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Feb2020
Mason is 10 now, still not really doing any talking and our biggest problem now is toilet training. Devin is doing sacremental and Emily is 13yrs old! Jorja has gone, now we have Bella(Westie Schnazuer cross) and Maxim (Max) - miniture schnauzer - who we breed with Bella - 5 puppies later both are fixed. Jaron passed away in August 2019, hard on everyone, resulting cleanup almost complete with all his 'toy's being distriputed to family or sold on.
Sept 2017
Swimming is improving for all kids, just in time for summer ! weather has been terrible but has still allowed Devin & Mason to ride around the estuary (Mason in tow behind). No health issues for the kids - plenty with the animals. Monty has gone, Jorja has age issues. Milo getting on and now Tilly has joined us.
Sept 2016
Winter coming to an end, swimming every Friday (lessons) for the kids is paying off, see improvements in all of them. Which is ideal leading into summer. no surf club this year, focus will be on learning to surf! on new boards.
mid-March 2016
Second year of school for Mason, Emily is very much a tween, Devin is testing us. We cant wait for him to go to school in Oct. Pool is down now, getting too cold, seriously thinking of options to get permanent pool.
Feb 2016
Pool has been a godsend, kept the kids busy all day some day, summer has been great and long. Mason is now ducking under the water by himself which is great, he still struggles with lying down in the water when supported on my shoulder. Continuing to work on this.
Jan 2016
Awesome time over Xmas, Dunedin visit and stayed with Greg & Therese, Alice and josh were very patient. Devin was his usual dangerous self. Surf camp was awesome, great time in our new caravan, worked a treat and surf club was very enjoyable. Need to focus on their swimming over summer. Pool was put up which hopefully will help.
Visit Albums for pictures of Emily/Mason/Devin.
August 2015
Time has moved on, Mason is at school, Stella Maris with sister Emily. Devin has moved to local kindy. Rochelle has stopped work to do the pickup and drop offs. See how we go.
Big year for holidays, campervan trip, Dunedin Xmas visit, Surf lifesaving camp.
Nov 2014
Last year at Kindacare ! big changes for new year coming, Rochelle planning on staying home and doing the kid drop offs and pickups, Devin moving to local Kindy, Mason into Stella Maris with Emily. Health wise Mason is doing well. No speech - well limited to 'what you doings?', ' ta ', occasional ' yes' needs some specialised help through a private speech therapist.
Dec 2013
Lots has changed since initial health reviews as below. Mason has been growing in his time with Kindacare-Albany -the teachers have made an effort and his Govt. support person comes from Kindacare staffing - a real plus! Been growing into a little boy, full of fun and laughter. Stuborn and gentle. Language is a challenge still, although Makaton signing is strong, over 40 words, focus on building his vocab. Motive skills coming a long, is doing a 'fast walk' which is his run.
2012 long year settling into 3 kids.
12 Oct 2011
Born to our family was Devin Cooper - 3rd and final - 9 Oct 2011.
Mason Update (5 Oct 2011)
Mason had his third hearing check, eventually getting a referral to Starship, we went thru our GP to get access to the private team, eventually getting to see Dr Colin Barber - glue ear was his diagnosis, now booked in for gromets next 6 weeks or so.
Mason update - (19 May 2011)
Well it's been a while - Mason can sit, roll, doo the catapillar, and is now pulling himself up into a standing position, occasionally toppling over :-). Mason also has lot's of teeth, 4 or 5 so is restless and likes to chew everything.
Also expecting a baby brother or sister . . on 29 Sept 2011. Number 3 lucky last.
Mason (1 Dec 2010)
Mason is great! He has made giant leaps with his development. He is now able to roll over, lifts his head up well, and even can sit for 15 seconds or so before he over balances and falls over. All checks have been positive, eyes, ears heart all good so far. Next rounds of testing in Feb 11'. Emily has grown up, well at least she thinks so, going on 4 (more like 14) and looking forward to her birthday and Xmas in Dunedin.
Albums have been linked finally with my old albums - check out Flickr Album for the older photos.
Mason (2 August 2010)
1st day at school- preschool. More challenging for us than Mason I think. Mason got through the day unscathed. It should be interesting to see how he manages throughout the next couple of weeks, Daycare - Kindacare have supported us well, and seem willing to continue his physio therapy. Mason is almost holding his head up and is practising sitting, a bit of a struggle. He should have it by the end of the month hopefully. Also almost rolling over, gets to his side and stops. Both Emily and Mason have been baptised so we'll continue & there's and Rochelle education in the Christian faith.
Mason (16 April 2010)
Mason has had another heart check, still the same, small holes, but the plus side is the holes have not gotten bigger. His feeding has improved, he's increase the amount taken in and how quickly he drinks, which is all good for his weight gains. Hips are not clicking any longer, the drink test showed he has reflux, no medicine as yet for that. Ears check is happening on Tuesday.
Mason's Health (6 March 2010)
Mason is going well, still having some difficulties drinking, but putting on some weight no the less and getting bigger (taller) he is now too tall for the baby bath so we are having to switch to a new routine of bathing Mason before Emily gets in her bath. More checks coming, hips and a drinking test, eyes and ears and another heart test along with the regular fortnightly checks from Physiotherapist and a Speech therapist.
Mason's Health (22 Feb 2010)
Mason had his 6 week vaccinations, got checked over by our family Dr. and is now on antibiotics for his throat 'rumble'. Working on getting food into his is the main challenge currently, on our 4th set of bottles, now using a 'special needs' bottle where the feeder controls the flow of milk. We have had some good days and some bad, as Mason has a habit of chomping down on the teet, not good according to the therapist, Claire. This may lead to a further visit to starship for a swallow test, where they watch on a xray the swallow action of Mason.
Another check up is happening tomorrow by others - "needs assessment" and Taikura Trust people, two separate organisations, no idea about this so will wait and see.
Mason's Health (3 Feb 2010)
Mason has had another ECG and Ultrasound scan of his heart. He has two possibly 3 small holes, called muscular ventricular septal defects or VSD's
Down Syndrome - What is it like . . .Imagine how it would feel
Kepler Blog - 2010 - 1st time - 8hrs 22mins
Coastal Challenge - held Feb or Mar every year since 2003
Entered the World Masters Games - Olympic Triathalon. - April 2017
(1.5k swim, 40km cycle, 10Km run)
2016 - 21K -
2015 - 21K - 1.37
2014 - 21K - 1.39
2013 - 21K - 1.32
2012 - 21K - 1.37
2011 - 21K - 1.46
2010 - 42K - 3:32
2009 - 42K - 4:18
2007 - 21K - 1.54
2006 - 21K - 1.48
Run Auckland Series Race 6 2015 - 21k - 1.42
Masters Games Olympic Tri - Tick
2018 - Did road ride
2019 - Did run
South Head Challenge
Did MTB and Run for two different teams
I have shown (how the Dr. showed us) the holes in the Spetal wall, they are not to scale ! We are hoping that no further treatment is necessary, as this is not a typical problem of DS children and lots of others kids have this issue, they typically close by themselves as the child grows. A further scan is booked in for a couple of months time, just in case it has been underestimated.
Next check is by a Physiotherapist and a Speech therapist on the 12 Feb.
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