TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME

My cousin was in from Vegas and asked if we could all go to the Dodger vs. Angels game at the Angel Stadium. The boys are big into sports, but I still wasn't sure how they would sit through a game. But we decided to go, anyway. Malena stayed home with cousin Erin and Grandma and Papa. She would definitely not sit through a game.

All week before the game, Jacob kept asking me if he'll get to play, too. I told him, he can only watch. "I don't get to play?" He couldn't understand it. Why go? LOL

Here we all are before the game with our little tailgate party under the "Big A", as the boys said. The boys loved this, as my cousin brought her kids' scooters. Even though they had a fall or two, they loved trying, and when it was time for the game, they cried when we had to put them away.

When we got inside for the game, the boys were amazed at all the people. When the game started, they were a little confused, but when the crowd started cheering, they had fun. The noise did get to be a little bit for Jacob, who covered his ears after every cheer and asked to go home. but then he'd get back into it. Joshua was hilarious, as he shook his arms at the refs and imitated everybody else. I heard him yell, "Go Dodgers!" all night long with Daddy.

We all had a great time, even though our team (the Dodgers) lost. The boys will never remember their team lost. They'll just remember the fun they had and that they like the "blue team. We like the Dodgers".

SCHOOL SAGA Continued...

Jacob is still having trouble with school. He will cry any time we mention him going to school and when we drop him off. The only reason he's not still screaming his lungs out when I drop him off, is because I tell him I will tell the teacher he won't have to go out to the playground. He has found a small computer-like toy that he sits on a chair with right at the door, so the teachers can keep an eye on him during playground time.

Tonight, he even made me call the teacher to tell her that he does not want to go out on the playground tomorrow. (Of course I pretended only, as it is 8 at night). I've spoken with the school, and they continue to feel it is just an attatchment issue. I disagree. I know he is going through something, and I know it has to do with the playground. I have a feeling he is either being bullied, or he mistakenly got hurt by another child (ALL 50 something kids are out on the playground at this time, ranging to 1 year old to 5 years old). Now when we go to the gym and I drop him off at the daycare there, which he used to love, he first looks for "bigger kids" before he enters and gets happy when there aren't any. He also used to be such an outgoing little boy, and now he is VERY shy. I miss my confident, little, outgoing boy. :(

Well, Joshua is off track starting the end of this week, and I've decided to pull Jacob at that time as well. I'm going to potty train them "cold turkey", and then by the time Joshua goes back in May, hopefully, Jacob will be potty trained and ready for a new school. Wish us luck.

Malena's Open House

Tonight was Malena's turn. Her school, River View Elementary, had their open house. This time, everyone was well, so we all went. Malena was happy to show her brothers around her classroom, and they were so happy to see where she gets to play with her friends! Especially the swings! :) Her teacher, Mrs. Hamlett, says she's doing very well, and will be working on her speech and language, as well as her initiating conversations by saying words or signing. Great job Malena!

Anniversary of a Broken Heart

I didn't want to admit it, but I have been a bit emotional lately. It is because today is the one year anniversary of Joshua's heart surgery. For those of you who do not know, Joshua was born with a congenital heart defect called Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). From birth, if you listened to his heart, it sounded like what the doctors said, a "washing machine." I thought it sounded more like water going through a hose. You could even feel it if you put you hand on his chest. When he was about 6 months old, we discovered he also had another defect called Pulmonary Valve Stenosis. That was a scary time, as I went in thinking that the doctor would do the echo and say his VSD (hole) had closed. Instead, he had me wait in another small room, and came in to tell me that his hole was bigger than he thought and he had another problem. I was alone, and I almost started crying.

Fast forward two years, and with some research, we took Joshua to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles where we felt very confident with the doctors and surgeons.

March 20, 2006, we decided that Joshua wouldn't be going anywhere for a while, so we took the kids to John's Incredible Pizza Kitchen. Which is basically like an overdone Chuck E. Cheese. They had sooo much fun. Then it was time to separate. My mom took Jacob and Malena back home and Alex and I went on to a hotel in LA with Joshua for an early morning surgery check up. When we got to the car, we gave Joshua his gift. A Care Bear that had "ouies" on his heart and all over. He loved it. We also made sure we took his yellow blanket that he does not go without.

He actually had a great time with just him and Mommy and Daddy. He loved it! All about Josh, day! After his tests at the hospital, the next day, we met my Mom and Dad with Jacob and Malena at Olvera St. for some sandwiches at Phillipe's (best roast beef sandwiches) and sight seeing.

My family then checked into our hotel, and we quickly learned we needed to get the kids (my trio and my two neices) out of the rooms before they kicked us out. So, since the subway was just across the street, we decided to take it to City Walk for dinner. MISTAKE. We took the wrong subway, the wrong way. Then we FINALLY got to City Walk, and waited for an hour for a table that we finally just left and ate at Carl's Jr. back by the hotel. It was frustrating, but we al had a good laugh afterwards. Memorable to say the least, and I'm actually glad there was something distracting me from thinking of the next morning.

