Our Blessing

She is 2!!

2011-10-19T13:01:00.000-07:00

I apologize for how long it's been and for how long this will be!! But it's worth it!!

It was a Minnie Mouse invasion around here!! Which by the way is her favorite right next Veggie Tales... but we went with the minnie mouse theme and it was the best reaction you have ever seen from a little girl!! Had I known her reaction to the balloons alone I would have for sure had a camera ready and rolling!! She was so thrilled and so animated!! It was priceless!!

We will get to the pictures in a minute. But lets talk about all the things little Miss Mia is up to. She is walking around like a storm on wheels. Getting into everything and taking her babydoll along for the ride. I have put a shopping cart in my bathroom so she can go shopping while I am getting ready in the mornings now. It sure makes for a fun morning!! Clothes are pulled off hangers, she gets to get all the deoderants and soaps out she wants and push it around!! Woohoo for a mama of 4!! I don't get as stressed about it all being put up neatly anymore... this is just a place for fun now!! & I like it!!

Mia is in therapy 4 days a week. We get to see Miss Ren for PT twice a week, Miss Kathy for Speech twice a week, and Miss Julie for OT twice a week. It makes for a busy week but it's a lot of fun watching her grow and learn. It is amazing to me to see all the little changes that happen with every appointment. She is so eager to learn and play. Her words, albeit stubbornly, are starting to really make their way. We just got a wonderful app (Proloquo2go) on our iPad for her to help her communicate even more with us and we are discovering it's a little harder than we thought but she is so smart and it is surely going to be a blessing.

She is busy most days playing with all her Little People houses and zoo's. Reading her books- and oh grandma Karen Llama Llama Red Pajama was/is a huge hit!! We read it with such animation that she sits for a very long time wanting it read over and over!!

We have also discovered the play gym at the park. We used to go and just swing but with her walking and really exploring more we opted to take a peek at the tunnels and slides... She navigates her way thru all of it (with absolutely NO fear, despite mama's fear) all on her own. She has such a sense of adventure!! It is such a joy to watch her go!!

We had a fun time at Pumpkin Patch this year. And with Mia walking it was a lot of fun. She is so animated about everything and oooooohing and awwwwwing over all the pumpkins was of no exception!!

And then there was Halloween. She made it thru a couple block of trick or treating this year. It was so fun. She walked up to a couple of doors all by herself and said "hi!" in her sweet little voice!! Everyone loved that sweet little ghost!!

She didn't like it up under her arms so we had to let the ribbon out a bit...but she still was such a cutie!!

And here are a few random ones!! Thanks for stopping by.

Mia is putting her baby to sleep here... hiding her eyes so baby will sleep. What you don't have a picture of is Mia turning around from baby with her hand on her hip and then this is her turning back to kiss and hide her eyes... silly baby just wouldn't go to sleep!!

18 months!!

2011-04-11T10:02:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe this little girl is 18 months!! She is weighing in at 23 pounds and is 31 1/2 inches tall. She is shooting up and up everyday it seems.
She is beginning to take her steps. She has mastered the standing up and now just trying to find her balance and go. She is so stubborn in this area. It must be her idea and she doesn't like applause unless she asks for it. It is the funniest thing!! So it seems that if she has made it around the corner and no one is looking she is up and taking steps. If she does it in the same room and no one is looking at her she is bold and on the go but the second you acknowledge her efforts she plops back to her booty and scoots away!! But when she has done it and you ignore it- she plops down and waits for you to look at her and starts clapping!!! It's so funny. So we join in and celebrate her!!

We just attended the annual picnic for the North Dallas Down Syndrome Guild. Such a wonderful event and so much fun meeting up with all the other families!! Our whole family enjoyed the day!! Including Miss Mia.

Over spring break we went to San Antonio and Mia had the best time at Sea World seeing all the animals but we had the most fun watching her!! She is a Queen in Training!! She waves with both hands to both directions at all the people passing by. Saying "hi" to most!! And stealing every ones hearts!! It was so wonderful!!

Her talking is continuing to progress. She is even using a couple of signs at the appropriate times to let us know when and who she wants. Yes I said who!! She is mama's girl all day long but when Daddy walks in she loves to tell me Dada Dada!! And she uses the sign with it and that's all she wants of good ol mama!! She has also started saying up and stop a lot!! Up is- pick me up, or get up to whomever, or look up as she says up and light... she is just a smarty little girl!! Peek a boo is still one her all time favorite games she plays it with anything she can put over her head or yours. She is also loving to dance. It is so funny to see it evolve from just a little shimmy while sitting to holding her hands up with her fingers pierced together (as if she was going to snap) and her whole body swaying with such a smile!!

