October is...National Down syndrome Awareness Month

And you can help me!

What can you do? Well, this is what I would like you to do...

I would like you to actually add a comment. Now, I am well aware that maybe NOBODY ever reads our blog, but I like to think at least there are a few.

What should I comment about?

I would like you to ask anything you want about Down syndrome.
What is it?
Is it contagious?
What causes it?
What is life like...
What has been...
Did you think...
I have wondered if...
Would you ever...
Does Nichole...
I feel like...

You get the idea.

Now, please, please, please know that there are no stupid questions or comments, because chances are, if you are thinking that, someone else might too. It is Down syndrome awareness month, so what a better time to ask or share something about these wonderful works of art (aka, people with Down syndrome)

If there is something posted that has already been asked that you were wondering too, or something that has already been shared. Please ask again, and share again, that way I have a better idea of what people are really thinking (and I will know who reads our blog hehehe.)

God has entrusted us with Nichole's life, and I want to share with everyone the blessing that she is. I am aware that there are many misconceptions out there (I use to have many of those) and I love being able to share with others the truths that we have discovered as we travel down this road.

Thanks for your comments, and keep 'em coming!

Ellie's 3rd Birthday

I will slowly but surely catch up with all that has happened in the last few months.

Ellie's Birthday.
We celebrated on the actual day by going to the grocery store to get donuts, Ellie's choice for breakfast. That weekend, my mom and sister came for her birthday party, and so did the Frys. Ellie was so excited to see her grandma Chachi, Lucha, and cousin Mikayla.
There are lots of pictures! Hope you enjoy them :)Once Ellie saw the decorated cookie, she chose it instead of a donut. But what did she eat? Only the frosting!

Ellie and Mikayla play so well. Most of the time at home they were princesses. It was so cute.

Ellie's party was at the park. she wanted to wear her princess dress. The only way to convince her not to weear it, was if she could wear her butterfly wings. No problem!

We had a piñata. Kids loved it.

Isabelle is so cute, and so sweet.

Ellie and Mikayla sat on their own to eat their candy.

This is about as decorated as it got. I love how my friend Kristin is hiding behind the balloons.

At home we opened presents. Ellie of course was so excited.

A Preschooler!

First day of preschool.

That is right. We have a big preschooler!
Ellie has done so well. I had a parent/teacher conference and both teachers said that even though Ellie is the second youngest, she is doing awesome. They mentioned she is learning all her friends names, she loves to play pretend, and participates intently and enthusiastically in all activities. They also mentioned she is great at listening and following rules, and...making sure everybody else does too. I guess she likes to remind her friends what they are supposed to be doing :)

Our beautiful princesses

Finally I am able to post some pictures from this last summer. Our girls continue to grow and they are as beautiful as can be :)

Nichole is getting so close to crawling! She can get on all fours (occasionally) but mostly she does this backward crawl. So instead of going forward, she goes backwards and sometimes she gets so frustarted. I don't blame her, so eventually she resorts to her rolling and rolling until she gets to where she wants to.

Isn't she deliciously chubby?

Ellie is so much fun. We truly delight in her. She has an amazing imagination and she plays pretend all day long. She can be a princess or a butterfly.

Ellie at three years old still sucks on her fingers, and Nichole makes funny faces :)

Long Time

I have not posted for a very long time. It has been a crazy, busy, tiring couple of months and we are looking forward to getting back in a routine. Sadly, we do not have Internet at home right now, so I am not able to post pictures.
What has been happening so far?
Well, after two visits to Mayo, we are happy to say that Nichole has typical baby Reflux, and nothing more. We had been a little concerned because we know that sometimes children with Down syndrome can have GI problems. She will be taking some meds for a couple of months and then we will see if her "spitting up" is getting better.
Ellie is three years old now. She is a DRAMA QUEEN. She goes to preschool. She loves it, absolutely loves it!
Andy is starting seminary is just a few weeks, he is very excited. The other day he picked up an ancient looking book about Church History and was fascinated by it (yes, he was fascinated!). I get excited over fiction stories, not books printed in the 1800 years. He is definitely ready to do more studying.
I am excited to not be the MOPS Coordinator this year, instead, I get to plan our Creative Activities (just a fancy word for crafts).
Us in a few sentences. Soon we will have Internet at home, it is kind of a must when you have to go to seminary :) I will post vacation pictures, birthday pictures, family pictures, and post highlights of our "absent" time.

