Umar Update

So I know that some of you read just because of Umar. Forget about me and what I blog about it is all about the boy. Don't worry my feelings aren't hurt he is my favorite too. So without further delay I'll give you an update on how my boy is doing.




Yup that is right my boy is walking and doing it very well I might add. He tends to keep his legs spread wide apart to keep his balance and at times reminds me of a little robot walking about. But the fact is he is walking everywhere at 19 months. He has been working hard on this for the past month and he has a ways to go, he isn't running yet, but I'm so very proud of my boy. Although this does mean that he gets to places I wish he didn't.



One of those places is the couch! Yes mothers of the world this short little boy with his short little legs swings them up high (thanks to his flexibility that would put any gymnast in awe) and pulls his little strong self up on my couch. When I'm sitting there I will swing his little leg off and he puts it right back up only for me to swing it off again. He than has the nerve to get angry and yell at me with the fiercest of faces and put his leg right back up. Strong willed he is and happy as a clam when he finally gets up on the couch. He knows how to scoot down but sometimes doesn't judge the distance properly so he has to be helped or he'll take a tumble.

My plan was to start him in speech therapy but we ran into a bit of a hiccup with that. I wanted to take him back to the same therapist I took Leyna to in Saudi. There was talk of trying to bring her to Bahrain once a week for some of the other ladies in town who have children with DS. Mr. Man would have provided a driver for her making it that much easier but I received a message that she couldn't come. I gave her a call to find out she is six months pregnant and will be stopping her practice for about four months. Of course after she gives birth we can't expect her to want to come to Bahrain with a new born. I congratulated her and told her I would look for someone else. She was really upset because there were no other options for the ladies in Saudi.

So I began my search at the Children's Academy here in Bahrain. I have spoken of this school before an British based special needs school. I remember reading they had a speech therapist and also had after school appointments. So I gave them a call and asked if they have services for children who weren't enrolled in the school, happily she said "YES". A wonderful word to hear folks when it comes to therapy options for the boy. BUT since the ministry of education shut the doors for all preschools, KG schools and special needs school until Nov. 1st they were unable to take him until after that date. I'm waiting now for them to finish their first week of school, get a schedule together and call me back letting me know that Umar is ready for action. They cost 25 BD a visit (250 SR or 67 USD) which is more than what I paid in Saudi by 10 BD (100 SR or 27 USD). But I'm hoping that they will be set up better for such a young boy and do so well I'd be willing to pay double that if they asked.

That will be his only therapy as I have stopped taken him to Physical therapy. Since he is walking, pulling himself up, and doing so many movements that we take for granted such as bending at the west and picking something up from the floor and pulling himself back to a standing position, I honestly don't feel the need. One Saturday when Mr. Man is off I think I'll take him in to see Bayzura for an evaluation and she can give me some tips on how to get him to bring his legs in closer when walking.

I'm also planning on finding a preschool for him next year. I want him to become a bit more strong in his balance before I do that in order for him to keep up with the other kids. But I think putting him in a few hours a day several times a week will help him in interacting with other children without resorting to violence. Yes my boy is violent. He isn't biting as much, he didn't take to me plopping him down on his bottom when he did so that is a good thing. However when little kids try to come up to him in the park and want to kiss him on the cheek (He is a baby to them) he will swat them in the face as to say get away from me. He also holds his own on the playground with children older than him which is a good thing and his best friend is an 8 yr old boy. I think that says not just a lot about Umar but also a lot about that boy that he would take to a small child like he has.

Umar is also taking an interest in following what others are doing which is a wonderful thing when it comes to sign language. He is starting to really want to follow along and is trying which is great for his development. He also is very smart and understands how things should work not that he can always get it right. Such as shapes going in certain spots in a shape container, but he gets frustrated when the star won't fit into the circle than pulls my hand to do it. Alba unfortunately gives in easily and does it for him although I've told her to stop. He has to be forced to do it on his own and figure it out. By the end of her vacation with consistency with Mama I think he'll do a bit better with that.

So my boy continues to surprise me in the most wonderful of ways. And I have no doubts he'll continue to do so the rest of his life.