DownSyn Forum

mommy to Zoe Cecilia · Posted: July 28 2008, 10:22 PM Post subject: Reality bites

I just had to write and say that this weekend I finally understand truely the whole "muscle tone" thing...
This weekend I went to my MIL's and my dh's cousin came over, they just had a baby on May 28, also my best friend, who also just had a baby june 10th came over too...
Well let me just tell you! WOW! I thought they were so stiff! It was actually kind of funny because I really couldn't figure out why both of them were so stiff! hehe But as I sat there with them in my arms I came to the realization that this was the way all babies felt...It def. hurt my heart to even think of it like that but I knew it was true, I wasn't worrying about there little arms getting caught behind or there necks swinging back etc... Also my dh cousins baby! HOLY MOLY! This baby is like superman... I was sitting on the couch just in disbelief of all the things he was doing...
Made me think, wow this kid is 3 1/2 months younger than Zoe and look at him...
I thought Zoe was doing well with her milestones compared to a "typical" baby... hum...
I guess Reality Bites.

_________________
~Zoe

DH ~ Jeremy married 3yrs together 9
DD ~ Zoe Cecilia ~ 2-4-08(DS)

QuinnsMom · Posted: July 28 2008, 10:33 PM Post subject:

I know what you mean - it does bite.

A couple of weeks ago I had a party for my college friends (a reunion we have once a summer). My one friend has a daughter that is four months younger than Quinn. I looked at her, commented about her, and played with her on the floor, but it was kind of hard seeing her, you know - thinking about how year after year when we get together what she will be doing in comparison to Quinn. I want to stay on my island and not be faced with this stuff. I rationalize it though because my friend and his wife had infertility problems, so he probably had difficulty year and year seeing my kids when they were trying for one.

_________________
Karyn, Quinn's Mom -
Mother of Riley (age eleven), Aidan (age seven) and Quinn (October, 2007 - DS, IS, Stereotypical Movement Disorder)
http://quinnscrusaders.blogspot.com/

Renee Lacey's mom · Posted: July 29 2008, 8:29 AM Post subject:

You really don't realize the difference till you hold a normal baby around their age and then its like what the heck!! But ya know the good thing is that their muscle will build and all will be right with the world. Don't let this get you down or make you wonder. Just enjoy that you don't have to fight the stiffness lol!!

_________________
Renee~~ mom to Haley 10,Kassidy 8, & Lacey(DS) 4 & wife to Chris!!

* An extra little Chromosome thats all it is, you see. Where all of you were born with 2, my angel was blessed with 3.*

ellenstumbo · Posted: July 29 2008, 3:13 PM Post subject:

There are about 8 babies at our church all about the same age. yep, sometimes, I don't even want to be a part of the "mommy" convesations, "she is doing...." and "she is almost..." Well, at least
I get to have a baby for longer, and....Nichole IS the most popular baby, everyone wants to hold her. Everyone swarms around her (I know other moms are jealous about this). So...I can't complain, she is LOVED.
But I know exactly what you mean.

_________________
Ellen, honored to be married to Andy since Feb 2003 and mom to Ellie (08/21/05) Nina (05/01/06 CP) and Nichole (10/02/07 DS)
www.elliestumbo.blogspot.com

"For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:13-14
God does not make mistakes

elizasmom · Posted: July 29 2008, 3:46 PM Post subject:

I didn't understand the whole tone thing either until i had the twins. At their six week check up i asked the ped if their tone was too high LOL, he laughed and then I laughed cause after 3 years with Eliza i understand hypotonia. It's different than not being strong because Eliza is strong that's for sure. She literally pulled me across the house yesterday to turn on her Barney show! And when she's wrestling with her brother she can definitely hold her own!

When they are babies it is best not to compare I think and just see them as on their own pace in the race. They'll do all the same stuff but on their own timeline. And they will definitely get the strength!

