The good with the bad

I finally got the chance to see Ada! I spent a few days in Arizona at my sister and brother-in-law's house. Unfortunately my sweet niece has had a rough beginning. Just before our visit she was hospitalized with RSV. In a way it was nice to be able to help out with "big-brother Brady", but we didn't get much quality time with the rest of them. Ada is going home today. She has been out of the womb a little over a month now and only been home for like 11 days. My poor sister and her little family.

The same day that Ada was hospitalized, my father in law was admitted to the hospital. His dementia has progressed until there is no way that he can be cared for at home. He spent his first three days under 24 hour surveillance. A member of the family stayed with him all of the time until he calmed to his surroundings and didn't try to escape. The night before I returned from Arizona, he was transferred to the nursing home where he got into a physical fight with his room mate and threw a table at someone else. We are fighting an uphill battle. I quickly called to find out the details and discovered that he was transported in the evening (bad for dementia patients) and none of the family was notified that he was being transported. He had no clothes and was wearing a hospital gown. I am sure he was completely freaked out!

Last week was a tough one. My oldest step son was caught with marihuana and started an alternative school the very same day. Completely frustrating that this kid was given a second chance when he moved in with us and has decided to throw it away. Plus his timing is very poor.

My favorite niece

Ada Josette arrived 37 weeks gestation. Weighing in at 5# 17"! She is absolutely beautiful with big lips and cheeks, strawberry blond hair, and a cute little nose that reminds me of her mama. She is in NICU because she is so small and they don't want her to lose anymore weight. She also has a slight cleft palate causing feeding issues. She is a good girl already from what my sister says. I'm aching to see her.

Arriving...ADA

Tonight my heart feels torn in two directions. The biggest part of me is overwhelmingly excited that my niece Ada is making her entrance into this world. Part of me feels scared for my sister. I wish so much that I was there. It's been bittersweet expecting a baby with Down Syndrome. I know this will be a little more challenging and also a little more rewarding. I admire the strength that my sister has shown. She is the strongest woman that I know. I want to be there so badly to hold her and tell her that she has the best parents that any little girl could ever have, and love that extends the entire width of America (literally)! Can't wait to see you baby girl.

Let's go to the Hop!

Friday night our Elementary school had a 50's sock hop in honor of the school turning 50 years old this year! It wasn't a great experience, but we all looked fabulous of course in our home made poodle skirts and rolled up jeans. Haha! There was a little girl there with down syndrome that Haden played with some. It was a lot better than the first experience he had at the Buddy Walk where he was at the sand table with three girls with down syndrome under the age of 6. He was playing and a fight broke out with two of the girls over a shovel that ended with him getting whacked in the face with the shovel. He began screaming at them and I had to pull him away and try to get him to do something else. I figured there were too many strong wills in that mix.

Friday night he got along really well with this little girl (who was 4 and cute as a button). She and Haden teamed up to grab balls from the basketball throw. They were almost trampled a few times, but had a blast! Once Haden lost his pacifier and she picked it up and put it back in his mouth. So sweet. This goes to show...everyone has their own personality and even my strong willed child can get along with a select few others.

Bitter sweetness

Today's buddy walk wore us out! We were there for 3 hours playing games and getting informed. I forgot sunscreen so we are burnt, but we had a great time. It was a great experience to see all of the many faces of Down syndrome. Some of my family came and learned a lot from all of the information. Awesome.


On a different note, we later went to see Jerod's dad. He has been suffering from Alzheimer's disease and is progressing rapidly. He hasn't had a doctor visit that's worth anything in years, so his condition is more than likely irreversible. It's so sad and hard to watch. Jerod's mother is suffering because of it as well. What a terrible disease to have.

Fear of the unknown

I was reading my sister's blog and I love the fact that she isn't overly concerned about Ada's Down syndrome. I feel like it was a huge deal that has taken a backseat right now. Maybe we overreacted a little at first.

Now we wait. All we can do is wait and see. "Hope for the best and prepare for the worst." My hope for my sister is that it's not an everyday struggle. That there are days like now where it's "on the back burner". My hope for Brady and Ada are the same hopes for my kids. That they be happy and healthy.

