Unringing the Bell

Sneaky Devil

I have to go pick G up from school in about 20 minutes. Rainer fell asleep on our way home from the library and he is in the car (in our carport) as I type. On the way home from the library, I took a detour past G's school because I knew they might be outside playing and I wanted to spy. How I wish I could be a fly on the wall for their whole day!

Sure enough they were out there. I drove past on the main road first and I saw my little G doing her funny little walk--the one she does when she is excited and she holds both her hands up in the air and kicks her feet a little. I swear I teared up. My little girl!

I circled around the back streets so I could park on a side street and spy some more with less chance of being seen. I felt like a weirdo, but whatever, it's my kid! At first Georgia was just sort of doing her own thing, wandering around. I couldn't really see any of the other kids from my vantage point, but Georgia was sort of by herself. Then I saw her go up to these climbing structures and look at them like "I sure wish I could go up there!" Then her teacher (actually a sub today b/c her regular teacher is sick) came over and helped her walk up the steps (which she NEVER EVER EVER DOES FOR US!) and she slid down the slide. The teacher (and the aide, who is the regular aide in her class) both clapped and cheered. That made me happy.

It made me feel good that she seems excited at school, that the aides helped her (and cheered her on). And now I know she could totally climb the steps on those play structures with a little help!

In other news, language is moving along. Georgia is now saying her name. It sort of sounds either like Do-or-da, or Djor-Dja depending, and she signs it by shaking the "G" sign in front of her (which also means 'Green' which is apropos because that is her middle name). She has started saying most the letters of the alphabet when asked (if she is in the mood) since yesterday. And she has been adding to her animal sound repertoire. She's been trying "quack" and "oink" and she has been working on 'k' sounds in general. She also tries to say "truck". Granted, all these sounds are sort of cough-y, back of the throat attempts that you would NEVER pick up if you were not us and were it not in context, but it thrills me nonetheless!

Friday we are starting private speech therapy. I am looking forward to it. I hope G likes it too!

Frederick

This morning we found ourselves filled with wanderlust. An hour later (less than that, really) we found ourselves in Frederick at the Great Frederick County Fair. After driving through the quaint streets of the town (and splitting a pecan tart), we decided to take in a little agriculture.

In the spinkling drizzle the kids baa'd with the sheep and moo'd with the cows and I mean that quite literally. Georgia was a hoot baaing right along with the sheep while we walked through their barn. They came head to head with alpaca and llamas and Georgia loved the snorting pigs and tried to snort too! The rooster house made me a little crazy with all the cock-a-doodle-doo, but they were pretty fun to see as well. And then we walked along the fairway where the kids enjoyed looking at all the lights and spinning rides. Alex tried funnel cake for the first time (and Georgia who normally hates anything cake-y loved that too), and then on our way out I saw one of those games where you throw a ping pong ball to try and get into the little glass bowls. I knew I could win. I knew I WOULD win. And I bought 10 balls. Lo and behold my fifth ball sealed our fate and we are now the proud owners of a goldfish aptly named Frederick--or Freddie Fair!

We've been wanting to add to our family by way of a pet, but sadly it seems a dog at this point would just be too much. I think Freddie will do very nicely. We even got him a purty tank.

The kids are pretty excited about our new family edition. Georgia has been saying and signing "fish" for a while, but now they both are.

Rainer is particularly smitten.

Of course it has me fantasizing about his future as a marine biologist.

Welcome to the family, Freddie!

(P.S. Just to have it for my own reference, Rainer's words (including approximations if he uses them purposefully) now include: ball, book, fish, in, hooray, go, truck, dog, more, bye and hi (which sound the same). He signs more, eat, fish, ball, hooray, hello/good bye, and gives kisses! Those are the ones I remember right now anyhow.)

Drunken Chicken (isn't that a spicy Thai dish?)

Rainer is now walking clear across the living room. He's like a little drunken sailor.

I shot some video, but the tape ran out. So here is a very quick clip.

Sadly, we are pretty sure Rainer also has Chicken Pox! We'll confirm (or deny) at the pedi- tomorrow mornin'. Not sure if you can see the spots in this video, but he's covered.

