Goes a little something like this. When Dylan wakes up we bring him in our room for our little family snuggle time with some cartoons. After about 30 minutes we move to the great room as by then Dylan is ready to eat. When I feed Dylan Greg heads to our favorite breakfast place to get himself a breakfast burrito and of course an Acai bowl for me, well and a little donut treat added in there! I could sit here and write our whole day but what it pretty much comes down to is "Sunday Family Day" is my favorite day of the week.

I feel it is very important to have at least one or two days out of the week to spend as a family.Try to pick  a tradition on those days as it makes it that much more heartfelt and exciting to look forward to. For our family it is very important that we have our family days. As two full time working parents as our weeks are so busy we don't usually get that quality time as a family during the week, so weekends are very important to us. Tuesday is another day for us in the Lopez house. It may not be so much for Dylan but I make that night for Greg and I. I usually cook up an amazing "Taco Tuesday" and we have a little date night in our kitchen. We turn our cell phones off ,all computers and enjoy our quality time together with one of our favorite TV shows or if we can stay up a movie.

As a parent, you need to make sure the family interaction on family nights or family days stays and remains positive and if you have small kids this should be fun for them. When you and your family spend time together on a regular basis, you have a better chance of bonding and reconnecting. If your children are still young and just starting out ( like us) family nights will instill in them the value of family.

So what exactly do you do on your family nights? Whatever works for you as a family!

Happy sunday everyone! Hope you are enjoying your rainy weekend as we are inside today by the fire.

Dear Dylan:: 7 Months

The other night Greg and I were sitting down for dinner after we put Dylan down for bed and I looked at him and said " Can you believe Dylan will be 7 months this weekend?" Where does the time go? I still feel like I just had this little man and we were bringing him home. Dylan is the most amazing little boy and we love him so much. His infectious smile and personality makes my heart fill up with so much joy just knowing he is our son, and god has blessed us with this amazing little boy. Dylan has been growing so much this past month. It's like he turned into a little boy and not so much of a little baby. A part of me is excited to have him grow, but there is also a part of me that gets sad knowing that little baby of mine is getting older...

• He eats three times a day. He loves, sweet potatoes, bananas, apples and carrots.
• He is sleeping through the night from about 7:00am to 4:00am. Some people say that is early, but if you know Greg and I we are morning people and that is really almost 10 hours of sleep for him. The nice thing is he wakes up and then actually goes back down for about another hour. He just needs that little feeding.
• His laugh is the cutest thing in the entire world, his face gets so big it could light up a room.
• He sleeps on his belly and loves it!
• He is holding his head up and rolling back and forth.
• Dylan has now found is vocal cords and talks up a storm. So loud you can hear him from outside.
• We have therapy once a week with our therapist and Dylan is doing awesome! He is right on track !
• We think he may be teething but we don't see anything yet. He has been drooling and has had a really stuffy noise now for about 2 days.
• Greg is too funny. He puts the kid movies on and watches them with Dylan. Those are the moments I love catching and just enjoying it.
• The next step is crawling and sitting up. He is moving his little legs like he wants to go but can't quite get the rhythm together. He will have it in no time.
• Dylan loves his "Nanny B" is what we call her. She is the best nanny in the world.

Happy Friday

"God Chose You, Before You Chose Him"

“Dear friends, God the Father chose you long ago and knew you would become His children.” (1 Peter 1:2 LB)

God chose you long before you chose him. God took the initiative. The Good News translation puts it this way: “You were chosen according to the purpose of God.”

Why would God choose you or me to be a part of his family? Because he is a God of love; he is a God of grace. The more you understand grace, the more you're going to be amazed by it.

God chose you. Did you deserve it? Not a chance. Do you deserve to go to Heaven? No way! Are you good enough to be in God's family? No. He just chose you. And that's good news.

On what basis did he choose you? First Peter 1:3 says, "For it is His boundless mercy that has given us the privilege of being born again so that now we are members of God's own family."

God chose you based on his mercy, not your performance. You'll never earn it. You'll never deserve it. You couldn't work hard enough for it. You couldn't be perfect enough.

It's only because of God’s grace and mercy that the Creator of the universe says, “I want you in my family.” If that doesn't encourage you, you'd better check your pulse.

Over Night, No Cook Refrigerator Oatmeal

Well I finally got the time to post this amazing breakfast combo that I have been obsessing over now for about 2 months! I literally make them almost every week. If you are a working mom like me and need something quick, easy and healthy on the days of work this is the go-to meal!

This easy, no-cook "summer porridge" has make-ahead convenience and is packed with nutrition to get your day off to a healthy start. Make it in individual mason jars for a perfect serving size and an easy grab-and-go breakfast straight from the fridge (it's eaten cold). Take it along to work or anywhere. Great to serve on a breakfast or brunch buffet. High in protein and fiber!

