Roll Call

[Guest guest]

Hello all, I have recently just re-joined the group. I was a member in

the beginning. I have even been to a couple of the EastCoast Suaree’s

in West Virginia. My name is Dawn and I am married to my hubby of 17

years . We live in New Jersey and have 2 boys. “Little ” came

as part of the package so I was a mom right off the bat (his mom passed

when he was 4 in a car wreck). Hubby and I then had in ’92 but

he passed away as a baby. We then had late in ’93. He is our guy

with DS. I was totally shocked by and really didn’t even have a

clue about DS before he came along. Boy did I have a lot to learn.

had no heart issues but did have severe club feet. He spent his

first year in full-leg casts which had to be changed every week. My mom

came to live with us when he was born and watched him while I worked.

She would soak his casts every week so I could take them off at night

when I got home from work and he could get his weekly bath and go back

for a new set each Tuesday. Casting helped some but he still needed two

major surgeries which he had at 1 year.

God gave me such a gift by having my mom there – she helped me in huge

ways with his health needs and taking him to therapies and such. I was

only able to have her until was about 1 ½ but I am so thankful to

have had such a wonderful mom.

was in public school until about the age of 6. He just got to be

too much for them and he was running them around in circles, getting no

actual learning in because of his ability to “Work the system” Anyway,

he continues to go to a private school at 14 years old. He absolutely

adores school and counts the days during break when he will be able to

go back. Brother is 27 now and married so he is really on his own

around here and just loves his friends at school.

was potty trained during the day at 6 years old. Not dry at night

until 13! I thought I would be smelling and cleaning up pee until he

was 30 but as usual just did it in his own time. I have learned along

the way that no amount of bribery or coaxing on my part will convince

to do anything. He will do it when he is ready and not before. He

still has an occasional accident but I am thrilled he was finally able

to master this skill. He is really smart and can figure out very

quickly what you don’t want him to do. THAT will be the one thing he

HAS to do to make you feel as if you are losing your mind. He will

never be what you consider an easy child but he is a smart, funny,

loving one.

is now on Risperdal for impulse control, it helps him to resist his

not so nice urges such as tripping people or just acting out. The bus

has always been my nightmare. It’s a long ride to his school but my

choice is to take him away from what he loves just to make the ride

easier. Haven’t been able to bring myself to do that yet.

Sorry this is so long but I am almost done. is 27 now and was

married to his high school sweetheart in July 2006. Terri and have

just made me a grandmother at age 42! was born in June and she

is such a cutie. Apparently even with my constantly harassing

’s parents they chose to have her without the benefit of

insurance (costs too much) so they will be losing their apartment and

moving back in with Grandma and Grandpa and uncle in March. God

help me!

So, that’s about it from our little corner of the world. Re-joined

again recently as I have been a bit unsettled lately about ’s future

and what I am supposed to do now? What decisions I need to make and how

I should handle his future.

So, hopefully I can help some of you along the way. Glad to be back and

learning about all the old timers as well as the new.

Dawn

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