We're Having A .......

[RichM]

Hello everyone. (it's Rich) (I'm still trying to figure out whether to start a new thread or do a reply. I'm new to these types of boards, any technical help would be appreciated.)

First of all. Kim, I'm sorry to hear about your family's accident. I'm glad everyone is doing well physically. You sound like you have a tremendous amount of strength and faith. I hope everything is ok.

I've been doing some research and trying to understand the news on our baby and DS. I have a ton of questions to ask everyone. I travel quite a bit, so sometimes it's a bit of time before I check back in.

You all were very comforting during the initial period of when we found out about our little one and DS. Once again, THANK YOU!

You all wanted to know whether we were having a little boy or a little girl. Well, we found out (even though I wanted it to be a surprise) We are expecting a little baby........BOY....on August 8th. (of course my daughter Lauren has said she wants a little sister)

It's a GREAT news. We're both really excited about things. Of course the excitement is with much trepidation about what the future holds for us. We're both a bit scared and nervous. Honestly, we are more nervous than we would be if we didn't know we were having a baby with DS. Nonetheless, we are moving forward in planning for the newbie.

Naturally everything is hitting at one time. I own my own sports business, so I am trying to figure out the financial impact. Does anyone know if there programs, help, support groups, financial support, etc. in NJ? We just moved to Morris County from Massachusetts.

It's a bit overwhelming. This may sound like a silly question, but what should our first moves be to prepare? Is there an agency that helps before you get to the delivery of the baby.

Thanks again for all your support. Have a great week.

Rich ;D

[meghans_mom]

Rich - congratulations!! There are several Uno members who live in Jersey so hopefully they'll be able to help w/ locations of places that can help.
Your county early intervention is a good place to start...they might be able to supply a list of support groups, therapists, etc. Depending on your financial situation and the baby's needs once he is born, the new baby may be eligible for Medicaid or other programs
When i was pregnant with my daughter I had wanted to attend a support group or something but there was nothing available where I live. Don't know about elsewhere. Some doctors or local DS groups will put you in touch with other parents to meet with, etc...sometimes visiting at the hospital, etc.
Another good option is to contact the NDSS (National Down Syndrome Society) This is their new parent page:
www.ndss.org/content.cfm?fuseaction=CommFFP.New
I think they can also send you an info packet. Also on their website is a locator for services, etc (go to homepage, click on "information & resources" then on the "resource locator". You then click on your state and find resources.
It's alot to digest -- take it one day at a time, it will all get taken care of eventually...and remember to try and enjoy this pregnancy. Prepare and dream, just as you did for Lauren. Not always easy but this little BOY!! is a baby first, not a diagnosis. And you're one step ahead already...you've found UNO, which I wish I had before my little girl was born.
Look forward to hearing more from you all. hugs, laurie

[Jessie]

Congratulations!!!!



Jessie

[carolyn]

Hi Rich
As the mom of a boy with DS (John, 6) I will tell you to get ready for a boy who is all boy. I think those of us on this site will say that our boys are simply that. Rowdy and rough- I am the parent to 2 girls and 2 boys and my John is just as rough and tumble as his 8 year old brother. My girls, sweet as sugar. They have always played so nicely. Lots of quiet games, coloring, playing school, barbie ect. Boys! Running, throwing, jumping and jumping off furniture, more running. more throwing. I would never have believed it before I had those boys. I actually thought other peoples boys were just wild. Boys are just more physical than girls. I love them all !! Congratuations and stock up on the band aids and ice packs.

[ashleysmom]

Rich, Hello, welcome, and congrats.
I to live in NJ Burlinton County.
I would go to your local hospital and get all the information on EI.. You Son will automaticly qualify because of his dx.
We didnt get the chance to be prepared as Ashley's birth was a surprise with the ds.

You will be fine.
We are here if you need us.