_________________
Liz - Mom to Walker (3/24/02), Eliza (Ds) (5/6/05), Alden Jane and Noah Henry (5/2/08 )

sevenfries · Posted: July 30 2008, 9:48 AM Post subject:

I've been there too! It does help that I've had 2 "typical" children already, but you tend to forget (especially since my girls haven't been babies for a long time). One of the things that I love the most is how Mattie just seems to melt in my arms. She really just lays with her weight against my chest and relaxes her head on my shoulders. My girls were too busy trying to pull away when they were this age. Since this is our last, we're really enjoying these moments!

_________________
Kim(42)Wife to Matt(42); Mom to Abby(16), Caroline(12), Mattie(DS) (5)

kzmom · Posted: July 31 2008, 10:19 PM Post subject:

I know exactly what you mean. My good friend just had a baby 2 weeks ago and the kids and I went over today and I couldn't believe it. I must not remember anything from when Zach was a baby because I was almost in disbelief at this little baby's tone.

It makes me glad that I don't know a lot of babies Katelyn's age because there will be fewer comparisons which would just make me feel bad. This didn't make me feel bad today- it just really opened my eyes to the differences.

_________________
______
Kristen
Mom to Zach (Jan 2005) and Katelyn (Feb 2008 DS)

mom2Anthony&8girls · Posted: August 08 2008, 5:00 PM Post subject:

(((HUGS))) to all of you! There are many wonderful gifts our babies have that others don't. From the time ANthony was a baby he was always and always has been very tuned into others emotions and their needs. It's the coolest when Anthony walks up to a person who needs a hug and when he gives them that hug they shed a tear, his touch was very needed. None of my other children have ever been as tuned in as Anthony.

_________________
Helen ~ Wife of 25 yrs. to Don
Proud mom of Kiersten~22, Alexandria~19 Katrina~18, Ashley~15, Virginia~13, Corrin~11, Vanessa~10, Anthony~8 yrs. blessed with an extra chromosome, Rachel~4 yrs.

See my interview & pic of Anthony when he was 3 yrs. at www.guildschool.org

ctvwarren · Posted: August 13 2008, 11:50 AM Post subject:

LOL...
I know what you mean about low muscle tone....
When I had my son 5 years ago...I really didn't get it... but he was my first so I had no one to compare him to.

Now I have a 7 month old daughter....How I wish she had low muscle tone...it was so much easier to dress my son ... Laughing

I have to wrestle my LO every day....!

I don't think you ever stop comparing...its just natural...I do it with my LO all the time... and I see others my sons age and I can see all they do... I just try to think of all the progress he has made...that helps alot because he is progressing.

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_________________
Christy~wife of 7 years to Tom
Proud Mommy to Zae (3-11-03~DS) and Lexi (1-11-2008)

LittleKitten · Posted: August 14 2008, 8:29 AM Post subject:

I know exactly what you mean. There is constant comparison going on at my house since Kelsey has a twin. When the girls were in the NICU, there wasn’t much difference in tone, but after they got home Delaney was soon getting stiff while Kelsey was still like a rag doll. Now when I carry them Delaney holds herself upright and helps support herself with her legs, while carrying Kelsey is like carrying a sack of potatoes.

Kelsey struggles to do little things that come so easily for her sister. I didn’t really realize how limiting the low muscle tone thing was until she started doing the commando crawl and is now able to explore her world. She is all over the place now and takes an interest in everything! It makes me sad to think that it was inability, not lack of interest, that kept her from exploring. Sometimes she works so hard to reach a toy on the floor and Delaney just snatches it away from her. She has a feisty streak though and tries to get it back, but there is no way she can win a tug of war. I have been told over and over that having a twin will be a good thing. That seeing her sister do things will motivate her to try to keep up. I hope and believe that will be the case. I also hope that it isn’t also a major source of frustration if she can’t.

_________________
Nancy
Mom to:
Kieran (5/3/04)
Delaney (4/24/07)
Kelsey (4/24/07) (DS)