Updates Galore!

Will has been a very busy boy lately and has lots of new things to share! Since I wrote last Will has had many appointments, therapies and lots of new accomplishments.
Will stopped by to see his favorite Doc for his 9-month well baby check and he weighed 19 pounds and is up to 28 inches long. All was well, so he had his immunizations and we bothered Dr. Parsons with more silly questions and off we went! She seemed happy with all his progress and reminded me yet again that Will is more alike than different from a typical 9-month old baby boy....which also reminded me that this is why we love Dr. Parsons!

We have a Physical Therapy student from OSU that is going to be hanging out with our family for the next several months and she joined us for this appointment. She is working on her Early Intervention certificate and part of that is spending time with a family like ours to see how Will's diagnosis affects our daily lives. So we are happy to share Will and our life with Susie so that she can learn more about the crazy life we live with all our doctor appointments, outpatient therapies, daily home therapies, meetings, social events and everyday life with a baby with Down syndrome. Although Susie does know a bit about all of this, she will be reminded of how crazy it can be after spending the semester with us!

We were accepted into the Franklin County Home Services Program a couple of weeks ago and had our first meeting with Will's Early Intervention Teacher and his home-based Physical Therapist. The program is through the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities and provides children with developmental delays like Will with the necessary services and therapies in our home on a regular basis. We have been waiting for 9+ months to get these services started so we were very happy to get going! In general there will be an Early Intervention Teacher, an OT, a PT and a Speech Therapist come to the house monthly to work with Will. We really liked the teacher and are excited to go down this newest path!

We have an appointment with the pediatric ENT at Children's Hospital tomorrow to look closer at his left ear which he again did not pass the hearing test on. We both are not looking forward to it! It may mean a bit of pain for both Will and mommy:(

We also went to a Columbus Clippers game with our DSACO friends, a wedding reception in Indiana, saw Ava off to her first day of preschool, had a DS playgroup at the splash pad at Bunny Park and spent Labor Day at Adams Lake with Gaga, Papa and Uncle Ricky. Will has started clapping and putting up his hands for 'So Big' and has waved a couple times (it may be a mistake but we will take it!)! He continues to get even better at sitting and reaching for toys and is increasingly vocal with 'dada' and 'baba'. Still not 'mama' yet but it will be that much more special when it comes:) He is starting to play more with his toys and will sit and play independently for long periods of time. He is still not loving his veggies...even the homemade ones with LOTS of butter...but has been enjoying Cheeries, chunks of different table foods, most pureed fruits and even some scrambled eggs.

Last but certainly not least...we hit our goal of $1000 for the Buddy Walk! We are so very grateful for and inspired by all of your support for Will and this wonderful organization! Thank You!!! So if you are still planning on walking with us and have not yet signed up, you need to sign up by this Sunday 9.12, if you want your personalized Will's Way shirt. We are getting very excited for the walk and are planning a tailgate for all those that can join us. I know many of you will be there in spirit and we will be thinking of you as we walk:)