check-in day

[Guest guest]

I can't believe how this summer has flown by! We've had many fun adventures but I think I'm ready for school to start. This year will start Kindergarten. It all seems so strange but I know he is ready. He'll have a full time Para-professional to be with him all day. His grandmother teaches at the same school he'll be attending so his aide was "hand picked" just for him. He'll also have all the therapies that were offered him during preschool. In Kansas we have full day Kindergarten, so I know that will be a big adjustment for all of us. This summer he has lost two teeth! With the permanent teeth already growing in. I can't believe how big he is getting. We're still working on potty training. It seems like he has times where he stays dry and then times when he is soaking through his pull-up. It can be very frustrating but I know I need to be more consistent with him. His speech is also coming along so well. He had tubes put in, again, in May. This was #5. His sister (3) also had tubes in on the same day. Her speech has come leaps and bounds from where it was and has only done good things to help develop more words.

turned 1 in July, which hardly seemes possible. She is moving around on her own. Sometimes she scoots while sitting, other times she does an army crawl. Either way she usually can get where she needs to go. She started pulling herself up to stand in her crib, so I had to lower the mattress. That sort of stole her thunder and she hasn't been able to master standing up to anything else. It will come, I'm sure. We're still working on her being able to feed herself. She does wonderful on table foods, when I feed them to her. She can pick things up but struggles getting them to her mouth. I'm so pleased with her progress.

There is one piece of advice I would like to solicite. I seem to worry about the smallest things that usually ending up being nothing. I'm afraid this is one of those worries. I can't decide what to do for Willaim and his lunches for school. Thankfully the para will sit and have lunch with him, otherwise I'm afraid he would run away. When he was in preschool he had lunch there. It was served family style so they could work on the skills needed to help themselves. Dishing up their own food, etc. Now, obviously, elementary school is a different story. My mil (the school teacher, who will be at the same school) suggested only having him eat school lunches on days they are serving something I know he will eat. My only worry with this is that he'll get confused. Since it won't be very consistant. Sometimes having lunch from school other times bringing his own. I also feel somewhat at a loss on things I can pack for him to take to school. I know what he'll eat, but not everything is things that can be easily packed in lunch box form. I'm sure I'm over thinking this but I would love to hear what has worked for you and what hasn't.

I don't post as often as I should but I do love reading all of your updates and hearing about your ups and downs (pardon the pun.)

Happy Summer!

Mom to 5 (Ds), Ruth 3 and 1 (Ds)

http://www.drivingwithnohands.blogspot.com

[Guest guest]

Sorry, not a lot of advice. Have the same problem with my guys. Guaranteed they eat hot dogs double-wrapped in tin foil and stored in a hot-thermos kind of container until lunch (they're in FT 4-yr-old pre-k) and tostitos and yogurt. Just started eating rolled roast beef cold cuts. That's their repertoire every day. Not great but at least they're eating! Good luck! Let me know if you find some miracle, healthy food that works. xo maggie

Mom to Olivia and & (IDs w/ DS)

www.walkonthehappyside.blogspot.com

To: Multiples-DS Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2009 10:25:07 AMSubject: Re: check-in day

I can't believe how this summer has flown by! We've had many fun adventures but I think I'm ready for school to start. This year will start Kindergarten. It all seems so strange but I know he is ready. He'll have a full time Para-professional to be with him all day. His grandmother teaches at the same school he'll be attending so his aide was "hand picked" just for him. He'll also have all the therapies that were offered him during preschool. In Kansas we have full day Kindergarten, so I know that will be a big adjustment for all of us. This summer he has lost two teeth! With the permanent teeth already growing in. I can't believe how big he is getting. We're still working on potty training. It seems like he has times where he stays dry and then times when he is soaking through his pull-up. It can be very frustrating but I know I need to be more consistent with him. His speech is also coming along so well. He had tubes put in, again, in

May. This was #5. His sister (3) also had tubes in on the same day. Her speech has come leaps and bounds from where it was and has only done good things to help develop more words.

turned 1 in July, which hardly seemes possible. She is moving around on her own. Sometimes she scoots while sitting, other times she does an army crawl. Either way she usually can get where she needs to go. She started pulling herself up to stand in her crib, so I had to lower the mattress. That sort of stole her thunder and she hasn't been able to master standing up to anything else. It will come, I'm sure. We're still working on her being able to feed herself. She does wonderful on table foods, when I feed them to her. She can pick things up but struggles getting them to her mouth. I'm so pleased with her progress.

There is one piece of advice I would like to solicite. I seem to worry about the smallest things that usually ending up being nothing. I'm afraid this is one of those worries. I can't decide what to do for Willaim and his lunches for school. Thankfully the para will sit and have lunch with him, otherwise I'm afraid he would run away. When he was in preschool he had lunch there. It was served family style so they could work on the skills needed to help themselves. Dishing up their own food, etc. Now, obviously, elementary school is a different story. My mil (the school teacher, who will be at the same school) suggested only having him eat school lunches on days they are serving something I know he will eat. My only worry with this is that he'll get confused. Since it won't be very consistant. Sometimes having lunch from school other times bringing his own. I also feel somewhat at a loss on things I can pack for him to take to school. I know what he'll

eat, but not everything is things that can be easily packed in lunch box form. I'm sure I'm over thinking this but I would love to hear what has worked for you and what hasn't.

