Colton Update: Age 5

Wow! Colton is 5. I just can't quite believe it. I haven't blogged in a really long time because....3 kids! Whew! Three is a lot and I am a busy Mama. But it is time for a little update on our special boy. So here ya go...

Colton turned 5 in January. He grew 3 inches this year! He is only in the 4th percentile for height, but he is still on the Typical Growth Chart, which is pretty good. We know he will be short, but my goal is for him to be taller than me. His doctor said that is probably going to happen since I'm only 5'2". Woohoo! She estimated he might be 5'4" or 5'5" so we shall see....maybe he will surprise us and get some of his Daddy's height. Colton has been blessed with health over the past year, which is pretty amazing considering the Pandemic. He took a 6 week break from school at the start of the Pandemic, but in May, we sent him back to school full time. Best. Decision. Ever. He's stayed healthy and happy and hasn't regressed. We are grateful. Hunter and I met with Colton's teacher and therapists yesterday afternoon to discuss his progress and reccommendations for next year. Normally, Colton would be enrolling in Kindergarten in the Fall, but we have decided to waive Kindergarten next year and repeat PreK4 at his current school. We all agree that he needs more time to work on his "Functional Skills." Academically, Colton is actually doing really well. He knows his letters, numbers, colors, shapes, etc....but he is behind in hand writing and pencil grasp, potty training, dressing skills, personal hygiene (brushing teeth, hair, etc..), independently managing his lunch, putting on his shoes, playing with friends appropriately, and communicating. Colton actually talks really well and his articulation surprises me, but Colton doesn't speak in full sentences. He doesn't initiate talking. If he wants to watch a tv show, he just brings me the remote and I know what he wants...but his Speech Therapist encouraged us to make him communicate what he wants. When he hands us the remote, we are to just look at him and wait for him to speak. If he doesn't, we can model what he should say..."Turn on Tv" or "I want a show." He likes to say just one or two words to get what he wants (Ex: Open, Show, Yogurt, Juice), but we want to push him to speak more without prompting. He will say anything we ask him to say, but we want him to talk more on his own. Colton also has difficulty with comprehending language. If we ask him a question, he doesn't always respond appropriately. For example, when I say, "What's YOUR name?" He might respond with, "Mommy" or just say, "Name." He usually will say the last word I say, which tells me he didn't understand the question and know how to respond. So...Colton does need some more time to learn and grow before we feel ready to send him off to Kindergarten.

This picture above cracks me up. This face shows me that Colton is completely annoyed with me for asking him to smile for the camera. He is basically saying, "Mom, stop!" Colton is so funny because if he is watching a show and I start singing along with it, he just starts yelling, "MOM!!!" He's telling me that I'm annoying him and I need to go away. Of course, I don't usually stop because I think it's hilarious but isn't that what moms do? Annoy our kids and embarrass them?

Colton got new glasses! I researched and researched to find the perfect pair for him. These are called Tomato glasses and they are great for kids with Down syndrome because they have the nosepads to help keep the lenses from smashing his eyelashes like his old pair did. There weren't any local dealers for us to try them on, so I just had to order them online and hope they would fit. They do and I love them so much. He looks so grown up to me in them!

Overall, Colton is doing really well. He did just recover from a double ear infection, but that's the only illness he's had since the Pandemic began. He went to the dentist and was a champ! He let them clean his teeth without any complaints and I was so proud. He's making progress in therapy, even if it is really slow. I've mentioned what he's doing in Speech, but in PT he's working on jumping, balancing on one foot, riding a tricycle, riding a scooter, walking on a balance beam, and alternating feet to climb up and down stairs without a handrail. In OT, he's working on pencil grasp, copying the letters of his name, independently writing a C, learning to undress and dress, managing his clothes to use the potty, washing and drying his hands, brushing his teeth and hair, etc....

