Three. Tres. Ba. Trois. My Baby!

Three! What a magical but not too strange trip it has been! I can't believe our little girl is three today. It's been a while so I thought it was the perfect time for a blog update. 

I haven't been good about blogging lately and I'll try to explain why. When I started this blogging journey I saw it as a virtual baby book; a great way to keep Ellie's milestones in one place, to have a place to look back at how she's growing through pictures, and to keep friends and family updated. But in all honesty the online blogging world is tough. Her info is out there for the world to see. There's a lot of talk about sharing our children's stories, because her story is HER story, it's not my story. Is it fair to Ellie? Will she look back and want to slap me? 

So in other words, I started second guessing what I was sharing. I don't ever want to do Ellie a disservice by sharing our family's experiences. But I also still feel that sharing is important for those newly on this journey, our life is pretty normal (normal? like a setting on a washing machine?) No seriously, our life is great and we have a kid with Down syndrome.  So with that out of the way, I wanted to do a little recap of the past year now that my baby girl is three. 

2015 was SO FUN and SO BUSY. And Ellie's birthday is TODAY! 

Ellie had an epic year. I can't imagine that 2016 could top it. She was in the paper a few times, and even on the news! She was also in Times Square on the big screen, TWICE! She's reading like a champ!! She is even starting preschool in a month! I'll recap her 2015 in pictures, because that is how I roll (and I love going back and looking at them as the years quickly pass by) :)

My last post was my pissed off letter to the editor, and the one before that was the amazing Down Syndrome convention. So I'll rewind to summer. Let's start there.

Our 4th of July party was the best one ever, there were lots of people and fun was had by all.  I also got to meet my friend Jisun for the first time. We met online in the original  Rockin' Moms group. She stayed the night at our house with her family in a tent! Yes it was that kind of party! She has a blog called kimchilatkes. She is a very gifted writer, if you haven't already you really should check her out. She's also now an Oregonian, woo hooo! Ellie and Caj are so cute together. I'll talk about them more later. 

Every year our family gets together and we stay at Sun River. It is SO FUN, so relaxing, and just wonderful. Jesse's sis and family live in Vietnam so we always love to have them home. The cousins act like no time has passed. We look forward to this getaway every single year. 

Our besties from Texas came and stayed with us too, it was such a fun few weeks!! I didn't know that I wanted a Sister Wife until Kelly came and stayed with me. She would have dinner ready when I got home from work, and laundry done as well. Our house never looked so good. Kel, when are you coming back again?? Ah we love you guys so much, and miss you terribly!

We tried to get as much time on the boat as possible. Ellie LOVES it. We are looking at getting her and Luke into swim lessons before summer so they are more confident in the water. This is my favorite part of summer.

We also go on an annual beach trip with my side of the family. My brother and sis-in-law came from Texas and my niece Presley stayed for 2 weeks. It was so wonderful having them home!! The boys get along so good with their cousin Pres. The family genetics are almost creepy sometimes! They are all so much alike, and my niece is my mini-me!

We also spent a lot of time with my BFF Jos and her family. We are so lucky to have them in our lives. 

September came, and so did our annual DSNO Buddy Walk! Ellie's team raised almost 2K- we are beyond grateful. We also had our biggest group yet!

Another event in September is the National Down Syndrome Society Buddy Walk. They have a jumbo-tron in Times Square that plays a video showcasing people with Down syndrome. I've entered Ellie's picture every year since she was born. She's never made it in until this year. To me this was the "big one"... New York, baby, where my daddy was born. Oh he would've loved to have seen her in Times Square! And you know what? Somehow Ellie made it in twice this year. The paper even did a little story about it. She was in once with her buddy Caj (mentioned above) and again with her Great Grandma Margaret. Our sweet Grandma passed away in October. She got to see the photo of her and her Great Granddaughter on the big screen. She and Ellie had a special bond that's for sure. We sure miss her.

