Share your child's greatness with us...

[chasesmom]

I was spending the morning chatting with Susan today and we happened onto a subject. We do talk about what our kids cant do and their delays but we never really talk about what our kids can do that is great...I mean everyone of our kiddos has some special skill or thing about them that makes them super, something that we are so proud of or that can even just make us smile.... we all know our kids are all as different as night and day so lets share, because even though they all have very different abilities, they all also have some specific greatness about them...what do you think? Will you share the best thing your child can do or the best things about them? We all get to brag about our "regular" kids all the time but in my case, there isnt alot of people to brag about Chase to, about how proud we are of them, no matter how small or how big. Does any one know what I mean? So let me hear your heart sing with praise about your kiddos! Heck, I still to this day remember the first time Chase said "mama" it is engrained in my heart for all eternity and it is one of my favorite memories, I remember what time it was where we were, what we were wearing.... I cant say that about my other three sons. With Chase, I take nothing for granted, every thing is a milestone and I want to share those times and special events.
hugs, Robin
hugs, Robin

[tworiveras]

;D My son, Roberto has been stuck at his current toilet-training stage for the past 2 years. We have recently learned that he also has CP, so that helps explain the delay. Anyhow. He had 2 accidents before school on Friday. As I was changing his pants and telling him he needs to try to "go" in the potty next time, he turned to me, and said "lub you" (along with the "I love you" sign). He had previously only said that in response to someone telling him "I love you". I was so thrilled that he said it to me. I gave him a big hug. I still had to tell him "I love you too, but we still need to try to use the potty, okay?" but it meant soooo much.

Karen

[dannysmom]

My Daniel can melt your heart with his smile. I truly feel in my heart, that I feel God's presence when I hold my son. I find myself saying thank you... Thank you God for allowing me to raise this child. Daniel gets this look....he looks up at you with the biggest grin and I feel it's his way of telling me that things will be alright. He has recently been sitting on his own...unassisted. He gets this proud look on his face like "Mommy, look what I can do". I swear, it never gets old.....I could watch this child sit for hours on end....sit and watch in amazement that this child came into the world with 2 huge holes in his heart....and by a miracle.....a few months later he is sitting on his own.....and I can tell by the look on his face....he is proud!!

Thanks for this thread....I know just what you mean when you say you remember exactly where you were when he said mama. When Daniel was 3 months....he reached for a toy the first time, it was shortly after his heart surgery. We ran and got the camcorder, took pics, updated his Carepage and called everyone we knew....and told them Daniel reached for a toy. Every milestone since then has been meet with the same overwhelming amount of enthusiasm!!

Aren't we all just the luckiest parents in the world?

[Kristen]

Carter's greatness is his heart. It is just so big. I was getting the kids a drink and Carter got his, but continued to stand like he was waiting. At first I didn't get what he was waiting for, but then one time he pointed at Syd's cup and said "uice" (juice without the J) I said you have yours, but he insisted. I gave it to him and he walked it over to SYdney, who was sitting in the family room and gave it to her, then went over to his chair and sat to drink his. Now he regularly "helps" when I get snacks or drinks by bringing Sydney's to the table, too, and putting it at her place or giving it to her. He also does other helpful things like bringing empty dished to the sink and throwing out his garbage without being asked. He is just a truly nice, helpful little boy.

[justinsmom]

We have been having problems with major impulse issues and we were forever getting sad faces in our daily notebooks, well yesterday was the first ALL smiley faces for EVERY single day this week WOOOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! ;D. Justin would never sit still and was always getting up and getting into things at school. It was to the point they (ok everyone sit down), they sent home a permission slip for me to sign giving them permission to strap my boy to his chair . I sent them a letter back basically telling them I DON'T THINK SO but I did say it nicely . He has been sleeping ALOT better through the night only getting up if he is really wet and then falling right back to sleep hmmmmm now that I think of it the last time he did that he figured out how to unlock the locks and escape makes me kinda wonder now what he is plotting.
I told them most of it was due to lack of sleep he just happens to go the other way and has alot of energy instead.
Have to totally agree with Kristen and Lisa with the big hearts and the ice melting smiles.
He also does not forget anything, he knows his landmarks on where he is, for instance on the way home from school as soon as he is over the railroad tracks he yells to the busdriver HOOOOOOOME MOOOOMMY, or if we are heading up to U of M he sees the VA hospital and starts yelling TEEEESA for Theresa one of the ladies in the admissions area at Mott, he has them wrapped real tight back there and goes and runs to their snack area in the back gets his treat and sits at her desk acting like he is actually working, playing with the computer, making phone calls and taking messages LOL.

[Radonna]

I honestly don't know what I would do without Kaden.

