18 months!

Monday, Jackson turned 18 months. 

 And while I know any Mom gets excited for their child to reach certain milestones...and I know that every child does things on their own time (even typically developing ones), I find it even more exciting when Jackson does achieve something new (not that I have anything to compare to).  Adam and I have talked about how odd it'll be to have a typically developing child that will probably do things earlier than Jackson has done. 

Jackson would probably still reach these milestones...eventually...but with the help of PT he is constantly shown how to do the correct positions and movements so that he will one day say "Ok - I got this!" and do it on his own.  Just like he's done with transitioning from laying to sitting and vice versa:

Chris is working really hard with Jackson on pulling himself up and cruising.  And he's getting there... He needs some guidance, but in actuality is pretty good at it.  Sometimes he attempts to do it his own way, which doesn't get him the results he wants and then he gets frustrated.  But he certainly likes playing with his toys from the couch perspective. 

Jackson started clapping the other day too...I've been trying to get this on camera.  He was doing it every day for a while and of course, when I finally try to get a video of it, he has no interest in clapping, but just smiles at me like, "I can do it, I just don't feel like showing you".  This includes waving...he was doing it every day, but we haven't seen it in about a week now.  Perhaps I should blame the nasty bug he caught last week...

We are still working on signing, but really there is only one sign that is most important to him...Eat/Food!  Jackson knows this sign well and while he doesn't sign it himself, he moves my hand (or Adam's) to our mouths when he wants to eat. 

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Bedtime rituals
Bath-time continues to be an interesting adventure for Adam and I (mostly Adam as I'm not as comfortable kneeling on the ground and hunching over our bath tub).  It starts with a little bed-rough-housing while the tub fills up.  Jackson really likes to be flipped while on our bed, in fact, he becomes demanding by holding his legs up to me and annoyed when we don't comply with his wishes.  The smiles and giggles are well worth it though...

Jackson got over his fear of the tub, but still hates to have his head washed/wet.  We're talking flail yourself around dangerously kind of hate that would surely result in drowning or a cracked skull if we weren't around to catch him or keep hold of him. 

He is more adventuresome in the tub.  He moves around a bit more and has actually gone from sitting to laying to reach toys (once again...always supervised)!

After bath, I get him lotioned up and pajamas on.  Jackson generally does not like lotion being put on, except he loves for me to lotion his legs/feet.  He'll hold his leg up for me to give him a brief massage and then holds up the next one...but try to lotion his belly, face, arms/hands and the fussing begins.  He's a man that knows what he likes. 

Next comes teeth brushing time...another event that is SLOWLY getting better.  Adam has to restrain him so that I can get the toothbrush in his mouth and get a quick brushing in.  It works better when I sing a song or make a funny noise, but most times its a form of torture for him (I'm just glad he hasn't figured out that I can't do anything if he doesn't open his mouth). 

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Chesapeake Group
Sunday we went to our second event with the Chesapeake Down Syndrome Parent Group.  It was a hot and sweaty afternoon, but overall a really nice time.  While Adam and I aren't the "introduce ourselves" type, we appreciated the people who introduced themselves and their little ones to us.  We enjoyed catching up with a few families that we met at the new parent Welcome Social we attended in March and seeing all the changes that have occurred over the last few months. 

Making friends with Addy and Peyton at the picnic!

Happy Peyton!

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Today we will be checking in for his 18-month appointment and then Jackson and I will be heading south to visit with my family.  We'll be testing out the new portable DVD player for the drive down, a parent-must-have. 

We're pretty excited that summer is here and are looking forward to a couple of busy months prior to baby brother's arrival...we're talking "bubbles excited"!

Happy summer everyone!

Why hello there...

I'm horrified that its been nearly two months since I posted last...so this post promises to saturate you with adorableness and update you on Jackson's most recent accomplishments. 

Jackson is sitting up really well...in fact he has finally transitioned from laying to sitting.  Of course I missed the first time this wondrous event happened since I was out running errands, but Adam filled me in with all the details so that I can bore others in my brags.  Since I missed out on the big show, Jackson made sure to surprise us when we went to get him up in the morning by sitting and smiling at us.

A few days later I got to see the real deal...and he even showed his PT yesterday.  Boy has mad skills.

We're working extra hard on standing at the sofa to work on cruising.  He has shown his Pop and his PT that he can stand independently (briefly...but he can do it).  He does a really good job of weight shifting, but tends to push himself backwards from the couch.  He really wants to be able to pull up on the couch, but can't seem to coordinate his arms with his legs. 

Visiting with Cousin Evan

Easter was a bit more exciting this year as Jackson was able to "participate" a bit more exploring his Easter basket, tasting some sweets (and sharing with Mommy), and checking out bubbles...

