Our new arrival

It has been far too long since I have written and I can say honestly that I have missed it so much! Imagine my shock when I logged on today to discover that I am very near to 20,000 page views! Wow! When I began this blog I never imagined that I would reach so many people with my words. What an incredible blessing and opportunity.

So, as to my absence... Matthew and I were blessed with the arrival of Reagan Delaney Wilkinson on June 6th, 2012. She was born at 8.2 pounds, 20 inches and a head full of her daddy's dark hair. She is a joy and so different than her brothers. The moment they held her up for me to see she opened her mouth and cried so loudly I smiled. My girl has a voice and she is not afraid to use it- and use it she does! I don't remember the boys crying so much at this stage. Reagan certainly makes her wishes known.

Casey and Connor are adjusting to life with a new sister. They are both fascinated and annoyed by her presence. We have had a few jealousy issues but overall they are great brothers and I know that the three of them will grow to be great friends.

Casey and Reagan

Connor and Reagan

 We have been so busy adjusting to life as a family of 5 but we are all doing great. I am enjoying all the pink clothes and dresses and hair bows and I am loving watching my beautiful boys learning about their sister. I adore watching my husband interact with his daughter- she already has him firmly in the grasp of her tiny little hand. There is so much joy in my heart and love in our home. It is truly a fabulous and wonderful existence I lead.

I am hoping to have more time to update the blog from here on out. I thank you all for reading!

Thanks for all the support.

I will not hide...

I, like so many, am in love with the website Pinterest. It's become one of my favorite tools for finding recipes, craft ideas and design inspiration. I love to see what others share and to share what I love. Recently, I shared a photo of my miracle men on Pinterest- after all, what do I love more than my sweet boys? I never realized how many people would be uncomfortable with this particular pin.

This is the photo I posted:

And this is the caption I shared when I pinned it: This is Connor and Casey. They are my miracle men. Identical twins with Down syndrome. Why are so many people afraid to have beautiful children like these?? 90% of babies diagnosed prenatally with DS are aborted. Look at these faces and tell me that they don't deserve to be alive. Down syndrome is not as scary as you may think. My life is wonderful. Perfect. BLESSED.

When I originally chose to share my miracle men on my Pinterest page it was with the sincere hope that maybe I could open 1 person's heart and eyes to the wonder and beauty that I live with daily. What I never expected were some of the reactions I got. 

Here are a few and the responses I gave:

Kiowa Pendleton
Some people think having a child that can hardly take care of themselves is scary. I personally would not make a child go through that. I would hate to have down syndrome, or any defect and if my mom had aborted me because of that, I would have no idea anyways. Stop judging.

Meghan Wilkinson
Kiowa Pendleton- My sons are not incapable of caring for themselves. They are thriving and doing quite well. Adults with Down syndrome work, live independently, marry, drive and vote. And they are not as close minded as you. You are the one I would not want as a child. I would rather have my sons who love unconditionally than someone who could be so judgmental. Good luck in life. May you blessed enough to meet someone as amazing as my sons!


Leigh Manacher
Pinterest is not the place to discuss the joys of having down syndrome children or any children at all. Pinterest is not the place to discuss your relationship with God or even your own family! Pinterest was designed so that the creative community of artists, cooks, fashionistas and designers could share their sense of style and taste through inspiring photographs. This conversation belongs on a parenting website, not on this one.
Melissa Kaminska
Totally agree, Leigh. This is not the forum for this.

Meghan Wilkinson
Leigh, thank you for sharing your opinion. We are all welcome and entitled to one. However, Pinterest is about sharing what you love and what could I possibly share that I love more than the very children who showed me what true love and joy is all about? I am sorry if somehow those two beautiful faces upset or offended you but the really cool thing about life is- it's full of choices! You may choose NOT to look at this, share this, like this and I can choose to share it anyway. And as far as speaking about God, I personally think if more people did talk about God maybe the world would not be the cesspool it is anymore. Again, thank you for sharing your opinion. You inspired a blog post! I'm always on the lookout for new ideas to write about. I truly hope you have a nice day.

One thing I am learning is that not all people are ready for the new generation of parent who is raising a child with DS. We are the ones that refuse to hide our children behind closed doors, put them in institutions or have them sequestered solely in special ed classrooms. We are the generation of parents that share the joy our kids bring with the world, we fight for inclusion and understanding and we demand respect for the precious gifts that we have been given. 

