Class

This day Liam decided peanut butter in the hair was the new thing. So you know, I just went with it. Got it to spike up a bit. We get to our parent participation class to find that the sensory tub is filled with oats. So he kind if smelled like a cookie.
Changing subjects, he's leaving my side more. Goes and sits right in front of Teacher Julie during circle time. And even let her do the song Noble duke of York on her lap! Go Liam!

Doula? OB? Midwife? Nurse?

Seriously. She's not yet 5, but ask her what the placenta is for. Or how the food gets from the mom to the fetus. Or about menstruation. She will tell you. Want to know about the division of cells, or the difference between identical and fraternal twins? Or How about vaginal versus cesarean birth? Strangely, she has not yet asked how exactly the sperm gets from the papa into the mama's uterus. Ok, so I did kind of skip that part in the library book about sexual intercourse (i also skipped contraception and stds). I'll wait till she asks about it.
Pedro and I were watching The Cosby Show last night and Rudy got her period. Se was the last of the daughters and Clare was so excited for her little girl to be going through this change, but Rudy was reticent. Finally she got Rudy to talk and she said, "Mom, we were studying grammar and I got my period. Do you know how embarrassing that was?"

Pants

Liam just took his own pants off for the first time. Now, normally that would be a huge accomplishment but I think his biggest help there was the influence of...gravity! See, my skinny minny's pants just simply started to fall off. So he took it from there. Now his pants are around his neck like a scarf, his preferred way of wearing them.

Books and pteranadons

He can spot and pull out his favorite book from the shelf.
She can tell you whatever you want to know about a dozen or more dinosaurs

Park time photos

We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo

Love my husband. A few days ago he proposed a spontaneous day trip. At 7:45 in the morning as we were laying in bed trying to convince ourselves to get up to get Lupe ready for school. And I thought: but Liam has therapy till ten. Lupe has school. Hey, why not?
So we took Lupe to school and had Liam's therapy and at the same time got ready for a day trip to the Santa Barbara zoo. The last time we went there was the day before Lupe was born! I have a picture of me standing in front of the elephants looking HUGE. As huge as an elephant.
We had a great time. I loved the elephants bathing themselves with dirt. And the lioness starting fixedly at the zookeeper as she came and dropped off the afternoon food. Lupe loved seeing the penguins being fed.

Why us? Why indeed!

There have been occasional moments, more at the beginning, and much less so now, that I have asked myself, Why us?
Why did we have a son born with Down syndrome? At the beginning it was mixed with fear and worry about the future, the unknown. I was told, by a few close people I love and trust, that we were chosen to be his parents for a reason. Only the most special parents would be chosen for the honor of raising this special child. Through all the roller coasters of emotions I did believe this to be true. And I still do.
But then sometimes I thought, so are all parents of special needs kids truly exceptional people? People who will do all they can to help their child have the best future possible? Parents who will begin to understand love, acceptance, diversity in a whole new, and deeper way? Rise to the challenge of all the extra doctor visits, therapy, etc? While many are, the truth is, there are some who aren't. Some parents who maybe don't believe in the true potential of their kids, who don't deal well with all the extra challenges ......
Why? Why did god choose those parents also? Didn't god choose only the truly special ones, like us? And it occurred to me, that it was a test god gave those parents. He was giving them the opportunity to let that child change them. For the better. But they didn't take the challenge. And I think this can be applied to many areas of life, the times when something difficult is happening. We can ask ourselves: why me? And we can know that we are being given the opportunity to grow. Either because we can handle it, or we need to be reminded of our own ability to grow and change. Perhaps it's a wake up call.
Having a little guy like my Liam is making me a better person. I appreciate and marvel at the little victories, every new thing he learns to do. I pay a lot more attention to my family's health. I am learning to look at everyone with new eyes, to know that everyone is facing some sort of challenge, and it is unique to them. Everyone has a role to play. A place in this world. We will not all be presidents, doctors. Some people need to pick vegetables, bag groceries, be trash collectors, work retail.
We don't all need to be "successful", with high positions, good money, our own house, or out changing the world in big ways.
What we need, is to be happy. Isn't that what success should mean?

Reading in bed

If there is something that I am very proud of it's that my kids love books.

