Baker's Goodies

Introduction to Ceramics, Failure of Administrators

2010-11-24T17:30:00.001-06:00

The DS-lovin' part of the blogosphere has been chattering this week about Eliza Schaff. She is a young woman with Down Syndrome that took an Introduction to Ceramics class and was removed from the class by school administrators - with just two classes left!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/rnorton/detail?entry_id=77698

As more children are included in our schools as they grow up, we need to be prepared to offer them the chance to continue their education and pursue their interests as adults. So what do you think? There are several ways to think about this, and lots of points to ponder.

Dreams & Opportunities

2010-11-22T18:28:00.001-06:00

I dream of what the future holds for our family, of what paths each of the kiddos will choose. I've got to confess that I worry a bit about what opportunities will be available to Ainsley. I read about a young man who is working at a hospital. He's not a nurse or a doctor. But seeing him there, talking with families and showing them around may help ease some of their fears more than anything that is said to them during the actual appointment.

http://www.childrenshospital.org/dream/winter10/childrens_new_star_player_winter10.html

Hooray for Ben! I hope that more opportunities like these are available to our fabulous kiddos!

21 Things about Ainsley

2010-10-28T18:24:00.005-05:00

1. If you ask her what her name is, she tries to say "Bean." We've called her Beanie since before she was born.

2. Ainsley is a Daddy's girl. She will rush the front door when he comes in, yelling "Daaaaa!!" and demanding hugs.

3. Her favorite food is yogurt. Any flavor. She will open the fridge herself, get a yogurt out, then go get a spoon. So glad she can't open them yet!

4. A very close second favorite is cheese.

5. Ainsley knows how to turn on the iPod, unlock it, and go play "her" games.

6. Her cheeks get very, very dry as soon as the humidity starts getting low. Before the weather gets cold, she'll already have cheeks that look chapped. We've tried a crazy number of lotions & creams trying to find one that works well without multiple daily applications or greasy cheeks.

7. Beanie doesn't like having her hair done each morning, but seems to really enjoy it when people tell her how nice she looks. She understands compliments and loves to get them!

8. "Baby Signing Time" is her favorite thing to watch and she'll ask for it by signing it.

9. We're still teaching her how to drink out of a regular cup. She likes to put her tongue on the top and that can be pretty messy.

10. She was born with an AV Canal defect. Her little heart was repaired October 26, 2007, a day before she was 3-months old. When that anniversary came & went, and we didn't realize until the next day, it was an amazing feeling to not have to worry about her heart anymore. What a blessing!!

11. After baths, I like to turn on the radio & have a dance party with the kiddos. Ainsley is a great dancer and loves to show us her moves. And then she gets upset when she has to stop so that I can do her hair.

12. She likes to brush her teeth. On. Her. Own. Do NOT try to take the first turn or she'll get mad. So she brushes first, then we follow up.

13. While we're talking about baths, she HATES it when I have to get her hair wet. Even when we get her to tilt her head back so the water doesn't run in her face, she still gets mad and tries to climb out.

14. She's allergic to egg whites and tree nuts.

15. Beanie loves spicy food. Buffalo chicken pizza is one of her favorites.

16. She likes to go to bed with a book. She'll crawl up onto the sofa with a book & sit there and look at each page. We love that she loves to "read" already!

17. Bean knows her schedule at school and notices if something changes. She receives PT, OT, and Speech services. Luckily, she doesn't miss much in her classroom. And she's doing soooo well in school!

18. She wears a 3T or 4T top, depending on the length. Her pants are 24 month or 2T. Shoes are 7W.

19. Ainsley likes to play with puzzles, Little People, a mini tool bench, and tries to get to Gavin's Legos.

20. She does chores like feeding Abby, putting everyone's shoes away in the closet, and picking up the dirty clothes from the bathroom floor after their bath.

21. Ainsley is a local celebrity. Whenever we're out, people wave & tell her "Hi, Ainsley!" And these are sometimes people that we don't recognize. But we always knew that she's a pretty big deal!

Hooray for Parents!

2010-10-25T21:20:00.002-05:00

For the past 2 months, Parents magazine has run two great stories about raising a child with Down Syndrome.

Read them here and here.

I follow Kelle's blog - it is one of my favorites! Nella is beautiful and so very, very loved, as is her sister Lainey. The link to Kelle's blog is to the real beginning of her story: Nella's birth story. If you've never read it, it's amazing and brings tears to my eyes each time I read it. Yes, I've read it several times.

Thank you to Parents magazine for featuring two positive stories about real families that are raising a child with Down Syndrome. Hooray for our beautiful children, no matter how many chromosomes they have!

Monica & David

2010-10-18T17:42:00.000-05:00

Monica & David is a documentary showing on HBO about a wedding. Except the bride & groom both have Down Syndrome.

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/10/07/monica-david-premiere/10566/

My mom DVR'd this for me, and I'm really looking forward to seeing it. Will keep you posted on how I liked it.

I've always prayed for God to have His hand on the children that will grow up to become my children's spouses. This gives me hope that there are other parents out there that will one day support their son's dream to marry Ainsley. As more children with Down Syndrome are included in society, supporting their dreams of love and marriage is part of that natural progression.

Beautiful Anya

2010-10-16T19:35:00.004-05:00

The Reece's Rainbow family is mourning the loss of a beautiful little girl that we knew as Anne Marie. Her real name was Anya and she was waiting for her forever family. She was in an orphanage, probably abandoned because of her diagnosis of Down Syndrome.

Her birthday was November 25, 2005. She was almost 5 years old. She spent most of her days in her crib. The workers at the orphanage wouldn't let her crawl or play, explaining that it was too hard on her heart. That poor little heart of hers never got the chance to know what it felt like to be loved by a mommy or daddy, brothers or sisters.

Anya was placed in a low-stimulation room. And that's where she stayed. To families that visited to pick up their angels that asked about her, the workers waved her off as if she wasn't worth their time.

