tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49117644092463636792024-03-13T04:41:02.668-07:00Ups and Downs of OLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.comBlogger310125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-37347972646044578152012-09-22T16:38:00.000-07:002012-09-22T16:38:29.993-07:00Thinking about blogging again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Where have we been for the past several months?</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FLJ0Zx-qaV0/UF5JbSbonfI/AAAAAAAABB0/6pUtqjn28vQ/s1600/IMG_1631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FLJ0Zx-qaV0/UF5JbSbonfI/AAAAAAAABB0/6pUtqjn28vQ/s320/IMG_1631.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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Playing ball of course!<br />
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Well, no not exclusively, but life got a bit hectic and I decided that something had to go, and it was blogging. As I think of October rolling around, I thought maybe I should give blogging a go again because it is Down syndrome Awareness Month and perhaps I have some things to share about the joys of being a parent to a wonderful child with Ds.<br />
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Olivia's favorite thing to do is play ball. In July, at just over 3 years old, she became an awesome ball catcher. I spend hour upon hour throwing balls to her so she can catch. She also is a great basket shooter! I have to chuckle, because neither my husband nor myself are ball players. But I guess we are going to learn a few things! I have to admit, it is really fun playing ball! And I can be quite the coach! <br />
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Life can get a bit overwhelming sometimes, but Olivia is always the bright spot in any day!<br />
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I am really out of the blogging mode. So I will stop for now and hopefully blog again soon!Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-34066835076311809052012-02-04T12:23:00.000-08:002012-02-04T12:33:28.898-08:00Children's Museum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now that Olivia is walking EVERYWHERE! we are beginning to check out GREAT places for kids. This is the Center for History in South Bend. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Olivia had a great time exploring and walking everywhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think that right now she just loves wide open spaces to walk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Olivia kept asking for the swing, which she loves riding on at physical therapy. She must have thought this was a new therapy place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-omdA892iPkY/Ty2S0RbEY0I/AAAAAAAAA_0/opC0Vwf_ikc/s1600/IMG_2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-omdA892iPkY/Ty2S0RbEY0I/AAAAAAAAA_0/opC0Vwf_ikc/s320/IMG_2006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y-tBUVROxhI/Ty2S04bWR3I/AAAAAAAAA_8/nnuc43o-hKY/s1600/IMG_2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y-tBUVROxhI/Ty2S04bWR3I/AAAAAAAAA_8/nnuc43o-hKY/s320/IMG_2008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cEfNY-jM8vs/Ty2S1KDET9I/AAAAAAAABAE/8ZVSPgBE_Bw/s1600/IMG_2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cEfNY-jM8vs/Ty2S1KDET9I/AAAAAAAABAE/8ZVSPgBE_Bw/s320/IMG_2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m1Ip2HWNDwc/Ty2S1b8Oh0I/AAAAAAAABAM/7lRbE6apIMk/s1600/IMG_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m1Ip2HWNDwc/Ty2S1b8Oh0I/AAAAAAAABAM/7lRbE6apIMk/s320/IMG_2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-noy28PEN23I/Ty2S1tolRHI/AAAAAAAABAU/h0jcke_3b8M/s1600/IMG_2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-noy28PEN23I/Ty2S1tolRHI/AAAAAAAABAU/h0jcke_3b8M/s320/IMG_2023.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9mMg0zZpLSc/Ty2S2HzNjkI/AAAAAAAABAc/frn8lu6J0bU/s1600/IMG_2030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9mMg0zZpLSc/Ty2S2HzNjkI/AAAAAAAABAc/frn8lu6J0bU/s320/IMG_2030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Id31x32Fr8g/Ty2S2eS2e0I/AAAAAAAABAk/EjCkc31jdzk/s1600/IMG_2032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Id31x32Fr8g/Ty2S2eS2e0I/AAAAAAAABAk/EjCkc31jdzk/s320/IMG_2032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ENWOoV1kVEs/Ty2S2mXtWlI/AAAAAAAABAs/oW0ZU5fQ-fc/s1600/IMG_2033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ENWOoV1kVEs/Ty2S2mXtWlI/AAAAAAAABAs/oW0ZU5fQ-fc/s320/IMG_2033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L1TROmi9NfU/Ty2S22wVWDI/AAAAAAAABA0/DRaXxkd-edY/s1600/IMG_2038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L1TROmi9NfU/Ty2S22wVWDI/AAAAAAAABA0/DRaXxkd-edY/s320/IMG_2038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-36072597538008402932012-02-02T11:27:00.000-08:002012-02-02T11:27:04.488-08:00Old and New Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are some old photos that I found on my iPhone</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MK0jDTDSZn4/Tyrh3wFF-QI/AAAAAAAAA8o/hTh2tbMKtVM/s1600/old+photos01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MK0jDTDSZn4/Tyrh3wFF-QI/AAAAAAAAA8o/hTh2tbMKtVM/s320/old+photos01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken this summer: Olivia likes to look at her books.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UKeLZiTJX7Q/Tyrh4CJindI/AAAAAAAAA8w/ekIyw-2dA4g/s1600/old+photos02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UKeLZiTJX7Q/Tyrh4CJindI/AAAAAAAAA8w/ekIyw-2dA4g/s320/old+photos02.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer 2011: Hard to believe that pulling to standing and standing against her bar were a real task at that point.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wprQs1KNx54/Tyrh4ZSfa-I/AAAAAAAAA84/8FQojnE_p6s/s1600/old+photos03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wprQs1KNx54/Tyrh4ZSfa-I/AAAAAAAAA84/8FQojnE_p6s/s320/old+photos03.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer 2011: <br />
