Step Up for Down Syndrome

Yesterday was the annual Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk here in Duluth.  The event highlights the Down Syndrome community as well as fundraises for the Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota, which offers incredible resources to families who need them, like our dear friends, the Olsens.  Their son Sam was born with Down Syndrome last year.  Sam is only two weeks younger than Caleb and they are best buds!  We participated in the Walk last year and were excited to join them for the event again this year.

Their team name was "Sammy's Superheroes" and last year we had an incredible time dressing up with them.  The Olsens donned themselves in Superman attire while we took on the roles of Batman, Robin and Catwoman.  This year the Olsens returned to the event in their red capes and they looked fabulous.  But Eli and I decided not to dress in costume this year, much to our chagrin, because I simply can't fit into anything right now :(  But Caleb went to the Walk in style in his Batman get-up, and he and Sam made a dynamic duo!

Superman and Batman!

Caleb had never actually worn his costume before the Walk yesterday, so we weren't aware that the shirt was a bit short and the pants a bit tight, but he looked so darn cute anyway!  He loved running around, letting his cape trail behind him :)

Family Photo

I realized tonight that we haven't taken a family photo in months.  I figured we'd better capture our family before our next little one arrives in a few weeks.  Well, since it's so difficult to get a toddler to even look at the camera, let alone smile at the right time, we have a nice collection of awkward family photos.  But in the middle of the disappointing photo shoot we were able to capture this gem.  It was the only one in which Caleb smiled at the camera.  It's the only one we'll keep, but I think it's a keeper for sure :)

The Horns

Four More Weeks

"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..."  This has been my mantra lately.  I am 36 weeks pregnant today, meaning I have four more weeks to go!  Somehow, that sounds like a long time.  This pregnancy has been tougher than the last.  Granted, I had a sort of magical pregnancy with Caleb - besides being positively gigantic, I had no real complaints.  I didn't have back pain, I didn't have heartburn, I didn't have swelling, I didn't have trouble sleeping....  It was quite smooth.  So compared to that, I suppose anything less would make me grumpy.

My morning sickness was definitely worse this time around.  I was throwing up every day for awhile, and once with Caleb crying and clawing at my back while I hovered over the toilet because he decided he needed me in that very moment for whatever reason.  It was awesome.  When the nausea subsided I hit a smooth phase for awhile and had no real complaints.  I thought I was back on Easy Street.  But then our son started walking and getting into everything which meant he needed to be chased around fairly constantly, which meant I was bending over and picking up his 25-pound frame quite often.  This, combined with my steadily growing mid-section, led to my initial back pain.

That was earlier this summer.  Now it's the end of September and I've had steady back pain for months now.  I've tried a belly band, I've tried Tylenol, I've tried ice.  Sometimes they help, sometimes they don't.  Tomorrow I'll be trying physical therapy.  Now, however, an even worse calamity has befallen me: SI joint pain.  I didn't even know I had an SI joint until Eli told me that's what was causing me pain.  Basically, I have intense pain in my butt.  Sounds lovely, huh?  It hurts to move, and going up/down stairs (which I unfortunately have to do a lot) is dismal.  By the end of each day, if not before, I am limping everywhere I go.  People might see me and think I have an odd waddle.  But it's not a waddle.  It's a true limp because my butt hurts so much!  I'm so angry at my SI joint, now that I know it exists...

Oh, and my hands have been swollen for weeks, and I haven't slept well in what seems like forever.  And I've still been so exhausted that my doctor even checked my thyroid levels to make sure there wasn't something else going on besides pregnancy (there's not).  But at least I don't have heartburn!

So anyway, there are four weeks left (at most!) and I am surviving one day at a time as I chase our toddler around.  Eli is currently finishing his last day on one of the worst rotations he'll have all year (he's currently on Day 7 of 13 days straight without a day off....have I ever mentioned how much I love my husband's job?) but then the next couple months should be much better.  I've struggled this past month with taking care of Caleb by myself, but Eli should be around more in these next four weeks as I huff and puff up the stairs and limp my way around Duluth.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

36 weeks

Do I look ready to pop?  

