Cutting with scissors

I knew it will take time for my son to snip with scissors and cut straight lines because he has hypotonia; even although, Tommy have always been fine motor driven. Howsoever, my little one keeps exceeding all our expectations because he began to snip on December 9th. But this wasn't just enough for him because he cut his first straight line on December 12th. It seems my boy is accomplishing this milestones in an age appropriate range.

Tommy needs to learn how to hold the paper and cut at the same time. So this will be our next step, but I am so TRILLED he can snip and cut a straight line while I hold the paper. I think it has been different elements or factors may have helped Tommy uses the scissors:

• He has been surround by an environment with activities and toys to strength fine motor skills, even in FREE PLAY.
• He has the appropriate scissors. There are many scissors out there to help toddlers to use them, but there is just a few which may work best with your child.
• He is a great imitator and very observant, which are important skills to learn. He spends time with typical peers during the week and maybe watching them cutting with the scissors has helped him learning how to do it.

Squeeze sicssors by Alex toys

These have been one of the most exciting moments during my roll as a mommy-teacher. I was so ready to work hard with Tommy and he just did it before he turns 3. Tears of joy and thankfulness came to my eyes on December 9th. My son keeps telling with his actions: 'Believe in my potential.'

Enjoy the video of Tommy cutting

with his squeeze scissors this evening

Pre-scissors skills —Stringing and Lacing

My son walked independently

at his 28-month. During the period he struggled to reach one of the most important gross motor milestones, I knew I couldn't take him to see the world on his own feet. But I knew I could bring the world to his hands. Here it is when I understood how important fine motor skills are for a child's development because fine motor skills support cognition, gross motors, communication and self-care skills. Tommy has always been fine motor driven, so I followed his lead. I helped him to strength his fine muscles, which has allowed him to reach fine motor milestones according to his age.

Tommy and I began to work

occasionally

on stringing large beads by the end of June. Since the beginning, Tommy just needed little help to hold the bead while he was stringing the wooden pole through the bead with the other hand. On August 1st, Tommy stringed three beads by himself for the first time. Tommy accomplished the fine motor milestone of stringing three large beads at his 28 months (age-appropriate).

Currently, we are doing this activity in short period of time during the week or when Tommy feels like to because it is not one of his favorite activities. To make this activity more interesting and fun for him, I make the car sounds when we play with the Alex toy stringing large bead set. I created a home-made stringing set that I named 'caterpillar stringing bead set,' so I tell Tommy the caterpillar is going to get him and he likes to imitate with the beads how the caterpillar moves. Tommy is currently able to string large beads, small beads with big and small holes, as well as, strings with different thickness.

Home-made stringing bead set

I also created home made lacing cards to strength Tommy's fine muscles and eye-hand coordination. I searched on-line for printable lacing cards and I found Activity Village. This website has print ready PDF files with cute animal lacing cards and instructions how to make them. He enjoys this activity, which I also use for language development. He has says "Pull" several times when he is pulling the thread through the hole. Because this in activity for older kids, Tommy put the thread through the holes he prefers.

Lacing cards from ActivityVillage.com

Our OT is very happy that Tommy is fine motor driven. She is very pleased with the progress Tommy has made; therefore, she decreased services for Tommy.

Video of Tommy stringing large beads

Video of Tommy saying 'PULL'

Video of Tommy

stringing small beads

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I have a secret to share

I noticed something was going on! My mommy suddenly wasn't doing my therapies as she used to, she seems tired all the time. This is not the way my mommy is. Then, my mommy and my daddy came to my room the other day and they asked me: Are you ready for your little brother or sister? I told them: "No, no, noooo!" they were laughing at me, but my asnwer was honest. After all those years being getting all kind of toys and treats, they are going to tell me I have to share. Of course, it is not that easy!

My mommy and my daddy think I will get jealous (I think so, too). Because I got jealous the other day when my mommy was holding my Godfather's baby girl. My mommy talked to me and she told me something that has made me think.

"Tommy, you will always be loved, even although we will have other baby in the family. This means a lot to mommy, daddy and you. The three of us we will have to help the baby until she or he is able to do all the independent stuffs you do. As a big brother, you will be a role model and everything you do your little sibling will imitate because you will become his or her closest friend."

