Pretty much about food...

Gage got the coolest spoon today, so I had to share it with everyone!

We have been working on self-feeding, so this spoon is perfect. It has a nice grip that fits his hand just right, then there is a "scoop" on both sides, so no matter which way he puts it in his mouth, it is right! It also is "gag-proof" since it has little "walls" on each end as well. How cool is that!!

It has a really weird name though, it is called Baby Human.

His nurse brought it over for him today, I was stoked! Ok so really, I just call her his nurse, but she has to have a title other than that! I hear everyone talk about their OT and DT... so maybe she is one of those? She comes over and checks on his health, weight, eating, gets updated on his doctor appointments, and she does some speech therapy with us as well until Gage is "old enough" to have an actual ST come over to work with him. Does this sound familiar to anyone else? What would her "official" title be? I feel kinda dumb that I haven't figured that one out yet... yes it has been 10 months! haha oh well. When she came over today, Gage and I were out in the back yard playing so she came and joined us outside in the nice weather! It was fun to have our little "meeting" in the gorgeous weather we have been having!

So another thing I have been thinking would be fun to post about was the foods everyone's little ones like to eat! Gage loves trying new things and eats everything really well, but I kinda get in these times where I just make the same things over and over. I was thinking it would be fun to all share our ideas about what we feed our kids so everyone could have more to make! So here I go...

I usually just make Gage whatever we are having, then make adjustments to it if I need to.
Breakfast: He always has some "Yo Baby" yogurt before whatever he has for breakfast. Then I usually make him...
Scrambled egg yolks mixed with cottage cheese
Toast with butter
or Baby cereal mixed with breast-milk, yogurt, and sometimes some babyfood fruit.

Then lunch and dinner just whatever we are having, then I have on the side for him one or a few of these things, cuz he loves to eat them! They are...
Black beans
Rice
Noodles
Olives (obviously sliced up)
Canned carrots (I like the canned kind because they are really soft... carrots kinda scare me!)
Green beans
Peas
Beets
Corn

For snacks, I usually will give him some of the things I listed above, or else the Gerber snacks. Usually the yogurt melts, or the dried fruit bars (I'm not exactly sure what those ones are called). And grahm crackers are another thing I give him for snacks, too. Then I also give him a bottle for snack before he goes down for a nap or for bed.


Haha k sorry, I am pretty sure this is the most random and off-the-wall post I have ever done, but I am looking forward to everyone's responses! :) Gage is too... I'm sure he is sick of always having the same things over and over! If I remember anything I left out I will add it to the comments, then everyone can just check the comments if they want the ideas, too!

Update...

Hey everyone! First, I want to tell everyone thanks so much for your concern with Gage and his sleep study! Sorry I didn't let everyone know more about it earlier, we actually just got the results back today. Unfortunately, we don't have the best news in the world... Like I suspected, the results came back showing that Gage does indeed have sleep apnea. The part I wasn't expecting was when his sleep doctor said that it is SEVERE sleep apnea. And he really meant SEVERE. I guess that to "qualify" it as severe, there has to be 10.. um... I don't know what they are called... so I will just call them "episodes" an hour. Apparently Gage averaged about 20 an hour. So of course I started immediately calling to schedule for an appointment with the ENT our doctor recommended, but I won't be able to make the appointment until tomorrow. Hopefully they can fit us in soon!

So here is my question... Anyone had any experience here or familiar with this at all? I would love any suggestions or information! Thanks everyone!

Well we now have a little 10-month-old on our hands! He is just getting more and more fun, and his personality is developing like crazy! He knows exactly what to do to make us laugh, loves giving HUGE hugs! They are the best!




He also has been busy getting his first tooth! You can tell he thinks it is pretty weird, he always plays with it like, "what is this weird thing that showed up in my mouth!?" The picture is kinda bad, but if you look hard enough you can see it! He doesn't love having his mouth held open, so it was the best I could get! (It's on his left side of his mouth...)

About time for some pictures...

Have you been wondering what this cute little guy has been up to?

Well, it has been a LONG time since I have posted any pictures, things have just been crazy! So I decided to put off homework and cleaning the house to get some pictures up from this past month! :)

The weather has been beautiful, except for the occasional snow storms that just won't leave us alone! Gage absolutely LOVES to go swimming. Pretty sure we could stay out swimming all day long and he would be just as happy as could be!

