Sleep is improving, thanks for asking. I hesitate to say we have it conquered because as you know, if you don't like what they're doing, it'll change and if you like what they're doing, it'll change. For example, after quite a few nights of 7 hour stretches (yay, yay, yay!) she slammed us twice with 4's and 5's. This wouldn't be so bad except we get confident in a pattern and we start to stay up late. Always a big mistake for me.
So, we are working on leg strength by doing soft-kneed standing. We are working on hands and knees position and we are working on moving from lying down to sitting. A doesn't like the hands and knees exercises at all. She always wants to be grabbing something and investigating. I think this is great but it's hard to get through the stuff we're supposed to get through. I try to keep it opportunistic rather than drill-like. There are days when I just want to play. So we do.
Eating is going well but there is a shift. She is no longer content with baby mush. She's figured out that we're eating more interesting fare and she wants it. She's grabbing it right out of my hand. It's great but she often gets distracted by the self feeding and she's eating less as a result. I'm sure it'll change but feeding times are a little long right now.
Elimination communication is going well for solids. We hear the signal and head to the toilet. She knows what to do. I'm still amazed by this but so happy. I spent part of last week upgrading her diaper supply. We're using cloth and I was combing craigslist for more. We found 12 brand new organic cotton prefolds for $35. We should be good until she's done. EC for liquid is still pretty casual. I try once per day after the morning nursing session. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. We still reinforce the pssssss sound when she goes in her diaper but I'm wondering if a sign would work better since visual learning is easier.
In the fine motor department, her pincer grip is starting to show up with all those finger foods. We don't see it much elsewhere but she's definitely working on it at the table and as she spends so much time there, I'm not focusing on it otherwise.
Communication has been interesting. She signed 'milk' at six months but didn't really do it consistently and she hasn't picked up any new signs. I was explaining this to another parent at a playgroup and suddenly she signed for 'milk' (which sometimes means 'tired') and it was unmistakeable. Then at a birthday party, T was feeding her some yummy bread. She turned to look up at him and said 'Dada' and then did the 'more' sign. It's not wise to get excited by one demonstration of progress but hey, it just happened and it was pretty cute.
For those of you unfamiliar with the age range for developmental milestones, here are a few to give you an idea what to expect. This is from the above-mentioned book. Sorry for the formatting. I did it in word and pasted the source in here so it's a little wonky.
Children with DS | “Normal” Children | |||
Milestone | Average Age in Months | Range in Months | Average age in Months | Range in Months |
Smiling | 2 | 1.5 to 4 | 1 | 0.5 to 3 |
Rolling over | 8 | 4 to 22 | 5 | 2 to 10 |
Sitting alone | 10 | 6 to 28 | 7 | 5 to 9 |
Crawling | 12 | 7 to 21 | 8 | 6 to 11 |
Standing | 20 | 11 to 42 | 11 | 8 to 16 |
Walking | 24 | 12 to 65 | 13 | 8 to 18 |
Talking, words | 16 | 9 to 31 | 10 | 6 to 14 |
Talking, sentences | 28 | 18 to 96 | 21 | 14 to 32 |
On the cuteness milestones, she broke the monitor, so we only know she's off the chart.
What a great update!!! You take me back to that first year, fast and furious. I worried. I worried and I worried more. Sally, if I can be so bold, be confident in that you're doing the best. Having said that, I agree with you on the PT thing -- ask for more, do more.
ReplyDeleteThis could be just me, but once per month therapy visits is a vague guide. Without doing your own research (like you are doing) and picking up A's cues (she is reaching and this is a good motivator for crawling, sit to standing, cruising and finally walking) will be more valuable. Just my opinion.
I love love love her pictures! I love that she is exploring food and that she is communicating by sign! It's such a lovely gift for both child and parent.
I admire the elimination process too! Gabe is still dependent on us to take him to the toilet. He will be five in April. Right now, we're on the Smarties reward system because since Christmas he has regressed...a lot. But that's okay. We'll work it out. But I think the elimination process that you're doing with A will save you a lot of frustration down the line.
Oh, and you're right. A is right off the chart for Cuteness!
I like this post! And I like her face! And I like that you were/are able to successfully breast feed because it makes me want to not give up the good fight and pump forever. lol... he pretty much latched on the first time, and never quite had a latch like that since. Since we've been home, I think I've only had to NOT supplement a feeding with a bottle of breast milk maybe twice. Good thing I had all that time on my hands when he was fed via IV and got my milk supply up so I have plenty to pump out. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments.
ReplyDeleteLianna, we are on the waiting list for more frequent PT from the next level of service but until then, every 2 months is the best they can do. That said, I haven't really pushed so maybe it's time I get more 'difficult'.
Yes, the EC and signing are great. I did signing with the big guy but it was so different with him. He caught on later but once he got it, he picked up a bunch quickly and then moved right on to talking. She is pretty tentative. It's almost like she forgets. Sometimes she just grabs the milk source! Clear enough.
Amy, don't give up yet. You've inspired me to post about the nursing journey but until then, here are a few things that helped. I had a lactation consultant. She taught me how to use the bottle (make that baby suck, don't hold the bottle vertically and let gravity do all the work, hold horizontally). Use nipple shields when you try nursing. Get help. I had people bringing dinner for about a month. Others were taking the big kid out for playdates to give me some rest and space. My mom and sister also came and helped as long as they could.
IT TOOK US SIX WEEKS before she could nurse a full meal. Man did life change after that. I credit that experience with my mostly positive outlook on this whole DS thing. I figure all other developmental issues will be a cake walk compared to 6 weeks of hardly any sleep. I'm probably naive on this but it helps for now.