What Do You See?

After Hailey was born and we were told she has Down syndrome, I suddenly saw all of the physical markers.  I saw the almond shaped eyes, the teeny nose with small nasal bone, and felt the low muscle tone.  For a long time, I didn't truly see Hailey as a person, I saw Down syndrome.  I wondered if there would ever be a time that I would "see" Hailey.  Would I always see Down syndrome?  Why couldn't I see my daughter?  She was mine...part me and part my husband.  Down syndrome didn't define her, it was just part of her, but I couldn't get past the physical features that you could see.  I was frustrated, sad, and felt incredibly guilty.

To all those parents who are having a difficult time dealing with their diagnoses...for the person I was...this is for you.  Two years and two months later, I don't see Down syndrome (and I haven't for a long time).  Down syndrome doesn't rule our life.  Yes, I do write about Down syndrome, but they are thoughts that pop into my mind or things we run into in our daily life.  We don't eat, breathe, sleep Ds.  Who knows, if one of the kids had any other condition, I might blog about that, too.  I'd blog about issues the boys have, but most people don't find sassiness, teacher struggles, children squabbles, or every day athletics as interesting.  Yes, we belong to groups that originally centered around Ds, but these women and families are great people who are fun to be around.  I look forward to getting together with them.  Our daily life, only deals with Ds in the sense that it is a part of Hailey.

So I ask....do you see the same things I see?

A funny two-year old who loves and nurtures her babies...

 Who loves the camera...

Who loves to make a mess to drive her mama mad...

Who makes car noises with her Little Mermaid shell....

Who is now acting more like a big girl than a baby....

Who loves technology....

Who thinks her brothers hung the moon....

Who loves books more than any of my three children...

Who loves to help....

Whose dimpled smile can make anyone's day brighter....

Who loves her food...the messier the better... 

Who has these 3 boys wrapped around her little finger...

Who fits here perfectly....

Who loves to dance....

Who loves exploring her world...

Who recently learned to sign "I love you" because the words just don't come out yet... 

Who is making our world a better place just because she is here...