Remember You're Unique, Just Like Everyone Else

My title is borrowed from an email my mom had forwarded to me. It was a list of zen teachings, which I found rather humorous, and the one that stuck to me was "Remember you're unique, just like everyone else". I think it's because I am relating it to much of the literature about Down syndrome for new parents, which is so much better these days than it was 10, 20 and more years ago. Sadly, many years ago, the message to new parents of babies with Down syndrome was "Put your baby in an institution and forget about him." Today, in most places, the message to new parents is "Congratulations! Take him home, get to know him and love him, as all babies deserve. You are about to embark on an amazing journey." To this day, advocates for Down syndrome continue efforts to replace outdated information that OB-Gyns and pediatricians may have. (Thank you!!)

When Bill and I had first found out that Matthew had Down syndrome, I remember how we were both overwhelmed with uncertainty and fear. It was our unpreparedness and the lack of knowledge about our new set of circumstances that caused our initial grief. How different would our lives be? How would society treat us? What was Matthew's future going to be like, what with the seemingly endless list of potential health issues that he would be predispositioned to because of Down syndrome?

That was less than 2 years ago, and today I see how having Matthew in our lives has opened many doors, opportunities and experiences. We still worry about Matthew's future, but what parent doesn't worry about their child/children's futures? My friend, Amy, emailed me recently and I love how she summed up everything she has read so far about babies with Down syndrome. She said,

"Abilities and issues vary so widely, just like for babies without DS, so the bottom line for us all is that we need to learn who our babies are as individuals – what a colossal challenge!"

Matthew has some of Bill's traits and some of mine, and even some of his grandparents'. He has Bill's hairstyle, my hair color, Bill's wide feet, my short fingers, Bill's face shape, my nose and eyes. He has our stubborn streak and silent determination. He looks like my dad when he's asleep. He has the simian crease on the palms of his hands, which is typical trait for people with Down syndrome, but Bill's dad has it too on both hands. (A simian crease is a single line that runs across the palm of the hand. People normally have three creases in their palms). Matthew is really more like other typical kids than unlike them. He will walk and talk, go to school, make friends, hold a job, and add richness to many people's lives. He is no different than you or I, yet he is a unique individual... just like everyone else.

The Creed of Babies with Down Syndrome

(Author unknown)
My face may be different

But my feelings the same

I laugh and I cry

And I take pride in my gains

I was sent here among you

To teach you to love

As God in the heavens

Looks down from above

To Him I'm no different

His love knows no bounds

It's those here among you

In cities and towns

That judge me by standards

That man has imparted

But this family I've chosen

Will help me get started

For I'm one of the children

So special and few

That came here to learn

The same lessons as you

That love is acceptance

It must come from the heart

We all have the same purpose

Though not the same start

The Lord gave me life

To live and embrace

And I'll do it as you do

But at my own pace

Music and Movement and Mad Tears II

We went to the music and movement class at 4:30pm yesterday.

Last week, he got upset after doing well 20 minutes into the class. The instructor said he got upset when being guided to go through the obstacle course for a second time.

Yesterday, he got upset after doing well 20 minutes into the class. Although this time, the instructor thinks he was upset about being handed to another buddy mid-class. Unfortunately, that was a double whammy. Firstly, Matthew doesn't cope well with change. Secondly, it was someone Matthew was not familiar with.

We had attended a trial class 2 weeks ago and if I remember correctly, he did fine for the first 15-20 minutes before coming apart. That time, it was the last group activity and song with maracas that did him in.

Three classes. Each class lasts 30 minutes. He has lasted 20 minutes on average. There has been a different trigger for his meltdown each time. Several people have told me that 20 minutes of participation (without me by his side) is great for an 18-month old. I believe them. Now the question is - is it worth it trying to stretch him out to being in the class for the full 30 minutes at this age? I wish I knew the answer.

The class instructor suggested inviting Matthew's OT (Occupational Therapist) to sit in with him at one of the classes. Maybe she has some calming techniques to circumvent a meltdown? Maybe they can calm him if they offer a personal object of comfort such as his lion blankie? If I can be in the class with him, he would probably happily make it through 30 minutes but that would defeat the purpose of enrolling him in this class, wouldn't it?

