A Note From Mommy

Today Lucy turned 2 1/2. When Kevin brought this to my attention it got me thinking and the rest of the night Lucy has been on my mind. 2 1/2 wow!
Many times I find myself wishing I was a talented writer. Tonight happens to be one of them. I wish I could find a way to put into words how remarkable she is. For those of you who only know her through this blog you are really missing out.
She loves to laugh. She loves to make others laugh-especially Simon. She has the cutest laugh.
She loves to sing. We are getting kinda sick of the Veggie Tales CD. But there's nothing like it when she sings and does the motions to He's Got the Whole World In His Hands.
She's rotten, but the kind of rotten that is just perfect and makes you smile.
A couple of weeks ago we went to Children's for her 2 year check up. The doctors continue to be impressed at her personality and abilities. All of her therapist are getting her ready for her transition into preschool. There will be a series of evaluations. Although I'm sure she will do fine. There's part of me that could care less how she does. She's remarkable whether she can stack 5 blocks or 8. I don't care if she can't strings beads or copy specific lines. What they say about what she can or can't do means nothing. She is amazing if she can do it all, and she is just as amazing if she can't do any of it. Though her life we have praised God for how she continues to blow the socks of doctors. I'm continually thankful for her health and abilities but God is still good on the day that comes when she doesn't meet "their" standards. She will always be remarkable. When she was first born my prayers seemed to have a why, why, why, help, help, help feel to them. Tonight as I held her in my arms and she rested her head on my shoulder the only words that came to mind were: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I am so stinkin' lucky to have her in my life.

All Smiles

Trick or Treat

I was a bee

I passed out candy

The Lion King (Simon)

Halloween 2007

At the pumpkin patch

Dad's favorite picture

Update

Friends and Family,

Well it looks like Lucy has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. But I don’t think it is as bad as it sounds. Actually, we are all just really glad we found out what was wrong. We saw a Juvenile Rheumatologist yesterday at Children’s Hospital and he told us he knew she had it before he even saw her based on her charts. And after he saw it he is 99.9% sure she has it. You can’t be a 100% sure since there is no test for it, but he says everything he sees and hears fits it exactly.

The good news is that the earlier of a diagnosis of it usually gives us the best chance of getting rid of it or at least managing it. He really hopes through medication and physical therapy we can eliminate her limp and we really hope we’ll start to see her run soon. There is also a good chance that it will go into remission as she grows older.

She only has it in one joint and possibly one toe. The dangers are that it could spread to other joints and that it could cause eye problems. But since we caught it early we can treat it to keep it from spreading and we’ll have regular eye check ups to help catch any problems there as early as possible.

So after many doctors appointments trying to find out was wrong and some just trying to convince some doctors that something was wrong we finally have an answer, and for that we are very relieved and even excited that we have a treatment that we can finally begin. That is an answer to prayer that we praise God for. If you want to continue to pray for Lucy pray that it doesn’t spread, her eyes stayed protected, and that her limp goes away. And if you want to be very bold in prayer, pray that she is able to start running by Christmas.

Thank you all for your prayers and all your support. I wish you all could see more of her. She is honestly the most wonderful little girl I know. My two biggest joys I get in watching her are going to the store with her and watching her smile and wave to people as she sits in the cart. There is rarely a person she waves at that can refuse to wave back and it isn’t brought to a big smile themselves. The second is watching her and her brother play together (he’s the most wonderful little boy I know). I can’t even describe it except to say it is priceless, that is until he grabs a hold of her hair or she decides to sit on him and then it gets a bit ugly.

Well, must run! Love you all!

Mandy, Lucy, Simon, and Kevin

Prayer Request

A note form dad:

Like a lot of you know Lucy has had a slight limp with her left leg since sometime around May. At times it gets better and at other times it looks a little bit worse. A couple of weeks ago she woke up from a nap and wouldn’t or couldn’t walk. After a little while she began to walk again, but with a big limp. Over a three day period she would go back and forth from walking to not walking, the whole time seeming to be in at least a little amount of pain and having a slight fevor. During this time we saw several doctors, but no one was quite sure what was going on.

Yesterday she started having the not walking episodes again. It obviously bothers us to see her in pain and to not have much of an idea why it is happening. Luckily Motrin seems to make her feel better when she is having an episode. The latest theory is that she may have Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, and to be honest the symptoms she has matches what we found out about on the internet.