When you see all of Colton's goals on paper, it's a lot. Our boy needs a LOT of help and we are SO grateful for his teachers and therapists who help us on our journey. We all just want to help Colton to live as independent of a life as possible. As his Mommy, it can get really overwhelming for me. Sometimes, I just get busy with life doing our daily routines and schedules and don't think about all of things Colton is working on, but when I go to a meeting and actually see all of the things on paper, it hurts my heart. Going to a Parent/Teacher Conference or reading his therapy evaluations reminds me of his diagnosis and it's sometimes heavy. When I see kids his age enrolling for Kindergarten or having conversations with their parents, I sometimes get sad. I would love for Colton to go Kindergarten next year at the same school as Weston, but that just can't happen. We will ALWAYS do what is best for Colton, even if it's hard for me. We love Colton so very much. He has so much potential, but we need to continue to push him because he has always lacked motivation. Walking was a challenge, eating was a challenge, potty training is a challenge, language is a challenge...but we have a team of people helping us and we are so very blessed. As Colton's Mom, I do get more praise for working with and helping Colton, but Colton's Daddy needs a huge shoutout. I couldn't do this without him. He comes to every meeting, he asks the hard questions, he encourages me to back off and let Colton do more, he includes Colton in everything he does with Weston and Asher (tubing, swimming, riding the four wheeler, wrestling, etc...), he helps me make every decision, and he loves Colton with his whole heart. He is amazing.

Life with 3 boys is busy, but we love it and wouldn't change a thing. Our boys love each other, and watching them grow and develop and build relationships is so special!

What A Beautiful Name

I was driving all three of my children home from school the other day, and I had a moment. It was a beautiful 65 and sunny afternoon. The trees were red and orange and yellow. The sky was blue with big, puffy white clouds. Weston was in the backseat singing, "You have no rival, you have no evil." I told him the correct word was "equal, not evil" and giggled to myself. I picked up my phone and turned on this song he was singing, "What a Beautiful Name" by Hillsong Worship. I love this song and Weston loves it, too, because they sing it at school. As I was singing the lyrics, I heard Colton trying to sing along in the back (with his favorite green and yellow shovels in hand). I kept hearing him say "Jesus" and it absolutely melted my heart. Tears starting streaming down my face. I was overcome by emotion and a flood of memories came back to me. Memories of the days when I was heartbroken by his diagnosis. Memories of the days when I'd sob in the shower or while driving because MY child was born with Down syndrome. Memories of waiting for milestones to come and trying hard to hold back the tears when I'd see typical kids just naturally develop.

The first two years of Colton's life were really hard for me. Grief came in waves. I'd be good for a really long time and then something would happen and boom, I'd be sad. I knew it was unfair to compare Colton to typical children, but it was so hard to watch children younger than Colton learn to sit and walk and talk before him. But when Colton finally decided to walk at 26 months, I felt this huge weight lift off of my shoulders. Colton was finally given some independence. Colton could play at the park with other kids. As soon as he learned to walk, I just felt something change inside of me. I finally was able to accept Colton for who God made him to be. I finally started to shift my focus from "how far behind he is" to "how far he has come."

My moment in the car was a beautiful moment for me. It was a moment when I realized how much I've grown throughout this experience. I started this journey feeling sorry for myself, and now, I am so grateful for the gift that Colton is to my family. I get to watch the joy he brings to his grandparents...my sisters...my extended family...my neighbors...my friends...his teachers...his therapists...and his classmates. One of Colton's teachers told me the other day, "I am so thankful to have him in my life." Could a parent hear better words from a teacher?

That song reminded me that God's plans are far greater than my plans. Sometimes, we have to go through some hard times to get to the good stuff. Colton is the good stuff. He is my superhero...he is my hunk. He makes me realize that there are more important things in life than being the smartest or the strongest or the fastest. Colton is a little angel and I think he makes Jesus smile.

"What a beautiful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus."