This is the book that I made for Gage. I used really simple pictures and put just one picture on each page. He loves to look through the pictures and talk to them!

Out for an evening swim! Ok, really, we didn't get done swimming until like 10:00 and Gage didn't even act like he was tired! But that's because we were swimming and he didn't want to stop. Once we got him inside and in his PJs, he was OUT! I have tried and tried to get a movie to upload from this night, it is the cutest thing ever. My dad was holding Gage and would splash me across the pool. Every time he did, Gage busted up laughing, harder than he ever has before! It was too cute, I will try again to get it up, but I don't know if it will work...

Out enjoying some sun!

I can't believe I still haven't even posted about this yet! On March 26th, the scheduler in the sleep department at Primary Childrens Medical Center called to say we had been approved by our insurance for Gage to get a sleep study. Then, to my suprise, she said there was an appointment open the next day! So Gage and I made the 4 hour drive up to Salt Lake on Friday, the 27th for Gage's sleep study. It was fun to have a little get-a-way with just Gage and I. We went out to dinner at Olive Garden before the appointment began at 8:00 pm. Every one just couldn't get enough of Gage, even the manager came out to our table like 3 times!

Like my friend Amy said, "Only Gage would be grinning from ear to ear in this picture!" It is so true, the nurses commented the whole time they were hooking Gage up how well behaved he was and how he acted like he didn't even care. He actually just sat and laughed at me playing with the pin-wheel and making faces!

I know this picture is kinda weird, and dark... but I wanted to get a picture of all the cords coming off his head. Then they put a "lunch-lady" hair net over his head to keep him from pulling them all off.
I was so suprised at how well Gage slept that night, he did wake up more than usual, but didn't have any problems falling right back to sleep! I was so proud of him!

This is the picture of Gage's hair all covered in "GOOP" after they took everything off! They used lots of this sticky gel stuff, so it made his hair all gross. I thought it was really sweet, in the morning when one of the techs was unhooking everything, she said, "I really do just want to tell you, he was an exceptionally good boy, kids his age are never this good. I just wanted to make sure you really knew that!" I really am so lucky to have such a good boy, he is so happy and calm-tempered.

I just love this picture, I think it is absolutely precious!

And out for another swim in Gage's new floaty! I thought this thing was so cute, it has the cute shade so that he can stay out longer without me worrying so much about him getting a sunburn! And he loved it, too!

Well, I will try to be a little better about updating more often... but I am not making any promises! I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend, it is such a great opportunity for us to take some extra time to really think about the sacrifices our Savior has made for us.

Happy Easter!!

Do they really think this?

A conversation I had with a cashier at Wal-mart yesterday keeps popping into my head. It was one of those conversations that, right after it has happened, I immediately call Derek and we ask eachother "seriously? she really said that?"

The cashier noticed that Gage was on oxygen and went on to tell me about her daughter that had been on oxygen when she was young as well. She told me she took the fact that her daughter had heart problems terribly and cried and was miserable for a long time. She asked me how I had taken the whole thing and I said with a smile, "we have actually taken it really well! We have so much support behind us, and I was able to learn from many wonderful moms that had been in my shoes before." As we continued talking, it led to the fact that Gage has Down syndrome and that he pretty much had a 50/50 chance at having heart issues, so since I have met so many moms with kids with Ds, I was bound to find great moms that had been in the exact situation. At that time, she gave Gage and I a look that I saw as a look of pity. Then came the words I was stunned by...

"Well, I guess that if you were able to accept the Down syndrome then the heart things were probably a cake-walk then."

SERIOUSLY!? I wanted to yell and tell her she was stupid and I can't believe she would ever think that, let alone say that out loud -- especially to a mom with her adorable baby right there who just happens to have Down syndrome... I mean come on! But instead I decided to take the opportunity to tell her how I really felt, and I hope that I was able to make an impression on her and the nice man standing behind us in line.

"Actually, it is the exact opposite. I have no problem accepting the fact that he has Down syndrome. The heart issues have been the hardest thing ever, because I know they risk his life."

