Therapy ... "Retail" Therapy, that is

Day 5 of our "31 for 21" campaign has been filled with planning, planning, and more planning.  I wish I had more entertaining musings to share this evening, but unfortunately my day was mostly filled with errands.  We are heading out of town tomorrow to Connecticut for the wedding of Robert's cousin Nancy and her fiance Jake.  It's going to be a fun one!  Jackers will be embarking on not his first, not his second, but his THIRD airplane excursion tomorrow morning at the ripe old age of 16 months!  Needless to say, in addition to the normal Buddy Walk planning I've been up to, I've spent most of today packing and planning our trip.

The mundaneness of today was, however, highlighted by a wonderful therapy session with Jack's developmental therapist Annette and some evening "retail" therapy between just my mom and me. 

Annette taught Jack how to sign "where" today, saying things like, "Where's Mommy?" and "Where's Ms. Annette?"  He caught on quickly and actually pointed to Annette once.  It was so sweet!  Also, Jack crawled over Annette's leg a couple of times during therapy, which is one of the things we've been working on for our PT "homework," so naturally, I was really excited!  I can't believe how big of a developmental growth spurt our little Jack is experiencing!  It makes my heart beam!!!

Onto the retail therapy ...

I tell you, my mom always knows how to cheer me up.  Being postpartum and still trying to lose my "baby weight" (yeah, I know it's been 16 months, but it's still my excuse), I really wanted to find a dress for this weekend's wedding that I feel really comfortable in.  I wanted a dress that was comfortable on two fronts ... I wanted it to look nice, but also comfortable enough to carry around and dance with a 16-month old in.  Well, after several very discouraging "try-ons" at a certain department store, I finally found THE dress at a very inexpensive and fun store with the help of my sweet and always complimentary mother.  It was nice to spend some time together just me and her, because I feel that's a little rare these days.  Thanks again, Mom, for helping me finally find a dress I feel really pretty in!  You're the best!

Goodnight, friends!  We'll talk again tomorrow (from Connecticut)!!!

Unbreakable

I had a really long and trying day at work, but I want to keep my "31 for 21" promise to you all.  I apologize for not writing more, but I am really exhausted, so I'm going to keep it short and sweet.

Tonight, I want to share one of my favorite photo moments with you.  I can't believe I haven't shared this before now. 

Over a month ago, Robert, his brother Matt, his sister-in-law Kelly and I took Jack on a little day trip to Cooleemee Falls, NC.  It was a really fun and relaxing day, but I think the best part was watching Jack with his Daddy and his Uncle Matt and bearing witness to the love between brothers and the commitment these men have to their family. 

You just can't break these kind of bonds ...

With a Little Faith

The Director of the Department for Spiritual Care and Wholeness (Pastoral Services) at the hospital where my husband Robert and I both work sent a very heartwarming story to Robert today.  He said that it was a good metaphor for the work we do daily to bring hope and possibility to the patients we serve.  To Robert and I, though, the story had even deeper meaning ...

"Faith"

This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002. He was born with 2 legs.

He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his mother did not want him.

His first owner also did not think that he could survive and he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'.

But then, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted to take care of him.
She became determined to teach and train this little dog to walk by himself.

She named him 'Faith'.

In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfboard to let him feel the movement.

Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and reward for him for standing up and jumping around.

Even the other dog at home encouraged him to walk..

Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle, Faith learned to balance on his hind legs and to jump to move forward.

After further training in the snow, he could now walk like a human being.

Faith loves to walk around now.

No matter where he goes, he attracts people to him.

He is fast becoming famous on the international scene and has appeared on various newspapers and TV shows.

There is now a book entitled 'With a Little Faith' being published about him.

He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies.

His present owner Jude Stringfellew has given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world to preach that

Even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul.

In life there are always undesirable things, so in order to feel better you just need to look at life from another direction.

I hope this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone and that everyone will appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day.

Faith is the continual demonstration of the strength and wonder of life.

 

 

Just remarkable, isn't it?!?!  How strange that we can find connections to our own human condition all around us ... even in four-, uh hum ... I mean two-legged animals! 

 

Our little Jack has given me so much Faith during the 16 months he's been in our world.  The kind of Faith that I never knew existed.  The kind of Faith that you only get from looking at life from another direction.  The kind of Faith that only comes from ...

a perfect soul.

