Best Christmas Brake Ever!

I just felt a relief during the Christmas break. Because I noticed many small changes on Tommy. When I began my journey with Tommy's Autism diagnosis, I didn't know what to do or what to expect. Sensory processing issues was something I wasn't understanding very well. I couldn't understand why he regressed so much or why he stopped being affectionate. Today, the story is switching to a child who is definitely getting more and more out of his own world. Now, I do believe that kids with Autism doesn't have to remind in their own world, there is a window to pull them out. 

Tommy enjoyed for the first time Christmas morning while opening presents. He actually open some of his presents. For the first time, we had a better idea what Tommy would like for Christmas. He is an animal lover, so we got some stuff animals (a Cheetah, a Koala, and orangutan). He also got books from Llama Llama and many more presents. He was very excited with his presents. It was very exciting to watch his faces expressions that he liked his presents. He never before showed this emotional expression for a present given to him.

He also did good in our family reunions with our extended families. He was more comfortable being around people and the noise wasn't batter him as before.  He greeted his Grandma, who lives in Panama, through Skype. He told her: "Feliz Navidad" (Merry Christmas). He learned to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

 Taken advantage of the nice weather the day after Christmas, We went to zoo. Tommy and his little brother had so much fun. In our walk in the zoo, we could watch a Cardinal bird on a branch. He truly enjoyed watching the elephants as well as the seals. It was a beautiful day that Tommy enjoyed as he likes, being outside. But the best of all, he spent time with his little brother and when they walking around the park holding hands, I heard Tommy saying to Francis: "My brother" while looking at Francis. 

During the break, Tommy played a lot with his little brother. It was amazing looking at them interacting. They even played tug war by holding hands, which was spontaneous without therapy intervention. Tommy also was more adventurous because he practiced riding his scooter in the living room. He is getting better and better. This has been the best Christmas brake ever!

Cousins

(A causing is missing in the picture, it is hard to get them all).

Grandma

THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS AT THE ZOO 

I don't know what the future grant for Tommy.

Autism is a journey that I didn't ask for, and of course, I didn't want either. 

But at the same time, it has brought a courage from the inside

my heart I didn't know I had. It is not an easy journey,

but I know Autism is treatable and recovery is possible!

Halloween Recap

October 31 means a lot more than just Halloween to us. It was the day our lives changed forever. Seven years ago, we received the diagnosed for Trisomy 21 for our unborn baby. So I always had in the back of my mind to celebrate Halloween very big to celebrate my son's diagnosis. Howsoever, Autism came uninvited to our journey; then, all the joy went away because Tommy wasn't able to be connected with this world. Even when it has been three long and hard years, this year has been the year of HOPE for Tommy. Some things related to his AUTISM diagnosis have disappeared and other have gotten better. Last night, Tommy truly enjoy Halloween as I never expected. I could see by the end that he was getting overstimulated and began to stem, but still he was able to keep going with the celebration. I was so rewarding seeing him enjoying Halloween, this is definitely a huge progress in Tommy overcoming AUTISM.

Not just Tommy had fun, my charming baby Francis enjoyed himself as always. Francis has brought whole new dynamic to the entire family, which make us to realize how precious life is and how much we should celebrate alone the way. Francis invited his Aunt and grandparents to Trick or Treating with him. He personally make sure that our Aunt would come to trick or treating. He even made me to call his grandparents so he could personally invite them to trick or treating. Francis thought me a lesson, regardless how hard things are we should celebrate all the good things regardless how big or small they are. So I will retake my plan of celebrating Tommy's Trisomy's diagnosis. So from now on, we will invite relatives and friends every October 31 to trick or treating with us in our neighborhood. And when budget and the weather allows it, celebrating with a Halloween party at our house.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Panamanian School won the Honorable Medal "Best International Delegation" in London New Year Day Parade

I was very proud when I received the news that the Music Band of the Colegio Moises Castillo Ocaña won the medal as the "Best International Delegation" in London in January 1st, 2014. Since I remember, the Music Band of the Colegio Moises Castillo Ocaña has been considered one of the best in Panama. I actually attend Middle and Hihg Shcool at the Colegio Moises Castillo Ocaña. This band travel around the country a lot, I know because in my senior years, I was a member of a as special choreographic team as part of the Music Band performance. Looking at them, it has bring back memories of my school years and the same feeling of joy and pride that I had every time we performed to represent the Colegio Moises Castillos Ocaña in different providence of Panama!

