tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436664794708989702011-08-30T19:41:47.355-05:00JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.comBlogger1081100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-71841743017335556142011-08-09T08:36:00.002-05:002011-08-09T08:41:09.249-05:00

We don't have a dog of our own. But the dog belonging to the family who keeps John loves John and John is crazy about him. Here is a pic that Joy took yesterday of the two of them hanging out together.

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-44862593860251504992011-08-07T12:03:00.001-05:002011-08-07T12:03:26.337-05:00

How time flies. We as a family look back over the 3 years of caring for John and see how the Lord has used this little boy to mature us and to cause us to rethink the priorities of life, just as our other children have also come with lessons for Dad and Mom. But a child with special needs really throws everything off balance from the way the we think life should be. These past 3 years has caused

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-17778945170803397552011-06-19T22:10:00.006-05:002011-06-19T23:52:40.176-05:00

It has been a while since my last visit to the blogworld and much has happened. We continue to be blessed with a little Down syndrome boy who never got the memo that he was supposed to be delayed. We have also been blessed by hearing and reading about others with children with Down syndrome. There are a lot of people out there that really love their children and work to do what is best for them

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-49477094059350072962011-02-24T18:41:00.004-06:002011-02-25T21:52:31.244-06:00

Children with Down syndrome have many similarities to children without Down syndrome. But as we all know, there are many differences. A lot of the differences are not critical and do not pose a problem, while there are some differences that become very problematic for our kids trying to fight off illnesses. Earlier this week, we were reminded of the differences that work against fighting

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-28929482339279896692011-02-20T23:23:00.002-06:002011-02-20T23:57:35.234-06:00

Since both Joy and I work, John has always been babysat by a friend in her home. Recently though, our babysitter has started taking her son a couple of days a week to a church sponsored daycare here in town. Joy and I had expressed some interest in startin John in a daycare program but wasn't really sure if we wanted to send him to a special needs program or not. We agreed to send him to the

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-39924187986952260362011-02-01T16:52:00.003-06:002011-02-01T17:28:31.603-06:00

John is now unstoppable. He has found his legs and is constantly on the move. Just as with any 2 year old, he is into everything and thinks that he can and should be able to do everything his siblings do. His newest skill is running. He loves to run, especially when he has something that he knows he shouldn't. He has great hip rotation which is a problem with children with Down syndrome. If you

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-53017764196796004892010-11-09T22:24:00.003-06:002010-11-09T23:27:59.240-06:00

As a parent, do you ever feel as though other people do not see your child as you do? That they just don't see the same potential, deficits as you. Well, that is where we are with going down this new path with Speech Therapy. Granted, we (the Therapist and wife and I) are beginning to be on the same page in our assessment of John and the direction we think we should be going. My wife and I began

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-42544197398820679742010-10-29T21:54:00.008-05:002010-10-29T23:04:35.779-05:00

John is now 2 1/2 years old and acts more like my other children did at this age than he acts different. He throws temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way or when we say no to him. He has a definite opinion about what he wants and will let you know if it isn't delivered. He is walking everywhere, although a little stiff legged and unsure of himself. Still, he is determined to learn walking as

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-28364152962861638392010-06-30T00:02:00.003-05:002010-06-30T00:52:06.375-05:00

Getting teeth is something that has taken longer than expected for John. John began getting teeth after his first birthday, which is considered to be delayed for children getting teeth. He got his bottom front two teeth in first which is the normal progression for getting teeth. He then cut the top front two teeth which is also a pretty normal progression. After the front top and bottom, he then

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-35930776280217074932010-06-23T09:17:00.009-05:002010-06-23T11:29:29.404-05:00

I have been away from blogging for many months but have been busy with working with John as well as being Dad to all my other children. These months of being away from blogging my thoughts about raising a child with Down syndrome may have kept me away from sharing my thoughts with those of you that read my thoughts, but my family and I have continued to grow and learn so much from our little

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-6929152376358509582009-09-12T11:46:00.005-05:002009-09-12T12:06:38.195-05:00

Many of you may have noticed a new button in the left frame of my blog. Last month, I was invited to share my blog with the readers of a community of health bloggers at Wellsphere. I consider it as another avenue in which to share my knowledge with the community of Down syndrome which has been one of my purposes for writing this blog. A couple of weeks ago, I received an email from another online

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-482082996725242972009-09-07T17:08:00.005-05:002009-09-12T11:06:23.294-05:00

I wanted to write about how physical therapy was and still is used by us here at home and whether or not it has made a difference. I understand the discouragements that physical therapy treatments, evals, etc. can sometimes bring. So I wanted to share our story here. Let me preface this post by saying that John was born with no medical issues, so he was born a very healthy child with Down

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-2012985469601365122009-09-01T00:04:00.003-05:002009-09-01T00:43:18.511-05:00

John continues to thrive and learn new things. He is a very happy little boy who really enjoys interacting with people most of the time. However, he is developing his own likes and dislikes and he is not afraid to let them be known, but overall he is a very loving little boy.I have started back to work so John now goes to a stay at the home of a friend of ours. She is a God-send for John as she

