Benjamin laughs his machine-gun sputter as Dana sings the lullaby he has recently decided is funny. He laughs as Shawn swings him through the air. He grins when he gives you five. He is the picture of delight as he flips the pages of his peek-a-boo books. He loves playing catch with Grandma.
He takes off in his army crawl to get to his musical toys. He carefully studies his train that plays a tune as it moves three balls up and down. He sits in the splits and leans forward, swinging his legs back as his face touches the floor. He reaches and grabs the object of his interest, pushing himself back up into a sitting position.
He loves to eat, eagerly anticipating each spoonful and picking up anything spilled on his high chair tray. He is angry when mealtime is over but eventually accepts his cup of diluted juice. His favorite, though, is soymilk with chocolate Reliv (a powdered nutritional supplement).
He hates being restrained for doctor examinations and does not wake gracefully from anesthesia: cry, scream, thrash, cry some more. Eventually he quiets down and cries the last bloody tear from his surgery on his left eye. Leaving the hospital makes him happy.
Benjamin is blessed by having wonderful parents, though he does not always appreciate the important training and discipline that are critical for any child, and especially a child with Down Syndrome: his extra chromosome not only encourages a sheer joy in being but also a stubborn resistance to change. Fortunately for him, his parents persevere, and this grandma is gradually learning to be firm when firmness is needed. But she still is a very soft touch, and he still has her wrapped around his little finger.
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