Dwarfism Awareness

October is dwarfism awareness month.  Since Silas was diagnosed with achondroplasia I have been asked lots of questions.  I have learned so much and I am happy to share what I have learned with others so that they can understand more about dwarfism.    Here are some facts about dwarfism.  If anyone reads my blog and you have questions, please feel free to ask.  I love it when people ask me questions about Silas. 

October so far...

EKG, so many wires on such a little body

I don't think he likes the hat Addy tried on him

6 months old!

recovering is hard work

I'm Batman (costume for the LPA party)

I love the cape on the back

first cereal (with an audience)

handsome little man in his new church shirt

a giraffe for the church carnival

pumpkin bowling

eating gummy worms and whipped cream without hands

cute little giraffe

pre-race

here comes daddy

almost to the finish line

crazy hair day at school

our car decked out for trunk-or-treating

• Maren is recovering well from having her tonsils and adenoids removed.  Her appetite is better and her mood is improving.  The number of meltdowns has drastically decreased.
• I loved general conference, so many of the talks were just for me.
• Enjoyed our traditional crepe breakfast for Sunday conference. 
• The kids had their fall break from school, unfortunately our days were filled with doctors appointments and other such boring stuff.  
• Silas is 6 months!
• We celebrated his half birthday by spending 2 hours with the cardiologist, then lunch at the Spaghetti Factory, and shopping with Aunt Camille. 
• Spent 2 hours at the cardiologist office, he told me that Silas needed heart surgery.  I knew he didn't, but after 2 hours of tests and re-checking his blood pressure I was told that he was fine and didn't need surgery.  I think I will be finding another cardiologist.
• Silas tried his first solid food, rice cereal.  He did really well, the girls loved watching him.
• Ben ran his first 5K.  I am so proud of him!  He has really taken his health seriously and has worked so hard.  He has lost nearly 40 lbs. and jogs/walks every morning.  Addy and Sydnee and I went to watch him run, it was fun to watch and so inspiring.
• Silas got a new shirt for church, he looks very handsome.
• Our dryer has been trying to die for months, Saturday our washer died.  So, I now have a new washer and dryer.  I love it, I get more done in less time.  Maren loves it because the lid on the washer is clear and she can watch the clothes washing.
• We took the kids to a Halloween carnival at the church.  They had a ball.
• crazy hair day at school for red ribbon week.
• We went to our first LPA (Little People of America) activity.  They had a Halloween party with games, a magician, balloon animals, lunch and trunk-or-treating.  It was fun to meet so many other families in our same situation and to meet some of the moms I chat with on Facebook.  We won 2nd place in the trunk decorating contest (we may have stolen our idea from our good friends the Rawlins).  The kids scored majorly on the candy front and we had a great time.

Highlights of September

hike to Battlecreek falls with Aunt Camille

We wanted to document the ripples on Silas's legs.  They're just too cute

I love baby feet

did I mention I love baby feet?

rolling...

Tada, now I'm on my tummy!

Proof my mother loves me!

Maren's reward for getting potty trained, an Ariel costume.

5 months old!

not happy about his sleep study

I love Silas's hands

Silas loves to lay on the floor and hold onto his knee fat.

sticker cheeks

just before getting tonsils out

purple tongue, she loved the slushies they gave her in post-op

snow in the mountains, rain in the valley

hand-foot-mouth disease is not fun

goodbye pitcher's mound.

Jarom's birthday cake

my little gymnast

I love fall!

last pictures before oxygen stickers

I'll miss those cheeks

bedtime story with daddy

This kid amazes me, he lifts up on his head and scoots around

crash and burn

• First appointment at Shriner's Hospital.  We saw Dr. Carroll the ortho doctor, we were very impressed.  She said that Silas looked great.  No ortho problems for now!  She said he has a beautiful spine.
• Silas turns 5 months!
• Maren gets potty trained!!! I think this was the biggest highlight of the month.
• Silas had a sleep study.  Ben took him, they both had a rough night.  
• Maren has her 3 year old checkup and is doing great.  We discuss possible tonsil problems with Dr. Glade.
• Maren sees Dr. Heras the day after seeing Dr. Glade.  Her adenoids are huge and are probably the cause of her snoring, sleep apnea and maybe her mood.  Schedule to have them removed.
• I make a birthday cake for a friend's son, maybe not a highlight, but it turned out pretty cool.
• Our neighbor used his tractor to level off our pitchers mound and our other hill of dirt in the back yard.
• My aunt Judie and uncle Steve gave us their swing set.  The kids are in love!
• Trip up the canyon to see the leaves and drive the Alpine Loop
• Silas has to go back on oxygen when he sleeps, bummer.
• September 25th Maren goes in to have her adenoids removed, within minutes of going into the OR, the Dr. came to tell me she needed her tonsils out too.  They were huge and hanging low.  Poor kid was not prepared for that.
• Maren has 9 straight days of pain and misery.  Not to mention the mommy that was going stir crazy being cooped up at home for weeks on end.
• Sydnee came home from school sick.  It turned out to be hand-foot-mouth disease.  It spread to me and Silas and Addy.  Thankfully Maren and Ben didn't get sick.