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-70414737614767380832009-08-22T11:01:00.003-05:002009-08-22T11:37:52.514-05:00

The other evening before the start of school, we had an evening of getting everything together - back packs, lunches, etc. One of the things that had to be done was haircuts for all. It had been most of the summer since my boys had had a haircut, so they were overdue. So, I got the clippers out and started down the list of boys. John was the first get one as he had grown a head of stringy hair

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-45097557629326043162009-08-15T16:55:00.008-05:002009-08-19T11:13:20.621-05:00

John had a great day on his birthday and we took lots of pictures. I thought that I would share them here. Also, I wanted to give an update on what we were doing. I have recently gone back to work and am still going to school, so the blog has fallen on the priority list. But I still get on here from time to time to catch up with what is going on with your children as I have missed chatting with

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-24885441272648738432009-08-02T15:39:00.007-05:002009-08-11T23:56:26.202-05:00

John Austin Hill turned 1 year old on Wednesday, July 29, 2009. The day went the same for him as the previous 364 days of his life as he had no idea of the significance of the day. But it was very different for my family and I as we marked the day with special surprises, thoughts, and time for John as we showered him with the love and appreciation for his life and membership into our family. As

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-32406334797812720972009-06-07T11:29:00.008-05:002009-06-07T21:38:03.111-05:00

Since John has Down syndrome and we have four other children who do not, I thought it would be helpful to share some of the differences and similarities of John with my other children. As a side note, some of these differences may or may not be entirely related to him having Ds. First the differences.Differences:John does not have teeth at this point, so he is limited on what he can eat, whereas

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-2445908813738376212009-06-05T22:28:00.005-05:002009-06-05T22:59:59.797-05:00

OK, I should know better than to make a post after a month away without it saying anything about John, but the previous story just hit me hard and I had some thoughts to get off my chest. Thanks for indulging me.John is doing very well. He is now mobile and we are learning that we desperately need to keep everything off the floor. He is not crawling on all fours yet but he manages to commando

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-80728153950926453332009-06-02T22:57:00.003-05:002009-06-03T01:39:29.877-05:00

As I reflect back on the killing of one of the few abortionist who provided abortions in the third-trimester, I am reminded of just how far off-course mankind has come. To take something so blatant as mutilation of a 22 - 40 week old baby, and it is a baby at that point, and treat it as if it were just another day at the office is beyond anything that I can comprehend.When I let my mind think

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-75954655748743416632009-04-13T11:15:00.002-05:002009-04-13T12:41:20.798-05:00

When we first became aware of John's diagnosis, it was very difficult to make the transition from the world of no Ds to a world with Ds. The isolation that one feels, not to mention thinking about how this will effect your life as a parent was on our minds constantly. Isolation became a reality for us as we began to feel that no one understood what we were going through as parents of a child with

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-59401413407151361852009-03-31T21:23:00.003-05:002009-03-31T22:20:59.661-05:00

John's week begins with church on Sunday morning, and then again on Sunday evening. After the evening service, we have supper together as a church family. It is a great time of getting to know people as well as getting a good meal. It is also a good time for John to make the rounds with the many available baby holders. One would think that the ladies and teen girls would be the ones waiting to

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-50364847197218978632009-03-28T23:59:00.000-05:002009-03-28T23:59:04.108-05:00

Siblings are a great form of therapy in and of themselves. They provide great interaction and entertainment. John is blessed to have 3 brothers and 1 sister that think he is just the greatest. Very rarely do we get to sleep in at this house as we have over the years trained our kids to wake up at 6:00 to give us all plenty of time to eat together as a family before we face the hectic school/work

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-10591063437719889712009-03-28T10:59:00.006-05:002009-03-28T17:31:49.973-05:00

About a couple of months ago when we were searching to increase Johns exposure to different foods, we started him on Yo-Baby yogurt for breakfast every morning. He loved it and took to it well and with cereal added in, it gave him a little bit more consistency to get used to. Recently, we ran out of Yo-Baby and didn't get anymore for a while. We just figured that he could eat another of his

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-32734546989382106952009-03-25T22:46:00.003-05:002009-03-26T00:12:10.992-05:00

My last post brought in a few questions about my physical therapy time with John, so I thought that I would share a few principles that we use with John. Before I share those, I would like to begin by saying that John was afforded a beginning to life with no health obstacles to overcome. When he was born, we were able to focus our attention on his needs such as physical therapy, food, sleep and a

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-70212982499028408072009-03-24T12:00:00.003-05:002009-03-24T23:50:21.394-05:00

Working as a Physical Therapist Asst. for many years, I have learned that people give many reasons for not participating in therapy. Among the reasons given is that the patient believes he/she will progress just the same with or without therapy. There may be a little truth to that statement although it is a statement without a full understanding of what physical therapy can accomplish if done

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-55112337523450517902009-03-21T23:20:00.002-05:002009-03-22T00:53:48.147-05:00

Lately, there has been talk about our Presidents faux pas on the Leno show last week when he used the Special Olympics as the butt of a joke. It was very distasteful and uncalled for by anyone, especially by a sitting President who is highly educated and a very visible personality who you would think would be well versed in topics to avoid in public speaking. Mr. Obamas unfortunate slip of the

