IOU a post, #?...

Dear Nicky,

Sorry, pal, I'm just going to sleep now. We'll catchup tomorrow.

Love,
Dad

Spent...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon we took a number together because you were freaking alone in your crib. Later you ate nothing for lunch, and you ate a few nuggets for dinner. If you would walk more, things would be better, my friend.

Love, Dad

Keep walking and talking...

Dear Nicky,

You did very well at Stones today. Ruth was especially pleased with your performance during PT, and your aide said you were great. At home you didn't nap as long as I thought you would. Your afternoon PT session was rescheduled for Thursday, so you guys hung out with the temp nanny, who is very nice. You ate nothing for lunch and almost nothing for dinner. Yet later in the evening you had a very respectable poop. Impressive.

Love,
Dad

Keep walking...

Dear Nicky,

You seem ever so slightly more inclined to accept and initiate walking. It's not your primary interest or preferred method, but definitely it's emerging. You did well with PT and OT today, but I think you have yet another cold. Oh well, what can we do?

Love,
Dad

Ordinary Sunday...

Dear Nicky,

Nothing major going on today. You guys went out to Granny's this afternoon. You might be coming down with yet another cold. I got you some more Pepcid and multivitamins. So far tonight I haven't heard you fussing, which is great.

Love,
Dad

Night terror, day terror...

Dear Nicky,

Lately, you've been sleeping rather poorly. Don't know if it's your sinuses, your throat, your ears, your stomach or what. Could it be nightmares or night terrors? Meanwhile, during the days Mom's home, Junie is a terror, pitching tantrum after tantrum. We get it from both sides.

Love,
Dad

Some catchup, but not much...

Dear Nicky,

Well, there's not that much catching up to do, actually. Nothing major happened either yesterday or today. You did well at Stones, then napped so long when you got home that your speech therapist had to leave without treating you. Today, June went to the doc's and got the shots she couldn't get a few days ago because she was sick, but she's better now. You give great hugs and kisses, but that's not new.

Love,
Dad

IOU a post, #?...

Dear Nicky,

I owe you a post, my friend.

Love,
Dad

Splitting headache...

Dear Nicky,

Today was Wicked Wednesday, and that means getting up early and dealing with you guys all day long. Neither you nor June napped very well, so by the end of the day there was much howling and crying, and now I've got a really bad headache. But I ain't mad at ya!

Love,
Dad

Still fussin'...

Dear Nicky,

You're waking up like clockwork every night now for the past several days. We just don't understand what's up. Every night, between 9 and 10, pow! But you did have a good day at Stones, and with Rob the PT, so we're grateful for that.

Love,
Dad

Basic Monday...

Dear Nicky,

Another day of nothing major. PT yes in the morning, no OT in the afternoon because of MLK Day. You love looking at books, charging across the floor while on all fours yelling, and throwing things on the floor. I went to the bookstore this afternoon. I read a book by Ray Bradbury this evening, short but lyrical, the sequel to his classic Dandelion Wine. The guy can write.

Love,
Dad

Chilly Sunday...

Dear Nicky,

Not much to report today. It was pretty cold out because of the wind. I didn't go anywhere, but Mom went to Starbucks to get some reading done then later took you guys to Granny's after your naps. I stayed home and ran the oven's self-clean cycle. Pretty exciting, huh?

Love,
Dad

Great haircut...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon Mom took you to get a haircut. It was getting pretty long, but you came back looking great and smelling of Clubman talc. A lady came by this morning who will be doing some drape work for us. She was really nice to you guys. I guess that takes the sting out of her being so expensive.

Love,
Dad

You're okay...

Dear Nicky,

So this afternoon, Mom took you to the doc's for a followup visit to make sure your ear infection and your thrush were gone, and they were. And you've also gained back all the weight you lost while we were down in Anguilla. Brr! What a nightmare that was. I still shudder at the thought of it. Anyway, you seem nice and healthy, but we got the name of a good GI doc up in Hackensack whom we'll probably be visiting in order to address your reflux. Lately it seems to me to be flaring up quite a bit and leading to disturbed sleep. In other news, you're displaying just the slightest increase in a desire to walk, and Junie seems to have caught another cold, poor thing. She's not a very good sick person, I can tell you that right now.

Love,
Dad

I love my boy...

Dear Nicky,

We had a fill-in nanny come for a while today. A little brassy, I felt, but you and Junie liked her and she liked you. You did so-so at Stones but you did well with Ellen, so it balances out. Your handler at Stones is somewhat inappropriate and a bit of an alarmist. I think she might need to be eliminated.

Love,
Dad

Plain and simple...

