God Is Good

God Is Good!

Our card this year says it all. 2016 has been quite the year for our family. In fact, 2016 has been the HARDEST year of my life. There's been lots of surprises, lots of research, lots of appointments, lots of decisions to make, lots of learning curves, lots of tears, lots of smiles, lots of life changes, lots of patience...and a whole lot of what I call "Adulting." It's been stressful and tiring. Needless to say, I'm happy to say goodbye to 2016 and to bring on a New Year! But just because this year has been HARD, doesn't mean that it has been BAD. Looking back, God has blessed us in many ways this year. If I had to choose the biggest blessing, it would have to be...Colton's health. When you research DS, you see that most babies are born with major heart defects that require surgery. Some babies have digestive issues that require surgery. The narrow nasal passages and ear canals cause fluid to back up, resulting in chronic ear infections and/or pneumonia/RSV. In Colton's first year of life, he never went to the NICU, he's never been hospitalized, he's never had surgery, and he's never even been on an antibiotic. The only thing he's needed is Reflux medicine. He's had a few colds, but he's been able to get over them on his own. He has been a picture of health. I'm not saying that will always be the case...I'm probably jinxing it right now. But I'm SO very thankful for his health this first year. I can't imagine doing what all we've done this year with a sick baby who's in and out of the hospital. There are a lot of families out there that have had to do that...and it breaks my heart for them. Thank you, God, for Colton's health. We realize what a blessing that is this year.

This year, I've had moments of weakness when I've said, "2016 has been the WORST year of my life!" But that's not true. That's just my stressed and tired self talking. I can't say that it's been the WORST because...2016 gave me Colton. My happy, sweet, beautiful baby Colton. I'm so excited that he's here to enjoy Christmas with us this year. He's one of my greatest gifts. When I see this picture, my heart just melts. Everything that I've done for him this year, I'd do again in a heartbeat. He is totally worth it! He completes our family!



Our family would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you for following our journey this year. Thank you for caring about our Colton. Thank you for wanting to learn more about Down Syndrome. Your love, support, and comments mean so much to us. We hope you will continue to follow our journey in 2017.

Peace out 2016! We're ready to make fun memories as a family of 4!



"Every good and perfect gift comes from above." James 1:17.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1

Feeding Therapy

Two weeks ago, Colton started his Feeding Therapy. He goes twice a week for 30 minutes. Our first goal is to get Colton to drink from a straw cup. The best cup to start with is the Honey Bear straw cup.



The good thing about this cup is that you can squeeze it to push the liquid up the straw to help the baby get started. We let Colton taste the liquid and then squeeze his cheeks to encourage him to suck on the straw. By squeezing the liquid up the straw, he doesn't have to suck as hard to drink since his liquids are thickened to Stiff Honey. However, Colton does have a really strong suck and at his second feeding session, he was able to drink from the cup without us having to start it for him. Hooray!! Now, we do have to squeeze his cheeks to get him to start drinking from the straw, but he'll get there soon enough. We only need to use this straw cup to help him learn to drink from a straw, but we can transition to another straw cup as soon as he gets the hang of it.



Colton will only take a few sucks and then he stops. He doesn't drink a whole lot yet. We really need him to start drinking more so that we can start weening off of bottles. It may take us longer for that transition than it would for a typical baby. He also needs to start eating more solid foods so that he gets enough nutrition. Right now, he's mainly eating purees with some oatmeal or rice cereal.

Colton uses his tongue to suck like he would a bottle, which is normal for all babies. However, we want to transition him to sucking with his lips. We want his tongue to stay in his mouth, moving side to side. His therapist will put a puff in his cheek to see if he can find it with his tongue. Sometimes he does and sometimes he loses it. She will then reach in and move the puff so that he can feel it in his mouth. Colton still has a pretty sensitive Gag Reflex, but hopefully he'll get over that soon when he starts to get used to more solid food. She recommended using a carrot stick in his mouth because it would be pretty hard for him to get a bite off of it without any teeth (Yes, we still don't have ANY TEETH!!!!!). She let him explore with one today and would brush it along the outside of his gums. This should help with his gag reflex, as well as his tongue movement. We want his tongue to find the carrot stick so he can practice moving his tongue around in his mouth.

A common myth about children with DS is that their tongues are too big for their mouth...hence, the tongue thrusting and tongue hanging out of the mouth. That is not true. Babies are not born with their tongues hanging out of their mouth. It all has to do with low tone in the tongue and face. Aspirating and reflux can also happen because of low tone. We want Colton's tongue and face muscles to stay strong, along with his throat muscles. We're hoping that as his throat muscles strengthen, he'll stop aspirating so we don't have to thicken liquids anymore. We also want his tongue to stay strong for Speech.

At therapy, Colton practices eating different solids like Puffs, Graham crackers, or Mum Mum crackers. He gags pretty often, which makes me nervous, but his therapist is good about resetting his gag reflex by pushing his chin to his chest. He also practices eating from a spoon with different purees...some are cold or just room temperature. By using cold foods, he can feel it more inside of his mouth, enhancing the learning experience.



At the end of each session, she massages his cheeks and lips (she calls it stretching them out). He doesn't seem to mind it.



As we transition from bottles to cups and solids, I find myself anxious. I was comfortable with thickening formula and feeding Colton purees. Change is hard, especially when a learning curve is involved. Most babies just naturally transition, but with Colton, it's more difficult. I can't just give him milk or juice because it has to be thickened. I can't even give him Tylenol without adding it to food or a bottle because he can aspirate on it (which has happened and it scared me to death!). I just have to remind myself to be patient...he'll get there. He will learn to eat and swallow and eventually we won't have to thicken his liquids anymore. I'm thankful that I have a Feeding Therapist to help me.

Dear Younger Me

Dear Younger Me (1 year ago to be exact),

Right now, you're 9 months pregnant. All you know is that you're going to give birth to a baby boy in the month of January. You are excited and wonder what life will be like with two kids. Will the new baby eat well, sleep well, cry a lot, get ear infections, look like his brother...??? You have absolutely no idea what is about to come or how much your life is going to change. There's not even one ounce of you that expects anything to be "wrong" with your baby.

In a few weeks, you're going to go into labor in the middle of the night. By the time you make it to the hospital and into your room, you'll only wait 4 hours to meet him. Your delivery will be SO easy, pain-free after a fabulous epidural, and fast. They'll take that 6 lb 13 oz. baby boy with blonde hair and blue eyes over to check him out and clean him up...and you'll soon realize that things are taking longer than normal. You'll begin to worry...you'll wonder what's "wrong?" But you need to know that there's nothing "wrong" with your baby...he's just special. EXTRA special....because God decided to give him an EXTRA Chromosome.