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-55916363852662984782009-03-12T12:53:00.009-05:002009-03-15T00:14:45.850-05:00

First, an update on John and then on to the answers to your questions. John continues to do well. We are working on sitting unassisted which he is now able to do this for a couple of minutes while reaching in front of him. What usually topples him is when he turns his body to either the right or left, but he will get it with practice. He is able to maintain his balance if we stabilize his legs

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-61012949464720224332009-03-06T23:59:00.004-06:002009-03-07T03:41:38.873-06:00

First, let me say that I do not claim to have all the answers, or all the questions for that matter. But I do feel that my training and my work experience has helped me to understand what John needs and how I can help challenge him. It is also my hearts desire that other parents of Down syndrome children be educated in understanding how to help their child. The worlds version of the story is that

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-87397257259001044082009-03-03T00:00:00.005-06:002009-03-03T08:28:28.409-06:00

The other day, John went for his 6 month check-up (we are late, he is now 7 months - such is life). But I wanted to document and share the findings. He was sick earlier this month with a respiratory and ear infection so he didn't have much of an appetite during that time. Yes, I admit that I pushed him to eat during that time which means that a bottle of 4 oz would take 20 - 30 minutes to get

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-8908158262498803372009-03-01T23:05:00.004-06:002009-03-02T11:42:57.730-06:00

It has been great fun for me to write down my thoughts and to be able to share them with family and friends. But I had no idea that so many would visit. Not only has having John been a learning experience for us but writing this blog and keeping up with people who have visited and from where has also been a learning experience.To date, this blog has had visitors from 36 countries. One of our

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-12148854231874049532009-02-27T12:00:00.004-06:002009-02-28T01:01:43.544-06:00

I have been thinking a lot lately about the issue of Down syndrome children being mentally delayed and I have accepted the fact that my son may be mentally delayed. The degree of delay, if any, remains to be seen and we will cross that bridge when we get there. For right now, that doesn't factor into how he is treated by the ones who love him and I would hope that it would not be a factor in how

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-79009873288836543362009-02-26T06:00:00.000-06:002009-02-26T06:00:01.648-06:00

Lately, there has been a lot of hype over the use of the word 'retard', and I guess either I just don't get what all the fuss is over or my child is not old enough yet for it to affect me. Either way, it seems to me that we sometimes create issues for ourselves that doesn't need to be which I have been guilty many times. It does seem that the stronger we feel about a certain issue, the more we

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-79091851271981648222009-02-25T00:20:00.002-06:002009-02-25T13:05:51.530-06:00

During this past 6 months, I have noticed many differences between John and our other children. But the one that has caught my attention the most is what motivates them to learn new things like talk, eat, smile, laugh, etc. I realize that all children are different and is naturally motivated differently, but what I am talking about is while they are babies. Looking back on the first years of my

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-26630929834310659602009-02-23T23:08:00.004-06:002009-02-24T00:12:12.912-06:00

John at times goes to meetings at the hospital with my wife since she sits on a Women's and Children's committee at our local hospital. Other Pediatricians as well as OB/GYNs also attend. When we had John, a lot of the Drs at the hospital knew of our newest addition as well as the fact that he was born with Ds. It is interesting to see their reactionSo when my wife takes him to these meetings

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-8097301233041812902009-02-21T10:44:00.004-06:002009-02-21T21:57:23.920-06:00

As you know, feeding a baby can be pretty messy. That can sometimes delay parents from starting solids. It seems that food gets everywhere except where it is intended which is in the mouth.I know that when we first introduced John to solids, he didn't have any idea of what to do with it even though he had shown interest by paying attention to our food. I always dreaded feeding him because I knew

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-89973069635594846262009-02-15T11:56:00.008-06:002009-02-15T15:22:40.545-06:00

First, I would like to thank the readers who have prayed and have spoken words of encouragement while John has gone through his first illness. It has meant a lot to me to hear such encouraging words from others who have been through the same. John is feeling much better today. He is definitely making up for lost time as he just can't seem to eat enough. The positive side is that he is gaining his

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-18963095993542273442009-02-13T19:41:00.003-06:002009-02-13T20:06:59.147-06:00

John had been doing well earlier this week with just a touch of cough yet having a good appetite. In fact, his appetite for solids have increased greatly over the past 2 weeks while we have seen his desire for breast milk decrease. This is what we expected from our other children at this age but we weren't sure if it would go the same way for John. We are pleased to say that it has...up until a

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-17120930036243913612009-02-07T23:33:00.003-06:002009-02-08T00:41:28.840-06:00

Since having John, our world has turned upside down. It has been quite an adjustment, of which we have not completed, on all of us to care for this little boy whom we have all come to love. But just because we have chosen to accept this little guy into our family and have committed to providing love and care for him doesn't take away the fact that it has been a strain on everyone. Being new

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-40615528200837648772009-02-06T08:19:00.006-06:002009-02-06T12:01:24.079-06:00

