Littlest heros Project....anyone with Down syndrome or Special needs check this out!

Well, it has been a couple of days since I have posted...the Streptococcus bug invaded my oldest sons body...I picked him up from school yesterday early with a fever and terrible sore throat...I called the doctor right away and they swabbed his throat and YES! he has Strep throat. We had a terrible night last night...vomiting, fever...but you know kids...he is pretty much back to himself tonight. He always bounces back so quick...unfortunately he has to take the antibiotics for 10 days and he absolutely HATES it! I spent all day cleaning, disinfecting, loads of laundry...and no sleep from last night...I am exhausted. I am just hoping NOBODY else gets it! I will be keeping my fingers crossed and saying lots of prayers.
Of all nights, Brayden decides to wake up at 1:25am and wants to play. He has been sleeping thru the night since he was 7 weeks old...so I had to get up with him for a little over an hour...(watched my DVR "Days of our Lives"), put him to bed and not even 10 minutes later I was up non-stop with Cody until 5 am. OK...enough complaining...I am just tired...

NOW...onto the title of this post! I was at PT with Brayden the other day when his PT asked if I had heard of the Littlest Heros Project? Never heard of it...so she told me to check out their website. I did and want to share it all with you...www.littlestherosproject.com . It is a group of photographers specializing in Special Needs and or other medical issues with children. They have photographers in each state that have agreed to take your child's photographs at no charge as a way to give back and show what little heros we all have. I have Brayden signed up to be photographed in the Spring for his 1 year old pictures. I may have to travel 30-45 minutes away...but these photos of children are beautiful. They have a portfolio on the website to check out and you can read some of their stories. Get your tissues handy, as these children are true heros, as the parents and siblings are as well. They will photograph your whole family as well. I urge you all to check it out if you have a child with Special Needs or Medical problems...I was excited to see this.

Well, I am going to make this post short as I am so tired. Cody is suppose to have a soccer game tomorrow...don't know if he is going to play or not. Kaylee has dance in the morning...and we have Superbowl on Sunday! YAY! We will be going to my in-laws for a Superbowl party! Have a great weekend.

Brayden's PT yesterday...

Ok...I should know by now how to download properly...these pictures are in reverse order of Brayden's PT session. Can you tell by the look on his face that he is just about DONE with his ONE hour therapy session. He did soooo good yesterday though. He is certainly on his way to crawling...can't always get those back legs to go with the rest of his moving body...but with a little assistance...he is making progress! Like I said before...I really, REALLY don't want to push the whole crawling business, but I know it is so important to keep pushing him as he is so willing to learn. Warning: THERE are a lot of pictures...had fun seeing all he can do! I am SO PROUD OF HIM!

Working on crawling to get the SHINY Crinkle paper...he loves it!



This toy is to practice standing against and rolling the balls. Sandy wasn't going to have him work with this yet...but it was almost like Brayden told us he wanted to. He looked up where she was storing this and wouldn't keep his eyes off of it and the words..." Bow...Bow...Bow" kept coming out of his mouth...almost like he was saying "Ball....Ball...Ball" this was just a coincidence but Sandy and I were laughing and she decided to see if he like it...well he did and figured out the whole ball thing real quick. He used his leg muscles a little too...turns out he knew what he wanted to do.


He is probably thinking, "Mom would you please stop taking so many pictures!"


Practicing bearing weight on his right arm to come to a sitting position.



Doing some baby crunches on the big exercise ball...He absolutely loves this!






More crawling practice...


Seriously mom...the picture thing is distracting....





Brayden cracking up ! Such a happy little guy...

He is practicing kneeling and doing so much better from just 5 days ago at therapy...Sandy his PT is so pleased with his progress and we just love her...

Until next session...thanks for sharing in our therapy session.

A few days full of fun!

Our little man hanging out with Daddy's hat on...



Well, OT started today...Brayden had his first evaluation by Erin , his Occupational Therapist. She is great and is so eager to get started with Brayden...Brayden LOVED her, like I said before, there aren't too many people he doesn't love. She saw him about a month ago and had made some notes back in December and she was so amazed how fast he has progressed in a little over a month. That made me very proud of him. He really is showing us new strengths and things he can do every week. She will start seeing him once a week, along with PT (Physical Therapy) and a visit from his developmental teacher.

