Welcome

Where we live | Pictures | Wilma's Pregnancies | Stories | Information about us | Some References | The guest book

You can also search for information.

Monday, 9/11/2006

September 2006 - part 1

September started with Labor Day weekend, which for us was now 5 days because Erik took both Friday and Tuesday off. This was really relaxing.

We visited a railroad museum, a local zoo and the Museum of Natural History. These were all very nice outings and it gave us a real break. It was also very obvious that both Bram and Vera felt it was really special to have daddy round so much.

Thursday september 7th Bram started back in school. He is still at Stepping Stones for now, where he immediately got back into the routine and loves it.

Vera started today and she too had a really good time. This year she will go 4 mornings, 3 (Mo-Wed-Fri) to the american preschool and 1 (Tue) to the Dutch school. She loved today, she has been singing since she got home. She also told bits and pieces about the morning.

Friday, 9/1/2006

August 2006

August was remarkable by a few things:

We had quite a few social things, mostly bbq's with friends and that was a lot of fun.

Bram had time off from school the last few weeks of August. We made a couple of trips by train, which both Bram en Vera like a lot these days.

One of the trips was to Manhattan, to pick up Erik from work and to visit the big ToysRus at times square. In this store they have an actual working Ferris wheel and a giant robotic dinosaur.

Bram also had a dental checkup, his teeth are looking good. He did show very clearly that he is done for a while cooperating with doctors, but who can blame him for that at this point.

Vera has been quite sick. 5 Days she had a really high fever, so high (105) that I took her for a checkup by the pediatrician on day 4, just to rule out serious couses. Fortunately it turned out to be "just" a nasty virus and after day 5 the fever went down. She was not her self for about a week after this, so it was really a bad one for her.

Bram did think it was really interesting that it was in fact his turn to observe at the pediatrician's office. He immediately took advantage to charm one of the assistants ;-)

Monday, 7/31/2006

July 2006 - part 2

Both Bram and Vera are now compeletely used to their new beds and they are still very happy with them. Bram gets up really early in the morning, most likely because it is getting light then. Usually he plays a bit in his room or he'll visit us.

After the eye surgery it does seem that Bram is better able to focus on tasks, so even though we are still awaiting the definitive results, he does seem to have improved.

Swimming seems to be a bit of a challenge this year. Both Bram and Vera are picking up things and they seem to coincide with trips to the local pool. Bram had an ear infection as well as a skin infection so far. Vera had some unidentified virusses. So, so far nothing really serious. They both enjoy the pool so much that so far we have kept going.

Bram is in the summerprogram at his school and he loves it.

Wednesday, 7/19/2006

July 2006 - part 1

4th of July we celebrated quietly. Erik had to do some diy during the day and during that time, Bram and Vera played in the yard. It was a hot day, so they enjoyed a lot of water play. In the evening, we went to the towns fire works. That is always fun and great to watch. Both Bram and Vera hated the noise of it this year, but they loved the lights, so they both watched the whole show.

Vera is enjoying her vacation time. We spend a lot of time together, but also arranged for a lot of play dates, so that she is able to play with other kids. For her it seems to appear a bit strange this year that Bram has a summer school and she does not.

July 6th Bram's braces (more shoe inserts now) were checked by his orthopedist. This doctor seems really pleased with how they fit and Bram really likes wearing them as well.

July 10th Bram had a hearing evaluation that showed that his hearing is not yet back in the "normal" range. That in itself can be normal so shortly after surgery on the ears. Tomorrow he will see his ENT who will revieuw everything.

On July 14th Bram finally had his eye surgery. Several blogs before this one I have already explained that Bram needed this because his eye turned outward. The eye muscles were loosened and then fastened again slightly differently. This should enable him to keep the eyes in the correct position. Bram did very well after surgery and even though the white of his eyes turned fire engine red, he does not seem to be that much troubled by it. He went back to school the Monday after.

On July 17th we had a checkup with the eye doctor and she was pleased with the result so far. The real outcome we won't see before 3 months, but things look good so far. Bram does not close his eye any more, while he was winking all the time before surgery ;-)

Proof of how well he is doing is in this: Saturday night he all of a sudden was next to our bed. He got out of his crib, while before he had never dared doing that, even though we were expecting the moment. Partially because he was really outgrowing his crib, but mostly because of safety, we got both Bram and Vera new beds on Sunday. Vera just seemed ready. Both she and Bram seem to be really content with the beds that they got to choose themselves.

Friday, 6/30/2006

June 2006 - part 2

On June 23rd Bram officially graduated from preschool, which he attended for the past 2 years. Next year he will be in the same school, but it will be called kindergarten. That should be 1 year and then it's on to 1st grade. Bram received a diploma during the ceremony at his school and he was really proud of that.

June 29th Bram had a follow up appointment with his orthopedist for the spine. We got the results of the MRI that was done June 9th. Fortunately his neck is normal at this point, so he was cleared for surgery. Because the stability of the neck can change while he is still growing, he will be rechecked next year. The eye surgery that was on hold awaiting these results, has now been scheduled: July 14th.

Sunday, 6/25/2006

June 2006 - part 1

Bram turned 5 on June 3rd. We had planned on having a big yard party, but we had to change plans. It was pooring rain that day, so we ended up at a childrens' museum that also organises birthday parties.This turned out to be a great alternative, for everyone had a great time. Later that day we celebrated at home with just a few friends. Bram had such a good time and he got spoiled very much. Vera also had a really good time, which was admirable, for she was really good with Bram being the center of the day. Opa Karel and Oma Annemie were here as well, so the party was complete ;-)

June 9th Bram had the MRI scan of his neck (see April). He had to have anesthesia for this in order to lay completely still. Even though he snored badly, the pictures should be okay. By the end of the month we will hear from the orthopedist what the status is.