Next morning, I think it was 5a.m., we showed up at the hospital. Alex and I took Joshua in to get ready for surgery. That was the hardest, scariest, worste moment of my life. As they took Joshua out of our arms, we watched as they carried him into surgery. I wanted to scream, "No, bring him back," but all I could do was hold Alex as we both could no longer hold back the tears.


After three very long hours, the surgeon came out to say everything went great and Joshua was doing wonderful. I know there must have been the biggest smile on my face. In another hour, we were by his bedside. He was very "out of it" that whole day, and when he first woke up, he was, understandably, in a lot of pain. He mostly slept that first day, and half the next day.


By the next evening, he was taken off the drugs and was doing awesome!

That night we had him walking all around the PICU. He was wobbly, but he was all over the place.

They moved him to another room, and we couldn't keep him in his "crib". By the next day, we were on our way home!

It was so wonderful to have him home and finally try to get back to normal, and just BREATHE a sigh of relief. Since then, it hasn't even phased him, and now, one year later, he barely even remembers anything at all. Sometimes he even forgets he has a scare (ouie) on his chest.

I love you Josh! My BIG, STRONG BOY!






Click on picture for a larger view

Some helpful sites:


http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/001099.htm

http://www.congenitalheartdefects.com/advice.html#whatilearned -this one is written by another mother.

http://www.cardioaccess.com/diag02.html -this one has pictures of the patch

http://www.congenitalheartdefects.com/surgeonquestions.html -this one is excellent set of questions for before, during and after written by another mother.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/vsd/vsd_treatments.html

http://www.goremedical.com/English/Products/Helex/Index.htm -one of the sites for the septal occluder

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/mda/docs/p000039.html -another spetal occluder site.

Happy World Down Syndrome Day!

Down Syndrome International (DSI) has officially earmarked 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD). The date was chosen to signify the uniqueness of Down syndrome in the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome and is used synonymously with Down syndrome.

This year the theme for 21 March 2007 is "Celebrating Diversity", to continue creating awareness about Down syndrome and promote acceptance of diversity.

Please join us as we CELEBRATE the lives of those with Down Syndrome and the light they bring into our lives.

MORE SURGERY FOR JOSH


Well, I finally took Joshua to the urologist today for his undescended testicle and penile adhesion (I'm sure when he gets older, he's going to love this post to the world). He does need surgery to correct the problems, as I had suspected. I have not taken him because he had surgery last year for his heart, and the cardiologist had told me no surgery for a year. Well, the year is up (on Friday), and so I made the appointment. We still need a surgical release from the cardiologist, but they are going to go ahead and schedule the surgery for probably a couple months from now or so. Poor baby. I'm glad it's not as serious as his heart surgery, but I don't know if my emotions can take all this. And he is a year older now, so he's going to understand more, and that is going to be more difficult on us, as well. My poor little man. :(

Notice the end of this, Malena does a funny little "my foot is stuck" move. :) She's watching herself in the mirror and got distracted. Silly little girl!

OPEN HOUSE

Today was open house at Joshua's school. We had planned on going as a family, but Jacob came down with a fever at the last minute, so it was just Mommy and Josh. He had a lot of fun showing me around. Here he is in his class with his teacher, Ms. Patty.















He really loves his playground, and knows the way back to class. The teacher and ST, both say he's very smart and doing very well. I know he loves school, and we are very happy for him. My little man, growing up. sniff

As promised, some pics from dance class with a real camera. Not that they're all great pics, just fun!

Here's Daddy helping his little Cinderella with her slipper. Perfect fit.

All three had a blast all alone in the classroom before class started.

OUCH!

Today, after Malena got off of school, we decided to go get tap shoes for everyone for their dance class. While we were out, we thought we'd make a little day of it. We went to eat at Fudruckers, then as a big treat went to Coldstones for ice cream. The kids had a great time, and were very good. While they were waiting for Mommy to finish up, they started playing in the ice cream store. I didn't think it would be a problem, because we were the only ones there. Well, sure enough, they were playing chase, and Jacob fell down. I guess Joshua was going too fast, because he didn't stop and fell right over Jake and onto his face. :( Alex and I heard his glasses hit the tile floor. Ouch! His glasses created a small cut above his eyebrow. And now the glasses are slightly warped. After getting some frozen strawberries to keep the swelling down (they didn't have ice at the ice cream store), he seems to be fine. His glasses, however, will need some adjusting. Well, at least he's okay, and the glasses aren't entirely broken.

MALENA JUMPS!

Remember on the post below that we began dance class last week? Well, this week in dance class, the teacher was trying to get the kids to go toes, then heel. Toes-heel, toes-heel. Malena was trying so hard to do it. In fact, I think she thought she was, but she was just bending her knees. So, I stepped in and put her on her little toes, then back onto her heels. Then she started to do it. Toes-heel, toes-heel. She got so excited, she started doing it faster, and faster, and before you know it- SHE JUMPED! Those with Down syndrome kids know what a milestone this is! I was so excited, I yelled out, "She jumped!" The other mothers looked at me like, "uh, yeah, and.." It was just a little jump, but she actually got air. I was so excited I almost started crying. This week, her wandering was giving the teacher a bit of a run for her money, but I know I made the right decision in putting her into dance now, and she is there to stay!