Summer

It's that time of year. Everyone is starting to post pictures of their kid's last day of school. Summer break is here! For Weston, that day is tomorrow. He is SO excited to sleep in and play and swim and relax. I'm so excited for him because I remember how wonderful it was to finish another school year and finally have the freedom to just be a kid. But I can't help but be a little sad and tear up because my dear, sweet Colton doesn't get a summer break. Is he sad about it? No. Colton doesn't even know what summer break is or that kids don't have to attend school for 2 months...but I know. I also know that Colton has to work SO very hard to do basic things like run, jump, talk, eat, dress/undress, etc...so a summer off for him would be detrimental. He NEEDS to be at school. And Colton really loves school. He thrives on routines and schedules, so it's great for him. So as much as I'll miss him everyday, I know he's where he needs to be. And as long as he is happy, I'm happy. Luckily, Colton has a really awesome Daddy who has offered to take Colton to school everyday so that I don't have to get the other boys up and out of the house early each morning. We are so thankful for that! If I'm being honest, it will be easier for me to only have 2 kids each day as opposed to three. I'll get to have some fun time with my big and my little...but we'll definitely be missing our middle. He will get to join us for Memorial Day and 4th of July...and we certainly can pull him out for a few days if we decide to go do something fun, but for the majority of the summer, he will be at school.

Even though he can't join us for activities during the week, you better believe Colton's still gonna have a fun summer full of swimming, boating, tubing, playing...we will just do it on the weekends and after school! Excited to make fun memories this summer with my three little boys. Happy Summer everyone!

Communication (Age 3)

When Colton was born, we knew he'd learn to walk. We knew that he wouldn't learn as fast as other kids, but we knew he would physically be able to do it with lots of therapy and time. And he did learn to walk. He took his first steps at 26 months old. It took a lot of patience on our part, but he did it and we were SO stinkin' proud because he worked so hard! And now that boy is all over the place and we think it's the greatest!

But one thing you don't always know about children with Down Syndrome is if they'll talk. Sure, a lot of them do...but...a lot of them don't. They can be non-verbal. When Colton was born, one thing Hunter said to me was, "I just want him to be able to talk to us and communicate. I know that he'll walk and I don't care when, I just pray that he talks." So we decided we'd try communicating with Sign Language first. We bought the DVD's called "Baby Signing Time" and Colton loves them. We watch them all of the time because Colton learns best by repetition. Weston watches them, too, and helps me learn some of the signs I don't know. Colton started Speech Therapy around the age of 1 and all of his therapists have been amazing! They help him learn sign language and use lots of visuals and play games. They practice blowing because that is hard for kids with Ds and it's an important part of learning to talk. They obviously work on sounds and they sing lots of songs. Colton loves Speech Therapy. His current Speech Therapist told me that he'll mimic any sound she does (Ex: Ta-ta-ta) if she whispers it. He always whispers it back. He's hilarious! His therapists are constantly sending home little booklets like "Vocabulary for Christmas" with words, pictures, and these blocks at the bottom showing the signs.

Out of all of the areas he needs help with (Speech, OT, PT, Feeding), Speech is the easiest for me to help him. I try my best to be his Speech Therapist at home. I enjoy teaching him new words so we read a lot of books and sing a lot of songs. Colton loves music! The most you'll hear him talk is when he sings along to a song. It's so cute! Since day 1, I have made it a priority to talk to Colton about everything we do. People might think I'm crazy, but I think it works. Here are some examples:

"Colton, let's go change your diaper. Mama is going to lay you down now. Can you say diaper?"
"Colton, let's go open the blinds. Help me count. 1, 2, 3, Open!" I'd go to every blind in the house and do the same thing over and over.
"Colton, do you want to take a bath? Let's go take a bath. Mama is turning on the water. Can you say water?"
"Colton, let's open the refrigerator. Can you say open? It's time to eat. Do you want to eat? Say eat. Colton wants to eat."