I am proud to be part of the movement that is raising awareness, opening doors and knocking down stereotypes and misinformation. One way in which I do this is by sharing Casey and Connor as with as many people as I can and in as many ways as I can. I am not ashamed of my kids- I could not be prouder if I tried. And I am not alone! There are parents, aunts and uncles, siblings, friends and educators standing up all over the world to say Down syndrome is not to be feared but embraced. Even companies are beginning to understand what we are saying, that our children are beautiful are worthwhile and should be shared, not hidden. Target has been using several models with Down syndrome in their Sunday circulars. Other companies that are catching on are Toy's R Us, Macy's, and JC Penney. Popular shows are featuring children and adults with DS. More and more colleges and universities are beginning programs that accept and accommodate young adults with DS and other disabilities and help to propel them into the future and self sufficiency.

It's a great time to have DS. There are more doors open than ever there have been. What a beautiful thing. 

I'm not saying that I am changing the world. I am only one person who is creating small waves of change in the world. But those small waves combine with other small waves and eventually there will be a tsunami of hope and awareness and when a person chooses to share a photo of their child on Pinterest or Facebook or twitter, there will be comments of support and loving and not ones saying "This is not the place for this kind of sharing."

The same people who get upset or offended by what I share will happily repin and like the e-cards photos that use the "R" word, show Ryan Reynolds sans shirt and freely share the "LOL cats" with terrible grammar. How is my sharing of the biggest inspiration in my life not worthy of the same tolerance?

Now, it should be noted that there are over 70 comments on that one pin of C&C and the overwhelming majority of them are positive and loving and wonderful. A lot of them go on the attack of the few negative or less supportive comments. To those people who look at my little guys and see the miracle that is them, I say THANK YOU! It is those individuals that bolster me when I run across the ignorant and closed minded. They are the people who remind me that there are many out there who love as I love and  believe as I believe that every child is worthwhile. That is a great feeling. 

To the people who don't get it yet- one day you will either get on board this train or be run over by it. My kids aren't going anywhere. *I* am not going anywhere. I will share my life, my sons' lives and the lives of all people with DS ANYWHERE I choose and I will share my love of God, my faith and my belief in the connection between all these things anywhere I choose. You can ignore it but like I said- we aren't going away. 

Before I close this post, here is another photo of my miracle men- they are living works of art- they are the very shape of love and hope. What is more beautiful than that?

Dream A Little Dream

Time gets away from me these days. When I think it's only been a week since I've last written I realize it's been several. I offer no excuses other than that life has been happening and very quickly!

Connor was hospitalized for 3 days after contracting a nasty stomach virus and becoming extremely dehydrated. That was our first time staying in a hospital and though it was not the best experience of my life it was great because the nurses and doctors at Akron Children's Hospital are far and away some of the most caring and fantastic people I have gotten to meet. They all went out of their way to care for my little man and for me as well. I was 33 weeks pregnant when he was there and they did all that they could to ensure I was well hydrated and comfortable. I am grateful for all that was done for my family!

Now Connor is well and has finally begun walking with his brother. These two boys are so fast and so busy that by 8 pm I am ready for bed right along with them! What a blessing it has been watching them gain the strength and confidence to being walking and to watch them explore the world. Everything is new and exciting and I am learning to look at things as they do- with a fresh eye and an open mind. It's a beautiful way to see the world!

Speech is progressing slowly but surely. While they only have a few real words they are responding more and more to the things Matthew and I say or ask of them. For example, they can both point out their noses, heads, belly buttons and mouths. Also they are mimicking animal sounds now. They can tell you a what a wolf says, that an alligator says chomp, chomp, chomp (with awesome hand motions!) and they do a mean monkey impression. We are working on the cow say "moo" but M is one of those sounds that they just don't get consistently. It'll come.

I am now 36 weeks pregnant with Reagan and I am at the point where I really want to be done being pregnant and actually meet my little girl. I find myself wondering very often who she is and what she will be like. It's an exciting thing, imagining your unborn child. I can't wait for her arrival and for her to meet Casey and Connor and for them to become big brothers. It will be nothing short of fantastic.  

DREAMS

This is what I really came to write about today. I have talked about the dreams I have for my children but never do I really think what dreams I have for myself- unless I am actually dreaming. Last night I had this really great dream where I was talking to a group of people about Casey and Connor and Down syndrome. I explained that they are the greatest joy in my life and that to be their mother is to be blessed beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I told stories of adults with DS who are doing amazing things in their lives and that with support and love all our children could be capable of living their lives to the absolute fullest. I talked of my faith and how C&C strengthened my belief in God. It was a great speech. In the dream, there was a sweet lady, older, who was crying and crying while I spoke. I asked her why she was crying. She told me that she had found out a few days prior that her grandchild was going to have Down syndrome and she had been so depressed and sad thinking about her. She was not originally planning to come to hear me speak (wherever that may have been) but was brought by a friend. She held my hands in her hands and with tears pouring down her cheeks she told me that I changed her life and her opinion of her granddaughter to be. She no longer feared her but she looked forward to becoming an advocate and telling people that her granddaughter is a blessing. So overcome was I by emotion I cried with her. I felt like I had really made a difference in her world and the world at large.

