http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-blog.html Visit our blog to stay up to date on news about Down syndrome and our Sam. en-us down syndrome Sat, 21 Aug 2010 23:52:38 GMT Sat, 21 Aug 2010 23:52:38 GMT about-down-syndrome.com http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/back-to-school.html Back to school dilemma Sat, 21 Aug 2010 23:52:37 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/famous-people-with-down-syndrome.html Did you know there are many famous people with Down Syndrome out there? Take a look at their inspiring stories here. Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:48:08 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-health.html Down Syndrome Health gives a brief description of some of the health problems a person with Down Syndrome may have. Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:55:32 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/diabetes-in-children.html What every parent should know about diabetes in children. Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:03:36 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/child-with-down-syndrome.html Some advice on taking care of yourself and your family when you have a child with Down Syndrome Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:47:23 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/still-not-speaking.html An update on oue son Sam, who has Down syndrome and a cleft palate and is still not speaking. Thu, 05 Aug 2010 21:04:03 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-blog.html#Teeth-and-a-Voice Sam is 6 years old now and in Kindergarten. He recently lost a tooth and the new one has come in almost completely sideways. The dentist says this is pretty common for kids with Down syndrome. Meanwhile, his other teeth are getting shorter and shorter because of his incessant grinding. Aaargh. What to do? On another note, he still is not talking. He has started using PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System)at school and seems to be doing great with that. He also still signs some, but not many of the other kids know sign language. The other day I was picking Sam up at school and as one of his classmates was leaving he was trying to get the other boy's attention (to say bye). Since he is unable to say much, he just yelled, "Aaaaah!", and as his mother and translator I knew instinctively what he was trying to accomplish. Its heartbreaking when you know your child has so much to say, but cannot. I am more determined than ever that Sam really needs a "voice", not just a book with pictures to exchange. Now, I'm not saying the picture exchange thing is not good, but he needs a real voice! I'm thinking the Dynavox V or VMax, though they are quite costly. I wonder if insurance will pay for any of it... Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:25:55 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-statistics.html Down syndrome statistics and incidence Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:28:35 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/index.html A site to bring you as much information as possible about Down Syndrome from a more personal perspective. Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:24:09 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/prenatal-diagnosis-of-down-syndrome.html This page is for parents who have received a prenatal diagnosis of Down Syndrome for their baby Sun, 29 Mar 2009 04:00:35 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-support-groups.html A listing of Down sydrome support groups Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:32:56 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/einstein-syndrome.html Einstein Syndrome is an article that really, really hits home. Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:37:19 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-inspirational.html I have been getting a few emails here and there with stories of inspiration about kids who have Down syndrome and I would like to share them with you at <a href="http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-inspirational.html">Inspirational Stories</a> Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:38:24 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-inspirational.html Looking for an inspiring down syndrome inspirational story? This is the place to find it. Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:34:10 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/kids-down-syndrome.html Getting a good education is important for kids with Down Syndrome. Join us as we navigate through the public school systems in the U.S. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:33:22 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-blog.html#Online-Community Did you ever wish you could "talk" to other parents or caregivers of persons with Down Syndrome? Are you a person with Down Syndrome wanting to chat with others who have Down Syndrome? Click on the logo below to visit this safe online community. <a href="http://www.specialfriendsonline.com"><img src="http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/images/specialfriends.gif"></a> Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:04:11 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-blog.html#Call-for-Photos For all you proud parents of kids with Down syndrome, enter the Times Square Video Contest and you might see your little one on the big screen! Details can be found here : <a href="http://www.prolifeblogs.com/articles/archives/2008/05/call_for_photos.php">Contest</a> Fri, 16 May 2008 22:32:40 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-blog.html#Sam's-Adventures I wonder how many other parents of kids with Down Syndrome there out there who are having trouble with keeping their child in the house?!?! Sam has a very adventurous and inquisitive nature and keeping him in the house is a 