I wish I knew what to do.

P is for ...

Picky eater - Most toddlers are very picky eaters. Matthew is no exception. Time to eat has become time for a power struggle, one of many to come, of him asserting his independence and control over the situation. He can shake his head "no", push the spoon away (or try to grab it), and since I've been teaching him sign language, he signs "all done" even before he has any food. Most of the time, all I have to do is try to get some of the food on his lips just so he can taste it. And usually (not all the time) once he gets that initial contact with the food, he's amiable to eating more. He drinks a good amount of formula/ milk that I'm not too worried about whether he's getting enough nutrition at this point. If he had his way, he would eat cheerios and Yogurt all the time. That's certainly not a bad thing as I know of more extreme and difficult food circumstances than what I'm experiencing with Matthew. Nevertheless, that doesn't make it less frustrating for me. And I'm not convinced that being a picky eater is a stage that he will necessarily get over. (Pointing finger at Bill). For those of you who don't know my husband, he mainly eats pizza, wheat thins, chicken, beef, and Gala apples. So the saying goes... the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

By the way, Matthew is still on jarred baby food. The only "table food" he eats to-date are cheerios, Yogurt, applesauce, and blueberry toaster waffles. Getting him to transition to regular table food is an entirely different issue, which I'll probably blog about another time.

Poop - While I'm not too worried about his nutritional intake, I am constantly concerned about his poopie diapers. Is it too hard, large, small, of 'normal' color? Ah yes, another discovery about motherhood is that you'll learn to be very comfortable talking about BM. Matthew battles constipation constantly. Thankfully, he doesn't skip more than one day at a time but he obviously struggles (sometimes crying, sometimes short of screaming) with his BM often enough for me to be concerned.

Constipation is a common problem among kids with Down syndrome and may be due to a combination of low muscle tone, poor mobility, diet and inadequate fluid intake. In some cases, hypothyroidism (underactivity of the thyroid gland) can also cause constipation. I've ruled out thyroid disorders for now since his blood test showed normal results when he was a year old. He gets another blood test when he turns 2. Matthew has low muscle tone, compared to typically developing children his age, but he crawls around a lot so I know he's getting his exercise. Foods that are high in fiber help - prunes, pears, whole grain oatmeal - so long as his pickiness doesn't interfere. I'm also trying to get him to drink more water and juice during the day. I read that low serotonin may cause constipation in individuals with Down syndrome. Curious proposition. I'll be looking into that. If anyone has heard of this, please let me know. Also, has anyone heard of Fruit Ease and NuTriVene-D?

Please share resources - Here are a few reading materials that I found useful and interesting (not listed in any particular order). If anyone has other resources, please feel free to share them with me.

1. High fiber foods listed at Mayoclinic

2. "How can I get my 15-m-o picky eater to eat more?"FAQ at Ask Dr. Sears

3. Gastrointestinal problems in children with Down syndromeby Dr. Liz Marder (.pdf file)

4. Gastrointestinal tract and Down syndrome article at National Down Syndrome Society

5. Just Take a Bite by Lori Ernsperger, Tania Stegen-Hanson, and Temple Grandin

6. The Down Syndrome Nutrition Handbook: A Guide to Promoting Healthy Lifestyles by Joan Guthrie Medlen

7. Serotonin and Constipation in Down Syndrome at Einstein-syndrome

March for Babies 2009

Good start. Rough finish.



The March of Dimes - March for Babies starts at 9am at the lower Muny, St. Louis Forest Park, which is about a 40-minute drive from our house. Bill, Matthew and I meet up with our friends near the start of the walk. Their adorable twin boys, Ayden and Anthony, are ready to go. It is their first March of Dimes walk and their first official big debut into the world since being born three months prematurely last year. Despite having a bumpy start in life, they are doing great now and thriving.



The walk is about 3 miles long. Matthew is content to be in his stroller and we have a balloon tied to the side, where he can reach it. It's about 83 degrees (Farenheit) and there's a gentle breeze. Perfect! An announcement is made over the loud speaker that the walk has officially started and thousands of people with their babies, toddlers, kids, dogs, iguanas (yes, I saw 2 iguanas) start walking. Like lemmings, we follow.

