Celebrating those with designer genes...

Another guest post from David, since being home from our vacation on Spring Break, Abigail and Andrew were back in school this week and Kristi was back at work, but Grace had her Spring Break this week and I had another week off of school, so me and Grace got to kick it all week.  It was fun having some daddy/daughter time together, it kind of reminded me of our time together in the hospital.  

Grace had her annual check up at the Down Syndrome clinic on Thursday.  We spent about two hours there, as occupational therapy and speech therapy assessed Grace, followed by the doctor giving his own assessment.  The doctor stated that he would be pleased for kids with Down syndrome around Grace's age to be at least at half of their developmental age; therefore, since Grace is 30 months, he would have been pleased if she was at least at 15 months developmentally, but by the grace of God Grace is developmentally around 24 months.  The doctor even stated himself that God's hand can be seen all over this because with Grace having spent so much time in the hospital and being on bypass 6 times during her surgeries, he was very surprised that she would be doing so well developmentally.  Praise God!  He has certainly used The Rise School and her amazing big sister and brother to help her be all that He created her to be.

This is what we found when we asked the big kids to quietly check to see if Grace was awake...

Another praise, Andrew had his follow-up appointment with the ENT and he was very pleased with how well Andrew has healed and how great his sinuses look now.

Yesterday, we celebrated National Down Syndrome day with Abigail having a morning soccer game in the rain and in the afternoon we went to the Gigi's playhouse celebration at a local park, which was also in the rain, but turned out to be Grace's favorite part of the event.  She had so much joy just running around in the rain, I think she knew her extra chromosome was being celebrated!

"The rain rules!"

We couldn't take our eyes off of Grace for a second because she was determined to go swimming in the duck pond game.  I guess it's better than trying to go swimming in the lake at the park :-/.

Some of the kiddos from our Life Group that came out to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day!!!

Thank you for being a part of our Village!!!

Post Spring Break update...

We had a GREAT family (and friends) vacation in San Antonio for Spring Break...

...where we enjoyed the pool, lazy river, Sea World (the Pets Ahoy show where they have rescued dogs, cats, birds, a pig, and even a skunk do amazing tricks is a family favorite, in fact the moment it ends until we can adequately distract Grace she is begging for "MORE"!), and some Elmo shows...

...a magic show where the magician made Abigail levitate (it was seriously CrAzY), pick up soccer games...

...a mystery dinner that the kids starred in, and a block party...

...AND a serious game of tag (where I was finally able to tag Abigail after letting her get nice and worn out from running around so much...  I'm not ready to be out run by my 7 year old :-).

One thing that we didn't do on vacation was go on the water slides at our hotel (that the kids went on a hundred times when we were there last time/off season) or the big roller coaster at Sea World because our efforts to look 48' tall failed...

However, Abigail had a great attitude about it (we talked and prayed about it a lot in preparation for a possible/very likely "no")!

Abigail attended a birthday party sleepover last night, so we spent some special one-on-one time with Andrew (and the little trailer, Grace :-).  

During dinner we asked Andrew some of theses questions that we modified to suit a 6 year old...

Our hope was to get a glimpse into his heart and mind to make sure that we aren't missing an opportunity to come along side of him and pray/encourage him about something specific. The one answer that blew my mind and taught David and I a great deal as to how Andrew feels "loved well" is his response to my question about the "best day of his life/or favorite memory."  It wasn't Disneyland, getting a new toy, the vacation that we just returned from, etc.  Instead, he very matter of factly said "the time that you and I were in the hospital together."  He is referring to the time that he was in the hospital with a terrible case of pneumonia last August.  Despite being super sick and undergoing all sorts of pokes, the thing that resonated most in his mind was the uninterrupted, one-on-one time that we spent together, laughing, snuggling, watching TV, and just chatting with nowhere else to go and nothing else to do.  Wow!  Kids really do spell love, T-I-M-E and it doesn't have to be TIME spent doing something fancy.  The funny thing is that I have such fond memories of the time that Andrew and I spent in the hospital together too, it's just so crazy that a hospital stay could be such a sweet blessing (only God could pull that one off)! No wonder Grace is SUCH a Daddy's girl, they've done A LOT of bonding in the hospital ;-)

The Besties...

This is how Grace feels about you being a part of her Village!

We love you and hope you have a blessed week!

Spring Break...

Long time no see, sweet Village!  I apologize for my absence the past couple of weeks, to say we've been busy is an understatement.  

-Grace and I had a great birthday celebration last Saturday!  No, it's not Grace's birthday yet (she doesn't turn three until August 27th); however, I couldn't help but crack up because it was on my birthday that I realized how Grace must think that everyday is her birthday around this house because everyone is constantly doting on her.  For instance, David and the kids brought me breakfast in bed for my birthday, as well as some precious cards that they made for me.  For every card they made me, they made Grace two, and they spent much of the morning decorating Grace's door to her bedroom with the new cards and pictures that they made her.  Not to mention that they/we are always vying for the opportunity to steal kisses, snuggles, and giggles from our little Gracie Doo (even if she's being a stinker).  I have to say that it was such a neat time of reflection on the morning of my birthday to realize how much the big kids ADORE their little sister because it was just three short years ago that I worried and wondered if all of the extra attention that Grace would require and the fact that she would be "different" would take away from the big kids in a way that caused them to feel like they got gypped having a sibling with special needs.  Needless to say, nothing could be further from the truth because God is bigger and better than all of those earthly fears!  I spent my birthday cheering on Abigail and her soccer team in a hard fought game that they won!  We went bowling and had dinner with my dad and step-mom.  

Pre-birthday dinner with my In-Loves!

The kids's got to dress up for Go Texas Day at school!

  

My bowling buddies...

...And I didn't get a picture of the nail-biter soccer game or my birthday dinner with my parents :-(.

-Abigail had her 2nd Grade Famous Americans play this past week in which she got to be Rosa Parks.  She did such a great job, we were so proud of her and all of the other 2nd graders!

-Andrew had his Kindergarden Rodeo at school this week as well, which was precious and extra special because we didn't get to go to Abigail's when she was in Kinder because we were in the hospital with Grace.

-World Down Syndrome Day is March 21st and Gigi's Playhouse is thrilled to be hosting a celebration at the Sugar Land Memorial Park that day.  If you aren't close enough to come celebrate with us in person, will you please join us in celebrating from afar by wearing crazy socks and/or Down Syndrome colors (blue and yellow) on March 21st (get it... 3/21 = 3 copies of the 21st chromosome :-)?

-We are currently on a much needed vacation for Spring Break.  Will you please pray for safety, health (I have to constantly give my fear that someone is going to wake up sick, especially Grace, to the Lord), attitudes of gratitude, and many special memories to be made?  We are looking forward to all sorts of fun activities, but I'm really looking forward to getting outside on a big open field to play a family favorite game of tag...  you see when we play in our backyard I get nervous that someone is going to hurt themselves by running into the grill, play set, table and chairs, or any of the other potential obstacles that could require another visit to the ER, so I can't wait to play in an open field to make sure that my 7 year old can't really tag me!  Abigail is SO stinkin' fast that she seriously gives me a run for my money and I'm not ready to submit to getting beat by my 7 year old :-).  I'll let you know how it goes!

Hope y'all have a blessed week, joining us in our efforts to maintaining an attitude of gratitude in all things!   We all have so much to be grateful for "Every good and perfect gift is from above." James 1:17