Stressin' out!

Okay I need prayer. I'm really stressing out about EVERYTHING!!! This anticipation of the Baltimore program is really getting to me and not knowing whether or not we're going to Atlanta or Baltimore in like 15 days!! Help!! I know God is in control but I would really LOVE it if He didn't keep the suspense going until right at the last, unfortunately, that's what He usually does. I guess it's to build trust in us but right now all I feel building is anxiety! Please pray that we get into the doctor tomorrow and get our referral and authorization for Baltimore and then a bed opens up in the next 10-14 days. Plane tickets are SUPER cheap right now like 60 bucks!

On top of that, I'm trying to get pediatricians, therapy, respite, all the details of moving setup for Atlanta and I'm having a hard time finding places, especially therapy. The early intervention program apparently is not very good and it only provides one provider every other week. That is NOT going to be enough for me, sometimes I wish I wasn't an OT and could have lower expectations. So, I'm working on finding an outpatient clinic or something in the area that can provide more therapy for Carsten. I know a lot of it will fall into place when we get there and the Lord keeps reminding me don't worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will take care of itself! So that's where we're at, we would truly appreciate your prayers that this transition goes smoothly and KKI works out, even if it's the last minute.

Oh, we heard Kris Allen's music being played in a Kansas City restaurant this weekend which was pretty cool! I'm hoping we can see the Idol tour in Atlanta this summer, hopefully as a celebration from KKI graduation!! Off to Kansas City for feeding OT.

Love,
Momma Bridges

Arkansas Idol!!!!

YEAH KRIS ALLEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whoooooooooooo Hooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aunt Nae's House

We had a blast last weekend at Chad's aunt's house, or should I say Carsten had a blast and we had a blast watching him:) He was CRAZY hyper Saturday and was really showing out for all of us. I'm pretty sure he's going to be a little Ham the older he gets, I think he already is, he figured out really quickly that he liked being the center of attention this weekend. Here are a couple of pics his Nana took. Thanks Aunt Nae and Uncle Boo, we had a GREAT time!

One step forward

The EGD results came back showing gastritis. It just means an inflammation around the stomach lining. Not very surprising considering he throws up 4 or 5 times a week at least still! Anybody could have told them that, but hopefully now KKI will be satisfied and we can move on with our insurance approval! We've basically got 20 days to get the deal sealed. If not, I can say bye bye to Baltimore and hello to Atlanta. I just have a feeling it's going to workout though and we'll be going to Baltimore in the next couple of weeks. I just saw plane tickets for 65 dollars! All I could keep repeating this morning was The Lord works EVERYTHING together for the GOOD of those who love him as I was trying not to get anxious over it all.

I'm a little sad to give up our summer in Atlanta and playing outside, but it will be so worth it to be able to give him a popsicle next summer while he's playing:) Yesterday on the way back from Bentonville Chad got a blizzard reese's pieces, I thought I would give it a try. The first bite, he made the most sour face probably because it was so cold, the next bite let me tell you he was ready for it:) I'm so proud of him and how good he's doing eating. He's got some back teeth now on all sides so I think that will really help him out with solids at the clinic as well. So now I sit and wait for KKI to call me back and let me know they got the results and hopefully (crossing my fingers and praying) give me a projected date. I'm trying REALLY hard not to bug the KKI girl to death and call every hour of everyday. This girl has the hardest position in the world, just think about having anxious/angry moms calling you all day long, all of them waiting for their children to get into the clinic to learn how to eat.

So I'll post another blog as soon as we hear something, hopefully this week.

Waiting patiently,
Momma Bridges

I'll be back later mom, going to the playground!

Sliding with Dad!

Playin' outside

Finally here are some pics of him outside. This one was from this morning, we went across the street to a big grassy area and he was walking around everywhere. He even tried to walk up a hill that I even have a hard time going up! He would walk then fall, get up, walk then fall. He's a very determined little boy.

Idol and Cheese Puffs!!

Who hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Kris our Arkansas American Idol!!!! We've really gotten into the show this year, mainly because of Chad's family, thanks guys! They got us addicted to it about half way through the show, now we can't wait each week to see Kris!! I wish we still lived in Little Rock and could have gone to the parade last week. We really hope he wins next week.

So I called today to find out about a certain school (daycare) that I want to enroll Carsten in for 1 or 2 days a week next year. It's a private Christian school that's attached to the church we will most likely go too. I was was a little sad to hear that they aren't "equipped" for children like Carsten. Hmmmm. What equipment do they need to watch him for a few hours a couple times a week? I can understand that it is scary for teachers to take on a "special needs" child. And I guess since it's a private school they can turn children like Carsten down. A little disappointed though that they are unable or unwilling to take on children "like" Carsten. How do they know what he is capable of until they meet him? I guess I'm going to wait and see what happens with Baltimore then if he is eating better by the fall, I will call back and see if they will give it a try for a couple of days and see how he does in the class. I feel very strongly about integrating Carsten in every way possible with "typical" children.