She is doing wonderful and a beautiful as ever!! Ethan loves to tell her how beautiful her hair and eyes are everyday as she snuggles him up in the mornings. It's absolutely the most precious moments ever!!!

Here she is at the beginning of one of our camping trips we took this spring...

Her she is in the bouncy house at the picnic yesterday... her first time in one and I am not sure how I got her out!!! She loved it!!

She is trying to get my camera in this shot... she has a new love for wearing the big ol Nikon... she is so smart. Wants to play with all the buttons and take your picture... it's just too heavy for her. I might just have to get her own little camera to play with!!

She likes to pull grass pieces but not be in the grass... very curious!!

Look at me standing... but here she is plopping down...

Merry Christmas

2010-12-14T20:03:00.000-08:00

I have a disclaimer... I have tried 6 times over the last 2 months to load up pictures and updates for Miss Mia and Blogger has been uncooperative. I am trying now to load again.. so I hope this message comes to you with pictures!!! I have sooo many to share!!

Mia is continuing to be Amazing. We had our big appointment through the Down Syndrome clinic at Dallas Children's and we got to see a host of many different specialist. She has checked out to be completely healthy on all accounts. We are on a thyroid medicine for a very acute case of high thyroid. Very typical. She is now in private therapy rather than the Early Intervention for PT so that we can be more aggressive and she already showing off her stuff!! We are almost ready to start taking those steps by ourself!! She wants to move and walk so badly but balance holds her back. Her new therapist is awesome and we are thrilled to be in such good hands.

She is recieving RSV shots right now so she doesn't get a visit to the hospital this year. She just had her first ear infection. :( But is doing great!! The only other thing we are waiting to have looked at is a high count that showed up suggesting Celiac disease. It's apparently common amongst down syndrome children and so we have to undergo a endoscopy to rule it out concretely.

She was evaluated thru her private therapy to recieve Occupational and Speech and test above average and was not able to qualify for being right where she should be!! We were thrilled for her!! I think the brother and sisters always including her in everything is really paying off!! She is a chatterbox and sometimes we even know what she's saying or trying to say!!

Her current vocabulary includes... mama, daddy, bubba, bye bye, whoa, uh oh, up, ba-ba (milk or bottle), nigh nigh (mama I am ready for bed), ba (ball), more, waves hello when asked and claps on command if not all the time. I am sure I am leaving out something but she is doing great!! We have soooo much fun on a daily basis!!

Here are the photos we just took for our family photo shoot... but I will include mostly those of Mia. We had over 380 and that would take forever to upload... but you get the best!!

Love to you all... Merry Merry Christmas!!

Can you believe she's 1....

2010-10-13T14:50:00.000-07:00

Lots of pictures...

Catching a snooze...

Her party.... oh the stinker was so happy and had sooo much fun!!

Birthday Buddies... Same day 14 years apart!!

Grandma Kay & Mia

Papa & Mia

Pumpkin Patch...

I got a red vine... who ME??

11 months!!

2010-09-13T13:28:00.000-07:00

Can't hardly wait for this month to finish!! She is going to be a year old in just weeks!! We have her tutu outfit ready and her party hat and tiara all ready!! Cupcakes are ordered and friends are on hold for the big day!! And the best part is she shares this special day with her bubba!! Kaelyn is so playing the birthday on the same day card!! It make him and Mia all the closer!! And all secrets told- I think she really favors that boy!! She calls out bubba in such a sweet little voice when he walks away or enters the room. She reaches for him when she won't go to anyone else!! He makes all things better in her world. And oh how it warms his heart and mine!! I love it!!

We had our first crawling this weekend!! It was so exciting!!! Of course!!

She has been a bit underweather with all the nasal congestion and runny nose stuff. But today we went for an RSV shot screening and got some really great help with this!! I am so excited to have a doctor not just say that it's because she has down syndrome and it will just be a way of life for her- nope this one said She doesn't have to live like that!! So we are on some new meds and a progressive treatment to help this little girl breath better!! I am stoked!! And hopeful that she will qualify for the RSV shots (insurance) so we can stay out of the hospital this year!! Shocking how much one little injection can cost if insurance chooses to deny. $1000 a shot and they take them in a series of 7... ouch!!

