Its Your Birthday!!!!

To Kayde:
A Year ago at this time, I was meeting you for the 1st time, 8 hrs after I had you. You were the most tiny perfect little thing that ever could be. :) I have always said you were my little HERO, and little did I know then what a HERO you would be. We started our journey a little different then I had expected, it was scary, very emotional, and full of unknown,but always full of prue love ...for you. A year into our journey and I can't tell you how happy I am you choose me to walk this path with you.We have had our ups and downs and through it all you have came out on top. You have taught me more in a year then some learn in a life time. You are truley GRAND KAYDE like Auntie Meg says. :) A very Special HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY Peanut!!!!! Mommy ♥'s you to pluto and back.

                        Day 1 of life    &      Day 365 of life

My mommy sure is excited about something this morning...so I will be too!!!

I'm still tired and not quite awake yet mommy

but ok mommy if it's that exciting

uhmm is she gonna act like this all day.....:)

oh yes I was and I did here is what we did next:

We got a good snow fall today and mommy went out and wrote in the snow for you!!!!!!

And last but not least we had a min photo shoot with Auntie pam. I must say you are the sweetest lil birthday dragon I have ever seen...

Hernia & Orchidopexy Surgery

The day has arrived it is surgery day. :( I have been up for pretty well 2 days, spring cleaning in the middle of February or maybe the nesting feeling I didn't get with Kayde arriving early..Haha Ok I'll admitt it, it was purely the mommy worry wart in me. :) Needless to say a whole lot of cleaning came out of it.

Up at 4am so that Kayde can nurse the last hr he is able to eat. Poor boy, being pulled from a good sleep to get dressed. As for the eating I planned for him to do, he was not intrested at all this was he sleeping time.I was able to get him to nurse a lil through struggling to keep him awake. I can only pray now that he sleeps till almost surgery time or I am gonna have one upset hungry boy.  Running around trying to make sure I have everything we are going to need, I feel like I am forgetting something. Double check Kayde folder and bag. Ok I think we have everything and we are off. I feel sick, dizzy and way over tired. 1st things I needed a coffee for the drive. Shortly after getting on the highway I really start to feel sick to my stomach, my nerves are taking over, hands are sweaty, heart is beating fast and I feel like I could faint. Window down need cool air, window up am to cold, window down to hot ect. that went on for the whole drive. Finally we get there. Whew we made it, what a drive.

6:30am Deep breathes and shaking we enter the hospital, to go register Kayde and head up to the pre-op waiting room. Before we make it to the waiting room I hear that sweet lil voice babbling ba ba ba and blowing raspberries, uh oh he was to stay asleep. lol yea right like that was gonna happen. We get registered and are told to have a sit a nurse would be out shortly to get us and take vitals and go over the course of the day. Not secs after sitting Kayde looks at me and gives me his tounge sucking que that means I'm hungry and the crying started. This is so hard for me not to feed him, he had to be thinking to what happened , Why mommy wont feed me. All he knows is me feeding on demand. Let me tell you how he was demanding to be fed, I tried all the toys I had brought and the musical glow worm worked for awhile but not long enough. :( It broke my heart to deny him. I would get him intrested in something for few mins an then he would remember what he wanted, whip his head around start rooting and the tears flowing.

8 am  finally Kayde is called. We met with the nurse and we talked few mins, she went over how the day would play out. She checked Kayde vitals, weighed him 16lbs 8oz. We changed Kayde into his gown, (how cute baby hospital gowns...:) and were told to go sit in another part the waiting room where we would meet the surgical team and the surgen for them to answer any last questions or concerns we may have.

   My heart races, I feel a lump in my throat and my eyes are watering. I close my eyes and start taking deep breathes. I'm thinking to myself I don't want him to go. I wanna run out of here with him. Before I knew it the surgical team was standing in front of us, interducing themselves. We go over a few things and then are asked to come with them to a different waiting room where we will wait till he is out of surgery. Daddy and I walked very slowly behind the team as we knew when we hit the end the hallway they were gonna take him from us..:( Tears running down my face as I kiss his sweet lil cheeks and promise him he is gonna be ok, and I will be waiting for him and the sec he is awake mommy will be by his side. Daddy hugging and kissing him the nurses ask for him but daddy wont give him up. :( Few more kiss's and I see Daddy's shaking hands pass him over, I feel like my heart is being torn out of me as she walks through the OR doors with my baby. We stand there crying and holding onto each other with everything we have, crying and crying, this is so scarey for us. Our baby. Time seemed to freeze and it felt like it would never be 11am. That is when they expected Kayde to be out of surgery and in recovery.

