Happy 100th Post to Me!

So evidently the 100th post is a big deal in Blogger World. I'd like to thank the Academy. Err...I mean, I'd like to thank Benjamin. Without his heart surgery, there's no way I'd see 100 this soon! That middle-of-the-night frantic blogging has paid off and I have arrived! Kidding, of course.

I've read several people's 100th posts, and apparently what you're supposed to do is to tell 100 things about yourself. But I know myself and I need parameters.

I got my 100th post idea from Monica. I loved her format and decided to steal it. Except I'm horribly, horribly wordy. This is an incredibly long post, full of pictures, links, and humor attempts. It took me a couple nights (several hours) to do it. NO JOKE--My DVR is now at ZERO percent.

Just in case you didn't know, any time text shows up in blue, you can click on it and it'll take you to a website of whatever is in blue. For instance, if you wanted to go to a site where you could buy a really good book for any new parents of a Down syndrome baby, click here.

So, grab your coffee or your Dr. Pepper and get comfy. Don't feel bad if you don't know me well and don't really want to read it. Just don't tell me. :)

Here are ten top-ten lists of my life, thus 100 things about me. (Please note that these are not "top-ten" lists in true fashion, as I am not ranking them in any kind of order. I'm simply listing ten of my favorites under each category. I don't have the time nor the mental capacity to rank them within each list.

Favorite Restaurants (Worldwide)

1. American Cafe--Chattanooga, TN

The first time I went here, it was called Silver Spoon's. I went with my friends from high school: Laurie, Joyce, Sherry, and Greta. It was the first time I ever remember being out with girlfriends without our parents. I also remember that Laurie, on suggestion from the waitress, ordered the chicken pot pie and did not like it. So she got a coupon for a free dessert. The restaurant later changed its name to Mozzarella's and is now American Cafe. I still call it Mozzarella's. I love the Grand Chicken Caesar Salad (but with buffalo chicken instead of grilled). And the spinach con queso dip w/chips is to die for.

2. Genghis Khan--Okinawa, Japan

This is a Mongolian barbeque restaurant on the island of Okinawa. We went here in 2005 when we visited my relatives who live there. (No, they're not Japanese.) You fill up one bowl with raw veggies and one bowl with raw meat. You drop it off with the cooks and they cook it. It was SO SO good. I've tried a similar restaurant in Chattanooga (Genghis Grill) but it was sadly not as good.

Me, Matthew, my mom, and my cousin Casandra:

Did I mention it's all-you-can-eat? I think I got two bowls this size. Yum...

3. The City Grill--NYC

My best friend, Joyce, lives in NYC. Matthew and I have visited her and her husband twice since they've been married. (We went to NYC once the year before they wed, two months after 9-11.) One night, we stumbled across a restaurant on the upper Westside that was just delightful. Maybe it was our superb waitress, Leah. Maybe it was the fact that we saw a semi-celebrity. But I think it was the baked mac-and-cheese that won my heart.

Joyce, me, Matthew:

4. The Full Moon Cafe--Manteo, North Carolina

Don't worry. It's not a nasty place. There's nothing objectionable about it except its name. The food is delicious and upscale (at least for my palate). It is in the quaint water-front town of Manteo, NC, in my favorite place ever, the Outer Banks.

5. Big Al's Soda Fountain and Grill--Manteo, North Carolina

My family started going to the Outer Banks when I was 13. We have been many times to Big Al's. My cousin Carol always gets a chocolate coke and we all think it's disgusting. I like a cherry (fountain) coke and the Big Bopper cheeseburger. Yum.

6. The Wharf Restaurant--Outer Banks, North Carolina

Sadly, there is no link for this one because it went out of business several years ago. Such a shame because it was a great seafood buffet. From the peel-and-eat shrimp (my relatives prefer the crab legs) to the banana pudding to the player piano playing "Holy, Holy, Holy" and many other hymns, it was the best ever.

I think this photo was taken in 2000, the summer before Matthew and I got married. (I know b/c my hair was long for our November wedding.) That's me on the far right with in the black pants. I don't know the rest of these hooligans.

7. Cafe Sol--Barbados

In June 2007, Matthew and I went to Barbados by ourselves. Andrew stayed with my parents and they had the time of their lives. So did we. One of the highlights was this Mexican restaurant. We ate there twice it was so good!

