New Adventures!!

What a busy week we have had so far!!  Monday, we just relaxed - to prep for the rest of the week.  Tuesday morning we had speech, physio and OT, along with a case conference with all of the workers and the day care teacher.  Its so amazing to hear all of the positive things they have to say about Lincoln every time we have a meeting.  Lincoln is average for his age with fine motor, His PT is very impressed with his walking skills, and speech says his use of sign language is amazing, and the new sounds he produces means he is only one step away from using words!!  We had the case conference for the day care worker so she would know what to expect from Lincoln, which areas to push him in, and also to get a bit of background as to where he is at.  AND TODAY WAS THE DAY!!  Wake up - 7:20, breakfast 7:45, small play and BOOM - we were off to school.  Since Lincoln woke up,  I kept telling him today was the day he is going to school.  When i asked him to grab his shoes, and after I put them on ... He was hugging the door SO ready to go!  he walked down the garage stairs as I loaded Parker in the car.  Lincoln then had his hand on the car door ready to open it and get going!!  We got to the day care, he walked to the front door - attempted to open it.  Opened the safety gate, and walked in like he had owned the place.  We went for a tour last tuesday, and Lincoln seemed to enjoy himself, and after the report I got from his teacher today, it looks like He is having alot of fun!  His teacher said he did an amazing job playing with the kids, they played outside for about an hour, and Lincoln was having a blast!!  About 45 mins after running around outside - he found a bench, and just observed the other children outside.  He had a bite of a muffin at snack time, and ate 2 pieces of garlic bread for lunch - he didnt want the noodles i guess.  We are really hoping that eating lunch with the other toddlers at daycare will encourage him to eat alone more often - so 2 pieces of gb are a good start :)  To add to Lincolns exciting fun filled week, we are taking him to the toronto zoo on friday - before we head south to my parents for thanksgiving!  Should be a good time - he LOVES animals!!
Thanks for reading!!  and Happy Thanksgiving!!

growing up!!

Its only a matter of time until we become a full time walker!  Lincoln walks almost full time but still falls quite a bit.  I love his own encouragement that he just gets back up and continues walking to where it is that he is going!  We have longed for this day to come - and now we cant stop telling him to sit down.  What a climber!!  He knows when i walk back to the bedroom to put Parker down, that i will be gone for about 45 seconds.  In the 45 seconds, Lincoln will be from reading books on the couch, to sitting on the kitchen table drinking my coffee.  Man oh man, gotta watch him like a hawk!! He has started taking finger food in too, which is a relief now that Parker is starting solids.  I would never know what a warm dinner tastes like :p  And he seems to be doing pretty good!  And soon, I feel he will be changing quite a bit!  He is starting day care part time in October, which will be good for him.  He just loves watching other kids, and playing with them! His communication is getting pretty good (with sign language still) .  He says a few words, like hi - when someone walks in the door, or bye when you're leaving, wow, ouch, wee, da - and almost daddy, mom and a few more. He doesnt talk much, but he sure knows what he wants - dont dare bring out a bag of chips if you dont intend on sharing with Lincoln!  HE LOVES CHIPS!  and the more flavour, the better!  If you want him to sit still for about 10 mins, give him a  dill pickle chip, or all dressed!  he licks all the flavour off, then enjoys the crunch!  he wont even eat plain gold fish any more.  it has to be the pizza explosion flavour.  He has also pretty much given up his naps, which i guess im lucky Parker sleeps through the night, so I dont have to nap anymore - although a little *me* time during the day would be nice too.  Lincoln loves his little brother so much.  When he wants to hold him, he will sign to me either "brother please" or "baby please"  He hugs him, and kisses him, then passes him off.  Its so cute.  Other than that, not much else is new.  We have pretty much had the summer off as far as appointments because most of his workers took the summer off.  So speech and physio and occupational therapy will start again soon this month - and we'll see him sky rocket after daycare im sure!!
Thanks for reading!

finally - the time we've been waiting for!!!