So, after consulting with her doctor we decided to have her go see a pediatric specialist in that area. The only problem is that it is extremely hard to get into see a pediatric rheumatologist. Then once you get in there they have a hard time diagnosing it. Then on top of all that there isn’t much they can do for it once they diagnose it. So it would be really nice if you could be praying for Lucy and the rest of us during this time.

Thank you very much!

Kevin, Mandy, Lucy, and Simon

PS. By the way our little friend Ruby is doing really great, thanks for your prayers on that one!

Thanks for Waiting

Sorry it's been so long since I've gotten around to updating my blog. We have just had a pack summer. I thought I would just take a minute and let you know what I've been up to theses past couple of months.

June- On the 12th I turned the big 2. We had a party at my Nana and Pawpaw's house. It was so good to see friends that I don't get to see very often. I also had a little neighborhood get together here at my house. I'm so lucky to have such great neighbors.

We also took a trip to Texas. It was big fun. We stayed with Aunt Susan, Uncle Jose and my cousins Austin and Zach. I think one of my favorite things was going to the movie theater for the first time. We saw Curious George and I laughed out lound! While in Texas we went to a family reunion and Mom, Simon and I got to meet some of our family for the first time. They are all such wonderful people!

July- Daddy took at trip to New Orleans with the church and I stayed home and help mom with Simon. Mommy took us to Nana and Pawpaw for a week of spoiling! While there we went to COSI with Madi and Luke and had a great time at Kid's Space. This is Mommy's new favoite place to take us. Here we are splashing around. They had to scoot me away from brother because I was getting him soaked.

Mommy and Daddy also took me over to the Grove at MVNU to take my 2 year pictures. They turned out great!

The summer was also spent watching Daddy play softball. Here's Ella and I enjoying the game.

August- It's a blurr. Trips to the Zoo, playing in the back yard with Simon and all those sort of things. I do love the zoo. I love seeing anything I can get close to. I really love the monkeys.

Well that's my summer in a nutshell.

I'm continuing to blow the socks off everyone. I'm always learning new word and signs. I still love to read and sing. I say the cutest e i e i oh that you have ever heard. Speaking of reading .. the other day I was playing by myself and Mommy heard me laughing so she came in to see what I was up to and I was just sitting there reading a funny book about a dog. My parents are still amazed at how lucky they are to have me as a daughter.

I take another trip to Children's on Friday so they can check out my leg/foot/hip. I've been walking with a little limp and it doesn't seem to be fixing itself.

To end the update I thought I would let you all see some pictures of my adorable little brother. These are ones Daddy took of him at the park. He's now 7 months old. We get along great!

Please Pray

My dad got the following email from a friend of his, Mike Redcay, whose daughter was just born on my birthday, June 12:

Please keep Ruby in your thoughts as she goes through a rough time.

Ruby started to have siezures at OSU so she was taken to Children's Hospital in Columbus so she can be taken care of by baby people. She is having a lot of tests done and so far she is doing very well. They did a CT scan and it did show she has blood in her brain and so now we wait till the "DR House" of the hospital comes in to give his opinion. Lianne and I are hopefull. We are in a good place with very knowledgable doctors. We are placing our trust in the hands of people who care for strangers daily...and we find some comfort in that.

I know this is a diverse group of friends and family, but it is no accident that you all our in our hearts. Please bring Ruby into yours and we are confident that she will kick some @#$# and come home soon.

peace-- Mike.

Together

Dad wanted a picture of us both smiling together, but the best he can do is to get us both sitting still together. It looks as if we are going to have the same hair color and the same eye color, I don't think I'll mind sharing.

Brother

This is my brother Simon, who turns four months old tomorrow. He is getting big quick, we think he'll weigh as much as me within a couple more months. He already almost weighs 17 lbs. I think I really like him. He's already changing so much since the first day I met him. He lost all the hair he was born with and is now starting to grow it back. He's almost rolling over and can lift his head way into the air. He can even pull to stand with a little bit of dad's help. I think we'll keep him.

I took a tumble...

My first scratch on my knee. This wasn't a first we celebrated. But I can't wait to have my first "In N Out" burger when I get older!

