Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Bun Bun at School
It is almost the middle of September, about time for a Bun Bun update.
Baby Bunny missed the first three days of pre-school that started at the end of August. The night before her first day, she spiked a fever and was very much out of commission for at least the first half of the week. With it being a short 3-day week followed by a long Labor Day weekend, she was definitely well rested for her official start of school.
Bun Bun has been attending a pre-school with typical kids ranging from ages 3 to 5. I am not sure how many, if any, other special needs kids there are in her class. There are 20 all together. She is one of the youngest. According to her really nice teacher, Bun Bun is the smallest by size. In fact, her classmates call her "Baby".
Every morning, we get up at the crack of dawn to get ready. The school bus picks her up at 7:20am and round up 4 other kids to make it to school by 8:30. Yes, it's a very long ride. If we drove ourselves, it would only take about 20 minutes. Unfortunately, Bun Bun is the first to be picked up in the bus route. Since she's also the last for drop off, she's on the bus for over an hour on the way home. Bun Bun has gotten used to the routine, somewhat, and she is able to sleep on the bus a little bit. She now gets to bed before 8pm!
Earlier this week, her teacher emailed some updates. Apparently, Bun Bun is doing pretty well and adjusting nicely. She participates in all of activities like circle time and sits nicely with other kids at the table for work and meals. Because she still struggles with core strength, keeping up with her peers has been a challenge. She will walk in tow with the other but gets distracted by people because she feels she has to wave and say hello to them. Yep. That's Bun Bun.
Today, they were playing dress up. Her teacher took a picture...
Here are a couple of pictures of us waiting for the school bus with her backpack. The first picture was taken seconds before she fell over from the weight of the pack. She needed some TLC to soothe over the boo boo.
Baby Bunny missed the first three days of pre-school that started at the end of August. The night before her first day, she spiked a fever and was very much out of commission for at least the first half of the week. With it being a short 3-day week followed by a long Labor Day weekend, she was definitely well rested for her official start of school.
Bun Bun has been attending a pre-school with typical kids ranging from ages 3 to 5. I am not sure how many, if any, other special needs kids there are in her class. There are 20 all together. She is one of the youngest. According to her really nice teacher, Bun Bun is the smallest by size. In fact, her classmates call her "Baby".
Every morning, we get up at the crack of dawn to get ready. The school bus picks her up at 7:20am and round up 4 other kids to make it to school by 8:30. Yes, it's a very long ride. If we drove ourselves, it would only take about 20 minutes. Unfortunately, Bun Bun is the first to be picked up in the bus route. Since she's also the last for drop off, she's on the bus for over an hour on the way home. Bun Bun has gotten used to the routine, somewhat, and she is able to sleep on the bus a little bit. She now gets to bed before 8pm!
Earlier this week, her teacher emailed some updates. Apparently, Bun Bun is doing pretty well and adjusting nicely. She participates in all of activities like circle time and sits nicely with other kids at the table for work and meals. Because she still struggles with core strength, keeping up with her peers has been a challenge. She will walk in tow with the other but gets distracted by people because she feels she has to wave and say hello to them. Yep. That's Bun Bun.
Today, they were playing dress up. Her teacher took a picture...
Here are a couple of pictures of us waiting for the school bus with her backpack. The first picture was taken seconds before she fell over from the weight of the pack. She needed some TLC to soothe over the boo boo.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
School
It's been a busy August. Now, it's back to school for me, and Bun Bun starts a new pre-school. More updates later...
Here's a video of Bun Bun having fun at Tot Lot!
Monday, July 28, 2014
Dimple
When I was little, I wanted dimples. My best friend had two of them on either side of her cheeks, and I thought they were the best things ever!
You can only imagine how tickled I was when I saw that little dimple that appears right by the edge of Bun Bun's lips when she smiles. I think that one little dimple is even better than having two cheek dimples. Of course, 婆婆 has two and says that Bun Bun got one of hers.
I love how that dimpled smile greets me in the morning and one of last things I see at night.
You can only imagine how tickled I was when I saw that little dimple that appears right by the edge of Bun Bun's lips when she smiles. I think that one little dimple is even better than having two cheek dimples. Of course, 婆婆 has two and says that Bun Bun got one of hers.
I love how that dimpled smile greets me in the morning and one of last things I see at night.