Being a big bother is not an easy task, but I will do my best. I am planning to teach him or her good stuffs:

• Brake things like my mommy glasses
• Take things out the trash to pretend play
• Smatch the DVD player against the floor
• Open the oven door to climb on the stove
• Get on the dinner table to reach the ceiling lamp
• Roll the toilet paper on me when I am with daddy (It is harder when mammy is in charge).
• Organizing the room in my way and so on.

All these are good stuffs I am good at.

It seems being a big brother will be fun.

This is just going to get better!

Our Little Super Hero

In my previous post Tommy doesn't follow charts (Part 2), I mentioned Tommy began to march on October 20th. This day was the first time I saw him doing it, but I think he was doing it before. He didn't let to film him the few times I saw him marching. But my luck changed yesterday when he allowed me to film him marching as little soldier.

Enjoy the video of our little brave hero

who is winning in our Chromosomal War.

Trisomy 21 is surrounding day by day

Retaliated Articles:

Extra, Extra! The Chromosomal War has began

Developing Tripod Grasp

A few weeks ago, I noticed in two occasions Tommy was holding the crayon between his fingers. This made me realized he is beginning to develop the rigid tripod grasp. Ronald B david. says, in his book Clinical Pediatric Neurology, "The preschooler uses a rigid tripod grasp, with the thumb opposed to the index finger supported by middle finger, but without flexion extension of the interphalangeal joints, which becomes a dynamic tripod at age 6-7 years."

It may take long time until he can actually master the dynamic tripod grasp; meanwhile, we will be helping him to refine his tripod grasp, which it is crucial for handwriting.

Art supplies to promote tripod grasp

Finger crayons and stampers

Potty training is going well...

...Grande! This is the text message I got from my husband around 9:50 am with a very graphic picture proving that Tommy went potty.

My husband was amazed that our son did as big as an adult. He also called me to the office to tell me about it and he almost forgot to tell me the most important event until I started questioning him about Tommy going potty. My husband said that Tommy didn't want to stay on the chair and he was playing around. Suddenly, Tommy went back to the potty chair, sat on it and went potty. Yahoo! I think Tommy remembered what I always tell him "pee and pooh go in the potty or in the toilet." I have told him if he feels the need to go he has to sit on the potty. He did what I have been telling him; even although, I wasn't there. This make feel so good because I haven't been very consistent with the potty training, but some how it is working.

This is the picture I got in my iPhone

from my lovely husband.

I edited to show how big it was

and make it more attractive to our viewers.

"Someone discovered the toilet paper roll"

Text message from daddy to mommy

This event made our day,

this our normal as a family.

Always together not matter what!

Tommy doesn't follow charts (Part 2)

We always have been very impressed of Tommy's gross motor spurts. A year ago, I wrote about Tommy doesn't follow charts. Well, It is happening again! Tommy started to independently walk by the beginning of August. So he has been walking for about 3 months and since then until today he is:

• Running short distances, the first day I saw him running was on September 23, 2010. He can run fast holding his shopping cart toy.
• Transferring from one surface to other without falling.
• Walking and running on the grass without falling.
• Stepping up with assistance on the sidewalk with one hand supported, but without wiggling.
• Walking up starts holding the rail with both hands and doing one step at time without assistance. He alternates feet if he walks up stairs both hands supported.
• Walking down the stairs holding the rail and holding my hand. He alternates feet, but need more practice coming down the stairs.
• Beginning to step one step at time going up the stairs with one hand holding the rail and the other one holding a toy. He walked up the stairs one hand holding the rail all by himself on October 23, 2010.
• Beginning to march on October 20, 2010. He looks so cute when he marches, but he has sporadically done it.
• Getting out to the front porch holding the wall and stepping down all by himself. The first time I saw him doing it was on October 30, 2010.
• Getting in and out of his chair at the dinner table.
• Getting the idea of jumping.
• Getting the idea of riding a tricycle. Every time we go to Walmart, we go to the bike section and try all the tricycles. Tommy has been able to pedal once. I am glad he is getting the idea of how to do it, so it won't take longer for him to enjoy riding a tricycle when his body gets stronger. I have noticed he does better with the Classic Radio Flyer trike.