She is now with her Heavenly Father that has more love for her than she's ever known. He will hold her close and give her the love that she was never shown here on Earth. Please pray for the children in these and other orphanages, that their families will find them quickly and bring them home to shower them with the love and hugs that they have been missing.

Down Syndrome Adoption

2010-10-15T18:20:00.000-05:00

I am reposting this article because it's something that we believe that more families could consider supporting, even if they are unable to adopt a(nother) child.

http://www.laurachristianson.com/laura/down-syndrome-adoption-q-a/

Down Syndrome Adoption Q & A in Down Syndrome Adoption

Today we continue our visit with Andrea Roberts, executive director of Reece’s Rainbow Down Syndrome Adoption Ministry (to acquaint yourself with Reece’s Rainbow, please read my previous post, “Adopting a Child With Down Syndrome”).

Laura Christianson: Reece’s Rainbow helps families adopt children who have Down syndrome. Your focus is on international adoption. Do you help with domestic, U.S. placements, as well?

Andrea Roberts: There are almost 200 families who are “paper ready” and on a waiting list to adopt domestic children with Down syndrome. Robin Steele, who works with the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati, is the point person for all domestic adoptions. She is also in touch with a lot of attorneys who can facilitate private, domestic adoptions of children with Down syndrome.

LC: Why does Reece’s Rainbow focus exclusively on international adoptions?

AR: In Central and Eastern European countries alone (including Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Romania, etc., but not Russia), there are more than 1.5 million children who have been abandoned by their families for one reason or another and are living in “public care” (that’s the nice way to put it). If statistically, 1 out of every 733 live births results in a child with Down syndrome, that means at any given time there are 2,046 children with Down syndrome who need families. And that’s just in Europe! Some do not survive because of serious medical complications, lack of medical attention, lack of food, and/or lack of love.
In many of these countries, there is no place in society for children born with Down syndrome. They get dumped in orphanages out of shame and fear. The children with special needs go to the same baby houses until they turn 4; they are then sent to special orphanages for children with physical or cognitive challenges – whoever isn’t perfect gets dumped.
In Russia, these orphanages are closed; once the child is transferred, he or she is no longer eligible to be adopted. In Ukraine, however, children living in those orphanages are eligible to be adopted until they are 16. It’s important that we get these children out of the orphanages before it’s too late. When people become aware of the future they can prevent by adopting one of these children, it motivates them.

LC: What are some other reasons people adopt children who have Down syndrome?

AR: There are two different kinds of people who adopt:
People who have fertility issues and want healthy newborns.
Parents who have a biological child with Down syndrome. They have lived and learned the blessing that these children are.
These children bring more joy than I can describe. Like any child, each child with Down syndrome has his or her own personality and challenges. Families who have had experience with children who have Down syndrome often say, “Give me more of what we’ve got.” We have a family who is in the process of adopting their fourth child with Down syndrome from Colombia.
We are working with three other families who do not have a child with Down syndrome. They simply have a heart and a calling, so they are taking a leap of faith.
Some families are special education teachers. They spend a lot of time with these kids and say, “I want one of my own.”
So there are lots of different scenarios, but the families who adopt have the same heart—they understand what these children bring to the world.

LC: What are some of the challenges of parenting a child with Down syndrome?

AR: Down syndrome is a condition also known as Trisomy 21. It’s caused by an extra copy of all or part of chromosome 21. That causes different issues, in varying degrees, with different children. Yes, you need to get therapy for your child and find special ed classes. You live a different lifestyle, but you adjust.

LC: How are you working with social service agencies in other countries to make it easier for families to adopt children with Down syndrome?

AR: More people would adopt if they could afford it and if they didn’t have to spend six weeks in-country. Most people who adopt children with special needs already have multiple children at home, with or without special needs. The travel requirements prohibit many from making the choice to adopt internationally. We’re reaching out to social services in these countries to encourage them to modify the adoption process or the required time parent has to spend in-country.

LC: Explain your Child of the Month project.

AR: On the first day of every month, one child who is in exceptional need of a family is featured as the Reece’s Rainbow Child of the Month. People can donate $10 a month to go into the adoption grant fund of each child of the month. $10 may not seem like it would make a difference, but collectively, it does.

LC: Tell us about your Yahoo! Group.

AR: The Reece’s Rainbow Yahoo! Group currently has 108 members and is used to keep people abreast of new waiting children and to make announcements about new programs. Many wonderful supporters have joined our Yahoo! group.

LC: How can people contact you for more information?

AR: Visit www.reecesrainbow.com, donate by check to Reece’s Rainbow, PO Box 2055, Dacula, GA 30019-9998, or e-mail Andrea Roberts at bamaroberts@comcast.net.

For more news and information about adoption, visit www.laurachristianson.com, andcheck out my ExploringAdoption bookstore.

To screen or not to screen?

2010-10-14T18:27:00.000-05:00

http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/14/deciding-not-to-screen-for-down-syndrome/

When we were expecting Skylar, our third baby, we had a choice to make about prenatal testing. It wasn't something that we did the first time. And we only got the echocardiogram and amnio after Ainsley was diagnosed with a heart defect.

We live in a rural town and have a great hospital. But it is not equipped to handle the needs of a newborn with heart problems. That's why we decided to have Ainsley delivered at Barnes-Jewish which is next to St. Louis Children's Hospital. She was being monitored by a cardiologist at Children's and would have her heart surgery there when needed.

So when Skylar came along, we only did the prenatal testing so that we could make an educated decision about where to deliver and what specialists (if any) to have lined up for her. Thankfully, that was not what was needed and we were able to stay in town.

We made the decision before we started having babies that they were a gift from God. Period. We would welcome any children that He gives us. I am not against prenatal testing. I just pray that it is used carefully.

When expectant mothers are given a diagnosis of Down Syndrome for their unborn children, 90% choose to abort. 90%!!! My heart breaks for those families because they will not know the unconditional love that a child with Down Syndrome can bring to their lives.

