Layne Giggling!

See the Person

See the person, not the disability! I hate that Layne has so many "labels". I wish people would stop looking at his disability and see him for him. He has a personality just like anyone else. The next time you see a disabled person look through that and see the person! They are people too and they have feelings like you or I, even those who are mentally handicapped like Layne. He can sense how you feel about him by your touch and the tone of your voice! These people are smarter than you think!

Not One Day Has Been Easy

Not one single day of Layne's life has been easy. Not even from the time when I was pregnant with him. His entire life has been difficult and I fear it will only become more difficult as he grows older. Even with his small size now, daily task are hard...dressing, bathing, going places...they are all a big event. I often think of the future when he is bigger...how will I move him from place to place? If we are out some where, how will I change his diaper? He will have far outgrown restroom changing stations. How will I bathe him? How will he handle haircuts, and shaving..how on earth will we do that? But like we have done from the beginning, we will just do it, go with the flow I suppose. Because our love for Layne is like no other and we will continue to care for him always, with few complaints.

One of my worst fears is wondering if we will pass on before Layne does. I hate the thought that if we did pass before him, that he might have to be in some sort of home and never get the love he got daily again(and I am talking about when we are old and he is grown).

Even though Layne's life has been and is very difficult, and the future most likely holds many more difficulties, I wouldn't take one day back, not one. I love this little guy more than words could ever express and that love continues to grow each and every day!

As Long as it's Healthy??

Why do people say this? If your baby ends up being born unhealthy are you going to send him/her back? I hope not! We love Layne the same as we would have had he been healthy. Of course everyone wants their children to be born healthy, but really think twice before saying that statement. Think about what it really means...that if the child were born unhealthy, you wouldn't accept them?

Before Layne was born we always said, no matter what could be wrong with him we would love him exactly the same. We didn't have the testing done they offer during pregnancy and I don't plan on doing it this time either. I hate the fact that some people do it thinking if something is wrong they will terminate, how could anyone do this? You are not guaranteed a healthy baby even if nothing is genetically wrong(nothing is genetically wrong with Layne). Something could happen during your baby's birth that causes them to be "unhealthy". So to everyone reading this...think twice before you say to the expecting couples...as long as it's healthy.

Just my thoughts of the day!!

It's time for an update!! Layne has been doing well! He has not gotten sick so far and I'd like to keep it that way! He got his first dose of the H1N1 vaccine a couple of weeks ago and will hopefully get the second by the end of this month! We stay home and don't take him out any where to keep those flu germs away!!

His vision has really started to improve lately. He is starting to track objects finally!!! I could not be more thrilled! And since this improvement he is starting to cry around new people and even some family members he normally didn't cry around. His neurologist even commented that at his last appointment that was the first time he had ever looked at her light! I am hoping for more and more improvement in this area!!

The next appointment he has is with his nephrologist, just for a check-up, it should be uneventful. He will see his GI dr in January and then neurologist in March. Seems that our appointments our slowing down a bit. And I'm really hoping we don't have any sick visits...pray!!!

He is doing well with the Mic-key button. We did have to change it once already because it got clogged and we could not get it unclogged. It was fairly simple and was definitely daddy's job!! I think that's about all the news for now, thanks for checking in with us!!!

Froggy

Here are a few pics of Layne on Halloween!!

Heaven's Very Special Child

I posted this around this time last year but I wanted to share it again!


A meeting was held quite far from Earth!
It's time again for another birth.
Said the Angels to the LORD above,
This Special Child will need much love.

His progress may be very slow,
Accomplishments he may not show.
And he'll require extra care
From the folks he meets down there.

He may not run or laugh or play,
His thoughts may seem quite far away,
In many ways he won't adapt,
And he'll be known as handicapped.

So let's be careful where he's sent,
We want his life to be content.
Please LORD, find the parents who
Will do a special job for you.

They will not realize right away
The leading role they're asked to play,
But with this child sent from above
Comes stronger faith and richer love.

And soon they'll know the privilege given
In caring for their gift from Heaven.
Their precious charge, so meek and mild,
Is HEAVEN'S VERY SPECIAL CHILD.


by Edna Massionilla
December 1981
The Optomist- newsletter for PROUD
Parents Regional Outreach for Understanding Down's Inc.