along with my other five ;)
My SIL is teaching a lesson in Young Womens today about the sanctity/value of life. She texted me yesterday and asked me to write a little something about Brady. It's interesting that when one thinks about the sanctity of life, my little guy comes up. I suppose one could think of capital punishment, or euthanasia, or genocide, or any number of other concepts, but instead, the subject of abortion/termination and my beautiful son, my sweet, amazing little boy, who is deemed less than "perfect" by the world, was the first thing that came to her mind. Not surprising since that is what comes to 90% of women's minds when tests diagnose that their baby has Trisomy 21.
So - she wanted me to write a little blurb for her lesson - and - I liked what I wrote - so - here it is..... A little bit about the sanctity and amazingness (is that a word) of Brady's life - from my point of view :)
"I have had the opportunity to really reflect on the sancitity of life a lot since the birth of my youngest son, Brady. He joined our family in April of 2002, bringing up the caboose of our family of 8. When I was pregnant with him, there were a couple of soft markers that showed up on his ultrasound that gave him about a 1% chance of having a chromosomal abnormality. The only way to really diagnose that and get a definitive answer was to have an amnio. Since an amnio puts your baby at about a 0.5% chance of miscarriage, and he was our 6th child and c-section, my uterus was already compromised and since we wouldn't have terminated him anyway - no matter what - we didn't want to put him at risk at all, so we declined an amnio. The morning after his birth, our pediatrician came in and told us that he suspected that Brady did, indeed, have Trisomy 21, most commonly known as Down syndrome. They took some blood and did some other tests and at his two week check up it was confirmed that he did have 3 number 21 chromosomes in every cell of his body. As I turned to the internet for support and information, I was astounded to learn that 90% of women who have an amnio that is positive for Trisomy 21/Down Syndrome, abort their babies. This is a staggering number - women who planned for and loved their babies, and then find out at 20 weeks, when they already love their baby, have felt them kick and move, when their babies are fully formed with little hands and feet, fingers and toes, hearts beating strong - but because their babies are not "perfect" as the world sees perfection, or "normal" or have "above average" potential - they end their lives. In my opinion, they are missing out of having one of Heavenly Father's choicest spirits, and one of the greatest blessings and gifts ever offered to them. I took one look at my little baby boy, and fell even more in love with him. I knew there would be some hard things, that it would take him longer to learn things, that he wouldn't have the same kinds of opportunities as my other children, that the world would see him as a burden, as someone or something to pity.
In the early days I lost count of how many people told me they were "sorry" when they found out he had down syndrome. I wasn't sorry, I was grateful that he was healthy, and fine, and perfect - exactly what I had prayed for every single night when I was pregnant with him. He didn't have major heart defects, he nursed like a champ, he grew, and he developed. He was so much more like my other babies than he was different - I couldn't figure out how other people couldn't see that. I moved away from people who were negative, or who couldn't see Brady as we, his family saw him - a blessing, and someone to learn from. And each day that I was Brady's mom, I learned something new - I developed a new talent, I became stronger at something I was weak at, I learned what it meant, even more, to have unconditional love - love that grew exponentially each day - til it was more than I ever dreamed possible. I learned that my children were great advocates, that they had an inner strength and ability to respond to the world's views in their own ways. And - they learned to read people and gain insight and acceptance for differences that they never would have learned, if Brady had not been born into our family.
Every single day Brady teaches us something, helps us become better people, and blesses our lives. He teaches us patience, and about what is really important in life. He gets so much pleasure from the small things, and he notices things that we never would, because our lives move at such a fast pace. He helps me to appreciate the simple things in life - the ants on the sidewalk, the way water cascades down the steps from a hose, the wonder of automatic doors ;) When he learns something new and a light goes on behind his eyes and lights up his whole countenance - it makes me feel like I am witnessing a little bit of heaven. His unconditional love for everyone, his absolute transparency, his complete denial of anything competitive - to him, everyone's a winner, and he is so excited when someone accomplishes something that they are working at - his complete joy at the simplest of pleasures - it's like Christmas every day sometimes :) For every hard thing, there are a hundred other things that make it all worthwhile. So - even though he isn't valued in the world, because he won't accomplish what the world values, we feel like we won the lottery - because Brady binds us to eternity, and helps us to see what really matters in this life, and, the next......"
