World Down Syndrome Day Fundraiser For Peters Adoption

If you follow me on facebook you have heard me talk about the Baby Boom going on with adoptions through Reece's Rainbow. Well I am so thrilled that one of the families adopting right now, is right here in Texas and part of my Pearland Community Group family.




The Kehm family was blessed with a 2 year old son (Kai) who has Down Syndrome, a beautiful little girl (Lilah) who will be one in March, and they are expecting another special edition to their family. The Kehm family has chosen to make Peter a member of their family, and has started their journey towards his adoption. They have to raise $5,000 if funds to complete his adoption. And thanks to Liz Shaw, we now have a wonderful fundraiser in the works to raise $1,000 to go towards his adoption.

World Down Syndrome Day yard signs are available as a thank you for your $15 donation. How wonderful would it be to have our community see our yellow and blue yard signs, with a yellow and blue bow tied to the trees, as we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on March 21. What a great way to raise awareness, and raise money for a beautiful cause!

For each donation of $15 through the link below, you will receive one 12 x 18 yard sign like the image above. The yard signs will be available for pick up March 15, 2011. If you are not local and would like to have yours mailed to you, we ask that you add an additional $5 to your donation.

If you would like to follow the Kehm Family's journey you can visit her blog at:

http://upsidedown21.blogspot.com/2011/02/note-on-peters-grant.html?spref=fb
Let's get this sweet little boy home to his forever family, where he will receive an over flow of love and support, that he has missed out on these past four years!

From the Outside Looking In

I have realized today, that no matter how close you are, how supportive you are, how aware you are. Those around you really just don't understand. Unless they are in your shoes, walking your walk, they are just by standers on the outside of the window looking in. Saying they can dance the dance, sing the song, but the reality is, only you and those in your new world truly understand.

Today I had someone very close to me say something to me that I took very offensive. I know myself, and my tendency to over react, so I shared this "situation" with others on both sides of the spectrum. I had my own mini therapy session with those that are a member of my Down Syndrome family, and those whom are not. It's sad that every MOTHER who has a child with Down Syndrome understood exactly how I felt, and every one who did not, thought I was over reacting.

My Thought Process

When you make that comment, using "retard", "short bus", "special ed"...9 times out of 10 you are using that statement to refer to someone or something in a negative respect. Well the reality is, that the terms were all once used on a daily, clinical, educational, normal basis for someone just like my daughter. And it HURTS!!! So, when I may ask you to not use that phrase or word again, my thought is...Some child may look up to you, whether its your daughter, son, niece, nephew, cousin, etc. And that child may notice that you use that description to make fun of or describe another person. Well, what does that child do...he goes to school and uses that same word or phrase to call his friend, or someone he may see at school who is a little bit different from him, or that child that he could be making fun of could be a child with Autism, a child with another chromosome disorder, a child with Down Syndrome, the daughter of one of my friends...or even my own little Grace.

It's hard to make someone understand, when they are on the outside looking in.

Do you think of Down Syndrome every day?

YES I DO!! Do I want to? NO!!!

You may see Grace once a month, or even once a week. And what you see is this cute little butterball who smiles and coos at everyone that crosses her path.

I see Grace daily, and although I see more of our families features in her, then I see Down Syndrome features, but I would be lying to say I don't also see where she resembles some of my friends kids in my Down Syndrome family. I see the slanting of the eyes (still beautiful) the shape of her head (I say to hold all the smartness) the bend in her chubby pinky (her signature bend for the tea cup hold).

I am also reminded on a normal basis when we have therapy sessions, and I am told how well she is doing, but also realize that we are several months behind. I am also reminded when I take her to the doctor and one of the first things the specialist says, "Oh, she is Downs" (ARGH)

I am even reminded when we are in the store and I have people look at her, and smile...that sympathetic smile, and stop to tell me how adorable she is. Would they have said that if she did not have Down Syndrome? So yes, I think of Down Syndrome every day. Do I want to? NO!! Do I think it will get easier as the years go by... I sure hope so!

She is handling this so well...

Compared to what? What does every Mom do with the obstacles that come their way? They make it through it. It's like a great movie once said "Men are supposed to be made outta steel or something?" when the reality of it is...that is what a MOM is made of!!!

