30 August 2009

Hello Kitty

Last Tuesday, we adopted the newest member of the family. Can you guess which one it is?

The fluffy white one by the way!

I like having a pet, always had one. We had cats growing up, the Dad had dogs. There where also gerbils, a hamster called Spartacus, and now there is Marvin the cat. And what a good cat he is. He still needs to learn some of the ground rules of the house, like no cats aloud on counter-tops and tables, but he has been great with Cathal. Cathal loves him, one of the reasons we decided to get a pet was so that it might encourage Cathal to get moving across the floor, other than rolling. The first day Marvin was home, he was on the couch, Cathal was on the floor, and Cathal tried to pull himself up against the coffee table to get a look at the cat. There was about a centimetre of space between the floor and his bum for 20 seconds.....the Dad and I were floored.....that's the first time he has attempted any kind of pulling himself up. I think we made the right decision. Cathal is also very good at rubbing him, although he does get a little over excited and tends to then hit or grab the cat's skin and pull. And the cat just takes it.

Pheeeewww!

And where did we find such a fine cat I hear you ask?

From the DSPCA. Marvin was abandoned. His right front leg got broken some how, his family brought him to the vet, the vet fixed him up, and then the family would not collect him and refused to answer the phone. He was there 4 weeks before the vet brought him to the DSPCA. In these tough times, people just can't afford their pets, and it is happening more and more. Although I sympathise with his previous owners, I still don't understand how some one can do this. At least they brought him to get treatment, but still.

When Cathal was born, we should have just sent him back too, "Sorry, this ones got a messed up heart, he's gonna cost too much to fix, take him back".

When you take on a pet, you take them on for life....Marvin is only 2, not a very long life so far.

So, to recap, we have a son who has CHDs and downs syndrome, and a cat with a dodgy leg (he has a big limp) which will probably develop arthritis in his old age which won't be covered by pet insurance!!! What are we like?

But, Marvin is the right pet for us, his personality and temperment fits us and Cathal perfectly, it's what's inside that counts :-)

09 August 2009

A Very Interesting Talk Coming Up

I am very excited to tell you all about a very generous offer. Victor J Bishop, dad to Emmanuel aged 12, has offered to give a talk on "How to teach your toddler with DS to sight-read". Victor is visiting Ireland to attend the World Down Syndrome Congress with his son, who has been invited to play the violin and give a presentation. Victor taught his son to read from an early age, and has offered to impart his experience and advice to our little Baby/ Toddler and Parent group.
This talk will take place at 11am on Monday the 17th of August at the Carmelite Centre. It will take place during the regular group, so babies, toddlers, siblings, parents, early intervention staff.....EVERYONE....is more than welcome to join in.
I am going to take as many notes as I can in my scrawling handwriting and then copy them up here for anyone who can't make it. There will be tea and coffee and biscuits. Keep an eye on the left hand side for updates on the group and the next meeting date.

Now, on to more important stuff. We are just back from our holidays, Costa del Cork and Costa del Clare. Here are some of our favourite holiday snaps!

Fota Island, in the Rain... it's holidays, where is the sun?

Bouncy bounce
(Fota, Cork)

What the hell is all this golden grassy stuff, this "one with nature"
is not that great Mam
my
(Ballymaloe House, Cork)

CHICKENS!
(Ballymaloe Cookery School & Gardens, Cork)

PIGS!!!
(Ballymaloe Cookery School & Gardens, Cork)

DUUUUUCKSSSS!!!!!!!
(Dromoland Castle, Clare)

those are very tall cliffs Mammy
(Cliffs of Moher, Clare)

At last, something I can get my hands into....
(please note, this baby was dry...)
(Doolin, Clare)

Rock pool + toddler = very wet trousers
(Doolin, Calre)