Olivia's first success at standing independently came from propping on this slide then pushing herself to stand.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EDgIKsQIZ6Q/Tyrh4qR25lI/AAAAAAAAA9A/idHJOi-3utY/s1600/old+photos04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EDgIKsQIZ6Q/Tyrh4qR25lI/AAAAAAAAA9A/idHJOi-3utY/s320/old+photos04.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer 2011: Loved her long walks in her stroller</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ik4_emPezuI/Tyrh4jjW5wI/AAAAAAAAA9I/Jc7SyaBe01w/s1600/old+photos05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ik4_emPezuI/Tyrh4jjW5wI/AAAAAAAAA9I/Jc7SyaBe01w/s320/old+photos05.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All Smiles!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xHTMHXtwxz4/Tyrh5HGSzDI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/tSkHNXZI65Q/s1600/old+photos06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xHTMHXtwxz4/Tyrh5HGSzDI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/tSkHNXZI65Q/s320/old+photos06.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our favorite place to walk. The new section of the River Walk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-axRNdruV0hk/Tyrh5i0-kvI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/NHEAgl811EE/s1600/old+photos07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-axRNdruV0hk/Tyrh5i0-kvI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/NHEAgl811EE/s320/old+photos07.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CKXqjgAfKF8/Tyrh5z4oujI/AAAAAAAAA9g/2JXGHtEoXzw/s1600/old+photos08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CKXqjgAfKF8/Tyrh5z4oujI/AAAAAAAAA9g/2JXGHtEoXzw/s320/old+photos08.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bathtime!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ERLfWkTa6Qk/Tyrh6ROr0WI/AAAAAAAAA9o/cO7sfhBtupY/s1600/old+photos09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ERLfWkTa6Qk/Tyrh6ROr0WI/AAAAAAAAA9o/cO7sfhBtupY/s320/old+photos09.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia is a good tooth brusher! </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lPYHgpky2pg/Tyrh6rWVuSI/AAAAAAAAA9w/TcBWbRfj0DI/s1600/old+photos10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lPYHgpky2pg/Tyrh6rWVuSI/AAAAAAAAA9w/TcBWbRfj0DI/s320/old+photos10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glasses</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KsLcAI3NrFA/Tyrh6zGoH3I/AAAAAAAAA94/QjoOQEe8D80/s1600/old+photos11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KsLcAI3NrFA/Tyrh6zGoH3I/AAAAAAAAA94/QjoOQEe8D80/s320/old+photos11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Seuss and IPad. All is right with the World!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vh_Qj71e2Rg/Tyrh7GVVQ8I/AAAAAAAAA-A/JtKp62URNMY/s1600/old+photos12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vh_Qj71e2Rg/Tyrh7GVVQ8I/AAAAAAAAA-A/JtKp62URNMY/s320/old+photos12.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching a few ZZZs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WHf-YZlK06g/Tyrh7XKiNfI/AAAAAAAAA-I/J2uEBfKwAxs/s1600/old+photos13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WHf-YZlK06g/Tyrh7XKiNfI/AAAAAAAAA-I/J2uEBfKwAxs/s320/old+photos13.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Messy play!!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rZTK-xYY03s/Tyrh73Z9GKI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/OVTieUzvRYQ/s1600/old+photos14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rZTK-xYY03s/Tyrh73Z9GKI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/OVTieUzvRYQ/s320/old+photos14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GXPTUVCgWq8/Tyrh8NG5IfI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/eqkxPZwBXps/s1600/old+photos15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GXPTUVCgWq8/Tyrh8NG5IfI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/eqkxPZwBXps/s320/old+photos15.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhausted!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LcoQIGFBMYI/Tyrh8elgLqI/AAAAAAAAA-g/4p8uDcpcQFo/s1600/old+photos16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LcoQIGFBMYI/Tyrh8elgLqI/AAAAAAAAA-g/4p8uDcpcQFo/s320/old+photos16.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a break at Therapy</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CHma1hGu1wI/Tyrh8h75RqI/AAAAAAAAA-s/Q4P0dJKXxUk/s1600/old+photos17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CHma1hGu1wI/Tyrh8h75RqI/AAAAAAAAA-s/Q4P0dJKXxUk/s320/old+photos17.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grocery Shopping with Mommy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CX4CrMZ-4Rc/Tyrh9aOL00I/AAAAAAAAA-0/Tm11FNVYf0s/s1600/old+photos18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CX4CrMZ-4Rc/Tyrh9aOL00I/AAAAAAAAA-0/Tm11FNVYf0s/s320/old+photos18.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking outside</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lD7xfPlfjIc/Tyrh95TGckI/AAAAAAAAA_A/3HhclTaea2Q/s1600/old+photos19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lD7xfPlfjIc/Tyrh95TGckI/AAAAAAAAA_A/3HhclTaea2Q/s320/old+photos19.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking Outside</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xLN3_r81Fuo/Tyrh-AHKDNI/AAAAAAAAA_I/esnMUIZg0HE/s1600/old+photos20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xLN3_r81Fuo/Tyrh-AHKDNI/AAAAAAAAA_I/esnMUIZg0HE/s320/old+photos20.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shopping</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XBZJfi6ZeCs/Tyrh-XiUmeI/AAAAAAAAA_M/TvH1J0qxAP0/s1600/old+photos21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XBZJfi6ZeCs/Tyrh-XiUmeI/AAAAAAAAA_M/TvH1J0qxAP0/s320/old+photos21.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got the box and helped myself!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tF-4phMKPrM/Tyrh-9ry5ZI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/0jfLaphkrRU/s1600/old+photos22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tF-4phMKPrM/Tyrh-9ry5ZI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/0jfLaphkrRU/s320/old+photos22.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy yummy cereal!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-52451959366159799382012-01-26T12:58:00.000-08:002012-01-26T12:58:21.889-08:00Water, Pom poms and Puppy<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a31jhO0kses/TyG4x11QS5I/AAAAAAAAA7g/cPx-yzz3ee4/s1600/Jan+25new1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a31jhO0kses/TyG4x11QS5I/AAAAAAAAA7g/cPx-yzz3ee4/s320/Jan+25new1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am giving Olivia a chance to practice sponge squeezing. She is not too good at squeezing, but she is improving. This is such an easy activity for typical two year olds. I was surprised how even squeezing a sponge has to be taught with great effort and even this is a sensory issue. But she is making progress. The OT is so impressed with the progress I have made with Olivia in her Sensory Processing Disorder in the past year. I work really hard at it! Nice to hear the compliment from the OT. The PT has commented about how great I have done at getting Olivia to be more outgoing and social and adventuresome. Again. It seems that we special needs moms get so much criticism even though we work so hard, so when I get the rare compliment it means so much and keeps me fueled. This has been a tough week with my husband in the hospital with an ulcer. I kept life even keel and happy and productive for Olivia in the midst of my worry. Of course only to hear criticism. I have had many conversations with Adoptive Moms of kids with Ds. We all have the same reason for adopting: A call from God. We really cannot explain it, but once God planted the idea in our heads we could not rest until we had that special child in our arms. It is not easy raising a child with Ds, but we hear that whisper of God saying YES this is my will for you. One mom told me before we adopted that we would receive much praise and much criticism for adopting a child with Ds. And it is true, It is still hard to hear the criticism, but I know that God's will is more important than the critics. This Sunday my parents are going on a walk to support life. My husband and I feel that we have to defend life with our very lives. I think that was part of God's calling to us. Don't just say you value life. Raise one of my very special children!