Being Up With Down Syndrome

Dear Dad, it has been ten years since you were taken from us.  I don't like to go back to that morning in July when we lost you.  You that could make me laugh at anytime.  You that would call me in the mornings and say "is this Helen Ogden???  Pause...Rogers???  You would wait for me on the porch when I would come over with all the littles.  I miss you.  Miss all the cop stories.  Miss all the Crafton stories of growing up like a Wonderful Life.  Miss the big dinners.  What I wouldn't give for just one more thanksgiving dinner.  Just one more.  I will admit this.  My life has a piece missing ever since you died.  Some things aren't as fun anymore.  I don't laugh like I used too and I know and understand too much now.  I know you had a hand in getting Kate to us. She certainly would have been the apple of your eye.  You would have wanted to see her...  She is my families joy.  So, here it is yo...

As I sit in the quiet of my house this morning, I am thankful.  Our life is about to get very busy with one young adult commuting to College, one child to pre-school and two young teens to be homeschooled with outside classes.  It is going to be very busy and for the children, exciting and fulfilling.  I'm trying to take on an attitude of success and accomplishing many things.  Part of me wants to just skip to Thanksgiving break!  You can't wish your life away.  It is all going too fast. The first child up in the morning is our Looly (Kate).  She wakes up and then begins the "talking" and raspberry's.  I like to hear her say Mum!!!  The joy and hugs in the morning are so loving.  She wants her sippy cup of milk and after a piece of toast while watching her favorite show the Wiggles.  She will be starting a new year at pre-school next week and I can't wait to see her blossom even more than she has. Each girl wakes up all sleep...

I'm a wife.  A mother.  A daughter.  A sister.  A niece.  A cousin.  A friend.  I'm a Catholic.  A homeschool mom.  A business owner.  A farm owner.  A mom to a special needs child. I'm weak.  There are so many projects to be done and I'm tired.  I don't know how to ask for help, so I keep plugging along thinking it will all get better.  So we are probably like many of you reading this! Where did the summer go?  It really didn't feel like summer...it was too full!  4H, ballet, just activities everywhere and with each child.  We fenced in a nice big area for Kate to play and tried to take her swimming every chance we had. Writing this blog was to show people the truth about Down Syndrome.  That it is a delay.  People with Down Syndrome are successful, great people.  Successes in learning and functioning in their lives.  This blog was to talk about obstacles, successes and being pr...

Looly started school!  She is going to a Special Needs Preschool to get speech therapy, occupational  therapy and physical therapy.  She was leary after the first day but once she saw her ole favorite Physical Therapist, Matt, the game was on! Matt is a young man that is married with two daughters.  He loves Kate.  He calls her turkey and she squeals with happiness.  When we first saw him after a year break, she actually kissed his cheek.  Matt has all of Kate's respect.  Matt challenges and pushes her to do better.  Sometimes there is even tears, but she will work hard for him.  By the next week he will see improvement.  It makes us all laugh at her stubborn determination to "show Matt!" This past week we were made aware through the speech therapist that they rang a bell directly behind Looly and she didn't flinch or turn to look.  So we made an appointment with a hearing specialist.  I do not believe she is 100% deaf...

Notice in the title of this blog I said PERSON.  Because you have a diagnosis, doesn't make you that, you are a person first.  So our Looly (Kate) has Down Syndrome.  She isn't Down Syndrome, as my good friend Tim, pointed out to me at a bad time.  My problem is, I don't see it, like others.  When I am home with Looly, she is just my child, like the rest.  When we are in public or with other children without disabilities, then I see it.  Many times I don't like looking through others eyes at Looly.  It was suggested to me how relieved some friends were that we are sending her to school.  As if all along we weren't handling this right.  The thing is, we had to realize that these people are clueless and most of the time Looly isn't even on their radar.  They have busy lives and we are just a fleeting thought of "well I would have..."  My good friend Amy said, don't look back with regret, you were doing God's plan and now is the t...