Mile 1 - Bill is pushing the stroller. Matthew is happily eating the cheerios in his stroller tray. He's looking around at all the people, looking at the dogs, smiles back when smiled at. Anthony has fallen asleep in his stroller. Next to him, Ayden is busy chewing on his hat. I almost fall on my face when Bill just about runs me over with the stroller. We all laugh. It's fine. We are happy to be participating in this walk and supporting our friends.

Mile 2 - Everything's hunky-dory as we walk and chat with our friends. Except Bill almost runs me over with the stroller again! I decide to walk behind him for my own safety. Matthew is now playing with the balloon on his stroller. I think we'd been walking for at least 30 minutes now and the heat is starting to affect Matthew. He looks flushed so we stop to offer water and juice. Our friends continue walking, Matthew refuses to drink. Then he refuses to get back into his stroller so I end up carrying him as we try to catch up with our friends. Where's the finish line? A few minutes later, we catch up with our friends. Anthony and Ayden are true troopers and seem to be doing fine. Matthew has just about had it. He's exhausted and hot and flushed. He doesn't cope well with the heat. When he was about 8 months old, I had taken him out with my family, visiting from overseas. It was a warmer day than today and the heat flushed his cheeks, arms, and legs. I worried that he had gotten sunburn despite the gobs of sunscreen I applied on him. But after returning home and cooling down, the redness went away. Today, his skin had that same red glow. We stop again for a drink and get left behind again. But the more we try to give him water or juice or milk, the more he cries. We worry about him overheating so Bill carried him and we walk as fast as we could. Where's the finish line???

Mile 3 - As we speed walk our way into the 3rd mile, Matthew is exhausted and looks lifeless in Bill's arms, head on Bill's shoulder. Our friends are nowhere in sight now. Our heads start to hurt from the heat and lack of sleep and we're worried about Matthew. I remind myself this is for a good cause. It's just unfortunate that 3 miles in this weather is too much for my baby right now. We notice a few kids around us are also starting to fall apart. Bill finds a way to cut through the park back to where we had parked our car. I get the car started and load everything into the car while Bill and Matthew wait under a tree. I call our friends from my cellphone to let them know we had to go and apologize that we couldn't finish the walk with them. Once the inside of the car was cool enough, Bill puts Matthew in his seat and I hand him his sippy cup full of water. At last, he drinks!! A few sips later in the cool car, Matthew is smiling again and his skin tone is back to normal. I feel extremely relieved.

It's 10:45am. We're on our way home with Matthew babbling "dadadada" in the back seat.

Matthew's Top 10 Books

Many moms will agree that when you read books to your kids over and over and over and over, you'll memorize them. If you're like me, you'll be able to "read" the book without even looking at the book. It's one of many things I've come to learn on my own about motherhood that I never thought of before having Matthew.

I do love that Matthew is very interested in books. I read a few stories to him everytime before naptime and bedtime and whenever we just feel like it during the day. I usually sit him on my lap and let him choose which book to read by holding out two books in front of him. And I know he thinks about it because he'll look from one book to the other before reaching out for the one he wants, sometimes with a little chuckle as if pleased with his choice. When reading, I let him turn the pages. He owns quite a few books and his favorites are drilled into my head. And that's fine but I believe it would benefit him (and me) if we read other stories. In my attempt to help him branch out, we've been going to the library to borrow more.

Here are his top 10 books:
1. Peek-a-Who? by Nina Laden
2. Touch and Feel Farm Animals by DK Publishing
3. Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes..." by Child's Play, illustrated by Annie Kubler
4. Baby Loves by Michael Lawrence
5. Sesame Beginnings Bubbles, Bubbles by Sesame Street
6. Sesame Beginnings Eyes, Nose, Fingers & Toes by Sesame Street
7. Sesame Beginnings Nighty Night by Sesame Street
8. Baby Faces Hugs & Kisses by Roberta Grobel Intrater (borrowed from the library)
9. Global Babies by the Global Fund for Children (borrowed from the library)
10. 1, 2, Buckle My Shoe by Anna Grossnickle Hines (also borrowed from the library. Matthew accidentally tore off part of a page today. Whoopsie!!)

If you know of other good toddler books, please feel free to let me know. Leave a comment. Quick! Before I start reciting the Sesame Beginnings Bubbles book again!

