Hard work pays off

As I mentioned earlier today Lucas was working hard in his OT session and we have the photos to prove it! Take a peek at this little man showing off his skills.  Gotta love therapy sessions that are masked as play and fun!!

"Ok, let's get this show on the road! I am ready"

"Hmmm, I am gonna be like dad and count money!"

"And some more money....so I can hear the piggy squeal!"

"I think I wanna stand and play now, enough of that sitting stuff"

"Don't my legs look awesome? I think so..."

"Awww, I thought there were some snacks in here!!!???!!!"

"Ok, let me get back to this piggy bank!"

Awesome! I get to pull these out after I put them in. This toy rocks!!"

A little OT action

Since today is Tuesday we had our OT session with Emily and Lucas got to show off in his superhero outfit AKA Spio vest. Although he was working on 4 point, pincer grasp, cause and effect and a boatload of other things I thought I would share a short video of him so you can see him in action working on putting coins in the piggy. (Which he happens to love) More photos coming up later.

Some cuteness on this Monday...

Well usually Monday's can be pretty rough to the start of the week but something that made today a little more manageable was the fact that one of Lucas' teachers sent us this awesome photo of him having fun at daycare.  Granted I wish I could spend every waking moment with my little love it is really a relief to know that your baby is being cared for by others that love him and care for him just as you would.  When we get these random photos at work it is just a reminder of how awesome this little guy is!  (Did I mention he looks so grown in this photo! Geesh!!)

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month

As the month comes to a close I realize that I have not said much about Down Syndrome Awareness Month and thought it would be good to share some sites that give more insight and perspective as a way to do my part and help increase awareness.  As I have shared before, both my husband and I were nervous and scared to death when we first learned of Lucas' diagnosis but it was because we didn't know any better and needed to become educated on Ds to be the best possible parents we could be. 

While we are learning daily and no where near receiving any awards for our parenting skills we are filled beyond belief with love, compassion and pride because Lucas has brought so many amazing things to our life and to all those that get to meet our little man.  We have always looked at Lucas as the beautiful baby boy that he is first and his diagnosis secondary.  It will always be this way.  While we know there will continue to be uphill battles and much hard work in our future we make sure to provide the support and love that will be needed for this journey and embrace all the gifts he has brought into our lives which are so enriching and invaluable. He has shown us the beauty of life in everything he does and what can I say about that infectious smile??  It just melts my heart and makes me so darn proud to be his mommy!!

Lastly, a BIG hug and shout out to all those rockin' an extra chromosome! 



10 Things I Learned About Down Syndrome

Moms Share Most Maddening Myths

Myths and Truths

The little guy giving me that look....

The Many Faces of Lucas

I just can't stop snapping photos of the most beautiful baby boy I know. (Of course I am biased!!) It just happens that I have to capture every waking moment of Lucas' days because I am afraid I will miss something.  At times I think I am overdoing it and then at other times something amazing happens and I fail to capture it on film so it's a reminder to me that as a mommy I will do as I please and capture every little second of my beautiful baby because it is often the little things that are really the BIG ones. So with that, here are some photos from early this morning as we were playing and getting ready to leave to work and daycare.

"Mom, not now I am trying to read my story!"

Ok, If I just keep reading maybe she will put that camera down

"Awww shucks mommy you make me laugh every time!"

"Mommy you are soooo funny and I can't keep a straight face for long!"

Lucas' Super Hero Outfit AKA Spio Suit

Today during PT we actually got to use our Spio Suit which is a compression garment that assists with sensory processing as well as overall movement control.  It is also used to assist with whole body sensory awareness and respiratory functioning in children.  So you can understand why this would be something worthwhile and beneficial for our little Lucas.  I wondered how he might tolerate the suit since it is made of Lycra and has a pretty snug fit to it but not to where it stops him from moving freely or sitting up.  We are going to begin with wearing the suit for about 30 minutes each day this weekend and then increase our time with it which could include keeping it on Lucas for most of the time he is awake.  Wish us luck.

Sitting up in the Spio

"Mom, I don't think this look is quite for me"

In action!

Chompers! Guess Who?

