And he's off!

Oh my has it been an exciting day! For the first time, Liam crawled OUT of the living room, explored the hallway, then entered the bedroom where Papa was.
Holy mother of god I need to start mopping more!
And, not only that, he has been lifting his belly off the floor a lot more in the past few days, and today he was on all fours, rocking!
So so proud!

Thursday

Thursday walk to the library to return a book series about fairies. Lupes's first chapter books. Then we saw a book on fairy houses. little creations made of twigs, leaves, stones. Made me think of being a little girl in Cambria. I spent a lot of time playing by myself creating little worlds at the base of trees or between rocks. So we came home and lupe put on her flower fairy costume from Halloween and we used her collection from last weeks trip to the beach and created our own fairy house in the back yard under the apricot tree. I still love to do that! I could spend a long time creating forts, making collages...

More photo faves

Pictures

Lupes graduation, cherries at the beach, sibling love, etc. can't get a photo yet, but Liam has his third tooth!

My "everything"

When I start to compare myself, my life to other moms who seem to do everything, I remember: I show Liam flash cards 12 times a day, tactile stimulation 6 times, books, name objects, directions with modeling, oral stimulation, assisted crawling and many more things, plus live a normal life, like Liam's first baseball game. And art projects with Lupe. And that is plenty.

Lupe's therapy with George

It finally happened. Lupe is doing Liam's therapy program with baby George. Doesn't call it therapy, but she is massaging his body and looking for her phone to show video clips.

Mama Lupe

The maternal instinct staying strong.

8!!!

No matter where he is on the mat, he finds the 8. He eats the eight, he ate the eight..... It's like a sesame street skit!

ER

We went to the ER this morning.  Liam's fever was 104.5 and he vmoited all the milk he nursed in the morning, I mean really vomited.  There's no doubt now I know the difference between spit up and vomit.  Poor little guy.  And my breasts hurt, he hasn't eaten much in the last 18 hours.  He was all jittery and jerky in his movements.  Something didn't feel right.  BUt he's ok.  He's on antibiotics for a sinus infection, and they took a chest xray just in case.  His lungs show a possible lung infection, but basically we're alright.
So I thought my mama instints would be more secure with the second child.  I thought I'd be more relaxed about everything.  But having Down Syndrome put a curveball in there.  I'm always wondering: This ___, is it a DS thing?  And so I'm always a little worried.
On another note, we went to a neurodevelopmental evaluation in the Bay Area with NACD and felt really positive about it.  We, Pedro, my mom and I, finally felt like: Ah, someone who really knows about DS and our little guy's challenges and potential. We have a plan to implement at home, a lot of sensory stimulation and receptive knowldge. Flashcards of familiar objects first, reading, eductaional TV (to develop macular vision), and more.  Things we would do anyway with any baby, but now we are more conscious of it. Sensory stimulation gloves, mouth stimulation several different ways, help crawling, 20 + times a day, deep pressure.
His constant congestion.  I was told to go off dairy- ARHHH!!! I had suspected this for a while but needed someone to tell me to do it in order for me to implment the change.  It's been almost 3 weeks.  Not sure if it's helping, cause now he's sick and of course congested.  But I am doing it, and Lupe too more or less.  There has been no cheddar in this house for a while, a first for us.  I actually bought some soy cheddar.  But soy cheese doesn't melt.  it's a bit strange.  Goat cheese is ok, raw is better- so chevre is my new best friend. Yeah! Goat cheese and figs on a bagel- yes please! (I won't start trying to cut out gluten yet, litttle by little!)

Today is Saturday and there is a fun sounding Strawberry Festival in AG.  There is always something going on.  I see my friends doing things with their kids on Facebook: the pool, farms, festivals,date nights, girls nights,  etc.  And I feel like there's always some reason I can't go. Someone is always sick or....sigh. 
I need to stop thinking of things I "should" be doing with my kids.  I am doing a lot.  Maybe it's time I reached out and met the other mamas in the North County who have special needs kids and do things together.  I've been hesitant.  I don't want to hear about all thte possible future issues my son might have.  Is that normal?  But on the other hand, those mamas understand the challenges. 
Lupe's birthday is next week, my amazing girl will be 4.  I wish I could have a big fiesta and invite the many many friends we have and kind people in our community. But we can't.  It's just too much to handle.  So it will be a very very small celebration. But special.  All pink. 
Maybe a bigger celebration for Liam's FIRST birthday coming up in just over a month (No way no way- how can that be??!).
Thanks for reading dear friends and family, this little peek into our lives.....

Berkeley

Lupe had a cookie stand at our garage sale last weekend. I was proud of her being able to go up and ask people if they wanted to buy a cookie. Most couldn't refuse.
And that smiley boy? Yes, our Liam has become quite a flirt.

