This week of mine

Ok, so the Ds posts didn't happen all this week, it's ok I have an excuse...

This has been the busiest week for me in a long time.

Ola had 3 appointments, I had one, throw in a day at the pumpkin patch with 20 three year olds, picture day at school, a meeting,  and you have me, sitting at my computer at 10:30pm still wearing my jacket...

I'm thinking it's time for bed.

Mark asked me what was on the calendar for tomorrow and I said "Nothing!" and I hope it stays that way. He wants to have a nothing day too so maybe we can figure something out.

All good things came from all of Ola's appointments this week, except that she shouldn't go in the jolly jumper. So no more fun for her. It's ok though, after listening to the Dr's reasoning I am cool with that. We don't need any neck/hip/back injuries here.

She needs to go have an ultrasound done on her... umm brain I guess. It's of her head, so I would imagine it's her brain. She is tending to favor her right side and we need to rule out anything going on with the right side of her brain which controls the left side. Confused yet? me too! It feels weird to day that she needs an ultrasound on her brain...

Pumpkin patch went well, we got a few pumpkins, one which is like a conjoined twin, Poppy calls it the boobie pumpkin which she happily gave me. Thanks dear...

 Petting a turkey chick

 Daddy shot (note Poppy is kissing Ola's hand, she is always doing this, it's my fault, I told her when Ola came home from the hospital that she was only allowed to kiss her hands and feet therefore sparing little Ola germs on her face, but now... she would rather be kissing Ola's hands than doing anything else)

 Mommy shot

 dragging a pumpkin

 Picked one!

 Ola is feeling under the weather, she slept most of the time

The end

I had a dentist appointment. Apparently I have TMJ. My jaw has hurt and ached for so long now, my dentist wants to shoot botox into my jaw muscle... I don't know about that yet. I am not a botoxie type girl :)

I am a member of the newly formed Fraser Valley Modern Quilt Guild, I went to my first meeting tonight. I had a really good time. I didn't sew, but I chatted and that was fun too! It was nice to meet some ladies that I feel like I know but I haven't met yet. Hi guys!

Ok so it's 11 now, and I gotta go to bed. Enjoy the rest of your week, I hope you get a nothing day too!

Gnome GIVEAWAY WINNER!!!

I was busy making pies and remembered that I had to do a giveaway today!

We do things low tech around here, so here we go!

All of your names on post it's (good thing there was only four of you!)

Names in the trick or treat bag....

and the WINNER is!...

The WILSONS!!!!

Seriously, that was so EXCITING!

Ok, so The Wilsons need to email me at pootandboogie@hotmail.com with your address and the little gnome will be on his way!

and PS isn't my apron so UGLY :( eww... I need to make one!

Ds awareness day #16

I am just realizing that I am missing a day.... how the heck? Well... It's ok, it's my blog I make the rules :)

So here we go...   Our topic tonight is eating!

mmm... rice cereal

I posted early on that Ola and I didn't really have a very go go at breast feeding. We managed to do it for 2 weeks when Ola was about 11 weeks old. My milk quickly depleted without all the pumping I had been doing before that, and it was over. 13 weeks is a far cry from the 14 months I did with Poppy.

Kids with Ds are known to have a little bit bigger tongue and a smaller palate than "typical" (shutter...) kids. They also tend to be tongue thrusters, which makes it hard for them to get the hang of nursing and then eating solids.

I started introducing Ola to rice cereal about a month ago, it didn't go so well. Food everywhere, tons of tongue thrusting and a baby that just wanted her bottle. I waited another two weeks, tried again, waited some more and then decided that I needed to do it again. She turned 6 months yesterday, and I am proud to say that I think we have a rice cereal fan! 

I know that this picture looks super messy, but this was 2 days ago, tonight was only one little smear on the bib!

I have a book on nutrition for Ds, and in the beginning chapters it says not to be disappointed in your child if in the beginning they push out 75% of what you put in. I am pretty sure the first night was close to that, but it seems to be good now. 

I think our pediatrician's first advice to us was "you get out of a child with Ds what you put in." I think that statement is ringing true and I can't wait to tell him at her appointment this week how awesome she is doing!

