perfect

my maternity leave is coming to an end and it's back to work on monday.  i don't know what's in store for me and all the work that probably has to be done.  a workday would have been great beforehand, but jay got sick on thursday and we all had to stay home.  as i look back through these few weeks on my life and start to think, one word comes to mind PERFECT.  back in may when we found out mason would have down syndrome, it was devastating.  your dreams for your kids are to be the smartest, hit every milestone early and be the best they can be at all times felt like they had ended.  at that time, it felt like we had been hit by a mack truck and those dreams were crushed.  we excepted the fact that yes he would have delays and that there would be things he couldn't do or would take longer to do.  there were many tears the day we found out for sure this would be the diagnosis.  throughout the next few weeks/months, i know i thought about what he would look like and since all the hormones would be rushing through me after birth, what a basket case i would be once mason was here.  i guess i was preparing myself for this the rest of a the time.

the day of his birth came rushing in and i mean this literally and all of a sudden he was here.  i couldn't cry, but just look at him and smile.  it's crazy how one kid can just make you forget about everything from before.  the look on jay's eye when he saw him was priceless and still is.  for the most part, he is very gentle with him and goes up to him holding his hand and saying how small it is.  he's always interested in diaper changes and wants to watch.  jay knows nothing except that mason is his baby brother just like everyone else has a baby brother or sister.  he wouldn't treat him any differently than any other sibling.  throughout my time with mason, it has been great.  he isn't a fussy baby and just goes with the flow.  i think this has helped me along the way.  the feeling of being a basket case has not really come on.

one day, i think i was more tired than any other day because i was working on school work and just was exhausted from it.  garrett looked at me at dinner and asked if i had been crying, and i just looked up and said yes.  i started to explain and started crying again and said he's just PERFECT.  it doesn't matter the doctors' appointments i have to attend to make sure everything is alright or the delays he may have later on.  we will take this day by day, not looking too far into the future and thank God everyday for the blessing He has sent.  my worries of what he looks like were tossed out the window, especially when people just walk by the stroller and say he is just beautiful without knowing his prognosis.  and on monday when i go back to work, it is awesome to know that he is already loved by all of his teachers.  they are so excited to get him and i know will take the best care of him.

growing up

the past few weeks we've been having fun watching Mason grow little by little and Jay having fun being a big brother.  it's really cool how jay reacts to mason and how he is really interested in him.  jay wants to know if mason is going to pick him up at school.  he's also interested in mason's little hands as well as where he is at a all times.  

last week mason turned one month and i took him for his one month check up.  his stats are:

7 lbs 13 ounces (10%)

19.5 inches long (3%)

at his appointment we found out that the hospital didn't measure mason's length correctly unless a baby can shrink.  he measured there at 20.5 inches, so who knows how long he really was.  

as for an update on his ears, he can hear perfectly in his right ear, but still has fluid in his left ear.  he has mild to moderate hearing loss in that ear and we have to go back in december to check it again.  most likely the fluid in his ears is causing his hearing loss.  this is common for down syndrome babies because they have small ear canals as well as their eustachian tubes are small. 

mason's still a very good baby.  he only cries when he is tired or just irritated, which isn't much.  most of the time is pretty content.  he's started to wiggle a lot more and jolt his head back when you hold him.  he's a very good sleeper at night.  last night he went down around 8:00 and didn't wake back up until 3:30.  as long as he can continue to do that when i go back to work next week, i'll be really happy.

it's been fun being out these last few weeks with him.  i remember with jay, since he cried a lot more, i was stressed out and ready to go back to work.  this time, it's been a more relaxed experience and i'm really going to miss him during the day.  fortunately, next week we have the best teachers to take care of him at daycare.  they can't wait to get him and already have a bed for him.  he will definitely be in good hands.

every now and then mason will put his thumb in his mouth and suck it.  i was able to catch a picture of it one day.

what's up??!!

since the beginning of october, garrett has been playing flag football.  we were able to make it to one of the games the other night since it wasn't too cold outside.  here is jay with his friend jake.  they are football players in training.

halloween has come and gone, but the memories are still there.  ever since mason came, jay has worn his batman costume almost everyday.  this was probably the best $17 i've ever spent.  the costume even started to come apart he wore it so much.

here he is with his friend jesse from school at the fall festival at church.  i think jay had a blast.  he quickly understood that if he played a game, he would get candy to put in his bucket.

we found some more friends at the fall festival

(from left to right) noah, jay, brady, cooper

halloween night we went trick-or-treating around the neighborhood.

noah, seth (he went as himself), gavin, peyton, jay

(not pictured) owen and livvie

the kids went running from house to house.  it was hilarious.  the first house, gavin and jay thought they would walk on in and visit the people.

jay loves his little brother.

stylin' in mommy's sunglasses.

here's my boys. 

some more lovin'.

sunday afternoon we celebrated noah's birthday. he turned 3 and had a huge bounce house for the kids to play in.  

the adults joined in some of the fun as well.

here was my grandmother's position most of the time with mason.

for some reason he had to have the red cupcake.  i think he definitely liked the icing.

more bounce house

piñata time!!