"R" Word Campaign

Spread the Word to End the Word.

The only "R" word people with intellectual disabilities deserve is...RESPECT!

Spread the Word to End the Word

Today, March 31 2009 is Global: Spread the Word to End the Word day.

We can all make a difference, spread the word!
This is a video of a young man that is willing to speak up and make a difference.

Just Pics

I have not updated for a while, it has been so busy, so I am just sharing some pics of the girls.

Ellie fell on her slide and busted her lip. She cried a lot and mom almost over reacted. Good thing daddy was around. She proudly displayed her owie and moved on with life no problem. She does have a scar now though and I wonder if it will be there to stay.

One of Nichole's favorite activities is to eat. We get great pictures of her when she is eating or just ate. She was really tired, but I just love all her expressions.

Answering Your Questions

This is the first question I have received, it is from Ann.

"My daughter is 14 months old and in that short time, I have met so many wonderful people who have offered advice. These encounters happen on vacation and in different towns, upon seeing another child with down syndrome we introduce ourselves. Every person I have met has given one concise great "tip" that was most meaningful to them in caring for their children. Topics include massage, discipline, education... perhaps it is because it is just the passing of "strangers" (although really friends in this journey) there has only been time for one piece of advice. If you were to give one piece of advice, what would it be?"

Do not compare your child with Down syndrome to any other children. Not to other typical children, and not to other children with Down syndrome.

I find myself walking into situations where I unconsciously allow myself to start going down that road. For example, I walk into a room where one of my friends is playing with her baby. Her baby is standing holding on to her moms leg at 11 months, while Nichole at 17 months has just started to consider trying.

As soon as I feel myself cringe inside I stop and remind myself of the most important thing there is to know when it comes to BOTH my daughters. My children are not my children, they belong to God, they are His, and He has entrusted me with their lives. They are daughters of the King, and He made them fearfully and wonderfully. Both of them, are a work of art of the Creator, a masterpiece. Perfect, and created just like they were intended to be. God does not make mistakes.

Then I ask myself some questions.
Do I wish Nichole was different? Typical? No
Do I recent the fact that her development is delayed? No
Does it really matter when she starts to walk? No
Have I enjoyed her more than I though I ever could because she has taken longer to move through stages of development? Yes
Has she taught me more in her lifetime than anyone else has taught me in mine? Yes
Does she inspire love in people? Yes
Has she shown us more about what pure love, kindness, gentleness, joy, patience are? Yes
Has she taught us about what really matters in life? Yes
Am I a different person because of her? Because of what others might see as a disability? Yes
Does she allow me to see shades of color that I never knew were possible? Yes
Is she God's hands in my life? Many times she has been

It would not be fair for me to compare Nichole to anyone else. She will do things in her own time. And it is perfectly fine!

The same way, it would not be fair for me to compare my oldest daughter with anyone else either. She is perfect the way she is too.

The new R-word is Respect

March 31 is the Global End the R-word Day.

I love this video!

Watch what I can do now!

Just when it seems like Nichole is not doing anything new, she surprises us!
It is so exciting! Again, the joy and pride we feel over her accomplishments is not easily described. It is pure celebration and continued cheers.
So watch Nichole pulling herself to a standing position!
These small milestones are so meaningful, so rich. It is again, one of those times where we are learning not only to be patient, but that the wait is well worth it!

Ask a Question

It is my desire to help other people to see the beauty of Down syndrome.

I want to have a place where people feel comfortable asking any questions that they have, about Down syndrome, or about life.

From prenatal testing, to day to day life, to therapies, to chromosomes, to marriage, to parenting...anything.

So if you have a question, just ask. There are no silly questions, I want to share with you what we have learned and discovered in our journey, and hopefully, you can learn and discover too.

Just leave a comment and I will answer as soon as possible.