Baby steps

Sometimes you ask for a miracle, and God delivers.

Little O has taken his first steps.  :)  He requires quite a bit of assistance, involving supporting his trunk and helping him to bear weight on each side, but the kid's lifting and placing his feet ALL BY HIMSELF.  This is possibly one of the most wonderful things I've ever seen him do, and I couldn't be any prouder of my Pookie Bear.  We bought him one of those baby walkers so he can practice when we're not holding him, and he's been scooting around the kitchen like he's driving his first car.  Lol.  The walker has friction pads on the bottom to prevent it moving on carpet, so Little O's been practicing standing up independently in the living room, which is also pretty cool.

At the genetics clinic last week I was given some two leaflets  - one on children with 16p duplications and another on 3p25 deletions.  Little O's condition is unique to him (so far - there may be other children out there with his exact karotype, but they're not registered with Unique's database), so the information in the leaflets is only partially accurate and descriptive of him, but they're useful general guidelines.  For example, children with 16p duplications are often born with severe reflux - check!  Children with 3p25 deletions often have heart conditions - check!  Both leaflets also said that children with these genetic issues are very slow to develop, and often don't walk at all - or if they do, it's between the ages of two and four.  Well, Little O is thirteen months old and attempting to take independent steps.  I think he might be walking properly by eighteen months, although if he takes a bit longer that's okay too.

I have a theory on Little O.  Firstly, that because the 'p' arms of his affected chromosomes are not as damaged as other children's, that he is actually more able than we realise.  And secondly, that he is actually a very smart little boy.  Any developmental issues he has are being overcome (albeit slowly, slowly), because his intelligence is pushing him harder and harder to succeed.  Both Mike and I are smart; it's a fact and I'm not apologising for it.  I think that if our IQs were lower, Little O would be having a tougher time learning all the wonderful things he's been doing lately.  I hope this turns out to be the case, and that even if he cannot go to a mainstream school, or if he does go to one but he learns at a much slower pace than other children, that he is aware enough to push himself to do his best.

For now, I'll take these small miracles for what they are: baby steps.  What a superstar.

Tina.

Day Two

Not too bad today, although I had to eat sushi for the first time ever and thought it was absolutely revolting.  Who on earth thinks something that cold and slimy is delicious?  Eugh.  I have to eat it again on Thursday but I reckon a substitution might be in order.


Ick.


I also had to eat a peanut butter and jam sandwich (not nearly as exciting or fatty as you'd imagine), and while the thought of peanut butter on its own is enough to make me retch, eating it on soft wholemeal bread with some blackberry jam wasn't too bad.  One demon conquered, anyway.


Don't know what my weight is today because I'm only weighing myself once a week, but my walk with Owen was much nicer than yesterday because it wasn't as cold.  He didn't fall asleep though, which was a shame.


I have lots of other thoughts going around my head but this isn't the time to write them down.  Soon.  Soon.


Tina.