Reassurance

I was contacted yesterday by my local Down Syndrome Support Group and asked if I would be willing to talk to a new mom whose son was just born on Thursday (April 16) with an extra chromosome. The mom is quite upset and would really like to talk with someone who has been there, and can offer her some reassurance.

With tears in my eyes, my reply was YES, OF COURSE, I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO HER!

Why the tears? Because this was me. One one hand it feels like yesterday, and on the other it seems like decades ago. I can so relate to how this new mom feels. Becoming a mother for the first time is an absolutely indescribable experience.

You are meeting this little one who has been blossoming and growing inside you for 9 months, you gaze into their eyes in wonder, what did I do so right to deserve this unbelievable gift?



You hold their tiny hand, thanking God for giving you this miracle.



The emotions and feelings you have are so overwhelming, nothing else on Earth matters except this child in your arms.

When you hear the words Down syndrome when referring to this miraculous little one you don't know how to react, what to feel, what to think, what that means. You feel so alone, helpless, clueless, lost, sad, angry and guilty all at the same time (at least I did).



I have a very strong desire to do everything I can to help new moms with their feelings, whatever they may be. I truly don't want anyone to feel as alone as I did in those first few months after Cameron was born.

Today, I am extremely blessed because I know what it means that your child has an extra chromosome. It means endless hugs, kisses, love, laughter, fun and joy. It means that I will learn, see, and feel things I would never had experienced in this lifetime without that extra chromosome. It means that I now have an extended family who is on this amazing journey in Holland right there with me, both locally and worldwide.

I can't wait to meet her and her beautiful baby boy. Please pray that I am able to give her a glimpse of hope as to how absolutely wonderful her future will be beause of this little miracle and his extra chromosome.

Award

I received this from Cheryl, Ruby's Mom. Thank you so much Cheryl.

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find friends and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships will be propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly- written text into the body of their award.

I am sending this award on to:


Amy at The Fledge Farm
Kristen at Faulkner Family
Kim at Charlie & Calvin's Up To
Brigitte at Van Nice Family Journey
Julie at The Adventures of Cap'n Jack 'n Crew
Emma (CJ) at Little Miss E
Angela (Leah) at Its My Life Mom!
Braska (RK) at Braska Bear

I love reading your blogs, thanks for writing.

Life Is Grand

I won my first bloggy award! Thank you to my friend Karyn at Quinn's Crusaders.

Karyn and I met when her daughter, Quinn, was still blossoming in the womb. Karyn received a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome and was brave enough to come to a Mom's Night Out dinner to meet other moms of children with a little somethin' extra. I offered for Karyn and her family to meet Cameron (I wanted them to see how much more typical he was than not). I'm pretty sure he charmed the pants off of them!


Thank you Karyn, this award means a lot to me.

For The Life is Grand Award I must give five reasons why I think life is grand and then tag five more people.

My Life Is Grand because of:

1. My children. I suffered for years before having my boys, trying one procedure, surgery, medication after another - all unsuccessful. The Lord finally answered our prayers and gave us not one miracle, but two. They mean the World to me and I know that I would be lost and miserable without them.

2. My husband. I am completely blessed to have such a wonderful man in my life. I know that I don't tell him or show him often enough how much he means to me. I would be lost and miserable without him as well.

3. The Lord. I have always believed in and prayed to the Lord. It's been within the last few years that I have really seen what is possible when you put all your faith in Him.

4. My health. I have seen too many people suffer and die too early from cancer. I thank the Lord every day that my family and I are healthy. I will NEVER take this for granted.

5. My family & friends. They love, understand and support me regardless of my faults.

I am now awarding the following:

1. Sunflower Stories
2. Larkin's Place
3. Pocket Lint
4. The Baeten Family
5. Class of 2008

I really enjoy reading your blogs and because of you as well, my life is grand!

Win an iPod Touch

The retail value is $300.00. However, you can win it for FREE and help Bring Jacob Home all at the same time.