I realize its been a long time since I have last blogged, but I didnt really have much new to update - but NOW I DO!!  Last week, I took Lincoln to the dentist for the first time (which i'm happy we have a dental plan because it seemed like a waste of time).  Seeing as we chose a dentist located in Alliston, we figured, why not go on a mini vacation ... and spent the week with my parents, and at my sisters place.  We got so much visiting in, and Lincoln got to play with many kids his own age - and just absorbed, or so i presume because by the end of the week, Lincoln was walking!!  On sunday we went to my sisters house until we left to come back home on Wed.  My sister has a baby girl Parkers age, and an 19 month old.  They had so much fun together, by the end of our visit, Lincoln was taking many more steps!!  As we sit in the house today because it is scorching outside, Lincoln has been walking way more than his mowgley crawl :)  How exciting!  I kept telling our physio therapist that we hoped he would be walking before our exciting wiggles concert next wed. - and here we go!!   I'm sure he wont be walking everywhere, but its just a matter of time until his muscles get used to the new movements, and I will no longer have to carry 2 children every where i go!!  (i'll have to work out now to keep my biceps lol).  He is making more progress in speech also.  He will say hi to you when you walk in the door, and say bye to you when you leave.  He understands everything i tell him, and he is communicating very well using sign language (though he sometimes gets confused because i try to teach him a new one every week, and some are quite close... I still understand what he is saying.)  His favourite thing to sign is please.  Everything is please.  its cute.   Not too much coming up in the future, except more milestones, and progression on Lincolns part!  Keep up the great work little man, you are making us ALL proud!!!

we've added a new member!

Hello,
I realize its been a reallly really long time since I have blogged last, but I have been super busy, as you can imagine - with a new member to our family!  Parker Brian Holden was born on April 10, 2011.  A very different delivery than Lincoln - much quicker!  He was born at a healthy 6 lbs 9 oz.  Everything has been going well.  He is breastfeeding quite well - which is a relief - I can retire my pump haha.  Lincoln loves his new brother, and really enjoys giving him kisses and holding him for a brief 5 seconds here and 5 seconds there.  Since Lincolns surgery, he has not snored anymore :)  His hearing has improved (not that we thought he didnt hear well, but so they say).  We had our follow up appointment last week - and the ENT specialist says that everything looks wonderful!!  Lincoln's paediatrician appointment yesterday put him on the scale at a wopping 30 pounds - thats 30 pounds in one arm, and a car seat and a baby in the other arm that I have to lug everywhere I go, which doesnt really bother me - I call it my workout!  Lincoln is now 2 years old - and starting to act like it.  Weather its jealousy from having to share his mommy, or the terrible 2's im not sure, but at least he's getting better.  He has learned quite a bit of new sign language, and is quite capable of understanding everything that I have to say.  He communicates very well using the signs that he knows!  Still no words, (except that ONE time - i swear I heard him say BALL).  His walking is progressing - slowly, but surely.  I was walking out to the garage one day, and turned around to see lincoln following me on his feet!  It was about 13 steps - and then he turned around and walked back to his dad.  But other than that, its just 3 or 4 there, mostly with encouragement.  He will get there soon enough (hopefully sooner than later!!) Otherwise his mowgly walk is his mode of mobility these days (hands and feet walking) Its quite amazing how fast he is - except he doesnt look up when he is doing it, and can often be found running into walls :(   Lincoln's paediatrician also stated at our last appointment that he was a very bright child with Down Syndrome - which Mike and I already know, its just nice to hear it from the Dr.  Other than that, not too much else is new with the Holden Family.  This is just a quick update I skipped my nap today to blog - time for a coffee, thanks for reading - maybe I still have time to get my nap in (ya right)

quite the trip!