So, I did this all of the time and it just became a habit (that I continue to do with Asher). Every time Colton would try to talk or make sounds, I would celebrate it. And if you know Colton, you know that there's nothing he loves more than clapping and cheering for himself. Haha. Eventually, Colton started to say words like, "More" or "Eat" or "Up" or "Ball." He had trouble saying 2 words in a row, but I was happy to hear 1 word. I'd keep requiring him to use the words I knew he could say during meals or when he'd want out of his crib or during playtime, and then I would praise him A LOT for saying those words. Slowly but surely, he began to attempt more words. Even if he didn't say them perfectly, I would celebrate each attempt. I had to be patient and continue to repeat myself dozens of times, but it was absolutely worth it to hear him speak.

Now, let's be honest. Me doing this at home is not the only reason Colton started talking. He has incredible Speech Therapists and Teachers at school that work with him every single day. Colton also was blessed with the ability to hear. I was told in the hospital that he would most likely fail his hearing test...but he has passed every single time. I was told he would probably have lots of ear infections because children with Ds have more narrow ear canals...but he has had less than 5 his entire life. I was told that he would most likely have fluid in his ears that would require tubes during his tonsillectomy...but he didn't. So, Colton being able to hear is a HUGE advantage. Colton has also been drinking from straw cups since the bottle to strengthen the muscles in his face and tongue and has been using a straw block to encourage him to suck with his lips, not his tongue (to keep that tongue in his mouth instead of wrapping it around a straw). We are so blessed to have a wonderful feeding therapist that gave us these tips because I would've never known to do these things. Colton's articulation has absolutely surprised me! I really expected him to talk like he has a mouth full of marshmallows, but he doesn't. Now, some sounds are harder for him than others but that's ok.

If a word is more challenging, Colton usually just says the END of the word...which makes me laugh. I'll say, "Colton, are you hungry?" He will say, "Gry." Or, "Colton, say baseball." And he will say, "Ball." But, he is starting to say words that are multisyllabic and is starting to use two or three word phrases. His Speech Therapist encourages us to clap out each word or syllable when we say the word to see if he will do it back to us. Base (Clap) Ball (Clap). And now he says, "Baseball." So this is what we are currently working on. It's very rare for Colton to say a full sentence, but the other day my mom called for Colton to come to her while he was in the other room and we heard him say loud and clear, "I DON'T WANT TO." Mom, Weston, and I were dying laughing. Oh, that boy is so funny and sometimes he surprises us!

Just because Colton can say words, doesn't mean he always uses his words. There are times when he's whiny after school and can't tell me what's wrong. He just holds my leg and moans and I have to try to figure out what he needs. Is he tired? Is he hungry? Does he just want to be held? So, it can be frustrating, especially when he's sick or hurt because he can't communicate what's wrong. But, I just continue to talk to him and ask him questions and try to get him to respond with a "Yes" or "No." He also doesn't request many things. For example, if we are in the car, he won't ask for me to turn on the music...but if I ask him if he wants the music on, he will respond. The other day, we were waiting in the car for Weston to finish a class and I decided to turn Baby Signing Time on the DVD player for Colton to watch. It was playing in the car, but I forgot to pull the TV down from the ceiling, so he couldn't see the show, he could only hear it. He wasn't able to tell me that so that sweet boy just listened. No worries, Weston made me aware of my error as soon as he stepped foot in the car. I felt so bad! Oops! But...Colton did bring me the remote the other day and said, "Lion King." So...there are times when he tells me what he wants.

I'm so very proud of Colton's communication. He's working really hard to talk and mimic sounds. He's made a lot of progress this school year. Being around other kids at school helps SO much!! He still has a long way to go, but I absolutely know that Colton will be verbal and that makes my heart SO happy!