What an incredible feeling!

When I woke up I felt like all of that had actually happened. I wanted it to actually happen. My dream for me is to make as much difference in the world as I possibly can. Not just for Casey and Connor but for Reagan and for every single child in the world. I hate the stigma attached to the diagnosis. I want to help break the walls down, pull the curtains back and reveal the beauty of the life that can be achieved with faith, support and love. I am starting small on that dream through this blog and the boys' fan page on FaceBook and sharing them with the everyone I can but I dream of finding a way to make a bigger impact. I will continue searching. Some day I will wake up feeling like I am living my dream rather than just experiencing it while I am sleeping.  


Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living. Anais Nin

 

I'm only human

As a mother you try your very best to be perfect. You want to make sure you are doing everything you possibly can to ensure the brightest future for your children. You strive to make sure they eat well, sleep enough, don't watch too much tv, brush their teeth, learn their manners, and on and on and on. It's a full time job and one I am honored to have.

As a mother you look at your kids and see the perfection in them that others may not see. When they are throwing a tantrum you remember how sweet they look when sleeping and you manage to maintain your calm.

As an expectant mother you dream of your new child. You make plans and have hopes for her. You imagine holding her for the first time and seeing her little angel face. You try to get ready for the road ahead, making sure her room is perfect, her clothes are clean and ironed, you have the perfect pediatrician in place to care for her, you take your vitamins. Your whole world revolves around a person you have never met but you feel every second of the day.

When I was carrying Casey and Connor I did all of these things. I planned their futures. I painted their room. I washed their clothes. I dreamed of their arrival. I was over the moon excited to meet my sons. As you all know, when they were born and I heard the words "Down syndrome" all my planning and dreaming went out the window. I was left to grieve the children I had been expecting for 36 weeks and 2 days. I was shattered and heart broken. I was unable to dream or imagine a new and different future for them. That's when my husband saved me. He pulled me into his arms and told me our sons were perfect.

Knowing he looked at them and saw "perfect" allowed me to look at them and see "perfect" and it also allowed me to dream again- just differently. No words could ever express the love and gratitude I feel for Matthew because of that moment. My husband was my angel that day. He will forever hold my heart for the words he said that made me look at those tiny little boys and see miracle men.

With all that being said, I have a confession to make.

As we are getting closer and closer to the arrival of our daughter I am getting more and more nervous about who she is. I try so hard to believe that God will give me the baby I am meant to have and to blindly accept that He knows best. I try so hard to believe the geneticist who told us that the odds of having another child with Down syndrome are slim. I try so hard to believe that no matter what I will look at my little girl and see perfection.

The truth is- I am terrified. I declined all prenatal testing with her- just as I did with her brothers- because I KNOW it doesn't matter. In my heart, I KNOW that no matter what I will love her.

But I'm only human. A weak and scared one at that.

My biggest fear is that Reagan will arrive and I'll see immediately that she more closely resembles Casey and Connor than Matthew or me and that I will be sad, or mad, or just... heartbroken.

Don't misread that. If by chance our daughter DOES have DS I will love her and advocate for her and adore her as much as I do my boys. I will accept that God had chosen the path for me and I will walk it with my head held high and my heart filled with love for my children.

Let me see if I can explain this better. I will love her regardless of her chromosome count. My biggest fear is my reaction. Despite EVERYTHING I have done with and for my sons, despite all the love and affection, I feel so much guilt for EVER being upset about their diagnosis. I feel so much guilt for ever thinking they may not read or enjoy life the same way a child without DS does. I hate myself for ever looking at them and crying.

I feel like a terrible mother for ever thinking "I hope the doctors are wrong."

So, it's not Down syndrome I fear but my own weakness- my own limitations as a person to accept anything immediately.

On the flip side- I worry how I will feel if she DOES NOT have DS. Will I treat her differently than her brothers? Will people just assume I am thankful to have one "normal" child? Will that piss me off that people look at her and think she is the perfect one? Will my dreams for her be bigger than the dreams I have for Casey and Connor? Will one of my 3 babies feel less loved than their siblings?

