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Post by YoshsMom on Mar 11, 2005 17:04:01 GMT -5
Yosh absolutely loves Baby Tad from Leapfrog. It has six light up shapes on it tummy which play songs when you push them. Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Learning Home is also great. It really encourages cruising and squatting because it has stuff to do at different levels. Yosh loves it because it has a door he can open and close and he is very into doors. And for a little gift, Gymboree makes the worlds best bubbles. They don't pop as fast as regular bubbles and give Yosh time to go after them.
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Post by YoshsMom on Mar 8, 2005 12:17:57 GMT -5
I want to hear everything and be able to say whatever I need to. That's why I come here, to discuss stuff that my family doesn't want to hear or can't understand. People always have the choice not to read things that upset them. Yosh is turning three in a few months and I like hearing about the older kids so I have some idea of what's coming next.
I was finally able to stop doing the comparing thing. Besides just natural differences in ability and timing, so many of our kids have been through so much medically and that sets things back, too. When I realized I wasn't taking into account Yosh 10 weeks in NICU and 1 year with casts on his feet, I saw that I wasn't being fair to either of us. For the first time, I feel I can honestly say I'm happy with whatever progress he makes, as long as we keep moving in the right direction.
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Post by YoshsMom on Feb 26, 2005 19:12:48 GMT -5
What a little doll! Congratulations and welcome.
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Post by YoshsMom on Feb 25, 2005 16:06:04 GMT -5
Yosh is finally going the whole night without a bottle, which he had needed due to reflux. For the last few weeks he was taking 2 sips and tossing it away, then calling for me 20 min later, so we decided he was playing us and last Fri we stopped coming when he called. He still wakes up a couple of times, but when we don't show he goes right back to sleep. I can't believe how easy this was ! No fuss, no complaints, and I get to sleep a solid 6 or 7 hours for the first time since I got pregnant. ;D
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Post by YoshsMom on Feb 24, 2005 15:12:50 GMT -5
Yosh was on a prescription decongestant a few weeks ago and it made him so irritable. He was totally not himself, crying half the time and yelling the other half. Over the counter stuff can also change behavior. Add feeling sick on top of that and anyone would act out.
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Post by YoshsMom on Feb 22, 2005 20:27:16 GMT -5
Hi Rich, congratulations. I'm from Passaic and when my son was born early intervention contacted me in the hospital before we even came home. I've got the names of a few places for you to contact, but don't let it overwhelm you. You don't have to do it all at once and most will wait until your little one arrives.
First, Parent to Parent will connect you with another parent with a special needs child to talk to. Their number is 800-367-6274.
You should register with the Department of Developmental Disabilities, 973-927-2600. They may be able to help with some financial aid. We get $200 a month to pay for hippotherapy.
Stepping Stones is a program just for kids with ds in Livingston. If its not too far for you, its a really great place where kids get ot, pt and st in a small group. Yosh went for over a year. 973-992-9830.
Thats probably enough for now. Just be prepared for this little boy to bring tremendous joy into your lives. Yosh is the best thing that ever happened to us.
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Post by YoshsMom on Feb 21, 2005 20:01:22 GMT -5
I agree. No test score has ever told me as much aabout a student as spending time with him and talking to his parents. If I can avoid Yosh taking IQ tests, I will. We start the evaluation process in a couple of weeks since Yosh turns 3 in June. He'll be starting preschool this summer.
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Post by YoshsMom on Feb 17, 2005 21:33:05 GMT -5
Have you ever tried a behavioral approach?
Get a kitchen timer and set up a chart with days of the week and time intervals. Start with a short interval you think she will be successful at. If she keeps the glasses on until the bell rings she gets a sticker on the chart and every one makes a big fuss. If she doesn't keep them on, very calmly set the timer again. Give as little attention as possible to her taking them off. After a couple of successful days, make the time longer. For some kids the sticker is enough, others need to earn something for them. For example, 10 sticker equal a favorite tv show or special time with mommy or daddy, for 20 she gets to choose a special meal for dinner, and a whole week could equal a toy or going to McDonalds.
Even though Yosh isn't ready for this kind of thing, I've done it with many kids over the years for glasses, hearing aids, not biting etc.
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Post by YoshsMom on Feb 12, 2005 21:30:30 GMT -5
Congratulations Rich and welcome to UNOMAS. I wish I'd found it while I was pregnant.
