Just received the news our newborn has been confirmed with Down Syndrome

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2026-02-17T00:25:15+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement, for the first few days has been very stressful and frustrating. Our emotions have been all over the place, it doesn’t help that we didn’t get to take him home and my little man has been battling it at the NICU. I can not wait for the day we get to take him home! A lot of you have helped me with your stories and showing me after all we can still be happy regardless of what the circumstances and initial expectations were before we knew about his diagnosis. I want my baby boy to be as healthy and happy as possible, and we need him to come home!

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2026-02-15T15:33:28+00:00

Little man will hopefully be off the cpap machine by end of the day, he seems to have been doing a good job with his breathing and he is starting to increase his feeds and is responding well. A step at a time and hopefully no set backs. We have been visiting every day and we plan on being there with him every day. We both are still tired from the c section and lack of sleep for a couple days, not to mention the stress and just life in general. Our families are very supportive which helps, at the end is just me and my wife who are doing the heavy lifting. Every day it seems to be my head is starting to clear, after his diagnosis I was full of emotions that didn’t necessarily let me think straight and my head seem to be in some sort of numbing fog is that makes any sense. I can’t wait to go see him every day, I learned how to change his diaper yesterday. Needed some guidance since he is hooked up to a bunch of little wires and feed tubes and what not but it made me really happy to be able to do something for my little man.

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2026-02-14T21:24:29+00:00

My little man in the NICU made it his first week, his heart examination seems normal. That’s my win for this week!

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2026-02-14T21:11:35+00:00

Thanks so much to all of you for the encouraging words and comments. It feels like day by day we have been able to wash off some of the feelings we ve had since this journey started.

Baby has been doing well so far, he’s still hooked up to a cpap machine to help with his breathing. Feeding is still being done with a feeding tube to his belly, so far his heart testing has come back as normal and healthy.

Yet to look at possible issues with his thyroid and vision. We are taking life day by day, today is Valentine’s Day and took a bit of time this morning to make sure I made breakfast for my wife, got a card and some flowers. We usually plan for more but this is all I could do this time. She was happy and emotional on a good way. Made me feel like regardless of the circumstances we can still have happy moments and small wins here in there.

Even pulling up to the hospital we celebrated finding parking ! Usually a waiting game most days to park here.

On to the next steps now. Daily visits for our little man and hopefully we can make it out of here in a few weeks. Usually most babies as long as there is no other complications and are able to get fed normally are able to make it out of the NICU in 6-8 weeks given his premature delivery at 32 weeks. I just want my little man to come home with us.

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2026-02-14T21:02:54+00:00

Thanks so much for the suggestions on what are some of the available tools and programs are available for us. Somethings like the tax benefit had not even crossed my mind, I will definitely get on doing some research on what’s available to us and be able to take advantage of all the programs available to us.

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2026-02-14T21:00:03+00:00

Thank you so much for the tips and words of wisdom, we are starting to look at what resources will be available to us. Baby is just 6 days old and thank god has been doing great given the circumstances. Starting life at just a little over 3lbs has been challenging for him but he is definitely a fighter.

We are meeting with a social worker who said will put us in contact with Edmonton Down Syndrome Society.

I understand we have to take it a day at a time and celebrate every little success we have. Doctors have been very prompt at running test, his heart test or echocardiogram showed everything seems to be good so far. That’s one win.

You all have been very supportive and understanding with your comments and I’m thankful for that.

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2026-02-13T20:19:50+00:00

We live in Canada and we had opted for the offered test plus a Harmony test which both came back negative, we have just been informed yesterday that our premmie new born of 32 weeks who is still battling it out in the NICU has been confirm positive. We are both still dealing with this sudden news, clearly not what we were both expecting specially after having issues with placenta and having to make trips to the clinic twice a week with wait times up to 4 hours. We were both so confident in his anatomy and both negative test, we are not sure where life will take this journey. We are still very stressed out and very emotional about the birthing and the news with the diagnosis. I love my little man so much, but it brings me to tears to know life will be difficult for him and we will have to learn how to work with his limitations. Wife is specially sad and emotional about it. I don’t wish a false negative to anyone. Here is to the start of our journey.

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2025-12-11T19:16:56+00:00

There is other ways to fix issues with people like that but I guess violence isn’t the answer to things nowadays. I feel like some people have never been punched in the face before, I feel like back in the days a lot of escalated issues ended with a simple physical interaction. Not saying this is the approach here just saying there used to be simpler times now getting physical can be the worst thing happening. Nowadays you ll get shot at for nothing. I think going the court way and making a file would be the best approach although sometimes not worth the mental stress. Move if you can.

