in on the fun!

New items added to my Etsy!

I finally got around to making another sensory board for my Etsy Shop! I made some more bracelets and another coin bank too! Check ‘em out!

Buddy Walk 2008!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Princess’s Birthday Party!

I’m so behind on posts! Anyways, here is the slideshow from Leah’s 1st birthday party last weekend!

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

Buddy Walk here we come!

I just realized that I’ve not posted anything all week! Anyways, my mom is in town from Ohio for our Buddy Walk and I’m getting ready to leave early since I’m on the BW committee. Our team is in charge of the merchandise booth this year. It’s suppose to rain but we’re not going to let a little rain dampen our spirts today!

I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures!!

GO TEAM JOEY HEERAN!!!

Get compensated?!?!?!

For you DS mommies, sit down before you check this out. Some dirt bag attorney in NYC is taking on cases of undiagnosed babies who are born with Down syndrome and is calling it a “birth injury”. I can’t believe it!!! How low can people stoop to make money?? Helping parents to get compensated for their child having an extra chromosome!?

Here’s your compensation for the day…

Happy 1st Birthday Leah!

I can’t believe it! My baby girl is already one year old! Time sure does fly! One year ago from this minute I was in labor, and at 1:08pm she was born!

One year ago…

Favorite Video Friday

I mentioned yet that Joey has discovered the Wiggles and LOVES this song??

My big girl!

I didn’t catch the “first steps” on video, but here’s as close as I’m going to get. She’s still pretty wobbly, but she’ll be taking off soon!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

And how about some more peak a boo fun, but this time featuring Daddy & Leah!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I made the news again!

Boy, am I popular or what?!

Palin family’s decision puts focus on Down syndrome

Before Jessica Heeran gave birth to her 2-year-old son Joey, doctors told her he had Down syndrome. She felt what she called “a serene acceptance.”

A similar sensation struck Heeran after Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whose 4-month-old son also has Down syndrome, as his running mate in his campaign for president.

“She’s someone like me,” said Heeran, a 27-year-old Wallingford resident. “Having a prenatal diagnosis, I was happy to see someone in my shoes. It will open a huge door for families like ours.”

Heeran’s excitement over Palin’s selection has echoed among parents of children with special needs. Even as others wonder if the candidate’s family life overshadows more pressing considerations about her qualifications or how she might help govern the nation at a time of war, at least some Connecticut parents of special needs children have embraced her as one of their own.

“It’s hard for people who don’t have a stake in something to show interest or care,” said Dianne Stockwell, president of the Woodbury/Bethlehem Special Education Parent Teacher Association and the mother of a 6-year-old boy with Down syndrome. “When I first heard she had a Down kid, I was like woo-woo!”

Stockwell, who said she was unaffiliated with any political party, wasn’t sure if Palin’s connection with her own experience would be enough to earn her vote. But she thought Palin, 44, could help educate the public about the needs of those with the condition, which causes physical and cognitive impairment and occurs when some or all of a person’s cells have an extra chromosome.

“How nice to have somebody,” Stockwell said, comparing her perception of Palin to Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. “She seems like an approachable woman. Whereas Sen. Clinton, I don’t know if I could approach her.”

Walter Glomb, president of the Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress and father of a 20-year-old son with Down syndrome, said his position with the group forced him to keep his opinions about candidates to himself. But he sees a benefit when any prominent person provokes the public to discuss Down syndrome.

“There have been countless articles in the newspapers — never mind the Internet blogs — that are putting Down syndrome in front of people,” Glomb said. “We always appreciate when there is positive recognition of families who have children with Down syndrome.”

But Glomb also said the discussion surrounding Palin’s candidacy could distract from the issues he works on in Connecticut, such as a potential loss of services to people with special needs who use state aid to help them live independent, productive lives.

“When people start asking about the White House and how does this affect someone’s ability to govern, any of those hypotheticals, that’s all a distraction,” Glomb said. “We have a lot of stuff going on closer to home that needs our attention.”

Glomb sees no problem with Palin parading her son Trig before the cameras as she did at the Republican National Convention earlier this month. He believes it was no different from Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama featuring his young daughters on stage. Or Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden’s son, who served in Iraq, introducing his father.

“In that context, it’s not about Down syndrome, is it?” Glomb said. “It’s the kids and whatever they’re doing. Going to Iraq or looking cute on stage. They are part of that whole scene. Individuals with Down syndrome are part of the society like anybody else. We shouldn’t be shocked or surprised or dismayed to see them appear in any arena.”

Heeran, a Republican who opposes abortion, applauded Palin’s decision to carry her son to term. But she also said the public needs to scrutinize her resume and positions on the issues as much as those of the other candidates.

“I think everyone should focus on her as a whole,” Heeran said. “Not just having a child with Down syndrome. Not just her daughter who is pregnant or her ex-brother-in-law. Focus on what she believes in.”

Wordless Wednesday & Special Exposure Wednesday

This week really isn’t wordless since it’s a video, but it’s too cute for words!!!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

For more Wordless Wednesdays, go visit 5 Minutes For Mom or the Wordless Wednesday’s Headquarters.

For more Special Exposure Wednesdays, go visit 5 Minutes For Special Needs

Thank you!

Thank you to those of you who commented on my post from yesterday. I decided to wait to cut out the glutein until we see the GI doctor in October. It’s been such an overwhelming 2 1/2 months having Joey has sick as he’s been and getting no answers but an appointment that we have to wait so long to go to.