We also learned that she has Tracheomalacia. This would be the noisy sounds I am always hearing in her breathing and causing some of her feeding issues... and while this is certainly milder as she is getting older. It would have explained a ton of symptoms when she was a newborn. The doctor said that there was no need for surgery and that it definately wasn't bad enough to require a feeding tube, but that we would watch and it should continue to go away by the age of 18-24 months.

We go to the Dallas Children's for a endocrinology appointment on Friday. Her thyroid is high. I look forward to getting her all checked out. And then in October we get to go to the Down Syndrome Clinic of Dallas Children's where they do a variety of testing and recommendations for her. Stay tuned to hear more about both of those appointments.

She continues to track right along on her milestones. She is really thrilling her developmental therapists with her ability to communicate vocally with us. Saying "mo" for more. Shaking her head yes and no and really understanding what they mean and in appropriate times. She is able to process my questions and point to objects in books. She is just cruising along in those areas!! Motor skills are strong too. Especially the crawling. She doesn't want to be held all the time... sort of. She is trying so hard to get down on the floor and wants to hold your hand as she stands. Her big world is opening up to all kinds of possibilities. She is becoming such a big girl!!

And she has 2 yes 2 teeth. One on the lower and the opposing on the upper!! We are excited. Except for the occasional bites she manages to get in... it seems to be more fun than blowing raspberries!! :o)

10 months

2010-08-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

Crazy how this month is flying by... she is doing wonderful. She just had her physical therapy yesterday and showed off her stuff!! She is learning to pull up and stand by her activity table toy and she is sitting up all by herself!! We are trying to show her the right way to sit back down instead of being stiff legged and falling back but I say she is doing GREAT!! and so did Ava!!

We get professional pics taken at the end of the month but for now here are a couple of shots we just snapped!! Some are a little grainy because they are with my iphone but I had to add them.

Here she is.... in her sweet little outfit a very special grandma made for her. And a beautiful blanket her auntie made for her.

Here are a few pics of her room we took... need to take a full shot but gives you an idea of what the little princess sees.... it was just before naptime so blinds were pulled and the lights were dim...

I am going to add ribbon to this and hang it...

I love to play!!

2010-07-26T15:24:00.000-07:00

9 months

2010-07-20T17:19:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe this little girl is 9 months. And it's hard to believe she is only 18lbs 9oz- and she is 27 inches long. That makes her in the 98 percentile for an average Down Syndrome child in weight and 93% in height. On typical charts she falls just below the 50% mark. She is healthy and strong!!!

We had her 6 month review over the goals and milestones that she has met with her therapists. It went fabulous. Some of the things we were hoping for her to be able to do were: play with a wide variety of toys, and do that while sitting unassisted, learn signs for all done, more and "hi" and "bye"- these are just a few but she is doing them all with such enthusiastic joy!!

Some of the new goals are to start cruising and crawling. Pulling up to stand on her own. Learning more basic signs to help her communicate her needs more effectively- screaming isn't okay??? Haha it works!! She is doing really good at placing her hand on mine if right by me to get my attention or to ask for more. I think it's amazing.

It's been so rewarding and different this time around. How often do we as parents really step back and think about what's next and every little detail that is involved with every milestone. Teaching her every step of learning to move to sit from laying on her tummy or the right way to stand and sit back down without stiff legs... I mean it is so involved and I have to say really fun. We have a moment every other hour to celebrate!! Shoot we celebrate EVERYTHING because she loves to clap and say Yay!!! I love it!!

I have to say the cutest thing she does right now is a little fake laugh. She does it so you will start laughing and then it turns into a big belly laugh fest. It makes her so happy she bounces up and down to do it again!! She has the happiest spirit!!!

Here are some pictures from our trip to Branson a couple of weeks ago. We got to see my mom and it was fun!! It was much like being in Seattle for a bit- rainy and misty the whole time but hot and humid too...

We went to the Table Rock Dam and there was a fish hatchery. The kids were feeding the fish and they would jump and fight for the food... It made Mia laugh and she was so intrigued.

I forgot my camera battery charger and these were the only pics I got of her little tutu self on the 4th. I was sad. My camera lens was so much colder than the humidity outside and got a foggy picture but it was still too cute to leave out.

With my phone...here she is watching the fireworks and loving them!

We went to Silver Dollar City and she had so much fun playing in the little water spots we could find.

Out at the Branson Landing River Walk for dinner and a stroll....

