Halloween

We went to a birthday party today to celebrate our dear friends' daughter's first birthday. Of course, it was a costume party. I am not a really big Halloween person, and I am even worse in the creativity department. My poor boys were stuck being Aggies this year. Travis just wanted candy, but when we told him that we would have cake, he agreed that the party would be fun. And that's how we got a family picture in our Aggies gear. It's funny because one of our first family pictures was in Aggie gear too. We might have to make it an annual thing. The shirt Travis wore in the first picture is now on Justin! He has a little growing to do...

Showing Off

Justin has been a real sport about showing off his new talent. At therapy on Wednesday he crawled across the waiting area with all the therapists and our favorite receptionist, Melissa, hiding around the corner watching and cheering him on. He did so well during therapy too. He crawled over Miss Caroline's leg to go after a toy, and during PT he graduated to the big kids room. We have been in the baby area, where things are cleaned more stringently because of babies' tendency to put everything in their mouths. Now we are in the big gym, with lots to explore. (Miss Penny had to do a quick cleaning since Justin still has the mouth thing going.) Justin had to check it all out. So this week wasn't incredibly productive, but I know we will settle in and get our groove back. We did get a little suggestion from Miss Penny to watch his knees so they don't splay out too far when he is crawling. We need to make certain that he is using the right muscles. But right now he just needs practice.

Travis has been the proud big brother. He is telling everyone we meet that Justin can crawl, and he cheers excitedly each time. He loves prompting him to crawl and now enjoys putting things just out of his reach. Justin crawled out of the bedroom where he was sitting with daddy to come find me in the living room. He will crawl for a bit and then sit and rest, but if it's a good thing, he'll get back up and keep after it. He also resorts to the old standby of flopping down and rolling to it. That is still so cute it's hard not to laugh!

HE DID IT!!!

Christmas? When's that?

Thanksgiving? Never heard of it!

Halloween?! That's when I do tricks!!



That's right! Justin learned to crawl! He did a couple of solo knee/hand steps on Sunday night, Monday afternoon he did 5 crawls all by himself, and today...he took over the dining room! I bought the wrong discs for the video camera, so I had to settle for plain photos, but here is the progression...

Look out Mommy, here I go!

Are you watching, 'cuz I'm gonna do it!


Looking for something to go after...



I think I can, I think I can...


Almost there...




Got it!


Look at my boy on all fours! You cannot imagine how difficult it was to get him in this position even a few months ago!


Now Travis took over the camera, while mommy made a few phone calls. Justin decided to come after me.

And then Justin had to rest while mommy shared the news.

Justin took about 25 crawling steps, and then he was tired and wouldn't do it anymore. Every day has been a step of progress, so I am guessing he'll be uncontainable soon. I even called Miss Penny, so Justin will be expected to perform tomorow morning!

A Little Getaway

Every year for our anniversary we take a trip. Okay, our intention is to take a trip. We did well the first few years. We managed to do something every year until last year, and this year we wanted to get back on track and even try to take a trip without the boys. There were a few tears, I will admit, but it was SO worth it! We drove to New Braunfels for a couple of days. We were able to drive in the car, and...not...talk. We had some fabulous conversations, when we wanted to, and we finished them all! And we did a few somethings, and a whole lot of nothing. We wandered through Gruene, and looked through a bunch of shops without buying much. We were overwhelmed by the Schlitterbahn Christmas store. And we visited a couple of vineyards and did some wine tasting.

We had to take this picture for Travis. He was never far from our thoughts, and we knew he would appreciate this.



And we take a picture on our trip every year that we put in a special picture frame to remember the time. This was on the porch of our bed and breakfast. We learned how to use the timer on the camera. This was attempt number 5 I think. It was a short trip, but just what we needed. It was so good to talk with Randy just to talk, and not for planning or sharing information. I am beyond blessed by Randy, and it's times like this that bring those feelings back to the surface.

Soooooooo Close!

Tonight at our small group bible study, during our discussion, Justin did a couple crawls ALL BY HIMSELF!

Oh my goodness!

It was so exciting, and of course, no camera, but a whole bunch of witnesses! And he did it several times, trying to get a ball that would roll just out of him reach. He would do the hands and knees and then fall on his face, roll over, and sit up. We clapped, and he clapped, and we shed a few tears. And then our dear friend, our refuge during the hurricane last year, grabbed her video camera and got a few shots of him doing his thing. Precious beyond belief!

Travis had a new friend in our Bible study and the two of them were running all over the place. Justin eyed them and I could see the little wheels turning. He is no longer content with being a bystander. He is ready to join the fray!

