Progress!

So Bal-a-vis-x....., It is amazing!! Zech has been doing this and using his new iPad for the last week, his improvement is so drastic! His communication, coordination, and receptive language is remarkably better! I'm so impressed! I've only been using two basic exercises and it's wonderful! I believe I will be going to a training in August, can't wait! Tom came home last night. We were going to have a nice dinner at home before he left this morning to go to Michigan. Things don't always work out the way we plan...we ended up with two neighbor boys spending the night. So the night ended up with pizza and three boys running around shooting the nerf guns at anything the darts would stick too! It was fun. This evening I sat on the front porch and was SO thankful for our home, our view, and our family! I was wishing my husband was in the rocker next to me, maybe next weekend. Megan has had a few interviews for a job at a bank, they have went really well! She should know something in a week or two. Macey has been doing trial competitions the last few days and did really well. She doesn't want to be a trial lawyer, but she may be missing her calling there. She will do well with whatever law she decides to specialize in. So, all is well here in the "Creek", my family is well, I feel so blessed!!

What have I been doing?!

Well, what a BIG surprise I had Saturday morning! Megan made a surprise visit to Tennessee!!! I was so excited and happy, I cried and yes, cried some more! We had a wonderful weekend visiting, eating, and enjoying friends and family! On Monday, I had to take Zech to Vanderbilt for some urology testing. His bladder appears fine, but there is something going on that is obstructing his urine flow. On April 5th he will have a surgical procedure to find out what's going on. If it is an obstruction, they will fix it. Tomorrow he goes for an echo and ekg, then a physical for the surgery. My heart breaks for him...I hate that he has to go through so much, that he HAS went through so much. Hopefully this is the last of his issues, his urology issue will be corrected and NO MORE doctors for a while!!! Please keep him in your prayers!

Busy, busy, busy!!

I would have used productive, but that was already taken. The last few days I have been cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning. Doesn't sound fun does it? Well I actually enjoyed it. I love a clean house! I don't mean one that things are picked up, I always have stuff laying around, at least Zech does, I mean walls washed, base boards, light switches, door frames, carpet cleaned. NO DUST!! I hate dust! I also hate carpet! Ugh, it's the nastiest stuff..we breath those particles every day. Most of our downstairs is tile (which Tom hates...says it's too cold..which my response is put socks on!) The upstairs is carpet, 17 yr old carpet, that has had kids in diapers on it, cats, and dogs. GROSS! I understand accidents, they just need to be thoroughly cleaned at the time...NO evidence of ever being there! Well evidently that didn't happen all the time. Now mind you, I did not go upstairs for the last 10-15 years much...that was the girls domain (sorry girls, I guess I'm putting the blame on you). Okay, the point to the story is I found a mixture that TOTALLY gets up ALL stains...even when the stain from furniture gets on the carpet. It's one cup peroxide and two tablespoons of ammonia, and it won't affect the color of the carpet (except get the stain out...lol). It's amazing!! I think if I had new carpet, I would try an inconspicuous area first. All you do is spray, let set for a few minutes, then blot it up. Some stains I had to do a couple times, others just disappeared. Okay, enough about cleaning. Yesterday I picked my Grandma up and she spent the night. It's so sad that at some point in our lives we will be harder to take care of than a baby. It's something constantly, and clean up after her is a job in itself. I'm not complaining, I hope reach her age, I just want to do it gratefully. Unfortunately my grandmother hates being old and wishes the alternative. If she was a happy person, I think everything would be different. So sad. My cousin (who calls me aunt because she's only 19) is getting married in April. Her shower is this afternoon. That should be fun. then We are going out to dinner with Tom's dad tonight. To the Fog Light....great food!! So it's eat very light today, stuff myself tonight. Zech is going too, hope he gets a nap in today. Speaking of Zech, we go to Nashville Monday. After his testing (on his bladder), we are FINALLY getting him his Ipad. I'm so excited to have him start doing some articulation programs...Hope it helps! The Ipad is ONLY for learning....there will be NO games on it!! He has a DS for games, which helps with reasoning skills. I am also learning about bal-a-vis-x. His teacher in Michigan used it, and I seen such drastic improvement. I'm just doing the basic exercises. I would love to go to a training in it. Until next time....God Bless.

