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!



Saturday, May 4, 2013

Its been awhile!

 
I can't believe the last time I posted was over six months ago!.
Actually, I can believe it.

I swear this blog is like exercise!
I think about it all the time.
It's something I wish I did a few times each week.

However, at the end of a busy day, I am just to tired.
And another day passes without a post...or a workout!

Our days are so full, that sometimes it is easy to forget the "little" moments or the details of the "big" moments. That is one reason I enjoy posting/writing. It gives me a chance to pause and reflect on many of the amazing things that we have done, experienced or just remember the feelings I was having during a specific time.

Looking back at the last time I posted (October 3rd 2012) until now, we have had a tone of wonderful, challenging, scary, happy and meaningful moments.

All the usual: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, three birthday celebrations, Easter,  soccer season ended and basketball started (and ended) and a few fun vacations...
and the not so usual: Kamryn changed schools, 5 days in the hospital with Naomi. She went from being sick (we thought she had the flu) to getting really sick and having an emergency appendectomy! Which resulted in her being out of school and home for four weeks recovering!  A visit from my dad who came unexpectedly from Italy.  Diondray getting promoted! :) So much has happened over the last 6 months... 


I had a moment, not to long ago with Kamryn. A moment that for most people raising a 4-year old, would pass by unnoticed.  I know becasue I have already been through the "4-year old stage" with three girls and I never noticed this.
Language.
As soon as your baby begins to talk, they go from one word to two, then sentences in a matter of months.  You don't even think about the development of language and how challenging it is.  Because for most, it happens naturally, quickly and without thought.

Down syndrome can cause language delays.  This occurs on the physical level, due to low muscle tone and the development/processing level. We feel very fortunate that we have been able to provide Kamryn with speech therapy since she was about three months old. The other day her and I were in the car and I turned the radio down (for some reason I am not sure why),  from the seat behind me I hear,

"Mom, please turn up the radio, I like this song!"

Me, as a huge smile begins to surface on my face, begin to count to myself,  one, two, three...wow a 10 WORD sentence. UNPROMPTED!!!

With the huge smile (still on my face) I turn the radio up and hear Kamryn singing along to the song...

"We are never, ever, ever, getting back together" (by Taylor Swift)

Ahhhh, that moment had me smiling all day!
It makes me smile even now. 





                                          Easter 2013