Beaches, butter, buddies, and...is that a tooth?

It's been busy, busy, busy. We're fitting in everything we can before school starts on Wednesday. Yes, this Wednesday. Nicholas will have his first day of school on the 11th and Blake will officially start on the 12th. I can't believe I have a first grader and a kindergartener! Thank goodness Lexi is around to take my mind off of it when they both get on the bus this week.

Anyway, last weekend I got to get away for a girls weekend on Lake Michigan. I dropped the 3 shorties off at the folks and headed to a little cottage near New Buffalo. I had a great time with the girlies.



3 days of sitting on a beach in perfect temperatures with a cocktail in one hand and People Magazine in the other. And not once did I have to get up to go wipe anyones rear end.

Sorry. Too much?

But then it was time to get back to my 2 dudes and the chick. Here she is, hanging out over my parents vent.

We got back home on Wednesday, just in time for occupational therapy. Thursday morning we had our first session with Lexi's new speech therapist--love her!!

And then Thursday afternoon Alexis had an appointment to get fitted for ankle braces. It should help her bear weight on her legs. The little contraptions will fit around her ankle and go right up the back of her calf. We should get them in a month or so.

We also learned that our PT is leaving, so it's time to find a new physical therapist. Add it to the "to do" list.

Alexis had her 15 month check up Friday morning with the pediatrician. (Never mind that she's 16 months old today.) Dr. M. is very happy with how Alexis looks, is thrilled that she's crawling and jabbering. We were surprised that she hadn't put on more than a couple of ounces since her last appointment. So Dr. M. made a suggestion:

"Add butter to her baby food."

Seriously? I laughed. I told her my mother-in-law would be thrilled. A meal just isn't a meal unless you add a little lard to it.

I don't think I'll be adding butter though. She's in the 3rd percentile for weight (5th for height) on the typical growth chart. She looks healthy, and Dr. M. even mentioned that she's a toddler now--a crawling toddler. She's burning more calories. I may just offer some extra fruit or extra ounces of whole milk.

This is when you have to hear opinions from different doctors and just make your best judgement. Dr. E., the geneticist, wants Alexis to stay "lean". Kids with Down syndrome have a tendency to sometimes become heavier and that can lead to other issues, like sleep apnea. Lexi is healthy and happy. I don't think I need to add any butter.

Yesterday afternoon was a long overdue play date. The boys were thrilled to see their buddy Gabriel. They headed straight for the Wii and were never heard from again. Alexis and Mia are learning to say "BFF".

And today--what a beautiful day outside! Alexis and I were sitting on the deck, enjoying the warmth and the break in the humidity. We were goofing around, I flipped her upside down, and...no, I didn't drop her. There was a tooth! On the top! And it was almost half way in! AND I NEVER EVEN NOTICED! This is her second tooth. That is, if there aren't others in there I haven't seen yet.

I feel like an idiot for not noticing. Wonder how long it's been there...

On a side note, we can now sport a pigtail!

We also went to the park today to take advantage of the weather! It was a lovely day for playing on the playground and taking a little walk...

Walk? Did someone say Walk? Don't forget that Lexi's Buddy walk fundraising page is up and running at www.firstgiving.com/lexilou. You'll probably be really sick of hearing about it by October, but, how can you say no to this face?