Another fun event in September was my "Rockin' Mom" get together. My house was full of beautiful babies and big kids too. Watching the friendships develop before my eyes was too much. There's something to this little Ds family I belong to, it's hard to put into words. But what I do know is that I'm grateful for each and every one of my Rockin' Moms, near and far.

October! October is my handsome hubby's b-day, as well as Down Syndrome Awareness Month! I warned my Facebook friends that I would be annoying for the whole month of October. But what I found was that my friends are amazing. They actually shared my photos of Ellie and are spreading awareness (acceptance) too. Here are a couple of photos I shared in the month of October:

So let's talk about Ellie's modeling for a minute. This whole thing was CRAZY to Jess and I. I'll try to explain it all as quickly as possible. Ellie was signed to Puddletown Talent in March of 2015. She had her first modeling gig in August for Hooray Haroo (seriously adorable clothing, made in Portland, OR!).. the Statesman Journal did an article about her modeling job. They had told me the article would be in the Sunday paper. I had my sweet mama-in-law and brother John running around to find the paper for me, to see if she was in it! She wasn't and I figured maybe they decided not to run the story. As Jesse said "it was only one ad she was in- what's the big deal?!"

The next morning I woke up early and was waiting for my coffee to brew. I jumped on Facebook to check in on my friends. My friend Lisa (in TEXAS) yes we love our Texas peeps... messaged me saying that she saw Ellie on her news-feed in USA Today. Wait, WHAT!?!?! I'm pretty sure I ran in and woke Jesse up to tell him. 

I went in to work like any other day, and around 9am my mama-in-law sent me a picture, our girl on the cover of the Statesman Journal. Then around 10am Ellie's agent (that feels so funny to say) texted me and said that Channel 8 wants to interview us. WHAT?!?!? So I called Jess and he said "Cool, you should do it." So I talked to my boss, took PTO, and rushed home. I had no time to clean my house. My amazing mama-in-law came over to help me hide clutter and fake like my house was clean. It went really good and Ellie was a total ham for the camera. So then The Mighty posted an article about Ellie. Then I got a call from a sweet reporter from Upworthy. She loved Ellie's story and wanted to do an article. She said "we only have 8 million followers on Facebook" Oh my gosh! I couldn't believe all of this was happening.

             

  

            

So since that one crazy modeling job went viral, Ellie has had two more modeling jobs. One for Fred Meyer (thank you to her stage Grammee for taking her!) and one for Matilda Jane. The Fred Meyer ad is supposed to be out in February and I'm not sure when the Matilda Jane photos will be live. It's been a whirlwind and so much fun. The best part for me is talking to other parents about Changing the Face of Beauty. It's an amazing and important campaign and is really changing the way people view those who are differently-abled. I'm so grateful. So here's my advice to parents: if your child loves the camera and is comfortable having their photo taken, get that kid an agent! Contact your local agencies with your child's photos and explain CTFOB's mission. It's really an amazing thing.

The Statesman Journal also did a follow-up on Ellie that you can read about here. It sums up all the craziness in a nice neat package, much more eloquently than I could!

An update on our girl as of today. Ellie is reading like crazy, she loves her flashcards and her books. Jesse and I did a count the other night and she has 130 sight words. It's so amazing! She is just starting to take more and more steps and we are really proud of her. She has a new Minnie Mouse backpack to start school in February! Health-wise she is doing awesome with the occasional sniffle and she seems to be growing out of her croup-there-it-is problems! She is on meds for hypothyroid and I also give her a handful of supplements (Nutrivene, zinc, folinic acid, and fish oil) which are all approved through her Pediatrician and Naturopath. We are lucky that we have Dr. Peirson local to us, she has helped Ellie SO much! She has her 3 year check-up this month at her Ped and the DS Clinic at OHSU. 

Lastly are some more recent photos from Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mostly Ellie doing her signature hard hugs that everyone looks forward to! Overall 2015 was amazing and fun and I don't know where the years have gone. Our baby is a big girl now and it happened in the blink of an eye! We love you Ellie Lehne, Happy birthday sweet pea!

