October is National Down syndrome Awareness Month

October is National Down syndrome Awareness Month.

 Ruby is just like any other child.She enjoys pretend play.

Happy Fourth Birthday Ruby

To celebrate Ruby's fourth birthday I made her this video. You were meant to be Ruby!

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You're Fine

When I wash Ruby's hair in the sink like this she usually signs the word for scared.We were trying to get it on video.I thought she wasn't going to say it but right at the very end of the video she does it.So funny! She did keep saying,"You're fine."

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The Sweetest Thing

Ruby is a runner.If she sees our front door open she will go out it and start running straight down the driveway to the street.The bad thing is now she has learned to open the front door and go out.She can even unlock the lock on the door- knob.We have to keep the deadbolt locked to keep her from getting out.
My 14 yr. old son, Daniel, went out to the car to get something, Ruby,seeing that the door was not locked,opened the door and went out.From my bedroom I hear my 7 year old son,Zane,screaming Ruby's name like I have never heard him scream before.I was terrified and ran to the front door to see my son Daniel carrying Ruby back to the house.Ruby had gotten to our van in the driveway where Daniel was and he caught her.
Poor Zane did not realize that Daniel was outside and thought Ruby was getting out of the house all by herself.I took Ruby from Daniel and brought her back inside.Zane was on the couch crouched in the corner hiding his face and sobbing.He thought Ruby was going to get out in the street and get run over.I sat down next to him on the couch with Ruby in my lap.I told him everything was okay and that Daniel had seen Ruby and caught her.My poor little Zane was so relieved and grabbed Ruby and I and started hugging us.Ruby started patting Zane and saying,"You kay? You kay?"
Ruby has siblings that love her so much.We all love her so much.I can't imagine how anyone could ever think that a child with Down syndrome is a burden. Ruby is our treasure.

I just thought it was the sweetest thing to see how much my son loves his little sister, and how much she loves him in return.

Ruby Cheering for Her Niece

My grand-baby is learning to walk!

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Ruby Grooving

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Wordless Wedneday - Sleeping Beauty

More Wordless Wednesday - Hugs

Wordless Wednesday

Ray of Sunshine

Things have been pretty busy at our house.We are getting adjusted to life with my Mom and her little dog Bruno.My mom has Alzheimer's and can't live by herself anymore.For the most part things have been going pretty good.My 7 yr old daughter Rebecca is scared of my mom's dog though and even after 2 months is still mostly staying in her room to stay away from the dog.She has always been terrified of dogs and it doesn't help that Bruno,who is a long haired chiuaua,is yippy and growls about everything .
I bought games,play dough,puzzles,new coloring books and markers to keep Becca busy while she is in her room.I also try and take her with me on any outings I have to make and on Saturday I had one of my son's take the television out of my room and put it in Rebecca's room . She loves to watch the qubo channel and play Barbie on the x-box.
My mom enjoys being around all my kids and keeps telling me that Ruby is a,"Ray of sunshine." Ruby thinks grandma is pretty special too and pats and hugs on her any chance she gets.



Reading with Grandma



Ruby and I reading together

Ruby's favorite books right now are Dr.Suess' 'Put Me In The Zoo,' and 'Hop on Pop.' She brings them to me several times a day and says,'Read!" Here we are reading together :

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Ruby is Coloring

I was coloring with my 8 year old daughter Rebecca and Ruby came over and grabbed a crayon and started scribbling coloring,too. I haven't taken Ruby to OT in months but coloring was one of the things they used to try and get her to do.
Ruby had started resisting therapy and I felt like driving for 20 minutes for a crying session was not beneficial. My children and I play work daily with Ruby on skills she should be achieving. Taking a break from therapies has helped Ruby to fit into our family life and just be the baby.

Wordless Wednesday/ Uh,Oh....

Uh,Oh



Who did that?



Ruby's hearing test

My husband and I took Ruby to Children's Hospital to have her hearing tested today.I was very pleased with how quickly we were seen.We have been to this hospital before to have Ruby's eyesight tested and were seen very quickly then,too.I was pleasantly surprised because this is a very large hospital and thought it might be a very long wait.
When Ruby's name was called we were taken back into a small soundproof room.My husband sat with Ruby in a chair in the middle of the room with speakers on either side of them.The audiologist played different sounds and called to Ruby through the speakers. Ruby did very well and responded to almost all of the sounds.There were a few very light sounds that Ruby did not respond to.
When the test was over we were told that Ruby showed a very slight hearing loss which may be  because of a recent upper respiratory infection that Ruby has been fighting.We were told she would need to see the ENT and then come back for a follow-up hearing test when her cold clears up completely.So overall we were pretty happy.
The audiologist was a very friendly young woman,Ruby liked her very much and hugged her goodbye when it was time to go.
Here  are pictures of Ruby in the car on the way to the appointment :

"Hi"

Wordless Wednesday Ruby fixing her hair

Pictures of Ruby

Ruby and her big brother Daniel

World Down Syndrome Day and a Birthday

Today is World Down syndrome Day.
World Down Syndrome Day takes place on 21 March every year. This date (21/3) represents the 3 copies of chromosome 21, which is unique to people with Down syndrome.








Here is my Ruby.

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Today is also my son's 6th birthday.

 

Ruby is Amazing

Ruby just amazes me.Right now as I'm writing this post she is standing at our back door calling our dog,"Angel!" "Where is she?" "Is she?" "Angel?" "Where is the puppy?" Ruby amazes me with her ability to speak. Now she has crawled over to me asking me,"Angel? Is she?" as she points outside our sun room windows,"Where is she?"
 Ruby melts my heart, I can never imagine why I was so sad when I gave birth to her.Any sorrow has been totally replaced with joy and pride in my beautiful daughter.

Wordless Wednesday

Sesame Street board books

Shake a Leg by Constance Allen is one of Ruby's favorite books.I bought it for her several months ago because it has actions to imitate, like honk your nose,pat your head,and many others.When I first started reading it to her I would perform the actions and she would copy me,now when I read it she does most of the actions on her own when she sees the page.The book is small and perfect for her little hands.Another plus is that it's a board book and the pages can't be ripped or crumpled.
When I was looking it up on Amazon I found some other books in this series that I think Ruby will also enjoy like 'Elmo Says'and 'Elmo's ABC'S.'