A Healthy Heart!

We have been doing well here...just busy with the daily life routine as well as prayerfully looking for a different place to live as we are tight in the house we are currently renting. We'd appreciate prayer for God's direction for us and what is best for us right now.

We took Sean to the cardiologist yesterday for an evaluation and echocardiogram and EKG.
The doctor was very nice and has had alot of experience with children and adults with Down Syndrome. He said that Sean, like about 50 % of children with Down Syndrome, does NOT have a heart defect....his heart was perfectly healthy and did not anticipate his needing any kind of intervention in the future regarding his heart. Praise God! We knew if he had any heart issues they were probably minor, given his ENERGY level, but we wanted to make sure...so that was a relief to hear. He did very well at his visit...the radiologist and nurse were very good with him and (aside from not liking the electrodes on his chest) he sat rather still as she talked and sang to him...music always quiets Sean right down, it is amazing.

Next up will be the audiologist and the opthalmalogist! We've needed to take our time with his visits since John had so much time off and do not want to overwhelm the family, so each one we get done is a blessing to know more about our little boy and his needs. He is doing very well...he especially loves playing in the kiddy pool and the sandbox, and he had fun getting dirty when we were planting some plants....that was interesting! Our biggest challenge is when its time for him to come out, making sure he doesn't escape the yard, and keeping him out of the water/dirt when its not playtime! We are working on basics of him learning to obey Mommy and Daddy and to not yell or hit (or bite) when frustrated. It is getting better!

We had the privaledge of meeting some other families with children with Down Syndrome over the weekend at a support group of Ups of Downs here...it was nice to get to talk to other families and I'm sure they will be a great resource for us. Our children really enjoyed playing and helping a couple of the other younger kids there, as well as taking their little brother around Storybook Island (a neat playground based on nursery rhymes/children's stories) ....what a blessing they are!