Banana Peanut Butter Refrigerator Oatmeal

This easy, no-cook "summer porridge" has make-ahead convenience and is packed with nutrition to get your day off to a healthy start. Make it in individual mason jars for a perfect serving size and an easy grab-and-go breakfast straight from the fridge (it's eaten cold). Take it along to work or anywhere. Great to serve on a breakfast or brunch buffet. High in protein, calcium & fiber; low in fat & sugar.
(See original post for detailed instructions & photos plus 5 additional flavor varieties; or, to leave a comment or question.)

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup uncooked old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/3 cup skim milk
• 1/4 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons dried chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter (may substitute PB2 powdered peanut butter)
• 1 teaspoon honey, optional (or substitute any preferred sweetener)
• 1/4 cup diced ripe banana, or enough to fill jar (approx. half of a small banana)

Directions

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, peanut butter (or PB2), and honey. Put lid on jar and shake until well combined. Remove lid, add bananas and stir until mixed throughout. Return lid to jar and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days. Eat chilled.

Nutritional Info (using PB2 and no honey or sweetener): 264 calories, 5g fat, 55g carbs, 8g fiber, 15g protein; Weight Watchers PtsPlus: 8

Happy Wednesday....2 Days Shy Of 7 Months

Love this little boy to pieces...

Mr. Personality

Well all I can say is Mr. Personality! Yes, I am talking about my son Dylan. These past few days his personality has been coming out more and more. His faces and noises he makes our just so cute. I love that he is getting a little bigger now, but I still don't want him to grow up. Greg and I just love him so much! We have been busy over at the Lopez house! Hope everyone is having a great Monday so far.

Live a Joy-filled, Generous Life

“These instructions are not empty words — they are your life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life …” (Deuteronomy 32:47 NLT)


Many people think the Bible is only filled with commands labeled “Thou shalt not …” They assume the Bible is all about restrictions and making you lead a boring life.

But God wants you to live a joy-filled, healthy life. The last two factors for good health that I want to share with you should put a smile on your face.

Giving generously is good for your health. Every time you are generous, every time you are giving, it improves your health. You know, there are more promises in the Bible about giving than anything else, because God wants you to be like him. God is a giver.

Everything you have is a gift from God. He’s generous, and he wants you to be generous, too. The Bible says, “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25 NIV). Doesn’t that verse just make you smile? There’s a reason why it always feels good to help others, whether you’re giving financially, giving materially, or giving of your time.

Having fun is good for your health. God tells us in his Word that life is meant to be enjoyed, not just endured. “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22 NIV). I like to put it this way: “He who laughs, lasts.” Learn to laugh at yourself, put some play in every day, relax, chill out, and have some fun.

Happy Friday-Our Week In Pictures!

Therapy Dogs

This year I made a New Year's resolution to evolve as much time in reading and doing research for children with Down Syndrome. Not only because I want my son to be the best he can be but I hope that I can be a voice to other Parents who have children with Down Syndrome and also learn as much as I can. Now that I have a moment to breathe and it is a new year, this will be my 2013 PRIORITY!!

Greg and I have always talked about getting a dog, but we never had a backyard to have one in. We have also been on the fence about what type of breed we want. If you know my husband he must have a very large dog. A good friend of mine sent me the cutest video with a little boy with down syndrome and a golden lab ( the video is posted at the end of this post, you must watch)! I think I cried like the biggest baby when I watched this. Of course this video got my wheels spinning and I started to research " therapy dogs for children with down syndrome" Well I came across a few but the one below I found very interesting and so uplifting to Greg and I. As parents of a child with down syndrome we will do whatever it takes to make him the best, I am not saying it will be any different with any of our future children because we want the best for all of them, what I am saying is Dylan will need that little extra help and that is ok. So we will do what needs to be done to achieve his goals as best as possible! In saying this we have obviously come to a conclusion and we will be getting a lab! We are so excited. We will be starting our research on some breeders, so if you know of any please email me or comment below.

ARTICLE::
It was once believed that children with Down Syndrome were completely incapable of learning to read. Fortunately, this notion has been long disproved as these children have made increasingly impressive achievements. However there is still unrecognized potential that has yet to be realized. The Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program is a form of reading education utilizing trained therapy dogs in order to help typically developing slow readers to read with more comfort and ease. A study by Meddauh (2010) showed, based on self-reports, that children found the presence of therapy dogs helpful in increasing relaxation and confidence while reading aloud. After ten months of participation in the READ program, all participants gained at least two reading grade levels, showing a significant correlation between dog presence and reading progression for typically developing children (Beuche, 2003). And while this program may seem a bit far fetched (pardon the pun), pet therapy has shown to be extremely helpful for children in other areas involving stressful situations. In a study by Jalongo, Astorino & Bomboy (2004), results showed that during routine medical exams or while reading aloud in a classroom, dog presence moderated stress for children more than an adult or friend.

As previously stated, children with Down Syndrome often make impressive achievements in reading. But even so, they often do not advance past an 8 year-old reading level (Wishart, 1993). However, they can continue to improve their literacy skills when continuously provided with opportunities (Moni & Jobling, 2001). Finding such opportunities may prove difficult because research finds that children with Down Syndrome are often reluctant learners who tend to avoid opportunities to learn new skills (Wishart, 1993). However, it is essential that new, interesting ways to encourage reading are utilized because reading is one of the most effective ways to enhance cognitive skills in children with Down Syndrome (Byrne et al., 2002).

