Our art of blowing —Lip Whistles

Our former Speech Therapist brought a lip whistle in one her visits in February to work on oral motor with Tommy. I searched online for the lip whistle just in case the one she left gets broken. For my surprise, I found the lip whistles in a website that sells therapeutic tools for oral motor therapies at $11.95 (12-pack). Howsoever, the lip whistles are also sold at $5.99 (48 pieces) in  orientaltrading.com (a party supply store). Before buying any blowing toy as a therapeutc tool for Tommy's blowing kit, I check prices and availability in local party store supplies or online because many of the whistles, horns and flutes used as oral motor therapeutic tools are also sold in party supply stores at a cheaper price.

The lip whistle is great to work on strengthening the lip muscles to achieve a good lip closure. This whistle is more difficult to blow than the other whistles we have in Tommy's blowing kit.  Tommy couldn't blow it the first time, but after three of our session he was able to blow it. He cannot hold the whistle with his lips and blow at the same time. When he is able to hold it with his lips and blow it, then, he will master this whistle. Meanwhile, he holds the whistle with his hand or I hold it for him. This whistle is fun as party favor or a therapeutic tool. So it has become one of our favorite blowing toys in our art of blowing.

My first workbooks

“The most important thing in the world is to open up new worlds for our children to explore.”

Toru Kumon

Searching for books that support Tommy’s learning skills, I found the Kumon workbooks. I bought 2 workbooks from the First Steps series: Let’s Color and Let’s Cut. These books are designed for young children, aged 2 and up, to make them comfortable with the tools they will use at school. These books have been a great help to introduce drawing, coloring and cutting with scissors to Tommy. They are a great source of stimulation for language development and fine motor skills. When I work with Tommy, I keep the activity short by doing one sheet per day as often as possible. I date the sheets every-time we do a project because it helps me to realize if we need to work more often with the kumon workbooks.  

What is Kumon?

"Toru Kumon created the Kumon Method in the early 1950s to teach his son at home. Kumon [koo-mon] Publishing North America (KPNA) was founded in 2004 but has educational roots reaching back fifty years. KPNA is the English-language subsidiary of Kumon Publishing Co., Ltd., one of the best-selling producers of children’s educational books in Japan. Our parent company, Kumon, is also parent to Kumon Math & Reading Centers, the world’s largest supplemental learning provider..." ~www.kumonbooks.com

Kumon Workbooks

"Kumon workbooks and learning aids introduce basic learning skills to children aged 2 and up. Subjects covered include early learning and fine motor control skills; verbal skills; and math skills.

The Kumon method is what makes our workbooks so unique and effective. This Method is a proven learning system developed to help each child reach his or her full potential. Concepts are introduced in a step-by-step manner that allows the child to master each in turn without getting frustrated. Before long, children gain confidence in their abilities and are motivated to learn on their own." ~www.kumonbooks.com

Kumon Learning program

Kumon offers an after-school math and reading program designed for kids of all abilites, wich means this is an individualized program that works for advanced kids who need to be challenged or kids who need help catching up. The program is design to start with easy steps, so the child builds confidence by learning basic concepts before moving on. The child will advance in the program in their own pace step-by-step until the child masters each concept with a perfect score on the worksheets, then, the child will continue with the next level. To get a perfect score is important to practice every day for short period of time, practice makes perfection. 

Tommy's Drawing Projects

Tommy's Cutting Projects

The Kumon workbooks have been a great source to introduce Tommy to tools he will constantly use at preschool. Tommy keeps improving on his drawing and cutting skills. He tries to imitate the illustration from the Kumon books with my encouragement. Before every drawing session, I search for videos or graphic sources that represent the word we will be drawing. On the other hand, Tommy can independently squeeze the scissors to snip and cut straight lines, but he needs more practice on holding the paper and grasping the scissors by himself. His teacher tried for the first to help Tommy cutting with scissors at the class and this what she wrote in our journal:

March 25th, 20011

Thanks for the scissors. He was very independent when squeezing. I help hold the paper steady. He applied the glue with the stick himself. He read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom twice. He initiated a fun game of peekaboo from behind me! Miss M.

