A Beautiful New Life

A little girl's "life story" has been rewritten because of this incredible family featured in the ABC News clip below.... and from what I understand the Reece's Rainbow adoption website has been on overload since this aired.... I hope it stirs more hearts and ALL of these beautiful children will find their Forever Families.... The little girl Masha they show wondering if the news reporter was her Momma? Tears poured down as I watched that, no one should be without a mom or dad... I pray this news story helps her find her very soon!! 
Click here for the ABC News clip  Then, to read more of Kareen's journey to her new life,  go here. 
A few thoughts..... Once given the diagnosis of Down syndrome from health professionals many of us walking this road were encouraged to abort, told that our child would be a burden to society, to their families, their siblings would suffer.... you scour the internet and you will find outdated and biased information pertaining to the life of a person with this extra chromosome, BUT...... you ask a family walking this road and you will get a much different answer. Of the over 500 children adopted through Reece's Rainbow, I would venture to guess that most of the adopting families either already had a child of their own with Down syndrome or an extended family member.... that says A LOT of this road, and the falsehood of the statements above.  Parenting is tough..... with or without extra chromosomes, but the most beautiful tough I have ever experienced and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!

31 for T21: A Down Syndrome Family Photo...and Elvis is in the HOUSE!

The 30th day of October is quickly coming to a close, in fact if I don't type my little heart out it will soon be midnight...leaving one day left for blogging for Down syndrome Awareness. My attempt at 31 posts over the course of the month came very short this time around but I attempted...and I had fun reading everyone's posts and meeting new friends along the way!

....In fact, "meeting friends along the way" is what I want to end my 31 for T21 attempt with. In the last 3 1/2 years I have met some really truly amazing families....families I would have never have met had Reid not shown me. Families near and far.... down the street, the next county over, across the US, and internationally. I love knowing these families, I love seeing their little almond eye shaped beauties and knowing immediately that we share an unspoken bond that comes from a very deep emotional place within us because of our children who share that extra chromosome. It is extremely encouraging to me.

However, as I am walking deeper into this journey I am realizing that it is not just encouraging to have each other to go to and to glean from but it is vital. Without going into detail in this post we had an issue arise a week ago where a parent had/has concerns about Reid being in the "typical" preschool class with her daughter. As we have been sorting through this big ugly bump I was able to call upon so many of those "friends I've met along the way" for support, advice, and resources. It was vital...especially those first few days where this became a very emotional issue for me. Those friends helped equip me with resources, and tools, and special needs laws to help me navigate this appropriately.

I call that friendship...but my friend Kele calls that family. She wrote about that here. She even went on to create a "Down syndrome family photo" shown below. Can you see little Reid in there? ...he is next to one of his best gal pals! I love that as I scan her picture I can name so many of these kiddos...had you told me that I 'd be able to do that on the day he was born I'd have told you you were bonkers.

Your family photo might look a little bit different, maybe you've connected and clicked with different people...or maybe you haven't connected yet with others...and if that is the case I would really encourage you to reach out and to find a network of other families who also have a child with Down syndrome because I truly believe we are each other's best resources. There is a huge resource here on the internet of Down syndrome parent bloggers but I would also encourage you to find and connect with people in your immediate area because it is also good to connect in the flesh...and to begin to develop friendships for your child with other extra chromosomally kissed kiddos as well as their other friends.

...When things have calmed down and we know how things are going to play out with preschool I will blog about it because we are learning some really important lessons through it that I'd love to share. Until then....check out the king himself!

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Elvis.....................is in the HOUSE!!!!

a sneak peek into Reid's Halloween costume

This was Reid's big finale pose!

