Our "LT"
Monday, March 31, 2014
Headed to DC...
I am heading to DC with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. This is my second year to be a fellow with this organization. April 13th will mark the 10th anniversary that The Captain was wounded. It's hard to believe we are still involved with trying to make change for those coming up behind us. I am proud to be a part of this wonderful organization.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
MY AWARENESS CONTINUES!
This week The Captain and I will be taking our precious LT to have surgery. It's nothing major like open heart surgery but I am still a nervous basket case because she will be put to sleep for the procedure. I would advise anyone that considers the Bone Anchored Hearing Appliance this...do not watch You Tube videos of the procedure. It does not help. This is what will be happening. http://youtu.be/ZgH0WhjjozM
Please keep her in your prayers.
She is the strongest person I know.
The Captains Wife
Please keep her in your prayers.
She is the strongest person I know.
The Captains Wife
- Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21. This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome.
- There are three types of Down syndrome: trisomy 21 (nondisjunction) accounts for 95% of cases, translocation accounts for about 4% and mosaicism accounts for about 1%. (LT has trisomy 21)
- Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring chromosomal condition. One in every 691 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome. (I hit the jackpot!)
- There are more than 400,000 people living with Down syndrome in the United States. (400,000 plus amazing people!)
- Down syndrome occurs in people of all races and economic levels. (sweet)
- The incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother. But due to higher fertility rates in younger women, 80% of children with Down syndrome are born to women under 35 years of age. (I was 28 and she was my 1st born)
- People with Down syndrome have an increased risk for certain medical conditions such as congenital heart defects, respiratory and hearing problems, Alzheimer's disease, childhood leukemia, and thyroid conditions. Many of these conditions are now treatable, so most people with Down syndrome lead healthy lives. (Hey we have 4 on the list. We are still rockin)
- A few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm. Every person with Down syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degrees or not at all. (PS, They are NOT ALL HAPPY 100% of the time)
- Life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has increased dramatically in recent decades - from 25 in 1983 to 60 today. (This is awesome! I pray my LT is with me a long time)
- People with Down syndrome attend school, work, participate in decisions that affect them, and contribute to society in many wonderful ways.
- All people with Down syndrome experience cognitive delays, but the effect is usually mild to moderate and is not indicative of the many strengths and talents that each individual possesses.
- Quality educational programs, a stimulating home environment, good health care, and positive support from family, friends and the community enable people with Down syndrome to develop their full potential and lead fulfilling lives.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
OCTOBER IS DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH
October is Down Syndrome awareness month. Each year I share why I am truly blessed that we were chosen to the parents of our daughter, Lauren. She is 14 years old and was born with Trisomy 21.
When I was pregnant The Captain was an active duty, enlisted Marine. We lived in southern California and she was our first child.
Early on I began to get sick and I learned I suffered from hyperemisis. I later found out this would continue with all four of my pregnancies.
At our 20 week ultrasound our lives would take a big turn. The Captain pointed out a small mark on our babies belly and within 10 min we were set to have an amniocentesis. It was a marker for either Down Syndrome or Cystic Fibrosis. The next few days were a blur for me. However, on a Friday we received a call from our doctor. Our baby was going to be born with Down Syndrome. We were asked if we wanted to know the sex. Under the circumstances we said yes. "Its a girl" Dr G proudly exclaimed. By law in California we had to be offered an option if termination. Although Dr. G didn't want us to take this route he would support us. He said "because you are now 21 weeks you only have until Monday to make the choice. I will wait to hear from you then."
I won't lie, I was devastated. I went and fell on the floor of her nursery and cried. I went through everything in my head. What had I done wrong? Why me? How could I raise a child with a disability? Would The Captain stay or leave? So many painful thoughts flowed with my tears.
The Captain allowed me about an hour alone and then the door opened. He sat in front of me and held my face in his hands. I clearly remember his words like they were just spoken to me yesterday "this is OUR BABY and you have cried enough. You are probably making her upset. We got this, together. She will be amazing and beautiful just like her momma." I knew at that moment we were going to be okay.
We had to call our family and share the news with our friends. We had a few people that were sure we couldn't do it but mostly we were surrounded by love and support.
I would spend the next few months reading everything I could and attending new parent meetings. It was hard but I knew I was making the right choice. I could already feel her moving around and we picked her name "Lauren Taylor"
The day came for her to join our family. She came into this world early and loud. I could see her features right away but she was just so stinking cute all I could do is cry.
In my mind I could hear all those people saying she would never be anything, do anything or achieve anything. The moment she was placed in my arms I knew this wouldn't be true. I would make sure of it.
She had open heart surgery at 4 months old and we were told she was going to die. 12 days later she was home and 1 month later she was crawling.
She's had 9 sets of ear tubes and she can't hear well, yet she talks, reads and sings.