For this post's song we are sharing Ellie's current favorite jam (besides Let it Go, of course)...

WTF - Missy Elliott

My Daughter With Down Syndrome Has Changed Me

When Ellie was born I knew my life was forever changed. I felt it, not in my heart but in the pit of my stomach. It was a fear that I would not be the same person from that day forward. A fear that my life would be filled with doctor's appointments, therapies, and research. That my duties as mother to my two older boys would be sacrificed. I worried for how my marriage would suffer because of this new journey I was about to take. I loved this tiny being with my whole soul but I worried that fighting for her would take away a part of who I was.

Those feelings in the pit of my stomach have since faded. The fear has grown into hope, and now I feel it in my heart. I now have a full, grateful, bursting with joy heart and it's hard for me to even put into words. I would like to try and share with you how Ellie has changed me. She has changed me in ways I never could have imagined.

1. Stopping to Smell the Roses. I remember wishing away the days with my oldest son Will, pushing him to get to that next milestone and stressing that he wasn't getting there fast enough. With Luke it got a little better, as my second baby I found that life was flying by faster than I expected. I wanted to soak in every phase with Luke. Ellie has helped me back up the truck, slow down, and enjoy every minute. She takes longer to accomplish her milestones and being the third child I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying this time with her. I remember feeling offended when someone said "you are lucky because you will have a baby longer", but I get that now. And to be honest at 18 months she's already moving into toddler-hood and has the sassy attitude to go with it!

2. Human Rights. I have never in my life felt so passionate before for all people; race, religion, sexual orientation or being differently abled, I will fight for the equality that every person on this earth deserves. I lived in a naive bubble before Ellie, I cared about human rights but never at this level.  I am now aware. How lucky am I to have a daughter who at 18 months old has already taught me this important life lesson.

3. Nutrition. As silly as this one sounds, I have to bring it up. I have learned so much about nutrition because of Ellie. I have learned that some children with Down syndrome do better when they are dairy free, or gluten free. These are ways of eating that I never would have explored if it weren't for her. I know more about supplementation as well and am even taking some of the vitamins myself. I am excited to learn more about healthy eating as Ellie grows up, and the rest of our family will benefit from it as well. 

4. Understanding Work/Life Balance. I am a career mom, and with being a career mom comes a lot of working mom's guilt. Once Ellie arrived and rounded out our family of five, I was able to take a step back and look at what is important. "Things" are not as important to me now. I am not feeling the constant push to rise to the top of the corporate ladder. It is an amazing feeling to get my priorities in order! If Ellie wasn't here I don't know if that would have happened. She took me down a notch and brought me back to reality. I am lucky to have an amazing boss who gets it, to work for a company that is flexible and understanding, and to have the security in knowing I'm building toward a future for my family.

5. The Importance of Connections and Support. Where would I be if it weren't for the internet? I have mentioned this before, but the connection I feel to other families who have children with Down syndrome is magical. There is no better way to put it. Having the support of other moms gives me such reassurance for Ellie's future. I have these women to lean on for the rest of my life. We will have each other's backs through it all, the hard times, the joyful times, the scream at the sky and cry times. I make new connections constantly and when you are on the journey of raising a child with Down syndrome, to know you are never alone is so comforting.

*If you are pregnant with a child with Down syndrome or have a child with Down syndrome birth to age three and you are not in a Rockin' Mom's (or Dad's) group, please go to our DSDN link and click"connect". You won't regret it, I promise!

6. Being Different Is Awesome. This to me is the most important lesson Ellie has taught me. As soon as Ellie was born we talked to the boys about Down syndrome and what it meant. Even before she was in our lives we always reiterated that "if everyone in the world was the same, what a boring place that would be!"  Because kids ask questions and they notice people who aren't like them, and even say awkward things out loud sometimes. I'll never forget the day Will asked me "mommy what is wrong with Uncle Danny?" I took a deep breath and started to try to explain his story and why he has an intellectual disability. I barely got out a "Well honey.." when Will said "He's just so shaky!" He wasn't even asking about his disability. He didn't see it at all as a matter of fact, he was noticing how my brother shakes. It brought a huge smile to my face and I was able to explain that he is shaky because of the medicine he is on. 