31 for T21: I Would Choose My Son a 100 Times Over

In my last few posts I shared our story of finding out about Reid's diagnosis of Down syndrome...and though beginning this journey was indeed scary and it was indeed emotional and it was indeed not what I had anticipated for my son .............I would choose him over and over and over again extra chromosome and all! I would, I would absolutely choose this journey! I would choose to know this life that he has opened my eyes to. I would absolutely unequivocally choose him.
It is startling to me though that my choice is not statistically in the norm. Over 93% of these babies are aborted. 93%....wow, that is a staggering number. That is a number that tells me there are a lot of misconceptions about these amazing little people who grow into amazing adults who have much to offer to this world.
Absolutely, I would choose this precious gift of mine.....all. over. again.

Deedah and Me (a short film)

I recently became aware of this documentary called Deedah and Me about a big sister and her little brother who has Down syndrome. It struck me for a few reasons...one, obviously I love to see real people doing real life with Down syndrome sprinkled in because of course that is our life too and it is encouraging to me, you guys out there are encouraging to me...and it spurs me on to do better and to fight harder and to love deeper.
But it also struck me because Charlotte, the big sister, who is only in 2nd grade mind you is so articulate and so good with her brother....reminds me of a big brother in our house! I also found it funny that Deedah is her nickname given to her by Jonathan, the little brother, as a result of him attempting to say sister.....and the nickname over here given by Reid, the little brother, is Dah for Luke as a result of him attempting to say brother (or at least that's how we think it came about) ;).
Lastly I was also struck by how articulate Jonathan is with his own words and clear thoughts especially being only 2 years older than Reid and it makes me wonder if Reid will make that much growth in the coming years....it made me happy to see Jonathan just being a little boy, and what a darling little boy he is!!
The vision of this video is to help promote Down syndrome awareness in the community, for expectant parents, and for schools as well. I think showing this in classrooms is a great way to start the conversation regarding special needs and addressing the issue of bullying in school. If you wish to sponsor a school or Dr. office or even a library you can go to their website and buy it at their cost which is $6.00 + SH or get your own copy right now for $9.95.

**Before watching the trailer be sure to pause my music at the bottom of the blog.

Deedah Trailer from Philip May on Vimeo.

What do you want people to know about raising a child with a disability?

Lately the following "status" on facebook has made its rounds in honor of special education week...

"People need to understand that children (and adults) with special needs don't have an illness, so there is no cure and it's not contagious. They only want what we all want: to be accepted."

This is so very true.... and it was actually that facebook status I first thought of when I received an email today asking me if I wanted to contribute to an article with the title;

What do you want people to know about raising a child with a disability?

The author is looking to write an article for a parenting magazine:

I am writing an article about parenting a child with a disability. It can be funny, informative, or a form of venting. All I need is a single phrase, a few sentences at most. If I see common themes being repeated, I'll know it's important to include it! It will probably be in a "top ten" format, and I am hoping to keep it simple!

So, in addition to highlighting that facebook status I thought I would also answer that question with my own thoughts...
"Raising a child with a disabilty is just like raising a child without...you have your highs, your lows, your battles and your victories. The only difference perhaps is the extra sense of perspective and the extra dose of clarity gained from that special soul of what is truly important in this life."Cheri
But, what about you? What would you like people to know about raising a child with a disability?
I have decided to send the author this blog entry rather than just my thoughts so he can hear from all of us collectively.... if you feel compelled please share your thoughts by May 1st and leave your name.

Watch CNN International at 1:00 today PST....or 4:00 EST

Just a super quick post.... CNN International is airing a live segment on a beautiful woman who just recently had a beautiful baby girl named Nella who happens to have Down syndrome. Many of you reading this already know about Kelle and her blog...particularly her birth story, which could not be any more raw and honest and well...tear jerking because I related so well with her words and emotions as she learned of her baby's diagnosis...okay so I actually was body shake bawled through it! ;)..but that's not the point, the point is that literally thousands and thousands of people have found her blog from all over the world and CNN caught wind of it and well, today she will be featured! BTW....little Nella is still just weeks old, that's how fresh and amazing all of this is.