Productive Day!

Well part of this productive day actually carries from yesterday. I fixed the dishwasher leak (replaced the water supply line)! Yay, no more washing by hand. Now, today started out with Zech waking up HAPPY! That always is the cue for a good day! We got ready for school and his IEP meeting. I thought it went rather well. It's really hard to know right now where Zech is since the surgeries. I know he has lost some receptive and expressive language, I'm praying it's just temporary though. They will start testing him towards the end of this week to get a more accurate assessment of his needs. After that, I went to my mom and dads. Mom and I walked to her mail box twice (that's a good distance for those who haven't been to the "Creek"). I came home and started my juicing!! I LOVE carrot juice!! Now that I have more counter space (forgot to mention that in earlier posts, I got new counter tops!!!!), I can leave my juicer out which makes for easier juicing. I will be faithful with this!!(I wrote it, so it is!!!) .......5 HOURS LATER...(that's for all you Spongebob fans....make sure you read it with the accent...) Picked Zech up from school and went to a friends house for grilled hamburgers, grilled mushrooms,onions,sqaush,jalepeno's, and garlic. Also, homemade french fries....YUM!YUM!YUM! OMG, it was so good!!! Zech is now in bed and I am soon to follow! Good Day!!

Happy Birthday Macey!!!!

Well, now it's official!!! My youngest daughter is now 23yrs old!!! How crazy. I so remember her entry into this crazy world! Such a special person! If you are one of the many that have been lucky enough to have her in your life, I know you must feel blessed!!For those that really don't know her, let me list a few words that describe her: Beautiful, funny, heart melting smile, smart, a light that draws you to her, a kind heart, a tender heart, loving, just plain spectacular!! That's my Bug, my Mater Bug...always has been, always will be! I Love you! Macey is married and living in Virginia. She is attending law school there. She will be spending the summer at home, and I am so excited!!

How do Doctors treat your child with down syndrome?

....Or any special needs? I thought the medical profession would be the last place I saw any kind of discrimination, but it's really the place I've seen the most! It's almost like they are afraid of Zech or something. They are always looking at me like I should know the answer to whatever is wrong at the time. Heck, I wouldn't be at a Doctor's if I knew what to do.
Only by the grace of God is Zech still with us because of this discrimination. They kept thinking it was emotional when he was crying (moaning) 24hrs/day, LITERALLY, this went on a month!!!! The poor kid had an 8.5cm Brain abscess, he was hurting (which I had told them it was NOT emotional)! This wasn't just one doctor, is was at least 10-15 different drs., most at a children's hospital!!
Anyways, we went to his ear doctor today. Things checked out well as far as no infections and no fluid. The Doctor though is always so rude with Zech! Like he's disgusted to even have to work with him. Unless I drive an hour and a half away, this is what I have to put up with...Ugh!
He told me, about a year ago, "you do know he's cognitively delayed"...sarcastically.
Oh my. Anyways, it's the last visit with him for 6 months!'

So, Zech NEEDS an IPAD!!Hopefully in a couple weeks! He needs it to help with speech and writing (fine motor)skills. I can't wait to start working with him.

What about me!!!!!!

Does anyone ever feel that way? Frankly, I have for the last few months. Maybe it's because of all the stress from Z being sick and moving back a forth from MI to TN. I don't know. Anyways it seems that mainly my immediate family are the only people that read this blog, should I start a "secret blog", one that I can tell all my dreams in without getting eye rolls and laughed at? Would my secret blog get more followers? Is having more followers even a big deal?! What would I talk about in this so called secret blog?!
Awe, knowing me it wouldn't be a secret too long. If I do anything, I have to tell the fam.
Maybe that's my problem...I need to get out more!
Z has several appts. coming up. Just check ups, routine stuff. There is a DS momma group meeting in a couple weeks, I'll probably go there.
Ok, ok....anyone who knows me knows I need a project, a cause, something to be passionate about.
I am passionate about several things, but in what direction do I take it?
Ugh! I know, give it to God...he'll direct me correctly.
It's about time to go get Z from school, guess I'll head on out.
My rambling was good today....thanks!

Using your words!!

