A Puzzle

On Sunday, my son was playing with an unfamiliar wooden puzzle board. He removed all the pieces. Each one was a different shape. I watched him do this and then turned the board 1/4 turn so it was different when he looked at it. He grabbed each puzzle piece and placed it in the correct position on the puzzle board. After each placement, he stopped and gave me the thumbs up sign. I was surprised to see him put every shape in its correct place.

Yesterday, he was working on the computer and he was supposed to place the letters in the right place to form a word on the screen. Each letter was placed on a shape and below the letters there was the corresponding shapes without the letter. I watched him click on each shape and place it in the right order making a word. Now, I'm sure he wasn't reading the word or doing it correctly because he can spell, it was because he recognized the shapes and could match them. I think that's impressive.

He continues to surprise me. Today, he not only surprised me, but annoyed me when he found, launched, and then installed Norton Antivirus software on two of our computers. The problem? We use Trend Micro Antivirus and the two programs fought each other enough that it disabled both computers. I have no idea how he found Norton nor how he installed it since I have no idea how to do it, but he figured it out. He's quite the genius when it comes to electronics.

Yet, he's not potty-trained. He's a puzzle, that's for sure.

Starfall

Why is it that even my four-year-old is smarter than me when it comes to working a remote or the computer? He is a genius when it comes to anything electronic. I can always tell when he's had the remote to the DVR because he's set it to record cartoons. How does he do that?

He's also learned to navigate through one of his favorite internet sites www.starfall.com. This site allows kids to learn the letters as well as their sounds, learn to read, read simple books, and print out projects. My son is starting with the ABCs and he knows how to click on each letter. His favorite is when they show him how to do sign language for the letter. He loves to imitate the signs and he claps intermittently (which means he's pleased with himself).

Today when he got on the site, I tried to help him and he promptly told me "no" and instructed me (by pointing his finger) to leave the room.

I recommend this site for any kids who are just beginning to learn their letters all the way through reading fluently. It's a fun site. My other kids enjoy it as well. It's fun to watch my son while he learns his letters on this site.

www.starfall.com.

My Son is Not a Blob

When my son was born, I was worried he'd be a blob. Not so. In fact, so not so. I spend most of my day chasing after him, cleaning up his messes. One of his favorite things to do is to draw all over himself with marker. Somehow, he'll always find the permanent markers that I hide and use those because they're the hardest to clean off. Highlighters are also hard to wash off.

He also loves to draw on the walls, the floor, homework papers, and the toilet bowl. Yes, the toilet bowl. I didn't even know a pen could mark up a toilet bowl, but he's proven it can be done.

Today, he decided that the books on the shelves in the library were just too tempting to leave alone. Yep, I now have a pile of books, knee-deep, in my library.

He's also become obsessed with eating ice cream bars, usually my Weight Watcher ones. He opens the freezer, grabs an ice cream bar, and eats it as fast as he can before I can find him. He doesn't like some of the bars so I find those melted under the table, on the counter, or in the bathroom sink. I can't keep him out of the freezer.

He's also become proficient at turning on the computer and clicking his way into programs that he likes. He can manuever through programs faster than I can. On one online program, he can click on it and see someone do the sign language for each letter of the alphabet. He likes to imitate the person and it's really cute. It's not cute, however, when he opens my laptop and proceeds to give me the black screen of death, you know, the one where nothing happens and my only choice is to reboot.

So, yes, my son is not a blob and while I'm very thankful that he isn't, there are days when it'd be nice if he'd just slow down for a second.

I Have a Voice

Potty Training

I have potty-trained 9 kids. I'm not sure how it will go this time. I've read on others' blogs that it may take a couple of years to potty-train my son. I bought him a cute little Cars potty chair, but he doesn't seem too interested in it. Since he's my youngest, I'm not that concerned about it, but then I don't want him to start school still needing to potty-train. I would think he'd be embarrassed if he had accidents at school or had to wear pull-ups so I'm going to try really hard to get him trained before he attends school.

We watched a DVD today about going potty. It's Blue's Clues style and he seemed to enjoy it. I guess I'll see if it has any effect. I've never used videos/DVDs or potty chairs so this is all new to me. I'm going to be optimistic and hope it won't take too long.

If you have any hints, please, let me know. I'd love to hear any and all ideas to get through this next milestone.

What More Can I Ask For?

My son was diagnosed with Down syndrome four years ago,  a few days after his birth. I didn't expect it at all so I was shocked. I remember searching through pages and pages of possible medical conditions on the internet and feeling completely overwhelmed. I had no idea what was in store and I worried that I wouldn't be able to care for my other nine children if I was always in the hospital with my son. My doctor gave me some great advice. He said, "Stop getting on the internet. We'll face whatever medical challenges he might have when, and if, that time comes." Smart doctor.

Turns out my son has not had any medical issues. His heart is normal, his lungs are normal, his bowels are normal, and so are the rest of his organs. Other than when he was born, he has not had any overnight stays in the hospital. He's growing and learning. He's happy. He interacts with all of his siblings. He laughs. He draws (sometimes on the walls). He plays with clay. He can work a mouse on the computer. He is a genius when it comes to all things electronic. He sings, he dances, he performs any chance he gets. He makes us laugh when he raises his eyebrows up and down. He tickles his sister. He gives kisses and hugs. He likes things his own way. He loves to play on the piano. Pretty typical stuff.

He is smaller than other kids his age, but he's so dang cute. It took him longer to walk, but now he runs. He isn't speaking in sentences yet, but he has no problem communicating what he wants. There may be other challenges down the road, but I have to say, "So what?" So what if it takes him longer to speak fluently or to learn to read or to do math or to clean his room (well, my other kids haven't even mastered that one yet).

I'm just thankful he's hea;thy, happy, and he knows he's loved. What more could I ask for?

Amazing Young Man with Down Syndrome

This article gives me so much hope for my own son. What a great accomplishment for this young man to attend college at Utah Valley University. He sings and he perfoms as well. I want my son to have no limits. I want him to have as many opportunities as any other young man.

Here's the article. It's so inspirational!!