Down Syndrome Awareness Month #4

It gives me such a good feeling when I can see how God is working everything together in all different aspects of my life. I don't always see it, but when I do it such gives me such a sense of awe and an unmistakable knowledge that God is not just out there, but that He is right here with me, teaching me and directing my paths.

Back last month when we attended the various events about DS and the microboards, the president of the local DS chapter asked me if I would be willing to be one of the new parent contacts for the area of town in which we live. She said it would only be about 4-5 a year for our area, and that didn't seem like too much, so I was inclined to agree immediately, but I hesitated and said that I would get back to her. I am glad I did, just because I am trying to be more purposeful in my time. Some things don't seem like that much, but if I am not the person to do it, not only is it taking away my time that should be spent elsewhere, it is also depriving the person who should be filling that role with the experience they should be having. Anyway, so during this time I have been thinking about what I would say to a new parent. Not someone waiting for a diagnosis, but someone who knows that their child is DS, and is faced with the "what now?" feelings.

This semester in bible study we have been discussing marriage and this week the topic was communication. Some of the verses we read had to do with communication in general, and how it should be for building others up, and not tearing them down. I know I have often thought of my words as so momentary and fleeting, and while they may not always be flowery and sweet, and least they are not cutting and harsh (most of the time...). But this made me think of things differently. Are my words useful and helpful?

I could not help returning to the words that were spoken to us when we learned about Justin and started sharing the news. It pressed into me in a totally new way how permanent words are. I can relive entire conversations from that time. And the feelings that those words invoked in me. Some words pierced like a sword. (Prov. 12:18) "Oh, it will be just fine. It's no big deal." Those are reckless words if ever I heard any. It makes me realize how crucial it is to chose words carefully. I want to build people up, especially new parents of a child with DS. We need some major building up! So right now, these are the only things I can think of that I really would have wanted to hear:

I know.

I understand.

I have felt every thing you are feeling now, even if it is too cruel to say out loud. I had a friend who had a miscarriage about the time that we shared our news about Justin and the thought crossed my mind, "She is so lucky..." I would never say that now, but at first the enormity of the task of raising a child with special needs made me wish it would just go away. Now it is just the task of raising Justin, and that is something I can do.

It will get better.



I am not sure what else there is to say. Not everything will be believed, but the words will stick and come back later to be a comfort. And if this task is something God leads me to, I know He will give me the words. I can rest on that promise.

Justin Update

Here's some of Justin's latest accomplishments:

1. We are SO close to crawling! He is getting up by himself and rocking on his hands and knees! And if we have something very enticing out in front of him (like something he is not supposed to have for example...) he will crawl with even Randy or me holding up his chest with one hand. And he will do it anywhere now, not just at therapy.
2. I told you last month that he sat up by himself in bed once, and then he didn't do it again for a while. Last week he started doing it in bed again, and now he can sit up from being on his belly whenever he wants. That is so amazing since he started being more curious and he falls on his stomach from sitting when he is reaching for something, and then he gets stuck. Now he can get himself up without needing our help. Which is good, because sometimes Travis is the first person to get to him, and that isn't always the help he needs!
3. We have been working toward picking things up with a pincher grasp (thumb and index finger). Most often he uses the palmer grasp, using the palm of his hand, and all fingers together. I thought the next step would be the pincher, but apparently there are 2 intermediate steps I didn't know about: the ulnar grasp and the radial grasp. Ulnar is the outside of your palm and the pinkie and ring finger, and then the radial is the inside of the palm and other 2 fingers (index and middle) and then the radial grasp evolves to a pincher grasp. Again, learning so much, I am! So, during therapy Miss Caroline has seen him use the radial grasp (the direct precursor to the pincher) several times! And today during lunch I broke up his veggie sticks into smaller pieces to get him to pinch, and he did it! Once... And then it was back to one of the other ways, but at least I know he can do it. I know it takes a while for new things to stick, and if nothing else through this process, we are developing patience.
4. I never would have guessed it last year when Justin's arms flailed around constantly, but he has turned into the very best hugger! When I pick him up, he grabs on for all he is worth. And when he sits facing me, he grabs around me with both arms and squeezes tightly. I actually just started paying attention and it just melts my heart. The combination of his doting expressions, belly laughs, and loving cuddles are making this a great phase of Justin's life.
5. Justin is growing! His 18 month appointment showed that he tips the scales at 17 lbs. 7 oz. That still puts him below the 5% mark, even on the DS chart. But he has put on more than 3 lbs since his 12 month check-up. The doctor wants him to have the synegis injections again this winter, and the dosage is determined by weight, and our co-pay is determined by dosage, so really, a smaller boy is to our advantage for a while. That plus the no-walking thing makes me more than okay with a smaller Justin.

That's about it for now. These have been some good days. Thanks for all your prayers. They are making a huge difference in our little boy's life.