Bennett has been working hard in PT and he can now stay up on his hands and knees for a good amount of time! For most babies his age this comes naturally and probably quite easily but for a baby that has lower tone-it's hard work! I'm a realist and I'm not going to sit here and deny the fact that Bennett has lower tone because he does. I have no idea if it's low for a baby with Down syndrome but I know it's lower than a baby that doesn't have Down syndrome. And really I'm okay with that. If Bennett is crawling by 15 months I'll be thrilled!
I've come to the point where I know I am doing pretty much everything I can right now to help Bennett but in the end, Bennett is his own person and is going to do things when he's ready. There's a lot of uncertainty with Bennett but then again, isn't there with every child? Mike and I were talking briefly about school and I said "you know, it's going to be tough when he starts school and the whole kindergarten thing?" And Mike said, "so he won't be on the typical path, that's okay." And you know what? He's absolutely right. I'm so glad I have a husband like Mike to level me out and keep me from basically getting hysterical over something...well and maybe everything-LOL. Me, get hysterical, NO WAY!:) My family is chuckling at that sentence!
Every once in while, not often though, I find myself thinking what would Bennett be like and what would he be doing if he didn't have Down syndrome? But then I have to remind myself, there was never a Bennett of mine that didn't have Down syndrome. He's always had it (since conception matter of fact) so he wouldn't be my Bennett if he didn't have that extra chromosome.
Needless to say, my son will have to work hard at everything he does but there is nothing wrong with a hard worker. Mike and I come from families of hard workers and I think we both have lived under the philosophy of "No Pain, No Gain". After all, we both tortured ourselves with long hours in the pool during swim practice for many, many years and I think that carried into our every day lives. Bennett will be no different when it comes to work ethic.
So he may have to take a thumb break every now and then (that's another post for another day)...
But he'll get where he needs to be, with a lot of hard work and a lot of cheering from his mom and dad. Oh and by the way, Bennett is now 10 months as of March 22nd!
Yay Bennett!!!! That's a great job little man.
ReplyDeleteHe is such a little cutie! That's great that he is on his hands and knees now! You and your husband are so right about our kids being on their own path and time line. I have to remind myself of this too every now and again when I am being impatient.
ReplyDeleteI love this post Adrienne. You are working so hard with him and that is awesome! I remember doing the same with Lily - sitting on the floor for hours working with her, trying to get her to move from her tummy to a sitting position. One day she just did it, without my help! I have found that with everything - she just does it when she is ready. Great work!
ReplyDeleteHe looks like he's doing fantastic! It's so true, all kids do things at their own pace.
ReplyDeleteThe beginnings of crawling is typical at 12 months old for our cuties. Bennett is right on track!
ReplyDeleteBennett will get there. You are doing a great job. It is a little harder for children with DS especially because of the low tone, but they get there. I remember wishing Riley would hurry up and crawl and now, I sometimes miss the days she was less mobile. LOL Our physical therapist suggested sitting her in the Bumbo seat at least 30 minutes a day, it was a struggle as she is very stubborn and didn't like the Bumbo but it did strengthen her trunk and helped her crawl. Also don't be surprised if he crawls then walks shortly afterwards. It took Riley only 2 months of crawling to start walking.
ReplyDeleteOh, he is doing awesome. Ella didn't crawl until she was 15 months old and believe me...she has been nothing but trouble since :) My older two "typical" children didn't even crawl until 10 months so I don't know what an early crawler is anyway. He is the cutest darn thing and I would just enjoy that he is still so easy to keep track of.
ReplyDeleteLook at you Bennett and all the wonderful things you CAN do!! Our little ones are such hard workers....but with hard work, comes great rewards!! And oh, how I love those rewards:) Landon is 13 months old and just started commando crawling......everywhere. He will pull himself up to a crawling position in the middle of a commando crawl, but just starts laughing and falls back down! Sometimes, I think he's making us wait on purpose:)
ReplyDeleteBennett is doing so well! I totally agree...there's nothing wrong with working hard. As a matter of fact, we need more of that is this world. I can't believe he's 10 months old. I remember when you first started posting on BBC before he was born. That seems like yesterday!
ReplyDeleteYay Bennett. At nearly a year, Max is finally getting into 'the stance'. We just started PT this week and it has already made a difference! So exciting, their little milestones :)
ReplyDeleteGreat perspective. I remind myself that, too, he'll do it when he's darned good and ready. I do my share of coaching, coaxing, etc, but in the end, it's up to our kids. I also like the perspective of... there's never been a Bennett who doesn't have Ds, so it's hard to conceive that notion. They are who they are.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, he is doing so great!!!! And you are right, he'll do it when he's darned good and ready. I see that with sam allllll the time.
ReplyDeleteyay for Bennett, and no he wouldn't be your Bennett without that extra chromosome. :-) Sounds like he has wonderful parents that are amazingly supportive. A very lucky boy.
ReplyDeleteBennett looks like he is doing great !!! Happy 10 months old. Hard to believe , they grow up so fast. You know he will do things when he is ready. He's such a cutie !!!!
ReplyDeleteCaroline
Happy 10 months Bennett!! He really is doing so well! Joel didn't crawl until he was almost 2! He army crawled everywhere when he was 1 and I thought he would never transition to four point crawling ... but he did! I never thought he would walk either ... but he did! In his own time Joel has shown us that he can do so many things! Bennett will be crawling before you know it and getting into all sorts of trouble!
ReplyDeleteHe is doing great! It is funny because the more the delays become evident (hello speech!), the more I've realized how interesting it is to see every little step we have to take to get to point B, when everyone else in this world was at point A a long ass time ago! I actually have a post in progress about this very thing -- trying to find the right words is hard.
ReplyDeleteWe are 2 years from kindergarten and I'm crapping my pants. Yes, they will get there when they get there, but you know what -- when it comes down to it, we want them to do it all as close as they can to their peers. I have sort of felt like I'll be dealing with the diagnosis all over again when Payton starts kindy ... I've been floating along in my own little world and soon I have to face reality. I'm scared, and that is coming from someone who is 100% in acceptance of Down syndrome. Just a fact of life that we all have to deal with.
But the love and kisses override it all! LOL
There are so many newer parents out there, I love watching all of you go through a place that I've been. The #1 thing is that our kids will surprise the crap outta you one day --- just when you thought they would never walk, they get up and off they go. It is amazing.
ReplyDeleteThat is my little side note for the day. :) LOL
Yay Bennett! That's so exciting! Before you know it, you will be moving all over the place!! :)
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