And we must shout out to Colton's awesome big brother, Weston, who cheers for Colton when he says words and teaches him sign language and who reminds me, "Mom, he needs to say "UP" before you let him out of the crib!" Weston is an amazing kid and Colton is so lucky to have him! Just this week he said to me, "Mom, Colton is talking SO good!" I agree, dude. Colton is doing awesome!


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Colton's 3 year checkup

When you find out your child has Down syndrome, you quickly learn about the conditions or disorders that are commonly associated with Down Syndrome...

Respiratory issues
Heart Defects
Hypothyroidism
Infections
Speech Difficulties (can be nonverbal)
Gum Disease and dental problems
Digestive problems
Epilepsy
Mental health and emotional problems (Anxiety/Depression/ADHD/Autism/Psychosis)
Childhood Leukemia
Celiac Disease
Dysphagia (Swallowing issues)
Hypotonia (Low Tone)
Sleep Apnea
Neck Issues (Atlantoaxial Instability)
Hearing Loss
Vision Problems
Blood disorders
Alzheimer's Disease

It's overwhelming and it's scary. Kids with Down syndrome go to the doctor A LOT for checkups with specialists. And then you still have the developmental delays that require PT, OT, and Speech and/or Feeding therapy. But just like all kids, they are all different and have their own unique strengths and weaknesses and challenges. I get really sad hearing about these little babies with Ds who are having surgery after surgery to try to fix their heart or who are in the hospital on a ventilator because they caught a common virus and their little body just couldn't quite fight it off. It makes me feel guilty that we never had to do that, but we don't take Colton's health for granted. I'm not sure why, but Colton has been blessed from the start. He didn't even have to go to the NICU. We left the hospital 2 days after he was born. Sure, Colton has had some of the above complications, but nothing life threatening.

Colton had an appointment this morning with his Geneticist. As I left the appointment, my eyes welled up with tears. Happy tears. Colton is doing really well. His blood cell counts came back normal (no leukemia), his thyroid levels were normal, and his test for Celiac Disease was negative. The holes in his heart are closing on their own. His sleep apnea score went from an 18 to a 5 after his Tonsillectomy. His swallowing has improved so our thickening has gone from Stiff Honey to Nectar. His tone is improving so much with therapy. He has passed all of his hearing tests and has had less than 5 ear infections in his life. He wears his glasses and it really helps his vision. Without them, his left eye turns in. He is able to communicate with us through signs and words. He struggles with chewing but he loves to eat and isn't picky. He can use a spoon and a fork and has improved tremendously in self feeding. On the Down syndrome scale, Colton is 75th percentile for weight and 48th percentile for height. Colton loves going to school and is very social. He loves to participate and sing songs and experience everything. He doesn't seem to have very many sensory issues at this time. Colton has 4 wonderful therapists and 3 teachers that pour into him daily, as well as family and friends. It takes a village, but Colton is making progress. It might be slow, but he's moving forward, and that's all that we ask of him.

Colton is currently working on:

Coloring
Imitating circles and crosses (with appropriate grasp)
Completing a 6 and 9 piece inset puzzle
Independently dressing and undressing
Stringing 4 beads
Replicating a 3 block design
Snipping paper
Using fork with minimal spillage
Sharing (especially with baby brother)
Catching a ball
Jumping down 4 inches with one hand assist
Jumping in place with both feet
Balancing on one foot
Pedaling a tricycle
Running
Going from sitting to standing without using hands
Underhand throwing
Walking sideways on a wide balance beam
Walking up and down stairs without handrail
Chewing crunchy foods
Following simple directions
Understanding language
Communicating through signs and words
Counting to 10
Learning Colors

Wow! That sounds like a lot! And this is why he goes to school full-time because I cannot possibly begin to teach all of that by myself. I'm SO thankful for the help he receives every single day. Colton has the best therapists and teachers and doctors. They have all been wonderful and want the best for Colton. He is such a lucky little boy. I have no regrets with Colton's care. We started as early as we possibly could and there's nothing more we could possibly be doing to help him. Colton has been given the best chance to live a successful and independent life. I pray that he continues to make progress and stay healthy. We don't know what the future holds for Colton's health, but right now, we are counting our blessings.