Video of Tommy days after he began to run

Video of Tommy going up the stairs

using both hands to support himself.

This is one of first time Tommy

went up the stairs by himself

November 8th, 2010

Tommy went up the stairs for the first time holding the rail

and letting one hand free without holding a toy.

Helping Tommy's body getting stronger

• We installed a stair rail which it has been a great help for Tommy. Every time he steps on the stairs, his legs muscles get stronger. Every time he uses his arm to push his body forward, he strengths his arms, shoulders and torso. So I try that Tommy uses the rail every time he goes up and down the stairs.
• We walk with Tommy everywhere we go. We just use the stroller just if it is extremely necessary. Putting him on the stroller is so easy, but he doesn't get any physical benefit on his torso which is area that has been more affected for the hypotonia (low muscle tone). Walking is a natural excierse that strength his torso without the presure of doing physical therapy.
• Toys that we are using for physical strength Tommy's upper body are: trampoline, tunnel, walking bike and shopping cart.

Why are we using the trampoline before the spinal x-ray to check for *atlanto-axial instability?

I talked to the Doctor in charged of the local Down Syndrome Clinic about using a trampoline and she said the trampoline was alright for my son to use because he doesn't have the gross motor skills to do rough neck movements such as, jumping and flipping on the trampoline, which it is true! He climbs on the trampoline that help to strength his upper-body and he also holds the bar to stand and kneel in repetitive motions that help to strengh his shoulders and legs. Ironically, my son's balance is better when he is on unstable surfaces, so he has a better balance on the trampoline. Tommy got the trampoline as a birthday gift and he likes to be on the trampoline!

A small trampoline is used as therapeutic tool in the book Gross Motor Skills for kids with Down Syndrome by Patricia C. Winders, P.T. The author uses to begin practicing bouncing as a first step to jump. Our Physical therapist also recommended it to us and she has been supporting Tommy physical development since he was 2-month old. I feel very confident she knows Tommy's gross motors strength and weakness.

We saw Tommy holding his head up for the first time when he was a day old. If we would had to work on strengthening his neck when he was little, I wouldn't be using the trampoline. But he didn't need therapy for his neck.

My advise to other parents that may read my blog is to always talk to your therapists and health care providers before using any gymnastic equipment because what may work for one child may not work for other.

I enjoy watching how much he is progressing in a short period of time. I keep praying his gross motor spurt stay longer enough to get his body stronger and he can catch up with the gross motor skills appropriate to his age because his physical development is very important to support his social skills.

Tommy's fashion today is according to

daddy's fashion style. He looks cute anyway!

_____________

* According to the National Down Syndrome Congress, Atlanto-axial instability or AAI describes an increased flexibility between the first and second bones of the neck. Most individuals with Down syndrome have some increased flexibility of joints, called ligamentous laxity, which can affect any of their joints. AAI refers to this condition when it affects the joint between the first and second cervical vertebrae. For more details please visit the National Down Syndrome Congress website.

Visiting the dentist

Our son's oral care is a very important to us, specially because kids with trisomy 21 have more dental problems than their typical peers. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

"People with Down syndrome have no unique oral health problems. However, some of the problems they have tend to be frequent and severe. Early professional treatment and daily care at home can mitigate their severity and allow people with Down syndrome to enjoy the benefits of a healthy mouth. PERIODONTAL DISEASE (gum disease) is the most significant oral health problem in people with Down syndrome. Children experience rapid, destructive periodontal disease. Consequently, large numbers of them lose their permanent anterior teeth in their early teens. Contributing factors include poor oral hygiene, malocclusion, bruxism, conical-shaped tooth roots, and abnormal host response because of a compromised immune system."

Tommy first visit to the dentist was last December when he was 21-month because he cut his first teeth. We wanted to make sure were giving him a proper oral care; even although, I regularly cleaned his gums when he was a baby and introduced toothbrushing with a gum brush when he was 7 1/2 months. Tommy had his annual check up today. We had some concerned that were addressed during our visit to the dentist.

Tommy brushed his gums for the first time

October 31, 2008

Concern # 1

Chipped teeth. We has been a little be worried because Tommy chipped his front tooth about two weeks ago.