Well, that was quite the experience let me tell you!!  It started with 20 minuites to make our decision on Mikes birthday, to the quick packing job I did, lame Toronto traffic at 6 am the next day, to handing away our smiling baby boy not knowing that was the last time we would see a smile for a few days.  We made our treck to Oshawa on Wed. night for our 7:30 registration at sick kids on Thursday.  We left at 5:50, and didnt make it to the hospital until 7:50 - we were late.  stupid traffic.  But it didnt matter.  We registered Lincoln, and then headed up to the 6th floor, where the surgery would take place. We met with the surgeon where he explained that they would be putting him under an anesthetic, and removing his tonsils, adenoids, and putting tubes in his ears.  We then met with the anesthesiologist who informed us again, that his risks were minimal from his pulminary hypertension!  yay!.  We then handed Lincoln off to a nurse at 9:30, while he was smiling and blowing kisses to us waving good bye.  Man, i am glad i could remember his face before he went it.  We were then escorted to the 5th floor to a public waiting room FULL of other parents waiting for their childs surgeon to come in and give them the great news that it was finally over.  1 hour later, we got the news!  it went well, he was awake and in a room being monitored for sleep apnea.  We would be able to see him shortly!!  We got into the room where Lincoln was, and he was crying, being drowsy still from the knock out drug.  Trying to comfort him was next to impossible, which only brought more tears to my eyes... he was NOT a happy camper :(  We then got brought to an observation room where we would be spending the night - our 4X4 curtain inclosed cubical which we didnt know, but would be our living quarters for the next 4 days.  Lincoln was hooked up to an IV for fluids, so he wouldnt get dehydrated.  The foom was full of other children and their parents - there were 5 other beds in our room, all full.  So, this was something completely different from the last time we spend the night at sicks kids.  Then, got informed that the chairs we were sitting on, at our childs side - were, yup, also our beds.  Did they recline?  nope.  hang on here... let me get this straight... only one parent gets to spend the night?  in a public room? on a chair? while i'm 8 months pregnant? and the closest washroom is way down the hall?  oh boy, this is going to be a LONG night.  Luckily they let Mike stay with me, because of me being pregnant and all.  My friend works on the 7th floor, and came to visit us when her shift was over.  She asked the nurse if i could get a cot, but the nurse wouldnt budge because it wouldnt be fair to the other parents who had to spend the night on chairs as well.  At 11:00 when everyone else was sleeping, the nurse grabbed me, bent some rules, and brought me to my own room where I would get a couch bed.. Thank goodness.  As I laughed to myself.  I was sooo happy for this couch bed. In my last blog, did I not complain that it would be a couch bed?  When morning came, I woke up and was reunited with Mike and Lincoln, thank goodness it was only a one night stay surgery! - or so we thought... As we watched the other parents and their children leave slowly through out the day, we could only keep trying to get Lincoln to drink something.  The nurses kept him on morphine and tylenol at least every 4 hours, and had his IV producing so much fluid, he was getting more wet diapers than he would at home during a regular day.  The morphine was making him soo sleepy, all he did all day was sleep.  We couldnt go home. BOOO.  For those of you who know Lincoln, he is a super picky, i only eat the way I want to eat and drink.  Only my mom can feed me, and i have to be watching my favourite show, or reading my favourite books while doing so.  GREAT - we're never going to get out of here.  I asked the nurses to stop the morphine so we could have him awake to try and get him to drink, and also told then to try turning down his fluid intake, as he was likely not thirsty judging by how many wet diapers he was getting.  Neither worked.  He stayed awake, yes, but was still NOT happy. (but we knew it wasnt because he was in pain, so we kept him off morphine).  That night, we had a new set of kids and parents to spend the night with.  this time, only 3 other beds were full.  We also had a different set of nurses.  I got a chair, for a bed, and had to BEG for a pillow.  longest.night.of.my.life.  impossible!!!  the next day, same deal, he just wasnt thirsty.  |GOODNESS - please people, beleive me when I tell you, he WILL drink at home - he hates public places, not only that, every time he saw a nurse he would scream - he knew they were going to attack him again some time soon with more drops for his nose, ears, and more antibiotics and tylenol. :( .  finally Lincoln started eating cheerios, and having a small sip of fluids here and there.  The Dr. came in, and we told him our situation, about being in a public place, and he said we could go home the next day if Lincoln did what he did that day (eat cheerios and drink a bit of water).  We watched the room empty up again, and prepared ourselves for yet another night of a chair bed.  Hang on, the room was empty, there was 6 beds, a new set of nurses... if they put me in a chair, then, ... well, i knew they wouldnt.  YES ! I got a BED! but poor mike, had to stay on the chair again.  The next morning, we were let go!  FINALLY - nothing was better than hearing that our discharge papers were on their way!! WHOOO HOOOO!!!  home! (or out of the hospital at least)  Lincoln and I have decided to stay in Oshawa for the week to be closer to sick kids in case he started bleeding out (which in 1% of cases happens between day 5 and 10 - when the scab falls off).  Nothing yet, and its been a week!  Mike is staying with us in Oshawa for the weekend, and we will head back on Sunday - and I cant wait!!!  Today seems to be the day that Lincoln is completely on the mend.  He has eaten more today alone than he has in the past week combined!  yay!!  the Dr. said he would have a nasty taste in his mouth for about 2 weeks, so that likely has something to do with it.  But it is a nice releif!  On another happy note - my sister had her baby today!  what a good day!
We go for a follow up hearing test in 6 weeks, and remain on antibiotics for 2 more days.  things seem to be going pretty good, and it is so nice to see our special little Lincoln smiling at us AGAIN!!!
I realy didnt think that this surgery would be worse than his heart surgery.  But it was.  Recovery time for heart surgery - 2 hours, literally (and an over night stay).  Recovery for this surgery? FOREVER - for Lincoln and mom and dad.  Hope this is it!!