Gah! I have so many worries. I am actually surprised at my willingness to share these thoughts with all those who choose to read my ramblings. It's not easy to admit you are so flawed. It's an uncomfortable thing to say I am scared of how I will feel about my child.

I guess that's the point of this whole blog though- to write what I feel and think- even the ugly crap- so other people know that it's ok to wonder or worry so long as in the end you try your hardest to be the best parent possible.

I am a far different person than I was when C&C were born. I like to think I am far better. Clearly not FAR better but better nonetheless. As much as I would like to think I am a super mom I know better.

I am scared.

I am weak.

I'm only human.

It's good I have a GREAT sense of humor!

I often say that Casey and Connor are pretty typical boys and today they set out to prove just how typical they are!

This morning they had physical therapy. We had to leave the house by 8:20 am and it can be a struggle to get all three of us ready and out the door on time. Today was no exception. While I went upstairs to finish getting ready- all of 7 minutes tops- Casey decided he needed to be on the desk. He figured out how to pull out the desk chair, climb up on the chair, and use the chair to climb up on the desk. Once on the desk he got hold of the computer mouse in one hand and was typing with the other hand. Somewhere in between mousing and typing he thought to include his brother who was waiting on the floor to get in on the action, and he threw several pens, pencils and other things on the floor for Connor to play with. The most impressive feat of all these was just how quietly and QUICKLY they accomplished all these tasks.

Once I got that mess cleaned up and all 35 windows closed on the computer I loaded the guys up to head off for PT. What a great session they had today! Connor walked for 4 minutes on the treadmill. This is a great accomplishment for my littlest miracle man as he really struggles to find balance and he is not as strong in the core or legs as Casey. He is getting there! I am so proud of him for all his hard work. He really makes me see that no matter how big the challenge you can overcome anything if you keep trying and working hard! He is just awesome! Casey also did well today and seems to really like the workout and spending time with Miss Kristin and Miss Joan. I adore our PT team- they are wonderful!!

After PT I had the brilliant idea of going to Target to pick up a few things we still need to prepare for Reagan's arrival. Mind you, I am getting pretty large right now- at 30 weeks 4 days I am starting to feel the 3rd trimester lag.

When I pulled into the parking lot I scanned for a double cart in any of the cart corrals and found most of them completely bare- not many shoppers this early in the day. So, since Casey man is walking so well I decided to carry Connor and hold Casey's hand while letting him walk in the store. Overall it was a smooth transition.

Once we got into Target and I managed to get both boys strapped into their seats we set out for the baby section. Casey likes to take up as much space as possible in the cart so he stretched his feet across the seat and used Connor's legs as foot rests. At some point he had the notion to stick his fingers in Connor's mouth. It should be noted that Connor doesn't really bite too often- he is the less aggressive of the boys by far but if you put something in his mouth... you can only imagine. Shoppers for 15 aisles around must have heard the waaAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH that came out of Casey when his brother chomped down- really hard- on his fingers. He cried like his heart was broken. He also decided he could not ride in the cart anymore and it was necessary for mommy to carry him.

So there I am- in the back of the store, with a double cart, a screaming toddler and a giant pregnant belly. Sure, I can carry you, Casey! And so I did. I managed to maneuver the cart and contain Casey and finish up the remainder of my shopping list.

By the time we reached the checkout I was sweating profusely, breathing hard and aching- but still smiling because I just can't get enough of my crazy boys!

There is a wonderful employee at our Target and I feel terrible I don't know his name but he is awesome to the boys and Casey especially loves him. He gives them stickers when we come in so he is definitely up there with the guys' favorite people.

When Casey saw him today he practically threw himself into his arms. Casey thinks this man is the business. He came back to me pretty quickly but went back and forth between the two of us at least 4 more times. Best friends.

Then the gentleman who checked us out smiled and said hi to Casey and Casey lunged over the credit card machine and into the cashier's arms. To C's delight he got more stickers. And I was reminded again of how NOT shy my son is becoming.

As we were leaving a nice woman asked all the usual twin questions then asked if I was crazy having a 3rd one. I assured her I *am * crazy but thrilled to be adding to the madness. She asked if she could help me out to the car or with my cart but I explained I am a master multi-tasker.

She was really nice.

Once the boys were buckled into their seats I made the decision to go to Mr. Bulky to buy a giant bag of red gummy bears and a bag of chocolate covered peanuts for Matt. We pulled into the lot and I hauled the double stroller out of the van. It was then I made a massive error in judgement and decided NOT to use the lovely 5 point harness system provided for my sons safety (and apparently my sanity)by Kolcraft. I figured we'd be in the store for 3-5 minutes tops. Why buckle them up?

FAIL!

