In 2022, I took Kay to see a gastroenterologist for the first time. When the doctor entered the room, Kay was asleep on my shoulder, and the doctor hadn’t yet seen her face. As they began reviewing Kay’s chart, they asked if Kay had Down syndrome. I said yes, of course, I completely understand that…
Last weekend we attended GiGi’s Playhouse Halloween party! We always have so much fun at GiGi’s events, and after how much we enjoyed the Halloween party last year, we knew we couldn’t miss it this time. It was a night full of dancing, games, yummy snacks, and happy memories! Everyone looked amazing in their costumes,…
I recently had Kay’s IEP meeting (Individualized Education Plan) where I sat down with her teacher and the rest of her team to discuss how she’s doing. We talked about her progress, areas that still need some work, and anything new they’ve observed. Going into the meeting, I already had a good idea of what…
Next month marks an exciting milestone — Kay will officially begin ABA therapy! I’m both excited and hopeful for this next step in her journey. ABA, or Applied Behavior Analysis, is a therapy focused on improving communication, social skills, and everyday behaviors through positive reinforcement and individualized teaching. It’s often used to support children with…
Kay recently had her visit with the audiologist, and I’ll be honest—it didn’t go as smoothly as I had hoped. Over the years, Kay has had quite a few hearing tests, and she still doesn’t like anything going into or even near her ears. I don’t blame her, but it’s tough trying to explain that…
From Listener to Guest: My Experience on The Juicebox Podcast The Juicebox Podcast focuses on helping families and individuals living with Type One Diabetes. In May, I came across a post in the Juicebox Podcast Facebook group where the host, Scott Benner, invited people to share their stories for a chance to be featured on…
What a pleasure it was to attend another year at the DSP Summit. It was a quick trip, flying in Friday morning with a slightly delayed flight, attending the Summit on Saturday, exploring some fun outdoor activities, and flying home Sunday evening with another minor delay. What a jam-packed trip it was! I am always…
Kay had her three-month endocrinology checkup this week, and it was also Maeve’s very first visit to this office. Maeve was a rockstar as always. She stayed calm, well-behaved, and even alerted to a low blood sugar during our visit, reminding us why she is such an important part of Kay’s care team. One of…
Did you know that October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month? October was first designated as National Down Syndrome Awareness Month in the 1980s. Every year since, this month has been dedicated to raising awareness, celebrating abilities, and promoting inclusion. So how can you join in? You can wear mismatched socks or the colors yellow and…
T-Ball season is here again, and we could not be more excited! This year Maeve joined us for the fun, and I was curious to see how she would handle the experience. T-Ball can be a very busy and sometimes chaotic environment, especially on opening day. Families pack the stands to cheer on their players,…