I don't post as often as I should but I do love reading all of your updates and hearing about your ups and downs (pardon the pun.)

Happy Summer!

Mom to 5 (Ds), Ruth 3 and 1 (Ds)

http://www.drivingw ithnohands. blogspot. com

[Guest guest]

Hi from New Zealand

Just checking in and add my little bit about our experience of twins

together or twins separated.

Like everyone else it has always been a dilemma but we did not have any

choice for Kindergarten so they went together. Most people did not even no

they were twins as they did their own thing. We always encouraged Sam (who

does not have DS) to go off and do things. Hamish was not that bothered

when Sam went off. He did not have the mobility that Sam had and as long as

he had things around him he would go and explore at his own pace.

When it came to school I decided that they would start together in a small

mainstream school in the same class and if there was a reason for separating

them then we would, but I wasn't going to separate them for the sake of it.

So far it is woriking really well. They are 7, happy in the same class and

independent. They have different sets of friends and both boys are very

popular in their class in their own way. The girls love Hamish and he

always gives them a big smile and a hug. Sam is off with his group of boys

doing very boy things. But because they are in the same class Sam can keep

us informed of what the class are doing and that triggers Hamish's thoughts

and then he tells us what he has been doing. Having a twin brother, we

think, has really stimumlated Hamish to do things, that he might otherwise

not have done or done so quickly. He wants to do what Sam is doing and

loves standing up in class, like everyone else, telling them his news.

Although it is a small school there is an option to have them in different

classes but we haven't taken that up yet. We just take one year at a time

and discuss the issue when classes are being set for the following year, as

to what is best for Hamish and what is best for Sam.

I guess at the end of the day every child is different, twin or not, DS or

not, and every combination of children is different so you have to do what

works for your kids. We had one teacher that was just adament twins should

be in separate classes, because they just should, and was always saying " oh

if they were in separate classes, that wouldn't happen " but their were

never any big issues that have made us doubt the way things are going at the

moment.

- Mum to Sam and Hamish(DS)

[Guest guest]

Just checking in. We had to start adding more calories to 's diet. For some reason he started losing weight. The Doctor had me take him to the dietition and she also gave me a lot of ideas and she also gave me some cans of supplements with a lot of calories. She gave me some magic cups of different flavors that can be ate like ice cream or let them thaw and eat like pudding. He seems to feel heavier when I lift him so hope he is gaining weight. is still attending the Day Service Program here and seems to enjoy it. We haven't done a lot this summer because of the heat. Just want to stay in where it is cool. Judy & Bob Parents to 29yrs the joy of our lives who happens to have ds and multiple disabilities and

Subject: Re: check-in dayTo: "Multiples-DSyahoogroups (DOT) com" <Multiples-DS >Date: Friday, August 7, 2009, 10:43 PM

Hi from New ZealandJust checking in and add my little bit about our experience of twinstogether or twins separated.Like everyone else it has always been a dilemma but we did not have anychoice for Kindergarten so they went together. Most people did not even nothey were twins as they did their own thing. We always encouraged Sam (whodoes not have DS) to go off and do things. Hamish was not that botheredwhen Sam went off. He did not have the mobility that Sam had and as long ashe had things around him he would go and explore at his own pace.When it came to school I decided that they would start together in a smallmainstream school in the same class and if there was a reason for separatingthem then we would, but I wasn't going to separate them for the sake of it.So far it is woriking really well. They are 7, happy in the same class andindependent. They have different sets of friends and

both boys are verypopular in their class in their own way. The girls love Hamish and healways gives them a big smile and a hug. Sam is off with his group of boysdoing very boy things. But because they are in the same class Sam can keepus informed of what the class are doing and that triggers Hamish's thoughtsand then he tells us what he has been doing. Having a twin brother, wethink, has really stimumlated Hamish to do things, that he might otherwisenot have done or done so quickly. He wants to do what Sam is doing andloves standing up in class, like everyone else, telling them his news.Although it is a small school there is an option to have them in differentclasses but we haven't taken that up yet. We just take one year at a timeand discuss the issue when classes are being set for the following year, asto what is best for Hamish and what is best for Sam.I guess at the end of the day every child

is different, twin or not, DS ornot, and every combination of children is different so you have to do whatworks for your kids. We had one teacher that was just adament twins shouldbe in separate classes, because they just should, and was always saying "ohif they were in separate classes, that wouldn't happen" but their werenever any big issues that have made us doubt the way things are going at themoment. - Mum to Sam and Hamish(DS)