Queen Bee - Flying Slow

I’m super behind on everything going on! 

I ran the Queen Bee on Oct 8. An all-female race though men are allowed to run [and start behind the women].

Nearly our same crew as last year. The gals I ran with all claimed to be “under-trained.” I felt trained, but I’ve become extremely slow - my typical pace is around 10:20 and lately I’m anywhere from 11:00-11:38 on my last 12-mile run. 

I felt good starting the race and for the first half tried to keep up with my friend and her sister... which I knew wasn’t smart. I ran too fast the first 6 miles. Then I fell behind them to my own 11:00 pace. 

Then I drug. Each mile my legs felt heavier. I’m just glad I never walked. All my “under-trained” friends finished a good bit before me. 

I did not strength train like I said I would. Doing squats and lunges at 8:30pm after dinner, baths, bedtime, dishes and packing lunches isn’t easy to get the energy for. 

I also had that never-ending cough and strained chest muscle. 

I also think those 5am runs were hurting me - it was SO early and I was not running fast. I did my three miles last night at 7:30 and guess what? My pace was 10:22. Of course. 

SO I think I’ve identified what to change moving forward if I want to maintain good races. 

Either way, still fun... I think : )

For those who aren’t familiar - photographers are everywhere at these races - which is fun at the beginning and super annoying at the finish line - because I felt like trash - I actually look better than I felt which is good - haha! Anyway, then they track your information down and try and get you to pay $30 for a picture of yourself looking worn down. Hm.

It’s Potty Time!

As you should all know by now, children with Ds develop slower than their typical peers. 

This includes... potty training.

Looking back, training with Nora wasn’t too bad - we just went full in with the undies and dealt with the accidents. Nora was cool with learning, didn’t fight it. 

I’ve been nervous with Hannah - I knew we would delay starting. But she’s now two. She’s close to walking... it’s worth trying out - right? What’s also hard is the communication. Nora was easily talking to us by 16 months so that helped tremendously. Hannah... we’re going to have to sign - which has been good, I hope we can communicate the potty training!

I’ve heard of some children being trained as late as five or six years old - yikes. I really hope Hannah can master before that. From what I’ve read, the average is three to five years. I hope we can be on the lower end of that...

We brought up the little potty and I sat her on it this past weekend while Nora was on the big potty. Hannah freaked out a bit as if to say “Mom what are you doing?? Get me off of here!!” So I took her off. 

Fast forward to today when I saw a missed call from Alison [panic!] - but then saw a text from her: Hannah pee-peed on the potty! WHAT?! I guess Alison just gave it a shot - Hannah freaked out again. Alison calmed her down and at that point, Hannah peed! Zowie!

We plan to keep it up, even if today was a fluke, at least she now has the first step to learn! 

Ds Awareness Month

October is Ds awareness month - not sure why this particular month, but let’s keep going...

Last year I’d posted something on Facebook every day of the month [sorry blog] - this year, just here and there when I have time.

I read this article by another Mom which wrapped up my thoughts and feelings very well. 

Down’s Syndrome: A Disaster?
(Mind you, she’s not from North America, therefore uses “Down’s”)

Down syndrome is not a “severe disability” nor “incompatible with life.” Perhaps a little different than expected, a few challenges, and lots of unknowns. 

We can’t predict our typical kids’ futures either. Many typical kids can have speech difficulties, heart defects, walk later, tube fed, live with you as an adult… but why is Down syndrome seen as such a disaster?? Granted, I had the same “disasterous” thoughts when we learned Hannah’s diagnosis... but I chalk it up to being uninformed and uneducated.

With more access to NIPTs [non invasive pregnancy tests], it makes me sad that the Ds community could diminish. We should be careful what this society sees as “perfect.” We all have a contribution to make. We all have different abilities. 

Our friends who spend time with us (I think) can attest that we’re still the same family they knew before having Hannah. Our hurdles are now blips on our radar. If anything has changed us, it was simply having a SECOND child.

“Until you’ve lived in a certain situation, or with a child or adult with Down’s Syndrome, you can’t really imagine what it’s like. You project what you imagine it to be like. Fear of the unknown will almost certainly play a part… Families ADAPT and are genuinely and properly enjoying life.”

Filling In The Gaps

Last weekend/week was hard. 
I need to fill in the gaps where the good happened:

Friday: PT with Hannah - orthotics fitting was uneventful. Tons of patterns to choose from - I went with peace signs : ) 

PT was great - Kayla was amazed at the progress Hannah has made. 