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RAngDwDEK_8/TyG4yOJYmbI/AAAAAAAAA7k/uyKt1zORKsA/s1600/Jan+25new2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RAngDwDEK_8/TyG4yOJYmbI/AAAAAAAAA7k/uyKt1zORKsA/s320/Jan+25new2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is one way that I set up the sponge work. Bowl with a bit of water. Small sponges and Elmo to entice her to stay focused and she will wash him too. Elmo is a big motivator. We know that our special needs kids need their motivators!!!! Once we found that Elmo motivated Olivia, we were able to get her to do so many things we were struggling with before! I wonder if we could open up our home study again and proceed to adopt Elmo! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SrTaPiUzz0U/TyG4yN8qIcI/AAAAAAAAA7w/rprfmQ2cV0s/s1600/Jan+25new3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SrTaPiUzz0U/TyG4yN8qIcI/AAAAAAAAA7w/rprfmQ2cV0s/s320/Jan+25new3.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again with a Sensory activity. The Pom Poms are great! They have also motivated her to practice pouring and another grasp release activity. But we cannot leave them out unattended as she will put them in her mouth if no one is watching. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yVc5_7DUOaE/TyG4yRFhYKI/AAAAAAAAA74/fYni387DXmE/s1600/Jan+25new4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yVc5_7DUOaE/TyG4yRFhYKI/AAAAAAAAA74/fYni387DXmE/s320/Jan+25new4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Fisher Price Puppy has been her time tested favorite toy from Christmas. Grandma and Grandpa B hit the nail on the head with this one! It is so motivating to get her to move and dance and clap and move up and down etc! Her OT uses this toy and it has been great to own one ourselves. Olivia is still perfecting her walking skills so anything that motivates her to practice is awesome!<br />
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Olivia has finally mastered crawling up on to the sofa and turning around to sit then getting onto her tummy to get herself down safely. Again! I worked so hard on this one. It is a joy and celebration every time I see her do it! We work so hard for everything that we really appreciate it when we get it! I love the evenings when we can sit on the sofa and she brings us books and climbs up so we can read to her. Now that Daddy is safely home we can hope to have our missed family time back again. It has been so sad to have Daddy gone. It is the little things I missed when he was gone. I missed having him hold hands with us when we prayed, sitting and reading with us, dancing with us, group hugs, family time getting Olivia into the bath and kissing good night. So nice to know Daddy is under our roof where I can take care of him and kiss and hug him and know he is ok. I really missed him. I can handle keeping life going. But I really missed the little things of having my husband home!!!!! Stay well sweetie!!! I love you!!!!! I miss your presence so much when you are away. Love you!!!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-24234380506788099402012-01-17T11:27:00.000-08:002012-01-17T11:27:39.604-08:00Life at Indoors in January<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We think it is time to get out the ball tent again. Olivia has been playing with all of her balls again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All 250 of them! The nice thing is that she keeps herself occupied playing and experimenting with them for long periods of time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLOh0nwYJFA/TxXHQ1y7C6I/AAAAAAAAA6w/87ligq0zRlw/s1600/january01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLOh0nwYJFA/TxXHQ1y7C6I/AAAAAAAAA6w/87ligq0zRlw/s320/january01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> We are working on blue and red these days. We are following the advice of so many who have worked with kids with Ds and presenting words early in her life. There are words she clearly recognizes like bear, ball and Elmo. She LOVES her cards with words and those she walks off with a happy grin so pleased that she has this wonderful prize! A word! She also is learning the sounds of letters. We use the bathtub stick to the tub letters when I teach them. She loves to hold an O or U and say the sound. I have tried sandpaper letters with her but her hand and fingers still just go very limp and she is very uninterested.<br />
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</div> Olivia is working on wearing her glasses more often.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x6GER3oIzT0/TxXHgFnRkvI/AAAAAAAAA7A/COSk2SnA1JA/s1600/january15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x6GER3oIzT0/TxXHgFnRkvI/AAAAAAAAA7A/COSk2SnA1JA/s320/january15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Olivia is a very happy child. (Except when she is not)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U3McB8W6Rt8/TxXHknAwjBI/AAAAAAAAA7I/qEcVMnh871U/s1600/january09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U3McB8W6Rt8/TxXHknAwjBI/AAAAAAAAA7I/qEcVMnh871U/s320/january09.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another example of wearing her glasses in daily life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uiLIZSCTL-4/TxXHq257qqI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/LbX6mK-JGIA/s1600/january17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uiLIZSCTL-4/TxXHq257qqI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/LbX6mK-JGIA/s320/january17.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We noted that we own the same Potty Seat as Elmo in Elmos Potty Time. We just now are watching this DVD and gearing up for the big event! She very quickly was excited to learn that Elmo uses the Potty and immediately looked at me and excitedly signed Potty! She now knows that even cool "people" like Elmo use the potty not just boring parents. She has been having fun with sitting Elmo on this potty seat. She let me set her on the closed big toilet while she was fully clothed. She has tended to be so cautious about new things that I just want to gear up slowly and get her used to the language and the various potties that we own around the house so that we don't start trying to train when she is scared of them. I am reading up on the best methods for training a child with Down syndrome. If anyone who has trained a child with Ds has any suggestions please pass along your experience. I am hoping that the bravery I am seeing in Olivia in walking will carry over to potty training. I have potty trained typical kids when I taught, but never a child with Ds. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aEwwk70MGD8/TxXIFl4fwKI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/FfqNFfmq4Lc/s1600/potty+elmo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aEwwk70MGD8/TxXIFl4fwKI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/FfqNFfmq4Lc/s320/potty+elmo1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-60328807019005339492012-01-17T10:35:00.000-08:002012-01-17T10:35:05.331-08:00Down syndrome Medical guidelinesA comment led me to think that I should join the bloggers who have posted the link to the<a href="http://www.ndsccenter.org/resources/healthcare.pdf" target="_blank"> Medical Guidelines for people with Down syndrome.</a> Hopefully if you click on that it will take you to the right place.<br />
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Olivia sees a young female pediatrician who tells us that she reviews the guidelines prior to her appointments with Olivia to be certain she is keeping up on sound preventative care for Olivia. At Olivia's 2 1/2 year old check up, her doctor said that it was time to screen for celiac disease. The gastroenterologist said that indeed it was time to screen but that doctors have to be careful in reading the results and knowing which tests to run because there are some of the tests that would not usually come back positive in a young child with celiac but would come back positive in an adult with celiac. The tests that always come back positive if a child has celiac came back significantly elevated for Olivia. The tricky thing is that if these tests come back negative that doesn't tell you much, because there is a high rate of false negatives. Olivia had positives so that made diagnosis clearly celiac disease. If your child is <a href="http://www.celiac.com/articles/1106/1/Celiac-Disease-Symptoms/Page1.html" target="_blank">symptomatic of celiac </a>then most definitely test!<br />
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We have heard that not all doctors are very good about making certain that they follow that guidelines and that parents need to know the guidelines, give their doctor a copy and keep making sure that the doctor is following them.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-54454411064121864272012-01-16T11:36:00.000-08:002012-01-16T11:36:52.774-08:00A Visit to Sister V<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">It was such a joy to see Olivia walking at the Center (Motherhouse in Tipton)! She has not been willing to walk freely outside of home or therapy. But as soon as we arrived in Tipton I told her we were at Sr V's house and she took off walking. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2_Q6QZZvjtM/TxR72MvYnuI/AAAAAAAAA6o/9FAm-u6azwI/s1600/visit+Sr+V1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2_Q6QZZvjtM/TxR72MvYnuI/AAAAAAAAA6o/9FAm-u6azwI/s320/visit+Sr+V1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"> She did so great walking up and down the halls! She also was being very friendly. She used to be friendly, but then this summer she got shy. Now she breaks the ice by signing CUTE and then laughing. Then she was showing off some of her other signs especially doing bunny ears for rabbit. In the dining room she kept signing window so that I would take her to watch the snow falling. Stopping at tipton was a real blessing on our trip.</div><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oipBu5lxfV4" width="560"></iframe>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-84195838441312980082012-01-16T11:28:00.000-08:002012-01-16T11:28:34.316-08:00Celiac Disease- "Yes, She's Got It" - Dr. GI<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">We took Olivia last week to Riley to see a pediatric gastroenterologist because of celiac disease. This was the first available appointment. Kids with Down syndrome are to be screened for celiac disease between the ages of 2 and 3. Olivia was screened twice in November and her numbers indicated Celiac disease. When we were given a copy of her blood test results just prior to going to Indy, we were concerned that her numbers were not just slightly elevated but were significantly elevated. A bit of shaking in our boots in the days proceeding the doctor appointment. The GI doctor was very kind and comforting and confirmed that Olivia does indeed have celiac disease and talked to us about the seriousness of having her stay away from gluten in order to avoid intestinal damage. He also reassured us that a gluten free diet is healthy nutritionally but that he always has new celiac patients see a dietician. The dietician can help us learn how to keep Olivia away from gluten in hidden ways in processed foods. Even some grains other than wheat have gluten as the Physical Therapist was reminding me. We need to educate ourselves (and others who care for Olivia) fully in order to protect Olivia's small intestine.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">We have seen positive results with Olivia off gluten. The pediatrician felt that taking her off gluten in November was a good way to go because Olivia was symptomatic and we had a 2 month wait to see the specialist. Olivia's strength is the main thing to strike us. The physical therapist could not understand why Olivia was not getting stronger to walk, but within weeks off gluten her strength improved remarkably and she started really walking! She has taken to amazing us at her endurance to walk long distances and carrying things and walking backwards, dancing and walking on soft mats at therapy. Her social-ness and bravery has returned also. It is so nice to see her once again so very friendly when we go out and about. But I noticed today that I have to keep a very close close eye on her because she sees someone she is interested in visiting with and off she goes in a hurry! The physical therapist commented today that Olivia has made progress in her walking so much faster than she usually sees in kids who have struggled so much to get to this point. She also agrees that it is the celiac disease that was holding Olivia back. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">So, we do have to avoid gluten for Olivia, but the reward we get is that we have a strong, happy, friendly little girl! </div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-24874523081596699202012-01-10T05:06:00.000-08:002012-01-10T05:06:04.951-08:00Specs 4 Us<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wanted to share this photo of Olivia sporting her new Specs 4 Us glasses. Her Fisher Price glasses are history. They never fit her face correctly because of her flat face and flat nose. They always slid down and were heavy, uncomfortable and never in the right place to aid her vision for very long. We had chosen the Fisher Price glasses initially because they are very durable. So there is value to them if they fit your child correctly. Our saintly RX Optical girls worked with us to get these glasses for Olivia. We are very pleased with the fit and have hopes that eventually she will take to wearing them on a regular basis. But just like peeing and pooping, you cannot force a child to wear glasses! Any person who wears glasses might remember that at first it felt odd to have glasses on their face. Same for Olivia, and she has no idea how to deal with the weird sensation. But hopefully, over time, she will get used to the feel and enjoy seeing! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I love the look of these glasses! The little Librarian look, just like her Great Grandma B!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WCwz14NKT9Q/Tww2CcZ5vKI/AAAAAAAAA6g/JLMtXvSmBF4/s1600/specs4us1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WCwz14NKT9Q/Tww2CcZ5vKI/AAAAAAAAA6g/JLMtXvSmBF4/s320/specs4us1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-88622062547644493072012-01-02T07:48:00.000-08:002012-01-02T07:48:25.480-08:00Gaining Independence<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Since Olivia has started walking, we have noticed so many wonderful changes in Olivia. She loves to walk, walk and walk some more. She has been so happy and full of laughter. She is gaining more and more independence and confidence. She also has developed an adorable "ice-breaker". She puts her hands on either side of her chin to sign "cute", smiles and then starts laughing. Everyone around her, of course, breaks into laughter with her. She gets such a kick out of getting others to laugh and smile. Quintessential Olivia !</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Yesterday, we were at a large gathering of Linda's family to celebrate Christmas. Normally, in large group settings Olivia reverts to being a "cling-on" never venturing beyond Mom's protective wing. Yesterday, Olivia would walk away from Mom (yes walk, prior to the last few days Olivia didn't seem to realize she could walk other places than home and therapy), explore a bit, then return to Mom to touch base, and then repeat. She seemed to be having such a good time and was interacting with just about everyone.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Today at physical therapy, she was doing it again. Going across all the way across the room with her therapist, and then coming back to home base. Then Olivia asked to ride on the platform swing - three times. Olivia has always been intrigued by the swing, but refused to be put on it. Today, she looked like she rides on it all the time. The therapist was amazed at how well she was doing with everything. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">We knew all of this would come with time, when she was developmentally ready. But, it was hard when people kept accusing us of being overprotective. We knew she just wasn't ready to spread her wings, and until then we were going to help her feel safe and secure. It was such a joy to watch her fly solo. What a way to start the new year.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span id="goog_1197309695"></span><span id="goog_1197309696"></span></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-1514160731583809612011-12-28T11:02:00.000-08:002011-12-28T11:02:07.984-08:00Olivia and Her First Princess DollThanks to Aunt Becky, Uncle Mark and the kids, Olivia is enjoying her very first princess doll. She loved her right away and seemed to know just how to play with such a special little girl treasure. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8lPIvURbFcE" width="560"></iframe>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-30430989568890553562011-12-28T10:52:00.000-08:002011-12-28T10:52:09.704-08:00Her own vacuumThanks to Aunt Suki and Uncle John, Olivia can now vacuum with her very own vacuum! <br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JDPKcBDHJVM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-56666929142307250132011-12-26T04:13:00.000-08:002011-12-26T04:13:40.248-08:00Christmas Eve photosJust thought I would post a few photos from Christmas Eve.<br />
For the midwest, it was a sunny mild weathered day. Sure a welcome relief!<br />
Olivia loved her knit Christmas Eve outfit. We think she thought it was her Elmo Costume.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ARrroP1bO5A/TvfPbMMTRcI/AAAAAAAAA5c/n8rq2ZJN38o/s1600/Christmas%2Beve111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ARrroP1bO5A/TvfPbMMTRcI/AAAAAAAAA5c/n8rq2ZJN38o/s400/Christmas%2Beve111.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fgqt4R4_GZk/TvfPbQcPSBI/AAAAAAAAA5o/HfJYdo4wlhY/s1600/Christmas%2Beve114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fgqt4R4_GZk/TvfPbQcPSBI/AAAAAAAAA5o/HfJYdo4wlhY/s400/Christmas%2Beve114.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nDYC5e4lVNc/TvfPbiv_8WI/AAAAAAAAA50/4Ec0Jox080s/s1600/Christmas%2Beve115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nDYC5e4lVNc/TvfPbiv_8WI/AAAAAAAAA50/4Ec0Jox080s/s400/Christmas%2Beve115.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7_2RS-QpN80/TvfPb59wl5I/AAAAAAAAA58/yT5owL0TaDs/s1600/Christmas%2Beve117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7_2RS-QpN80/TvfPb59wl5I/AAAAAAAAA58/yT5owL0TaDs/s400/Christmas%2Beve117.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UyIumapeCGU/TvfPcDajy9I/AAAAAAAAA6M/aDbDPRs3sfQ/s1600/Christmas%2Beve118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UyIumapeCGU/TvfPcDajy9I/AAAAAAAAA6M/aDbDPRs3sfQ/s400/Christmas%2Beve118.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-1978133663631082182011-12-25T16:00:00.000-08:002011-12-25T16:00:09.837-08:00Silly SillyOlivia has had the worst case of the sillies lately. We keep trying to figure out who is giving her the silly juice. We hope you enjoy and maybe even laugh along.<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-kDfxMoi5Tw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-20068303393703088292011-12-23T12:54:00.000-08:002011-12-23T12:54:09.919-08:00Olivia is a WALKEROlivia has been walking for about a month. PT thought it would take another 6 months for her to get strong enough, but a couple weeks off gluten after her celiac diagnosis and she was off to the races. This is a longer video, because I wanted to share how long of a time Olivia can walk all over the house. She very quickly learned her way around the house and all its ins and outs.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ShbJhjHQjP8" width="560"></iframe>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-69092812239714176702011-12-23T11:14:00.000-08:002011-12-23T11:14:55.650-08:00Some new photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know I don't post much anymore (reasons to many to list) hopefully I will do better in 2012.