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May. 28th, 2009 04:29 pmWe are having a baby in the next few hours, or so they tell me. Wheee!
Some great videos of Nico.
May. 4th, 2009 08:02 pmNicholas is, essentially, walking. ( Read more... )
Friends,
By request, we have a baby registry.
The pregnancy is proving very difficult on Shannon and hence, though less acutely, on both Nico and me. I am still very busy until mid-May, although the last week of April grants a brief reprieve with exam week (I'll just do the grading during naptime and at night). I'll let her speak about her own issues if she wants to, but there does not seem to be any imminent danger to either child or mother. It's just very difficult.
Daily, I wish we were back home in Minnesota where we would have had a support system. That's probably the toughest part.
Nico is doing well, although he's showing new behaviors that make certain things more complicated (continued difficulties expanding his diet, lots of shyness/crying around strangers, etc.). But he's very sweet and working hard on figuring this walking and communicating thing out. I had thought we'd surely have him walking by June when the baby comes, but now I am less sure. He's on his own schedule and hasn't seen fit to give us a copy!
And now ... grading.
By request, we have a baby registry.
The pregnancy is proving very difficult on Shannon and hence, though less acutely, on both Nico and me. I am still very busy until mid-May, although the last week of April grants a brief reprieve with exam week (I'll just do the grading during naptime and at night). I'll let her speak about her own issues if she wants to, but there does not seem to be any imminent danger to either child or mother. It's just very difficult.
Daily, I wish we were back home in Minnesota where we would have had a support system. That's probably the toughest part.
Nico is doing well, although he's showing new behaviors that make certain things more complicated (continued difficulties expanding his diet, lots of shyness/crying around strangers, etc.). But he's very sweet and working hard on figuring this walking and communicating thing out. I had thought we'd surely have him walking by June when the baby comes, but now I am less sure. He's on his own schedule and hasn't seen fit to give us a copy!
And now ... grading.
(no subject)
Apr. 1st, 2009 07:02 pmThe eating therapist/nutritionist says -
P.S. 4 days in a row successful use of potty post-dinner. It's very encouraging as you can see the comprehension in his eyes.
- He is getting enough calories/calcium/vitamins.
- She does not think there is any physiological/medical problem. It's typical 2-year-old stuff.
- "Food chaining" is the way to introduce more food. You take foods he likes and match them with new foods that are similar. I.e. Penne (which he eats) with other kinds of noodles. Or "veggie booty" with non-toxic other puffed foods (not cheetoes). Etc. In the meantime, we can just keep feeding him whatever it is he's eating (breakfast stuff, yoghurt, some cottage cheese, some fruits, some snacks, plain penne noodles) so long as we "chain."
- Food strategies based on denial/discipline are ill-conceived and likely to have backlashes even if they work. You cannot control eating, sleeping, bowl movements. Don't try. You can, though, influence the decisions they make. This is true for all children.
- Most of all - eat with him at least 2 meals a day. Take whatever we are eating and put some of it on his plate/tray. Make food social as he's ready for social; in fact, social is more interesting than just about anything else.
- In the end, there are children with Down's who decide on what they will eat, and then they eat only that, potentially forever. If that happens, we'll have to cope most likely. No reason to think that's happening now, though. He's just "food jagging" and exercising power/control in the limited arenas in which he can.
- This is all reassuring and calming. We've actually been calm since we gave up and just started feeding him from his current menu. It was just the what happened next that was stressful. Also, in non-food-play, we are to be more assertive in how we deal with his stubbornness. Don't let the fussing, whining, even mild resisting end the play (and lead to "quiet" time) until he really gets obstreperous.
P.S. 4 days in a row successful use of potty post-dinner. It's very encouraging as you can see the comprehension in his eyes.
On the brighter side!
Mar. 24th, 2009 05:23 pmAnd just when I was feeling really burned out and exhausted, I decided to take Nico out on his scooter and we'd go-go-go for awhile. We went a half a mile (according to google maps), from my house down to the train tracks, with Nico going-going-going all the way. He's a sprinter and suddenly runs out of gas, and then I carry him for awhile, possibly all the way. But for whatever reason, I decided to see if he'd walk with me holding his hands and pushing the toy ahead of us.