"They" are a part of "us"

2010-10-13T18:05:00.000-05:00

http://blog.beliefnet.com/thinplaces/2010/09/they-are-a-part-of-us-a-new-perspective-on-disability.html

The article above talks about how several responders to an article called "Is it Harder to Have a Child with Down Syndrome?". Part of the article is about autism and how adults with this diagnosis have become a part of our society. "Alternatively, we can dispense with the layers of sorrow, and interpret autism as but one more wrinkle in the fabric of humanity... This does not mean pretending that adults with autism do not need help. But it does mean replacing pity toward them with ambition for them. The key to this view is a recognition that 'they' are a part of 'us,' so that those who don't have autism are actively rooting for those who do."

Ainsley, just like Gavin or Skylar, needs someone to recognize her strengths and help her make the best use of those to be an active member of society. Adrian & I have been rooting, and praying for, our children before they were born. And cheering them on is one of the best parts of being parents!

I am

2010-10-12T17:53:00.000-05:00

I love this video! The pictures are amazing. I can't wait to see what God has in store for our little Ainsley-Bean. Good things, for sure!

Family room football

2010-10-11T20:56:00.010-05:00

Gavin is a big football fan. He loves to play in the family room with anyone willing to follow his lead. And that's usually adoring sister #1. Ainsley. Neither one is too concerned with the actual rules, only the rule of taking turns and occasionally the rule about not rough-housing on the furniture.

I'm not sure if Ainsley enjoys football as much as she just loves playing with Gavin.

Jersey color doesn't matter much when neither one bothers with a shirt at all. The sides even change. One minute they play against one another, the next minute they are on the same team and playing against an invisible team that seems to tackle Gavin but never Ainsley.

And what good is a game without fans to cheer on both sides?

Love these games! And this post isn't so much about Down Syndrome as it is about how it's not always a "thing"; not always a factor in every part of our lives. Our kids love playing together and no one minds what the chromosome count is. Only whose turn it is to tackle whom.

Types of Down Syndrome

2010-10-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

There are 3 types of Down Syndrome: Trisomy 21, Translocation, and Mosiac.

The National Down Syndrome Society explains them this way:

In every cell in the human body there is a nucleus, where genetic material is stored in genes. Genes carry the codes responsible for all of our inherited traits and are grouped along rod-like structures called chromosomes. Normally, the nucleus of each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, half of which are inherited from each parent.

Down syndrome is usually caused by an error in cell division called "nondisjunction." Nondisjunction results in an embryo with three copies of chromosome 21 instead of the usual two. Prior to or at conception, a pair of 21st chromosomes in either the sperm or the egg fails to separate. As the embryo develops, the extra chromosome is replicated in every cell of the body. This type of Down syndrome, which accounts for 95% of cases, is called Trisomy 21.

The two other types of Down syndrome are called mosaicism and translocation. Mosaicism occurs when nondisjunction of chromosome 21 takes place in one-but not all-of the initial cell divisions after fertilization. When this occurs, there is a mixture of two types of cells, some containing the usual 46 chromosomes and others containing 47. Those cells with 47 chromosomes contain an extra chromosome 21. Mosaicism accounts for about 1% of all cases of Down syndrome. Research has indicated that individuals with mosaic Down syndrome may have fewer characteristics of Down syndrome than those with other types of Down syndrome. However, broad generalizations are not possible due to the wide range of abilities people with Down syndrome possess.

Translocation accounts for about 4% of all cases of Down syndrome. In translocation, part of chromosome 21 breaks off during cell division and attaches to another chromosome, typically chromosome 14. While the total number of chromosomes in the cells remain 46, the presence of an extra part of chromosome 21 causes the characteristics of Down syndrome.

Regardless of the type of Down syndrome a person may have, all people with Down syndrome have an extra, critical portion of chromosome 21 present in all or some of their cells. This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome.

Ainsley has Translocation. This doesn't mean much, other than that she has a more unique form of DS. I've been asked several times if this means that her DS is "better" or "worse" than the typical Trisomy 21 diagnosis. From what the genetic counselors told us after she was born, it doesn't predict anything about Ainsley's ability to learn or function in society. It just means that she's that much more special--but we knew that already!!

But what about Gavin & Skylar?

2010-10-08T17:22:00.001-05:00

When we got Ainsley's diagnosis, one of my first questions was "what will this mean for Gavin?" Later I wondered how and when to tell him. When will he notice that something is different? Adrian & I decided to leave it alone until he asks us about something he's noticed. The only thing he asked about were the names of his therapists. We explained that he didn't have therapists come to play with him when he was a baby.

One day as I was taking Gavin to Pre-K, he got upset that he wasn't going to be there with Miss Jane, Ainsley's PT, and that he wouldn't know what to work on with her. I explained that Miss Jane leaves notes about what they work on, and that we could read it together that evening. That was kind of the end of it for awhile.

Then on his 6th birthday, as we were planning to go to the Buddy Walk later that day, Gavin asked "What's Down Syndrome?" We explained that it changes the way Ainsley learns to do things, and that it may take longer for her to learn something but that she will learn to do everything that he can do. Honestly, it's not something that we talk much about.

On Life with Bubba, Chicky and Nika , Bethany explains:

Last year I attended a conference in which I was able to hear Dr. Brian Skotko do a sibling workshop. I just came across this list of great tips to remember when dealing with siblings of a child with special needs, as written by Sue Levine and Dr. Skotko ...

1. Be open and honest, explaining Down syndrome as early as possible. Encourage other children to ask questions; answer them on their level as honestly as possible. But don’t wait for siblings to askquestions. Bring up the topic routinely in conversation.

2. Allow brothers and sisters to express negative feelings. Acknowledge the fact that sometimes it is hard to be a brother or sister tosomeone with a disability And don’t expect siblings to be saints.