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are a few photos and some thoughts (Olivia is 2 1/2 now and is a walker inside the home but she has not yet generalized the concept of walking to other locations, except therapy).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ohpu8zGqbIA/TvTQCx7h-cI/AAAAAAAAA4g/ZOKtnw6NXKA/s1600/food1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ohpu8zGqbIA/TvTQCx7h-cI/AAAAAAAAA4g/ZOKtnw6NXKA/s400/food1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a typical dinner or lunch plate for Olivia. She is a healthy eater. She will eat nearly all on her plate. What you are seeing is pureed peas and green beans. She will not eat meat so we do this power protein puree. Peaches, steamed broccoli, canned organic green beans, cooked carrots. Then she will eat about a cup of dry Rice Chex cereal which we like because they are gluten free and fortified. (Olivia was diagnosed with Celiac Disease about 5 weeks ago. I will write about that later. The diagnosis was a God Send and her development has taken off in the past month!) She also drinks fortified Almond Milk with her meal.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t2pFATzoIRY/TvTQQMsziUI/AAAAAAAAA4s/eDkLubVA-5c/s1600/sand%2Btable21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t2pFATzoIRY/TvTQQMsziUI/AAAAAAAAA4s/eDkLubVA-5c/s400/sand%2Btable21.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia loves her sand table (we use moon sand) and she loves putting it on the floor and "cleaning up". Funny how a toddler makes more mess when they "clean" than if they just left the mess. No, the vacuum doesn't actually work. But I sure wish it did!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0w_nfi3zIN0/TvTQaefwndI/AAAAAAAAA44/bLkMdBvzV_M/s1600/sink1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0w_nfi3zIN0/TvTQaefwndI/AAAAAAAAA44/bLkMdBvzV_M/s400/sink1.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We bought this two stepped step stool for bathroom handwashing. A small stool would have been disastrous at this point, but Olivia kept telling us she wanted to wash at the sink, so we bought this wonderful helper.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4HpDBj1Y1bM/TvTQeld0S_I/AAAAAAAAA5E/GeIzTJX37ao/s1600/sink2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4HpDBj1Y1bM/TvTQeld0S_I/AAAAAAAAA5E/GeIzTJX37ao/s400/sink2.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She still needs adult supervision so that she remembers which end is up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gCT_mPxdtZE/TvTQj5np0rI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/8GCiodyaXNc/s1600/sink3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gCT_mPxdtZE/TvTQj5np0rI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/8GCiodyaXNc/s400/sink3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The BIG smile indicates that Daddy did a really good thing in buying her this stool! <br />
Independence! With help of course!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-21842872798675100712011-12-23T10:59:00.001-08:002011-12-23T10:59:58.118-08:00Olivia and her New Bike<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tjCuIO4JvaI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-5020869864672609282011-11-21T07:59:00.000-08:002011-11-21T07:59:13.356-08:00Mommy's HelpersEveryone knows that a Mommy's life is very busy and is a lot of hard work. Olivia and I wanted you to know that we do our best to be good little helpers ... We'll let you decide who is most helpful :-)<br />
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- Daddy and Olivia<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AZ0SXmT6EN4" width="560"></iframe>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-18334166847181717332011-11-18T17:34:00.000-08:002011-11-18T17:34:19.438-08:00Activities<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are a few activities we are doing at home these days</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5HUxneSxnoA/TsXuh62WvDI/AAAAAAAAA20/xNKKDnFHfOw/s1600/activities01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5HUxneSxnoA/TsXuh62WvDI/AAAAAAAAA20/xNKKDnFHfOw/s320/activities01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Lucky Duck game and Olivia practices grasping with it. Taking ducks off the pond and either handing them to me or placing in basket. This seems to be helping her gain control over her cup and fork and plate. Much less tossing and more handing them to me.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HWiGQcGmngw/TsXumjaUpVI/AAAAAAAAA28/Uy-Wuvhy52I/s1600/activities1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HWiGQcGmngw/TsXumjaUpVI/AAAAAAAAA28/Uy-Wuvhy52I/s320/activities1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are trying stickers on paper, but it is still very hard for her.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lPHVMrsD940/TsXursHtqTI/AAAAAAAAA3E/ntPugtKsXzw/s1600/activities02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lPHVMrsD940/TsXursHtqTI/AAAAAAAAA3E/ntPugtKsXzw/s320/activities02.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are counting bears but I am using then to encourage her to use a pincer or tripod grasp and place them into the small hole. She uses a palmar grasp a lot still.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uSGWKH1jFTA/TsXuwSoQCfI/AAAAAAAAA3M/X7aM-vqo8Wk/s1600/activities2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uSGWKH1jFTA/TsXuwSoQCfI/AAAAAAAAA3M/X7aM-vqo8Wk/s320/activities2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are talking about shapes. Here is one exercise we did with circle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dZWuGRHrfQQ/TsXu1s9G27I/AAAAAAAAA3U/PCK9dvdhNYM/s1600/activities03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dZWuGRHrfQQ/TsXu1s9G27I/AAAAAAAAA3U/PCK9dvdhNYM/s320/activities03.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a sand table. At first she hated it! Now she loves to go up to it and play and scoop. We are using moon sand. Yes it is messy, but it took her all summer to get accustomed to playing in her sand box and I did not want to loose that sensory adaptation over the winter. We have sand all over the house some days. But we keep saying that sand box play makes kids smarter! We believe that! Children develop their brain through their senses.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cUAbMtzmRJE/TsXu8BP_-bI/AAAAAAAAA3c/HiV1AsN5KIw/s1600/activities04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cUAbMtzmRJE/TsXu8BP_-bI/AAAAAAAAA3c/HiV1AsN5KIw/s320/activities04.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a grasping transfer exercise. Two small bowls and some pasta. She likes to do this and is rather good at it. <br />