I hear my boys educating their friends about Down syndrome. I hear them being more accepting and loving because of their sister. Now if we are out and about and they see someone who is differently abled, they will wave and say hello. This to me is the biggest part of how Ellie has changed not only me but all of us. Our hearts are bigger because of her. I also see her changing the hearts of our friends and family.

Yes Ellie, you have sure changed your mama. And I am so glad you have. You are the little gift my soul needed. Thank you for opening my eyes to some of the biggest lessons I will ever learn in this lifetime. I am eternally grateful that you are mine. I can't wait to see what else you can teach me.

You Belong To Me - Bob Dylan

Are You Worried About Her Future?

If I said I didn't worry about Ellie’s future at all then I’d be a liar. But I worry about all three of my children’s futures, I think it’s a natural part of being a parent. Looking back at my life I truly believe I was being prepared to be Ellie’s mom all along.

My Grandma Hattie always said that from the moment our children are born, that we are preparing them to grow their wings and fly. So as a teenager, I knew that at age 18 my mom and dad would set me free. It was part of the master plan! You either get a job, go in the Army, or in my case go to college. And this belief was true for all 6 of my brothers, including Danny. You can read more about my brother Danny here.

Danny graduated from high school at age 19 then moved out of my parent's house and into a group home type setting. He lived with other adults with varying intellectual disabilities while learning life skills. He would come home on the weekends and from what I can remember as a 7 or 8 year old, he seemed content with his situation. After living there for a few years he moved into his own apartment. He still lives there today, and is doing amazingly well. He has help from a state-funded aid that comes once a week to help him grocery shop, clean his apartment, and drive him to his appointments.

My brother lives a fun and fulfilled life. He has many friends and is very active in his church. He walks everywhere he goes, exercises, and volunteers with some of his free time. He is also the President of an organization called Champion Team. You can read a nice article about this organization here: News Register Article

He’s the handsome one in the Raiders jacket! I’m so so proud of him. 

My mom tells me stories about how my dad used to say “he will live with us forever” and she would reply “oh no he won't!”  My mom and I have had many conversations about Danny and his independence. She admits that it was her fear of what would happen to Danny when she and my dad were gone from this earth that drove her to fight so hard for him to live on his own. But she also believed in him and knew he could do it, and he has.

I recently read an article by Ellen Stumbo and cried big ugly tears, it was beautiful. It's called What if She Lives With Us Forever? Her words really resonated with me. She explained how she is truly OK if her daughter with Down syndrome wanted to live with her forever. But that it wasn't up to her, it was up to her daughter to decide. I feel this way about Ellie. I don't know how Ellie will be as an adult. I don't know if she will be as independent as my brother. She may be, or she may not be. But honestly I am not worried about her living with us forever. I’m going to support her, guide her, and help her grow her wings just as I will with the boys. And maybe she will fly away and live on her own like her Uncle Danny. Or maybe she will live with her friends in a group setting. 

The network of people I've met who have children with Down syndrome keeps growing and expanding. It’s a loving community that stretches across the world. So far Ellie already has many friends in her age group, and a pre-arranged marriage with a boy named Mason. I love his mama and he and Ellie really would make a cute couple. He lives in Pennsylvania so we will have to figure out the logistics when they are older. I tell his mom she would love Oregon though. Is pre-arranged marriage even legal in the US? Don't worry, I will let Ellie choose who she marries someday, it's all in good fun. But I do know Ellie already has a prom date should she need one! 

This photo is almost a year old but hello, isn't he seriously adorable?