We all are actually. This morning John is still a little congested but alert, smiley and active. Yesterday however wasn't the case for us and scared both Joy and myself. We had been giving John his breathing treatments every 3-4 hours. Yesterday morning we woke up to an inactive, quiet little boy whose color wasn't good and was obviously working to breathe. By working to breathe, I am talking

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-52156168500934747302009-02-04T10:43:00.008-06:002009-02-04T11:11:20.316-06:00

Yes, I am talking about Mr. RSV. It started out as croup last week after colds went through the house. John seemed to be unaffected by all the hacking nose-blowing going on around him and we were taking precaution to keep him away. But that is difficult to do when everyone in the house is blowing virus all over the house. So it finally caught him. It has affected his sleep a little bit but not

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-69134350578481581222009-01-30T15:08:00.007-06:002009-01-30T17:04:52.331-06:00

Have we transitioned into a society that is non-accepted and misunderstood. Was I a part of such a world that moved so fast that people with special needs (autism, Ds, CP, etc.) and their parents were viewed as something of an oddity. Unfortunately I believe that I was a part of that world and that that world still exists. But fortunately, God has seen fit to bring me into a world where life

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-82110697873428400542009-01-22T23:16:00.002-06:002009-01-23T00:08:27.719-06:00

Yesterday we took John in to weigh him just out of curiosity because we knew that he was feeling heavier and looking pudgier. He weighed 14 lbs. 11 oz and was 24 1/2 inches long. We have been feeding him solids on a daily basis but were real sure how big of a difference on the weight that would make - but evidently, he is gaining from it. We were real pleased with his weight gain.Speaking of

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-77399733954736233412009-01-17T00:28:00.006-06:002009-01-17T01:36:25.654-06:00

I have been providing John's physical therapy since birth which gives me great satisfaction for a lot of reasons. Some of which are the bond that we have and I have the satisfaction of teaching him and seeing him learn new things. I often blog about what John and I are working on and his progress which I really enjoy sharing with you all. It gives me a sense of contributing my skills and

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-753628160711415322009-01-15T23:31:00.003-06:002009-01-16T00:19:09.671-06:00

Recently I have been thinking about the impact that Governor Sarah Palin had and continues to have on the thinking of society pertaining to individuals with special needs. Politics aside, she was a pioneer for many reasons. Unfortunately, she was ridiculed for many of those reasons. One reason in particular that encouraged me in my journey was her outward and very public love for her son Trig. I

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-25732970619175013892009-01-10T16:18:00.007-06:002009-01-14T23:00:36.204-06:00

John continues to do well. He has had a slight bit of upset stomach this week for a couple of days which made him a little cranky but other than that he has been pretty healthy. His therapies include laying on his back and working on reaching over his head to play with hanging toys. He tends to have a bit of trouble with this. It's not that he can't move his shoulders but the weakness of the

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-57550716501688303472009-01-06T14:14:00.007-06:002009-01-06T17:43:56.546-06:00

John is now five months and 1 week and weighs 13.5 lbs. We started him on jar baby food #2. Fist starting out, John had trouble knowing what to do with his tongue as do all babies in making this transition. He would thrust his tongue out, therefore getting most of the food on us and himself. After working with him on a daily basis, he seems to be getting it. Now when we feed him, the tongue

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-13087121951292320482009-01-04T23:04:00.005-06:002009-01-05T00:03:12.997-06:00

As a parent of five children, I have learned that one of the best things that a parent can give their child is love and affection. Love and affection is a human need for which we all strive. Children look for it from their parents and when it is not found at home, they search for it outside the home. If a child is given love and affection, they learn confidence in who they are and their abilities

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-2869511814040357802008-12-31T21:08:00.006-06:002009-01-04T14:53:55.411-06:00

Just like other years during this time, I take some time out of my day/week to look back on the year and think about the direction of my life during the year. All in all, it has been a pretty good year for me. I have added another candle to my birthday cake, lost more hair and added number four son to our household of seven. All of that and I'm still not sure if I am any wiser although it would

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-38581073555190283802008-12-31T13:42:00.003-06:002008-12-31T13:52:02.167-06:00

 This has been a good week for John. John has loved the attention of his siblings this week. Whether they are playing Wii or a board game, they have enjoyed (for the most part) having John with them. This alone has been great therapy for John because it means he is either in the Bumbo chair or on his belly on the floor. It has been great for me also because they do a lot of changing and feeding

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-66556556243700480182008-12-27T21:44:00.004-06:002008-12-28T00:17:06.806-06:00

Christmas is always a good time at our house as there are many people to see and to refresh old relationships. This year was no different. After having an intimate family time of breakfast and gift exchanging at our house Wednesday morning, we loaded up and headed down to spend Christmas Eve with my parents and 4 siblings. All of my siblings read my blog and knew about Johns' diagnosis when we

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-57131629046422279492008-12-24T00:10:00.014-06:002008-12-24T01:45:44.901-06:00