She also likes to throw the pasta. But such is progress.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qGuTewwAo2A/TsXu_MQdVuI/AAAAAAAAA3k/5Hzh28GuTYM/s1600/activities05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qGuTewwAo2A/TsXu_MQdVuI/AAAAAAAAA3k/5Hzh28GuTYM/s320/activities05.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again encouraging pincer grasp. Putting penne pasta into the large hole of a salt shaker</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ogd_oLJhq90/TsXvD6Se2bI/AAAAAAAAA3s/1KwLxU-ADRA/s1600/activities06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ogd_oLJhq90/TsXvD6Se2bI/AAAAAAAAA3s/1KwLxU-ADRA/s320/activities06.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gee! Guess what! Pouring! We use pasta. Beans and rice go right into her mouth and water gets dumped to the floor immediately.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GHC11Q1qJrs/TsXvGJK0xpI/AAAAAAAAA30/W8R5K_47TO8/s1600/activities07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GHC11Q1qJrs/TsXvGJK0xpI/AAAAAAAAA30/W8R5K_47TO8/s320/activities07.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again encouraging pincer grasp with pasta into a small hole in a mustard jar. She also likes to put the cap on and off.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SIePBSVEdGs/TsXvKxNvcAI/AAAAAAAAA38/Glu2v_FaHz0/s1600/activities08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SIePBSVEdGs/TsXvKxNvcAI/AAAAAAAAA38/Glu2v_FaHz0/s320/activities08.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is her practical life box. I just have some kitchen things in it and she loves to explore.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CKdvCiHYI2Y/TsXvRIlOHMI/AAAAAAAAA4E/MB97U29DWPk/s1600/activities09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CKdvCiHYI2Y/TsXvRIlOHMI/AAAAAAAAA4E/MB97U29DWPk/s320/activities09.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a better photo of the Lucky Duck game.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-wOgtCyXFs/TsXvXVi4oAI/AAAAAAAAA4M/ouEn2JzHoRY/s1600/activities10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-wOgtCyXFs/TsXvXVi4oAI/AAAAAAAAA4M/ouEn2JzHoRY/s320/activities10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a splurge! A zipper dressing frame from Neinhuis! I don't buy much at all from them but I really like three of their toddler dressing frames and could not find a comparable else where. She will be using these for some time to come as these activities are tough ones and so very important.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mGVuohxj8WM/TsXvc14dmyI/AAAAAAAAA4U/914MxvZjIXA/s1600/activities11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mGVuohxj8WM/TsXvc14dmyI/AAAAAAAAA4U/914MxvZjIXA/s320/activities11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how I have one shelf set up for her to choose her work and put things back. I don't know if you can see the bristle blocks and duplos. She likes to work with them taking them apart mostly, but it encourages her to strengthen her hands and use them. With Ds the hand work is tough! I am always thinking of new ways to get her to use her hands. I welcome suggestions!!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-85558512043512913022011-10-28T15:13:00.000-07:002011-10-28T15:13:40.281-07:00Walking & Squatting<iframe width="480" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/B95g_IfJFQg?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Daddy made this neat video.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-71733167516096406212011-10-23T07:14:00.000-07:002011-10-23T07:18:06.574-07:00Prenatal testing lies ...or, at best, is incomplete. Before Olivia was born, we knew she was going to have Down syndrome. That meant, of course, that she was going to be sweet, smiley and a perfect angel - right ?!? What they didn't tell us was that she was also going to be afflicted with "being a 2 1/2 year old." How possibly could the testing fail to detect that and warn us !?! Yesterday, we were darn close to getting kicked out of Babies'r'us and Toys'r'us for disturbing the peace. Yes, despite prenatal testing, we have a 2 1/2 year old.<br />
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We are investing in yellow caution tape to wrap around ourselves when we go out in public :-) You might want to buy stock in the companies that make the stuff.<br />
<br />
- Daddy and Mommy<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BIgCSZMCJIU/TqQiBTOI7hI/AAAAAAAAA2s/Rh4T9T9spec/s1600/DSC00826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BIgCSZMCJIU/TqQiBTOI7hI/AAAAAAAAA2s/Rh4T9T9spec/s320/DSC00826.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-14273739367556230282011-10-08T16:00:00.000-07:002011-10-08T16:00:16.751-07:00Early days of walking video<iframe width="480" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rO9VvWH7h2w?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-62093592705501593982011-09-04T10:18:00.000-07:002011-09-04T10:18:44.002-07:00Helping our children in a tough worldI thought this was good advice in helping to prevent our children from becoming victims of sexual abuse. We see that Olivia sets boundaries with people, yet people try to force us to make her break her boundaries. We have to put protecting Olivia above the feelings of others. Adults need to understand that helping Olivia to believe that she can protect herself for her whole lifetime begins now. Especially for a child with cognitive impairment who is going to have a hard time protecting herself.<br />
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><i>Ironically, we also contradict ourselves at times by confusing our children or denying them the boundaries and safeguards we gave them for their protection. For example, we tell children it’s their body, yet we force them to hug and kiss a relative (yes, even their grandparents or aunts and uncles). </i></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><i>Though this may be our cultural custom—to kiss and hug upon greeting or departing, it instills in children the idea that it’s their body but they have no rights and no boundaries when it comes to relatives. And since most children are abused by non-strangers, we are opening the door to possible abuse.</i></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><i>Instead of forcing the child to give hugs and kisses when they don’t wish to, explain to the adult that you are teaching your child to set boundaries for themselves and enlist their help. </i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span><br />
