Q&A #152

no 6 yr old needs an ipod touch! do i hear spoiled for your brats.
First off, thanks for having the guts to leave your name ;). Second, actually, the iPod Touch has proven to be very beneficial for children with Special Needs. There is a never-ending list of educational apps out there that has helped Kennedy learn to read, do math, and even write. She shares it with her 3 year old brother who has learned his colors, shapes, letters and numbers from it. It has apps that are helping Kellsey learn to speak and one day she will benefit from all the other apps that Kennedy and Keeghan use right now as well. For us, this was a much better fit than a different handheld game system, like a Nintendo Ds, which may be cheaper but it's less educational and once you start having to buy games it really adds up. Also, with the Touch, you don't have to worry about losing game cartridges and it saves us from covering our house with countless flashcards. It's small, portable, and works great when you're in waiting rooms and/or the car as much as we are. I know many children with Down syndrome and other disabilities much younger than age 6 who have their own iPod Touch, and I'm pretty sure that doesn't make them spoiled, or brats. Thanks for your concern though. :)

Since she has to get blood work anyway, you could always ask them to check her titers. We have them checked before we get any vaccinations. In our case, they haven't needed any since they were two. They already had high enough levels. So we have skipped how many vaccinations that we would have otherwise done? They just order the blood work before our well child check, then if they need any they can do it while we are there...so we don't have to have two appointments.
I realize vaccines are a highly controversial topic... In order for us to stay at our pediatrician's office, we must vaccinate our children according to the government recommendations. We are not allowed to skip or delay any vaccines (though Kennedy's were delayed because of chemo, but that was different). The titer idea is a good one though, maybe someone else can use it where they are. :)

Q from me, scary thought where is Kellsey going to school? same as Kennedy was?
Kellsey is going to a private preschool outside the school system, same as Kennedy did. There are special education preschool classes in the district, some of which are very good. I intended for Kennedy to go there when she was in preschool, but ironically, we were told she tested too high. (You can read more about that right here.) So anyway, with the need for Kellsey to be in school full day, she is going to a private preschool... she is surrounded by typical peers who will hopefully spur her development. She is happy. She is included. At least for right now.

Wow. This brought tears to my eyes. I have a 25 year old with Ds and I expect she feels like this quite often. It is so true, there are many things she CAN do by herself, but makes me crazy nervous! That sentence "I don't have Down Syndrome all the time" will always stay with me. Thank you for posting this. I think it's going to change the way I continue to raise my daughter.
And now YOU brought tears to MY eyes! :) Thanks for a glimpse into the future! :)

Absolutely!! And we've got some great races going on right now in TN. Ya know, I knew 100% who I was going to vote for in the governors race until I watched their debate and now...two weeks later I am still clueless so I have not early voted yet! Ya think I could let the fact that Haslam reads your tweets swing my vote?? lol He must be ok if he follows the Special Ks...:)
haha! Sure thing!! :) I've been talking to lots of people on his campaign! He's been up here in Clarksville a lot, I wish I could meet him! Not meant to be though, so far! They did send me some really cool graphics though to play with and a t-shirt! I need to do something with the images! Good luck deciding on who to vote for! :)

She needs her own camera to document her time ;).
She has one. She got it for her birthday. :) I'm sure she'll come back with lots of fun pictures!

P.S. In that second to last picture, Kassidy looks SO small!! Is she the youngest one there?
Hmm I don't think she was, though she may have been close! They let kids going into 4th grade and up attend, so there possibly could have been kids one year younger than her going. She's just short... like her parents! ;)