Day 20 -Some days are just made to be perfect!
We've been trying to raise awareness about life with a child with Down syndrome. I've read the posts by people asking what would you say to a new parent of a baby with Down syndrome, what would you want said to you. I've already blogged about our birth experience with Bradley, how I was the only negative, those around me pretty much, well amazing. So I have those memories to guide me and with that I still have this need for people to know the truth. Life with Bradley is not so different from our life with each of our other kids. The difference is in the medical additions, the doctors appts, the therapies. The giggles, the tantrums, the milestones (though a bit slower to come) they all come, and they're all worth it! I want them to know that there is something hard in almost everyday, no sense trying to pretend it's not. And I want them to look at their baby, and keep looking because the longer you look the more familiar things will become. And I want them to know that some days are perfect! Yes, that's very true. Confusing I know. But the girls are typical little girls with typical issues and it would be naive and irresponsible for me to say that they are easy and they are not work. Because some days, they are more work than their brother. Each one is a different kind of work, the medical stuff you get used too - what are you going to do, not do it and lose him? Yeah right, you can take me first. The girls like to throw the unexpected our way, daily - hourly - every minute...well you get the idea. Bradley throws his own stuff at us and it can come as quickly; we're learning to juggle three balls in the air as opposed to the two we had up there. And I am a terrible juggler, Bradley laughs at me when I juggle because he thinks it's funny when I drop a ball. But still, we juggle and we try and we make sure we see all three kids.
Today was one of those perfect days. Bradley slept great, he woke up smiling and ready to go and we were off to the Buddy Walk with excitement despite the drizzle that was sometimes pretty heavy rain that showered us on the way. Some of our team members had to bow out, but we still had our Core Team, and they are the ones that made today perfect. For all of his medical issues, Bradley must have a special love for the Buddy Walk because he makes sure he is out of the hospital and capable of being there, he doesn't ever miss this. Why would he want too? There was an expectation of 1,500 people at the Buddy Walk this year - they got more, a lot more this year. It was fantastic, not the part where we had to look extra hard to find our team, but that there were so many people there loving someone who has Down syndrome. What a beautiful sight. We found our team, and we walked together in one unified group. We laughed and we took the time to catch up with each other. A reunion of some of our favorite people who just happen to love someone with Down syndrome, my little guy. What a lucky little guy!
Bradley was amazing today! In the beginning, he was smiling and dancing before touring the Organ Pavilion with "aunt" Korin. He started the walk on Dad's shoulders and his big, beautiful blue eyes were seeing everything while he was waving and clapping, signing the word "Go!" and basically being the unofficial Parade marshal. His excitement was contagious, his joy surrounded us all. He is healthy and he is happy; his sisters were busy flitting around him jumping in their excitement - their thrilled laughter pausing only for kissing or hugging their brother or whichever member of our team they were close to at the time. Surrounded by our "Japan Family" and our close San Diego family - we walked together, then watched Bradley walk and walk and walk! We felt the contentment of love that they brought us, and man - if we could bottle that we'd never feel cold again. We know that the Navy will be starting to whisk those loved ones away, but the memories of today are just one more in the many we have made together. Nothing stays the same, and someday they'll be with us in spirit rather than standing beside us with our arms wrapped tightly around them. Thank God for today, for the chance for us to experience a "Perfect" Day.
So what would I tell a new family, standby...you may be reeling today, today may be a rough day...but there are tomorrows coming and they are worth the wait. There are unforgettable moments that are going to take your breath away and teach you how to live and to really breath...there are moments that are coming that will teach you how to love.
It's not easy...everyday is hard, but then that's just the way life goes. Easy is not the best way - the best way is the way that lets you feel the importance of your life and the incredible feeling of knowing that you are connected to others. We were connected to some incredible people before Bradley was born; after he came, the connections to amazing people multiplied exponentially. I love my son, I would not change him for the world. And I love that world that my son has brought into our life with him.
Today we had the joy of seeing others come together to love our son, and at the same time we got to see the loved ones of so many coming together to simply say: "That Extra Chromosome is only a big deal if you let it be. We're okay, our family is okay and our life is okay!" And it felt great to be a part of that.
To Bradley's Buddy Brigade - God Bless every single one of you! The Adults who see the situation and the ramifications of this life and love Bradley and us. To the Kids that came out with them - and were willing and excited to be there - you warm my heart that there is a place for everyone in this life, for everyone including Bradley.
I saw tolerance today, and there's only hope when you see that!
A perfect day!
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