8. Courtyard Cafe--Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN

Okay, so the nachos weren't that great. Though the chicken caesar salad was very good. And the deep-dish cheese pizza was wonderfully seasoned. But the reason this made my top-ten is that it was what we needed. The cafeteria in the Children's Hospital was pretty much just Subway, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. A former co-worker and friend, Stephanie, told me that if we went out the door by the Subway and walked across the street, we'd eventually come to this cafeteria. I'm SO glad she did. It was a nice break when we needed it. It was just the right length of a walk. I have fond memories of walking there in the beautiful, breezy, fall weather with Matthew, trying to get our minds off the stress of Benjamin's surgery and recovery. Once, we walked there in a downpour. Most of the walk was covered, but the wind was blowing and we got kind of wet. It was a beautiful storm. Oh, yeah, and the pizza was truly delicious. I've already told Matthew that when we go back up there for Benjamin's post-op appointment on November 3, we're going back for more pizza.

9. Restaurant Taverna Akropol--Athens, Greece

In June 2004, Matthew and I went on a two-week long mission trip to Greece with some youth and college students of our church. (We were not the only adults!) This was one of the many delicious meals we shared as a team. Some people (not me!!) tried escargot, sucked straight out of the shells. Nooooo, thank you.

If you look very carefully, you can see my face right above the table on the left. I'm the sixth one down, real close to the table. Matthew is the seventh one down on the left; he's sitting up like a human being.

10. Provino's Italian Restaurant--Chattanooga, TN

You've gotta love a free meal on your birthday. And Provino's is great, fattening Italian food. We go many times a year because there are a lot of us, and each of us has a birthday. It's almost always someone's birthday and it's always really, really good.

Movies I've Seen So Many Times I Can Quote Them

1. "You've Got Mail"

2. "Sleepless in Seattle"

3. "Anne of Green Gables"/ "Anne of Avonlea"

4. "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"

5. "Aladdin"

6. "Home Alone"

7. "Annie" (1982 with Albert Finney)

8. "Clue"

9. "Murder By Death"

10. "Sound of Music"

CDs I Can Listen to All the Way Through, Over and Over

(Remember CDs, anyone?)

1. Harry Connick, Jr. "Blue Light, Red Light"

2. "You've Got Mail: Music From the Motion Picture"

3. The Carpenters "Christmas Collection"

4. Tim McGraw "A Place in the Sun"

5. Chris Rice "Deep Enough to Dream"

6. "Fiddler on the Roof" (1971 Motion Picture Soundtrack)

7. "Annie" (Original 1982 Movie Soundtrack)

8. "Sound of Music" (1965 Film Soundtrack)

9. Mariah Carey "Mariah Carey"

10. Any of these Mister Rogers CDs

Places Close to My House that I Like to Go To

1. My parents' house--It's not just the pool in the backyard or the wonderful view. It's that my family is there. I love them all so much.

2. Wal-mart--Less than five miles away. I love it!

3. My church--A wonderful place with wonderful, godly people

4. Hamilton Place Mall--The largest shopping mall in Tennessee!

5. The library--Half a mile away, great kids' books. I can see it from our upstairs windows. Unfortunately, the road is busy and has no sidewalks, so we cannot walk there.

6. CVS--Half a mile away as well. Great for those middle-of-the-night Dr. Pepper runs. :)

7. The playground--Andrew loves it!

8. My mom's school (Where I taught for seven years)--The best school ever. With the best staff and students. I was so proud to teach there and I cannot wait to send my children there.

9. Tres Amigos--In the same complex as CVS. Did I mention Vegetarian D?

10. My brother Justin's house--This was my parents' house until about 2 1/2 years ago, when they moved and sold it to my brother. I lived here from age 10 until I moved out after college. We have *so* many wonderful memories at this house, and I'm so glad it's still in the family. Even if it smells like bachelorhood. This is a picture of my parents outside the house about a decade ago.

People & Things That Make Me Laugh

1. Me--Let's face it. I can be funny. And I crack myself up more than anyone. Because I get me. Even when it's stupid. You've got to be able to laugh at yourself or you'll just spend your life being paranoid.

2. My husband Matthew--Our humor jives. I'm so glad. I can't imagine not having laughter in our house.

3. My younger brother Justin--Dry wit, explosive laughter, intelligent yet goofy

4. My cousin Marianne--Same as Justin. Only female. Much prettier and with a better fashion sense.

5. My son Andrew--You've got to love toddlers. They're *hilarious*.

6. My cats Frank and Nancy--When we got them they were 13 ounces each. Now they're over 15 pounds each and Andrew's best friends. They're so fun and make me laugh.