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| This is an old picture, but a good one that shows Bun Bun's dimple. |
Friday, July 18, 2014
All wet!
What's the fascination with water for little kids?
It was an absolutely beautiful day yesterday in southeastern PA. Bun Bun and I took the afternoon off and headed out to Longwood Gardens. They have a couple of Children's Gardens - one outdoor and one indoor. The one indoor has tons of water fountains. Some just shoots out water. One makes blub-blub-blub bubbles every 10 seconds or so. One just shoots down like rain. I guess it's a good thing to have to cool kids off on a hot day. (Don't think it's a good idea in the colder winter days.) Since I had an extra change of clothing for Bun Bun, I figured I would just let her go at it and have some fun. It didn't take her long to be completely soaked. The poor child had to be dragged away kicking and screaming.
It was an absolutely beautiful day yesterday in southeastern PA. Bun Bun and I took the afternoon off and headed out to Longwood Gardens. They have a couple of Children's Gardens - one outdoor and one indoor. The one indoor has tons of water fountains. Some just shoots out water. One makes blub-blub-blub bubbles every 10 seconds or so. One just shoots down like rain. I guess it's a good thing to have to cool kids off on a hot day. (Don't think it's a good idea in the colder winter days.) Since I had an extra change of clothing for Bun Bun, I figured I would just let her go at it and have some fun. It didn't take her long to be completely soaked. The poor child had to be dragged away kicking and screaming.
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| Playing with the water fountains in the Indoor Children's Garden at Longwood Gardens |
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Third Birthday Extravaganza!
We've had a blast of a weekend celebrating Bun Bun's third birthday! It started on Sunday with cake, presents, and a baby pool! Bun Bun got the best presents (EVER!) from Pop-pop - a bag of potato chips and a box of tissues. If you know Bun Bun well enough, you'd know that she LOVES salty snacks (just like her daddy) and wanting to pull out all the tissues from a tissue box (Mama would never approve!).
On Monday, we went down to the beach. Bun Bun had a blast standing by the shore watching and waiting for the waves to wash over her toes. She let out shrills of excitement with each splash. There was even a little girl (probably 5 or 6) that joined us in the fun.
A week before Bun Bun's birthday, I was reminiscing the events three years ago: the swollen ankles, July 4th party at a friend's house, Tuesday morning prayer meeting, the high blood pressure at the doctor's office, preeclampsia, and meeting Baby Bunny for the first time. You can read those old blog posts: 10 Weeks, Part 1 and Part 2. Today, I encountered a blog post by John Simmons on how to deliver the Down Syndrome diagnosis to the newborn's parents. I thought it was one of best pieces ever written. We have already encountered some of the things Mr. Simmons wrote about and will look forward to many of the rest.
Happy third birthday to my favorite Bun Bun! I'm looking forward to another year being amazed by little you!
On Monday, we went down to the beach. Bun Bun had a blast standing by the shore watching and waiting for the waves to wash over her toes. She let out shrills of excitement with each splash. There was even a little girl (probably 5 or 6) that joined us in the fun.
A week before Bun Bun's birthday, I was reminiscing the events three years ago: the swollen ankles, July 4th party at a friend's house, Tuesday morning prayer meeting, the high blood pressure at the doctor's office, preeclampsia, and meeting Baby Bunny for the first time. You can read those old blog posts: 10 Weeks, Part 1 and Part 2. Today, I encountered a blog post by John Simmons on how to deliver the Down Syndrome diagnosis to the newborn's parents. I thought it was one of best pieces ever written. We have already encountered some of the things Mr. Simmons wrote about and will look forward to many of the rest.
Happy third birthday to my favorite Bun Bun! I'm looking forward to another year being amazed by little you!
Monday, June 30, 2014
New to Bun Bun
We've acquired some toys for Bun Bun from yard sales. She now has a little play house and a sand/water table. The girl loves to be outside. Thankfully, there hasn't been too many mosquitoes, and we're close to the house to avoid deer ticks in the wooded areas of the back yard.
Bun Bun turns 3 next Monday! That's hard to believe! For the rest of the summer, she will continue to go to preschool two days a week. Come September, she will be attending another preschool 5 days a week, from 8:30 to 2. It'll tire her out in the beginning but I think it'll ultimately be good for her. She will even ride a yellow school bus!