At 15 months she started running. I have chased her from that moment on.
She knew the words and movements to every Barney song ever made and now she knows them all to One Direction.
She can play some on the piano. She sings like she is a rock star. She loves freely even if you have hurt her.
I could go on and on. Our society sees her and people like her as disabled, different and some even say a burden. I say she is perfect. People like her, in my opinion, are how God intended us to be. To love unconditionally and to live life without fear. She has a connection with people I have never see before. She can ease the pain of a lost life and she can make you smile even after she just went through her own pain.
Thank you Lauren for making me a better human being. I don't know how long I will have you on this Earth so I will love you and enjoy you just as you are, a normal, funny teenage girl that just wants to live life. I promise to fight for you. I promise to love you. I promise to be there for you as long as I am alive.
You are truly amazing.
When I was pregnant The Captain was an active duty, enlisted Marine. We lived in southern California and she was our first child.
Early on I began to get sick and I learned I suffered from hyperemisis. I later found out this would continue with all four of my pregnancies.
At our 20 week ultrasound our lives would take a big turn. The Captain pointed out a small mark on our babies belly and within 10 min we were set to have an amniocentesis. It was a marker for either Down Syndrome or Cystic Fibrosis. The next few days were a blur for me. However, on a Friday we received a call from our doctor. Our baby was going to be born with Down Syndrome. We were asked if we wanted to know the sex. Under the circumstances we said yes. "Its a girl" Dr G proudly exclaimed. By law in California we had to be offered an option if termination. Although Dr. G didn't want us to take this route he would support us. He said "because you are now 21 weeks you only have until Monday to make the choice. I will wait to hear from you then."
I won't lie, I was devastated. I went and fell on the floor of her nursery and cried. I went through everything in my head. What had I done wrong? Why me? How could I raise a child with a disability? Would The Captain stay or leave? So many painful thoughts flowed with my tears.
The Captain allowed me about an hour alone and then the door opened. He sat in front of me and held my face in his hands. I clearly remember his words like they were just spoken to me yesterday "this is OUR BABY and you have cried enough. You are probably making her upset. We got this, together. She will be amazing and beautiful just like her momma." I knew at that moment we were going to be okay.
We had to call our family and share the news with our friends. We had a few people that were sure we couldn't do it but mostly we were surrounded by love and support.
I would spend the next few months reading everything I could and attending new parent meetings. It was hard but I knew I was making the right choice. I could already feel her moving around and we picked her name "Lauren Taylor"
The day came for her to join our family. She came into this world early and loud. I could see her features right away but she was just so stinking cute all I could do is cry.
In my mind I could hear all those people saying she would never be anything, do anything or achieve anything. The moment she was placed in my arms I knew this wouldn't be true. I would make sure of it.
She had open heart surgery at 4 months old and we were told she was going to die. 12 days later she was home and 1 month later she was crawling.
She's had 9 sets of ear tubes and she can't hear well, yet she talks, reads and sings.
At 15 months she started running. I have chased her from that moment on.
She knew the words and movements to every Barney song ever made and now she knows them all to One Direction.
She can play some on the piano. She sings like she is a rock star. She loves freely even if you have hurt her.
I could go on and on. Our society sees her and people like her as disabled, different and some even say a burden. I say she is perfect. People like her, in my opinion, are how God intended us to be. To love unconditionally and to live life without fear. She has a connection with people I have never see before. She can ease the pain of a lost life and she can make you smile even after she just went through her own pain.
Thank you Lauren for making me a better human being. I don't know how long I will have you on this Earth so I will love you and enjoy you just as you are, a normal, funny teenage girl that just wants to live life. I promise to fight for you. I promise to love you. I promise to be there for you as long as I am alive.
You are truly amazing.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Be kind to others...you never know when you will need them.
Today I felt compelled to write this. I will keep why I am posting it to myself but I would like to tell you this: Everyday God puts people in our path for a reason. That person you are hurting may be someone you need to help you in the future. That person you allowed others to treat poorly may have been someone that could have changed your life in a good way. That person you picked on, made fun of, or mocked, could have been the very person you need or will need to save you.
We are all on a journey and each of us are located on different places along that path. I know that my path has taken me down some dark alleys but I came out a better and stronger person. I have more knowledge and understanding of life and I know how blessed I am. I love helping people and God has given me the the gift, to reach out and help because I am a caretaker.
Bad karma is defined as the set of consequences given to a person as a result of the bad choices that he or she may have made in their past. Karma is a spiritual law that in essence states that the seeds that a person sows in their life, will produce a plant later on in their life. Sowing seeds of dishonor, unfaithfulness, dishonesty, and so on, would be considered sowing seeds of bad karma. Many believe that sowing the wrong spiritual and emotional seeds, will also affect your spiritual life in a bad way over time, and will also affect you negatively in your emotional realm as well. Karma is essentially getting later on what you give in your past. I have done bad things and had it come around to me. I learned from this.
