Spring Photo Dump

I’m finally practicing french braids on Nora - I’m not great, but not horrible. 

Also - huge milestone; we met two high school girls who are on deck as babysitters - this has been a long time coming. I wanted Hannah to be a bit further developmentally before leaving her with someone other than family. Remember the g-tube? 

One of our sitters also has a sister with Down syndrome - even better!! Tim and I got out last Friday for about two hours - it was strange and awesome and a sweet taste of small freedom 😄

*The extra Hannah photos are from the sitter - she’s really on top of snapping ones for me. 

Teaching Children About Disabilities

I’m behind the ball on this - I wanted to post closer to when school started. But it’s never too late to teach your kids about their peers who have disabilities and differences. 

I’ve found countless articles and posts online and on social media from other families that help navigate these conversations. I’m happy to answer questions and provide guidance!

One common point: It’s not enough to just “be nice.” Especially when young minds haven’t encountered differences before and have questions about wheelchairs, limb differences, atypical movements or sounds, leg braces, walkers, etc. Education is key to our children treating their disabled peers with dignity, kindness, and inclusion. 

- proximity is needed
- ask him/her to participate
- ask him/her to join the game
- be an includer
- be an inviter

It’s a basic human need to want to feel loved and included. 
Parents: Are you modeling this with your children? Who are YOU inviting into your circle?

The amazing advocate, Miggy, has some great guidelines to teach your children about disability: 

1. Everyone is different
2. Questions are okay, as long as they’re kind
3. Find common ground
4. People with disabilities are differently-abled
5. Encourage your child to build a genuine friendship with someone differently-abled

This writer has cerebral palsy and gave these summarized tips:

1. Explain that people with disabilities are like everyone else, but they might do things differently, in their own unique ways.
2. Try to make it easier for children to understand by explaining the challenges people with disabilities may face in a way everyone can relate to. Just as someone needs to wear glasses to help them see, someone with a disability needs a walker to help them walk.
3. Encourage children to include kids with disabilities in their activities.
4. Explain that disabilities are not contagious.

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Earlier this year I was in the swim class changing room with another Mom and daughter across the benches from us. The little girl said “Hi Hannah!” and gave Hannah a wave. The girl told her Mom Hannah was in class with her. I felt my throat closing up out of gratitude and happiness; a peer saw Hannah as equal - she had no preconceived thoughts. I can only hope that her family keeps her pointed down a path of acceptance.

Knock on Porcelain

Sooo I probably shouldn’t even type this because I’ll jinx it... but Hannah has been dry for perhaps three weeks now with no accidents - ! Dry diapers in the AM!

We are pretty regular about putting her on the potty as soon as she wakes up and right before bed. 

But I’m not calling her “trained” by any means... Because pee happens. 

First Day of School!

I feel way less overwhelmed this year - both girls are established in their schools (Nora 1st grade) and Hannah has her same teacher, continuing with the 3’s class for her second of three years. 

Nora already knows two kids in her class and when I dropped her off at Extended Day, at least three kids ran up to greet her. I tried to steer Nora to greet the Kindergarteners because they could be nervous. She said “Mmm I don’t know.” Argh! We need to work on choosing kindness. Nora can be a leader, but sways a bit towards the bossy side. 

Hannah had no reservations when Nora left with me. And based on my sitter’s photos, she got on the bus very easily : ) 

I even signed up for PTA this year - ! Not sure how much I can contribute, but I’m going to do my best. 

We had a welcome breakfast at the elementary Saturday AM and I recognized one mom whose daughter is pals with Nora - even I felt better that I’m starting to feel more comfortable and slowly meeting families. 

Family Selfie!

Biggie Girl!

Autonomy in dressing self...

Staycation 2018

Staycation was good - but also stressful due to the kitchen reno and being forced to stay out of the house Monday - Wednesday. 

Friday July 27th the girls were up at my parents so Tim and I drove up to spend the night and then kayak the next morning with Nora. It was super relaxing as always; set in the woods next to the Great Miami. The girls do a pretty good job of keeping themselves busy with all the thrifted toys : ) 

Hannah would not get out of the kayak!

Saturday we were on the river before 11am - my Dad wanted to beat the “partiers.” Haha! But it was true - we dropped in North of the local livery and didn’t see a soul. After the livery we were paddling more to avoid clusters of people. 

Dad usually goes on weekdays to fish and avoid people : )

Nora started in my boat which wasn’t too hard - she wanted to paddle so I let her here and there until we’d steer towards the bank. After mile one (of three) she asked if we were back at Grammy’s yet - oh boy. 