  
 11am. He is out and surgery went great, no complications and him waking up in recovery is going well too. I felt the greatest releif the sec I layed eyes on my baby, he is ok. I got a semmi half sweetest smile ever. Before I knew it he was awake and rooting. We spent an hr in recovery then headed up to our room.

Up in Kayde's room we were greeted by Irina who would be his nurse for the day. She got us all settled and re-checked Kayde's vitals. Everything is good. She brought us some blankets told us to get some rest while Kayde is still sleepy, she said she would be back every hr to check on him, and at 3pm he would get more pain meds. 

Daddy took you out of bed secs after the nurse left it was time for his cuddles. 

7pm- YaaaYYY!!! We are going home early!!!! I am so proud of my lil boy, he is my lil hero from day one. I did all that worrying for you to come out and show me you were just fine but hey thats my job. I will always worry and I know deep down you will always prove me wrong :) Thank You for that. Thank you all the wonderful people @ SICK KIDS, you are all truely amazing at your jobs.  

What a suprise!!!!

LoL, So I have to laugh at myself today. Last week or so ago was a very rough week in the world of breastfeeding. I am lucky enough to say it was the first time since I started nursing Kayde we have had any problems. ( knock on wood). Well anyways it was a very long painful week  and alot of hand expressing for bottle feeds until I healed. All week I had myself convinced Kayde was getting top teeth. Day after day nothing, well I healed and we began nursing again and everything has been fine other then getting my milk back to his supply, which I'm sure he will have back in a few days. :) Supply and Demand right?? Well Kayde knows how to demand quite well. In the middle of feeding Kayde this morning he was grabbing at the spoon and chomping right down on the right side of his mouth. Sure enough when I put my finger in there right through the gum on the bottom there is a tooth, my baby boy has his first tooth. :) YYYYaaaaaYYYYY. So excited, and if your wondering day 1 of nursing with a tooth so far so good, we will see what happens as it comes up and more come in. Hopefully my boy is nice to me!!!!!

Clapping!!!!

I am so excited and full of tears of joy and happiness!! Kayde for a long time has clapped his feet and now out of no where with a big smile on his face he looks at me and starts clapping his hands!!!!! YYYYYYYaaaaaaaYYYYYYYY Kaydster!!!!! I am so proud of him and can't be more thankful how he has shown me its the little things that have the greatest rewards!!!

Here is a lil video of my big boy clapping!!!!

Thyroid Testing

I am so mad right now....Grrrrr, So I will begin here, Kayde needed blood work checked for his up coming surgery. 1 of those blood test being his Thyroid, that was Jan 30th. week later a Friday at 4:30pm I get a call from the family dr office saying his Thyroid is low. I ask for the numbers an she tells me TSH is 11.39 and FreeT4 is 15.  I get off phone and start reaserching normal thyroid levels. OMG a normal TSH is .5 to 5.0 but since 2003 has been recommended that .3 to 3.0 is normal range. Normal FreeT4 levels 0.7 to 2.0. I am freaking out.  I get thinking and I start wondering what his levels were last time it was checked. I was told they were fine. I quickly try the office back and there closed, DAMN. I now have to wait all weekend. Awww I wanna scream, I look back in my note book I started the day he was born and am very thankful I did. Kayde's Thyroid was checked before being discharged from the NICU and I had his levels. TSH was 4.36 and FreeT4 was 19.60. I remember reading his file that morning in the NICU and I questioned the Dr. about it then and was told the levels were high because he was still preemie and not adjusted age yet.  Grr I need his levels from the last test.

 The weekend seemed to take forever and consited of alot of reading and me getting more upset. Monday final arrives and right at 9:30 I'm on the phone. She reads me the levels and I say are you KIDDING me. TSH- 7.98 FreeT4- 18. I'm so pissed at this point and I said I need an appt now to talk with him about this, we need a referal, this needs to be fixed NOW. Kayde is few weeks away from being 1, and clearly has  Hypothyroidism.  Oh yes the story gets better he is on vaccation till the 13. Purely in a state of Dr. rage now. Grrrrr I say ok fax the results to our Ped, and I will get him to refer us on.  I give it the day and the next day I phone our Ped to make sure his office got the fax and to push for a appt. An to my luck look who is also on vacation till the 13th. Ok really are you kidding me, this can't be happening.

