Extra, not special

Next Friday Brady turns 2! In this picture I swear he is 15, at least that is what he is putting on his college application. I reminded him that typically one is around 17 when they hit the dorms, but he kindly reminded me that he is exceptional. Ah yes, thank you Brady.

People are always curious about what it takes to raise a child with "special needs," a term that I have never been particularly fond of. Brady's needs are no more special than a typical kid. I prefer to think of it as needing just a bit extra. So on that note here are some of the "extras" for Brady: 1. Daily foot massages (HA!) 2. Weekly private speech lessons 3. Weekly private physical therapy 4. Weekly physical therapy from Early Intervention 5. Weekly swim lessons 6. Coming soon... speech therapy from Early Intervention 7. Next summer Brady will begin pre-school at Munroe Meyer
8. Daily speech lessons with Mom (I follow the See and Learn speech program by DownsEd).

By next summer Brady will have speech about 3 times a week. This is primarily because speech is a MAJOR priority for our family. We want to make sure Brady is able to talk and when he talks we want him to be understandable. Of course according to Brady everything he says is pertinent and poignant, but we are taking extra measures during these most impressionable years.

Other than a rigorous speech schedule Brady's life is very typical. He takes no more patience, time or love than any other child. There are weeks that Down sydrome doesn't even hit my radar. I'm sure there will be a couple of meteors that will blast us in the future, but for now I'm going to enjoy all the extras Brady has brought to our lives.

Brady

Lately, I have been savoring every last minute with Brady. I know the just "Brady and me" minutes are ticking away. I have such a wonderful time being his mom. He has such an incredible spirit and I feel unbelievably lucky to call him my son. The trillion expressions and quirks that he roles through on a daily basis make me laugh and appreciate all that is Brady boy! It is such a special time when the adults out number the kids. I know in 4 short weeks that my heart will expand to include our little girl and Brady's heart will be slightly confused. It'll take him a bit to understand why his every demand isn't met with the current urgency of today, but after awhile his kind soul will accommodate and tolerate our new family member.

It's strange to think that on this very step Brady will have to scoot over and make room for his sister. Big brother is a new role and a new title that he will wear proudly. Until then the song "just the two of us" will be quietly playing for 4 more weeks.

Let it roll

It's been an eventful morning already! I scooped up Brady for our morning swim session with Captain wetsuit. I have been honoring Brady's greener ways and suit him up in a reusable swim diaper. It is extremely stylish and very European looking (just how he likes it). The trick is, with a reusable swim diaper there is no absorbency...none. It's just a "net" to keep the snickers from floating in the pool. So in order to make this work I dress Brady in his swim gear at the pool. So there we are in the locker room getting suited up and then I see it... the look. Ah crap....literally!! NOT IN THE REUSABLE diaper. Think fast, must slide trunks off and reusable diaper and scurry the disposable back under the buns before the turkey lands! TOO LATE. The biscuit made it's landing right in the basket. Typically this wouldn't be a big deal but today Brady decided to grab the diaper with the prize winner in it and toss it gently to the sky. The flight pattern of the turd had it's crash landing pin pointed for Brady's mouth. Again, typically this kind of disaster can be manged, but all I saw was Brady's open mouth smile from ear to ear. I think he really thought he caught a Snickers bar in his pants. Deflect, deflect!! The turd "safely" kissed Brady's shoulder and then rolled down locker lane. You would have thought Brady won the lottery. He was laughing and giggling like a little school girl. I was grappling for my sanitizing wipes, trying to wash out the poop stained swim diaper, dress a squirley little swimmer, finish my coffee, not go into labor and get him on the swim deck all without anyone noticing the swirling insanity of the last 3 minutes.

Swim lessons went off without a hitch. Brady is crying/screaming less and less. A refreshing turn of events for a typically stressful 10 minute lesson. Sure he still leeches onto coach wetsuit like sap on a tree, but I think that's as good of a "life saver" strategy as swimming.

ps- the picture was done by Regal Photography. They are the wonderful photographers who are shooting our fundraiser calendar. Brady will be featured in the calendar along with several other kids in the Omaha Down Syndrome Parents Network. All funds from the calendar will go to creating a resourceful website for my Mom's group. I am currently taking pre-orders and the calendar will be available this October. They are selling for the bargain price of $15 (Brady is offering complimentary autographs). Shoot me an email if you are interested in one: jen_shannon@cox.net THANKS FRIENDS!

Big what?

Brady has been acquiring some new titles lately. You are all familiar with future husband of Miss Claire, and in 5 short weeks Brady will be a big brother and lastly BIG WALKER!

I know the mini steps may not seem like much to some of you, but in our world it's like a trek up Mt. Everest or a world record marathon. After almost 2 years of training Brady is finally taking consistent steps. His official long track record is 5 big time strides. We are so proud of him and I think this last title is his most coveted.

Baby Earl count down....5 weeks...maybe 3??? Ahhhh the suspense. If I get any bigger Brady will be using my belly as a runway.

Happy Birthday Claire

"Rub my feet"

"Your so pretty"

"Dinner will be ready in 1 minute"

Brady's little lady, Claire turned 3 on Saturday. So Brady pressed his favorite polo, ran a comb through his hair and jumped on his bike to Lincoln (remember his attempt at a "greener life") Well, after I convinced him that by the time he actually got to Lincoln, via 2 wheels, Claire would be 5 and the cake would be gone, he reluctantly jumped into the car. I appreciate his inner conviction though.

The Claire and Brady love story continues. Though most people have come to understand this "relationship" as 2 crazy Mom's attempts at an arranged marriage. They will love each other. THEY WILL!! :)

Typically a visit to Claire's involves a couple of vigorous hugs and a quick wrestling match. This time was a bit different. She is so grown up and really showing her maturity. She had a PARTY to attend to! Brady was left in the dust, grappling for her affection. Which in a 2 year old world equates sharing some grapes. So share the grapes they did. It was pure magic.

Up

Brady has been making progress in the 2-wheeler world. He is desperately trying to make the wobbly world on two legs more stable. The longest clocked time is 12 seconds. Unfortunately, 12 seconds is just long enough to stare at him in disbelief and not long enough to grab the camera. So this little snippet actually ended up looking more like a documentary of a bucking bronco.

He continues to take steps, but is holding out on the official transition to stilts. We think he has a walking reserve, but is refusing to dip into it. He's such a little stinker that I'm pretty sure he's walking behind my back and then plopping to a crawl as I turn to look at him. I think heard him say "suckers!"

Save the Drama for your mama

Wait...that's me!

Today's feature film is not the most entertaining, but it captures the reason I have "skipped" swim lessons. Okay fine, I quit them!! I can't stand hearing my little biscuit cry. Under Jeff's strong council and with coach wetsuits advice I have thrown Brady back into the pool. Jeff thinks I need to toughen up and that making Brady stick with the lessons is teaching him coping skills. Ahhh so wise, BUT I'm pretty certain this verifies the difference between the inter workings of Moms and Dads. While Jeff is confident in the life skills Brady is building I am certain he is submerged in a shark tank with no floaties and within seconds of his last breath.

So we will return to the aqua deck every Wednesday for our life builder lesson and Brady may learn to swim one way or another. Most likely it will be a skill he stumbles upon as he is desperately tries to escape what he perceives as the Pacific ocean navigated by Captain Hook. Arrrrrgggg!