Step-step-step PUSH. Step-step-step PUSH. Good times.
But THEN I got him to hold onto the back of the scooter and walk without me touching him! We've been trying to get him interested in push toys since August, with no success. But today ... we took a few steps. Then I carried him for awhile, before spending quite a few minutes walking around pushing his scooter, laughing all the way (ho ho ho).
I have 6 second of crappy video as he wasn't really stable and it worked better when I stablized the scooter so he didn't push too fast and forget his feet.
When we got back and I sat him down and faced him with green beans and pasta, he started to cry. I added a small segment of graham cracker and a little "veggie booty" (puffed corn/spinach). He hate those then put the noodle and beans in a little bowl to "clean up." And that's dinner. I am resisting giving him yoghurt or fruit, although he's going to be pretty cranky as a result.
So no solutions, but closer to walking. This three months of deteriorating food norms could easily be a "touch point" in which other things break down as he works on walking. Which would be an explanation but not a system for dealing with it.
Step-step-step PUSH. Step-step-step PUSH. Good times.
But THEN I got him to hold onto the back of the scooter and walk without me touching him! We've been trying to get him interested in push toys since August, with no success. But today ... we took a few steps. Then I carried him for awhile, before spending quite a few minutes walking around pushing his scooter, laughing all the way (ho ho ho).
I have 6 second of crappy video as he wasn't really stable and it worked better when I stablized the scooter so he didn't push too fast and forget his feet.
When we got back and I sat him down and faced him with green beans and pasta, he started to cry. I added a small segment of graham cracker and a little "veggie booty" (puffed corn/spinach). He hate those then put the noodle and beans in a little bowl to "clean up." And that's dinner. I am resisting giving him yoghurt or fruit, although he's going to be pretty cranky as a result.
So no solutions, but closer to walking. This three months of deteriorating food norms could easily be a "touch point" in which other things break down as he works on walking. Which would be an explanation but not a system for dealing with it.
(no subject)
Mar. 24th, 2009 02:18 pmThe food issues with Nico have hit a crisis point. It's very upsetting and we're seeking professional help.
This is the first time I've felt completely helpless in regards to Nico in a long time.
This is the first time I've felt completely helpless in regards to Nico in a long time.
(no subject)
Mar. 17th, 2009 07:49 pmFun and merriment
( Read more... )
The latter is the new "scoot-about" we just got and assembled today.
( Read more... )
The latter is the new "scoot-about" we just got and assembled today.
Walking and talking
Mar. 13th, 2009 03:30 pmI posted this list of the signs that Nico knows and uses reasonably regularly. He's certainly aware of more signs and has a receptive vocabulary of hundreds more words, as one would expect. We really have pretty good communication now, all things considered.
What I really like is that the communication is getting more complex. "Pick that up and put it in the bath-tub," for example. "Come over here and have a drink." "Give mommy a kiss." All of these types of phrases have two components, and Nico consistently does the two of them right. We're beginning to see doubling up of signs, too. For example (20 minutes ago), "more potty" and then "all-done potty" (and then "dirty").
Since the first steps, he's been very stubborn about being on his feet, but the weather is pretty good today, so once he's done with his snack, we'll be out riding on the scooter. He fell off the other day (throwing a bit of a fit about changing directions) and skinned his chin, which was scary. We need a crash helmet and a scooter for a bigger boy, so have placed an order for the Radio Flyer scootabout, which looks good.
What I really like is that the communication is getting more complex. "Pick that up and put it in the bath-tub," for example. "Come over here and have a drink." "Give mommy a kiss." All of these types of phrases have two components, and Nico consistently does the two of them right. We're beginning to see doubling up of signs, too. For example (20 minutes ago), "more potty" and then "all-done potty" (and then "dirty").
