Updates

So, it dawned on me that I haven't really posted anything but pictures in quite awhile. Here is what has been going on these past few weeks...

We visited a new pediatrician in early April, our new insurance through Chris' job did not kick in until April 1st, and lets just say that I did not like her at all. She did not seem very receptive to any thing I had to say regarding Ella, and overall I just did not have a good feeling about her. So, for the first time in my child's life I could just pick a new doctor (for those of you not familiar with the military you get what you get). Anyhow found a pediatric office that I really like. The nurse practitioner that we saw whipped out a sheet with recommended tests and screening for children with Down syndrome and low and behold their were a couple of things Ella has never done. So, fun fun fun we are appointment heavy these next couple of weeks! We have already done the recheck of her thyroid (it was low last year) and it turned out in the normal range!! Both kids had their first ever dentist appointment, Hunter did wonderful, Ella was not so crazy about it but the dentist said that both looked wonderful! Ella got her new braces last Friday, they have put her in the Sure Steps, so we had the fitting appointment with the orthotist. This week we have the ENT (she still has never passed a hearing test) and then on Friday we have a swallow study. This is a new and troubling development to me, her speech therapist that she sees on Wednesday's and Friday's at her school, has been working with her drinking out of an open cup. ( All of a sudden Ella has been leaking more fluid out of her mouth when drinking out of a bottle, sippy cup or open cup. And she has been doing this weird tongue thrust thing when she is eating that she had never done before.) I brought up my concerns to the ST and she has been working with Ella on these, anyhow through this work she has noticed that whenever Ella drinks she becomes very raspy and wet congested sounding and thinks that Ella is aspirating some of her fluids. Ugh. So, Friday we have an appointment at the children's hospital, which her speech therapist will go to with us. They are going to feed her food and drink laced with Barium and watch as she swallows. I dread this. I mean really what can you do?? We (her speech therapist and I) have already tried thickening some of her fluids and it seems to not make a difference. Let me just tell you that there is no possible way that that child will stop eating and drinking so what can you do? Next week we have her hip X-ray and ultrasound (on the recommended list) and then the week after that we have a three hour allergy testing (because she has tested positive for egg white and peanut allergies.) Fun, let me tell ya.

Last Saturday (April 26th) was my birthday and I started out the day by going to a ladies tea with my friend at her church, it was fun and nice to get out with no kids : ) We had to cut it short though because I had to go to the airport to pick up my dad and his girlfriend that flew in from Georgia. As soon as we picked them up we went to Ella's school for their annual Penny Drive to raise money, so we all stood out on the side of the road with signs and jugs and got money from people passing by. Even Ella helped out, she was so stinking cute, she held a milk jug shaking it the whole time while waving at every car that passed by with her other hand. We had a great week long visit, too short of course, but it was good and fun. The kids got a ton of attention, now of course they are not very happy to just have boring old mommy here : ) Anyhow, that is what's been going on around here, here are a few pics.....

my dad his girlfriend Debbie and

the kiddos on their last day

here I am saying "everybody look

happy!!!" No one wanted their picture

taken

Excuse me, clap for me!!!

So naughty!!! Standing in the rocking

chair.

I'm afraid this is what would happen

to a real diddy (kitty) good thing

I don't like cats!

free standing in middle of room!

she changes activities like the wind

busy busy busy

here is the look I get when I don't do

what she wants fast enough. she wants me to read her this book.

oh so naughty again. she pushes the

rocking chair up to the couch and climbs on up. Naughty, but smart!

hmmm, how do I turn on the tv?

Mostly Pics!

Here is Hunter on his new bike
that he got in the mail on Friday































Swinging at the park






































Don't stop!
I always get pics of this face
cause it always makes me laugh.





She loves to slide too!






























Hunter in the tunnel











































Oh, his face just melts me!





















































































Here is what happens after a long
day! She just folds in half and goes
to sleep!
















Crashed on the couch!












Check out our friend Piper's blog, they have some exciting news!!!


http://conversationhearts.blogspot.com/

Ella's Day at School

I finally remembered to take my camera with me to Ella's school. I tried to document in pictures this part of her day!

First they do circle time, here they are singing a song about a hat, it goes something like this,

I wish I had a special hat to put upon my head

I'd take it off, and tap tap tap











and put it on again!

see how tiny she is compared to the other kids!

Here she had to choose between two stamps, and now she is getting one!










"Seriously mom, STOP taking pictures, you are SO embarrassing!"











After circle time, Ella has to put her own chair away, and pushes it across the room

Telling the physical therapist that she would rather be up doing something over there.








Doing her side situps off of the Physical therapists lap, she reaches down and picks up a toy....








then pulls herself back up and puts her toy here. This is really hard work for her!

Here she is sitting on a bolster which makes her balance also working her core, and she bends forward to pick up toys and then sits back up.

climbing up the slide, her favorite part of PT

and going down











Here she is doing her art project, she has to pick which color flower she wants









then paint on her glue, no matter how hard it is not to put it in her mouth








and now she is pushing tissue paper into the glue

now we jump to after lunch and she is sitting on the bench in the bathroom waiting her turn to wash hands. Notice her PT is holding her down, she doesn't like to sit!






washing her hands like a big girl










admiring her beautiful face in the mirror









drying her hands










throwing away her paper towel









I get a little sad every once in a while watching her at school. I have the "it's not fair" feeling. A 19 month old baby should not have to do all this stuff and should not have to go to school. But, I realize that Ella learns different than other kids and that this is definitely the best place for her. They do not cut her any slack. Just because she can't walk does not mean she gets carried anywhere. They stand her up and walk her everywhere, and make her do everything the other kids are doing. She is by far the youngest kid in her class but she is doing really good! I'm so proud of her!