Community Garden

There's a community garden a couple blocks from our house and we love to walk there and see what's growing.  There are two families that predominantly manage the garden, but anyone who lives in the neighborhood is welcome to come and take whatever is growing at the time.  We've only harvested asparagus and strawberries this summer, but there is quite a plethora of things to choose from.  Neither Eli or I have a green thumb, but we greatly appreciate the garden and are trying to learn a thing or two about gardening while meeting some of the people in our neighborhood at the same time.

And Caleb loves the garden!  The people who manage it have encouraged us to water our favorite plant/tree whenever we come.  Caleb loves filling the watering cans and then waters a favorite patch of grass :)

working double time :)

Water Boy!

The garden has been host to dazzling sunflowers this year.  Most of them are beginning to wither now, but a few are still in their full glory.  They are glorious flowers, truly.

We're hoping to attend a Cider Press Fest next month to help make apple cider.  What better way to congregate with fellow neighbors and enjoy the fruits of autumn?

Tuffy

Caleb discovered this guy sitting on top of our bookshelf the other day.  Now he points to the stuffed animal whenever he sees it and gets really excited to grab him and tote him around.

This makes my heart happy because Tuffy, this old dog who I'll readily admit is not so tough anymore, was my favorite companion as a kid.  I took him everywhere - to Grandma's house, to camp, to sleepovers, etc.  I even wrote a song for him and sang it to him most nights before bed.  I loved this dog!  The reason Tuffy was so special was because my dad gave him to me after loving this dog when he was a kid and holding onto him all those years later.

Tuffy has seen better days.  I loved him well and he's gotten a few rips and tears along the way, but I've never let him go and he has sat proud on one of our bookshelves until Caleb discovered him the other day.  And now he's being loved by our son who will surely give this dog some more rips and tears as long as his interest in the ol' boy lasts.  Tuffy has made many sacrifices as he's been loved through the years, and he's about to make some more.  We'll see how his condition fares as our toddler loves him into yet another generation :)

Minnesota State Fair!

It's by far the greatest highlight of the year in Minnesota: The Minnesota State Fair!  Also known as The Great Minnesota Get-Together, this "Twelve Days of Fun" is an iconic event in our state.  Minnesotans are passionate about the Fair.  They talk about it and look forward to it throughout the year and lament its passing as the gates close each Labor Day.

Recently we were at a comedy show and the comedian was doing a bit about holidays and said, "You know the problem with August?  There are no holidays in August," to which a person in the audience shouted, "The Fair's in August!"  I cannot think of a better way to describe how Minnesotans feel about this event: it's like an extended holiday!

So we were excited for the chance to attend the Fair this year, and furthermore excited that some dear friends from med school drove up from Chicago so we could all go together!  An event like the Minnesota State Fair is meant to be shared with friends, and these particular friends know how to do it right :)  We ate tons of Fair food and saw the animals and let the kids enjoy some rides.  We didn't get the chance to see some of the shows, but there's always next year :)

Our friends were so excited about the Fair that they came all the way from Chicago with their 3-week old baby in tow!  That's right.  Aren't they amazing?

Caleb tried his first mini-donut.  

It was a proud moment for this donut-loving Mama :)

And he kept asking for more!  

He was like a baby bird, opening his mouth for the next bite :)

Gotta love the sugar-smacked lips!

Eli took Caleb on the Giant Slide.  It wasn't until they were at the bottom and no longer moving that it hit him - that was kinda scary! - and then he started crying.  Oops....

Sweet Martha's Cookies!  

This is the only excuse I need to go to the Fair.  It's one of the first stops we make every time, immediately followed by the $1 all-you-can-drink milk stand, white or chocolate.  This is my heaven on earth :)

  

Unfortunately, because Caleb skipped his morning nap to attend the Fair with us, he completely melted by lunchtime and we had to leave early and let our friends finish the Fair without us.  I actually wasn't too sad because I was getting overheated and uncomfortable - as it turns out, walking long distances in the summer sun is not the greatest idea for a pregnant woman to do :)  While it's a short walk back to my in-law's house (they live only 1/2 mile from the Fairgrounds), we had to stop a couple times in the shade just so I could catch my breath and cool down a bit.  I was really hot, but we made it back and I drank some cold water and sat in front of a fan for awhile.  Then I dozed and dreamed of Sweet Martha's Cookies :)  Mmmm....