I have said "use your words" so much in the last couple weeks and it finally paid off!!
Today when I pick Zech up from school, I asked him what he had for lunch and he said "Pizza"....it gets better....at home he was asking me for water by saying water, putting a "W" to his mouth (sign language for water) pointing at me, then pointing at the kitchen. I said "NO, Use your words and tell me what you want"!
He looked at me and said "I want water"!!!Plain as day!!! I was so excited and so very proud of him! He is doing so good. Later he said to me "toy story" smiled at me and said "use my words"....he cracks me up!
Well, today was gorgeous!!Yesterday was too, I love the spring....such an example of renewing and growth. We should all learn from that, well at least I should. Everything has a season. A chance to grow stronger and prettier, Love it!

Zech being too independent!

Another pose.

Too funny!

Zech loves being outside and hates wearing pants!

Spring Break

Yay, Zech doesn't have to go to school today or tomorrow!!! Love our lazy days! I just don't like leaving home once I'm here, not like we lay around doing nothing. Tom and I joke a lot that we are becoming like my dad, he never doesn't like to leave our little community once he gets home! When I say community, I don't mean a little small town , we have to drive 6 miles to get there...lol, I mean a place that has a few houses around, nothing more. We love it out here! On occasion it can get noisy our here. It's usually only when people bring 4 wheelers out and start riding them.

Zech enjoyed running around outside yesterday. He has a little cold right now, ugh! That makes me so paranoid with anything going on in the head area, I'm trying to remain calm. He has no fever so that's good. He sees his ENT next week, on Macey's birthday. Hope that holds good news! On the 26th he sees the urologist again and then the dentist on the morning of the 27th. The only thing I need to have done after that is the cardiologist and eye doctor. Just for yearly follow ups, no problems going on that we are aware of, thank the Lord!!

We will be getting Zech an Ipad withing the next couple weeks. If anyone knows of some good apps to get, please let me know. I am looking for speech and learning apps. I have heard the Smarty Ears has some good apps. Does anyone have experience using them?

Until next time!

The Kids!

Yes,....I know!

Okay, I know, it's been a while. It's totally legit thought, let me explain. Well, back it August Zech got feeling bad. He periodically cried, more of a crying moan, for hours on end...even days. I had him to 4 different doctors, and through September, 3 different hospitals. Antibiotics were prescribed with the thought that he had ear infections on and off. Well, the third time at U of M they finally admitted him. We were there over one week and they were ready to send us home thinking it was just him. That it was emotional. Tom had the car packed up and I told the Dr. that I wasn't comfortable going home. This was not how my child acted, it was not emotional! Zech had something physically wrong with him. She said the only thing we haven't done was a head scan, I said "then do one". Well, they did and a couple hours late we found out Zech had a VERY LARGE mass in his head.
I can't even begin to describe my feelings. The only thing I could do as the words were coming out of the Dr.'s mouth was drop to my knees and pray.
Long story short (I can't even type about it without starting to cry) it ended up being a 8.5cm large brain abscess, which is better than a tumor. They ended up doing 2 brain surgeries and a couple months of oral and IV antibiotics and as of February 3rd, the abscess is clear!!! Thank you LORD!!! He is still under doctors care for the next year and four months, but I am have faith that he is completely healed!! Only GOD could have brought him through this alive and with no brain damage that we are aware of. In fact, I believe he can now hear out of his right ear now and his speech is a little clearer...only GOD!!!
I have been hesitant about starting back writing because I actually don't know how many people read this, I thought I would type for hours about our experience with Zech, and I have just flat out been too emotional! I decided that it's good therapy for me though and I love going back and seeing older posts! It's amazing how life changes...this is my way of making a little scrapebooking journal.
Moving on, Megan is in Michigan. She has a wonderful boyfriend and she is still as beautiful(inside and out) as always!
Macey is still living in Virginia with my awesome son in law and going to law school.
Tom is still on the road between Michigan and Tennessee, driving old faithful and doing a spectacular job juggling everything and everyone.
As for me, Zech and I are in Tennessee. I am enjoying being a mother and taking care of the house. I do part time work out of the home still. I am enjoying life!!
Hopefully I'll stay on updating this....no promises though.... :)!