Here is a link to Andi Durkin's blogpost which has an extensive list of neurodevelopmentalists. Check out her blog while you are there. It is called Down Syndrome: A Day to Day Guide & is packed full of information.
http://dsdaytoday.blogspot.com/2011/06/get-your-own-neurodevelopmentalist.html
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
What a year it has been!
This has been an amazing year for K & here are a few of the highlights:
- potty training has been a success! Actually.................almost too much of a success. Recently, I am being told to leave the bathroom because someone needs her privacy. lol!
- as many of you know, this year at age 3.5, K started being able to read simple books - not familiar books, but library books & other new books that she had never seen before. Even now, 6 months later, it amazes me to watch her do this.
- K has made the jump from signing & speaking to speaking only. She very rarely signs now & when she does it is almost always just for fun. I am so happy to see the same progression to words that we saw with my older daughter.
- her speech has really blossomed & although she still sometimes will use only 1 or 2 words ( actually often my older kids do this too..........hmmmm.....), she is using a lot more sentences now & will quickly speak in a sentence if requested to.
- K recently finished her first year of preschool where she was fully mainstreamed. Besides a little shyness & unwillingness to have mom leave for a few weeks in the new year, K did very well. She loves going to school & has been really missing it since she has been on summer holidays.
- she is doing a great job with dressing herself, & can usually do it independently, although she sometimes needs help with socks & starting the zipper on her coat. Just tonight, we had a funny getting dressed episode. Usually K goes to bed very well, but tonight, she took a while to settle down. Great Grandma is visiting, & it was just to exciting to go to sleep. Finally after about 45 minutes, it seemed very quiet & I commented to my husband that she must have finally gone to sleep. Instantly, as if that was her introduction, K appeared at the top of the stairs fully dressed. She had taken off her pajamas & found a completely new, & very cute summer outfit & put it on. It's quiet again now...........could she be asleep this time? lol
Her gross motor skills have improved a lot, especially in the last month or so since it has been warm enough to play outside. Her jumping is where I have noticed the biggest improvement lately thanks to the trampoline. She continues to be a fish in the swimming pool, & I have registered her for swimming lessons later this summer - and in case you are curious? No, I didn't mention any thing about Down syndrome.
It's so hard to put a whole year into a short post on a blog. There is so much more to my wonderful little girl. When I look back 4 years, I am certain that new mommy could never imagined just how the next 4 years would unfold. I'm so excited about to see what unfolds in the next year!
-
- potty training has been a success! Actually.................almost too much of a success. Recently, I am being told to leave the bathroom because someone needs her privacy. lol!
- as many of you know, this year at age 3.5, K started being able to read simple books - not familiar books, but library books & other new books that she had never seen before. Even now, 6 months later, it amazes me to watch her do this.
- K has made the jump from signing & speaking to speaking only. She very rarely signs now & when she does it is almost always just for fun. I am so happy to see the same progression to words that we saw with my older daughter.
- her speech has really blossomed & although she still sometimes will use only 1 or 2 words ( actually often my older kids do this too..........hmmmm.....), she is using a lot more sentences now & will quickly speak in a sentence if requested to.
- K recently finished her first year of preschool where she was fully mainstreamed. Besides a little shyness & unwillingness to have mom leave for a few weeks in the new year, K did very well. She loves going to school & has been really missing it since she has been on summer holidays.
- she is doing a great job with dressing herself, & can usually do it independently, although she sometimes needs help with socks & starting the zipper on her coat. Just tonight, we had a funny getting dressed episode. Usually K goes to bed very well, but tonight, she took a while to settle down. Great Grandma is visiting, & it was just to exciting to go to sleep. Finally after about 45 minutes, it seemed very quiet & I commented to my husband that she must have finally gone to sleep. Instantly, as if that was her introduction, K appeared at the top of the stairs fully dressed. She had taken off her pajamas & found a completely new, & very cute summer outfit & put it on. It's quiet again now...........could she be asleep this time? lol
Her gross motor skills have improved a lot, especially in the last month or so since it has been warm enough to play outside. Her jumping is where I have noticed the biggest improvement lately thanks to the trampoline. She continues to be a fish in the swimming pool, & I have registered her for swimming lessons later this summer - and in case you are curious? No, I didn't mention any thing about Down syndrome.
It's so hard to put a whole year into a short post on a blog. There is so much more to my wonderful little girl. When I look back 4 years, I am certain that new mommy could never imagined just how the next 4 years would unfold. I'm so excited about to see what unfolds in the next year!
-
Friday, June 24, 2011
Happy 4th Birthday!
I'm a little behind with this post. K actually turned 4 a couple of weeks ago. She had a party with her friends from preschool a couple of days before her birthday. She insisted on a Barney cake that day. We had lots of fun playing games, blowing bubbles & making balloon animals.
On K's birthday, we planned a dinner with the family. K had requested a Winnie the Pooh cake this time. My daughters & I attempted our first cake with fondant. I thought it turned out pretty good for our first attempt.
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About 1/2 hour before the family was expected to arrive, I looked out the window & saw a huge cloud of black smoke & tall, nasty flames pouring out of our neighbors shop. I yelled at my husband & we ran out the door to help. Thankfully, my parents were visiting, so we had someone to stay with the girls. The fire department had just been called, but where we are out in the country, a volunteer fire department may take 45 minutes to an hour to arrive. We rescued some of the neighbors horses that were trapped in an adjoining pen & then turned our attention to preventing the flames from spreading. At one point, I phoned my Mom to tell her to get the kids & pets ready to leave as I didn't think we were going to be able to hold the fire back & I wanted them to get out before their escape route was blocked. Thankfully, the wind died down again, & a number of other neighbors started showing up to help so we were able to hold the fire back until the fire department arrived.