As these kids grow into adults I can see some of them living together. Speaking of which, I have been obsessed with a new documentary called “The Specials” about 5 young adults with intellectual disabilities who live together. It is awesome! My mom and I sat and watched 5 episodes in a row and couldn't get enough. If you haven't watched it yet I really suggest you check it out.

I can't say enough how grateful I am that I grew up with Danny as my brother, and with my mom who believed in his abilities. She was preparing me to be Ellie’s mom. She has shown me how to guide and nurture my daughter, and to believe in her. Danny is a vital part of our big family and is loved and valued as an equal. I’m not afraid for Ellie’s future, I'm actually excited to watch her fly.

This week's song is a mushy one, but I love the lyrics. I think it just fits.

My Wish - Rascal Flatts

I Have One Too

"Aren't you a pretty girl? You are just so sweet! You are a precious "special" girl, aren't you?" I started to feel my cheeks turn pink. I was nervous and even a little annoyed, thinking to myself "oh please don't tell me how happy they all are, and how they all love to dance." Ugh.

I was at Target with Ellie doing some shopping and was in line checking out. I could tell this woman, who was most likely in her 70's had noticed that Ellie has Down syndrome. I feel bad now that I assumed that she was going that route- the generalized "they are all happy" route, but I hear it practically every time I take my girl out in public. I smiled at the woman and started heading out the door and she quickly yells... "I have one too, my daughter!" I turned around and said "oh that's awesome!" and walked to my car, but I wanted to run back and ask her all about her daughter. Unfortunately my nerves got the best of me. But then at my next stop that day, I got that chance.

 
Ellie and I were strolling along the granola bar section at Costco and I was stopped by a couple who were probably in their late 60's. They couldn't keep their eyes off Ellie and were asking me all about her. She was doing her usual double-handed giant wave and "smizing" (smiling with her eyes) and they were loving it. Finally the woman says "we also have a special angel" to which I asked "oh, how old is she?" They went on to explain that her name was Andrea, and she had passed away when she was 9 years old. She had multiple health issues in her short life. My heart sank. The man grabbed his wallet, and pulled out a torn and faded school picture. She was beautiful with her brown hair falling down around her pretty slanted eyes. He handed me the picture and I showed Ellie, she immediately gave the photo a kiss. I had tears in my eyes as they proudly talked about their daughter. She would be 35 if she were still here, the same age as me. I was so grateful for that couple who shared their gorgeous Andrea with me that day. 

As I was checking out I couldn't stop thinking about that couple and their girl. I was turning to leave and my new friend came up behind me "can we exchange numbers?" she asked. I was so excited. "Yes!" I gave her my info and she gave me hers. She has a friend who has a daughter in her 20's with Down syndrome who lives downtown Portland, takes the Max to work and is in Zumba class. She is independent and doing awesome. She wants to introduce me to this gal's mother, who she said was such an advocate for her daughter who is doing so well. I hope I see this woman again someday. She really made my day and I honestly think I was meant to meet her.

I can't quite put my finger on what the "thing" is that happens when I meet other families who have been touched by Down syndrome, but it's amazing to me. It's like a secret club, a connection, a feeling of knowing, and it's beyond just having something in common. My family feels it, and even my friends too. Even the connection I have with the moms I've met online is hard to put into words. They are from all walks of life, and across the globe. We have spent countless hours sharing advice, worries, and triumphs. I haven't met them in person yet I feel a bond to these ladies. I have met families in real life and can't help but feel like there is something more. When Ellie was around 6 months old, I read a very interesting book and this paragraph gave me goose bumps:

"When I spoke with parents of handicapped children, all commented on the extraordinary people they met as a result of their children's handicaps - people they felt they already knew. In all likelihood, they did. There is often a special bond that goes well beyond the commonality of having handicapped children."

I don't know if I'll ever unlock the mystery to this connection I feel to these families, so I'm just going to go with it. I'm going to count my blessings and just be grateful every single day. I know that I will continue to meet new people who are on the same journey as me. They will be just beginning, or will be more seasoned pros offering invaluable advice. I look forward to talking to new moms and to be able tell them "it will be OK, I promise", just like others told me.

