Happy World Down Syndrome Day!!!

I have a child with Down syndome!!! There was a day about 2 ½ years ago that this comment made me sick to my stomach. We had just found out that the baby I was carrying definitely had Down syndrome. All of us who have a child with Ds remember those “dark days” very well. Whether it be before the child was born or after. But now, that comment, “I have a child with Down syndrome” is said with pride. And I know that each of us all would agree on that as well. There is something so special about these children of ours that now we truly wish that everyone could be able to experience having a child with Ds. We don’t feel like we were punished by God….we feel we were blessed!!! I know that people who don’t walk in our shoes probably think we just say that to make ourselves feel better……but we know better. Sometimes it does feel like an exclusive club “That we never knew we wanted to be a part of, until we were”. Yes, there are and will always be some challenges along the way….but our little ones are more than worth it. A quote I heard a few months ago that I feels applies to so many aspects in life, but especially this part is “Life isn’t the way it is suppose to be. It’s the way it is. It’s how you cope with it that makes all the difference”.


WE LOVE YOU ELLA GRACE!!!

Guess Where We Went.....Again!!!

Yes..you guessed it. Disneyland!!! The kids had a day off school last week due to a work reduction day for the teachers and since we have passes now, we decided to spend the day there.

Here is what I learned....Ella is my first child to be scared to death of the characters!! Can you see the fear in her face? (Never mind that these are HORRIBLE pictures of me).

I also learned that now that the other kids are older, it is very hard to get pictures of them because they are always in a line waiting for a ride. So, once again, all of my pictures are of Ella hanging around while the kids go on rides. She had quite a good time exploring in planters and such.

That is....until she just couldn't hang anymore and had to take her nap. Poor thing, just fell asleep sitting up in her stroller. Another way she is different from my other two kids. They would NEVER fall asleep anywhere but their bed or the carseat. Guess they were always worried that they would miss something. Ella rarely does either but this time she just couldn't hang on any longer.

Mommy was nice enough to lay her down and she actually stayed asleep...I was shocked!!

Hanging out on the motorcycle in the arcade. Lacey, please notice the Baby Legs under the outfit....thanks for the great idea!!

And driving a car!!

Look....one of the older kids!!! Emma and her friend Shelby.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Video By Abbey

This is a video that Abbey took of Ella the other day and she begged me to post it for her. Ella is standing at the dining room window looking out in to the backyard and watching Emma shoot baskets. I think it is hilarious how she keeps yelling at Emma trying to get her attention. (You gotta love the butt shot too :)

Waiting Room Smiles

How special is it to have a child with Down syndrome? Well, the other day, I realized…..it’s a lot special!! It really is the simple things. When I had Ella at the lab to get her monthly blood draw the other day, of course there was a room full of people in the waiting room. No one wants to be there, but they are. So what does Ella do, she makes it a point to make eye contact with each person and then says “hi” while waving. Instant smiles from each person. I know it’s not much, but I consider it just a little sunshine in their day. Of course then I take her back to get her blood drawn in which she proceeds to scream while they do it. Then as we walk out of the office through the waiting room, she gets all of these sympathy smiles and comments. Personally, I think she makes friends so that she can be soothed later.

Then later that day, I had to go to the doctor for that dreaded yearly exam. My sister came with and was sitting in the lobby with Ella. She told me that at one point, there was an elderly “grumpy” man who sat down near them. Then Ella does what she does best….she says “hi” with a little wave and next thing you know, the man lights up and starts talking away to her. Who knows what sadness, fear or anger may have been in that man’s heart at the time but Ella knew just how to make him forget it for a little while. I am just in constant awe of the little Blessing that she is!!!

