tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46826445136701005862024-03-13T12:19:19.171-07:00The Baby Who Chose UsFollow our journey of welcoming our baby boy who was diagnosed with Trisomy 21/Down syndrome into our family.mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-69859603056146065362010-07-06T20:45:00.000-07:002010-07-06T20:48:14.806-07:00Wordless Wednesdaymauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-53458603468335475422010-04-23T00:43:00.000-07:002010-04-23T01:28:55.891-07:00Happy 1st Birthday, Happy Earth DaySylas ("Man of the Forest") is officially ONE! He enjoyed sharing his birthday with Earth Day...and celebrated with helping his siblings and their schoolmates clean up a beach that is near their school.In the evening after dinner, Sylas got his own birthday cake to dig into. All of us anxiously anticipated how Sy would react. I asked him if he wanted cake, and he started kicking and waving his mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-54867077606822968432010-04-21T23:40:00.000-07:002010-04-22T02:00:01.488-07:00Last Day of Being "Zero"One year ago today Sylas and I looked like this:The day prior, Brett and I had flown over to Oahu and planned to stay until I gave birth. Sylas' due date was 2 weeks away. This was a VERY active day, and I probably walked a few miles. I don't know what I was thinking, but I sure was excited to actually have stores (like Target) to shop at, and we had yet to find a car seat that would fit our mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-27690566485494104252010-04-14T00:00:00.000-07:002010-04-14T17:48:38.437-07:00Little KickersAbove: Sylas enjoying the water at 6 mthsBelow: Sylas reaching for toys at 10 mthsSylas has been trying to crawl for many months now. The frustration is obvious...but once he is in the water, all the frustration is washed away. He sees a toy across the pool, and his legs ("little kickers" as we call them) move into action and off he goes to get his toy. Prior to Sylas starting lessons at seven mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-47134072419473809862010-04-08T00:18:00.000-07:002010-04-08T02:10:30.523-07:00Happy Easter 2010Here on the island, Easter is quite different for us. This holiday is not filled with extended family and our home is not filled with Easter decor (other than plastic and homemade Easter eggs). Very different than our experiences in MN...but not different in a good or bad way, just different.Grandma Annie was visiting the two weeks prior to Easter, and initiated many impromptu Easter egg hunts mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-68248308084777021632010-03-28T19:20:00.001-07:002010-03-28T19:56:12.823-07:00ALOHA!Aloha, it has been WAY too long since I posted. Sylas will be one year old in less than a month, so I have some catching up to do! As we settle into our community more and more everyday, I find that I am not very good at juggling 3 kids, a dog, and a blog. Since Christmas, Sylas has experienced his first tsunami warning (we are up high enough, so no evacuation for us), first croup virus with a mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-89737947992068824832009-12-25T20:42:00.000-08:002009-12-25T21:03:29.291-08:00The Diaper Duomauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-55672967890493384822009-12-25T20:13:00.000-08:002009-12-25T20:41:35.240-08:00Merry Christmas 2009Merry Christmas!!mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-72896990710577020672009-12-14T20:39:00.000-08:002009-12-14T21:42:29.871-08:00Seven MonthsSylas is over 7 mths now, so I better update you with pictures before he turns 8 mths. It has been heartwarming to watch him grow. He is so observant of people, especially his family. He watches us as we dart around doing whatever we do. When his siblings come close to him, he automatically smiles. Sylas bursts into laughter when his daddy pretends he is going to tickle him with "The Tickle Hand"mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-58968341359695799832009-12-14T19:22:00.000-08:002009-12-15T20:38:59.973-08:00Goodbye warm, hello coldGOODBYE WARM...HELLO COLD.....I have not blogged much lately, we have been in the travel mode and are now in the cold state of MN (For all you football fans, Go Vikings!). We really debated this year whether to return for the holidays. I feel as if we are in a bubble in HI, protected from all this yucky flu that has been creating havoc for all. I started an autoimmune booster and hand washing mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-59381655486652222332009-11-27T23:11:00.000-08:002009-11-28T00:16:29.542-08:00Visit from GrandmaGrandma Kathy (aka "Grandma Moo Moo"-name affectionately given to her by Sam when he was a baby) has been visiting us for the past 2 weeks. She has made Sylas giggle a lot during her stay. She is planning on taking the kids to see Santa tomorrow, I wonder if he will be dressed in his traditional garb, or if he will go for the more appropriate outfit of a Hawaiian shirt and board shorts. We have mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-6720052015446130192009-11-26T23:26:00.000-08:002009-11-27T01:39:30.958-08:00Thanksgiving 2009This year has been full of things to be thankful for.Everyday I am thankful for the sun rising (actually this picture is of the sun setting, sorry I can't get up that early!). I really am thankful for the sun rising, not just because I know that the sun will bring me warmth and remind me that I am not freezing in Minnesota anymore, but because the new day will give me more time to experience lifemauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-86577171856543884172009-11-07T23:01:00.000-08:002009-11-07T23:59:53.144-08:00New friends! A few months ago, I was blessed with meeting families from all over the island who also have a young child with DS. We are planning on getting together every 1-2 mths, and we just happen to be getting together this coming Monday. I will cherish these playdates, as I have yet to meet any moms on my side of the island that I can relate to in this unique way. This is another reason why I feel so mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-40699200724212587222009-11-02T22:25:00.001-08:002009-11-03T22:58:23.755-08:00Halloween 