Since the first steps, he's been very stubborn about being on his feet, but the weather is pretty good today, so once he's done with his snack, we'll be out riding on the scooter. He fell off the other day (throwing a bit of a fit about changing directions) and skinned his chin, which was scary. We need a crash helmet and a scooter for a bigger boy, so have placed an order for the Radio Flyer scootabout, which looks good.
(no subject)
Mar. 10th, 2009 05:45 pmMy son just took 4 steps sideways to get from the kiddy-potty to the toilet. He then took 5 steps forward from the toilet to the bath-tub.
Unaided.
I got a little teary as I hugged him and told him to do it again. Which he did.
Unaided.
I got a little teary as I hugged him and told him to do it again. Which he did.
Go Boy Go!
Mar. 4th, 2009 10:30 pmLast Wednesday was beautiful, so I took Nico outside and put him on his little riding toy.
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
(no subject)
Feb. 27th, 2009 01:00 pmMy upcoming talk - Local article.
This is not exactly what I am saying, but it's pretty close. I'm not very good at being interviewed yet.
This is not exactly what I am saying, but it's pretty close. I'm not very good at being interviewed yet.
(no subject)
Feb. 24th, 2009 03:32 pmToday Nico has rejected, in whole or in part, the following: Plain noodles, ravioli, green beans (he ate 5), edamame, chicken nuggets (he ate two), squash, dried strawberries. He has eaten: Oatmeal, 3/4ths of a banana, a handful of blueberries, and some yogurt (with a kids vitamin).
We believe he is deliberately rejecting food in hopes of getting to the sweet stuff, or otherwise being awfully "two." Now, he is two, so there's some excuse, but Shannon and I have just resolve to stop this nonsense. He eats a good breakfast daily, so if he wants to reject food (food we know he eats. I'm not trying to feed him sweetbreads or fried grasshoppers, although with our luck he'd eat them!), mealtime will just have to end.
Grrrr.
We believe he is deliberately rejecting food in hopes of getting to the sweet stuff, or otherwise being awfully "two." Now, he is two, so there's some excuse, but Shannon and I have just resolve to stop this nonsense. He eats a good breakfast daily, so if he wants to reject food (food we know he eats. I'm not trying to feed him sweetbreads or fried grasshoppers, although with our luck he'd eat them!), mealtime will just have to end.
Grrrr.
(no subject)
Feb. 16th, 2009 07:41 pmI am watching Anthony Bourdain's show in Chicago. Wow. First of all there are places I can go to (and afford). Second, there are places I have gone to (ok, only Hot Doug's, but it was amazing). Third ... there are the places I can't go to, but wow they look good.
Today's lustful destination - L20.
Tomorrow's real destination (ok, not tomorrow, but soon) - is here. Google says it's 36 minutes away!
Today's lustful destination - L20.
Tomorrow's real destination (ok, not tomorrow, but soon) - is here. Google says it's 36 minutes away!
All seems well
Feb. 13th, 2009 09:49 amNico had tubes inserted in his eye ducts (they drain out the nose) due to blockage this morning. All seems well and he's napping now, groggy and cranky from general anesthesia.
(no subject)
Feb. 8th, 2009 02:21 pmNico and I do this, going back and forth, frequently. It's easier for him to go from table to couch, which is why you see four iterations going one direction. Once the gap gets big, I have to give an assist for him to cross, hence no camera.
Rocket Man!
Feb. 8th, 2009 09:17 amI'll let Scott or Kurt add the soundtrack.
The rocket was a gift from Harriet Manor and we've now had it for quite some time. He's enjoyed sitting on it and playing with the buttons for over a year, but just now (Friday) has he climbed on it by himself with regularity and figured out how to use his feet for locomotion.
This is all part of Nico getting closer, and closer, to walking. Very exciting!
The rocket was a gift from Harriet Manor and we've now had it for quite some time. He's enjoyed sitting on it and playing with the buttons for over a year, but just now (Friday) has he climbed on it by himself with regularity and figured out how to use his feet for locomotion.
This is all part of Nico getting closer, and closer, to walking. Very exciting!