And then today... wearing Brookelyn's headband she took off of BRooke...

2010-07-11T12:44:00.000-07:00

Smiley Happy Baby 8 months old.

2010-06-16T10:15:00.001-07:00

What a busy couple of weeks we just made it through... all good. End of school and a trip up to OK for a couple of weeks to just visit family, camp, and a football camp for Kaelyn. We just got back and had to wheel a cart out from the post office for all the mail we had gotten over the time we were gone. I can't wait to snap up some pictures from the sweet packages Mia received while we were gone... Know that they are loved and we can't wait to show them off!!

Mia is quite the little traveler. For a girl who hated 2 seconds in her car seat at two months she loves knowing that we are going going going when she gets inside of it now. But the best part of our trip was finding out what a little fish she is.

It has got to be the funniest thing ever to put her swimsuit on... she absolutely knows that it means pool time. She starts kicking her feet and clapping those hands. And from the moment she see the pool she is leaning as far out of my arms as possible to get in!! Then it's a toss up between being held outwards so she can kick and splash her hands or blow raspberries on my shoulder in between bounces as I jog along the pools shallow end... she laughs so hard!!

I have lots of fun pictures from the past month. Enjoy!!

What a smiley happy baby!! Under the tree at Ethan's Picnic send off..

Mia doing a little light reading at Brookelyn's last concert of the year in the courtyard.

Mia had a fun day at Six Flags...

This was her first time to sit in her stroller. She sat up so well. She loved it and had a fun time...

Here she is sitting in a highchair which is HUGE for our little girl. She is sitting so well thanks to the extra padding that the cover provides. It is really helping her to sit better and more controlled every time we use it.

I want a french fry to make you laugh!!

She is also trying to hold her own bottle more and more.

Our beloved Nap Nanny... we forgot it this trip. You wouldn't believe how hard they are to find "in stores". But I drove over 30 miles to find this one and it was worth every penny to have two now!! She can't sleep without it and that means, well you know what that means... her sleep is precious to us all!!

No worries. She didn't really ride this fun bicycle... but Kaelyn insisted on the picture because everyone else got their picture riding on it and it would be fair for her to look back and not get to see herself on it!!

Her favorite Jumper... we take it everywhere. Even camping!! She loves to bounce up and down and laugh!!

Ethan is truly a card, he loves to stick bunny ears behind her in almost every opportunity... I suppose because she is the only one he can.

Mia swimming at the campground pool.

On our way home from OK we stopped at a little diner type BBQ/fried Catfish place that had a pickle and relish bar...kids were interested to see what it was. And apparently so was Mia. Anything in our hands is a scream away from entering her little hands and mouth... she LOVED the pickle. Literally loved it. Ate all but the hard covering and wanted more. Thank goodness the mashed potatoes came!!

She's all tuckered out from the hike and swimming at Turner Falls.

Pictures Pictures Pictures

2010-05-07T06:47:00.000-07:00

I finally uploaded over 400 pictures from my card and thought I would share just pictures this post!! Enjoy!!

She loved playing with the saxaphone. It was so cute. Daddy pushed the buttons and she was making music!!!

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She loves her nap nanny, and so does mommy!! It really helps her sleep better being propped up and the best part she doesn't slide off like the traditional wedges... besides being so stinking cute!!

Can you say tired???

Camping is a part of our spring and summers and Mia has done so well with it all!! She played in her camper and had a ball!!

Just play time!!

I'm 7 months old today!!

6 months

2010-04-26T19:10:00.000-07:00

I just want to start with how thankful I am today and everyday. This month especially, I think about the journey we were on over the years. The almost placements that I hear are back in the system. The devastating news about the little boy in Thailand that we couldn't help because of the economy crashing and funds not being available from his private donor. The months we spent researching downs syndrome for his arrival. Getting to a place where I just knew God was going to have to take my heart and glue it back together and then getting that call from Michelle- it's been just a few days over that year mark. She called Dalton first and he had not even a moments hesitation and then me and if she could only see my face and feel my heart at that moment. The crib in the garage I couldn't even give away free at the last garage sale or on Craigslist- cute too. The bedding I couldn't part with- baby girl. The books upon books we had on adoption and downs syndrome. The absolute brokenness and despair that lead to that call at that very minute. But all that could never compare to the decision, dedication, sacrifice, and gift that you- her mother have made and given to this family, to us. So this month has been an emotional one for me. I think of you everyday, I pray for you and your whole family~~ And I wish I could just somehow let you know just how much love & gratitude pours out to you!!