After about 30 seconds in the store Connor discovered the bulk bins all had tongs or scoops that were simply too intriguing to pass up- he got himself in perfect position to grab a pair of tongs and in a miraculous half ballet, half gymnastic move I managed to catch said pair of tongs as they went flying. It was at that moment when Casey decided he was leaving the stroller. I caught him by the armpits and attempted to buckle him in- not so easy when he gets in his I am stiff as a board and just a straight- fighting position. While wrestling with Casey, Connor found a display of Mike and Ike's on the right side of the stroller. He happily threw 2 boxes of no less than 15 packets each of candy on the floor in approximately 2 milliseconds. So, now I have to hold on to a squirming Casey while lowering my ginormous self down to pick up 400 packs of candy. Are you still with me?? Mind you, I'm still smiling and talking to the boys very calmly all while cussing myself out internally.

It is while I am in what must have been a very glamorous pose that a nice old man walked up behind me and said, "I love children. I wish I could have had 100. I only had 1 because my wife got cancer and they wiped all that stuff out of her. Enjoy them." (Did he really just tell me about his wife's hysterectomy?? Awesome!)

I smiled and said I do enjoy them, every single day. They are my biggest blessings. He then noticed I was pregnant and he said, "Keep having babies if you can figure out how to pay for it. That's the hard part."

I wished him well, finished picking up the candy, got the bag of peanuts for Matt, found my purse- 2 aisles over- how did *that* happen, steered the double stroller to the register, still holding Casey and managed to pay. The cashier held the door open for me and we were about 200 feet from the van and a much needed breather when Connor decided he wanted to try surfing.

In a move that would make any hardcore, Hawaiian surfer proud, my 2 year old stood up in the back seat of the stroller and was ready to hang 10. I got him halfway seated (still holding Casey) and proceeded to walk into the parking lot. Connor decided to stand again. He almost fell out of the stroller (did I mention I FAIL?!?) but I caught him with one hand under one arm and got him back into his seat.

It was then a nice man asked if I needed help. Uh, yes. But my mouth formed the words, "No thank you, I've got it. Just doing some juggling. Thanks so much, though." He was not convinced but walked away anyway most likely thinking my kids were crazy and I was some awful mother.

I hand Connor the keys to occupy him for the last few steps to the van. He decided to chuck them into the parking lot. Now, if you have never played catch with Connor you wouldn't know that my little peanut makes up for the strength he lacks in core and legs in brute arm strength. Those keys were flying.

By this time I am drenched in sweat, practically hyperventilating, my hair is no longer in a neat ponytail and I am still carrying Casey and now I get to bend down again to retrieve my keys. Did I mention Connor is standing again. I am laughing hysterically now because really, there was nothing else to do.

I get the keys, sit Connor down, hit the button to open the van doors and jog to those open doors, I happily toss my monkeys in their seats, buckle them nice and tightly. I kiss their heads and tell them how much I love them.

Never a dull moment.

I couldn't possibly be upset with them for MY error in judgement.

As I pulled out of my space I called my mom to share my story and she said, "I hope those gummy bears were worth it."

I have now eaten about 40 of them and yes- yes they were worth it. But I do think it will be a LONG time before I attempt shopping with the guys by myself again.

AND when I do- I am using those belts and possibly installing another set to use, just in case.

Is it nap time yet??

Casey passed out cold.

Connor passed out cold- same position. I love twins!

Fair warning- I'm in a mood....

I try very hard to show as many people as possible what incredible blessings my sons are- how EASY we actually have it in our lives. I have enlightened some, annoyed a few and shared the wonder of Casey and Connor with countless people. There are days I realize that my efforts and the efforts of families like mine are just not doing enough fast enough to make people realize that being afraid of Down syndrome is foolish.

Today I read that a couple in Portland, Oregon, was awarded nearly 3 MILLION dollars in a wrongful BIRTH suit. Let's look at that again- WRONGFUL. BIRTH!

This couple decided to have genetic testing done during the pregnancy and the child was not found to have Down syndrome. It turns out she does, in fact, have Down syndrome. She has mosaic down syndrome. The difference between mosaic DS and trisomy 21, which C&C have, is that in mosaic DS not every cell is affected- only some have the extra 21st. In trisomy 21 ALL cells have the extra 21st chromosome.

Had the couple known ahead of time they would have aborted their child. Since they didn't know they feel like they are stuck with this little girl.

I am really angry that the case was not thrown out, that a jury sided with them and felt sorry enough for their "burden" that they awarded them ANY money at all. I am angry about the precedent set by this case. But mostly I am angry that this little girl seems unwanted, unappreciated and viewed as a burden rather than a blessing.

