Ruby Report

While most of the excitement has been over at Lily's blog this week, we also have some news about little Miss Ru.  We've routinely done bloodwork (every 3-6 months) on her thyroid.  Her TSH levels have always been high, but her T3 & T4 have always been in the normal range.   This meant her thyroid was working extra hard to keep the T3 & T4 levels in the normal, and it would either burn itself out or eventually self-regulate.

Over the past couple years, her TSH was dropping, heading towards a normal level.  But then, it started rising again.  And this last time, it was up again.  Also, for the first time, her T3 & T4 were higher - in the "high range of normal."

So, Miss Ruby is now on a thyroid medication every morning.  So far, it's been completely uneventful!  Thyroid problems are really common in people with Down syndrome.

I forgot to ask the doctor - but I think this would be Hyperthyroidism, since her TSH was high?  I'll ask at her upcoming 3 year checkup (3 years!?  My baby is going to be THREE?!)

Links

Fun stuff to do this weekend?  Watch videos online!

Check out this trailer - I love what I've seen so far.  This is a trailer for a documentary; Monica & David is a love story about two adults with Down syndrome. This should air in October on HBO, and I for one, can not wait.



I saw this on C's blog, and she summed it up perfectly ... and I completely agree with her thoughts on this one:

1. She looks so pretty in her wedding dress.
2. The baby thing chocked me up.
3. The part about parents sometimes being the ones to keep their kids from living a normal life? So true. It's hard, yo. I see that already and my kid's not even 3 yet

Don't worry. I warned her I was going to steal her words quote her.  But it's so true - we walk such a fine line between pushing our kids for success and wanting to protect them.  Just because something's hard for them, does that mean they shouldn't do it or be allowed to try?  Ugh.  It's not easy, this parenting gig.

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This reminded me of another link C had posted recently that I wanted to share - it's an episode of Caillou where a boy with Down syndrome visits their preschool class.  It's not like the best thing ever, but it's a decent start to show what inclusion looks like.

And I could totally relate to the boy's mother, even if she is a cartoon.

At the park

At the park today, Ruby followed Braden around ... she wants to do what he does.

and he's such a good big brother.  When she was afraid to go down the slide alone, he went down with her, and she was ecstatic!

After a few times, she went down on her own!

Braden was thrilled he was able to walk this whole jungle gym!

And then, because they're not growing up fast enough?  Ruby climbed UP this slide, following her brother.  She climbed up it at least 4 times.

She may be small, but she's feisty and determined.  I'm glad - that will help her go far in life!

This is as close to Ruby as her friend Aaron is allowed to get.  I know they look like they're chatting here, but I'm sure she's giving him the evil eye & telling him to keep his distance, buddy.  Poor Aaron - he really is such a sweetheart!

Thanks!

The kids & I ran to Target this morning to exchange something I bought earlier in the week to the proper, Gretchen-approved color.  (Gretchen is my wonderful friend who is helping me paint Lily & Ruby's room!  And she has a much more artistic eye than I.)

As we were leaving, when I put the key in the ignition, I noticed there was a note on my dashboard, "Your front tire looks soft!"  I hopped back out, and yes, indeed, our tire was pretty sad & low.  We stopped by the gas station right next door & added some air, and it still looked fine when we got home.

So ... thank you to the random stranger who saved me from a flat tire with 2 little kids (when my cell phone was at home on the kitchen counter!)


I need to get one of those little air-checker do-hickeys in the van.

And does anyone know what the air pressure of my mini-van tires SHOULD be??

Oops! The couch is eating Ruby!

Chit Chat

Last night we were all in the van, and Braden was trying to get his shoe stuck in between my seat & the side of the van. He thinks it's hysterical when his shoe hangs there in mid-air. And it's a little funny the first time, but after listening to his plastic croc squeak against the seat time after time, I asked him to stop.

And he didn't.

So, I asked him again.

When he didn't, I got mad and I said, "Braden, I said STOP!"

And next to him, Ruby piped out, "Mama-say-stop!"

Little Miss I'll-say-an-occasional-word-here-and-there said a full on 3 word sentence!


* * * * * * * *

Also last night, Brian was talking about something that had his initials on it, so it was marked "BZ" and Braden walked into the room and said, "Are you talking about my nickel-name?"