On a more happy note, Carsten is eating cheeto cheese puffs!!! He ate a total of 4 today! He will pick it up and take bites himself! He's also eating mashed baked beans and his drinking is coming along with the straw. I'm super excited, can't even describe how it feels to see your child pick something up and eat it after 2 years of tube feeding. Yes, he's still mainly on the tube as far as liquid but we are seeing leaps and bounds progress! I can't wait for Baltimore, I think he's at a perfect place where they can really help him along. Okay, that's it for me, way past my bedtime:)

Blessings,
Momma Bridges

Countdown

We are now within countdown range of moving. 32 days and counting. I'm learning very quickly how other military moms do it. It all starts about the day they move to one place, they are already planning to move to the next. It really amazes me how organized some of these moms are. They have had schools picked out for their kids for the next place even before they moved here! Me on the otherhand, well let's just say I'm a little slower than they are. I can't ever seem to get it together, plan, or organize the way I'd like. I'm trying and learning though and I think I'm getting a little better thanks to all the great moms I've met here. So this morning was dedicated to "browsing" online different possible schools, (daycare) therapies, and OT positions. Just looking, no decisions made yet on that. Lately, Carsten has just been really clingy, like all day long clingy, and I'm starting to think a little socialization and structure might be good for him. Nothing big, maybe one or two days a week. So we'll see how the Lord leads once we get to Atlanta. The church we are looking at has a Christian school attached and they have nursery programs for toddlers. It's also right down the road from our house and I think they might even have OT's there. Again, taking this all VERY slowly, we'll see what God has for us there.

We are mailing our housing contract back today and are very excited about our rental house. I can't wait to get there and get it all setup. It's perfect for us and such a cute little neighborhood. They have a 4th of July parade, Santa Claus, and lots of neighborhood activities throughout the year.

I had a wonderful Mother's Day I'll never forget! We went to a marriage retreat this weekend with date night on Saturday and Sunday morning a big brunch, all courtesy of the army. Then when we got home Chad had my mother's day gifts hidden throughout the kitchen and I found them throughout the day. I got a Coffee bean grinder, storage container, and French Press. It's what I asked for and I love it! I've already made coffee twice since yesterday and it's sooo good. Thanks Chad and Carsten, I love you both very much!

I'm determined to take more pics of Carsten outside today. Yesterday he was walking all around the yard and playing catch with Chad. He is even learning to play basketball, the goal is still too high so he will lift his arms up and dunk it in when you hold him up, it's so cute. We also have a climber in the house now. Yup, couch, furniture, you name it, he is trying to climb on it. He's also climbing into small spaces and getting stuck, then screaming his lungs out, that's been fun:) So I think I can say I officially have a toddler on my hands. Well, he's waking up which means my break is officially over. I'll try to post more pics later.

Already home

We're already back from our procedure this morning. Everything went great, the doc said it all looked good down his throat. Now we just wait for the biopsy to come back, I think that will be fine too. Carsten's already walking around the house pushing his walker so I guess you could say the "recovery" was fast:) I'm trying to figure out if his anesthetic time counts as a nap or will he still need one today:) I hope so cause I sure need a nap. Thanks for your prayers. Will update on Baltimore and when we get to go. Have a great weekend!

Surgery tomorrow

Carsten's EGD is now at 8:00 tomorrow morning at Children's Mercy. I said I was getting used to this in my last blog, well, I don't know why I said that because how could you EVER get used to your child going under. So, please say a prayer for our sweet angel tonight that everything goes smoothly tomorrow. It's just a minor procedure compared to everything we've been through but I'm still nervous and would appreciate prayer.

Thanks everyone.

Love,
The Bridges

EGD scheduled, KKI here we come!

Everything is set for Carsten's EGD (scope) on Friday. We had all our pre-op appointments yesterday and we're good to go. Now, Carsten, please please please don't get sick! That's the one thing that could postpone this procedure and ultimately getting into KKI. I guess I'll just have to quarantine him like all the swine flu patients from now until Friday:)

I hate that he has to go under again, it's pretty sad though I'm somewhat getting used to it. This will be the 4th time he's been under since he was born, 4 times and the poor kid is only 21 months old!! I've never been under! I'm just glad he won't remember any of this and hopefully by the time he's 4 or 5 his health will be pretty stabilized. I always heard that the first 3 years with a child with Down Syndrome is the hardest, boy they weren't kidding. I'm ready for Carsten to be 15 if it's going to be like this! So, EGD, yes, we're ready. KKI, yes, we're ready. I can't believe we move on June 13th, that's like a month away, and we STILL don't know when we'll go to Baltimore. Seriously, I'm really having to hand this over to the Lord. I have a feeling they will call on June 13th and say, you're in, come on. Chaos is my friend, chaos is my friend. No really, I'm just a domestic engineer learning how to work under pressure, this is good for me. In preparation of our impending trip to Baltimore/Atlanta, whichever it might be, I took the liberty of cleaning out all of our closets, drawers, pantry, etc. I even took a trip to goodwill. I'm pretty proud of myself for being that organized. For all of you who know me (Chad), you're impressed aren't you? Now, all I need to do is keep it organized before the packers come and set aside everything we don't want packed. We've got a lot scheduled this month, marriage retreat this weekend, (hopefully we can go if Carsten is feeling okay Friday after his procedure) Bentonville with Chad's family the next, parents come here the next, cousin graduates the next in OK, then packers come! Wow. Before I know it we'll be in the Peachtree state sitting at the pool, I can't wait! For now, I'm going to enjoy the last month here in Leavenworth and all the neat people we've met. It's been a great year here and I know we'll never forget it. Better go check on C-man and get back to my domestic engineer duties:)