Swallow Study Sydney Update

This was the beginning.  It was observed that Sydney had had a cough since early Jan/ Feb.  Also skills were digressing. She was acting sporadically and her behavior was impulsive.  Her talking was regressing and we were hearing random babbling and she was using more signs.  Rather than reading a book she would pound it on the floor or wall, or little sister walking by.  Same with toys, she just needed serious body input.  She was off, her attention, her frustration  and  our concurs were elevating.  All of the above.  So, we called her army of Drs and things started rolling.  We were sent for a swallow study. Then we were to meet with a rotation of her GI, ENT, and Pulmonogist one day and the next go and be admitted for what ever tests they  needed.  Which is great to not have to wait weeks for scheduling.  Nuro ordered an MRI to check to see if maybe her seizures in Jan/Feb were really strokes.  

Here is Sydney having her swallow study, they have her drink different thicknesses of barium and watch on the x-ray as it goes down to see if she is aspirating into her lungs.  They start with water thinness then nectar and then move to honey then double honey and finally pudding thickness.  We left having the safe thickness of double honey, nothing thinner.  Which makes cup and sippy drinking tricky.  She also showed severe reflux.  We have had issues with both of those things years early but not since.  

Easter

 Easter

Sydney loved the egg Grandma got her that talked!

 

That is my baby!

In our house whenever you hear Carter laughing like crazy you know something is going on that probably shouldn't be. This is what I found Carter and Neil doing to Kate. She LOVED it!

Cute Girl

We started the application process for Sydney to get a canine assistant dog and they needed a picture. She is so good natured when I make her do a photo shoot. Since they were all dressed for church I thought we'd try one with Carter, too bad Kate was still asleep.

Cheshire Chase 5K

The neighborhood does a 5K on Thanksgiving morning. It is so fun for everyone to do. Neil and Carter did it for the first time this year. Neither of them have ever run that far!

Sydney loved noticing she had a number pinned to her like everyone else. She was the biggest cheerleader as we followed the boys with the stroller just in case!
Neils goal was to not stop and he did it, so proud! Maybe next year I can get him to do Ragnar!

Carter ran for the first half strait and then worked every three light poles after that. He and his friend Tyler did Awesome!!

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving. We had dinner at my Aunt Marci's house. It was a mellow but so fun night! Sydney as you can see has a different Thanksgiving dinner than most. Her meal consisted of a half banana, a peanut butter & butter mixture, and for an off limits treat two peanut butter crackers. She was so excited!!

The rest of us enjoyed a wonderful assortment of wonderfulness! We had a good time visiting with cousins.
This year rather than old and young tables we did boy & girl tables. I have to admit it was quite nice!
Playing off the dinner is always a fun party of the night.

I kept trying to get a picture of Kate, but she would just run!

I am so grateful for my kiddos!

. . . and Neil

Halloween

Happy Halloween! Here is our Grapes & Ninja!

Kate loved her grapes, she had just started walking and when she fell she would just bounce a little.

There are more pictures to come I have to get them off Dads camera!

Happy Birthday!

I can't believe Kate is 1!!
She liked the cake for a little while, we thought she'd inhale it, but only ate the bites Neil gave her.

Who needs jell when you can have frosting residue! She loves her Grandma!

Happy Birthday Carter

Carter is 9 & Dad is . . . older than that! Happy Birthday!

As you can see from the elaborate cake, Sandra was out of town and the realization I really had to do it by my self hit that morning, sorry Carter, next year! Sandra isn't allowed to ever leave town on birthdays again!Carter has a fun group of friends that came over to help celebrate!

Soccer

Carter and Sydney both had fun playing soccer this year. Carter was on the Astros and they I am pretty sure were undefeated!

Sydney played for the first time this year. She was on their VIP team that had all different skills and ages special needs kids. They had a great time and their were extra helpers on the field for those that needed it. By the end of the season Sydney was almost caching on. It was nice to be able visit with other parents and see what other activities are available for these kiddos.

Sydney probably would have done better with soccer if she hadn't found a new friend in Felix, they would hold hands and run. Sometimes towards the ball but most any other direction. They would just laugh and run.

Catch up!

February to August is a big gap. But there are so many things I missed so I'll start back tracking slowly.

United Way

Wells Fargo can get Neil to do things I could never do! They were promoting the kick off of the United Way fundraiser, they were advertising the car wash. He was suppose to get a possible pie in the face, I forgot to ask.