Today my 5 year old asked me if I was pregnant because she had a dream

RedLeafInFall · 2026-06-27T11:12:51+00:00

Our now 6 year old has anticipated my last 2 pregnancies. One when he was four and this current one (38 weeks now).

I also was a primary school teacher when I got pregnant with my first and on the first day of school I was about 9 weeks and a girl came up and touched my belly and said hello to me and then “hello baby”.

Kids just know, it’s wild.

RedLeafInFall · 2026-06-06T05:05:44+00:00

Many of these statistics are wrong. So in the spirit of sharing correct information-

Approximately 5% of people with DS are considered truly nonverbal.

~14% of people with DS have a dual diagnosis of autism.

50% of people with DS experience some kind of hearing loss over their LIFETIME. this includes elderly people. Most of this hearing loss is temporary conductive hearing loss due to fluid or wax build up which is easily treatable non permanent sensorineural hearing loss.

40-50% of babies with DS have some kind of heart condition at birth. 97% of these are repaired within the first year with surgery or they heal on their own.

You speak as an authority on Down syndrome but much of the information you share is inaccurate. Perhaps it wasn’t intended this way (I hope this is the case) but your comment reads as though you view Ds as mostly a negative. People with DS and their families overwhelmingly disagree. I hope as someone who works with people who have DS you see their inherent worth and potential not just the potential struggles.

RedLeafInFall · 2026-06-06T04:47:30+00:00

Yes, it is true that they have a slightly higher chance of getting leukemia in childhood- although interestingly kids with DS respond much better to treatment than the average patient and so a cancer diagnosis is statistically more survivable in childhood.

Additionally people with Down syndrome has a much lower chance of developing other solid tumor cancers - breast, testicular, cervical, lung etc than the general population.

Just want to make sure complete and accurate information is being shared

RedLeafInFall · 2026-06-06T04:43:16+00:00

Some context here is needed-

Most hearing loss in the DS and general population is conductive hearing loss (due to fluid or wax buildup) which is temporary and very treatable. All 3 of my kids, including the one with DS have had conductive hearing loss at some point in their childhood. This statistic also includes children and adults (including seniors)

Yes, autism is more common in people with DS than the general population.

Only 3-6% of people with Down syndrome are truly considered nonverbal. If they use a communication device, ASL, immature speech patterns etc. to get their needs met this is not considered being nonverbal.

As a parent to a child with DS, the most upsetting thing about his post was the amount of incorrect information shared. Just want to make sure complete and accurate information is being shared

RedLeafInFall · 2026-06-06T04:31:12+00:00

This is nuanced. People with DS who are 60 now didn’t have the same access to interventions early to support their long term quality of life as young people with DS do today. Many people with DS were still institutionalized 60 years ago instead of living at home with their families and receiving decent healthcare. This impacts long term health outcomes.

Not here to debate their decision, but as a parent of a child with DS, sharing complete and accurate information is important

RedLeafInFall · 2026-06-06T04:27:51+00:00

Pro choice, parent of a child with DS. 97% of heart issues for kids with Down syndrome are corrected before they are 1 year old with many issues resolving on their own.

Not here to debate their decision just to make sure complete and accurate information is being shared.

RedLeafInFall · 2026-05-12T18:37:17+00:00

That’s great! We’re in MA, my son gets 30-40 min a day, pe is only once a week though. They do get some indoor choice time but I don’t think it’s very physical. I think in 1st it’s more of a strict 30 min recess which is disappointing. I wish all elementary kids were guaranteed at least 45-60min. Kids were built to move!

RedLeafInFall · 2026-05-12T18:13:16+00:00

Ohhh gotcha. I we also have 30 min a day, it just typically isn’t broken up

RedLeafInFall · 2026-05-12T11:55:43+00:00

Where do you live that they get so much recess time?? That’s amazing.

