Development | Mommy Head Adventures

Lion Slides and Jumps – family Fun Friday

Two weeks ago, we had a great breakthrough with Lion. He had a sup visit during his home physical therapy and they decided to bring out the slide. They had high hopes of working on some new skills with the slide and capturing his attention.

One problem with their plan… He already knew how to do the things they wanted to teach him. And no one taught him how to do it. He did it himself.

Here is a cute video for you to enjoy.

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How about you? Have you done anything fun with your family lately?

It’s Family Fun Friday here on Mommy Head Adventures. I have teamed up with Frontline Moms to bring you this super fun link up where you can brag on the fun things your family has been up to. If it is family friendly and fun, you can share it below. Here is a few suggestions to help you out:

Fun Recipes
Fun Crafts
Fun Family Games
Fun Mommy Outings, or,
Funny Stories About Your Family

Thanks for joining us and link up below.

Filed Under: Blog HOP, development, developmental delay, developmental milestones, Down syndrome, Family Friday

10 Free Alphabet Printables #TopTenTues

2 Jul By Mommy Head 2 Comments

With the school year fast approaching, I have been on the search to find some alphabet printables for Bear. She is a beast at her alphabet, which is a shock to us after her struggles with seizures.

When Bear was 5 1/2 months, she was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms, and our world was forever changed. Later, after we got her seizures under control and she became seizure free off of medicines, we learned that she had a rare genetic mutation called 14 q 12 micro duplication. With this overall diagnosis, we were told she may never talk and that she may have a hard time reading.

Well, she is proving the doctors wrong. Not only can she talk, but she knows all of her abc’s and she can recognize them at random on alphabet cards.

So, I am seizing the moment to start doing some preschool work with her next school year. And I am going to focus on the alphabet to help her learn new words as well.

In my search, I came across these great sites with printables to help her to do this.

1. Alphabet Coloring Pages from Fisher Price.

2. Alphabet Activity Worksheet from First School.

3. Letters Coloring Pages (both easy and hard) from All Kids Network.

4. Various Pages for Each Letter from tlsbooks

5. ABC Alphabet Coloring Pages from Free Coloring Pages.

6. ASL Alphabet Coloring Pages from DLTL’s Growing Together.

7. Alphabet Coloring Pages from Mr. Printables

8. Color the Alphabet from Tip Junkie

9. Detail Alphabet Pages from Crayola

10. Train Alphabet Coloring Pages from Coloring Pages for Kids

Now I have a great starting point for the school year. Now to make copies and start my lesson plans. I am excited already.

Linked up to:

Filed Under: development, developmental delay, education, special needs, Top Ten Tuesday

End of a Season, Beginning a New {Mar 9}

9 Mar By Mommy Head 9 Comments

Bear's Last Therapy Session

Today’s picture post is going to be a little different than usual. Call me a hormonal, pregnant mom if you want, but I just can’t help but celebrate where we are.

Back in 2009, which Bear was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms, the doctors gave us a very grim outlook. We had to face developmental delays, mental retardation and even death square in the face. The beautiful thing that came out of it was a child who was willing to fight against all odds and prove them wrong.

Bear did everything late from the point of being 5 1/2 months old on. When her seizures came back, we were devastated. All the hard work she put up for 2 months had to be redone. And with it came even more scary proclamation.

When her neurologist found the cause of her seizures, 14 q 12 microduplication, we learned very little more of what to expect. At the time, Bear was one of 9 to have this diagnosis. They have since found a few more. Because of the extra strand on her DNA, she might never talk, she would crawl and walk late and may never be able to do some of the things that normal kids could do.

But she kept fighting. And she kept proving them wrong.

Bear crawled at 16 months. She walked at 22 months. And now, she says all kinds of word and tries so hard to say many more. She is quick to learn new signs and is able to communicate her needs. And she is smart!

No, I’m not just saying that. Her therapists will tell you the same thing.

What do I attribute this success too?

First of all, Jesus Christ. He is her ultimate healer and he is the one who pulled our whole family through every bit of the trials we went through with Bear and even Lion.

Second, early intervention therapy in our home. Her therapists never believed for one moment that Bear would not succeed in life. They encouraged us. They pushed her.

Lastly, Bear is a beast! I love my daughter and I wouldn’t trade her for the world. She has taught me so much on how to live life to the full and how to laugh in the face of adversity.

So, today ends a season but begins a new one. No longer is my house as much as a revolving door as before. Yes, we still have therapy for Lion, but it isn’t the same. Just one little one in EI is enough for me in my super pregnant state.

And as for Bear, may she keep shocking the world and doing great things! I love you baby!

Disclaimer: Please ignore any typos. I was literally crying like a baby when I typed this post, still am. This is real, raw emotion. What can I say, I am a pregnant, hormonal mommy who is so proud of her daughter!

Filed Under: 2012 pictures, development, developmental delay, developmental milestones, early intervention, family, memories, mothering, parenting, play, special needs

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North “Poll”

10 Nov By Mommy Head Leave a Comment

Hey MHA readers! Do you like Melissa & Doug toys?

Then do I ever have good news for you!

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North “Poll!” You’ll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

Filed Under: coupon, development, early intervention

Family Friday: Drinking from a Straw

14 Oct By Mommy Head 6 Comments

I am one proud mama!

Yesterday was a big day for our little family. Once a month, we travel the 2 hours and 30 minutes to St Louis for Bear and Lion to have occupational therapy. We have been doing this since last May, when the OT in our area left.

First off, Bear did great. She has a different therapist now than what she used to have because her first therapist had a baby. She loves Amy and does wonderful with her. She fed herself and graduated to a new goal: Dressing herself. This should be fun. I really am not looking forward to her learning how to take her clothes off…

And for Lion, I was worried. He has been struggling with separation anxiety pretty hard core lately so I thought for sure that it would be a disaster. We did have some success on Wednesday during PT, when he decided that pulling up to stand would be a good idea

But, Lion proved me wrong. He did great putting objects into things and using his index finger to push buttons. He graduated to some new goals as well, but nothing would prepare me for what he would decide to do in less than 24 hours.

The above picture is a picture of our new friend. I will call him Honey Bear. Honey Bear was given to us to help Lion learn to drink from a straw. We have had lots of difficulty with drinking and eating lately as we have been weaning since little baby is coming. His therapist gave us a brush to use for brushing therapy and the Honey Bear to drink from.

We spent a lot of the session time learning to use the brush and the purpose of it. We are hoping that by brushing Lion’s arms, legs, hands and feet before eating that he might not be so adverted to new things. So far, so good.

I also learned how to squeeze the Honey Bear so that enough liquid gets to the tip with the goal to be that Lion will learn to suck it up. Family and friends, Lion no longer needs me to squeeze the bottle!

That is right. In less than 12 hours, he has mastered drinking from a straw! My son is a beast!

What new things have your little ones mastered lately?

Filed Under: adventures, award, development, developmental delay, developmental milestones, Down syndrome, early intervention, family, Family Friday, feeding