Kaden is my Destresser. If I am having a hard day or pushing myself to hard. Kaden seems to have a radar to pick up when I am not at my best and he will come running. He will climb in my lap and giggle. He "pets" my hair and winds it around his hands.

No one can make me feel more loved and needed than Kaden. He will by pass a room full of people to bring me a drink that he wants opened. It is nice to be number one to someone. He likes me to give him his food. So funny this morning when John handed him his oatmeal for breakfast he got up and brought the bowl to me. Not because he wasn't hungry but because he wanted me to set it on the table for him and not John.

He doesn't sleep unless he has his hand in my hair.

I can't explain what being loved like that feels like. My other two boys lets me do for them and it isn't a big deal if I do it or John does it or Granny does it or even the babysitter does it.

Kaden reminds me of that parable in the bible when Jesus healed the ten lepers but only one came back. Kaden is my one in his way he says Thank You.

Kaden is the only person to ever make me feel irreplaceable.

Kaden has this laugh that can make everything that is bugging you just seem so far away. It is magical. It comes from deep inside him and just bubbles out of him.
He is Joy redefined for me.

I knew that the peacefulness about Kaden worked for me but didn't realize others felt it until his new teacher and his new aid told me that they dread when kaden misses school because Kaden seems to make their whole day run better. I ask them what they meant and they said that they just feel happier when he is around.

Kaden has gotten me through the darkest moments of my life and has made the happy ones even happier.
I am thankful every day that out of all the people in the world that God chose me to be Kaden's mom. Then adding Jonathan and Evan to that. I tell ya. I feel pretty lucky.

Radonna

[CC]

K, Robin I am game

Chris is the only person I have ever met that you can go out for the mail and come back 2 min. later and he will greet you as if you have been gone a week ;D

Chris gives the BEST HUGS of any one I have ever met ;D

Chris skis pretty d**n good and I am so very proud of him for all the effort he puts into it ;D

Chris loves to try new things OMG I never thought he would roller skate/ice skate and although he is not the greatest at either He PUTS 100% in trying and never gives up ;D

Chris will keep secrets better then ANYONE I have ever met ;D

Chris is really really good on the Puter ;D

Chris has more compassion for people (ALL people) then any I have ever met ;D

OMG he is a PRO on the Nintendo

He is the BEST Escape Artist

I could go on and on girl BUT I will end with my "Little Character" truly has the biggest heart and I love him to bits ;D

Kodi Lee too is amazing but this post is bout our children with DS so I will save that for another tread BUT just want to add that God had done me well with BOTH my 2 children ;D

CC ~

[meghans_mom]

You know what I think is great about all your kids....?
That reading about them and your love for them and how you think they are the greatest has put a HUGE smile on my face this morning :-D
thank you for sharing just a little bit more 'bout them today!!
laurie

[Emilysmom]

Ok, this may sound very corny, but I keep thinking about snowflakes. You know how we always hear that NO two snowflakes are exactly alike, and yet each one is beautiful? Our kids are like that.........so very different from each other, but awesome just the same.

I am so proud of Emily, at times, that I could just burst! And, who do I always want to share it with?? My first thoughts always turn here. I always think "I can't wait to post this"!!! Is that because I have no friends or family? LOL no. It's because so often THEY don't really see why it's such a BIG deal to me that Emily has done whatever it is. She was nearly 3 when she began to walk totally independently, and for us it was cause for HUGE celebration! I don't know if my friends, whose kids walked at around 12 months, saw it as a big deal. You know? Same thing with potty training...........took her a lot longer than her typical peers, but she accomplished it and we were thrilled. If Uno Mas had been around, I would have been posting it here, because I just think that THIS is the group who understands how hard she had to work to accomplish this milestone. I want to be able to share the GREAT stuff, as well as the frustrations here. I really hate to think that by posting any of her accomplishments, I might be discouraging parents whose kids are not potty trained, walking, etc. I think every single child here is vauled for who he/she is, and we should all be proud to share about them here. I hope that made sense!

That being said.............as for Emily's greatness, let me think: She has an awesome memory!! She amazes us at times with stuff she remembers about a certain place we haven't been to in years. I think this is one reason she was able to learn sight words and begin reading at an early age.........the memory of an elephant!!! Another thing I see as GREAT is that she is the most faithful friend and family member I know. If she loves you, she REALLY loves you! She is nearly 15, and yet the very first thing she does when she wakes up is to find me and come and give me a hug and kiss on the cheek. And, as Robin has posted, she really is fairly independent and trustworthy. She fixes her own breakfast, and will offer to make mine too! (Although I'm not fond of peanut butter and butter sandwiches or microwavable oatmeal.....her specialty!) She can shoot hoops with the boys and they never cut her any slack. Basketball is something she really LOVES.

