Exciting stuff happening.....

over at an amazing community that I now belong too.  A4cwsn has been very very busy over on Facebook.  If you have a Facebook account look them up.....check it out...trust me you will not be disappointed.  


Gary James is one special person doing unbelievable things and changing the lives of many children.  I believe in him 100% and I am proud to be a part of all that is happening!


I have already tried to win an Ipad2 for Jonathon's teacher so she could use it in her classroom.  I received minimal support from our school and we did not win the Ipad2 for the class.  Jonathon did win an app though.  Which was great because it is an app that I could not afford to purchase at this time but had it on my wish list.  The app came from http://mobile-educationstore.com/.  This has not stopped me.  I am going to nominate our school system to win Ipads next.  Hopefully the second time around I will get more support.  I won't give up because I believe that our children will succeed with the use of an Ipad.  I cannot believe how much better Jonathon is talking and starting to form 3 word sentences and we just got our Ipad in October.


Gary started another campaign tonight and amazingly the campaign is still running but we met our goal within the first hour.  Phenomenal.........


Over on the right I have added some widgets of some campaigns happening right now.  Please help us out and our friends!  Even $1.00 will help!


Thank you........


Please pass on the information......check it out for yourself.........and take a look at http://mobile-educationstore.com/. and check out http://a4cwsn.com/.

Challenges & Celebrations 2011 Conference

I went to this conference yesterday.  The conference was sponsored by St. Clair County Community Mental Health, St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency and St. Clair County Down Syndrome Support Group.

I went to "What your other Children without Disabilities are Thinking: Sibling Issues for Parents"
Keynote Speaker Brian Skotko.  I thought Brian was a very good speaker and I really enjoyed listening to him.  I was not able to stay until the very end to get my book signed, but I did purchase his book and cannot wait to read it.  Check it out and get yourself a copy.  If you ever hear his name go listen to him.  He is great!

I also attended Ipad = Ican  Keynote Speaker Ann Orr.  I enjoyed listening to Ann also.  But she was just an Ipod/Ipad geek.  She was not from Apple Company and I already learned about a whole bunch of apps, so I was not really impressed with her.  I went to listen to her thinking I would learn about the Ipad2 and how to use it and how to use the apps when you download them.  So I really could have skipped her.  Oh well.

Oh and I went and listened to an O.T.  Her name was Kim Perrin.  "Addressing Challenging Behaviors Through Sensory Strategies"  Now her I could have sat and listened to for a long time.  She was very informational.  I don't really have a lot of problems with Jonathon.  I was curious what it was all about and glad I went.  I learned that water is a good thing.  I learned that if you have a child that is really out of control.....ex: head banger ...to the point of dangerous..you could just give him/her some water to play with(like in a bucket in the middle of the kitchen floor) not worrying about the mess.  And it relaxes the child.  Water is calming.  I am so glad that I have Jonathon in swimming.  and of course he loves the shower and our pool and mud puddles etc.

Jonathon picks at his thumbs and peels the skin off to the point where it bleeds and I have to put a bandaid on(which he hates).  so she gave me some ideas to try out on him.  and to keep track of when it happens.  So I will.  She actually ran out of time talking to our group.

My sister and I then ate lunch and had to head for home.

During the conference I met up with the president of St. Clair County Down Syndrome Support Group...which is the group we belong too.  And she had a gift for me......well for Jonathon!

I had submitted a scholarship letter to her at the beginning of October asking for Jonathon to be a recipient of an Ipad2.  I explained about my research and why I felt that it would benefit him!  I am so happy that he was given this device!  It is going to help him so much with his learning!

So I loaded it up last night and showed him really quick!  Lets just say he loves it.  He was upset when he had to put it away to go to bed and he calls it his pad.....games mom!

I would have never known the world of opportunity for my son with an Ipad2 if it wasn't for me finding a4cwsn.com and reading and researching.  I joined a4cwsn.com on facebook.  It is a wonderful community and a person can learn so much.  I already have 123 apps on Jonathon's Ipad2. I have only paid $17.00 total.  Most of them were free and some of them I won.  Through a4cwsn.com.  I am so glad that I found Gary James..... Please go and check it out....You will not be disappointed!

I uploaded a video of him seeing his Ipad2 for the first time.  Learning video upload is confusing. sorry.  it posted all on its own.  Hope you enjoy.  That was his very first look at an Ipad2.  He thought the character Mongo was really funny.  You are supposed to eat the fruit not the junk food.  He was being silly last night and actually doing both, because Mongo will turn blue from a tummy ache.  But he knew how to operate it after a few seconds and with time he will be really good at this device.

Finally back

I finally gave up on trying to make my old dinosaur of a computer work.  I tried everything.  Even dumping the hard drive back to the day in 2001 when it was purchased from a family member.  And it still was giving me problems.


So we went out shopping and came home with a Macbook Pro.  So while I will have to learn a new system I am very happy with our purchase.


I am slowly putting my stuff back on that I need.  And all my pictures are on my external hard drive and I haven't got to them yet.


Laptop is a lot different than a desk top.  But I am liking it.  I like the fact that I am able to move from room to room and get my other stuff done too.  I think I am going to be extremely satisfied.  


And this is my very first brand new computer!!!!  Thank you husband!


So once again sorry to all my readers for not being around.  I will try to be more efficient now.


I miss all of my friends that I follow.  Cannot wait to catch up.

Potty Training Update

I believe we have finally advanced to the next level of potty training.


Monday afternoon Jonathon had his first underwear accident.  I explained to him how he must tell mommy that he needs to go the bathroom "before" he actually goes.  There was sadness in his eyes and a few tears ~ We put a fresh pair of undies on and continued on with our day.