Dr.'s Answer: It is very typical. She had other little patients schedule for today because their teeth were almost gone. Tommy's weren't that bad

Solution: she pullished tommy's front teeth a little bit.

Concern # 2
Underbite. I noticed Tommy is developing an underbite a while ago. I am concerned because underbites can result in difficulty to produce speech sounds. It is not related to the syndrome, it comes from heritage genes.

Dr.'s Answer: Underbites is very common in kids and it is treatable, so we have to wait until Tommy is around 6 years old to start a treatment. Orthodontic methods are common used to correct underbites.

Solution: She will be monitoring him. She will periodically take x-rays to check his jaws.

Concern # 3

Tooth grinding. Tommy has been grinding his teeth for about three months. I massage his gums and distract him from this habit, but it doesn't work for so long.

Dr.'s Answer: 2 of 3 kids grinding their teeth.

Solution: It goes a way by itself as the kids get older.

Teeth Cleaning

Tommy had his first teeth cleaning today and he fused a little, but he cooperated most of the time. He didn't like the experience so much because he didn't behave so active, as he was early in the morning, after he came back. He just wanted to read books by itself. Next time, I will make sure I explain to him about the visit to the dentist.

The dentist's Inform

The dentist took a close look of Tommy oral structure thru an x-ray. Tommy's tooth alignment is very good, not missing tooth. All his baby and adult teeth are in the correct position. His oral structure is very typical. Healthy gums and teeth, not plaque build-up. Parents are doing a great job on Tommy's oral health. His next appointment will be in 6 months from now.

Tommy was getting ready for the x-ray

Tommy's dentist was very impressed how clean and healthy Tommy's teeth and gums are. She noticed right away that Tommy doesn't eat much sugary food because of his good oral health. This made me really proud of my husband and myself because we have been very diligent about our son's nutrition and our No Candies Policy.

Maintain a healthy diet is the best we can do to support our son's health and prevent oral issues that can cost a lot of money due to dental treatments are very expensive.

Related Topics:

Tommy brushes his teeth on his Elmo step stool

Tooth brushing with a power toothbrush

I am finally teething, Yahoo!

Celebrating our son!

Exactly three years ago, my husband and I received the results from the FISH test, confirming that our unborn baby was prenatally diagnosed with Trisomy 21. I was upset with our health-care providers at the hospital because they told us they would give us the result by Monday and it was Wednesday and they were avoiding us because our OB GYN wanted to talk to us. This was the confirmation for me! My husband decided to call to the hospital again and they gave him the results after he insisted. I remember sitting on my desk around 10:30 am at my work when I got the call from my husband to tell me the results were positive for Trisomy 21. I was scared that my son could be hurt, but I never scared of how to take care of him. I couldn't stay working so one of my coworker took me to eat lunch after that I went home. As soon as I got home, I went online and I found about our Down Syndrome local Association. On October 31, 2007 at 1:30pm, I was officially a member of the local Down syndrome Association.

I read so much about Down syndrome before my son was born. I remember reading a list of the possible health issues a child with Trisomy 21 could face, but I also remembered reading the words "Your child may have..." This open the window for me to realize that every child with this diagnosis is differently affected and they necessarily do not get all the health issues in the list. We have learned that every diagnosed child with Trisomy 21 is different and unique as we all are.

There was a Halloween party at my worked that day and I missed it. It would be first time I would dress up because we don't celebrate Halloween in my country. The diagnosis changed everything that day! But this year, we dressed up for Halloween to celebrate the blessing of having our son with Trisomy 21. The entire family is very proud of him! We all are amazed of everything Tommy can do and has accomplished regardless his diagnosis. I keep praying that he can grow up happy and healthy as he has been during this 2 and half years. Those have been the most intensive years of our lives, but any challenge is not a predicament and any sacrifice is enough.

We have fun this year dressing up.

Look at the pictures, they talk by itself.

We are celebrating our son.

Happy Halloween!

Dealing with the guilt -FREE PLAY

Many parents with their newborns with Trisomy 21 get into crazy schedules for medical appointments and therapies, so some little ones get into a busy schedule right after birth. Parents feel the "guilt" of not doing enough therapies at home or not doing the therapies quite often as it should be because they also work full-time. I has felt this guilt many times, but what has helped me to deal with the guilt is to know that FREE PLAY is as important as structured or guided play for a child brain development.