Now we'll jump over to the stats!! She is 16lbs and 25". This puts her in the 60-75% for the downs charts and about 30+% for your typical 6 monther!! She is growing and doing great.

I am so excited to tell you all about her therapies. She is in physical and developmental. Technically she doesn't qualify for either except for her diagnosis. So it has been wonderful having them come out and keep up on top of the milestones!! They take place once a month and separately. Ava does her physical and Mia has so much fun with her. She is really doing well. She is slightly behind in her tone for being able to hold her neck up, which also would help her to sit unassisted. But we have a new favorite seat that helps with both!! Her bumbo- I would have never thought I would love a little seat that has an elephants bum on the underneath side sooo much. But the shape of it and the way it hold her bottom below her legs allows the perfect posture for our little princess. We have been taking it everywhere with us... For example, had to pick up Kaelyn from a track meet and it was crazy windy and little Ethan had fallen asleep- took it out in the car and she was able to play in the front seat while we waited!! Voila!!

Her developmental therapies have been great too... it's really just play time but I know it's hard work for a girl... :) Tasha was so cute the first time she met with Mia. She was worried that she would need that time to let Mia get to know her and well- that is her only other delay!! She doesn't have that object permanence skill down just yet, and it doesn't just show up in dropping a toy and having no interest to find it but also with strangers. She doesn't know one. And while every mother hates it when your little one cries for you- when you are with a stranger that isn't really a stranger to you... Mia loves Everyone!! This is apparently very common in downs and lasts all the way up to adulthood in some. Safety will play a role in that one later but for now- Tasha was happy to play. Since a few of her visits, we now have picked up on learning that skill a bit. She has begun looking for those toys she drops, she cries when I leave her site and smiles and laughs when I pop back around. That is a game I'm sure I might be sorry I started. But very happy to see her learning everyday!! She even said uh-oh totally randomly but Tasha sat there for a good 5 minutes just dropping the toy over and over repeating those words slowly and she said it again!! We just were so excited!! That session ended on a happy note!! She is learning a couple of signs right now too. She understands all done- and quiets rather quickly to that one!! It's like magic as Ethan would say. And we are trying to teach her milk for her bottle- I think she might almost understand that. She is saying mama and dadadadada... and lots of other combinations that are bursted with much joy!! She definately has the gift of sharing what's on her little mind!! And I'm sure it has something to do with all the talking to that she recieves from all the kids... it's funny conversations on a non-stop basis. Happy happy girl!!

Here she is on her quilt from Antioch playing on the floor- tummy time...

She is doing great health wise. She has begun some treatments that the doc was trying to hold off on for as long as he could. They will most likely just be a way of life for her until she gets a little bigger and her lungs are a little stronger. I am happy they have started them, it keeps us away from the Children's unit!! We are doing a steroid 2 times a day and albuterol as needed for the wheezing. She is on an antibiotic currently for a sinus infection. She is also on an allergy medicine daily!! She is fitting in perfectly- I traded the 12 year old nebulizer in for a newer model and singing all the same songs I used to during the treatments. I love that she laughs and smiles and doesn't scream and kick like some of the unnamed older children used too!! And so thankful for wonderful insurance that covers it all at no cost to us!! She has the cutest purple dinosaur mask... I suppose the purple makes it girly. Either way she's a sweety!!

She wouldn't smile for the camera... but loved her little expression that somehow says no more pictures...

St Patty's day girl!!

This first one is one of my favorite pictures of her... those sweet sweet eyes...

She really is a belly laugher. It is so funny how easily tickled she gets!! Love Love love it!!

Hope you enjoy the pictures and updates. Good night!!

We're Home!!

2010-03-10T18:39:00.000-08:00

Mia had a wonderful day and night last night. She made it all day and a couple of naps during the day yesterday without the oxygen. It was a true test through the night and she passed with flying colors!! So we escaped the "day spa" we had become so accustom to after 9 days. We will miss a couple of our nurses but we won't miss being confined to the floor space that the tubing and monitoring wires allowed us. Plus with RSV we were in "isolation" no visitors and no leaving the room to walk the halls... even for mom.

I am so thankful for all of our friends and family who have been awesome prayer warriors. Jesus definitely had her in his hands!! Breathing straight from his mouth to her lungs!! She is stronger and stronger everyday!!