The weekend following this we did a fun thing: we went to the Bronx zoo with our friends Bill & Michele and their son Joshua. It was a fun day, we saw some big animals: giraffe, gorilla's and lions.

On June 13th we had a meeting with the school district about Bram's school placement by September. Since he now is 5, he needed to be reclassified and reviewed. The school district wants to send him to an in-district school and get him out of the private specialised school that he is in now. We however, really do want to keep him at Stepping Stones for one more year, for we feel that especially now he is going through so much medical stuff, he needs stability. We also have no idea how much the results will influence his abilities and we want to see the program the district recommends when it is in fact in place. Right now it is being designed for it is new. For now the result of the meeting is fine: Bram can stay in this school and his case will be reviewed again in December, with the possibility that he will have to transfer mid year.

On June 15th, Bram had his ear tubes placed and his nose checked (see May). It turned out that his adenoids had indeed grown back and they have been removed again as well. After a few little issues during the days after surgery, he recovered really quickly. He was back in school on Monday, then still needed to take things easy. By now he seems to be back to his old self. Early July another hearing evaluation is scheduled, followed by a checkup by his ENT.

The summer now really started. We have seen a heat wave already. That day we spent with waterplay in the back yard. This cooled us down nicely.

Bram and Vera have a break from school. Bram has 2 half days next week and then he is done untill his summer school starts early July. Vera is finished and has off untill September.

Housewise: we have made nice progress in the front yard. Time for the "before and after" pictures:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Wednesday, 5/31/2006

May 2006

This month we have had quite a few things. Fun things like a carnaval that opened up a few hours especially for kids with special needs and their families. We were allowed into every ride for free and it was much less crowded than during regular hours. Rids could be stopped when it would be too much for the kids. We saw quite a few people we know and it was a lot of fun. Mostly because both Bram and Vera really enjoyed the rides.

Bram was seen by an orthopedist for his lower body (yep, pediatric orthopedists in this area are specialized in little bits :-). This turns out to be developing well, Bram was promoted from the braces he's been wearing for over 2 years to braces that are just under the foot. They still correct the positioning of the ankle, but a little differently than before. They have been fitted and he'll be able to pick them up early June.

Bram's hearing was evaluated again as well. Unfortunately this brought us less good news, he has hearing loss again. With these results we went to the ENT again. After an examination and a conversation, we descided that Bram will be going in for surgery again, mid June. He will get long term tubes, that should remedy the ear infections. In the past the tubes were successfull, but unfortunately these fell out and he needed new ones every time. During the surgery his nose will be examined, because a number of his complaints have come back: sinus infections, snoring and sleeping sitting up. It could be that his adenoids have grown back.

Additionally we had to see the pediatrician with Bram as well this month. Bram had an eye infection for which he needed antibiotics.

During all this, the fun things and regular things also happened. Vera and Bram are the best of friends and they play together a lot. They both enjoy the yard and water play is the best. For that it is a good thing that the weather has been really nice.

The last week of May opa Karel and oma Annemie arrived. It is not clear who enjoys this most: opa and oma or Bram and Vera. The latter simply love having opa and oma again. They are being spoiled with attention and loads of sweets.

Both opa and oma are helping out enthousiastically in the yard. Both the front yard and the back are showing clear signs of their help with pruning and removing roots. The gras in the front we are partially reseeding, for this the roots of the old shrubs need to be removed. This is a really big task.

Sunday, 4/30/2006

April 2006

This month the weather often was so nice that we could eat outside. Both Bram and Vera really like this. It turns out to be really nice to have the deck. The yard stays muddy quite some time after rain, we have poor drainage, something we need to address at some point. Now we still can be outside without getting muddy.

The tulips that I have planted last fall (the first since our move to the US) are now flowering, wonderful signs of spring.

We have spoiled ourselves with porch furniture. We are hanging out there often, especially now it is our 2nd living room. When it gets hot in summer, we'll have shade there and in the evening you have a nice secluded space. When it rains, we are dry there most of the time.

Bram got a sinus infection and ear infections this month again. So he had to take another course of antibiotics.

Bram's surgery to remedy the exotropia was scheduled for this month, but in the appointment before this we descided to postpone it for now. This surgery requires the neck to be bent backward, but we need to know if his neck is stable enough for this. Kids with Down syndrome have a higher chance to have neck instability and that could result in serious trouble during surgery.

We have seen a specialized orthopedist for this. X-rays were taken, but to get an advice with regard surgery an MRI of the cervical spine is required. So we are now scheduling that.........to be continued.

Friday, 3/31/2006

March 2006

This month both Bram and Vera have been dealing with colds etc. Bram was prescribed antibiotics again for sinus and ear infections. This winter it seems though that the kids have been relatively strong, but the colds seem to last quite a while.

We also have had quite a bit of nice weather, not really warm yet, but enough to be outside regularly. We have now started a project in the front yard: removing the old overgrown shrubs and redoing the yard. We are diy-ing, so it is quite a project.

Vera suddenly started drawing figurines, especially depicting our family.

Tuesday, 2/28/2006

February 2006

This month we've had quite a bit of snow. Enough excersise opportunity while we were keeping the drive way and side walks clean so to speak. On February 12th we were even snowed in for a few hours. This year both Bram and Vera enjoyed the snow so much: they could play in the back yard as much as they wanted. They were both mobile enough and their snow suits and boots kept them so warm they could not get enough.

Bram also went to the dentist this month. He cooperated very well this time, which is quite special for him for he really doesn't like having anything done in his mouth.

Follow the link for older news.

© Wilma & Erik van de Pol, 2000-2008