(I think he meant nick-name and mixed it up with middle name?)

He cracks me up!

He still calls deviled eggs "dozened eggs" but it's not like a dozen eggs, it's like bull dozer. Dozened eggs. And frankly? It's fun to say, so I've started calling them that, too!

It's Official!

We just received word that our paperwork was officially submitted today to the government agency in Lily's country!!

Now, in the next 2-3 weeks we should be given our travel date! We're so close!!

Transitions

Karly & I went to a meeting this morning at the local high school.  The meeting was a transition meeting for Karly, since she'll be attending high school in the fall.

Really??  How does that happen?  It seems like just yesterday I was in high school taking those god-awful weekly geography map quizzes...

Anyway, Karly has an IEP (Individual Education Plan) which means she receives some extra help at school and she also sees the speech therapist once a week or so.  Karly decided at the last moment to come along with me, and I'm glad she did!  There's a lot of changes for her next year, and at least now she's been in the building & met some of her teachers.  Overall, the meeting went well!  I just still can't believe she'll be in high school next year.

Little Video

I don't know where this was made or who the photographers are, but I saw this on another blog & thought it was beautiful.  This video was made for World Down Syndrome Day (3/21).

Silly on the Slide

These pictures were too fun not to share ... my favorite is this first one, with her legs hanging out!

She's definitely one of the big kids this year, and determined to prove it every chance she gets!

It's Spring again!

Thankfully, the snow didn't stick around for long. We had a very nice weekend & were able to spend almost all of the day outside yesterday - we even ate dinner outside, at Braden's request.

 Right now, Ruby is eating breakfast & signing "bird" excitedly - a true sign of spring!

Ruby had a blast playing outside yesterday.  She refused to sit in the little baby swing anymore, so Brian put the other regular swing back on the swing set. So far, so good!

It's amazing the difference a year makes!

For my mom:

I bet she's extra glad they're in Florida, on days like this:

APRIL 8, 2010
YUCK!

Miss Independent eats oatmeal

... and the rest of us run for cover!

Not really - she does a great job lately!  

She has 2 spoons, because sometimes I help her out ... but this time she did it on her own, and put both spoons to good use!

Eggheads

Since my brother didn't come visit us for Easter, I almost didn't make deviled eggs. Brian doesn't like eggs, and why make deviled eggs just for me? But, since I had the eggs boiled (& colored!) I asked the kids if they'd at least TRY them.

Sure! they said.

And not only did Braden & Karly both TRY the eggs, they both LIKED them! Yay!

It's so much fun when they're agreeable! 

Our Tiny Teen

Daddy got Ruby dressed - and wearing this t-shirt and khakis, she looks like a miniature teenager! There's just something undeniably adorable about this outfit.

All day, it made me giggle to see her walking around in her baggy pants & too big tee (and for a short time, a bracelet, which can be seen in this picture).

What do you mean, smile?  I'm busy - Sesame Street is on!

Just chillin'

Aprils Fools

Last night as Braden was going to bed, he realized it was April.  As in, the first day of April.

He realized it was April Fools Day - and we had missed it.

He cried.

So, I quickly told him we could play April Fools Day the next day, on April 2.  And now, listening to how there's a monkey on the playset and a bee on my shoulder and a banana in Braden's ear ... yeah.  I remember now why this holiday annoys me.

Last year, it took several days for April Fools to end.  Here's hoping we can contain it to one day.

I have to go now - there are apparently winter skiiers and penguins on the slide out back.  I need to go check that out ...

A girl & her hat

Could someone please talk some sense into my Ruby? She doesn't realize that now that it is officially Spring (!) she doesn't need her winter hat anymore.

She LOVES her hat - she puts it on all by herself, whenever she leaves the house. She has an adorable little baseball cap - but she doesn't want to wear it. She wants to wear this hat, her favorite:

She was completely fascinated by her short sleeves & kept rubbing her arms.

On the slide!
I said, "Can I take your picture, Ru?"
and she said, "No," but she smiled anyway!

In the sand box with Braden - she really enjoyed this, the feel of it didn't bother her at all.

And look - Ruby tried out the big girl swing! She held on, all by herself - but just for a few minutes.