Dear Nicky,

I love you. That is all.

Love,
Dad

Observation...

Dear Nicky,

A couple ladies from the Board of Ed came to observe you at Stones today. I heard it was very positive and they liked what they saw and you were well on your game.

Love,
Dad

Rough day...

Dear Nicky,

Junie had a rough night last night and woke us all up: double ear infection. So we're all tired today, which makes it hard to be in a good mood when you don't want to put your feet down and walk like we all know you can. We're all a little frustrated, son.

Love,
Dad

Party...!

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon we went to Alex's birthday party, which was a lot of fun for us all. Every kid with Trisomy 21 seems to prefer walking to crawling except for you. I'm not saying this to make you feel bad, but you're the smartest, cutest, most verbal, and outgoing one there. You should walk, too.

Love,
Dad

Saturday review...

Dear Nicky,

I replaced a burned out bulb in the Subaru's headlights this afternoon. I felt like a champ. You did some good standing and walking this evening, then acted really silly while I was changing your poopy diaper. I yelled at you and you covered your face, but I'm the one that feels ashamed. Yesterday we went to the eye doctor's office for a six month checkup. Nothing new, no major concerns, we just got to patch your right eye somehow. We filled out a form for the Board of Ed, and dropped off some medical info to the school nurse. Thursday was a Stones day and Mom took you in, where you did very well. We had them fill out another form for us and send it in.

Love,
Dad

A little honesty...

Dear Nicky,

I'm just a little bit tired lately. I'm tired of the fussiness, of the drudgery, of the relentless stress and worry. I'm tired of the late-night screaming wake-ups, of the food thrown on the floor.

Love,
Dad

Owe ya a post...

Dear Nicky,

Too tired right now, pal. I catch you up tomorrow.

Love,
Dad

So far, so good...

Dear Nicky,

You've been good all day, eating well and being in good spirits all around, and, so far, tonight you've been sleeping peacefully. I switched up your meds, gave you the Diflucan first, then the Pepcid. I wonder if it made any difference. I hope you sleep well, son.

Love,
Dad

Restless sleep...

Dear Nicky,

You're killing me, pal. Why don't you sleep? What's wrong with you now? Last night you peed through two diapers and wet your bed. Tonight you can't seem to sleep again. Is it your stomach? Your ear tubes? Is it the Diflucan? This is the third winter where, every night, you wake up crying for no reason.

Love,
Dad

Swallow study on the horizon...

Dear Nicky,

You had a great day today. Nice breakfast, did well with PT, nice nap, nice lunch, nice OT, etc. Then about an hour you woke up because your diaper leaked. Changed your linens, changed you, gave you some water, but your stomach is dancing and gurgling a lot. It seems like you're refluxing badly and the Pepcid doesn't seem to be working any more. I think it might be time for a swallow study. Isn't that something to look forward to?

Love,
Dad

Stressful Sunday...

Dear Nicky,

This morning began stressfully when Mom spilled her coffee on the rug and had a tantrum. You guys were like wild animals, destructive and uncontrollable. The good thing was the day only lasted about thirteen hours.

Love,
Dad

Same old...

Dear Nicky,

Today was a boring, unproductive day. Junie fussed all day long. You're feeling much better, however, and are becoming eager to demonstrate your ability to stand up and take some steps. So that's something.

Love,
Dad

The thaw...

Dear Nicky,

Today wasn't nearly as cold. You and June got baths and your spirits seem nice, yours especially. You seem almost back to your old self. Junie's still sick but also on the mend. Boy, was she a handful today. Granny came over this afternoon and brought some meatloaf. It was nice gesture. But Mom's meatloaf is way better. So far, hardly a peep from Junie's room. Nice!

Love,
Dad

Stand up and walk...

Dear Nicky,

It's superbitter cold today. This afternoon I said to you, "Nick, stand up and walk to Daddy." And you know what? You did it! You're feeling much better; you even feel heavier. Poor Junie's pretty miserable. She's not as stoic as you. Your both glad to be home, though, that's for sure. Earlier I bought you guys some fleece slippers to keep your feet warm. Problem is, you won't keep them on.

Love,
Dad

Eating better...

Dear Nicky,

You ate okay last night and today for the most part, except for dinner, which was a shame. At least you're eating something. In general your spirits are good. Junie's cold is where you were at about a week ago. Mom still feels a little sick. Still, though, it's much better to be home.

Love,
Dad

Hello 2008...!

Dear Nicky,

We arrived home this morning around two or so. Man, everybody's tired, but we are all so glad to be home. This morning we took you kids to the doc's just to make sure you're okay. You are, just a little sick. Happy New Year!

Love,
Dad