Zoey's Birthday

****WARNING....Picture Overload*****

Yesterday, we went to Miss Zoey's 3rd birthday party. Let me tell you, it was well worth the 2 hour + drive!!! Being in that room, I instantly realized the huge amount of people that Zoey and her family have touched. There were Ds people, cancer people, and SMA people...all brought together by this amazing family. I literally could have stayed forever to just sit and visit with everyone. It was so much fun to FINALLY get to meet the rest of Zoey's siblings who I felt like I already knew and who instantly came up to Ella as if they knew and loved her already. (Of course she was a stinker at first and pretended to be extremely shy). We also got to meet a few other blogging families for the first time including Reid, his mom Cheri and brother Luke (there will be a story coming up about that :) and the amazing Strong family who have little Gwendolyn. I can't begin to tell you the impact that this family had on me in just the short time I visited with them. Wow!!! Then, of course, there was Jax and his family who we once again got to visit with. This time I made sure to get pictures of the rest of their family that I missed at Disneyland. Can I just say that I LOVE Jax's brothers!!! They are so sweet and funny and soooo amazingly good with Ella. The cutest thing was when Tanner told his mom that he wants a little sister "Just like Ella". Then he asked me if he could take Ella home. I told him maybe when she starts being a big stinker..then he could have her. Not long after that, she did something "stinkerish" and he asks me "Now can we take her home?". Just melts my heart!!

Here is Zoey and her daddy while everyone is

singing happy birthday to her. We had to do it

twice because she did the sign for "more" after

we finished the first time!

Jax's brother Tanner with Ella (love this kid)

This was the best we could do for a picture

of Ella and Zoey

Jax's dad, Ray, with Ella...when she was still being "shy".

She eventually warmed up to him...especially after he

took her outside. (he will so spoil a daughter someday)

My mom with Jax...I just love the way he is looking at

her in this picture.



Okay...here is the story about Ella and Reid...first they are
sitting nicely in chairs taking a picture.....then.....

tragedy strikes....(at least Ella thinks so) Reid decided to

reach over and grab her checks with his hand and drew blood.

You will see the battle scars in the rest of the pictures. Don't

worry Reid, we forgive you!!!

Mom's and kids...me and Ella, Heather and Zoey,

Lacey and Jax and Cheri and Reid

Ella playing with Jax's brother Carter

Ella and Carter (love this kid too)

Ella with her sisters and Jax's brothers

Finally some floor time!!!

With Jax...rolling to one side

And now the other...go Jax

Ella is always wanting to touch Jax....and only pulls

out his oxygen sometimes!!

Ella giving Zoey a birthday hug

Abbey and Zoey....heartwarming moment today when Abbey

asked me when the next party like this would be...she enjoyed

being with these kids as much as I did!!

I finally got my Zoey hugs!!

God Is Amazing!!!

Remember the other day when I posted about little Dasha finding her forever family and that I was happy but sad that it wouldn’t be our family? Then I went on to say that my biggest worry was that her family wouldn’t have a blog and that I wouldn’t be able to follow her journey home or see her grow up. Well, wouldn’t you know it but Dasha‘s new mother to be stumbled onto my blog one day from The Class of 2008 blog and saw my post about Dasha and contacted me. I can’t tell you how much that meant to me to open up that email and hear from the person who will be bringing Dasha home. She said “I hope you aren’t mad at me for stealing your baby, but I promise to love her with all my heart”. I was so beyond thrilled to find this family and know that they will be saving Dasha as well as to know that I can now follow their journey to bring her home. How could I ever be mad at them? They are doing what I wanted to do but realistically knew we wouldn’t be doing any time soon. I truly am thankful to this family and even more thankful that God made sure that I would be able to know Dasha even though she won’t be with our family. I mean what are the odds that she found me and knew I wanted to know where Dasha was going.

Please follow Dasha's journey through her blog at http://smithadoptionfun.blogspot.com/ If possible, please contribute towards this very expensive adoption process but if you are unable, please at least consider praying for a smooth process.

Yay Dasha…..we can’t wait to hear that you are here in the United States.

Well, we are off to Zoey's birthday party. Have a great Sunday!!!