The genetics visit went very well! Adi enjoyed the attention and even coaxed an iPhone from one of the residents. :)
In short, we have noticed that Adi blanks out every so often, and I will need to take her to get an EEG to rule out absence seizures. I will also need to take Adi for an MRI (not excited!) to scout out her brain in general and check for a tumor in specific (definitely not excited!) It might be a tumor causing the seizures, if that's what they are.
I decided to look through videos of Adi over the past year and a half or so and see if I could notice the spacing out episodes. Here's what I got. In most of them I turned the camera off as soon as she started spacing, because I didn't want to get a video of her doing nothing. But in some, I captured it in full.
I posted this video before, but now it's bigger and easier to see. I think I'll be using YouTube for videos till Google starts making big videos for Blogger as well.
Adi, 2.5, is showing off her words and then spaces out at the end.
Adi at 2 years old, trying to put on her brother's slipper over her shoe. :D Same zoning out at the end.
Adi swinging, almost 3 years old.
Zoning out episode, possible absence seizure. It begins at 16 seconds and ends when Adi snaps back at 20 seconds and says Mama.
Zoning out episode from 34-39 seconds in the video. What characterizes these episodes is that when she gets back, she does something active, like calling out for me, or in this case, jump-walking. Almost 3 years old.
Boys ask Adi (almost 2) questions and she repeatedly spaces out and comes back with a jerk.
The first 20 seconds she goes in and out a few times, then joins her brothers' game with gusto.
1:11 - 1:24 is the second episode. 2:09 - 2:11 again.
Showing posts with label Video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Video. Show all posts
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Adibaby Videos... Almost 3 Years Old
This might be the cutest Adi video I captured yet (although low quality from cell phone).
She starts out playing Ring Around the Rosie with her bear, then notices her pockets. She picks up the bear again by the hand and says, "Han." She then gives the bear kisses and starts nodding his head "yes" while saying "mm-hm" for him. She ends with more kisses and hugs, and then spaces out. All the therapists have commented on the sudden blanking out, and some have brought up absence seizures. I'm not sure if that's what it is, but it may be worth testing for it. This sudden spaciness is visible in several of her videos.
Adi enjoying a swing! Her favorite activity in the world.
Just playing in the park...
She starts out playing Ring Around the Rosie with her bear, then notices her pockets. She picks up the bear again by the hand and says, "Han." She then gives the bear kisses and starts nodding his head "yes" while saying "mm-hm" for him. She ends with more kisses and hugs, and then spaces out. All the therapists have commented on the sudden blanking out, and some have brought up absence seizures. I'm not sure if that's what it is, but it may be worth testing for it. This sudden spaciness is visible in several of her videos.
Adi enjoying a swing! Her favorite activity in the world.
Just playing in the park...
Friday, October 07, 2011
Heartwarming Video
I saw this video on someone's blog, and it really warmed my heart. I just love it when people with disabilities just don't make that disability into a major defining trait in their lives. It's kinda an afterthought. They don't view themselves as people with Down syndrome. They view themselves as people who have struggles and trials like the rest of the human species.
But I can't help but feel that people with Down Syndrome have an advantage over people with lesser known genetic/chromosomal differences. When this young woman is out in society, shopping, driving, socializing, people would understand if she has a hard time with something or acts differently. It's kinda like - hey, she has challenges here and there, but that's fine. It doesn't detract from her as a whole.
When people's challenges are obvious, they want others to ignore the differences. But when someone's challenges are hidden, I think it's best to be outspoken about them.
I wonder what will be with Adi. She is undiagnosed, and at almost three years old, her development so far is similar to her peers with Down Syndrome. When she is ready to be part of society as an adult, I wonder if she will be as accepted as this young woman in the video, or if she will be seen as just a misfit.
I mean, when people know that someone has a challenge, they view the person as someone who is overcoming challenges and beating the odds.
But if a person seems ordinary to begin with, but on second glance you notice some things that seem off, people view that negatively. Why is she so slow and clumsy? Why can't she just speak clearly? No one would think that about a person who they clearly see has Down Syndrome.
I like how the mother of the young woman in the video said that she is proud of her daughter for getting a driver's license, but she's proud of all her children. She never treated her daughter differently.
Would I be able to do the same for Adi? I'm reminded of the switch from elementary school to high school. In 8th grade, we were the seniors. On top of the world. The big graduates. A few short months later, we are at the bottom of the totem pole as nerdy freshies.
Somehow, if the disability is obvious, the individual is put at the highest level. The oldest and coolest kid in elementary school. They climbed to the top. But if at first glance the individual looks typical, they will be held at a different standard. Adi may grow up to function at the same level as the young woman in the video. But I am afraid that instead of being a cool kid, she'll be regarded as one of those lowest-rung members of society that have a long way to go to be fully accepted. All because her challenges aren't as easily recognizable on her face like is the case with people with Down syndrome.
