IFSP Annual Review
I met with Matthew's therapists and Early Intervention (EI) Service Coordinator today to review our IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan). The IFSP was created as soon as we were in the EI program and met with the therapists and service coordinator. It is basically a written document listing and detailing the goals we set for Matthew, as well as the outcomes. Progress is documented at semi-annual and annual reviews until Matthew transitions out of the EI program and into a school at age 3. It's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that he'll be starting school a year from today. Focusing on the goals we would like to achieve within the next 12 months seems easy and hard at t

Happy 2nd Birthday Matthew!
We celebrated Matthew's birthday yesterday with Bill's parents here, my parents on the webcam, a neighbor, a birthday balloon, cake, lasagna, jambalaya, sandwiches, and presents. Unfortunately, the rest of the family (Matthew's uncles, aunts and cousins) couldn't make it as they all had gotten sick recently and decided to play it safe by not coming rather than risk sharing the germs w

Bloodwork at 2nd Year Pediatrician Appointment
Matthew is turning 2 next week. We're looking forward to celebrating his birthday. However, I'm not looking forward to his pediatrician appointment next week. I'm not worried about the scheduled vaccines. I'm fretting over the bloodwork needed to check on a few things. Does every kid go through this at the 2nd year appointment?Just the thought of holding him down and keeping him still breaks my heart. Memories of previous bloodwork are etched in my mind and his screams break my heart over and over. They will need to stick his arm. Hopefully it will only take one try this time. When he was a baby, there was one visit that made me so mad. The nurse ended up sticking him 4 or 5 tim

Big Brother Matthew
That's right! Matthew is going to be a big brother. I found out the day before Bill's birthday and told him the news on his birthday. We decided to hold off on telling friends and family for a few weeks. We did so with this shirt. He has a white short-sleeved shirt too with the same wording. We had fun using this shirt to share the news with family and friends. Matthew - t

Book Review: Gifts 2
It has arrived! Gifts 2, edited by Kathryn Lynard Soper, is a treasure full of inspiration whose writers share their personal stories of how people with Down syndrome have enriched the world through Acceptance, Awareness, Friendship, Courage, and Joy.I have only read a few stories to-date, but so far this book gets the two-thumbs up from me. I must proud