Re: To Sandy

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandy,

In answer to your question about the Christmas tree, my three DS kids were around 6-8 before they stopped touching it and moving ornaments around. In fact my youngest, , is soon to be 9 years old and this is the first year that he is actually just "looking" at the tree and the lights and he has not attempted to touch it at all. He seems fascinated! Of course our 22 year old, Ben and our 12 year old, , keeps us all very excited about Christmas. They really understand about gifts being under the tree on Christmas morning and they are counting the days. I know they will be up at the crack of dawn. (or before....hee...hee) Hang in there!

Joyce-wife to Mike 30 years

Mom to seven--29, Leah-28, Mikey-25, -22-DS, -20, -12-DS,

and -8-DS/Autistic

Christmas Question and checking in

Oh, what a life. WE are getting ready for the holidays here. & seem to be much more aware of the tree this year. Not too sure if it is agood thing or bad. used a candy cane on the tree (large stuffed) and anumber of things came down. likes to hold the ornaments and thenre-arrange them. Thierry was just offered a full time position after 16months, so we are excited here. Then he is on contract where he is, toldthem, and now they may make an offer to keep him.. So nice to be wanted fora change.AS to the rest of the kids; is at TAMU-Commerce and has aboy-friend so we rarely see or hear from her. She just turned 19, so Iguess mom will just have to relax. is going to PJC in the spring andis all registered and paying for that. He boyfriend graduates from collegein May and they are making plans.. She is all of 18. Barry thinks he wantsto go to University of Texas for college to play football. He concernedthat his position will be hard to fill because he is a "white" back. Mostof the kids in college and on the pro teams are black.. So why not him?Barry will be 16 in March so we are also doing the driving thing. Last weekwe worked on Stick-shift. Robbie (10 1/2) just finished his GT test, so weshall see if he did well soon. He wants to skip a grade. is in Kinder and seems to be doing well, but his teacher seems to bea little stiff.As to my double downs, we had a meeting with Lakes Regional and they nowhave a case manager who is not happy that the school didn't acknowledge myrequest for sign language for the boys... so we are getting everythingtogether and will be going back for an ARD.Finally, Mom is still in college and getting ready for exams. I willgraduate in December 2006. I have changed majors and am now in theSecondary and Higher education with a specialty in History. Assuming I canpass the tests.Now my question. For those with older Down's kids, how long did it take forthe kids to understand the concept of Christmas and understand that the treeis too look at, not to eat. Such as in the lights or the garland? Thanksfor the help, I just don't want to loose what little mind I have left oversimple stuff.SandyMom to 19, 17, Barry 15, Robbie 10, 5, 5 (DS)and 5 (DS) identicals