iOS5 iPhone, iPad won't sync with Mini

My iPhone nor my iPad will sync correctly with my Mini (OS Lion). Before I updated the my iPhone to iOS5, it synced fine with the desktop. I purchased an iPad the day the iOS was upgraded to 5, so I downloaded that for iPad and for iPhone. Now, some items on calendar (iCal) and in contacts will sync and some won't. I've tried turning off iCloud and syncing through iTunes. I've tried turning off iTunes and synching through iCloud. I can't figure out why some stuff syncs and some doesn't, but it does seem that some desktop stuff migrates to the mobile devices, but the entries made on the phone or iPad do NOT migrate to the desktop. As you might guess, it's got me pulling my hair.