I am at the point of tears, this is my lil boy, and his health they are playing with.  This is no joke and like I mentioned above Kayde is almost a year and clearly has been left untreated. My heart is breaking as I write this...:(

Preanesthesia Clinic

Kayde needed to visit the preanestesia clinic considering his history and corrected age.  We headed off to Sick Kids on a snowy Friday morning to be there by noon. The drive down was awful, but we made it just in time and when I mean just on time we walked through the clinic doors right at noon. Kayde now awake and hungry, and of course the one time I need the waiting room to busy so I have some time to nurse Kayde, it is empty. Just my luck..lol. Out come the special mommy multi-tasking skills,  nursing and filling out a 3 page questionnaire,,whew I did it. 

 Next we met with a NP who went through Kayde's history and the questionnaire. She explained everything that would happen and how the day of surgery would go. The no eating solids after midnight, an then she says no BF after 5am. Surgery is booked for 9am we are to be there 6:30am. Uh mm yea I thought to myself easier said then done. They don't know Kayde he is gonna be screaming for breast.  I really wonder how that morning is going to  work out for us and I will be sure to let you know how it goes..:) She begins to say that it is a day surgery but after talking and going over everything she thinks Kayde shoud stay the night just to be watched. In a way I felt alot of relief when she said that. I know its not really a good thing that a day surgery as turned in to a overnight stay but I can't tell you how nervous and scared I feel over this. We talked a little while longer as she examined  Kayde and put him on the scale. Whoot Whoot 16 lbs. 

Next we met the Anesthesiologist who went over the same things and also said he thought it would be a good idea to book Kayde a bed for the night.  He went over how Kayde would be put under and what would happen from his part in the surgery. He explained a Caudal block and a general area block and said we needed to decide what we wanted Kayde to have. I asked a lot of questions about both methods, but I don't know. Caudal Block scares me a lil bit its in the spine like epidural but no line is put in it is a one time pain/freeze shot.  General area block is similar but the just try to block the nerves in the area they are operating. I don't know which one. I have some research to do...  

February Thoughts

 February is here, WoW how did we get here so fast. February means Kayde's surgery is coming up. On the 16th actually @ Sick Kids. He is having his Hernia repair /Orchidopexy and to be honest I am freaking out. Thankful Kayde has had no other health issue's other then this. I know it's not a major surgery and I know its nothing to all those Lil one's and there mommas who have been through OHS.  Yes, Yous are my hero's :)

I feel like I am going crazy right now, I am so nervous an scared, I feel sick over it. I've never been through this before. Having one my children have surgery and my baby, my Lil peanut.  I'm scared of him being put under, I'm scared for him while he is under, I'm scared for him waking up from being under, I'm scared the pain he is gonna feel, Bottom line I'm damn scared about the whole thing. Yes, I know deep down he is gonna be OK and he will probably recover just fine. Kids are so resilient right??? I try to keep telling myself that but most days it doesn't help, the fear takes over...

No smile is sweeter then his!!!!

No matter the stress or the worry I may carry around with me through the days, can ever get me down when I have this looking back at me all day!!!!

On Kayde's Time...

Oh how I love this boy....:) Kayde is now 9 1/2 months ( 7 months  adjusted ). So everyone knows kids set there own time line on when they are going to do things an learn new things, that I know yes. An yes Kayde will get there on his own time too, that I also know. He is doing great don't get me wrong, an is amazing and I am so proud of him.  He works very hard everyday. I am reminded all the time he will reach his milestones just a little later then others.  So I have tried very hard to adjust myself to that, my big goal for Kayde is to be sitting independently for his birthday. Lately I have been feeling down and feeling like we are not going to reach that goal. I know we have a few months still and I also know he is not really 1 or is not corrected age 1 until end of April, I feel guilty for feeling it but I feel I will be disappointed if he is not, not disappointed with him but disappointed within myself. If that makes sense??