There are other things that Emily simply can't (or won't) do, and I have posted about those things over the years here too. If I ever want advice, this is also the first place I turn. I really do think that we need this forum for so many reasons and I never want anyone to feel they have to be ultra careful about what they post, in fear of being seen as bragging or complaining about their kids. POST UP everyone!

Susan

[Mary_L.]

Patrick cannot stand to see anyone sad. If there is anyone who is upset or crying, he very gently goes up to them and gives them a hug and a kiss on top of their head. His teachers at school have told me he's the most empathetic child they have ever met.

Any gift he gets, he reacts as if it's what he's been waiting for his whole life.

He can kick a soccer ball around like a pro.

He gives everything his all, whether it's drawing a picture or getting dressed~he doesn't give up until it's done.

He is my joy and my wonder and my happiness~I dont know what I would do without him!

[kellyds]

Joshua is only one year old, but . . . If you make eye contact with him, he smiles. Not a little, Mona Lisa smile, but a huge, toothy grin. If you laugh, he laughs back . . . loud, long belly laughs. He charms strangers downtown with his response to their smiles. He is the EASIEST baby I have ever had.

[Cbean]

E-m-i-l-y is seizure free!
And once again is a b-a-a-b-y!


She laughs and she cries and has a beautiful smile! She's starting to play with toys and is sitting up better in her high-chair. It's this thing called posture I think, LOL! All of a sudden she's moving around the room (although I'm not really sure how she does it - kind of like a snake! but it's the beginning of something great!) and she's pulling herself up in her high chair to put her mouth on the suction cup toy I have on her tray. I think she's also kissing at us, because when I kiss at her she smiles and does it again. (Ok, so I may be out on a limb with that one!) May not sound like much compared to the other stuff, but to her Mommy she's moving mountains!!! It's so good to have her back!!!!

[Cathy]

Katie is in a word "amazing"

She has survived open heart surgery, three sets of tubes, T&A, numerous xrays, lab tests and doctors appoints and comes out smiling!

She is a magnet for people. They just drift towards her and she has a way a making the simplest things seem amazing.

She is a learner and loves to please. Her speech is awesome, her ability to learn is awesome, her eagerness to join in is contagious.

She loves to test us, but she knows the limits and she knows how to give you that special look that just melts your heart.

She is learning to write her name, knows the alphabet, her colors and shapes and can count to 15.

She teaches those without special needs kids the joys of her succcesses.


She has excellent manners and wonderful communication skills (for a five year old)

I would not trade my Princess for anything, and I wouldn;t trade knowing each and everyone of you either. Thanks for bringing up this thread, sometimes we all seem to see the difficulties in life much easier than the joys! I have to go hug my girl!

Cathy

[chasesmom]

Ahhhhhh, ;)I knew this thread would bring big smiles to myself and others! I even caught myself laughing out loud at a few of the posts ;D

I see alot of your children share in some of Chase's great achievements....LOL, he too greets me even if I am gone but a few minutes like he hasnt seen me in days and it makes me chuckle every time.

He is the best escape artist I personally know and improves on that trick each and every year

His memory is astounding to us! He can tell you directions to somewhere he has only been once and remembers every word and sequence to a movie or song, I also think that is why he could remember sight words so well and learn to read so early.

He has the funniest sense of humor, he is such a jokster, and if he sees a trick pulled on someone on TV, count on it being pulled on you, his favoritte thing to do right now is grab an ice cube and stick it down Daddy's shirt or pants, and oh man is he quick at it! ;D

He has the biggest heart, he can't stand to see anyone sad and is quick with a hug, kiss or sweet murmurring in your ear, he says "shhhhh shhh, it's okay hon, don't be sad" to anyone with a sad face.

And although he doesn't realize it, he has made me a much much better person than I was before he was born. :)I never had time to stop and smell the flowers before Chase, ....I took everything for granted. Now I know the true meaning of life and love. Chase is my teacher.
love to you all, keep posting all these wonderful things about our children!!!!
Robin

[andrewsmom]

What an awesome thread!!!! I also laughed out loud. Escape artist???.....hehehe yup, we got one here too! LOL! ;D ;D

Andrew will be 2 the end of the month, and has been trying really hard to walk. Well, this morning he got up and WALKED ACROSS THE ROOM!!!!!!!!! ;D I couldn't help myself....I was reduced to tears. Tears of pure joy for him. His little face lit up. When he is proud of himself, his WHOLE face lites up, from his smile on up to his forehead, his eyes get soooo big and I swear they actually twinkle! LOL!

Reading all these posts made me smile. Thanks for making my night!!
-Trisha