2012 Flashback

As 2012 comes to a close and we prepare to ring in a new year I want to reflect on all of the memories we made this past year.

We started out in a new house that God helped us find.  In the town we live in decent rentals, especially single family homes, are hard to find.  After selling our large home we were afraid we would not find the space we would need, but the Lord came through giving us a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom house.  Very clean and wonderful landlords.  We moved in January 6th and closed on the house we were selling the following week.

I am going to add that selling that house was something we wanted to do for a few years and once again a buyer came through giving us exactly what we wanted, actually a little more.  We had been praying for a sale and while I am still not sure about the timing on moving with what all we would face in 2012 but, God knows what he is doing so who are we to question him?

It seemed like as soon as we moved things with the pregnancy began to get difficult.  I found out shortly after that I had gestational diabetes and had to be put on a strict diet.  Since I had that they monitored me more closely and began to find signs of Downs Syndrome.  So the weekly trips to the doctor in Buffalo began.  I then began to have extreme swelling in my leg and ankles to the point where it was painful to walk.  2012 was not starting out so well!

On March 27th our world changed forever (in a good way!) when we welcomed Preston into our family!  Of course you know that lead to some very sad times as we had to send him off to surgery and come to terms with the fact that our precious boy does indeed have downs syndrome.  Also the 6 weeks I had to live in Buffalo with Preston who was in the NICU while my husband and daughter drove back and forth between home and the Ronald McDonald house.  That was stressful to say the least, but we got through it together and are stronger for it.

During the time in Buffalo we got a chance to see what a great community we have and how many precious people God had put in our lives as we received gifts, cards, money, and gift cards from so many people and organizations wanting to help our family in whatever way they could.  I have never been in a position like that before where I was at the receiving end of such kindness.  I remember feeling such a relief as all those gifts came in.  At the time I was only getting 60% of my paycheck due to the fact that I was on maternity leave.  Gas was near $4/gallon and going back and forth was putting a financial strain on us.  Not to mention that I was away from home and needed day to day things.  2012 showed me how wonderful people can be and what a great community I live in.

May 6th was the best when our precious boy finally got to come home with us.  He was instantly loved by so many and was such a blessing to have with us all of the time.  The first few days took some getting use to, but we made it and now we have mastered the colostomy bag!  That is one thing I never thought I would be learning in 2012!

July 7th was "Walk with Preston" a benefit for CARE for Children who have helped Preston so much with his development.  It was so emotional to see all the wonderful people in our community show up to show their love for Preston and help raise money for such a wonderful organization that helps so many children like preston who need a little extra boost to accomplish those early milestones.  Karli  who organized the event was able to raise a total of $12,000 over the next few months, showing again what wonderful friends we have.

If you did not have a chance yet, check out the awesome video about the event that was done by Tyler Little of Evoking Emotions.      http://vimeo.com/45874668

Following that overwhelming turnout at the walk, the Bob Gleason Memorial Golf tournament chose Preston as the recipient of the proceeds made from that event.  Again such overwhelming kindness from our wonderful community.  The weather might stink, but the people can't be beat!  :)

Lets not forget Kierstin!  She started her last year of Preschool.  She was a little hesitant about going back, but once she got back into the swing of things she loved it!  She has made such great friends at school and loves her teacher.  She just loves life!  She has a ton of energy and loves to play and make us laugh!  Her best friends are Daisy, Baby Jess and Preston.  She loves games, crafts and puzzles.  I could not have asked for a better daughter and a better big sister for Preston.  She is so passionate and loving.   There is no doubt that God had a plan when he knit this family together!

We celebrated Kierstin turning 5 in October with a big Ariel themed bowling bash with all of Kierstin's friends!  We all had a great time and Preston took a nice nap :)

November we were able to go to Florida to see my mom, brother, sister-in-law and adorable nephew.  We celebrated Thanksgiving with all of them and I got to feel my baby niece kick inside my sister-in laws belly.

On that trip Preston started doing an adorable fake laugh, that he now does all of the time.  So cute!  Also a big thing on that trip was Preston started eating every bottle all the time so we don't even use his feeding tube anymore!  Big for him and we all are so proud.

December Preston got two teeth and started doing so much better on his solid foods.  I am much cleaner at the end of the feedings now!  We all enjoyed a nice Christmas together as a family.  That about sums up our 2012 in a nutshell!  What started out a rough year has turned into our best year yet.  We are anxiously awaiting to see what great things God has in store for us in 2013!  Happy New Year to all!

Christmas 2012

Our family had the best Christmas!  We woke up to find Santa had paid us a visit.  Preston got lots of toys that light up as well as some books and Kierstin got the violin she had been wanting for the past 6 months!

Most importantly we celebrated the most precious gift, Christ's birth, together as a family!

Teamwork and Not Sweating the Small Stuff!

Being home with Preston was and still is amazing!  He was such a great sleeper, we did have to get up every 3 hours to feed him due to the weight gain issue, but we used his g-tube at night and let him get his beauty sleep.  Eric and I would alternate so we could get at least a 6 hour stretch of sleep at a time.  Team work is key with any baby, but especially so when you have one that needs some extra care.  That is pretty much how we got through the first few months home until we were able to fall into a more "normal" routine.

I want to say this, Eric is my rock.  He is the best daddy I could have ever asked for for my children.  His life totally changed when Kierstin entered the world and he became a father.  She immediately had him wrapped around her tiny finger.  Preston may need extra care, but Eric is never going to shy away from that like some men would.  He is with me 100% about wanting Preston to achieve all in life that he can and wants to.  Almost 15 years ago when we first met I know we never thought life would take us to having a child with special needs, but I know God placed us together and know that together we are stronger then we are apart.  Preston is going to accomplish amazing things in life and amaze all the critics out there, but know that he has two parents that are behind him all the way.

Raising any child is never an easy task, but the reward is oh so great.  I know the road ahead of us is not always going to be easy.  We have many challenges that lie ahead, but Preston has two parents that think the world of him.  We are both so excited to see what God has in store for his life.  He was given to us for a reason.  Downs Syndrome is not going to scare us.  It is not something we are going to fear, it is something we are going to embrace and our hope is to change the way people think about someone with this condition.

An older relative of mine was trying to encourage me (I think) and said "Don't ever say he has Down's Syndrome"  I was taken back a little but just kind of walked away.  I found that pretty offensive, but considering the age of the person and that fact that it really was said more in ignorance vs malice I chose to shut my mouth and not say anything (for those of you that know me you must be shocked!).

I don't want anyone to ever think that is something to be ashamed of.  He does have Down's Syndrome, it is a fact not something I am trying to hide.  I for one have decided that I like that he has Downs Syndrome.  Everyone always looks at me like I am crazy when I say that and my reply is always "What do you want me not to like it?"

He may take a little longer to catch on to some things in life that the rest of us take for granted, but when he does get it we are all going to be that much more excited!  I am learning not to sweat the little things anymore.  So what if the car got a dent in it?  So what that I threw my phone in the washer?  Is that the end of the world?  Absolutely not!  Anymore, I see people freaking out about simple things and I kind of want to say....REALLY?!?!?  I can't be too much of a critic, I use to be one of them, but I am learning.

So I am really not sure what this post is about, but hopefully you all got something out of it :)