I'd like to use this post to wish everyone of you and your families a heartfelt Merry Christmas from the Hill Family of Northwest Arkansas. May you be able to enjoy the peace and joy that this day holds. May you experience the love of family and friends. But may you especially know that you are loved unconditionally by the One who saw our need and gave His Son to become flesh and to die for us

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-98267030912817892008-12-20T18:24:00.005-06:002008-12-22T08:54:11.241-06:00

Have you ever witnessed an adult with arthritic hips or knees that walk with a gimp, favors to one side or maybe walks in an unusual way? Do you understand why this occurs? It is because they are using accessory muscles in place of muscles that are normally used for that movement. Granted these people are compensating because of pain but the concept also applies to weak muscles. And this is a

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-9425059651685151082008-12-18T09:28:00.005-06:002008-12-18T12:57:44.921-06:00

Let me just begin by stating that I have a new found respect for all of you stay-at-home Moms out there. It can be physically, emotionally and psychologically challenging which we husbands sometimes do not understand much less give allowances for that. Well, I am learning about all of those things and I want to share them here as an encouragement to other stay-at-home Dads. As with a lot of men,

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-11003682194834277382008-12-16T22:08:00.003-06:002008-12-16T22:24:42.887-06:00

Here we are at 10:00p.m. and we are all ready to go to bed, except John that is. He is wide awake with the belly rumbles. He has spit up on everyone that has held him and then spit up on the floor after my daughter put him down in order to clean herself from his spit-up which just grosses her out and she is ready to hand him off real fast.This isn't John's typical night. He is usually in bed by

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-30750775333443478062008-12-15T13:23:00.006-06:002008-12-15T14:23:53.068-06:00

Each year, we put up a real tree for Christmas so we usually wait until a couple weeks before Christmas to put it up so it doesn't dry out so much. Well, last night we put up our tree and really had a great time of enjoying each other. I love my family and can't really imagine my life without them. I hope that you will be able to get off the treadmill of life long enough this Christmas to enjoy

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-25348974805357433592008-12-13T11:17:00.008-06:002008-12-13T23:53:25.922-06:00

As we travel our individual paths of life set before us, we all have different experiences that mold and teach us. The goal of life often becomes confused with personal achievement and the hording of material possessions. But sometimes, there are little reminders that come our way that remind us of the importance of the relationships we have with one another. Yesterday that happened to our family

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-29502786794014182142008-12-10T18:51:00.009-06:002008-12-16T00:23:45.018-06:00

It's been a while since I have posted and although I have missed posting and reading the blogs that I read, it has been a good break for me. There have been many changes with John that I can't get it all down on one post. First, John continues to do well with his development. He was 12 lbs. 6.5 oz last week when we had him weighed. He has his 4 month appt. tomorrow with the Doctor (and no, we

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-21973694799100881592008-11-22T10:51:00.006-06:002008-11-22T12:22:03.888-06:00

Juli loves to spend time with her brother just cuddling with him or dancing to music with him. On this day, John and Juli were enjoying moving to the music. We introduced each of our children to music early in their lives. Music, like laughter is a common language that we all share. So before they could speak, music was used to communicate love and expression. The change in rhythm, tone and speed

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-25334618779478741612008-11-17T22:14:00.006-06:002008-11-18T14:23:57.647-06:00

John becomes more a part of us with each passing day. It is becoming more and more difficult to remember what life was like without him. He has definitely won our hearts. The other day, my two oldest boys and I were having a conversation about their futures and their interests. Both of them are high achievers, have always done well in school and have BIG dreams which I have always told them that

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-17809560402552924932008-11-12T12:07:00.010-06:002008-11-18T12:25:42.937-06:00

I realize it has been a while since I have posted pictures of John. So here are a few taken the months of October and November of John at play with us. With this crew, the poor boy doesn't get any rest. Last weekend he went down with my wife and daughter for the annual crop till you drop weekend for the Hill ladies. Joy said that he had so much stimulation that he didn't sleep at all Saturday. As

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-8987963478225954092008-11-10T13:00:00.019-06:002008-11-10T22:52:11.907-06:00

Recently I was part of a conversation with a new Mom concerning her child with Down syndrome and the trouble she was having getting her child to nurse. This lady was given the advice that there were no lazy babies and that if a baby didn't eat, there must be a reason. I would agree with that if we were talking about a child who did not have Down syndrome. But when it comes to children with Down

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-65482290270478934112008-11-10T08:26:00.005-06:002008-11-10T12:52:07.313-06:00

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated.Thanks to Jeanette at DownRight Faith for passing this on to me and for naming me as a friend. Through the experience of having a child with Down syndrome, new

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-41326153904537373542008-11-08T00:10:00.003-06:002008-11-08T00:35:41.883-06:00

John was 3 months last week. He weighed 11 lbs. 7.5oz and is 22 inches long. He continues to eat often and takes about 4 oz. 3 - 4 times a day from a bottle (Playtex Nurser - the Slow nipple) and then usually takes another 6 -8 oz. from Joy before going to bed. He did have a couple of days where his tummy was upset (Daddy's fault: I fed him some bad milk one morning - just about 3 or 4 slurps

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-80986450262952377872008-11-04T17:35:00.004-06:002008-11-05T07:33:32.311-06:00

