...And in the air, the fireflies, our only light in paradise. We'll show the world that they were wrong, and teach them all to sing along; singing Amen I, I'm alive. Amen I, I'm alive...

- Nickelback, If Everyone Cared

For All The Right Reasons Album



And I'm singing Aaa-ayyy-men, I'm alive!







William Leonidas November 12th, 2009
My only regret is that I cried so many tears while I waited for you.


"...I'll try ~ but it's so hard to believe. I'll try ~ but I can't see what you see. I'll try and try to understand the distance between the love I feel ~ the thing I fear ~ and every single dream. I can finally see it. Now I have to believe all those precious stories. All the world is made of faith ~ and trust ~ and pixie dust. So I'll try ~ because I finally believe. I'll try ~ because I can see what you see. I'll try, I'll try ~ to fly..."

Jonatha Brooke "I'll try"


Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10




Lilypie Second Birthday tickers
Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you..." Jeremiah 1:4-5




For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to Thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well. Psalms 139:13-14



Monday March 5th, 2010

So Why Stinkerie?



It's simple, really. It's the first thing I whispered against my newborn little Dumpling's temple as I held him alone for that very first time. "There's my Little Stinkerie." And all was right with the world as I brushed my lips across his delicate dewy soft newborn-pink skin and sniffed at his sparse smattering of downy soft hair. Corny and sappy, huh? I can't help it when describing my new Little Puppy. But don't get used to it - I have been told I am "irreverent."



Anyway, it just came out and he's been Stinkerie ever since. As well as Stink Pie, Stink Pot, Stinkey Pete, Little Stinks, Stinks, Puppy, Ducky, Baby, Baby Head, Baby Head Jenkins, Jack, Jack-Jack, Jackie Boy, Jax, Snork, Snorkis, Snorkle, Billy Boy, Billy Bob, Bobby Sue, Billy-Joe-Jim-Bob, Will, Willie, Willister, and the name given by my mentor turned friend Beth - Snake. When I write to her I call him either The Snakester or Slither! And of course, Dumpling, because he is my Little Dumpling - warm and soft and comforting. It's alright to combine comfort food with baby names, right? Have you ever watched the movie Where the Heart Is? If you have, you'll know why I mention this in my defense!



Long story short, you're likely to encounter any one or more of these names in a single post. Because I can. It's my blog!





Something to Consider

Bad decisions make good stories.

Something to Think About

With any pregnancy, there are concerns. With any child, there are worries. When you have a diagnosis of Down syndrome, you know what to worry about. You know what to look for. You have a plan of action. With your typical child, there is no limit to the things that can 'go wrong' or 'happen.' There's no place to focus your worry and concerns. 'IT' will always be out there, waiting. You'll always be on guard. Even when the child is 55 and has grandchildren. With Down syndrome we have a battle plan. With Down syndrome, there is a finite number of things that can go awry. With a typical child, there's isn't. It's a crap shoot. I'm sticking with the Ds and taking the other two back to the hospital for a refund.

Head Above Water


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Thursday, August 19, 2010

Jack said "Anna!"

Call me crazy, but I'm telling you, he said it! Read on if you are doubtful!

Since Jack was about 6 months old, the general consensus is that Jack says "Mama." I finally believe it, now that he's 9 months old, because he says it when I enter or leave a room, or if he can hear me but I'm out of his line of sight.

I've also been feeling tremendous guilt for not being more proficient at signing. So...I have amped up my signing skills. Today when Anna, his EI gal, arrived, she scooped him up and sat on the floor with him. Once he was over his initial giggly-wiggly-chatty excitement at seeing her, I got his attention. I patted her shoulder and signed and said "Anna. Anna." I signed and said it repeatedly. As I was signing "Teacher" Jack said "Na-na-na-na." So I signed and said "Anna" a few more times, finishing with the sign for "Teacher." This time he said, "Aaaa-na-na-na!"

So Anna gets on with the business of EI with him, and after about 15 minutes she scooped him up onto her shoulder for a little moment of rest. So I got Jack's attention and signed and said her name a few more times while patting her shoulder. And he said "Aaa-na-na" and looked right at her! She said "Aaaa-na!" and Jack said "Aaaa-na!" Anna continued his EI while we mulled over the validity of this new verbiage. He sealed the deal when I was walking Anna to the door with him in my arms. I always say the same thing when someone leaves, "Say 'Bye Anna. Thank you for working with me!'" And when I did, Jack chimed in with "Aaaa-na-na! Aaaa-na-na!"

I'm telling you, The Boy Genius said "Anna." You can tell me I'm delusional when I claim he recited a sonnet.
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1 comment:

Not a Perfect Mom said...

woo-hoo! I totally believe you! A mother knows!!

August 20, 2010 at 3:04 PM

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