You're gonna be in shock...you're gonna be scared...you're gonna be disappointed...you're gonna cry...you're gonna question God...you're gonna feel like your world is crumbling down.

But I'm here to tell you that you're gonna be OKAY! Wipe away those tears. Don't question God...TRUST God. You can do this! You were chosen to be Colton's Mama. You are exactly who he needs.

Yes, your life is going to change...but the greatest part is that YOU are going to change. You are going to learn just how strong you are. You are going to be forced to get out of your comfort zone and make new friends. You're going to meet so many new, incredible people. You're going to gain SO much knowledge. You're going to learn to be patient and to celebrate small victories. You're going to look at people through different eyes. You're going to grow in faith. You're going to be a better version of the "younger me."

In a year, you're going to rock a chubby, happy, blue-eyed baby boy to sleep...and your heart is going to burst with love. Your eyes will fill with tears because you feel guilty that you ever felt disappointed. Your beautiful baby boy will eat well, sleep well, cry very little, never have an ear infection, and look so much like his older brother. He will be EXTRA special. He will change your family from ordinary to EXTRA-ordinary. He will bring you a joy you've never known.

You have no idea how blessed you're about to be. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

With Love,

The Better Version of the "Younger Me"



I was inspired to write this because of the song by Mercy Me called Dear Younger Me.
If you haven't heard it, I encourage you to listen to it. I hear it on KLOVE all of the time.
I've added the lyrics of the song below...



Dear Younger Me

MercyMe

Dear younger me
Where do I start
If I could tell you everything that I have learned so far
Then you could be
One step ahead
Of all the painful memories still running thru my head
I wonder how much different things would be
Dear younger me,

Dear younger me
I cannot decide
Do I give some speech about how to get the most out of your life
Or do I go deep
And try to change
The choices that you’ll make cuz they’re choices that made me
Even though I love this crazy life
Sometimes I wish it was a smoother ride
Dear younger me, dear younger me

If I knew then what I know now
Condemnation would’ve had no power
My joy my pain would’ve never been my worth
If I knew then what I know now
Would’ve not been hard to figure out
What I would’ve changed if I had heard

Dear younger me
It’s not your fault
You were never meant to carry this beyond the cross
Dear younger me

You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed

Every mountain every valley
Thru each heartache you will see
Every moment brings you closer
To who you were meant to be
Dear younger me, dear younger me

You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed

You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed

You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed

Milestone Alert- 10 Months!

Colton can officially SIT UP!!!!! Hallelujah! We have been waiting on this milestone for a LONG time!!!!

On Saturday, November 19th, it was like a light switched on and he could just do it! We are SO proud. He could sit some before, but it was like 30 seconds at a time and then he'd fall over. Now, I can leave him and he can actually play with toys without falling over right away.



It is funny that as soon as we switched his Reflux medicine from Zantac to Prevacid he started sitting up....so we are wondering if maybe the new medicine is helping his stomach feel better. He used to arch so much when we'd try to sit and he'd spit up all of the time. So...maybe it's a coincidence, but I do think that his tummy is feeling much better. And he's not spitting up as much as he used to. That's a win, too!

He's also rolling all over the floor and is starting to get tangled up in his blankets.





Now, we've got to work on transitions. We need to teach him how to go from lying on the floor to a sitting position, without the help from mommy. We also need to learn how to go from a sitting position into a crawling position. He can't quite hold the crawling position without some help from us...it's hard to keep that large tummy off of the ground. We've gotta get his arms stronger so that he can hold himself up.



We are SO excited that Mr. Colton can finally sit up. He's outgrowing his car seat carrier, but he couldn't sit up in a cart yet, so grocery shopping was getting quite interesting. Next trip, we'll try to sit in the cart like a big boy! And strapping him to me is no longer an option...unless I want to break my back. He's quite a heavy dude these days!

Sitting up makes playing more fun...especially when you go to The Wonder Place.



We are proud of you baby boy!!! Keep working hard!

Marriage

Did you know that about 50% of all marriages end in divorce? Did you know that percentage increases to 80-90% for couples who have a child with Special Needs?

Hours after Colton was born, Hunter and I were constantly on the Internet searching for information. We read articles and blogs and watched videos about Down Syndrome. We were trying to find as much information as we could about it because, to be honest, we knew nothing! We had to quickly catch up because we wanted to better understand Colton. We needed to know what to expect for his health and therapy and education and future. We were looking for things about him, and we didn't think about what it meant for us. We came across these statistics pretty quickly. Hunter brought it up to me in the hospital. He also told me that he read that if the child has Down Syndrome, the percentage is actually not as high. Why? Probably because they ooze love and happiness...and that stuff is contagious. But...the statistics are there. And Hunter and I decided that we didn't want that to happen to us.

Having a child with Special Needs is stressful. Luckily, we've been blessed with a healthy little boy. I can't imagine how much more stressful it would be if we were in the hospital having multiple surgeries and procedures. There's just so much to do and think about. The child becomes your first priority because with DS, the first 12 years are crucial. My PT told me that it's so important to cram as much information as you can into your child because usually after the age of 12, they plateau. On a daily basis, I try to provide a stimulating environment for Colton...

-We try to do some PT to strengthen those muscles and encourage movement
-We try new foods to explore with tastes and textures
-We watch Baby Signing Time to learn Sign Language to help with future communication barriers
-We read books to expose him to new vocabulary words
-I try to repeat the same words over and over so he can learn them (Up, Bottle, Eat, Mama, Dada, Weston, Hi, Bye...not just so that he can eventually say them, but so that he can associate the word with its' meaning)
-We try to practice waving and clapping and signing (he stares at me so intently but he can't quite do those yet)