The last poll that was taken on this blog asked the question whether or not you provided your child with any type of physical therapy outside the timed session with a Therapist. Out of the 6 people that voted in the poll, all 6 people said that they provide their child with some sort of physical therapy in between sessions. This is a good thing and will benefit your child in ways that you may not

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-77874161505434172172008-11-04T09:32:00.016-06:002008-11-05T10:26:13.136-06:00

I thought that I would add a link to the tools and techniques (on the left) that Joy and I used early on with John and helped us through many difficulties. I didn't intend to write a new post on this but noticed that some of the links were not clearly written and I wanted to be able to have this information out there in case you would like to use them. I wish that Joy and I had had this

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-75685967453627730612008-10-31T15:51:00.018-05:002008-11-01T15:26:07.339-05:00

This blog is not meant for any other purpose than to promote awareness of Down syndrome. However, as I read this article recently and thought about the possibility of our healthcare system falling into government hands, I realized that I should post this here. This is by no means an lesson on how one should vote. This is however meant to inform all of us of what happens when we entrust the

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-26482188830232190492008-10-31T09:48:00.005-05:002008-10-31T10:40:50.369-05:00

Hello fellow bloggers. It is a beautiful day here in Northwest Arkansas and I feel like I have been renewed. I began a new class last evening and welcome the new direction. I love being home with John and working with him. He brightens my day and makes me smile when I am down. But this new class has given me an outlet that I so desperately needed in my life in order to help bring balance to my

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-57880804851796988862008-10-30T08:48:00.003-05:002008-10-30T09:20:56.343-05:00

Last night, John went to bed around 10:00 and slept until 6:00 this morning. He of course woke up starving which is not unusual for him. After eating, he and I made breakfast for the others while they all got ready for their daily trek to school/work. I have him right there in the kitchen with me so he is able to see me and I can talk to him which he really enjoys it when people talk to him. His

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-55356730075656908422008-10-29T11:47:00.002-05:002008-10-29T12:48:04.288-05:00

Hello fellow bloggers and friends. This week has given us a taste of winter with temperatures falling to the mid 20's overnight. It has made me glad that I spent the time earlier last month cutting and splitting firewood. With the chill in the air and the leaves falling from the trees, it makes me think of the reasons I like Fall: the beautiful colors, hot chocolate, fires in the fireplace and

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-3417322800668907342008-10-26T15:18:00.006-05:002008-10-26T16:45:50.753-05:00

John is now able to maintain good head control from left to right. He does however still have difficulty with full extension (bringing his ears directly over his shoulders). When he attempts full extension, his head suddenly drops backward so we watch for this and try to protect this from happening. With that being said and since he is showing good control even if his head doesn't have full

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-50308354799734429142008-10-23T13:23:00.006-05:002008-10-23T23:14:19.358-05:00

I thought that I would share this light-hearted experience here since it was very funny to my wife and will probably be remembered around here for a while. The other morning as we were all getting around breakfast and preparing to leave for work and school, I quickly pulled a onesie out of the drawer for John and put it on him not noticing that anything was out of the ordinary. We went on our way

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-77854087549495218302008-10-22T14:07:00.004-05:002008-10-23T12:27:41.188-05:00

Recently, I posted about Down Syndrome Awareness Month with the challenge of getting to know a child with Down syndrome other than your child. The question of the experiences that we have with other children with Ds was also asked. Recently, I was asked about my experiences so I will share in this post.My experiences with children with Down syndrome have not been personal and I must say that

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-84959977936397847972008-10-21T08:58:00.003-05:002008-10-21T09:38:26.842-05:00

One thing that I have learned in my life is that we all have the same needs in life and are all searching for the same things in life even though some of us cover our needs better than others. There are for sure plenty of things in this world that are used to cover that need. What am I talking about? I am talking about the unconditional love of somebody whether that be a spouse, a child or God.

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-87151979712744197532008-10-19T13:15:00.006-05:002008-10-19T15:15:48.818-05:00

The other day was a weigh and measure day for John. John continues to eat like there is no tomorrow (he also poops like there is no tomorrow also). Johns stats as of 10/17/08 are:Birthdate.......07/29/08Weight..........11 lbs. 3.5 ozLength..........22 inchesJohn continues to struggle with reflux. But by burping him completely after every feed, we are able to minimize the gagging. John has been

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-45652642515833674182008-10-17T12:18:00.005-05:002008-10-17T16:35:27.982-05:00

Do You Provide Physical Therapy To Your Child In Between Sessions? I realize that most children with Down syndrome are receiving Physical Therapy 2 - 3 times per week but that is not enough. Working in phyiscal therapy for a number of years, I came to realize that while there are some people out there that take our advice on daily exercise to heart, many do not take it seriously and therefore

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-32130064818010651392008-10-16T00:08:00.008-05:002008-10-16T01:10:01.376-05:00

I just wanted to give you an update on John. He continues to do pretty well in his daily activities. John hasn't settled into a routine yet but he is moving toward that direction. About the only thing that we can count on at this point is that he will sleep 7 hours during the night beginning at either 10:00 or 12:00 which has been very good for all of us. As he is beginning to sleep longer at

