The Sisterhood 3 Year Anniversary-- Love and Friendship, all because of one extra chromosome...

April 5, 2009

L to R:  Sheridan (Lisa Lindsey), Gabby (Sheree Pham), John Michael (Monica Crumley, me) and Joaquin (Jennifer Sanchez)

I missed our anniversary by 20 days, but here's to celebrating 3 years of love and friendship, all because our little ones shared a common chromosome.

Little did we know that our play date would be the beginning of something amazing.  A bond of kinship, a Sisterhood, sometimes stronger than blood.  These moms "get it".  Our kids are all unique, but we all "get it". 

And one by one, the Sisterhood grew...
one precious chromosomally enhanced child at a time. 
John Michael and Gracie hit it off immediately!

Joey (on his tummy) melted everyone with his huge brown eyes.
(L to R:  Gracie, Joaquin, John Michael, Gabby, Joey, and Sheridan)

Our friendship continued to grow and was cemented even further when Jennifer Sanchez made the journey to adopt Sofia from the Ukraine, giving Joaquin a little sister with an extra chromosome.  The photo above is Jen's fairwell gathering before making the long journey to get Sofia.  (L to R:  Joaquin, Ainsley, Joey (tummy), John Michael, Christian (back), Sheridan and Annelies)

Since then, several more moms have stepped up to adopt a child (or two!) with Down syndrome.  These women have amazingly generous hearts and a love so deep, so humbling.

Many new sibling babies have also joined the group and more are on the way...

Sofia looks nothing like she did in her orphanage!  Isn't it amazing what love and care do for our little ones?

Here, my chubby Luke is checking out Christopher, another of John Michael's buddies.

 
Annelies peaking out from behind John Michael at Bishop's farm last fall.


(Gracie and John Michael last fall...)

The beauty of the Sisterhood, which is now over 80 moms strong, is that no matter what you're going through, whether it's a rough patch, a medical issue, a milestone celebration, an IEP question, or just need to vent or share, we are here for each other.  We care about each other and want our kids to make a positive impact on our society.  With moms like these in the Sisterhood, the Sacramento region has no choice but to make way for a new breed of kids with Ds (and their moms!)  We are standing strong and will continue to support each other and educate those around us about Down syndrome and our amazing kids.