Don’t mind my dry-eyepatch-skin.

Walk it Girl!

PT looks like a lot of playing!

Saturday I was up at 5:15 to eat/digest before my Hudy 14K at 8am. Ran with my close friend and her hubby. 

I love the 14/15Ks - 8-9 miles is perfect for me - farther than a 10K, but not as much as a half. Though it was hot! Low 70s at 8am is too warm for a race. We were all drenched in sweat. I think my final time was somewhere around a 10:40 pace which is decent - faster than my daily runs : P

The after party was fun - drinking a beer after a race actually isn’t that pleasant, I just feel it’s the novelty of the whole experience. 

Tim took the girls to see their Aunt Kathy and Cousin Izzie who were in town for Cousin Megan’s wedding. 

Izzie helping Hannah along!

I think we all convened at the house by 1pm, Hannah napped, then we had to be out of the house by 4pm for the 5pm wedding. It was a very nice wedding - I just wish I could have enjoyed it. Honestly - have you taken a 4 1/2 and two year old to an outdoor wedding? I was lucky to have a 5-minute conversation with anyone. At least Nora is on the cusp of being able to run around with the other kids and not need to be watched every second. Hannah however is at that awkward phase where she wants to walk everywhere but can’t - and holding/carrying her was just plain exhausting. 

The wee generation

Keeping Hannah happy

Happy H, Mom's arms hurt!

We pushed until about 8:30. I was shocked Hannah didn’t fall asleep on the way home - overtired. 

Sunday 8AM I got groceries before the next wind of events. Shaw Farms down the road at 10AM - Molly was in town and wanted to see a fall festival [she resides in L.A.] - thankfully one of the best is nice and close. 

Again, not fall weather in the upper 70s/low 80s. We took a fun hayride that lasted a good length of time and was entertaining with a surprise smattering of ghouls : )

So scary!! Haha!

Now you can backtrack and see how this day ended: Sunday Goes Down

Buddy Walk 2016

The annual Buddy Walk was Saturday Sept 10th - it was hot!

The estimated attendance was 13,000! Largest to date! [Family & Friends, that’s why we ask you to register - so the DSAGC knows stats!]

Our group was similar to last year - family and close friends supporting Hannah and our family. Everyone who wants Hannah to reach her potential and have the same opportunities as the rest of us! 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts everyone for your donations and love towards us and Hannah!

The Cowan Clan!

Ken & Stu Bug

After Par-tay!

I'm pretty proud of my “cake.”

Nora & Ava

Head Banana! Lost one of her sandals on the lawn : (

An extension of our family - caregiver Alison & her family!

Grammy & Grandpa Batty

H, Grammy & Aunt Katherine

Aunt Stephanie

Cousin Joe, Joey & Bethany [we missed you Kristen!]

Uncle Joe, Aunt Susan, Nana & Papa - with clever hats!

Kieffers

The Boys & Nora... with a bib.

Our dear Tom & Anne!

We Gots THREE Sets of Antibiotics - How 'Bout YOU??

You heard me. 

It’s been fan-flipping-tastic around here.

Alison called me around 3:30 last Tuesday that Nora wasn’t feeling well and not eating... I left work and got the girls. She had a slight fever before bedtime. She woke twice that night crying, pretty out of it and not making sense. 

Wednesday morning was as if nothing had happened with no fever so we sent her to the sitter’s/school. Alison called me again at 12pm said she saw spots in the back of Nora’s throat - Ruh Roh. 

Tim’s turn to tag in with the Pediatrician... strep diagnosis for Nora! At least we received antibiotics to get rid of it. I think Nora’s only been on antibiotics once before. Getting her to take it is painful. She’ll drink it, but it takes on average 20 minutes. No lie. 

Fast forward to Sunday afternoon after a really full, long, and tiring weekend, Hannah started to act not like herself with a bunch of family/friends over. Laying facedown on the couch, kind of moany... found her temperature was about 101. Got some ibuprofen in the poor thing and we snuggled in a big chair together. If Hannah lies still, you KNOW she doesn’t feel good. That was around 4pm. 

After baths and bedtime, Tim and I were getting ready for Monday AM when Hannah was getting unusually fussy upstairs - temp of 103! Crap - slammed some ibuprofen through her tube and tried to put a cool washcloth on her which just pissed her off. It took a good 30 minutes for the fever to come down. I hate that - it’s happened to her a few times. I’m always afraid of a febrile seizure. 

We gave her another dose around 2am. She slept until 7:30am and I stayed home with her. Pediatrician confirmed she also has strep - of course. How could she NOT get it from her sister? 