What is my point? I guess I'm just explaining to the world, and to myself, why I can't act as if there is no disability (the way the mother in the video raised her daughter.) The video is only cool because we all know she has Down syndrome, but she is living as if she does not. Imagine if we as viewers couldn't tell she has any genetic or chromosomal disorders. We'd all think it's a worthless video. Who cares if a 30 year old can drive? Or go shopping or hold down a job.
I don't know if I am restraining Adi, not letting her get as far by keeping her special needs at the forefront. After all, 9th graders are one level above 8th graders. It's just the way they are perceived that is different.
So is it worth holding Adi back a bit so she is perceived in a better light? I don't know.
I also don't know if I'm making sense... just some thoughts that cropped up watching this great video!
But I can't help but feel that people with Down Syndrome have an advantage over people with lesser known genetic/chromosomal differences. When this young woman is out in society, shopping, driving, socializing, people would understand if she has a hard time with something or acts differently. It's kinda like - hey, she has challenges here and there, but that's fine. It doesn't detract from her as a whole.
When people's challenges are obvious, they want others to ignore the differences. But when someone's challenges are hidden, I think it's best to be outspoken about them.
I wonder what will be with Adi. She is undiagnosed, and at almost three years old, her development so far is similar to her peers with Down Syndrome. When she is ready to be part of society as an adult, I wonder if she will be as accepted as this young woman in the video, or if she will be seen as just a misfit.
I mean, when people know that someone has a challenge, they view the person as someone who is overcoming challenges and beating the odds.
But if a person seems ordinary to begin with, but on second glance you notice some things that seem off, people view that negatively. Why is she so slow and clumsy? Why can't she just speak clearly? No one would think that about a person who they clearly see has Down Syndrome.
I like how the mother of the young woman in the video said that she is proud of her daughter for getting a driver's license, but she's proud of all her children. She never treated her daughter differently.
Would I be able to do the same for Adi? I'm reminded of the switch from elementary school to high school. In 8th grade, we were the seniors. On top of the world. The big graduates. A few short months later, we are at the bottom of the totem pole as nerdy freshies.
Somehow, if the disability is obvious, the individual is put at the highest level. The oldest and coolest kid in elementary school. They climbed to the top. But if at first glance the individual looks typical, they will be held at a different standard. Adi may grow up to function at the same level as the young woman in the video. But I am afraid that instead of being a cool kid, she'll be regarded as one of those lowest-rung members of society that have a long way to go to be fully accepted. All because her challenges aren't as easily recognizable on her face like is the case with people with Down syndrome.
What is my point? I guess I'm just explaining to the world, and to myself, why I can't act as if there is no disability (the way the mother in the video raised her daughter.) The video is only cool because we all know she has Down syndrome, but she is living as if she does not. Imagine if we as viewers couldn't tell she has any genetic or chromosomal disorders. We'd all think it's a worthless video. Who cares if a 30 year old can drive? Or go shopping or hold down a job.
I don't know if I am restraining Adi, not letting her get as far by keeping her special needs at the forefront. After all, 9th graders are one level above 8th graders. It's just the way they are perceived that is different.
So is it worth holding Adi back a bit so she is perceived in a better light? I don't know.
I also don't know if I'm making sense... just some thoughts that cropped up watching this great video!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Shira
When I was in 11th grade, we got a cockatiel.
Shira lived with us for 11 years.
When I got married, Shira stayed on in my mother's house.
One time when my mother was doing renovations in her apartment, Shira got to stay with us. Zusha was 17 months then, and he was delighted!
When Shira first came to live with us, she was a scared little thing. She didn't like interacting with people much. We had other cockatiels who loved head scritches, but Shira would have none of that. Eventually she warmed up to my mother. I had a hard time believing her when she told me that Shira drops her head for my mother to rub!
She became a little puppy, understanding commands, being able to express her needs, expecting certain routines.
Just look at that beautiful bird!
My mother made different gyms, climbers and toys for Shira. All the bird things in all these photos are made by my mother!
Shira taking a nap next to photos of me and of Zusha.
Airplane bird!
Shira has been through a lot. She's had times when she would lay eggs in hidden places all over the house, and my mother had to find ways to discourage her so she shouldn't waste her body resources. She's been sick, and my mother nursed her back to health each time.
But last night, Shira died. There aren't that many people who would understand the pain of having a pet die. Because most people just have pets for entertainment purposes. Like fish that they win at carnivals. They expect them to die, sooner rather than later. I even saw a sign for a backyard carnival this spring, and they were raffling off a budgie.