7. The Office--I love Dwight and Creed!

8. Seinfeld--The best sitcom ever.

9. Big Mama's blog--She is not even big. Now that is funny.

10. Signs and t-shirts in Japan written in English (as seen on our 2005 trip)--These simply speak for themselves.

Things That I Think Are Overrated

1. Hawaii--We went for a week in 2005. It was just okay. I mean, I had a blast with my family, but that's a long way to fly and an expensive trip. I personally prefer the beach in NC.

2. Having a job--I *love* being a stay-at-home mom! It is very fulfilling. Even if I don't always get a shower or a salary. :)

3. Long hair for women--I've had short hair for years and could never go back.

4. Saving the environment--Sorry. I'm not purposefully wasteful but I've just got more important things to do.

5. Dogs--I'm a cat person. Dogs scare me. And kind of gross me out. Please don't jump on me. Or poop near me.

6. Hand sanitizer--Ick! The worst part of the PCICU was having to use it every time we entered Benjamin's room.

7. Organic foods--No, thank you. Groceries are expensive enough.

8. Developmental milestones--I am coming from both ends of the spectrum on this one. Andrew knew all 26 letters of the alphabet by recognition at 21 months. Benjamin most likely won't walk until he's two or three. Every kid is different. And they're all wonderful.

9. Politics--Couldn't care less. I vote with my heart and my gut. I try to understand it all but have so many other things to do. I may have a master's degree but when it comes to politics, I just feel stupid.

10. Running--I know my friends who hear me say this all the time are sick of hearing it, but I only run if something is chasing me. I just don't get it.

My Pet Peeves

1. Bad grammar, punctuation, spelling (Don't worry--I'm not judging you. It mainly bothers me coming from teachers or on signs of businesses. I mean, HIRE SOMEONE WHO CAN SPELL. I'd be glad to do it for a nominal fee.)

2. When people scrape their plates with their utensils (...cough...cough...my husband...cough...cough...)

3. The various driving grievances that bug everyone (following too closely, pulling out in front of me only to turn in two blocks, going too slowly, etc.)

4. Unkempt fingernails, especially on men

5. When people don't return their cart at the grocery store (You know who you are, and, yes, I just gave you a dirty look.)

6. Fakeness in people--Authentic is best, don'tcha think?

7. Men who don't help their wives with the kids or the house. I mean, really? Are you an adult?

8. Inappropriate clothing on little girls (or older girls, too, for that matter)

9. Sports fanatics (YAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!! GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!! YAAAAA!!!!!!!!! I WANNA PULL MY HAIR OUT IF I SEE ANY MORE BRIGHT ORANGE!!!!!!!!)

10. When my DVR cuts off the ending of my television shows

Concerts I Have Been T0

1. New Kids on the Block--March 13, 1990 (Sigh. I loved every big-hair minute of it. A special shout-out to my friend Melanie who went with me. It was the *most* fun.)

2. Amy Grant--April 1995 (Sadly, this was my first date. The reason it is sad is because I was 18 and a senior in high school.)

3. DC Talk & Audio Adrenaline--February 1996 (Two words: mosh pit)

4. Elton John--1998 (It was just him and his piano. I was there with a guy I really liked. Sadly, it never materialized and was just like a candle in the wind. Or like Daniel my brother. Or something to that effect.)

5. George Strait Country Music Festival--2000 (SO wonderful. Performers included Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, and, natch, George Strait.)

6. Sammy Kershaw & Aaron Tippin--2000 (Aaron was a great entertainer. Sammy was okay. He didn't sing Vidalia and I was ticked.)

7. Chris Rice--2003 (I love Chris Rice!!!!!!! He was amazing.)

8. Paul McCartney--September 2005 (What a show!! I went with my mother and my older brother, Michael, when I was pregnant with Andrew. It was the LOOONGEST concert ever. It should've been for the price of the tickets! My favorite song was "Good Day Sunshine.")

9. Harry Connick, Jr.--March 7, 2007 (What a great concert! I heart Harry.)

10. Rascal Flatts--October 8, 2008 (This was a small, charity concert at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital)

Things I Cannot Live Without

(Obviously I don't mean *THE* most important things like Christ or my family or my house or my Toyota Sienna.)

