No more mess! (Hopefully)

Since Cade started bottle feeding it has not been an easy task. Then, of course, just when things came together we had to stop feeding by mouth due to silent aspiration. Now that he is eating by mouth again he is doing great, just still has a lot of liquid loss. He makes a total mess. I think I have been through every bottle and nipple since Cade's birth. His milk is thickened so the nipple has to be enlarged for him to drink within a decent amount of time. Because he actually has the desire to eat now, his suck has gotten much stronger and the liquid seems to just pour out of the sides of his mouth most of the time. I decided to look at the sippy cups and found one that seems to be perfect! No big deal to most, but a very big deal to me. It has a horizontal cut along the spout, but is firm enough for him to keep his seal. He drank it within 15 min. and did not spill at all. I am super excited! Here is a pic...

He even puts his hands on the handles!

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Trust the process

So, today has been mentally taxing on me. From finishing up my Summer classes and final tests, to losing a dear, fellow PWS Mom friend, and then taking Cade to his first swim practice for the Special Olympics. I've shared extreme highs and extreme lows today, but as I unwind tonight I feel compelled to share this with whoever decides to read it. Some of you may know this about me, but most probably do not. I have always felt a strong attraction to working with those with special needs. It just always felt right and from a young age I remember looking up local jobs and volunteer opportunities..always searching for something to fulfill that desire. I was actually enrolled in college for Family and Consumer Science and was planning to go into Special Education. I had taken the Parapro assessment and actively looking for Para jobs. Then I became pregnant for Cade and life had other plans. Given my role now to Cade, isn't it ironic? OK, so here is an e-mail I dug up from my in...

Tired and Thankful

I am the parent of an amazing boy. He is 9. He is smart, funny, and happy. I am the parent of a child with Prader-Willi Syndrome... PWS is a complex developmental disability that results from a defect on the 15 th chromosome. Because of an abnormality in the area of the brain called the hypothalamus, these individuals face challenges in learning, behavior and controlling their appetite. The message of fullness never reaches their brain and they are always hungry. The intensity of their food drive can vary but all require support and understanding if/when they are exposed to food or they attempt to seek food. Food security must be considered and provided in all environments and at all times. While I am first Mom to Cade, just as importantly I am his advocate in every aspect of his life for his rare disorder. I am tired. Remaining humble and thankful for all of Cade's progress is so very hard in the midst of advocating. Some days I feel as I...

Hungry.

It has been a loooong time since I've written, but its time. I need an outlet and the world needs awareness. If you are new here or don't know by now my son, Cade, who is now 7 (almost 8) is a fun, loving, genuine boy who happens to have been born with a rare genetic disorder. Prader-Willi Syndrome. See below from www.fpwr.org if you are unaware of exactly what Prader-Willi Syndrome is... The symptoms of Prader-Willi syndrome are due to dysfunction of a portion of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a small endocrine organ at the base of the brain that plays a crucial role in many bodily functions, including regulating hunger and satiety, body temperature, pain, sleep-wake balance, fluid balance, emotions, and fertility. An unregulated appetite and easy weight gain characterize the later stages of PWS. These features most commonly begin between ages 3 and 8 years old, but are variable in onset and intensity. Individuals with PWS lack normal hunger and sa...

Our So-Called Life.

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