Four

Last Friday our local Down syndrome group hosted their 2nd annual golf tournament. I love working the golf tournament. It is a great fundraiser and a lot of fun. I have made it my job the past two years to drive the beer cart. I know nothing about golf, nothing except that those golfers love their beer. About half way through the day Cameron came to join me so that the golfers could see where their donations were going. As you can see, he had a terrific time riding in the golf cart and an even better time pilaging through the various snacks being transported on the cart. He even learned (on his own, I must add) that we were serving beer. We spent the afternoon driving around with Cameron yelling "guy, beer". It was hilarious although I'm a bit concerned with what the teachers/therapists that work with Cam will think when he tells them about beer. I tried to convince him that it was ginger ale but he wasn't having it.

Sleep Study take 2

As I mentioned before, Cameron was scheduled to have the inevitable sleep study. Being the tired mama that I am, I cancelled it because I just couldn't bear to deal with it last week. We have now rescheduled for October.....another Saturday night which thrills me to pieces. What a way to spend a Saturday night. So after mixed opinions from other parents, I wonder why in the world we even have to do this. So, I used the trusty internet to do some research.

First, I have found out that Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs in about 50% of people with Down syndrome. Well it just so happens that Cameron has Down syndrome...how bout that. The symptoms include snoring and/or loud breathing. Cameron breathes like a 400 pound man. Mouth breathing, ummm yea and waking frequently during the night or restless sleep. Yep that's Cameron. Given this and the fact that Cameron's tonsils and adenoids are very large in his tiny airways, I wonder why in the world we must subject a 3 year old and his mom to spend the night in a hospital hooked up to numerous wires where we know he will not sleep, just to find out that maybe Cam would benefit from a T&A. Uh Duh. Keep in mind that I'm no doctor, and to be fair, this is the way that OSA is diagnosed. I just feel as though we should do the surgery and remove the T&A regardless considering they measure at a 3plus on a scale of 1-4. My thought is why wait? It will probably need to be done at some point anyhow. So why not remove the tonsils and adenoids and if problems still occur then we'll take the next step. Oh well, good thing I'm not a doctor......I'm just a know it all parent.

Got my own set of wheels

Well Cameron finally got his own set of wheels. Lucky for him, this car doesn't require any gas and he is able to feel the wind in his hair. I especially like the two steering wheels, kinda like a garbage truck!

Cameron insists that we ride in this car everytime we visit Food Lion. I hate it. It's like pushing a school bus through doorway. I run into everything and knock stacks of things over. It's amusing though for my little nut. When we pull up at the register, he pops his head out of the windshield and says "ello".

Funny Business

It's so funny to look back and see how much Cameron has really grown. Last week a friend brought over a bumbo seat for Rylee. We tried it out with her and she frankly wasn't feeling it just yet.

Well Rylee may not have appreciated the pretty pink Bumbo chair, but that doesn't mean that no one else failed to find use for it.

Now keep in mind that we did not have to persuade Cameron to do this. I was sitting watching TV when a drunk walking Cameron stumbles in with this chair and has a seat. Of course we all laugh which has prompted a replay of this many times. Even so, I look back at Cameron is his own Bumbo chair and it makes me remember him when he was so small and so weak.

Week 2 at school

Cameron is doing great. Just like I knew he would. Last year, I wasn't all that impressed with the lack of communication from his therapists at school. This year I asked the teacher if it would be possible to implement the use of a notebook to exchange notes with the therapists and teachers about what Cameron is working on etc. This is working on great. Even the teacher has been sending me daily notes to let me know what Cameron is doing in the classroom. My favorite was Monday's note where Mrs. Coaty told me that they had music, Cameron made friends with some of the boys, and later had a tea party with two of the girls. I always knew my little man would be a ladies man. The teacher, whom I really appreciate even sent me these pictures ......

As you can see, Cameron feels very comfortable, which makes mommy comfortable. And even better than that is that I've only gone back to work two days a week and I've been able to be home to get him on the bus on Tuesdays. I love seeing the look on his face when that bus pulls up.

