So what's the big diff?

John Michael made quite an impression on families at the park yesterday.

You could say he was his own self-advocate.

A walking poster boy for the "We're More Alike Than Different" campaign.

He walked up to children and waved. One little boy kissed John Michael on the cheek and then put his head on JM's chest.  Very endearing.  John Michael didn't seem to mind at all. 

He walked up to adults, tipping his head to the side and smiling, until they would acknowledge him.

He played "soccer" with the 4 to 6 year old kids, chasing and hitting the ball with his hand or kicking it.

And generally made people smile.

So, what's so different about that.

Well, actually, it is different.  None of my other three were quite as social as John Michael.  It's impossible to go somewhere without someone talking to him (sometimes ignoring me!).  There is a difference, but it's a good one.  In so many ways he's like every other kid, but I like the fact that his personality makes him stand out... in a good way.  :-)

My Poster Boy for the More Alike Than Different Campaign

I love this! It came just in time for our Step Up for Down Syndrome walk this coming Sunday, October 25th. Maybe I can get some posters printed in time...

The NDSC is offering this fun, free service to anyone who submits a photo of their child or an adult with Down syndrome and a short blurb on something that they like to do or some special talent they have.

This was a no-brainer for me. While John Michael loves to do many things, his first and foremost all-time favorite activity is to make music, sing and dance. This boy has music in his soul.

While music is in his genes, I like to think that some of his musical interest developed while I was pregnant with him. I was 4 1/2 months pregnant when I toured with my vocal group, RSVP (Reconciliation Singers Voices of Peace) to Houma, New Orleans and Slidell, Louisiana, the summer of 2007. That boy lived and breathed and developed while listening to some gorgeous vocal music as well as instrumental sounds from the United Nations Youth Symphony, all the while uplifting victims of Hurricane Katrina.

If you'd like to have NDSC make a poster for your child, here's the link http://www.ndsccenter.org/morealikecode/.
It takes a few weeks for them to get it back to you.

Thankful Thursday

(Here's our family at a beautiful wedding a couple weeks ago)

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I just can't get over this thought...

There are so many wonderful people that have come into our lives this past year.

I'm in AWE! And so thankful!

All it took was for one little boy to be born at the right time in history, to the right family, in the right order, with a particular extra chromosome in the right place.

Unbelievable.

I am thankful to my incredible family, all the people who read my blog, and to those whom I've met in person, or through blogging, Facebook, and the NDSC Convention in Sacramento this past July.

Thanks for being there for me! The journey is so much sweeter with friends in all the right places.

HAPPY DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH!

Looking Forward to a Great New Year!

Happy New Year!
2008 was a great year for our immediate family as we watched our sweet little infant grow by leaps and bounds into a crawling and spunky little boy. The changes that occur in the first year of a child's life has always amazed me -- everything is a "first" and so exciting. With John Michael, we celebrated the typical major milestones, like rolling over, sitting up, his first birthday, his first tooth, crawling, pulling up to his knees... But having a child with Down syndrome, we also celebrated every little step inbetween. John Michael has taught us to slow down and enjoy where he is in his development. Our therapists help us break down the major developmental milestones into smaller chunks which add to the joy as we cheer him on with each new victory. It was very difficult for him to reach up over his head until recently. His music therapy helped in this area greatly and now he responds to, "How big is John Michael? So BIG!" by lifting his arms up over his head. He just began waving back to us and clapping his hands when he gets excited. His comprehension of simple requests and names of certain objects and all his family members is a huge deal for us as well.
We know 2009 will be an even better year as he continues to grow and we continue to grow in our unconditional love of this little guy who has changed so many hearts in so little time. It's truly amazing what God has created. We know He doesn't make mistakes and we are blessed to have John Michael in our family. 2008 was also a HUGE year for our family in terms of meeting many people, some who have a loved one with Down syndrome, who are drawn to John Michael in some way. I know God has called me to advocacy for this little guy and others like him. I'm ready for 2009. Hang on, here we go.................