End the R-Word

About a month ago, my dad sent me an email about a website he found where people are pledging to eliminate the use of the r-word. Of course, I immediately took action and submitted my pledge. Today, in my online search to expand my social network in relation to down syndrome, I came across a wonderful post on another blog On a Joyful Journey: Spreading the Word to End the Word. I am particularly deeply moved by the personal message from John C. McGinley (an actor and star on the TV show "Scrubs") and the youtube video of an interview with him. So I'd like to share the video with you.

Baby Signing Time - "Hurt"

Except for steering, Matthew pull himself up on his Fisher Price activity walker and walk behind it with good enough balance and control without my help. It's a good walker, plastic and light but sturdy enough for an 18-month old who can't walk without any support yet.

Unfortunately we had a little accident today. It slipped out from underneath him, he fell and hurt his cheek (and the fall most likely scared him too). And more unfortunately, I wasn't close enough or fast enough to break his fall. Crocodile tears streamed down his face as I picked him up and held him close. I quickly looked him over. He wasn't bleeding and didn't have a bruise. Poor baby! I guessed that it frightened him more than anything. I looked him in the eye and said, "You'll be fine. I'm sorry you fell. Where does it hurt?" Then it seemed like time stood still when he looked back at me and touched the tips of his pointer fingers together (the sign for "hurt"!!!) before he proceeded to cry more. I was surprised... happy... conflicted. Why should I be happy? He's hurt. But should I praise him for signing "hurt" for the first time? So I just calmly said, "Ouchie? Your cheek hurts? I'm sorry it hurts. You'll be fine" and held him close. He was back playing with his toys within a few minutes.

I'd been told that some kids really take to signing, others don't at all. We had started signing to him since he was around 7 or 8 months old. Doing signs with him and watching Baby Signing Time Vol. 1 (his all-time favorite DVD) seems to be really clicking with him now. To date, he signs - "more", "all done" "help", "book", "milk". And now, my baby can sign "hurt"!!!

Music and Movement and Mad Tears

Matthew (18 months old) does not speak any words yet. But he knows how to sign a few words like "more", "book", "shoes", "help", "all done" and "eat". While his expressive verbal language is slow to develop, his receptive language (understanding of words) is outstanding (my biased opinion). He understands "give to Mommy", "blow kisses", "close the dishwasher door", "blink eyes", among many other simple instructions. I know Matthew is getting it bit by bit but an extra nudge in that direction certainly helps.

Matthew is now enrolled in a music & movement class at a local studio in town. The class meets every Monday at 4:30 to 5pm, with an average of 5 toddlers. In this class, Matthew is the youngest but I agree with the speech therapist who runs the class that this is a good fit for him. He's very curious about other toddlers close to his age and they'd set a good example for him with their verbal skills. Right now, Matthew is the only one in the class with Down syndrome and the other kids seem to be typically developing who may be in the class just to help their language skills along. So the whole point of putting Matthew in this class is to help him develop his verbal skills through:
1. observation of and/or socialization with peers in a group activity-type setting
2. structured activities that combine music and movement, i.e. songs that require hand or arm gestures
3. physical activity as the toddlers go through a fun mini obstacle course while music plays in the background.

The idea is that when I give Matthew more opportunities to learn, explore and think about new things, all this stimuli promotes brain development hence, helping him progress. The more input he receives, the better his receptive language skills will get. The more he is processing, the better the chances of getting something to capture his interest which will hopefully lead to him wanting to express his interest - verbally.

The tricky part is I'm not with him for those 30 minutes. I'm in another room watching everything they do on a tv screen. He is assigned a "buddy", who is the speech therapist's assistant. It's tricky because Matthew is practically glued to me. Yes, he's a mama's boy (and I love it!) but it does raise his anxiety level up a notch to be taking in everything that goes on in the class without me by his side. I'm not suggesting it's bad in this case. It just is.

So he was fine for the first 2o minutes then refused to do anything else and got mad and upset and started sobbing. (How's that for non-verbal expressive language?!) So they took him out of the class when their attempts to comfort him were in vain and brought him to me. Half of me was saying "My poor baby! Let's not come back here" but the stronger half of me was saying "This exposure is good for him in the long run. He's not hurt, maybe just a little overwhelmed. We'll be back next week!"