Thank you, God, for Colton. We are so blessed that he is a member of our family and that we were chosen to be his parents. Thank you for his health...we do not take it for granted. We ask that you please continue to bless Colton in the coming years.



"Your greatest contribution to the kingdom of God may not be something you do, but someone you raise." -Andy Stanley

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Colton Turns 3!

I just can't even believe that Colton is 3! I laid in bed the other night and re-lived the day that Colton was born. I could picture everything. I remember my doctor walking over to talk to the nurse then coming to my bedside to tell me that Colton was showing 4 markers for Down Syndrome. And I could feel the emotions/feelings that came when she said it...the stabbing knife hitting my chest...the loss for words...the confusion and shock...and the drowning out of all of the other sounds in the room as my head began to spin, trying to process the news. At that moment, I couldn't picture what life would look like with a child with Down Syndrome. In my mind, it would be sad...it would be hard...it would be depressing. I thought I was dreaming, but I never woke up. I was living a nightmare and I was scared to death.

I can't change the way I felt the day Colton was born. And I don't want to hide those emotions, either...because they were real. It does make me a little sad that I was so heartbroken the day he was born instead of joyful, but the truth is...I'm human and life didn't go as expected. But how many times in life do things not go the way we expect, yet it somehow turns out to be just what we needed?

Colton is exactly what I needed. I can't imagine my life without my Colton...my little ray of sunshine. He's been in our life for 3 years...and what an amazing 3 years it has been!! Colton is doing so well and has come so far and life with him is 1,000 times better than I expected. He is full of personality and makes us laugh and smile every single day. His teacher told me the other day that "he really is perfection breathing..." I'm not sure a Mama can hear a greater compliment from a teacher. Colton loves school and walks the halls like he owns the place. And he's like a little celebrity...parents, kids, and teachers walking by saying, "Hi, Colton!" Colton sure steals the hearts of others...and watching people love him and accept him makes my Mama heart SO incredibly happy and proud. Another teacher at his school told me a few weeks ago, "I love the way you love him." Because it's obvious when you see me with Colton that I am completely head over heals in love with him. The highlight of my day is picking him up from school and asking him, "Colton, did you have a good day?" And him responding, "Good day." (sometimes, ha!) OOOOOOHHHH, I love me some Colty bear. He lets me squeeze him and kiss him and rock him to sleep...and he's just so squishy and cuddly!

We had a party for Colton on his actual birthday at Rock City MMA and it was a blast! I don't think Colton really understands what a birthday is...but I sang, "Happy Birthday" to him at least 25 times so that he'd realize it was HIS special day. HIS birthday. When we'd sing to him, we'd get him to say, "ME!" It was so cute! He can also say that he's 3, but he can't quite get his fingers to cooperate to show us he's 3. Colton is so sweet. He doesn't expect a thing. Doesn't ask for gifts, doesn't request a party or a theme...he's just go with the flow and his eyes light up with excitement when we sing to him or give him gifts. Weston and I pretty much have to open all of his gifts for him because he's too busy playing with the gift he received last. He had a wonderful birthday! Colton is blessed to have so many family and friends who love him.

Here's a few pictures from his party:























I'm so thankful that Colton goes to school where he is loved. He had so many little friends come to celebrate him. It made me so happy! What a fun party we had! And we made the parents get involved and get lots of exercise, too. I think everyone was worn out by the time we left. We finished his party with a chocolate chip cookie cake and singing to Colton...which he LOVED!

Colton Dean, you are one special little boy! Nothing about life with you is sad. The hardest day of my life gave me the most wonderful little boy...and I'd redo that day over and over again just to have you here with me. Because you, my son, are amazing! I can't believe you are 3! I'm excited to watch you grow and learn this year. Happy Birthday, Dude!