Little did I know that waiting for Lucas' teeth to come in would be slow as molasses.  For the longest time he has been drooling and drooling and we saw one tooth trying to break through in early September.  So when it finally did we thought it would be a matter of days before it was visible. Boy, were we wrong.  So we stopped looking daily at his mouth and feeling his gums only to be surprised with three teeth that have no broke through. I tried taking a photo of them but seems that Lucas doesn't respond well to my fingers and camera in his mouth. Ha! Here is the best I could do.

Buddy Walk 2012 - What A Day!

Today was the 10th anniversary of The Buddy Walk and despite the rain making for some crazy, wet and messy conditions we had an amazing time. We were so blessed to be part of an amazing team, The MODs squad, which this year raised over $14,000 for Down Syndrome awareness and inclusion efforts.  We make it a point to be involved and band with other families because we love our children and want to make sure that everyone knows and learns that they are more alike than different.

Carlos and I want to thank everyone who came out yesterday with us and braved the rain and those that were there in spirit! Your support means more than you could ever know.  Our little man Lucas was certainly born into the right family with so much love and support in his life.

Our family!

Lucas getting some shut eye at the walk

All the little loves taking photos before the rain

Lucas trying to figure out what is going on and his buddy Riley in front of him

Rachel from Signing Times with Lucas

Lucas still trying to figure out how Rachel got out of the tv

Auntie Titi holding the sleeping angel

The kiddos posing and smiling

Lucas and his friend Grace

Grace giving Carlos some love....Awww!

Such a cute moment!

Painting that Pumpkin

Lucas always seems to enjoy art time, especially when it's in the form of painting, so it was great that Lisa decided to begin Developmental Therapy with a pumpkin painting session.  I was also happy that Lucas decided to use his favorite color blue also, guess mommy's favorite color is rubbing off on him.  Here he is showing off those special talents!

Lucas painting with friends

"Ok, gimme that paintbrush and let me get started!"

Nice and steady paint strokes

"Enough of that brush let's just dump the paint on this pumpkin"

What you say?

This weekend we went to Michigan for a quick 3-day weekend getaway and little did we know that as we tried to get Lucas back to sleep, after our midnight arrival, he would begin making sounds that would bring us almost to tears.  We have been talking to Lucas, singing to Lucas, reading books and spent endless hours with him studying the movement of our lips and tongue with virtually not much luck in having him mimic the sounds or vocalization.  So when it sort of "turned on" at 2 in the morning it caught us completely off guard.  The first sounds we heard were something like this, "ba ba pa pa pa" this was preceded by a bunch of spit and bubbles being made from Lucas' mouth.  I don't think that Carlos and I will forget this milestone since it was a long time coming and Lucas has been on a roll with his vocalizations since. Gosh I love this little blessing more than any words can express.  

Here is Lucas enjoying his Baby Signing Times video.  He really love watching Rachel teach simple sign language words and the catchy songs they sing.  So on we go on this journey of speech development!

Watching Baby Signing times sign about milk

"Banana, Banana....yum"

This sums it up

I am glad that I ran across this today as I really needed it!

Back-up Plan (1st Pumpkin Patch visit)

So I go pick up Lucas today and hear from his teacher that he actually got up on his knees while laying on his belly. Of course I was excited when she told me he did it not once but actually twice!  So I come home and put him on his tummy and do everything I can to get him to do it for me. I even thought I would for sure get some awesome photos or video for tonight's blog.  As luck would have it Lucas decided that he didn't want to show off his new skill for mommy so instead of some photos of Lucas getting on his knees instead I will share our photos from the pumpkin patch visit.  (At least our back-up plan is a good one!)  But coming soon are photos of Lucas on his knees once I witness this with my own eyes!

Hanging out with mommy and all the pumpkins

Where is Lucas?

"Uh oh, get me outta here!"

Driving a tractor

This Elvis is too scary for Lucas so he was trying to take off

The Vasquez Familia

It's October already?

So October snuck up on me since things have been so busy and this month is no different.  This month is packed with so many awesome things like the upcoming Buddy Walk, Lucas is baby of the month at at daycare, heading to Michigan next weekend and of course October is National Down Syndrome month! Whew! I am sure I forgot the a bunch more but here are a couple photos from today.

"Mom, enough with the photos! I am read to go."

 

Mommy and Lucas standing next to his baby of the month bulletin

Board up close....Boo!

The outside of the infant room that was painted by one of the teachers