Whitney has been keeping us on our toes lately with new and improved escape techniques. This past week, it culminated with her first police encounter from the scariest breakaway disappearance yet. She has upped her game and can now climb over our side gate while covering her tracks behind her (looks like the doors are all locked behind her), and she is able to...
It was about 5:45pm, I had just turned off the burner where dinner had just finished sauteing. I rounded the corner and saw this. Whitney. Oh my gosh. It’s deafeningly quiet, when did I see her last? hear her last? I didn’t even look around the house, I yelled up to Tyler (who was working in the office upstairs) and ran out the door...
I always thought Whitney was a good sleeper. She slept through the night when only a few months old, she would sleep soundly even amidst moderate noise and light. Sometimes she snored, but not crazy loud and never with snorts or gasps, it was more of a cute snore and usually it seemed to coordinate with being congested from a cold. She was pretty...
With Whitney on the verge of Kindergarten we’ve had to put on some serious pants and think through the education considerations ahead. Decisions will have to be made, services likely advocated for, and all about a future that we cannot foresee. This is tough stuff, friends. I suppose education decisions are something all parents have to go through: public or private? or home school? ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
In response to my post about finding out Whitney’s Down Syndrome diagnosis, I was interviewed by 4Word Women about dealing with unmet expectations in motherhood. The interview came out today – check it out here! Work, Pray, Love. 4Word Women is a site geared toward professional women seeking balance in career, relationships, and faith. ...
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...
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...