Scooting

These first pictures were taken almost 2 weeks ago. It's not just a Richard Simmons fashion choice, the purple spandex are therapy pants.  Basically a tube with a seam between the legs, so that Liam doesn't spread his knees apart so much (like a frog). Been a couple weeks that he is starting to raise his belly off the floor. Usually when this happens, he scoots himself back

It is May 3.  About 5 days ago Liam achieved a MAJOR accomplishment.  I was in the kitchen when Pedro called me to the living room.  He was holding a toy in front of Liam and he was.... scooting towards it, using his arms, elbows, and propelling his own self!!  Unbelievable, we have been working towards this goal for about 6 weeks now.  We came back from Mexico in March and ordered books by Glen Doman, founder of the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential.   The idea we are working with is: rolling and sitting are not nearly as developmentally important as crawling. The cross patterning that happens with scooting and crawling helps create synapses in the brain that mean brain growth.  So we made a crawling ramp, the idea being that gravity would help any movement Liam makes, to move him forward and down.  He eventually used his arms with more purpose to move forward. After about 3 weeks, we lowered the level of the ramp.

I often wonder if we are doing enough. 

Just when I'm feeling overwhelmed:

In the shade of the laundry:

Lupe doing our day's art experiment.  Shredded construction paper, flour, water and glitter.  See that shirt she decorated? I think it's pretty darn stylish.

My superman is 10 months old today!! And that does NOT mean he is almost one. No! Can't be possible.  I still can't quite get my head around the fact that we will have a little boy running around this house in no time.

Next week we are heading to the East Bay for a neurodevlopmental evaluation with the National Association for Child Development.  They will help us create a plan to do at home (physical therapy, intelectual stimulation, nutrition, etc).  We're excited. 

So, more to come...

Goals: crawling and mucha estimulacion

Happy almost Easter!  This picture is beyond cute- I just love my kids so much!!!!!!
Well, all is well here.  I have overwhelmed days and good days. Liam is using his crawling ramp/track.  He inches down it but it is hard to motivate him sometimes- but I am confident it will help. http://downsyndromeupupupandaway.blogspot.com/search/label/crawling This talks about it a bit.
I also want to start a reading and flashcard program with Liam (and Lupe too)- I would have thought that was crazy a year ago but I have been reading about it and I am doing it.  Lots of prep work. How to Teach your Baby to Read by Glenn Doman descrbes it.
I'm not blogging much lately- too much else to do- researching, reading other blogs, and now I am part of a couple online DS forums.  Might make the leap into meeting other local moms with DS kids- their aren't too many and I feel excited but nervous.
I don't think we are going to Philadelphia- too complictaed to explain, but we found another organization called the National Association for Child Devlopment (www.nacd.org) with evaluations done in L.A.  More on that later.

My girl CAN DRAW!  Out of the blue she just started drawing people- it is so fun to watch!  Mostly they are pics of Ariel and Prince Eric.  Hopefully the Disney obsession will wane and the Frida interest will pick up again. Ok, more bragging: she can write her name and Liam's too!

overwhelmed ("Love what is ahead...")

I'm going to say it. I'm terrified.  I am so scared that I am not going to find the motivation a nd energy to do ALL the things I want to do with Liam.  Especially with Liam, but Lupe too.  I am reading reading. One awesome DS blog leads to another and I am getting overwhelmed with all the theories and ideas and therapies, etc.  I have the urge to sob and I haven't had that feeling in a while, since this was all still new. 
Can I share with you some of the important sites and blogs that I am tuning in to?  That way, if you're really interested in what is going through my head right now (and to a large extent Pedro's too, though he isn't doing the reading) you can get an idea.
First off, some great blogs by moms:
http://www.downsyndromeupupupandaway.blogspot.com/search/label/IAHP (This also talks about IAHP, a program we will be going to in June).
In fact, here is there site: http://www.iahp.org/Who.34.0.html
http://dsdaytoday.blogspot.com/ (OMG- vitamn therapy! ideas about food! so much to read here)

As I sat down to write this, I used my will power to make myself a cup of ginger tea instead of hot chocolate (trying to be healthier!) and this is what the teabag said (I needed this):

We are going to Philadelphia in June to a course for parents called What to do for your Brain Injured Child.  (http://www.iahp.org/Pro.72.0.html) It is 5 days. We will probably take my mom to care for liam, and Lupe may stay home with family and friends. We still have to apply, finish writing my whole history (1 yr prior to pregnancy, delivery, all devlopment till now), save/raise money for the program, tickets, etc.   I am reading the books by Glenn Doman.  My dad is going to help build a crawling track.  I need new sensory stilumation every day for Liam.  All issues he has or will have start in the brain, so we need to STIMULATE that brain as much as possible- tactile, visual, auditory.  It is pliable and cn grow and expand. And Liam WILL have a full life. He has the POTENTIAL to do anything.  He needs our support.