Welcome to the Family......Ty David!!!

Jenee and Ty are doing well after a longer than anticipated c-sec. Ty was difficult to retrieve because he had dropped so low and a section of her uterus was apparently transparent so it took some time to stitch her up. Thank God it never ruptured! Thank you for having us in your thoughts and prayers. Jenee...Thank you for another beautiful child......Love Blair

Only a few short hours...

Our baby boy will arrive in a few short hours and my little Kaitlyn will be a BIG sister. Thank you so much to everyone for all the thoughts and prayers. We will post an update as soon as we are able.

Countdown To Baby...

Just a quick update for everyone on the Ross household...

We are having a baby Friday morning. Our little man has showed no signs of arriving early so my csection is scheduled for 7:30am on this Friday, July 30. Time has flown by. I'm getting nervous, have lost control of my emotions, and am sooooo ready to meet this little guy! I'm ready to reclaim my body, be a better wife and mother, and so excited to start this next chapter in our lives.

Kaitlyn has mastered going from her belly to a sitting position. It happened slowly over the course of a week and now she does it all the time. We are so proud of her. This was a huge milestone. The only down fall is that she sits up in her crib when we lay her down at bed time. She has always put herself to sleep, we've been really lucky. But this week (of all weeks) she is forgetting she knows how to lay down. She screamed (and she NEVER screams) the first night, I thought for sure the mobile fell on her head :) Nope, she was sitting up half a sleep, once I laid her down she crashed. Silly girl! The second night I thought went better, less crying, no again, she fell asleep in the sitting position, she just laid her head and belly down in between her legs, she woke up mad. She is so flexible!

The boys are doing good. The last weeks they have been asking a lot of questions about the new baby coming. I keep reassuring them that I won't be gone nearly as long as I was when Kaitlyn was born or when she had her heart surgery. They are trying to process it all and figure out where they fit into all of this. I feel good that all will go well and baby and I are home in a couple days nice and healthy.

I received a phone call tonight from my parents down in Tennessee. They told me that they are coming from the birth. We are thrilled. Up until now the plan was for them to wait a few weeks and come after Blair had to return to work. They are going to be able to come then too. My Dad said he just couldn't stay away!It will be nice having them here for the weekend. Blair will enjoy the extra help and I will enjoy the extra visitors, and the boys are ecstatic, and Kaitlyn, well, she loves people and will enjoy the attention. Kaitlyn is doing so much more then she did back in May when they were here last, I can't wait to show her off!

So that's it in a nutshell! We are having a baby, things are going to be crazy in a wonderful kind of way. I look forward to sharing our newest addition with all of you. I showed Blair a few basics on blogger hoping he can post a couple pictures and a few updates. If not I'll try to do it shortly after I get home. Prayers are appreciated! Wish me luck!

Kaitlyn's birthday is next week! Watch for her 1 year video montage, I can't wait to share it!

We're in Kaitlyn's Korner/ 2010 Buddy Walk

This year I am getting started a little early getting Kaitlyn's team together for the Buddy Walk. Our newest addition will be arriving in 5 days and I anticipate a busy, exhausted month of August. Regardless of the changes about to take place in our house I am determined to not let this years Buddy Walk go by without our participation. Last year we had so much fun with our team and felt good about the money we raised to help support our local Down syndrome Association. Last year we were rookies, but this year I am hoping we can get more participation, team t-shirts, and do even more fundraising. Kaitlyn has had an amazing year and we need to celebrate her! So here is all the info about the Buddy Walk and.....

Why we walk...

Buddy Walk

The Buddy Walk was established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society as a way to celebrate and promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. Today, the Buddy Walk is supported nationally by NDSS and parent support groups like our Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan.

Saturday, September 25, 2010
Millennium Park, Grand Rapids
Registration 9:30 AM
Walk 10:30 AM
Celebration 11:00AM - 12:30PM

We Walk for Our Kids

Each year, the outpouring of support from families, friends and community members affirms and validates our children and nourishes and sustains families. When you participate in the Buddy Walk and invite others to join you, you introduce your family, friends, co-workers and others to see the Promise, Possibility and Potential of YOUR BUDDY! (Our Kaitlyn)

We Walk to Celebrate

What better way to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month than by hosting a West Michigan community party for more than 1,000 of our closest friends?

We Walk to Bust Myths

The Buddy Walk is the perfect opportunity for our friends and families to see the possibility, promise and potential in persons with Down syndrome! The Walk is a great place to learn about Down syndrome, and break the myths and stereotypes that hinder individuals as they strive to be accepted and be appreciated by the community.