Ds awareness day #14

Do you ever feel like you have to tippy-toe around everyone, not wanting to rock the boat?

I have always been a tippy toe-er , and you know what I am tired of it. I always had the mentality of keep the peace, swallow your words and smile.

Sometimes I think people need to be told the truth. I think people need to know that things they say are obnoxious and annoying.

I think having a child with Down syndrome has put daggers in my mouth, and I will shout them at you if I need to. I think that I have become more defensive and protective in the process.

Part of me hates that, part of me likes that.

Ds Awareness day #13

There is another marker for Ds that is visible as soon as the baby is born, it's called sandal toe. I am sure it has a fancier name, but for our purposes this will do.

and  it looks like this...

These are Ola's toes about an hour after she was born, when we still had her with us in the room. I think my sister in law took this picture because right off the bat I though something looked a little bit different than I remember baby toes looking. Keep in mind that her little feet are very swollen in this picture, but on the left can you see the bigger space between the big toe and the second toe? That's sandal toe. Just a bigger space. Doesn't cause any harm, and I think again like everything else not all kids with Ds have this.

Honestly I think my toes look like this after a long hot summer of wearing flip flops. so that just brings home the fact that kids with Ds are more alike other kids than unlike.

Oh yeah.... Don't forget to leave a comment on day 11 for a chance to win a Poot & Boogie gnome stuffy!

Ds Awareness day #12

I was trying to think of something to write about Ds tonight, and although I am not short of topics to talk about, I really just don't feel like talking about it tonight.

Since Ola has come along there isn't a day that I don't think about Ds in some way. At one point not that long ago I had 3 books about it in progress. I was trying to learn but in that I hit overload. It has become an obsession really, I think I thought I had to learn everything about it all at once. I want to have all the info in my head. I want it in there so I can reference it if I need to. I want to have that info so when something seems off I can call on the little librarian inside my head and get her to call up the chapter.

I want to seem educated when the pediatrician asks me a question.
I want to know what the warning signs for leukemia are.
I want to know what to look for if her heart is having trouble.
I want to know that a little squint could be nothing, or she could be having trouble seeing.
I want to know that she is hearing ok and that she is just totally ignoring me.
I want to know that it's "normal" for her to not be reaching out to grab toys.
I want to know that I am not the only one who is watching their child spit out 75% of the food I put in her.

I want to know that I am not crazy when I am noticing these things.

I want to go to bed and put these things out of my mind.

So tonight in not writing something about Ds, I kinda did.

Ds Awareness day #11 and a GIVEAWAY!!!!

Since all of you have put up with my long stammering blog posts the past few days I am going to do something new!

A Giveaway!

I am going to giveaway one of my Poot & Boogie gnomes. I only have about 8 of these, and I have been holding on to them for a special occasion! These little guys are so cute, and are printed on both sides.

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and you are entered!

 I will do the old fashioned thing and draw names from a hat! You have until next Sunday morning to leave a comment and I will announce a winner after lunch! Then you just have to email me with your info and Whammo! you got yourself a cute little gnome stuffy!

Good Luck!

and just in case you are wondering what the heck this has to do with Down syndrome....

When I was coming out of my nitrous oxide haze after having Ola. I said "oh look...she looks like a little gnome!" what I meant to say was elf...but whatever... I was drugged!

So there you go, a little fun for Ds awareness!

Ds Awareness day #10 and Thanksgiving

It is Thanksgiving this weekend in BC and I have a lot to be Thankful for this year.

I finished school, had a beautiful daughter, celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary, got my kitchen renovated!, had a first day of preschool to celebrate, and first swimming lessons, first smiles, first chatting noises, entered the why, mommy why stage of toddlerhood, and laughed and loved a lot!

My family and friends have been so awesome to me in the last 6 months and I don't think that they can ever be repaid for their help. The spring was a really rough patch around here and I am really glad that we have moved through summer and are heading in to fall which is my favourite season.

I went to church with Mark today and the priest was saying something along the lines of that in order for your thanks to mean something you have to direct it at certain people with an explanation as to why you are thanking them. You can't just throw out a general Thanks and expect people to know it was meant for them.

