Honest Feelings

The dad in this video shares his honest feelings about having a daughter with Down syndrome. When you find out you are the parent of a child with Down syndrome you go through a lot of emotions.I respect this man for sharing his thoughts of having a child who would not be perfect.I had some of those same emotions when Ruby was born.I'm not proud of some of the selfish things that ran through my mind.
I'm so blessed with Ruby and happy that she was given to me.She changed me for the better and it's a privilege to get to be her momma and take care of her.

Scientific Video about Down Syndrome

21 Things About Ruby

1.Ruby loves baby dolls.
2.Ruby loves to look at books and be read to.
3.Ruby always wakes up happy and greets everyone with,"Hi!"
4.Ruby climbs up and sits on the couch.She also loves to crawl back and forth along the couch which worries her dear mommy and dear mommy keeps putting baby gates on the couches so she wont fall off when no one is watching.
5.Ruby will sign her name and point at her tummy if you ask her,"Where's Ruby?"
6.Ruby's sign name was given to her by a friend who is a missionary to the deaf in Mexico.
7.Ruby's sign name is a signed 'r' over her heart.
8.Ruby says"Thank you" when she hands something to you and you take it.
9.Ruby's first sign was 'bubbles.'
10.Ruby loves dogs.
11.Ruby loves her Daddy and will sign and say Daddy.
12.Ruby has 10 siblings who adore her.
13.Ruby is named after my grandfather's sister.
14.Ruby has changed me for the better.
15.We didn't know Ruby had Down syndrome until after her birth.
16.Ruby had to stay in the NICU for two weeks after her birth and and amazed her nurses with her strength.
17.Ruby army crawled until the week of her second birthday when she suddenly decided she would get up and crawl on hands and knees.
18.Ruby knocks at the door when she wants into a room.
19.Ruby stands up on the couch near our front door and wiggles the door knob!
20.Ruby is 27 months old and is not walking yet.
21.When Ruby hugs you she pats your back with her sweet little hands.

Ruby Loves to Throw Things

Ruby loves to throw things,she loves to throw toys out of her toy box,books and papers off the bookshelf,clothes out of the laundry basket.
According to the book,"Fine Motor Skills In Children With Down Syndrome," this is an activity enjoyed by many toddlers with Down syndrome.Throwing things can develop because the child doesn't have enough motor control to be able to let go of an object. The throwing action causes the wrist to drop and the fingers to open letting go of whatever is in the hand.
It may take some children a long time to move past this stage.(Ruby has been in this stage for awhile now,making it hard for me to work with her on stacking toys because she wants to knock them over and throw them.)They should be given plenty of opportunities to throw appropriate items.Teach your child what is OK to throw and what is not.Ruby is finally starting to understand that she is allowed to throw her board books from the bottom bookshelf but the other shelves are off limits.

I would never change her

When Ruby was a tiny baby I used to think that if I could change the fact that she had Down syndrome I would.Now I know, without a doubt, I would never change her.I would never take away her Down syndrome,her extra chromosome,it's who she is,it's who God made her.

John 9
1And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

3Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

31 for 21/Fact

Fact about children with Down syndrome:
Children with Down syndrome are just like other children.


The first part of this video is of Ruby swinging for the first time on our swing in the backyard ,the second half of the video is of Ruby enjoying the band at the Buddy Walk.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

It’s National Down Syndrome Awareness Month - WEGO Health

Take a look at what Amanda had to say on WEGO Health about National Down syndrome Month.I think she did a great job in mentioning all the important facts about Down syndrome. She also happened to mention my blog in the links at the end and I enjoyed being called a Down syndrome Activist!
Thanks for the shout out Amanda!

It’s National Down Syndrome Awareness Month - WEGO Health

Wordless Wednesday

Names

In recent weeks Ruby started saying both of our dogs names,Angel and Paisley.Sounding like" Angu" and "Payswe."We all thought it was so funny that she started saying the pets names first before saying her siblings names! Lol. Well ,today she called out for her sister ,Meagan,saying "Maymay "and this evening she saw a picture of her sister, Rebecca, that we had posted on Facebook and  she very clearly said,"Rebecca!"
Everytime I hear her say a new word I get a big lump in my throat and tear up.

I love you so much my little pumpkin!

Quick post/ 31 for 21

It's been a long but good day.I'm trying to just hurry and get a post in so I don't miss a day.(I've already missed one.)So I'm just posting a couple of pics. and saying how blessed I am as a Mom.All of my kids are great and most of the time I enjoy being with them ;-)
My little Miss Ruby has started being able to eat more solid food and not just bottles since her speech therapist worked on chewing skills with  her.This weekend I fed Ruby some pizza cut into small bite size pieces and she loved it!I was thrilled!
I hope all of you have a beautiful week.

Fun at the Buddy Walk

The Buddy Walk® was developed by the National Down Syndrome Society in 1995 to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October and to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. The Buddy Walk has grown from 17 walks in 1995 to nearly 300 walks planned for 2010 worldwide. In 2009, more than $9.5 million was raised nationwide to benefit local programs and services, as well as the national advocacy and public awareness initiatives of NDSS that benefit all individuals with Down syndrome.


We had a great day at our local Buddy Walk today.



                                                    Of course there was "The Walk"



                                                                    Live music!











Ruby loved the music.

Face Painting




                                                                   A beautiful Princess

                                                                             Horses to pet.

                                                  Bloggy friend Jill with Reece's Rainbow Booth.(More pictures of Jill and her kids to come!)

31 for 21/Love Never Fails

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

31 for 21 Day 5

Ruby is Learning to Color

Reading a book together

Ruby just learned to ride her car!

Ruby Loves our Dog "Angel"

31 for 21 day 3