Thursday evening after dinner Jonathon was playing in the living room while I was cleaning up the kitchen when Gilbert said "Hey why does he do that"?  I look over to see Jonathon pulling down his pants ~ I quickly went over to him and said "oh lets go potty" ~ And he went


Just a few minutes ago Jonathon was sitting in the hallway looking at his Disney book and trying to take stickers out of the back when I heard "Mama"  "MAMA"  His tone changed quickly so I hurried over to him to him walking toward me with pants "soaked" ~ this time I did not have a tone like on Monday because he really did try ~ he called me ~ I just didn't get to him fast enough.  Which makes me sad, but it's a step I know we have to go through!


Makes me very very proud that he is finally getting it on his own to at least try to tell me!  I know one day Jonathon will be totally potty trained, but for now i will continue to be patient with him.


There are many days since last February when I started this whole potty training thing that I have wanted to take a BREAK!!!  But I have never done that ~ through my migraines, my tiredness, Jonathon being sick, my trips out of the house to wherever, not being able to sleep in EVER, and Jonathon having surgery we have never taken a BREAK!!  It's a long long road to success, but when you get this close there are no words of how a mother feels!!!!


Keep up the good work Jonathon we are almost there!  Mommy loves you very very much and is very very proud of you!

First day of school

Jonathon had a great first day of school today.  He remembered his teachers and did very well with them.  And in return they seemed to be pleased where he is at.


Speech teacher seemed pleased with his progress.  We didn't get very much time with her because she had the schedule wrong.  So we kinda missed our time with her.


The teacher said he is doing great.  He played by himself for about 20 minutes while we discussed some things before going onto another toy.  She said this is what they do in preschool - switch stations every 20 minutes - so that was good.  Jonathon talked to the teacher and actually did not want to leave.


Found out that my original p.t. from Capac - Miss Jen - is at Memphis this year.  I am so happy.  And sad.  I love her - but Jonathon is being evaluated on Thursday with o.t. and p.t. to see if he needs to continue services or is finished with their services.  O.T. I agree, he is probably finished - he is doing awesome!!!!  P.T. - he is doing fine, but I just don't know if I want to cancel services.  I want to make sure he is getting the best therapy and I am good, but I am not them.  They are trained to do this.  So we will see.


Totally forgot to take 1st day pictures.  Don't know what I was thinking.  Guess I will get pictures on THursday instead.  Very happy with today.  We are off to a good start.


Teacher also gave me a heads up that sometime this year depending on how Jonathon is doing she wants him to spend some time in her actual preschool class to help prepare for next year.  Sure no problem.  Excited about that.  But wow!  Preschool.  Doesn't seem real.

Random Thoughts

I received a phone message from Jonathon's teacher Friday evening.  First day of school is September 22nd.  Time is 11:15a.m. til 12:15p.m.  1/2 hour with teacher and 1/2 hour with speech teacher(same as last year).


Teacher also explained in my phone message that he will have school on Thursday September 24th with his O.T. Amanda and P.T. Annette.  Time will be 10:30a.m. til 11:30a.m.  Now on his first day back with O.T. and P.T. they will be doing an assessment and deciding if Jonathon will continue with them this school year or they will be releasing him and I can keep in contact with them both and go back to them if needed.  O.K. I have mixed feelings on this.  Yes, Hooray!!!!  My goal all along has been for Jonathon to be able to mainstream in public school.  Goal....not even comprehending that it could be preschool when he actually starts mainstream.  I believe this is every mothers dream.  I am also nervous......should I allow them to stop their services with Jonathon?  


I spoke my concerns with my original P.T. Jen over the summer. (Jonathon was able to work with her for 3 weeks, once per week)  Which Jen says Jonathon is doing wonderful and I should be proud....which I am. (very proud).  She also told me to just make sure I state it correctly that I want to be able to contact them anytime for them to see Jonathon again if I feel it's needed.


Do I think he needs O.T. services anymore?  If I compare Jonathon to my older boys(yes I am comparing) no, I do not think he needs O.T.  He is doing everything and more of the same as them at this age.


Do I think he needs P.T. services anymore?  This one I am not so sure on.  Yes he is walking.  Walking great.  Not running yet.  He can climb stairs up and down with my help.  Not on his own yet.  We are working on jumping.  He is very strong and is able to stand up in the middle of the room without using his arms,hands for support anymore.  When we go shopping I still usually carry him into the store, he gets distracted very easily and it's just time consuming to let him walk sometimes.  Plus its weird, because Andrew and Kenny were able to go up and down the stairs on their butts at this age, but being that Jonathon has down syndrome he isn't allowed.  He is supposed to do it the big boy(adult way).  Sometimes I feel that they push our children with special needs way too far too fast and don't let them just be "kids" "toddlers".


So I am a little nervous about next week.  I also know deep down that when the time comes I will know what to do and how to handle it.  I just hate waiting and thinking........ I think I will make sure my social worker is there that day with me.

Another Accomplishment

While I was washing dishes Jonathon was around the corner in the living room digging into the toybox. Yelling in his own language to me about something. So I said" Do you need help" He crawled away from the toybox over to door way where I could see him and signed please to me. So I went to see what he needed and he pointed to a car he could not reach. Wow! Communication is Awesome! Great Job Peanut Butter!!!!The Accomplishment: To actually not continue to yell at me and actually crawl away and sign to me and then go back and show me!!!!

Later on in the afternoon he was in front of the t.v. and picked up the Cars movie case and again in Jonathon language was telling me something. So I asked him if he wanted to watch the Cars movie? He handed me the case and signed "more" Talk about a great day!!! My baby is growing up more and more everyday.