3. Recognize the difficult moments that brothers and sisters may be experiencing. As brothers and sisters grow up, they often begin to realize that not everyone in society shares their family’s beliefs and values. Recognize situations that may be potentially embarrassing or stressful and do what you can to help minimize the difficulty.

4. Limit caregiving responsibilities. Children need to be children. Allow them to be brothers and sisters, rather than becoming an extra parent.Your children with disabilities also benefit from having siblings rather than a family full of parents.

5. Recognize the individuality and uniqueness of each child in the family. Be sure to point out what makes your children special; they want to know that you notice them, too. Celebrate their accomplishments and schedule special time with each of your children.

6. Be fair. Listen to both sides of the story and be certain to make sure each child has responsibilities appropriate to their level of ability

7. Take advantage of supports for siblings. Both local and national groups have opportunities for siblings to meet each other. Such experiences are often validating.

8. Encourage parents to access support for themselves. When parents seek out support systems for themselves, they tend to be better equipped for the journey.

These are good guidelines for Adrian & I to keep in mind in the years to come. For now though, Gavin rarely mentions it and I think that's a good thing. Skylar isn't old enough to know much about it yet. To her, Ainsley is her older sister; the one who steals her toys, shares her sippy cup, and knows how to ask to watch Baby Signing Time.

Yes, Ainsley has DS. But she also has a great smile, an adorable laugh, a mischevious streak, and a hug that melts away a day's worries. And that's way more important than anything else.

Baby Signing Time

2010-10-07T18:45:00.002-05:00

Best Buy is having a sale on the Baby Signing Time collections today:

Volumes 1-3 This is normally $59.98 and is on sale for $14.99

Volumes 4-7 This is normally $99.95 and is on sale for $14.99

Shhhh...don't tell Ainsley, but I picked up Volumes 4-7 for her Christmas present. Mimi Julie got her volumes 1-4 for her birthday this year. She's been watching them & learning signs very quickly. Her speech is delayed and these have been great! She is communicating with us a little more each day. These DVDs are her favorite thing to watch, especially while we're making dinner. The songs are catchy and most of the signs are pretty easy to pick up. (I know, we've already got one of those DVDs, but it was a package deal...so I guess I'll have a DVD to give away.)

Skylar & Gavin enjoy watching them, too. Gavin is always anxious to use the signs he's learned and practice with Ainsley. These aren't something that are made specifically for children with Down Syndrome, but they have helped our little lady a lot.

Hooray for football!

2010-10-05T18:17:00.001-05:00

There was a story that was featured a couple weeks ago about a football player in Austin, Texas that scored a touchdown. The cool thing is that this player has Down Syndrome.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/down-syndrome-football-player-ike-ditzenberger-scores-touchdown-11797819

I don't know who I'm more proud of: Ike, his teammates, their opponents, or the coaches. Everybody worked together to help Ike fulfill a dream. His dream of scoring a touchdown is one more example of how people with Down Syndrome are more alike than different.

Hooray for football! And congratulations on the touchdown, Ike!!

Down Syndrome Pregnancy e-book

2010-10-04T17:43:00.001-05:00

We found out a month before Ainsley was born that she had Down Syndrome. This was obviously pretty late in the pregnancy and had started a month before that. If I had the option, I wouldn't change the way that everything happened.

This website (http://downsyndromepregnancy.org/) is for anyone receiving a diagnosis of Down Syndrome for their baby or even for medical professionals. There is a free e-book available and it looks great!

There is a lot of information to process with this diagnosis, and it can sound very scary and overwhelming at the time. Ainsley is awesome, and we are so thankful for everything that she's brought to our lives. Adrian & I know that God moved in our lives and made us better people through her.

31 for 21!!

2010-10-01T18:00:00.001-05:00

It's October, so it's time for 31 fo 21! For the next 31 days, I'm going to try to blog each day (big stretch for me, I know...) about our lives with Ainsley. There's so much more to Ainsley than her diagnosis of Down Syndrome.

So for the next month I'm going to make a real effort to share a glimpse into how "normal" our lives are. Or as normal as it is with 3 kids ages 6 & younger. But it is what it is, we love it, and I'm more than happy to share it with you. :)

If there is anything you would like to know, please leave a comment. I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination but I will do my best to find an answer. And I'll learn something new, too!

Father's Day 2010 at OneTrueMedia.com

2010-06-20T06:55:00.000-05:00

Happy Father's Day, Daddy! We love you sooo much!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A good night

2010-02-19T17:50:00.001-06:00

I'm amazed by my kids. I love to watch them play together, help each other, volunteer for the occasional chore, figure out how a toy works or how to take it apart, or anything. I just love hanging out with them. I love the way they pile on Adrian on the sofa. And I love the way it makes him happier than anything. That's a good night at our house. Dinner, baths, jammies, and 4 of my favorite people all together.

Of course, if you know my kiddos (or have any of your own), you know that these moments can be fleeting. It usually starts by someone being silly, or jockeying for another spot, or some unwanted assistance. Skylar still gets a little overwhelmed when Gavin & Ainsley start being silly and loud, so she's usually the first one in tears. But it all works itself out. These kids are awesome, and we're so blessed to be their parents!!

New year, and half a year

2010-01-15T20:33:00.005-06:00

We couldn't believe how fast 2009 went by. Adrian & I became and uncle & aunt and Gavin & Ainsley got their first cousin in March when Chase was born. The best part of the year was when we welcomed Skylar into the family in July. Ainsley learned to walk. Gavin learned to play soccer. Ainsley lead our biggest team yet at the Buddy Walk. Gavin started Kindergarten. Adrian continues to grow his business and took over as V.P. of the Litchfield Chamber of Commerce. It was a very good year!!

