Dylan and Dad

It's been a week since Dylan's surgery, and he is doing really well! He is back to his old self...smiling and laughing, playing with his Cat in the Hat, scanning all rooms for ceiling fans, and just being a happy baby. It's like he never even had surgery!

Thanks again for everyone's well wishes. Dylan is so lucky to have so many people praying for him.

Home Sweet Home!

We got discharged from the hospital yesterday and we were home by about 2pm. It feels so good to be home! While Dylan was in the hospital he kept looking up at the ceiling. I think he was looking for a ceiling fan! I fed him shortly after we got home and he kept smiling at me. I really think that he is happy to be home too.

We put him in his usual spot, the corner of the couch, and he looked up at the ceiling and saw the ceiling fan and threw his arms out and yelled. He was so excited to see the fan!!!

We go back to the surgery clinic on March 5 to see the surgeon and he will see how Dylan is healing and decide then when his next surgery will be.

Dylan-surgery update

Dylan's surgery went well yesterday. He is doing well and hopefully will be released within the next few days. He's still a little groggy, but slowly but surely getting back to his old self.

Even after going through surgery, Dylan is still a funny little guy. He has monitor stickers stuck to his chest, and while holding him last night, after only looking away for maybe 2 seconds, he took one of the loose stickers from his chest and stuck it to his cheek. Even with everything he's been through, he still manages to make us laugh!

Here is a picture of him hanging out in the hospital. As you can see, the Cat in the Hat makes everything all better!

Prayers for Dylan

This Thursday Dylan is having surgery. We ask that everyone keeps him in your prayers!

I came across this poem earlier today, and it made me think of Dylan and how much we have to look forward to with him.

Thank You God

© Shirley J. Stankiewicz

Sent straight from heaven up above
Came an angel for me to love
To hold and rock and kiss good night
To wrap my arms around real tight

To cuddle & nurture and watch him play
To kiss his boo-boo's all away
To keep him safe and warm & count all his toes
To hold the tissue for him when he blows his little nose

To laugh at his jokes, to clap as he sings
To tell him all the joy in my life that he brings
To clean up his play dough, to pull his legos apart
To pin up his drawings and tell him it's art

To watch his first day of school on the bus all alone
To fight back the tears as I make my way back home
To applaud real loud when he's in his first play
To help him with his homework at the end of his day

To adore & cherish and watch him grow
To guide and teach him all that I know
To see him through good times & help him through bad
To share in his happiness and cry when he's sad

To hold him close and be by his side
To watch him through life as my heart fills with pride
To help him with decisions, the best that I can
To know that someday he'll be a fine young man

Happy Valentine's Day

Today is Dylan's first Valentine's Day. Besides that, today is also grandpa's birthday. Dylan and grandpa got to hang out lots when Dylan was first born and in the hospital, and they quickly became best buds. If Dylan could talk, he would probably tell grandpa he can't wait to get a little bit older and go fishing, sled riding, play some baseball, etc...But for now, he will settle for giggling at grandpa when he sings him lullabies, and making grandpa laugh with his funny faces.

Happy Birthday Grandpa! I Love You.
Love, Dylan

Look who's boss

Dylan seems to have taken over grandpa's favorite chair! This is his favorite spot at grandma and grandpa's house. This is where he sings with grandma while she rocks him to sleep, and this is also his favorite spot to lounge and look for...you guessed it...ceiling fans!

Baby, it's cold outside

I think we are all very aware that this winter has seemed to drag on forever. The good news is, Dylan has the perfect outfit to combat the cold! If they made these for grownups, I'd totally wear one! I love this picture...I bet Dylan wishes he could say: "Really grandma, enough with the pictures already. I can't move. Where are my hands and fingers I love so much??....and my legs?? This is exhausting being an Eskimo."

I Can, Can You?

Martha from the Down Syndrome Association of Cincinnati stopped by and brought with her a really nice basket full of goodies. The basket contained a blanket made by a grandmother of a child with down syndrome, a picture frame, and for Dylan....a life size Cat in the Hat which he absolutely loves!

Also included in the basket was a really cute book called "I Can, Can You?" This book is a board book full of babies and toddlers with down syndrome going about the business of their lives. I love that it shows children with down syndrome participating in typical early childhood activities. Very cute!

Ceiling Fan!

If there is one thing that Dylan absolutely loves, it has to be....ceiling fans!


Once he catches a glimpse of a fan, it has his complete attention. Yesterday was Dylan's 4-month birthday. Happy Birthday Dylan!

The best thing

I can remember the day that Shannon told me that I was going to be an aunt. I was so excited and instantly started envisioning all of the things I wanted to teach my new niece or nephew. I couldn't wait...and now I can't believe how AWESOME it is to be an aunt.
Since Dylan was born in October, I cannot even count the amount of conversations we have had about how much joy he has brought to our family. Our family went from ordinary to extraordinary. I have been home more in the past 4 months than I think I have been in the 10 years since I have been living in Louisville. Visiting Dylan is always my last stop before hitting the road again, and it never fails-from the 8,000 songs I have on my iPod, when I am driving this song always comes on. "You are the best thing"...I don't think it could be more fitting. We are so proud of Shannon and Tony, and so in love with Dylan. He truly is the BEST thing...and I couldn't be more proud to be his aunt!
-Shelly
(You may have to hit the "pause" button on the player at the very bottom of the page when viewing the video so you don't have 2 songs playing at once)

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Meet Dylan....

This video is a collection of photos from Dylan's first few months. It is amazing how much he has changed in such a short amount of time! This song we call "Dylan's Song"...when he was born, whenever traveling back and forth to the hospital, it always seemed to be on the radio. So, we welcome to the world Dylan Nicholas. Enjoy!

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