Anyway...CNN asked for comments and questions to be posted to their site and well CNN you little stinker you, you didn't post my comment, it didn't make the ranks I suppose, maybe perhaps because my comment contained the A word...abortion. I mentioned in my note how touched I have been by the comments people have left on her birth story post...beautiful, heart wrenching, encouraging comments by people who have not even been touched in some way by Down syndrome but somehow by sweet little Nella's birth she has given people a window into seeing beauty for the first time, instead of stereotypes.

I then went on to say that perhaps my favorite comments have been by women who have just recently received a diagnosis of Down syndrome for the baby they were carrying and that by reading Kelle's story they have found strength to carry on with their pregnancy. That is so huge because...and here comes the A word which probably got me knocked out of the running to be published, but I noted that over 90% of these babies are aborted. To me that number is not a pro-life or pro-abortion issue, but I believe it to be an "I am scared and misinformed" issue. Not to say that it isn't scary and heartbreaking, at first. I was right there, believe me. However, I soo wish that families just receiving a diagnosis would not only receive facts about Down syndrome but that it would be coupled with exposure to families who are raising children with Down syndrome, to see the whole picture...to see beyond the initial diagnosis. To me the 90% number says that there is still the thought that our children are burdens, but if you ask a parent who is raising a child with Down syndrome you would not hear us say that, quite the opposite.... Giving exposure to the world through little Nella just might help make that happen. Soooo, CNN even though you didn't publish my comment ;) I am ever so grateful you saw beauty in this story, in this life as so many of us do!

...And in closing I said, that I was looking forward to watching and cheering on another mom wearing wooden shoes (a Welcome to Holland reference)... seriously, I thought that was a kicky kind of way to end my thoughts..a shoo in to be published...I am not bitter though, I'm not, really! ;)

Okay...so go set your DVR's or watch it live on CNN International! (that's channel 105 for those with Verizon Fios)

Run Forrest, Run......

Do you remember that part in the movie in Forrest Gump where Jenny tells Forrest to run from the bullies (I think that is the part) and he runs so fast and so hard that his leg braces break apart and collapse on the ground as he runs fast and free?

Well, we had our own version of that today, kinda....but minus the bullies and the braces. ;)

Actually...it was like this. Today we found ourselves having lunch at The Yard House at an outdoor mall and the boys were given frozen strawberry popsicles at the end of their meals...didn't know The Yard House did that, but anyway they do. So, instead of having their strawberry drippings all over my car we walked around a bit until they could finish them....Reid was about two-thirds of the way done with his messy drippy popsicle when I heard him squeal and then start running...

I am not talking running...I am talking "bookin it" running and like Forrest's braces exploded Reid's popsicle started exploding and red ice chips flung all over and fell to the ground as he wove himself in and out of people's legs running as fast as his own little ones would go. (I seriously had images of that movie as this was happening).

I began chasing him afraid he would fall with the popsicle stick in his mouth but then started busting up when I caught him and looked ahead to see what had caught his little eye and threw him in this frenzy...the Merry Go Round.

His eyes were huge and he was ecstatic...so of course we indulged, even big brother could not resist the cuteness of it all and accompanied Reid for a Ride.

You know what I loved sooo much about this moment....was how excited and free and engaged Reid was.

I noticed this same thing on Saturday when we were at a birthday party for a little friend at the park....he ran all over that playground and climbed the ladders and stairs to get to the slides and play equipment just like everyone else. He sat and ate pizza and cake and was acting silly and goofy like everyone else...(I love the picture of him being goofy and trying to hide his face at the table). He even sat quietly and attentively as she opened her presents, like everyone else.


And then again I noticed it at various times this past weekend, this new engagement level, as Luke and Reid were playing with nerf guns...Reid would bust up giggling when a nerf bullet hit him and he would dramatically twirl around on his feet and fall to the ground with an "awwww" as in "awww, you got me", only to get up and sign for more. Or as the two of them played secret agents with all Luke's "Spy Gear" he has acquired over the year. Luke nicknamed Reid "Stealth" for this game and gave him special missions to accomplish (which usually meant "getting" Momzilla as Luke nicknamed me). It was so fun to watch them, and so fun to watch Reid being so engaged and engaging in his own right. Though, we did hear at one point Luke ask us..."Tell me again why all my secret agents are babies??" LOL...I just love him.