1. My DVR--Okay, seriously? How did I survive before this? I could never return to the VCR. To quote my brother Justin, "This thing has revolutionized the way I watch television." (This, of course, coming from the man who said that honey butter changed his life...)

2. Mexican food--More specifically, a cheese burrito with cheese sauce instead of red sauce, with sides of rice and beans. Otherwise known as Vegetarian D at Tres Amigos.

3. Christmas music--Don't even get me started about how much I love Christmas music. I start listening to it in October. I'm even going to a Harry Connick, Jr. Christmas concert in Nashville in December!!!! WOO-HOO!!

4. Puffs Plus w/lotion--Don't leave home without them and do NOT accept any substitutes. They are well worth the extra money. And they often go on sale at CVS.

5. Dr. Pepper--Nectar of the gods. Or at least of me. Not that I'm a god. Oh, never mind. I really like it.

6. Wireless Internet--How else could I be sitting in my living room right now typing this and watching the season finale of Project Runway at the same time? Hello? Priorities!

7. My cell phone--Not just for the stranded motorist anymore! Although my family makes fun of me b/c I have a Zack Morris phone. (i.e., a non-flip phone) I just don't like flip phones! If I can make calls and text, that's all that matters.

8. Cheese--There are few things that aren't made better by adding cheese.

9. Pampers diapers--More specifically, Pampers Swaddlers for newborn through size two and Pampers Cruisers for size three and up. Like the Puffs Plus, accept no substitutes; they're worth the extra cost. Use coupons at Babies R Us and buy the really big box. Sam's also has good prices but only if you don't have coupons b/c they don't accept them. Their loss!

10. My Tiny Love mobile--Mary Jo sent this as a baby gift when Benjamin was born and it is seriously wonderful. New moms, don't be stingy with money on this one like I was when Andrew was born. I use it multiple times EVERY day. We even took it with us to the hospital when B had his surgery. It plays classical music and lasts 15 long minutes!



Important Dates in My Life

1. March 14, 1977--This is the day I was born. Pretty important day if you ask me. The thing I love about my birthday is that it is 3-14. As in 3.14. As in Pi. Happy Pi Day! Who doesn't love pi(e)?

2. August 13, 1981--This is the day I gave my life to Jesus Christ and asked Him to come into my heart, as written in my dad's Bible.

3. September 24, 1999--My first date with Matthew

4. November 19, 2000--Our wedding date. It actually snowed that morning!

5. December 4, 2002--Matthew and I refer to this as the B.D.E., or Best Day Ever. We were up in New York City visiting Joyce and her husband Shibu. We woke up that morning on an air mattress on the floor of their "living room." They were both at work, so it seemed like our place. We looked up and out the windows only to see lots and lots of snow falling. It snowed ALL day as we walked around and window shopped and looked at the Christmas decorations. It was truly a magical day that epitomizes our carefree life before kids. :)







6. July 12, 2005--The day I found out I was pregnant with Andrew. We had just returned from Japan the day before and I was up in the middle of the night with jetlag. I watched one of my favorite movies, Dances With Wolves. When it was over, it was 4:30 a.m. I was waiting until "morning" to take the pregnancy test, and I figured it was time. When the LOOOOOOONG three minutes was up and I realized it was positive, I ran and jumped on the bed where Matthew was peacefully sleeping. We had been successful on our first month of trying!! YAY!

7. March 24, 2006--The day our sweet Andrew James was born



8. August 25, 2007--This was five days after finding out I was pregnant with Benjamin. The reason *this* date is more important than the day I found out follows. We had tried for two months unsuccessfully to get pregnant with our second child. The third month, I thought we were unsuccessful again, so I told Matthew that we would have to try again another month. We weren't too horribly discouraged, just wondering how long it would take. That was on Thursday. On Sunday, Matthew left on a plane to go to Connecticut for work. On Monday morning, I had a hunch that I might truly be pregnant, so I took a test. POSITIVE! I told a few close friends and some family members, but I kept it a secret from Matthew allll week. Why? Because he was out of town and I wanted to tell him in person. His flight from Atlanta to Chattanooga was delayed and delayed and then cancelled, so I called and got him the last seat on a shuttle for the two-hour trip. I arrived early, telling the lady that when Matthew Amick came in to pay for his trip, to hand him a "Congratulations" balloon. Attached to the balloon was a picture of Andrew wearing a "Big Brother" t-shirt. The time was 2:07 a.m. (Don't fret--one of my family members came to stay at our house while Andrew slept!) I hid around the corner and videotaped the whole thing. Here is the picture and the video. In the video, he is calling me on his cell phone to see if I'm on my way to get him. When the lady hands him the balloon w/the picture, it takes him a minute to get it, and he says, "Are you *kidding* me?" (Don't forget to go to the bottom of the page to pause the music before watching the video!)