I was so sad that she really felt this way, that she viewed Down syndrome in such a negative way, but felt blessed that I was given an opportunity to express how I felt and hopefully make her think a little. Maybe, just maybe, I was able to change her way of thinking.

My latest project

This is the table and bench that I (with major help from my wonderfully talented dad) made! My dad did all the hard stuff... then I did the rest!

The table is made out of just a cardboard box I had lying around my house. I just did a few cuts with some scissors, and put packaging tape around the edges so it won't cut Gage's little legs.

Then the bench is made out of pieces of 4x4s. That is where Papa Jo came in! He took it and cut it for me, then sanded them down so they are really nice and smooth. Then he screwed/glued them together real good! Thanks so much for helping me dad, you are the best!! It made it so much nicer than if I had done it on my own!
I painted them, then got some cute little wooden pictures from Roberts, and glued those on. I ended up covering the entire thing with modge-podge after, just to give it a little more durability.

I think Gage really likes playing on it, he is really entertained the entire time! I was also so proud of him because I would set those rings down by his feet, then he would bend all the way down, pick them up, and sit back up on his own! I was super excited!
The reason I ended up making these was because of things we are working on with physical therapy. He likes to straighten his legs out to find strength, instead of using his muscles when his legs are bent, so we have some exercises we do to work on that. I try to use my leg but having a bench makes it much easier so I can look at Gage and play with him at the same time we are doing the exercises.. that way he thinks it is playtime instead!

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And one more thing... Gage is 9 months now! I can't believe how time is flying by, I am loving every moment of it. I love you big boy!!

This sums it up...

Well... the picture pretty much says it all! We have had one tiring, long week. Eye appointment, sleep doctor, cardiologist, synagis shot, flu shot, and physical therapy all mixed into a week with all the normal things that get crammed into a week! And yes... that is oxygen you see hooked up to Gage's sweet little face. And yes... that is a picture during the day. I am guessing our cardiologist didn't get the memo that we were hoping to get rid of it all together. Apparently, he got the one that was all mixed up asking if we could be back to oxygen all day instead of just at night... NOT what we were going for! Turns out that Gage still has high Pulmonary Hypertension... for all those not so used to the "heart talk", that means that the pressures in his heart are too high, and the cure is usually more oxygen. When we left the hospital from Gage's surgery, his pressure was at 46. Friday, it was at 41. Not the drop we were looking for. The doctor did say, though, that if the pressures were around 20 he would be grinning from ear to ear because Gage's heart looks amazing and is very strong. So I have to look at the bright side really... because that is the more serious part of it all. We are really hoping that the oxygen knocks his pressures down, because although people can usually live a normal life with pulmonary hypertension, it does shorten the life-span, but only by a small amount usually.

Our sleep doctor decided that we are for sure going in for a sleep study to check if Gage has sleep apnea. I am kinda thinking he does... just because sleep apnea can often lead to pulmonary hypertension... so I kinda see a trend going, ya know what I mean? He said that Gage has large tonsils, which is unusal at this age... normally they are very small until they are 2 or 3. So really, I see this as a blessing because that will be our first step if Gage does end up with sleep apnea. Getting tonsils removed is such a routine thing and easy to have done. We will see an ENT doctor, and get that checked out and probably get those removed... then have another sleep study 3 months later and see if that was what was causing it. I feel like that will make a huge difference since it will really open up his air-ways and probably get rid of any apnea and hypertension problems.

Our pediatrician wasn't not so thrilled when we went in the other day for Gage to get some shots! He came walking in and had the most surprised look to see oxygen on Gage again! I really like our pediatrician, he is so personable and shows that he has a special place for Gage and always makes a special effort to see him when we come in, even when we are just there for shots.

So yeah... off of my blabble about that whole ordeal we had going on... I forgot to post these cute pictures of Gage at the park. A few weeks ago the weather was sooo nice and Gage absolutely LOVES to be outside... even if the weather isn't so nice! So I decided to take him on a walk to the park. It was so cute, the whole time walking there it was like he knew we were going somewhere to play cuz he kept looking back at me with the most excited face ever... too cute!!

Gage thought the swings where hilarious!! He kept laughing every time I would push him. He was way too small for the swing... but he still just loved it!

