World Down Syndrome Day (2012)

The International Down Syndrome Coalition for Life (IDSC) put out a beautiful video this WDS day. Erin and I were thrilled to be a small part of this message, and we pray that many hearts were moved. There is a disconnect between what the world thinks our lives are like when we have a child with Down syndrome (quite evident from the 90% abortion rate after a prenatal diagnosis) and what our lives are really like. It is my hope that many will understand that parenting a child with Ds is just as amazing as parenting a typical child. Erin brings us so much joy and fills our hearts with pride. I am thankful to have been a part of the IDSC for Life from the beginning. Check out our website: http://www.idscforlife.org/



Here's our picture...

Stick em up!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Erin's Birthday Celebration

Erin turned FIVE on March 1st. We are so thankful for this little girl. I wish I could convey what a privilege it is to know and love her. Her little soul is so filled with sweetness.

I was recently reading an article about Down syndrome. Near the end of the article, the author captured something about loving a child with Down syndrome that spoke to my heart. He said, "Caring for and living with children with Down syndrome humanizes us: it teaches us to love selflessly, the way Christ loves us. And it teaches us to love ourselves: even those parts of ourselves we'd prefer others not see, those parts that we ourselves would rather not look at....we need such children among us." Yep, I believe that is so true!

So, just how does a five year old spend her birthday?

The day actually began the night before, with two older sisters bickering over who Erin got to sleep with on the eve of her birthday. Molly grace won the flip of the coin, so Erin snuggled in with her for the night.

In the morning, after "pantay" (pancakes) for breakfast, Erin spent a little time at the Delaney Day-Spa.  Fingernails were painted....

Hair was braided.  A flower barrette finished the look.

Next, we were off to the store to pick out a birthday cake.  But first she had to find the only mini puddle in the driveway to stomp in.

Since they didn't have Mr. Bean cakes (LOL) at the store, she opted for the readily available Sesame Street theme.


Lunch included a main-course side-dish of Cheetos, her favorite.

When Seamus took his nap, Erin had the iPad all to herself.

After dinner it was time to open presents.  ALL day, whenever someone mentioned her birthday, she'd look you in the eyes and ask, "presents??"  We'd say, "Yes, Erin, later after dinner".  She'd say, "Otay", and go about her merry way. 

(Yeah, just look past the Christmas wrapping paper...)

Finally, it was time for the cake....

....but she was more interested in the little Elmo rings which were on top of the cupcakes.

Happy birthday sweet girl!!!  We love you!!!

Little Packrat

So...just what does this little guy pack up and carry around with him all through the house???

 

Here's a little snapshot....

(mittens, a little fox, an iPod and a diaper)

I'm glad he's prepared.  Good thing he remembered some essentials, like a diaper :)

Ballerinas have Down Syndrome too!

Father-Daughter Dance 2012

Our Father-Daughter homeschool dance is always a lot of fun.  We went from 6 daughters attending last year to only four this year!  Moira is off at school, of course, and the age limit was raised to age 5 this year, so Erin could not attend. 

Here are the girls, all dolled-up!

Molly Grace

Bridget

Teresa

Eileen

Mike and some of his girls...

Our January babies....

.....are not babies anymore!  Eileen and Bridget turned 17 and 15 in January.  I'm late getting some pictures on the blog because those January birthdays always sneak up on us!

Here's beautiful Eileen, who had to wait another month, to the day, to get her braces off.   I'll have to get a picture with her new grin, full of shiny straight teeth!  Happy birthday, Eileen!

 

Here's beautiful Bridget, our 15 year old.  She was finally able to have a little party with a few friends over to celebrate her birthday, just this past weekend.  Happy birthday, Bridget!

Party Often?

Did anyone notice that my blog title could also be read as "party often"?  I didn't realize it until the image was already in Photoshop....and I have no idea how to edit it.  LOL.  Oh well, I guess it's okay if the Party of Ten parties often.

Erin's New Glasses

A few months ago Erin got glasses. We tried our best to make a big deal about how lucky she was to have glasses, just like Daddy.  Ha!  Let's just say we wasn't buying it....at all.  Goal number one was to get her to wear them for five minutes.  Then 15 minutes.  Then an hour.  Then, an hour, without her little brother pointing out, over and over again, that she did in fact have her glasses on.  Sigh. Finally, after a good long while, she now wear them most of the day.  Now, most of the time, she doesn't even seem to notice she has them on, which of course was our long-term goal!

I think she's pretty adorable in them, if I do say so myself.

Now, here's my plug for Specs 4 Us.
 
Specs 4 Us was started by a mom who had a little four year old girl with Down syndrome.  Often, because kids with Ds have very shallow nasal bridges, and small noses in general, glasses slip down.  We purchased another pair of glasses from a different manufacturer and they were always slipping down.  Specs 4 Us makes a huge difference!  So, my girl with designer genes now has glasses designed just for her.  Amazing, isn't it?  I love how this mom saw a need and did something about it to make life easier for kids with Down syndrome.  It's the small things that can become the big things, and this mom is grateful.

Okay...I Get the Hint

It seems I cannot keep enough food in the house.  I make a couple large trips to the grocery store per week, but still, with as busy as life is, it seems we are always running low.  You know how it is....you get down to the eggs, pancakes and soup.  Hmmm. what can I make with noodles and Italian dressing? Ha ha.  Oh, and there are usually frozen pizzas in the downstairs freezer, so you've got that goin' for you....

Recently, I received this letter from my loving children...

The citizens of the Delaney household hereby have cast lots and are willing to drop to their undernourished knees and beg for the smallest morsels of store bought food.  Your choices are:  Put Eileen in driver's ed so she can learn to drive, drop us off at the cousins, so we can eat, or the last choice, which is most approved by the lot casters, is to go to the grocery store and buy the smallest bit of nourishment.  Know that you have full support over choosing any of these choices, but know, also, that it must be done today!

Signed, Aidan, Bridget, Eileen, Seamus, Teresa, Erin and Molly Grace

Oh, they crack me up!  Yes, I did feed my children that day, I promise!