3rd Annual 31 for 21 Blog Challenge

You may have noticed that I am not writing here as much lately. There are a lot of reasons for that. We're busy.

 Georgia is in school, we've been going to the Y, I have become more involved in my church (choir and chalice circle), we're always working on the house or yard, or grocery shopping, going for walks, we still have therapies (though soon enough we will have school visitations to find the right one for Georgia to transition into sooner than I can really even fathom), we have terrible two attitudes, and almost-one-year-olds with new teeth and many many needs and desires, there's the constant crumbs covering our floors that need sweeping, there's being on the board of our local parent DS group, and a member of the alumni association at my alma mater, there's helping to plan a dance for people 13+ who have DS, and the technology committee, there are new friends and get-togethers, there are decisions to be made, houses to refinance (well, one house), doctors and flu shots and dentists and oil changes and travel arrangements and bulbs to plant.

Oh, my!  We are busy!

And so, I will get to the point. I have to admit that I am not sure I can accomplish the goal of 31 for 21 this yead--the goal to blog every day in the month of October. I know I definitely cannot manage the administration behind it as I mentioned before. There is part of me that feels like I have nothing more to say about DS per se, but then I realize it's only because it's such a part of our lives that it doesn't feel like some...some separate topic.

But I suppose that's partly the point. We live our lives and they are full, and part of that fullness involves DS.

Lately, I have been realizing that DS...the fact of it, the fact of it as part of my daughter...has gotten both easier and more difficult to deal with. The issues are broader and perhaps have more impact, the pains more profound in a way (in my personal experience) than simply finding out my baby has DS. Our day to day life has nothing (and everything) to do with DS. But it's also become easier. I am always learning better how to advocate for my child and she continues to astound me with her perserverance.

I have been thinking about 31 for 21 for a long time. Trying to decide if it's something I feel I can do. If it's something that I even want to do. If I have anything to say.

I really don't know. I imagine I will. Afterall, we are entering a loaded time with this transition and all. (And if you know me at all, you probably know there is seldom a time when I don't have something to say...not, mind, that I always say it.)

So. I guess I am doing it. In part because it's not just for me. It's for the new parents of kids with DS out there. I won't be posting "fun facts about DS", and given my current mental state and calendar I can't imagine that I will even wax too philosphic about much at all. But I'll give it a go.

Won't you?

Grab a button by copying and pasting this code into your blog:

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MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO SPACES in the HTML when you copy and paste!!!

Oh, and in case you were wondering about the rules. It's simple. Commit to post on your blog at least once a day for the thirty-one days of October (which is DS awareness month). You can write about DS or not, you can have a family member or friend with DS, or not. Just choose to do it and do it. Raise awareness of Down syndrome by taking part. It's that simple.

On October 1st I will put up a Mister Linky widget so you can sign up for the challenge. Thanks!

Fork Yeah!

 Georgia has slowly but surely been feeding herself with her fork!

This was when we were cheering for her. She was so proud!

For the Family, Mostly, but Some 31 for 21 Stuff, too

Just wanted to report that the hour of preschool went well. Georgia made playdough, played outside, and only tried to escape twice (she is officially labeled a flight risk, but thankfully the teacher and I have a little joke about it). She smiled and waved when I came in (which is way more than she usually does) and afterwards we went to the Y where yet again G and R were complimented on how well they play together.

Georgia went through a very rough 2-3 week period just passed, but as of Monday we seem to have our old happy G back (minus an incident at EI preschool on Wednesday, but that wasn't her fault--long story). I love our regular Georgia. And she is that much sweeter after a few weeks of Troubly Two G.

Have I mentioned she's been trying to talk more? My favorite is when she needs help. She still signs it, but she's started saying it as well. She CAN say it right out "Help." But she's been starting to shorten it to "elp" but it sounds more like "el-lip". We try to slow her down and ask her to correct it and she tries. If she gives it a good effort we don't push her too hard because I am just glad she is trying. Sometimes she starts going "el-lip, el-lip, el-lip" and it all runs together and it IS rather cute. She is also starting to say "again" which is more "aga", "oink" which is more "nk", and "crackers" which is hard to describe in letters, but is sort of a combination of k's and s's.

