5 Reasons I Smile

The ultimate goal of this blog is to spread awareness and show how beautiful life can be. We have four amazing daughters. Our youngest was born with Down syndrome. If just one person stops here and leaves with a different, better perspective about Down syndrome, then it is worth it. Regardless, I have 5 Reasons to Smile!



Thursday, April 29, 2010

Typical

Another word that has become all to common in my vocabulary....typical, non-typical, special needs, Regional Center, OT (Occupational Therapist), ST (Speech Therapist), PT (Physical Therapist). These words were not a typical :) part of my vocabulary before.

I have heard comments like, "Well, that might be so with a typical child, but Kamryn is not typical." I even read an article (discussing parenting a child with Down syndrome) that stated I should throw out everything I knew and did with my other children, because raising her would be completely different. FYI raising each of them is different.

During the first year of her life I had envisioned a depressing future, based on information I was given and preconceived notions I had formed. I was actually setting myself up for a life of sadness, despair, therapy sessions, missing my other girls (who I wouldn't be able to spend much time with due to their sister's special needs), divorce (yes, we were told it is very common for couples raising a child with "special needs" to divorce-Why would someone feel the need to share that with us????). FYI divorce is just common. As I write this, it's almost laughable. However, in my darkest days, I really thought the joyful, beautiful life I had lived was over.

I could write paragraphs on this subject. But pictures are worth a thousand words......










She is typical. Our life is not.

10 comments:

  1. Love, Love the pictures....Stop by for my new giveaway....http://grammyababychangeseverything.blogspot.com/2010/04/oh-happy-day-and-giveway-no-two.html

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  2. You are SOOOO right!!! Not that this means anything but I did read somewhere that your statistic is true for families with a child with special needs but that for families with a child specifically with DS the rate of divorce is less...how's that for a nice change :)! DS might actually SAVE some marriages :)!!! Love your girls!!!!

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  3. YEA, Andrea!!! You are blogging :)!! I am so happy. I love all the pics and am having fun catching up on your newest "baby" (the blog)! Kamyrn is doing awesome, and is as adorable as ever...not a surprise. So glad you have cleared the hurdles and are back to your BEAUTIFUL LIFE...

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  4. Your life is precious! That's all that matters. Typical smipical.... LOVED your pics. Just want to squeeze Kamryn!

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  5. LOL...looks pretty "typical" to me...into everything, messy,cute and sweet...love it!

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  6. Smart lady!

    Love the pics. Truly.

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  7. LOL, I love your pics!! I have some cute/funny ones of Jake I need to post soon! What is typical anyway? Our lives are what we make of it. It's our lives! BTW...Zach & I have NEVER been better since Jake. He made us realize what's important (to us) in life. It's all about FAMILY!! :) Have a great weekend!!

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  8. you are right - the pictures are worth a thousand words, kamryn is way too adorable! and as you said, she is typical, our life is not! you said it perfectly... life is NOT typical, no matter who you are, is it? :) hope you guys had a great weekend!!!

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  9. Sooo true!!!! Who wants to be "typical" anyway? Sounds pretty boring to me.... :)

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  10. Precious photos! I never even used the word "typical" before John Michael. I probably said "normal", but was quickly re-programmed to use all those other words, like you. But our kids are so like "typical" kids in so many ways and yet each of my kids is "special" in their own way, too. Just look at precious Kamryn. What kid doesn't love to explore and is curious how things work. Great post, Andrea!

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