By the time we got home, Gage was out. Totally worn out from his day at the park! I just can't wait until the new snow melts and the weather warms up for good, because there will be many more days at the park for us! So exciting!!

1 down, 2 to go!

Well, this morning I took Gage to the ENT doctor to get his hearing checked. I got a letter saying I needed to get it checked again because he hasn't ever totally passed the hearing test. I haven't been too concerned because I know for a fact he can hear us talking to him and recognizes his own name and everything, but I decided I better do as I was told :) So we headed to the doctor's office this morning. It was a VERY short appointment and pretty much just confirmed what we have been told the 3 times before... right ear is perfect, left ear just BARELY misses passing. So we are thinkin' it could just be fluid or "junk" hiding in there and will go back in 6 months for another appointment. Derek has a small hearing loss in one ear as well, so it could possibly be something he just caught in his genes. We will see!
We also will be heading to Primary Childrens' for an appointment with the sleep doctor tomorrow morning. I wasn't exactly sure why Gage is still on oxygen at night and why it was necessary to meet with the sleep doctor so I e-mailed our caridologist the other day to ask him. He said that we want to rule out any possibility of sleep apnea since it could lead to pulminary hypertension... so keep your fingers crossed for us that everything goes well! We also meet with the cardiologist tomorrow afternoon for a checkup on Gage's heart surgery. I feel like everything is going wonderfully, so I really hope that this confirms how I feel about it!! So it is just another one of those busy times with lots of appointments to be to! Luckily, Gage is so laid back that he doesn't mind a bit and just sits and stares at the doctors with a big grin... that makes it a lot easier!

I got to spend last weekend up in the mountains at my grandparents' cabin with my mom, cousin, and aunts scrapbooking! It was such a blast and I was so excited to get a lot done in Gage's book, I hadn't even started before this weekend! Pretty bad, huh! My dad was so sweet and kept Gage for me. Last time we went up I didn't get a thing done cuz I had Gage with me and felt guilty just making him lay around while I scrapbooked! So it was sooo nice to know he was in such good hands so I could just get lost in the scrapbooking world for a few days! :) It was pretty funny becase this last weekend Derek also found out how Gage likes to take matters into his own hands if you leave food sitting on his high chair! I thought he might learn from my experience... but I guess maybe he wanted to see it for himself ?! haha He got some more pictures so once I can get them up on the computer I will have to post those as well! I guess I better get to packing... wish us luck!

Picture Overload!

BIG NEWS!! Gage learned to self-feed today! And he learned it ALL on his own! I got some great pictures for proof! :) Not even a drop on the floor!

I know it was a while back, but here is Gage opening his Valentine present from Gramma Jill and Papa Joe!

"Check out my cool new book, Mom!"

Gage is reading his card from Lola and Lola!

My handsome boys all dressed up

Gage's first basketball game! He had so much fun checking out all the crazy new stuff going on, it was so cute!

I just love this boy, he is so stinkin' cute! And 8 months old... a while back! Yes, I know it has been forever since I posted, school has been INSANE! But soon will be over, yay!

Baby you amaze me

Two months ago...
...
...
...

...and now!

I just still can't believe that it was just 2 months ago that Gage went through so much at such a young age. I know that so many can relate to how bad I felt about my little guy going through such an intense surgery, but I can't believe what it has done for him. He has been able to discover a whole new energy and we are loving it! Although, I am still trying to convince him that even though he has a healed heart, he still needs to sleep... :)
I am so excited to see what the future holds for Gage and the many lives he will impact. I hope Cathy and Laurie don't mind me copying the links they each had on their blog... Today they both posted links to this clip from the Today Show. I watched it and cried because it made me feel so good and SUPER excited about our future. Not only has he effected us as a small family, but I know that he is going to effect more people than I can even imagine. Thank you so much to everyone who has been a part of this great journey we have experienced so far. We love you all!!

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And I also wanted to wish Derek's older sister, Jess, a Happy Birthday!! I know, its after midnight so (I probably should be in bed) and this post will probably say it isn't on your birthday, but this is the earliest I could get to the computer to do a post! We love you and hope your day was wonderful. I'm sad you are so far away so we couldn't go out to dinner or something to celebrate!