Colton's Progress (Age: 2 years 9 months)

I haven't updated in awhile...maybe because I added another boy to the family 3 short months ago? Life with 3 boys is BUSY! We are slowly getting into a new routine, but some days are just plain hard! Everyone asks me how Colton is doing with having a little brother. The answer is...Colton is doing just fine! He actually seems kind of indifferent about it. He doesn't pay much attention to him. Every once in awhile he will tell Asher to "Stop!" crying. Or he will go get a pacifier and take it to Asher and try to give it to him. But other than that, Colton just does his own thing. He's never mean to the baby and he never tries to hurt him. He might get a little jealous at times, but only when he's tired and he wants me to hold him. Things are going pretty well!

I just thought I would give an update on where Colton is developmentally, just 3 months shy of being a big 3 year old!

Physical Therapy

Colton is a walking machine right now. He is all over the place, which I love. Colton is working on walking up stairs, but that's really hard for him because it requires him to be able to shift his weight from one foot to the other. He is very cautious when it comes to stairs and uneven surfaces. He always stops and holds his hand out or moans for help. He can crawl up them, but he hasn't mastered going down them. Just going from the house to the garage is hard for him because it's a small step down...he's always very cautious and tries to hold the wall to help steady himself. He doesn't always make the transition well and falls. Sometimes he gets scared so he will sit and scoot or crawl into the garage. We are working on it! He is also working on jumping. Bending his legs and jumping up and down is hard for him. He loves to be on the trampoline, but he doesn't technically jump. He can bounce a little but usually sits down and lets Weston bounce him. He is also working on climbing. We've been to two birthday parties recently where I have had to go in the bounce house or in the maze to help him because he's not able to climb up the slide by himself. He gets frustrated because most of the other kids can, so Mama to the rescue. I can't stand for my baby not to be able to join in on the fun! I know it won't be long before he's doing it all by himself. Colton also needs help with running. He can walk pretty fast but I wouldn't say he can run just yet. His PT is working on building more leg and butt muscles so that he can better balance on one foot and support more of his body weight. But he's doing really well! I can't believe that he went from not being able to get his legs and arms off of the floor as a baby to a walking toddler. So thankful for the 2 PT's that have poured so much energy into him over the last 2.5 years! It was definitely worth the wait!



Occupational Therapy

Colton is working on using utensils when he eats. He is getting so much better with using a spoon and a fork. He sometimes has trouble scooping the food, but he's good about bringing it to his mouth. He uses a curved spoon that makes it easier for him. He doesn't always want to feed himself, so sometimes I just have to walk away from him, but he can do it. It might be messy, but he can do it! I sometimes have to put a finger under his elbow to cue him to lift the spoon or scoop with the spoon. Colton is also working on self help skills like brushing his teeth and hair, taking on and off his glasses, taking on and off his clothes, etc... He can't quite dress and undress himself, yet, but he will help if you start the process. Colton's OT is working on his pincer grasp (index finger and thumb). Colton's hands are kind of mushy (for lack of a better word), so he can't really do much with his fingers. For example, he can't hold up 2 fingers very well to show me he's 2. He just doesn't have the finger strength to do that yet. Some sign language is hard for him if it requires the fingers (example, the "I love you" sign). Colton is good about doing chunky puzzles and putting coins into a piggy bank. His fine motor skills are improving and I'm so proud of him. Colton used to like to throw puzzle pieces instead of put them where they go, but he's stopped doing that. He has a very good attention span and concentrates really hard. I know he's probably doing more things in OT...but I can't think of anything else at the moment!