This week's song is one that I used to love when Jesse and I started dating over 10 years ago. It's funny how the lyrics to a song can evolve as your life changes, this one has taken on a new meaning for me. xoxo

Wave on Wave - Pat Green

A Pictorial Recap of Ellie's First Year

What a fast, exciting, crazy, and memorable year 2013 was! Here's Ellie's first year in photos... I sure take a lot of pictures!! But it's amazing to see how she's blossomed before our eyes! Click this link to see the youtube video :)

Ellie's First Year in Pictures

Dreams Really Do Come True

6 months!

I can't believe our little Ellie is already 6 months old. In all honesty, every day goes by faster than the one before it. It's crazy to me.  She's starting to give us hugs and kisses, when I first realized she was doing it intentionally it made me cry (surprise, surprise.) We have only heard her giggle twice so far, and she's sitting up pretty good (with support of course.)  She's also eating baby food like a champ.  So far her favorite is apple sauce.

Eating lunch like a big girl.

Her personality is awesome.  She is very laid back and loves to give snuggles. She smiles more and more each day. She's also been sleeping through the night since 3 weeks old. Last weekend I woke up to the sound of the lawn mower outside.  I looked over and Jesse wasn't in bed, Ellie was fast asleep next to me in her bassinet.  I got up and Luke was still asleep too.  I checked the time and it was 9:45.  What baby sleeps in until 9:45? Or even a 4 year old for that matter?  I made my way outside and Jesse and Will were out mowing.  They said they got bored waiting for us to wake up :-P She is such a fun baby and loves to sleep like her mama.

When I think back to how Jesse and I both had dreams about Ellie before she was here, I still get goose bumps.  I recently found an old email I had written to a friend.  I was discussing having two children and how Jesse and I didn't want to "risk it" by having another baby.  Here's an excerpt from that email:

"I always felt like I'd have a daughter, and my husband feels content and grateful for our two boys, he says he doesn't want to risk anything again. We actually both had dreams while I was pregnant with my youngest that we had babies with down syndrome. When they thought Luke might have it, my husbands face turned white. Later I confessed my dream to him, and he said he had the same dream! It was all too weird. When we found out Luke was OK it was such a relief.  I think that's still in the back of his mind." 

It boggles my mind that Jesse and I both had premonitions about her.  We were being prepared for her arrival without even realizing it. My mom and dad always said that our dreams represent "a fear or a desire."  When I told mom about my dream she reassured me "oh honey, it's just a fear" and she told me I needed to stop worrying about it.  Well I didn't realize it at the time, but it turned out that my dream was a desire, not a fear. I can't imagine my life without Ellie in it. I'm so grateful for her. I'm so glad our dreams came true.

I love this picture for so many reasons.  It shows off some of Ellie's "Down syndrome markers" so I thought I'd point them out: brushfield spots in her eyes, flattened nose bridge, upward slanted eyes, her single palmar crease across her hand, small low set ears... to me, it's just Ellie and I think she's beautiful. :) 

This month Ellie has her big appointment at OHSU's Down Syndrome Clinic, her 6 month well-baby visit, and an appointment with the eye doctor.  I will do a blog post to update everyone on how she's doing. I have wondered how well she can hear, see, and if her thyroid is functioning. I'm so curious to see what the panel of specialists at the DS Clinic will tell me.  It is 4 hours long, so I'm sure we will get something worthwhile from the appointment.  My fingers are crossed all goes well.

This is Ellie's old man impression.. "where's my teef, sonny?"

Here are a few more pictures of our smiley 6 month old. She had a great 4th of July with everyone. She was held the whole time and slept through the loud booms of the fireworks show. I was a slacker and didn't take any pictures of our big party this year... darn it. 

4th of July - Shooter Jennings

Ellie and her big brothers

This is one of her new smiles and it cracks me up!

