Portrait Party to Raise Funds for Reece's Rainbow

          My friend, Danielle Parker, a local photographer (Danielle Parker Photography), approached me in June with a very generous idea.  Inspired by John Michael and other kids with Down syndrome, she wanted to find a way to help families who were adopting children with Ds.  So she came up with a Portrait Party idea...  20 minute sessions for $30 and Danielle would donate the entire amount, including her time over one weekend in 100 degree Sacramento heat, to Reece's Rainbow in honor of the child of our choice.  For an additional $10, families could purchase a CD of their photos. 

          The idea became popular quickly, spots filled up and 12 families took advantage of the photo sessions.  $30 for a professional photographer?  Unbelievable!!  But she wanted to make it afforable.

We raised $360 for Reece's Rainbow and the money will be split for two adopting families in the Sisterhood... The Sheffield's adopting Vinnie and The Jaco's adopting Jaxon, both boys are in eastern Europe and both have Down syndrome.

          Here are a few of our shots...  keep in mind, only 20 minutes at naptime in 100 degrees of dripping heat (yes, that's John Michael fake "crying" because he didn't want to take the photo and we had to wake up Luke to do the shoot)...

 

Me and my sweetie... Happy 18th Anniversary (yesterday).  If anyone had said on our wedding day we'd have 5 children, I would've said they were crazy!  Now I know who's crazy  haha.  But each one is awesome and unique and wonderfully made...

 

I love how the boys are looking at each other here...

"John Michael, what does Piet in Holland do?"  He wanted nothing to do with that.  Anna looks like she'd rather be in a different family :-)

My heart.  The reason I started this blog... the reason I have more friends than I can count... more sisters on this journey than I ever thought imaginable...

My spunky little man.  Full of love and the biggest hugs a mom could ask for...
Pure boy.  Pure stinker.

The is decidedly "the family photo" of choice  :-)

Brothers, bookends, biggest to smallest... 6'4" to little man...

Who doesn't love Greta!

These two melt my heart...  These boys laugh, run, play, cry, fight, push, hug, kiss, and care for each other like no other!

Need I say more?

 

Sisterhood in Cabo San Lucas (May 2012)

Back in May, I spent 5 amazing days in Cabo San Lucas with 6 of my Ds mama sisters!  No kids, no schedule, no housework, no worries...  

The margaritas from Monkey Business Bar were so huge, we had to share!  And look at the garnish!  A lime inside a lime to make the sun.  Gorgeous!

You might recognize some of these awesome women from Blogland or Facebook...
L to R:  Gina, Lisa, LauraBeth, Irma, Debbie, Jen and yours truly.

Lisa and Irma on our glass bottom boat headed to the Arch and Lover's Beach.

Debbie and I soaking in the rays before getting out at Lover's Beach...

Can you see the horse head in the rock formation?

Here's Lover's Beach and the pathway to Divorce Beach.  The water is so wild over there, some don't return (or so it's said...)

I don't recall the name of this rock formation, but it was an upside down Baja...

The Arch. 
Wild, turbulent waters where the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez meet.

Lands' End.
Literally.
I'm guessing the sea lion could care less...

Lisa making our mark at Lover's Beach...

2012 SISTERHOOD (T21).
Too bad it only lasted a few minutes...

Matching bracelets from a Mexican artisan shop!  I used to make this pattern from Wrigley's gum wrappers as a kid.  Who knew it would some day be art?!

Amazing brunch in Cabo del San Jose!  The food was so fresh and delicioso!

With my sisters.  Sadly, two had to fly home that morning...  :-(

After Mass in a Jesuit mission built in 1730.  I LOVED that the Mass music was a Mariachi Band in the balcony with full harmony and accordion.  Sooooo wonderful!!

Sharing an afternoon Corona with Jen on our balcony after a day of doing not so much  :-)

Monday morning... our time is almost done.  Spending our last few hours at the beach and swimming in the sea.

The perfect balance of relaxation and fun!!!

John Michael's Bedtime Prayers

I have to share!  John Michael had been such a little stinker all day, but by that evening's bedtime prayers, he was a perfect little saint.  So sweet!  Love this boy!!!

Looking Cool...

John Michael's "Before" Look

Coaxing Luke to check it out...

"Hi Lady, it's my turn..."

Funny thing... we were there just for Nic to get a haircut, but once John Michael saw the stylist, he wanted his haircut, too.

All smiles!

Luke and I had fun watching the boys get cleaned up.

Almost done...

A little hair goo and Voila!

A new Nic and John Michael!

Greetings from the Air

Greetings from thousands of feet in the air.

Yes, this Ds mama is flying to Cabo with some of her closest Ds mama friends from the Sisterhood.

Running at full speed day in and day out with 5 kids -- one teen, one tween, one redhead, one with Ds and one toddler.. Not to mention the dog, the cat, the fish and the husband. I'm very blessed, to be sure, but I haven't had a true break, a real respite, in many, many years and it's well-deserved.

Joining me are Lisa, Jen, Debbie, Irma, Gina and Laura Beth.

5 DAYS!!!!

So, pardon the shift in posts. I'm coming from a different place, literally and figuratively.

I will miss my family terribly, I'm sure, but for now, I look forward to the adventure which lies ahead...

Watching out for little brother...

John Michael really took Luke under his wing yesterday while Doug and I were looking at stones for a retaining wall in our backyard. 


Completely unprompted, he took Luke by the hand and began walking with him toward the gardens.

Luke loves John Michael ("Mah-ker" as Luke calls him) and it's mutual.

I would LOVE to know what John Michael is explaining to Luke...

and Luke replying...

Two peas in a pod, separated by 2 1/2 years, but bonded for life.

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.