Italy is overrated anyway!

For those who wonder what it may be like to raise a child with Down Syndrome.

Here is a little poem.

Welcome to Holland

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It’s just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned." And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Emily Perl Kingsley

and in my opinion... holland is beautiful these days!!!

I don't like labels!

Visiting with someone last night and She said,

"I used to work with special needs kids in a school. I had a few that had Down Syndrome. One was so sweet, and then there was another little girl who was a "more typical" down syndrome child. She was really pushy and didn't listen well."

There was more to the conversation and she wasn't trying to say anything bad... but I couldn't help the growing knot in my gut.

Why do we put labels on people? What is typical anyway?

People with Down Syndrome are just as much individuals as anyone else! They are unique and have different personalities.

Eye Candy!

Oh, the cuteness!!!

That extra chromosome sure has a positive effect!

Every family should be blessed by someone with Down Syndrome!

What's so great about it??

All because of Macy and her Designer Genes, I get to make so many new friends! A handful of these ladies found my blog within days of Macy being born and were such a great support while she was in the hospital. I love having a huge DS family.

Till next time!

(most of their blogs can be found at the bottom right of this page)

I feel stalked!

I still find it strange when someone says, "Oh, I read your blog all the time." I have been hearing it a lot since being in Utah. I love it, don't get me wrong... but if ya don't comment periodically, I assume you don't read my blog :)

When I hear these comments it makes me really think and evaluate what I have written. I hope to give a little giggle here and there, a lot of honesty and some inspiration! I love my kids, and I love my life... but I hope no one gets the impression that it's PERFECT all the time or that we all walk around with big grins on our faces all day.

My husband and I have a good healthy typical marriage where I nag at him to pick up his dirty socks, and he nags at me that we have to eat homemade stew and biscuits for dinner, instead of steak and potatoes. But he's right for me and I'm right for him!

I may call my kids angels and I really think they are. But, trust me. There are moments when I have to S-L-O-W-L-Y count to 10 and remind myself that they are just kids! But they are my world. I would be a nobody without them! Literally! I mean what would I do with my time?

Anyway, this blog is a peephole into our lives and we hope it leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling! Oh, and don't be shy... let us know when you stop by!

We head to Wheeler Farm tomorrow then a play date with some DS friends... then it's off to Aunt Pam's for Caramel Apple dipping and cards!

Guess What?

She's sitting.

Kinda. Sorta.

But I'm taking what I can get!

Doesn't she just look snuggle-able?

Ramblings in my Brain...

I become so overwhelmed with emotion when I see HUGE groups of people, walking, with banners, and T-shirts, and almond eyed little cuties! It just hits me, I feel it and I want to be a part of it! I'm gonna have to talk to the Calgary Down Syndrome Society about that... WE need to be a part of THAT!

My brother-in-law came to Lagoon with us and spent lots of time loving on Macy. He mentioned that people stare at Macy and I think it bothered him. I told him, it's okay... Usually they are curious. Just tell them. She has Down Syndrome, isn't she beautiful!

He had a woman come up to him and say, "I am so glad you are wearing the right hat (U of U)." So then he asked... is it like that with Down Syndrome too? If you see another person with Down Syndrome, do you say something? OF COURSE YOU DO! We are in the same club! We get each other... We want them to know that we've been touched by THE LOVE BUG too! That we now see the world like they do, too! That we are another one of the blessed :)

My dad works at the Utah State Developmental Center and has for many years. So I have always been around people with disabilities. So I asked my dad if he has told anyone at work about Macy. He said No. He is worried about what they will think. So I said, "Dad, you have to say it like this... Guess what? We are so lucky, our granddaughter has Down Syndrome!"

and last thought lately...
a few years ago I heard about a couple in Texas that had a child with Down Syndrome and I was told the father said, "I am so glad that Heavenly Father put this baby into our family, because we LOVE it." I remember at the time being so touched and thinking... I hope I get the chance one day to say something as beautiful as that! I hope I get to do something big! Well, I got that chance :) and I am loving it!

