So here is my positive post for the day! A list of brags on miss O! It has been a while since I have blogged so I have to get caught up on all the good stuff she has been doing lately!
First and most importantly, she is CRAWLING!!! Not 100% perfect form or anything, but she is at least on 2 hands and 1 knee! She likes to put her right leg straight out to the side and push with her heel to keep moving. Hey, whatever works, right?
She is using a straw cup and is totally off the bottle! This is a huge deal especially because of the oral motor skills required to do it and the cognitive ability required to figure it out.
O is really starting to catch onto things cognitivly speaking. Responds to commands most of the time, except when I tell her to stop pulling big sissy's hair or not to put something in her mouth! She gets a lot of cause and effect things and understands language. She still isn't really saying words or signing yet, but you can usually tell by her reaction what she wants.
She is at her new daycare and has transitioned so well! She is used to a morning and afternoon nap and is struggling with the lack of sleep since there is only one afternoon nap now. But, she eats and naps like a champ! They just adore her there and are excited to learn new things to work with her on. This is a Godsend since the last daycare didn't pay attention to anything the therapist or I told them. Can't wait to get E out of there too!!!
O is pulling up to knees and sometimes even to stand! Pretty soon she is going to be up at everything and crusing! When she stands up far away from me, I hold her torso, and she "walks" toward me. The fact that she has the motor plan and understands how to walk is a huge step! Now we just need to work on the physical strength to get her going!
All in all I am just floored by how fantastic she is doing! And her therapists can't get over it either! She is by far their star pupil!!! Although that may hurt us in 2 weeks when she has her eval with EI. Her speech pathologist thinks we are going to lose her services for that. Praying we can bend the truth enough to keep services!!!
Friday, August 8, 2008
A Down Day
I must admit that I have had a lot of good days this week, but today has just been bad from the beginning.
O started her new daycare this week and that has gone so well, M and I couldn't be happier!
We have had some big wins for our Buddy Walk and I am very excited about that. The money seems to finally be coming in!
M & I had a long talk about our relationship and we think we are on a great path these days. this past year has been tough on our marriage with all the extra stuff that came along with O and how we handled it differently.
E has been having a pretty good week although I think she is really missing her sister at their daycare. The new place doesnt have a spot for her until November. =(
So the week is looking good, right? And Friday is looking awesome, I get to wear jeans and flip flops to work and everything! Well, it was just downhill from there! Went to drop off E and she had a total meltdown. Clung to my leg screaming and crying for me to not leave, which of course I had to do. that was just torture having to leave her there like that, but it is the only way for her to get over it. So I get here feeling like a horrible mother for leaving her in that condition so it was hard to get focused on work. So, I gave in to my guilty pleasure that is Downsyn! Finally got around to reading a lot of the posts on there and found one about the movie Tropic Thunder. After reading it I was upset beyond words.
In case you haven't heard of it, it is a movie written by and starring Ben Stiller. This movie does nothing but set our efforts back for making this world a better place for O, and others with mental disabilities. The movie is based on making fun of someone with a mental handicap, going as far as to print on a poster "once upon a time there was a retard". The fact that in the year 2008 someone can get away with making such prejudicial remarks and go as far as to make a movie with these stereotypes and discrimination is beyond my comprehension. It sickens me to think of millions of people watching a movie that propagates hatred and using people with mental handicaps as the source for their humor. I find it difficult to even find a movie today that doesn't at some point use the "r" word as an insult in order to put down another person, but now there is an entire movie written with such poor intention. I feel that Hollywood has continued to throw around this word as an appropriate insult and has no consideration for how hurtful it can be to many people. As a parent of a child with Down syndrome it saddens me to know that my daughters and I will have to fight everyday in order to make others understand how demeaning and hurtful these stereotypes are. Unfortunately, with the making of this movie, our fight will be all that much more difficult.