2009 (belated) Growing up in WI/MN, I always planned for a chilly Halloween, complete with wearing a winter jacket under or over the Halloween costume of choice. So these days, living in 80 degree weather, the Halloween preparations have indeed changed. Now the goal is a cool cool costume. I couldn't put Sylas in one of those fuzzy baby costumes without cooking him. Instead I decided on a black onsie (with a mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-70750201128775353312009-10-13T11:32:00.000-07:002009-10-13T12:52:23.071-07:00Books and Toys!Are you in need of any DS related books?Woodbine House is a publisher specializing in books about children with special needs. My Hawaii friend Debbie of http://tianagrace.blogspot.com/, reminded me that in honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Woodbine House is taking 20% off the Down syndrome titles during the month of October. Here is the link to their website: http://www.woodbinehouse.com/mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-31653644303231171162009-10-13T00:41:00.000-07:002009-10-13T01:05:32.720-07:00October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Adrienne at http://www.ourunexpectedjourney.blogspot.com/ created this button that you can click on and it will direct you to the National Down Syndrome Society website:http:// This month, many communities are having "Buddy Walks" that involve building a team for your child, finding sponsors, and then walking on the day of the event. The Buddy mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-4113138588399703642009-10-09T15:48:00.000-07:002009-10-09T16:51:13.917-07:00Happy Bday Daddy!Brett had a birthday last weekend and the kids joined forces to make a cake. They had their share of licking the batter spatula/bowl and thank goodness did not get sick (raw eggs, I always cross my fingers). Here is the bday picture. We also went to the county fair with the kids. It was dusty and dirty and a whole lot of fun! In the midwest, I always have a big greasy corndog at the fair. mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-67216353613995341842009-10-08T02:34:00.000-07:002009-10-08T03:10:15.475-07:00Babies Driving Robots!My dear friend Linda recently sent me a link to an article about "babies driving robots" of all things! Linda and I used to work together treating lymphedema patients and she recently took a position as a teacher assistant in the U of MN Physical Therapy Program. Currently she is teaching the Human Growth and Development class, and I have made her promise to forward her notes to me. Included in mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-87766586393142359642009-10-08T01:47:00.000-07:002009-10-08T02:34:34.451-07:00Quick UpdateMan, how do all the blogging moms out there do it? Everyday I think of something that I just MUST blog about, but it never reaches my blog! I have started a notebook where I jot down quotes, web addresses, articles, and ideas that I want to someday blog about....someday.Quick update on Sylas: Had a speech eval last week. His therapist is passionate/informative/bright and I think she will be amauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-83592007320556298412009-09-27T02:03:00.000-07:002009-09-27T03:05:13.768-07:00Hairy no moreAs you all know, Sylas was blessed with enough hair to share. Today on two separate occasions, I heard "Ooohhh, SHE is so cute!". Of course, I thought they were directing the compliment at me, but then reality set in hard and I realized they thought Sylas was a girl! Thank goodness Sam did not hear this, as he surely would have set them straight. Now Sylas was not even dressed in green, but a mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-5483747350820010732009-09-27T01:01:00.000-07:002009-09-27T02:01:44.652-07:00Flying by at Five monthsSylas turned 5 months last week! These months have been flying by so quickly, I really can't describe how I feel about that. Happiness and excitement for all he has accomplished, love for his sweet smiles and giggles, anticipation for what lies ahead, desire to enjoy every moment and for time to slow down, hope that I am doing the best I can as a mom....I could go on and on. I look into Sylas' mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-62353245467182483442009-09-20T22:58:00.001-07:002009-09-20T23:34:18.761-07:00Laugh With Me!I was getting Sylas to belly laugh tonight, so I called in the kids to see. Sam said, "Let's get the video camera!". Here it is:mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-47888204486739274902009-09-19T14:01:00.000-07:002009-09-19T14:46:03.880-07:00Shots and Smiles Sylas and I made the unpleasant trip to the doctor a few days ago for immunizations. I squeezed in my monthly visit to Cosco and Walmart before the doctor appointment, so Sylas was probably ready to head home...poor thing! I was very anxious for the shots (you'd think I was getting them) because it is the hardest thing watching your sweet baby get unexpectedly stabbed in the thigh with a needle.mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-12131549368941689052009-09-15T02:19:00.000-07:002009-09-15T02:39:27.824-07:00School Days!I should have posted this a LONG time ago, considering the kids started school mid-August. Things have been really busy, I know everyone is busy too, but goodness I really need to find more hours in the day. I need time to do blogging of course!! The first day of school was a success. Sophie off to kindergarten and Sam to 2nd grade. Sophie pretty much pushed her way out of the car past Sam. Sorrymauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682644513670100586.post-54570006375922968562009-09-15T01:10:00.000-07:002009-09-15T02:14:29.917-07:00Sam is 8! The years go by so quickly, my first baby is now 8 years old. He was born 9/12/2001, the day after the traumatic event of 9/11. I will always remember the joy that we felt waking up that warm sunny morning of 9/11, so excited that this might finally be the day that we would be blessed with a baby. I had an appointment at the clinic to have my cervix "gelled" by my nurse midwife. I was overdue mauimomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945326689492358837noreply@blogger.com1