I know that I have a lot of people to Thank but for now, I am just going to write to the main people that I interact with on a daily basis.

Mom: I am seriously going to try not to cry right now. You have been such a huge help to me in the last few months that I have no idea what I would have done without you. You have listened to me cry, and complain, and feel sorry for myself. I appreciate every word that you said to me, and that you made me believe that I can do anything and that I am stronger than I ever gave myself credit for. You made me realize that I CAN do it. Thank You!

Dad: Thank You for always reminding about what Ola can do. You are always there reminding me how great she is doing and I Thank You!

Mark: I know you have no choice but to be here, and that sometimes it gets hard. Sometimes I get frazzled and freak out, but I need you to know that no matter what I love you and I need you here as part of the team. I appreciate all the things you do, and that you are willing to work so hard to support our family solely so that I can stay here with the girls. You have no idea what that means to me. I love you and Thank You!

Brad and Sarah: Thanks for being there and helping out when I need it. The last minute babysitting and hanging out with Poppy while I go to appointments and stuff are amazing. Thanks for humouring Poppy every time she sees you and taking her to see the ferrets, for playing store with her, reading to her, and taking her for walks. It means a lot to her! Thank You!

Cynthia: Ever since the call to you when Ola was born you have continually kept me going and reminding me to take everyday an hour at a time. I told you that you are my Mommy hero and you truly are. I admire your creativity and your drive to get things done! Thanks for texting with me everyday, it's weird day when I don't hear from you! Thank You!

Auntie B and Grandma Soks: Thanks for taking the girls every week for me so that I can have a few hours to myself, or to clean the chickens! The girls love being with you and I am so glad that they get to be with you as much as I did when I was growing up. Thank You!

I know lots more people need shout outs, but you will have to forgive me, I have to go get ready to eat some pie (oh and Turkey too!)

But before I go I need to say something about Ds. Did you know that kids with Ds sometimes only have one crease that runs across the palm of their hand. It's called a Simian crease. It occurs in the normal population but is very common in people with Ds, and it is a common characteristic that they look for when pre-determining Ds at birth. Ola doesn't have this, but lots of kids with Ds do.

Ds Awareness day #9

You probably thought that I had forgotten about a post for today, but I didn't I was just busy.

Tomorrow is our Thanksgiving. I am making a pie for the first time in my life, crust and all, and we are also celebrating my Grandma's 84th birthday. I started a family tree quilt for her almost 3 years ago. I am so bad I know, but I didn't really know how to quilt and I thought that maybe this project might make me. I sat all day and sewed and I got it done. It's in the dryer right now shrinking up and getting wrinkly (just the way I like em!)

Anyways... I was putting off the post until I was done. I am done...

Right after Ola was born I remember thinking selfish things like...

I am going to be 85 and still have a child living at  home with me...

I am going to be 85 and I will still have to support my daughter...

I am going to have a child at home with me for the rest of my life.

My Grandma was the reason why I was thinking these things. You see, my aunt still lives at home with my Grandma. My aunt has what I was always told was a "deviant form of Ds" I am not sure who came up with this as a diagnosis, it may have been my Grandma, it may have been my aunts doctors when she was a child, maybe it was just easier to describe it as something like Ds. I never really asked any questions and I was oblivious to what Ds was, and I never questioned it.

When our pediatrician came in to talk to Mark and I the morning after Ola was born he asked if either of us had any experiences with people with Ds. I told him about my aunt, and he accepted what I told him. I think having my aunt made me ok with the idea that Ola might have/has Ds.

My Grandma and my Aunt moved close to my parents 5 months after I was born. There were a few reasons why, they don't really matter, but I all I knew was that when I was growing up I was lucky to have my Grandma and my Aunt live just down the street from me. My Aunt was always our babysitter. We never had a neighbourhood teenager, or family friend. It was her...Always.

I remember her being smaller than the other adults, but she was bigger than me. I remember people looking at her, and being annoyed at that but it was little brother who stuck up for her when people made fun. I knew that she had a harder time reading than my teacher or my Mom, but she was better than me, and she could read me all the stories I was interested in.