Bee Curtis

Introducing the newest member of our family.....this is Bee Curtis.

We found this dog a few weeks ago wondering the streets. I have looked in the paper and on craigslist in the lost and found ads and no one seems to be looking for him. I have seen no posters or anything. So he is now ours.

Cameron and Alek love him already. He is spunky, but very gentle with Cameron and is housetrained, which I find to be a huge plus.

As for the name. His name is Toby. He comes to Toby. But back when we had the big dog (Carl) one of Alek's friends called him Curtis by mistake. This has been a joke in our house ever since. So when this dog arrived I named him Toby, but Alek called him Curtis. Last night Cameron wanted the dog to come to him and he called "B Curtis". It was so funny that now we are all calling Toby Curtis or Bee Curtis. The poor dog won't have any idea what his name is when we get through with him.

Party at my crib

I should never be surprised at what I find when I go in to check on the boys at night. I went in to tell them it was lights off and time to go to sleep and I find them both out of their beds on the floor with all the blankets and pillows watching I-Carley. You've gotta love the brotherly love that's goin on here. It's amazing how I once worried that Cameron would negatively impact Alek's life and yet he has brought so much joy to him.  And Alek is the best big brother we could have ever hoped for. I'm so honored to have such great kids.

My Bed

This is the typical sight of my bed at night. I try to get some relax time before I go to sleep. The kids however didn't get the memo. Rylee thinks it's supper time again and Cameron is here for a play sesssion in what he calls "my bed". Not mom's bed, but my bed.

Even though I didn't get my relaxation time, I have the best time hanging with my little guy. And look how sweet.

Sleep Study

This week we had our follow up with the ENT. I so love these appointments. You wait an hour past your appointment time to see a nurse practioner and then another 30 minutes wait for the doctor to only repeat everything you've already told the nurse and nurse practioner. UGH. Anyhow. Last year the doc recommended that Cameron have a sleep study at age 3. We put that off because I was preggers and I was not sleeping at the hospital like that. (I was already mean enough) Now they are wanting him to have it done. Apparently, tonsils are measured on a scale of 1-4, 4 being obstructive and 1 being normal. Cameron is a 3 plus. So the doc wants him to have a sleep study to see if he has obstruction. OK. So I know I'm not a doc, but if we can see that the tonsils and adenoids are huge and obviously we know that Cameron makes a lot of noises in his breathing, why not just get them out. Why put a child and a mother through a sleep study when we all know dang well that he isn't going to sleep which is gonna result in an abnormal reading anyhow. Just so frustrating.

Later that night after the appointment I go into the boy's room to check on him and this is what I find. He is asleep. Feet are on the floor and head is on the bed. This is the first time I've seen him sleep like this, but he does sleep in very weird positions. LOL. I had to get the camera when I saw this. Luckily he was sound asleep and the flash didn't wake him, neither did me picking him up and putting him back in the bed.

So here's to a sleep study. Good luck studying this one's sleep. Good grief. Wish us luck. We have to go in on the 26th and I can hardly contain my excitement.

Remembering this day 8 years ago

I remember exactly when I heard the news. I was at work when a co-worker's son called to tell her that a plane had flown into the twin towers. The news of this seemed crazy but all the same just an accident. No one thought too much about it until the news came through that another plane had hit the other tower. That image of the plane flying directly into that tower is an image that has imprinted my mind ever since. That day at work was one of the quietest days I've ever experienced. With a small radio black and white t.v. set up beside my desk and the radio on overhead, we all listened as the other attacks were made. In pure disbelief we watched as thousands of people's lives were destroyed.

In the days following the attacks I spent most of my time watching the news coverage with tears running down my face. That hurt and remorse for those who lost loved ones still aches within me today as I remember that day.

While it has been 8 years, we have not forgotten, nor will we ever.