thanks for reading
4 weeks remaining until our baby is due!  yay!

-The Holden's                              

Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy

Well, as we celebrate another birthday for Dad, it seems some what the same as last year.  We were leaving the hospital last year once pneumonia cleared up, and this year, we are headed to the hospital in preperation for tomorrows tonsil and adenoid surgery.  Poor Mike, at least his attitude is good saying its just another day. (and at least he doesn't have to work lol).  I got a phone call today from sick kids saying they had an opening tomorrow to do the surgery - WOW, short notice - hello - i live in Haliburton, not exactly around the corner from Toronto... so i phoned Mike to see what his thoughts were.  We decided that now would be the best time if any - before our hands are TOO full with another baby.  This way I can put all my time towards Lincoln while he is in pain and recovering (at home) for the next 10 days.  I have phoned my mom to come and hopefully help do my housework, so we'll see if she's up to it.  They let me know that they spoke with the cardiologist prior to booking Lincoln in, and his pulmonary hypertension is not a concern anymore with an anesthetic. (few) That was my biggest concern.  Hopefully he will recover well, and we wont run into any other complications.  The surgery is a one hour procedure, where they will also be putting tubes in his ears to help the fluid drain properly so he doesn't have much hearing loss (now his hearing loss is mild so they say).  And we will be spending one night - we'll see how much sleep I get in a couch bed in a hospital room - wonder if they have more options...seeing as i'm 8 months pregnant. lol.   Well, heres to hoping everything goes well tomorrow, and Mike has a better birthday next year!
Thanks for reading!


-the Holden's

how fast a year goes!!

well, time is just flying by!  in only 51 (or less - fingers crossed) days, Lincoln's baby brother will be here - and i'll tell you, i sure am ready!!!  Lincoln seems to be getting ready too, as he took his first steps yesterday without holding anything!  He is even doing better and taking more and more today!  Thank goodness because he is HEAVY!!  only a matter of time now that the soles of his shoes will get dirty :)   Physio starts again on friday, same as speech (well, speech was supposed to start last week, but Lincoln was sick:( )  and i think i'll request sessions more often.  The last physio appointment we had was Dec. 03, and since then, Lincoln has mastered the Mowgly walk, standing up alone, and now taking steps!!!  its time to get moving!!!  Last week we had an appointment with an ear, nose throat specialist, because i've noticed Lincoln starting to snore a little bit - and occasionally stop breathing for a few seconds while he is sleeping.  The Dr. noticed he had very large adenoids, and very large tonsils... he also noticed he had fluid in his ear just sitting there.   So i am likely getting a phone call this week sometimes regarding an appointment time at sick kids to have these issues addressed. We arent having a hard time with this decision,  maybe because he has been through so much already, that getting his adenoids removed is something *normal* for children at his age.  So i guess we will be back to sick kids before the year is up, but THEN, hopefully that will be it!!!  I have titled this blog how fast a year goes, because it was one year ago on March 02 that we found out Lincoln had down syndrome.  But as i mentioned in my last blog, it had been the best year of my life!!