When kids go to see this movie (and they will even though it is rated R), and the word the r-word is bantered about constantly..will that make it ok for them to use it? Will it negate my efforts at teaching them about tolerance and differences amongst people? If it is not ok for kids to use the word, why is it ok for grownups? What is a laugh worth? And who will pay the price? I will tell you who, my sweet, amazing daughter and anyone who knows or loves her. We will all have to suffer knowing that this movie is out there setting such a poor example for how grown adults should behave. I am so far beyond disgusted that such highly recognized actors such as Ben Stiller (who wrote this movie), Jack Black, Robert Downy Jr. and Tom Cruise can take part in this. How would they feel if their child was different and an entire movie, filled with well known actors, was put out and called "funny"? Even more disgusting is that Jack Black, host of this year's Nickelodeon Kid's Choice awards, acts in the movie. A man that has said he said "I want my children to be proud of me...." That is a shame. He has had parts in many children's movies, voicing characters in Ice Age, Shark Tale, Kung Fu Panda. I wonder how many in his audiences were children with developmental disabilities? He is an extremely poor role model for children if he is going to take part in something like this.
First, I must give credit to people on Downsyn for a lot of the wording in that info, I was in too upset a place to put a decent thought together so I stole some of the comments from there. Sorry and thank you for your amazing words!!!!
I sent this information to every friend, family member, and co-worker I could think of. I was very excited by some of the response I received to my request for a boycott. However, i was very disappointed in some responses or lack of response. Is it a lot for me to expect certain people to have a sensitive ear and acknowledge that it is painful for me to deal with and that I have their support? I guess so because there were a lot of people I just never heard from, but who dont have trouble sending me a forward. Very upsetting indeed. So, that is where my mind is today. Not here, not happy, and disappointed in people who are supposed to care about me and O.
O started her new daycare this week and that has gone so well, M and I couldn't be happier!
We have had some big wins for our Buddy Walk and I am very excited about that. The money seems to finally be coming in!
M & I had a long talk about our relationship and we think we are on a great path these days. this past year has been tough on our marriage with all the extra stuff that came along with O and how we handled it differently.
E has been having a pretty good week although I think she is really missing her sister at their daycare. The new place doesnt have a spot for her until November. =(
So the week is looking good, right? And Friday is looking awesome, I get to wear jeans and flip flops to work and everything! Well, it was just downhill from there! Went to drop off E and she had a total meltdown. Clung to my leg screaming and crying for me to not leave, which of course I had to do. that was just torture having to leave her there like that, but it is the only way for her to get over it. So I get here feeling like a horrible mother for leaving her in that condition so it was hard to get focused on work. So, I gave in to my guilty pleasure that is Downsyn! Finally got around to reading a lot of the posts on there and found one about the movie Tropic Thunder. After reading it I was upset beyond words.
In case you haven't heard of it, it is a movie written by and starring Ben Stiller. This movie does nothing but set our efforts back for making this world a better place for O, and others with mental disabilities. The movie is based on making fun of someone with a mental handicap, going as far as to print on a poster "once upon a time there was a retard". The fact that in the year 2008 someone can get away with making such prejudicial remarks and go as far as to make a movie with these stereotypes and discrimination is beyond my comprehension. It sickens me to think of millions of people watching a movie that propagates hatred and using people with mental handicaps as the source for their humor. I find it difficult to even find a movie today that doesn't at some point use the "r" word as an insult in order to put down another person, but now there is an entire movie written with such poor intention. I feel that Hollywood has continued to throw around this word as an appropriate insult and has no consideration for how hurtful it can be to many people. As a parent of a child with Down syndrome it saddens me to know that my daughters and I will have to fight everyday in order to make others understand how demeaning and hurtful these stereotypes are. Unfortunately, with the making of this movie, our fight will be all that much more difficult.
When kids go to see this movie (and they will even though it is rated R), and the word the r-word is bantered about constantly..will that make it ok for them to use it? Will it negate my efforts at teaching them about tolerance and differences amongst people? If it is not ok for kids to use the word, why is it ok for grownups? What is a laugh worth? And who will pay the price? I will tell you who, my sweet, amazing daughter and anyone who knows or loves her. We will all have to suffer knowing that this movie is out there setting such a poor example for how grown adults should behave. I am so far beyond disgusted that such highly recognized actors such as Ben Stiller (who wrote this movie), Jack Black, Robert Downy Jr. and Tom Cruise can take part in this. How would they feel if their child was different and an entire movie, filled with well known actors, was put out and called "funny"? Even more disgusting is that Jack Black, host of this year's Nickelodeon Kid's Choice awards, acts in the movie. A man that has said he said "I want my children to be proud of me...." That is a shame. He has had parts in many children's movies, voicing characters in Ice Age, Shark Tale, Kung Fu Panda. I wonder how many in his audiences were children with developmental disabilities? He is an extremely poor role model for children if he is going to take part in something like this.