They key to finding the most effective way to educate children with Down Syndrome is to understand how they learn to read and where they struggle. One of the largest controversies in the literature on reading education for children with Down Syndrome is whether the main struggle is in reading comprehension or production. Many studies have suggested that comprehension is the main problem, but a groundbreaking study by Buckley & Bird (1993) provided evidence that the opposite may be true. The study examined children with Down Syndrome as they learned and practiced reading. Results showed that children would often use sign language to communicate what they read, but struggled to verbally produce the words. Similarly, results showed that children would often read a phrase and say a different phrase meaning the same thing. For example, a child would see the phrase "She goes to sleep" and instead say, "She goes to bed", showing a clear understanding of the phrase but difficulty in speech production.

This difficulty in speech production is exactly the problem that children in the READ program exhibit. The slow readers participating in the READ program primarily struggle with speech production as a result of nerves and anxiety. Since speech production while reading appears to be the main struggle for children with Down Syndrome, research suggests that anxiety may be a factor, just as it is for READ participants.

But the READ program could be beneficial for children with Down Syndrome in more way than one. READ works to help slow readers by producing a calming effect and increasing their confidence while reading. This could certainly also be the case for children with Down Syndrome since they are often more fearful and anxious than regularly-developing children (Evans et al., 2005) and often have self-esteem problems that can potentially lead to obesity (Dykens, 2007). Also, results found in Buckley & Bird (1993)'s previously mentioned study suggest that other factors such as anxiety could contribute to language delays, therefore implying a need for stress-reduction while reading aloud.
In addition, the READ program could help increase enthusiasm in children with Down Syndrome, which would help the reluctance and avoidance found with new learning scenarios (Wishart, 1993). The incentive to see and interact with a dog could negate reluctance to new learning experiences and help children with Down Syndrome to get excited about reading, and therefore increase practice time. Enthusiasm itself has shown to improve cognitive skills for children with Down Syndrome (Fowler, Doherty & Boynton, 1995). Therefore, it is crucial that new, exciting reading opportunities are provided to children with Down Syndrome.

To sum up, past research suggests that children with Down Syndrome often experience the same challenges typically developing children face while reading aloud. The READ program provides a nonjudgmental audience in a trained therapy dog and an exciting incentive to practice reading. Simply petting a dog has calming effects that can reduce anxiety children may experience while reading aloud. Utilizing the READ program for children with Down Syndrome can potentially increase reading grade level, practice time, cognitive skills and positive emotional response to reading sessions. More research is needed since there is so little to be found on the use of pet therapy for children with Down Syndrome. But this is a potentially useful tool in helping children with Down Syndrome reach their full potential in reading, and definitely worth the effort in researching further.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA8VJh0UJtg

That's A Wrap

Well, as 2012 has come to an end, and 2013 is just beginning I would like to reflect back on 2012 and what I look forward to for 2013....

2012 was the BEST year but also one of the hardest most emotional year's Greg and I have ever had. Greg started a new job, I lost a very dear childhood friend Megan, had our first born child, my grandmother passed away, bought and moved into our new home and Dylan went through open heart surgery! I guess you could say I am ready to put 2012 behind us and move onto 2013!!!

This past year we have had our ups and we have had our downs. Every year you learn and grow from something that has happened. I think my biggest learning experience was the birth of Dylan. Most of you know that we were unaware of the fact that Dylan had 2 holes in his heart and had down syndrome. I can sit here and say " how did they not see it" but it was just not meant to happen that way. Dylan was born into this world and given to us to be his parents and raise him to the best of our ability. Don't get me wrong Greg and I were very sad when we found out the news when he was born...Wouldn't you? It was a hard reality to face at first. But when you hold your child for the first time, nothing else matters. He is yours and that is it. We love him no matter what! We want the best for him even with his extra chromosome! Dylan has taught Greg and I so much. To love more, to love often and never get mad. Life is honestly way to short. The crazy thing is you CANNOT control anything. God has his hands on everything and what he gives you is not just handed to you. He has planned it and knows exactly what he is doing! For the first time in my life I am at peace, I know my purpose in life and want to enjoy every waking moment. I am so in love with being a a friend to the greatest girlfriends in the world, a loving little sister to my big sister, an auntie to my niece and nephews, a daughter, a grand daughter, a daughter-in-law, a wife to my husband and most of all a mommy to my beautiful son. The joy I get from all of this is the greatest feeling I have ever known!

I hope everyone had a beautiful 2012 and can reflect on this past year as much as I have. I pray 2013 will be a year of Joy, Happiness and Health for everyone! My new year's resolution for myself is to live life to the fullest and do all the things I want to do! Happy New Year, Love the Lopez's

December In Pictures

Here is our Christmas in Pictures....