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Post by MB on Sept 19, 2004 15:07:06 GMT -5
I wanted to start a thread intended for C-bean to showcase our favorite things about having a baby with Down syndrome. I hope everyone will chime in.
My son rarely cried. He was the sweetest baby you could imagine. (Of course I worried because he never cried!)
I nursed him. He would wake up in the middle of the night and kind of call to me. He wouldn't cry. It was a very gentle sound. The moment I scooped him up, he would settle down. He was very patient during his diaper change and would always go right back to sleep after feeding.
When he started smiling at me at the age of 8 weeks, I was hooked. Once he did start crying in his crib. I think he was about 3 months old. I ran in the room and he looked up at me with crocodile tears and just started grinning from ear to ear. I only had to walk in the room and he always reacted as if it was the second coming of the Savior.
He spent the first three days of his life in NICU. He recoiled when I touched him anywhere but his forehead. So, I would sit for hours and stroke his forehead and sing the family lullaby. To this day, if I stroke his forehead and sing that lullaby, he acts like someone has drugged him. He goes limp. It is too cute.
He was given the cutest outfits for presents. Since he didn't grow as fast as the other kids, the outfits lasted longer. I loved the matching 0-3mons outfits with blankets. they were my favorites.
MB
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Post by Renee' on Sept 19, 2004 16:13:35 GMT -5
When Lauren was born she slept through the night. We had to wake her up to feed her.
She is a joy to be around. She has a way of making everyone she meets smile. She has brought my family closer. She is an amazing little girl. Everyday she wakes with a smile and is happy to be alive.
She says she loves me 100 times a day.
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Post by ourangelalicia on Sept 19, 2004 16:14:16 GMT -5
I agree, Ali never cried. She just kind of talked to me to wake me up at night. She slept through the night from day one. Even when she is sick she is still easier to take care of than her younger sister when she isn't sick. She has so much personality, she absolutely loves music. It has actually been a blessing that she isn't walking yet...her climbing, crawling and crusing the furniture has been plenty for me to handle! And she is just so cute....so funny, so much personality! I'm tired right now but I'm sure I'll come up with more later.
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Post by Emilysmom on Sept 19, 2004 16:25:48 GMT -5
MB~ It's so interesting that you mentioned those things!! I never knew if it had anything to do with Ds or not...or if it was just Emily's personality, but she was by far the sweetest baby I've EVER known!! She also seldom cried at all. When she did cry, she was VERY easily comforted and had a grin that would melt my heart every single time. It was exactly as you described.......like her whole world revolved around seeing my face! She met all the typical milestones, although just a bit later than "usual"....and we didn't take a single one of them for granted. The stuff we "worked on" with the PT/ST was basically FUN stuff that all babies enjoy. I think sometimes when it's not called "therapy" we might not always take the time to do it. (speaking for my own experience with my other babies) Examples are the times we spent on the floor babbling with her and jumping for joy when she rolled over for the first time. I'm sure she thought we were ALL the silliest family members!! ~ And not to "borrow" anything from the "Welcome to Holland" piece, but I have thoroughly enoyed the people we have met because of Emily.......from therapists to teachers to UNO MAS MEMBERS to strangers at the store who stopped to comment on Emily's grin or her FULL head of hair.
I could go on and on.....but I'll stop for now and just say I appreciate the chance to stop and remember all the good stuff from when she was a baby.
Susan
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Post by ALLISA on Sept 19, 2004 16:36:48 GMT -5
Erin was defintiely my most content baby ! She coud amuse herself for hours with her own toes ! The best thing about having a baby with DS, is that EVERY LITTLE thing they accomplish is HUGE reason for celabration ! You can't imagine how happy you will be when they reach their milestones and how exciting it is for the whole family ! And let's not also forget that bond you will have with other fellow parents.....here at Uno (of course!).... and out & about.... I can tell just by the way someone looks at Erin (the look in their eye & the smile on their face) that they have someone with DS in their lives as well. I can't tell you how many times someone will stop me & show me pictures of their child, grandchild or tell me stories of their little ones.
