Summer day CAMP

Gerald Jay was playing the tractor

GJ in summer day camp

Gerald Jay attended summer day camp for two weeks now. I will tell you, we noticed a big changed in his language compared two weeks ago. He talks some more , although I can't understand what he meant to say, but at least he is trying to communicate with us in the right way. He also learned more sign language, and he is a lot happier.

It was just a suggestion.

Gerald jay had to go to the speech therapist again today. This time, I am the one who took GJ to the clinic. I just want to make sure if the feeding therapist really given up on him. Anyway, according to my husband he felt that the therapist was giving up on him, but today as I spoke to her it wasn't sound giving up to me. She also mentioned to me that she was looking for a pediatrician that deals with behavioral problem if we want GJ to get help. (Gerald gets what he wants and he screams and ignores us when redirected.) So, It was just a suggestion for us if we want GJ to be more calm during the therapy session. I want to do it. I explained to my husband that he interpreted it wrong when the therapist told her that GJ needs a behavioral speech therapy.

Anyway, today he did fair during feeding session. GJ allows the therapist to touch his cheek with the spoon. But he screams again after the second attempt. We will work with on staying on the chair for 15 minutes and not crying.

Frustrated and disappointed

Today, Gerald jay had an appointment with the feeding therapist at the CRS clinic. He goes there every Wednesday around 9:90 am. I usually stayed home with my little daughter,and my husband normally takes him to CRS clinic. Anyway, today was his third session and my husband thinks that the therapist is given up on Gerald jay. It really is frustrating because GJ can not stay on the high chair even 15minutes. He always walks around the room and if you tell him to sit down he gets angry and lied on the floor. Today, they restrained him so that he can not wonder around. However, he was not very cooperative in the feeding; therefore, the feeding therapist suggested to take him to the feeding specialist that deals with behavior too. It was very disappointing. I wish we could get out of this problem. We are planning to place a G-tube on GJ's stomach and I couldn't wait for that. It came to the point that the NG-tube is not very efficient now. He normally cough it out and to put it back in is not fun, because Gerald jay was screaming and kicking at the same time.

Another, after the feeding session he had an appointment with the neurologist for follow-up check for his stroke that occurred during the aortic reconstruction last July 5th of 2007. He doc said that the damage of the stroke is more than we thought because the way his should is formed. There is nothing they can do so far but therapy. I noticed his should last weekend when I took off his clothes at the zoo. It seems his shoulder was leaning forward and I can see the slight dislocation of his joint in his shoulder. He had his therapist available for him, so I am hoping that it will resolved as the day goes by.

Sign Language

"Sign Language"

When Gerald Jay was six months old he was saying "hi"and "blue". We were all excited that he had scored high on his social skills. We thought that he will be talking sooner than we expected too. However, every time he had surgery done he always go back to zero most specially when he had a stroke on his left side of his blood. Not that it will affect his memory, but he forgets every words that he was saying before. This time after his fontan procedure last February, he was not able to say words more than "mama" which means "more" for him. Temper tantrum his only way to communicate with us. Then I realized that his way of communicating with us is not gonna work, therefore; I encourage everyone of his therapist to teach him basic sign language. I ordered three volumes of sign language DVD (signingtime) through Amazon.com. Today, those DVD's arrived and I immediately watch it with Gerald. Later, this afternoon I heard him singing and trying to do some signing with his fingers. I was really amazed. Not only him will learn the sign language but I too. I think it is worth it.

Phoenix Zoo...Star Safari Night

We took Gerald Jay to the Zoo last night just see how he will react to see some animals except the dogs and cats. He had a blast! not because he saw bigger animals, but because of the leaping lagoon and more kids played in the water fountain. At first , he doesn't know what to do , then he was running away from the water. After a while he enjoyed playing in water fountain. There were kids that pushed him away, however, he was very calm and said " ow". I was worried that he might hit somebody, but he wasn't. He was really good minding his own business. Mom and Dad are very proud of him.

He did not even care to see bigger animals. Give him more time and he will appreciate to see them. We were not prepared to get wet, but next week when we come back we will be.

He is a good brother

Both of my kids are born on the same day but different month and year. Today, GJ turned 3 y/o and a month and KC turned 3 months old. Gerald is a good brother. He comforts his sister when she cries and dance in front of her when he hears the music not that the little one would understand that her brother is trying comfort by dancing. Well, sometimes mama is busy; therefore, brother took over to care his little sister. I am very proud of Gerald that he is very good with his little sister.

July fourth family Photos

We had a nice visit at my mother-in-laws house. She made BBQ spare ribs and it was delicious.
Gerald jay was very excited to see her, and so as grandma.

kathlyn hope in the living room. She is a quite baby...she only cry when she's hungry.

Gerald was doing his usually thing at granny's house going up and down the stairs. I wish he did that during the school evaluation. But he is catching up... he is getting stronger everyday.

A picture of Ralph and his three kids with Granda Ma.

A picture of me sleeping and my three kids with mom.

Fourth of July fun activity

GJ in the portable pool

It was a very hot and humid yesterday fourth of July, and I Gerald sweats a lot. Plus he was very irritable because he was hot. Therefore, I let him play in the portable pool in the patio. The water from the faucet was warm too, so it was a perfect temperature that he wont get cold. And I did not filled the pool with water completely because I was afraid that he might drown in that little pool. Just to be safe. Anyway, he enjoyed it and he tolerated it for quite a while enough for me to hang the clothes on the clothes lines, cleaning, and enough to eat lunch.

Gerald JAy at 3

GJ and his cowboy hat

The pose

Gerald Jay is doing great now. Everyday he is going back to his normal activities. The MRSA infection in his wound was very persistent that it keeps coming back. On the third time it occurred, Gerald was in pretty healthy body, no temps and no other associated signs and symptoms. We took him to the cardiac clinic, and the doctor drained out the pus. It was an easy and fast visit and they give him antibiotics for 10 days. Right now, he is doing real well.