We also found out about the Ds before our son was born and I'm glad we did because it gave us a chance to grieve for the "perfect baby" we had imagined and get ready for the wonderful child we got. My religion teaches that kids with ds or other special needs have a unique purpose in this world and Yosh's seems to be to bring joy into other people's lives. He certainly brings joy into ours. Dh and I constantly wonder how we got this lucky.
BTW, we're form NJ, too. We live in Passaic County and my sister lives in Morris.
If there is anything you need to know, this is the place to ask.
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Post by YoshsMom on Feb 10, 2005 12:13:37 GMT -5
With younger kids I always tried to write something every day, even if it was just a line or two. If something particularly good of particularly bad happened I always shared it. I also wanted the parents to write back to me and let me know about things at home, some did and some didn't. Interestingly enough, the kids whose parents took the time to write back to me always seemed to make the most progress. And any parent that wanted to visit was always welcome, with a little advance warning. When I had older students who could speak for themselves (over 2nd grade) I called once a week becausae notes had a tendency to get lost One of the reasons I love doing early intervention is that I've got the parent right there every time.
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Post by YoshsMom on Feb 8, 2005 12:14:40 GMT -5
I think Yosh's ds changes more about him than just his learning skills. Its part of who he is. And no matter what level his skills reach, it will always affect the way the world sees him and the way he sees the world. There are days I marvel at the things he is doing and others when I worry that he isn't doing enough. Today someone asked how old he is and when I said 2 1/2, she looked at me with such pity I wanted to smack her. And I've completely given up on DH's family who, with the exception of my MIL, act like he doesn't exist.
When I taught in NYC, they used to call all the special needs kids a "preschool child with a disability" so that no one would be insulted by a label. It would have been a lot easier to teach them if I'd known what the problem was at the start instead of having to figure it out on my own. And DH has students in high school who can't read because of social promotions. Who cares if the kid can't read as long as his feelings aren't hurt. All that pc stuff is ridiculous and does more harm than good.
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Post by YoshsMom on Feb 2, 2005 9:11:58 GMT -5
As long as you always say what you are signing and encourage speech, signing does not interfere with learning to talk. It does cut down on frustration by giving the child a way to express himself. Yes, the number of people who understand is somewhat limited, but he will be able to get basic ideas across to family and teachers.
PECS ( Picture Exchange Communication System) is another option. It uses simple pictures to represent basic concepts and common objects. Some kids use a velcro board, some have the pictures on a key ring. They point to the picture of what they want or need, or you point to it to ask or show something. But talking is always used as well.
Jessie, you need to have a long talk with this teacher. Saying Jason will not progress means she has given up on him and that is outrageous. Every successful special ed program I have worked at was based on the idea that every child can learn. If one of my students wasn't learning I would find another way to teach him until I found one that worked for him. Sorry if I sound preachy, but teachers like that make me so angry. Jason deserves a teacher who believes in him as much as you do. Of course he is acting out, if he can't express himself. I would push for a combo of signing and PECS used in school, and a different teacher. Again, sorry if I came on too strong.
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Post by YoshsMom on Jan 31, 2005 21:00:18 GMT -5
That's really terrific news. WTG, Cody ;D
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Post by YoshsMom on Jan 30, 2005 11:46:06 GMT -5
I agree with Laura about discipline making kids feel secure. Most kids don't like feeling out of control. You put an end to Chris' meltdown quickly, taking him out of an uncomfortable situation. Since this is not a usual behavior, it was probably not manipulation or attention seeking. You may never know why it happened, but I think you did exactly the right thing. I think he was happy because he didn't like the way he was acting and was glad it was over.
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Post by YoshsMom on May 17, 2005 9:35:59 GMT -5
Yosh turns 3 the beginning of June and we're in the middle of transition to pre-k. I'm happy with the school he's going to and the services they offer, but I'm going to miss EI. One of Yosh's therapists has been eith us literally since he was born. She did his first eval in NICU and has been coming every week for 3 years. Shes been through everything with us and it makes me sad to think she won't be here anymore. One of the others has been coming for a year and they've both done so much for us.
This is one of those times when its harder being on the other side. I work with so many different families that I've gotten used to the relationship ending. Even though I keep in touch with some of them for a while, I move on to the next kid. Its very different when its my kid. Yosh is really going to miss these people and so am I.
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