WHAT???

What is this world coming to when people do not recognize the value of a human life? I am disgusted. I am angry. I am outraged.

I'm so, so sad.

How dare these people call themselves parents. They aren't. They are greedy, pathetic jerks.

If raising your child is such a chore why not give her to a family that would LOVE to raise her? Why not just admit you are not loving enough or compassionate enough to look at your own flesh and blood and LOVE her regardless of the number of chromosomes she has.

A real mother looks at her child and sees perfection. A REAL mother doesn't need money to "deal" with the burden of knowing her child should have been killed prior to birth.

Apparently the parents have received death threats. Let me cry for them. Nope. I have ZERO sympathy. It's no more than they offered their daughter. They would have slaughtered her before birth had they known she didn't meet their definition of perfect.

90%+ of babies diagnosed before birth with Down syndrome are aborted. KILLED. MURDERED. SLAUGHTERED.

Why?

Because they aren't "perfect"??

What's perfect? I'm not perfect though I don't have any extra chromosomes. I am not even close to perfect. I am flawed. This post proves it. I have an angry heart today. But THOSE people- those disgusting excuses for parents need to realize they aren't perfect either. FAR FROM IT. They are flawed and yet there are many who love and support them regardless of their MANY shortcomings. It's unfortunate their daughter isn't lucky enough to be afforded the same unconditional love.

There are people in my life who think I should ignore things like this. That I should not be affected by stories such as these that PROVE that my kids are less valued in society. How can I ignore this? How am I supposed to know that there are so many who look at me with PITY thinking I am BURDENED by my sons? How can I ignore the fact that as a parent of children with DS I am FORCED to fight for them- to ensure that they are given a fair shake? HOW can I sleep soundly knowing that there are juries out there that feel so strongly that a child should have been killed before birth that they award her parents $3 million in compensation now that they are stuck with her? Things like this serve only to reinforce the view of the majority that children with disabilities are worth LESS than those that don't have any disability.

I've said this before but I feel that it bears repeating- how many rapists, serial killers, drunk drivers, dead beat parents, child abusers, molesters, robbers, or drug addicts have Down syndrome?? How many adults with DS are sitting on death row for killing? So, really, where's the perfection in that??

Casey and Connor may have extra chromosomes. They may not talk yet, we may FIGHT for every damn milestone they hit but they are the most amazing little men I have ever met. They smile at everyone they meet. They see an old man in a store that most people would look past and they SMILE. They reach out to touch him, to say HI, to see the man that so many forget to love. I have seen this behavior time and time again. They make people smile. All the adults and teens I have met with DS are the same way- they see the people the rest of the world would deem unworthy of a smile, a kind word and big hug. What's MORE PERFECT than unrestrained love? What's MORE perfect than a person who sees the beauty that most of us forget to notice.

Normally, I can let things like this just go but not today. I am so sick about this. Not just sick but absolutely FRIGGIN FURIOUS! MY KIDS ARE NOT WORTH LESS THAN SOMEONE WITHOUT DOWN SYNDROME!! THAT LITTLE GIRL DESERVES A LIFE FULL OF LOVE AND NURTURING!! Sometimes I really hate this world.

And as I write that- I turn around and look at my miracle men and I am reminded that my corner of the world is perfect. My little piece of paradise is far, far better because of who my sons are and I adore, love and am blessed by every last chromosome in those little bodies.

And to anyone who is too ignorant to see the joy and beauty of my life I feel SORRY for YOU. I PITY YOU. You don't need to pity ME. My life is better than you could ever imagine.

Wonderful things are happening!

What a whirlwind these past few weeks have been! Casey and Connor began participating in Special Olympics Young Athletes and I am ecstatic! This is a wonderful opportunity to get the boys to be more active, to be more social (not that they really need the help in that arena) and for Matt and I to meet other parents who share in the blessings we do. This past Saturday they had a basketball themed day and they seemed to enjoy rolling the balls and catching. Both are still getting used to being around so many new people and they do tend to cling to their volunteers. Overall they are doing great and I think they will grow to love this activity!

C and C on a trampoline at the first session of Young Athletes.

Casey has started walking almost exclusively now. He does still crawl when he wants to get somewhere fast but for the most part he is upright and trucking. It is such a wonderful sight to watch my little miracle man going strong! We go to BJ's about once a week and he wants to walk all over the HUGE warehouse store. So... we let him. We have been waiting a very long 26 months for this milestone and we are encouraging him as much as possible. It is so heartwarming to see the pride and joy on his face when he is walking and exploring. It makes me a little teary. LOVE IT!