First "Timeout"

Ok, so you remember me telling you that Jack has a little streak of defiance in him?!?!  Well, this afternoon this defiant streak culminated in Jack's very first "timeout."  You're probably thinking, 15 months seems a little early for this, huh?!?!  I thought so too, but we just didn't know what else to do.  Here's the story ...

To ensure safety around animals, we've been trying to teach Jack to pet dogs gently and not pull their hair.  Jack follows our instruction when we say "Gentle" with his Uncle Matt and Aunt Kelly's lab Maka, but for some reason, he always pulls our dog Forest's hair.  Maybe it's because Forest has longer hair so it's more tempting, or maybe it's because he knows that Forest is his dog, so he thinks he can get away with it.  Either way, we don't want him to get into this habit of pulling any dog's hair, just in case he does it to a strange dog one day, and the dog reacts unfavorably.

That all being said, we were all together playing as a family this afternoon, and Jack started pulling Forest's hair.  After several forceful "NO's" (followed by our little mischevious 15-month old laughing back at us, go figure), we finally resorted to "timeout" by putting Jack in his room alone with the door closed.  We thought about putting him in his crib for timeout, but I don't want him to associate his bed with something negative, so we just settled on his room.  I turned the monitor on to listen to him while he was alone, and instead of fussing or crying out for us, Jack of course just had himself an absolute BLAST!!!  He just crawled around, playing with his books and stuffed animals.  We'll have to come up with a better plan next time.

I have been forewarned on several occasions that children with Down Syndrome can be a little on the mischevious side, but I'd be lying if I told you that I was anticipating seeing this side of Jack this early on.  Part of me worries about how to properly discipline him at this age, while another part of me smiles inside with the knowledge that he is intelligent enough to show this defiant side, as many "typical" children do.  And, to be truthful, the little devilish giggles he lets out when he knows he's doing something wrong secretly tug at my heart strings, and it takes everything in me not to laugh back.

Nevertheless, if anyone has any advice on how to break a child (Down syndrome or not) of laughing at you when you say "no," I'm all ears ...

31 for 21

So, it's that time of year again ...

Fall is in the air, the days are cooler and the leaves are beginning to change.  It's the time of year when Robert and I step outside and say, "It feels like football," and I think it's just wonderful!  I love fall.  Not just for its beauty.  Not just for the sigh of relief it's lower temperatures give me when I embark on my daily runs.  (Not just for the joy that football season brings my husband ...)

Most importantly, I love fall for the pride that it now brings to my family.  In case you didn't know, October is Down Syndrome Awareness month!  And, with the Buddy Walk just around the corner, I am anxious and excited and proud all at the same time to have the son that I have.

As I did last year and hope to be able to do this year, I pledge to try my best to blog every day of the 31 days of October in honor of my dear Jack and all of the individuals out there like him during a campaign us T21 blogging mommies like to call "31 for 21!"  I will do my best to honor this pledge and hope to have your support along the way!!!

See you tomorrow!!!

Busy

The word "busy" doesn't even start to describe the way our life has been recently.  Up until last weekend, I seriously think I have been out of town about 10 out of the past 12 weekends.  We've been to the beach (twice), to a wedding (Jack's first), a 30th birthday party, a bridal shower, and then hosted a bridal shower and a baby shower.  Not to mention, all the while I've been busy during my (spare) time helping to plan our Buddy Walk, which I can't believe is already almost 2 weeks away!!!  Oh yeah ... and did I mention that I'm training for my first half marathon that I am supposed to run on November 13th!?!?  (We'll see how that one actually pans out!!!)

Our little jailbird

Look at my teefers!

