Day 13 - Become Aware of Down Syndrome in October!

Day 13 - Running Towards the Middle

Thirteen days down and I'm still here typing away, just trying to keep up.  After we brought Bradley home I was constantly worried about him, and frankly...that hasn't changed.  One worry fades and a new worry takes its place - perhaps it is just the way of things, perhaps that is the new normal that we have to become accustomed too.  We're trying to adjust to this new normal...this new life.  We worry, we hope, we pray and we laugh.  Yes, though some might believe that adding a child with an extra chromosome would put so much pressure on the family that there would be no space for laughter...such is not the case in our house.  Maybe we're crazy, maybe we're completely disconnected.  Or maybe we're just, okay.  Perhaps we've learned the secret truth that comes with an extra chromosome, and perhaps it's this: Life will challenge us with its twists and turns, life will try to knock us down, but deep inside - where it counts...we know that life will be okay.  And no matter how hard we try to deny it and to squelch the desire - we will have laughter in our house.  And every time I think to deny this feeling, this belief that sometimes hits me; my youngest daughter works very hard to tickle my funny bone. 

The girls had a Volleyball tournament this morning, so last night my husband pulled out the cooler to clean it up and get it ready for today.  My daughter is in charge of cleaning out the cat box, making sure they are fed and watered.  So she cleaned out the box, opened the front door and pointed out that the garage door was up.  "Whoops!"  Good thing we don't put anything expensive in there! 

Getting into the car later, I notice that she left the bag on the porch.  So I ask her: "I thought we had a deal that if you cleaned out the cat box you took the bag straight to the trashcan, not leave it on the porch?"
Her reply: "Yeah but Mom, the garage door was open."
My reply: "Okay?  So?"
Her answer:  "Yeah but someone could have been in the garage and grabbed me.  So would you rather have a stinky front porch or have someone jump out, grab me and take off?" 
As she stared at me expectantly I looked at her: "I'm thinking about it."  And God love this child whose sense of humor is so much like her mother's she gave me a fake cry before dissolving into giggles! 

These are the moments that tell me that we're more than okay; and as long as we stick together...we'll continue to be okay.  This little family of geese are going to learn to fly and we're going to do it together!