Lagoon

Such a fun day.

I am obviously getting OLD.

All the big rides make me feel like I am going to have a heart attack!

By the end of the day we were all a little TIRED.

Major Lovin'

Spent our day at Lagoon Amusement park

I love seeing joyful smiles on my kids faces.

Tommy is my daredevil. He likes that he can go on every ride and his favorites are the most dangerous kind! The more upside down, fast and high... the better! He is so fun to ride with!

Kyla on the other hand prefers to keep her feet on the ground. Her favorite was driving the little cars around the track. Man she looks so cute doing it too! She is so proud of herself after (jumping up and down saying, "Mommy, I did it!")

And Macy, well... she obviously draws so much attention with her big blue eyes and adorable smile! I'm not sure what percentage of people know that she has Down Syndrome just from looking at her, but I don't care if they stare or comment or ask... I'm just proud to be her momma and I know they stare cause she is so dang CUTE!

Busy Busy

Too busy loving and snuggling on my Down Syndrome Child to write much.

Because snuggling her is so irresistible!

Oh, and I went to Odyssey Dance Theatre's Thriller tonight!

Click here to see.

Can I say LOVE? I LOVE IT!

Reminds me of when I danced with them at Rocky Point Haunted House in 2000.

Also reminds me of when dance was my LIFE! It was a fun time!

Cry

Sometimes it's not about being strong. Sometimes it's about letting the tears flow!

I don't cry because I am sad.

I don't cry because I think it is unfair.

I don't cry because it is hard.

I cry because Macy and all her DS friends all over the world give us a little glimpse of heaven on earth! I cry because Heavenly Father thought I was good enough to be a part of it! I cry because it is sometimes overwhelming to feel that amount of love coming from one little child!

It's a just amazing and overwhelming and I feel so so so lucky and blessed!

Thankful that HE knows what I really need!

I praise Thee...

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made!!

Psalm 139:14

Feeding the Ducks

There is a great park 5 min from my childhood home that we love. We went on Sunday and fed the ducks with my sister and her kids.

We look forward to tonight, when we get to meet some Down Syndrome blog friends that we've known since Macy was in the hospital! We can't wait!

Adventures

It is becoming quite hard to keep up with the 31 days of blogging for Trisomy 21 while I am on vacation!

But, I will say this. Many moms who get the diagnosis of their child having Down Syndrome are worried about them not be a "cute" baby or a "pretty" child. But Macy gets just as many compliments from strangers as my other two got! And I think all three of them are equally beautiful!

So I found the COOLEST store today. Oh man, I could go bankrupt in there quite easily! SO CUTE. It has a kind of Anthropology feel, but more boutique like and there stuff comes from New York, LA and the likes. GO HERE TO SEE THEIR BLOG! I only bought one shirt. I am being a good wife! But, I make no promises that I wont go back for more... ha ha ha.

Tommy flew in today and as usual, brought a breath of fresh air with him! I love my Tommy! and let me tell ya... So does Kyla! Yes she does!

Made some adorable silk and organza flower clips for the girls today, ended my day at Cheesecake Factory (poor me, right!) and then got the shock of my life. I heard kids gap had 40% off, I've been meaning to go get Macy some new skinny jeans. HOLY NIGHTMARE! I know it is Halloween, but really people. The lines, the piles of clothes everywhere (even on the floor) and the frantic grabbing of the last available ruffle skirt. I could have grabbed some popcorn, pulled up a chair, and been entertained for the night! Instead... I grabbed the closest pair of skinny's, waited and bounced the babe as the line slowly dwindled and then hightailed it out of there without so much as a claw mark!

Wonder what tomorrow will bring?

I only wish!

That's Right... I only wish I had as many fans and I got as many kisses as Macy does...

Down Syndrome is a disadvantage you say???

I'm starting to think it is an ADVANTAGE!