His speech therapist brings bubbles a lot and he's started popping them using his pointer finger.  Once again, boy has skills.

Jackson has discovered that the floor is slippery and he can do some crazy moves.  He's tried it on the carpet, but friction prevents him from really getting his groove on.  Check it out below...

A month or so ago, my sister and I went through all the boys stuff since my sister had lent me quite a bit from Evan.  It took us hours to go through but we were able to divvy out the boys things with no arguments and only a little spilled coffee (we've come a long way since those Middle School days).

Before

After

Some of my favorite Jackson faces.

By far my most favorite thing that Jackson is doing right now.  I can't get enough...

Jackson's first crab

Just in case you didn't get enough the first time...

Until next time...

Re-routing...

 Yesterday Jackson spent the day at Johns Hopkins Hospital to repair a hypospadia.  I'm sure Jackson will one day be oh-so-pleased that I'm discussing his nether-regions so publicly.  Sorry, Jackson...  Typically, if you want your son to be circumcised, it is done while your baby is still in the hospital.  We had to delay his circumcision due to this hypospadia and a twisted raphe since they would use some of the removed foreskin as a graft during the repair and reroute his urethra to the proper hole. 

Good morning!

Drinking some juice pre-surgery (6:30am)

We were schedule originally for 1:30 in the afternoon, but were luckily moved up to 11am.  Jackson had to fast from midnight till the surgery, although he was allowed apple juice and jello two hours prior to our arrival (9am) at the hospital.  He did well with this fast, although spit up quite a bit of the juice/jello as he still does not do well with straight liquids due to his reflux.  He rapidly deteriorated around 10am, crying loudly as Adam and I tried to console him and get him to relax.  Every few minutes we glanced at the clocks counting down the minutes till we could get him into surgery. 

Don't I look cute in my hospital gown?

The nurses told us we could use the wagon to wheel him around and gave us a portable CD player with lullabies to try and calm him.  It took a while, but he eventually cried himself to sleep giving us about 5 minutes of quiet before the anesthesiologist came by to speak with us and take him away to surgery.

Sleeping in the wagon pre-surgery

I wanted to go back with him to the operating room, but since I'm pregnant the anesthesiologist wanted Adam to go.  I gave Jackson a kiss on his peacefully sleeping face and they wheeled him away to the OR.  Adam came back shortly, telling me that they placed the gas mask next to his face while he was still sleeping which put him completely to sleep prior to the real anesthesia.  Adam picked up a very droopy baby and handed him over to the professionals. 

Jackson was operated on for approximately an hour (they began at 11:20 once he was fully under) and as soon as we were told he was in recovery, we jumped up and walked quickly to the recovery room.  We opened the door to the room and immediately heard a cry that we both recognized very quickly.  I'm sure we looked very anxious to provide reassurance and wish away any discomfort that he was having... The nurse asked if I wanted to pick him up and I did not hesitate at the opportunity.  I lifted him up delicately and placed him in my arms, sending all of our love to him as his cries eased into whimpers as he settled his head on my shoulder.  He cried out only when the blood pressure cuff tried to take his blood pressure (which they eventually moved to his leg since they couldn't get a reading on his arm due to his crying and squirming when it was inflating).  We offered him juice, but all he wanted was to be held and comforted. 

About an hour post-op we were able to remove all the wires, the IV (which once removed, took a while to stop bleeding as we found evidence to the large blood stain on my jeans) and get him dressed and out of there.  By the time we were at the lobby, Jackson was back to giving us smiles. 

We got very lucky and did not need a catheter (we were expecting to have a catheter in for a week post-op).  His delicate bits look like they've been shrink wrapped to protect him and all we need to do is apply vaseline at the tip of his penis (which we can't see due to his dressing).  His groin is certainly sensitive, but he's in good spirits overall.  He cried out around 10:30 last night and I think he just got scared and was perhaps a little uncomfortable.  He's a belly-sleeper and he was trying to get himself in a position where he wasn't putting pressure on his groin.  After that, he slept through the night and woke up peacefully this morning. 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a smooth few days till he goes back to JH for his follow up appointment.  But as always, Jackson is a trooper and will probably do great. 

As parents, we're glad that the hard part is over with.  I know things could be a lot worse in terms of surgical procedures, but never the less, I'm glad that we can put this behind us.  As the nurses at JH told me, this is your child and its a big deal whether its heart surgery or a hypospadia repair (or tubes as my sister had to go through with her son). 

Thanks for everyone's concern, prayers, and well wishes.  Happy Spring Break to you all.