World Down Syndrome Awareness Day

3:21. The 21st of March, the third month. Down Syndrome is three copies of the 21st chromosome, which is why today is world Down syndrome awareness day. It's a mystery why October is DS awareness month, when it should be March, right? Quien sabe.
Anyway, the cyber world was talking about an idea for this year to promote awareness and start dialogue: the Lots of Socks campaign. The idea is for everyone to wear colorful socks, or lots of them, or three of them (get it?) and this would create awareness and dialogue etc etc. so in my new job as a parent resource for families with special needs I was talking about this with a coworker who also has a child with DS and she thought it was fun.
Today I have also been on the blogosphere and came across some very good points made by other moms. Basically, enough with this "awareness" stuff, what we need is action to promote respect for people with disabilities. Actively campaign to eradicate the "R" word in everyday slang, support legislation for people with disabilities, etc. Food for thought, eh? So next time I want to incorporate some action into the awareness. I learn more all the time.
But you know, you all can research yourselves about DS. What can I share with you? Well I can tell you about my little Liam and the wonderful person he is becoming. Because while you may care for him and our family, while you may say hi to him and see the pictures I post, most of you don't know the real Liam. The Liam that shines through when he is with people he is familiar with. Cause many of you have offered to hold him or play with him and then seen as he clings to me and makes whimpering sounds. Or sometimes being around a group of kids he often sits and takes it all in without doing much.
Liam plays hide and seek with Lupe and let's out a hearty "ahhhh!" screech when someone is found. He will bring me a book and then sit in my lap and keeps scooting himself against me, as if he can't get close enough. He is ticklish on his belly and neck and will giggle hysterically. He is fascinated by his sisters belly button. He gives great hugs and slobbery kisses. Today I asked him if he was my snuggle bug and he gave me a big smile. He listens and understands more than anyone realizes. Once we were in front of the house and a woman was getting into her car while talking on her cell phone and said bye and she was I don't know how far away but Liam started waving. He has good hearing and understanding. I can't count how many songs he can do the hand movements to now. He's just super awesome all around and I love him so!

Snot

This post has nothing to do with the pictures I am including. It is unbelievable the amount of snot coming out of my poor little guy. He is so congested you can hear him breathing from across the room. But then tonight something truly amazing happened. I held some tissue to his nose and said, "blow". And then to my complete astonishment he did. He blew!

Shoes

He's trying so hard to put on his own shoes. Clever guy.

Thirty eight

I used to make such a big deal about my birthdays, big parties and other memorable stuff. I feel like that hasn't happened in a long time, and that's ok. But it is important to celebrate yourself I think. To bask in some glory. And it helps to have a four year old who is very excited about your special day. It makes it more special. Thank you Lupe!
We had a lovely family dinner Saturday, with my kids, my parents and my wonderful husband. There was singing and a vegan chocolate cake, and thoughtful gifts. I love my family.
And on my actual birthday, Monday, after school, my mom took the kids and I went to have lunch, drink wine in the middle of the day, and read a book at a lovey local restaurant with a creek side patio. All by myself. Oh it was grand. Luxurious. I walked downtown beaming from ear to ear.

Spinning

When something new is added to our therapy routine it is fun to get going with! Spinning is good for vestibular input which means awareness of your body in space

Getting into stuff

This is what we want! Getting into stuff, just what a twenty month old should be doing. Except the other day I was wondering where he'd gone to, only to find him in the bathroom- standing at the toilet with his hands wet! Eww!!

It's a full life we lead

When I post blogs from my phone the pictures never post in the order I think they will. So I will talk about the pictures below but they may be out of order.
Liam has learned how to be gentle and give gentle touches : I took a photo of him gently touching the boy next to him at story time.
When he wakes up in the morning or after his nap he will sit in his crib for a while looking at books or he has now discovered that he can push aside the curtain and look outside at the street.
We are so grateful to have a friend 10 miles away who has ducks chickens and eggs and now newborn goats as well. Seeing day old goats nurse from their mama and jumping on the trampoline with a sprinkler underneath? Yes please!
Liam cruising along the chairs at the shoe store. What fun to crawl and explore new places!
We stopped for lunch in Santa Barbara after our most recent neurodevelopment evaluation down in LA. That's a cool town.
And I got a job! I am going to be a parent resource eight hours a week at a group called parents helping parents. They wanted someone bilingual with a child with special needs and the job practically fell into my lap. I am thinking it will be a good thing to get out of the house a little bit and do something different. More adventures ahead!