He was a little sleepy as I had to wake him up from his nap, so he didn't perform like I wanted him to...but after 20 minutes or so, he started showing her his tricks. He is showing her how he sits...not completely stable and for very long...but we are working on this. He is correcting himself if he falls forward and backwards...

She put him in this chair to see his fine motor skills and he did ok...he isn't quite there with grasping cheerios...so she did small blocks and watched all his transferring moves...I swear I have never watched a baby so much to see if he can HOLD two toys at once, drop one...go for the other....grasp a toy with both hands...how long does he hold the toy, etc...etc...etc...but it really does amaze me day to day his progress...all worth it! These babies and children are amazing...yes it may take them a little longer to do things...but it is so enjoyable to witness them reaching their goals and appreciating them so much more! I was always in awe with my other two children...but I have been able to take it slower this time around and I have been able to enjoy it a little more. Everyday I am thinking about Brayden's goals and working on them with him is wonderful.

Brayden was just practicing his sitting again...sorry for the picture overload! I have just been having too much fun taking pictures lately.


HUME LAKE SNOW TRIP

We left early Saturday morning for Hume Lake with our friends Jeff & Christy and their two kids and Jamie and her two kids and some of Christy's family met us up there as well. We went sledding, tubing, mechanical bull riding..(well, ok...only CODY rode the mechanical bull), enjoyed lots of laughs, loved the beautiful scenery...just really had a great time. We didn't take Brayden with us, as I didn't want to worry about him in the COLD weather. He had lots of fun with his 2 sets of grandparents..(thanks again for watching him)...it was my first night away from him and I actually did ok...knowing he was in great hands. Now for some pictures...


Brother and sister love...

Kaylee had NO fear sledding down on the VERY fast saucer...Poor Jared had to catch her at the end of the snow run...there were big trees and ledges to watch out for. She had so much fun!

Cody finally stopped for me to take a picture...he was down the hill and back up faster than I could snap any pictures...he was snowboarding on this sled and started a trend with all the teenagers...I guess they thought," Hey if he can do it, so can we!" A little dangerous...but he was good! I guess we need to take him up to the ski slopes so he can actually try snowboarding.

Inside our hotel/cabin room : Madison, Cody, Kaylee and Adalyn They had so much fun with each other.

My little snowbunny! Kaylee



The Allen Family....and Adalyn Christy, Jeff, Madison and Colton waiting in line for the innertube run...

Cody's favorite thing to do! SNOWBALL FIGHT!!!!!


Some of my favorite people! Cody, Jared and Kaylee outside our room...

The kid crew...thanks for the great times! They were all so well behaved and we can't wait to go again next year!

I also just wanted to mention in this post that TODAY marks a day 17, yes SEVENTEEN years ago that Jared asked me to be his girlfriend in the parking lot at our high school. I can't believe it has been seventeen years...but it has and I don't know what I would do without him?? We have had so many memories together and I just want to say " I Love you Babe!" Can't wait to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary in July! I truly have a great , Wait...AMAZING husband!

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Brayden's PT this week...

Brayden had his PT session yesterday and it went so well. I forgot my camera, so SandyPT let me borrow hers and she emailed me them...but I don't quite know how to download them and save them in all my pictures...so for now you get the report.
Brayden has shown so much progress in just one week. He is sitting, not for long periods of time and of course on his own terms, but YAY! he has strengthened his tummy muscles. He worked on crawling at his appt...he is doing so good with this. Sandy feels like at his rapid progress he will be catching on to crawling very soon...I'm not quite sure if I am ready for this yet! LOL
His leg muscles have gotten stronger too. He will stand a little bit when you hold him up against you or against the couch. (Again, not for very long...but just the fact that he is showing his muscles that they can do it!)
So, Sandy was extremely pleased with him! She is so sweet with him and he seems to like her very much! There aren't many people that Brayden doesn't like...LOL.
Brayden will have his full OT evaluation on Monday and start with those appointments as well. Her name is Anne. We feel fortunate to have services just 10 minutes away from us...and so far all have been going great!
This weekend, we are heading up to the mountains to go sledding. We are leaving Brayden overnight with my mom and in-laws for the weekend...it will be too cold for him and I don't want to worry about him not being comfortable...so he will be loved all weekend and I will forsure post pictures of the rest of us at the snow. We have rented a cabin along with a few of our other friends and their familes...looking forward to it! Have a great weekend and I will update next week!

