Milestones

Last week, Andrew and I had a “Goal Setting” meeting with Chloe’s Early Intervention team.  It was really reassuring and exciting to remember where Chloe was at 6 months ago when we started these sessions and to take note of what she has accomplished.  Six months ago, Chloe was barely rolling over and today, she is rolling all over the place and so much more!

She is eating solids and getting better and better at it every day thanks to Mummy’s persistence!

Today she started drinking from a sippy cup.

She loves playing with her toys now and has become so beautifully interactive.

Chloe also has a whole host of sounds which are just so adorable to listen to.  Her favourite is still “Dadadadada”. 

Every fortnight, Chloe has a visit from her Early Intervention Team – a Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and Speech Pathologist.  All three ladies are so wonderful and they have helped me a lot to get Chloe going with her solids. 

At the moment, we are mainly focusing on Chloe’s gross motor skills with the Physio. Chloe loves her therapy sessions.

“Hang on Mum, I will be with you in one second.”

But sometimes she doesn’t. 

The goals we set at the meeting are for Chloe to start sitting up unassisted before she turns one next month – and she is not far off!

We also want to reduce her bottle feeds and increase and expand her solid feeding.  This has so far been the most challenging aspect of Chloe’s development but we are getting there!

“Yuk!”

So that Chloe has an alternative way of communicating with us as she gets older, we also want to start introducing Makaton signing into Chloe’s every day routine.  I know a few signs already but over the coming months, we will learn more and start using them every day.

When we registered Chloe for Early Intervention with the Disability Services Commission, I was very apprehensive and anxious about the whole thing.  I didn’t know what to expect but the whole process has been better than I imagined.  The advice and assistance we have received from the Therapists has been so helpful.  Working with Chloe has not been difficult at all and it isn’t intrusive in the slightest.  At this stage, the Therapists are showing me how to tweak playtime just that little bit to help Chloe along with her milestones.  Everything we do is incorporated into her routine.

Overall, Chloe has achieved so much on her own which is so wonderful and inspiring.  I am so excited for the future and for all her achievements.  Chloe’s capabilities shouldn’t be doubted and seeing her develop the way she has has made me realise how little I actually knew about Down syndrome in the first place.  She WILL accomplish everything that Emma has – just at her own pace. 

Lately Chloe has been trying really hard to stand up and you can see that it is difficult for her because of her low muscle tone.  But the look of determination on her face is so beautiful!  I really admire her for that.

I am looking forward to Chloe achieving these goals that we have set for her.  I know she can do it and I am extremely proud of her for all that she has achieved and taught me thus far.  She is my little star! x