Here is an introduction to our family

Rocky and Kathy - We are Amanda, Angela and Rocky's parents. We live in Warren, Mi. We have been married for 13 years. Life with three angels can be hectic but we manage to survive. We would love to say we do it alone, but we don't. We have been blessed with wonderful people in our lives. Our children are:

Amanda- Amanda is 16 and full of energy! She can walk, she communicates through sign language, gestures, and sight words, and she is very happy and sociable. She loves to be the center of attention.

Angela is 10! She is also very sociable and pretty laid back for a child with Angelman Syndrome, not much hyperactivity here! She sleeps very well and attends a wonderful school that teaches her activities of daily living. Angie walks independently and uses a few signs and gestures to communicate. She is very independent and likes to do as much as she can by herself.

Rocky is 7 and a very happy and lovable little guy. Children with Angelman Syndrome are known to be happy people, but Rocky had a problem with severe acid reflux since birth and he wasn't very happy. He has been put on Prevacid which really seems to work and this resolved his unhappiness. He also can walk and communicates primarily through pictures. He does do some signs such as finished, and drink.

An introduction to the wonderful people who are in our lives

Marie Lucas - this is the kids maternal grandma. She loves her grandchildren and just absorbs all the hugs and kisses she gets from them,,, and believe me, there is no shortage of love around here!  She provides us some much needed respite on a regular basis.

Sheri - Sheri is one of our care providers we have for our children. She mainly works with Angie but  loves all the kids and will take care of who ever we need her to for the day. She has been very successful at our house implementing Angie sitting on the toilet in the bathroom, without her, i am not sure Angie would ever have been potty trained! She has worked with the kids for four years now.

Nadia- She has been with our family since August of 2007 and she fits in well. Nadia excels in redirecting Mandy, which can be a task in itself! She has a lot of patience for Mandy's behaviors. She has been a Godsend to take Mandy to school for us in the mornings, since Mandy decided last year she no longer needed to ride the bus and won't get on it!

Asya- Asya has been with us for two years now. She is a whiz at Mandy's non verbal communication, which can be hard to pick up on, with her it was 2nd nature since the beginning. She is on maternity leave right now and we hope she comes back soon!

 Candice - She has been with our family for five years. On our You Tube page she is the one in Rocky's "break video". She is very patient with the kids and has done wonders for Rocky's behaviors. She designed and implemented Rocky's Communication book with this pictures. This is the avenue of communication Rocky has chosen and has greatly reduced his undesirable behaviors.

Amanda - Amanda is mainly Mandy's care provider but does work with Angie and Rocky when we need her to. She is the one who implemented Mandy's use of sight words on the kids You Tube page. She has been a member of our family for 3 years now, and mainly works weekends, but when she is home from college she works more.

Ashley- Ashley works with Angie, Mandy and sometimes Rocky.

 

So, when people ask how we *do it* with all three kids that have AS, you have just learned how. It truly is a team effort! Although this started as a *job* for most of our care providers, they have really become part of our family and are truly irreplaceable!

 

 

 

 

 

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