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Friday, August 06, 2010
Thursday, August 05, 2010
More Brady's Bits.....
So - today we went to the cardiologist (good news - his heart looks good, less leakage from his mitral valve - yayyyyy - we don't have to go back for THREE years!!!!) but our regular cardiologist only does clinic out of a hospital that our new insurance doesn't pay for. Soooo - we could see her and it would pay - but the x-rays, ekg, and echo - they wouldn't pay for there. As a result - we had to switch cardiologists.
So - we tried out a new guy.
He walks in and Brady starts saying - 1 - 2 - 3 - WAKE UP JEFF!!!! At first I couldn't figure out what he was saying. And then, I couldn't figure out WHY he kept saying it. I looked at him, I looked at the cardiologist, I looked at him and told him to be quiet - but he would have none of it. Then I figured it out......
The new cardiologist - tall, dark and......
Asian........
I explained it to him - he had no idea who the Wiggles were - ha ha ha.
I hope he wasn't offended :)
Brady, Brady, Brady ;)
So - we tried out a new guy.
He walks in and Brady starts saying - 1 - 2 - 3 - WAKE UP JEFF!!!! At first I couldn't figure out what he was saying. And then, I couldn't figure out WHY he kept saying it. I looked at him, I looked at the cardiologist, I looked at him and told him to be quiet - but he would have none of it. Then I figured it out......
The new cardiologist - tall, dark and......
Asian........
I explained it to him - he had no idea who the Wiggles were - ha ha ha.
I hope he wasn't offended :)
Brady, Brady, Brady ;)
Monday, August 02, 2010
Brady's Bits....
my boy is so funny. I need to write down the funny things he does cuz he cracks us up (he cracks himself up too - but hey - that's a given.....) For a little boy who isn't conversational just yet - he is dang hilarious - and it gives me hope that he will be one day :)
We are in the midst of potty training. Yes, I know - he is eight years old. Yes, I know - he should already be potty trained. Yes, I did spend the ENTIRE summer last year working with him, and NO I was not successful. Well - this naked thing is going okay for the most part - he is making gains. But his latest thing - he sits on the potty for maybe, MAYBE, 1/2 a second, and he says - ummm Mom, I'm all done - and then he laughs hilariously. Apparently that is the funniest joke in the universe :) I can't wait until he learns knock, knock jokes..... So - for potty training we have this chart, and a prize box, and a bell that he gets to ring when he "goes" - it's quite the production (I'm pretty sure they won't be duplicating it at school - definitely not the naked part - for sure - please oh please NOT the naked part.....) On the potty chart, Brady gets to put a check mark in the box and choose a little something every time he successfully "produces" on the potty, and then every 10 times, he gets to choose something from the BIGGER prize box, then every 30 times he gets to go to McDonalds, and at the end of the chart (a hundred and something times) he gets this Spongebob movie that he saw in a Target ad that he thinks he absolutely HAS to have. So - the Target ad is right behind the prize box, and Brady gets it out at least once a day and points out the movie to me. I show him his chart and tell him how many more times he has to go potty, and he just looks at me with his big blue eyes and darling smile and says - Please Mom???? Seriously - the kid has it down. But, as strong willed as he is - I'm stronger........ right???
Today I'm cooking dinner. He walks into the kitchen and says "What are you cooking" No joke - seriously - he asked me that question - I was floored. I told him I was cooking spaghetti for dinner. He stands on his tip toes, looks in over the top of the pot, takes in the broccoli and sauce. He then proceeds into the pantry, grabs some Ramen and says, I want Ramen...... Seriously? A full sentence question that makes me so happy, and then he criticizes my cooking by asking for Ramen??? I'm crushed!