I'm a climber

Daddy and mommy say they don't know what to do with me now. When ever they leave me along I climb up on top of whatever I can find. Many of times they have found me stuck under the lamp shade on the end tables. So I'm pretty good at getting up, but not very good at getting down yet without falling. And mommy and daddy don't like it when I fall.

Walking

Walking is pretty easy on the carpet inside, but on the grass - especially when dad doesn't cut it very often - it gets kind of tough. But I'm getting better at it every day.

Me and Little Brother

You have to listen really closely at the end...

What I'm Doing Now

It's been a long time since I told you all what I'm able to do now, so now since I am 21 months old I thought I would pause from my busy schedule and tell you all the things I can do.

I'm walking all over the place and climbing up the stairs faster than mom and dad can catch me. I know where they don't want me to go and what they don't want me to get into (Hank's water bowl) and I try to get to those places before they notice and then I laugh really loud when they see me.

I can point to my hair, feet, ears, mouth, and belly button when asked. I can roar like a lion, bark like a dog, click like a rabbit, make a monkey face, and dance like a lady bug. I can do most of the motions to the itsy bitsy spider and I make mommy and daddy sing that song to me over and over again.

I know how to turn the TV on and find Clifford The Big Red Dog even though I'm not allowed to turn the TV on. When I want to be awnry I turn the TV on and then turn the volume up all the way.

I love my little brother very much. I give him kisses every chance I get. Since I don't like to wear socks I figure he doesn't either, so I'm always taking his socks off for him. I even help mommy burp him. Speaking of little brother I know how to say brother, along with diaper, ball, mom, dad, book, ball, bye, and all done.

My favorite foods are been buritos, spagetti, and any kind of fruit. I've started using my spoon to eat with instead of throwing it across the room, but I still love to throw my sippy cup after I get a drink.

If you ever come over to vistit I'm sure you'll see some of this stuff and more cause I love to be the center of attention and show off every chance I get. Mom says I take after my daddy.

Me and little brother.

I'm A Big Sister!!!

Yep, I became a big sister today and have alreay given the little guy a couple of kisses on the forehead, but no hugs yet. I can't wait to bring him home so I can teach him all about life. I look forward to introducing him to you all. Mom and dad say thanks for all the prayers and other support you all have given.

Simon DeWayne

9 pounds 14 ounces, 3 hours of labor, born at 1:45 PM on January 29th 2007

Oh my!

We all went to watch mom get an ultrasound of my new little brother or sister today and all went well until they gave the estimated weight of the baby that is only in the begining of its 38th week. They said the computer estimated it weighs 10 lbs. 3 ounces right now with a margin of error of 1 and 1/2 lbs (so the range is 8 lbs 11 ounces to 11 lbs 11 ounces). We're expecting a call from the doctor tomorrow to tell us the course of action we will be taking. Needless to say, be praying for mom and brother/sister.

Great Article

For a great article to read about down syndrome and the diagnosis of it while in the womb read this one in Newsweek. Mom and Dad also wanted to add if any of you ever meet someone who is told that they are going to have a baby with down syndrome that mom and dad are more than willing to talk with them about it. Most likely all they will have is fear, but mom and dad can speak hope into their lives.

The one draw back of the article is that it always refers to people with down syndrome as "Down Syndrome people" or "Down Syndrome babies." For the record down syndrome is never capitalized in the Peterson house and always comes last, because I am a person first and down syndrome is only a part of who I am, it is not who I am. Mom and dad hate it when we go see a doctor and they start making generalizations about me because of my chromosones. They wish they would examine me first and see me for who I am, Lucy, and not some title in which I don't fit all the generalizations.

So read the article and see everyone around you as the unique people that they are.

What a smile!

Opening presents on Christmas Morning

Before Church on Christmas Eve

A New Baby is Coming Soon!

Mom's due date is only 2 1/2 weeks away and I know my life is about to change forever. Mom's belly is getting really big and I like to look at it and kiss it. We all went to the doctor the other day and heard it's heartbeat and the the doctor said it could come any day or still be a few weeks away. I'm not sure I want to share mommy and daddy with anybody else yet, but I guess I'll learn. I just can't wait to find out if it's a boy or a girl, I'll post it here once I find out.