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Post by dannysmom on Aug 5, 2010 18:42:38 GMT -5
Yes, we finally got chosen. I got the email yesterday and here is the pic that was selected. We are from RI...so we are planning the trip to NYC for the walk.
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Post by dannysmom on Aug 1, 2010 19:23:59 GMT -5
Wow, that is alot to handle...so first off...hugs!!
I have a similiar situtation with my nephew. He's now 17...and he doesn't have Ds...but his mother is just like your grandson's mom.
I can tell you from my nephew's point of view....HE would want to see his mother...always has, always will. No matter how much $$ she steals from him...no matter how many jail terms she does.....all the neglect he endured while being with her......a child wants their mother.
However, that doesn't mean I think you should let her see him....I just wanted to share my nephews point of view to give you another perspective as you decide what is best for your grandson. My personal feeling is NO...don't allow contact. However, I also don't know how much your grandson understands his family situation...and if he even knows/remembers anything about her.
I wouldn't allow the visit just to be nice. I'd allow the visit if you feel there is a chance of them having an positive relationship. Your grandson doesn't need anymore heartache and loss in his life. His mother lost her right to be a mother when she made the bad choices in life like she did.
I have been so grateful over the years that my brother has had custody of my nephew.....God only knows if he'd be alive if his mother was responsible for him. My brother had joint custody from birth till he was about 5...then his mother went off the deep end and my brother was award sole custody when my nephew was 8...so it's been almost 10 years.
Many prayers for you as you make these difficult decisions.
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Post by dannysmom on Jul 14, 2010 20:48:08 GMT -5
While Danny still wears nighttime pullups (just in case)...he's trained. We did ALOT of modeling for him. Literally everytime someone (me, sister or daddy) had to go...Danny went with them. I also showed him his sister's big girl underware and asked him if he wanted big boy underware.....he of course said yes....so off to Walmart we went. I let him pick out any kind he wanted (he chose Spongebob)...and I just kept telling him...poop and pee on the potty...not in your underware. He's pretty verbal so he was able to tell us when he had to go. I still ask if I noticed he hasn't gone in awhile.
With my son, I noticed more success when he knew what it felt like to 'have' to go. Just knowing you pee in the toilet wasn't enough...he had to connect what it felt like...and then he had to WANT to go on the potty.
Good luck!!
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Post by dannysmom on Jul 2, 2010 20:22:12 GMT -5
You've already got some great advice...but I wanted to add my 2 cents . I have had a few comments, mostly nice...some not so nice. One time, I accidently gave Danny adult Afrin instead of the children's Little Nose saline spray. Due to his heart condition...the ped wanted the ER to check his heart rate (he was fine)...but we called 911 and the ambulance took us to the ER. One of the EMT's asked me (and remember, I'm in the back of an ambulance with my son who I just gave adult medicine too..I'm not in the mood for chatter at this point). He asks me "How long do kids like him live". Yes, he really did ask me that!!! My response was...."I don't know...do any of us know how long we are going to live?". I said if you mean because he has a heart defect...his was fully repaired. Some people with Ds do have major heart defect but most are fully corrected with surgery. Their life expectancy is just about the same as those people without Ds. What I really wanted to tell him was that HIS life expectancy (meaning the EMT) was about 1-2 mins because as soon as the ambulance stopped I was going to kill him. But I held my temper. Some kids have noticed Danny...but nothing out of the ordinary....just the curosity of kids. However, there is a little girl our neighborhood who is a bit younger than my daughter and ONLY wants to play with her. She won't pay any attention to Danny and just runs away from him. I've tried to explain to her that Danny is just a kid and wants to play with them. She doesn't have very nice manner to begin with .....and my daughter doesn't really enjoy playing with her either. So, I've decided she won't be playing in my backyard any longer.
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Post by dannysmom on Jun 6, 2010 18:27:03 GMT -5
I'd be in a rage as well!! There are terrible people in this world. Hope she finds her way home safely!!
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Post by dannysmom on Jun 6, 2010 18:25:52 GMT -5
Daniel wanted to wish Abby a very happy birthday!!!! His big day is tomorrow. I also don't know where all the time has gone. Seems like yesterday he was born. I always remember your Abby this time of year since her and Daniel arrived just a few days apart!!
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Post by dannysmom on Apr 13, 2010 18:30:44 GMT -5
Well, it was most of what I expected....and some of what I didn't expect. My 'assumption' was he would start kindy in the fall. But, they had other ideas. Which in the end, they were right.
Right now, Daniel has alot of great skills and has made super progress since last year. Fine motor continues to be a weakness. He can cut with scissors, but needs assistance. He recognizes his name and some classmates even if he doesn't see their pic, counts to 10 independently, knows all his shapes and colors. Matches, sorts things but still cannot distinguish the groups into small groups (he can sort all red things but then from there cannot sort out blocks from beads).