Kayde and I have been working very hard developing core/trunk muscles. Lots of sitting on floor supporting hips and back, sitting on exercise ball rocking all directions working against gravity, also using Bumbo with tray. Last week at PT our therapist recommended using a block for Kayde to weight bear his hands on, so he wasn't bent right over looking at floor. OMG what a difference, an of course it would be but I had never thought about it. So need-less
to say it has done wonders with Kayde in just 2 weeks. He has reached his all time record as of yesterday sitting  45 sec all on his own weight bearing on the block in front of him....YYYYYYAAAAAAYYYYY!!!!! I can't even begin to tell you the joy I feel for this small but big progress forward. To see my lil man sitting looking up at me with that whole face smile knowing mommy is so proud of him..:) is priceless. I know as each day passes Kayde is gonna get stronger and better and my goal for him suddenly doesn't seem so far away. Kayde from day one has been the boss of himself when it comes to what he is gonna do, how he's gonna do it and when he's gonna do it and I should know by now just as I think other wise he proves me wrong every time. :) Thank you for that Kayde.
   
      

19 Reasons Why Mothers Of Special Needs Rock!!!!

I did not write this...but wish I did.


‎1. Because doctors have told us the worst, and we've refused to believe them. TAKE THAT, nay-saying doctors of the world.

2. Because we’ve discovered patience we never knew we had.

3. Because we... are willing to do something 10 times, 100 times, 1,000 times if that’s what it takes for our kids to learn something new.

4. Because we never imagined that “doing it all” would mean doing this much. But we do it all, and then some.

5. Because we have bad days and breakdowns and bawl-fests, and then we pick ourselves up and keep right on going.

6. Because we gracefully handle the stares, the comments, the rude remarks. Well, mostly gracefully.

7. Because we manage to get ourselves together and get out the door looking pretty damn good. Heck, we even make sweatpants look good.

8. Because we are strong. Man, are we strong. Who knew we could be this strong?

9. Because we aren’t just moms, wives, cooks, cleaners, chauffeurs, women who work. We are moms, wives, cooks, cleaners, chauffeurs, women who work, physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, teachers, researchers, nurses, coaches, and cheerleaders. Whew.

10. Because we work overtime every single day.

11. Because we also worry overtime, but we work it through. Or we eat chocolate or Pirate's Booty or gourmet cheese, which aren't reimbursable by insurance as mental-health necessities but should be.

12. Because we are more selfless than other moms. Our kids need us more.

13. Because we give our kids with special needs endless love, and then we still have so much love left for our other kids, our husbands, our family. And our hairstylist, of course.

14. Because we inspire one another in this crazy blogosphere every single day.

15. Because we understand our kids better than anyone else—even if they can’t talk, even if they can’t gesture, even if they can't look us in the eye. We know. We just know.

16. Because we never stop pushing for our kids.

17. Because we never stop hoping for them, either.

18. Because just when it seems like things are going OK, they're suddenly not OK, but we deal. Somehow, we always deal, even when it seems like our heads or hearts might explode.

19. Because when we look at our kids we just see great kids. Not "kids with cerebral palsy/autism/Down syndrome/developmental delays/whatever label."

Thank you to whom ever this piece belongs too!!! Great job.

DSA Christmas Party

I am so excited we went. It was our 1st time meeting other family's in our area. Until Sunday all you online mommas is all I knew, which has taught me so much and gotten me where I am today, I thank you all for your support/advice/ and your real life stories.  I was truly needing some real interaction with other families. Feeling nervous and so excited at the same time the whole family headed off to the Christmas party. Deep breathe here we go...we were greeted instantly by (D) who earlier in week came out to meet us and had invited us. They had swimming 1st followed by singing and visit from Santa. Kayde loved the water, he was so cute splashing and laughing at himself. :) After swimming it wasn't minute's after entering the party area Kayde had every one's attention. Everyone was so welcoming and nice and just adored Kayde. I feel so very blessed to be part of the DS community it is surely full of wonderful people. I instantly connected with quite a few moms, it's so nice to have some one to talk to that truly knows how I feel and what we go through. I got lots of numbers/ email for future contact as well as quite a few babysitting offers...lol.  It was a great experience for all of us.  I can't wait to meet up with my new mom friends for play dates and chats. I left feeling so good and inspired.

All tired out after getting so many snuggles!!! Thanks mommies :)

Photo's

Daddy & Kayde

Prematurity Awareness Day

Who knew they had a Prematurity Awareness Day??? Well I was not aware until few weeks ago.  So with that I will being to raise awareness. If you are here reading this then you obviously can see from my page my son Kayde was a preemie. Born 10 weeks early @ 30 weeks gestation. Weighing  3lbs. and only 15 inches long.

Having 2 full term pregnacies before Kayde, I really didn't know anything about having a premautre baby. Nothing about NICU life, caring for such a tiny baby, the risks of health problems and all that comes with  tiny little one's who enter life too early.  The highlighted pruple  parts are what we experienced.