Brayden is 9 months old!

Nine months ago...we welcomed this beautiful baby into our family...I can not believe it has already been NINE months. What a special journey it has been already. I can not express the love and admiration I have for this little guy into words. He has been AMAZING from the start!

Brayden sitting with his bear and one of his favorite rattles.

Doing his high kick, usually he kicks straight up!



Brayden just being his cute self!


Brayden forever does the "I love you" sign....the kids get a kick out of it! Brayden can now sit by himself...he still is not completly ready to do it all the time on his own...but I say within a week or so...I think he will be quite steady. Brayden has been approved for OT services and will start next Monday. 3 teachers, 3 visits per week...yes it is getting very busy! The progress he is making though is all worth it!

PHOTO Catch-up!

Well, I have had some trouble with uploading my photos and so....I started using a different browser and it worked! At least for now...so I am posting some pictures from the last couple of months...this was all 3 kids in their matching jammies...




This was taken after Kaylee's dance recital...we are missing a couple of girls but they were too cute! Kaylee is the littlest one...youngest too!



This was taken back in November I believe...but just love this smile....this is Brayden everyday...happiest baby ever!



I actually took a picture of a picture so its not the best quality...but this is our little soccer star at the last tournament he was in. There was an action photographer out on the field and captured this awesome shot!



My little princess just smiling for the camera....she is not camera shy!




TWO of my favorite men in my life! Brayden and Jared at the rollerskating rink...






My little angel baby's Face...





Just having some fun!




Big sister changing Brayden's diaper all on her own...I normally change him on his changing table, but she insisted on changing him all by herself and so I grabbed the camera and let her do her thing...Little miss MOMMY...She really is going to be a great little mom someday!


Thanks for letting me play PHOTO catch-up!

Physical Therapy was AWESOME today!

Ok, so this looks like torture huh? It is NOT...in fact, Brayden doesn't mind anything I try with him. He has been wearing these HIP HELPERS from www.hiphelpers.com for a couple of months now. They are for low-tone muscles and help keep the babies legs together, working their leg muscles all the time. They are made out of spandex and really are comfortable. I put them on in the morning and take them off late in the afternoon. You will also notice some tape on his tummy. His physical therapist Sandy put this kinesio flexible tape on him to activate his stomach muscles...never have heard of this, but she wanted to try it. So we are...

I feel like I am bragging but we had the BEST physical therapy session today! Sandy PT was so pleased with his progress in just 2 weeks! He is almost sitting all by himself...well actually he can sit, but needs guidance ever so often...he has mastered the exercises on the exercise ball and LOVES doing them...She had him reaching and getting to all kinds of toys and he did this beautifully as well. Then she took some letters, immersed them in water and stuck them on a mirror and he sat down, with some help and took the letter off of the mirror, one by one...What concentration and determination. She also commented on how he is using 100% rotation in his neck and head. YAY! She then practiced kneeling with him...he didn't love this exercise, but he was pretty tired after an hour of therapy...Sandy says she can't believe all he has accomplished in just a short amount of time... In her written evaluation done 4 weeks ago, she wrote 4 major goals to accomplish in 3 months...

Concerns:

1. Limited active head rotation to the right. Now at 75%
2. Delayed gross motor skills
3. Low Muscle tone and strength.
4. hypermobile joints.

Goals: to be met in 3 months

1. Family independent and ready to progress with home program for Brayden.
2. Brayden's right active head rotation will be at least 90%.
3. Brayden will sit momentarily with or without using his hands for support.
4. Brayden will bear almost all of his weight on legs.

