Something of a routine

"I've learned how to hold on, and don't fall off anymore, when someone gives me a good push!"  (not a fun surprise for the pusher or the pushee!)

This is just getting cocky-- waving while swinging!

Just chillin'.  Yes, everyone gets a turn on the potty.

"But it's really boring..."

She must have been feeling maternal this day--surrounded by baby dolls.  She often cuddles her babies, and gives them a kiss.  That little doll is the potty-training doll, and his pants are usually pulled down, even though I always pull them up for him!

I feel like we're starting to get into something of a routine, albeit an exhausting, sometimes overwhelming routine.  I finally feel comfortable enough with the three kids to start taking them places, and last week we went shopping several times, and even went to get x-rays at the hospital.

Children with Down syndrome are at risk for a condition called atlanto-axial instability, and can suffer damage to the spinal cord, if it is not addressed, so we went to get our x-rays done, to rule it out.  The girls enjoyed all the attention, and stood fairly still for their x-rays, but our boy was a noodle, and no matter where we held him for support, or to limit his activeness, he collapsed a different part of his body.  He can fold completely in half, and when we tried to hold him straight, he held his feet up off of the floor.  Very challenging!  I told them, "He waits to see exactly what you want from him, and then makes sure you don't get it!  This is a guiding life principle for him!"

Actually, he's getting better all the time.  Today, he came to the table when he was called, eagerly climbed up into his booster chair, and willingly reached out to hold hands for the before-meal prayer.  Then he ate his dinner quite independently, didn't make much mess, and climbed down himself after his hands and face were wiped.  These were all challenges a few months ago, and we do not take them for granted.  Thank you, God!

Okay, I didn't mention the part about having to take at least one teenager with me, when I take the little kids anywhere, and two teens is preferable.  I dream about taking them by myself, but we aren't at that point yet.

Someone asked me if the kids are in school yet, and the short answer is:  no.  The long answer is that our family has a long, proud tradition of homeschooling, with short periods of public schooling thrown in.  Our older kids all went to school while I went to nursing school, and the ones who have reached high school age went to public high school, and then early entrance to college.  Since my husband and I both work full-time, we may resort to public school in the future, but for now, we feel we can teach them best at home.

As healthcare professionals, as well as veteran homeschooling parents, we are aware of resources that are available, and developmental stages.  We have researched quite a bit about Down syndrome, and about education in general.  We recognize that there are particular challenges, and learning styles that are common with Down syndrome.

I have assessed the children as we have gotten to know them, to find their levels, and at this point, I've moved back so far from where I expected to be, that I've decided to give them a "babyhood" of sorts, allowing them to become integrated into the family, learn the language, learn the family rules, find their own particular niche, and get potty-trained!  We enjoyed our babies so much, and would never have dreamed of sending them off to school as babies, when they still needed so much attention.

At this point we are focusing on nutrition (I make smoothies with everything but the kitchen sink thrown in--any fresh fruit, green tea for it antioxidative properties, fresh veggies like carrots, spinach and cilantro--not bell pepper; it tastes way too strong-- probiotics, yogurt, wheatgrass and barley mixes, and even my Reliv supplement.  I also feed them lots of variety, and give them fresh veggies and fruits to get them used to eating them, not just drinking them.

Some other things we are focusing on are:  learning to walk, run, jump and climb, improving balance, muscle tone, fine motor skills, drawing (even just holding a pen or pencil, and learning to make lines, circles, etc.) spatial skills (this is a tough one!) table manners (chew, chew slowly and thoroughly, swallow, one bite at a time, hold a fork and spoon properly, use a straw) and learn to talk (lots of babbling going on around here, that is starting to sound like english babbling, with lots of open vowel sounds, instead of like russian babbling, with lots of consonants.)

We have lots of educational toys, books, games, videos, and even some that are good for physical therapy, and learning to use their bodies better.  Now that the weather is decent, they're going outside to play, also.  None of these things use themselves, though, and all require lots of time, attention, and hands-on from someone big.  The kids rarely get on the little trampoline voluntarily, for instance, and have to be encouraged and helped.  Then, it's great fun, but if they don't have someone right there, two of them default to rocking and daydreaming, and the other one defaults to dismantling the house (which I'm sure is very stimulating, but not smiled on!)