On the spectrum?

I have come to realize that kids are weird. They have all these idiosyncratic behaviors that belie a human of such a young age. Perhaps it is because they have no filters? No on has told them yet that their actions are strange or inappropriate or unsavory.

Quirky ain't just for the old and eccentric. It's also for the 2 year old who likes to sit in boxes of all shapes and sizes, even boxes in boxes. Aero also likes have his face stroked. Not by gentle fingers but by fabric or fuzz or his collection of mardi gras beads. He has no real interest in motorized things; cars, truck, buses. His passion is for bouncing. He is your very best friend if you can bouncy, bouncy him. He is obsessed with shutting doors and putting on lids. He is a dumper. He can locate a container of dumpable objects and dump them into his lap at lightening speed. Yet, his next step is to pick up the strewn objects and place them back in their respective container, put the container back where he found it and then, dump it all again.
He lines up objects as he sits on the floor playing with balls or blocks.

While I giggle at all these seemingly strange behaviors, they also cause me concern. There is a growing trend amongst kids with Down syndrome to also have autism or behaviors 'on the autism spectrum'.

They are behaviors that could be classified as 'spectrum processing/integration disorder'as they are very repetitive. He also exhibits some developmental lags that may be 'on the spectrum' like lack of eye contact, not following simple direction and non existent communicative dialogue. I discussed my concern with a pediatrician almost a year ago and she referred us to the Children's Hospital Autism Clinic. We just had our 'intake' appointment this past Monday. Yes, it took almost a year for them to fit us in.

We will be returning to the clinic in the next month or so for further evaluation. I would love to think that Aero's behaviors are just weird and quirky but I fear they are a symptom of a more complicated condition.

The Challenge

Hi. It has been a looooonnnnnggggg time since I posted on this blog. 

It is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month and many families with children that have T21 accept the challenge in October of 31 for 21; a blog post a day in October to raise awareness for our beautiful kids.

I did the challenge in October 2011. I sat out last year because we had just moved and life was topsy, turvy transition. But, here we are now, stable, safe, secure, warm, happy. No excuses to not let you peak into our day to day life. 

In the pic above, Aero is doing what he has been doing quite often for the past month, trying to figure how to stand up. He is not walking, yet. Therapists tell me he will not really attempt to hurl his body into space until he masters standing independently.

O.K. Only thing is that he is really stubborn. He refuses to let me show him how to do it by squatting first. Aero rarely hangs out on his knees, let alone squat. So, my fear is that he will just hang out in down dog for the next few years letting momma carry him, everywhere, feeling so much the strain on my back and knees.

Kids with Trisomy 21 our definitely on their own timeline. It is a necessary grace to fully realize and accept this. In some ways, it makes the journey that much sweeter because you savor every, single, little micro movement on the way. 

So, if you can not beat 'em, join 'em. Down dog is an excellent stretch for my aching back.