We Walk to Support DSAWM Programs and Services

In 2009 Buddy Walk saw more than 1,000 Walkers raise more than $80,000 for the DSAWM. Proceeds from the Buddy Walk are used for members support, programs and services throughout the year.

Join Us as We Walk in the 2010 Buddy Walk to Support the
Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan!

And our favorite Buddy Ms. Kaitlyn

This year has flown by. Little Kaitlyn will be having her first birthday in just a few short weeks. The past 12 months have truly been amazing, this little girl has accomplished and overcame so much, we are so proud. Her heart surgery when she was just 3 1/2 months was a giant success, her recovery was nothing short of miraculous. She also continues to WOW us with her spunk, determination, and many, many milestones.

On September 25th we will be participating in our second Buddy Walk. The goal of the Buddy Walk® is to promote understanding and acceptance of people with Down syndrome. It also gives us an opportunity to help raise funds for the Down syndrome Association of West Michigan. This organization has been amazing to us and we would love nothing more then to help raise money to allow them to continue all that they do for our local Down syndrome community. The walk also allows us to come together as family, and friends, and join Kaitlyn's team. It is a fun morning of fellowship and fun.

Please consider walking with us and/or donating. No amount is too small. Thank you so much for all your support. The last year would not have been possible without all of our amazing family and friends!

Blair and Jenee

At the top left of this page there is an easy, secure way to make a donation. An email will get sent to you with a receipt of your donation. Thank you in advance, and remember no amount is too small!

Good News / Bad News

THE GOOD NEWS...

is that Kaitlyn's one year pictures are done!

I've been so excited to share these. I think Blair did a great job!

I hope you enjoy them!

NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS...

I'm on bed rest. Out of the blue at a routine OB check-up yesterday I had high blood pressure and some swelling. I was sent up to the hospital for a non stress test and some blood work. I was sent home with a 24 hour urine test to look for protein, fun times! And I have an ultrasound on Monday. They are wanting to confirm preeclampsia.

The non stress test (NST) went great! The baby boy was very active and passed in the first 20 minutes. I will have a NST twice a week until I deliver. I'm not sure what next week will bring, I am crossing my fingers for delivery. Bed rest and a family with small munchkins doesn't work so well. We are taking it seriously. Blair is staying home so I can rest. It all feels very surreal. I feel 100% fine other than being exhausted. I think that is normal considering I am 38 weeks pregnant though. It is stressful to say the least. It is hard to sit still and watch life go on around me. I'm a SAHM and to watch my husband do my job is difficult. He is doing a great job, but much differently then how I do things. I know he has the hard job right now, so I stay quiet and let them do things his way.

Please pray things go smoothly the next days and weeks!

I'm ready to meet this little guy!

Well I'm off to the hospital to drop off my 24 hour urine test. Boy was that fun, so glad that is done with.....(smile)

Enjoy your weekend, I will from my couch!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

I was so excited to share!

Hodge-podge

Four of my favorite little guys are featured in this post, two of my nephews and my oldest rugrats. These pictures were taken up in Manistee a couple weeks ago. The kids met up there for a day of fun! The weather was perfect and they found a lot to do!

Hope you enjoy the pictures !

Tonight I was catching up on some of my favorite families and came across a part to a very fitting poem.

At least at my house anyway!
I thought some of you would enjoy it, I did!

So I share...

It is the last refrain from "Song for a 5th Child" by Ruth Hamilton.

"Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth, Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep."

For any of you who really know me know that my children are my first priority, I constantly put many things off to have the opportunity to soak up every special and routine moment with my munchkins. Sometimes I long for a break or wish my house was more "tidy" but at the end of each day, though usually exhausted, I know I spent the day just how I wanted. Dishes always wait, along with most other chores, and I get "me" time usually late at night when the house is sleeping, like right now. I love it that way, and I love that poem!

Anyway, new topic, hence the title.....

So Kaitlyn is only weeks away from her first birthday. I can't believe how fast time has gone, and the craziest shocker is that my little girl will be a big sister before her first birthday! Because I am anticipating a busy, sleep deprived month of August I have started early putting thought into my little beauties big day. Even though she turns 1 early in the month her party will wait until I can throw her the kind she deserves, the plan is for the end of August.

Tonight we ventured out and had her 1 year photo shoot. She was adorable as EVER before. Her Daddy took some amazing photos and I can not wait to share!

I've also been working on her 1 year video montage. My goodness has that been fun, emotional, and time consuming! She has accomplished and overcome so much in her first 12 months. Hopefully I will have it all ready before our newest brother arrives. I'll admit, the video is LONG. I keep trying to shorten it, but I am having a hard time. I hope despite the length many will enjoy it!

So along with birthdays come presents! I want to ask all the Moms out there...

What would you recommend?

