Day 2 of 31 for 21: Who does John Michael look like?

Day 2: 31 for 21...

Down syndrome is a condition -- a set of symptoms and features common among people with Down syndrome (and yes, the word "syndrome" is lowercase in the US and Canada)... Your child is *your* child -- more like his or her parents, siblings and other close relatives than anybody else. These two facts make your child a distinct individual -- a person who will grow to have a unique personality and capabilities. No one can tell you who or what your child will become. No one can or should even try to predict. It is just so for all children -- all we can say for sure is that you have a beautiful baby, a child of God... who is not a mistake or an accident, for He makes no mistakes. (paraphrased and embellished from NDSC's expectant parent guide...)

I can say that John Michael most resembles Anna in the family... they have the same hair color and texture, similar face shape and eye color, but John Michael has very soft hands and Anna has strong, lean hands from piano. John Michael also has the characteristic "almond shaped" eyes and flat nose bridge, smaller fingers and toes and a sandal gap between his toes... Other than that, he looks all Crumley... a complete amalgamation of his parents and resembling his sibs in various ways... John Michael and Anna have a very strong and loving bond between them. Greta is the most patient and fun for John Michael... she teaches him to dance and sing and she has always been a mini-therapist to him having carefully watched his early intervention therapists over his first 3 years... Luke is the best playmate and I can't imagine John Michael not having Luke to play with and battle with. They have a very strong, caring bond and they are very competitive with each other this year, since Luke is now in TK at the same school as JM (2 classes apart). When I ask JM how to spell "Mom", Luke yells "M-O-M" from the backseat. John Michael will then yell back, "NO LUKE! I can do it!" Finally, Nic and John Michael have a very unique and strong bond as well. John Michael adores and idolizes Nic and gets very sad when "Bruller" (brother) isn't home. Nic is the one who takes him to the fish hatchery with the bike trailer and rough houses with him. I would say John Michael is extremely blessed to have his sibs, but they are also extremely blessed to have John Michael and I LOVE the compassion and caring I'm seeing in my kids towards people with physical or intellectual disabilities. And for that, I'm eternally grateful...

Have a blessed day!