One year later

We have made it a year!!!! Ari was hospitalized a year ago for most of the month of May. When he came out, we didn't know how he would do since none of the docs could give us any guidance or what had happened, why it happened or how to avoid it in the future. My goal for this last year was to keep Ari out of the hospital, and he did it. Way to go Ari!

I think it took me getting through this entire month to be able to look back and feel like he really had made it. Many thanks to our immediate and extended circles for helping us with Ari, helping us with Rowan and being an emotional and practical support team along the way.

This last year was't easy. After leaving the hospital, I began a laser-focused quest to, if not figure out what had happened to Ari, then to make some big strides in prevention so so he never fell that ill again. Thanks to the specialists, therapists, fellow Down syndrome moms and folks at Easter Seals for partnering with us on the journey. I'll give updates on what we did, what worked and what didn't in the weeks to come.

Here is Ari today:

• He is extremely mobile - walking on different surfaces, navigating curbs on his own, going up and down stairs on his own with a rail, playing on a playground with other kids and braving a wide variety of slides (both up and down - he is such a climber!).
• We've been able to reduce the thickness of his liquids since hospital release, and I expect another step down later this summer. How I would love to be able to just hand him some plain water to drink and not have to worry about thickening it!
• Ari's beautiful voice is well-recovered and quite loud. Words are still hard, but he's got a few consistent approximations: ball, banana, bye-bye, hug. If you will accept a long "e" with a smile, he's got "please" down too.
• Other general physical signs of Ari are good - his hair and skin are good and he's barely mottled anymore (a common observation in kids with Down syndrome). He's filled in almost all of his teeth over the past 12 months, which speaks to better thyroid management among other things.
• Ari adores his family, is exceptionally social, and can follow some simple directions, although, of course he has to be motivated to do so, like any 3 year old.

May is always a big milestone month for our family. Ari was born a month early on the day of Rowan's nursery school graduation (yes, you read that correctly and it was adorable). We watched her graduate that morning and he arrived that night.

A week ago she graduated from kindergarten. My video skills are terrible, so apologies for cutting off the beginning.

And while Ari had to have a birthday party in the hospital last year, he got to have a real party this year with his friends.

And celebrate with his favorite mouse. Thanks to Stacey's Sweets and Treats for making a super yummy cake (without fondant per my request) that Ari would immediately recognize as Mickey.

I'm so proud of my 3-year old boy!!!

Ari, you are extraordinarily funny, sweet and charming. 

You are  mischievous (sorry Easter Seals for all the climbing on the tables) and rotten (Willa, the dog,  loves you feeding her when you think we aren't looking). 

Thank you for putting up with all the extra medicine, supplements, oils and protocols. Thank you for loving us. Thank you most for sticking around and continuing to light up our world. Happy birthday my X-Man. ~ Love Mom.