Dr. John Medina, a Developmental Molecular Biologist, scientist and Director of the Brain Center for Applied Learning Research, says in his book 'The Brain rule for baby': :"We now know that open-ended play activities are as important to a child's neural growth as protein. Indeed, the box the flash-cards come in is probably more beneficial to a toddler's brain that the flash-cards themselves... Studies show that, compared with controls, kids allowed a specific type of open-ended play time were:

• More Creative

• Better at language

• Better at problem solving

• Less stressed

• Better at memory

• More socially skilled"

Dr. Jill Stamm also mention the importance of FREE PLAY in his book Bright from the star (this book was based on science research). She says:"So I love the moment when I explain that child's FREE PLAY" is critical because it actually causes the brain's energy to be used in a different way –because the pleasure it brings causes repetition, play reinforces healthy wiring. Play suddenly stops being some kind of iddle time -waster in their eyes. It's elevated to the status of something vitally important for their child to do. (As it should be!)...

Here are three kinds of unstructured time —what I call "sloppy time: —that a child should have every day:

Undirected Play: ... don't need to "direct the action" all the time. Create a child-safe space where your little one can freely explore. Fill it with interesting objects, from basic toys to books to household objects, that he can manipulate at his own pace. Certainly some direct play (Chapter 4) is importnat. But so is free play.

Hanging out: We would sometimes lie down and play made-up games... And share lots of giggles when we thought we had stumped the other. Giggling is good for any brain.

Watching the wold go by: Sitting in a stroller or grocery cart are perfect examples of opportunities for a child's mind to wander... This frees the child to look at colors, shapes going by, watch people, or pay attention to nothing in particular. His brain can spend its time consolidating prior stimuli because it doesn't need to concentrate especially hard on what's in front of him."

"A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says free and unstructured play is healthy and - in fact - essential for helping children reach important social, emotional, and cognitive developmental milestones as well as helping them manage stress and become resilient. The report, " The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds. ," is written in defense of play and in response to forces threatening free play and unscheduled time..."

Doing therapies thru play (structure play) is important for our kids with Trisomy 21, but giving them FREE TIME for playing should be important, too. They discover the world around them by exploring on their own. I also see it as a way to inculcate 'independency' at a very young age because during free play they make choices about what toy to play with or what area they haven't explored enough. Our son has free play time and during this time he is physically active, which it is very important because it helps him to get his muscles stronger while he discovers the world around him.

Encouraging the desire to explore should be in a safe environment, so design a play room is the ideal, but if this not possible save-proof the house and transform it in a big play house, it is what I have done for my son. I changed my decorative items for toys, household items, books, balls, pretend play toys, and so on. I periodically rotate the toys around the house to encourage exploration and novelty. I sets his toys in different areas so he is free to explore and find them in his own schedule without direction from us. This keeps him busy until lunch. After lunch, he takes his nap and when I get from work we often work on structured play based on his therapies for a short period of time. Fee play should be with supervision. For example: My son turned the stove knobs and he was able to turned the stove on. He also discovered how to open the oven. He climbed on the oven door and was getting ready to see what was on the stove and the stove was on. We closely supervise him, therefore these two moments didn't become in serious situations.

I enjoy watching him when he learns to do things from our structured play, but I enjoy more when he discovers how to do things on his own. For example: Last week, he was playing with a Tupperware container for about two hours and he suddenly discovered how to seal the lid. Now, when we play with play-dough, he helps to close the containers.

Welcome to Tommy's World

Tommy vs. Daddy

Rough housing play is an excellent way of FREE play

while parents bound with their kids.

"Giggling is good for any brain."

A Basketball ring can be a necklace

in Tommy's world

Anything can be a hat in Tommy's world.

OLD VHC Box of the movie Titanic

In Tommy's world, Huggie swimmer pants can be wore on

your pants and not underneath.

I want my son enjoy everything as a child regardless his

developmental challenges. I am glad that my husband and I have

fund the balance between FREE PLAY and structured play.