QUE VIVA, QUE VIVA PANAMA!

Promotional Video to promote the Music Band in London

THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!

Remembering December 20, 1989

I didn't know how much remembering this date would affect me, until I started to write this post. Tears have came to my eyes! It has been the most bloody days in my country's history. The military operation "Just Cause," well known as the U.S. invasion to Panama. This operation wasn't fair for Panamanian civilians, and not even for the American soldiers. Because they had the order to kill around Christmas. We celebrated Christmas in tears and with fear by thinking who of our family members had died, where the next attack would take place. We lost contact with my dad who used to work near Rio Hato, a town were a Panamanian military base was located. There were military confrontations in and around the military bases. So we knew my dad could be in trouble, but he could call us days later after the invasion. I remember hearing gun fires coming front the Pacific coast. Panamanian militaries escaped from Rio Hato thru the mountains around the Pacific coast. They got intersected by American soldiers who were strategically placed in the riffle bonkers built around those mountains during Wold War II. The whole country experienced the most horrible sense of insecurity and weaknessed the most horribles scenes of a war zone, especially, in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Panama, known as "El Chorrillo."

The invasion could be avoided. But the American government chose not to, which it was understandable according to them. Panamanian civilians were confronting Noriega's dictatorship months previous to the invasion. The dictatorship was tumbling because of the pressure civilians were doing by confronting the Panamanian Army to defend their rights. Panamanian Militaries got tiered of seeing their people fighting against them —Panamanian against Panamanian. A group of Panamanian soldiers commanded by Moisés Giroldi conspired against Noriega. Moisés Giroldi contacted the US Southern Command, which operated in the Canal Zone. He told them about his plans to capture Noriega, so the US Army could extradite Noriega to the US. The US Southern Command agreed! The agreement was a US Army helicopter would arrive to the Panamanian military base located in "El Chorrillo" and take Noriega. On 3 October 1989,  Giroldi captured Noriega and persuaded other soldiers, working in that sift, to join him. But the US Army helicopter never arrived. This gave enough time to soldiers who supported Noriega to fight back against Giroldi. There were confrontations among the Panamanian Soldiers, so Giroldi got unarmed. Noriega took a gun, shooting right straight to Giroldi's head.


Why didn't the US Army helicopter arrive? The US Army claimed, at that time, it was missed communication. But the real reason was that Giroldi wasn't a trusting person, so they could not take that risk (Giroldi's intensions to get the county free of Noriega were true, but this is the price paid when you choose the wrong path). But there was one more powerful reason, that wasn't known by Panamanian civilians and the rest of the world. An American citizen got retained by Noriega for conspiracy against his dictatorship. This American civilian was living in Panama City because it seems he was married to a Panamanian woman. The American civilian began to intercept Noriega's conversations and shared them with the US Army. Noriega knew about it, so the American was captured, humiliated and tortured in the Panamanian military base located in El Chorrillo. The conspiracy agaisnt Noriega by Giroldi could put the American civilian's life in danger. The US Army was doing everything to get him back alive. So they had to strategically think on every move they would do. The "Just Cause" killed two (three) birds with one stone. They captured Noriega and released the American citizen alive. But they also sent a message to the world "how powerful they were" and the new weapons they had. Specially, for what was happening with, what was known as, Russia at that time.

