Medical Update

Gabe had a sleep study last month.  We went to the doctor this week to review the results.  His sleep apnea is still mild at 2.5 episodes of pausing per hour (down from 4.5 last year).  His oxygen levels never drop significantly, so this is a good improvement.  His airway is getting bigger and he is getting good quality sleep.  We don't have to have another sleep study for 18 months. 
We went to GI last week. Gabe is now close to 27lbs.  He is maintining his weight since dropping all tube feeds last spring and continues to be at the 50% on the Down Syndrome weight curve.  His height is 70% on the curve.  He is drinking anywhere from 10-20oz by mouth a day.  The fluid goal is about 25oz/day by mouth in order to get the tube out.  We will be working on drinking more this winter and in the spring will be doing 3-5 day trials of nothing through the tube to see if Gabe is able to keep up his hydration independently.  The GI doc sounded pretty optimistic of the tube coming out by the summer.  It's all in Gabe's time, but it's so reassuring that the end is in site. 
Gabe has a cardiology appointment next month.  They will do an EKG, but are not going to ECHO since his repair is so good they can't even hear a murmur.
Opthalmology appointment is scheduled for January, but so far, Gabe' eyesight is good.

Alyssa is sick with the pukes...again.  Poor girl.

Fun filled weekend

We had a fun weekend with the kids. They both had swim class on Saturday. We then went to kinman farms pumpkin patch. Gabe really loved the animals this year. Alyssa is on the brink of walking so she is just all over the place. We were all worn out afterwards. It was a fun day.

It's Down Syndrome Awareness month!

So what have we been up to lately you ask? Preschool, sleep study, illness x 3. I'll update with more details later this week, but for now...happy October.

This makes me smile

Paul told me to have high expectations for Gabe. This is why.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120820/COL03/308200093

I want to go to school too!

Playing hookie

The kids have been sick lately.  Last Monday, Gabe woke up in the middle of the night gasping.  Took him to the emergency room and it was croup....again.  They gave him a steroid.  He started draining the next day.  He also started having intermitent diarrhea the next day.  Over the weekend, it turned to full force.  The smell of poo is just now clearing from my house.  Luckily I was able to keep him hydrated.  Alyssa has had some drainage going on, but she's okay.  I hate when the kids are sick.  Unfortunately due to the sickness, Gabe has not been at Redwood school for a week.  He was also suppose to start preschool at River Ridge yesterday and I had to call him in sick for his first day.  I felt confident he was over it today, so I took him to Redwood in the morning.  I stayed for breakfast.  I then watched him board the bus to go to River Ridge.  After lunch, he'll be bused back to Redwood for the afternoon and to see his therapists.  It's going to be a long day for him.  He wasn't having it today.  He has spent the past week at home and his schedule was off.  His backpack made him off balance some and he fell walking this morning.  He caught himself and was fine, but he was very fussy after that.  He was coughing some in his sleep last night, so I think he was still kind of tired as well.  When the bus pulled up he cried when I passed him off to the monitor.  I hurried inside b/c I knew if I lingered it would make it worse.  I wanted to go to the public preschool to make sure he was okay, but I didn't.  I know he'll be fine and if he saw me, it would start the whole process over again.  It's going to be an adjustment, but I keep telling myself this will be good for him.  Looking at the big picture, I am so thankful this moment is here...Gabe healthy and in an inclusive preschool. 

Mmmmm......spaghetti

Alyssa is starting to eat solid foods. She's a little unsure about it, but Gabe showed her how it's done.