Just a quick update...
We got the final results from the amniocentesis today. The results confirmed Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome). Of course this isn't a surprise. I (Melissa) am making my summer to-do list and the top of the list is getting educated on DS and how we can best care for our baby. There is so much that we can do for our child to give him a better life and we plan to do all of it. :) We are blessed to live in a great school district that offers various services for special needs children, many that are FREE. It is amazing how God worked out taking the year off from teaching , long before we knew our child would have DS. Many people have asked if I will return to teaching in 2011. I honestly do not know. The plan was to go back part-time but now that Junior has DS, there is a good chance that I will not return for a few years. We will probably have a better idea after we figure out the severity of the DS and the kind of care that will be required. Our next doctor's appointment is June 1st. I will post another update then.
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Don't look too hard at the Down syndome info. They throw everything at you. Enjoy your pregnancy. You have plenty of time to waste later worring about therapies and doctors appointments. Keep you feet up and relax - don't have him at 30 weeks like I had Rachel. You won't know what your child needs, therapy wise until they are closer to 6 months old. Even then, a couple appointments a week shouldn't keep you from working again PT. It's the fact that your little boy is going to be so cute that you AREN'T going to want to work again. ;) I heard about your story through a friend of a friend. Please feel free to email me anytime to talk about what you are going through since I was in your shoes just 8 short months ago. maggie.fluck@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you have the year off. GOOD! You are going to love being a stay at home mommy like me and I really don't think it would been easy for you to leave your baby all day. It is worth any pay cut in the world to get to stay home with your baby!
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa! I just found your blog from another that I read. I second Maggie's opinion...we didn't know Emily was going to have DS before she was born and we were almost glad because we didn't have some preconceived notion about what she would be like, or things she would or would not do...we purposefully stayed away from too much info so that we could get to know Emily...she was able to teach us more about herself than any book could ever do! Then when we were ready, we tackled all the info we could find. But, I know if I had known ahead of time I am not sure that I could resist the urge to be "prepared" just like you...but relax and enjoy this pregnancy. Let me know if you want to chat about anything...livinglifewithes@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteKelli (Emily's mom, 1 year old) http://livinglifewithes.blogspot.com
Tyson and Melissa: Heather just sent me your blog and I can't resist posting regarding some of the topics that have raised from your post.
ReplyDeleteFirst off - do what feels right for the both of you. If you like information and it helps you prepare, dive in. I've met with many families with babies with DS (both born and unborn) and everyone's different. The information isn't overwhelming if it helps you.
Second...I agree with Kelli and Maggie that your first tasks are rocking, cuddling, and celebrating the birth of your baby. Your baby's development is going to be best enhanced by all of the basic, wonderful things that first time parents do. You don't need any type of disability expert to tell you this. In fact, often well-meaning disability experts like therapists, teachers, and social workers, get in the way of parents doing what they do best with babies. Your child's ability to learn and grow will best to met by your interactions with him. Know a PT, an OT, and a Speech language professional, but don't let them own your schedule. Get them to help you do all of the things you would normally do for a baby in a slightly different way that helps someone with DS learn and grow. That's the secret! Always remember that you're driving the car. There will always be one therapy, one more treatment approach, one more expert, but you can never replace being raised in a rich environment like a family!
Third: Keep your eye on the typical. Think about what other babies are doing, other toddlers, other 4th graders because that will help you keep your child included in his world. That's what we want in the end isn't it? To be included in all that's possible for people with and without disabilities.
Fourth: Visit Kathie Snow's website: www.disabilityisnatural.com. If you get a chance to meet her, do so (She lives in Colorado Springs - actually up the mountain).