Healthy Heart

Charlotte had her annual cardiology appointment yesterday. Things went really well, and despite a little anxiety leading up to it on my part (for no particular reason mind you, just the fact that I always feel like they are going to find something!), Charlotte did awesome. The minor valve leakage the cardiologist had been concerned about last year has actually gotten better, which apparently very rarely happens, so we won't have to worry about medication any time soon. Other than the now "trace" amount of leakage, the rest of her heart looks completely healthy and the doc feels that there is no reason for Charlotte to ever have any restrictions on her activities.

She had to be sedated for her ECHO;  hopefully this is the last time, as she doesn't need to be seen by the heart doc until she is three (yay!), and by then she should be able to lay still for the half hour test. The sedation really hit her hard, and it took her pretty much all day to return to her normal self. After a three hour nap, she still had problems walking and moving around without falling or running into things (she looked like a drunk sailor!), so we spent the remainder of the afternoon snuggled up on the couch watching episode after episode of baby signing time and reading books.

*****

Today we spent the afternoon at the zoo. Mike and I felt we needed to get the kids out, despite the cold temperatures (and by cold, I mean 45 degrees or so....which is normal for this time of year, but after the 80 degree temps a few weeks ago, it felt frigid), and as a bonus the zoo wasn't busy at all, making it possible for Charlotte to walk a good chunk of the afternoon. She loves her new found independence and is pretty resistant to holding our hands, but we are working on it.










Checking out the fish, her favorite!









I hope you are having a good weekend, we are hoping for warmer weather tomorrow!

Wordless Wednesday: Outdoor fun

*She dropped her mardi gras beads down the crack!




*Guess who else learned how to ride a two-wheeler (must have been inspired by his big sister's recent success!)?! Very proud of my lil' man!

Under the weather.

Don't worry, I am the one that isn't feeling the best, not Charlotte (thankfully!). Because of it, I don't have much stamina left for a blog post tonight, so instead I will throw up a few pictures from Erin's (my sister-in-law) baby shower that we had yesterday. I am super excited for Erin and my lil' bro, only a few more weeks until my new nephew is here!
















Hope you had a good weekend, I'll be back in a few days with some insightful thoughts and maybe a video of my girl. Happy Monday.

Celebrate.

Today, 3/21, is a day to celebrate. Celebrate individuals with Down syndrome, or as the date represents, three copies of the 21st chromosome. A day to celebrate Charlotte and all those who also have a bonus chromosome.



Charlotte is nearing the age of 2. Two?! It is hard to believe we have been on this journey that long. What a wild ride it has been.

A few days ago, I watched the following video, in preparation for today.

While watching,  I found myself...

...giggling,
 "Normal is a cycle on a washing machine."

... inspired,
 "She is going to teach me a whole new meaning of life."
"You will be a better person because of her." 

..but most of all, nodding my head in agreence, because I get it.
"He will be the easiest of your three."
"She will rock that extra chromosome."
"Different does not equal less."

A couple of very wise women I used to teach with would often repeat the quote, "The only way out is through" when things got tough. I can't tell you how many times I told myself that in the early days of Charlotte's Down syndrome diagnosis and heart surgery. And you know what, I got through it, and it now seems like a distant memory. So, if I could go back to the day Charlotte was diagnosed with Down syndrome, I would tell myself just that, "The only way out is through," and one day the feelings of anger and sadness will be replaced with acceptance, hope, love and, yes, even joy. Lots of it.



Charlotte has been growing in so many ways lately. I have found myself sitting back and watching her in awe as she now toddles around with a new found independence. Walking, climbing, signing, dancing, interacting with those around her; she amazes me daily.



Down syndrome does not make Charlotte who she is, but rather is a small part of her. A part that may set her a part from her peers, but the way I look at it is we are all different in some way or another.



So today, on World Down Syndrome day, I am asking you to embrace difference. Difference is not wrong, and not something we should be ashamed of.  Difference is what makes life interesting.



Spread acceptance and awareness today and every day. Celebrate.


**Head on over to My Stubborn Little Miss or With a Little Moxie to check out the World Down Syndrome Day blog hop! Happy reading!

Not a fan.

Charlotte had her first dentist appointment on Friday. We go to a pediatric dentist, and my older two kiddos absolutely adore going. Katherine and Will were about two years-old when they had their first cleaning, and I figured it was probably a good idea to start Charlotte early as well.

Charlotte was NOT a fan. The dentist was fantastic, the entire exam took less than five minutes, and she was able to lay in my lap as they checked out and cleaned her teeth (all six of them! hah!). She screamed the entire time, but was immediately quiet when she sat back up and the dentist left the room to go find her a prize. The dentist returned with a squeaky plastic fish, which Charlotte grabbed, examined, and then threw back at the dentist. I guess the girl knows how to hold a grudge!

My plan was to take some pictures of Charlotte at the dentist, however, between her crazy appointment and my older two also getting their teeth cleaned I didn't really have a chance!

