The Bronx Zoo...!

Dear Nicky,

Today we went to the Bronx Zoo. It was great. It's the biggest zoo in the country and a world-class zoo as well. We left here about 9 this morning and got there with no problems around 10. There was plenty of parking and the weather was just right. We brought the jogging stroller and with its big cushiony tires it was no problem pushing you guys around. The place was clean and well maintained everywhere you looked. The workers were helpful and knowledgeable. The crowds were light on a Monday morning. We went to the children's zoo, the monkey house, saw the sea lions (differentiated from seals by the presence of their pinna, or ears), and the Madagascar exhibit. We barely scratched the surface and left when you guys started getting sleepy, but we'll defintitely go back. Later in the afternoon, Mom took you to Doc Berg, who says it's time for new ear tubes, which you'll be getting a week from tomorrow. You'll feel better with new, functioning tubes in there.

Junie's birthday...

Dear Nicky,

You had a really decent sleep last night. And you ate a decent breakfast. That alone makes us jump for join. Today Junie turned two years old. We went to a Farmers' Market in Summit, then we went to Target and thereafter put you guys down for a nap. While you napped, I wrapped Junie's presents and wrote her some cards. When you woke we went to Aunt Dutchy's, where your cousin Kitty shares the same birthday as June. We had burgers and dogs and cake. You really liked the cake. It was a nice time.

Love,
Dad

Rough night...

Dear Nicky,

Everything was fine till around 4 this morning when you started crying. Maybe it was your ears or maybe your stomach, but you didn't go back to sleep, which meant neither did I or Mom. You seemed okay but kind of quiet all day. You took a nice long nap and woke up sunny with a big load in your diaper, then you seemed much better. You ate well for lunch and dinner. Hope you sleep well tonight.

Love,
Dad

Neck check...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon while I stayed home with Junie, Mom took you to Morristown Memorial Hospital, where they have a good radiology department, for a neck X-ray. The purpose of this was to determine if you have atlantoaxial instability, a neckbone condition that makes certain activities, like sports, dangerous for you. It's not an uncommon condition in people with trisomy 21, I'm afraid. I hope you don't have it, but we need to check and see. According to Mom, you didn't like being there and cried a lot. But you seemed fine when you got home, so I guess you shrugged it off fast, in typical Nick fashion. You ate nothing but some bread for dinner tonight, so I bet you eat well for breakfast. But you're tricky.

Love,
Dad

Just errands...

Dear Nicky,

I just did a lot of running around today. I got a CAT scan, got groceries, went to Target and Home Depot, paid bills. Nothing special--except that any time with my kids is special to me, even when you drive me crazy.

Love,
Dad

Many workers...

Dear Nicky,

Today the cleaning lady came, then the bug guy, then the gutter guy, then the lawn guy. All these guys came before noon. We went out for a nice drive this morning. You napped a little. I got you both some fries. You stepped on my glasses and broke them later in the afternoon. I made you guys some pasta for a late lunch, early dinner sort of thing and it worked out okay.

Love,
Dad

Fallthrough...

Dear Nicky,

Your nanny called in sick for today. I dunno if I buy it, but whatever. I was going to take you to get a neck X-ray, but those plans were wrecked. You guys ate a nice breakfast, napped poorly, then we went to the store, came back and had dinner and a bath. You woke up twice so far tonight. Is there an actual physical reason or is it just behavioral? You don't want a sleep study, do you?

Love,
Dad

Just hanging out...

Dear Nicky,

You've got no school this week. This morning it was raining so we stayed inside. You didn't eat much breakfast. Around 11:30 I put you down for a nap, but you didn't go to sleep till 12:30. After you woke, you had some milk but not much lunch. We hung out some more because it was uncomfortably humid outside. Then you had a great dinner and we listened to a bunch of music till we put you to sleep late, around 8:30 almost. We were having so much fun laughing and dancing. You were out like a light. But true to form, one minute ago you started fussing and screaming in your sleep. I just gave you some Motrin. I hope it helps.

Love,
Dad

Birthday party...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon we woke you early from your nap--something you definitely didn't appreciate--and went to a birthday party for your little friend Grace from Stones. It was nice to see our friends, and you and June had a nice time with the other little kids. Boy, did the girls love you! We stayed for quite a bit, had a little food, and you managed to cram two cupcakes down your throat (not at the same time, of course) and make a mess. Not major, but you sure did enjoy those cupcakes! I'm glad we went; you had a lot of fun. When we came home, we gave you some milk and a graham cracker, gave you a bath, then put you to bed. Good night to your cupcake eating ways!