Oh, and for those of you reading, I am trying to decide on 31 for 21. The reason I am hesitating is only because the adminstrative side of it is ridiculous. It shouldn't be as hard as it was the first two years, but I hear something about link daddy? If I can set that up I think I'll give it a go. That way everyone can sign up themselves.

Now who here knows about Link Daddy and what do I need to do? I have to look into it, but time is scarce lately. A more official post to come.

Littlest Bird.

Georgia is at school!

For an hour.

I tell ya' they REALLY wean them in S-L-O-W-L-Y. Georgia is fairly used to going off into learning envrionments because she has been doing it her whole life, but I guess it makes sense for some kids who have been home with mom or dad for two plus years.

I have to tell you, it could have gone more smoothly. I have to carry both of them into the building because there is a big flight of stairs right when you walk in and Georgia doesn't do stairs, so I guess I'll be working up a sweat every Tuesday and Thursday. And then when we got down the hall to her classroom her door was closed so the teacher could finish setting up, but another classroom was open and ALL G wanted to do was go into that room. With one hand I restrained her and held her back, but she was going limp noodle and throwing herself on the floor and crying out. What a great first impression!

Sigh.......

As soon as her teacher opened the classroom she ran right in and all was well, but shoooooooosh.

I tried to take pictures at home of her first day, but I am a number one failure at that because she was running all around, had no interest in holding her school bag and wouldn't stand still in one place long enough for me to take a picture. So at one point, she grabbed a book and sat down. I threw the bag down next to her and took a picture. Number one mom! And with my hands full with both kids at school there was no way I was going to be able to take a picture there either. Some mornings I REALLY wish Alex went into work late.

And on some days, I feel like Georgia was born to us to teach us humility. Both of my kids really. Kids, but perhaps especially little girls with big independent attitudes (and no words, but only mini tantrums to express them), sure can put you in your place. Georgia sort of puts it all out here though. There's really not time for perfect dresses and pigtails and pictures on the first day of school with her. And in the hallway, with all the other moms and the director of the preschool looking on, she teaches me that I cannot always have my best face on either. I don't always know the answers, I certainly don't always have it together.

In a former life failure of any sort, and especially these small ones, would have made me feel terrible for days. And while I am not saying these make me feel good, I can brush them off more quickly, and it helps me see through to the people I am actually going to give a damn about. If that makes ANY sense.

I left school feeling both good and bad, happy and sad. It could have gone better to start, but as soon as she went in it seemed to go ok. I hope she will listen a LITTLE to the teacher today. I hope she doesn't get too upset when they go to move her away from the toys (her ultimate favorite thing in the world, to play with toys to her heart's content--especially new toys!)

But before I know it, in a matter of minutes, I am going to be running back out to pick her up and we'll zoom over to the Y.

When I drove away from school, this song by Jolie Holland came on the radio. It's a song that has always made me think of Georgia. Mostly the chorus,

The littlest birds sing the prettiest song....

For full lyrics, see here.

Georgia's her own person. And her song isn't ALWAYS pretty. But when she does sing (and yes, I do mean that figuratively), I can't help but think it's the prettiest thing.

P.S. I was admittedly so flustered when I left school that Rainer ended up driving home in the wrong carseat!!! I was thinking, "Geez, he's quiet!" and I looked back and didn't see him! For a split second I thought I forgot him!!! I really did! And then I realized! He's several pounds over 20 and he's almost a year so it's not TERRRRRRRRRIBLE. Plus, I only had to drive 1.5 miles, but still! I have to get my head on straight! We intend to keep him rear-facing for awhile anyway, but he sure seemed to like facing forward.

Are you sleeping, are you sleeping, Sister G, Sister G?

Georgia, the little miss, is asleep. In the afternoon!!! What a relief. Maybe she WILL nap from time to time still!

This is particularly good after the night we had last night. She went to sleep relatively easily and quickly for Alex (I was at the gym for an orientation thing on all the equipment). But a half hour later she woke up very upset and remained that way. I talked about this before and many of you were nice enough to tell me about your child's sleep struggles and it was in those comments and conversations that I started to recognize a bit of what happens with Georgia. After a few more episodes, I am fairly certain she is having issues with night terrors. Or...as Dr. Greene explains it, probably more likely confusional arousal.

