Enjoying Motherhood

Last month was wonderful. Navya is doing well. Her doctor is happy with her progress. On cognitive level there are no delays yet. Yes on the physical part she is delayed by 3-4 months. Navya started to sit without support in the beginning of this month. Navya recognizes us very well now, she raises her arms to be picked up. She waives bye-bye, moves her fingers to show come & sometimes shakes her head to say no-no (I am not sure if she knows the meanings, but she likes to imitate us)
Navya is taking interest in pictures books, earlier everything used to go in her mouth :). She loves to shake toys, likes to play with stacker, basically she is showing interest in toys. I am sure very soon she will loose interest in her toys, hmmm time to buy new ones I guess.
One more interesting thing, Navya wants to eat everything that we eat, even if her tummy is full. I had stopped mashing her food some two months back I guess; so she chews everything properly now. She takes good bites of the biscuits; remind you she doesn’t have a single tooth yet :)
Navya is taking water/milk from sipper and Straw cup; I had read somewhere that Straw cups are good for mouth exercise.
We have got a very good OT, she is taking care of her PT as well, she comes home once in a week and we see her one more time. Her sitting has improved a lot. Crawling would take some more time. I wish she starts crawling by her first birthday.
When I leave for office, Navya shows some irritation, that makes me uncomfortable. Thankfully I leave at 1pm so I get good quality time with her, and in the evening Ashish comes by 7-8 pm so Navya stays with her nanny for 6-7 hours. I hope we will be able to manage this schedule.
There are lots of other things Navya is doing, and we loving every bit of it.
Can't stop thanking god for such a wonderful gift. Now I have actually started enjoying motherhood.
Attaching few of her pics, the quality of pics is not very good.
Navya gives very nice expressions specially for her age.


This is last months photo, Navya had really long hair at that time. Navya has got a new hair cut from her mommy and aatu. :)

On last weekend we had gone to Lonawala.

Navya enjoying her Baba's company

One pose with Mamma

Some very good expressions.

Cheesy smile

Innocent Smile

Balancing herself with her forearms

My cutie pie

Attacking my phone

Tired of posing Navya loves to look at colourful pictures.

Checking out her 'Bed time-Touchbook'

She loves to touch the furr of the cat

Now the Nursery Rhyme book

I just love this one

In the early this month we had flown down to kolkata to attend a wedding reception of our very dear friend. Navya enjoyed her flight first time, she was constantly looking out of the window.
We got to meet our old friends, it was a very nice trip.

Ashish's cousin sister got a very pretty dress for Navya. Navya wore it on the reception night.

It's a very cute white haulter dress with Sleeveless denim jacket.

Sometimes I feel J, we didnt get to wear such pretty dresses, I am sure RUPA even you would be feeling J ;)

As i mentioned earlier, Navya wants to eat whatever we are eating. MCD's Fingerchips are no exception

Down’s Syndrome boy clears SSC in first attempt

The SSC (Std X) results of Maharashtra State Board are out. Usually I like to scan through the paper to check the toppers of various categories; night school, disabled, how one studied with minimum study material, without any financial help etc.

This year I was wondering 'Do they declare the topper of mentally disabled category?' or 'They can't even clear the exam?' :(

And then came Ashish and asked me to check Mumbai Mirror's 5th Page.

This is what I found there.

Down’s Syndrome boy clears SSC in first attempt
- Ashok and Aishwarya Baride of Andheri (E) saw the culmination of 17 years of patience and perseverance on Thursday. Their son Sahil, diagnosed with T-21 Down’s Syndrome, passed his Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams through the NIOS programme with 48.8 per cent — despite his below-average IQ. He is the first from Canossa Special School, Mahim, to clear his exams in the first attempt. “We thought he would take at least two years to clear his Std X. But when we saw the results, we were thrilled,” Ashok said. Parth Hendre, a physically handicapped friend two years his junior, was Sahil’s writer and inspiration. “Children with Down’s find it difficult to grip anything, so they are slow writers, hence the assistance,” Ashok said. “Hendre always encouraged him to appear for his examinations,” Ashok added. On being asked if there was any chance Hendre had helped Sahil cheat, Ashok laughs, “The exam hall at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bhandup, had exactly four students appearing for the exam, and one invigilator, who ensured there was no hanky-panky going on.”

Sahil with his parents.


I am very sure this news will inspire all special need students and their parents.


Congratulations Sahil for your success. I wish I could convey to you and your parents, how happy we are to see you achieving this.
Way to go Sahil !

The article can also be checked here
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/200906262009062602054640049a8b840/Down’s-Syndrome-boy-clears-SSC-in-first-attempt.html

We are Back :)

Hello All,
Its been a real long time I have posted. We are well settled in Mumbai now. My parents, in laws visited us in past three weeks. They were excited to see Navya.
Posting some of the pics of my Father-in-law's visit.
Gateway of India in the background

With Ashish. Taj Mahal hotel in the background.

We had to go out for a dinner; Navya was very excited to wear her new RED Dress.

That's her new smile.

There are lots of pics to upload, would upload soon.