What Is A Premautre Baby???

- Babies born less than 37 weeks gestation (after conception) is considered premature.

- Babies born with a birth weight of less than (<) 1000 grams are considered to have an extremely low birth weight, (ELBW).

- Babies who weigh between 1000 grams and <1500 grams are considered to be very low birth weight (VLBW).

- Babies born between 1500 grams and less than 2500 grams are considered to be low birth weight (LBW).


Causes:

If a woman goes into labor before 37 weeks, it is called preterm labor. Often, the cause of preterm labor is unknown. Multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets, etc.) makes up about 15% of all premature births.

Health conditions and events in the mother may contribute to preterm labor. Examples are:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Infection (such as a urinary tract infection or infection of the amniotic membrane)
• Kidney disease

Different pregnancy-related problems increase the risk of preterm labor:

• An "insufficient" or weakened cervix, also called cervical incompetence
• Birth defects of the uterus
• History of preterm delivery
• Poor nutrition right before or during pregnancy
• Preeclampsia -- the development of high blood pressure and protein in the urine after the 20th week of pregnancy
• Premature rupture of the membranes (placenta previa)

Other factors that make preterm labor and a premature delivery more likely include:

• African-American ethnicity (not related to socioeconomic status)
• Age (younger than 16 or older than 35)
• Lack of prenatal care
• Low socioeconomic status
• Use of tobacco, cocaine, or amphetamines

Symptoms:

 Premature infant's organs are not fully developed.  Infant needs special care in a nursery until the organ systems have developed enough to sustain life without medical support. This may take weeks to months.
 Premature infant will have a lower birth weight than a full-term infant. Common physical signs of prematurity include:

• Body hair (lanugo)
• Abnormal breathing patterns (shallow, irregular pauses in breathing called apnea)
• Enlarged clitoris (female infant)
• Problems breathing due to immature lungs (neonatal respiratory distress syndrome) or pneumonia
• Lower muscle tone and less activity than full-term infants
• Problems feeding due to difficulty sucking or coordinating swallowing and breathing
• Less body fat
• Small scrotum, smooth without ridges, and undescended testicles (male infant)
• Soft, flexible ear cartilage
• Thin, smooth, shiny skin, which is often transparent (can see veins under skin)

Not all premature babies will have these characteristics.

Exams and Test:

Your baby may have difficulty breathing and maintaining body temperature.
Common tests performed on a premature infant include:

• Blood gas analysis
• Blood tests to check glucose, calcium, and bilirubin levels
• Chest x-ray
• Continuous cardiorespiratory monitoring (monitoring of breathing and heart rate)

Treatment:

When premature labor develops and cannot be stopped, the health care team will prepare for a high-risk birth. You may be moved to a center that specifically cares for premature infants in, for example, a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
After birth, the baby is admitted to a high-risk nursery. The infant is placed under a warmer or in a clear, heated box called an incubator, which controls the air temperature. Monitoring machines track the baby's breathing, heart rate, and level of oxygen in the blood.
Infants are usually unable to coordinate sucking and swallowing before 34 weeks gestation. Therefore, the baby may have a small, soft feeding tube placed through the nose or mouth into the stomach. In very premature or sick infants, nutrition may be given through a vein until the baby is stable enough to receive all nutrition in the stomach. (See: Neonatal weight gain and nutrition)
If the infant has breathing problems:

• A tube may be placed into the windpipe (trachea). A machine called a ventilator will help the baby breathe.
• Some babies whose breathing problems are less severe receive continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) with small tubes in the nose rather than the trachea. Or they may receive only extra oxygen.
• Oxygen may be given by ventilator, CPAP, nasal prongs, or an oxygen hood over the baby's head.

Nursery care is needed until the infant is able to breathe without extra support, feed by mouth, and maintain body temperature and a stable or increasing body weight. In very small infants, other problems may complicate treatment and a longer hospital stay may be needed.

Outlook (Prognosis):

Prematurity used to be a major cause of infant deaths. Improved medical and nursing techniques have increased the survival of premature infants. The longer the pregnancy, the greater the chance of survival. Of babies born at 28 weeks, at least 90% survive.

Prematurity can have long-term effects. Many premature infants have medical, developmental, or behavioral problems that continue into childhood or are permanent. The more premature an infant and the smaller the birth weight, the greater the risk of complications. However, it is impossible to predict a baby's long-term outcome based on gestational age or birth weight.

