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(3)21 World Down Syndrome Day
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Happy World Down Syndrome Day to our friends with (and without) the triple 21st Chromosome. We had an extra special day with a birthday party for good friends we’ve known since before we had Whitney, and then a BBQ with a family we met because of Whitney – through her Early Start services (they also have a daughter with Down syndrome – who’s birthday...

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Tale of a Tonsillectomy
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Whitney had her tonsils out.  Poor sweet girl didn’t know what was coming…and neither did we. Originally, we had a surgery scheduled just to put ear tubes in – an outpatient procedure, she’s done it before, involves anesthesia which nobody likes, but other than that a pretty simple deal.  She was getting tubes put in (again) because for the past 6 months she has...

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Becoming a Ballerina
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Becoming a Ballerina

Jan 9, 2015

Whitney had ballet class yesterday…and I welled up with pride for my little girl.  It went so well for her compared to her first session (almost a year ago, now).   For almost the entire 45 minutes she participated best as she could following what everyone else was doing.  There was a brief break where she was distracted by her own beautiful reflection and...

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Prenatal Testing: Knowing and Not Knowing
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Today baby Tres is 14 weeks in the womb. I’m bumping out a smidge, feeling appropriately frustrated with my wardrobe options, and I spent the morning rearranging furniture (mostly small/lighter pieces, don’t freak out).   Seems pretty normal.  Earlier this week I visited the lab and sent in some blood for prenatal testing.  I’m not sure how to explain how taking this step is...

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Calling all Buddies
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Calling all Buddies

Oct 6, 2014

Want to walk with us? Saturday, October 18th: 10am Lake Cunningham Park, San Jose Every year the Silicon Valley Down Syndrome Network (SVDSN) hosts a huge event, The Buddy Walk, that raises awareness and funds for the Down Syndrome community.  We’ve been a part of this community since before Whitney was even born, sharing in the resources and advice of families that are steps...

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Everyday Learning – Preschool at home
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One of the hardest things about coming to Denver was that Whitney would be missing school.  We love Whitney’s teacher at her public Pre-K program.  Whitney likes going to school and we really saw her development progress throughout the year last year.  She has an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) with goals in various developmental areas.  Some of her cognitive goals are about recognizing colors/shapes/letters,...

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The Jump
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The Jump

Jul 26, 2014

After much anticipation (and years of jumping on the bed), Whitney has finally reached the JUMP milestone.  Yay! For those of you who might not have the opportunity to witness the many little steps that make up something like jumping (since most often a kid hits a certain point and you say “jump” and he just does it, right?)  here’s what it looked like...

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Worthwhile Life
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Worthwhile Life

May 16, 2014

Whitney has so much joy.  She delights in the simple things.  She loves people and joining in with whatever the fun is.  She really enjoys her life.  She has her own ideas of what she wants (and is typically stubborn about getting it).  I love hearing her laugh.  I’m constantly reminded how worthwhile her life is.  It’s worthwhile of her delighted experience of it,...

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Finding Out: Down Syndrome Prenatal Diagnosis
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It was March 23, 2010 when they told us our baby would have Down syndrome.  I was 4 months pregnant.  The news was devastating.  It’s very fresh in my mind still, what it felt like.  I can go there, my heart wide open.  It was a season of mourning – grief for the typical baby I thought I was having, as well as a...

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Happy World Down Syndrome Day (3-21)
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It’s 3/21 – World Down Syndrome Day (in honor of the 3 copies of the 21st chromosome) Perhaps we will celebrate by ordering framed portraits of our family karyotypes. How crazy is this – the other day I stumbled across a biologist/artist who makes custom artwork out of photographs of DNA. I’d be totally interested in seeing what our karyotypes look like. He sends...

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Beginners Ballet
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Beginners Ballet

Feb 22, 2014

Whitney had her first ballet class on Thursday. 45 minutes, 1 teacher, 17 girls between 3 and 8 years old. I was amazed at the class! The teacher is fantastic, leading the kids through real ballet (I mean real…french, twirls, arabesques, spotting) in a fun way that they were all trying their hardest to mimic.  I really like how it was taught.  Whitney did okay. ...

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