A fellow Trisomy 12p (her son is 5) shared this blog link today and I want to pass it along!
Being "special" in our society never has been, isn't, but hopefully someday will be, easy!
Click the link and develop your own opinion.
http://www.schuylersmonsterblog.com/2011/08/just-word-change-up-edition.html
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Birthday Kisses, Hugs and Wishes!
Today, August 13, my 37th birthday was great! Birthdays have always been very special for me. I love to celebrate with family and friends. But my birthdays have always been bittersweet too. Having an August birthday means that "back to school" is just around the corner. This year, that corner is quickly approaching.... MONDAY!
The summer is a time of year, for camps, vacations, pool days and cookouts! All of which my family does well. Granted, we had Laik in our lives last summer, we spent a lot of time inside and at the doctor. This summer, we have been out with Laik daily, when the temps allowed. We have had him at the lake campgrounds, the swimming pool, on walks (I walk/run...he strolls) around town and to the beach!
Seeing the joy in Laik's face when he is at play is wonderful. His birthday kick started our summer and the fun has not slowed down. But now, mid August has arrived and we are looking forward to football season. Four of the five nephews play football, middle school to collegiate levels. So our schedule will be busy. And nephew five plays baseball, so the stroller wheels will be turning until the holidays!
August is a big month for us. Todd and I celebrated 15 years of marriage on August 3. Today, is my birthday, my sister Deb also celebrates today too! I was her 11th birthday present! And on my 9th birthday, she married her high school sweetheart! So, August 13 is a big day in our family. My parents celebrate their anniversary on August 19. Then we will round out the month with Todd's 40th birthday on August 23. So we are partying all month long this year!
So as I have celebrated today with Todd and Laik, it makes me realize that life is granted to us day by day. Each day, just like my birthday, is a special day. As long as my husband and my son, along with our families are happy and healthy....everything else is icing on the cake!
My birthday is my special day and life is good because this year, it started and ended with my husband and my son hugging and kissing on me!
Birthday Wish 2011: That life remains to be blessed for our party of three! I love our life just the way it is!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Feeding Tips
Today was our much anticipated "Feeding Evaluation" with the speech therapist. I was anticipating, Laik thought it was just another opportunity to snack on munchies!
Prior to our appointment today, I had informed our EI and TEIS service coordinator that I really wanted Laik to learn to drink from a straw. Our OT recommended a Honey Bear. Therefore, my online quest started! I was online looking for a "Honey Bear Straw Feeder" and ended up on the coolest website called TalkTools. I'm here to tell you, there is a vast amount of "tools" to help with feeding. Laik's T12p is teaching me about things that I never even knew existed....thank you to the many therapists, doctors, designers and manufacturers out there providing such great tools! But all that aside, let's focus...
The feeding evaluation was to see how Laik did eating his normal favorites and to also see him try some of his dislikes. Might I add, that after all my discussions about Laik gagging on puffs and crunchies, in that office today....he chewed (gnawed...he still has no teeth) on those things like he does it everyday!!! So, needless to say, we can start eating those a bit more for fun, oral stimulating flavor! Granted, we still have a lot of work to do before we can tackle most table foods.
We left with a NUK Massage Brush. This brush is intended to help "wake-up" Laik's oral muscles. Add that to our daily workout regimen and we are now working his mouth! What if he ends up like me....once those muscles get to working, all they will want is to eat and talk! :o)
Also, included in our homework packet was a list of new foods to experience. For example: chewing on a raw carrot stick, a Twizzler, or even beef jerky! (Todd will like those last two as well...a nice Daddy and Laik workout time!) And I have found it is time to get to making our own. I have just ordered "Blender Baby Food" by Nicole Young and Nadine Day (a recommendation from a fellow T12p parent...Thanks Melissa!) and we will be cooking up some tasty pureed treats upon the books arrival!
And we will be doing "oral alerting activities" before meals too! The Washcloth Wake-Up, Finger Tapping on the Face, Hands Together Tapping, Lip Tapping, NUK Massage and Vibration! Not all at once, but hey, if it will help Laik, I'm game for whatever!!! And honestly, these exercises are beneficial for ALL children! The handout we were given states, "Because alerting helps children use their mouths more efficiently, over time their oral skills are strengthened. These skills are critical not only for eating but also for clear speech and making distinct facial expressions."
With that said.....We will do it with a smile on our face!
We will see the therapist twice monthly and I'll report our progress. And we'll just see how the Honey Bear drinking goes!
Here's to the new way of drinking and preparing meals!
Happy Eating!
Prior to our appointment today, I had informed our EI and TEIS service coordinator that I really wanted Laik to learn to drink from a straw. Our OT recommended a Honey Bear. Therefore, my online quest started! I was online looking for a "Honey Bear Straw Feeder" and ended up on the coolest website called TalkTools. I'm here to tell you, there is a vast amount of "tools" to help with feeding. Laik's T12p is teaching me about things that I never even knew existed....thank you to the many therapists, doctors, designers and manufacturers out there providing such great tools! But all that aside, let's focus...
The feeding evaluation was to see how Laik did eating his normal favorites and to also see him try some of his dislikes. Might I add, that after all my discussions about Laik gagging on puffs and crunchies, in that office today....he chewed (gnawed...he still has no teeth) on those things like he does it everyday!!! So, needless to say, we can start eating those a bit more for fun, oral stimulating flavor! Granted, we still have a lot of work to do before we can tackle most table foods.
We left with a NUK Massage Brush. This brush is intended to help "wake-up" Laik's oral muscles. Add that to our daily workout regimen and we are now working his mouth! What if he ends up like me....once those muscles get to working, all they will want is to eat and talk! :o)
Also, included in our homework packet was a list of new foods to experience. For example: chewing on a raw carrot stick, a Twizzler, or even beef jerky! (Todd will like those last two as well...a nice Daddy and Laik workout time!) And I have found it is time to get to making our own. I have just ordered "Blender Baby Food" by Nicole Young and Nadine Day (a recommendation from a fellow T12p parent...Thanks Melissa!) and we will be cooking up some tasty pureed treats upon the books arrival!
And we will be doing "oral alerting activities" before meals too! The Washcloth Wake-Up, Finger Tapping on the Face, Hands Together Tapping, Lip Tapping, NUK Massage and Vibration! Not all at once, but hey, if it will help Laik, I'm game for whatever!!! And honestly, these exercises are beneficial for ALL children! The handout we were given states, "Because alerting helps children use their mouths more efficiently, over time their oral skills are strengthened. These skills are critical not only for eating but also for clear speech and making distinct facial expressions."
With that said.....We will do it with a smile on our face!
We will see the therapist twice monthly and I'll report our progress. And we'll just see how the Honey Bear drinking goes!
Here's to the new way of drinking and preparing meals!
Happy Eating!
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