My friend, Brigitte, and her family are adopting an adorable little guy from Reeces Rainbow. Adoption is extremely expensive, but with our help we can help them raise enough money to bring Jacob home to his forever family.

So, for every $10 that is donated towards Jacob's adoption, your name is put in for the final drawing for the iPod Touch.

For everyone that donates AND posts about this on their blog, linking back to their fundraiser (please leave Brigitte a comment with the link that you have done so), will get an additional entry.

Or, if you donate AND send an email to 10 of your friends (Brigitte being the 11th) you can get an additional entry.

Brigitte's beautiful daughter, Josie, will be drawing a name on Friday, March 20th at 7:00 p.m. CST so get your donations in before that!!

T21 Traveling Afghan

Chandos (mom of Little Miss E) is making a T21 afghan to travel the world! The afghan travels from one family to another, along with a journal.

Each family, upon receiving the afghan, takes a picture of their family member (with Down syndrome) with the afghan and the picture will be posted on a "T21 Travelling Afghan" page. After having the afghan for bit, the family writes a note in the journal and sends it off to the next family.

Click the button below to find out all the specifics.



Please post about this on your blogs, FaceBook, MySpace, Twitter, etc. with a link back to this page. That way we can spread the the word out as far and wide as possible.

Please stay tuned if you would like to follow the journeys of the Traveling Afghan. I will follow-up with the links to the page so you can see all the adorable pics and read the journal entries - how fun!

Bloggy Makeover

My blog finally has a new look.

I entered to win a bloggy makeover from RK, a/k/a Braska's mom and I WON!! Thank you RK, I really do appreciate it.

This is the second time I won something just by posting a comment on a friend's blog.

The first time I won a copy of Roadmap To Holland which is an absolutely awesome book written by my online, DownSyn, bloggy friend, Jennifer. This wonderful prize was given to me by Deborah - thanks again Deborah, I loved the book and quickly read it and borrowed it on to another mom and promised it to another mom after that.

Happy New Year!

We rang in the new year at our friend's house. Here's a pic of the boys and Cameron's future wife, Taylor. Do you like Cameron's cheesey smile? Me too!

We're going to "The Ball"

What is Kelly's Upside Down Ball? It is a fun night out and 100% of the proceeds go to families who have a child with leukemia and Down syndrome. You know you want to come. Here are all the details.



Can't make it? I hope you find it in your heart to donate to this wonderful cause. Click here to help out so many families who need it.

I will be volunteering at the ball tomorrow night. This year's theme is Country! I am SO not a country girl, but I think I have found cowboy hats for me and Dave to borrow. The boys will be going to the kid's party. It starts at 7pm (Mitchell's bedtime) so we'll see how they do. I've heard it is a great time, I can't wait. (I couldn't make it last year cuz Mitchell was just born).

Wedded Bliss

Our friends, Andy & Erin are getting married today (FINALLY!). They are both such amazing people and we love them dearly. Erin is bubbly, fun, outgoing, and a great listener. Andy is compassionate, funny, outgoing, fun and also a great listener. They both love children so much and I pray that the Lord blesses them with many children when the time is right. I know they are going to make wonderful parents.

I also know that Erin is going to make a beautiful bride and that Andy is going to cry (probably during the entire ceremony). I can't wait to celebrate your new lives together.

Happy Halloween

Here are some pics from last year (maybe later I can upload some from this year).





And here are some from a few years ago.

The Big Game

Our flight leaves tomorrow morning for Tampa. Sunday is the big game.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers v. The Green Bay Packers.



It will be so nice - Flordia's palm trees, beaches and warm weather!

Our friends flew to Florida earlier this week and are going to to the game with us. They will be cheering for the Packers and we will be cheering for the Bucs.

It's a friendly rivalry.



The four of us drove down for a Packer/Buccaneer game back in 2003. Here are the boys building sand castles on the beach.



While us girls basked in the sun/shade.



Aaahh! To get away, even just for a long weekend. I can smell the salt water now.