Ready for story time before bed

While I've been busy party planning, our little Jack has grown up before our very eyes.  Jack started CRAWLING about 3 weeks ago and has been on the move (and getting into things he shouldn't) ever since!  He does this cute little crab crawl and puts his left foot on the ground to propel his body forward.  It's not a traditional bilateral crawl on both knees, and I've been hoping it won't affect his muscular development, but our PT said not to worry, that a lot of typical kids crawl that way too.  And I must say, our little buddy is SOOOO proud of himself for crawling!  We've been working on it for what seems to be months now, to the point that I had just about settled on the idea that he might not crawl at all.  Well, once again ... he fooled me!  Now, I can't get him to stay still for anything ... feeding, getting dressed, diaper changes.  Whatever room we're in, Jack seems to crawl straight to the most dangerous place in the room, including electrical cords and our brick fireplace.  And, then when I tell him "no" or "let go" he just laughs at me and keeps right on doing it.  I have to turn my head so he doesn't see me laugh with him, as not to encourage this behavior, but it's too funny (and something a lot of "typical" kids do, which makes me secretly happy).  This kid is all BOY, and man, is he stubborn!!!  (No clue where he gets that from.)

A glimpse of Jack's devious smirk

Crawling to knock over the tower of cups

Soooo proud!

Jack also pulls up to stand on a lot (but not all) surfaces now.  Couches and other upholstered furniture are difficult for him, because he can't seem to get a good grip on the soft surfaces, but I know that it will come.  And, he seems to be close to cruising.  As part of our PT homework, we've been working on taking steps to walk behind toys while pushing them across the floor.  I have to keep watch so he doesn't fall, but he's almost mastered this. 

Another area that continues to blossom is Jack's speech.  With the help of our Speech Therapist Jill, Jack has learned some animal sounds that he can say on command now.  I ask him, "Jack, what does a puppy dog say?" (while signing "dog"), and he says "woof."  Actually, it's more like a repeated "woo, woo, woo," but still.  He also says the cutest "meow" that sounds like "mow" (rhyming with "wow") and "quack" that sounds like "cack."  He's learned to sign "elephant" when I ask him, while blowing a raspberry to make the animal sound ... it's too stinkin' cute for words!  I seriously think my heart melts a little each time Jack "talks" like a kitty cat.  We're so very proud of our smart little boy!!!

In other news ... we went to the beach over Labor Day weekend and finally got to meet Jack's new cousin Zack!  Robert's brother Chris and sister-in-law Alice joyfully welcomed sweet Zachary William Hickling into the world on August 9th.  (Alice's due date, believe or not ... amazing, huh?  That hardly ever happens.)  He is the cutest, snuggliest little thing.  Jack was a little indifferent towards Zack mostly, but we can't wait for them to grow up together, and we know they'll be the best of buds!

Awwww ... baby Zack feet!

Welcome to the world, sweet Zack!  We love you!

Four generations of Hickling men

A couple of weeks ago, Jack went on his second airplane trip, this time to Connecticut for his very first wedding!  It was the beautiful wedding of Robert's cousin Tom, and Jack had a great time with his extended family.  And my, did he look HANDSOME!!!

What is it about little boys in Polo shirts?!?!

"Head, shoulders, knees and toes"

Getting some Aunt Nancy love

... and playing with Aunt Susie

All tuckered out after 2 hours of his first wedding ...

... so, naturally, like any good parents, we put him to bed.



But, wait ... this doesn't look like a crib!



That's because it's a ... (wait for it) ...

COAT CLOSET!!! 
(Yep, we're officially those parents at the wedding who let their baby nap in the coat closet of a ballroom venue
while they partied on the dance floor a couple more hours!  Come on, now, don't judge!!!)

After he woke from his nap, Jack caught the attention of a certain beautiful blue-eyed brunette he'd been eyeing earlier ...

... so, naturally, he asked her to dance!

3 years ago today

A much younger couple then

Three years ago today, I said "I will" as a pastor asked me if I would commit to Robert through thick and thin, til death do us part.  We had already weathered storms together, including the death of my father in 2004, but on that day, September 6, 2008, we had endured yet another ... this time, literally.  Hurricane Hanna struck the NC coast the night before our ceremony which, I should probably add, took place at the NC coast.

But, as always, our love, respect and faith in one another carried us through that trial, as it has through others ... and as it did less than two years later when our Jack was born with an extra chromosome.  We again looked to one another for strength and resilience at that time, as we still do to this day when the going gets tough.

Happy 3 Year Anniversary to my dear husband Robert.  Together, I know we can weather any storm.  You are an amazing husband, best friend, father, provider, and giver.  I am so lucky to be able to call you my husband, and I look forward to many, many more wonderful years together, regardless of what kind of weather tries to stand in our way!