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-17950990781166293862008-10-07T13:03:00.004-05:002008-10-07T14:05:50.750-05:00

Today John had his 2 month check-up with the Pediatrician. John received a good report on his progress. However, it was pointed out to us that his trunk muscles are not as strong as they should be at this point and that would be an issue for him when he begins to sit. While I agree with this, I am not too alarmed by this as I knew that he would be delayed with this but I do see him making

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-90078874045113963162008-10-05T21:29:00.003-05:002008-10-22T14:11:29.880-05:00

October is Down syndrome awareness month. I'm usually not a very big proponent of awareness months since I think anytime is a great time to make ourselves aware of a cause. But as it stands, I would like to challenge you to make it a point to learn something about Down syndrome this month that you don't already know. If possible, get to know a child or adult with Down syndrome. Feel free to share

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-3258549608303430202008-10-04T19:45:00.004-05:002008-10-04T21:21:11.781-05:00

Here they are. I know that I have been slow to get some new pictures up but I finally put some out there. John is changing so much and we are enjoying every minute with him. We truly are grateful for him and his abilities. The two albums that are new are labeled August 2008 and September 2008. We are glad to share what the Lord has done with all of you.

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-29910462533876179382008-10-04T13:46:00.006-05:002008-10-16T02:10:13.023-05:00

Hello again and yes I am still here. The transition of taking care of John on a daily basis has kept me very busy with little time for other things. I miss working at a regular paying job but I must say that staying home with John has been one of the best decisions that Joy and I have made. We have committed ourselves to giving John the best start in life that we can give him. This has not only

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-65167835273016799602008-09-23T11:52:00.003-05:002008-09-23T12:59:34.651-05:00

Joy returned to work yesterday following being off a couple of months for maternity leave. It was hard for her to leave him but she made it through. Even though I had been talking with some people about going back to work myself, we had dedcided that I would stay home with him while I am finishing my school work. Knowing that John is at home with me made it a little easier for her to return to

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-43549674406099211382008-09-19T13:57:00.012-05:002008-09-19T23:00:41.616-05:00

It is good to get back to posting again after a long week of concentrating on getting out of statistics. I would rather be blogging about my son than to be doing statistics. John continues to meet our expectations and also sometimes surprise us with his abilities. We are seeing more and more that genetics is more of a factor in defining John than Down syndrome. While we continue to see trademarks

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-66132447988652343432008-09-11T00:38:00.002-05:002008-09-11T01:31:35.242-05:00

Good morning. Here we are at 12:40 in the morning. This seems to be our regular wind-down time. He has spent the last hour in the jungle gym playing and stretching himself. He really loves that thing - thanks Shannon. That has proven to be very functional for what he needs. He is beginning to bat at the stuffed animals that hang from above. There is a music mode on there that turns on when the

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-9514544599228107392008-09-05T09:38:00.003-05:002008-09-05T11:00:59.581-05:00

As Joy and I continue along this path, we are relunctantly becoming more accepting of the diagnosis although we all love and enjoy John very much. He is a new ray of light that has shown on us all. Having our other children who are independent and that can enjoy him with us has definitely been a positive for having John at this stage of our lives. But as he grows, we see more features that remind

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-82725766174461258562008-09-02T00:19:00.004-05:002008-09-02T09:18:41.168-05:00

When Joy and I had first discovered that our child may have Down syndrome, there were many people that were very supportive of us and there were also some that said things like 'I'm sure you'll do the right thing' and you knew what was meant by this statement eventhough the word abortion was not used. And I must admit that those early days were very scary and dark days for us. Joy and I were used

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-80973444742744909232008-08-30T18:25:00.011-05:002008-08-31T00:26:01.983-05:00

When Joy and I were first learning about Down syndrome, we first learned there was a lot of misinformation and misunderstandings about the syndrome and the people that have this condition. Now that John is old enough to take out in public and just like all babies, they are often center attraction. This is great and we enjoy showing him off but the issue of Down syndrome comes up regularly in

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-14328001181521030782008-08-28T15:22:00.015-05:002008-09-19T14:47:43.730-05:00

Time is going by quick and it is hard to believe that John is 4 weeks old. He continues to do very well in all areas. He is still breastfeeding and eats like there is no tomorrow. His weight as of last Monday was 8lbs. 3oz. which is a weight gain of 9.5oz in 8 days. I think it is safe to say that he has this breastfeeding thing down. We have started to prepare him for when Joy goes back to work

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-20938819392329224892008-08-22T09:08:00.014-05:002008-08-22T12:59:00.035-05:00

Recently, Joy and I have been discussing the issue of labeling and the disadvantages that it gives to children. I was starting to say children with disabilities, but to say that would not be accurate because any child can be labeled. Whether it be blondes, people with big noses, people who wear glasses, people of color, people who have a physical or mental disability, etc., labeling has the same

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-22083135988650645862008-08-20T23:28:00.006-05:002008-08-21T00:06:06.633-05:00