Then when I started getting older, I got taller and my Aunt stayed the same. Suddenly I was bigger than her, stronger than her, and smarter than her. I always knew that she was different, but I think I finally realized it when I became more aware of what other people thought. Kids at school used to ask me questions and I avoided it. I didn't want to talk about it, I didn't know what to say and I didn't want to be different.

My Aunt and I had a not so nice relationship when I was a teenager. I was trying to get away with things and she was tattling on me to my Mom. Even when I was old enough that I didn't need her, my brother did. I felt like I had become the bad guy and my brother could do no wrong. I knew that as long as she was around there was no way I was getting away with anything. She was watching me like a hawk and reporting my every move to my Mom. I hated her being around... I hated that she loved my brother more. She was around a lot. She just lived down the road and she would just come over to hang out, or to help my Mom or if Grandma was going away she would come to our place. Sometimes she would be there for weeks.

This all changed when I hit high school. I think she still liked my brother better, but she wasn't so bad. She helped me out if I needed her for anything, and once I gained my independence I saw her less. My family moved about 30 minutes away from them, and I think it really hit my aunt hard. She took the bus everywhere (when my Grandma was at work) and it was hard for her to get to us. When I got my drivers licence I could go get her and bring her over if she wanted or if my Mom asked me too.

Things changed even more once I was pregnant with Poppy. My aunt was so excited from me, she bought me little things here and there, and always asked how I was feeling and if I was doing Ok. I remember my Mom saying to me when I was closer to my due date that I should ask my Aunt to come out to my place to help me, just like she had dome for my Mom so many years ago. I was not into the idea. I could do everything by myself, I didn't need her.

I did need her, and she was there, just like she always has been and always will be. She became Poppy's number one babysitter, I could call her last minute and it was never a problem. If it wasn't for her willingness to put her life on hold to watch Poppy everyday while I went back to school I never could have. She moved out to my place in a heartbeat for a month when I got placed for my practicum out of town and needed someone to get up at the crack of dawn with Poppy and make sure she got her breakfast, and naps while I was gone all day. I was so exhausted for that month. I was over 25 weeks along with Ola and I needed her and Mark for everything.

She had a bad cold when Ola was born and she couldn't come out to the hospital to visit. I know it killed her and she was so upset. She kept going back to her doctors to get the Ok, but I wouldn't let her. There was no way that I could take a chance of Ola getting sick. She was so worried, and I know that it was 10 times worse because she couldn't see her.

I knew that I was going to have a hard time telling people about Ola's Ds, but I knew that telling her was going to be one of the harder ones. I really wanted her to know that Ola really was Ok, but that she did have Ds and that would be ok too. She took it well, but I think that she had a hard time. I  think it was hard for her because she knew what it was like to be different. She knew what is was like to have people stare and make fun. She thought all of this was going to happen to Ola. I really didn't want her to feel this way, I wanted her to know that Ola would be just fine, but how do you say that to someone that knows first hand?

She has become Ola's biggest fan and I think that the two of them are going to have an amazing bond. She looks after both of my girls, just like she did my brother and I, and I can't imagine ever having anyone else do it. She quickly mastered the art of feeding Ola and can hit her burp spot right on. She will never understand how truly grateful I am that I have her. My family is not super "huggy" but I have made sure to hug her now, especially when she has just taken such great care of my girls.

I think that having my Aunt around all these years has helped me become a better more compassionate person, and having her be around my girls will help them be the same. I think someone or something had a plan for me. They gave me my Aunt so that I would be ready for my little Ola. They knew that I could handle it, they knew I would know what to do.

Even though my aunt doesn't really have Ds, she is a wonderful advocate. She is showing that people with Ds and other special needs can still be high functioning. I hope that every time someone sees her out with my girls that they realize that just because you might look a little bit different doesn't mean that you are incapable. My aunt is very capable, and special, but special because of who she is, not because of what she has.

I don't feel so sorry for my Grandma anymore, even though the times are different and I know that I am getting a lot more help with Ola than my Grandma would have ever known what to do with, but I think I can understand where she is coming from. I think that my Grandma and I have a lot of stuff in common, and now we have one more. I always looked up to her for her strength and tenacity, I always hoped to  have an ounce of it, and now I know I do.