Unfortunately, Panamanian civilians were the ones who truly paid the price for the errors and the horror of a dictatorship and the overpowering military operation from one of most powerful nations against a third wold country. The exact amount of Panamanian civilians lost  during the invasion will remind unknown. The estimates go from to 4,000 up to 8,000 Panamanian lost their lives in the invasion, including: babies, kids, women and seniors. A Panamanian Organization collected data and made surveys to know how many people were reported as missing and their bodies were never found. So the closer estimate according to this Panamanian organization is 5,000. More Panamanians died in the first 20 hour of the operation "Just Cause," than in 20 years of dictatorship. Things got out of control for the American Army. They probably not planned in this way, but this is the price Panamanians paid.  

The prognostic for Panamanian economy after the invasion were very discouraging. International economists predicted that it would take about 20 years for Panama recovered from the invasion. But regardless how much pain, human lost and destruction the invasion cost to my county, Panamanians took the lead back and our economy got recovered in 5 years after the invasion, instead 20 years –even when the US government didn't gave all the monetary support they promised to rebuild the distroided zones in Panama during the invasion. 23 years have passed after the invasion, I proudly say that Panama has the second place for having one of the the best and fastest growing economies in Latin America. When the presence of the American troops was removed from Panamanain soil in December 31, 1999; Many Panamanians celebrated, including me. We could have our land back, the Canal Zone.  But there were also many Panamanians who were sad because the US Army presence won't be in our country any more. Because they thought there were many benefits to keep the troops in Panama, especially for the economy. There were fears we won't be able to survive without the Americans. But once again, We did!

Currently,  the Panamanian Government and the American Government keep good international realtions and work together in the war against illigal drugs. 

I am very proud of being a Panamanian because we forgive, we accept and we celebrate. We don't keep bad feelings against Americans because of the invasion, in fact, there are a lot Americans immigrating to Panama and they are always "Welcome." We accepted the struggles the invasion brought because when the invasion happened, some countries offered to bring their troops and contra-attack the US Army. Panamanians stood up and said: NO! No in Panamanian soil. We suffered enough, we wanted to concentrate in moving on and rebuilding our country. Regardless, this sad part of my country's history, we celebrate life as much as we can because the Panamanian culture has always an excuse to make a party to celebrate everything; so the invasion didn't took away the way Panamanians are, joking around all the time. 

A Panamanian Message to the World:

FORGIVE, ACCEPT and CELEBRATE

I am married to an American citizen.

I have two kids who were born in American soil. 

One day, I will adopt the American citizenship. 

Happy Panamanian Mother's Day!

Today, December 8, is Mother's Day in Panama. We don't celebrate mother's day as many other countries in May. It is one of the biggest national holiday in my country. Most business are close, except for the first responders and gas stations. Everybody takes the time to honor their moms, even when they are not longer in this world.

Panamanian celebrates Mother's day on December 8  because it is the day of the Immaculate Conception. We have a strong influence from the Catholic Faith passed by the Spanish conquerors. The meaning of the Immaculate conception is that Mother Mary was conceived without the original sin. She was chosen by God to be free from the corrupt nature  that the original sin brings and with the state of sanctifying grace. In other words, Mary was chosen to be mother of Christ since she was conceived. According to my grandma, Mother Mary was around 15 when she had baby Jesus. So when her son was crucified, she was around 48. I can imagine her pain and emotions, regardless she was chosen, she is a mom as I am. I can imagine how her heart was broken for every nail hammered in her son's body to the point she could feel his pain. But she kept her faith strong and didn't doubt about God's father plan. Mother Mary is the one that shows to me with her example of sacrifice, what motherhood without limits is about. 

Thanks to my son's diagnosis, I have met wonderful moms. These moms are also part of the  "Motherhood without limits." These wonderful moms have shaped my motherhood. They have showing me what the power of love can do. I haven't personally met some of these moms, but hey have giving me their unconditional support online or on the phone. Regardless their busy lives, they have taken their time to give their advises, show me their teaching techniques and offering me their support. I am grateful with these moms for sharing their wisdom with me to the benefit of my son. I want you to know them, to honor them is this special day to me. Those moms are:

Mrs. Cunningham. I talked to her a couple of times on the phone when I was expecting Tommy. Unfortunately, I lost contact with her. I never met her in person, but she gave me the advise of developing the love for reading in my son. She was the one who recommended to contact Tommy's first pediatrician. I began to read to Tommy since he was in the womb after my first phone conversation with her. Tommy loves for books is amazing, but it comes from Mrs. Cunningham's advise.  Everybody at school knows how much he loves books. And lately, I have hear him saying "time to read."

