Seven months and counting....

Cora has made it to the seven month mark and she made it with will and determination.  How lovely to be able to spend this time with her.  Despite the fact that she goes back for another open heart surgery, and the set back from limited activity before the first surgery, she is learning more as each day passes.  One of the questions I often get asked when someone realizes that Cora has Down syndrome is, "How bad does she have it".  I tell the person with honesty, "I dont know.  She is Cora and that's good enough for me."

With that,  I will list milestones Cora has accomplished and not the ones she has not.

Some of the milestones Cora has reached:

She can sit stable with assistance under her arms.
She has control of her head and neck.
She can roll from front to back
She can roll from back to front
She can manage tummy time for 5 minutes before cyanosis sets in (that's the turning blue of lips, face, hands and feet from her heart problem)
She can reach for a toy while on her tummy
She recognizes her name and will turn to find you
She recognises the request to "come here" with arching of her back to be picked up
She is making the baby sign for "milk" when asked if she is hungry
She is saying "omma" for mama
She can clasp her hands at midline, suck her thumb, grab toys from beside herself and bring them to midline to play
She verbalizes a variation of sounds when playing or being talked too
She says "hi" very loudly when she wants attention (at least we think that is her word because she only uses it when she wants out of the crib or wants attention when having playtime)
She displays "stranger awareness" and separation anxiety.  (she will look for me or her siblings when a stranger is holding her, if we can not be seen she will start to fuss loudly and arch her back to get away from the stranger.  This is one of the few times she will actually cry with distress.)
She recognizes her siblings or myself in a crowd of people.


Like I said earlier, she is Cora.  Beautiful in her development and personality, just the way she is.  As God made her and intended her take this journey....