Schools on

Yesterday was the first day of school. A day that I have been waiting for since late June...! We decided at our last IEP meeting for Cam that we would let him try to ride the bus. He had been asking to ride the bus and we knew with the new baby coming that transportation was going to be a little more difficult anyway. And of couse, Robert pushed for it cause he has no idea how much mother worries about her sweet baboo. We had all of our stuff ready and had already visited the class for open house. Cameron loves the new room and all the fancy toys. He waited very patiently for the bus to arrive (in the monsoon).

The dreaded time finally came. The bus pulled right up to the driveway to pick up my precious cargo. I dredged through the river that was flowing down the driveway and took my sweetness to the school bus. I fully expected him to cry even though he had been talking about it excitedly for days. WRONG. My boy didn't have one worry when I stepped off that bus.

What a ham. I had committed to going to work so I went back inside to get my stuff and good old nanny was in tears. Good grieft mom, I don't remember you crying when your own children went to school. So off we went to the school. (Had to reassure Nanny that her boy was ok) Ok and me too. I admit I was a little worried. I waited and waited in front of the school for Cameron's bus to arrive worrying the whole time if he was upset.

No worries at all. He was fine as the para in his class brings him off the bus. I elected to walk him in to his class since she had to wait for other students to arrive. We had brought his reverse walker with him to assure that he can get around the halls with ease.

Everyone of the staff seem to know Cameron from last year. We received so many warm greetings from different teachers and staff as we walked through the hall. Cameron repeating over and over "cook". He hasn't forgotten that lovely kitchen set up he saw at open house.

Once inside the class room, Cameron went right for the doll house. (His daddy is gonna be so proud)..! I told him bye and made my exit with very little interest from him while another little boy held tightly to his mom's neck. Cameron rode the bus home too and in his notebook we found a sweet note from the teacher telling us how well Cameron had done. That he had spent some time cooking and making new friends. His color of the week is red and his letter is L. He is very excited to go again tomorrow and I'm so glad that this is something that he enjoys and that the people teaching him enjoy him just as much.

Gettin in the swing of things

Last night Robert and I were enjoying some quiet time. We were in the den watching Criminal Minds.....one of my new favorite shows, when we heard a weird noise. I called for Alek several times before he opened his door and said "what".  He was in his room and I had assumed that Cameron was with him. He was not. When we went to look for him, we found him in Rylee's room swinging in the travel swing. This swing has been retired to the bedroom because it is not sophisticated enough for my girl. It doesn't go side to side. Anyway, here is what we saw. He's crazy. That's all I can say.

And he did used to fit....look how he's grown!

Open House at School

Today was Cameron's open house for his IPOP class. We are very excited that he will be attending the IPOP program this year. It will consist of 10 children, 5 of which are typically developing and 5 with some sort of special need. Luckily, Cameron's preschool teacher has moved from preschool to the IPOP class, so he will have the same teacher as last year. Her name is Mrs Coaty and Cameron just loves her. Today when I asked if he wanted to go to school, he said yea, see Coaty. The classroom was so fun. His favorite part was the little make believe kitchen. I'm sure his dad would have been so proud to see his little man making pretend spaghetti in the kitchen while all the other little boys played with trucks. It was adorable. I had to literally drag him out of that classroom in order to make in on time to his PT appointment.

So, I think we're ready. Tuesday is coming, and school is starting. We'll see what happens when the yellow bus pulls up. I think Cameron will be fine.....it's nanny that I'm concerned about. :)

Spaghetti in the bathroom

We all know that as mothers, you lose your alone time. This is true no matter what you're trying to do. Shower, sleep or even the unmentionable....using the pot. This morning when I got up I was doing my business Cameron came in to greet me. Morning he said. This was followed by our imaginative play. Cameron's imagination has really blossomed over the last several weeks. He uses blocks as tea cups and has tea parties. He uses mister potato head arms as spoons to eat imaginary yogurt. This morning in the  bathroom I was instructed to make my hands into a plate where he placed imaginary spaghetti. I had to eat the spaghetti and then he gave me more and more.

There is definitely something to be said for imagination.