Tommy is having a good start at preschool and we will continue supporting his teachers and him to make a smoothly transition into the preschool settings. 

We may look into enrolling Tommy in the after school Kumon program, there are several centers around our area. But before, we would like to hear about your experience with the Kumon after school program if you have enrolled your child in this program.

My independent boy! (Part 2)

On November 7, 2010,  I saw Tommy for the first time taking the the fork to serve his food in his cup. He put the ham and pieces of bread in the cup and pretend to mix them. This made me think he was trying to serve his own breakfast. But with all the craziness of him being sick in the last couple of months, I completely forgot about it. 

Photo taken on November 7, 2010

After he came from the hospital and went back to his normal routine he decided to eat cereal again –he used to eat cereal when he was younger, but one day he decided he didn't want it anymore. One day during breakfast, we were ready to eat and he didn't want the Earth's Best Organic cereal I served him. Instead he wanted to eat my cereal. So I gave him a big bowl and helped him to serve the Honey Cheerio cereal and pour the milk.  He ate one bowl of cereal and more! It was clear to me he wanted to do it just like mommy and daddy, which made me realized it was time to transfered tommy's pouring skills from the bathtub to the kitchen table.

A couple of weeks ago, I made some accommodations so he can serve his cereal with help.  He uses a little measure cup to serve his cereal and I got a little transparent measure cup he can use as a pitcher to pour the milk on his cereal. Sometimes, our improvise pitcher works as a cup for him, too. He still has spellings, but we have a lot of fun. If I wouldn't be observant I wouldn't realize when Tommy wants to experience things on his own because he struggles with his expressive communication. But regardless his challenges, nothing stops his independient personality and nothing stops me to try to understand him beyond his language delay.

By the way, Tommy is wearing two t-shirts in the video

because he put the green shirt on top of the other by himself.

I didn't want to discourage him after his initiative, so he worn the green shirt until nap time.

I have search for a small pitcher for young children and I have 

found a small glass pitcher for toddlers, but the glass make me nervous. 

Do you know where I can find a pitcher for 

preschoolers that it is plastic and not glass?

The video was taken on Saturday 19th, 2011

Related Articles:
My independent Boy

Pouring -Pre-writing skill (Part 1)

Pouring -Pre-writing skill (Part 2)

Happy World Down Syndrome Day!

"21 March 2011 marks the 6th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day and each year the voice of people with Down syndrome, and those who live and work with them, grows louder. But there is still so much more we can do. Down Syndrome International encourages our friends all over the World to choose your own themes, activities and events to help raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities." ~www.worlddownsyndromeday.org

We celebrated the World Down Syndrome Day with a big event in Tommy's life. Today was Tommy's first day in preschool. Today is just the beginning of many big events in my son's life. We keep the illusion of a bright future for my son, along the way we may have to adapt  our expectations, but always believing in our son's potential.

My husband took Tommy to the preschool this morning and he said Tommy was happy to be there. I called to his teacher after the class and she said he did great. She was surprised how much Tommy likes books. He played on the sensory table, which is one of Tommy's favorite activities. I was impressed that the teacher said Tommy liked to play with the big building blocks. I thought to buy a big building block set for his birthday, but I thought he may not like them.  Now, I know it is a good toy for him. He didn't cry and he was very comfortable around the building. My little boy is growing up. We are very proud of him!

Happy World Down Syndrome Day!

Celebrate Diversity!

Tommy's First IEP

After being nervous that I didn't get well prepare for the first IEP (Individualized Education Program) meeting for my son, because I couldn't attend to workshops. I realized that just knowing about my son's strengths and weaknesses it was enough to be a good advocate for him.

