Ryder's new phrase... "baby, tummy." meaning...mommy has a baby in her tummy. Yep...I am 9 weeks pregnant this week. Had an ultrasound last week...so far so good. Heart beat is strong...fast! I got to see the baby move around to... Ryder got to see it to...but didn't understand what it was of course.
People wonder...how will this pregnancy be for me?? well...we do not know. I plan to change Drs to a high risk team. I am most def high risk...after having a 26 weeker before. My new DR is planning on doing everything possible to help keep this kid in longer then 26 weeks! So far I am basically banned from carrying my sweet Ryder around...and I am told to take it easy. Greg has been so great, as usual....helping with Ryder, cleaning...etc. After this thursday I will find out if I am on official bedrest or not. Whatever it takes.
We are excited...and hope all goes well with this pregnancy!!! can't help but be nervous though!
Oh my due date is aug 31.

Ryder's a freakin crack up...Greg and I many times during the day can't help but laugh our butts off at the things Ryder says or does. He is simply hilarious. First the kid makes up nick names for things...on his own...for instance the bottle became "bobbie", his Dad is "dad'n", his binkie is "inkie". (eventhough he totally knows how to say the real word)

He always says thank you...even when he's crying for his "bobbie." Hand him his bobbie and instantly you get a smile with a "hank-u".

Another famous phrase of Ryders " inkie! er' are you?...Inkie!? Inkie!? er' are you!....(then he spots it) he then giggles "Oh inkie!"

Today he said, "mom, please Bobbie...mom please."

Earlier today he sneezed..and instantly said "bless you." I was crackin up.

He is obsessed with shadows or reflections coming into the house... he looks up...points and yells "mom! mom!" I say, yes Ryder I see...remember it's just a reflection. Then he says "huh?" then I explain like MANY times before what a reflection is and shadows. Then in the end he repeats.."etch-on" (reflection)

Today we are in a parking lot... Ryder yells..."oooh, Bus!"

He loves wrestling...so he says "dad'n estle!"

My parents took him for a ride the other day and my dad said "Im gonna get you!" Ryder quickly responds all tough..."get me!"

On Ryders bday my mom and some utah cousins were in the car with Ryder...we started singing Happy bday to you....Ryder says "TO ME!!! TO ME!!!"

I told Ryder yesterday you are not one any more...you are 2!! he says, "I two?" I say yes ryder you are 2! He says a smarty pants-y way..."I two, I two" holding up five fingers....haha. he'll get the two fingers down soon!

Today I hear Ryder doing his "reading" saying "o-h-a-e-b-..." he's reading the words on a work van passing by...hilarious.

OH! today while driving...Ryder says to greg and I, "I cute, I cute." (as a matter of factly way) I laugh and greg laughs...and say "yes ryder you are cute! very cute!"

What kid likes to go to bed??? Ryder...he will say "GO TO BED! (giggles) then smile and says very happily go to bed." well ok, I guess thats a sign you are sleepy?? and sure enough he goes right to bed! LUCKY US!

Oh we went for a hay ride during Christmas time. Ryder heard everyone saying merry christmas...while waving...so Ryder intantly says "ERRY KISTMAS! ERRY Kistmas!" while waving. He now does that ALL OF THE TIME! even though Christmas is over...hilarious.

One thing kids are not supposed to get down speech wise is the letter "R"...well he cdan say it pretty clear when he thinks about it...yay, cuz I didnt say them til like 3rd 4th grade!

All I gotta say is what a kid! Gotta love him! I could hold him and kiss his cheek all day!

Happy 2nd birthday Ryder! (dec 30..I'm late posting!)
His 2nd Birthday was fun...COLD! And not to mention he has a bad cold! but we decided he'd have fun at the park with his cousins...he was TIRED! but had a blast still.
He had 2 birthday parties...one on the 12 or 13? then on the 30...We had a ton of fun. Ryder got SOOOO many clothes and toys...then more on Christmas! He got 3 different guitar shirts, and LOVES them!
Christmas was so much fun! we had my sister Carrie her husband Gordy, and their 4 kids stay with us. Christmas morning we had my parents, 2 of my brothers, and Carries fam with us christmas morning. What a blast!

this is the "swash" hip/leg brace...
This is an example of the type of ankle and leg braces...he can pick a design.




So we got news about Ryder...first the results of blood work were great...his immune system apparently is kickin' major butt. He since that test has been sick with a cold...and as usual catches a nasty cough with the cold. The cough was getting pretty yucky, so we took him in to the doctor. The doctor gave us an answer...its asthma. He said that he def has asthma. Which explains why he always gets a cough w everything... So we have him on breathing treatments once a day to prevent illness.
Next news is we had a WONDERFUL appointment today with an orthopedic specialist. They gave us great hopes for Ryder. To sum up the long appt...Ryder is getting into leg braces and hip braces..
Ryder's body feels so unstable...when we sit him up (while holding him up) his legs stick straight out, and at time cross over each other ("scissoring")...his brain can only focus on one thing at a time, so all those issues work against each other. SO Barb, the orthotic specialist, is making him braces for his legs and hips. Ryder's "AFO's" (leg braces) will help hold his feet in the correct position...and not constantly pointed downward.
Barb showed us what these devises do in videos of other kiddos she has seen recently. They were JUST like Ryder... then w/in a year, they were walking with braces and a walker. AMAZING!
Children with Cerebral palsy tend to have low self esteems, because they are often looked at by their peers as "babies" or weird...because while other kids are walking running, here is little Ryder on the floor laying down...in one spot...which to a kid, thats a "baby"...eventhough he's older and bigger..and even smarter haha. Our goal is to quickly get him sitting standing, so he can feel more "normal"...and like other kids his age.
We look forward to him getting braces! it's so exciting! I'm sure I'll cry my eyes out to see him walking on his own for the first time! even though it'll be w a walker!