Now I know that Ola won't be living at home when I am an old 85 year old woman. I know that I will not have a child at home with me for the rest of my life, but I really do hope that she can make the time to come visit her old wrinkly parents.

Down Syndrome Awareness day #8

Just a photo of Ola working on her Tummy time. 

living a virtual life

Sometimes I talk about other bloggers to my family like they are my friends. Like I have met them in person and I talk to them on a daily basis.

I read a select number of blogs.

There are my real life friends blogs. Even though I am their friends in real life some of them I don't get to see very often and I can catch up between phone calls and emails.

There are my Ds blogs. Most of these blogs are other Moms talking about their experiences with Ds. There are moms that have been at this for years and there are other Moms that are just starting out like me. I appreciate their words and I tend to learn something new, or see something that inspires me to tears. I love that we are all so different but all so the same.

There are my "crafty" blogs. Sometimes I just want to think crafty. I occasionally get the urge to get out all my crafty stuff and make something. I tend to sew the most. I guess just because of the dolls, and because the sewing machine always seems to be the handiest to access. Most of the time on my photo booth photos you can see it sitting behind me. I love the way people come up with things, and I feel like I used to be like that but now I feel like most of creative "juices" have be turned into other "juices" that fuel a different kind of brain power. I have pushed aside the creative side to come up with answers to my 3 year olds crazy questions, like yesterdays question of how do babies come out of Mommies tummies? What the H? she is three.

And then, there are other blogs that I lurk on.... I just wanna see into other peoples lives.

One time when I was talking about one of my blogging "friends" someone said to me "you sure live a virtual life." I thought it was a bit rude. Maybe I do talk about people sometimes like they are my friends, but don't you learn stuff from friends? I think that sometimes these "virtual" people have taught me more than some of the people that I have met in real life.

And besides... don't we all live a pretty virtual life? I am pretty sure just about everyone on the planet is on Facebook or twitter.

Down syndrome Awareness day #7

Throwing out the Playbook

Something that I decided quite soon after Ola was born was that I need to throw out the playbook that I followed for Poppy. There were a few times that the playbook had somehow managed to get back into my hands, and it taunted me, tormented me and made me cry. The last time this happened, I tossed that sucker out of my mind as far as my brain could chuck it.

Ola is playing her own game here, no need to follow the plays that Poppy used to succeed. I have no need for that book, and don't even ask me when a "typical" child should _______. I have released that info from my head and I am not going to go look it up for you.

Now I know the approximate times a child should sit/stand/crawl/walk/growth teeth... but for kids with Ds this can be totally different... or not...

Confusing I know... tell me about it!

I have a plan for the way that I am raising Ola, and the fancy name for this plan... Go with the flow. I adopted this plan when I was pregnant with her. I had a very specific birth plan for Poppy. I worked on this plan for days, I typed it over and over, trying to make it perfect. I was going to make sure that Poppy and I had the best birthing experience tranquil music and all! (Don' ask me what I was thinking, I was being influenced by a crazy doula!) After my entire birth plan was thrown out the window the second I BEGGED for pain medicine, I decided that I wouldn't make one for Ola. We were just going to go with the flow. Good thing.... it didn't happen the way I had planned either!

I am making sure Ola is doing what is right for her, and you know what? My plan is working out beautifully. She is gaining strength and hitting milestones at warp speed. She had a visit from our IDP consultant today and she cannot believe how great she is doing. Especially the chatting. I should make a video of that :)

This whole going with the flow thing has helped me loosen up a bit too. I would hate to admit that I was a bit of a schedule maker control freak type, but having Ola has taught me to loosen up, to slow down and to take a few deep breaths and know that it my world won't come crashing down if there are toys all over the floor for a day.

What we won't talk about is how I was up at 7am this morning scrubbing my floors on my knees because her IDP consultant was coming.

Ds Awareness day #6

Did you know?


That a large number of children with Ds have hearing problems?