I just have a lot on my plate each day. I have to be intentional with everything I do. I try to do those things while Weston is at school and Hunter is at work, so that when they are home, we can just play and enjoy family time. I've got to remember that I have 3 boys to take care of and spend time with. Some days do I slack off? Absolutely. Some days we are running errands and cleaning house and watching tv and we don't do much therapy. We have to live a little! But it's always in the back of my mind. I just want the best for Colton...he's my biggest job! So with that being said, I can see how marriages struggle. I can see how pouring so much energy into one child can leave you empty...and you've got nothing left for your spouse. But...you've got to work at it. Just like with any marriage, you have to find time to be together. For us, we try to get our kids to bed at a decent hour so that we can have some time, just the two of us, before bed. Hunter and I like to watch tv together. We record shows and as soon as the kids are asleep, we binge. We also like to devour candy together...it has always been our thing. My friends know that when they come over, there will be candy at my house! We also try to go on the occasional date...it probably doesn't happen as often as it should, but we do get to go out to eat every now and then. We also talk on the phone a lot throughout the day. COMMUNICATION...that's a big one! He randomly calls me to check on us to see how we're doing. He loves to know how Colton did in therapy or what the doctor said or how Weston was at school. We are a team! We make decisions together, celebrate our kids' successes, and encourage each other when we're feeling down. Not a week goes by that Hunter doesn't send me videos or pictures of kids with DS. He is always researching and reading...and I love that about him! He's been doing that since Day 1. They always say one parent grieves more than the other. In our marriage, that's Hunter. This journey has been hard on him. He likes things to be neat and organized and perfect. He likes to be able to "fix" things. And this is something he can't "fix." What he can do is read and research to see how we can make Colton's life better. It's therapeutic for him. Knowledge is power. He sent me a picture this weekend of a boy with DS who had killed a deer...and he was ecstatic! He loves to hunt and he wasn't sure whether or not Colton would be able to hunt with him. I told him, "Of course he can hunt with you. He may not be able to shoot a gun, but he can go and spend time with you and Weston. I'm sure he'll love it! Maybe he can learn to blow a duck call." I just have to reassure Hunter that things are going to be better than he expects. His mind is always worried about the future...where's Colton gonna end up? Is he gonna be happy? Will he have friends? Will he feel lonely? He just worries so much about him and I try so hard to calm him down and make him live in the moment. None of us know what the future holds. Worry less, pray more. God will help us throughout this journey...and He continues to amaze us.

Marriage isn't easy. You have to work at it. You have to know each other's strengths and weaknesses. Through our journey with Colton, we've actually grown closer together. We NEED each other. On my birthday card last month, Hunter wrote a message inside that brought tears to my eyes (because if you know my husband, he's not super emotional or lovey dovey)..."I know we have been through a lot this year, but your strength in each situation just grows my love and respect for you. I couldn't imagine my life without you..." He appreciates me...I appreciate him. We are in this together. We will not add to the divorce statistic. We will make it! In 3 months, we celebrate 10 years of marriage. A decade together...with many more to come. That handsome man has my heart...

My Angel

"We've got an issue here," the quality control angel called out.

"What's the problem?" asked God, in a voice that already seemed to calm the concern.

"It looks like an extra chromosome- one, two- yes, right here, an extra one."

Now smiling, God answered, "That's not a quality concern. It is a distinction. The manual addresses it. You're new on the line, aren't you?"

"Why yes, this is my first day," apologized the angel- searching through the manual for any reference to this.

"I'll talk you through it...there are just a few assembly modifications. First, locate the hug sensors. Do you see the dial?"

"Yes, right here. Oh, I think I tickled him."

"Turn it up."

"How much?"

"All the way."

"Done."

"Now locate the two smile triggers- they are located on either side of that cute little button nose."

"I found them."

"Adjust them a little closer to the surface. Closer, closer, perfect!"

"Is that it?" asked the obedient angel.

"Almost," answered God. "Now, very gently, open his heart. That's it. Measure two, no, make it three extra scoops of love."

"Will it fit? It's so tiny!"

"Oh, these little hearts stretch incredibly. It will fit."

"Done. Is that it?"

"One more thing. Move him from the random distribution belt to the select premium belt. These little ones aren't given to just anyone."

"There. He's done and ready to go, " announced the angel.

God stepped over, as if to inspect the handiwork of this new angel on the line. But that wasn't His intent. Instead, He picked up this little one and help him close to His heart. Holding him for so long the angel became concerned.

"Is he alright? Did I do everything as you instructed?"

Still holding him close, God said, "He's perfect. I just find it hard to let these special ones go, for they are Heaven to hold." And He gently kissed him on the cheek and sent Colton to our hearts.



My mother-in-law has always told me, "When I see pictures of Colton, I feel like I'm looking into the eyes of an Angel."

He's my Angel....and I'm thankful that God chose me to be his "Ma-Ma" (which just so happens to be Colton's first word).

OT Evaluation (10 months)

This morning, bright and early, I took Colton to Access for his OT Evaluation. Colton was evaluated by Easter Seals when he was about 4 months old and he didn't qualify at that time. They wanted him re-evaluated at about 9 months. Colton was sitting at a bench and they'd offer him toys to see how he'd grab them or shake them. First, she started off with a block. He immediately grabbed the block. Colton's grip strength has improved tremendously from when he was born. If he's holding onto something, I usually have to pry it away from his fingers to get it back. Watch out for your hair or your earrings!! I've lost some hair in the past few months. She then gave him one block in his left hand and put a second block on the table to see if he'd grab it with his right hand. He did! They want him holding two objects at the same time. She showed him how to bang the two blocks together, but he didn't do that. She gave him a rattle to shake and he did shake it. She said that they really want him shaking the rattle up and down for 60 seconds in an arc motion, but he didn't last that long, which is ok. He did get credit for shaking the rattle.



She offered him a piece of paper and he grabbed it from her. She wanted him to crumple it up into a ball so she showed him how. She put the paper on the table and wanted him to grab it and crumple it. He was able to get the paper off of the table, but didn't crumple it. She then put two tiny beans in front of him to see if he'd grab them, and he did swipe with his hand to get it into the palm of his hand. He can't quite do the thumb, finger pincer grip, but she was proud that he could swipe them. She kept offering him things like shoestrings and toys to see how he'd manage them. He did really well!



After she was finished, she scored Colton. She said that to qualify, he'd have to have a standard deviation of -1.5. Colton scored a -1 and a -0.67. Colton does not qualify for services at this time. She said both of his scores fall within the Average range. With her report, she's going to give me Home-Programming suggestions so I can continue working on things at home. We can do a lot of practice in the highchair during mealtime. Ex: grabbing small items like puffs with our thumb and finger. Holding a toy with just our fingers allowing space between our fingers and palm. Shaking toys up and down as opposed to side to side. We've got Colton using his hands and arms better, so now we want to focus on using our fingers more.

I'm very proud of my Colton! I didn't know what to expect going into the evaluation, but I knew if he did qualify, we'd just have to find more time to take him to OT therapy. Obviously, we'd make it work, but I'm a little relieved we don't have to work that into our schedule just yet. Next year, he'll be going to school full-time, so he will receive all of his services while he's at school. Outpatient therapy can become quite a job when you have PT, OT, Speech, and Feeding Therapy. Luckily, we only do PT and Feeding (which should start sometime this month). Colton sure keeps me busy with all of these evals and appointments, but I'm thankful that he's doing so well!