His strengh by FAR...is socially. He can act out stories, answer questions about a story that is told with where? who? questions. He is VERY charming and uses that to his advantage. His teacher said that in and of itself is a skill....knowing how to be charming and win over your therapists.
From a speech perspective...he's made alot of progress. Uses 2-4 word sentences and his articulation has improved greatly in the last 6 months or so. He can retell a story with great accuracy...appears to have a good memory.
Gross motor is just being monitored. Jumps, runs, very mobile and can get himself around all the playground equipment with no support. He isn't as aware of his surroundings though and can't be trusted not to walk in front of the swing...so teachers continue to keep their eye out for safety issues.
However, he continues to be very very impulsive. He'll do something if HE wants, but if isn't interested in the activity...he'll get up and just do whatever he feels like doing. He needs moderate-strong cues to stay on task. When he's motivated...he does alot better...but the second he gets distracted..off he goes. Thankfully his teacher grew eyes in the back of her head cause she needs them when Danny is around. LOL
So, that being said.......they don't think he's quite ready for kindy this fall. They want him to move to the 'older' preschool which there are more models each day. Right now, he's in morning preK...but this teachers afternoon kids are leaps and bounds ahead of her morning. She said Danny will still be streched in this new enviornment. I originally went into this meeting assumng he'd move to Kindy...but after learning there was 1 more preK class that was ahead of his class with older kids.....I agreed and understood another year would be good for him. I didn't realize there was a step up for him to go in preschool....thought his class was it.
However, looking towards the future....they felt OUR HOMESCHOOL would be the kindy he attended!!! They have an integrated kindy there and they spend 1/2 days in the special needs K and the other half in the typical kindy class. They think 1 more year of maturity will help him gain the self control he needs to succeed. They don't feel he's ready for that K class just yet......and I do have to agree after hearing more about the prek.
Thanks for reading if you made it this far. Hope we are making the right choice. I want to push him...but I don't want to set him up to fail.
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Post by dannysmom on Mar 26, 2010 19:57:53 GMT -5
I know that scare all too well. We had a few scares with Daniel and thankfully....they have always just been scares....nothing serious. Now onto those apron strings. I know all about those too . Daniel rides the bus to school and he loves it too. Abby and he are just a few days apart...and I'll tell you, this age is amazing!!! Prayers for good health for both our babies
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Post by dannysmom on Mar 12, 2010 22:21:52 GMT -5
One day while at breakfast, 2 women approached our families table. She told us they were part of an organization that worked with people with special needs to recieve their sacrements. They weren't part of my particular parish...but another in the area. This was a few years ago and my Daniel is only 4....but I know for now it at least exists in our area. My older daughter is in 1st grade and just began CCD this year. When I registered her...I told my parish about my son and my wishes of him making his 1st communion at OUR parish.
Now here's my thoughts....at nearly 5...Daniel has NO understanding of God or Jesus...or anything like that. Not sure if in the next 2 years he would be able to either. I read somewhere that as long as the child understands that they aren't just eating a piece of bread..and that it has meaning and they know it is special....then they can receive the sacrements.
I will be interesting to follow this thread to see how other areas of the country handle this CCD process for our kids.
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Post by dannysmom on Mar 7, 2010 23:11:43 GMT -5
We will pray.....lots of love and prayers from my family to yours.
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Post by dannysmom on Mar 2, 2010 18:41:16 GMT -5
bumping up...just 3 days left.
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Post by dannysmom on Mar 2, 2010 18:39:13 GMT -5
Char, just click on the screen you see. It should just play once you double click on it. Turn the volume up so you can hear his voice....there won't be much of a pic to see since it was kind of dark where I filmed it.
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Post by dannysmom on Feb 24, 2010 19:32:30 GMT -5
ROTFLMAO!!!
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Post by dannysmom on Feb 24, 2010 18:11:48 GMT -5
Just wanted to share a short clip of Danny counting to 10. It was kind of dark so you can't see him that well...but if you can hear his sweet voice count to 10 . He's starting to talk alot and initiating more and more. He can put 2-3 words together. He still has a longgg way to go with articulation....but he's getting his point across.
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Post by dannysmom on Feb 23, 2010 21:24:32 GMT -5
Hello All, I wanted to share with you that I am doing another fundraiser for Zhora, the orphan from Reeces Rainbow that I am advocating for. My friend Renee (who adopted her daughter Kellsey from the Ukraine) is hosting for me as she has a huge blog following. I've purchased a new Ipod Touch to giveaway. Please take a chance and win it and help Zhora find his family. A donation of $10 gives you 1 chance, $20 gives you 2, and $25 is 3 chances to win. Please feel free to pass this link around to your family and friends as well. This baby boy needs his family and the bigger his grant is...the better chance he has. My husband and I do not qualify to adopt from his country....but I've dedicated myself to raising awareness and funds to help him find his forever family. Thanks you!!! www.myspecialks.com/2010/02/adoption-fundraiser-giveaway.html
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