This was another thing I didn't know about Ds. Babies in BC are given a hearing test when they are first born, Ola passed this so there hasn't been a need for us to get another one done yet. I have been reading lot in the last couple of months and I plan on talking to her pediatrician at her next visit which is in a couple of weeks. In one of the books that I read it stated that if your doctor can see the eardrum with their scope there is a good chance that they have large eustachian tubes and shouldn't require tubes in their ears. From what I know kids with Ds have smaller "pipes" I don't know all the technical terms so that is what I use. Smaller "pipes" in their ears, nose, nasal cavities ect. I know little miss Ola gets stuffed up quite easily and I have become a master blaster with the children's saline nasal spray. We go through periods where it is in our daily routine, and at other times like right now for example her nose is runny and snotty enough with her first cold that she sneezes it all out on her own.

Ola should see a ear, nose throat (ENT) specialist within the nest few months just to make sure that everything in that department is fine. So far, the doc can see the eardrums, and she seems to hear just fine. I watched Mark say "Hi Ola" today and she turned right around and looked right at him :)

Out with the new... boo hoo

You may remember earlier in the summer I decided to get a Mirena IUD put in.

Well... It's out. I went and got the $350 little piece of hormone infused plastic taken out.

I originally thought that the Mirena was a good idea for me. Less hormones overall than the pill, one less pill that I would have to take every day, and more cost effective, because lets face it money's tight right now and I calculated that it would be way cheaper in the long run especially if we decided not to have any more kids and keep it in for the full 5 years.

Flash forward 2 weeks after insertion. The first headache, and another, and another.... all bleeping summer. Everyday, as soon as I opened my eyes. Couple that with feeling that I was having the worst PMS I have ever had for 3 months straight. Super grumpy, super moody, super sleepy. All. The. Time. oh yeah and 12 extra pounds ( i don't eat that much ice cream!)

I had mentioned this to the OB about 3 weeks after she put it in. She figured the headache wasn't related to the IUD at all. I then told my GP about the headache about the week after that, and two more times since.

Last Thursday I decided I had a list of things to talk to the GP about and I decided to make an appointment. One of the things still being the headache, and my concern that it was the IUD. He wanted to run some blood and a urine just to "rule out" some other things... turns out I had a really bad bladder infection I didn't even notice, and that nothing... nothing else was abnormal. Good I thought, lets pull that sucker out!

I showed up yesterday (leaving the girls at home) I told the nurse right away that I was getting the IUD out, and didn't even give my GP a chance to try to talk me out of it.

I am really annoyed with myself that I had it put in so quickly after Ola was born. I am annoyed that I didn't even let my poor body... poor uterus recover from childbirth before having the IUD put in. Having it in made me feel really disconnected from my body, I didn't know what was going on, my body was rebelling from me, and I didn't even know what the exact cause was.  Was it me? the hormones? my hormones? the IUD itself... who the hell knows. My GP doesn't even know.

I am giving my body a chance to regulate, no more pills (birth control or other) until my body resets. I need to know what is happening. I am missing the regularity of things. I don't even know if I can remember what not having a headache feels like.

Oh yeah and I have to go lose 12 pounds!

Ds Awareness day #5

Ola practicing her tummy time, she loves this clock!

Ds Awareness day #4

Did you know?

"Children with Down syndrome have some physical, intellectual and emotional developmental delays."

Now of all the things about Down syndrome I am thinking that this is the one people most think of when you say Ds. I know that when Ola was born and I was totally oblivious to all the aspects of Ds I thought right away about her having intellectual disability.

This whole subject can take so many turns so I will attempt to keep it on the road I am intending. The one thing that I have learned so far about Ds is that every single one of our children is different. All of them.... the "typical" the "not so typical" and believe me I use the term "typical" loosely, however "typical" is better than "normal" because what is normal anyways?

Even though our children have Ds, it means something different for each of them. What one can do by age one, another might not be able to do by age two. One may hear, the other may be deaf. One may have 20/20 vision the other may need glasses.... and so on.

