Isn't She Talking Yet? - Times Online - WBLG

Blog star number 12

This is Liam Lowe. Thanks to his mum, Marion, for sending the picture in. She said: "This is Liam (11) who has partial sight and complex neurological disabilities.  He was a 1lb 8oz baby and not expected to walk, talk or achieve; thankfully nobody told Liam.  He enjoys Special Olympics, is a science nut and has just discovered that he can learn French online!".

And number 11...

This is Shay, who's three and has a rare metabolic disorder called Biotinidase Deficiency; he was diagnosed with autism earlier this year. Thanks to his mum, Claire, for sending this in.

I really love these pictures, but there's a backlog - apologies if you're waiting for yours to go up. Soon, soon...

Blog star number 10

This is Logan Laverty, who is three and is severely autistic, with global developmental delay and hypotonia - 'and is one of the most beautiful children I've known, inside and out,' says his mother Lynne.

Sorry about the lack of posts in the past week or so. I am completely un-ready for Christmas and running around like a headless chicken.

Ahem. Moving swftly on:

This little poppet is Constanze Smith, who has Down's syndrome and absolutely amazing eyes. Thanks to Sharon, her mum, for sending this in.

Happy Thanksgiving, by the way, if you're reading this from the US.

Blog star number 8

This really sweet child is Amelie Barker, who is three and has Down's. Thanks to her mum, Katharina, for sending this in - a treat for the eyes on a gloomy Monday afternoon. I'm controlling myself and trying not to make any bee-autiful style comments (though she is, Katharina - I bet you're very proud).

... and number 7

This is Sam Thresher, who is nearly three and who is autistic. I hesitate to use the word "dishy" about a toddler, but he is mightily handsome. Thanks to his mother, Katharine, for sending this in.

I'm posting tons of pictures and not many words because Nell has the usual winter-time coldy thing and keeps waking up in the night because of incessant coughing - hence not much sleep and brain slightly frazzled. My major, and deeply thrilling, news, is that on Monday she clearly and intelligibly said 'NO MORE'  apropos some fish fingers. She segued seamlessly into 'MORE HONEY' at breakfast yesterday. Given that she technically can't talk, this is unimaginably exciting. She's also working on saying 'Daddy's car', except without the Ds (palate issues = no hard consonants). So that's pretty cool. My love for Great Ormond Street's speech therapy department - passionate and devoted at the best of times - has hit stratospheric new heights. Who knows - she might yet turn into Kierkegaard (?? I think), who was completely mute until he was five, and then suddenly announced, 'Mother, I would prefer my potatoes mashed in future, please.'

Blog stars number 5 and 6

Thanks to Francesca Lambert for sending me pictures of her chipper-looking twins Eric and Joe, who are five and have Down's. Eric is on the bottom and Joe on the top. Please keep these pictures coming - I really love receiving them.

Blog star number 4

This little poppet is Sophie Robson, aged 8, hanging out with Winnie the Pooh at Disneyland Paris last summer. Sophie has Down's. Thanks to her mum Sue for sending this in.

Blog star no.3

This really sweet and lovely baby is Alannah O'Malley, who is six months old today. Alannah has Tetralogy of Fallot and, like my own daughter,  DiGeorge syndrome. Thanks very much to Rosie for sending her picture in.

Blog star number 2:

This handsome and very chipper-looking fellow is Harry Cahill, who is 10, enjoying the delights of Regents Park last summer. Thanks to his mum Margaret for sending this in (Margaret: drop me a line next time you're headed for that particular park, which is my local, and I'll come and buy you a coffee and a sausage sandwich from the v good caff). Harry has Down's.

I really like these pictures. Please keep sending them in.