....but I saw it, I noticed it......a change, a growth, a coming into his own for Reid.

As a mom who cried her eyes out when he was born, so afraid of what the future held for him, I am so full in my heart to see who he is, who he is becoming, to see him so free, so alive, so uninhibited and joyful, and so absolutely breathtakingly adorable and lovable! ....it is food to my soul!

A Conversation Between "The Me Then" When We Just Learned of Reid's Diagnosis and "The Me Now"

When we received Reid's diagnosis three years ago on the day of his birth 12/28/06, I wanted so desperately to know about things that were absolutely impossible for me to know at that point...I wanted to know if we were going to be okay, if he was going to be okay, would he die because of his heart defect, when would he walk, would I love him the same way I loved Luke, how was this going to affect Luke and what would their relationship be like, will he have friends, will he be invited to birthday parties, would Reid be able to go to the same preschool Luke went to, would I always be sad that he had Down syndrome, how would this affect my extended family, why me, why us?
Back then there was just no way I could have had answers to any of those questions, the only thing I could do was put one foot in front of the other and trust that all would be okay as I inched forward and learned about this new world I was placed into. However, now that I am three years out I have some of that knowledge I was craving for. If I had been able to have had a conversation with the "Me Now" back in those first few days or weeks and given myself a pep talk or straight answers knowing what I know now...it would have looked something like this.
The Me Then: They just told me Reid has Down syndrome, this has to be a mistake...I keep waiting for the doctors to come tell me they just checked the blood work and there was an error, but no one is coming in here and telling me that, everyone looks so sad. Why aren't they telling me it is a mistake??
The Me Now: Cheri he does have Down syndrome, in a few weeks you will have some tests run to see if he has a type called Mosaic but the answer is no, he has the traditional form of Trisomy 21.....but it is okay, you are going to be okay, I promise you. People in the hospital are quiet and seem sad because they don't know how to respond, and they are trying to let you digest the news I suppose.
The Me Then: But, no one has even asked us his name or congratulated us other than family
The Me Now: Sadly, you are going to find that most of your new friends you will be making who also have a child with Down syndrome experienced this same thing when their child was born, it is another thing you will have in common. But, you are fiesty and though you can't imagine it now at one point you will speak with hospital staff to make sure things change. In a few months a book is going to be coming out called Gifts written by moms who have children with Down syndrome and how much their children enrich their lives....your mother-in-law, fiesty in her own right ;), is actually going to become the "Gifts Fairy" at the hospital she is a labor and delivery nurse at....she purchases these books in bulk and keeps them in her locker and makes sure families are given these when a child with Down syndrome is born there....she wants to make sure no one has the same experience you had and wants to make sure these families know right away what blessings their babies are.
The Me Then: A cardiologist just came in the room and said they were going to take Reid down stairs for a chest x-ray and echocardiogram...what is going on?
The Me Now: You will soon learn that nearly 60% of babies with Down syndrome are also born with a congenital heart defect. Your cardiologist is amazing and is going to take good care of Reid....he is going to come back in here and tell you that Reid has two holes in his heart and a defective mitral valve. What this means is that Reid will need heart surgery to correct these. Reid will need to have surgery when he is 7 and a 1/2 months.....and don't freak out on me but he will actually need a second heart surgery just before he is two as there are some complications with his mitral valve....but he comes out of both surgeries just fine. At this point I can't tell you if there is a third but he is doing great and no longer requires any heart medicine.
The Me Then: How is Toby going to handle this?
The Me Now: Cheri, seriously how can you even ask this...remember it is Toby that you married, the man with the biggest heart you have ever met. Toby is already 5 steps ahead of you in accepting this. Do you remember when you were dating and you were sitting out front of your house in his big red truck...and you asked him where he ultimately saw himself in his career in the coffee industry and he responded by saying he wanted a coffee roasting facility where he could employ people with disabilities? Well, today with Reid's birth and diagnosis a new course has been set and that dream is realized for Toby and your family in Maranatha Import Export and very soon he will be able to bring on their first employee with special needs. In a few days from now you and Toby will discuss that dream and how amazing it is that that was on Toby's heart long before you two even knew you were to be married let alone know that Reid would be in your future. Toby will whisper to you, "We need to move forward with that dream, because Reid and his friends need jobs some day". You will both cry and hold each other, but deep inside you both know that something bigger than you is being set in motion.
The Me Then: What about Luke...will he be disappointed that his brother has Down syndrome? Do we tell him right away or do we wait?
The Me Now: Luke is so amazing with his brother, he is perfect for Reid. You and Toby decide not to tell him for awhile, actually you don't tell him until right before Reid's first Buddy Walk at 9 months. You were afraid it would burden Luke and worry him, in a way I think you were protecting him by wanting him to love Reid wholeheartedly before you gave him the news....but even if you had given him the news earlier Luke would of still felt the same way about Reid....absolutely crazy about him! In fact Down syndrome doesn't bother Luke in the least, he actually acts like he has met a movie star when he sees someone else with Down syndrome and shouts out to alert you....umm yeah, you might want to talk to him about that one. ;)
The Me Then: What about our families, how do they handle it?
The Me Now: Well, let me put it this way, when you first bring him home from the hospital and a neighbor tells you they heard the bad news about Reid's diagnosis your father-in-law steps in and says, "No, there's no bad news here, this little guy found just the right family and we all have a lot of love to give him". And that is the case, your families love him and are excited with each new milestone he achieves. Early on your family asks you what they can do, if they can bring dinner, if there is anything you need... and you decide that what would help you the most is if they each read the book Babies with Down syndrome so they all had a resource on Down syndrome and knew what you were dealing with. You purchased the books and gave them out as late Christmas presents. You had the book too, but your mom is amazing and when she came over one day she brought something up she read in the book and you realize she is way farther ahead than even you. And your mother-in-law, she sees to it that you are stocked with every book on Down syndrome out there and purchases the most beautiful sign language cards and kit to get you started for when you and Reid are ready. No, no need to worry about your family...you have the most incredible extended family and support, not to worry a bit.
The Me Then: Will I always feel sad?
The Me Now: You will feel sad for awhile, you will actually feel a lot of very tough raw emotions and my best advice is to let yourself feel them, it is a natural part of accepting this diagnosis for your son. But, I have to tell you that you are mostly feeling these things because you are scared and don't know what to expect for yourself or for Reid. But no, you will not always feel sad. In fact, you will find yourself saying at one point, "If I knew then what I know now I would not have shed a tear". As I am writing this to you with knowledge of three years under my belt I can confidently tell you how much you love and adore this little guy and there isn't room enough for sadness. Though you feel so sad about his diagnosis now, you will soon see that his extra chromosome becomes a non issue....he is such an incredible blessing Cheri. You are about to gain a new perspective on life as a result of this diagnosis, you are about to become a stronger, more loving and compassionate you....a better you.

