One Lovely Blog Award

Laura, from Down Syndrome - Up Up Up and Away! blog, has nominated my blog for the One Lovely Blog Award! 

 

1. Thank – my nominator and link back to the site.  Thanks again, Laura!
 2. Share  – 7 things about myself

1. I have a full time job and I am full time mom. So I am busy!
2. I came to the USA to study my Master's degree. 
3. I will have 10 years leaving in the US.
4. I am original from Panama. Hey! We are more than a Canal. We are a multicultural country with a very reach folklore, which I wish my kids could experience one day.
5. I was in Panama while the Dictator Noriega was in power and when the USA invasion to Panama. They were not good times! 
6. I am very tiny in hight and weight. I cannot donate blood because  I weight under the limit. 
7. My favorite Hispanic singers are Enrique Iglesias and Chayanne (Elmer Figueroa Arce).

3. Nominate 7 other blogs.  Not in any particular order: 

1. Down Syndrome: A Day to Day Guide
2. We Can Do All Things
3. Down Syndrome, Up Up Up and Away!
4. Baska Bear
5. Monkey Musings
6. Life With My Special Ks
7. You are what you eat

4. Inform the nominees linking back to this post so they know the rules (who, by the way, have every right in the world to decline).

Early Sensory Processing for Babies

This post is dedicated to all unborn and brand new babies, who are entering to this world with predisposition to sensory processing disorder.

One of my blogger friend is also helping her daughter with sensory processing. She posted about her daughter's therapist, who is working on publishing a book about sensory processing. This occupational therapist has the same concern that I have: Autism and sensory processing are dramatically increasing. Due to our kids with Trisomy 21 have a higher risk for Autism and sensory processing, I advise any parent out there to look into the option for Occupational Therapy with sensory processing emphasis to help your child, since they are babies, to get organized and truly reach his or her full potential. This Occupational Therapist is trying to raise awareness on how parents can start right since the beginning to avoid major sensory processing issues.

Video by advancemybaby.com

My little sunshine

I am a little late with the update of my little sunshine. He is shinning like a rock star. He turned one on July 12 and he had his birthday party on July 21. He had a good time in his first birthday party. He is in the stage of shyness, so he was a little shy in his birthday party, but he warmed up at the end. He enjoyed the cake so much! 

Enjoy the pictures of him eating his first birthday cake,

 it is the first time actually eats a piece of cake. 

We are very proud of our little man and we wish the best for him. We all enjoy being around him! Since he was about 8 month old, we could not distracted him from something he wanted, so now that he is toddler it has gotten worse. He is showing temper tantrums when he doesn't get things on his way. The fun is just staring! He has giving a whole new dynamic to our family. He is very funny and curious boy.

Francis's 11 months milestones

• Rolls a toy car a cross the room
• Does simple forms of pretend play (Takes a block a pretend is a cup and share his drink with me).
• Points to a body part (nose)
• Favorite word "No"
• Increases his vocabulary. Three new words: nose, ball and salta.
• Repeats words after us in both languages (English and Spanish). Some words are not very clear
• Shows interest on walking down the stairs.
• Follows instructions in English and Spanish

Francis's 12 months milestones

• Keeps improving to walk up and down the stairs
• Keeps improving his dancing skills, which is funnier.
• Keeps improving his climbing skills
• Likes riding toys even when they are too high for him
• Enjoys playing with balls, cars, piggy bank.
• Stacks blocks of different sizes. 
• Actively plays Peek a-booh by covering himself under a blanket or taking the blanket out to discover an object or a person
• Begins to incorporate words to his pretend play (He says hello! to answer his phone that is his hand that works as a phone in Francis' world)
• He can place smalls rings in a thin pole
• Point at pictures on books or objects when named 
• Helps to put a few toys away
• Increases his vocabulary (Uses often the words: bye, agua, banana, mom, mamma, bubble)
• Say the animal sound for  caw and dinosaur. He is currently working on the animal sound for sheep and horse.
• Put a hat on and take his sucks and shoes off
• Switched from the baby bottle to a straw cup
• Begins to drink with open cup, but still working on it.
• Enjoys to be around other kids. 
• Shows shyness toward strangers
• Explores unfamiliar environment

Word Count at the end of his 12 months

There are two reasons I am keeping a word count of words Francis has said since he was 8 months, when he began to say mama and dada. The first reason is that Bilingualism can cause language delay. And the second one is that I had a concern when Francis was born, I noticed he could have Ankyloglossia or a heart shape tongue. His pediatrician checked him and his tongue passed his lips, so it is very mild that it won't cause issues in his speech. So far, speech is one of Francis's strength in communication skills. Here is the list of 24 words Francis has said so far: go, bebé, hi, hello, ball, daddy, bye, agua, banana, mom, mamá, mammy, bubble, nose, salta, booh for pick-a-booh, tah for clap, book, voy, no, papá, qué, bear, hola

Video of Francis's First Words at his 8 months

Video was taken on March 20th, 2012

In this video Francis was calling me "mom." 

My little man ready to go to church

 Francis doesn't like to pose for the camera,
 but I could capture a good picture of him, well a little messy.

Our supper baby is modeling an outfit sponsored by Aunt Melissa 

and the shoes were sponsored by Aunt Ibeth

This is one of Francis' favorite toys. 

Going up holding the rail to get Daddy

Video of Francis going up and down the stairs

Our expert climber gets up on the slide.

