Changes

It's very interesting how things have changed for me in terms of my outlook on Ian's future life. Before Ian was born my dreams for him were that he go to school and someday find a cure for cancer and end world hunger (ok so I'm exaggerating). Now, knowing that Ian has Ds my dreams for him have changed. Now I'm just hoping he can walk, talk and most of all be present/aware of me, my family and others, as well as be able to interact with us. My friend Donna, who also has a boy with Ds, loaned me a book called "You Will Dream New Dreams". The book talks about just what I wrote about. In having a child with Ds your outlook on life changes a whole lot, as does the outlook of your child's (and your own) future. While it is very hard to adjust your expectations the love of your treasured little one and his/her love for you helps you through.

Thank You! ;0 )

Thank you all SO much for your wonderful advice! I very much appreciate all of your insights. I also feel very thankful to have your support.

Advice Please

I was wondering if I could get some advice from you lovely people out there who have walked this road before me. In a couple of weeks we are having our Review with the school district on where Ian is at in terms of his progress in therapy. The main goal of this meeting is to determine what his therapy should consist of in terms of frequency etc. Ian's physical therapist has recommended that we switch from an every other week meeting to once a month. She said that Ian is doing so well in terms of strength and flexibility. My thoughts on this are that yes, he is doing well with his strength level but his two cousins who are ten and twelve days younger than Ian are sitting up on their own, Ian is not. Ian also still prefers to keep/turn his head to the right due to torticolis (spelling?) Ian also tested two months behind on the Hawaii Standards Test in the area of fine motor skills (by the way I don't like this test. It compares Ian with typical kids. Well, he's NOT a typical kid. Why should he be compared to one!?! Anyway, you can tell I'm passionate about that!)

To be honest part of me would welcome a once a month visit from Ian's team of therapists. They come on Monday mornings, ugh! Mondays are not good for me. I'd rather stay in my pj's all morning than clean the house for a therapy session! Also, one of the therapists isn't that great with Silvi. Silvi has said numerous times, "I don't like her!", when I mention that she is coming over. The lady is also very long winded!

The main point is that I want to do what is best for Ian. I'm just not sure what that is at this point. Any advice you could give me would be most welcome. Thanks!

Solitude Takes Discipline

Henri Nouwen is one of my favorite writers. I have read a few books by him; The Genesee Diary, Turn My Mourning Into Dancing and The Inner Voice of Love. I find his books quietly hopeful, as well as full of grace. I've found a phrase he wrote very helpful to remember when I take my alone time down at "our" coffee shop; "solitude takes discipline". When I find myself sitting there with my hot chocolate and journal it is easy for me to get up and check my e-mails on the coffee shop's computer or read a magazine. I do find however that I get a lot more out of the experience if I encourage myself to go deeper, to write in my journal. It does take discipline. (Don't get me wrong, I very much enjoy the times I do choose to chill out and read a mag and sip a latte!)

Bummer!

I am disappointed. I googled New Amsterdam after I tried watching it last night and it had vanished from the airwaves. It turns out that the show has been canceled. I'm so bummed!

New Amsterdam

I've been watching a great show on www.hulu.com (this site is where you can watch TV episodes, current and not so current). New Amsterdam is about John Amsterdam who came to the United States in the 1600's from Europe. He saved a squaw from the bullet of a fell0w European and took the bullet for himself. In return the squaw blessed him or cursed him, depending on how you look at it, with immortality. The only way he can attain his mortality again is if he finds the "one" woman he is to join souls with.

John is now 400 years old but looks about 35. He is an NYPD homicide detective living in the same place his ship sailed into in the 1600's, only now it's the year 2008. In one of my favorite episodes John is sent to the scene of a murder and when he looks at the man lying on the floor covered in blood he sees a young man who looks very much like his son who he had had 150 years ago. It turns out that the man IS actually his great, great grandson. John goes to the funeral and sees all of his family, but of course can't tell them that they are indeed family. At the funeral in the relatives home, John looks up on the wall and sees a painting of a beautiful woman, a painting that HE had painted a long time ago.

I find this show intriguing. It has so many elements that I like, murder mystery, romance, history, regret, remorse, family, love, hope, forgiveness, honesty and deception. I think it's one of the best stories I've come across in a long time. Check it out, if you're so inclined. (The show also airs currently on TV on Monday nights at 8pm Central time on Fox Channel 9).