Love,
Dad

You and me...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon we were going to take you both to Granny's for some time in the pool. But your nap went longer than expected, so Mom took June and I hung out with you. You woke and had some lunch. We had a lot of laughs. We went in the backyard for a while, and then Laurie the babysitter came over and Mom and I went to see the latest Indiana Jones movie (a little disappointing). She gave you dinner and put you to bed and here we are.

Love,
Dad

We go to Wegman's

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon after your lunch we went to Toys R Us to return a little pool toy that was too small for you, then we went to the Children's Place and got some clothes and a present for a birthday party we're going to this weekend. Then we drove out to Woodbridge and went to Wegman's, a large well-stocked supermarket. I've been to this one only three times, and this was our first time. I was more impressed than you, but you had a lot of fun strolling in the cart and laughing, till you got silly and threw your head back and smacked it on the metal of the cart. Although you cried hard, you quickly recovered your sunny disposition. For dinner you had some feta and spinach sausages.

Love,
Dad

Gilly gilly gilly...

Dear Nicky,

Today I went to Toys R Us and got, among other things, a light-up spin toy, much like the original Spin Spin Spin, only this one doesn't play music. Anyway, I should have gotten two because you and June immediately started fighting over it, but you were both making progress on sharing as the afternoon went on. You guys didn't eat much dinner, but you had a good lunch, so whatever. When you play, sometimes your favorite thing to say is "Gilly gilly gilly." Dunno, what it means, but you seem to have fun with it.

Love,
Dad

Graduation Day...

Dear Nicky,

Well, today was the end of the regular Stepping Stones school year. You start again July 1. This morning you and your classmates did a small production along with the kids graduating from Stones. It was great to see you on stage singing and moving along with the music and saying the Pledge of Allegiance. You were the most magnetic kid up there. June and I got there first, then Granny, then Mom, who raced to see you from an out of town business trip. Now you're on a bit of break till next month.

Love,
Dad

Last will...

Dear Nicky,

Today Mom and I went to the lawyers to sign all our will-type stuff to make sure what meager assets we possess are distributed appropriately to you and Junie if anything should happen to us in the near future. I must say it's rather disconcerting to contemplate one's own mortality in a room full of strangers. During sleep time tonight you seemed rather fussy, waking up a number of times this evening. I hope it's not another illness. Oh and by the way, tomorrow's graduation from Stones till the summer session begins. See you there!

Love,
Dad

Tired from school...

Dear Nicky,

This week there's only half days at school yet you came home this afternoon asleep in the bus. I put you up and you slept for two hours. You must've been beat. They must be working you hard for this graduation rehearsal they've been practicing for a week now. You had a couple helpings of milk but not much else for dinner, so maybe you'll eat well in the morning. Sleep well, buddy.

Love,
Dad

Father's Day 2008...

Dear Nicky,

Today was Father's Day. I slept a little later, or tried to, actually; you and June were extra loud this morning. Mom was nice enough to get me some pastries and a couple of nice gifts. Then you guys went to church and I hung out. After you woke from your nap, we went to Granny's. Toward the end, you started grinding your teeth nonstop till we put you to bed. Drives me crazy.

Love,
Dad

Pool time...

Dear Nicky,

You were the only one to answer correctly (and at all) when a question was asked during your Music Together class today. All the other kids just sat there. When you came home, you had a snack, then a long nap, despite a brief interruption. Afterward you had some lunch, then we went out back to this little pool I inflated today. You and June splashed around, then meandered around the yard for a while. For dinner we had pizza. Last night you slept poorly, so I hope you sleep better tonight. Perhaps running the humidifier will help.

Love,
Dad

Another hearing test aced...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon, Mom picked you up from Stones a little early and took you for a hearing test. She said you did so well the technician stated she had no concerns about your hearing, and that's with the fact that your right ear has some fluid in it. The doc wasn't available to talk to, but we want to ask her about your tubes, tonsils, and adenoids and whether we should have the latter two removed.

Love,
Dad

Tummy ache...?

Dear Nicky,

This morning when I put you on the bus for school you fussed some, which is very rare for you. On your return this afternoon, you seemed happy to see me, but when I tried to get you to walk to the door, you flat-out refused. Once inside, your mood seemed worse. I gave you some milk and left you alone with June and your nanny, who reported that you had a huge poop after I left then seemed to feel better, so maybe the antibiotics are bothering your belly. You ate okay for dinner, and went to bed very easy.