http://i8.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid8.photobucket.com/albums/a34/Angela3192006/MOV08531.flv

9. April 24, 2008--The day our precious Benjamin Matthew was born. An hour later, we learned he has Down syndrome.



10. October 3, 2008--The day Benjamin had open-heart surgery

October is Down syndrome awareness month

**There has been more added to the bottom of this post!**

One of the first thoughts I had when I found out that Benjamin has Down syndrome was, "Oh, no. Do I have to become one of *those* moms?" You know, the kind of mom that is only driven by a cause. With bumper stickers and caustic remarks to anyone who isn't on the same page as her. The mom who thinks that everyone should understand where she is coming from and should automatically know the right and wrong things to say.

See, I'm just not like that. I know who I am and I know where I am coming from, and while I definitely feel like I am learning more and becoming more understanding of others' perspectives, I remember what it was like to have NO idea about these kinds of things.

I read a list shortly after Benjamin was born. It had two parts. Things NOT to say to new parents of a Down syndrome baby and things TO say. I gotta say, I think we heard most everything that was on the list. And I couldn't disagree more with that list. For copyright sake, I can't post the list, but from what I remember, the top things NOT to say include "I'm sorry," "God gives special kids to special parents," "Down syndrome kids/people are the sweetest people," and "You're handling this better than I could."

While I can see why these things might be politically incorrect and have the potential to be insensitive and/or hurt feelings, I was actually comforted by hearing those things. Let me take them one-by-one:

"I'm sorry." Let's be honest. We are all sorry when a baby is born and has something wrong with it. Now, I know I am stepping on toes b/c many parents of DS babies say that there is nothing wrong with them, that they are perfect and just have an extra chromosome, etc. But for me, I just don't agree. Maybe I'm still a rookie. Parents with more experience always tend to think their opinion trumps that of a new parent. And perhaps they are right. These are also the parents who say that if they could, they would not wish the DS away. While I see the point that DS is part of who Benjamin is, there is no way I would willfully *choose* this for him. So, yes, I was sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry that my son had to have open-heart surgery at five months old. I am sorry that he will most likely have the mental capacity of an 8 to 10 year old and will have to have individual help every day that he is in school. I am sorry that he will most likely not marry and that he will not have children. Am I sorry he was born? Would I choose NOT to have him? ABSOLUTELY NOT. But if I could take away that extra chromosome and still keep my same, sweet, baby boy, I would do it in a heartbeat. No pun intended.

"God gives special kids to special parents." Eh, this one is okay. I certainly don't think that God is/was punishing us or trying to teach us a lesson. What I do know for sure is that God's love has never been more tangible to me in all my life. More believable. More intense. And I know that had I had a "normal" child, there's no way I could have learned all I have learned (and still have to learn). People tell us all the time that we are strong. But I must say that we are only strong because of Christ living and working in us. Because left to my own emotions and desires, I'd be falling apart. I think that God gave Benjamin to us for many reasons. Some of those have already been made evident and some are still to come. Stay tuned.

"Down syndrome kids/people are the sweetest people." This one probably bugged me the most just because it seems like EVERYONE said it. But Matthew and I recognize that when someone you know is faced with a new and unfamiliar situation, you say what you think is the best thing to say. I can't say that put in the shoes of our visitors, that I wouldn't have said the exact same thing. And you know what? So far, Mister Benjamin is THE SWEETEST THING. I don't necessarily know yet if that is his Down syndrome or just him, or a combination of the two, but it doesn't matter. He's sweet and he's mine.

"You're handling this better than I could." I suppose this one is not the "right" thing to say because it's highlighting the fact that something has gone wrong. Umm..hello? Can you imagine being told an hour after your baby was born that he has Down syndrome? Something went wrong. Not in God's plan, obviously, but in my plan. And so it takes some time to adjust that thinking to realize that there are no mistakes and that there is a silver lining. The fact that people think we are handling it well only speaks to the power of my Lord and Savior.