</span></span>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-65272047970356498472011-08-23T08:16:00.000-07:002011-08-23T08:16:06.707-07:00August Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This Summer has been eventful :-) and so I have not had the opportunity to BLOG. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> My dear husband moved his home office and moved my computer also this weekend and now my computer is where Olivia and I spend most of our time, so hopefully I can get a chance to BLOG now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This Summer has seen Olivia maturing in so many ways. Her speech has come along well as has her signing. Although her significant hypotonia has her still not walking solo, her supported walking has come along well. She loves to walk holding one or both or our hands and will at times use her walker. She likes to free stand and can do it for longer and longer all the time. Her Physical Therapist always encourages us that Olivia is doing great given her starting point.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tgabYTXG4YI/TlO2DTXtYQI/AAAAAAAAA10/wW1J5x4YloM/s1600/DSC00617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tgabYTXG4YI/TlO2DTXtYQI/AAAAAAAAA10/wW1J5x4YloM/s320/DSC00617.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia's crawling is very very good and FAST!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rtu0pdSWI9g/TlO2MnMyFAI/AAAAAAAAA18/zgCS0q_7AV8/s1600/DSC00642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rtu0pdSWI9g/TlO2MnMyFAI/AAAAAAAAA18/zgCS0q_7AV8/s320/DSC00642.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia loves building towers!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wb-UAVl_LOU/TlO2R5J89NI/AAAAAAAAA2A/x2a-YgUvk2o/s1600/DSC00680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wb-UAVl_LOU/TlO2R5J89NI/AAAAAAAAA2A/x2a-YgUvk2o/s320/DSC00680.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia using her walker</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YFIZp9djC88/TlO2WlcGMMI/AAAAAAAAA2E/qq_y9A8_7K8/s1600/DSC00687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YFIZp9djC88/TlO2WlcGMMI/AAAAAAAAA2E/qq_y9A8_7K8/s320/DSC00687.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia using her crawling tunnel. Not too interested in crawling into it yet.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TCsarHFK1iA/TlO2atyHB_I/AAAAAAAAA2I/dVnZGFwCT2U/s1600/DSC00707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TCsarHFK1iA/TlO2atyHB_I/AAAAAAAAA2I/dVnZGFwCT2U/s320/DSC00707.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia gently getting herself off of her chair as opposed to her old method of diving off head first.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ndMQc7x4VLA/TlO2iQP7rII/AAAAAAAAA2M/fYme1ajr90E/s1600/DSC00715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ndMQc7x4VLA/TlO2iQP7rII/AAAAAAAAA2M/fYme1ajr90E/s320/DSC00715.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia has finally made friends with her sandbox. I have been working all summer getting her to use it. She now loves sitting in it and playing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ANTWaz9fLSs/TlO2nP7auMI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/XF88ktHV6C0/s1600/IMG_1678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ANTWaz9fLSs/TlO2nP7auMI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/XF88ktHV6C0/s320/IMG_1678.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia loves her little pool in the backyard. Both the sandbox and pool are from Grandma and Grandpa B</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5PgOxAic6D0/TlO2sl86LCI/AAAAAAAAA2U/4O6cXSaBRXc/s1600/IMG_1681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5PgOxAic6D0/TlO2sl86LCI/AAAAAAAAA2U/4O6cXSaBRXc/s320/IMG_1681.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ieyruA2-J2E/TlO2xjTr5YI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/2is10a7ljN0/s1600/IMG_1687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ieyruA2-J2E/TlO2xjTr5YI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/2is10a7ljN0/s320/IMG_1687.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh!!! I really splashed water in my eyes that time! Olivia loves to splash!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lfWHhP3zjYI/TlO239lzjBI/AAAAAAAAA2c/KNbF44AXDqU/s1600/IMG_1694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lfWHhP3zjYI/TlO239lzjBI/AAAAAAAAA2c/KNbF44AXDqU/s320/IMG_1694.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JNAbz4pPT7w/TlO29kgyh_I/AAAAAAAAA2g/gorV6Myio6g/s1600/IMG_1711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JNAbz4pPT7w/TlO29kgyh_I/AAAAAAAAA2g/gorV6Myio6g/s320/IMG_1711.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia has also finally accepted playing in the grass. Again, I had worked all summer on this. So nice to see all of my hard work paying off in these outdoor activities. I had feared that we were not going to make the progress I wanted to see with outdoor textures this summer. But she is doing great! Today she even ASKED to go outside and walk. She walks (with help) well on the patio and grass.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aRuCqG_Elmg/TlO3CBv1LnI/AAAAAAAAA2k/DP9i-vpGd78/s1600/IMG_1732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aRuCqG_Elmg/TlO3CBv1LnI/AAAAAAAAA2k/DP9i-vpGd78/s320/IMG_1732.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovin' the beautiful day and the beautiful blue sky in her backyard.</td></tr>
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Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911764409246363679.post-6690046537840986492011-07-17T10:57:00.000-07:002011-07-17T10:57:00.914-07:00Love this Song<iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/M-Kf8KS40qk?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><br /></div><div>We use signing with Olivia and we have found it to be a wonderful communication tool given that children with Ds have delays in their speech. Olivia is beginning to attempt to say more and more words now, but she has been communicating beautifully with us via sign language for 16 months. We rarely have a temper tantrum from Olivia that is communication related (of course she is Two years old and we get the I WANT MY WAY tantrums).</div><div><br /></div><div> Signing has given us a closer relationship with Olivia than we could ever have imagined. We get to see a side of her that we would not see otherwise. The other day she heard me comment that I thought her godmother had some pain in her knees. I said, that I think her knees HURT. Olivia immediately started signing HURT and SORRY. As in, I am sorry that her knees hurt. I know that Olivia may not have understood what we were talking about for real, but she is trying to be a part of our conversations and is truly paying attention to what we are saying. </div><div><br /></div><div> Maybe raising Olivia has not been "easy", but it certainly has been VERY VERY VERY<b> GOOD</b>!</div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy the video! I love this song! It says just how we feel about being able to communicate so well with Olivia even though we have to use a lot of signing at this point.</div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05021319105451423753noreply@blogger.com0