What's Your IQ?

Many people have asked about the intellectual ability of a person with Cerebral Palsy.

My answer is that I honestly do not know.

What I DO know is that with Cole there are obvious signs that he KNOWS what is going on around him. He attempts to communicate and, at times, he does it very well. If he does not like something he let's us know. When he is happy or likes something, he also let's us know. As I've stated in previous posts he is not verbal as far as speaking words and we are teaching him ASL (American Sign Language) by using Signing Time DVD's. He IS learning what we teach him.

Here is the information that I (and my friend Keri over at Life of Logan) have found and discussed, which was found in Wikipedia.

The full intellectual potential of a child born with CP will often not be known until the child starts school. People with CP are more likely to have some type of learning disability, but this is not related to a person's intellect or IQ level. Intellectual level among people with CP varies from genius to mentally retarded, as it does in the general population, and experts have stated that it is important to not underestimate CP sufferer's capabilities and to give them every opportunity to learn.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy, the most common form of CP, causes the muscles to be tense, rigid and movements are slow and difficult. This can be misinterpreted as cognitive delay due to difficulty of communication. Individuals with cerebral palsy can have learning difficulties, but sometimes it is the sheer magnitude of problems caused by the underlying brain injury that prevents the individual from expressing what cognitive abilities they do possess.

Therefore, I can not even begin to measure the knowledge that my child contains inside that complicated, beautiful head of his. But, I do know that he tries and comprehends what we say to him. I am quite sure he gets very frustrated 'trying' to express what he knows but his body not cooperating.

Don't forget - March is National CP Awareness Month!
Please help spread the awareness!

The Face of CP

THEN:in the NICU,no clue of even the possibility of CP

NOW: dealing with the effects of CP

March is National CP Awareness Month!

Our baby recently turned two years old but at times, other than his size, it feels like he is barely one. Intellectually I know he is two and should be way ahead in his milestones. At times, it is very easy to forget as I still have to 'do' for him like I did my other two boys at about 8 months of age.

When Cole was 9 months old I was told he had Cerebral Palsy! I had absolutely NO idea what this meant, how it would affect him or how it would affect us as a family.

This is the month to spread the awareness of Cerebral Palsy.

~CP, the most common cause of motor disability in childhood, is a group of disorders that affects a person’s ability to move and keep his or her balance and posture.

~Cerebral means having to do with the brain. Palsy means weakness or problems with using the muscles.

~The symptoms of CP vary from person to person. A child may simply be a little clumsy or awkward or unable to walk at all.

~CP is caused by damage to or abnormal development of one or more parts of the brain that control movement. The damage or abnormality happens during pregnancy, near the time of delivery or early in life.

~The part of the brain that is damaged determines what parts of the body are affected.

~CP itself is not progressive—the brain damage or abnormality does not get worse as the child gets older; however, the physical characteristics can change over a person’s lifetime.

~Depending on which areas of the brain are affected, one or more of the following may occur: muscle tightness; involuntary movement; difficulty in walking; difficulty in swallowing; and problems with speech.

**This information was found at Reaching for the Stars. Please help spread the awareness of CEREBRAL PALSY.

A Thousand Words Thursday-Bath Seat

Here's another awesome and useful new piece of medical equipment we received last Monday.

This is Cole's new bath seat. It is called the Manitee!

Previously I had been using a baby bathtub that had a 'ring' that snapped in between his legs. This was still not an easy task, giving him a bath. Since Cole can't sit up on his own I would have to try to hold his already slippery body with one hand while washing his body and hair with the other.

With this bath seat he was sitting snug so he could actually 'play' in the water. He was so happy and having such a good time.

This seat has adjustable 'wedges' for his upper trunk and his hip area. It also has a lap belt I could use but I didn't have to with the wedges supporting him. And I can use a wedge between his legs so he doesn't slide down.

for more ATWT go to
Cheaper than Therapy

Wordful/Wordless Wednesday-New Wheels

What do you think? Cole's new wheels are awesome, right?

Monday morning I was scheduled to go in early to Cole's school so I could pick up his new bath seat (later post). When I walk in I see a pretty shiny blue KidWalk (walker) close by. So, of course, I start getting SO excited!

Yes! This was Cole's new wheels. His KidWalk had come in! We appreciated the use of the Rifton the school had let us borrow so Cole could get around but he has so much more fun and can actually maneuver his KidWalk a lot easier.

The Rifton (as do most gait trainers and walkers) has wheels that stick out in front and would get stuck on everything. This KidWalk has everything beside or behind him. Now IF he could use his hands he would be able to reach to open doors, turn the t.v. off and on (he has already been checking this option out), and easily get around corners.

This is so great to have this piece of medical equipment as it helps him feel a little more independent and let's me get other things done since he can move around on his own.

Today his daddy went to pick him up from school so I could go work out and when I pull up into the driveway they were outside playing. Cole was rolling around everywhere and quickly. He also was so much happier tonight and actually went to sleep easier.

This is a good work out for HIM and will help him build his muscles!

for more WORDFUL WEDNESDAY
see Seven Clown Circus

Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom,
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A Thousand Words Thursday-Comfort

Sweet Cole Dawson laying comfortably in his daddy's arms!

Doesn't he look so sweet and tiny laying wrapped up in his daddy's big strong arms? This and the pictures of my baby's laying on daddy's chest sleeping are my absolute favorites.

I honestly couldn't decide if I like the black & white or the color picture better. What do you think?

for more ATWT go to
Cheaper than Therapy

Wordful/Wordless Wednesday-Rifton

Shane and Cole

Cole loves it when Shane plays with him. Shane will help Cole get to the edge of the driveway and let him roll down the hill so they can race. Shane will be on his skateboard and Cole in his Rifton.

The Rifton helps support Cole so he can walk and get around places. This is a loaner from Cole's school. We are currently waiting on the KidWalk that we have ordered for him. Yes, of course, I will post pictures as soon as we get it in.

for more WORDFUL WEDNESDAY
see Seven Clown Circus

Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom,
Check out the new Wordless Wednesday HQ!!

RSV

One week ago today I had to take Cole to see his pediatrician. He will be another post at another time though.

So it turns out that Cole has RSV and double ear infections. RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus.

A lot of children that may already have a compromised respiratory system may have to be hospitalized when they get RSV. As you may know, Cole has very low trunk tone which compromises any organs in his trunk.

We were very fortunate to not have to worry about that this time around. Generally Cole is very healthy, other than his constant bowel problems and his lack of sleeping, which seems to be more bothersome for me than him.

He has almost completed his round of antibiotics and I can see major improvements. He still has his fussy moments but has started jabbering more and seems to be happy more frequently.