Getting ready for my son's first IEP meeting

Before the meeting, I updated the Tommy's developmental summary about the area of communications. I got information about bilingualism in kids with Trisomy 21 (T21). I talked to other parents who have being gone through the same experience, so it gave me an idea how the meeting would be. I also wrote down the goals I was planning for Tommy and I revised the IEP Checklist app I download on my iPhone a while ago. This app gave me all the sections that will be discussed in the meeting, so I got mentally prepared to advocate in getting exactly what my son was needing. I also pray asking for wisdom and strength because I have heard how the IEP meeting can emotionally affect parents because it could be an overwhelming situation for being a new process and it could be hard to talk about your child's different abilities and share them with people you will see for the first time at a meeting. 

Tommy's First IEP

Tommy's first IEP is going to be a little different because his IEP may have two parts due to he will be re-evaluated in the are of motor. He already had the OT re-evaluation last week and we are waiting for the PT re-valuation.  Meanwhile, Tommy's first IEP section was scheduled on March 2 to discuss about the communication area, the only area he has qualified so far.

I was nervous with the idea Tommy would have two IEP that would be combined when we get the results from the re-evaluations. But it worked out well because the first IEP meeting was focused for about an hour and half, in detail, on Tommy's strengths and weaknesses in the communication area with 6 members of  the school district, a friend of us, my husband and I. Being focused in one area was more beneficial that I could expect. All the services I had in mind to advocate for Tommy where discussed and approved. We got an incredible respond from our school district! Our school district is well known for being family oriented, which not all school district are in this way, this make me feel lucky for choosing the place where we life.

Services that were approved for my son's first IEP:

• Tommy will be part time early childhood and part time early childhood special education. this means, he will be 2 days in a regular class setting and 2 days in the special need class. Our Special School District is recognized for his inclusion program.
• Tommy will received Extended Year Services, so he will get services through the summer brake. Otherwise, we would have to use the services of a private paid therapist while he is in summer brake. Tommy got Extended Year Services due to his lost of skills during his hospitalization. I knew this was an important point to talk at the meeting, so I talked about it as soon as I had the opportunity, so when we got to section of Extended Year Services, they said yes, without me saying a word. 
• Tommy will get services for articulation therapy, including oral motor excises to decrease the tongue trusting. He will also get services for expressive and receptive language development and increasing his vocabulary. 
• Tommy will get Spanish during his regular class. The speech therapist and his teacher will work together to incorporate Spanish words in the class. I will support them in any doubt or question they may have about Spanish. My husband and I will also donate Spanish materials to Tommy's class. He is the first child with T21 in our Special School District being raised bilingual. Members of the School District are very enthusiastic on helping Tommy with his Spanish. I gave a copy of bilingualism researches in kids with T21 to our school district, so they know why bilingualism is important for my son. Tommy will start a extracurricular Spanish class during fall, but I hope by them he completely quit his nap because the class is in the afternoon.

My husband and I are very grateful on how everything has been coordinated to meet our son needs in our Special School District. We are thankful for all the services he is getting because we know they will tremendously help him. We will do everything in our end to help him to achieve his annual IEP goals.

My independent boy!

Promoting self-care skills it is important to foster independency in young children, which is I try to do with my son, specially, because he has always showed interest in do things on his own and it is also a natural way to strength his joins and eye-hand coordination due to he has hypotonia (low muscle tone).

Tommy attempted to put his shoes on since last September. Many things have been going on that I haven't dedicated too much time to help him in learning how to put his shoes on. Once in a while, we have seen him putting daddy's shoes on or putting any object could fit on his feet. Yesterday morning, I got so excited because Tommy put one shoes on by himself for the first time. What excited moment! When I realized this I took the shoe off and I gave it to him again and he did it again, but this time I had my camera ready. We went out yesterday evening and before we left I gave him one shoes and he put it on again. So now is just matter on time that he can learn what shoes is for the right and left foot. I don't know what age is appropriate for young children to put their shoes on, what I know is Tommy achieved this milestone on his own. We are very proud of him!

