Normal

Yesterday was my 3-hour glucose test for gestational diabetes at the OBs office, which was a fun way to spend the morning. They just called with the results...normal! I was worried about that. Now I think I'll celebrate with a gigantic bowl of ice cream. And maybe some Christmas fudge.

Naptime

Here's where my kids are right now. Eli's been sneaking into Evan's crib during naptime lately. I don't have the heart (or the strength) to move him.

Merry Christmas!

This would have made a nice Christmas card if I had gotten my act together in time. Oh well. There's always next year.

Wishing you all a very happy holiday!

Day 4

In case you're wondering where I've been; no, the boys have not tied me to a kitchen chair. I should be so lucky...at least then I'd be sedentary. I've been doing the mad feed-kids-clean-up-get-dressed-clean-up-feed-kids-clean-up-nap-time-do-chores-feed-kids-clean-up-make-dinner-feed-kids-clean-up dance. It's fairly exhausting. I never realized how messy your house can get when you're in it all day long with two little boys. The dishes! The laundry! The toys! I just had no idea.

How do all of you who stay home do it? Seriously. I want to know. What exactly am I supposed to do with these kids all day? I need some activities suitable for a two-and-a-half-going-on-ten-year-old boy, and a 17-month-old toddler who is only partially toddling. Activities that can be accomplished while accommodating a gigantic pregnant belly.

And speaking of the belly, it's been fraught with complications of late. The baby appears to be doing great; it's me that's falling apart. First, upon pointing out my largish outie of a belly button, my OB says "oh, yeah, that's an umbilical hernia. you'll have to get that fixed". To which I replied "what exactly do you mean by 'fixed'?" and he said "you know, by a surgeon". Yikes. He said I'd know when it's time to get it done because I'd wake up one day and the thing would be gigantic and I'd be in lots of pain. So that's something to look forward to. Merry Christmas to me!

Next was the whole preterm labor thing. Got that under control, fortunately. Then, off to the maternal-fetal specialist for a follow-up ultrasound (I can't remember if I posted this, but the baby had slightly elevated kidney fluid at the first ultrasound; it's now resolved itself, thank goodness). But they detected a high-ish level of amniotic fluid, which they say means basically nothing, but I need to be "watched". Specialist says I should take note of when I feel especially "big, uncomfortable, and full of fluid". Right. How about every minute of the freaking day? Obviously, this man has never been pregnant. Sheesh.

And now, I've failed my glucose screening test. So it's back to the OB two days after Christmas for a four-hour starvation session (oh, and don't forget the fasting the night before...fun!) where I have to drink some sugar solution and get my finger stuck every hour. Then they get to tell me whether or not I have gestational diabetes. Better come up with some child care for that one...trying to manage the boys for four hours while I'm shaking from screwed-up blood sugar sounds like hell on earth to me.

First day

It's my first day at home with the boys, and

they.

won't.

nap.


I must have been born under a bad sign.

Not exactly what I had planned for this afternoon, but...

I just got back from an afternoon jaunt to our local women's hospital. I woke up this morning with a backache, not a terrible one, but a dull, nagging constant pain. It got worse after I sat at work for an hour, so I came home to lie down. Took a couple of short naps, and it was still worse, and had started to move around to my right side. I began to freak out slightly, because I am only 28 weeks at this point. Called the OB, who told me to come in. Other than slightly elevated blood pressure, everything looked fine, according to him, no dilation or anything unusual at all, baby's heartrate was good, but he decided to hook me up to a fetal monitor for the fun of it. Turns out I was having mild contractions which he thought were most likely due to dehydration. Sent me straight to the hospital for a shot of something and more monitoring. Once I got there, they made me drink tons of water, gave the shot, and watched me for a while. Blood pressure was back to normal and contractions stopped. After about 45 minutes I was sent home with strict orders to drink like I've never drunk before. No heavy lifting (what exactly does that MEAN, anyway? I can't pick up my 21-pound kid? I have a hard time seeing that happen, but whatever.), lots of rest, tons of water, and all of that. I can go to work tomorrow for my last day, since my job is fairly immobile, but an abbreviated day is recommended. Gotta hate that.

I feel really stupid. This is all my fault. I felt like I had been drinking plenty, but I guess over the last day or two I've been busy with finals and work and kids, and just haven't been drinking enough. I remember reading Trisomymommy's account of the same issue, and thinking, wow, how scary, I need to make sure to keep drinking. But I guess I didn't do too well at it.

I will say that I'm looking forward to a night on the couch. Doing. absolutely. nothing. Except, well, drinking.

Kids Like Evan

When we go to various doctors’ offices with Evan, it never fails to surprise me how often medical professionals fail to use “people-first” language. (I think I may have posted on this a long time ago too.) This happens everywhere, from the pediatrician, to PT/OT/ST providers, to hospital personnel, to specialists. I wouldn’t say it especially offends me, because I don’t think any negativity is intended, but I guess I’m more surprised that they don’t know any better. I’ve heard the term “Down’s kids” or “Down’s babies” more often than I care to count, as I’m sure you all have.

