Save the date...

I mentioned in a previous post that I wanted to make this year's Buddy Walk HUGE... T-shirts ordered check..Flyers/registration printed check..save the date posted on Facebook check...

As the countdown starts for the 3rd Annual Buddy Walk I am excited to be involved in the preparations. I attended the first meeting last Wednesday, where I gave my 2 cents on what it was like to attend our first ever Buddy Walk the year before when Jesse was just 5 months old. As a volunteer I took on the tasks of helping to promote the Disability Expo and rounding up high school volunteers to help with activities like the kids Bounce House, Arts and Crafts table and snow cone machine.

The Buddy walk will take place on Saturday, October 27th at the No. Collier Regional Park here in Naples, FL.

Registration/Breakfast will begin at 9:30, Walk begins at 10:30 followed by kids activities and Disability Expo.

Would love to have you come join us! If you are not in the area or unable to attend, please consider a donation to the National Down Syndrome Society. I have created a donation page:

http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1009923&supId=350205667

Follow up

My friend Michelle and I travelled to St. Pete for Jesse's second follow up after his surgery. He had an ultrasound and EKG done before seeing his cardiologist.

 

His cardiologist was very pleased with his progress and took him off of the diuretic medicine he was on. Our next follow up is in one month, followed by 6 months and then yearly... :)

My next doctor's visit a few days later was for his hearing test. Which i left still confused. The doctor told me Jesse's hearing was below normal, which he also said was not unusual for children with Down Syndrome. The normal range was 0-10 and Jesse was 35. He drew a chart and the 35 fell below 0. He also gave us a prescription for antibiotics since Jesse had fluid build up in his ear. We were told to come back in 2 weeks for another test.

Sunday's...

I love Sunday's. We usually start our Sunday mornings going out for breakfast, but this past weekend Nir and I skipped breakfast and went to yoga instead. I have found a new passion. Only my 2nd official class but i know a good thing when i find it. I left the class feeling mentally relaxed and physically motivated to return. I have decided to take a slow approach to yoga. Starting with gentle yoga and level 1 classes. We will see how long it takes to master Power Yoga?

Yoga inspired us to continue with physical activity and take the kiddos biking...

Later in the afternoon we went to Jonah's preschool BBQ...

New and Improved Heart!

It was 4 weeks ago today that Jesse had his surgery! I can't believe how time flies. I feel like I was just sitting with him in his hospital room. At first I did not see to much of a difference in his behavior. He was pretty much the same kid. Put him down in one spot..go check my email, wash some dishes, do some laundry...come back and he is still hanging in the same spot. Just kidding. I don't leave him that long, but you get the point. He was pretty predictable. Wasn't going anywhere...

Well, with his new and improved heart, oxygen pumping everywhere and this baby is on the go. He is army crawling across the room, down the hall and next thing you know I can't find him. He crawled over to the front door, which on either side has glass and like a puppy, nose to window he was watching the kids walking to the car on their way to school.

His therapist would love his pincher fingers...

A few days ago I put him in his crib, on his tummy like I always do and when I came in to check on him he was sitting up. This was something his PT had been working with him for a while before the surgery and he hadn't quite mastered. With all his new found energy he has been non stop moving from tummy to sitting up. I also found him sitting up on his knees holding on to the top of the crib rocking back and forth. I know this does not sound like much but for a kid that never left his tummy watching him sitting on his knees a few weeks after surgery made me want to cry. I immediately lowered the crib to the bottom which I never would have considered before surgery. It had still been up in the newborn position.

crib lowered all the way down..

He  is able to pull himself up in standing position...Go Jesse!

Learning to eat by himself... Hopefully next time more goes in his mouth. :)

Jesse loves to play peek a boo with his brother Jonah!

Jonah teaching Jesse sign language. This means more... He has also learned the sign for eat

which is the same as more except one hand is brought to his mouth.

Concentrating.... You've got it Jesse!!