Lianna. My first blogger friend. She showed me how important is teaching our kids to read at a very young age. She is all about inclusion and I love to see pictures of her son who has Down syndrome with his best friend, who is a typical child. This is also what I want for Tommy, I want him to be included and having his own typical friends.  

Andi, the writer of Down Syndrome: A Day to Day Guide blog. Her knowledge in supplements to keep her son healthy has inspired me to learn more about my son inmmune system and vitamin therapy. When I contacted her, she contacted other moms to find the answer to my questions without personally knowing me. Her little boy is doing beyond amazing due to her dedication and unconditional love.

Laura, the writer of Down Syndrome: Up, Up and Away blog. She doesn't accept the stereotypes and the odds putting on our kids. She has done a outstanding job with her daughter.  Her daugther K is doing great because she is doing things for kid of her age and above. She was the one who introduce me on how to get help for Tommy in a holistic way.

Gina, the writer of Mom-Blog. She is a web designer who works from home. This girl is smart! When I contacted to ask about nutrition, she sent me a great book that became my star point on knowing more about nutrition. I haven't met her and we don't keep in contact so often, but she welcomed me with out knowing me with great advises and encouragement. She has two daughters, one has Mosaic Down Syndrome and the other one has Autism and SPD. But they both are doing remarkable, regardless the labels. 

Randa Kay, the writer of Braska Bear and Just RK blogs. Everybody loves her because of her sweet personality. She supported me during my son's firt IEP. She even baked goodies to bring to the IEP meeting. She is our leader in our local Down syndorme group. Her daughter, Braska, is a rock star! At her short age, Braska is a great cheerleader with advanced reading skills for age. Braska and her mom have tought me to keep going and work hard that things will get better.

Melissa R. She is my neighbord. She doesn't know it, but she has teaching me so much. I watch her closely how she discipline her son, who also has Down syndrome, and I apply it at home with Tommy.  She always listen to me. Her son is doing outstanding, many things according to his age!

Molly S. She is also my neigbord. I don't see her quite often, but this girl has all the weapons to get what her son's needs throw the IEP. She is very knowledgeable about special education because she is an advocate, a mom of a child with special needs and a special education teacher. So she is a great advisor! Her son has autism and he is doing amazing, I personally cannot tell there is something different on him. 

They are two moms am very grateful to have in my life. They are my mom and my mother-in-law.

My mom. She have taught  me to accept everybody for who they are, not for how much the have or how they look. She taught never make fun of other people's disadvantages, including people with disabilities. She have taught me to fight for a better future. She is the most honest and lovely person I have ever met. As a grandmother, she just is full of joy because she is proud of his two amazing grandsons. She has never seen Tommy's diagnosis first because she always sees the amazing child he is first. My mom has always find away to communicate with Tommy regardless his communication barriers. On the other hand with Francis, she couldn't be here when he was born. She met him a year later, but she was always  talking to him through Skype. When they finally met, it was like she was here with him all the time. While she was visiting, one day I took the boys for a walk, but my mom stayed at the house. Francis felt something was missing, so he went back looking for her and brought her to walk with him. We are so blessed to have her in our lives!

My Mother-in-law. Since my husband and I were dating, she knew I was the one for her son. She always reminds us how important is that we take time for ourselves as a couple, regardless everything we have in our hands. She is right! She sees for everything we are going thru and she always find a way to help us. She is always doing all kind of activities with the boys and telling stories to them. So I created a special area for her in our house full of books, felt board stories, poppets and stuffed animals to animate her stories. One quality I have learned from her is to bring out the child's spirit that it is on all of us, regardless the age. This is crucial for tommy's therapies.

Happy Mothers day to my Aunts, cousins, Friends and all Panamanian Moms and non-Panamanians, too!

