Wednesday, March 26, 2008

It's begun

Ian met with the OT on Monday, and she thinks that Ian is about a month behind on his vocabulary skills. But he's doing awesome - right on track - in all his other developmental skills. And he's an ace at skeet shooting.

Monday night was all about shots. RSV, and two more with weird names. (They should just call them names like "Strawberry" or "Chocolate" shots. Make it easier to remember which one's he's had. "Ian had his Cherry Garcia shot last month and is getting a Mint Chocolate Chip one this month." See? Easy.) On top of shots was the drawing - or the jabs, pricks, gouges, pokes, prods, shoves, attempts at - drawing blood. No dice. No twice, no thrice, not even four times. Poor Ian cushion. Screamed himself to sleep. We have to take him back soon for more Bloodletting 101; maybe his veins will have expanded over the last three days?

The news that Ian is starting to slip behind "normal" "average" kids kind of sunk in a bit. Made everything a little more real. Annie had a bad day yesterday, and went over to her parent's place for moral support.

Maybe I need to lay off trying to teach Ian philosophical terms. Maybe he's just confused about when he should use material equivalence instead of material implication. Heck, we all struggle with that one. Fine. Back to boring ole A, B, and or C.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's inevitalbe that we all think our kid with Ds is going to stagger the odds, be ahead of even his typical peers, somehow the extra chromosome would push your child into above average realms. But, alas, much like any kid, Ds or not, reality sets in and the inevitable occurs...he becomes who he will become.

Doesn't make the process we go through any easier. Hugs to Annie.

I struggled for a long while about where Polly was at...lately, I've been actually enjoying it. Great, for now.

Tricia said...

I've been having a tough time with the milestones lately myself. It's hard not to compare. The audiologist asked us some weird question the other day about "what level" Georgia was at and I had NO IDEA. I mean...what does that even mean? I suspect they wanted me to give them a month equiv. or something...but I dunno.

Georgia had a tough time with blood draws when she was a bit younger to. It HAS gotten better...but sorry to hear about little Ian Cushion.

Anonymous said...

We gave up on blood draws at the pediatrician after a horrible 30 minute session with John screaming and me crying and then not getting enough blood for the test. We started taking John to the lab at Children's. They're experts at little arms and little veins. It felt like a big hassle until the first time we tried it: they poked him, actually got blood and were done in five minutes with nary a tear.

I've met Ian and he's an amazing kid! It doesn't matter what anyone says. It doesn't matter how he compares to some chart of milestones. Ian is Ian, and Ian is a great kid! Hug him and love him and enjoy him. I spent way too much time when John was little trying to predict the future, wanting to know what he'd be like when he was older. Unfortunately I didn't take the time to just ENJOY him. Screw the milestones!

Kim Ayres said...

Ease Ian into it by seeing if he can work out if a priori synthetic statements are possible, and if so, under what circumstances.

Or was that a posteriori analytic statements?

However, I'd wait until he's had his Choc Chip Cookie Dough shots first.

Anonymous said...

ya, lili was about the same as other children in regards to milestones up until about 6 months. then...all the "typical" children started pulling themselves to a stand, eating finger food, and driving cars..

uh....lili doesn't even roll over yet!

it's a strange feeling.

Jeffrey Goble said...

For all of our sorrow at Emma's birth (later coming to the realization that that sorrow was self-indulgent), the time came when we just didn't give a ratatoillie's (sp?) rear end about where she tests - except how she tests against her own standards. I don't discount your feelings, I understand. My aim is to raise your vision to see the further horizon. "It will be a matter of how hard you try, and how hard Emma tries," the DS specialist told us as we wept in the post-partum hospital room about 24 hours after she was born. Those words continue to ring in my ears, 8 years later. It is hard. It's also good to realize that Emma has to put forth an effort, too - we all do, huh? There is accomplishment, there is desire. There is also contentment to be found. It's all part of the human condition. I see your drive for excellence in what you do; I enjoy your descriptions of exploring and finding those peaceful, joyful moments with Silvi. Am I always content?, er, no. You already have the gift for finding it. Go with it.
Sorry. Been thinking about this post, and you both. My confidence in you is still unshaken. You're just waiting for Ian to show you some more stuff. Soon enough.

Kelly said...

When I stopped looking at the milestone charts for typical kids, I got to a happy place.

Now that Will is in preschool, and the opportunity to do side by side comparisons has arised, I see that indeed, Will is not reciting his ABC's or 123's with the same success, but he is generally a happier chaps than some of the other kids, and in my books, happy is right up there with writing a dissertation. Happy and content is more rare now than it ever was, so think about how ahead of the curve he is in that regard.

Will is not a philosopher, but a muse, and that is a very respectable full time job if you ask me.

Tom said...

Lint: It's just so weird sometimes. I do find myself thinking that Ian will "grow out of it" one day. Wonder when it plants itself that DS is here to stay...

Tricia: I really like AnnoftheJungle's suggestion about going to Children's Hospital for bloodwork. That last visit was the pits. And I want to forget all about milestones, but I keep thinking about them... appreciate the thoughts.

Ann: Thanks for the idea about Children's; I'm pushing for that. And you've got to see Ian's latest big grins... hopefully soon. Thanks. And the milestones often fill like millstones. Gotta learn to leave them behind.

Kim: I probably shouldn't have started him off on a heavy dose of existentialism... now all he says is, "What's the point of it all?" :)

Ana: Ian rolls over, but it's kind of a problem because he almost never just hangs out on his back. Then he gets frustrated and plants his face in the carpet and sobs a heartbreaking sob.

How's for getting together next week sometime when I get off work. Ian is a night bird and Silvi stays up till nine... let me know.

elbog: You're not always content!? :)

Thanks, man. It always seems to be fine, this ds thing, as long as we stay in our little cocoon. As soon as we venture out into the world, it starts getting hard again. I do find that if I just keep my eyes fixed on Ian's eyes and his big grin that I can shut out a lot of the other crap. Here's to doing the best...


Kelly: I love that, about Will being a muse. Very cool. And touching. I am NOT looking forward to when Ian has to leave, what I said to elbog, our "cocoon." Maybe I'll hire a bodyguard for Ian... :)

Anonymous said...

theology and DS? have a read of this, particularly paragraphs 7 and 8.