We all had great birthdays, though some of us handled it better than others. OK...everyone handled it better than I did. I turned 30 and didn't enjoy it at all. A few months in, it's not such a big deal anymore. Though I miss being able to say that I'm a "twenty-something," turning the big 3-0 hasn't been bad. Ainsley had a rough birthday as that was the day that we discovered her allergy to cashews. She had half a cashew and her little body blew up like a balloon. Poor girl! After some tests, we found that she also has allergies to walnuts and egg whites.

Today, Skylar is 6 months old. Half a year. Having 3 little ones is keeping us busy. For now, we've settled into a new rhythm of life with a kindergartener, a toddler, and a baby. And life is good!!

Time Flies...

2009-11-25T17:10:00.001-06:00

This was our litte girl, two years ago today. And this is her now (helping to feed our dog):

Yes, I realize it's been way too long since I posted. It's not that there hasn't been anything "blog-worthy" happening, I just hadn't sat down & actually posted. I found the old pic while cleaning up some files on my computer & noticed the date on the 1st picture. Wow! Two years ago Ainsley seemed so fragile. It was about a month after her open-heart surgery so we had to be really careful with her: avoiding sick people, handling her gently so as to not push on her chest or ribs since they were still healing, and all of that good stuff. Now, she's like any other two year old. She's walking all over the place and getting into everything. Go Ainsley!! We're so proud of you, Beanie!!

Here's a partial list of what's happened since the last blog upate:
* Gavin's soccer season came & went (need to post pics...bad mom!)
* Ainsley started walking
* Gavin started Kindergarten
* Ainsley said a few words (at one time or another, and can't be bothered with repeat performances on them right now) : banana, thanks, nothin', thank you
* Skylar found her thumb, then rejected her Nuk. Full-time thumb-sucker now.
* Gavin is learning to read & does well with Dick & Jane books, and a few Dr. Seuss
* I went back to work after 12 weeks of maternity leave

I know I'm forgetting things, but that's what I get for not keeping up with this. The kiddos have kept us busy and we're loving it.

We have so much to be thankful for this year. The best part are our 3 beautiful, happy, healthy kiddos.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

A week ago today...

2009-07-22T18:17:00.004-05:00

A week ago today our family grew by 2 feet. Skylar Reese Baker joined the family at 4pm. She was 8 lbs., 1 oz, and 20.5" long. Skylar has dark brown hair, blue eyes, and long, delicate fingers. She looks a bit like Gavin, but really has a look that is all her own. She had enough hair for the nurses to put a little bow in it. Awwww....

Gavin & Ainsley have taken to their new roles really well. Gavin knew what the new baby gig was all about and is doing a good job of teaching Ainsley how to be gentle with a baby. Skylar is doing well and soaking up all of the love & attention from everyone. She's adjusting well to being home and is settling into a routine.

It's fun to have a new baby at home again. I'd forgotten just how small 8 lbs. is, how small their diapers are, how soft their skin is, how good it feels to fall asleep with them while relaxing on the sofa. It's only been two years since we were there with Ainsley...Sad to realize how much I had forgotten. Sweet to be able to savor it again, and hopefully do a better job of remembering.

Bill of Rights

2009-07-04T09:10:00.003-05:00

Happy 4th of July!! This is Adrian's first 4th as a citizen, so we went out with some friends last night to celebrate.

To celebrate our family on this holiday, I'm posting a "Bill of Rights for Parents of Kids with Special Needs" that I found on a blog called "To the Max."

* * * * *

We, the parents, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure tranquility (and sanity) and promote the general welfare of our families, do ordain and establish this Bill of Rights.

* We have the right to expect our kids to be seen for who they are as individuals, not as labels or diagnoses.

* We have a right to trust our instincts about our kids and realize that experts don't always know best.

* We have a right to ignore the remarks, questions and stares and not give explanations or excuses for why our children are the way they are.

* We have a right to choose alternative therapies for our kids.

* We have a right to roll our eyes straight out of our heads when we encounter certain mothers who brag nonstop that their kids are the smartest students/best athletes ever.

* We have a right to wonder "What if..." every so often.

* We have a right to play aimlessly with our children. Not for therapeutic or educational purposes--just for fun.

* We have a right to blast Bruce Springsteen/Tom Petty/Any Rocker, down a glass of Pinot Grigio, get a pedicure, go out with the girls or do all of the aforementioned at once if that's what it takes to avoid burnout.

* We have a right to react to people's ignorance in whatever way we feel necessary.

* We have a right to not always have our child be the poster child for his/her disability and some days be just a child.

* We have a right to go through the griving process and realize we may never quite be "over it."

* We have the right to give our kids chores. Even better if they can learn to make breakfast in bed for us.

* We have a right to stretch the truth when we fail to do the exercises the therapist asked us to do this week because we were too darn tired or overwhelmed.

* We have a right to have yet more Pinot Grigio.

* We have a right to fire any doctor or therapist who's negative, unsupportive or who generally says suck-y things.

* We have a right to tell family and friends that everything may not be OK--at least not how they mean it, anyway.

* We have a right to hope for an empty playground so we don't have to look into another child's eyes and answer the question, "What's wrong with him?"

* We have a right to bawl on the way back from the playground, the birthday party, the mall or anyplace where our children's challenges become glaringly obvious in the face of all the other kids doing their typical-development things.

* We have the right to give our children consequences for their behavior. They may be "special" but they can still be a royal pain in the ass.

* We have a right to take a break from Googling therapies, procedures, medicine and treatments for our kids to research upcoming concerts, exotic teas or anything not related to our children's disabilities.

* We have a right to talk about how great our kids are when people don't get it.

* We have the right to not always behave as inspirational icons who never complain or gripe about the sometimes awful realities of raising a child with special needs.

* We have a right to expect quality services for our children not just when they're infants, preschoolers and elementary school age, but when they're in older grades and adults, too.

* We have a right to adequate funding for those services and to not have to kick, scream or endure a wait for them.

* We have a right to get tired of people saying, as they give that smpathy stare, "I don't know how you do it."