**I do have to give a shout-out to our fabulous PT who has helped me over the past 9 months. She has been giving me suggestions and tips to help Colton in OT, too. She's very experienced and knows what he should be doing for OT....without her tips, we'd probably be way behind. She's the best!!!!!!!

Mommy & Me Gymnastics Class

After Weston was born, my mother-in-law agreed to keep him full-time so that I could continue teaching. She wanted activities to do with him so she signed him up for a Mommy & Me Gymnastics class. They had a great time going each week. Weston would practice crawling and walking, they'd play with the parachute, they'd clap to songs, roll down the cheese mat, etc.... After Colton was born, I decided to stay home full-time, so my mother-in-law didn't get the same bonding time with him. She asked me if she could sign him up for Gymnastics so that she could spend some time with him and I said, "Absolutely!" I think it's great for him to be around other babies. It's like another therapy session for him....lots of stimulation, babies to watch and learn from, and muscle building activities. She takes him each week, but I've taken him twice while she's been out of town.

The first time I took him to class, I got a little choked up. I've never been around that many babies about his same age. I went into the class knowing that Colton would be behind most of the other babies, but it was still hard for me to see that Colton, although not the youngest, was the farthest behind. I didn't cry, but I did feel a little lump in my throat. It's just hard to see it in person. At home, I don't really notice it because it's just us and I forget what "typical" 10 month old babies can do...but being around kids close to his age, it stands out to me like a sore thumb. And as he gets older, it's just going to become more and more obvious. While I was there, I felt like God was telling me, "It's ok, Carrie. It's ok. He will get there." I decided to suck it up and put on a smile on my face and have fun with my baby. There were some activities that our teacher would have the other kids do that Colton couldn't do. She'd get them started on something and then come work with Colton, individually. Most of the stuff she was doing were things we do at therapy. I was thankful that she took time to work with Colton so that we wouldn't feel left out. She knows he has DS and is just the sweetest. I enjoyed spending time with Colton and we made it fun. We did a lot of songs where you have to raise your arms up and down and cross the midline. We kicked our feet and played with bells. We blew up the large bounce house thing and let the kids bounce. We did things in front of the mirror so the kids could see themselves close up and far away and upside down. It's really good for him to see the other babies. They can teach him things I can't. Colton seemed to really enjoy it! My mom was there to watch us so she snapped a few pictures.







Later on, my mother-in-law asked me if it was hard for me to be there and if I'd rather not take him anymore. I told her that, initially, it did sting, but I was okay and I want him to continue going. It's good for him to be there. Just because it might hurt my feelings, doesn't mean I'm going to stop going. This is not going to be the first time that I'm going to see other kids and feel a little sting because I know he's behind. It's going to happen a lot...like when everyone his age is walking and talking and running and getting their driver's license. I've got to develop some thick skin...it's gonna be okay. And I keep telling myself that it's not fair for me to compare Colton to "typical" kids because he's not "typical." My mom told me the other day that my niece, who is about 6 weeks younger than Colton, is starting to crawl. My sweet sister was afraid to share the news with me because she didn't want to upset me. I sent her a message and told her not to worry about it. Celebrate her milestones! I don't want people to hide things from me. Yeah, it stings a little, but I'm tough and can handle it. Now it's crawling, but soon it will be walking and talking and riding a bike. It's gonna happen. I also know that Colton's cousin who is only 2 months old will surpass him in no time. Some things in life are going to be hard for me and I'm going to have to push through and make the most of each situation. My job as Colton's mommy is to provide him with as many opportunities as I can for him to be successful...some of those opportunities may upset me, but after all, it's about him, not me.

I think the hardest part is that Weston was always physically advanced. He was starting to take steps and walk around 10 months (which is Colton's current age). As soon as he learned to walk, he learned to run. He has also always been a climber. He'd climb in and out of that crib with ease. He runs fast, he jumps high, and he's a little bit too dangerous for his own good. So for us to have a child that is behind physically is difficult for us. We aren't used to the slow pace. But in some ways, it's nice. I don't have to chase Colton around and worry about him like I did Weston. Weston was capable, but dangerous. I'd walk in the room and he'd be standing on the coffee table. I had to put him in a baby pen to keep him contained or else he'd tear up my house. With Colton, I haven't had to lower the crib yet. I get to enjoy him being my "baby" longer because he's not so busy and mobile. And he is the best cuddler around. Colton is sitting better but I still can't leave him while he's sitting because he falls over. His therapist has him working on holding his body up in four point (the crawling position) and he can hold it for a little while before he tires and face plants. His legs are much stronger than his arms. We keep practicing our baby push-ups. Colton is rolling all over the place now to get toys. The important thing is...that Colton is making progress. I can see him doing things we've waited for him to do (like grab his feet and play with them or bring toys to his mouth or roll to get a toy). Slow and steady wins the race. Colton will be able to do everything (crawl, stand, walk, run) but it's just going to take time. And mommy and daddy are getting a really good lesson on PATIENCE.

Colton will continue to go to his Mommy & Me Gymnastics class. As kids learn to walk, they advance to the Toddler Gymnastics class. We may be in the Mommy & Me class for a little bit longer than others...and that's ok. The purpose is for Colton to have fun and to get stronger and to see and interact with other babies. And I get to meet new mommies along the way.

Our journey with Colton has just begun. And it's different and beautiful and stressful and exciting and humbling. My mommy heart is still learning how to deal with all of it. But not a day goes by that my heart doesn't explode from the smiles and joy that little boy gives me. He is worth it.

9 Month Checkup and Speech Evaluation

This week I took Colton for his 9 month checkup. In the waiting room, I filled out the ASQ that they have you do at every checkup appointment. Well...Colton pretty much failed it. But guess what? I wasn't sad about it...I actually chuckled. I didn't let it bother me. I CAN'T let it bother me. Colton is not a typical baby. He is not doing what most 9 month old babies are doing...and that's ok!!! Colton is moving at his own pace...all babies move at their own pace. He probably functions more like a 6 or 7 month old. But the good news is...Colton is healthy and happy! And he's BIG! Here are his stats...



These are the stats for a TYPICAL baby. Colton is pretty much in the 70th percentile for both height and weight. On the Down Syndrome scale, he's even higher than 70th percentile...like almost off the charts. The doctor laughed. She was very happy with his growth...and I'm glad to see that his height and weight are proportional. He's slowly starting to get longer which is making him look less chubby. But there's still plenty of chub to go around.



Colton gets so excited about the noises the paper makes on the table. He likes to wiggle around and pretend he's gonna fly away. This is his Superman pose.



