Recent pictures

I came in on the boys playing one day to find Jackson had put this superman outfit on Jonathan. I thought it was hilarious!

Nana pushing Jonathan in the car at Nana's house.

Jamie and I at the Guild Gala. Last year we were like deer in headlights. This year we helped to host a dinner and were able to thank people for coming and contributing.

The women who hosted one of the dinners. My buddy, Julie Cundiff, is to my right. She has been so supportive!

Booger boy. I took this picture to show the pediatrician this is what Jonathan looked like when he would wake up in the mornings. The poor guy's eyes would be glued shut and have dried mucous smeared all over his face in the morning and would still be grinning from ear to ear when I greeted him in the morning. I choose to think that is his personality - not the "happiest people" comment you hear about people with Down syndrome.

These are Jonathan's AFO's. They are a long way from the metal braces kids used to have to wear. Jonathan loves taking off his socks. One day I looked back at him in the car and he had pulled his sock off without removing the AFO.

Jonathan and I before he had his tear duct probe.

Jamie and Jackson waiting for Jonathan to return from surgery.

These boys LOVE each other! This is Jonathan all ready to go and Jackson giving him a big, sweet hug.

Jonathan and Daddy.

Jackson eating a marshmallow at our campfire in the backyard. A few weeks ago, Jamie and Jackson camped out in the backyard. Jonathan and I joined in the campfire and we all roasted our dinner over the fire Jamie made. It was so much fun!

Jonathan, Daddy, and Jackson.

Jonathan is helping Jackson test out the tent and sleeping bags.

Jackson and Jamie went to Oak Mountain to camp out the next weekend with some members of our old Sunday School class. The moms and younger kids came for dinner Friday night. The dads and older kids stayed the night and cooked breakfast the following morning.

Jackson got to bring Ellie home again for good behavior!

Jonathan has not been eating much. I wondered if he was not hungry so I tested him. I put some milk chocolate chunks on his tray and found that, yes, he was willing to eat that.:)

Jonathan has been walking consistently. He takes about four steps at a time, sometimes as many as ten. He cruises between the furniture a lot and loves unrolling the toilet paper and playing in the toilet. As awful as that sounds, I am thrilled. He constantly surprises us with how typical he is. This evening, he pushed away the food I was trying to give him and when I tried again, he signed "all finished." I was so proud! I was not sure if he understood what it meant because he would do it after his eye drops and when we finished books, but I thought perhaps it was coincidental! Not so - the boy gets it!

Both boys have been under the weather this week. They have had runny noses for close to three weeks and I think it is related to the influx of pollen. Jonathan "returned thanks" this morning at breakfast, letting me know his stomach was not quite up to par. Both boys would lie on the floor at different times and I am not quite sure what ails them. Hopefully, they will feel better in the morning.

Jackson turns four in two weeks - I cannot believe it! He cracks us up all the time and I am constantly reminded to keep my mouth shut. He mimics us - our words, our tone, etc. His attitude needs changing and I continuously take things away and discipline him in an effort to be consistent with him. It is exhausting! Not fun!

One day I watched the boys wrestle and I kept hearing Jackson say, "Relax! Just relax!" He had Jonathan on his stomach - they were belly to belly. Finally, Jonathan gave up, stuck his thumb in his mouth, and laid his head on Jackson's chest. It was quite funny.

Jackson has a friend in his Mothers' Morning Out class who also has a baby sibling. He asked this child's mother if their baby had Down syndrome. I was wondering when that might come up. The mother was not offended and said she had to fight to keep from laughing!

That is all for now. All is well - we are in the best spot we have ever been and are so thankful!

Love,

Julie:)

juliewarren@mindspring.com

Guild Gala, Eyes, Walking

I apologize in advance for not posting pictures today. I cannot find our card reader for our camera. When I do, I will post current pix.

This month has been crazy. Two weeks after the marathon, we helped to host a dinner for the Guild Gala. The Service Guild is the organization that runs the Bell Center. They host a gala (ball) two weeks after the marathon. This is how it works - you receive an invitation in the mail that lists different dinners. This year's theme was "A Novel Idea." You could have dinner at the Birmingham Country Club at a table or you can sign up for dinner at someone's home. We helped to host dinner at someone's home. Our theme was "Pride and Prejudice." We had African violets on the tables in silver containers. We rolled our napkins, tied them with gauzy ribbon, and inserted a sprig of fresh rosemary. Our chef was Franklin Biggs from Homewood Gourmet. Each guest arrived and came in for cocktails. Then we had dinner. Afterwards, we thanked everyone for coming and a little about the Bell Center. It was a lot of work but fun, too. Everyone ends up at the club at the conclusion of the evening for a silent auction, dancing, and dessert.

On Superbowl Sunday Jonathan took his first step. He has been wearing AFO's (braces on his legs) intended to force him to bend his knees. They have inspired him to crawl properly but I believe they have helped him to gain weight because he doesn't like to move in them. He has been more enamored with walking which is good but bad, too. He needs to crawl and develop those other muscles so we have to keep the AFO's on him. I have had two people stop me, point them out, and ask if he has club feet!:)

Jonathan turned 16 months old yesterday. He is making lots of sounds (Mama, Dada, etc.). He is learning to sign for "more" and "all finished." He vigorously signs when he wants more food (usually dessert - just like his mom!), when he is done with eye drops (ALL FINISHED!), and when he wants to sing. Sometimes he mixes them up - I think he is trying to communicate ideas where we don't have signs so he just starts throwing them all together in an effort to show he is trying to talk.:)

Walking is fun - Jonathan took seven steps Sunday and ten on Monday. They are wobbly, but they are consecutive! He is so proud when he has walked.

We went to the hospital last Wednesday morning so Jonathan could have his tear ducts repaired. He had tears randomly streaming down his cheeks and his eyes would clog when he had congestion. This was supposed to clear it up. His pediatrician put him on antibiotics and eye drops the Monday before the procedure and his eyes cleared up immediately. Since the surgery, he still has been on his antibiotics and eye drops. The real test will be once he is off all the meds. His eyes still appear to be draining, even with the meds. I am hoping they will clear up with time. On the way home from the surgery, we made a routine stop: Krispy Kreme. Nothing like sending the message that food heals all stress, right?

Jackson continues to be a great big brother. There are times when he slyly knocks down Jonathan to keep him from destroying a book or disturbing him at work. However, he loves to "read" to Jonathan, rejoice with Jonathan when he has reached a milestone (signed, walked, crawled), and point things out that are of interest (jets flying overhead, animals, good food). He also is Jonathan's watchdog. He introduces Jonathan everywhere we go and proudly asks people to say "hi" to Jonathan. He also pulls Jonathan away from cords, off the hearth, etc.

Thank you for keeping up with us. Please pray for us as we contemplate the decision to stay or move. We visited one school system two weeks ago and visit another tomorrow. We want to go (or stay) where it best suits all of us.

Julie:)
juliewarren@mindspring.com