MY IEP DRAMA

So, last week I got Dillon's very 1st IEP. HOW CONFUSING was that!! Just when I thought I had figured it out, I thought for sure there were some important factors missing, but I wasnt' sure. So, I got all upset, assuming all of these things, such as "oh, they don't want to provide this service for Dillon, or They don't want to train the nurse, or What, Dillon's going to school 5 days a week now??" So...I got all panicky since I knew that helper/advocate had gone on VACATION!!!! Keep in mind that I'm thinking I only have 5 days to correct this IEP. So, the weekend goes by & I'm doing my best not to have a nervous "breakdown"...Ok, so I'm exaggerating...but, I was stressing. So, I reached out to my friend that has A LOT of experience in this matter. She was so great at helping me with it & went as far as writing this AWESOME & very EFFECTIVE letter. So, in the back of my mind...I REALLY wanted to talk to Nancy (the advocate, who I now also consider my friend), but then, I was also putting my trust in my other friend that is pretty knowledgeable. Time goes by & I now have this letter that's supposed to go out "certified mail". The entire time, I'm feeling very uneasy about sending it out that way. I came to realize how I really loved these teachers & supervisor. I wasn't comfortable sending out this letter and jeopardizing what could possibly turn out to become something that it didn't have to be. In my heart, I wanted to try to settle the IEP letter in a nicer/friendlier fashion....more laid back, because the whole "certified letter" thing really made me feel uncomfortable. So, Nancy got back from Vacation & YAY, I got to speak to her about it. What do you know, SHE AGREED WITH ME & was very encouraging!!! WOW, It felt so good to know that it was ok not to be so "direct" with the school and just try to resolve the IEP in a much friendlier fashion. My biggest goal for when Dillon goes into school is for him to have all of HIS GOALS met & for ALL OF US to have a great relationship. I want the teachers to get to know me, how would they get to know me through a letter?? So, that's what we did. We had a great phone conversation & Dillon's IEP was corrected. Now, she did state that if there were anymore problems, then for me to just call her back & she'll make the change. Simple as that & she was so nice!!! We even joked about having some Mommy time & other things...So, right there, we are starting to develop a relationship and I'm feeling SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE!!!!! I'm grateful for my friend's help, but like I said, It just wasn't right for me...I sure hope she understands. She does know how much I love her though:)

MOMMA'S INSTINCT WAS CORRECT!!!

So, Dillon has yet to be feeling 100% better since his last Upper Respiratory Infection. I have been pretty bitter about that last apt, but I guess the Christian in me is supposed to be forgiving! Yesterday was Dillon's VN visit & when I found out that my baby lost weight...OH NO, I had had it! That was it, enough was ENOUGH. His feeds have yet to have gone back to what they are supposed to be, his nose was still all blocked up & his eyes are still tearing up, looking like he's been crying! Don't get me started on how his appetite has not been so great either...SO, Momma Bear got brave & called the Pedi office & said what she needed to say. I was so grateful that the nurse was actually understanding!! So, 1st thing this morning, Dillon saw the covering Pedi & I was SOO RELIEVED when she said, YUP...he's got a sinus infection!!!!! THEN, she made it so much better when she agreed to GIVE ME THE ENT REFERRAL!! WOO HOO!!!!! So, Dillon is now on stronger antibiotics & I pray to God that his nightly feeds will go back to normal soon. UGH, you have no idea how happy I was to learn that Dillon's Primary Pedi is coming back from her Maternity Leave this Friday...UGH, how we missed her so much!! We actually had the chance to meet her precious little baby girl today, she's so BEAUTIFUL!! She happened to be visiting her office while Dillon was getting checked...it's nice to know that she was excited to see Dillon, even though didn't have to!
So, hopefully Dillon will start to feel better real soon. Part of me is "excited", but yet the other part is nervous to see what ENT will say...We'll have to cross that bridge when we get there. So, Momma bear is feeling a little better tonight knowing that her instinct was right all along;)

CRAWLING UP STAIRS!

My dear friend Joanne holding her sweet boy Vinnie who steals my heart every time!