The class coordinator reassured me that this is a typical reaction for toddlers his age. They have seen it many times before. It takes a few classes before they start to get into the groove of how the class is run. So we'll see how he does next week. Wish us luck!

Bill and Ria's Links to DS Resources

ORGANIZATIONS
Brighter Tomorrows - supporting families with accurate information about Down syndrome.
D.A.D.S. - Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome
Down Syndrome Achieves
Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis
Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation
International Down Syndrome Coalition For Life (IDSC)
National Association for Down Syndrome
National Down Syndrome Congress
National Down Syndrome Society
Pujols Family Foundation
Research Down Syndrome

EDUCATIONAL & HEALTH INFORMATION
Developmental Journal for Babies & Children with Down syndrome - downloadable journal to record progress
Diagnosis to Delivery: A Pregnant Mother's Guide to Down Syndrome - free e-book and interactive blog
Down Syndrome Education Enterprises - supplies specialist resources, provides expert training and consultancy services, delivering high-quality, evidence-based information and advice to families and organisations worldwide.
Down Syndrome: Health Issues - News and information for Parents and Professionals.
Down Syndrome New Mama - a blog written by a mom who has a new baby with DS for other moms who have babies with DS.
Down Syndrome online - offers comprehensive information about Down syndrome, including articles, books and scientific papers.
Down Town DS - Down syndrome news & info. This site has a cool, easy to understand video explaining the basics of Down syndrome for kids.
Homeschooling Children with Down Syndrome - e-book
How Do I Talk About Down Syndrome? A Language Guide for Friends, Family and Others
Overview of the development of infants with DS (0-5 years)
NDSC Convention Compendium Web Links - more useful educational links
Sensory Processing Disorder

SPEECH & COMMUNICATION RESOURCES
Baby Sign Language
Mommy Speech Therapy
Sara Rosenfeld Johansen's Feeding & Speech Thoughts
Signing Savvy - signing dictionary with video.

WEB COMMUNITIES & FORUMS - meet other moms and dads who have kids with Down syndrome.
Babycenter
Downsyn Forum
Down Town DS Message Board
Franklin County DS Support Group
Life's Journey with Down Syndrome
Oz Squad - an elite group of active, compassionate bloggers dedicated to educating the public about Down syndrome.
St. Charles Community Group
We Connect Now - dedicated to uniting college students with disabilities in access to higher education and employment issues.

MISSOURI RESOURCES
D.A.D.S. (Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome) - Ozarks chapter
Down Syndrome Association for Greater St. Louis
Missouri First Steps Early Intervention
Pujols Family Foundation
St. Charles Community Group

PRODUCTS AND TOYS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS
Beyond Play - Early Intervention Products for Young Children with Special Needs
Special Needs Toys
Super Duper Inc. - Fun learning materials for kids with special needs
Talk Tools Therapy
Therapro - Special Needs Toys
Toys R Us

iPHONE, iPAD, iTOUCH APPS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS
Matthew's List of iPhone Apps
NACD Apps blog
One Place for Special Needs - Complete guide to educational and special needs apps. Great how they've grouped the apps into categories!
Our Current List of iPad/iPhone Apps (as of 7/5/2012)
Special Needs Apps 4 Kids


List of Organizations & Businesses Owned by People with Down Syndrome

Toy Review List

A list of toys we have reviewed on our blog, alphabetically arranged.

Alphabet Beads
Alphabet Foam Floor Mat
Alphie The Learning Robot by Playskool
Animal Sounds Farm (Little People - Fisher Price)

Baby Doll
Balloons
Ball Pool
Balls
Bingo Chips in a Can
Birthday Cake (Melissa & Doug)
Blocks
Boards as Balance Beams
Bounce & Giggle Elephant
Bowling Set
Brilliant Basics Activity Walker (Fisher Price)
Bubbles
Bubble Wrap
Bucket-O-Water

Chicco Flip 'n Play Table
Clothespins in a Milk Jug & Links in a Can
Construction Site with Remote Control
Corrugated Castle

