School

Well we haven't had a meeting yet to discuss the PCA (personal care assistant). It seems that everyone that has to be there can't make it on the same day so we just have to wait a little bit. Good news is that Katie's teacher has removed the rifton chair from the room and they are just going to work on making her sit. She has her good days and bad. The problem lately is that she is throwing work materials when it is work time in the afternoon. I will let everyone know when we have the meeting how it goes.

Our First Cheer Exhibition!!

Well today was our first cheer expedition and I was excited at how well it went. Katie was such an angel. Her team performed 4 times in 2 1/2 hours and she did great. Here are a few pictures.

Cheerleading

Well we went to cheerleading yesterday and it went a lot better than last time. I am not saying that Katie didn't try to run off but she payed way more attention this time. She even learned part of the cheer. This Sunday she will be going to a cheer demonstration with her team at a mall in Harrisburg, PA. I am so excited and feel that with time she will definitely pick up on the whole cheer.

More Frustration

So I got a note from Katie's teacher today asking me to sign something on her IEP. It was concerning the use of the rifton chair (a chair they strap her into). I called the teacher and she said that they don't use the chair everyday but some days have to use it for up to two hours a day. We talked and are going to try to get a PCA (personal care assistant) for Katie. Also we talked about Katie maybe having ADD or ADHD. Well I called her pediatrician and they said that usually the school test for that but they will check into it. Hopefully I don't have to fight with anyone about this. Wish me luck.

Good day and Bad day All in One

Well yesterday was one of those days were I had a break down. I have know for about 7 years that Katie had down syndrome and most days it is no big deal, but every once in awhile I have one of those I feel sorry for myself days. Yesterday was one of these days. I don't know what started it but Jessie said what is wrong and I told him that he just doesn't understand because he has his typical little boys and I don't have a typical little girl. Don't get me wrong I love Katie to death but I worry about the future too much. I worry that she will never go to prom or get married. I am a girly girl and Katie doesn't care about that stuff yet. I know she is only 6 1/2 and has plenty of time to grow up but she is my only little girl and I don't want her to miss out on anything. Well enough about that.

We also went to cheerleading yesterday. Katie and another girl both joined the team yesterday. Katie was sitting very nicely for the first 10 minutes and then they gave her a buddy ( another cheerleader from a regular team who was about 9 or 10). They all began to stretch and Katie was sitting there stretching and I thought wow she is actually staying in the group and behaving. Not a minute later she was up running around. I was getting so frustrated and embarrassed. The other mothers assured me that there kids did the same thing when they first started. Katie finally sat and watched them practice and joined in a little. We will definitely be joining and I am hoping that in a couple of weeks when they go to a competition that Katie will go and do good.

Cheerleading

So after watching my nieces cheerleading competition I got to thinking about how great it would be if Katie could do something like that. So began the search for a special needs cheerleading team. Well I found one in Baltimore, MD which would take me an hour to get too. So then I remembered that I new someone who also had a daughter with downs that had talked about a squad before, so I emailed her. Well she did in fact start a squad that had 8 girls on it ranging in age from 5 -18 who all had special needs.

We went out Sunday to check it out but practice was cancelled so we will have to go back this Sunday. Katie did see some other girls practicing and really wanted to join them. It sounds like this might be something that she really like. The other mother told me that they have two coaches and each girl has a buddy (older cheerleader) with them and that they will even be able to go to competition.

When I left I was excited and a little depressed. The reason for this is I know I am not supposed to compare Katie to other kids but I can' t help compare her to other kids with downs. The other two girls that were there were around 9 years old and both were verbal. Well as everyone know Katie is only a little verbal, not that she doesn't try. I kept telling my self that maybe Katie will talk like that when she is there age (which is 2-3 years from now). I am convinced that she will indeed talk one day but I still worry about it.

Anyway I will let everyone know how practice goes on Sunday!