The Me Then: One thing that is making me sad is the fact that Reid won't go to the same preschool that Luke goes to....and we love it so much. It makes me sad that Reid won't have the same experiences as Luke.
The Me Now: Again, your assumptions are based on the unknown, remember you don't know a lick about Down syndrome yet! But, good news is.....your little Reid does go to the same preschool Luke did. You actually shared with Luke's preschool teacher right after Reid was born with tears in your eyes that he won't be able to go there, her response to you was, "You never know....". She reminds you of that on the first day of school as Reid wandered in to sit with the other kids and she gave you a big, "See, he did it hug".
The Me Then: When I look at him it is hard for me not to see the Down syndrome, will I always feel like this?
The Me Now: In about a month you are going to meet a family who also has a child with Down syndrome. Their child is a few years older than Reid and they will tell you that there will come a point that you will not even see the Down syndrome. You come to find this to be true as well a few months out, in fact you find it amazing when people come up to you at Disneyland or the grocery store and mention they have a neice or nephew or friend with Down syndrome and you wonder how they knew to say that to you.
.....I need to throw one other thing in, there comes a point where you find such beauty in Down syndrome, the features that once scared you you find absolutely adorable. In fact, I am not sure when this occurred but even though Reid's nickname is Bubbas you always greet Reid with arms stretched out and by saying, "Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii beautiful!!!!!". No, you don't see Down syndrome, you see Reid...and an absolutely beautiful little person that you feel so incredibly lucky to call your son.