Sisters

I love watching Ellie playing with Nichole. She is so sweet. Sometimes she is overwhelming, but only because she wants to give more hugs and more kisses. She simply wants to love on her baby sister, and that is how she knows to do it. I would say that Nichole, is also learning to show her affection that way, as her little hands grab your face as tight as she can and she pulls you into a big open mouth kiss. Wet! But so precious.

I decided I am going to be very honest. After all, this is what has been on my heart lately.

What has been the hardest thing for me with Nichole having Down syndrome? The letting go of my dream of having two little girls so close in age. I pictures two little Ellies, wearing ballerina outfits and playing dollies. Family vacation as the two best friends giggle in their tent, telling stories and sharing dreams. Having a shared circle of friends as they grow up. Maybe shopping trips together or hanging out in the house as they do their nails.

All these things they will be able to do, regardless of Nichole having Down syndrome, but I know, that it will be different. Different from my dreams. (Again my... selfishness again?)

I watched a movie the other day where they said that "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your dreams." How true. Not only that, but I know my dreams are so small in comparison of what He has, for me, for my husband, and for my girls. Maybe at some point I was sad for Ellie, sad that she would not have a typical sister. maybe I was sad for Nichole, sad that she would have a sister that would be embarrassed about her. But who am I to know, what is best for my daughters. But God knows, and He knows exactly, what each one of us needs.

I have thought a lot about this lately, as I watch the world either receive Nichole or ignore her, maybe pity her for not being "normal". You see, Ellie will never have to worry about that, she will always be received. As a Christian you might say, we all face some rejection, but that is not what I am talking about. I am talking about the simple fact, that some people only see Down syndrome, and not Nichole.

What will this do to their relationship? What about my dream? But God is good. Matthew 7:11 tells us that He gives us good gifts, because he is our loving Father.

God, in His faithfulness, has also given me new dreams. Dreams where I know that Ellie will be able to be as free as she can be in play with her sister. That Ellie will always know that Nichole will love her and think she is the greatest regardless of what anyone else thinks. That Nichole will see Ellie for who she is in God's eyes, and not who she is in the world's eyes, and Ellie will know it. That when Ellie is sad, or heartbroken, or tired, she will be able to come to her sister, and let out her emotion sand feelings like she would never be able to with anyone else in the world. That Ellie will know that there is nothing like her sister's embrace, and maybe, just maybe, those will be hugs straight from God. They will giggle together, play together, and go shopping together. It might be different that what I envisioned, but the new dreams are so much richer, and so much deeper.

So as I mourn a loss, I rejoice in what lays ahead. All the wonderful experiences that I will see my daughters share, and the bond that they will have simply because Nichole sports and extra chromosome. Who Ellie will become because of her sister, and who Nichole will become because of Ellie. God knows that they are perfect for each other, that they are perfect sisters. And that is good enough for me.

Ellie loves to climb into Nichole's crib and cuddle with her. Nichole loves it too!

Ellie Belly

Ellie lined up all her bears and sat down next to them. Then she asked to have her picture taken with her "friends." It was so cute!
I also took some pictures of Ellie on our loooong trip to Wyoming. Most of them she is making silly faces, but I actually caught a few where she is simply beautiful and sweet.

I love her eyes and her expressions.

She is however, very silly. It is hard not to crush her excitement at times, like when it is time to go to bed and we need to stop. Sigh. I suppose she is too much like her mother :)I cherish the times when she still wants to cuddle and be mommy's little girl.