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October 17, 2007
I’m at my desk surrounded by mountains of papers. The dishes are overflowing in the kitchen and on the floor is a trail of debris… books, toys, flip flops, Crocks. About 45 minutes ago we went out the door to take Miika to school and the van wouldn’t start. So, I’m feeling that level of angst that makes it difficult to work. AAA is almost here to jump the van…gotta run.
The van’s working, I left the lights on all night!!!
Here’s what I’m thinking about lately. Once in a while I do various google searches like, “Down syndrome success” and I rarely find much. Yes, there are some good group sites and organizations, but I want to see pictures, movies, read mom stories. So, I’m going to write my own on this blog. Good news about my son. He’s walking, he’s talking, he understands what I’m telling him. He’s almost 22 months old and his therapists are thrilled. So am I. Way back in August of ’05 the ultrasound that indicated a heart defect and perhaps DS, could not have told me that I’d love my son so deeply. It didn’t show the way he peeks around a corner and grins, then vanishes and peeks again. He listens, observes, and takes everything in. When we’re riding around in the van and the person on the radio says a word that Nathan understands or if he sees something he recognizes, he signs it: sun, car, ball, more, train, truck, circle, hurt, shoes, dog, all done… every week we’re adding a word or two to that list. When his daddy comes home from work, he gets up from whatever he’s doing and trots to meet Paul in the dining room and says, “dada.” Nathan goes up and down the stairs with ease. He plays with his trucks and makes the sounds that trucks make. He’s all boy. He’s charming. We love him.
I was talking to a friend the other day about her 47-year-old brother who has DS. Eddie was institutionalized at the age of five and didn’t learn to talk until many years later. Times have changed! This is not the same world. I am so grateful for those who have gone before us to pave the way for a better life for Nathan and others. He does not “suffer” from Down syndrome, he just happens to have it. And I am grateful to have him. He is beautiful.
Nathan’s napping, so off to work I must go….
Liita, It was so nice to see what you have done. I met you at the Nature Museum when Nathan was first born. You noticed my son, Marty. Marty is also doing well. He is 4 now and is hard to keep up with. He goes to preschool and rides the bus. I am working out of the home now and it is a bigger challenge than ever. I miss my Marty during the day but have found a wonderful babysitter who adores Marty. I think he has a crush on her. He walks around looking for her when she is not here. I am at the point where I am struggling a bit. We have hit a point where growth is slowing down and he is getting frusturated. He is the love of my life but maybe someone else has been through this and perhaps it is just a phase.
Great to hear from you and thank you so much for your dedication.
Sue