Doctor Kit
Don't Break The Ice

Easy-Grip Pegs & Pegboard

Feathers
Felt Board Stories
Fisher Price Learning Home
Fisher Price Little Superstar Sing-Along Stage
Foam Soap on Glass
Fridgigears

Gazillion Bubble Machine
Golf Tees

Hats
Homemade Tactile Sensory Boxes

Lacing Beads
LeapFrog Fridge DJ Magnetic Learning Radio
Little People Sweet Sounds Home (Fisher Price)
Little Tikes Push & Ride Racer

Magna Doodle
Mailbox (Little Tikes)
Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards
Melissa & Doug Sort & Stack
Memory Game
Mouth Box
MyPal Violet (Leapfrog)

Paper Weave
Play Food
Pictures on Lids of Baby Food Jars
Pom Poms
Pop-up Pirate

Rody Inflatable Hopping Horse

Sand Table by Step 2
Shape Sorters
Shopping Cart (Little Tikes)
Slide - Indoor & Convertible
Soccer Set
Spray Bottles
Step 2 Waterwheel Table

Take 'n Toss Cups
Telephone
Thomas the Train Wooden Railway
Tongs
Train Whistle & Toy Trumpet
Tunnel 6'

Watering Can
Wooden Number Puzzle

About

About Bill and Ria
Sharing experiences about life, parenting, and Down syndrome.

We have 2 children. Our first child, Matthew, was born in 2007 and diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth. He is our "Gift from God" (meaning of Matthew). Elizabeth was born in 2010. Queen Elizabeth is quite precocious and tries to keep up with her big brother as best as she can. They are absolute blessings.

We created the blog to share the joys and challenges that having a child with Down syndrome brings into our family's life. We offer our everyday experience, insights, and resources.

Our goal is to inform, inspire, and raise awareness about Down syndrome. We want to make you smile!

We hope to show you that being labeled as having Down syndrome is not an indicator of an individual's potential, character, dreams, and spirit.

In addition to keeping family and friends, near and far, updated, we hope to:

• reach out to and inspire other individuals and families who love someone with Down syndrome
• provide valuable insights and awareness about raising a child with Down syndrome
• provide valuable resources, a broad network of support, and a platform for communicating with other families who advocate for their kids who have Down syndrome
• simply, make new friends

We do not endorse products. We do not offer medical or professional advice. Just our experience and hopefully some entertainment and inspiration.

About How We Met
Our story began in 2001 in Melbourne, Australia. Click here to read about it.

About Our Family
Our family is a melting pot of cultures, nationalities, and personalities. (American, Filipino, German, Czech, Japanese, Thai, and Korean). Being different is how we live best.

Please feel free to contact us via email. We would love to hear from you.

View blogger profile
Find us on facebook

About Toy Review Tuesday
On Tuesdays, I write about toys we have played with and how they have helped (or not helped) with development. This review is not to be construed as an endorsement of the product nor do I intend to put pressure on parents to purchase the toys reviewed.

List of Down Syndrome Related Blogs

Every age and developmental stage presents a unique set of rewards and challenges. Sometimes we need the support of other individuals or families who are going through the same stage at the same time. Sometimes we wish for foresight and wisdom of those who have "been there, done that". Sometimes we want a glimpse into the future. Sometimes we need the simple reassurance that we are not alone. For these reasons, this blogroll is arranged according to age group.

CLICK HERE. CONTACT ME TO JOIN THIS BLOGROLL.

Remember to let me know what age range to list your blog in.
Suggestions to improve this list are welcome. Thanks!