But we really treated Shira the way any living thing deserves to be treated. She was allowed to fly around the house, share our food. We researched safety for cockatiels, things they aren't allowed to eat, etc. my mother kept her out of the kitchen when using the microwave. She made sure to be home to turn off the light for Shira at 9:30, her bedtime. She really listened to her needs. When you love and care for any living thing, you establish a relationship. The same can't be said for people who don't feed their pets for over a week because they can't be bothered to research which foods are allowed on Pesach.
We miss our little yellow bird and barely remember a time without her!
Shira eating, climbing and getting her neck nuzzled:
Bath bird!
Shira lived with us for 11 years.
When I got married, Shira stayed on in my mother's house.
One time when my mother was doing renovations in her apartment, Shira got to stay with us. Zusha was 17 months then, and he was delighted!
When Shira first came to live with us, she was a scared little thing. She didn't like interacting with people much. We had other cockatiels who loved head scritches, but Shira would have none of that. Eventually she warmed up to my mother. I had a hard time believing her when she told me that Shira drops her head for my mother to rub!
She became a little puppy, understanding commands, being able to express her needs, expecting certain routines.
Just look at that beautiful bird!
My mother made different gyms, climbers and toys for Shira. All the bird things in all these photos are made by my mother!
Shira taking a nap next to photos of me and of Zusha.
Airplane bird!
Shira has been through a lot. She's had times when she would lay eggs in hidden places all over the house, and my mother had to find ways to discourage her so she shouldn't waste her body resources. She's been sick, and my mother nursed her back to health each time.
But last night, Shira died. There aren't that many people who would understand the pain of having a pet die. Because most people just have pets for entertainment purposes. Like fish that they win at carnivals. They expect them to die, sooner rather than later. I even saw a sign for a backyard carnival this spring, and they were raffling off a budgie.
But we really treated Shira the way any living thing deserves to be treated. She was allowed to fly around the house, share our food. We researched safety for cockatiels, things they aren't allowed to eat, etc. my mother kept her out of the kitchen when using the microwave. She made sure to be home to turn off the light for Shira at 9:30, her bedtime. She really listened to her needs. When you love and care for any living thing, you establish a relationship. The same can't be said for people who don't feed their pets for over a week because they can't be bothered to research which foods are allowed on Pesach.
We miss our little yellow bird and barely remember a time without her!
Shira eating, climbing and getting her neck nuzzled:
Bath bird!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Just One Year
One year ago, Adi couldn't walk. She was about to turn two, but walking didn't seem to be on her horizon.
Until something clicked.
Exactly one year ago, Adi mastered walking with a walker.
And now? Adi has recently walked over half a mile in one go. She runs alongside us on our walks. She spontaneously starts hopping in middle of walking.
When I let Adi out of the carriage yesterday and let her loose,
I couldn't help but think back to another day...
A day when her accomplishment wasn't walking over half a mile by herself. But rather a day when she walked over half a block, using her carriage as a walker.
And yes, I was reminded precisely because she is wearing that same outfit!
How we cheered! I took photos and texted them to all of Adi's therapists.
Watching her now, it is hard to believe that she has only been walking for 8 months.
It was just one year, and look how far it took us!
Rosh Hashana is fast approaching, and Adi's third birthday come on the heels of the yomim tovim. Lots of new beginnings. Maybe even the beginning of school for Adi. Life is full of pleasant surprises. The upcoming year is a beautifully sealed gift. I wonder what's inside.
Until something clicked.
Exactly one year ago, Adi mastered walking with a walker.
And now? Adi has recently walked over half a mile in one go. She runs alongside us on our walks. She spontaneously starts hopping in middle of walking.
When I let Adi out of the carriage yesterday and let her loose,
I couldn't help but think back to another day...
A day when her accomplishment wasn't walking over half a mile by herself. But rather a day when she walked over half a block, using her carriage as a walker.
And yes, I was reminded precisely because she is wearing that same outfit!
How we cheered! I took photos and texted them to all of Adi's therapists.
Watching her now, it is hard to believe that she has only been walking for 8 months.
It was just one year, and look how far it took us!
Rosh Hashana is fast approaching, and Adi's third birthday come on the heels of the yomim tovim. Lots of new beginnings. Maybe even the beginning of school for Adi. Life is full of pleasant surprises. The upcoming year is a beautifully sealed gift. I wonder what's inside.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Videos for Genetics
April 2011. Adi showing her words at 2 1/2 years old!
August 2011: More park. Look how well Adi does steps already. :) (2 years 10 months)
Adi has a deep and profound obsession with trains. Here we are on the Williamsburg bridge, watching the trains pass really close to us behind the fence.