[Cbean]

Rich!!! A boy!!! How wonderful - you'll have a complete set! I wish you so much joy and happiness - and believe me, you will have it. I'm sure Lauren will be totally gushing over her baby brother. Once you get over all the DS stuff (which you have the rest of the pregnancy to do) you will find just how more "typical" your family is! Look at us - dealing with a big brother who's getting over being an "only" child and sharing the attention, to typical newborn nonsense like spitting up. Yup, plenty of spitting up. Not buying any new clothes here right now!

I have all the materials for EI so looked it up and the agency that serves Morris County is:

Family Link Regional Early Intervention Collaborative
2333 Morris Avenue, Suite A-20 (2nd FLoor)
Union, NJ 07083
908-964-5303

There's not going to be much for you to do until that bouncing baby enters the world physically, but I'm sure they can get you involved with support groups and plenty of reading materials.

We're starting the PT portion of Emily's EI today and I'm so excited. There's so much they do and provide now - I really feel that the world is their oyster!

Watch out, now that we all know the sex here, these wonderful people are going to probably start the name game with you!!! I'm warning you, they are wonderful, but they are persistant! LOL! Love you guys!!!

I really feel that we are the lucky ones to be finding out this info prior to the arrival of our babies. You have so much time to heal and get over it all. When that little guy is placed in your arms you will be so ready for him and you won't even see the DS. You will just see the perfect wonderful little baby he is - and he really is!

Send me a personal message if you'd like to hear more from me. If you want, we can share phone #'s as I'm more than happy to share our story personally with you.

Congratulations to you and the Mrs!

[momofrussell]

YEAH... A BOY FOR RICH AND HIS WIFE!!!!!

How awesome Rich! Congrats!

Oh, and I agree and had to chuckle and one of the posts here. As we always say at home here, if we took that extra chromosome, our son would STILL be all boy! LOL

Some others gave you some GREAT NJ Early Intervention info... take it from there! We all do things at the pace we need them. I was ok with the whole DX of DS while pregnant and read some books. I did not jump into Early Intervention until Russell was a few months old because I really just wanted to enjoy my son! I also did not feel the need to join support groups they gave me info on. We had wonderful support from friends and family and well, we already had one child and just treated Russell the same, since he was STILL a baby! I then decided to search the net when Russell was 2, to see what was out there.. and found Unomas here.. and I have been here ever since! I wasn't necessarily looking for a support group, but this was the first place a stumbled upon and really liked it!

We did have some minor health issues, low platelets at birth and cataracts in both eyes that were removed. But we handled it and kept on going. Russell's main health issues were always his eyes.. he has some other things with his eyes but that does not stop him from being a boy nor does it stop us from loving him just like his two sisters!

So, take it one day at a time, and go at your own pace. What works for one, doesn't always work for another.

Oh, and you are doing just fine with the posts here!

Take care!!!!!

A.

[wrblack]

A boy is good. Actually a boy is great! Girl would be good too, but boys are just fine.
We all just hope you and Lisa and Lauren will be welcoming a healthy, happy baby to your family. The extra 21st chromosome may bring with it a few more medical concerns, but not necessarily. And it certainly doesn't seem to interfere in the least with "happy." Anecdotal evidence suggests that babies with that little something extra tend to be happier than most. But, again, you never know.
Now, local support groups. Some people love 'em and some folks don't much care for them and some others can take 'em or leave them. I rather like them myself and think could certainly be worth checking out by new parents. Might be helpful and useful to find other parents who have been in your shoes, have been there, done that.
We live in Plainsboro and work at Princeton and belong to

Down Syndrome Association of Central New Jersey
DSACNJ
support, monthly meetings, newsletter, social activities
180 Ewingville Road
Ewing NJ 08638
866-369 3796, Fax [phone]
866-DOWN SYN
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.dsacnj.org

That might be a bit far from you, though we'd love to have you. Am sure you'd be warmly welcomed. There's a coffee evening coming up early next month, though I'll have to miss that.
Maybe a bit closer to you is

