Scotty was born in November of '96, by emergency c-section due to his low heart rate during labor. He was 7 lbs 7 oz and 20 1/2 inches long and had an extra chromosome. Before his birth we did not know he had Down syndrome.

At birth Scotty had a heart PDA, which basically is a heart valve that didn't close. The PDA closed on it's own by the time Scotty was 3 months old. When he was 2 days old he developed jaundice. He was admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unite because his oxygen level was 90, and the doctors were concerned. After 4 days of observation Scotty was released and ready to go home.

Scotty started early intervention when he was 6 months old (he was on a waiting list for 5 months prior). This early intervention included physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy. He also attended Gymboree classes from 3 months old to 8 months old - which really helped with his development.

Some of Scotty's milestones have been achieved at the typical age, a few have been achieved even before his typical peers, but most have been delayed.

Scotty now is very independent. He dresses himself, insists on choosing his own clothes; he gets his own drink (a blend of juice and water which he mixes himself); he gets his snack; and for some of his favorite dishes he can get all the ingredients out of the fridge and into a pot ready for mom to turn on the heat on the stove. He feeds the dogs too, which includes giving them a treat, filling their food dishes with dry food and a little bit of tomato juice and putting fresh water in their water dish. He can also play on his computer on his own, and he knows how to open the windows and put in the CD’s etc. The same goes for his TV and his Nintendo games. He knows which channel the TV has to be on for DVD’s, videotapes, Nintendo 64, Nintendo Cube, etc.

It sure is amazing that someone who has such a challenge with language can figure all these out. But he can do it because he has an awesome memory and an excellent visual learning ability. He won’t understand anything explained to him, but show him how to do something once and he is able to do it on his own.

Scotty is also extremely determined, which has served him well. Unfortunately the flip side of determined is “stubborn” and that hinders him. And most of the time he can outwait anybody. When he doesn’t want to do something its next to impossible to get him to do it. Although as he gets older and understands a little bit more language it gets a little easier to bribe him :).

Scotty participates in Special Olympics with his school. He does bowling during the fall, track and field, and basketball during the spring. He enjoys competing and winning medals. Scotty is definitely an action guy and he prefers to be in movement; he especially enjoys swimming, jumping and running.

Scotty is very social and loves to say hi to people. His favorite person in the world is his best friend Casey, who comes to our house for after-school-day-care. They play together like brothers and fight like brothers also. During school vacations Casey stays with us all day. Casey has been an awsome influence for Scotty, both good and bad. Since Casey started coming Scotty tries harder and harder to talk, and has become more outgoing. Scotty has also influenced Casey (also good and bad) and has Casey doing more physical activities and becoming a little bit more daring. They are great together, and I mean great fun and great trouble as well.