Connor is starting to make some strides in the walking department. He had a spiral fracture in his left tibia when he was 18 months old and he had to wear a cast for 1 month and I think that has caused more of a delay than just the low muscle tone but he is showing a lot of interest in keeping up with his very busy brother. Lord help me find the right pair of running shoes for when both of these boys are walking! It will certainly be an adventure! Connor managed about 7 steps a few times tonight so I know he's not far off from being far more mobile than he is now. SMILES!

We have been working on some spoon feeding now and Casey and Connor enjoyed some vanilla pudding the other night. It was everywhere but they are making progress using a spoon. I guess they just refuse to eat anything that looks like it may be remotely healthy- pudding they'll dig in and actually find their mouths. I'm calling it a win!

Casey LOVES vanilla pudding! I think some even made it in his mouth!!

Connor is not quite as enthusiastic but he did eat it eventually!

Well, that's about all the update I have for tonight. I am pretty tired after a busy day. The baby is growing well (and quickly!) and I am starting to feel the drag of being close to the 3rd trimester!

As always, thanks for reading and visiting and feel free to email or comment! I LOVE hearing from you! meghan_wilkinson10808@yahoo.com

=)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today is a day that you are supposed to celebrate the love in your life. I celebrate the love I feel for my family every single day. I am so blessed with a wonderful husband, 2 beautiful and amazing little boys and every other person in my family is outstanding! It's a great life I lead.

In honor of Valentine's day, I made monkey see and monkey do heart shaped pancakes this morning. Apparently they were the wrong shape and therefore not suitable for eating. The dog loved them. I guess in addition to food preferences there are now shape preferences to contend with. Good times!

Never said they were pretty!!

During the boys nap time I made a new piece of wall art for our home- also along the Valentine's Day theme. I was inspired by something I saw on Pinterest. (shocking, I know!) and went to investigate the blog where it originated. You can see her version here: http://simplystoked.blogspot.com/2011/02/book-heart-art.html Adorable, right??

I decided to add my own little twist to the project and this is what I came up with:

I love how it turned out. Now I just have to figure out where to hang this!

Two more things before I go:

1. A great picture of Matthew holding our miracle men. Nothing says "LOVE" to me like watching my husband be the awesome father that he is. Every time he holds our boys my heart smiles.

And finally... A good friend of mine's daughter Kristen made a beautiful video about what her brother Alex means to her. Alex also has Down syndrome. Kristen is a freshman in college and she is already changing the world in amazing ways. I am honored to know her and her family. If you look closely, you'll see a few good shots of my miracle men. Be prepared though- GET THE KLEENEX ready!

These are the days...

I have been thinking a lot lately about changing the blog. When I first started this blog it was so important to me to have a place to write about C&C and all the things I was feeling being a new mother and being new to the world of Down syndrome. Back then it was really all-consuming. As time has passed I find I am now used to this life and celebrating it rather than coping with it I feel like I need to change things HERE to reflect the change I feel in my heart.

I still want to share things about DS but I find it to be less of a focus in my life- it is taking a back seat to raising two very active little boys, getting ready for baby #3, and living life to the fullest and in the best way possible.

That said, I want to start including more things about what we as a family enjoy. I am an avid crafter and reader, Casey and Connor are just getting ready to begin Special Olympics Young Athletes, we love cooking (and eating) and just being together. So, in order to REALLY show people who don't know how normal my life is- I want to share just that. The normal, every day stuff with a nice mix of information about Down syndrome, other disabilities and things to raise awareness. AND of course- TONS of great things about my miracle men- after all- Casey and Connor are the real stars in our world.

Connor and Casey say HI!

I hope you will continue on our journey with us and grow to like the changes. I feel good about this.


I have been keeping really busy the last few weeks trying to get ready for Reagan. I have been crafting like crazy and trying to organize the house so we have room for a whole other person. This is no small feat. Casey and Connor have SO MUCH STUFF! I decided to combat this problem by assembling cube shelves for the living room. I was inspired by friend Jeannette and her awesome living room where everything has a place and her little boy Adam can find anything he wants to play with easily. What a difference!

BEFORE: A huge jumble of toys in a 55 gallon tote.

AFTER: Everything has a place and I am LOVING it!

So, with that tackled, I got to work on some pieces for the nursery. Reagan's room will be Gray and Pink! Thus far I have made the following:


This is a small side table I painted. It has butterflies on it each featuring a different quality or value I want to instill in our new daughter. Too many girls are brought up believing that they should be princesses or (this one makes me shudder) a DIVA. In our house, we want Reagan to grow up knowing the importance of honesty, integrity, faith, love, fun, strength and more. This table will serve as a reminder to her that life is about more than superficial things, that a strong moral foundation is a gift no one can take away.