SO he has passed off on 3 of these goals. I am so proud of our little guy and just wanted to share a great day!

Brayden had his 8 month check up!

This picture was actually taken a couple of weeks ago...but he is sure liking the floor more now. He use to HATE being on his tummy. Now that he is trying to army crawl, more like shift his weight from side to side to get somewhere crawl...or he just rolls and rolls...and he now rolls from either side which is BIG for him since he use to ONLY roll to the left.

Today was his well baby appointment with his pediatrician and all went well. He weighed in at 19 lbs 3 oz (that was fully clothed) and was 27 inches long. YAY! He is doing great with weight gain and length. On a typical chart he is in the 45th percentile for weight and 30th percentile for height...I need to check the DS chart, haven't done that yet. He had his iron checked and iron levels were fine...also received 2 shots and didn't even cry...what a little champ! Overall he had a GREAT check-up...doctor was very pleased with all his therapist reports and even gave me a pat on my back and said ," You are doing a very good job!" That was nice. So, we don't have to go back until he is 1 years old! WOW...I can't believe he will be one in 3 1/2 months??? Where does the time go? We have his physical therapy tomorrow and I will hopefully remember my camera and capture his little workout!

He is sure getting attached to his big brother and big sister...everytime they come up to him he wants to either give them kisses or just shakes with excitement! I just LOVE watching their relationships already...Cody always tells him " I just love you so much Brayden..." And Kaylee is FOREVER in his face kissing him and telling him how much she loves him as well. Brayden really is lucky to have these 2 for a brother and sister. I am very blessed to have all 3 of these kids.

Well, the sun was out today and it was beautiful...something like 57 degrees...nice. Everyone is feeling good this week...Jared left for Las Vegas for 4 days, so the kids and I will miss him. It has been so nice for so long that his traveling had cut way back...so I really can't complain. This is a busy time for him, so he needs to be there.

We had some excitement here in Fresno...Extreme Home Makeover is here this week and a home is being built across the street from my friend...she has been keeping us updated with all the pictures she is taking and all the fun of the 24/7 chaos going on. She has personally met some of the design team...they are building a house for a wonderful family of a single mom that was born with no legs, partial arm and only has one full functioning arm...she has 4 children. She had a hard upbringing, living in foster care...she is one giving person now and deserves this fabulous home. I personally don' t have any pictures...but this show will air sometime in March of 2009.

Gifts...Volume II

My sweet father-in-law called us tonight to let us know the final submission of Brayden's article was finalized with the editor today! YAY! He and my mother-in-law have spent so much of their time on this wonderful story for the book Gifts, Vol.II due to come out in 2010 some time. I am so excited as the first volume Gifts was the first book I received at my baby shower back in March of 2008. LOVE, LOVE this book and this photo montage is a must to see...http://giftsds.segullah.org/book-contents-preview/photo-montage/ if you haven't seen it. I would listen and watch this little video sooooo many times before I delivered our little Brayden. There is going to be 30 or so stories in the second volume and little Brayden's will be one of them written by his Grandpa and Grandma...How special is that???? So, dad...thanks so much for taking on this request I gave you back in August...this is truly a special thing to me and Jared...I will cherish this book and I already cherish all you do for our family and admire how much love you have for our little guy...Brayden..

No more GERMIES!

Well, I think all of our GERMS are out of the house for now! Cody and I escaped this round of the flu...THANK GOODNESS. Brayden is now refusing to eat solids though...not sure if this is because of the flu or a phase??? We will see.
Got great news yesterday that the Agency we use for Brayden's services are going to pay 3 months of Physical Therapy...YAY! Our insurance will then start in April but we will be responsible for our annual deductible and co-pays...but we are very thankful for CVRC helping out for at least 3 months. We skipped this weeks PT appt due to Brayden recovering from having the flu bug..so next Tuesday we will be working out again! Brayden also has his 8 month appointment on Monday! Wow...has time flown. He is actually going to be 9 months on the 18th of this month...I am already stirring ideas for his 1st birthday! I love their 1st to be a special one!
Something has been on my mind for awhile and I just want to thank all of you for being TRUE friends...you know when we received our prenatal diagnosis...I remember reading about KNOWING who your TRUE FRIENDS are when you go through this journey. I had such a hard time thinking of losing ANY of our friends...well, sadly we have lost touch with 2 close friends and that was and has been very hard for me. I mean, we were so close for many, many years...I would rather not use names simply because I have no idea if they may have access to our blog and if they do, then they know who they are...but everyone has their reasons for losing touch or not wanting to accept us in their lives anymore... We have become closer with so many of our friends having gone through the experience with our son and have been enriched and blessed in so many other ways...I need to just let this go I guess. Seriously...thanks to all the friends and family that have embraced us even closer since Brayden has entered our lives....you have NO idea how much that means to us. Love you all!

