Well, I currently am 18 months old. It has been quite a packed 18 months, but I think we are doing OK right now. I am learning to walk...still a little wobbly, but i do pretty well. Good considering that my physical therapist said that down syndrome kids usually don't walk until after 2...so i am ahead of the ball game there. I am also able to go up and down the stairs at home (safely...meaning i don't fall down them...as much as i used to) So I am making great progress. I have learned about 8 sign language signs...some of them look very similar, but I am learning. I am looking forward to Summer so i can go out and play. I am off oxygen during the day, still have to have it at night, but we are making progress...look forward to the day that I don't have to have it at all.

thanks for checking up on my progress...I will keep you updated as I grow. :)

Whats in a Name

We were sitting around this weekend, and Kinley commented that Tenna had a lot of Nick Names. So I thought it might be fun to list all her nick names and how or why she got them.

First and formost.... (1) Tenna Shoe. This nickname came before she was ever born...

when I told Dannika what I planned to name our baby on the way, the first thing she said was....I'm going to call her my little Tenna Shoe....so from that day on...we all called her shoe...

well when she was in the hospital and daddy was able to go see her. they had her on a CPAP machine...well the hose for it is hooked up and strapped on your face and connected to your nose...so kyle started calling her (2) tennaphant...so she had her second nick name.

with being called tenna shoe......it got shortened to (3) Shoe...and then (4) shoe-bop....

someone had heard a saying of hip-hop-a-pottamus....and of course tenna was talled (5) shoe-bop-a-pottamus.....

Seems like they keep coming too, each new day that she does something, someone tags her with some new nick name, she has been called (6) tenna toad, (7) toad , and receintly when she learned to squeek.....(8) squeeky..... (9) MISS T (10) T......(11) T-Bop...... And...Eventually....Ataya says once someone has a kid and tenna is an Aunt....she will be (12) AUNT TENNA (antenna).......

If you have a name that you think she has been called, post a comment here so we can add them to her running list.....

She is growing and getting taller and braver each day. she is now trying to stand here and there,and she will walk if you hold her hands. About 3 weeks ago, she started sitting up on her own. It is quite funny, because we have made such a production out of it, that now when she does it she looks around as if to say" OK...We are all supposed to be clapping now...Go ahead and she starts clapping her self." Although I cant say this has been easy, It does have days that make me glad to be her mom

thank you for following her story......she continues to make progress

So much time has passed by.

In 5 days, Tenna will be 14 months old. What started as something that I was sure we would not make through a month, now we are 14 months into. It hasn't been easy, but it has added much to our lives. Tenna continues to make progress. She started out at 8 pounds at birth. Now she is 17. So she has added 9 pounds....4 of those in the last month and a half. And she is eating from a bottle and little bits of table food now. we are looking forward to being able to get rid of the feeding tube, AGAIN....hopefully once and for all.

Tenna is still on Oxygen, though we have cut back from 1.5 liters an hour to 3/4. She will probablly be on it for another 6-10 months.

If you really push, she will sit up by her self...she doen't like to, she would rather you help her.

She is learning that throwing a fit will usually get her what she wants. She has learned that there are 5 people in her home who either love her lots or don't like to listen to her cry and shriek.

She loves to stand up against the couch, coffee and end tables and anything she can. she would rather stand than sit, usually. She is starting to try to take steps to get around the table or couch or what ever she is standing at.

We want to thank all who have followed us on this journey...It will continue, and we will keep you updated as much as possible where there are things to report.

Tenna Loves French Fries

Before Salise's wedding, Tenna's sisters took her to Chilies for dinner. Tenna decided that dispite the french fry being almost as big as her, she liked fries.

One Year

We never thought this day would get her, yet it made it.
Tenna was unfortunately in the hospital for her first birthday. BUMMER.
But at least she made it to her first birthday.
after 3 weeks in the hospital, she got to come home on oxygen, a feeding tube and 4 medications.
She is a lot of maintenance, but a joy in our lives...
it is good to be home and back into the routien again.Thanks to all who prayed and helped out during the ordeal.

I had my first Easter. I went to Kristi's house and she took Pix of me in an Easter Basket.
I am growing. It has been 6 weeks since my surgery. I am feeling lots better. I am happier than before, and I have a little better color. I see my cardiologist this week to see how i really am doing. I gained 2 pounds in the first 3 weeks i was home. I have been off my pain meds now for a week or so..but when I get really upset daddy says i still need them. I am ready for warm weather so we can be outside.

WE ARE THROUGH SURGERY

No pix yet, but we are through surgery. It took about 5 1/2 hours and a lot of praying, nerves and time, but we are throught surgery. The Dr. says that there are a couple little leaks in the two valves that needed to be fixed, but that we would just have to watch and see how they are. But She is doing well. off the major drugs that just sedate her. her blood pressure is good, and they have her off the ventelator. We are just healing and trying to get back home as soon as possible.
she has three chest tubes that drain the fluid from her chest. one really big insision, a iv in her jugular vein, an arterial iv and an iv in her foot. she has pace maker wires hooked to her heart right now, but we are praying they wont have to use them.
Just keeping her in our prayers that we will be home soon.
thank you to every one for prayers, thoughts and help, and support. we love you all.
thanks
Kim, Kyle and Kids