Video Time!!
April 2011. Adi showing her words at 2 1/2 years old!
June 2011. 2 years 8 months. Park play with the best brothers in the world!
July 2011. Awesome stream at Botanical Gardens that Adi couldn't resist.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Insects of Our Yard
Dragonfly that the boys have named Howard.
If you click on the first two photos of him, you'll see that he is smiling. ;) Something that amuses the boys to no end!
Bees pollinating our sunflowers. Hooray for seeds!
No matter how much we water them, our sunflowers seem to be drying up. At least I got these photos when I did. I think that area just gets too much sun. In our yard, one part is always shrouded in shade, and another part is perpetually sunny. There are two parts in our yard that get both sun and shade, and they are both cemented... so no planting there. I already had a bunch of spaghetti squash plants die out from lack of sunlight. :(
Let me introduce you to our mint plants! Isn't it cool that we have mint plants?? We have two different types. Maybe spearmint and peppermint? I don't know, but one smells like typical mint and another is slightly different. It's flowering now, and boy, do we get a cornucopia of bees and butterflies here!
We only saw this grey and orange butterfly here once.
But these white ones are a dime a dozen!
See? Five that I was able to spot instantly. This is just the surface. There are at least twice as many in the middle of all the plants.
We also have a cricket family that moved in permanently! Family? I mean city population. They're alright... I thought at first that they'd prevent all sleep in our house, but they are pretty cool. The "singing" is quite pretty and with the windows closed, you barely hear them from the bedrooms.
Short video... too dark to see anything, so it's just sound.
If you click on the first two photos of him, you'll see that he is smiling. ;) Something that amuses the boys to no end!
Bees pollinating our sunflowers. Hooray for seeds!
No matter how much we water them, our sunflowers seem to be drying up. At least I got these photos when I did. I think that area just gets too much sun. In our yard, one part is always shrouded in shade, and another part is perpetually sunny. There are two parts in our yard that get both sun and shade, and they are both cemented... so no planting there. I already had a bunch of spaghetti squash plants die out from lack of sunlight. :(
Another bu... oh wait. That's our cat. Tee-hee!
Let me introduce you to our mint plants! Isn't it cool that we have mint plants?? We have two different types. Maybe spearmint and peppermint? I don't know, but one smells like typical mint and another is slightly different. It's flowering now, and boy, do we get a cornucopia of bees and butterflies here!
We only saw this grey and orange butterfly here once.
But these white ones are a dime a dozen!
See? Five that I was able to spot instantly. This is just the surface. There are at least twice as many in the middle of all the plants.
We also have a cricket family that moved in permanently! Family? I mean city population. They're alright... I thought at first that they'd prevent all sleep in our house, but they are pretty cool. The "singing" is quite pretty and with the windows closed, you barely hear them from the bedrooms.
Short video... too dark to see anything, so it's just sound.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Bootless in the Ice
As serious as Gedalya can be, he can also be a little clown. He loves everything silly. The sillier the better.
That's why when he lost his boots in the icy snow last week, he didn't put them back on right away. He thought it was great fun!
It was a really icy day. The top layer of the snow mountains melted and froze again into a crust of ice.
That's why when he lost his boots in the icy snow last week, he didn't put them back on right away. He thought it was great fun!
It was a really icy day. The top layer of the snow mountains melted and froze again into a crust of ice.
But soon after losing his boots, Gedalya began to feel like this:
And then like this:
Eventually he wasn't able to walk, so Zusha brought the poor kid his boots. But his socks were soaked. It would be impossible to go home like that. Luckily, I had an extra pair of mittens in my bag. Adi's mittens.
Which is what he wore home. I don't think he'll pull a stunt like that anytime soon!
And he didn't... at least not on our sledding day earlier this week.
We went to Prospect park. My in-laws took us.
Gedalya tried out a new climber.
Grandpa did, too:
Zusha, Grandma and Mama didn't really care to climb up.
But Gedalya climbed enough for us all.
We visited the lake and saw all the wonderful water fowl.
Grandpa did, too:
Zusha, Grandma and Mama didn't really care to climb up.
But Gedalya climbed enough for us all.
We visited the lake and saw all the wonderful water fowl.
Then we gathered our sleds and headed towards the hills.
This place is breathtaking in the winter.
And we had a great time sledding!
It was just right. Last winter we has two sledding trips. One was pretty wimpy. The hills were just bumps. We couldn't gather enough velocity for the sled to go by itself. The second time we found gigantic hills, which required lots of climbing back up, and we stayed entirely too long.
But this time was perfect! The hills were just steep enough to go fast, but not so tall that it's a pain to climb. And we didn't stay too long. A good day, indeed!
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