4 of 5 and the Giraffe

I have never believed that 4 of 5 wouldn't do anything. I have always known that she was capable of anything. Sometimes I find myself disappointed, or confused at her not getting a certain concept, and have to remind myself that she has Down Syndrome. I put off potty training until she was 3, because people told me she couldn't and wouldn't until she was at least 5. And even then, It was going to be such a trial. We didn't put off self feeding, she was eating Cheerios like every other kid at 6-8 months, and sitting at the table with us in a booster seat using a fork at 18 months. Because I expected nothing less from her, I knew she was capable and could if we didn't stand in her way.
She still doesn't understand the why of things. Besides "mom said no" Like Why she can't sit on her sister. Why she can't drink/eat downstairs, or anywhere except the kitchen. And she tries for a new reaction about 3 times a day. She does understand why she can't touch something hot, and why we wear a coat when it's cold. Which leads me to believe that the effect has to be immediate and something that she will remember, and most of the time be unpleasant enough for her to understand it shouldn't be done, or pleasant enough to get her to do it again. We taught her that she had to sit in her car seat by offering her an m&m every time she got buckled. She fought and fought the car seat.
Now on to the giraffe. Last night I got home from YW 's and husband says " I asked her if she knew where her giraffe was, and she said yes, and I asked her if she would go get it, and she took off for 3 minutes and came back with it". Apparently he was pretty amazed at her ability to comprehend his instructions. I guess because I am the one that sees her all day, He doesn't get the daily moments where she gets it or tells use she wants yogurt for breakfast, using words. Or asks for paper. My favorite is when she calls 2 of 5 Debbie, because she can't say his name. Or 3 of 5 is MAM. She amazes me. I wish that the dr.s and geneticists would let a mom come in when they give a new diagnosis, so we can tell them all the things our kids can do.