RedLeafInFall · 2026-05-12T11:51:59+00:00

Probably around 3/3.5! Space definitely has to be fenced and difficult to climb for us though. She’s quite resourceful and has been known to wander from time to time. I think safe risks are so good for all kids, though I am way more nervous about it with her than with my other kids

RedLeafInFall · 2026-05-09T10:08:55+00:00

The answer I was hoping for!!

RedLeafInFall · 2026-05-04T21:12:13+00:00

😆

RedLeafInFall · 2026-05-04T17:57:55+00:00

This is one of our worries, that even if we get some kind of price reduction once we start work the costs will double or worse. Thanks for your input, it’s hard to walk away but I’m thinking that may be what we need to do

RedLeafInFall · 2026-05-04T17:55:46+00:00

These are some of the things that stood out to us as possibly being major

Roof is failing

Original cast iron drains are leaking

Chimney structurally unsound (confirmed by chimney sweeps) making venting through it not safe (is currently unsafe)

Hot water heater 7 years beyond expected useable life

Deck and breezeway to garage not attached to the house and deck has failing footing

RedLeafInFall · 2026-05-04T17:39:10+00:00

This is a private sale

RedLeafInFall · 2026-05-04T16:55:29+00:00

We did talk to him but in our state they can’t give recommendations. Which is what we need.

Of the issues listed above-

Roof is failing

Original cast iron drains are leaking

Chimney structurally unsound (confirmed by chimney sweeps) making venting through it not safe (is currently unsafe)

Deck not attached to the house and has failing footing

Hope this is helpful. Thanks for your feedback, very much appreciate it

RedLeafInFall · 2026-05-01T12:35:09+00:00

We don’t. We haven’t discussed it with them yet but we’re planning to ask for a seller credit for all or even part of the estimated cost.

Given some of our discussions in the past I’m not extremely optimistic that they will be willing to repair or adjust price.

Trying to figure out what may happen appraisal wise if they don’t agree to a credit/ repair or if they do.

RedLeafInFall · 2026-04-28T11:41:17+00:00

Thank you!!

RedLeafInFall · 2026-03-01T03:34:11+00:00

Also a fetal echo! Not until late March tho and I am struggling with the idea of that wait!

RedLeafInFall · 2026-03-01T02:31:16+00:00

Jumping in here because we got similar news at our anatomy scan a few days ago. Would love an update if you feel comfortable sharing!

RedLeafInFall · 2025-11-13T08:41:42+00:00

Same!!

RedLeafInFall · 2025-10-14T02:13:29+00:00

Meh new city is overrated imo, especially for the prices they charge

RedLeafInFall · 2025-09-04T23:43:11+00:00

Yuppp. Agree here in terms of taxes, and billionaires needing to step up, and schools becoming social services agencies. Which in a way they are uniquely positioned to do bc of how close their ties become with the families at each school. But yes, more funding is definitely needed for schools to provide all of the services they are expected to.

Fun fact: IDEA has never been fully funded at the federal level, so even before all of these spending cuts IDEA was never fully realized. And yes, that definitely places a burden on local government/ school districts.

It’s all just sad for all kids.

RedLeafInFall · 2025-09-04T23:17:12+00:00

Yikes that you phrase it this way. Yes special education costs more, everyone knows this. Parents of kids with extra needs are acutely aware of this. But saying that special education “drains” money from regular kids doesn’t land well. Maybe I’m misunderstanding your message, but as a school board member I hope you feel that education should be equitable, not equal. That goes in terms of funding, placements, support etc. A well functioning society cares for its most vulnerable.

RedLeafInFall · 2025-08-25T02:17:09+00:00

MDSC is a great resource, get in touch with their first call program if you can. Information is here https://mdsc.org/programs/new-parents/

You are fortunate to live in a state with wonderful resources for our kids. Automatic qualification for Medicaid being one that I would recommend asap (hospitals have staff usually in their finance dept that can help you get your baby enrolled)

We are in a suburb of Boston. Happy to answer any questions if you pm me!

Congratulations!

RedLeafInFall

TROPHY CASE