You can tell she is happy to be home... loving seeing her daddy and brother and sisters. Even the dogs are happy to see her!! And her awesome daddy made sure the house was Extra clean- he had air ducts cleaned and washed, carpets cleaned, and crew came in to clean it up extra clean!! All for his little princess!!

More updates soon... have a great night.

So much to catch up on...

2010-03-07T20:42:00.000-08:00

Our little girl is growing and learning to do so many new things...
She at 4 months was 13 pounds and 24" long. She is in the 35% for weight and 39% for height using the downs charting. Perfect little angel.

Over these past few months we have joined the North Dallas Down Syndrome Guild and been given a wealth of resources for Mia. We have had her assessed through the Early Childhood Intervention group and she receives her services and therapies here at the house!! It is wonderful to be able to do this in her environment!! She tested when she was almost 4 months and was testing at the 6 month range for developmental and physical. She is so strong and active and it is showing!!

It's hard to believe so much time has flown by... she has been a little cheerleader for her sister at the cheer competitions. And that is so fun!! The gym Brookelyn cheers for has a Special Stars team that performs and competes and there are so many girls with downs on the squad doing the tumbling and pyramids just like the other girls!! It is so inspiring to watch.

Mia loves her hands she is clapping them together and grasping them all the time. She is batting at the toys that hang in front of her and rattling the toys in her hands to make the noise they should and that she loves!! Her favorites are still Miss Dolly, she loves her pig tails and hold them in her mouth!! And of course Ellie the Elephant because she can make her play a song and her dangling feet are easy to grasp.

She is so funny to play with now... she loves to laugh and to make you laugh. It is a blast to watch the kids get such joy from the joy she gets!!

She just started smacking her lips to show kisses. It's got to be the sweetest. But the funniest is her little laugh she does when we put her hand across to the opposite foot and make her tickle herself!!! She could laugh all day doing that!!

On a serious note, we are battling her first illness. She has had congestion for a couple of weeks and that is so common with downs children because of their small nasal cavities. We went in Thursday of last week and she was given a medication to help much like a baby benedryl and it didn't help much by Sunday she spike a fever and we went to the ER and was diagnosed with RSV thru testing and they were able to do a deep suctioning in her nose and sent us home with albuterol for our nebulizer we already had. She did well on Monday and had an appt to follow up with our doctor on Tues morning. He was able to give her another breathing treatment and do the suctioning again... much deeper than we can do with a traditional aspirator. Told me to increase the treatments to every 4 hours. In 4 hours we were back in the office, she was breathing so fast and shallow I knew it wasn't better and certainly not good. In 20 minutes after getting her pulse ox and deep suctioning again we were on our way via ambulance to the children's unit at the hospital. We have been here ever since. She has the RSV and also pneumonia in her right lung. She is feeling and doing soooo much better than 6 days ago. She is playing and talking and sitting up and just doing all wonderful things but hanging onto that .3 liter of oxygen. She was completely off today but when she goes to sleep she desats and has to be put back on. On Tuesday she was on 4 liters of oxygen so we are doing great!!! The doctors said that "typical" children can hold on to that last tenth of a liter for up to 5 days and with downs they have seen it even double that. So, we wait. She is getting the best care and has wonderful nurses trying their best to be aggressive with the oxygen take away game but her body will let us know when it's time. Just praying for your breath Jesus straight to her lungs!! It's hard to be separated from the family. With the RSV she is in isolation- no kid visitors and we can't leave the room and I can't even go get a cup of joe from the kitchen. But she is taking it all in stride. She is eating great and sleeping through the night again like she were at home. It's play play play all day~~

I do have a few pics that I can post. I know so many of you look forward to the updates and I apologize that it's been a while. Getting settled into the new house her in Texas has been fun but really a lot of work!! And add kid activities and a baby who loves to sleep at night and not nap and you don't get a lot of computer time!!

Here's daddy playing with her while we were at Ethan's Upwards basketball...

I love that the first thing Ethan wants to do when he gets up is see "my little Mia girl" here's a glimpse of how that looks and of course everything is "Mom take our picture!!"

Look at this smile... her and Miss Dolly it's a silly game Brookelyn was playing with her but it was so funny!!

Our friends adopted a sweet girl Fiona from China years back and we went to celebrate the Chinese New Year with them... Mia wore her RED flower and ladybug outfit to celebrate... somehow this is the only pic we got of her that day...

And one last one that Brookelyn posed... this is Mia helping mommy decide what's for dinner...

