Happy World Down Syndrome Day!

Kerri Liles said it best, "Happy World Down Syndrome Day!!! 3-21, the day when the world celebrates all the wonderful people with Down Syndrome :))) Now, to me....I celebrate that EVERY DAY!!!"

Some parents of children with Down syndrome start off a blog post by explaining Down syndrome.  But since I can see you have access to the internet, I'll just let you Google it if you need more information. :)  I'd like to show you what you might not find on Google.  I'd like to show you my little girl.  Not "my Down syndrome little girl".  Not "my little girl with special needs".  I think people forget sometimes that we're all just people.  We're all different.  And Izzie is quite the little person!  In the beginning of her life on this earth, she was...

A little miracle, like all babies.  Loved, wanted, adored...

A true blessing to our family...

Growing every day, capturing hearts everywhere she went!!

Being Mommy's best little friend...

and big brother's best little friend...

Turning one! Hitting milestones!

Turning two! And amazing us every day...

Turning three!

And going to school!

Still Mommy's best friend...

A wonderful best friend!!

Showing love and kindness to everyone she knows...

But you don't mess with Izzie!!!

Caring and sweet...

But definitely a monkey sometimes!!!

Patient when others would be going crazy!

But really just like everyone else...wanting to be included and loved.


When I was pregnant with Izzie, one tiny little marker on the ultrasound showed that she had a pretty big chance of having a genetic condition.  Heavenly Father guided us through the pregnancy in such a manner that I never felt sorrowful over the diagnosis of our daughter.  We did an amnio at 31 wks because we live in a smaller town, and we just needed to know if we should deliver at a bigger hospital that would be better equipped for any special concerns.  After having the amnio and receiving the diagnosis, I became concerned.  Not in the way you may think.  I was so excited to start this new journey with our precious little spirit, but fiercely protective over what others might think or say about her, or how she would be treated.  I remember having dreams of literally beating the crud out of people for being mean to her (isn't that awful? Blame it on pregnancy hormones :).  But it hasn't been that way at all.  People have been amazing with her everywhere we go.  She immediately attaches herself to people that she knows need a little extra love.  And every time, my initial concern is, "How will they react to her?"  But it is always the same...she brings out another side of people, that they may not have even known themselves.  I know she's still little and things will change.  But she is crazy tough, and I know Heavenly Father sent her to this earth to fulfill a bigger mission than we can see at this time.  And she has been blessed with an immense family structure that, if nothing else, have taught her that she IS loved and has MUCH to give.  And I am forever grateful for that.


Have you hugged someone with Down syndrome today?

Izzie, 3 years old

Daddy's favorite picture

 Tutu pretty!

 Signing "Pop"!

Mommy's favorite picture

Could she BE cuter???



Nichole took some fun pics of Iz modeling the clothes she has for her clients to use :)

Jimmy's gift

Iz and I went to Smith's today to pick up a couple of prescriptions.  As we were waiting in line, I noticed a man sitting and waiting for his to be filled.  A couple of times I saw him looking at Izzie, which I am very used to by now and am not bothered by it in the least.  They called the man's name right before it was my turn in line, "Jimmy? Your's is ready." she said.  He looked very preoccupied, going through his wallet.  She called him a few more times, waiting patiently before he realized it was his turn.  He was picking a lot of prescriptions, but noticed they had missed one, and had to sit back down until they could fill it, too.  The same happened to me.  Being a generally friendly person and knowing it was going to be a while before our prescriptions were finished, I decided to sit by him.  Almost instantly, he handed me a rolled up bill and, looking at Izzie, said, "Would you take this and buy her something for Easter?"  I was suprised, obviously, and didn't know what to say.  I've had little old men give my boys a quarter in the grochery store for bubble gum before, but here was this man, maybe in his 50's? (I'm a terrible judge of age, btw!) dressed in a leather motorcycle vest without a shirt underneath, tatoos up and down his arms, and walking with crutches.  Now, I want you all to know I didn't judge him based on his appearance as to what kind of person he was.  While I may be guilty of judging some books by their cover, I have known too many people from all walks of life to think anything good, bad or indifferent about this man yet.  So all I said was, "No, you don't have to do that!" of course to which he replied, "I know, but I want to.  Please".  He then continued on to tell me he had lost a granddaughter about Izzie's age, who had Down Syndrome as well.  She had a heart condition at birth, and after the third surgery, he said, she just didn't recover.  I wish I could remember what he told me her name was.  We went on to talk about his other grandchildren, and how he will be riding his bike to Indiana in May to see some of them.  I told him how wonderful all of our family is with Iz, and that if Grandpa goes more than three days of seeing her, he goes through withdrawals.  He assured me that he knew she was probably very spoiled, a point I can certainly not argue!  He was very easy to talk to, like I had known him for some time.  Izzie liked the attention, pulling everything out of my wallet and showing it to him, explaining things in her own little way.  Meanwhile I sat holding the bill in my hand, not knowing how much it was, figuring it to be a $5 maybe, or a $10.  I think he knew I felt a little awkward, and just said again, "Easter is coming soon, please just buy her something she would like".  I promised him I would.  After a while, they called his name again, he paid for his prescriptions, and as he was gathering up his things and talking to the pharmacy technician, she called my name as well.  I put the bill into my wallet and realized it was a $20.  As we passed, I said thank you again to him, and placed my hand on his bare arm for a second.  After he left, the technician said, "What a nice man, it's too bad, everything that's happened to him."  She probably thought I knew him, and I was far too choked up to ask her what she meant.  In the car, I called my husband to tell him about our experience.  That got us both going.  So then I cried most of the way home.  I'm sure most of you have figured out this isn't because of the money, but the genuine kindness and emotion shown from a perfect stranger.  Just by Izzie reminding him of how much he missed his own granddaughter.  When I got home, I got on Etsy and decided Iz needs a Down Syndrome Awareness necklace, a way to remember her gift from Jimmy.

I am not a blogger...

Yep, I said it.  I am not a blogger.  If I were to start following people's blogs, I would accomplish even less in my day than I already do.  I don't know how many people have told me that I need to start a blog, but I have resisted until I just can't anymore.  That sounds pretty dramatic, doesn't it?  But the reason I say that is because I have so many wonderful encounters with people all due to the fact that I have a beautiful little girl who also happen to have Down Syndrome, and until now I have only shared these experiences with a couple of friends or family members.  That really is selfish of me.  And there are only so many things you can do with Facebook :0
So.....for all it's worth....here I go.....