I am sorry if I am offending some of you. I truly don't mean to. And I'm not saying that anyone who is/was offended by some/all of these sayings is wrong. It's your right to be offended. Just as it's my right to take comfort in someone saying something from the heart. I was in their shoes a short while ago, and I don't expect them to know what it feels like. I don't want anyone tiptoeing around the issues. My name is Angela, and I have a son with Down syndrome. It's okay. We can talk about it.

So, in that vein, I would like to give you the opportunity to ask any questions you might have about Down syndrome. There are a lot of misconceptions out there, and not that I am an expert by any means, but I have learned some things since April. And I have all the books. Please don't be hesitant to ask anything you want. I will update this post later and try to answer them.

**Edited**

This question comes from my friend Mary Jo who lives in Minneapolis:

So Benjamin most of the time doesn't "look" like he has down syndrome. I've seen pictures of other babies with DS and it seems more noticable physically than with Benjamin. It's not just my view being skewed because of how much I care for you and your family, other's that I have shared your story with say the same thing. Do you know, does him not "looking" very DS corralate at all to how severe or not severe his DS might be?

I agree that his physical characteristics don't look as strong as some others I have seen. I, too, have secretly wished that this might be an indication that he is not as delayed as he could be. But I don't know that we can know. There are three kinds of Down syndrome. I will try to explain them in layman's terms.

1. Non-disjunction DS--This is what 95% of DS people have (including Benjamin). Every human should have 23 pairs of chromosomes in each cell. Non-disjunction DS means that in all of the cells, there are three chromosomes in the 21st one, giving them 47 total. Because the extra chromosome is in all the cells, it's widespread throughout the body, meaning the *potential* for severe delays is there.

2. Mosaic DS (1 to 2%)--This means that the extra 21st chromosome only shows up in some cells, not all. Mosaic DS people can be, but are not always, more advanced because they do not possess the extra 21st chromosome in all of their cells.

3. Translocation DS (3 to 4%)--This means that there is just a fragment of a third 21st chromosome, and that fragment is attached to another chromosome, for example the 13th or 18th. I am not sure of the advancement potential of this type, but I think they are most like the non-disjunction DS.

When Benjamin was born, that was one of our first questions for the doctor: "How bad is his case?" (Ironically, this was also one of the questions you're not supposed to ask parents of DS babies. But I sure wanted to know!) The thing is--you can't really know. We won't know or have any indication of how far delayed Benjamin will be until he does or does not do something "on time." We won't know if he will fall the category of mild, moderate, or severe mental retardation until he is older. Because he has non-disjunction DS, that extra chromosome is in all his cells. I don't know if his physical characteristics have anything to do with that, though. Ooh--Matthew just looked it up. Here is the sentence verbatim: "No connection has been shown between the number of Down syndrome features a baby has and that baby's cognitive ability."

I will say that both his pediatrician and his physical therapist have been impressed with his muscle tone. He is definitely more delayed than a normal baby at almost six months, but he is doing quite well for a DS baby. That is a difficult line for me as a mother to walk. It is a struggle, to be quite honest, to not compare him with Andrew. Any mother knows we're not "supposed" to compare our children, and we all know that children develop at their own paces. But at six months, Andrew was crawling and sitting independently and pulling up on things. Benjamin is nowhere near that. And most days, I'm okay with that. But then I read that many DS children don't walk until two or three (or even older). And that sometimes they don't talk until they're three or four. It makes the future seem bleak. But only when I want it to. Only when I sit and ponder it and wallow in sadness. Which is okay in seasons but not to stay there.

One interesting thing about DS adults is that males with DS are sterile (with only three recorded instances of a DS male fathering a child) and if a DS woman has a baby, there is a 50% chance that her baby will also have DS.

Out of the mouth of babes

Just for fun today (don't get any ideas), I asked Andrew some questions. Here is how the conversation went:

Me--"Andrew, if you had another brother, what would you want his name to be?"

Andrew--"Ummmm....Hammy."

Me--"What if you had a sister? What would you want her name to be?"

Andrew--"Emma! Or Ellie....or......Benjamin."