Feeding Therapy

Colton is definitely showing improvement in his feeding skills. We actually had a swallow study done last month and we found that Colton is swallowing better since he had his tonsils and adenoids removed. He did not aspirate on any liquids they gave him. We were thickening Colton's drinks to "Stiff Honey" (which is really thick), but we are now allowed to thicken them to "Honey" for the next month and then we will slowly wean him down to "Nectar" (which is the last step before drinking regular liquids). Colton hasn't had anything thin to drink since he was 2 months old, so we have to slowly wean him because he's not used to it. I'm so excited that he's showing improvement!

Colton's biggest issue right now is chewing. Colton doesn't chew food. He smashes it on the roof of his mouth or swallows it whole. Colton does have good safety skills because he will spit something out if it's too big to swallow, so that's awesome. He almost never gags or chokes on food anymore. Colton LOVES to eat and will eat almost anything I feed him. I just have to cut things up small. He likes spaghetti, lasagna, roast, carrots, mashed potatoes, applesauce, eggs, yogurt, bananas, beans, turkey, nutrigrain bars, pumpkin bread, meatloaf, etc.... Our problem is not him liking the food, it's him chewing the food and feeding himself. His therapist is amazing and I can see him progressing, slowly but surely. I did give him part of a grilled cheese sandwich the other night and he picked it up, took a bite, and was able to swallow it. Hallelujah! Colton still doesn't have all of his teeth yet...the dentist thinks he's missing 2 teeth on top (next to the two front teeth). He's just now getting his canines on top, even though he already has the molars. But that's common for kids with Ds. So maybe more teeth will encourage him to chew? Let's hope so because Mama's ready to give that kids some goldfish and not worry about him.

The picture above shows Colton drinking from a big boy cup! Colton will always drink from a straw cup because straws help to build/maintain muscle tone in the face/mouth. His therapist puts a "straw block" in his straw so that he has to use his lips to suck as opposed to his tongue. She doesn't want him to wrap his tongue around the straw to drink. We are supposed to use our lips to drink from a straw. The straw block makes it harder for him to drink, but it's good for him. He does really well with it. I would say that right now, feeding is our biggest challenge. It's so frustrating for me...packing his lunch is hard, being patient during mealtimes is hard, getting him to cooperate, at times, is hard, letting him get messy is hard.....Whew! I'm ready for him to become an independent eater. Especially now that little brother is here. I just have to continue to be PATIENT and continue to work with him at home.



Speech

Colton is in a Language Intensive Class this year. His Speech Therapist services all of the kids in his class. She comes in the room to do whole group lessons, regularly. The things that she sends home to work on with him are awesome! He lights up when we practice. Here are a few things:

Things I can do all by myself





Learning body parts



Motions to the Wheels on the Bus



Learning how to clean up



They also use a lot of songs to encourage speech. Colton absolutely loves music. He "sings" along to songs as we ride in the car. Every once in awhile, I'll hear him say a word in the song at the right time and it makes my heart soar. Colton is doing really well with speech. He knows a lot of sign language, but he also says a lot of words.

A few words he says regularly are:
Up, Down, Ball, More, Eat, Juice, Show (as in tv show), Stop, Dog, Animal Noises (Woof Woof, Baaaaa, Roar, Moo, Oink Oink), Green, Red, Blue, Yellow (in his own way), Me, Bath, Go, Bye Bye, Alright, Ok, yes, no, utoh, beep beep, baby, book, open, Amen...

He also really tries to mimic words I say to him even though he might not say them clearly. But he's trying really hard. Sometimes he likes to moan for things he wants, but I have to make him stop and ask me with words. I'm so proud of him! He really amazes me that he even talks at all because a lot of kids with Ds are nonverbal. His therapists are AMAZING!



Overall, Colton is doing really well! His school is fabulous! He loves to go to school and rarely ever cries when I leave him. He has gotten a happy face every single day since he started Mid-August. Colton is such a happy and fun child. He makes us laugh and smile every single day. Watching him learn and develop is my favorite! He has come so far in the past 2.5 years and it's because I have so many people helping me every single day. So thankful for my village. Colton is a lucky little boy!