It was a perfect mini-getaway. 

Sunday was our one day home to get stuff done. 

Monday we hopped out of the house around 9:15 to a Milford Preschool playtime at the local recreations outlet. We lasted about one hour then had lunch at Nana & Papa’s. Ailo nearly exploded when he saw us - poor Buddy! After lunch I took Nora to see Hotel Transylvania 3 - super cute and shockingly my first movie with Nora. My first movie theater experience since having Nora. I’m serious. I don’t do movie theaters anymore. Ask me about it another time...

Tuesday we started our morning with a Target school haul. Then we headed to the Loveland Castle - I’ve been curious for a long time and had never been! It was... interesting. Smaller than expected, pretty, and a bit strange. I think one visit is all I’ll need. 

Then we attempted Liberty Center Children’s Discovery Center - a playzone within the huge new shopping/dining complex right where we used to live in Liberty Township. I would have loved this except it was slammed with kids - like absurdly. I didn’t want to be there, Hannah was getting knocked down left and right, so we basically left and headed back towards Milford. 

That’s when I quickly stopped back into the house and smelled the awful counter adhesives and freaked out a bit so we went to early dinner. By the time we got home, I was glad the fumes had mostly dissipated. I was still irritated I had to unexpectedly find plans for Wednesday. Thankfully it turned out to be relaxing at my folks. 

Happy Doggie coming home!

Thursday we putzed around and had a playdate with friends. 

Friday Hannah had her T&A follow-up sleep study. Tim took Hannah while Nora and I had a girl’s night! I took her for sushi - her first! She really liked the shrimp tempura roll : ) Then we had “spa” time with face masks and nail polish. I don’t often get alone time with her, so it was special. 

Amazed she puts up with this garbage so easily! xx

Not-So-Great Milestone:

First stitches/staples. 

I received the call mid-day this past Wednesday; Hannah had stumbled getting into the kiddie pool which was too close to the concrete patio. She fell back on her butt, then back on her head which was punctured, not lacerated. 

The sitter stopped the bleeding as I raced to get the girls. I was directed to two different places which made me more worked up as time passed. We ended up finally at Children’s Liberty Campus which I should have just gone to at the start. 

Hannah was totally fine the whole journey. Thankfully Tim met me up there because we needed all the arms we could get to hold her down while they irrigated the wound and applied the two staples - gag. 

It’s been healing well and we’re set to have them removed at the Pediatrician on Thursday afternoon - after eight days of healing. 

It was a good six-and-a-half-year run without any major accident wounds! Also - now I know pigtails are adorable on Hannah. 

Where Are You Sleep?

The parents in the Ds community are always wondering how to get their kids to sleep through the night - it’s a prevalent problem. It seems most at Hannah’s age are doing better. Hannah still tends to wake once a night; simply comes in our room to say “Hi” and have us pick her up and bring her back.

A lot of times it’s due to sleep apnea, or just our kids biological makeup - that extra chromosome can throw a wrench in anything! 

*I do understand it could just be behavioral and that Hannah just wants comfort. Tim and I continue to try and stay silent, not pick her up, sit on the floor, not lay down... However with every cold, sickness, and procedure, we end up back to holding her for her own comfort. Two steps forward, one step back.

I really hope her August 3rd sleep study comes back improved and that there aren’t structural airways issues - which some kids can have. I’d rather navigate the behavior than deal with a CPAP or surgical repair. 

So to aid her sleep thus far, we have: 

- blackout shades

- noise machine

- bedtime routine

- early bedtime 

- weighted blanket

- vetiver oil on her spine

- removed tonsils & adnenoids

Some parents have had success with Melatonin. I’ve purchased some but haven’t jumped on it yet. 

Some parents have success with Flonase before bed to open air passages (remember, low muscle tone). We did this before Hannah’s T&A and Tim remembers Hannah having successful full nights of sleep. 

I’ll probably tap into these and see where we go. More interesting is one parent cut dairy; except she did it along with Flonase so she’s not sure which actually did the trick for sleeping through the night. 

SO. Yesterday I didn’t send milk and our sitter didn’t give her extra. I typically send about a pint of milk every day (!). Along with our above list, Hannah slept through the night last night! It could be coincidental, but I’m going to experiment with the “no milk” and see where we go... 

*6/12/2018 update: Three days of no milk has not worked. Two nights of melatonin has not worked.