The Me Then: Is all of this my fault? Reid was an invitro baby and I am feeling so guilty that maybe I brought this on?
The Me Now: Cheri, no invitro had nothing to do with it. It is a genetic fluke that can happen to anyone. However, you come to believe that he is not a fluke at all. Do you remember going through the process and praying that if you were to get pregnant that God would choose who you were to have....you trusted then that He would choose the child you were to have and you have to choose to believe that now as well. Your infertility specialist confirms this to you in a few days...you ask her the same question and her response will be to you that she can't explain why he made it and not his twin who you carried early on. She told you the only way she could explain it was that he was suppose to be here.
The Me Then: This isn't how I pictured my life, I don't know how to be a parent of a child with special needs.
The Me Now: No one pictures this for themselves and chooses it....at least not at first. Cheri you will fall so in love him with that you don't care about his extra chromosome and you wouldn't want to change a thing about him. You will be so in love with him and his friends that it will absolutely break your heart when you learn that babies in other countries born with Down syndrome are cast aside, put in orphanages and institutions where their outlook is grim if not adopted. Seriously, you who is laying here so heavy hearted and worried would choose this again, you'd choose Reid and his extra chromosome all over again, and you'd adopt every baby out there in those orphanages if you could. And, interestingly enough most of the people who adopt children with Down syndrome already have a child with Down syndrome....so you are about to learn what others parents already know, these babies are not burdens as society may indicate they are beautiful souls with so much love and life to give to this world.
The Me Then: Will I love Reid the same way I do Luke?
The Me Now: Cheri, I completely understand that question because I think it is more common than not to wonder if you could ever love another child as much as you love your first....but if you are asking me that because secretly what you really want to know is if his extra chromosome and the hurdles he will have to overcome will in some way inhibit you from loving him as much as Luke........then without hesitation my answer to you is, No, no way, you absolutely love him every ounce as much as Luke, so much so that at times it takes your breathe away. Your little Reid, the baby you have in your arms who is just hours old is actually going to teach you so much more about love and depth and beauty than you can even imagine at this point, but trust me.... he is an amazing teacher, and ohhhhh soooo cute!

The Me Then: Will he be invited to birthday parties?
The Me Now: Yes. The truth is he is actually invited to more parties in his first three years of life than even Luke was. He is also really popular around Luke's friends....when you are out on the playground after school picking Luke up, Reid tootles along and gets hellos, high fives, "knuckles", and hugs from so many of the kids. He gets a lot of positive attention and this little ham of yours eats it up.
The Me Then: I will really be okay with this?
The Me Now: Yes, so much more than okay.....go snuggle your new love and take a deep breath. The road you are embarking on some might call the road less traveled, but the ones who have gone before you will tell you, as I am confirming now, that it is beautiful..... enjoy the view!

Will My Child Drive a Car??....Possibly, Check This Out!!

Thank you to Mel for posting this on your blog so I could "meet" Kelly, a very inspiring young woman with Down syndrome. Kelly is an amazingly determined young woman who has not allowed Down syndrome to hold her back in any way, in fact she has made a point to set many goals for herself...one of them being to get her driver's license, and SHE DID IT, how great is that!?!!!