WOW! It has been a long long time! I am so sorry to those that follow this blog! I guess no news is good news..haha.
Well Ryder is doing great. He still gets sick a lot...but no hospitals! He recently got blood work done to figure out what the heck is going on with his immune system. Shortly we will find out! Doc's orders are for Ryder to stay home pretty much always...unless we are headed out for appointments and such. Doc said NO CHURCH! he thinks thats one place that is the source of illness...and we most def agree! So Ryder and myself stay home and play games, and do preschool stuff. Ryder LOVES preschool stuff...like crafts, letters, numbers...etc. He could sit at his little desk and color, and do crafts ALL day if I let him. We have a little desk that he sits at by the front window. He sits and watches the planes fly over, and cars drive by...while he is coloring...its so cute to watch. He's one smart kiddo.
Ryder now repeats EVERYTHING...so we have to be careful. Ryders favorite words now are....air"pain" (airplane), Guy-tar (guitar), "I know"...he says I know with a sassy tone...its sooooo funny. He will tell you "no, no, no, no" sassy but adorable to...while wiggling his finger at you....geez he really says anything though...but those are his fav things.
Ryder is now 34 inches long, and 27 lbs...wearing 2 T, and growing into some 3T! long long kid!
Ryder had his cousin Maggie visit last week...she is like 5 months old...and learned to roll over while here. Ryder watched her constantly...and now he kind of has figured rolling out...but I think he favors his scooting on back...he feels comfortable with that. We are trying to encourage the rolling and scooting on belly....but he is one stubborn kid! Let me tell you....he is SOOOO stubborn! but then again thats whats kept him alive since day one.
His wonderful therapists get to see first hand how stubborn he can be. Today he threw a complete fit with Linda....totally workin' it! could turn the tears off and on in 2 seconds! One thing I was told early on was Special Needs kiddos TOTALLY learn to manipulate the parents...and man Ryder has us wrapped around his finger...and we cant help it. Ryder is pretty pro at it though...with his cute smile.
As for Greg and myself...we are doing great. Greg is busy at work...and loves it! He is signing up for classes this week. Probably going for business degree. Greg recently made a demo song...and I have to say it pretty much kicks butt. He is so talented with the guitar. Him and his cousin Gary are starting a band called Death Jackson...I think it is a just for laughs kinda deal...but DAng its still good music!!....haha. Him and Gary are really good musicians though....so it'll be funstuff.
I am still the same ol' story haha...home, or at appointments with Ryder...like all the time! My visiting teacher asked when she could come see me...I told her well my schedule is pretty crazy...so I wrote out my schedule and she was like "wow you were serious, you are busy!" But every therapy and DR appt is needed for Ryder...so Im cool with it. Whatever it takes to help Ryder improve!
Well thats us! sorry again it took a long time to post!

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Hey Hey...you all. It has been a few weeks. Life here has been busy as usual with Ryder and therapies. He is doing great. He has started scooting around everywhere....on his back. He pushes off with his legs...and away he goes! I love being in the bathroom doing my hair...and then...WHOA! there's Ryder laughing away at my feet. We are so happy that he has figured out how to move around! Now we actually have to make sure that all small things are up off the ground, and that the outlets are covered. What a kid!
So a new word...."disgusting" or as he says it.."g-is-ust-ing" haha. Oh and he enjoys prayers! he thinks when we close our eyes its funny....and he'll repeat random words in the prayer..then say "Ch-Ist- men" AKA "Christ-amen".
This kid thinks he's reading everything! Wear a shirt with words...he points and pretends to read it. The other day we were at my mom's and he was "reading" a side of a box. Billboards...street signs...he'll read. Hilarious.

Another new thing is everything to him flys and says "vrooooooooom"....even his binkie.
So health update on Ryder....
We got results from his blood work on weds....his immune system is low....the next day....he was sick already. He is pretty sick with the croop/ cold...and thrush. He's on 6 medicines at the moment. FUN FUN! Getting breathing treatments several times a day...which he hates!
So October 1st we are moving into a house. The house is about 4 houses down from my parents. We are very excited and relieved to move there! We live in a fairly small apartment and are running out of space with all of Ryder's medical stuff! So it is time to get out!
The house will be great! It's a 4 bedroom 3 bath house...with a huge backyard! and trees. We are very grateful to the wonderful lady renting it to us....she is very kind! Thanks Donetta! It's funny cuz I grew up with this woman and her children...and now I am renting thier house. Crazy.
It will be soooooo nice being closer to my mom & dad. My mom is Ryder's respite worker. She helps us out so much. We have def been thru a lot with Ryder's condition...and my parents have been there for us through it all. We are so grateful! They really are great! We do not know what we would do with out them! (side note....Greg's parents are amazing to! and we know they would do just as much if they were near!)
They were there waiting in the hospital during his birth...were there during the NICU...there thru many of our tears...and here whenever we need them! Thanks mom and dad....hope you can handle us being your neighbors!