Ok, so I know it has been a very long time since I have last written on Reyna's blog. We have been very busy, I don't know when we last had a weekend of just lounging around the house. Well its finally here sort of, we at least get to lounge Saturday, so I am going to take this opportunity to let everyone know what we have been up to in the Garza household and especially with Reyna.
The month of September was extremely busy with birthdays I think we helped celebrate like 10, but of all those birthdays Omar's was the most important. I can't believe he was turning 2 and Reyna was going to be 2 months old. The time has flown by and I can't seem to make it slow down. On Sept 26th (Omar's bday) I looked at him and then at Reyna and thought wow, Omar was that tiny once. Not anymore, now he is a loving, gentle and hands on big brother. Recently he has even tried to breastfeed Reyna on more than one occasion. He tries to share in the fun of dancing when he does and he just loves holding and kissing her. She also loves him because whenever she hears his voice she tries to find him. Reyna is doing great she had an appointment with Dr. Satterfield that month just to make sure that Reyna's vision was good and that she didn't have any eye problem that we hadn't noticed. Well everything checked out just fine and she just needs to have another checkup at 6 months old.
October started with a well baby appointment with Dr Breneisen, Reyna's pediatrician and these were her stats. Head circumference 38cm, height 22-1/4in, weight 9lb 8oz, she had been eating like a champ. We also had an appointment with Dr. Wright her cardiologist for her 2 month checkup and ECHO. Well at least what I thought was going to be an ECHO to check and see if those 2 ASDs closed on their own. After Dr. Wright reviewed her chart and did his exam, he told me that he didn't see the need to have an ECHO, that Reyna is growing and eating just fine and that we could wait until 10 months old to do an ECHO, unless I wanted one. I trusted his judgement and we passed on the Echo for now. This month was when Reyna decided at 2-1/2 months old it was time to roll over. Up to this point she had been twisting her body when lying on her back so that both her knees touched the ground. All that was keeping her from turning over was not being able to support her head very well. I remember that day perfectly, we were at a Mata bday celebration when my cousin came from the other room and said with much enthusiasm that Reyna had just rolled over. I thought she was joking until we got home and boom, she did it again. Then once that happened it became easier and she started supporting her head better. Now, she rolls until she is against something and can't go any further and she's fast.
October 23rd was probably the most important day of October. It was the DSIA's Step Up For Down Syndrome walk at William Land Park. Up until that day we had been trying to fundraise money to help this wonderful organization provide services and resources to those families that have children/adults with DS in our community. So naturally we organized Team Reyna which ended up raising $3,140.00 and having 30+ walkers that day. We were sporting our bright yellow Team Reyna shirts that my friend Antonio designed for us, they turned out awesome. After the walk we had a BBQ at the house and just relaxed. I was touched at all the outpouring of support from our family and friends, of which some hadn't even met her yet. I am hoping that every year we can have the same outcome.
We also had a very informative meeting with our coordinator at Alta Regional, the SCOE (Sacramento County Office of Education) Infant program via their teacher and speech therapist to see what services we were interested in and what services Reyna would need. We gave them detailed information about Reyna's eating pattern and habits and what she was done developmentally so far and any concerns we had about her development. They wrote up a road map like plan with what we would like to see Reyna capable to doing and what was important to us. They also provided us with other resources and support in the community. They will be coming to the house every 2 weeks to see how Reyna is developing and will be able to give us some pointers as to things we can do to help her reach those developmental milestones. I am glad that there are programs like this and hope that with the economy the way it is doesn't feel that they can cut programs like this to balance the budget. Its funny how things that you really didn't pay attention to suddenly you are watching closely with politics and budgets and how they will impact the disabled community. It hits closer to home now for sure.So after that appointment we started gearing up for Halloween. This year was going to be the first real year where Omar understood better that on October 31st, he could dress up in a costume and get candy. So I furiously finished sewing his turtle costume that I think turned out wonderful, while I purchased Reyna's ladybug costume since there just aren't many patterns for newborns. We went to the pumpkin patch and rode the train ride, Omar got to feed the goats in the petting zoo, while Reyna and I watched. We then took a hayride out to the pumpkins. We picked some to decorate our house for Halloween and the fall. We got to go trick or treating in both Davis' downtown and at home. The kids looked so cute and Omar had fun when he wasn't tired. At home we went around the block really quick and then it was time for Omar to hand out candy to the kids who came to the door. He did a great job.
November came and went with a furry, we made a trip up to Apple Hill with the Smith family and tia Grace. We went to Abel's Acres first, where Omar got to ride a pony while Reyna watched. We then went to High Hill and walked around looking at the vendors and finally went inside to get warmed up. Pedro and I shared an apple fritter that was bigger than Reyna. This ended up being our annual trip to Apple Hill because money has been tight with me not working so we won't be cutting down a tree. We will save that for next year when the kids are older. We still had fun and it was great to hang out with family.