The other day we were swimming at our friend's pool and Brady went to go jump in the hot tub, but he slipped and fell in. When he came up he was TICKED, spouting off something that could have been swear words - if he knew any. He climbed out of the hot tub and was so mad. He looked around, saw some goggles lying on the edge of the pool and kicked them so hard they went half-way across the pool. Then he jumped in properly to the pool WITHOUT tripping. Yes, my friends, people with down syndrome do get ticked ;) p.s. he went the entire 2 hours we swam swimming (aka dog paddling) without a life jacket - he also swam horizontally across the pool, in the deep end (with big brother swimming behind, just in case) all by himself. Some of the time he even swam with his head in the water - his swimming teacher would be so proud (well - except for the big arms part - he just can't get that down yet - maybe by next summer???)
And, last but not least - I overheard him yesterday talking to the dog. They kind of have a love/hate relationship. Our dog is soooo patient with Brady, but, she is getting up there in years - she is 10 this fall, so she's starting to put up with a little less crap than she used to. But, at dinner she always sits under Brady's chair, because, usually there is more fall-out there than from anyone else in the family (although J might be a close second???) Sometimes Brady loves this and he feeds her (there he goes again, criticizing my cooking.....) and sometimes he hates it, cause he'll accidently drop something and she'll quick grab it and eat it before he can (yes - the dog does have faster reflexes than my cute boy). So - when that happens he'll usually give her crap - not that we totally understand what he's saying most of the time, but you can just tell.... So - he was talking to her and apparently she wasn't behaving properly and I heard him say - clear as a bell - "Shame on you L, Shame on you........" Where does he get this stuff????
We are in the midst of potty training. Yes, I know - he is eight years old. Yes, I know - he should already be potty trained. Yes, I did spend the ENTIRE summer last year working with him, and NO I was not successful. Well - this naked thing is going okay for the most part - he is making gains. But his latest thing - he sits on the potty for maybe, MAYBE, 1/2 a second, and he says - ummm Mom, I'm all done - and then he laughs hilariously. Apparently that is the funniest joke in the universe :) I can't wait until he learns knock, knock jokes..... So - for potty training we have this chart, and a prize box, and a bell that he gets to ring when he "goes" - it's quite the production (I'm pretty sure they won't be duplicating it at school - definitely not the naked part - for sure - please oh please NOT the naked part.....) On the potty chart, Brady gets to put a check mark in the box and choose a little something every time he successfully "produces" on the potty, and then every 10 times, he gets to choose something from the BIGGER prize box, then every 30 times he gets to go to McDonalds, and at the end of the chart (a hundred and something times) he gets this Spongebob movie that he saw in a Target ad that he thinks he absolutely HAS to have. So - the Target ad is right behind the prize box, and Brady gets it out at least once a day and points out the movie to me. I show him his chart and tell him how many more times he has to go potty, and he just looks at me with his big blue eyes and darling smile and says - Please Mom???? Seriously - the kid has it down. But, as strong willed as he is - I'm stronger........ right???
Today I'm cooking dinner. He walks into the kitchen and says "What are you cooking" No joke - seriously - he asked me that question - I was floored. I told him I was cooking spaghetti for dinner. He stands on his tip toes, looks in over the top of the pot, takes in the broccoli and sauce. He then proceeds into the pantry, grabs some Ramen and says, I want Ramen...... Seriously? A full sentence question that makes me so happy, and then he criticizes my cooking by asking for Ramen??? I'm crushed!
The other day we were swimming at our friend's pool and Brady went to go jump in the hot tub, but he slipped and fell in. When he came up he was TICKED, spouting off something that could have been swear words - if he knew any. He climbed out of the hot tub and was so mad. He looked around, saw some goggles lying on the edge of the pool and kicked them so hard they went half-way across the pool. Then he jumped in properly to the pool WITHOUT tripping. Yes, my friends, people with down syndrome do get ticked ;) p.s. he went the entire 2 hours we swam swimming (aka dog paddling) without a life jacket - he also swam horizontally across the pool, in the deep end (with big brother swimming behind, just in case) all by himself. Some of the time he even swam with his head in the water - his swimming teacher would be so proud (well - except for the big arms part - he just can't get that down yet - maybe by next summer???)