That awake-but-not-awake thing he describes, the fear, the moaning/crying, the thrashing, the not recognizing us and pushing us away? It all fits to a tee. Alex didn't put this together last night yet when I was out and as a result it got pretty bad. When I called him from the gym (because my CAR wouldn't start!!!! Thankfully it eventually did.) I could hear Georgia in the background and she was NOT happy. Ultimately, by the time I got home and tried to comfort her myself we decided she needed a drive in the car which helped last time. Again, this was all BEFORE we sort of remembered/researched the night terrors. I swear, you just sort of go into a panic when your child is THAT upset. She was fine when Alex arrived home with her not more than 20 minutes later though and she easily went to bed.

Only...she woke up again in the same state about an hour later--around 11:30pm RIGHT when I turned out my light of course! This time I went into her room to make sure she didn't hurt herself, but I didn't let her see me (her eyes were closed mostly anyway). I sat on the floor and waited it out. She was visibly upset and throwing herself over and over in bed and crying, but I stayed back. A difficult thing to do because all you WANT to do is comfort a child like that, but I knew she'd only push me away anyhow, so I let her work it out. It took about ten minutes and then she suddenly stopped crying. It was weird, she went from WAILING to deep sleep. And that happened again over the next ten minutes about four or five times until finally she went to sleep and stayed asleep and I left the room.

She woke up this morning none the worse for wear, but late--almost 9am!!!!

I am thinking that the new bed probably doesn't help things, but I am glad to know this happened before, too, and isn't entirely related to the new routine. I think though, since it tends to happen when kids are overtired (and yesterday we had a REALLY busy day), if she can get a nap in she'll be ok. On the days when she doesn't nap, I think we will try putting her to bed for the night a little earlier to try and stave off the waking up.

It's apparently really common and I won't explain it all since it's all there on the link, but it's certainly heartbreaking and no fun to witness, but at the same time, it could be so much worse, so I am thankful for an apparent answer. And? She's napping today. Tra-la!

Speedy Gonzalez Strikes Again

Rainer took four steps on his own today. He says "ball" regularly and appropriately. He also signs "more" and tries to say it. He tries to say "hooray" while throwing his hands over his head. And he tries to say "hi" and "bye" and waves. He especially enjoys saying "hi" when nursing. He'll be gently nursing and then he'll pull away suddenly, get this funny little look on his face and then wave at me and say "ay!" and laugh and laugh.

He slays me.

Naps, or, the Lack Thereof

I get the feeling Georgia won't be taking many more of them.

She'll be tired. Oh sure, there's that. But toys are too enticing. Despite my bringing her to the gym today to get worn out in the child watch with Rainer, she wasn't having any napping. The nice thing about no crib though is that she will at least play quietly for awhile. In the crib, if she didn't want to nap she hollered in protest and hopped and bounced around waking her brother. Today, she had quiet time. I got a chance to shower and hopefully it just means she'll be ready for sleep come bedtime tonight.

School starts Wednesday, so that might make her even more tired, but we'll just keep playing it by ear. As it is, Rainer has gone down to one dap a day, sad that I didn't have a long run of two nappers, but alas. I guess it just means I get a little LESS done in the day (seems impossible that I could have LESS time to get things done!) I am feeling particularly accomplished today because we had OT, I got a workout in, I read the first chapter of the book I have been trying to find time for, the kids got to play in childwatch for over an hour (and were again complimented on how well they play together--why, oh why, do we have so much fighting at home lately, then, Miss Georgia????), I had a guy over to clean the gutters, I am going to the dentist in an hour, and tonight I go BACK to the gym to get signed up for Fitlinxx (which is this whole tracking system thingy).

Despite getting ALL that done, my to-do list is near neverending! I am preaching to the choir, I am sure. But I am astounded lately by how my usually really scheduled/organized life could go so blazenly downhill in the last year (hello, new baby). Re-structuring, re-prioritizing. So it goes. I keep telling myself how I REALLY know how it feels to wish I had more hours in the day!

By the way, did I mention that last night when Alex, Rainer and I put Georgia to bed, she blew us kisses before we even asked her to? It was really cute!