Now I know that it is not polite to brag on your own child but I wanted to share with you this accomplishment. Mainly because I am proud of him but also that I didn't really believe it myself. All of our kids have always had good strength from the very beginning. But when John was diagnosed with Ds, I didn't really expect very much from him although I kept working with him like he would

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-80548202084092749072008-08-18T18:18:00.006-05:002008-08-18T21:18:20.871-05:00

In recent conversations, the subject of early detection of Ds or other chromosomal defects have come up and I wanted to discuss here our thoughts. As you know, Joy and I chose to have an amniocentesis in the first trimester following a blood test that revealed that there might be a problem with John. Since delivery, we have revisited this issue many times, mainly for the sake of communicating our

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-4209139666927201772008-08-18T07:20:00.009-05:002008-08-18T08:37:23.863-05:00

First, I would like to say thanks for reading this blog. It not only helps me to write down my thoughts as I continue to work through this mentally, but it also helps to know that you are out there. To date, there have been people from 28 states and 8 countries to see this blog. I hope this blog is a source of strength for people. Being able to write my thoughts have helped me to mentally work

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-12938976282255758522008-08-15T08:54:00.004-05:002008-08-15T09:24:15.426-05:00

I didn't think that a baby would be so fun. John is really funny sometimes.He really likes his jungle gym. He likes the mirror on it too. He's really fun to play with and I like to hold him. When he is in the jungle gym, he likes to kick the rattle and look at himself in the mirror. He likes to sleep in his pillow. His hair is really soft and fuzzy. Yesterday, we put him in the stroller and went

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-1444850990137627562008-08-14T22:23:00.003-05:002008-08-14T23:30:44.698-05:00

John is now 16 days old. Time seems to move much faster now that my other kids are home. John has now settled into more of a pattern of nursing every 3 hours during the day and once before bedtime (which is about 1:00 a.m.)and then again at 5:30 or 6:00. He is getting to where he will wake up on his own when he gets hungry. He has done really good and so we feel like we can stop worrying about

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-21101863536454933442008-08-12T22:06:00.003-05:002008-08-12T23:04:06.312-05:00

Today was the first full day that our other 4 children have been home with John and I might add, they have done a good job in helping and wanting to be involved in his care. They have all enjoyed taking their turn holding him. George who is our 10 yr. old has helped with changing diapers. They have also helped keep him awake more today which we are hoping that this will make him sleep more

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-82930110634773467122008-08-11T21:04:00.016-05:002008-08-12T09:39:12.665-05:00

Today was the day that our other 4 children returned home after being gone for about 10 days. It was a sweet homecoming - we missed them very much and were ready for them to be home with us and enjoy their brother. John, on the other hand is still trying to figure out what has happened to his quiet world. He has tried to sleep but has an audience for whatever he does whether it be eating,

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-29724586197213119312008-08-11T01:01:00.003-05:002008-08-11T21:31:13.349-05:00

Here I am again, up at 1:00 am with John. He has decided that he wants to eat again. He has played and ate real well today (about every 2-3 hours. I think he must have heard me put out that challenge when I was talking with the Dr. last Thursday when I said that I'd like to see him at 7lbs 5oz by Monday. The Dr. told me that that might be a little unrealistic for him - we'll see tomorrow.

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-9426846637546039722008-08-09T17:30:00.009-05:002008-08-11T01:28:36.247-05:00

Okay, so maybe we overreacted a little when we were told he needed to be at 7lbs 3oz by Monday. We took him by clinic this afternoon to weigh him and his weight was 7lbs 3.5 oz. We were both very pleased with his progress. Maybe now we can stop worrying and let the boy sleep. His progress was also gave Joy confidence that she wasn't failing in her breast-feeding efforts and gave her the

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-47659523273105599172008-08-08T23:18:00.003-05:002008-08-10T10:47:14.788-05:00

Hello everyone. As we continue to help John pack in the calories, i report that he had a good day today and fed often. Today, Joy's sister and brother-in-law brought her mom up to see us and to spend time with the baby. We enjoyed seeing them. Unfortunately, John slept most of the time they were here so they didn't get to see him in action. But that didn't last long, here it is 11:30 and he is

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-31859368532432469722008-08-08T06:23:00.006-05:002008-08-10T13:10:37.362-05:00

When we had first learned that this baby may have Downs syndrome, we knew that we would face new challenges like we hadn't before but there is really nothing that can prepare a parent for the new demands placed on them in having a baby with Downs syndrome. When our other children were this age, it was very physically demanding but with John, it is physically and emotionally demanding. Everyone

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43666479470898970.post-832973581901239932008-08-07T14:29:00.009-05:002008-08-07T14:46:21.507-05:00

We just returned from the clinic for another visit to see his Pediatrician. He is not gaining weight as fast as we had hoped and we had him circumcised today. His circumcision went great with no problem for him - he slept through it all. The real problem is that his weight was 7lbs 1.5 oz which on Monday he weighed 7lbs 1oz. Our goal is about .5 oz/day. I would like to see him gain 1 oz/day but

JaybirdNWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060290229870774955noreply@blogger.com0