Being silly for the camera! I'm addicted to my collage app on my phone (obviously)!!

This is Life Changing

Jesse and I said this to each other more than once after Ellie was born. "This is life changing." We were talking about Ellie's Down syndrome. The fear of the unknowns for her and what our life was going to end up looking like. Well we were right, having Ellie is totally life changing.  But in a way we never could have dreamed. This sweet baby has changed our world for the better.  I can't even express the joy I feel about this little girl. Every person who encounters her can feel it too. She puts a spell on everyone she meets with those amazing blue eyes with sparkles of white. 

April and May have been really busy around here. I'm back at work full-time. My wonderful, caring, loving and BRAVE mother-in-law is watching the kids for us 4 days a week. We are so grateful! We also went boating for the first time, were given a baby shower for Ellie, she had her 4 month check-up and her first ever acting debut!


When we realized Ellie was "extra floppy" with her neck strength, Jesse decided we should probably sell our boat.  This was back in February. The thought of it made me really sad because this was something we love to do as a family.  It's relaxing and takes us away from the world. I told him if that's what he thought was best, then maybe we should. She probably wouldn't be able to go out for another year anyhow.  Well he never sold it, and in May the weather was perfect for a boating trip.  We decided to test it out  and see how she would do. Well she loved it. She loved the scenery, the wind in her face and the gentle bumping of the boat along the water.  I looked at Jesse and I could feel a lump forming in my throat. This was big for us.  That day on our boat signified a lot about how much our life had changed, but how it was just as I had imagined it being before Down syndrome became a daily topic of conversation. We ended up taking the boat out three times that week.

Carry On - Fun.

Ellie's 4 month appointment went awesome.  She's a long string bean! She is weighing in at 12-1/2 pounds (only 20th percentile on a typical baby chart) and 26.5" long (off the charts on both the Ds chart and the typical baby chart!)  I felt really good and proud of our girl after I left that appointment. Her doctor was so impressed with her neck strength and her growth. He said "whatever you are doing, keep doing it!" So that's what I plan on doing! I have researched (way too much) and am taking supplements that she's getting through my milk. Who knows if it's helping, but it's worth a shot!  In two months we have her big 6 month appointment at the Down syndrome clinic at OHSU.  There they will check her hearing and she'll meet with a Neurologist, Occupational therapist, Physical therapist, and Speech pathologist. It's a half day long, and I'm feeling a little anxious about it.

In April my amazing mother-in-law and sis-in-law had a beautiful tea party (baby shower) in Ellie's honor. It was so much fun and I feel so grateful to have such amazing family and friends. It was nice to catch up with everyone.  I loved watching everyone snuggle our girl.  

Dani and Julie also made a book of wishes for Ellie. It's so heartfelt and beautiful. I'm going to save this for her forever! I wanted to share a few of the entries.

From Ellie's Great Grammy

From Uncle Noel, one of Ellie's biggest fans :)

From cousin Kellen, age 7

From Ellie's amazing Grammee

From my mom, Grandma Barbara

My mom's wishes were quite long but one sentence that stood out was "A big wish that I have for you and your life is that you are as happy as you make all the people that know you". I love that. 

Grandmee and Grandma lovin!

Lastly, the Down Syndrome Network of Oregon was looking for a newborn for a video they were shooting. When I found out what the video was for I was really excited. It is going to be used for the medical community as an educational tool on how to appropriately inform parents when their baby is diagnosed with Down syndrome. Jesse and I felt this was a very important message to be a part of! Our own personal experience was not necessarily a positive one.  

Here is Ellie's acting debut, we are so proud of her! She was only 3 weeks old when it was filmed. When Luke watched it he said "mommy, you look really different!" It cracked me up. :)

I CAN

We are so grateful for how our life has changed. We keep hearing over and over how lucky Ellie is to have been born into our big crazy family and our close knit circle of friends. But I think we are the lucky ones.  Thanks for changing our life for the better sweet baby girl!

The Luckiest - Ben Folds