Possible Complications:

Possible complications that may occur while in the hospital include:

• Anemia
• Bleeding into the brain (intraventricular hemorrhage of the newborn) or damage to the brain's white matter (periventricular leukomalacia)
• neonatal sepsisInfection or
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, extra air in the tissue of the lungs (pulmonary interstitial emphysema), bleeding in the lungs (pulmonary hemorrhage)
• Newborn jaundice
• Patent ducturs arteriosus
• Severe intestinal inflammation (necrotizing enterocolitis)

Possible long-time complications include:

• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)
• Delayed growth and development
• Mental or physical disability or delay
• Retinopathy of prematurity, vision loss, or blindness

Prevention:

One of the most important steps to preventing prematurity is to receive prenatal care as early as possible in the pregnancy, and to continue such care until the baby is born. Statistics clearly show that early and good prenatal care reduces the chance of premature birth.

Premature labor can sometimes be treated or delayed by a medication that blocks uterine contractions. Many times, however, attempts to delay premature labor are not successful.

Betamethasone (a steroid medication) given to mothers in premature labor can reduce the severity of some of the prematurity complications on the baby.

I will defentaly be blogging more on this so check back!!! Now for some of my most fav pics from our NICU time.

                                                1st time i layed eyes on him

                                                          Kayde's message board

2 week old tiny lil feet..

1 1/2 months old 

                                                 Shows how tiny Kayde is in daddy's hands

Wordless Wednesday Photo's

Here are few pics from big sis's 2nd Birthday!!!

RSV Season

It's that time of year again here in Canada. Cold/Flu season, and with that I wanted to shed some light on RSV ( Respiratory Syncytial Virus ). Many may not know as I did not know either RSV can be more serious than a cold for some babies. Kayde being one of those babies, and me being his momma I feel it's my duty to spread the word/educate/raise awareness/talk and just simple share what I learn along my way. Kayde will be getting 5 injections of SYNAGIS7 this season. ( Nov-Mar ). 1 a month.  


What is  RSV ?
-RSV is a common virus in infancy and early childhood. Almost all children will have been infected with RSV by age of 2-3.1-3

- RSV infections tends to happen from Fall to Spring in temperate climates such as Canada, RSV season may vary by region.1 Best to ask your doctor when RSV occurs in your local area.

Is your baby at risk of getting very sick from RSV ?
- RSV causes symptons similar to the common cold in many children.3 But in certin cases, most often in premature babies (preemies) and in children under 2 with certin lung conditions or heart disease, RSV can cause infection of the lungs, When this happens babies become very sick and may need to be hospitalized.
-RSV can cause pneumonia and is the most important cause of bronchiolitis during 1st year of life.1,2

Premature Babies ( preemies)
-Your baby is at greater risk of RSV if he/she was born prematurely before 33 weeks of pregnancy, and is under 6 months of age at the start of RSV season.1

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia occurs most commonly in preterm infants who received long -term mechanical ventilation and high oxygen concentrations.4

Congenital heart disease (CHD)
- There are several different types of CHD. Some types can increase the risk of developing a serious form of  RSV  disease. If your baby has  CHD, ask your doctor for more specific information.1,5

What are the symptoms ?
The symptoms of RSV may be like cold at first and can include:

- Fever
- Runny nose
- Other cold like symptoms1,3

The symptoms of RSV may get worse after it gets into the lungs. These symptoms can include:

- Deeper & more frequent coughing
- Difficulty breathing, including wheezing ( a whistling sound) and rapid breathing
- Blue lips or fingernails
- Dehydration
- Difficulty breast-feeding or bottle-feeding3

Is it easy to catch RSV ?
Yes, it is easy....

- RSV is a very common virus that is spread by any physical contact such as touching, kissing or shaking hands with an infected person.1,6
- The germs are also spread through the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs.1,6
- RSV can live for hours on a countertop or on used tissue.1
- RSV infection is very common in crowded living areas and daycare centers.1,6
These are all the reasons why you must be very careful and take steps to prevent your baby from being exposed to RSV.

Helpful steps to reduce the risk

- Wash hands with alcohol hand rinse or warm water and soap before touching baby.1
- If you have a cold or fever, gently hug instead of kiss your baby.6
- Keep anyone with a cold symptoms or fever away from your baby.
- Try to keep your baby away from crowded places (such as daycares,malls, large family gatherings,ect.)1,6
- Do not smoke around the baby. Ban smoking inside your house.1

RSV
What you need to remember

It is highly contagious. Following the suggestions will help you reduce the risk of your baby catching RSV infection. If you have any questions you should contact your doctor or nurse.