* We have a right to wish that sometimes things could be easier.

* We have a right to cheer like crazy anytime our children amaze us--or weep like lunatics.

* We have a right to push, push and push some more to make sure our children are treated fairly by the world.

* * * * *

2 weeks left!!

2009-07-02T12:52:00.001-05:00

Only 14 more days 'til we get to meet our baby girl! The C-section is scheduled for July 17th, 7:30am. Adrian & I have a few more things to do to get ready for her arrival. Gavin is camping with Mimi Julie & Papa Ken this weekend, so we've got plenty of extra time to prep. Thanks, Mom & Dad!!!

Ainsley has been learning some new tricks lately. She's started to stand on her own--without pulling herself up on furniture or the closest available leg. She'll straighten her legs, put her toosh up in the air, then straighten to a stand. She applauds herself and gets irritated if you don't do the same. We make a big deal out of it everytime, especially Gavin. He's so proud of her and will occasionally knock her down while giving her a hug & kiss. Woohoo, Beanie!!

Ainsley is starting to communicate a lot more. It's her own "language" some of the time but it gets her point across. She clearly understands what we say to her...like when we ask her to close a cabinet that she shouldn't be in. Usually she follows the instructions; other times she just turns & smiles. "Message received, Mom, but the stuff in here looks like more fun than my toys--thanks!"

The cooler weather this week has been a welcome break from the heat & humidity. Gavin has a T-ball game tonight and it will be a GREAT night to be outside. Finally! Now we just need it to stay this temperature for a bit longer. Makes the last weeks of the pregnancy so much more enjoyable. It hasn't been bad, and the end is soooo close. It will just be nice to be able to hold Gavin & Ainsley a bit closer. And of course to hold our baby!!

Piano & Cello

2009-06-20T17:14:00.003-05:00

Love. this. music. And I've totally got a soft spot for anything that can bring a piano & cello together with a couple of my favorite songs. Yeah, this song just works for me. Enjoy!

Catching up

2009-06-19T12:28:00.000-05:00

Last week was a busy one with VBS, a day at the zoo with Gavin & a friend, Gavin's 5th birthday, and the Buddy Walk. I'm not sure where this week went but it has flown by, too.

I'll have to post pictures of the zoo later--they're on another camera. We took a friend of Gavin's with us and the boys had a blast together.

Gavin's party was Saturday. He helped me decorate his birthday cake that morning. He had requested an airport cake. What does that look like, Gavin? He told me that it needed airplanes and a road for them. Whew! No building construction project, just planes. Much easier to accomplish. Adrian had picked up some toy airplanes to decorate the cake and Gavin insisted that all of them go on the cake. Then he went & found one that he already had and put that one on, too. It was more than I had intended on putting on there, but what fun is it to have the birthday boy help if I can't let him put what he wants on there. I wanted to write "Happy Birthday Gavin!" but birthday boy vetoed that, too. Here's the finished product:

Not professional, but not CakeWrecks worthy either, I don't think.

Gavin got so many nice things for his birthday and the big hit were the golf clubs from Mimi Julie & Papa Ken. He had to go try them out in the yard immediately.

Aunt Silly & Uncle Mark hooked him up with some plastic practice balls (our cars & windows will be much better off this way--thank you!) and a glove that looks big and fits surprisingly well. Yes, Gavin's going to be a big guy.

The weather was perfect & we all relaxed outside on the porch. Ainsley played with Mrs. B while Gavin took a few swings with his new clubs. She's much happier when we get her out of her high chair and let her sit in a regular chair. She's doing well with turning over onto her tummy to get down from chairs & sofas, so Adrian & I are a lot more comfortable with letting her sit there like a big girl. It was a bit scary when she didn't understand or respect the power of gravity and the distance between a chair and the floor. Much better now!

Sunday was the Buddy Walk in Forest Park, St. Louis. Ainsley had quite a turnout for her team--thank you to everyone who was able to join us! This is our 2nd year at the Buddy Walk and plan on doing it every year. It's an easy one-mile walk through the park, followed by lunch. There are lots of things for the kids to do: crafts, games, and plenty of bounce-houses. Those are always Gavin's favorites, no matter the venue. A local radio station provides music and a lot of the kiddos end up dancing. It's so much fun!

This year we tailgated after lunch, just to give everyone a chance to hang out together a bit. Gavin relaxed with Chase in the back of the Yukon while everyone visited & ate goodies. He adores his cousin and can't wait 'til Chase is able to run & play in the back yard or park. Soon enough, Gavin!

The countdown to Baker Baby #3 is down to 27 days. Ainsley will be glad to get my lap back, I think. It's getting tougher to hold her in the rocking chair for bedtime stories. Gavin is still enjoying feeling Baby Jabba moving, especially after I read to him at night. She seems to wake up and respond to his voice, much to his delight. He's been a big helper for me when my energy is running low, but has told me that he wants me to be able to ride bikes & scooters or play soccer with him soon. It's on the top of my To-Do list as soon as I can do it, little man, I promise.

I'll post some more pics of our fun week a bit later....

Summer schedule

2009-06-10T00:52:00.000-05:00

Summer always seems to be a time to relax and slow the schedule down a bit. Does that really work for anyone else? Our schedule seems to keep us as busy as ever!
This week is Vacation Bible School at our church. Gavin is having a great time, though it makes for a long day for our little man. The craft on Monday night was a lion mask:

It's missing a few pieces now but he's still enjoying it. Ainsley laughs when Gavin roars at her and runs around acting like a lion.

Tuesday night was busy--haircuts, drive-thru dinner, and VBS. No complaints from Gavin, though. He got to go to Taco Bell as a treat and we had a "picnic" in the car before VBS.

He's sporting his new haircut. He got brave this time and got a mohawk. Walking in to VBS, he told me that he was excited 'cause he wated to show everyone how handsome he is. I tried to give him a hug and got warned not to mess up his hair, that it is easy to do because it feels as dry as grass. I don't know where he gets this stuff, but it made me laugh.

