Annie Golden Heart

Our Moms group has made a fundraising page for Annie and her family here:

http://fnd.us/c/8hdP8/sh/e2s8N0

Day One :

We were so excited that Parker had a great day.  From the routines and practices we saw today, this school is exactly what we have been looking for.  We get lots of details and photos about his day, and are ensured that there are purposeful activities rooted in child development.  It was sad for me to not get to be with him much today, but the knowledge of great care is so reassuring.  We are hoping for many more days like today!

Daycare #3

There are usually about 3-4 days per year where some change happens that make me feel like it is my first day back to work after having Parker all over again.  Usually, it is after a break (leaving him after the summer stinks!).  It is that heart-twisting pain that is hard to put into words.  The last 6 months or so have been great in terms of how much time I get to spend with Parker that I almost forgot what really leaving him for 10 hours a day feels like.  I got to hear him babbling in the back seat on our long commute, and because his daycare was so close to me, I got to go to most of his therapy sessions on my lunch break.  Selfishly, it was so nice to be close to him so much.

We painstakingly decided that a daycare change is the best move for him.  And when I say painstakingly, I mean that I had to make sacrifices (selfish, again) so that he gets what we feel is the best care we can provide.  I literally had a little pro-con chart going on in my head :)

Essentially, we underestimated how long my commute would be, especially in the winter.  There were some days that Parker was spending almost 2 hours in the car.  Most days, about an hour an a half total.  Had he been getting incredible care, I would have been able to justify that commute for him, but in reality, we knew from our last daycare experience that daycare can really be more like "school" and less like "supervision."  His last daycare just wasn't providing that for him.  They loved him in their own way and met his general needs, but Parker needs more than that.  He needs people that have a passion for child development, have the drive to learn about him and what can help him progress, and love him so much that they are willing to be his advocates when Matt and I aren't there.

So for me, even though it is little-contact car time, I lose a large chunk with my baby, and forfeit the ability to go to any of his therapies with the exception of the summer.  We aren't quite sure yet how many of these therapies Matt will be able to attend, though his work is only 10 minutes away.  The reason I say this part is selfish is up for debate. Even though I was getting to attend Parker's therapies, it is hard to implement the skills we learn and work on because our awake time with him is limited during the week.  I really enjoy being at the therapies, getting first-hand information, and staying in the loop, but it is truly more important for his teachers to be there and learn, assuming they soak up everything they can.  Luckily, it is only a few more months 'til summer!

We are hoping that this will be Parker's last move until he goes into a special ed pre-school at age 3.  The continuity and longevity would be great for all of us!

More on his new daycare later this week!

Sweet Annie.

Through GiGi's, we have met some amazing people that have become like family to us.  The Wojtowicz family, with their three beautiful girls, are a part of that family.  Annie, their youngest, has Down Syndrome, and very serious heart issues.  She had surgery on Monday, and is very much struggling in her recovery.  All of our hearts are breaking for this family, prayers and positive thoughts are constant, to the point of begging for relief for Annie.  As a mommy, I can't imagine the pain of watching your baby suffer so much.  The message to us all is to take nothing for granted, and to let the small stuff go!  Our babies are gifts that we cherish and love so deeply.

Please keep Annie in your thoughts.  She is a beautiful, strong little girl that deserves a life free from suffering.  She has a Facebook page that we are hoping to gain support for, because this family deserves our support. 

 

Dance, Dance!

Someone enjoyed dancing to the entire Superbowl Halftime show...

Audiology, ENT, AND Ophthalmology- January 2014

Well, as we suspected, Parker will need tubes and a Myringotomy to drain any fluid that may have taken up residence where it isn't welcome!  After these procedures, Parker will be given the ABR hearing diagnostic to make sure all is well.  Hopefully, this will put an end to the uncertainty that has surrounded his hearing as of late.  

As for ophthalmology, we realized (sadly) that Parker's glasses were really not starting to fit better after all...his mullet hair had just been helping them stay on!  After his last haircut, they went right back to fitting as loosely as when we first got them.  So, I moved up our ophthalmology appointment from mid-February to yesterday, because I don't see how they could magically fit by then.  Dr. Curnyn wants Parker to go under general anesthesia to get more in depth eye scanning and to be fitted for contacts, in the hopes that we can have him wear contacts until his glasses fit properly, and Parker's brain recognizes the benefit of having them on.  Basically, he would wear the contacts for a week at a time, WE would take them out for a break, and then put them back in for the next week.  YIKES.  Matt and I have never had glasses or contacts, so this is a bit terrifying for us.  But in reality, if Parker can't see, then he can't learn from or be motivated by his full environment.

We are desperately trying to see if all of these procedures can be done in one shot.  We know it is unlikely, because getting an audiologist, ENT, and Ophthalmologist in the same room at the same time will be hard.  We are hoping we can get lucky and they will do what is best for Parker.  Additionally, I am reaching the end of my sick day bank for work, so any consolidating that can be done helps there too.

Whew...we are tired.