I was excited he wasn't going to have to get any shots....until they asked about his Flu Shot. So...we did get a Flu Shot. He cried pretty good, but calmed down after a couple of minutes. All of these pictures are pre-flu shot. Unfortunately, he has to go back in a month for another dose since it's his first one.



Moving on to his Speech Evaluation. Last week, he was evaluated at Access for Language and Feeding. His Feeding Evaluation was first. The Speech Therapist fed him different foods to see how he could manage them. We did green beans (Level 1 baby food) and then thickened it with oatmeal. She liked the way he was eating the food off of the spoon, but he was having a little trouble with the thick textures because they would leave residue on his tongue. We gave him some Puffs and sometimes he'd lose them in his cheeks. A typical baby would move their tongue to find the food in their cheek, but Colton just lost it completely. We had to go fish it out to show him that he still had food in his mouth. Sometimes, he'd push the puff back out with his tongue thrusting. With DS, they usually move their tongues in and out, not side to side (tongue lateralization)...so that's something he needs help with. The therapist said that he's probably 2 months behind where he should be with eating. Most of that is my fault. I'm that mom that is paranoid about kids choking, so I don't experiment a lot. I kind of stick to things that I know they can't choke on. I did the same thing with Weston. With Colton, I've been even more paranoid because I don't want him learning bad tongue habits that are going to cause more Speech issues in the future. Also, he has a very sensitive gag reflex, so he tends to gag on the tiniest things (like a puff broken into thirds). So, most of the delays he has are because of lack of exposure. The Speech Therapist told me that she could help me. He would automatically qualify just because of his aspirating issues, but he is also a little behind where he should be. I told her that I really WANTED her help! I'm not a professional and I'm really dreading the change from bottles to real food. I've got the bottles down pat and switching means a whole new learning curve for me. I know I have to do it, but I'm anxious. I've tried to use a straw sippy cup with Colton a few times because that's what they recommend, and it's easier said than done. I put the straw in his mouth and he just doesn't know what to do with it. A typical baby would close their lips on it and suck, but he just doesn't. I really could use her help with that, too. That's the first thing she wants to work with him on. He needs to be able to suck out of a cup for when we switch to milk. Straws are better because they work all of the muscles in the face and we want to preserve the tone he has in his face. A regular sippy cup requires you to throw your head back and open the airway, which isn't great for a child who aspirates.

So...Colton is going to qualify for Feeding Therapy. He will go 2 times a week for 30 minute sessions. It will be directly after his Physical Therapy, so that's perfect for me! I'm very happy to have help as we make the transition from bottles to food!

Colton also had a Language Evaluation last week. It was basically a lot of questions for me to answer about Colton's communication. For example, does Colton make any consonant sounds? Does he understand what "NO" means? Does Colton babble? When you say Daddy's home, does Colton look around for Daddy? Does Colton look for you if you talk to him from the kitchen? Does Colton play peek-a-boo? Will Colton wave to you if you wave to him? Etc... Colton scored an 85. He is right on the border between Average and Below-Average. Babies don't qualify unless they are below a 77. So...Colton will not qualify for Language at this time. Language is actually a strength for him. He will give us a high five, he is starting to wave, and he likes to babble (making consonant sounds Ma and Ba). I've posted a video on my Instagram that shows him "talking." It's so cute. It makes me so proud that he's trying to communicate. Colton will be reevaluated in the next 6 months to see if he qualifies at that time. But until then, I'll keep practicing at home. She gave me lots of great ideas for encouraging communication, including games that teach conversational skills (I shake the rattle, you shake the rattle).

Our sweet baby Colton is doing really well. He's getting stronger. He's obviously happy. We are thankful for his health and growth. He's a blessing to our family. He's 9 months of AWESOME!

Mommy's Unexpected Hospital Stay

Well, the last 36 hours have been rough for me. Here's the story about how I ended up in the hospital...

On August 22, I got a positive pregnancy test. This came as a huge SHOCK for Hunter and me. We weren't trying to get pregnant. We hadn't planned on trying for another 5 or 6 months. Colton was only 7 months old, which would mean he'd only be 15-16 months old when baby #3 arrived. We were a little anxious and excited and surprised! We both decided that there was no need to worry. God is in control and He knows what's best for our family. So...we went on with life and kept it a secret. We made it to our 8 week appointment. At our ultrasound, we saw a heartbeat. Our doctor told us that if we made it to the 8 week mark and saw a heartbeat, we only had a 3% risk of miscarriage. We decided that we'd wait until 10 weeks to have blood drawn for genetic testing and gender reveal. We were getting excited, but still didn't feel ready to share our news with the world.

On Tuesday, September 27th at 9.5 weeks pregnant, I started spotting. The nurse called me that morning and told me that my labs showed I had a UTI. I asked her if spotting was normal with a UTI and she told me that sometimes can happen. I thought nothing of it. Unfortunately that evening, I got a horrible headache that left me nauseous and unable to eat dinner. My spotting started to get worse and I decided to just go to bed. I slept for a few hours...but when I woke up around 10:30 pm, I knew that I was having a miscarriage. My doctor was on call that evening, so I spoke with her and she told me that if I started to feel dizzy or light-headed, or if I was bleeding really heavily, I needed to go to the ER. Around 1:30 am, I told Hunter that we needed to go to the hospital. His parents came to stay with the boys and we arrived at the hospital around 2 am. I was put in a room immediately. They wanted a urine sample and sent me to the bathroom. While in the bathroom, I began feeling extremely light-headed and I yelled to Hunter that I needed help. Minutes later, I passed out and I woke up as they were transferring me from a wheelchair to my bed. I was so confused. My blood pressure was 70/30. My blood count went from a 10.5 to an 8.5 (12 is normal). One great thing was that my doctor was a friend from high school and college, Dr. Burroughs. It was nice to see a familiar face. I knew he'd take great care of me. He said that I was losing so much blood and I might need a blood transfusion, but they weren't going to do that just yet. I went for an ultrasound and had to have several exams. They called my OB and she asked them to give me Cytotek, which is similar to Pitocin. It would help control my bleeding. She told them that she wanted me admitted to the hospital and she'd take over from there. I was moved to a room on the 3rd floor. In that room, things went from bad to worse. The Cytotek was not helping, so they decided to give me more. The nurses left for a few minutes and during that time, I began to have a hot flash and get light-headed. I knew I was going to pass out again, so I pushed the Nurse button and told them "I'm going to pass out...HELP, HELP!" I passed out and woke up to 8 nurses around me. They had called in the Rapid Recovery Nurse, nurses from Labor and Delivery, a Respiratory Nurse, etc... (I scared the living daylights out of them). It's very scary to wake up to all of those faces staring at you. My blood pressure was 63/39. My blood count was a 7. They immediately brought in blood and started a new IV line. I received one unit of blood. My doctor came in and said that the Cytotek was not helping me and we needed to do an emergency D & C. She warned me that the lining of my uterus was soft and there was a risk she could puncture a hole in it, which might result in a total hysterectomy. I told her that I just wanted her to do whatever she needed to do to make this stop. I was so pale from all of the blood loss. I was down in the OR 30 minutes later. The procedure was quick and easy with no complications. My doctor is fabulous! As they were putting me to sleep, she was holding my hand and rubbing my arm and telling me, "It's okay, Carrie, I'm right here with you." She's been with me through all 4 of my miscarriages and she performed both of my D & C's. She's also the one that told me Colton had DS. I am so thankful for her. We have a special bond. I'm so thankful God led me to her 6 years ago.