In other dental news, Katherine had to have a tooth pulled (or "wiggled out" as the pediatric dentists calls it), as her first permanent tooth was coming in behind the baby tooth. She did awesome, and was super excited to come home with a pink treasure box holding her tooth. However, because our lives are never drama-free, an hour after we got home she was showing the neighbor girl her tooth while playing outside and dropped it in the sandbox. After an hour of looking for it by flashlight and lots of convincing that it would be okay, we decided to leave the tooth fairy a note. Luckily, the tooth fairy was still good to her.

I apologize for the lack of Charlotte pictures, however I have a camera full from this weekend's events and promise a picture-filled post early this week. Instead, here are a few pictures of my eldest showing off the space in her mouth!

Warm & Windy *almost* Wordless Wednesday.

It was nearly 80 degrees and sunny today. Here, in Wisconsin. In March. Crazy, huh?! We enjoyed every minute of it. Walks, swinging, biking, soaking up the sun. Love it.


We spent hours outside yesterday and today, and Charlotte walked the entire time. No crawling on concrete for this little girl!








Katherine discovered that bike riding minus training wheels is much more fun!


And Will thought he would give it a try as well.



Also today, my favorite little man took his first bus ride during a field trip at school. He thought he was pretty cool.





Finally, before I sign off for the night, I want to wish everyone (especially you, Patty!) a very happy Pi day! When I was teaching, March 14th (3-14) was a pretty special day in my classroom. Go eat some pie...but be sure to measure the circumference and divide it by the diameter before you dig in.

Down syntrick

My conversation with Katherine last night before dinner, went something like this:

Me: If you want me to help you with your homework, you have to do it now because I have to work tonight. Otherwise daddy can help you later.


K: I don't get why you have to go and help big kids with their homework. Can't they read and figure it out themselves?

Me: Well yes, but homework gets harder as you get older and some kids need extra help. 

K: Do they have Down syntrick like Charlotte?

Me: No, they just need extra help understanding their math. 

K: Sounds like Down syntrick to me. 

******

Katherine has a phenomenal memory. She can retell experiences from her toddlerhood with amazing detail.  I have no idea why she can't remember  the word "syndrome." She has always referred to it as "syntrick" even after I have corrected her. I think it truly doesn't matter to her, and to her, Down syndrome is such a non-essential part of her sister that she subconsciously doesn't recall the correct term. To her Charlotte is simply, Charlotte.

In fact, a few weeks ago, my girls were on the floor playing together, Katherine looked up at me and said "Mom, Charlotte is exactly like I hoped she would be."

Yep Katherine, she sure is.

When mom is away...

...daddy and the kiddos play.

I spent the weekend with good friends eating, drinking, and being pampered. Exactly what I needed and something I suggest for any mom to occasionally partake in.

While I was gone, Mike held down the fort at home with the three kids.

There was a bit of crazy hair, since daddy isn't as good with ponies...



and probably some video game playing...



and tons of time enjoying the gorgeous weather...



as well as a trip to Culver's for some chicken and custard.



I came home relaxed and in a great mood to a house full of happy children. It is amazing what a little time away will do! Thank you, dear!

Charlotte has a favor to ask.

You know that word that people sometimes use when they do something foolish or think something is stupid? You know, the one my mom refers to as the "r-word?"

Can you do me a favor, and please not be a person that says it. You see, that word HURTS. It hurts me, my friends who may also have a bonus chromosome, and everyone who loves me. There are so many other things you can say. Silly, foolish, heck even stupid (though my mom doesn't let us say this one is our house, so my big brother and sister changed it to "stu" instead...they think they are so smart!) is better.

One more thing, make sure you tell your friends about my important message, the more people that realize how hurtful this word is, the better. 

I really appreciate it. Thank you.




*Please visit www.r-word.org and take the pledge to spread the word to end the word.

For you, dear Kate.

I was talking to my aunt Kate on the phone earlier today while Mike and the older two kiddos were outside enjoying the quickly falling snow. Kate heard Charlotte yelling at her siblings through the patio doors, and told me to get off the phone and take the girl outside with her brother and sister.

Ugh. I quickly explained to her the process of dressing a toddler for snow play, which included bundling them up so tight they can barely move. Then, trudging outside only to have about five minutes before the toddler who can't move is miserable and cold and needs to come back in. Charlotte is my third child, I know that nothing good will come out of this crazy snow play process until she is older.

Enter the mommy guilt. I took her sister outside to play in the snow when she was a toddler. And though, not as frequently, I also took her brother out at her age.

Alright....here we go. I hurried upstairs, dug through a bin of Katherine's old clothes and pulled out barely used snow pants, boots, and a heavy jacket (which I knew was going to be too small for Charlotte, but it worked). She looked at me like I was crazy while I started bundling her up; I added a hat and mittens and out we went.

For ten minutes.



The wind was blowing, the snow was falling, and while the scene was picturesque, Charlotte wasn't impressed.



Mike put her under a cluster of trees/bushes to protect her from the wind, and she managed a little grin, though she still didn't know what to make of the whole experience.



"Hey guys, I think I like this?!"



The older kids attempted to build a snowman, but the snow was so heavy and wet, Mike was unable to lift the huge second snowball on top of the the first.






Hope all our fellow Wisconsinites are enjoying the snow tonight. We did. Sort of.





This one is for you Kate. I took her out, happy now? :-)

Enjoy your weekend!