31 for 21

In honor of Down syndrome awareness month, I am taking the 31 for 21 blog challenge. Everyday in October I have pledged to post on the blog, all about our crazy life and of course Down syndrome. This will be a challenge but a good one!

working on the camper

We did not watch much of the Lions vs Vikings game today. We had much more important things to do. We had to put a new axle on the new camper in order to get it ready for hunting season!

Before the new axle


Hard work!


new axle

injuries

more hard work




old axle

joy at being done

old axle again

new axle

Way to go Gabe!
Gabriel playing while daddy worked... note- his hair has oil in it...

Buddy Walk 2010

Happy Buddy Walk for Down syndrome Association of West Michigan Day!!!!
(Gabriel's picture also played in the new york walk today, cant wait for a copy of the video)
What a day!!!!!!!!!!
Isabella making sure the bench was safe.

Big boys!








The many faces of Isabella




Walking with Grandma and Great-Grandma


Play time after our walk
Paige and Isabella

"Come back here balloon!!!"

"I see you"

"The world turned so red"

"Lala this is fun"

"Mom, check this out"

"holy poo, dad!  I think i just made my drawers a little wetter!"

"Your the best dad"

"I will eat that sticker on your pants, there is nothing you can do to stop me."

 Zonked!


Don't DIS my ABILITY!  (Thanks Paige for hooking us up with these amazing shirts!)Gabriel got one shoe and sock off in the car before falling asleep...

Buddy Walk 2010 Team BoogaBellmo

Great-Aunt Billi, we missed you today! Please feel better soon!

tonsil and adenoid removal coming soon

We got a call on Tuesday from one of the doctors that reads the sleep study. She had news that we already knew. Gabriel needs to have his tonsils and adenoids removed. She was just reading his study and had yet to get her report out to Gabriel's doctors. I am sure we will hear from them shortly to schedule his surgery.

Gabriel has a problem with hypoventilation when he is sleeping. Here is American Sleep Association's definition of what hypoventilation is:

Hypoventilation is a medical term expressing an insufficient exchange of gases. This leads to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the blood, and is especially dangerous when present in those with sleep apnea. A person will naturally adjust to the hypoventilation while awake, taking deeper and/or longer breaths as needed. During episodes of apnea though, where the body forcibly slows or shuts down breathing entirely in spurts, this can lead to dangerously high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood.

Common symptoms of hypoventilation will include headaches, heart problems, stomach problems and faintness. It may also lead to poor sleep due to common awakenings, and daytime sleepiness as a result.

Basically, Gabriel does not get all of the carbon dioxide out of his lungs before taking in a new breath while he is sleeping.

Isabella had her seven month check up this week. She is a whopping 17lbs and 7oz and 27 inches tall. She couldn't army crawl around the office like any normal child her age. She had to stand up for 30 seconds before gently sitting back down. Our pediatrician is shocked at how far ahead she is. He didn't see half of what she is capable of! Shots make Isabella sleep in CRAZY positions!



Isabella decided to hold my hands today and walk around the room over and over again. Gabriel decided to join in making us a train. So we chugga chugga choo chooed around the room over and over and over and over again. Thanks Daddy for taking pictures of our train!







Good night! Buddy Walk of West Michigan tomorrow! Hope to see you there!!!!!