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!

DANCE FEVER

The boys have been bugging to be in soccer for a year now. Unfortunately, I can't find any soccer, baseball, football leagues for under 4. Last year I tried gymnastics, but Jacob got hurt, and they just weren't ready. But today, we decided Malena was ready for dance classes. She LOVES to dance to songs in the car and on t.v. So we figured we'd throw the boys in for company. Both the boys were against it, until they saw their tap shoes. (It's tap and ballet. Real masculine, huh?) Once they got in there, they had a blast, and actually all three did very well. And Malena only wandered off twice. Of course it's enclosed, and I'm on the other side of the door, so she's not getting away! But I was impressed at how well she took directions and was able to do almost all of the dance steps! She is a born dancer!

When we got there, the class only had one other student. A cute little girl named Natalie, who's birthday was today! So the whole class is my three and Natalie. Two boys and two girls. I can't wait til the recital in June!


(please excuse the picture quality. They were taken with my picture phone. DH videographer, and Mommy photographer forgot our equipment at home!)

JACOB PRESCHOOL UPDATE

Well, today was the first day back at preschool after the long President's day weekend. I always tell the boys what we will be doing the following day when I put them to bed. I told them they would be going to school. This caused Jacob to go into a fit. He didn't want to go. I then had a long talk with him, and told him I would stay with him during the first part of school. So the next day, I stayed.

His day at school starts with the playground. On the playground, the entire school (ages 0-5, about 50 kids) are all on the playground. Even with me there, he began to cry and practically melt into my legs. He wanted to go back inside, so I decided that I would take him inside and try to find out what's going on. Though he was still VERY attached to me, he stopped crying. Another little boy was inside, too, and tried to play with Jacob, but Jacob would have nothing to do with him, and hid his face.

His teacher, Ms. Robin, arrived, and she suggested we go back outside, as class was going to begin soon. No sooner did we get outside, and Jacob was crying again. Ms. Robin tried, I tried, other children tried, but he was very upset. Then it was time to go in, and Ms. Robin assigned Jacob the "line leader." He still wasn't happy, but he stopped crying. Before they went in, I decided to go in and have a discussion about this with the direct, Ms. Cindy. After a very long conversation with Ms. Cindy, I went in to check on Jacob in his class, who were all coming into their class from "potty time". Jacob was in line going to class when he saw me. Oh darn, I thought. But he saw me, and he looked up and said, "Oh, that's my Mom. Hi Mom." No big deal! Back to the old, outgoing, happy, independent Jake I know and love. Then he said bye and went into his class with the other kids, as if he hadn't been freaking out for the past 45 minutes!

Obviously, this is a playground issue, though I can't get out of him, what. I'm not sure if it's a bully on the playground (I am thinking this may be part of it), or Jacob's Sensory issues (too overwhelming to have ALL those kids running around), or what. Ms. Cindy and I have decided that next school day, I will drop him off a little closer to class time, so he will have limited playground time. And it is just THIS playground, because he goes to the playground when I go to my gym, and he loves it! So I'm kind of leaning towards there being a bully amongst them. We'll figure this out for my poor baby. :(

JOSHUA POINDEXTER

Well, today was the day. We took Joshua to get his glasses. Doesn't he look handsome? I admit, I almost cried when they told me he needed glasses, even though I was forewarned six months ago. And even though I figured all my kids would need glasses at some point, because I am practically blind. I just didn't think it would be so young. :( But here he is, three years old, needing glasses. Fortunately, it's a very mild prescription for farsightedness and asitgmatism.

He was very excited to get them, and so far we have been very lucky, in that he actually LIKES wearing them, and hasn't really tried to take them off. Before the woman at the store put them on, she told Joshua the rules, that only Mommy and Daddy can take off his glasses. He seems to be abiding to those rules. Keep your fingers crossed, that all continues.

Jacob was a very good boy, waiting for Joshua to try on his new glasses while he played with the toys at the store. Malena was at school, but when she saw Joshua's glasses she pointed to them right away. Later, when Malena tried to grab Joshua's glasses, Jacob told her, "No Malena. Only Mommy and Daddy can take off Joshua's glasses." Oh boy! At least we know he was listening.

PROBLEM PRESCHOOL FOR JACOB

Jacob started pre-school off with a bang! He was so excited to have his very own school, and so happy to go every day. The first day, he could hardly wait to go inside. Well, he is now he opposite of that. He cries for days before he knows he will be going to school, and cries for an hour after I drop him off. He's turned from a very social, outgoing little boy, to very shy and withdrawn, not wanting to go anywhere, and not even wanting to go outside to play. It is so heartbreaking. I've asked him what is wrong, and I've gotten (by asking over and over) a couple things out of him. One is that another little friend hurt another little friend. Another one is that he doesn't like "the room with toys." and he wants to go to the other room with books and learning (he is currently in the 2 1/2 yr room, due to he is not yet potty trained), and also, he says he wants to be in with Miss Julie. His teacher is Miss Robin. Miss Julie does not have a class. I believe she is the director, but she did sub for Miss Robin once (actually, his first day). He also cries that he wants Joshua to stay with him. I'm not sure what's going on with him, but it's breaking my heart. I plan on talking with Miss Julie to try to get this sraightened out, and, perhaps, at least, get him in the 3 year old room. Perhaps, that would help.

SILLY

Here's the kids (mostly the boys who are feeling better) being silly with Mommy and Daddy.

'Tis the Season

No, not that season. The bad season. Sick season. I remember last year, the kids were pretty much sick from October through March, then came Joshua's surgery, then came Malena's surgery, and it wasn't until July/August 'til we were all well. Unfortunately, it seems this year is heading that way. I can't remember who was sick first, but we all got sick, then there was maybe a week of everyone starting to feel better. Then Josh got sick again, then Malena, then Jake, then Josh was well, then Jake was well. Now Malena's starting to get over it again, but now Josh is sick again! This is a big, never-ending circle. I clean, disinfect, but it's impossible with 3 constant runny noses (and other fluids) to keep up with.

Malena always seems to get it the worste (not surprising) and always seems to get weird breakouts on her face. This time she looks like she has two black eyes. And of course, her nose is raw from all the wiping. No medication stops this little girl's nose from running.



My poor little baby. I can't wait until summer so we can all be well!

IT'S OFF!

Jacob finally got his "Big Bandaid" off today! Yeah. Doctor said his finger is healed and will cause no more problems. Of course when the doctor came in to ask Jake how he was feeling, he got shy and hid his face in my shoulder. At first, he didn't want to take it off, but once it was off, he was happy. Then he didn't want to bend it, afraid that it would hurt. But once the doctor showed him he could bend it, he was amazed.

And no sooner was it off, then both the boys were at it again (not like the splint stopped them anyway). Uggghhhhhh! What's a Mom to do?

My Little Angel

Check out Malena's picture on the Band of Angels Website Gallery! Okay, so it wasn't that hard to get on the site. I just submitted a picture, but I'm so proud to share my gorgeous girl!