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Post by Chris on Sept 19, 2004 18:43:44 GMT -5
Sarah was the very best newborn! She didn't really cry for the first two and a half months. She slept through the night when she was three weeks. Her tiny features made her a beautiful newborn (the c-section helped, too!). She just kind of melted into your body when anyone held her. She seemed to know me from day one. She always smelled sooo good. She has always been able to charm crowds of people and touch the hearts of many. She has a great sense of humor. We have had so much fun watching her grow from a baby into a toddler and now starting into her preschool years. I am so happy that she was a baby for a lot longer than typical kids. Don't you just love the name Sarah Grace? Chris
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Post by momofrussell on Sept 19, 2004 20:00:22 GMT -5
I think the BESTEST thing about my little man, Russell, is his INFECTIOUS GIGGLE! ;D I LOVE that! He is SO easy to care for compared to my 3 yr old and my 11 yr old daughters... seriously. I love how he will just sit with me and let me snuggle with him if I need to His need for curiousity and figure things out his way makes me smile. His creativity for the "norm" making it HIS "norm" instead is facinating... like trying 10 different ways to go down a slide, or going into the shower and turning on the water to get clean all on his own, or rolling different things off declines... he is the BEST problem solver I know! I know.. this thread said BABY in the title.. but I thought I'd just share what is wonderful to ME about having my son... who just so happens to also have DS. BUT... since BABY was mentioned.. I will say, the BEST thing about Russell as a baby, is that he would JUST cuddle and let me hold him for HOURS and just love on me! Gosh.. I needed that back then (I didn't have that with my 1st child) Kissing the back of his "thick" neck, my FAVORITE part for me to kiss, and his chubby little triangular shaped feet I would rub and kiss also. (I still have a thing for the back of his neck though LOL) The fact that Russell was in NICU for 2 weeks when he was born, and needed platelets and only MOMMY's worked on him A special bond we will always share. And... what was good about having a baby w/DS.. is that I KNEW why God gave Russell to me. All I wanted was girls... and didn't know what to do with a "boy" baby... and he has taught me that the relationship between Russell and mom.. to be the most WONDERFUL thing.. and so special and different then my two girls... and I NEEDED that balance.. but never knew that until he was born. He is a momma's boy and we figured that out real quick A.
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Post by WANDA3CEE on Sept 19, 2004 20:05:35 GMT -5
First I want to say Thank You for starting this tread I would have to agree with alot of the things that have been said Like the waking up to feed her for about the first two weeks, like sleeping through the night by the time she was two month old, like the way she talk her baby language in the mornings when she wakes up,the way she wait until you look at her so she can smile at you, the way she follows me every were I go, the way she is so happy. I am so glad Mia is part of our family, life has been bettter with her. Wanda
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Post by MB on Sept 19, 2004 20:13:34 GMT -5
I am in tears. Every single one of the previous posts reminded me of something I forgot to mention or had simply forgot after 13 years. I hope more people will post. It is a wonderful walk down memory lane.
MB
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Post by Tammy on Sept 19, 2004 20:43:24 GMT -5
I knew Lewis would be born with DS at 30 weeks, and he would also need surgery as soon as he was born and was in for a long haul in hospital etc... I was SCARED. Scared for him, scared for me and how I would cope, and scared for my family and the impact that having a child with a disability would have on us. I researched loads, and eventually started to realise that having DS was not so bad, and after a while... I started to REALLY WANT a child with DS!!
The best thing for me with Lewis though is the minute he was born and the handed him to me to cuddle, he looked right at me, with the biggest blue eyes, which seemed to be very wise eyes, and I swear he told me not to worry everything is going to be OK. Lewis still talks to me through his eyes, I see so much in them.
The other great thing about having a baby with DS is, they are not in a hurry to grow up. He really enjoys being a child, and I enjoy having him be so playful. At the same age, my girls were already smartmouthed and sassy..LOL..Lewis still has a long way to go yet!!
Lewis has taught us to slow down a bit, look around and appreciate life, and play games, life should be fun.
MB... I too am loving this thread..and remembering some of the "little" things... and my boy is only 4...