By the time we got back home, all the family had showed up for the birthday. The roast was being cut up, the potatoes mashed, veggies steamed & everything was under control. After a quick shower ( we were black from head to toe!),we rejoined the party. We had a great time, but it was a birthday we'll never forget! K was so cute as she sang Happy Birthday to herself & loved blowing out the candles. I can't believe that she is 4 already!
On K's birthday, we planned a dinner with the family. K had requested a Winnie the Pooh cake this time. My daughters & I attempted our first cake with fondant. I thought it turned out pretty good for our first attempt.
About 1/2 hour before the family was expected to arrive, I looked out the window & saw a huge cloud of black smoke & tall, nasty flames pouring out of our neighbors shop. I yelled at my husband & we ran out the door to help. Thankfully, my parents were visiting, so we had someone to stay with the girls. The fire department had just been called, but where we are out in the country, a volunteer fire department may take 45 minutes to an hour to arrive. We rescued some of the neighbors horses that were trapped in an adjoining pen & then turned our attention to preventing the flames from spreading. At one point, I phoned my Mom to tell her to get the kids & pets ready to leave as I didn't think we were going to be able to hold the fire back & I wanted them to get out before their escape route was blocked. Thankfully, the wind died down again, & a number of other neighbors started showing up to help so we were able to hold the fire back until the fire department arrived.
By the time we got back home, all the family had showed up for the birthday. The roast was being cut up, the potatoes mashed, veggies steamed & everything was under control. After a quick shower ( we were black from head to toe!),we rejoined the party. We had a great time, but it was a birthday we'll never forget! K was so cute as she sang Happy Birthday to herself & loved blowing out the candles. I can't believe that she is 4 already!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
My Daughter
This is my response to this statement. I never would have guessed my child with Ds...
Would open my eyes to so many new & interesting things.
Would be the most curious child I know.
Would be able to learn hundreds of signs, yet give up signing in favor of speech at age 3.
Would be her own advocate so early in life.
Would, at age 4, already insist I leave the bathroom so she can have her privacy.
Would teach me more than any adult ever has.
Would rule our house.
Would be able to read books at such a young age.
Would love the color yellow.
Would bring out this much pride, awe & amazement in me.
Would be my hero.
Would open my eyes to so many new & interesting things.
Would be the most curious child I know.
Would be able to learn hundreds of signs, yet give up signing in favor of speech at age 3.
Would be her own advocate so early in life.
Would, at age 4, already insist I leave the bathroom so she can have her privacy.
Would teach me more than any adult ever has.
Would rule our house.
Would be able to read books at such a young age.
Would love the color yellow.
Would bring out this much pride, awe & amazement in me.
Would be my hero.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Handwriting Without Tears
Just because I don't already have enough to do........... LOL ! Actually, we are planning to scale back K's neurodevelopmental program a little for the summer. If nothing else, I've at least decided not to feel guilty if we don't get it done some days & to take some extra days off to do a number of day trips with the kids to the science center, the zoo, an amusement park, & other local attractions.
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I am also hoping to add in some things that K really enjoys. We are borrowing the Handwriting Without Tears program from the school for the summer. It was recommended by both the school & K's OT. So far K just loves it & comes running when I put in the CD. The CD contains lots of fun songs & K really enjoys doing the actions & trying to sing along. There are chalk boards, a workbook, play dough & all kinds of fun stuff.
The handwriting Without Tears Program has a lot of research behind it & offers training courses, a newsletter, & all kinds of extra help to get you started on their program. Here is a link to their website if you would like more information:
http://www.hwtears.com/hwt
The handwriting Without Tears Program has a lot of research behind it & offers training courses, a newsletter, & all kinds of extra help to get you started on their program. Here is a link to their website if you would like more information:
http://www.hwtears.com/hwt
Sunday, June 19, 2011
In Need of a Father.........
I thought Father's Day might be a good day to talk about Reece's Rainbow. This is an international adoption agency for kids with Down syndrome & other special needs. This organization started in 2006 by Andrea Roberts & is named after her son Reece who has Down syndrome. Over 350 children have found adoptive homes thanks to Reece's Rainbow.
Adoption is not in the future for my husband & myself right now - at least not the near future...........but if you happen to be reading this, my loving husband, speak up if you think you would like to consider it..........
Looking at the pictures of the kids on Reece's Rainbow always breaks my heart & I often end up teary eyed. As I said, we are not considering adoption at this moment, but perhaps someone will read this today & a little girl or boy will tug at their heartstrings and just maybe that child will have their own father by the time the next Father's day rolls around.
Here is the link:
http://reecesrainbow.org/
Here is a link to their Already Home page. I am in awe of the many families on this page who have adopted not one, but 2 children! Many of these families blogs are listed on this page if you would like to read more.
http://reecesrainbow.org/category/alreadyhome
Adoption is not in the future for my husband & myself right now - at least not the near future...........but if you happen to be reading this, my loving husband, speak up if you think you would like to consider it..........
Looking at the pictures of the kids on Reece's Rainbow always breaks my heart & I often end up teary eyed. As I said, we are not considering adoption at this moment, but perhaps someone will read this today & a little girl or boy will tug at their heartstrings and just maybe that child will have their own father by the time the next Father's day rolls around.
Here is the link:
http://reecesrainbow.org/
Here is a link to their Already Home page. I am in awe of the many families on this page who have adopted not one, but 2 children! Many of these families blogs are listed on this page if you would like to read more.
http://reecesrainbow.org/category/alreadyhome
Happy Father's Day!
We are about to go to my Mother & Father in law's for dinner, so this will be quick! I just wanted to say
Happy Father's Day!
to my wonderful husband, my dad, my father in law & all of you deserving dads out there!
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