Miss Smarty Pants tested herself into a regular preschool. Even though she will still need speech, occupation, and physical therapy, she is "age-appropriate" for cognitive skills. She is able to match pictures (e.g. card with a bear to picture of a bear in a book), correctly point to various objects, self-correct, and problem-solve. She is amazing! Recently, I found her correctly answering this electronic toy she has. It would partially show an animal and ask for identification by the first letter. Even if she has memorized all 26 animals, it is still very impressive.
Bun Bun turns 3 next Monday! That's hard to believe! For the rest of the summer, she will continue to go to preschool two days a week. Come September, she will be attending another preschool 5 days a week, from 8:30 to 2. It'll tire her out in the beginning but I think it'll ultimately be good for her. She will even ride a yellow school bus!
Miss Smarty Pants tested herself into a regular preschool. Even though she will still need speech, occupation, and physical therapy, she is "age-appropriate" for cognitive skills. She is able to match pictures (e.g. card with a bear to picture of a bear in a book), correctly point to various objects, self-correct, and problem-solve. She is amazing! Recently, I found her correctly answering this electronic toy she has. It would partially show an animal and ask for identification by the first letter. Even if she has memorized all 26 animals, it is still very impressive.
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| Bun Bun checks out her little house. |
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| Looks bigger inside |
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| Pretend ice cream and cones |
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| Sand and water table |
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| Bun Bun explores coneflowers. |
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| That's good reads! |
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| Asian tulips at Longwood Gardens |
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| Lunch with Mama at Longwood Gardens |
Monday, June 23, 2014
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Little Girl
Daddy took some pictures of Bun Bun over the last couple of weeks. Somehow, she looks more and more like a little girl, rather than a baby. This makes me sad. I know I can't keep her little. When she sits on my lap, I can't read over the top of her head any more. It has actually been a long while since I was able to do that. Everyone says that she looks different.
Next month, after she turns three, she will be attending pre-school officially. Her services (physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy) will continue through the school. Good folks who have been coming to the house for all of that (Rachel then Noelle, Carmela, and Pam, respectively) will be switched over to a new crew. This is all part of the Early Intervention campaign. Then, when Bun Bun officially starts kindergarten in the public schools, it'll be another transition.
I've decided to keep her at the same pre-school she currently attends. It's through the same place where her birth-to-3 therapists are centralized. Almost all the teachers, even those not in her class, know who she is by name. She has started to make friends. By the way, her BFF is a little girl, probably about the same age, named Helena. I overheard Helena telling her dad that Bun Bun is her sister.
Next month, after she turns three, she will be attending pre-school officially. Her services (physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy) will continue through the school. Good folks who have been coming to the house for all of that (Rachel then Noelle, Carmela, and Pam, respectively) will be switched over to a new crew. This is all part of the Early Intervention campaign. Then, when Bun Bun officially starts kindergarten in the public schools, it'll be another transition.
I've decided to keep her at the same pre-school she currently attends. It's through the same place where her birth-to-3 therapists are centralized. Almost all the teachers, even those not in her class, know who she is by name. She has started to make friends. By the way, her BFF is a little girl, probably about the same age, named Helena. I overheard Helena telling her dad that Bun Bun is her sister.
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| Bun Bun's new bike helmet! |
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| Dandelion! There were a lot more earlier in the spring. |
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| Doesn't Bun Bun look "older"? |
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| Big Girl will be getting ready to conquer the potty this summer! |
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Sickies 2.0
Poor Bun Bun.
She came down with another respiratory infection. This time, she was knocked down with fatigue and no appetite. For a child who loves to eat and eats everything, turning down the yummiest of all yummies was a bad sign.
At the doctor's office, her pulse/ox (measuring oxygen levels in the blood) was very low. The doctor was concerned enough to send us to the ER for chest X-ray and rule out pneumonia. Thankfully, the X-rays showed no pneumonia, just some viral infection. After waiting around for almost 5 hours, we went home for lots of bed rest.
Two days later, we went back to the doctor's office. Bun Bun's breathing wasn't improving. She was still very lethargic and refused to eat.