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Post by meghans_mom on Sept 19, 2004 21:08:54 GMT -5
Have to agree with everyone else...meghan was the most terrific baby. She slept thru the night after at just a few days old!! She did cry -- on cue, if we didn't feed her exactly every four hours ( I swear she had a timer hidden somewhere!!). Tempermental like any other baby...but loving and cuddly...and did I mention she slept thru the night at a few days old, LOL! Other best things for me...Meghan was my first, and I had no clue -- but every milestone was a complete JOY...when she lifted her head, when she rolled over...I really enjoyed seeing all of those things and appreciated each and every one. We celebrated and were so proud (we still do and still are!!). And of course she taught me love and acceptance...and that, for me, is so important and so wonderful. I never had any contact with any people with disabilities...and she has taught me that people who are 'different' aren't different at all!! All these preconceived notions...they were wrong! And she also taught me that many of the 'unknowns' weren't quite so scary and that many of them weren't true at all. Additionally, Meghan has brought many wonderful people into my life that I wouldn't have met otherwise..therapists and teachers, other parents & kids we met when MM was just 6 weeks old! Some have become very dear and life-long friends... There are probably other things that I've forgotten as well...but these are just a few. Hope my ramblings make sense. I always used to get in trouble when I wrote essays in high school because I couldn't stay quite on topic...I think I did the same here a bit, LOLOLOL! laurie
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Post by Cbean on Sept 19, 2004 22:15:44 GMT -5
Oh my gosh, best thread ever! (Well at least in my short-lived time here!)
MB - thank you so much. If you and I were in the same room I'd be giving you so many hugs. This post has truly been such a gift! Timing, perfect as usual. I have been feeling like everyone around me has been looking forward to this baby, except me. Reading through these posts, I could feel little flutters in my stomach. No, they are not Little No-name...she feels more like a wrench clanging on a pipe. The flutters were caused by my excitement building. Excitement to see her and hold her and feel all the things you shared, something I quite frankly have not been feeling. I hope more will be posted - I love reading the stories and it definately seems as though all have enjoyed posting them! Thank you all!
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Post by Cathy on Sept 19, 2004 22:28:50 GMT -5
MB- Thanks.. I love telling about what a wonderful blessing Katie has been.
She also was the perfect baby...slept thru the night, she never cried and was always loving and smiling. And still today, she goes to bed at 8:00 everynight without a word, and sometimes she even say.." nite nite bed" to me when 8:00 rolls around.
She was not only the "perfect child" health issues aside, She has brought out the best in everyone she comes into contact with. She is a magnet to people, everyone in our small town knows Katie.. and of course Katie's mom (the only name I am known by). Her big sister, has learned compassion, her father has mellowed out by 90 percent. She totally loves her 93 year old great mother, who just comes to life when Katie enters the room.
And if I write any more, I may cry. Christine, as scared as you may be, try to remember, that your unnamed (hmmm Katie LuAnne is a great name too) little girl, will bring so much joy and love, that at times, you will forget the hard parts.
The one thing that ALWAYS stands out in my mind, is They are BABIES first, they just happen to have DS. Treat her like a babie, let yourself all the time you need to grieve and know that we are here for you!
Katie has done almost everything that any typical child has done, it just has taken her a little a longer, and we always cheer her on with every accomplishment! Hugs to you!
Cathy
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Post by coopersmoma on Sept 19, 2004 22:38:15 GMT -5
Cooper is by far the best baby!! I think everyone has said this in their own words on this thread. Cooper like almost all the other babies doesn't cry and has never been a baby to cry. He has slept through the night since his heart surgery at 2 months old. I could not ask for a better baby. Cooper had a slow start, we spent the first 2 weeks in the NICU due to respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, too many red blood cells, heart issues, along with a few more problems. He was delivered by emergency C-section at 36 weeks. I already knew that he had DS and the heart defect and would require surgery soon after he was born. I was scared, not only the heart problems but to have a child with DS. I didn't know anything about DS. I had to do lots of researching before Cooper arrived. I like someone else had mentioned have met lots of great people along the way. If it were not for Cooper having DS I would not have got to meet some of these people in my life today. I am greatful to lots of people for all the help since I found out Cooper had DS. Cooper is a joy to me and my family and friends. He is always in a good mood, smiles a lot and just enjoys everything. I was blessed when God sent me Cooper. Cooper is my life and has taught me so much in this past year. I am a better person because of Cooper and the things in my life that I have learned. Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and hope delivery is as easy as mine. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Good luck and I know you will have lots of great memories to pass on to someone else one day, just like all of us. Wendey
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Post by MB on Sept 20, 2004 7:50:26 GMT -5
I forgot. My delivery was so easy that I started arguing with the Dr. when she started yelling to the staff that I was delivering just as she began a routine check.
I thought the woman was nuts. Nobody sits there watching television and all of a sudden has a "whoa" baby arrived.
I could have gone home and done the dishes!
MB
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