In no time, I woke up in recovery. They made me stay in recovery until I received another unit of blood. They wanted my blood pressure to come up to the 90's. After 3 hours, I had four readings in the 90's, so they let me move back to my room on the third floor. I finally was able to see Hunter again and contact family and friends. They wanted me to stay overnight to make sure my BP and blood counts were getting back to normal. I have low blood pressure all of the time, but it's usually 110/55. They were happy with it being closer to 95/50. My blood count got to a 9.9. My D & C was exactly what I needed. After my surgery and blood transfusion, things go SO much better. Color returned in my face and I was able to walk around the room. I knew I was getting better because the nurses were coming in less frequently. I sent Hunter home to stay with our boys, and I had an evening to myself to rest. It was really strange to be in the hospital alone. I've only been in the hospital after having a baby, so I was used to a little more noise...and people. Today, September 29th, I was discharged at 11 am. I am now home with my boys. I'm still a little weak and have to take it easy for a few weeks, but I'm doing great. I've never been more excited to see my boys. Hunter walked in with Colton and I began talking...I've never seen his head whip around so fast to look for me.



I'm not sharing this story because I want people to feel sorry for me. Please don't feel sorry for me. I have not been emotional about this experience. To be honest, I didn't cry in the hospital at all. I've been down this road before and I'm at peace with God's decision. This baby was not meant to be. We are not meant to have a third child. When I found out I was pregnant, I prayed for a healthy, typical baby. God did not answer my prayers, and that's ok. I think of the song..."Some of God's greatest gifts, are unanswered prayers." Hunter and I both said that if this pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, we were done having children. This is a sign from God. We have closure. We have decided to stop planning and start living. We are so very thankful for the two little boys that God gave us. It's a miracle, with my past, that they both made it and they're both so healthy. My body as been through enough in the past 6 years. I am done...and I'm completely okay with that. I am not the same person I was 6 years ago...I'm better. I'm stronger. I've learned how tough I am. My faith has grown ten-fold. This entire pregnancy, I kept saying over and over...

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:6

I am okay, emotionally. Physically, I need some time to heal. But I'm excited to close this chapter of our lives and move on. I'm ready to enjoy my boys and watch them grow. Thank you God for my two little boys. We are a perfect family of 4!

Welcome to Holland

A friend shared this poem with me shortly after Colton was born. I remember reading it in the hospital with tears streaming down my face. What a beautiful poem. Life doesn't always play out the way we think it's going to play out...but that doesn't mean it won't be a fabulous journey. I get to experience Italy with Weston and Holland with Colton. My heart is full, and I thank God every day for my two most precious gifts.

Repeat Swallow Study at 8 Months

Yesterday, we went to Children's Hospital for our repeat Swallow Study. Colton isn't allowed to eat 3 hours before our appointment, so I had to wake him up from his nap to feed him earlier than normal. Poor baby! When we got to the Radiology Department, I was glad to see that we had the same Speech Pathologist as last time. His name was Drew. I think he remembered me...but not Colton. Colton's gotten rather large since our last visit at 2 months old. Hehe.

First, we went to a room to discuss Colton's current feeding schedule. I told him that we began introducing baby food once a day and he's been doing really well with it, but I wanted to make sure he wasn't aspirating on it. I told him that we thicken his bottles to Stiff Honey and I explained my current concoction of formula, rice cereal, and Thick It 2. He said that everything looks like it's working so far because he's obviously gaining weight and he hasn't had any respiratory illnesses which would be a result of aspirating.

Next, we went back to the X-Ray room. We strapped Colton in his highchair next to the machine. He was very cooperative and interested in what we were doing.



The X-Ray is on the right side and it shows his profile as he drinks a bottle. You can see the liquid entering his mouth and going down his throat because it has Barium in it. If he aspirates, you can see it go into the airway and we stop feeding him, immediately.



We started out using the Nuk bottle I brought from home. This is the bottle they recommended at our first Swallow Study because it has a flat-based nipple which is good for a low tone tongue. His tongue doesn't have to cup the nipple as much as a regular round nipple. They gave him Nectar thick formula. This is pretty thin, so he had trouble keeping up with the swallowing and did aspirate on it. So then we moved to Honey thick formula. He actually did pretty well on the Honey, compared to last time. He did swallow a good amount of it, but occasionally, he'd have a deep penetration (it would get into the yellow zone, which means it was headed to the airway, but he didn't always aspirate). After a little while of sucking, he finally did have an aspiration. However, he coughed when he aspirated. This is a good thing because at his last Swallow Study, he had silent aspirations....which can be very scary. This time, he noticed something wasn't right, so he coughed. His cough did not completely clear the airway, but he tried. We then tried Honey again with a different bottle and nipple (the MAM brand). This nipple also has a flat-based nipple, but it's not as big of a nipple so it's better for transitioning to a straw sippy cup. He did aspirate a little on the Honey thick, so we decided to stop the study. Drew said that he wasn't comfortable switching him to Honey just yet because he was having some deep penetrations and a few aspirations. I told him that this was completely fine with me. We've been doing Stiff Honey for awhile now and we are all used to it. He's doing well, he's not sick, he's gaining weight. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. So...we will stay at Stiff Honey.

We also discussed what this means when he turns 1 and leaves the bottle. We will have to thicken all of his liquids to Stiff Honey. Luckily, at age 1, we can change thickening products. He is currently using Thick-It 2, which does upset his tummy without the rice cereal. So, at 1, we can switch to Simply Thick (you have to be over the age of 1 to use this product). Simply Thick is a gel packet that you squeeze into liquids and shake/stir. The good thing about Simply Thick is that it's easier to carry around with you because it's in these little individual packets. Thick-It 2 is a big tub of Splenda looking powder.





