I run for Hudson

We run for HUDSON!

I’ve always been a fairly active individual. I used to run for myself – for my health, to clear my head, to listen to great music, to greet the day with exercise, to feel my heart beating. It wasn’t until Hudson was born that I chose to run for someone...
LMNOP Family Hangout

Lessons From Home

I’m learning many things during the shutdown/quarantine, but one of the biggest pulls I didn’t expect was the ache due to missing our time at the playhouse. We’ve been going to GiGis Playhouse Deerfield since Conner was like, 2 weeks old. Fast forward a year and we haven’t seen our...
LMNOP group small

Why Do We Use Two Handed Movement at LMNOP?

Children with Down syndrome often have a tendency to use one hand or the other in play, versus using both hands together. For example, they might use one hand to try to put a puzzle piece in a form board, without using the other hand to stabilize the form board....
Kayleigh tummy time

Movin’ On Up! Tips and Tools for Pre-Walkers

Movin’ On Up One of the main goals in development is to move up against gravity from floor activities such as rolling, crawling and sitting to become a stander and walker. This includes going from belly to hands and knees, getting to a support to pull up to kneeling, and...

Mom, I love GiGi’s – I feel like I belong!

Less than 40 years ago, the majority of people born with Down syndrome in the United States were placed in institutions. Professionals considered it impossible for people with Down syndrome to speak or walk properly, let alone read and write. It was assumed they most likely could not dress, feed...
Conner scarf low res

Conner’s Story

We have a little boy, his name is Conner and he was born March 15th, 2019. We had a birth diagnosis which sent us into a million directions, both mentally and emotionally. We were fortunate enough to meet Jill Rabin at the hospital. She was just so excited. If any...
Ernie

You Are Exactly Where You Are Meant To Be *2019 Recap*

When you first walk into the playhouse you are greeted with a beautiful mural sharing words of encouragement, empowerment, and hope. In the center of the mural is the quote "you are exactly where you are meant to be." After two years of hard work and dedication, raising the funds...
Foggy Road low res

GiGi’s Helps You Navigate the Detours…

Yesterday, I went to check my phone to track my twenty one year old daughter's location as she headed back to college early in the morning. To my surprise, she had left the security of the state highway and was on a two-lane rural highway on a terribly foggy morning....
Kayleigh tummy time

TUMMY TIME – Let’s learn to love it

Tummy Time...so important and yet so many parents feel it is a major challenge for their little one. The start of my physical therapy evaluation for an infant includes a question about tummy time tolerance.  So often the response is, “well, we are trying, but they hate it”. So many...
Owen and Finn

In The Eyes of a Super Sibling https://gigisplayhouse.org/deerfield/2019/10/28/in-the-eyes-of-a-super-sibling-part-two/Part Two!

Finn is lucky enough to not only have an amazing big sister (check out her blog here: https://gigisplayhouse.org/deerfield/2019/10/16/in-the-eyes-of-a-super-sibling/) but two awesome older brothers too! The blog below was written by his oldest brother, Owen! People often look up to great leaders, great historical figures, or great sports players; I look...
Hannah and Finn 2 lower res

In the eyes of a super sibling…

Four years ago I was pumped to learn I would have another baby brother. Our whole family was looking forward to his arrival. We would talk about “Floyd” constantly as my mom mentioned in an earlier post. This was the name we referenced the baby with, but not his actual...
Happy Gabby Super Super low res

What can YOU do for DSAM?

October is our time to rise and shine! While we get to celebrate and shout the worth of our friends and family members all year long, October is a great opportunity to get our communities involved too! Down Syndrome Awareness Month has always been our chance to teach people about...