24/7 job! Ours is a rather large household, including four (yes four!) teenagers, two grade schoolers, Sam, and a 3 month old baby. As you can imagine our little 2000 sq.ft. home is quite chaotic at times. People are coming and going all the time, noise levels can easily get out of control, sometimes its just a plain madhouse! We have latches high up on ALL the doors leading to the outside world! And yet...Once in a while Sam manages to escape. Just last week he was brought home by a kind elderly man (whom we are not acquainted with who lives on the street perpendicular to ours. Its happened before...other neighbors have brought him home. We have frantically searched the yards and streets near us for our little runaway. Once he even woke me up early in the morning by knocking on the door. It turns out that when my husband had left for work (this was before we had latches at the tops of the doors) Sam woke up and decided to go exploring. He has long since figured out how to get around the Safety door knob covers you can buy almost everywhere. I don't think it will be long before he figures out how get around these latches as well. Already he is pulling a chair over to the door trying to reach the latch. It's only a matter of time before he starts stacking things on top of the chair until he can reach. What to do?!?!?! Any ideas? Please send me an email. <a href="http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/contact-us.html">Contact Us</a> Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:01:44 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/hippotherapy.html Our four year old son who has Down Syndrome has started hippotherapy! Read all about it here. Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:52:37 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-blog.html#Down-Syndrome-Article I came across this article today...the story of two women with Down Syndrome who were used as suicide bombers in Baghdad. What a sad state our world is in. Of course, in many countries around the world babies with Down Syndrome are aborted just as easily as these two women were targeted... Should our outrage be the same for both situations? Only you can answer that for yourself. For me, having a child with Down Syndrome has brought such joy. Sam is truly a delight and though there are difficulties and worries, it's worth it. What child does not cause difficulty and worries. Our struggles with Sam are just different from those we have with the other kids and believe me its been such a growing and eye-opening experience! Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:28:04 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/fsga4d9d.html Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:20:56 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/links.html Lists links to other helpful sites Sun, 13 Jan 2008 04:31:06 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/hippotherapy-in-down-syndrome.html Is your child getting bored with the same old tricks from his therapists? Hippotherapy in down Syndrome will enlighten you about he new 'therapy with a twist'! Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:26:17 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/hippotherapy-in-down-syndrome.html We are about to embark on a new adventure with Sam. Though he has made great strides in the private speech therapy sessions he has once a week, he seems to be getting a little bored. We have decided to try hippotherapy after Thanksgiving. He loves animals and the time he got ride on a pony at a school carnival he did not want to get off. Visit our hippotherapy page to get a basic idea of what it is and who it can benefit. Look for more information about Sam's first session after Thanksgiving! Sun, 18 Nov 2007 06:31:25 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-printables.html For babies with down syndrome printables that are visually stimualting like these are great to hang up in areas where baby spends a alot of time. Mon, 15 Oct 2007 21:33:49 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-blog.html#Sammy-goes-back-to-school... Sammy's second year in PPCD is off to a running start! Last year we did it their way. Well this year it's going to be MY way. Sam's school is supposed to be one of the best in the area for special ed. Ha! That may be, but I was pretty disappointed with the progress he made last year. Last year he was in a full PPCD class. Because of his cleft palate (which has been repaired) he is having more difficulty learning to speak than the average child with DS. My biggest concern last year, as well as this year, was that he would be around speaking children. Unfortunately that was not the case. I let the "professionals" talk me into and out of everything they wanted. This year I am a new person! No more letting others tell me what is best for my child. I know what he needs, what he can handle. Well this year, once again, he was pced in a PPCD only class. At "meet the teacher night" I expressed my concerns about Sam being with speaking children and having the opportunity to be in an integrated classroom. The teacher said she would keep an eye on him to see if he was in the best placement. As it turned out, I did not wait for her to tell me. The three or four times I brought Sam to school I saw some things in that classroom that were very disturbing to me. Not dealing with the teachers mind you, but two of the three other children in the class. I won't go into detail, but suffice it to say that I knew Sam would not learn anything good in that class. I believe it was the fourth day of school that I called the principal and told her I wanted to try Sam in the integrated class. Yay! for me, I did not back down! He just finished his fourth day of the "trial period" in the integrated class and I am thrilled to report he is doing well according to his teacher! Sat, 08 Sep 2007 05:37:26 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/your-baby-with-down-syndrome.html Helpful hints about getting ready for your baby with Down Syndrome. List of nursery needs, list of things to bring to the hospital, some things to consider... Fri, 27 Jul 2007 05:21:07 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/welcome-to-holland.html Welcome to Holland is a very moving story describing the emotions experienced when finding out your baby has a disability. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 05:18:17 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/tummy-time.html Tips for safe tummy time for babies with Down Syndrome. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 05:15:06 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/tongue-in-down-syndrome.html Often falsely accused of being larger than those of its non-Down Stongue in Dowyndrome counterpart, the tongue in Down Syndrome is actually not larger than normal in most cases. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:11:14 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/teeth-in-down-syndrome.html How to promote healthy teeth in Down Syndrome. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:09:43 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/story-about-down-syndrome.html Our story about Down Syndrome and how it has affected our family continues... Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:08:39 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/speech-therapy-for-down-syndrome.html Speech therapy for Down Syndrome gives a brief description of things to come involving language and speech. Also described are some of the other forms of communication used by kids with speech issues Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:06:43 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/special-child.html Heaven's Very Special Child is a poem written by Edna Masimilla when her child with Down Syndrome was born. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:05:43 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/special-angel.html Special Angel is a touching poem about a child with Down Syndrome. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:05:03 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/safe-sleep-for-babies.html Have you ever wondered exactly what people mean when they recommend safe sleep for babies? Well, here's the answer. Safety tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:04:05 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/prenatal-tests-for-down-syndrome.html Prenatal tests for Down Syndrome Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:03:17 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/poems-about-down-syndrome.html Stories and poems about Down Syndrome Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:01:31 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/physical-therapy-in-down-syndrome.html A brief oveview of physical therapy in Down Syndrome. Reveals the real purpose for physical therapy in Down Syndrome and tells you how you can help maximize the positive effects. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:56:24 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/physical-symptoms-of-down-syndrome.html Describes the most common physical symptoms and characteristics of people with Down Syndrome Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:54:53 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/parents-of-a-new-baby-with-down-syndrome.html Do you have a new baby who has Down Syndrome? Click here to see more information about Down Syndrome for new parents. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:53:10 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/parent-baby-down-syndrome.html When you are the caretaking parent of a baby with Down Syndrome it is easy to get overwhelmed. Tips to help you and your spouse maintain a healthy relationship. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:50:20 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/nursery-needs.html A list of nursery needs to get ready for baby whether he has Down Syndrome or not. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:34:46 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/low-muscle-tone.html Consequences of low muscle tone and other physical characteristics peculiar to children with Down Syndrome Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:30:22 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/living-with-down-syndrome.html Has your baby recently been diagnosed with Down Syndrome? Do you know someone who has a baby with DS? Read this section on living with Down Syndrome to find tons of information and support Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:20:36 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/life-planning-in-down-syndrome.html Ever wonder what might happen to your special needs child when you are no longer around? Our Life Planning in Down Syndrome page will help you get started. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:17:30 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-teeth.html In children with Down Syndrome teeth often behave differently than in others. Read more here. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:55:10 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-swallowing.html Another factor that can lead to Down Syndrome swallowing problems is the differemce in facial and oral structure many kids with Down Syndrome have. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:50:05 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-stories.html Down Syndrome stories and the story of our son, Sam, photos, poems, your stories, photos and submissions. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:42:52 GMT http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/down-syndrome-siblings.html down syndrome siblings Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:38:19 GMT