NATIONAL DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS WEEK

Happy National Down Syndrome Awareness week!!  As per usual, I will try to blog every day, but seeing as I have covered most things in my previous blogs, I might just share an article here and there... as everything will seem repetitive.
Well, its been a while since i have last blogged... and ALOT has gone on since.  We completed a speech block with a group of other boys (as it seems boys are usually the ones who have speech delays...), and that lasted 2 months, once a week.  Lincoln was the oldest in the group, and the other two boys (who didn't have a learning disability) were almost 3 and 2.5.  Lincoln started off being the one who talked the most, but by the end, the other boys were doing really well.  Lincoln did really well too, he is starting to put sentences together, which is so cute. Parker seems to understand him really well, and if other people are around, Parker will translate what Lincoln wants if they cannot understand what he is saying, which is so tear jerking and sweet!  He's a great brother, and is doing such a good job at encouraging Lincoln to hit milestones Parker has already hit.  Parker is potty trained, and Lincoln has weeks where he is potty trained, and weeks where he refuses to go on the potty, so Parker's encouraging words to Lincoln about being able to wear cool boxers like daddy means you're a big boy... and Lincoln will usually go (with a bit of a fight) afterwards.  Its so tough!!  He refuses to communicate about potty training, and usually refuses to go - but i force his pants off, and as soon as he sits on the toilet, he will do a waterfall of pee.  Its tough because I don't know if I'm doing wrong forcing him.  If i DO wait, however, he will hold it until i sit him on the potty, and complain because it hurts when he goes because he has been holding it so long.  Its a long road - but we have confidence that there will be an end to this road at some point in time.  Hopefully sooner than later, though I cant complain about diapers because they are fully covered through Easter seals and ACSD - a disability funding program for children.
 We have met with our new Ear Nose, Throat specialist, and Lincoln will be getting tubes put in his ears again on Nov. 14, because there is fluid that has been sitting there for quite a while, causing mild hearing loss.  No ear infections though, so that's good.  Getting tubes will help to drain the fluid, and help his hearing, and hopefully his speech in the end.
   We meet with our occupational therapist about once every 3 weeks (just started), and we are currently working on self dressing, potty training, drinking out of a big boy cup and getting rid of his soother... (i know... hes almost 5 and still has a soother. tsk tsk tsk.)  I even wrote a book about saying bye bye susu... which the end has a garbage pail, where the soother goes.  I read the book once, and Parker threw his out right away, and never went back, Lincoln threw one out (he has a few)... but had dance parties on his bed - naked ones, til 2 am... in which i gave in and gave it back... we are still working on that.
   I have just pulled Lincoln out of daycare, and am searching for a new one, as my sister has resided from her position, and I didn't feel that they were taking things seriously with me, as in potty training, and drinking out of a big boy cup.  All the other kids drink without a lid, but Lincoln isn't there yet, and I had complaints that he was drinking out of the faucet in the bathroom at daycare (cause the kid was obviously thirsty)  So he will be done on Nov 11, and we will search for a new one.

   I was also asked to be a guest speaker for a ladies group at my parents church about a month ago.  I had about 4 months to prepare, which is good, because they wanted me to speak for half an hour!  It took alot of time preparing, and I was very nervous, but it was a great experience!  I had every ones full attention the whole time, and even brought tears to peoples eyes!  It was so nice to see so many people interested in hearing my story, and connecting with them one way or another. I think its great to get your story out there.  so that those who are not parents of children with special needs can become helpers to our cause, simply by educating themselves, or sharing an article about Down Syndrome, being empathetic, open minded, and open hearted to be able to see the person beyond the syndrome.
   Thanks for reading :)