From this morning...
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Is this marketable?
We made ribs the other night. Avery asked for a kabob stick for her rib. Brillant!
Whirlwind week
I know, more than a week since our last post! I've got you in the habit of looking, only to stop the frequent updates. This past week has been a whirlwind of changes at our house....
First, Nanny arrived last Friday. When we learned of Keane's heart condition, Nana (Ben's Mom) had asked when she should come from Colorado for a visit. The answer was so obvious to me - when I go back to school at OSU. The commute is 50 minutes each way, plus classes from 12p - 450p on Tuesdays. Back to the grind for a Mom who before last Friday, had only left Keane for a maximum two or so hours. So, we practiced on Friday. I had a meeting on Campus from 10a - 12p; that's four hours - half of what we would need to endure together on the following Tuesday. The result - success. Keane lived, without significant stress, and thankfully since he now eats solid foods, I could rest assured he wasn't hungry. We had a relaxing and fun weekend...then our new Fall schedule, with both Avery in school and Mom in school commenced.
The days went by fast, too fast. Keane survived his long haul on Tuesday, then another five hour stretch without Mama on Thursday. Imagine, going from feeding your baby every hour and a half to leaving him all day. That's an adjustment! In the midst of surviving Week 1, Ben and I spontaneously decided to go to a Train concert after the kids went to bed, thus resulting in our first real "date night" in over eight months. I even have proof (see future posts).
This weekend we went to the Emerald Family Down Syndrome Network's 6th annual Buddy Walk. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect or how I would feel. Only the day before, we met another 7 month old baby at the library's baby story time who was also "rockin' the extra chromosome." Before that the only person I knew with DS is a beautiful, independent, smart 22 year old. I guess I am saying with a sample size of two, I didn't know what I wanted to learn from attending the event. How broad is the range of disabilities? Would other families be willing to share their experiences? What experiences did I want to hear about? Could I just turn off my questioning brain long enough to appreciate and absorb the spirit, fun and community cohesion?
The event was great. I did turn off my brain and see clearly that a DS diagnosis actually opens us a whole new world of possibilities. I am not sure I can clearly articulate it yet. It's just a feeling - like opening up your soul to seeing the world differently.
So... we survive Week 1, filled with adventure, new experiences and old experiences, like actually spending time as grown-ups, without kids. Onto Week 2.
First, Nanny arrived last Friday. When we learned of Keane's heart condition, Nana (Ben's Mom) had asked when she should come from Colorado for a visit. The answer was so obvious to me - when I go back to school at OSU. The commute is 50 minutes each way, plus classes from 12p - 450p on Tuesdays. Back to the grind for a Mom who before last Friday, had only left Keane for a maximum two or so hours. So, we practiced on Friday. I had a meeting on Campus from 10a - 12p; that's four hours - half of what we would need to endure together on the following Tuesday. The result - success. Keane lived, without significant stress, and thankfully since he now eats solid foods, I could rest assured he wasn't hungry. We had a relaxing and fun weekend...then our new Fall schedule, with both Avery in school and Mom in school commenced.
The days went by fast, too fast. Keane survived his long haul on Tuesday, then another five hour stretch without Mama on Thursday. Imagine, going from feeding your baby every hour and a half to leaving him all day. That's an adjustment! In the midst of surviving Week 1, Ben and I spontaneously decided to go to a Train concert after the kids went to bed, thus resulting in our first real "date night" in over eight months. I even have proof (see future posts).
This weekend we went to the Emerald Family Down Syndrome Network's 6th annual Buddy Walk. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect or how I would feel. Only the day before, we met another 7 month old baby at the library's baby story time who was also "rockin' the extra chromosome." Before that the only person I knew with DS is a beautiful, independent, smart 22 year old. I guess I am saying with a sample size of two, I didn't know what I wanted to learn from attending the event. How broad is the range of disabilities? Would other families be willing to share their experiences? What experiences did I want to hear about? Could I just turn off my questioning brain long enough to appreciate and absorb the spirit, fun and community cohesion?
The event was great. I did turn off my brain and see clearly that a DS diagnosis actually opens us a whole new world of possibilities. I am not sure I can clearly articulate it yet. It's just a feeling - like opening up your soul to seeing the world differently.
So... we survive Week 1, filled with adventure, new experiences and old experiences, like actually spending time as grown-ups, without kids. Onto Week 2.
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