Happy World Down Syndrome Day! 3/21

Yes, I do mean happy.  Actually I mean HAPPY!!!!!  Having a child with Down syndrome has been wonderful.  Hannah is one of the best treasures God gave us.  In honor of this day I made a list of 21 treasures we have been blessed with since Hannah's birth.
*Please note these are in no particular order.

1. Hannah Jordyn, her name means grace flows down!
2. Beautiful almond shaped eyes.
3. Inspiring desire to achieve.
4. Facial expressions that will melt your heart, make you laugh and just make you feel good!
5. Sweet baby hugs that make you know she feels loved.
6. The joy of sign language.
7. Fabulous new friendships.
8. Unimagined support from experts.
9. Speechless conversations with whole body movements that only mommy can fully understand.
10. A sense of humor that has daddy and mommy rolling.  She really tries to be funny and succeeds!
11. Inexpressible love.
12. The eyes closed funny dance, a must see!
13. Muscle tone that allows for a snuggle that feels more like two bodies becoming one.
14. The cutest little outy belly button.
15. Tender expressions of care when someone is sad.
16. A cackle like none other.
17. Joy of life and all it brings.
18. Best pesky little sister ever.
19. Sarah says Hannah is cute and fun to play with.
20. Julia says Hannah is funny and hilarious.
21. A girl that is more like her sisters than different.

Spread the word that Down syndrome is amazing!  

Quote #20

"Don't put serving the King on hold. Waiting doesn't equate to idleness. Invest in the wait; don't waste it."

- Eric and Mitzie Tibbets

Quote #19

This quote is from L.A.

When Ibby doesn't want to do something his response is: 

"I CAN'T like that!"

By: Ibby Siebenman        

 age 6         

Quote #18

"God isn't going to send you where He is absent."

-Eric and Mitzie Tibbets

Hope Now

Quote #17

I did not receive a quote from L.A. today so I am going to give you my own.  I can't find the exact quote and I don't remember it word for word but it went something like this...

"Sometimes the journey is more important than the destination."

Qoute #16

Casey's program was closed in observation of a Jewish Holiday.

His step dad said "But Casey, your not Jewish."  

Casey responded: 

"Well... I am now!"

By: Casey Powell       

 age 31         

Quote #15

Jessica's mom asked her, and her 4 brothers, what they wanted to be when they grew up.  The boys answered "An engineer, an artist, a marine biologist, a waiter."  Jessica put her finger to her chin and thought... then with a big smile, she rose her arms high above her head and said: 

"BIG!"

By: Jessica LaPrade      

 age 5

Quote #14

Kayla was 10 when she attended a funeral with her mother.  

She wanted to go with her mom to pay her respects at the open casket.  After saying a prayer she asked her mother: 

"What happened to her legs?"

By: Kayla McKeon     

 now age 23       

Quote #13

Amanda & Jon have dated since high school.  In passing, Amanda's mom mentioned that Jon had Down syndrome.  With a surprised look on her face, Amanda said: 

"He does?" taking a moment...
"That's cool."

By: Amanda Kragt    

 age 28

Quote #12

Jason wrote his mom a Valentine Card that read: 

"Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
Sugar is Sweet
And so do You."

By: Jason Kingsley    

 age  36  

Quote #11

I really like this one!  Sometimes our children can be so sweet!!!

Jon's mommy set him up with an activity and told him she would be

doing the dishes and to call if he needed her.  Jon replied:   

"One more thing 'fore you go... big cheer for Mommy.  GO MOMMY! GO MOMMY!"

By: Jonathan Psaute   

 age 6

Quote #10

Jessi's mom was on her way inside a business,

Jessi asked if she could wait in the car,

mom told her sure, as long as they could see each other.  

Jessi informed her mom:

"I'm almost 18 you know!"

By: Jessi Rendleman  

 age 17 of course!

Quote #9

Angela was trying to tell her father something.

He wasn't getting it, and asked her to repeat slower, twice.   

Finally, in frustration, Angela shook her finger at her father and said:  

"DAD CONCENTRATE"

By: Angela Armenta 

 age 24

Quote #8

Casey and his mom were shopping.  When they got to the cash register the clerk asked Casey "how are you?" Casey responded  

"Great" and pointed to his mom and said "I'm her kid."

The clerk repeated to make sure she understood,

"You're her son"

and Casey replied  

"Oh, she knows!"

By: Casey Powell   

 age 30   

Great News and a Confession

The phone call I was waiting for never came but an e-mail did!  We will start our home study on March 31st.  This is the individual interview that each of us have with our social worker.  This interview will take about an hour for each of us and we will go one right after the other.  No chance for us to share answers.

I told the girls about this news today and they got really excited.  They both yelled YAY! and jumped up and down.  They are going to be great big sisters, again!

I also had a revelation this week about the adoption process.  Since I know that God has brought us to this place and guided every step of the process so far, why would I think that any of this process is taking too long.  It's ridiculous for me to get irritated and impatient with the speed things are moving.  Of course, everything is moving as it should be.  It's ultimately directed by the hand of God, the God I seek and trust and follow.   So you will get no more complaints out of me.  From now on I plan to be content with the speed of this process and at peace with each moment whether I am waiting or actively involved.

Confession feels good.

"We shall not be able to adore God on the highest occasions if we have learned no habit of doing so on the lowest." -C.S. Lewis

Quote #7

Two brothers, at dinner, were asked what they were thankful for.  

The typical little 5 year old said "God and Jesus."

His brother with Down syndrome said: 

"Santa Claus"

By: Joseph D'Elia   

 age 7   

Quote #6

I was not sure that I wanted to post this quote becuase of the profanity used but then I realized I could bleep the word and it was simply a 5 year old boy innocently expressing himself.  Here you go.

When Blair was 5 he was stuck on 2 word sentences.

His family  & therapist did everything they could to get him to use 3 words.

One morning he got up to find

the refrigerator restocked and exclaimed...

"Holy Bleep, Yogurt!" After this dad found out he heard those words while watching
SPACE BALLS with his older brother,
he explained "we don't talk like that at our house."
Blair went on his way and his parents celebrated the victory of 3 little words!

 

By: Blair Williamson  

 Now age 31, with plenty to say  

Quote #5

Paul spoke in 2 word sentences, only a few times a day.

His summer vacation had included swimming with his Grandma.

When he saw her again, 4 months later he said... 

"Oh Gumma, mimmin in da pool"

Not only did he say a full sentence, he displayed his long term memory skills since he only had the joy of seeing his Grandma 

a couple of times in his short lifetime. 

By: Paul Steward 

 Age 5

Quote #4

Brandon's mom awoke to his face in hers,

she said "Good morning, I love you. " 

"Goo ing, I uv oo."

By: Brandon Sardo   

 Age 7  

Quote #3

While observing a traffic signal.

"Red stop, green go, orange..... juice."

By: Marc Williams  

 Age 7  

Quote #2

"If they invented a pill to take away my Down syndrome, I wouldn't take it because this is the way God made me.  He wants me this way - and I don't want to mess around with God's plan"

By: Lydia Orso  

 Age 31  

Quote #1

In celebration of World Down Syndrome Day, Sunday March 21, 2011

The Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles presents: 

21 quotes in 21 days by 21 people with Trisomy 21

Following participating in a public rally

to oppose the California State Budget Cuts

to services for people with developmental disabilities,

Ryan told his mom...

"The bad guys are stealing the money,
we need Batman!"

Ryan Fitch 

 Age 8 

Waiting for THE Phone Call

I am waiting for the phone call that will confirm we are moving forward.  I will write more about this once I have this much anticipated conversation.