Today, at the endocrinologist, it was “kids like Evan”. Well, what the hell does that mean, exactly? The doc never came right out and said Down syndrome but I’m assuming that’s what he meant. Although he could have been referring to any number of characteristics, I guess…kids with brown eyes, kids who are drooling, kids with a fantastic giggle, kids in red high-tops, kids holding stuffed carrots. How the hell am I supposed to know, really? I suppose since none of those things actually have anything to do with high TSH levels, he must be referring to Down syndrome. But who can really be sure?

The good news is, politically incorrect terminology aside, that the doctor doesn’t feel that Evan needs thyroid intervention at this time. He thinks the somewhat-high TSH levels are probably just a result of a higher-than-normal baseline, due to Down syndrome (or as he put it “in kids like Evan”) and possibly any of the many viruses Evan’s had over the last several months. He is pleased with his growth so far, and therefore thinks medication isn’t necessary. We’ll recheck after his second birthday, but if all is the same then, only annually after that.

I love walking out of a doctor’s office WITHOUT a prescription in my hand.

An early goodbye letter to my boss, the biggest jerk in the entire world

You had to do it, didn’t you? You just had to make me cry one last time, you asshole. I hope you feel good about yourself, sending a pregnant woman into an emotional state first thing in the f**ing morning. All over a stupid Christmas card list. You’d think the goddamn world was coming to an end. All I have to say to you, is good f**ing riddance and I hope you have a nice life in your ridiculous back-slapping country club chamber of commerce season football ticketed f***ing bubble.

I think I’ll make myself a nice going-away package from the office supply closet. Asshole.

Done!

I've been in research paper hell for a week now. I'm freaking finished! If I wasn't so pregnant and bloated and achy, I'd do a little jig.

All that's left is printing, and, well...I'll do that at work tomorrow. It's a lot of stuff, and I've got to take advantage of the corporate machine while it's still at my disposal (eight days of work left, thanks for asking!).

This just in...

"The Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles (DSALA) and Performing Arts Studio West (PASW) are pleased to announce actor Nicholas Weiland, born with Down syndrome, will be guest starring on the 300th Episode of the Emmy Award winning drama "ER" on Thursday, December 6th on NBC. Nicholas plays Lowell, who was given up at birth by his father, played by Peter Fonda. Now, with the help of the doctors in the ER he is given the chance to reunite with the father he never knew. "ER" Executive producer David Zabel says that this young actor "broke everybody's heart" at the episode run-through and that "[Nicholas] was just fantastic."

Like many adult and child actors with Down syndrome, Nicholas has been training, taking his career very seriously. His first role was in 1994 in the television film "Children of the Dark." He has attended PASW since October 2006. PASW is a day program in Inglewood, California for adults with developmental disabilities who want to pursue a career in the performing arts and media/entertainment. Nicholas will also appear on the December 10th episode of TNT's "Saving Grace" as Georgie, along with several actors who have Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities.
Nicholas is part of a talented group of actors with Down syndrome who have been working in the industry for some time. Chris Burke, a series regular on the 1989-1993 television show "Life Goes On" first broke down barriers and showed the industry the abilities of actors with Down syndrome in prime time when he played the Thatcher's son Corky. Andrea Friedman who played Corky's love interest in the 90's has since been nominated for an Emmy for her guest star work on "Law and Order: SVU." Jason Kingsley first counted with Kermit on "Sesame Street" in the early 80's and went on to guest star on episodes of "Fall Guy" and "Touched by an Angel." Blair Williamson who also had a role on "ER" in the late 90"s has since been brutally murdered on "CSI" and received a nose job on "Nip/Tuck."

Parents say that drama training and employment opportunities in the entertainment industry provide life skills that go with their children into all aspects of their lives, both as children and adults. Many programs are growing across the U.S. providing training in the entertainment arts to children and adults with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities. Television and film that portrays individuals with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities provides a role model of inclusion to society making it a better world for individuals with disabilities.

In response to producers' calls for talent received by the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles, they have started a casting liaison service Heart & Halo Talent that includes children and adults with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities across the U.S. and Canada."

Celebrate Inclusive Schools Week

I'm working on a research paper for school regarding the benefits of inclusive education for kids with Down syndrome. It's due on Wednesday, and no, I've not really started yet, and yes, I'm posting on the blog instead of working on it, but I just came across this website about Inclusive Schools Week, which starts tomorrow, December 3. It's a topic that really concerns all of us, even if our kids are still babies. It's probably never too early to start thinking about what type of education we want for our kids. Check it out.

http://www.inclusiveschools.org/index.cfm

Now, back to work.

Christmas trees and toddlers are NOT a good combination

At least not at our house. We got our tree today, and it looks great and smells even better. The lights are on and we've started putting up the ornaments. The boys have already broken three of them. Evan doesn't really know any better but Eli should. And he doesn't want us to put the ornaments on the tree; he just wants to carry them around. Or throw them. Or pound them with other stuff. I have a feeling our holiday season is going to be filled with lots of "no" and "don't touch" and "be careful". How's that for Christmas spirit?