First, I must give credit to people on Downsyn for a lot of the wording in that info, I was in too upset a place to put a decent thought together so I stole some of the comments from there. Sorry and thank you for your amazing words!!!!
I sent this information to every friend, family member, and co-worker I could think of. I was very excited by some of the response I received to my request for a boycott. However, i was very disappointed in some responses or lack of response. Is it a lot for me to expect certain people to have a sensitive ear and acknowledge that it is painful for me to deal with and that I have their support? I guess so because there were a lot of people I just never heard from, but who dont have trouble sending me a forward. Very upsetting indeed. So, that is where my mind is today. Not here, not happy, and disappointed in people who are supposed to care about me and O.
Monday, June 30, 2008
A mixed bag...of crap!
WARNING: A lot of whining and complaining about to happen…
#1 ~ I feel like the worst parent in the world right now. E was at the Dr. on Friday because she was miserable. Turns out she has an ear infection and blister on her ear drum (on top of a wicked cold). She is on antibiotics and starting to act like herself now. I was only able to stay home with her one day last week and had to send her to daycare the rest of the time. =( Now O is sick. She started wheezing last night so M is home with her today and taking her to the Dr. Yet another time when work gets in the way of taking care of my babies. I can’t take off anymore this week since I have training tomorrow and Wednesday that they paid to send me to. Then I do have off Thursday and Friday since we are supposed to go to Ohio for our niece’s baptism. I am so tired of my kids being sick because they are in daycare. I want nothing more than to be able to shield them from all of this. But, I know that they will get sick eventually when they get to school so I would be delaying the inevitable. Needless to say, I bought lottery tickets this morning! Wish me luck!! ;)
#2 ~ O had her first overnight stay this weekend! M and I went to a concert and needed someone to watch the kids. My parents live out of town but were our only option. So, I had to give a little on my ‘not staying overnight until they are a year old’ rule. Ok, so she is 11 months but still, I am impressed that I survived it! LOL The concert was pretty fun, but…
#3 ~ WTF is wrong with people? Please tell me because I can’t figure it out for the life of me. At some point from the time we went into the concert until we left the hotel the next morning, someone stole my DS magnet off my car. Seriously, who does that? What in the crap is wrong with people? It makes me sick.
#4 ~ Our AC took a dump yesterday so now I have to try to figure out who can be at the house tomorrow for the repair people to come and look at it. M is home today and I have training so neither of us can do it. The thing is over 20 years old so we knew it was going to happen eventually.
On a good note…
#1 ~ my BF sold her house and is closing on the new one today. She is moving from being 2.5 hours away to only 1.5 hours away and 5 doors down from my parents!! Yippee!!! I may actually get to see her and her family more than once every 6 months! =) M may not be too happy about us traveling down there as much, but he will have to get over it! At least we get more bang for the buck now getting to see all my family and my BF in one trip!
#2 ~ O figured out how to go from her belly to her butt! She is also standing for long periods of time holding onto stuff. I am sure it wont be long before she figures out the walking! Although I am not sure I am ready for that. =)
#3 ~ We have a home warranty and a coupon for a free repair visit so if the AC did take a dump, it won't cost us a dime!!! Thank goodness I am a paranoid nut and bought the home warranty! This is where being a worrier comes in handy!
#4 ~ Realized how much M loves me since he was about to beat the crap out of some punk that was mouthing off to me. He was ready to defend my honor and as much as I should have hated him wanting to get violent, it was nice to see that he was so upset over someone being mean to me. I am such a lucky girl!!!