The Rookies (0 - 5 years)
Adelynn's Journey
A Hapa Girl and Her Hapa Family
A Little Something Extra For Us
Anna Banana
A Walk in Lily's Garden
Baby Number 10
Blessed with Girls
Braska Bear
Brennan's Beginnings
Bridget's Light
Bringing Kellsey Home
Bringing the Sunshine
Camp Homeschool
Cathal's Big Adventure
Chase and More
Coco's Corner
Confessions of a Down Syndrome Daddy (Daddy blog)
Counting Our Many Little Blessings (The Baeten Family)
Cowgirl Up
Daddio De Novo (Daddy blog)
Days with Dylan
Disposable (Daddy blog)
Doin' It Down
Down Syndrome in Real Life
Down Syndrome New Mama
Down Syndrome - Up Up Up and Away
Down With Dat
Down With Oz (Daddy blog)
ever forward, Maya
Extra Smiles...Extra Giggles...Extra Love. Life With Extras - The Pingel Family
Finnian's Journey - moved to "Life As I Know It"
Genetically Enhanced
Getting Down with Nate
Henry's Mommie (moved to My Little Cheeky Monkeys)
Isn't This Fun!?
Jaidin's Journey
Jaxson's Fight
Joyful Mother of 6
Julian's Journey
Life As I Know It
Life As We Know It
Life In Color
Life In Designer Genes
Life with Bubba, Chicky and Nika
Life with Sweet Pea
Little LC Boom Boom
Little Wonders of Our Life
Living each day as if it was the last
Living Life with E's
Love For Colin
Monkey Musings
Mothering By The Seat Of My Pants
Mother Jungle
Muslim Mama - A Beautiful Life
My Cute Little Navya
My Little Cheeky Monkeys
My Little Mattie
My Little "Son-Shine"
My Little Stinkerie
My Monkey Doodles
Narrow Ridge (Daddy blog)
Noah's Dad (Daddy blog)
Our Bundle of Joy
Our Jacob
Our Unexpected Journey
Past the Apple Orchard
Penny's Peeps
Raising Joey
Raising Reid
Rejenerations
Rivers of Joy
Ruby's Life
Simeon's Trail
Something Beautiful 1025 (Dear Sissy...Love Laura) - sibling blog
Stumbo Family Story
Swiss Family Carter - Life in Switzerland & the Little Surprise!
T-cubed: Three Boys, Twins, & Trisomy 21
Take a Walk on the Happy Side
The Adventures of Cap'n Jack 'n Crew
The Flege Farm
The Haskin Clan
The Hill Family of Northwest Arkansas
The Life & Times of Aidan and Alayna
The Tyron Family
The Zoromski Chronicles
Three Little Birds
Three's a Charm
To Love Endlessly
Trial Run by krlr
Wanted
Welcome to Our House
What a Team!
Windmills and Tulips
Yo Mamma Mamma

Middle Movers & Shakers (5 - 9 years)
Adventures of Home Schooling Noah (moved to A Happy Journey)
A Happy Journey
Big Blueberry Eyes
Big Dawg Tales (Daddy blog)
Cookies for Conor
Emma Sage
Flock of Pidgeons
Girl in a Party Hat
Life with My Special Ks
Little Miss E
Lovely and Amazing
mi2boys
Opposite Kids
Pinwheels
The Seal Bark
The Tyron Family

Tween Times (9 - 12 years)
Hannah's Shenanigans
J.E.B.'s Journey
Just By Living - sibling blog
Lily's Life is Great
Lily's Life is Great **new site**
Ramblings of the Bearded One (Daddy blog)
Tri21homeschool - Adventures in Down Syndrome and Homeschooling

Surviving the Teen Years (13 - 19 years)
april anecdotes
Beneath the Wings
Garden of Eagan
It's MY Life Mom!
Mommy Life
On a Joyful Journey
Specially Designed
The Ordinary Life of an Extraordinary Girl

Roaring Twenties (20's)
april anecdotes
Class of 2008
Widening Circle

The Veterans (30's & up)
Karen Gaffney Foundation - not a blog but very inspiring to read about Karen.
Moms of Self Advocates with DS

Group blogs/ Project blogs/ Organization blogs
5 Minutes for Special Needs
Pujols Family Foundation
Reece's Rainbow
The T21 Travelling Afghan Project

Our Angels in Heaven
Finding Our Way

Contact Bill and Ria

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BLogging in...

Aaaahhh!! The smell of fresh new blog. My 2nd blog, since I trailed off on my 1st one a few years ago. My main motivation rght now? Spreading word of my son Matthew's fundraising page for the 2009 Buddy Walk in St. Louis. It's organized by the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis (DSAGSL) every year to raise funds for services they offer to individuals with Down syndrome and their families. So I thought, "There's no better reason to start a blog than for this cause."

So here's our shout-out: Check out Matthew's fundraising page at http://www.firstgiving.com/matthewhaag.

And check back here for more posts as I will be BLogging in.