I have more that need to be uploaded... so more to come soon. I promise to update on her hospital stay as well!!

The last month in pictures....

2010-01-15T13:22:00.000-08:00

Mia is 3 months old and continuing to amaze us everyday. The ways she smiles when you walk into sight melts our hearts completely. She is laughing and oh so ticklish. It is the cutest thing ever. Loves to talk all the time... she is always cooing and drawing everyone into her baby talk!! She is truly captivating!!

She is still trying so hard to sit up... it is the darnedest thing. We call them her baby crunches from a laying down position but in your arms she can do it on her own. She has also rolled over 3 times on her own and it isn't all the time but just very awesome to see her trying!! Very strong little girl.

She has been completely free of congestion and is doing so good with her hearing. She startles at the slightest sound now and that is completely different than before. We hope to do a retest on her hearing during her 4th month.

A few from Christmas...

Tubby time... she loves it.

Sissy sang her to sleep on her bunny...

She loves to play with her doll... here she trying to really figure out how she is going to get her to her mouth... it is so cute and she is so focused and patient.

And just today she was laughing and so playful that I had to try and catch for it you all... the sheen on her pretty little face was from her lotion Aquafor...

then her little lizard tongue she makes... it's a game with her she wants you to poke it so she can laugh.

2 month check up...

2009-12-09T23:52:00.000-08:00

Today was Mia's actual 2 month check up. It doesn't get any easier watching your little baby get shots. Especially when they aren't criers. She was so mad- and I was so sad. She is weighing in at 11 pounds and grown 3 and 1/4 inches to 22.5 inches. That is just incredible!! She falls in the 52% for downs babies. Which is wonderful!! Her switch to soy has been so good for her tummy and her rash is disappearing more and more each day. She even talked to me while the doctor checked her ears... it was really sweet of her to show off for the doctor. :o)

The little angel has even started sleeping from around 8:30 to anywhere between 4:30 and 6:00. She still has her days of no naps but follows them up with a good sleepy day. It is just so cute to watch her so content exploring surroundings with her eyes wide open and cooing. But silly baby should nap it's good for you.

I don't have any pictures to post today but wanted to give the good update. Pictures to come soon.

2 months old

2009-11-30T15:19:00.000-08:00

Our little love is growing growing... longer and bigger everyday. And not a second goes by that we aren't thanking God for this amazing blessing.

One month old...

2009-11-08T08:09:00.000-08:00

As Ethan tries to comprehend that she had come home with us one month ago and that even though she was one month she was really still zero yrs old... We'll share with you the tremendous joy Mia has brought to our family over these last few weeks. It is amazing to look back and imagine that a month has really passed. The months leading up took an eternity and this last month flew by. We all still remain eternally grateful to her mother and our prayers are never without you. You are in our hearts forever!!

Mia is doing wonderful. We are all staying healthy and away from the flu and sickness that abounds everywhere. She is steadily growing and eating well. Oatmeal is her new friend in the reflux battle.

Here are a few pictures over the last couple of weeks...

She has a new favorite thing... soft chenille blanket up against her face as she falls asleep... calms her every time. So sweet.

Sweet little feet...

Sweet little hand...

Have you seen anything so cute as this little sleep sack!! Love it.

Halloween

2009-11-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Miss Mia and I stayed home to hand out candy to all the cute and some scary little and big kiddos eager for treats. She slept most of the night in her sling. Some were more interested in a peek at the cute little baby than the candy being dumped into the buckets... Fun night for all!!

Three Week little Angel...

2009-10-29T14:58:00.000-07:00

I wanted to title this post as Jesus Loves Mia...
Her grandparents bought her a very special and beautiful bracelet that has the heart, cross, and initial M for that very title. And I put it on her the other day. It is still too big for her tiny arms, as it slips right off. I did want to show you a picture of her wearing it though. It is a beautiful gift and a precious keepsake!! We feel so blessed by it and know that she will too!! Thank you!!

The changes you can see in a week are amazing to watch... I know because as I looked at my 5 year old the other day I thought wow did they grow together?? He looks so much older and mature in the face. And let's see Mia, is gaining and growing so well!! You can tell in a picture I have of the outfit she went home in and the outfit she wore at 3 weeks.... She is getting longer than "newborn", but too tiny for 0-3. So it is a funny little balance called no footed jammies for a bit.

I wish blogger could record sounds. I know I say it all the time but she is such a noise maker. A cute noise maker but she is always making some little sound and it is so sweet!!

