|
Prayers
Sept 5, 2004 20:34:00 GMT -5
Post by MaggiesMom on Sept 5, 2004 20:34:00 GMT -5
I pray that the Lord will give you peace and comfort at this time in your life.
I have no idea how you feel, but I'm 42 and can't imagine losing my mom. She too is my best friend! We walk together every day.
Your daughter will be fine with your friend. I'm sure it adds more stress having to worry about her and missing time with your daughter. It's hard, but she'll be fine.
Concentrate on your mom and what you all can do together during her stay with you. Video tape everyday conversations, your daughter playing near her and snuggling with her. Take pictures and get your mom to write down some of her thoughts and memories. You and your daughter will treasure them forever. Just sit and talk. Every second is precious.
Take care and know that we're praying for you and your mom.
Robin M - Maggie's mom
|
|
|
Post by MaggiesMom on Sept 5, 2004 20:22:19 GMT -5
I don't know if it would work in this situation or not, but Walmart has "angel alert" devices that beep if the child gets more than a certain distance away from the "adult". It's a two part device that one part attaches to the child's clothing and the other the adult has. I know it's on the internet as well. You may be able to google it and find it.
Hope something helps. MB, as always, has great advice!
See ya,
Robin M - Maggie's mom
|
|
|
feeding
Sept 5, 2004 21:37:27 GMT -5
Post by MaggiesMom on Sept 5, 2004 21:37:27 GMT -5
Oh do I feel your frustration! Maggie is 3 and 1/2. She didn't have feeding issues until an OT tried to force feed her cherrieos when she was 12 months old. Telling me if I didn't MAKE her eat them now, she'd never eat them. Well it got worse from there. It took us 4 therapists and a couple of years to get her to the point where she'll now eat soft table foods if they are fork mashed. It took a lot of work on everyone's part to get to this point! I'm living for the day when I can hand the child a piece of food and her just eat it! Ahh...it's the little things in life! But we found a wonderful therapist who told us it is sensory issues and to find out about brushing and other techniques from our OT. (We have a different OT by the way) Our current feeding therapist told me that "something" happens along the way and our kids don't trust food for some reason. We have to teach them to trust it and like it again. It has to be an enjoyable experience or why bother! Maggie likes to eat and enjoys a large variety of food. But, she will only drink pear juice! She'll take two sips of water then start spitting it. So I'm no help there. Go to talktools.com and look up their feeding programs. They have some video tapes and such that you can rent and view with your therapist. My biggest advice...find the right therapist! It will make the world of difference. By the way...I hate the word "behavioral"! Our therapist says there's a reason they ACT that way. They didn't just dream it up to annoy us! Take care. Robin M - Maggie's mom P.S. Laura Snowbird's Ethan has had some experience with feeding issues. Drop her a line and she should be of some help.
|
|
|
Post by MaggiesMom on Sept 5, 2004 20:38:08 GMT -5
We have a small exercise trampoline that the kids bounce on a little in the yard. It's only 6 inches off the ground.
One Step Ahead, on line company, has those small trampolines with the handle. They are easier to bounce on too. Our PT recommends them.
We have done brushing off and on for two years now. Maggie's 3. She has sensory issues and feeding issues. It does seem to help. I should do it more...a long with 100 other things the therapists suggest...but there's only so much time in a day. KWIM?
Take care.
Robin M - Maggie's mom
|
|
|
Post by MaggiesMom on Aug 24, 2004 22:23:30 GMT -5
Happy, Happy birthday to you!
Take care
Robin M - Maggie's mom
|
|
|
Meri
Aug 24, 2004 22:24:54 GMT -5
Post by MaggiesMom on Aug 24, 2004 22:24:54 GMT -5
Prayers for your family! Hang in there!
Robin M - Maggie's mom
|
|
|
Post by MaggiesMom on Aug 13, 2004 0:40:53 GMT -5
Happy 5th Birthday! What a handsome guy you have there! Too cute.
Robin M - Maggie's mom
|
|
|
Post by MaggiesMom on Aug 13, 2004 0:39:37 GMT -5
So glad to hear that Ethan made it through surgery well. I'm sure you are glad that is all ove with!
You GO GIRL! on that hearing issue and fluid for kids with DS. Amen! and preach it till the cows come home!