#1 ~ I feel like the worst parent in the world right now. E was at the Dr. on Friday because she was miserable. Turns out she has an ear infection and blister on her ear drum (on top of a wicked cold). She is on antibiotics and starting to act like herself now. I was only able to stay home with her one day last week and had to send her to daycare the rest of the time. =( Now O is sick. She started wheezing last night so M is home with her today and taking her to the Dr. Yet another time when work gets in the way of taking care of my babies. I can’t take off anymore this week since I have training tomorrow and Wednesday that they paid to send me to. Then I do have off Thursday and Friday since we are supposed to go to Ohio for our niece’s baptism. I am so tired of my kids being sick because they are in daycare. I want nothing more than to be able to shield them from all of this. But, I know that they will get sick eventually when they get to school so I would be delaying the inevitable. Needless to say, I bought lottery tickets this morning! Wish me luck!! ;)
#2 ~ O had her first overnight stay this weekend! M and I went to a concert and needed someone to watch the kids. My parents live out of town but were our only option. So, I had to give a little on my ‘not staying overnight until they are a year old’ rule. Ok, so she is 11 months but still, I am impressed that I survived it! LOL The concert was pretty fun, but…
#3 ~ WTF is wrong with people? Please tell me because I can’t figure it out for the life of me. At some point from the time we went into the concert until we left the hotel the next morning, someone stole my DS magnet off my car. Seriously, who does that? What in the crap is wrong with people? It makes me sick.
#4 ~ Our AC took a dump yesterday so now I have to try to figure out who can be at the house tomorrow for the repair people to come and look at it. M is home today and I have training so neither of us can do it. The thing is over 20 years old so we knew it was going to happen eventually.
On a good note…
#1 ~ my BF sold her house and is closing on the new one today. She is moving from being 2.5 hours away to only 1.5 hours away and 5 doors down from my parents!! Yippee!!! I may actually get to see her and her family more than once every 6 months! =) M may not be too happy about us traveling down there as much, but he will have to get over it! At least we get more bang for the buck now getting to see all my family and my BF in one trip!
#2 ~ O figured out how to go from her belly to her butt! She is also standing for long periods of time holding onto stuff. I am sure it wont be long before she figures out the walking! Although I am not sure I am ready for that. =)
#3 ~ We have a home warranty and a coupon for a free repair visit so if the AC did take a dump, it won't cost us a dime!!! Thank goodness I am a paranoid nut and bought the home warranty! This is where being a worrier comes in handy!
#4 ~ Realized how much M loves me since he was about to beat the crap out of some punk that was mouthing off to me. He was ready to defend my honor and as much as I should have hated him wanting to get violent, it was nice to see that he was so upset over someone being mean to me. I am such a lucky girl!!!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Happy Birthday Little Bro!
My little brother is 23 this year!!! I can't hardly believe it! Seems like just yesterday we were beating the crap out of each other! I am so proud of the man he has become! He is still figuring his life out but is finally on a path that is making him happy. I can't believe he is all grown up, well kind-of. =) He will always be my bratty little brother!
I love you little bro!
I love you little bro!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
My big girl
Yet another reason for E to be a big girl! Potty training is going SO well!! She is still doing #2 in her panties, but #1 is going really well. No accidents at home, but usually about 1 a day at daycare. She just gets so distracted and doesn't realize until it is too late! We will be working on that a lot this weekend. She just loves to go on the potty, she thinks she is hot stuff!!!
Now, if we could just get her to stay in bed and go to sleep on her own at night. One day she just decided she wasn't going to fall asleep on her own anymore. I hope this phase ends soon!!! But, she is in a full size bed so maybe that is the issue.
I just can't stand that she is all grown up! The day she gets on the bus is going to kill me!
Now, if we could just get her to stay in bed and go to sleep on her own at night. One day she just decided she wasn't going to fall asleep on her own anymore. I hope this phase ends soon!!! But, she is in a full size bed so maybe that is the issue.
I just can't stand that she is all grown up! The day she gets on the bus is going to kill me!
Friday, June 6, 2008
A TOOTH A TOOTH!!!
That's right folks, we finally have a tooth! O cut her very first tooth this week! We knew it was coming but it finally poked through. It is her bottom, front right tooth. She isn't sure what to do with it and keeps running her tongue over it to make sure it is still there or to figure out what it is! It is hysterical! This child can do things with her tongue that I never knew was possible! It is amazing!
Needless to say we are very excited! Not that she had trouble eating everything in her path with just the gums, but she is sure going to look even cuter once it comes in the whole way!!! =)
Needless to say we are very excited! Not that she had trouble eating everything in her path with just the gums, but she is sure going to look even cuter once it comes in the whole way!!! =)
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