These are just some simple letters I painted with white acrylic paint and used rub on transfers to spell her first, middle and last names. I added some pre-painted wood embellishments I found at Pat Catan's for $.33/each. I love how they turned out.

My final project was inspired by something I found on Pinterest. If you aren't using Pinterest- you are missing out. I am beyond addicted but always inspired by ideas I see there. This is a great example.

I turned THIS:

Into THIS super cute storage cabinet!

Enough of my crafting. I'll leave you with a Casey and Connor update- they are both tackling going DOWN the stairs. It's pretty fantastic and I am ALMOST past the utter terror I feel watching them go down the stairs. Ehh, what's a few more gray hairs?

Blessings.

As always- emails welcome at meghan_wilkinson10808@yahoo.com

Hello again...

Sorry for the gap between posts but there has been much going on around the Wilkinson household. First, I want everyone to know that we found out on January 20th, that our June baby is going to be a beautiful little GIRL! We are ecstatic and can't wait to meet her. We have decided her name will be Reagan Delaney. All results from her ultrasound look great and everything is measuring perfectly. While we did not get any prenatal testing with this pregnancy I feel like everything is so different this time around. She is much more active than her brothers were at this point and though the boys showed no soft markers for Down syndrome on any ultrasound I am feeling confident our little princess will be born without an extra chromosome. It's a gut feeling and I could definitely be wrong (it has been known to happen on occasion) I will love her regardless of her chromosome count if I am wrong. It doesn't matter. She is already adored- so much.

Casey and Connor are making huge strides every week. Connor is finally opening up verbally a little- he now says baby and he is beginning to walk more to keep up with his brother. Casey says dada and no and yay- though they both throw out words every once in a while that surprise both of us- Casey said down and Connor said toes but only once each.

This week both of our miracle men went down the stairs for the first time. That was a heart pounding experience for mom, believe me!

I never have posted much about the feeding issues we have with C&C but they are both incredibly picky eaters and refuse about 95% of what we offer them. They like crackers and toast and dry cereal. Rounding out their diet is yogurt and applesauce and an occasional chicken nugget but that is rare and only Casey eats those. Connor has lost some weight and we are constantly trying to figure out what they may eat. It turns out Casey is a HUGE fan of the chocolate chip cookie. See pictures below.

Connor is not a fan of the chocolate chip cookie. Note how clean he is after throwing said cookie to the dog.

And the search continues for more foods that these two will eat. It's an adventure.

In other areas of our lives- On January 24th, Declan Simon, a good friend of my family died. He had battled cancer for a long time but was taken by a staph infection he got while in the hospital. It was a big loss for many including my mom who had known him for many, many years. Declan was a good hearted man, a devout Catholic, an amazing drummer, a great father and friend and most importantly an outstanding person. He was also a big advocate for Down syndrome, volunteering at many events hosted by the Up Side of Downs. He was very much looking forward to the Buddy Walk this year. He adored Casey and Connor and they adored him. Declan was laid to rest wearing his blue and yellow Buddy Walk/ Down syndrome awareness bracelet. He is greatly missed.

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to let you all know about a very special little girl who lives just one town over from my family. Her name is Quinn and she is 5 months old. Quinn has Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa. I first learned of EB on the blog "EB"ing a Mommy- http://randycourtneytripproth.blogspot.com/ - Tripp Roth was an inspiration to many and his mother, a true hero in every sense of the word. I cannot fathom what Quinn and her family are going through with this awful disease but I want them to know that they are not alone and that there are people praying for them. Please keep them in your prayers. Locally, there will be a spaghetti dinner to benefit this little angel. If you would like to help and are not in the area to attend the dinner you can send a donation to:
Quinn R. Seymour Benefit
℅ Knights of Columbus
P.O. Box 2189
Hudson, OH 44236

Every. Single. Dollar. Helps. I realize that times are tough but having a child with extreme medical issues trumps most financial concerns the majority of us have. If you can help- please do. If you can't help financially share her story and hopefully someone you know can help. Thanks so much. If you would like to learn more about Quinn she has a Caring Bridge page that can be viewed here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/quinnseymour . You will have to create a Caring Bridge login to view but worth it to follow her story. She is stunningly beautiful.

Ok friends, thank you for reading. Thank you for sharing in our journey. Every view of our blog warms my heart. Emails and comments ALWAYS welcome to meghan_wilkinson10808@yahoo.com

xoxo.