What is your favorite toy/ book/ etc.?
She's not quite ready for the "typical" one year stuff, put she will be soon.

What toys do you love?

And what toys were a flop?

I'd love your suggestions!

I will end here tonight. Morning comes early and again it is quite late, not to mention the crazy storm outside. I have to get to bed while I can still hear it!

Oh how I LOVE a good thunderstorm!

Finally I post...

I apologize to everyone for my lack of blogging. Summer is so busy and relatively uneventful in terms of what I think you all would find interesting. Other than pictures I haven't had a lot to say.

In reality we do have a lot about to happen. We will be welcoming our little boy in just 19 days, my c-section is scheduled for July 30. Yikes!

In this post you will find pictures of the boys at the Fire Station in Manistee, Michigan. Blair has been doing an amazing job helping me to get Brady and Bryce out of the house. Lately my energy level has slowed way down and I haven't been able to keep up with them. He's constantly taking them places in the evenings after he gets home from work or on day trips on his days off. It has been wonderful, allowing me to get things done and recharge my battery.

Thank you Honey!

This particular day he ventured up to Manistee. We both were raised there. One of the many things they did that day was tour the Manistee Firehouse. The boys were in heaven and extremely impressed with their personal tour. So as I catch you up on everything I hope you enjoy the pictures of their day trip!

Like I mentioned, the biggest thing going on in our life right now is making room for baby. Nesting and therefore preparation started a little late this pregnancy so we've been trying to get a lot done in a short amount of time. Since Kaitlyn has just turned 11 months essentially it is going to feel like we have twins for quite awhile. (Very nervous about this!) We needed a second crib, highchair, another dresser, and even boy clothes. You see once we found out Kaitlyn was a girl we said sayonara to all of our baby boy stuff. God has quite a sense of humor and once again has showed us his plan is VERY different then ours! Placing my complete trust in Him has proposed to be quite a challenge the last 9 months but I'm getting there!

We have some amazing friends who have generously helped us out in numerous ways during our preparation for this little guy and we would like to say "thank you," it has meant so much to us and is humbling to say the least! Thank you to all of you, you know who you are!

I haven't spoke to much of my pregnancy the last month, in terms of my health and the babies health, things are going well. I am pretty confident (knock on wood) that this baby has zero plans of arriving before my scheduled c-section. Never in all my pregnancies have I gone into labor on my own. My babies like to stay inside. I am getting nervous about all that is to come though. The surgery, this will be my 4th c-section in 5 years, risks increase with each one. The baby and his health, even though we went through extensive screening for Ds I am still nervous.

Before Kaitlyn was born I had a different view on reality. Bad things happened to other families, not mine! Naive I know, but true. I think this pregnancy I am just more aware of what things could happen. Having a baby with a congenital heart defect, and a chromosomal disorder, and a Mother who developed aggressive cancer out of the blue tends to give you a jaded view, a realistic view, on what could be? It makes you appreciate the good and not take one moment of life for granted. I do miss the innocence I felt before all of this but wouldn't change any of it. I'm a different person then I was back then, a better person! And I LOVE my daughter just how she is...yes, I just typed that! I will do EVERYTHING I can to make her be the best she can be for her, I wouldn't change her, I wouldn't change Down syndrome!

So in the next weeks please say a prayer for me and my unborn baby, and our health. Please also pray for my two little boys who feel anxious about this babies arrival. They remember very clearly Kaitlyn's birth, her and I being in the hospital for a week out of town, and how unsettling that was for them. They're nervous, and a little bit excited! Please also say a prayer for my husband. Things are going to be crazy around here and a lot will fall on his shoulders. And little Kaitlyn, my poor baby, she is amazing and so laid back, I pray this is a smooth transition for her and doesn't cause her to have competitive emotions. God, calm my children and help me juggle all of their individual needs. (like I said, I am sooooo nervous)

On a lighter note,

Summer has been great!

(Other than this past week of 90+ degree heat we just had.....that made for a grumpy pregnant Mama)

We've been staying busy. Going to the beach, park, or simply playing in the back yard with the kiddie pool and sprinkler are amongst some of our favorite activities. We've gone boating with friends, I wish I had pictures of my fearless boys going tubing behind that boat. It was so much fun! We've spent time with our new friends over the 4th. Since Kaitlyn's arrival we've had many new friends enter our lives. They were definitely God sent! We also make an effort to have frequent play dates and the boys start two weeks of swimming lessons tomorrow.

So, yep, we are busy!!! But it's been...

So Much Fun!

Hopefully I will be able to do some blogging the month of August. So keep checking back. At the very least I hope to put updates and pics on facebook. You can friend me under Jenee Skocelas Ross.

Happy Summer!