When Reid was first born the question of "Will Reid be able to drive?" never even entered into my thoughts...not on my own that is....however, I can vividly remember our first visit with the geneticist when Reid was JUST 2 DAYS OLD...and she asked us what we knew about Down syndrome. Quite honestly we had to share that we didn't know much...so she went on to give us the clinical description and expectations...as I sat listening, trying to hold back the flood of tears waiting to dispel uncontrollably at any moment...the trigger words were unleashed, and as if being kicked in the stomach I heard her say..."and Reid won't drive a car...he will most likely use bus transportation, or ride a bike, or he will rely on a family member to drive him places". That was it, I fell apart...I had just heard that my child would have mild to moderate mental retardation and now...that he wouldn't ever have the capability to drive a car. Ughhhhh....really now, did I really need to hear that when he was just 2 days old? I remember going back to my hospital room, clutching my pillow and just crying and crying until I couldn't cry anymore. Later that evening I spoke with my dad on the phone and shared with him what the geneticist had said and he in turn had a story to share with me that he had heard earlier that day from a client of his...a story of a couple with Down syndrome living in his area who had met, married, had jobs, and the husband actually had his driver's license and HE drove the two of them around town...no buses and no bikes, unless they wanted to use them.

Where oh where are THOSE kinds of stories that a geneticist can pull out of his/her bag of knowledge when your baby is only 2 days old and you need more than anything to hear words of encouragement??? Well...here is one of those such stories...Kelly thank you for sharing with us your amazing victories and inspiring life!

**Make sure to pause my music at the bottom before viewing the video. :)

Reid's First Graduation Cap and Gown Style...Early Intervention...Connecting With Other Moms

I recently posted about physical therapy, the use of the Wii...and Reid no longer needing services from his in home physical therapist...a graduation of sorts in terms of gross motor skills. That post actually made me think of Reid's first true blue cap and gown graduation when he was 12 months. We had been sooo fortunate to hear of an Early Intervention Program in Laguna Beach funded by the Assistance League . (If you are reading this and live within 30 miles...it is definitely worth the drive!) This program is for babies with special needs, including preemies, 0-12 months. It is fabulous for many reasons...they structure the morning with first a music and movement time for the children and then move you into stations that you and your child rotate through. Each station has a specialized therapist there to work with your child on either occupational therapy, gross motor skills, feeding and oral issues, cognitive growth and/or infant stimulation. This was all fabulous and Reid benefited greatly from it...however the part I benefited the most from was the last hour of the program, I get choked up just thinking about it. A unique aspect of this program was that last hour...women who are members of the Assistance League volunteer their time by coming and rocking the babies and feeding them their bottles while the moms get an hour to go upstairs and share with one another, cry together, and just sit with others who "get it"...who get what it feels like to raise a little one with special needs, who have similar birth stories, who understand the emotions that go hand in hand with this road we are on.  What a special time...and as you can imagine lots was discussed, shared, and processed through behind those closed doors for so many of us.

I actually did not start the program until Reid was nearly 7 months. I didn't feel like I was ready any time before that...I was still living in my little cocoon I had built for myself and was feeling too overwhelmed with all the in home therapies he was receiving to even think about getting out of the house super early and spending 3 hours on more therapy. Well, if I could go back in time....I would have started the program with Reid as soon as they would of had me. Two things have truly helped me along this road....the interaction with those other mothers early on...and my blog. To connect with others who are walking in your same shoes is more than therapeutic, it is beautiful. I realized this the first day I went to the Early Intervention Program and I had not even made it inside yet, I was still just in the parking lot and looked over and saw one of the moms, who I now know as my friend Jocelyn. I remember seeing her getting her son out of her car who was close in Reid's age and I saw that he had Down syndrome too. She was beautiful, put together, had a smile on her face...and as I stood there by my car I had tears suddenly find their way to the corner of my eyes. I couldn't wait to talk with her because I knew she "got it". That was the piece I realized I was missing... connecting with others who also have a child with Down syndrome. That was 2 years ago and I have now met so many beautiful moms who "get it" and I am so grateful... I am a better mom for it.

Below are a couple more pictures from the EIP group...dressed for Halloween