Back to the ER. This time, we were there to stay. Bun Bun's pulse/ox was even lower. Doctors wanted another X-ray, just be sure there was really no pneumonia. A couple of tubes of blood and snot-suctioning later, RSV was confirmed. Respiratory syncytial virus is usually bad news for babies, especially preemies with poorly developed lungs, and immune-compromised people. Otherwise healthy individuals exhibit typical cold symptoms and recover very quickly. A very small percentage of children with RSV ends up with bronchiolitis; this was Bun Bun. The virus affected the bronchioli, the smaller branches in the lungs, causing inflammation and breathing difficulties.
Four days of being hooked up to pulse/ox monitor, having nurses suck snot out of her nose, IV fluids, constant vital sign check-ups, and eating nothing but crackers, Bun Bun is on the mend. Phew.
For the first time today in over a week, Bun Bun ate her dinner, just half of what she usually eats, but it's a great start.
Modern medicine is truly amazing. I am so thankful that CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia), one of the best hospitals in the world, is just a 30-minute car ride away. I am so glad that they were able to determine the cause of Bun Bun's illness. Instead of pumping her with antibiotics right away, they waited for a diagnosis. Antibiotics are one of the greatest inventions in the 20th century; collectively, they kill bacteria, but they do not kill viruses. Even though antibiotics do not harm any human cells, they kill the bad bacteria that make us sick but do end up killing the good bacteria in the human gut. Good bacteria have significant benefits. In the intestines, they create what scientists have called the gut microbiome. Research has found that when disturbed may lead to various diseases. Stayed tuned... I have just started reading a book by Martin Blaser, "Missing Microbes."
She came down with another respiratory infection. This time, she was knocked down with fatigue and no appetite. For a child who loves to eat and eats everything, turning down the yummiest of all yummies was a bad sign.
At the doctor's office, her pulse/ox (measuring oxygen levels in the blood) was very low. The doctor was concerned enough to send us to the ER for chest X-ray and rule out pneumonia. Thankfully, the X-rays showed no pneumonia, just some viral infection. After waiting around for almost 5 hours, we went home for lots of bed rest.
Two days later, we went back to the doctor's office. Bun Bun's breathing wasn't improving. She was still very lethargic and refused to eat.
Back to the ER. This time, we were there to stay. Bun Bun's pulse/ox was even lower. Doctors wanted another X-ray, just be sure there was really no pneumonia. A couple of tubes of blood and snot-suctioning later, RSV was confirmed. Respiratory syncytial virus is usually bad news for babies, especially preemies with poorly developed lungs, and immune-compromised people. Otherwise healthy individuals exhibit typical cold symptoms and recover very quickly. A very small percentage of children with RSV ends up with bronchiolitis; this was Bun Bun. The virus affected the bronchioli, the smaller branches in the lungs, causing inflammation and breathing difficulties.
Four days of being hooked up to pulse/ox monitor, having nurses suck snot out of her nose, IV fluids, constant vital sign check-ups, and eating nothing but crackers, Bun Bun is on the mend. Phew.
For the first time today in over a week, Bun Bun ate her dinner, just half of what she usually eats, but it's a great start.
Modern medicine is truly amazing. I am so thankful that CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia), one of the best hospitals in the world, is just a 30-minute car ride away. I am so glad that they were able to determine the cause of Bun Bun's illness. Instead of pumping her with antibiotics right away, they waited for a diagnosis. Antibiotics are one of the greatest inventions in the 20th century; collectively, they kill bacteria, but they do not kill viruses. Even though antibiotics do not harm any human cells, they kill the bad bacteria that make us sick but do end up killing the good bacteria in the human gut. Good bacteria have significant benefits. In the intestines, they create what scientists have called the gut microbiome. Research has found that when disturbed may lead to various diseases. Stayed tuned... I have just started reading a book by Martin Blaser, "Missing Microbes."
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| First ER visit... I think we watched all 6 episodes of Baby Signing Time, twice! |
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| Still managed to smile and laugh a little bit. |
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| Not so happy second ER visit. Here, the nurses had put an IV in her hand. Daddy thought her arm reminded him of Hellboy. |
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| Poor Bun Bun: so lethargic, only had appetite for hard pretzels and crackers. She's got oxygen cannula going up her nose. She definitely did not like that. |
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| The turn-around. Cheese-It's and Curious George: it's a winning combination. |
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