Today is a day to celebrate Motherhood without limits!

Celebrating the World Down Syndrome Day!

Today is the World Down Syndrome day. I am still optimistic about my son's future regardlees all the developmental challanges Tommy has had to face in the last year. He is getting cutter every day (words from a proud mom). Day by day, he is beating Sensory Processing Disorder. So we are very proud of him!

I began a infomal journal (iphone notes) where I write any progress I notice, any new word, any decreased sensory behavior, any little experience he has been confident to do on his own. We are very blessed with having Tommy in our lives, he teaches us what really matters in life and help us to keep our feet on earth. He shows us that everything can be possible no matter how long it could take. He gives me hope when I feel I cannot go on anymore.

My mom's dream is that Tommy learns to play the piano, so she has given cute wooden pianos with real piano keys since he was a baby. Tommy has a natural love for music that goes beyond of what is expected for a child of his age. Since Tommy was about 18 months old he could know what song was being played by just hearing the instrumental music. Recently, we discovered he can also play the tunes of a song he sings with his drum set. My husband discovered a few weeks ago. So we will support him in his love for music and we will see what happen. I am glad his speech therapist has also realized Tommy's natural ability for music. When she met Tommy last year, she realized Tommy could know what song was play by just hearing the instrumental music, so she incorporated a few minutes of piano play in her therapist sessions with him.

Tommy is officially learning to play the piano. His first piano lesson was this past Monday. Tommy's piano teacher was impressed of Tommy's natural ability for music, too. He got "stars" in every area he practiced during his first lesson. His teacher was very excited and so did I! Watching him in front of the piano and following the teachers rhythm by making music with their hands, gave me a good feeling. This is the perfect fit for him! So this is a great way to celebrate the World Down syndrome Day. Our kids are all about abilities, we just have to give them the opportunity to try.

Happy World Down Syndrome Day!

¡Feliz Navidad! Merry Christmas!

May this Christmas had been a time

of joy with your family and friends.

Merry Christmas!

We have a peaceful, joyful, relaxing and fun Christmas. We were looking for it after having a rough year with worries, stress and difficult moments from start to finish of the year. Not matter what, we are a stronger family full of love. Having our second child has been the most grateful moment we had this year. He is adorable and funny. Watching our boys growing up and learning to be bothers is a joy.

   

¡Feliz Navidad!

My Little Patriot

Every American should be proud of beign born in the USA. Every American should be proud of every symbol that represent who you are as a Nation. The older generations have done many scarifies to make this country the nation is today. 


Being American is part who my son is regardless his diagnosis. Two weeks ago, we went to our local Home Depot store and they had an American flag displayed near to the main entrance. Tommy walked right straight where the flag was and pointed at it because he recognized it from last year when we celebrated the 4 of July by teaching him 2 national symbols and 2 presidents. He still remembers them when I show the flash cards to him.


Days later, I was getting baby stuffs from the basement to start getting ready for the arrival of our new baby boy. I didn't realized that between the stuffs there were 3 flags (Panamanian flag, Irish flag and American flag). Between the three flags, Tommy chose the American flag and spent the whole evening waving the flag. I tried to put it away from him because I didn't feel confident with the thin flag pole because he could poke one of his eyes out, but he got mad. So I respected his desire of keeping the American flag, after all, the flag represents part of who he is. He ate with the flag in front of him; he went to take his bath with the flag, but this time he allowed me to put it on the sink before getting to the bathtub; he brushed his teeth with the flag in one hand and the toothbrush in the other one; after this, we went to his room to get ready for bed. It was challenging when a said "you can not sleep with the flag" and tried to take it a way from him. So I told him, "you can have the flag for a little while, but the flag will sleep close to the lamp because the flag will watch over you. The flag will be right there in the morning waiting for you." I am not sure if he understood, but he didn't cause a fight after I took the flag away. When I open the door of his room the next day thinking he was still sleeping, Tommy was already awake waving his American flag.  

Happy Independence Day!

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!