He is still working on sliding down by himself

At the moment, Francis is not having language delay due to bilingualism.
His speech and language development are right on track and maybe ahead; He is perfectly dominating both languages. I am persuading myself to not feel a guilt for not stimulating him as much as we would like to. It seems he knows it all. When I think I am teaching something to him,  he already knows it. He is very observant, which is an important skills for quick learning. He was 2 months ahead of kids of his age when he was two months old, and now
he had accomplished milestones 6 months ahead of his age. Having an older brothers helps for his stimulation, but it is not enough to jump developmental stages 6 months ahead. 
I don't know what God has planned for my little sunshine, but I am ready for it!

———————

Ankyloglossia is very common, but many parents don't realize about this until it is an issue with speech. Ankyloglossia runs in families, but I haven't find a connection in our families, yet. The website www.tonguetie.net has great information about it. 

It is Official! Tommy is asthma FREE

Yesterday afternoon, Tommy was officially diagnosed Asthma FREE. He won't back to see his pulmonary doctor. We are happy for Tommy, he is showing us how strong little guy he is.

The question if Tommy truly got asthma will remind in my mind.  I began to doubt it when all the symptoms he showed after the hospitalization where described in the side effect of prescription drugs given to him due to RSV. I realized this by the end of November last year, when I was looking for answers to what affected his development so much. I stopped the asthma medication back them and began to monitor Tommy. I kept the medication handy, just in case. Since November until today, Tommy didn't require asthma medication. He even had a few colds during the flu season and he wasn't even coughing. He got sick twice with a weird virus. We were told that  he would get sicker with any virus than other kids who don't have the viral asthma. This never happened. The two times he got sick, he got well quicker of what was expected. I also noticed there were not difference to have him on the medication or without it.  I think medicines are great, but I also think they are a business. I learned a lesson about medications last year, so I have became very vigilant in any type of prescription drugs will be given to my kids.

We are celebrating one more victory in our chromosomal war. 

Mommy's Lab

Working full time takes a lot of time of my day that I cannot work with Tommy. On top of this, I have to go to periodically visits to the Chiropractor to check Tommy's neck, private paid therapies, sport classes and outdoor activities. So I have to be organized at home to be able to work with Tommy in the short time I have in the evenings.

People always say to me, "I don't know how you do it." Unfortunately, I am not a superwoman with super powers to transform everything.  But I have created something I call 'Mommy's Lab' where all my inspiration, passion and love for helping Tommy comes alive. But it has been just recently that I could put 'Mommy's Lab' up and running. It is established in our leaving room with sub areas designated in the garage, the kids' rooms and the master bedroom. Before, It was disorganized with many things everywhere; but now, it's organized and functional with everything I need handy.

Mommy's Lab essentials:

• Craft materials
• Art supplies
• Therapeutic tools
• Books for kids about many topics (Bilingual, English and Spanish)
• Child Development Books
• Technology devices
• Old blankets
• Fun toys for developing fine/gross motor
• Toys for pretend play
• Musical Instruments
• Balls all sizes and shapes
• Pre-made activities
• Spanish activity books
• Videos, CDs, a lot of music
• A timer to keep the activities short (The stove timer)
• The best climbers ever (Our coughs)
• Tommy's best cheerleader and worse nightmare —Francis
• Our families support and
• A lot of LOVE.

I see toys so valuable as tools. We have a  good variety of toys because If one toy doesn't work, I can get another one, quick, to keeps Tommy's interest. If one activity doesn't work, I can switch to other activity or add a novelty to the activity. Anything in Mommy's lab can be transformed and being used for a fun and educational time.

Best Jumping Platform (Our coffee table)

Best Climber toy ever (Our couches)

I learned to get a better use of our furniture with 

Tommy's former therapists. I miss them a lot!

I have learned to read Tommy's body language when he needs sensory input. As his advocate, I have decided to educate people around him, so we all can help him to overcome his sensory issues. So I have done a sensory evaluation according to my observations. The book The Child with Special Needs has a guide on how parents can do their own individualized sensory evaluation. This evaluation helps to find toys and activities according to the child sensory needs. This evaluation is designed to follow the child's lead on what they want to do during play time.  I have written down my evaluation that I will share with our relatives. In Mommy's lab, there are a lot of studies and experiments about Tommy's development!

Batting a ball attached to the ceiling was one of the

activities I could identify, throughout my evaluation with the

guidance of the book the Child with Special Needs.

This activity has been a complete success with Tommy!

The blanket activity is another Tommy's favorite activity. 

He giggles every time we playfully smash him. 

This activity also applies for kids with sensory disfunction and it is away

caregiver shows affection to the child. 

I found a wonderful idea on how keep, in one place, all activities and games Tommy enjoys; as well as, the activities and games I have identify according to his sensory needs. Therefore, everybody involved in Tommy's care can have access to them and have a fun day with him. This will make easier keeping him busy, redirecting the stimuli behaviors and mommy's lab will be up and running while I am not there.

This is the activity & Game Jar I have create as

part of Tommy's recovering plan for Sensory Processing Disorder.

I took this idea from the summer activity jars in thecraftingchicks.com.

 I will use our during all year seasons. 

I feel the need to enjoy what I do for my son to keep going. So beign creative is part of who I am. I have incorporated a touch of my personality to my work with my son, knowing I am doing the best I can, and beyond, to help Tommy achieve his true potential. It hasn't been easy accepting and recognizing skills Tommy has lost —I can tell some of them are there, but he will use them again when he is ready. Meanwhile, I have to find ways to work with him that are fun while creating memories, and here is when everything in 'Mommy's lab' comes alive as magic. And some how, I become a child again!

_______
Special Thank you
My husband's family helped us to organize the house, which saved me a lot of time in organizing mommy's lab. I am grateful with my husband's family to support us in many ways. This is very important to me because I don't have my family close to me. I am grateful because they accepted me since the first day I met them.