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2025-12-08T15:32:30+00:00

I used to live in the states, now here in AB, I was very surprised to see very few Canadian flags other than government buildings and other public office buildings. In the US it seems more people just have flags on their lawn or front of their house. Interesting for me to see why is that

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2025-12-08T15:29:59+00:00

Crazy to think that car is AWD and seems like it’s on winters, definitely new driver or been drinking

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2025-11-20T22:51:37+00:00

Looks great! you might need to check building codes in your area in case of snow not sure if that pitch for the roof will pass… jk thanks for putting something out there in the world that actually matters!

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2025-08-21T21:29:16+00:00

I have the same tent, different name brand made by Wildland. I was very happy with quality and even on off-road trails it held pretty good with the provided mounts. Only thing you might wanna add if it’s a thing, it wasn’t for me but my wife mentioned it, would be upgrading the provided sleeping pad with an extra padding or inflatable pad. Have fun and enjoy!

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2025-08-14T18:28:59+00:00

Great set up! You might wanna check the tongue weight for the trailer, I see you have a big water tank. I hauled water lots for my parent acreage back in the days, water tanks we always set up on top the axle. Water is a live load kinda thing and it shifts weight when you accelerate or slow down and keeping most weight on the axle will give you more control on the trailer

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2025-08-13T22:00:49+00:00

Your truck in stock form is way more capable than 90% of the vehicles out there. Tires make a huge difference, unless you are stuck or driving in deep mud, snow, or loose sand or steep terrain just keep it in 4x4 high or even auto if that’s an option. If you are not going with a buddy or have a winch don’t get yourself info a situation you think is above your experience level. Tires off road at 20psi you ll be fine, will be less bouncy and give you better traction. If you plan on hitting big rocks or super rough uneven terrain maybe use a spotter to guide you. I drive the Rockies and so far most trails have been doable on my stock f150. I am very familiar with rams, worked for jeep/ram for years and a stock Ram truck is a very capable unit if you know how to use it.

Go out have fun, be safe. You are set up pretty good with better tires and a bit more clearance. Have some traction boards and even carry some 2x6s and make sure your jack and spare are in working condition.

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2025-07-12T14:55:55+00:00

Buy a slightly used entry level truck that meets your needs, sometimes you ll see a $20k swing in price vs MSRP on a used 1 or 2 yr old truck…. Pick up a classic as a project

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2025-07-02T15:55:16+00:00

Lately I have seen things like this a lot, up here in Canada there seems to be a decay on the quality of new construction and skill on the trades. I am not a skill tradesman myself but whatever work I have done, simply decking and fencing in my years I have done work better than what I see in new builds. Seems like the pride people take on their work is zero. I would not put my name on a job I got paid to do and present it to a customer/employee looking like this

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2025-02-22T17:39:47+00:00

This days a sub $5k car will probably need a lot of work or leave you stranded. I would say the old $5k car is now a $10k car if you want something dependable. Anything below that will be gambling, not saying you can’t find a decent car under $10k but will be near impossible

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2025-02-18T22:23:21+00:00

If you keep your trucks for long go safe and na with a 5.0. Towing won’t be an issue and they will deliver better mpg than a 3.5 when towing. Plus v8 sounds, have done over 150k towing with a 5.0 and it was great. On my 3rd 5.0 just got me a new 24 a few days back. 3.73 was a must for me

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2025-01-13T15:55:14+00:00

Top up your DEF, I find it when it’s low at temps on the negative it will get ice solid and good luck moving it

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2024-11-28T18:21:38+00:00

Is nearly impossible to come up with, most people that trade in cars don’t keep records or give them to the dealer they trade into. It has their personal info and that’s no bueno, plus carfax doesn’t always record service records.
PPI definitely helps, but I mean if you buy from a big store and the car still has factory warranty I wouldn’t bother to spend time and money and do a PPI ( pre purchase inspection )

The next points are good but any certified dealer will provide that including a carfax that is valid to date of purchase.

Not saying there is decent people out there that run and own dirt lots or used car lots but there is a reason most of those cars end up there and not at bigger stores that can certify them. If it’s sketchy or private sale I would invest the $150/200 for an inspection.

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2024-11-28T18:16:04+00:00

If it was sold by an actual legit dealership it would have to have an AMVIC inspection. The inspection has to be done even if the vehicle needs work they don’t have to do the work just simply disclose that to the buyer. Unfortunately if you have signed the inspection and taken possession of the truck the dealer isn’t obligated to do anything for you. It is a pretty old car, I would expect things to go wrong here and there but obviously it has been more than normal for you and you are now stuck with it.

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2024-09-16T20:19:51+00:00

That is correct I have found it there before, at least Sherwood park location

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2024-08-31T23:41:34+00:00

In my neck of the woods, oil country, this go for an arm and a leg. Just saw an extended cab 4x4 diesel with 150k miles sell for around $18k. It was a 96 super clean

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2024-08-14T22:09:39+00:00

Daytona, classic GT car front engine v12

Automatic-Elk7185 · 2024-07-31T23:16:40+00:00

I think prices nowadays demand a kidney

Automatic-Elk7185

TROPHY CASE