We are having so much fun in Utah!

Fed some ducks today, and had a huge neighborhood bonfire tonight. Doing lots of laughing, tons of catching up, and taking time to enjoy life!

Markers... Awareness Day 9

After my long drive, this is going to be short and sweet!

When Macy was born and I thought she had Down Syndrome, the genetic doctor came and looked her over. He looked for some very specific things that many Down Syndrome Kids have. They don't have to have them all to still have Down Syndrome.

Macy has the rounded face, almond shaped eyes, epicanthic fold, shorter limbs, small pinky fingers, low muscle tone, a space between her big and second toe... and of course the charming personality!!!

Look Alike

Didn't you always want your very own real Cabbage Patch Doll?

We Are!

We are more alike than Different!!!

What's it all about?

It's not about our bad qualities... It's about our good qualities!

It's not about what we didn't accomplish... but what we DID accomplish!

It's not about our disabilities...but it is about our abilities!!

We were all created in the image of God!

Be Aware and CARE!!!

No big deal!

Every so often, all the stress of being a mother, comes to a head. Then I have a crying fit... usually expressed to my friend Christy but today it landed on my mom. I apologize mom if I freak you out with my "worry" Problems... but you help me see the light so well!

So here is the purpose of today's Down Syndrome Awareness Post.

Macy having Down Syndrome is NOT on my list of worries.

Yes I get consumed in her slow progress and such, but the fact that she has Down Syndrome is literally no big deal to me.

I have a close friend who's son was diagnosed with SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) at 1 1/2 yrs old. This was before I had Macy. At the time I told her that there are so many WORSE things that can happen to your child. I think I actually said, "Would you rather your child have a disability or end up addicted to drugs?" After having my own child with special needs, I feel the same way! Your child is your child... no matter what body Heavenly Father placed them in.

What matters is,

How are you going to deal with it?

What are you going to learn from it?

and how are you going to become better from it?

All my kids are special, they are all equal, they each have their own challenges.

And I can meet those challenges head on!!!

High Functioning V's Low Functioning... Awareness day 4

Many people say to me... "Well, she will probably be a high functioning person with Down Syndrome."

What determines a persons ability, expecially if they start out life with special circumstances?

Same as with everyone else... Health, Education, Opportunities, Love, Support, Attention etc...

"Quality educational programs, a stimulating home environment, good health care, and positive support from family, friends and the community enable people with Down syndrome to develop their full potential and lead fulfilling lives" -NDSS

That is why at 8 months old... Macy has so many doctors appts, therapy sessions, swim class, and school.

So here was some of today's Stimulation! A walk with Kyla.

What is Down Syndrome- Awareness day 3

She is Macy.

She is a girl. She is a Child of God. She is unique. She is special. She is loved.
She is my daughter and she has Down Syndrome!

But don't we all have something?

DS awareness... Day2

Fall is in the air... and I love the fall!! It's my favorite time of year :)

and with fall comes football season

and a chance for one boy with Down Syndrome to enjoy a moment of glory!! Go Ike!!

Do you know what today is??

Today is the first day of October, and October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month!!!


So lets kick it off with the 5k run I've been working toward!


If you know me, you know I am a terrible runner and I hate it. But an Apostle from our Church once said... "If you don't do something that makes you uncomfortable every day, than you need to start over!" I don't remember who actually said it and it probably didn't go exactly like that, but you get it!

So I am doing something REALLY uncomfortable for me today. To feel more alive, to feel more accomplished and just to know that I CAN DO IT!



So I want all of you to do something you may be uncomfortable with... take some time this month to become more AWARE of Down Syndrome. It's not scary, it's just an extra chromosome! We have come a long way in our thinking, but there is still more to learn! Here are some great places to start!


Canadian Down Syndrome Society


Calgary Down Syndrome Association


Reeces Rainbow - DS Adoption Ministry


Or scroll to the bottom left of this page and enjoy looking at the wonderful blogs of DS mommies!!