Love,
Dad

Flat tire...

Dear Nicky,

So this afternoon you were late coming home because your ride had a flat on the way to Stones. By the time they got you and brought you home it was almost 4:30. Worrisome for us and exhausting for you. But you seemed none the worse for the wear. And the antibiotics seem to have worked on that ear infection of yours. You're sleeping sweetly right now.

Love,
Dad

Mom's birthday...

Dear Nicky,

Today was Mom's birthday, but she had to go in to work. We kept you home from school today because you had such a rough night and kept waking up. Why, I alone have been awake since 3:30 this morning. When your nanny arrived I took you to the docs and luckily they were able to see you right away. And the verdict is: ear infection! So I gave you some Omnicef, then later Laurie your other nanny came over and fed and put you guys to bed while Mom and I went and had a nice dinner. We made it home just before a massive thunderstorm that will hopefully end this heat wave we've been having.

Love,
Dad

Here we go again...

Dear Nicky,

Last night was one of your sleepless nights again. Dunno why it's so hard for someone to tell us if it's allergies, a cold, sinuses, or ears. Stones called like three times to tell us how runny your nose was. Wow, it must've been the first time ever there was a kid with T21 at Stones with a runny nose! The heat wave continues, and you have a summertime cold.

Love,
Dad

Heat wave...

Dear Nicky,

The heat wave continues. This morning, Mom took you guys to church and I did some quick cleaning off of the deck and some weeding. Then you guys came home and had a snack then took a nap. Actually, Junie took a nap; you did not. You guys had a light lunch then we went to Granny's, where you took a nap on me for a while. When you woke up, we went out to the pool for a bit. Afterward we had some pizza and hung out a little. Then we came home. Tomorrow's supposed to be even hotter.

Love,
Dad

New shoes in a heat wave...

Dear Nicky,

You simply did not nap today, but Junie did. After she woke up, we went out into the 100-degree heat to go over to Summit and get some shoes for you guys. You got another, larger pair of Stride-Rites, while Junie got three pairs. Your SMOs sort of limit our choices, but we'll find some more. We also got you guys a bunch of socks. Then back home, you guys halfheartedly ate some dinner, and I gave you a bath. And straight to bed!

Love,
Dad

We feel better...

Dear Nicky,

I think we're both feeling better today. You had a real good night's sleep last night and were much less snotty. My throat feels better too. That is all.

Love,
Dad

Got a cold...

Dear Nicky,

You've got a little cold and didn't sleep well last night. We went to Children's this morning and got your SMOs adjusted, then went to Target to get some stuff. You fell asleep and napped for over two hours this afternoon till we had to go to the docs to have them check out your hemorrhoid, which is nothing major by the way. Gave you some Triaminic this evening and so far so good. Thing is, I have a cold now too, and I don't feel so good.

Love,
Dad

Abreviated day...

Dear Nicky,

Today was a shorter day at Stones for you because they had a volunteer luncheon where everybody says thank you to the volunteers. Mom went and helped with the setup, then when it was time to go, she took you to get your glasses adjusted--all three pairs. The garage door guy came and made the door less noisy and also installed an emergency door opener thing, where if the power goes off, you can unlock the door and open it manually. Pretty cool. You had no nap today and were extra tired this evening.

Love,
Dad

New ride...

Dear Nicky,

So yesterday was a new company providing transportation for you to Stones. They seemed a little disorganized and gave us no notice that they would be taking over from the other company. They were hard pressed to get things right. And the afternoon driver was not the same as the morning driver. Then in the afternoon the driver took way too long getting you home and I was starting to get very worried. I called the driver's cell but she was off duty because she was the morning driver, not the afternoon driver. So I'm calling all over the place, getting stressed, getting angry, but finally they got you home, and today it seemed better, so we'll see. It just illustrates the depths of my feelings for you when I didn't know where you were.

Love,
Dad

I owe you a post about today...

Dear Nicky,

New transportation to school, plus an outdoor baby house, drained, more to come.

Love,
Dad

Mom's back...

Dear Nicky,

Mom's back from her trip and was very happy to see us again. Her trip was very productive. Time fly by for us while she was away. We had a nice time. You had a nice breakfast this morning, a nice bath, and a pretty good nap. You ate a bunch of Annie's organic star thingamajigs, then we went into the backyard and played till Mom came home. She put you guys to bed while I went to Borders.

Love,
Dad