Thursday, October 11, 2012

October Love

October has already brought so many things to our family! The DSAW Awareness walk happened (okay it was Sept. 30th, but close enough) and we should get a post with pictures up from it this weekend!
We also did away with baby bottles. Taylor has been using a sippy during the day and then right before bed having a bottle. The first night was rough and full of tears but in the end the sippy cup won the battle! She hasn’t used a baby bottle since and is even transitioning from a traditional sippy cup to one with a straw. Her physical therapist wants her to use the straw sippy cup as part of her speech therapy since it uses more muscles to drink from the straw.
We stopped feeding Taylor baby food the same weekend. I have always made all her baby food myself and the past couple months I have made it extremely chunky so she was already used to having to chew her food. Taylor has moved on to finger foods and loves it. So does Erwin by the way! He is on constant alert when she is sitting in her highchair waiting for the food that doesn’t make it to her mouth. Taylor’s (and Erwin’s favorite new foods include peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and pancakes.
We will end the month by flying to Missouri to walk at the Kansas City Down Syndrome Awareness Walk at Arrowhead Stadium. (Go Chiefs!) Our friends and family in Missouri have a team for Taylor called Taylor’s Angels!
Last but not least…Did you know that October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month? Well it is and here are 21 things you should know about Down syndrome! Thanks to http://sassysoutherngal.posterous.com/ for letting me borrow her awesome list and adding to it!
1.   Each individual with Down syndrome is unique. (Have you met Taylor? She is pretty awesome and unique!)
2.     Individuals with Down syndrome are not always happy. Many have a sweet disposition but they have the same range of feelings (glad, mad, sad, and happy) as individuals who do not have Down syndrome.  (So very true!)
3.     A 3rd copy of the 21st chromosome causes Down syndrome. 
4.     The medical name for Down syndrome is Trisomy 21.
5.     Down syndrome was given the name “Down” syndrome because Dr. Langdon Down was one of the first researchers to describe the genetic condition. 
6.     In the United States the correct term for Down syndrome is Down with a capital D and syndrome with a lower case s.  The D is capitalized because it is named after the person Dr. Down and that is his proper name.  It is not possessive “Down’s syndrome.”
7.     A person is a person first and has Down syndrome second. Therefore, you never call someone a Down’s child, Down’s person, etc. (This is one of my biggest hot buttons when people call Taylor Downs or say she is a Downs baby. Learn the lingo!)
8.     Down syndrome occurs at conception.
9.     Individuals with Down syndrome did nothing to cause their Down syndrome.
10. You cannot catch Down syndrome. It is not a disease like the common cold.
11. Individuals born with Down syndrome vary in their abilities and related medical issues. 
12. Almost 50 percent of babies born with Down syndrome will have some type of heart issues.  These issues range from very serious requiring surgery to issues that self-correct. (We are so grateful that Taylor was not born with any heart or major health issues.)
13. Another common characteristic of babies with Down syndrome is lower muscle tone.  This may cause them to take longer to sit up, crawl, or walk and may cause them to tire more easily. (But it does make them great at baby yoga!)
14. Individuals with Down syndrome want to have friends and do the same kinds of things that other children/adults their age want to do.
15. With proper supports individuals with Down syndrome can and should be included in general education classrooms and extracurricular activities such as dance, soccer, karate, cheerleading and acting. (Taylor is already in swimming!)
16. Many individuals with Down syndrome are getting married.  (This makes my heart smile.)
17. Individuals with Down syndrome are living independently while others live independently with supports.  Some even own their own homes.
18. It is outdated and disrespectful to say someone with Down syndrome is the “R-word.”  The preferred language is that a person with Down syndrome has an intellectual disability. (Don’t say it. Ever.)
19. Many individuals with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities are going to college. (We need to start Taylor’s college fund now!)
20. Individuals with Down syndrome have the same rights as all other people. They have dreams, goals and aspirations.  They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect just like everyone else. 
21. It would be great if you would get to know someone with Down syndrome! (If you have questions about Down syndrome let us know! We would be happy to answer any that we are able to!)

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