For the most part children with Ds have low muscle tone and this contributes to the slower physical development. I know when Ola was first born, she was "floppy." She was a "loosey goosey", she seemed really slippery to me and I had a hard time hanging on to her :) Darn muscle tone anyways. Ola is 22 weeks now and can hold her head up and sit well on my lap with a little bit of help. She struggled with tummy time, but improves day by day. She sits in her bumbo and bounces in her jolly jumper like a champ. She is trying to stand when you hold her up (I am thanking the jolly jumper for this.)

As for the intellectual part, "children with Ds most often score in the mild to moderate range of mental handicap. These tests do not measure many important areas of intelligence and one will often be surprised by the memory, insight, creativity, and cleverness of a child with Ds." I think that this sums it up pretty well.

As for the emotional part, I am not sure about this yet. I will have to do some more reading and some more learning on the subject before I pretend to know what I am talking about. All I know about Ola's emotions so far is that she is a happy kid, she doesn't care who you are, you are getting a big ol smile!

Information from LMDSS

Ds awareness day #3

Did you know?

Down syndrome is a chromosomal anomaly, or mix up in the genetic blue-print that occurs at conception. (taken from LMDSS)

I honestly wasn't sure. When I first was told that Ola most likely had DS a hour after she was born the first thing that came to mind was "OMG I knew it was a bad idea to get the H1N1 shot!" oh how naive I was.

The morning after Ola was born our super, wonderful, awesome, great (insert any other complimentary term here) pediatrician came to introduce himself and talk to us about Ola and Ds. He held her, talked to her gently and answered our questions and concerns in the most peaceful calm voice I had heard in days. One of the first things that I blurted out was "I had the H1N1 shot, that did this didn't it!" He looked at me, gave me a reassuring smile and calmly told me that I had done nothing that caused this. It wasn't the shot, it wasn't something I ate, I wasn't something that I didn't eat :) The way he described it to us was that all of my chromosomes and genetic material had been decided generations ago. All of my eggs had their destiny mapped out before my mother was even a glimmer in my grandmothers mind, and so on. The egg that was fertilized that night had an extra chromosome on the 21st one.

Had we not had sex that night and waited for another period, we might not have Ola. Simple as that. (Although there is a small chance that it could also be Marks sperm that contributed the Ds, it is more likely that it was my egg.)

So there you go... It wasn't something I ate :)

Ds awareness day #2

Did you know?

The occurrence of Down syndrome is universal across racial and gender lines, and it is present in about 1 in 800 births in Canada.

That's probably a little bit more common than you thought huh? Definitely more common than I ever thought.

When I found out that Ola had Ds, I was very concerned as to why the testing that I had done didn't show that she would have it. I had the triple screening done and it didn't give a statistical number that would alert my OB. I came to find out weeks after Ola was born that for my age (31) my chances of having a child born with Ds would be about 1 in 815. The numbers that came back to my OB were 1 in 800. There was no reason to look into it because I was at the right number for my age. My OB doesn't get concerned with the number unless it comes back as a 250 or less.

Really I think what this boils down to is that the triple screen test is just that...a screen. It doesn't give you a definitive answer it just gives you an "idea." From what I understand there are a lot of false positives with the triple screen. I know a woman that was given a 1 in 4 chance that her child would have Ds and he didn't. Ola was the first false negative that my OB has ever dealt with. Poor woman, we must have really surprised her!

The other thing that I didn't know was that a woman of any age can give birth to a child with Ds. I always thought that it was "older" ladies that did. Now I do not classify myself with the "older" ladies so it must be true ;) Every age has a statistic, and every woman's eggs are different.

So what this all boils down to is that I really should have gotten Mark to pick up a lottery ticket on the morning that I was induced. We won the Ds lottery and I only had a 1 in 800 chance! I wonder what the odds were for the million that day :)

Information was taken from the Canadian Down syndrome society's website. As with anything, please visit reputable sites for accurate information.

October is Down syndrome awareness month!

This post was meant to go out yesterday morning, not sure what happened there, but lets just fix it now!

October is Ds awareness month so everyday for the next month I plan on either sharing something that I have learned about Ds, something that maybe you might not have known, or just a little something about little miss Ola that might make you smile :)

Let's kick this off with a little photo!