Central NJ Down Syndrome Parent Advocacy Group
563 Greenbrook Rd.
North Plainfield NJ 07063
908-756-6774

Email: [e-mail]

Sorry about the names being so similar, but they didn't ask me.
There's a large, active group even farther from you at

BUDS Bringing Up Down Syndrome
BUDS
PO Box 1085
Marlton NJ 08053
856-985-5885, Fax [phone]

Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.buds-sj.org

Then I don't know much about

Down Syndrome Congress of Northern New Jersey
PO Box 43164
Upper Montclair NJ 07043-0164
[phone]

nor

Down Syndrome Group of Northwest New Jersey
PO Box 212
Washington NJ 07882
908-689-7525 x320

Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.dsgnwnj.org

You could also phone the Developmental Disabilities Clinic at Morristown Memorial Hospital, [phone], and ask if they have a local group they'd recommend.

Oh, and of course, my favorite boys' names are Robert and Charles.

Regards,
Bob, AKA William Robert, named for my grandfathers--nice thing about names, they don't wear out

[MB]

Congratulations on your baby boy! Boys are great!

You will find that William Robert Black (forever now known as Billy Bob) is 'da bomb' at internet research and a terrific source of information for all of us.

If I could tell you one thing to do, it would be be to speak of this little guy with great pride in your voice and delight in your wife's voice.

Open discussions about him with family and friends. Invite people to encourage you to be excited about the baby.

Please have your friends read the "what's good about having a baby with Ds" thread so everyone can look forward to the sweetest baby on earth.

MB

[YoshsMom]

Hi Rich, congratulations. I'm from Passaic and when my son was born early intervention contacted me in the hospital before we even came home. I've got the names of a few places for you to contact, but don't let it overwhelm you. You don't have to do it all at once and most will wait until your little one arrives.

First, Parent to Parent will connect you with another parent with a special needs child to talk to. Their number is 800-367-6274.

You should register with the Department of Developmental Disabilities, 973-927-2600. They may be able to help with some financial aid. We get $200 a month to pay for hippotherapy.

Stepping Stones is a program just for kids with ds in Livingston. If its not too far for you, its a really great place where kids get ot, pt and st in a small group. Yosh went for over a year. 973-992-9830.

Thats probably enough for now. Just be prepared for this little boy to bring tremendous joy into your lives. Yosh is the best thing that ever happened to us.

[christie]

RICH, check out this site, lots of info for New Jersey.

www.yellowpagesforkids.com/help/nj.htm

CONGRATULATIONS ;D

[justinsmom]

Congratulations A BABY BOY!!!!!!!!!!! I have to agree with Carolyn stock up on the band aids and the ice packs boys will be boys ;D.

[SuziF]

Congrats Rich, Lisa & Lauren !
I just gotta say, I was on the flip side of this. I had 3 boys then our girlie with DS. So, I never knew at first if it was the difference between girl/boy or DS/non-DS. Our house can be rather wild and most people who meet us come off with the impression that we're really outdoorsy & sports oriented.
Of course, now Merideth is throwing her own into the mix. She's becoming quite the little horsewoman & can hold her own against the boys~ even when they're kidnapping her Bratz dolls & letting their hamster ride inn the Bratz car!Then you turn around & the next minute she's begging for a ride on the minibike with them.

Enjoy your journey !

Suzi

[AnnieC]

Congratulations on your little boy!!!

[RichM]

You guys are awesome. Thanks for all your research and help. I've got a lot of work on my hands.

I think I'll give my wife the assignments. She thinks it's kind of funny that I found a website that is a bunch of moms. (I own a retail store and my best customers are all moms ) ;D

Cbean, you said that we could contact you directly. (is there a way to send emails?)

Any and all name suggestions are welcome

Thanks again. We're in Massachusetts this week and have another Noreaster bearing down on us. . Have a great week everyone.

Rich