REFERENCES:

1. The Hospital For Sick Children. About Kids Health. Respiratory syncytial virus(RSV)
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Respiratory syncytial virus(RSV), Infection and Incidence. 
3.Canadian Lung Association. Diseases A-Z. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
4. The Hospital For Sick Children. About Kids Health. Premature Babies Chronic Lung Disease.
5. The Hospital For Sick Children. About Kids Health. Heart Conditions. About Heart Conditions.
6. Centers for Disease Control and Pervention. RSV: Frecuently asked questions.
7.SYNAGIS (palivizumab) Product Monograph, Abbott Laboratories Limited. April 11,2006.

Day 7: 21 Random Things About Kayde

I have posted this blog before back in October, when I was blogging for 31 for 21. I thought it would be a good way to end blogging for awareness in Canada. I have tweaked it a little bit has Kayde has reached a few new milestones. :)


1. Born 3lbs @ 30 weeks gestation ( now 14 lbs last weigh in @ 6 months corrected age). Puts him in the 50th% on DS growth chart.

2. No health issues ( feeewww we have been lucky)

3.Is a lil flirt already with the ladies.. lol

4. Sitting up in bath ring and  Loves his bath

5. Is a thumb, finger an whole fist sucker

6. Can roll over .

7. Those tiny lil feet are his new long lost friends.. Tells them some pretty serious stories.

8. Is a true boob greedy lil man. And I'm proud that he is

9. Likes to be tickled under his chin an in his thighs.

10. The most beautiful blue almond shaped eyes .

11. Looks like big sis and daddy.

12. Has a smile that melts my heart over and over.

13. Is a nosey lil parker.

14. Has single deep crease across left palm.

15. Love the way that lil right ear curves out.

16. Is adored by big bro an sis.

17. Started making raspberry sounds !!!!

18. Has the cutest lil protruding tongue.

19. Likes to be sung and read to.

20. Has recently started solids.

21.An yes he has an extra chromosome. Which as you see is a small part of who he really is..

My son is a baby like any other baby, just on a different path, a path that has shown me to slow down and enjoy. So we may have to work a little harder at things but it makes it that much more worth it. I am blessed.

 Yep that's my boy an he's all mines. I get lost with love in those eye's.

Day 6: Great Close To Home Story..