We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. We have 2 beautiful children that are healthy. We have family and friends that love and support us. We have a roof over our heads when many have lost their homes during this difficult financial time. I know that as long as I have my family and friends everything is going to be ok. We love you all. Now I promise that I will get better at this blogging stuff :)
The month of September was extremely busy with birthdays I think we helped celebrate like 10, but of all those birthdays Omar's was the most important. I can't believe he was turning 2 and Reyna was going to be 2 months old. The time has flown by and I can't seem to make it slow down. On Sept 26th (Omar's bday) I looked at him and then at Reyna and thought wow, Omar was that tiny once. Not anymore, now he is a loving, gentle and hands on big brother. Recently he has even tried to breastfeed Reyna on more than one occasion. He tries to share in the fun of dancing when he does and he just loves holding and kissing her. She also loves him because whenever she hears his voice she tries to find him. Reyna is doing great she had an appointment with Dr. Satterfield that month just to make sure that Reyna's vision was good and that she didn't have any eye problem that we hadn't noticed. Well everything checked out just fine and she just needs to have another checkup at 6 months old.
October started with a well baby appointment with Dr Breneisen, Reyna's pediatrician and these were her stats. Head circumference 38cm, height 22-1/4in, weight 9lb 8oz, she had been eating like a champ. We also had an appointment with Dr. Wright her cardiologist for her 2 month checkup and ECHO. Well at least what I thought was going to be an ECHO to check and see if those 2 ASDs closed on their own. After Dr. Wright reviewed her chart and did his exam, he told me that he didn't see the need to have an ECHO, that Reyna is growing and eating just fine and that we could wait until 10 months old to do an ECHO, unless I wanted one. I trusted his judgement and we passed on the Echo for now. This month was when Reyna decided at 2-1/2 months old it was time to roll over. Up to this point she had been twisting her body when lying on her back so that both her knees touched the ground. All that was keeping her from turning over was not being able to support her head very well. I remember that day perfectly, we were at a Mata bday celebration when my cousin came from the other room and said with much enthusiasm that Reyna had just rolled over. I thought she was joking until we got home and boom, she did it again. Then once that happened it became easier and she started supporting her head better. Now, she rolls until she is against something and can't go any further and she's fast.
October 23rd was probably the most important day of October. It was the DSIA's Step Up For Down Syndrome walk at William Land Park. Up until that day we had been trying to fundraise money to help this wonderful organization provide services and resources to those families that have children/adults with DS in our community. So naturally we organized Team Reyna which ended up raising $3,140.00 and having 30+ walkers that day. We were sporting our bright yellow Team Reyna shirts that my friend Antonio designed for us, they turned out awesome. After the walk we had a BBQ at the house and just relaxed. I was touched at all the outpouring of support from our family and friends, of which some hadn't even met her yet. I am hoping that every year we can have the same outcome.
We also had a very informative meeting with our coordinator at Alta Regional, the SCOE (Sacramento County Office of Education) Infant program via their teacher and speech therapist to see what services we were interested in and what services Reyna would need. We gave them detailed information about Reyna's eating pattern and habits and what she was done developmentally so far and any concerns we had about her development. They wrote up a road map like plan with what we would like to see Reyna capable to doing and what was important to us. They also provided us with other resources and support in the community. They will be coming to the house every 2 weeks to see how Reyna is developing and will be able to give us some pointers as to things we can do to help her reach those developmental milestones. I am glad that there are programs like this and hope that with the economy the way it is doesn't feel that they can cut programs like this to balance the budget. Its funny how things that you really didn't pay attention to suddenly you are watching closely with politics and budgets and how they will impact the disabled community. It hits closer to home now for sure.So after that appointment we started gearing up for Halloween. This year was going to be the first real year where Omar understood better that on October 31st, he could dress up in a costume and get candy. So I furiously finished sewing his turtle costume that I think turned out wonderful, while I purchased Reyna's ladybug costume since there just aren't many patterns for newborns. We went to the pumpkin patch and rode the train ride, Omar got to feed the goats in the petting zoo, while Reyna and I watched. We then took a hayride out to the pumpkins. We picked some to decorate our house for Halloween and the fall. We got to go trick or treating in both Davis' downtown and at home. The kids looked so cute and Omar had fun when he wasn't tired. At home we went around the block really quick and then it was time for Omar to hand out candy to the kids who came to the door. He did a great job.
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| Halloween costumes |
November came and went with a furry, we made a trip up to Apple Hill with the Smith family and tia Grace. We went to Abel's Acres first, where Omar got to ride a pony while Reyna watched. We then went to High Hill and walked around looking at the vendors and finally went inside to get warmed up. Pedro and I shared an apple fritter that was bigger than Reyna. This ended up being our annual trip to Apple Hill because money has been tight with me not working so we won't be cutting down a tree. We will save that for next year when the kids are older. We still had fun and it was great to hang out with family.
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| pony ride at Abel's Acres |