Also, Simply Thick stays the same consistency throughout the day. You can mix it into apple juice in the morning and it will stay the same thickness all day long. With Thick-It 2, it continues to thicken until you have a nasty paste in the bottom of your bottle/cup. I can't make bottles too early or they will get way too thick to eat and I have to dilute it with water. My PCP can send a prescription for the Simply Thick to a nearby Nutrition Store and they will mail the product to my house, monthly. It's so nice and easy for me! We actually were getting too much Thick-It 2, so I had to call them and ask them to stop for a few months so that we could use what we had, first. It's been so easy! Hallelujah!

During the study, we also fed Colton some applesauce with Barium in it. He swallowed the applesauce just fine. He did not aspirate on it, so I was really happy to see that. Drew said that some of the baby foods are thinner than others, so if I'm concerned it's too thin, I can always add some Thick-It 2 to the food and stir. It might slightly alter the taste, but not too much.

We will go back for another study in 10-12 months. We are hoping by then, Colton won't have to thicken to Stiff Honey anymore. He will eventually outgrow this aspirating thing, but sometimes it just takes time. I told Drew that I'm still paranoid about starting solids with him. I was with Weston, too, because I HATE choking babies. It freaks me out! But with Colton, I'm especially anxious because I don't want him learning bad eating habits that can cause more speech problems in the future. Drew said that maybe I can have him reevaluated for Speech Therapy now that he's getting ready to start solid foods. I'm gonna ask about that next week at Access. Children with DS can have issues with tongue lateralization, which can make eating solids more difficult. Plus, he doesn't have any teeth yet. Drew said that a lot of kids with DS will put a solid on their tongue and swallow it whole because they don't know what to do with it. Another learning curve for us, but we will figure it out. We always do!

God, thank you for a baby that is eating well, gaining weight, and not suffering from any respiratory illnesses!

8 Months!

Colton (aka "Pudge") is officially 8 months old! We went to the ENT a few weeks ago and he weighed in at a whopping 21 pounds. I looked his stats up on the DS chart and he was in the 95th percentile for both height and weight. He is still such a BIG boy! He's so big, he's starting to grow out of his 9 month pajamas! Oops! Time for some new jams!



We still have not mastered the art of sitting up, but we still continue to practice. Part of the problem is just Colton. He doesn't like to sit up. Every time we try, he throws his body back and arches. I don't think he likes his tummy scrunched up....or maybe it's tight on his hamstrings??? Who knows...but I really wish he'd sit up! I think he'd find that it's much more enjoyable. Our PT suggested we get him a chair that has a high back to practice, but that is also short enough for his feet to reach the ground. You can see him sitting in the yellow chair above. I'm not holding onto him and he can sit for a good while before he falls over. But don't leave him there alone...that could be dangerous!
Speaking of dangerous, he loves to flip out of this chair. Don't let that smile fool you...



He loves to play in his Baby Einstein jumper and has started to jump lately...hooray!!!



He also can finally grab his feet! To some, that may seem like an easy skill, but for Colton, it's been hard. Due to his low tone, his abs weren't strong enough for him to get his legs off of the floor. But he has no trouble with that now. They still can't quite reach his mouth, but I'm okay with that.



Colton enjoys watching Baby Einstein. His big brother likes to watch it with him, too. They are so cute together.



Colton absolutely LOVES Weston. It's so sweet! The other day, Weston was telling me a story about Ninja Turtles and he was being very animated. I look over and Colton is watching Weston with the biggest grin on his face...then he started laughing out loud. Weston, of course, loved that he made brother laugh, so he kept doing it over and over. It just melted my heart. I wish I could've gotten it on video.

Colton is doing a great job with eating. I'm only feeding him baby food 1x each day until we have our Swallow Study on September 15th. I'm hoping that he won't have to have his formula thickened to Stiff Honey anymore, but if he does, it's not the end of the world. I just want to make sure he's not aspirating. I know that it can take a few years before they outgrow the aspirating stuff...but it would be nice if we only had to thicken to Honey or Nectar.



Colton is still a very happy baby. He eats well and sleeps well. He likes to play with his toys and roll around on the floor. Sometimes, he gets stuck and can't quite figure out what to do...



We are loving our "Pudge!" He's getting so big and so strong. He continues to go to PT 2x each week. We are hoping that he will begin sitting up soon and pulling up into the crawling position....but that crawling brings all kinds of trouble. I don't know that I'm ready for that just yet.

I found this poem the other day and I thought I'd share it. I think it's so sweet. Colton is such a blessing to our family. Life just wouldn't be the same without him. We love our chubby, happy, strong 8 month old!

Two

Two. That was our number. We both agreed a long time ago that we wanted two kids. We liked the idea that we wouldn't be outnumbered. That we'd have a good even number. Two and done. So, while I was pregnant with Colton, I treated my pregnancy as if it were my last. I was fully prepared to end that chapter of our lives. Then, Mr. Colton entered this world with the greatest surprise imaginable. Our hospital experience with Colton was not the joyous event that you picture after giving birth to a baby. It was sad. It was hard. It was scary. 2 days after Colton was born, Hunter says to me, "I think we should have a third." What? Mr. I'm only having 2 kids now suddenly has a change of heart?? And...you want to talk about this NOW? We haven't even left the hospital and I have a 2 day old and I'm still trying to recover from delivering a BABY! I was completely shocked. I told him that we'd talk about it later, but for now, let's focus on the baby I just gave birth to...

Over the past 6 months, we've talked about having a third child. We have three main reasons for wanting a third child...

1. Weston could use another sibling in the future so that he doesn't have to take care of his parents and his brother all by himself. Colton will be in his 50's when we are in our 80's. We probably won't be able to take care of him like we need to at that time in our lives. We don't want all of the responsibility to fall onto Weston's shoulders. Another sibling would help him share in the decision-making and care-taking process.

2. It would be nice for Colton to have bookends...an older and younger sibling to watch out for him. A bigger brother to look up to and strive to be like and a little sibling to push him, who will still be around when Weston moves out one day. Colton already adores his big brother. I can only imagine how much joy another brother/sister would bring him.

3. Closure for us. Although we absolutely love our Colton and wouldn't trade him for the world, his entrance into this world was heartbreaking. The last memories we have of giving birth to a baby are sad memories. I'd love to end on a high note. Please don't take that the wrong way...we LOVE LOVE LOVE Colton...but with his birth came some of the lowest moments of our lives. We've totally bounced back, but we can't redo those first days in the hospital. They are forever tattooed on our hearts.