Pics, Pics and Just Pics

Navya's Bumbo Chair Photo Shoot.
DAY 1:
Camera is here.. I am looking cute, I know.... Here I
Smile :D

Make up time.. Spot Boy....

Oh No !

:p

How about this? Burrrrrrrrrr.......

Mama..You forgot to say SMILE !!!!!

DAY 2
In the Gym

Close Up

Bad Light :(

Again.

Don't Mind.. Old photo.. I did not know how to sit like a Good Girl.

Winding up from Calcutta

Hello Friends,
Sorry for not posting.
We are shifting to Mumbai this Thursday, so this week we are busy with the relocation work. And yes there is plenty of due at office, clearing all.
There are lot of updates. Would try to post soon.
Have a nice week ahead.
Take care

Happy Mothers' Day - Ashish here...

Dear friends,

This is Ashish (Navya's father) .

Pallavi couldn't post any blog for quite some time as she is very busy managing Navya all alone at Calcutta while I was trying to settle down in my new role at Mumbai (Bombay). Hence I thought of taking this opportunity to share some thoughts with all of you.

Pallavi has made me a hero by writing all good things about me, but am really not that good. I am just a simple human being who has strong faith in GOD and believe that HE never gives us anything that we can't handle. HE has been very kind with me and has blessed me with a set a amazing parents, a lovely life-partner and the latest and cutest of all - Navya....

While I know Navya is a blessing (infact our entire family also feels the same or even more because she was born on a very auspicious day), I also know that the time ahead is going to be different and may be more challenging. It was around 10 : 15 am on 6th Sept 2008 when I first saw Navya, she was pink in colour, looking around the place and not crying.... I was speech-less, it was a feeling that can't be explained in words now... then the Doctor told me that she was showing the symptoms on Downs' and we need to go for some tests to confirm it... I had many questions on my mind but the joy of seeing Navya and Pallavi superseeded it...

Then I first read about DS on the internet the next day, I was shocked but I decided to keep it to myself because the tests results will take some time to come and I was hoping it will be negative. In the meantime, Pallavi would also recover from the ceasarian operations. I still dont believe that I actually kept it to myself for over a month, given that I am quite an emotional person. But, I am really sorry that I kept it a secret with someone whom I share everything. Thankfully Pallavi has pardoned me for it.

Pallavi is a tough girl, and she had proved it several times. I would have broken down completely if I was in her place. The way she has handled Navya and herself in the last 8 months is not an easy task. She has taken control for her and Navya's life, studied extensively on the internet and found the best possible medical care at Calcutta for Navya... My respect for her and more so for all the mothers in this world has multiplied several times... HATS OFF TO YOU BEAUTIFUL MOTHERS, We (men) can never do what you do...

Besides being a software engineer, Pallavi is also a good painter, a good speaker too. She is definitely a very good swimmer as well [atleast 100 times better than me :) ]

Thanks to all of you for appreciating our efforts and sharing your experiences... Now we are going to enjoy life more... Posting some photographs, hope you like it.

Signing off with warm wishes to each one of you - Ashish

I fell for this smile 4 years back :)

Navya is telling her mom that Papa has sent you the flowers :)

Missing both of them a lot...

Thank you !

Hi Friends, Thank you very much for your comments, mails and phone calls. It means a lot to me. Initially, I was scared to let people know that my baby has a chromosomal abnormality. I myself believe that we pay for our sins in this life itself. So, after Navya's DS diagnosis I started self evaluation, why me? I must have done something wrong to someone that's why GOD has punished me, all my dreams were shattered, lost confidence. (I think almost all go through this cycle). In this difficult time my husband was my pillar of support. He gave me the strength to carry on.

Every single spare minute I was surfing Internet. Initially it was all Bad things that I read and got depressed. Then I started reading about the inspirational stories of Adults with DS and then came the Blog world and I read about Ella Grace. Then the other blogs related to DS and I realised I AM NOT ALONE. What I also noticed was all families said their child got immense joy and unconditional love to them. It did not take much time for me to realise the same. I got a different perspective now; I believe GOD chose us because GOD thinks we can give her all the love and care she deserves. We are BLESSED. GOD has a special place for us being Navya’s parents. Some of you might think it’s a way of consoling yourself. May be you are right, but you need some strength to carry on and you need to be in our situation to understand the feeling.

Now I thank GOD for sending us such a joy, we know there would be challenges ahead, I am sure we will get the strength to face those as well.
I am also sure raising her will teach us various lessons of life which we would have not learnt otherwise.
I know it’s a heavy dose; I will spare you from the other thoughts.

Before that I want to thank all you mommies out there, thank you very much for posting about your kiddos.

Now, posting Kittoo's snaps to lighten the mood. Hope you enjoy :)
Kittoo is Navya’s pet name.

Feeling Sleepy Fingers and Toes taste so good I never knew :) Oh she loves to check out the ads

I am showing her the 'Sale' Ads.

New Dress, had gone to b'day party of Navya's aunt at Pizza Hut.
She was eating that frill all the time

On the way to Raichak, with Teena Aatu (Aunt, Ashish's Sister)