I have been reading some of the other blogs about Ds. I read one today that, while true, scared me some. Not all babies born with Ds are functioning well. I guess if I'm going to blog for awareness, I need to be aware of all of the possibilities. I know there is a possibility that Ada could fall into this category, but I will continue to pray that she is high functioning and know in my heart that I will accept and love her either way. If I have to devote the rest of my life to helping care for her, I'm okay with that. My life is blessed by hers.

Thank Heaven for Little Girls

Blogging everyday is a challenge indeed! Obviously I'm not so great at it, haha. I have been so busy trying to get everything ready for Triniti's first "mock-date". She had been asked to Homecoming by a boy in her grade. She is only in the 6th grade! I was thrown by this at first, but I have been talking with the boy's mother and setting the stage for this to go smoothly. It's going to be a big group of kids their age hanging out at a football game. No big deal. If I make it a big deal, it won't be good...sigh.


Triniti made a garter for him. It's really cute and she did a great job! This was my first home made garter too. Of course all of this is bittersweet because I can't help but realize that  this is the start of a new chapter in her life. The teen-ager chapter. She is such an amazing kid. She teaches me new things all of the time. I'm always trying harder to do things better because I don't want to let her down. She is my inspiration. 

I'll have to post a picture of her and her date later tonight or tomorrow. "Her date", wow, that sounds crazy!

A daughter is a special thing. I can't wait to experience having a new niece as well. I'm pretty sure I will be extra close to Ada because she is so special to me already. She will teach me new things too and I've already made changes in my life to be sure not to let her down. It really doesn't matter that she only weighs 1 pound; she has weight in this world already. 

Big Day!

Last night Haden refused to go to sleep. He had pretty decent day (with one exception). I was at my small group meeting and when I returned...he was sitting right next to my husband on the couch watching t.v. Jerod (my husband) said he tried to put him down, but he began screaming and then he started throwing himself around the bed putting himself in danger of injury. Jerod didn't want to allow that to happen. I completely understand and I have no idea why he's been bad the last two nights about going to bed. I put him in bed and he screamed for about 45 minutes, with us running in and out to tell him it was ok or retrieve his binkie, before he finally fell asleep. Geez! Last night threw me off and I didn't get the opportunity to blog. 

Today has a lot riding on it. I've been praying all day. My husband had a phone meeting with some people from his work about a position he applied for. He is really nervous and didn't get to bed until late last night mostly because of the situation in the last paragraph. He hasn't called and the meeting was nearly 3 hours ago. Not sure what that means, but I'm trying to be optimistic. 

My sister has a fetal ECG done today. Praying that my Ada Adventure is healthy. My sister has been through so much already that I cannot even fathom any bad news today. Plus, it's her and her husband's anniversary. Happy 3 years guys! Words can't express how much I love them and their little family. 

I am so excited about what God has in store for my family. 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

31 for 21

Today marks the first blog I've done in years. The occasion? Ada Josette. My baby niece due in January 2013 is prenatally diagnosed with "Down Syndrome". My sister said that my blogs don't have to be about the subject of this chromosomal disease, but I feel like the first one should be.

As an aunt I've discovered a love for my nephew that I never knew. How do you love a child that is not your own as much as your own? I'm not sure, but I feel so blessed to have him as mine (even if he isn't technically mine). Something about his birth caused my sister and my bond to grow beyond just sisters. We are closer now than we ever have been. I think she has grown up so much and is such an amazing mother!

My Brady Boy!


I believe God doesn't make mistakes. When my sister first told me that her second child, my niece, will have down syndrome, I felt so sad for her. I cried for several days and couldn't believe this was happening to her (and to our family). Now I have completely changed my opinion. God felt like she could be trusted with one of his "special" souls. That is an honor. She will be perfect for us. This baby was put in our lives for a reason. She has a purpose and has already begun fulfilling it even before birth! Amazing.

We don't know what the future holds for us, for Ada, for big brother, for my sister and her sweet, sweet husband, but we do know that we love and want Ada more than anything. She isn't a tragedy. She is an adventure. I cannot wait to see her! She is perfect and just what this world needs.

Sweet Ada Adventure!
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