His diagnosis is not limiting him to achieve his full potential.

Developing Tripod Grasp (Part 2)

Back in November, I noticed Tommy was naturally beginning to hold the crayons between his fingers –it is called rigid tripod grasp. Since then, I started to pay more attention on how Tommy holds the crayons or markers and I try to correct him once a while when I see him holding the crayon with his fist so I gradually teach him how to hold the crayon or marker correctly.

See the video of Tommy correcting himself on how to hold

 the marker between his fingers.

You can also see him doing dots as his new artistic expression. 

Related article:

Developing Tripod Grasp 

Squeak, Squeak, Squeak!

Squeak, Squeak, Squeak! it is all what you hear when my son walks. In my search for finding something that could motivate Tommy to walk last year, I found out about the squeaky shoes, which has become one of Tommy's walking helper beside the orthotics.

Shoes are more than just something that cover my son's feeds because they provide support to the base of his body, which are the main body part for a proper body alignment. An unbalance body alignment can pull the joints out from the right alignment causing a rubbing/wearing process in cartilage, which can in some cases lead to hip and knee replacements. The unbalanced condition can cause sore back and sore joints and even right up to the neck. People with Trisomy 21 tent to have unbalance body alignment due to they usually develop flat feet because of their joints and muscle weakness. I always look for "Quality" shoes when making a decision what shoes my son should wear.

Benefits of Squeaky Shoes:

• Physical Therapists are currently using squeaky shoes with toddlers and young children to encourage a proper walking pattern. When the child walks properly, the muscles in feet and ankles develop properly, resulting in a good body alignment. These are quality shoes that are light-weight and flexible with squeaks in the heels, which are removable, giving an audible feedback that aids the child in knowing when he/she is walking correctly.
  
• The squeak sound is a great encouragement for crawlers to begin walking and for toddlers and young children to walk properly in order for the shoe to squeak (the baby or toddler must walk heel-to-toe).
• These shoes also allow visually impaired parents to hear the squeaky steps of their child or when you are in big crowd you always know where your child is.
  
• Pediatrician-recommended soft-soled exterior for young developing feet and these shoes meet this feature, they have soles bend and move easy after each squeaky step.
• These shoes are wide enough which allow the feet grow naturally and they are ideal if the child wears walking devices (orthotics) because there is still enough room for the feet be comfortable.

Squeak shoes are more than just shoes for me because Tommy began to walk a few days after he wore his first squeaky shoes. They were a great motivator for him to walk. They are also helping my son to develop a proper body alignment and walking pattern. Tommy began to walk with a narrower base in a short period of time I believe because of this shoes. We have still to strength his ankles for him to be able to walk with a complete narrow base, which will come with time. Meanwhile, we have fun when Tommy wears the squeaky shoes.

See the video of Tommy with his brand new

Navy with White Stripes Tennis Shoe

that we got for him last months.

Squeaky shoes are available at http://wesqueak.net/

Miracle in the making

We are very excited to announce we are expecting a baby boy. We are very happy because Tommy will have a playmate, but the best of all, they will experience life together as just bother know how. I didn't have a bother, but I have a sister who is my best friend. I will raise my boys respecting and loving each other as my mom did with my sister and I. Even, I wanted a girl and I am very excited expecting other boy because  I will experience my motherhood in a different way because every child is different and unique. This boy is constantly kicking as a little wild bull, like when Tommy was an unborn baby. I has been lucky to feel my unborn babies very earlier. I felt Tommy on Friday October 26th, 2007 when he was 18 weeks old. I felt my second child on Friday, January 14th, 2011 at his 14 weeks and 2 days.

I think the baby will look just like his older brother according to the ultrasounds. The only difference is my baby's forehead looks more like daddy's. We are excited to meet our little baby and hold him in our arms. We will raise our boys without differences because they are part of a family that  deeply love them for who they are and will support them in every stage of their lives.

Baby Ortiz-Lane

21 Weeks