Most days are good, and most days are easy. But every mom with a child with special needs, still has her hard days. I am not going to say its a hard and unbearable life. But there are those moments where you hurt for your child. Not because you want your child to be any different, but like every mother you want the best for your child, and wish your child didn't have to try so hard, or put the extra work or effort to do something so simple, that so many others take for granted. But, I truly feel God hand picked us, and chose each and every one of us individually, because he knew which ones could handle the obstacles and EMOTIONS that were going to come their way, and make the best of it, and love that child no matter what. My Love for Grace, is what gets me through those hard times.

So, in conclusion, I hope my post allowed for all of those who do not have a child with Special Needs, that are on the outside of my world, looking in, can have just a little bit better understanding of why something that may not mean so much to you, can hurt and be so personal for me.

Down Syndrome Butterfly Fundraiser

Please join me as I raise money for the Houston Buddy Walk. I am selling a Bedazzled Down Syndrome Butterfly Iron On. You can iron on to any shirt you like. Each iron on is $15, and a portion of the sale will be donated to Grace's Glam Squad. Get your orders in now!!

Quantity

1 Logo $15.00 2 Logos $30.00 3 Logos $45.00 4 Logos $60.00

31 for T21 - Day 5 - Sleeping Beauty

Even though she is sick...she is still Sleeping Beauty!

31 for T21 - Day 4 Sick Baby

So, I am a day late. I have been dealing with a sick baby. This is Grace's first time being sick and she is 7 months old. I am grateful we have made it this far without getting the crud, but I could whip her brothers butt for giving it to her. Ok, that wasn't too nice. But Sammy was sick all last week, and it is almost impossible to keep these boys from their sister. They love her just TOO much. So, Sammy passed his germs to Gracie, like I expected. And now she has the runny nose, the bad cough, a sore throat, and feels down right crummy. She is just not herself. She is either sleep, eating, or crying for Mommy to hold her. So Mommy has had to give her baby girl some extra undivided attention these past few days.

We did go to the doctor yesterday, she has a combination of Croup and Allergies.

All this beautiful weather we have had in Pearland really sucks on baby girls allergies!

Well, heres to happy healing, and a speedy recovery.

31 for T21 - Day 3 - BABS

So, I have a new nickname for Gracie. It's Babs!!

I am not sure why I thought Grace would be different, I am a talker, her brothers are talkers...so it was inevitable for her to be a talker. Grace has started babbling non stop. In the morning when she wakes up, while she is playing on the floor, in church as everyone is quiet. She is a talker!! What can I say? She got it from her momma!!

I must admit, I enjoyed watching my husbands smile today as she babbles Da-da-da-da-da!

31 for T21 - Day 2 - A Year Ago Today

I can not believe how quickly time pasts. Has it really been a year since I got that phone call? The phone call that gave me the results of my amnio.

For starters, why on earth would a doctor call you at work with that type of news I have no idea. She is lucky that I liked her, and was willing to accept that from her. But yes, on October 2, 2009 I received a phone call at work with the results from my amnio. I went into a conference room and closed the door. Whats funny, is that I already knew what that doctor was about to tell me before she said it. Six weeks prior to this day, the first time "down syndrome" came into our vocabulary, I knew. I could feel something different early on. So I already knew what she was going to say, as the words came out of her mouth. "The results have been confirmed, you are having a girl and she does have trisomy 21."

I left work for the day and called my husband, my mother...crying the entire time. I am surprised they were able to understand a word I was saying. Driving at that time was probably not the best decision, but having a crying fit in the office probably wasn't a good decision either. I left work and drove home, questioning, all the things I thought this child would not do.

Then something took over me...its like a wave of calm came over me. I was still crying, but no longer hysterically crying. I pulled into the parking lot of our local shopping center. And I told myself. The doctor said its a GIRL. We are going to finally have a baby girl. And I switched my focus of the news that was handed to me that day. I stopped thinking (for a quick moment) that this darling baby I was carrying would have Down Syndrome, but instead I focused that I was finally having my BABY GIRL! I walked into the Carter's store, and picked out Grace's first dress. I was still crying, and had mascara streaked across my fast, and I checked out of the store with two dresses for my baby Grace.

Those two dresses hung on the door knob in my bedroom for several weeks after I was told my daughters diagnosis. It was my own type of "retail therapy." Every time the thought of sadness would come along and I would start to think about what I would be missing with my daughter having Down Syndrome, I took a look at the little brown dress with pink flowers hanging on my door knob, and would think...who cares....I am finally getting my BABY GIRL!