Vomit, Vomit....and more Vomit!

This picture should of been posted with the Christmas pictures...but this is for my mom as I don't have too many of the two of them together...I never have my camera handy when I'm with my mom for some reason...anyway..this was taken on Christmas Eve at Mom's house...

Ok...I am feeling way guilty for not blogging in over a week...yes we were busy, busy over the holidays. Lots of fun...but now we are all paying for the fun...Kaylee woke up Saturday night vomiting...an hour later I hear a scream from Brayden (I have ONLY heard this scream once before and that was when he was circumcised)...yes he starting vomiting...lovely...two kids sick at once...I have had two kids sick right after another but NOT at the same exact hour...so yes I was up all night with the two of them...Come Monday...Kaylee was feeling much better and so was Brayden...until today...Husband Jared came down with it HARD and this afternoon Kaylee relapsed on me at the grocery store....LOVELY...CLEAN UP in front of MEAT DEPARTMENT! She was embarrassed...I was embarrassed...Cody was embarrassed...So , I am just PRAYING Cody and I DO NOT get it!

On to more fun things to talk about...Brayden had PT again last week and did so well...It was like he had remembered all things from the week before and performed like a champ. He is definately well on his way to being able to sit up all by himself...he can now for a few seconds, then gives into gravity and falls but we are still working on it. He is definately getting around mainly by rolling, but is starting to shift his body while on his tummy to get to where he wants to go! He FINALLY started saying MAMA a couple of weeks ago...it was the cutest thing too! I was giving him a bath and when I sat him up, he looked straight into my eyes and said," MaMa"....now he is saying DaDa...MaMa...BahBah...WahWah...Lalalala....He is always talking...it is really cute!

We had a Blast on New Years Eve...we headed up to our friends Jeff and Christi's near Auberry and had a wonderful steak dinner...played some games and Rang in the new year with all of the kids blowing horns and wearing New Years Hats! (I forgot my camera, still upset about that)...my kids who usually go to bed by 7pm....stayed up until 1:15am...We could not believe it!

We recovered from lack of sleep on Friday...we are not much of night owls... My in-laws came over to play one of my favorite games, "Cards and Marbles" and of course I won the first game...(I'm not competitive or anything) and my FIL won the second and well everyone was too chicken to try the 3rd game...then we played Apples to Apples with the kids...very fun game for the whole family!

Saturday was Cody's indoor soccer game and they won 7-6! So exciting! Cody made 2 of the 7 goals...very proud of him. We then took the kids rollerskating at the local Cal-skate rink...Kaylee's first time ever and she did great! Cody was speed-racer! Me...well...it has been like 15 years or so since I had rollerskates on...I use to be so good when I was a teenager...I was pretty shaky this time and didn't last as long as I use to!

I am still having trouble uploading pictures...NOT sure what is happening...so I will try and work on it!

I am looking forward to this Friday to meet with a couple other parents at our local Down Syndrome Society and start the "New Parent Packet" Revision. If any of you have been involved with this, please share with me some ideas you may have? I am on this committee and this is our first meeting for the revision...Me being prenatally diagnosed, I would of loved the outreach from local support before giving birth...so this is one of my focuses...but there are many other important Must HAVES for new Parents on this wonderful journey. I will let you know how it all goes.

I hope everyones new year is getting off to a great start!