Sigh. Remind me not to consult with him in a couple of years. :)





**Edited**

Erica, the socks are the ONLY baby socks that my boys cannot kick off. They are made by Carter's. I found some online for sale (but not at the Carter's site) at http://www.tots-too-teens.com/quotcartersquot-boys-snuggly-socks.html but I usually just buy them in the store. I have a million white ones and then some "boy colors," too. They work *really* well.

Oh, and just so everyone knows the context of Andrew's girl name choices, Emma is a friend of Andrew's and Ellie is her new baby sister. Their mom, Diana, and I are friends. :)

In case you were wondering...

Just some things I thought I'd mention:

1. Yes, Benjamin is still doing well. I took him to his pediatrician today b/c his wrist (where they had to cut during surgery...yikes and ick...) doesn't seem to be healing well. I think they left stitches in there that are not the dissolvable kind, and it was bleeding. The steri-strips already fell off but I put some back on. Plus a band-aid. Dr. Stephanie said that it did not look infected and that I had done such a good job with the steri-strips (one of my hidden talents evidently), that she was not going to remove it. We go back in two weeks anyway for his six-month well visit so she'll check them then.

Question for anyone in medicine: If the stitches aren't the dissolvable kinds, isn't that bad to just leave them in and let it heal over them? Kind of gives me the heeby-jeebies to think about.

2. I got a comment from someone named Richard on a really old post, and since he didn't have a blogger profile, I am not able to contact him to answer his question. So, Richard, if you're still keeping up with us, I will tell you that the Hardees sign that read "Taco Salads is Back" was not in Kentucky. It was, indeed, in East Ridge, Tennessee, which is very close to the GA/TN line. I hope it was the same Hardees but you never know. LOL Thanks for the comment!

3. Also, Connie who left me a couple of messages. I don't have a cousin Betty, but my grandmother is Betty. Is that who gave you my blog address? And if so, come on, Grandma Betty. You might pass as my aunt, but cousin? :) Just kidding!! You know I love you.

4. Speaking of comments, I just wanted to say that if you're not a blogger, you might not realize the thrill that we bloggers get when people leave comments on our mindless dribble. (Or as Elaine on Seinfeld said, "the excruciating minutia of every, single, daily event..") And I totally understand, as a blog stalker myself, that you don't always want to leave a comment even though you know how. And I can also appreciate that sometimes you just might want to email a blogger your thoughts. Which is also fine. But I have heard from several of you that you'd like to leave a comment but just don't know how or don't want to register, etc. Let me assure you that it is super easy and you can do it without signing up for the fruit-of-the-month club or committing to naming your first-born 'Rumplestiltskin.'

Underneath each post, there is a line that says "___ comments." (In the blank is the number of comments.) If you click on that, you can read the witty comments that my friends and family have left. You can also leave a comment in the big, white box. Don't be intimidated. It is easy. Just type. :) Then, type in those googly-looking letters and numbers in the box. Now, below that, choose "anonymous." This way you don't have to sign up for anything. BUT BE SURE TO TYPE YOUR NAME IN THE WHITE TEXT BOX so I'll know who you are! Just sign it like you would a letter. You know, "Pulling out my hair, Great-Aunt Willemenia" or "Will you please shut up, Your brother, Justin." OR another option is to to click the "Name/URL" option and just type your name in the box.

5. Don't be fooled by the similar packaging. The "Cup Noodles" on the left (chicken flavor) is NOT equal to the "Maruchen Instant Lunch" on the right (creamy chicken flavor). Sure, you save $0.10 per package, but it is worth splurging on the $0.42-soup that actually tastes good. The one on the left just doesn't pack the punch it should. Maybe because its mere 1060 mg of sodium doesn't stand up to the 1,300 mg in the "good stuf." (Sara, I know you are gagging, but Amber, I thought you might appreciate the heads-up.)



Just in case you were wondering.

:)

Phantoms

I've heard stories of people who have had a limb amputated, and they experience "phantom pain" in the limb that's not there. I suppose when you grow accustomed to something, it's hard to forget its existence.

Today I have been experiencing two types of phantoms due to our week-long hospital stay.