We are still doing great. The reflux is getting to be the norm and adding the rice did help limit the amount coming back up but it is still the norm to wash about a dozen burp cloths and lots of blankets a day!! Doesn't seem to make her unhappy a bit so we just keep watching the weight gain for now.

She is really staying alert these days and finding a real routine. Love talking and singing to her and looking at her watch so intently. It is amazing to watch the older kids interact with her. The love is so natural and so plentiful!! We have all been incredibly blessed.

So enough of the chatter... pictures pictures pictures!! Enjoy and be blessed!!

Happy 2 weeks old!!

2009-10-22T11:59:00.000-07:00

Today we went for our 2 week check-up. At 16 days, she has grown 1/4 inch and is weighing in at 7lbs and 15 oz. Her first check in she was 7lbs 6 oz.. normal to lose a little after birth especially with the amount of fluid in her belly they had to get out.

She is doing so good. She is however, what we would call a "Happy Spitter". She has some reflux issues- but doesn't have the crankiness it causes some newborns. So we are changing some things and hopefully our little spitter will do better holding it down.. although we do know this is very common in downs children- so we will just take it one day at a time. And wash lots of burp cloths daily!!

She also lost the last little bit of the umbilical cord today... look out cute her little belly button is...

Cute Random Pics

2009-10-21T21:21:00.000-07:00

We love taking pictures of little Mia...

She loves listening to the blinking Star sing her songs... and while she has been so alert these last couple of days it is fun to explore new things and find stimulation in new areas.

She is a bit tee tiny for her high chair but with it in recline it makes a great addition to the island area while cooking or cleaning up for dinner.... cutie pie!!

Our little OU girl...

Tubby Time

2009-10-21T21:11:00.000-07:00

Here are some cute pictures of her first bath...

... and some of her at a later bath time. It's one of Ethan's favorite times he sings to her while he is in our shower and I am giving her a bath. Sweet times.

Being home...

2009-10-21T18:18:00.000-07:00

We're going home...

A happy sleeping girl...

Mia's first doctor's appointment...

She is doing so great. We had a great first doctors appointment and go tomorrow for her 2 week check up. She visited the Cardiologist at the Seattle Children's Hospital and got a wonderful report. Her echocardiogram and her EKG were perfect. No signs of heart trouble and that is just glorious!! Thank you God!!

She is such a joy in our home. She receives many many kisses from her brothers and sisters and they just adore and love her!! She makes the sweetest little sounds 24 hours a day. She is sleeping well at night and eating so good. Staying alert more and more through the day and having so much fun exploring her new world.

More to come.... more pictures as she is changing daily and we will be sure to record everything...

Mia Noelle

2009-10-21T17:51:00.000-07:00

Our blessing began months ago when we got the call from Antioch that we were to pray over a mother who was choosing adoption and would consider choosing her child to bring into our home.... this was in April 2009

As many of our friends and family know adopting has been a long long journey for our family. Starting almost 4 1/2 years ago. We thought we would go internationally and pick up our baby girl come home and begin life... but with most things life wasn't that easy!! Many barriers blocked us from adopting internationally, many God stops happened along the way that we only look back on now and see. Amazing the story and amazing the journey that led us to October 6th 2009.

But that call in April came after a complete breakdown and shutdown in my heart. We had been through soo many almost placements, one mother who changed her mind last minute, and then revisiting the international scene yet again.. We had a match with a little boy in Thailand that had Downs Syndrome. He was almost 4 and was considered highly functioning and was the sweetest thing I had ever seen. He had some assistance that cut the cost down, we had done all of our documents and were ready for the last step (another) homestudy and off the papers would go and about 3 months later we would travel to pick up our little boy. Visiting in Oklahoma, I got the call that said with the economy his money was cut and we would need over $30K in one month to travel as he was ready. It was the hardest news to take in. We couldn't take that from our family and had no way to raise that much money so quickly that we had to walk away. Grieving that this adoption thing must not be what God had for us yet one more time- I thought we should walk away from it all. About one week later and feeling little more than still numb, we got the call from Antioch... and this little blessing would also have downs syndrome.

We knew we would adopt special needs mostly because of the huge blessings that our life has given to us. This need to have another child in our lives over the years turned more into a real calling to give life to a child who needed us!!

That's the condensed soup version of our journey and this blog is for little Mia's loving family that gave her and us the biggest gift they ever could have!! Thank you.