It's not easy just to say, "Let's have a third child!" With it comes anxiety. I'm very anxious to try again. I've had 3 miscarriages in the past, and I also have a higher chance of having another child with DS. Sure, it's only 1%, but that's a higher chance than before I had Colton (which was 1/700 or so depending on what website you read). A lot of people tell me, "I don't know of a family that has 2 children with DS." Well....I happen to know 2 families that do. So...it can happen. But really, with any pregnancy, you never know whether or not your child will be born with any kind of chromosomal or health issue. A 3rd child could have something completely different. You just never know. And it's scary to think about. If he/she has DS, we've obviously been down that road and know what to do...and Colton would have a sibling just like him.

Already thinking about having a third child seems a little crazy, especially after all of the time I put into therapy with Colton, but next August, Colton will start going to school full-time. With all of the therapy services he will need, we feel that it is in his best interest to be at school. Early intervention is key...and as much as I'm not gonna be ready to let my baby go...I know that I need to. So, with Weston and Colton in school, I'll have more time to care for a third child.

Lately, I've just prayed about it. With Colton, I prayed for a "healthy" baby...and that's exactly what God gave me. But now...I've added another word. I pray for a "healthy, typical" baby. I don't know what the future holds for our family. Will we have 2 kids or 3 kids? Only time will tell. Weston tells me that "when brother gets a little bit bigger, I want you to have a girl baby." It makes me laugh because MY plans are not always HIS plans.

So...I just have to Let Go and Let God. I can't worry about things that are out of my control. But I can pray. And I'd like to ask for your prayers, too. Maybe sometime in the future, God will bless us with another beautiful baby...a beautiful, healthy, "typical" baby.

Two. That was our number. But maybe, just maybe, it will be three.

Life at 7 months

Mr. Colton is being followed by the Genetics Clinic at Arkansas Children's Hospital. They saw him shortly after he was born and wanted to see him again 6 months later. We went for our appointment last week. It's basically like any other well check, except he didn't get any shots. Our regular Pediatrician sees him, as well, so I always wondered why we had to be followed by Genetics, too. I think part of it may be for research, but most of it is to make sure we are doing everything for Colton that we should be doing. The Nurse Practitioner just asked me lots of questions about Colton (eating, sleeping, thyroid, swallow study, heart, therapy, etc...). She wanted me to make sure that at his 1 year check-up we have his thyroid checked again, along with his blood count. Children with DS are at a higher risk of having Leukemia...so we'll need to check his red and white blood cell counts just to make sure everything looks ok. She also wanted us to get an appointment with an ENT. Colton doesn't have any issues with ear infections, but because of his swallowing issues, she'd like for us to at least meet with an ENT so that we are being followed by one in case any problems arise in the future. We will meet with an ENT on August 19th. Colton will also have a repeat swallow study done on September 15th to see if he still needs his bottles thickened to stiff honey. Also, he's started eating Stage 1 baby food once a day, so we want to make sure he's not aspirating on that. Our Pediatrician told us that he most likely will be okay eating baby food because I can go at a slower pace while feeding him, as opposed to the quick "suck, swallow, suck, swallow" of a bottle. He will have time to swallow between bites. So far, he's doing great with baby food. He's had squash, green beans, sweet potatoes, apples, bananas, and pears. He seems to like them all, but I think he likes apples the most! I kind of thought spoon feeding him would be a nightmare because of tongue thrusting issues, but really, it hasn't been bad at all. I just put the spoon in his mouth and wait for him to suck the food off of the spoon. A speech therapist told me to avoid swiping the spoon on his top lip to get the food into his mouth. The slower, the better. So, we just take our time and let him eat as much or as little as he wants to.

At the appointment, Colton weighed in at a whopping 20 pounds and is in the 90th percentile for weight on the DS scale. He was in the 75-90th percentile for height, too. He's a BIG baby...DS or not! Here are some pics at his check-up:








My mom is so sweet and made flashcards for Colton to use. My therapist suggested we start with 5 and show them to Colton daily. She also suggested using actual pictures of things from our house so that Colton recognizes them. The funny thing is...Weston loves them, too! He likes to look at all 20 of them. Hey, it's good sight word practice so Colton is happy to share.



She also suggested that we use Cause & Effect toys with Colton. I went to Babies R Us and looked for some toys that would be developmentally appropriate for Colton. It's crazy how shopping for baby toys has completely changed. With Weston, I just bought what looked fun...but with Colton, I look to see which toys would be the most beneficial for his development. This toy is a great toy because he can push the button and the door pops open. It startles him every single time, but it's really good for him. He can't quite do it alone, but I help him and I know he'll be able to do it soon. And of course...Weston loves to play with it, too!



I also look at furniture around my house differently. What can I use to help Colton learn to sit? I found this little thing in Weston's room that was actually Hunter's from when he was a little boy. I don't really know it's original purpose, but for Colton, it's a desk to help him learn to sit.



He loves to arch back, so I have to put soft things behind him to fall on. We want him to fall so that he learns that arching back has consequences. He doesn't like to sit there very long, but some time is better than no time.

Colton has officially found his hands! 2 weeks ago, he just started staring at his hands and turning them front to back. It's funny to watch. That's a 4 month skill, but that's ok! He knows he has hands now, so we want him to realize that he can use those hands for lots of things. He has decided that he wants to join the Men's Gymnastics team to compete on the rings...



To you, grabbing those rings may not seem like much, but to us...PROGRESS!!!!!! Colton is doing really well with reaching his arms up to midline to grab at things. Hooray! I can actually lay him down on his playmat and he'll swat at toys and grab them for a long time. He will also roll and wiggle around a little. He got himself stuck the other day, but it didn't seem to bother him. It makes me so happy to see him moving and exploring on his own. I used to put him down and he'd roll to his stomach and get stuck and just scream. Now he will actually play independently so that Mama can get things done.



So...we are still working on rolling and sitting and reaching for toys. He has trouble rolling continuously because his hips get in the way. His therapist put these shorts on him that keep his legs together...we laughed at how tight they were. He's got quite some thighs.



He's also working on getting into the crawling position. It's gonna take some core strength for him to be able to sit and hold his crawling position...lots of sit-ups in our future. Hehe. I asked our therapist about some realistic goals as far as crawling and walking go. She said, "Crawl by 1, walk by 2." Sounds good to me...we got this!

Colton is doing so well. I'm just so proud of him. Little things he does make my day. We've worked hard for each little milestone. I know that he will continue to amaze me.

Colton, you are my hero and I am your biggest fan.