1. Phantom Beeping--The entire time B was in the hospital, he was hooked up to a machine that read his oxygen saturation level, blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate, and some other things that I can't remember. He had five wires taped to him (chest, stomach, and groin) and a very annoying sensor (for the O2) taped to his foot, sometimes his toe. Those things were *always* beeping. Usually unneccesarily. Granted, he'd get worked up and his heart rate would get too high, so it would beep. (Think: 4:30 a.m. blood draws with NOT-Jim.) But most of the time, it was just that the darn things could not pick up what they were supposed to measure so they would beep. And beep. And beep. Especially the oxygen sensor. We'd wiggle it on his foot to try and get it to pick back up. Sometimes it would and sometimes we'd just give up and let it beep. And beep. And beep. It usually happened when we picked Benjamin up, and I obviously picked him up several times a day to feed him. So now, when I pick him up, I sometimes think I hear beeping and I start squeezing his foot. Poor thing's gonna get a complex.

2. Phantom Bracelet--I was washing my arm today in the shower and started to scoot down the bracelet on my arm. You know, the one that isn't there... Wearing a thick plastic bracelet for an entire week without removing it is quite the fashion statement this Fall. Much like the two-shades-of-blue running clothes you've seen out and about.

My Andrew

Wow. There is just something about a two-and-a-half-year-old that is so DARN cute! At least when he's yours. Others I can take or leave sometimes, as I'm sure they can to mine. :)

Andrew was with my parents for ten days straight. He got to do lots of fun things and be off his schedule and have someone's undivided attention. Being with me during the day, especially now that he's not an only child, is not as fun as all that. I get it.

But it was still a teeny bit sad that he did not miss us ONE BIT while we were gone! I talked to my mother multiple times each day when we were away. Andrew mentioned us maybe once or twice in the entire time we were gone, and it wasn't that he missed us, he just mentioned us! Don't get me wrong; I'm *thrilled* that he has a great relationship with them! And I'm *thrilled* that I didn't worry about him one bit while we were gone. But I'm just not used to being chopped liver! :)

However, he was quite happy once he got home and rediscovered forgotten toys and Frank and Nancy (our cats). Plus we bribed him with a cookie. And not just any cookie. A cool cookie that looked like a jack-o-lantern. My uber-cool friend Stephanie and her family dropped off a SUPER cool bag-full-o-fun this afternoon. We're talking full of really thoughtful and quality stuff including brownies for my Brownie-Lovin' Husband and a cute and yummy cookie for Andrew. I used it to bribe him to eat his dinner. He got half of it tonight b/c it was huge. Here he is eating said cookie:




Benjamin is doing well. He is having trouble going to sleep, even at bedtime (which used to be his forte), so that will take patience and consistency on my part.

Gotta go. LOTS of DVR to catch up on. I was at 97% when I got home! YIKES! What if we had stayed later? The world would have ended! I'm happy to say that I'm now down to 58%. Already. :)

Dorothy was right

There really *is* no place like home!!

So yesterday was a good day as far as Benjamin is concerned. He went another day with no pain medicine. Today he is super mellow but sweet. I fear that perhaps the meds he's on now are making him kind of out of it. But there's nothing I can do b/c he needs them for his heart. He takes three medicines twice a day and then his iron vitamin once a day. He also has some Rx pain medicine in case he needs it. He will hopefully not have to be on these meds for very long; his heart just needs time to heal and these medicines, while they don't help him heal per se, they help his heart not have to work as hard in the meantime while it heals. The stinky part is that one of the meds has to be refrigerated, so if we go anywhere, we have to keep it cold. However, he gets it 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., so we're almost always home then.

Matthew is out on a run this morning. His marathon is less than a month away (Nov 8), so the training is turned up. He's been training since June and today I think he's attempting to run 20 miles. Yeouch.

Andrew is still at my parents' house. I'm not calling them yet b/c they might still be sleeping. Speaking of sleep, I have never appreciated a queen bed more! I always complain that I need a king. But after the faux double in the hospital, I am like a, well, a queen in that bed. Also, I was a little leery that Benjamin wouldn't sleep well now that we're back at home b/c he's had someone waking him up every few hours for a week all day and night. But he slept straight with no disturbances from 9:30 until 7:30. Sweet boy!

Here are some pics from yesterday:

Look, Ma, no wires!

REAL CLOTHES!!



I had to turn him over three times in under five minutes b/c he kept rolling over onto his stomach!




Master Packer



Thanks for all the prayers and well-wishes!! We have loved having all of you on this journey with us. Please continue to stop by and check on us. It might not be as exciting but we'd love to share our life with you.

:)