No one wants to see their child sick. Having to change BM covered sheets once to twice a day, holding him down as he’s screaming not wanting his rear-end wipped since it’s so sore, bath after bath trying to sooth his poor bum, it’s all taken its toll on me. I know some parents have far more wrong with their children and part of me feels guilty complaining about this. Some parents have to worry about thier child getting enough oxygen, hearts, and even cancer. But seeing Joey suffer from this is enough to break my heart. I haven’t been posting as many pictures of him mostly because he’s not been his usual silly self. It always seems like he’s cranky and constantly complaining. Guess I can’t blame him after having an upset tummy for so long!

(SIGH)

In other news, can you believe Leah turns one year old this Friday?? I can’t believe our baby princess is already one!! We’re having a princess party for her on Saturday. I’ll be sure to post lots of pictures!

Celiac??

Poor Joe-Joe. He still isn’t having regular BM’s and hasn’t for the past 2 1/2 months. It’s not watery diarrhea, but it’s very loose poo to put it mildly. After reading up more about celiac and that it is more common is children with Down syndrome than “typical” children, I’m wondering if that’s not what is wrong with Joey. It usually appears around this so….. is that it??????

He eats pasta & oatmeal every single day, so he definetly has a lot of it in his system. I tried cutting dairy out of his diet and that did no good. So I know that’s not it. So that leaves the main thing as an allergy to glutein (SIGH).

All the pediatric GI docs have a waiting list and Joey can’t be seen until the 2nd week in October! So in the mean time, I’m going to cut glutein out of his diet to see if that makes a difference.

We started out this morning with scambled eggs and now he’s eating cottege cheese for lunch. For dinner, I think he’ll have cheesy rice with veggies.

For you glutein free mommies, any good recipe websites or any info would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Happy Monday!

I’m so happy this morning. I just got online to check my email to find out that I sold 3 things on my Etsy Store including the sensory board I made! YAY! Extra cash for me!!!!!!

Guess this means I need to make another sensory board this week!

Family fun!

We had vistors from out of town last weekend and I completely forgot to post about it! We had my brother in law and his wife, Stephanie in town from Virginia and my other brother in law’s girlfriend, Danielle and her daughter, A who is 6 years old were in town from New Hampshire.

All of my hubby’s siblings, spouses, and Joey & Leah.

A, Joey and Leah played together so well! A is really the closest thing the kids have to a cousin, so it was so nice to see them playing! And A LOVES the kids!

How Big is a Million?

It starts with Pipkin the Penguin counting the fish his mother had just caught for breakfast and then wondering how big is a million. Pipkin’s adventure takes him counting different things along the way until he gets to the end of his journey when he’s back home with his mother and dissapointed that he never found a million of anything until his mother shows him a million_____.

You’ll need to read the book to find out what Pipkin sees a million of!

How Big is a Million comes is a hardcover and only $10.99! It also comes with a poster in the back of the book!

Previous Usborne Book Reviews

• Look & Say First Word flashcards
• That’s Not my Pirate
• There’s a Mouse About The House
• Animal Hide & Seek
• Your Baby Can Read

Favorite Video Friday

Joey’s favorite song!!

We will never forget…

My 9/11 Story- Where I was.
Where were you that day?

Wordless Wednesday & Special Exposure Wednesday

For more Special Exposure Wednesdays, go visit 5 Minutes For Special Needs.

For more Wordless Wednesdays, go visit 5 Minutes For Mom & WordlessWednesday.com

EI, poo & more

Ok, well I think I managed to fix my blog’s layout. I had to remove my blog roll from the sidebar but it’s still available by clicking on the “Blogroll & links” tab at the top of the page.

I’ve also added a few advertisements to my blog to bring in some extra cash for myself so be sure to check them out!

This morning Joey’s new speech therapist came over to do his new IFSP. I have a great feeling about this change. I hated to see all of Joey’s old therapists go, but we had to do what’s best for Joey. The good news is, his new therapists will start coming next week!

Hopefully, I won’t be as stressed out now. It’s crazy how stressed out I’ve been for the past couple weeks worried about Joey’s therapy & its future. Now this morning, I feel as if I’ve had a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.

Unfortunatly, Joey’s tummy is once again upset this morning so that has replaced the stress over his EI with new stress from dealing with yucky poopy diapers and a cranky Joe-Joe.

I can’t wait for Thursday night’s CDSC Parents Night Out, I need it!!!

Oops…

I seem to have messed up my sidebar… I’ll fix it as soon as I can!

Just posted some new bracelets on Etsy!

I added some new bracelets today to my Etsy shop. A couple of them are Down syndrome awareness bracelets! Check them out!

Try This Tuesday

For more Try This Tuesdays, go visit 5 Minutes For Special Needs.

A Special Joy

The makers of Parenting & Baby Talk Magazines have been showcasing some of our babies on their website! I just entered Joey’s picture in and I’ve not heard back yet but hopefully we will, but you might see a couple other familiar faces from some of our online friends!

A Special Joy: Babies With Down Syndrome

So far, they have 4 different galleries of our beautiful babies who happen to have Down syndrome!
One
Two
Three
Four

YAY!

Joey passed his hearing test this morning so he’s cleared until kindergarden! Phew! That’s one specialist we can cross off our list for a few years!

Now if we can just get rid of the ENT, cardiologist, GI doc, and urologist just to name a few, hahaha!

As of this morning, no more squirrel sightings!!