Tubes in Maggie's ears made a HUGE difference. She was a whole new child. She could balance, walk, talk and hear things she'd never heard before. I'd get them in a heart beat if I thought she needed them again. IN fact, it took a lot for the ENT to convence me that he didn't need to put them back in when the 1st set fell out! But so far, so good!
Keep us posted on Ethan's progress. I'm sure he'll be much happier now.
Couldn't you just strangle that ped? GRRRRR!
Robin M - Maggie's mom
|
|
|
Post by MaggiesMom on Aug 12, 2004 0:46:14 GMT -5
I'm sure lots of people can tell you about having to have tonsils and adenoids out to cure such problems. We haven't had to go that far, but Maggie has had tubes in her ears.
Watch out for hearing loss due to stuffed up ears. Docs can't always SEE fluid, but it can be there. Ask for a tympanogram to check for negative pressure. It can take away softer sounds our kids need to hear for speech. By the way, I've read that people with DS should have their hearing tested annually. With Maggie's hearing loss, we test more than that!
We run a cool mist humidifier in her room 24/7. I clean it with clorox every two weeks to keep the mold out. I also change her sheets regularly and keep encasements on her pillows and bed. I dust with a damp rag and try to vaccum weekly.
It's a lot of work. But, my kids are a lot healthier when I do all that. Docs will tell you that allergies can't happen at early ages...but my son was taking shots by age 2!
Ask about Nasonex or Rhinocort nasal sprays. If the saline nasal spray doen't help, these may. They are RX that the doc will have to give you. But both my kids take them and it seems to help when they get stuffy.
Hope something helps. Keep us posted.
Robin M - maggie's mom
|
|
|
Iron
Aug 1, 2004 23:36:20 GMT -5
Post by MaggiesMom on Aug 1, 2004 23:36:20 GMT -5
Maggie was anemic when she was 1 year old so we had to find ways to add iron to her diet. We tried the drops and that was the pits! So we did the next best thing and added lots of baby cereal to everything she ate. It worked and she has a wonderful blood count now.
No need to worry about excess iron here! We didn't have enough!
Robin M - maggie's mom
|
|
|
Post by MaggiesMom on Jul 18, 2004 21:37:28 GMT -5
Happy, Happy Birthday to you!
Hope it is great!
Robin M and Maggie
|
|
|
Post by MaggiesMom on Jul 13, 2004 23:25:08 GMT -5
Pear juice - 100% without sugar works around here. Also eating canned pears or peaches may help too.
Cut down on cheese, bananas, anything binding.
Good luck
Robin M - Maggie's mom
|
|
|
Post by MaggiesMom on Jul 13, 2004 23:37:04 GMT -5
Maggie just got her first dental check up last week at Khluge - UVA. They were very nice, but with Maggie's oral aversion, it was not a fun experince for her. I held her in my lap...legs and arms crossed over her...the hygenist cleaned while the dentist kept Maggie's mouth "open" with the end of a child's tooth brush. Needless to say, not what I had in mind. But, not as bad as I had thought it was going to be. It was the fastest cleaning I've ever seen! She got the flouride treatment too. She's still not crazy about having her teeth brushed, but it's not been any worse than it was before we went to the dentist. Take care. Robin M - Maggie's mom
|
|
|
Post by MaggiesMom on Jul 12, 2004 22:09:17 GMT -5
That's so great!
I was just talking to our nursery leader at church who said that the teachers were complaining about a preschooler who is autistic. He has to be held the whole time or he gets upset.
She's trying to figure out what will be best to meet his needs and not wear out his teachers. I suggested an aid just for him. Any ideas out there?
Due to Maggie not having had heart surgery yet, we have to be careful with her exposure. I planned to take her to VBS since I figured that the germs are pretty calm this time or year. But Tim (dh) is afraid she'll catch something. I'm not going to fight him. Unfortunately, he's usually right about these things. I've learned the hard way when to question him and when to let it go.
So glad your little one did well. I can't wait till Maggie gets her turn!
Robin M - Maggie's mom
|
|
|
Post by MaggiesMom on Jul 11, 2004 23:18:55 GMT -5
I like Columbus! Went to seminary there! Well north of there, but that was our stomping grounds.
Thanks for the update!
Robin M - Maggie's mom
|
|