Atlantoaxial Instability??

Before meeting Timothy, I will be honest, I had NO IDEA what AAI was, or that we might bave to learn about it, or deal with it. 

We are finally getting all of Timothy’s testing done for his appointments in Ia City in July.  Labwork, c-spine (x-rays), etc.  

About.com’s definition for Atlantoaxial Instability (AAI) is : Atlantoaxial instability is a condition affecting the neck bones of about 15% of people with Down syndrome. Because of their somewhat stretchier ligaments, the two bones at the top of the neck (called C1 and C2) maybe prone to excessive movement. Often this condition causes no problems, but if it affects the underlying nerves, there can be neurological problems (rare).

I called this morning to find out if they could at least tell me the c-spine results.  The nurse called back to let me know that there was “no indication of Atlantoaxial Instability”.  YAY!!  Whew!!  As active as he is, I was so worried we’d break him!   I’ll have to call Ia City for the labwork results.  I’m betting though that they are going to tell me he has Down syndrome.  Hehe

Olivia has a little friend sleeping over tonight.  They are so cute. We all played outside earlier and Kati took them to the park(1/2  block from our house).  They are getting a bath right now, and then they’ll be having “make overs”.   I think Kati likes playing dress up with them as much as they do!!   Of course, Timothy acts like he’s been beaten because I won’t let him take a bath with the girls.  Poor lil guy, just can’t catch a break.  Hehe  He’s all nekkid and waiting for his turn!  LOL  After baths are all done, we’ll pop some popcorn and watch Veggietales “Jonah”(by Olivia’s request).  Hopefully after that our little divas will be ready for bed.  I’ll keep ya posted…

Ya know… as I sit here listening to the girls play in the tub (Kati’s in the bathroom with them), and watch Timothy run around in his birthday suit, it makes me think of how different his little life is.  I know he wouldn’t be doing ANY of the things that we do as a family (or the birthday suit thing either for that matter!) if he was still in an orphanage.  Oh, they had a “nice” play yard, and equipment, and plenty of food, and clothing, etc.  You know the basics.  But, going to the park, being allowed to run around freely and play, playing in the bath, yelling at his sisters to “go”(I think he wants them to hurry up so it can be his turn)…

Our life is not that which magazine articles are written, or TV movies are made of, but I am pretty sure I can say that we are very blessed.   We have a home, and a backyard, and a nice community.  We have wonderful friends, who are there for us through good and bad.  We have four beautiful children who are healthy, relatively well adjusted (hehe), and happy.  God is good.