And, last but not least - I overheard him yesterday talking to the dog. They kind of have a love/hate relationship. Our dog is soooo patient with Brady, but, she is getting up there in years - she is 10 this fall, so she's starting to put up with a little less crap than she used to. But, at dinner she always sits under Brady's chair, because, usually there is more fall-out there than from anyone else in the family (although J might be a close second???) Sometimes Brady loves this and he feeds her (there he goes again, criticizing my cooking.....) and sometimes he hates it, cause he'll accidently drop something and she'll quick grab it and eat it before he can (yes - the dog does have faster reflexes than my cute boy). So - when that happens he'll usually give her crap - not that we totally understand what he's saying most of the time, but you can just tell.... So - he was talking to her and apparently she wasn't behaving properly and I heard him say - clear as a bell - "Shame on you L, Shame on you........" Where does he get this stuff????
J's 16th Birthday!!!!
He wanted sea food for his birthday - so we made some for dinner! Crab legs - sooooo yummy!!!!
and exactly what he wanted - Rush tickets - a concert date with Dad :)
Happy Happy Birthday J!!!!!
Brant's accident......
some of you may have noticed in my grains of gratitude that I expressed gratitude for my brother's improving health. While we were up in Canada, he was in a terrible accident where he was run over and basically crushed by a boat launcher (essentially a large weighted forklift that holds boats up to a loading dock to be loaded, then launches them down a boat ramp) at the marina where he keeps his boat. He was critically injured and spent 3 weeks in ICU on a ventilator, with extensive internal and external injuries. Thanks to many, many, many prayers and the will of the Lord, he is going to recover!!! He is now tubeless (where he had many many iv's, a trach, feeding tube etc....) and moved into a rehabilitation hospital :) He is making so much progress and working so hard. He is a miracle and an inspiration!!!! Our thoughts and prayers are still with you big brother - and I'm thinking you went a little far to get forgiveness for all your big brother teasing ;) Love you!!!!
Canada fun!!!!!
My little joeys :)
They redid the dinosaur park so it is all interactive now - it was soooo cool!!!
Hitting the farm with our grown up cousins and THEIR kids :) I still can't believe I'm a Great Aunt - I should just be a great aunt :)
Sharing a chick with my littlest chick :)
Sheep are deep conversationalists - didn't you know????
Jenna's Wedding!!!!
Cousins are the BEST!!!!
Cousin hugs :)
Congrats Jenna and Cam!!!!
Waterton National Park - Canada!!!!
The family at Cameron Falls in Waterton!!!
Dude - look at those deer - they are EVERYWHERE!!!!!
Ohhh - glacier lakes are COLD!!!! Brrrrrrr - hurry up and take the picture mom!!!! Brady put his toes in for about a 1/2 second and he was done - wouldn't even stand there for the picture ;)
Hawaii!!!!!!!
C got Lei-ed :)
Pearl Harbor
With a survivor!
Honolulu
Punchbowl Cemetary
Next stop - Hilo on the Big Island!!!
Black sand - AMAZING!!!!
We had to stop in at the old churches - for sure! They are almost as cool as the ones in Europe :)
Old Lady Hula Dancers - what could be more welcoming???
Next Stop - Kona - other side of the Big Island!
We went on the most amazing shore excursion - Kaptain Zodiac Raft - it was a BLAST!!! We saw dozens of dolphins and went snorkeling in the most amazing bay (by the Captian Cook monumnet). The coral there was huge and gorgeous and colorful - better than anywhere else we've snorkled in Hawaii (or Mexico). It was sooooo cool! The little spinner dolphins were everywhere and they were so cute!
Lava Tube :)
We even found a Hawaiian knight in shining armour for K ;)
Leaving Kauai!!! The Na pali coastline - only accessible by boat was soooo amazing. We will miss Kauai!!!
Our last sunset at sea!!!!
Goodbye Pride of America!!!
Hellooooooo Oahu!!!!!
Waikiki - super happening place - but I think we've spent enough time there :)
We saw a MONGOOSE!!!!!
After snorkeling at Hanauma, we climbed Diamondhead Crater. The last 100 steps are killer - my thighs may never be the same :) C said it would be a good soccer workout :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
