Trick or Treat...Smell My Feet

Happy Halloween everyone!! I spent my day with Mom. We hung around the house this morning and then had our first feeding therapy this afternoon. I did pretty well but I did show my therapist my gag and puke. He gave us some homework with a Nuk brush. It's a little rubber brush I can put in my mouth and practice chewing. I went to my therapy session in my Halloween costume. I was a little devil. Mom says this is nothing new from every day life.
Grammy Kris and her friends Hap, Deb and her daughter Emily came to visit me over the weekend. Friday we went out for lunch and went shopping at the mall. Mommy bought me some new jeans because I just keep growing out of my old ones. Saturday, I stayed home with Daddy while everyone else went shopping in Dundee. I guess they had fun because they came home with lots of goodies and wine. Later that evening they took turns reading to me. Emily and Deb read a book to me that my Mommy used to read to Emily.
Sunday everyone had to leave. Here I am sitting on Grammy Kris's lap.
Later that day Daddy and Mommy took me to Wiards orchard. We enjoyed a hay ride and a firetruck ride around the orchard. We also picked pumpkins and bought doughnuts in the country store.
Mommy later carved our pumpkins and decorated them with glitter.
My meds and treatments are going well. I've even learned to fake cough. I love to imitate Mommy and Daddy and we battle with our fake coughs. I'm doing lots of babbling but still no words. Mommy and Daddy work with me every day on MaMa and DaDa but I just look at them and laugh. I also got a new Spongebob ball. I was afraid of it at first but now I can't keep my hands off of it.
Grandpa and Grandma Otteman will be here this weekend. I'm looking forward to giving them a run for their money.
I will leave you with a picture of me and my Daddy in our matching white t-shirts and jeans.
Until next time,
Love Luke

"Hey There Little One"

Hi everyone! Not much is new this week. I'm happy to report I am taking to the Pediasure just fine. Daddy bought me vanilla, strawberry and chocolate flavors. Daddy really likes the chocolate the best!! Surprise, surprise. I also received word that I am approved for my Synagis shots to protect me from RSV. RSV is a nasty respiratory infection. I get Synagis shots once a month from October until March or April. They are only available to special kids who have to qualify through their insurance or else you pay $1700.00 for EACH shot. I'm not excited about getting a shot every month but I do not want RSV either. I go to U of M on Wed to see my therapist about my texture problem. Hopefully they will come up with a solution so I can enjoy foods with my Mom and Dad.

Mommy and Daddy also bought me a big boy car seat. I'm not ready for it yet but I had to try it out. Here is a picture of me in my car seat.
I would also like to share with you a song Uncle Josh wrote for me. I find it very special and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.

Hey there little one,
It's nice to see you smiling today.
Hey there little one,
There's just so much to you I'd like to say.
I hope that you always can tell,
Life's just a ride on a carousel.

Love has a way of keeping you clean,
if the ways of the world treat you mean.

Hey there little one,
It's good to know you're breathing okay.
Hey there little one,
Our love for you will not fade away...
I hope that your life goes so well,
You gave us all quite a scary spell.

Love has a way of keeping you warm,
if the ways of the world might do you harm.

Hey there little one,
Please don't grow up too fast.
Hey there little one,
Make all the good times last.
What your life brings I can't foretell,
But I hope that you'll never kiss and tell.

Love has a way of giving you joy,
to such a beautiful baby boy.
Such a beautiful baby boy...

Here is a picture of me with my Uncle Josh when I was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit last December.

Next weekend Grandma Eaton and friends will be here. Until then...
Hugs and kisses,
Luke

Walking...almost.

Where do I begin? I have to say that keeping up with this blog and playing with my toys is becoming a real challenge. I apologize for the long delay but I must say I will make up for it with all of my news and pictures.

On September 29th Mommy, Daddy and I joined the Randall's in a Buddy Walk for children with Down Syndrome. Ben looked good and I had fun walking, I mean, riding in my stroller for him. Here is a picture of all of us after the walk.

Grandpa Larson came to visit in October. We had a good time together as he took care of me so Mommy could get some rest. Grandpa gave me lots of rides on my lion. We also spent time playing with my toys and sitting outside watching the cars go by.

My top two front teeth poked through. Hopefully soon I will be chewing more food. Can you see my teeth?

I also still LOVE the lion rides. Mommy and Daddy push me and I keep one hand on the lions nose because when you push it music will play and he will roar. My ride stops if the music stops so I make sure it never does. I also walk with my lion all over the place. I can really fly now and I think I may walk all by myself soon.

I went to see my pediatrician, Dr. Weinberg, on October 9th. He said I look great! I got my Hep B and flu shot. They also poked my big toe to check my hemoglobin and they said it was perfect!

I continue to make music with my piano. Mommy took this picture of me on my 10 month b-day. I also went to have lunch with Daddy at work and got to see all of his work friends.

On October 11th I went to U of M. I grew an inch and gained 1/2 a pound. I now weigh 18lbs and I was 27.1 inches. They say I am progressing well and I am in the 7th percentile for height and weight which makes me proportionate. My body mass index is in the 50th percentile. Lots of room to grow but I am making strides. My nutritionist, Hope, put me on Pediasure and took me off my formula. The Pediasure gives me more calories per ounce therefore hopefully a bigger weight gain. I will also be evaluated by an Ocupational Therapist soon for my issues with gagging. I can't seem to tolerate different textures of food and sometimes I will throw up everything I eat if I gag. They are hoping to help me with this problem so I can get every calorie my parents give me.

I also love to play UNDER my exersaucer because of the uneven floor my toys will roll around and I can chase them, sort of like what I do with everything else including the vacuum cleaner. I love to toss and chase or slide things around the house with my hands. Mommy and Daddy find my toys everywhere including under the oven.

Well, that's all for now. I need to go take a nap.

Love, Luke