Ainsley got a haircut, too. Hers didn't look as good in the pics this morning because Gavin did her hair. It was cute the way he insisted on doing her hair and got frustrated when she kept turning her head. Welcome to my world, buddy!

Ainsley is trying to give her vitamin to Adrian. She likes to give it to him, then let him feed it to her. She's one persistant little bugger...keeps saying "Da! Da! Da!" until he talks to her. This morning, she showed him the vitamin, then popped it in her mouth & smiled at him as if to say, "See, Dad! This is my favorite and I'm not sharing with you today!" Yep, she makes mornings fun.

Adrian has been working hard remodeling the kiddos' bathrom. I'll post pics & the whole story later. 'Til then....

Messes are fun!

2009-06-03T18:15:00.000-05:00

The kiddos decided that it would be fun to empty the toybox. Fun for them, anyway. No one was too keen on helping me put the mess away. No worries...a few of them didn't find their way back into the box. As you can see from the mess, there's no way that those ones will be noticed. Gavin helped me relocate a few back to the playroom, then pick up a bunch of toys there. Ainsley amused herself by playing with Play-Doh and all the pieces. How is it that a little girl that isn't 2 can open a can of Play-Doh when Mommy struggles with a few of them? Good job, little girl!

Ainsley is starting to toddle around the house using the push-toy (just behind her head in the pics). She reminds me so much of Gavin. That was his first foray into walking. They figured out that they can get around faster than if they crawl. Bad news is that the wheels don't turn left or right; they only go straight. It didn't take either one of them long to figure out to stop, redirect, then start going again. Ainsley tends to talk as she walks. It's like a warning alarm that the Bean is on her way to wherever you are, so shut cabinets and relocate anything that might not be the best toy for her. She's so much fun!!

We should finally have Gavin's first T-ball game this Friday night. This should be the 4th game of the season but central IL has gotten a lot of rain. So we're praying for no more rain this week so the fields can dry & be ready for Friday. I'll post pics if the game actually happens....

Fun in St. Louis

2009-05-22T18:08:00.000-05:00

Last weekend (yes, this post is long overdue...) we went to St. Louis for a picnic with the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis. It was a lot of fun--music, icees, popcorn, and bounce-houses. The weather turned cold during the morning and the wind wouldn't stop. That didn't seem to bother Gavin much. He really enjoyed bouncing around with other kiddos. Ainsley hung out in her stroller and tried to stay warm. She bounced along to the music, "dancing" in my arms when I held her.

This week was also Ainsley's first Cardinals game. We got to join the Pujols Family Foundation for a Cards - Cubs game on Tuesday. What a perfect night for a game! Gavin & Ainsley looked awesome in their little jerseys. Gavin insisted on wearing his Illini hat, convinced that "Chief will come dance on the field"....ummm, not tonight. Not here. But I'm glad that you will miss that as much as I do, buddy.

The foundation made arrangements to sit in one of the owner's boxes, so the seats were awesome! That was the 2nd time out of 3 trips to Busch Stadium that Gavin's gotten to sit in a box--he's going to think that everyone watches games from a box with dinner served in a posh air-conditioned room behind them. Bleachers are going to be a tough dose of reality! Cards won that night and also swept the series. Woohoo!!! A big Thank You to the foundation for the invitation and for making the evening so much fun. We had a great night!!

Today is 8 weeks from when Baker Baby #3 will join our family. We're so excited to meet her! Gavin wants to go buy her a special outfit to come home in. Maybe we'll do that this weekend. I'm making excuses to get the kiddos out of the house while Adrian is busy remodeling their bathroom. More on that later. Let's just say that I have a great hubby that totally goes the extra mile for his family. Love you, Adrian!!!

Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend!!

Mohawks, T-Ball, and Dog Treats

2009-04-27T17:38:00.001-05:00

It warmed up enough this weekend so we could finally sleep with the windows open. That is one of the things that I look forward to the most. Some nights it gets cooler and I have to snuggle under the covers, but I love it even if it's a bit chilly when I step out of bed. Both Gavin & Ainsley get really hot when they sleep so I think that they enjoy it, too.

For about a week, Gavin wanted his hair spiked in the morning. This was a big change from the kiddo who never wanted anything done to his hair. Suddenly, he wants a line of spikes--right down the middle. A mohawk of sorts. Gavin got his hair cut last week and wanted a mohawk cut. I asked Helen to make it a kind of faux-hawk because I was afraid that he wouldn't want it after it was done. And sure enough, the next morning he didn't want it done. He just wanted it to lay flat. Whew...I think we would have had one unhappy camper if there had been a well-defined stripe of hair down the middle of his head.

We finally got to have a T-Ball practice on Friday night. The way it works in our league is that the kiddos have their coach pitch the ball to them 3 times before the batting tee is put out for them to hit off of. This gives them the opportunity to learn to hit a ball, and a backup if they are struggling a bit that night. Gavin connected with the ball the 2 times he was up to bat and loved it. Good job, Gavin!!

Ainsley is everywhere these days, exploring all corners of the house. She's figured out how to let our small dog out of her cage. The black lab usually gets left in her cage because Ainsley hasn't discovered that there are actually 2 latches that keep Abby's cage shut. It won't take long, though. Her other favorite is to open a cabinet in that room that holds the dog's treats. Adrian discovered her sitting on the floor with both dogs seated in front of her and a bag of their treats in her lap. She would reach into the bag, pull out a biscuit, and feed it to one of the dogs. We were surprised that Abby didn't just knock her over and run off with the whole bag of biscuits. Nope. There she sat, waiting patiently for Ainsley to get another treat out of the bag, then gently taking the treat from Ainsley's hand when it was offered. Lots of fun to watch, but not something that we want to allow everyday.