Monday night was awful. I fell asleep at 9pm for my own sake. I love when people mean well and tell you to rest. Rest? Would you like to come to my house and take care of my highly energetic children and wake up FIVE TIMES that night to soothe my toddler? Because that’s what happened Monday night on top of not being well myself. 

So you can imagine the shell of a person I was on Tuesday. Motherhood is a series of oxymorons; I love my children, but going to work after four days of being pushed hard with Hannah was a touch relaxing. 

Today - Wednesday - so far, has been better. Hannah only woke once from bonking her head on the crib, so we all sadly feel “rested.”

----------

So then there’s Mom who had four days [Fri-Mon] of non-stop appointments, events, and clingy toddler-wrestling. I’ve had a cough for ... oh... I’m on week FOUR now. It’s not as bad, but dwindling. Monday my exhaustion caught up with me in the form of crying at dinner time over simple exhaustion plus a new pain in my chest when I take deep breaths/cough. I’ve never had a cold this long.

Thankfully Tim gently pushed I go back to Little Clinic. My oxygen is at 100% and still nothing in my lungs. This time I got a Z-pack and a steroid - two things I’ve never had in my life! 

The NP looked at me after I told her about my running schedule - which isn’t a lot - 3X a week. She asked if I could take it easy, or if I was training... I gave her the “Are-You-Serious-Runner-Look.” I told her I have a half marathon in three weeks and due to run 12 on Saturday. Runners are notoriously stubborn about “taking a break.” *For the record, I did take Tuesday morning off. I feel 85% better than I did Monday, so I do plan on hopefully getting sleep tonight [please Hannah?] and doing my Thursday AM run. 

No one needs to lecture me - I KNOW it’s about rest. But I am a Type-A personality with a lot to manage. I will reasonably stay home from work. I will reasonably let the chores sit, but not for long. Lunches still need to be packed. Appointments are regular. I cannot sleep through children waking in the night - which can be constant. Trust me, I’d love to rest. It’s just not currently realistic. The best I can do is attempt to go to sleep earlier which doesn’t mean my kids will let me sleep.

I’ll just repost my favorite meme here:

Second Year of Preschool

I took Nora to her first day of preschool today - she’s now in the 4’s class. It was pretty easy - she’s social and outgoing, so had no problem letting go! 

But then that independent four-year old turns around and does this:

Really Nora?! “There was no color and I wanted it to be red.”

Go Hannah!!

Today was the annual Cincinnati Buddy Walk - which I'll have a much bigger post on later... 

However the most exciting part of the day was having us help Hannah start to WALK around the house with our help!!

Huge. You can see how hard she's trying - and totally loving it!

Good thing we're fitting orthotics Friday!

So proud of our hard-working girl! Big changes are approaching - we can feel it : )

2 Years Old!

Well, it’s been two years since Hannah came flying into this world. And if you see her now, she’s the squirmiest toddler you’ve ever met - and I thought Nora was a squirm worm!

Hannah’s birthday was Thursday the 1st. It was a typical day and we celebrated with cookies and some board books - it was quiet and uneventful which is okay based on our first year with Hannah!

I think year two can be summed up with one word: patience. She was sitting at 11 months and then... not much. She scoots on her butt and that’s how she moves. 

Finally almost a year later she is pushing from her knees to standing and climbing the full set of stairs and up ottomans to the couch and chair. She can stand supported and we are teaching her to move her feet and cruise the couch. 

We had a GI appointment and we are so close to being done. We need to make sure Hannah is drinking enough fluids through the day. The team does not remove g-tubes before/during flu season - which makes sense; if a child becomes ill, the g-tube is a quick portal for fluids. 

Our next GI appt is March 22nd - forever from now. Hopefully the day the g-tube comes out; the medical need we never saw coming with our Banana.

We had Hannah’s two year checkup... like I’ve said, the pediatrician knows he isn’t the expert for Hannah; medically or on her diagnosis. I’m more of an expert on Ds than that office - but I suppose that’s not their job, right?

Next Friday Hannah will be fitted for orthotics [ankle braces] - most of her peers have them - and have had them for a while. We’ll most likely need to find wide kids’ shoes to fit said orthotics. We’ve been told New Balance... 

So things are good! It’s hard to even remember that incredibly difficult first year - what a year. I like that we can ease up for a bit... until next year when preschool comes into play - !

Happy 2nd Birthday Hannah Banana! You bring us all joy! Keep fighting Baby Girl!

HAHA!