Jeff Stewart



Perception is a funny thing... While for many, it's considered everything, it can be very deceiving. And dangerous as assumptions typically follow; assumptions based, for whatever reason, on how we believe things should be as opposed to how they really are.
Jeff Stewart has lived his 57 years staring perception down and, well, living his life as best he can.
How well has he succeeded? Well, consider the Down Syndrome he was born with is but a mere footnote in the story that is his life. Has been for some time now.
That's not to downplay the chromosome-related condition's effect on his journey, both then and now. It has been a trial at times, both for himself and his family. But Down Syndrome is not at Jeff's centre. It's not what makes his broad smile broad, his infectious personality infectious and his boundless enthusiasm boundless.
These are the things which define Jeff Stewart. These are his gifts to all he meets.
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"If he lives to age 20, he'll die of old age."
On May 22, 1954, the day after their son Jeff was born at the old Peterborough Civic Hospital, Helen and Neil Stewart heard those words from their doctor, who ealier confirmed their newborn had Down Syndrome.
But as blunt as that message was, it paled in comparison to what their pediatrician told the couple a short while later.
"If it was my child, I wouldn't have brought him home."
In that doctor's defence, one could argue it was a different time; a time when anyone with any intellectual impairment was labeled "mentally retarded." A time when many faced with the challenge that Helen and Neil faced didn't bring their child home.
"That was never an option," says Helen.
"We brought Jeff home and looked after him just as we did all our children.
"Everything was fine with my pregnancy. Down Syndrome was the last thing on our minds. Even my doctor, the last time I saw him, said he was still shocked. Down Syndrome children are usually born to older women or there's a history in the family."
What Helen didn't know then is that both she and her father are carriers of Down Syndrome, as are the Stewarts' two other sons, Cory and Philip. Their first child, Cathy, isn't a carrier but a granddaughter, Beth, now 29, also has Down Syndrome. But back to 1954 and life at the Stewarts' modest south Peterborough home, where the couple still resides today.
"Jeff was a little slow learning to walk but I can't say we treated him any differently than any of our children," notes Helen, understating how vital Jeff's full integration in family life was to his development.
"We tried very hard not to let him dominate. He can be a little forceful but we made him toe the line. Really, though, he was a good kid."
Education for Jeff involved half days at nearby Trafalgar School until age 10. Six years later, he was taking classes at Trafalgar Senior School and did so until age 21.
From there, for the next 11 years, ARC Industries, which provided work opportunities for people with developmental challenges, was the centre of his life outside the home.
Helen, meanwhile, immersed herself in what was then the Peterborough and District Association for the Mentally Retarded -- the forerunner of what is today known as Community Living Peterborough. She made it her mission to learn as much as possible about the supports the developmentally impaired require in order to better support her son, eventually serving as board president.
"I was determined to get whatever support I could for Jeff. He was our son. There was nothing we wouldn't do for any of our children."
---
"I don't like jazz...and I don't like opera."
With that, Jeff Stewart defines his love of almost all things music -- a love that he clearly expresses each Tuesday, noon to 1 p.m., via Country Cousins.
He has co-hosted the Trent Radio program with "Washboard" Hank Fisher, his second cousin, for an astounding 22 years.
But Jeff's involvement with the radio station goes back even further to when he did custodial work there -- he still does -- as well as hosted a music 'n' talk program titled What's In It For Me?
"I like to entertain people," notes Jeff, breaking into a wide smile before stating the obvious.
"I like to talk."
Longtime Trent Radio general manager John Muir is more blunt.
"Jeff is a ham...it's hard to picture things around here without him.
"He's brought a great deal of fun and humour to this place. What he and Washboard do is typical of the hair-down type of entertainment Trent Radio is known for. He plays the straight guy to Washboard's comedy. It really is something."
But Jeff's radio work is the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to his weekly volunteer work.
He also waters plants and collects library books at Fairhaven; cleans windows and vacuums at Marycrest At Inglewood; stuffs billing envelopes at the MNR; and folds church bulletins at St. James' United Church.
At the latter, he has secured some small parts in St. James' Players productions -- an experience complemented by his work with Dream Players, a variety performance troupe for people with intellectual challenges. In 2007, Jeff's gift for gab came in handy as he emceed Dream Players' annual show.
And then there's his beloved Peterborough Petes. A season ticket holder, Jeff attends home games with longtime friends John and Sheila Beak as well as spends time at their home -- a relationship struck and maintained via the Special Services At Home program.
"There is nothing Jeff thinks he can't do," says Helen, pointing specifically to the past year-and-a-half and what has undoubtedly been her son's biggest challenge to date -- living outside the family home at St. Monica House at the former Mount St. Joseph property.
There, with housemates Doug Clifford and Jim Watkins, Jeff is experiencing independence on what is, for him, an unprecedented scale.
"I prefer staying here (at the family home) but Mom and Dad are getting a bit older," says Jeff.
"But I like it very well, being a part of the community of the City of Peterborough."
In Jack Gillan's mind, Jeff's community integration, and the strong support of his family, should be held up as a shining example that any barriers facing those in similar circumstances can be overcome and then some.
As CEO of Community Living Peterborough, which serves some 360 people with intellectual disabilities, he see Jeff's journey as the ultimate success story.
"His parents always had a positive vision for him and that's really obvious in what success he's had," says Mr. Gillan.
"Educating the community at large that people with intellectual disabilities can contribute in a meaningful way is still the big hurdle. It's better than what it was but there's still some ways to go. Jeff is an example of what can be, and is, accomplished by many.
"We're lucky. Peterborough is such a welcoming community in many ways. That has given our clients, like it has Jeff, so many opportunities. This really is a feel-good success story that is heartwarming on so many levels."
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"We're both extremely proud of Jeff...so are his brothers and sister," notes Helen, enjoying having her son home, if only for a bit before his busy life sees him head off.
"There's no secret here. Accept your kids for what they are. Give your support and accept them and things will work out."
With that, Jeff ventures into his family home bedroom, still maintained for him.
There, draped over a dresser mirror, are two medals. Both are of the gold variety, won by Jeff for his freestyle swimming prowess at the Special Olympics in 1969 and in 1971.
"Rose Kennedy presented the first one to me," he says, no shortage of pride in his voice.
With that, returning the medal to its rightful place, Jeff bids a hasty goodbye.
He has a bus to catch and, more to the point, a full life to tend to.