Since I have a child with FAS, I don't have much time to post as I must watch her every move. This is going to be a post on quick ideas.
#1 Clear the top of your refrigerator. you need a place to put things that you did not even know existed up and out of the way. Why the refrigerator, most kids can't get to the top of this appliance compared to cabinets that have counters to climb on. I had my wine collection on top and moved it out and know it collects things like markers, candy, and anything I don't want my daughter to continue touching.
#2 Buy yourself a Kureg coffee brewer. In the time you measure your coffee and clean the pot from the day before, your house could be on fire. You must find items that help you streamline your life. I need my coffee everyday and this little machine does it quick and fast and helps me stay on top of the little one.
#3 I kept my daughter on the bottle for the first two years of her life. I did this for two reasons, first she needed to stay on the formula for the nutrition sake and second because she is FAS, and has the facial features, I wanted to develop the filtrim between her nose and lips. This did help change her mouth structure a little. I then proceeded to sippy cups and I recommend the Tupperware sippy cups. At the age of 6, I then switched to the cups with lids and straws that are available from Bed, Bath and Beyond, however, I got mine from QVC. My daughter is notorious for knocking cups over. She is always moving and does not sit still. The cups save yourself a lot of stress and are cool and hip right now.
#4 If you don't have a pet, do not get one. FAS kids love animals and they did have a special way with animals, however, if you don't get a pet with the perfect temperament and loves to be abused, than you are going to have problems. How did I learn this?? I got a dog when she was my daughter was 4. I spend 75 percent of my time tying to protect the dog from his tail being pulled, his eyes being poked out and constantly being teased.
More ideas to come, but I must leave now because my living room has boxes of toys being turned over as I write.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
In The Beginning
Just wanted to share a few beginning ideas today that I feel are important for parents who might be starting on a journey with a child that has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
The first thing you must do with a child that you know that will be coming home with the diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is to educate yourself from several different sources about the diagnosis. Much of what you are going to hear is gloom and dome, however, I seeked out or God put in my path ,depending on your view point, adults that had Fetal Alcohol Syndrome who are just as successful if not more successful than myself and I was born a very healthy child. My county that I adopted from offered a series of classes on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome the I believe was a fantastic resource for myself. I will share more about this in other posts. Second, you must think and start to plan the future now. It is important to understand that your child might live with you for the rest of your life and will need help their entire life. If you are someone who wants to raise your kids and then have them leave home at age 18, this is not a child that you should adopt or continue to care for. I am planning for the future by saving a little money each month and I am looking at buying the house next door to me in the future. I adopted at age 40 so I won't be around as long as I wish for my daughter, but I will be putting a plan together and finding an attorney or people I can trust to manage her money if need be in the future. I will also be putting everything in a trust and most likely my niece who is quite competent will control everything. I know your thinking, I am just going to take it one day at a time, but if you have a child that has FAS and you want to keep your sanity you must prepare for the future.
If you are coming home with a baby that is underweight and failure to thrive like most FAS children, then it is very important the formula you choose for the child. I had an excellent pediatrician that kept my daughter on the formula they chose for her as soon as she was taken off the feeding tubes. They put my daughter on Neosure. This formula is made especially for preemies and those who are born underweight. I kept my daughter on this formula until she was 2 years old. Nutrition is so important during the first few years of life and I believe the extra calories and vitamins that this formula contained helped to improve my daughters physical and mental capabilities. She did have a problem with acid reflux on the formula but the good out weighed the bad and the acid reflux was taken care of by a perscription medicine from her doctor. The medicine had a minty flavor and even today, my daughter loves mint, which is fine by me because my favorite ice cream flavor is mint chocolate chip.
The first thing you must do with a child that you know that will be coming home with the diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is to educate yourself from several different sources about the diagnosis. Much of what you are going to hear is gloom and dome, however, I seeked out or God put in my path ,depending on your view point, adults that had Fetal Alcohol Syndrome who are just as successful if not more successful than myself and I was born a very healthy child. My county that I adopted from offered a series of classes on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome the I believe was a fantastic resource for myself. I will share more about this in other posts. Second, you must think and start to plan the future now. It is important to understand that your child might live with you for the rest of your life and will need help their entire life. If you are someone who wants to raise your kids and then have them leave home at age 18, this is not a child that you should adopt or continue to care for. I am planning for the future by saving a little money each month and I am looking at buying the house next door to me in the future. I adopted at age 40 so I won't be around as long as I wish for my daughter, but I will be putting a plan together and finding an attorney or people I can trust to manage her money if need be in the future. I will also be putting everything in a trust and most likely my niece who is quite competent will control everything. I know your thinking, I am just going to take it one day at a time, but if you have a child that has FAS and you want to keep your sanity you must prepare for the future.
If you are coming home with a baby that is underweight and failure to thrive like most FAS children, then it is very important the formula you choose for the child. I had an excellent pediatrician that kept my daughter on the formula they chose for her as soon as she was taken off the feeding tubes. They put my daughter on Neosure. This formula is made especially for preemies and those who are born underweight. I kept my daughter on this formula until she was 2 years old. Nutrition is so important during the first few years of life and I believe the extra calories and vitamins that this formula contained helped to improve my daughters physical and mental capabilities. She did have a problem with acid reflux on the formula but the good out weighed the bad and the acid reflux was taken care of by a perscription medicine from her doctor. The medicine had a minty flavor and even today, my daughter loves mint, which is fine by me because my favorite ice cream flavor is mint chocolate chip.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Welcome To My Blog
Hello,
I am starting this blog to start sharing information on how to live with excellence with a child that has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. It seems that everyone can complain and tell you all the terrible things to expect with a child that has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome but little information is available on how one can live each day a little better with a child with this diagnosis. I will start with my story and then add new ideas on a regular basis. This blog is not for everyone and all children are affected differently with this diagnosis. This is my experiences with the my adopted daughter who was diagnosed at birth with FAS. I have done a lot of research, taken a lot of training classes and I am currently pursuing my degree in Social Work all with the goal of helping children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. I am hoping that I can get people to think outside the box and to help people understand some of the problem is a societal problem and I am not talking about the drinking part, their are plenty of groups sending the message not to drink while one is pregnant, I am talking about how society is always working towards perfectionism. More to come on this. If this information just helps one person, it will be worth it.
Sandra
I am starting this blog to start sharing information on how to live with excellence with a child that has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. It seems that everyone can complain and tell you all the terrible things to expect with a child that has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome but little information is available on how one can live each day a little better with a child with this diagnosis. I will start with my story and then add new ideas on a regular basis. This blog is not for everyone and all children are affected differently with this diagnosis. This is my experiences with the my adopted daughter who was diagnosed at birth with FAS. I have done a lot of research, taken a lot of training classes and I am currently pursuing my degree in Social Work all with the goal of helping children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. I am hoping that I can get people to think outside the box and to help people understand some of the problem is a societal problem and I am not talking about the drinking part, their are plenty of groups sending the message not to drink while one is pregnant, I am talking about how society is always working towards perfectionism. More to come on this. If this information just helps one person, it will be worth it.
Sandra
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