We've got a few baby appointments this week. I'm 28 weeks tomorrow...only 84 days 'til the due date. I can't believe how fast it's going by. Gavin loves to feel Baby Jabba moving around in there and tells me that he can hear her talking to him. So sweet!

Fun video!

2009-04-13T20:53:00.002-05:00

I saw this video online & had to share it. Looks like a lot of fun--enjoy!

Local news

2009-03-30T20:55:00.005-05:00

I am an employee of Schutt Sports, and one of the issues that our management team is considering is consolidation of our facilities. We currently have 4 facilities: 3 in Litchfield, IL and one in Salem, IL. As a way to make the company run better, moving everything under one roof has become an option. Schutt is asking for help from the city of Litchfield to help fund an expansion of one of our current facilities.

One of the important steps in this process is the question on the ballot on April 7. A website has been developed to explain why the passage of this proposition would be so beneficial to Litchfield: http://www.growlitchfield.com/

There have been several letters published in the local papers in support of the 1/2% increase in sales taxes. One of them is here. This is great!

So if you are a Litchfield resident and registered voter, vote YES on April 7. Thanks!

Cure for Cabin Fever

2009-03-24T17:36:00.000-05:00

We've been enjoying the warmer weather here in central IL lately. Gavin & Ainsley love being outside, and Adrian & I love how well they sleep after a busy day outside. (We're seriously blessed to have such good sleepers, even when they haven't been outside!)

Gavin has been starting to spend more time on his bicycle. I'm hoping that we can take the training wheels off sometime this summer.

Ainsley had fun visiting with the neighbor girls. She is crawling everywhere, so there are times that I have to take her out of the stroller and let her crawl and explore...even if that means that she's crawling on the sidewalk or driveway. Clothes were made to be washed, right? Maybe this will encourage her to start walking sooner since dragging bare knees on concrete won't be a fun way to spend the summer.

We had our IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) meeting this week. We get together with the therapists and the service coordinator to review Ainsley's progress and re-work our goals for the next 6 months. Ainsley is doing great--learning to do all kinds of new tasks! Our goals for her include things like making more progress towards walking. She can walk with the assistance of a push-toy that we added some weight to, but she will not seek it out to help her get from point A to point B. She still prefers to crawl. That will change as she learns to walk faster, then figures out that she can get around faster by walking than by crawling.

Gavin sat at the table with us and reviewed the paperwork as the therapists presented their information. When he'd had enough of that, he went to the kitchen and recruited Miss Dana to help him make chocolate chai for our visitors. Such a sweetheart!

Adrian has been working hard on the Citizens for Growth committee. Litchfield has a proposal on the April 7 ballot about increasing the sales tax rate by .5%. You can read all about it at: www.growlitchfield.com I think that this is something that Litchfield desperately needs. Now we just have to convince the majority of the voters.

March Sonogram

2009-03-06T17:44:00.001-06:00

On Tuesday, Adrian & I took Gavin to the sonogram. He's been excited about the baby lately, so we thought it would be fun for him to "see" her. She was active & gave the technician a run for her money. Cris is great at her job and was able to get everthing she needed and some great pics for us.

Here's one where the baby is "waving" at Gavin. He thought that was really neat!

On Wednesday, Stephanie and Mark had their first baby--Chase Wayne joined the world at 4:10 pm. He was 8 lbs. 3 oz. and 21" long. He's got a full head of black hair and blue eyes. With Mark's brown eyes, we're waiting to see if the blue holds on. Gavin & Ainsley went to see him that evening. Gavin was impressed and Ainsley didn't quite know what to make of all of it. Won't she be in for a shock when we bring home our bundle of joy in July?

It's a beautiful day here, so we're going to get out & enjoy it while we can.

Sad but true

2009-02-21T20:21:00.002-06:00

Tonight Mimi Edna came over for dinner. Adrian and Gavin made beef stew and Yorkshire pudding. It was simple and so good on a cold night.

After dinner we played Memory. Gavin is awesome at this game! The instructions recommend that we only play with 36 of the 72 cards with a 4-year-old. Not necessary at the Baker house. We play with all the cards and Gavin beats the adults. And all of us are trying to beat him. When he knows where the match is and we get it wrong, he laughs like a crazyman before he picks up the matching pair for himself. Yes, I lose to a 4-y.o. And I couldn't be happier!

New 'do!

2009-02-20T17:20:00.001-06:00

Adrian & the kiddos got their hair cut last night. Gavin went with his classic super-short cut. And Ainsley stole the show with her first "big girl" haircut. As Helen finished clipping the ends, my baby disappeared. Suddenly there was this little girl on my lap...isn't she cute?!

We got the final call on the testing for Baby #3 and everything looks good. We keep the name a secret until she's born, but it's decided. Adrian & I are still working on the "punishment" for telling. Probably a choice of movie rentals, or restaurant for a dinner out. Not a major infraction, so not a major punishment.

Gavin has been picking up some new phrases. My favorite is "what the word?!" I think he means "what in the world" but it's not quite there yet. He has the timing right...usually said when he's surprised. He left instructions for Miss Dana to tell him about everything that happened in Ainsley's therapy today. Lately he gets upset if he has school and misses therapy. So sweet the way he's watching out for Ainsley and wanting to be involved in what she's doing!

It's a Girl!!

2009-02-13T17:33:00.001-06:00

I'll use this first post to announce our big news -- It's a Girl!! She is doing well and is scheduled to join our family around July 21st.

Gavin had been hoping for a little brother and didn't take the news well. Ainsley just watched as he got mad and cried about how unfair it was because he had told everyone that he wanted a boy. He's a great big brother to Ainsley, so I know that he'll be excited after he's had a chance to adjust.

Adrian and I are just grateful to hear and see that everything looks as it should. Lots of prayers have been answered!

Gavin helped me make Valentine's Day presents last night, so we'll spend part of our Saturday making deliveries. He's such a big help--even doing dishes to help with the cleanup. What a guy!