It's Down's syndrome Awareness week

[Thomcat]

Just felt like it needed flagging really.

And a big up to all those we know and love who have Down's syndrome.

Maybe we could all say something about those we know????

Small, big, silly, gushy, whatever....

Today I met Lottie after school and for the very first time ever she said 'I missed you mummy'. It was a lovely moment.

PEOPLE WITH DOWN'S SYNDROME ARE GREAT!!!!!!!!!

You know TC I don't know anyone with Down's syndrome in RL. I'm a bit sad about that.

Although when dd was in hospital for a long time as a baby, there was a little boy in the next cot who had Down's. He was named Gary and he used to have cracking temper tantrums.

Little boy next door has ds, absolutely gorgeous smile, he took his first steps yesterday at 20 months, Big up to little M!

Been racking my brains (no mean feat!) but don't know anyone with Down's syndrome in RL. So here's to little M and his first steps, Gary and his cracking tantrums and Lottie and her lovely moment!

Wotcha, TC

Have got v clear image of "happy hands" in my head now!

Great thread Thomcat

What can I say. DD makes me laugh, she makes me cry, she melts my heart and I love her just the way she is. I am SO very proud of her and all she achieves and she never ceases to amaze me.

Funny enough I have only just got back from a Kent Wide Down Syndrome Group trustees meeting so there are so many issues going around in my little brain!

Thank you TC!!!

Dd1 is brilliant - today she had a brilliant swimming lesson and actually got out of the pool without too much hassle.

We have actually had a fair bit of positive lately ( I have really needed it.) The teachers at the sn unit love having her around - and they tell me that. They tell me they are going to miss her dreadfully when she goes.

Her speech has come on in huge bounds. Last week I asked if I could do something and she stayed with my aunt - 1st time,"Of course you can mummy!" second time, "No Problem!" Aunt and I just looked at each other. Then at sn school they are doing a lot of playing around doctors etc. She told another teacher to:
'come in to the surgery!" and to 'put your arm out" ready for Dr dd1 to take her blood pressure. It just amazes me every time she opens her mouth.

She has been busy helping dd3 with her walking. She walks backwards and holds dd3's hands so she can walk. The look of pride at what dd3 is doing and how grown up she feels by doing that is just priceless.

Our awareness week is in October.

Happy Awareness week to you UK mob.

I was feeling quite stressed out this morning but this thread has really cheered me up! Thankyou!

There is a man with Downs who works in our local Sainsburys and he is fantastic. Apart from practically running the place single handed, he is very popular with all the customers because he knows so much about everything !

Excellent idea TC.
DD3 makes me laugh like no one else I know. Even this morning when she got hold of the marmite pot By the time I'd got to her, she had a brown face, hands, and arms all the way up to her elbows.

She also has a very very beautiful face - I love how she looks, I love the DS characteristics. The almond eyes, the shape of her mouth, her little ears all melt my heart. Her nan says she "smiles with the whole of her face" and its true.

She is wonderful and there's no more to be said about it!

My dd2 has a friend with Down's Syndrome at nursery. She is the BEST to have round for tea (not just cos I really like her fabby Mum!) as she joins in with whatever all our kids are doing, she likes everything I cook (unlike my own children!!!) and is very very nice to our guinea pigs. She is fab and I am very glad she is going to be in my dd2's class next year.

Also we have a friend at church with a 12 yo ds with Down's. He is trilingual, which would impress me no matter what! SPeaks English, Portuguese and Afrikaans!

Ohhhhhhh feel all goosepimply reading allthe posts.
How wonderful.

I'll go again if I may. Am sat at the table with all the DD's and Lottie is using the laptop to navigate Cbeebies website for her sisters. Something she has recently mastered. DD2 is saying 'I like this one please' and DD1 is replying 'ok Eve, okay' and clicking on them for her and DD3 is just sqwarking and clapping much to the huge delight of her sisters

She got a bit stuck just now and said 'mummy Charlotte stuck, help please'. So I did and she patted me on the back and said 'well done mummy, well done, clever girl, thank you helping' so I said 'thanks Charlotte' and she said 'welcome mummy'!!!!!!

Oh and Lottie has just picked up my car keys and said 'look Eve, mummy car keys, drive car, careful dangerous roads'.

My old bosses daughter A (adult with ds) is lovely. She makes an excellent cup of tea, and is extraordinarily patient cheerful and helpful - and good at finding things. She works in the day centre, but used to pop in and make me (and her father of course) tea at work on a Saturday!

this is lovely!
I'm feeling emotional tonight as dd2 (who has Down's) has moved out of her cot in our room and into a little bed in her sister's room. Our room feels really empty after having her in it for nearly 2 1/2 years. I'm sure she'll spend most of the night on the floor!!
Apart from that, she's scrummy, cheeky and learning new things every day

Hi Nuro, haven't met you before. A big night for you then, how lovley

My DD loves sleeping on the floor. 9 times out of 10 that's where I find her when I go in to check on her Have found her on the landing on the nights I haven't shut her door properly!

And yesterday she got in from school shattered and went up and lay on the landing and went to sleep!

There's a young man with Down's who works in our nearet M&S and always makes time to chat with the customers, not just take their money. Makes my day!

HAve borrowed "Victorias day" from the libraray -it was in with all the other picture books in kids libraray. I wasn;t lookiong for it but remebered DSAW when i saw it. Boy likes teh pictures of kids riding a trike and playing at school.

Morning!

New to this thread as until Friday we weren't sure if our little bunny had DS or not (had an amnio at 35 weeks - couldn't bear the thought of having one earier and risking our precious baby's life/ health but felt I needed to know in prep for labour).

I'm now 36 weeks and just impatient to meet my little boy. In fact, I was up until 2:30am with niggles and really wondered if this might be it, but alas everything has settled down.

Does anyone know anything about Down's Syndrome events or support groups that happen around Oxford? I hadn't wanted to start joining groups until I knew the score.

It's been great to read your posts about your wonderful children or those that you know with DS.

Back soon
xxx

Morning Kizzy,
I'm looking forward to hearing your birth anouncement soon then. I take it the amnio has shown your boy will have DS? How are you feeling?
The local group I went to was not in your area, but we had a couple of ladies who came along at the end of their pregnancies to get to know families living with DS. And it was always lovely to actually meet the little ones in person when they arrived. I know the DSA will put you in touch with a local group and I'm sure you'd be welcomed with open arms.
All the best x

lovely thread.

Hi kizzyboo5, I am in Oxford and I'm pretty sure that there is a group run by parents of children with DS at The Roundabout centre in Barton. Its on Wayneflete road, the same building as The Ormerod school. The phone number for the family centre is 01865 764952 if you rang them they'll be able to tell you if it is still running and the times etc.

I went to a support group called Hippos in a church in Jack Straws lane when she was tiny too. I'm afraid I've lost the phone number of the mum who ran it but if you ring the Oxfordshire childrens information service they will give it to you. It was for all parents of children with SN but I met a lovely mum who had two children who have DS, I didn't meet them as they were at school or nursery. HTH.

My DD hasn't got DS btw. I know lots about being at the JR though(I am guessing that's where you will be to have your ds?) We are there fairly often so feel free to CAT me or ask me any other questions I can help with. Lovely thread.

There is a very adorable little girl with DS who goes to the same portage group as dd.Last week she was sat on my knee and absolutely shrieking with laughter playing the "I'll remove this woman's glasses and wait until she puts them back on and take them off again" game.Everyone at the group was in fits of giggles by the end of it except for dd who was very that another little girl had mummys' attention.