Update and a question

[Myria]

Hey everyone! I hope everyone is doing well, I am going to try and get caught up on the last 6 months worth of posts now that I have internet again.. ;D

I have a question for any of you who may live in the DC, or Montgomery County ,MD area. We have recently moved here and I'm looking for a doc for Ayden, and I need to get him into an E.I. program also. Luckily we are very close to Johns Hopkins and I would love to get him into the DS program there. Has anyone here had experience with the Kennedy Kreiger center? And if any of you have any leads on a great doctor/ and or therapists in this area that would be fantastic!

My little man is doing so well, I am the proudest mama ever! Ayden is going to be 2 next month (can you believe it!!!) He loves signing time, and he knows about 50 signs.
The most exciting thing for us has been that he is now trying to say the words that he is signing. It's not perfectly clear yet, but he is trying so hard! And guess what, he is walking all over the place! He started walking right before he turned 18 months old, it took everything I had not to email his first OT who told me that he would never walk before he was 2. Talk about an optimist..lol

I have a few new pics of my little monster, I will try and add one to this post when I get them uploaded.

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

Yeaaaa Myria. I have been thinking of you guys alot. Hoping all was ok and you just didn't have your internet hooked up yet. Glad to see you'all are ok.

OMGoodness, almost two. How can it be Sounds like Ayden is rocking it out!! WTG Ayden. Love that little guy How is Ashley doing with the move? You?

[Jackie]

I will pass this along to my Marnie who is a pediatric nurse in the area...she works with a lot of kids who have DS and might have some ideas.

Jackie

[wrblack]

George Capone runs the Ds clinic at Kennedy Krieger and is an Associate Professor of Pediatics at Hopkins.
www.kennedykrieger.org/kki_cp.jsp?pid=1399
I've met him only twice but was just reading two responses of his to a mom over on the Ds-autism board. My impression is that he's an excellent doctor and a very good man, does an incredible amount of stuff.
Also think that majority of kids he sees, like 85 to 95%, have more going on than Down syndrome. He's maybe the leading expert on the combination of Down syndrome and autism, particularly now that Bonnie Patterson has retired from Cincinnati.
So, he may be more doctor than you need. But he might be glad to see a little guy with Ds who's doing well and not beset by lots of other problems.
The way we use the Ds clinic at CHOP, is to make an annual visit to check that we're doing all the things we should be doing, covering all the bases, not missing anything important. We see an excellent developmental pediatrician there. And we see a number of CHOP specialists, usually at local satellite office, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, otolaryngologist, but hooked up with pediatric ophthalmologist elsewhere. But for a runny nose and routine care, we go to a local pediatrician, also a very good doctor, was Charlie's neonatologist. You might think about using KKI's Ds clinic in a similar fashion.
I don't know anything about EI in Maryland but here's their info, though you probably already have it,

Programs for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: Ages Birth through 5
Deborah Metzger, Program Manager
Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program/Preschool Branch
Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services
Maryland State Department of Education
200 W. Baltimore Street, 4th Floor
Baltimore MD 21201
[phone]
[phone] (in MD)
[e-mail]

www.mdecgateway.org

And when Ayden graduates EI, then might be the time to look into KKI's school programs, but you could check them out in advance,
www.kennedykrieger.org/kki_2nd_inside.jsp?pid=7
and
www.kennedykrieger.org/kki_school.jsp?pid=1423
HTH,
Bob

[lorraine]

Great to have you back Myria ;D
I too have been wondering about Ayden, it sounds like he is doing really great.

I hope you have all settled well after your move, it must have been a big change.

take care
Lorraine

[Myria]

Thank you Bob, once again, for your invaluable info! That helps alot. And thank you Jackie, that would be great if Marnie has any suggestions.
Jenn- the move has been easy and stress-free... (not) lol but we are doing better now that we are settled in. Ashley is a trooper, she is doing great about having to start a new school again. Goog is growing up so fast! She is absolutely beautiful!

Lorraine- thanks for saying hi, I hope your William is doing well, he is such a cutie. I think about him bouncing on that trampoline and I can't wait to see Ayden do that!

Here is a picture (sorta recent, within a couple months) of my little man:

[wrblack]

Quite welcome. One more bit of info,
Montgomery County Infants & Toddlers Program
Single Point of Entry
Phone: [phone]

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

OMGoodness, look how big he is Sweet!!

[CC]

Myria ~ OMG girl I am so happy to see you post, its been forever since you moved and I have thought of you all wondering where you were If my memory is correct, last we heard from you was you leaving on your flight back here to the states.

I have no info for you but golly you are really not that far from us Colin is actually going to Maryland in November for a trade show/conference. I think your only about 3 hours, well Maryland is about 3 hours from us

Got to tell you I just LOVE the most recent photo of Ayden, how ADORABLE is he ;D and his smile is just PRICELESS.

CC~

[momofrussell]

WOOHOOO on the walking!!!!!!!!

[faithhope]

Hey Myria, looks like you already got some good helpful info You can never have too much though. I forwarded your post to my husband cousin who is a pediatric nurse at John Hopkins.
On another note, I have not read all the posts that I have missed so I do not know if you have mentioned it but
CONGRATULATIONS ON BABY ON THE WAY!!!!!!
Come on and spread the joy, if not I will ;D ;D ;D
Love,
Jess

[Myria]

Thanks Jess, I look forward to any info your cousin can provide.
And no I haven't mentioned it in any posts but thanks! We are very excited

And CC , you should go with Colin to his trade show- and come visit