For months I have had so much guilt about not posting to the blog. But, I have a good excuse.. I think.
I have been too busy eating all of the oranges I can handle.
Puking my guts out,
and falling asleep sitting up.
You guessed it… I am pregnant again!
This pregnancy has hit me with an exhaustion that I haven’t had since Nicholas was first born! The symptoms are unreal, but through it all I couldn’t be happier that we are adding to our family.
There have been so many topics that I have wanted to share with my fellow special needs mommas, but I just wasn’t ready to share my news just yet. Since blogging about your life is so personal, I couldn’t post without sharing the news!
Now that I can, I want to talk about the question that I have been asked most often since I have shared the news of my pregnancy publicly…
“Aren’t you afraid that your next baby will have Down Syndrome?”
I never expected to hear this question as much as I have, especially since I have so loudly immersed myself into Down Syndrome advocacy.
But yes, I get it all of the time. From strangers, coworkers, friends, and family. However, it truly doesn’t offend me. I love talking about this stuff, so please people, ask away.
My answer to the question is simple. No. And here’s why:
1 – Nicholas. He is the most adorable, and easy baby I have ever met. He sleeps like a rock, and is comfortable going anywhere we go. I brought him to the hair salon the other day, and despite the noise of a few blow dryers, he just hung out until he fell asleep. When he was first diagnosed, I feared that simple things like this would be hard, and maybe they will be in the future, but for now he is crushing it!
He likes pretty much everyone he meets, which makes social gatherings easy. He is just the coolest. He has brought love and light to so many people’s lives, and I wouldn’t change a thing about him.
2 – Down Syndrome just doesn’t scare me anymore… I have connected with so many people that I wouldn’t know if Nicholas wasn’t born. I am so grateful for that. I know DS now as something that brings people together. I also find it as a great way to meet really strong moms to share my journey with.
3 – We would be a 1 in a million family! I mean come one… that has to be rare, right?
4 – We are not the same people we were before Nicholas. I know now that my husband and I can withstand anything that comes our way. Sure, we were definitely afraid the first time. I was also afraid the first time I had my eyebrows waxed, and now it is a part of my lifestyle, as is being a DS mommy. No big deal, I say.
No matter who shows up in our family in May, they will be ours, and I will love that child with everything I have.
I am only 13 weeks pregnant, but I already know something about my unborn child. No, I do not know the gender (I wish).
I know that this child is going to be a kind and compassionate person because of how knowing Nicholas will shape him or her. This child will see people with differences and think of big brother, who he/she loves so much. This child will be friends with all of their peers no matter their circumstances because Nicholas taught him/her that different is good.
So no. I am not afraid.
Well, that’s a lie. I am afraid to have to give birth again.. but that’s a post for another day…
I am so happy to be back with you all, and thank you for following our journey.
Moms and Dads, please share your stories of the reactions you received to announcing you were having another baby.
#differentdoesnotscareme
Wondered where you have been but I thought with school and Nicholas that you would be crazy busy and now another baby (you are making me tired)! Congratulations to all of you! This baby will be wonderful and caring because it’s parents are, I saw your hubby today and chastised him because I haven’t seen Nicholas in so long! I will be thinking of you!
After my daughter was born, I could see she had Down syndrome. I knew other families with little girls with Down syndrome. If they can do it, I can too.
The books in the library were out of date. There was still the question of whether to keep the baby or give him to the state. There was a lot of negative things to read, but my mother-in-law found websites for me to explore. I joined a few online groups and we grew together with our children. We went through heart surgeries together.
Then I was pregnant again. Did that question come up? Sure… We did the same as we did for all of our other children , no sonograms or testing.
When he was born, he had pneumonia. He was in the NICU for 2 1/2 weeks. The doctor told me to go home and take care of my other children. His big joke was, with Downs everything is down. The doctor had low expectations. I stayed with him until he came home.
Yep, my son also has Down syndrome. But this time, it was as important as hair color or eye color. Didn’t matter to me! I had already been down this road. It wasn’t scary. He was going to be a buddy for his sister. They will learn a lot together.
They are now 18 and almost 16 and best buddies! I wouldn’t change anything. They are the aunt and uncle that play with their 10 nieces and nephews. I can’t imagine my life without them!
Wow what an amazing story! I haven’t heard of anyone who this has happened to until now! Thank you so much for sharing your story with us! Such a rare and awesome thing ! They got to grow up relating to each other so well!!