Riley sound asleep, Stephen starring at the rain & Dillon getting ready to fall asleep under the tent at Stanley Park Massachusetts

Dillon & I had the best weekend!!! What a lovely time we had at our great friend Joanne's house. Her & her family welcomed us into their home and made us feel so comfortable...THANKS JOANNE!! It was so nice to get away for a little while. We were able to meet some other very nice friends while they had a great BBQ & afterwards we headed out for some great fireworks. Little did you know that right towards the end of the show, it started to downpour!!! Thank God there had been some tents near by & Joanne's husband knew the vendors...so, we were pretty lucky! I don't think I remember eating as much as we did this weekend...I'm still so full!!! Dillon got to play with his new friend Riley & also got to see Stephen again. Of course, to be able to see Vinnie & Rudy was so awesome since we had missed them so much!!! Dillon was so lucky to also receive his very 1st Red Sox 101 (my 1st team board book!) Thank you so much Jayson, I will make sure to start giving Dillon his lessons;) We were so sad to leave the next morning...we just had such a great time, but the great thing is that we will be seeing them next weekend! AND, we're already making plans for the NEXT time & the month following!!! That's how well we all got along. Joanne is so dear to me & I'm so grateful that she came into our lives...Just like all of my other DS Momma's. It's AMAZING to me the bonds that we develop, we are BLESSED!!! There's nothing more important in this DS walk then to be able to have a support system. I'm just so extremely blessed that my support system is becoming so much better & brighter...I'm so blessed! God is good, he really is when you just open that door & walk through it;)

So, Master D pulled a fast one on me yesterday. We ended up at my brother's yesterday for a little visit. Sure enough as I was talking to my brother & knew that Dillon had walked into the other room....all of the sudden, I no longer heard his footsteps??? My heart began to panic!!! OK, what the heck???? SO, I dashed into the room. OMG, he's not under the desk! He's not here, he's not there...HOLLY COW, It can't be??? Sure enough, I looked up the stairs (which are blocked off by a wall) and there was Dillon almost half way up!! Dillon crawled up the carpeted stairs (6steps) all by himself!!!!! I was so proud of him & I just kept on encouraging him. I tried to get him to finish, but he just got too pooped out. So, what do you think? I say that I'm in BIG TROUBLE NOW, LOL!!!!! Hope you all had a great 4th of July!

JULY ALREADY!

Dillon is adjusting so well to his Mickey & I'm pretty proud of him! It's still taking him some time to get used to having me disconnect him in the morning though...of course, I get the formula splashed all over my face still since I'm not really awake yet when I unplugged the tubing & he just loves to laugh in my face for that! He's not kicking me as much which is GREAT! I do my best to talk to him & I know that he understands...I think that he just had to adjust!!! He's really loving the feeling of not having this annoying tube tucked in his diaper anymore & can you blame the poor little guy?? He's been feeling much better as of late & I feel so bad that the weather has been pretty crappy out. We have not been doing as many outdoor activities as of late, but tomorrow is a very special day since we'll be meeting some friends at the Children's museum! Dillon just LOVES that place so much! I can't wait to meet my dear friend Laureen...UGH, we've been trying to get together for so long now! Then Friday, Dillon & I are going away over night to visit Joanne & some other friends...YAY!! So, we are super excited for that! It will be a very special 4th of July for us!! Looking forward to sharing some great pictures with you all!!

NEW GLASSES!

So Dillon got to pick out his brand new pair of glasses this morning. Doesn't he look so grown up in this new, different style?! I'm so happy that he was so comfortable in them!! They should be in right before his big birthday party coming up real soon! After our apt, we headed on over to pick up my niece Krystal. We went out to breakfast & had to spend some time with her before she left for her big cross Country trip tomorrow. Have fun Krystal & Hope you have a very safe trip!!

MICKEY BUTTON

So, this is Dillon's new Button!! It's much cuter than the Peg that's for sure, however Dillon wasn't too thrilled about it this evening. When I went to plug him in, he gave me some great kicks in the face & got me really good in the eye! So, I can't wait to see if my eye is black & blue tomorrow morning {{SIGH}} So, I gave him some pain meds & I pray that he'll be feeling better THANK YOU Lacey for helping me through this....this is NOT easy & I really wish there was a support group for this...hmmm, I think it's time for THIS MOMMA to get going on that! (I've been thinkin about it all day!!)

AND this is Dillon's reaction when he realized he was in the OR!! Yeah, my poor little guy was NOT HAPPY! but, can you blame the poor little guy!! I have to say that I am super proud of him & I'm so blessed to have him. THANK YOU DILLON for making me stronger everyday...I LOVE YOU SO MUCH SWEETHEART!! You are so AMAZING! It's an HONOR to be part of your life EVERYDAY SUNSHINE...GTUBES or even Wiggles guitar;) I'm so happy & feel so blessed to be your Mamman XOXO

DILLON DID GREAT!

We're home & Dillon is now a cool little babe with a Mickey Button!! Unfortunately, since they were unable to get an IV in (they had to poke him about 3times & his good vein is no longer GOOD...Ugh, I felt SOOO BAD!!!), they had to put him under Anesthesia. He also got a little sick from the versed...Other than that, we're home & resting!! I'm so proud of him, he's happy & in great spirits despite not feeling so well;) I'll make sure to post some pix later on...Thanks everyone for all of your great thoughts & prayers! YAY for Dillon...He's my Hero!