As the famous actress Sandra Bullock quoted
“ I'm a true believer in karma. You get what you give, whether it's bad or good.” This is a sentiment that many believe in and hold tightly to, living their lives by it.
I found these quotes I find enlightening too:
I am not perfect. I strive today to be better that I was yesterday. I have met so many good people that have given their love, understanding and friendship when I was down. They never once kicked me or treated me bad.
I pray that no one ever has to live through some of the hurt, sorrow and fear that I have lived through in my life. If you need help I am here. Even if you hurt me and treated me like the dirt you walk on I am still willing to help. I have learned that God wants me to move forward and forgive. Just remember that Karma is real.
God even says: Matthew 25:40
…39'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 40"The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' 41"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;…
Be blessed.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
*Sigh*
I am so overwhelmed today. I know it will get better, I really do. I just wish for one day the world would slow down and I could breathe and relax.
Have a wonderful day.
Have a wonderful day.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
HAPPY WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY!
Today I celebrate with millions of people around the world some of the most amazing people born.
It all started one day when I found out I was pregnant with our first child. The year was 1998 and Chris had returned from his deployment. We had told our friends Linda and Lee Anna that we were expecting at a party we were attending at Linda's house. A few days later I started getting sick. I was watched close and during an ultrasound Chris found a spot on the baby.
We went in for an Amnio and the results came back "your child will have Down Syndrome"
As a mother I was devastated. Could I raise a child with special needs? Could I handle the looks in pubic? Could I really do this? I lay on the floor crying when Chris walked in and said "Can you please get up? Thats our baby in there and you are crying so she must feel it. We got this!" I knew from that moment on we would make it.
Lauren was born January 8th 1999 in California. She came out ready for the world. She had to stay 21 days in the NICU and at 4 months old we almost lost her when she had open heart surgery. She made it home in 12 days and has been taking on the world with sass, strength and love since then.
I am so very blessed and honored that I get to be her mom while she walks on this Earth. It is my belief that she is perfect just as she is and one day we will run the streets of Heaven together.
Lauren loves to sing..play piano..watch You Tube and movies..she can read and write..she loves One Direction..and more. She has so much to offer.
She has forever changed me and how I see the world.
Please join me in celebrating with the world our gifts from God.
Lauren, I love you kiddo. You are my best buggy in the whole wide world. Oh Yea!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
OKAY..
First let me say I was looking at my picture and I wish I still looked like that. I don't know what happened! HA.
Today was one of those days you just want to get back in bed and pull the covers over your head. I think I have been to a record amount of doctors visits this month. I have covered teeth, ears, hearing, vomiting, fever...you name it! Tomorrow they are all going back to school YES! I can't tell you how much I love and adore my girls..they just need to get back to school.
Princess 1, our daughter with Down Syndrome, has been very entertaining these past few days. Apparently she took her One Direction stuff to school without me knowing. Ok, does anyone know where the person who told me she would never do anything wrong is located? This girl is 100% teen, drama queen! She has her music so loud it shakes the house. Then I remember I did all the same stuff when I was 14. She is just NORMAL. HA!
Apparently at bowling she has grown smitten with a teammate. I have to laugh because she told me she loves him. I wonder if it's the same love she has for Harry. Anyway, I had to tell her the entire practice to focus on the game. It's only just begun! We are just months away from having a High school freshman.
So, I am off to bed. I have a mid-term exam tomorrow. Yep, I went back to school and work to add to the craziness. The Captain is making me proud. Still chugging along in life surrounded by pure estrogen. The love of my life!!
Have a blessed day,
The Captains wife
Today was one of those days you just want to get back in bed and pull the covers over your head. I think I have been to a record amount of doctors visits this month. I have covered teeth, ears, hearing, vomiting, fever...you name it! Tomorrow they are all going back to school YES! I can't tell you how much I love and adore my girls..they just need to get back to school.
Princess 1, our daughter with Down Syndrome, has been very entertaining these past few days. Apparently she took her One Direction stuff to school without me knowing. Ok, does anyone know where the person who told me she would never do anything wrong is located? This girl is 100% teen, drama queen! She has her music so loud it shakes the house. Then I remember I did all the same stuff when I was 14. She is just NORMAL. HA!
Apparently at bowling she has grown smitten with a teammate. I have to laugh because she told me she loves him. I wonder if it's the same love she has for Harry. Anyway, I had to tell her the entire practice to focus on the game. It's only just begun! We are just months away from having a High school freshman.
So, I am off to bed. I have a mid-term exam tomorrow. Yep, I went back to school and work to add to the craziness. The Captain is making me proud. Still chugging along in life surrounded by pure estrogen. The love of my life!!
Have a blessed day,
The Captains wife
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