What We Didn't Know

Four years ago, we didn't know that October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month.


...We didn't know that along with the gift of this tiny new baby, we had also been given new vision to see vibrant new colors and extraordinary beauty in unexpected places.


...We didn't know that we had just won a scholarship for an education in the world's best school.


...We didn't know how lovely it is to have the sweet innocence of childhood stretched out to last a little longer than ordinary.


...We didn't know the joy we would experience, the friends we would make, the strengths we would develop.


...We didn't know that what we thought was our greatest fear was instead our greatest blessing.


...We didn't know---but now we do.


Thank God!


"...and a little child shall lead them." Isaiah 11:6

More Birthday Time

Christopher turns seven and designs and decorates what we believe to be the first and only pastel pink, yellow, and blue rocket ship. (NASA was not available for comment to confirm this belief.)



The rocket engines fired; the flames shot; and the smoke billowed. Blastoff to a happy 8th year coming up!

Birthday Time

Ah.....at last a use for that marbled paper!




Signs Unlimited by Chris



With love from Randall



With love from Chris (Designer Paper Unlimited)



With love to the Girl Scouts who wanted to learn about Down syndrome and who all sang "Happy Birthday" and fed Wade cookies and ice cream. We like Girl Scouts!



Birthday cake decorated by Wade! Oh, what a good day!

Continuing Education

...running the computer



...getting dressed




...riding trike




...loving puppies




...going to college





(...talking to a class of first-year med students who were studying Down syndrome. Wade loved the applause!)


...but much study is a weariness of the flesh.....

Lady Marbles Paper and Loses Her Marbles

During a brief moment of insanity, I decided to do the boys' paper marbling project indoors because, with temperatures in the upper 90's, it was too hot on the patio.






I faled to remember that turpentine reeked quite so badly.


After our project was done, it took a regimen of open doors and windows





...fans





...a batch of bars and three loaves of bread to get the house smelling livable again.






So much for thinking the patio was too hot...

(...yeah, that's 87 degrees indoors...)












Time to bring the snowballs from January out of the freezer!






(Now if we could just find all those brain cells we lost while breathing turpentine...)

Open, Shut, Cut, Cut, Cut

Cutting with a scissors has been an OT goal for some time now.





This week he finally mastered it!

Bird with a Broken Wing

While attending the National Down Syndrome Congress Conference last weekend in Orlando, we heard an eloquent presentation by Dr. Elizabeth Harry, professor of special education at the University of Miami.

Melanie, Bird with a Broken Wing is the beautiful and heartbreaking story of Dr. Harry's own experiences with her daughter Melanie, who was born with cerebral palsy. For all parents of children with disabilities, this story captures the essence of what love is really all about.





When love beckons to you, follow him,


Though his ways are hard and steep.


And when his wings enfold you, yield to him,


Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.


And when he speaks to you, believe in him,


Though his voice may shatter your dreams


as the north wind lays waste the garden.




But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,


Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,


Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.


--Kahlil Gibran

Photo Diary

Waiting for spring...




waiting...



waiting...




...it came!






Wade graduates from his class at Bible Play School




Graduating is hard work




And then came summer...












Summer school

How Did We Get There from Here?

The strangest thing about this conversation is that it all took place very seriously, almost as if it were.......logical.




Chris: Girls were made out of bone; boys were made out of dirt. Guess that's why girls play with bones and boys play with dirt.



Me: Girls play with bones?



Chris: Yes.



Me: I've never seen girls playing with bones.



Chris: Well, they do.



Me: Have you ever seen a girl playing with a bone?



Chris: No, but you played with bones when you were little. You just don't remember it.



Me: I don't think so.



Chris: Well, they play with fake ones.



Me: What do fake bones look like?



Chris: Oh, some are blue, some are flue, and some are clue.



Me: Oh!!!!!



Chris: Well, anyway, I'll bet a girl would take a bone from a dog.



Me: I doubt that!



Chris: A dog would take a bone from a girl!



Me: Now, that I believe!



Chris (triumphantly): So the girl DID have the bone. You just proved it yourself!



Me (completely dazed): I have nothing left to say.




(And if that wasn't the Cheshire cat grinning at me, then I'm not Alice.)