Wanted to share this wonderful video tribute...

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0 This story was on Oprah yesterday and I wanted to post it as I learned about their story on my down syndrome board...many of my friends via internet have gotten to know this couple and are very strong and NEAT people...they now have a little girl that was delivered a couple of weeks ago...but their journey began with Baby Eliot...

After watching this video... miracles do happen...it has happened for me and it happened for Ginny and Matt. Trisomy 18 is a condition that is not viable with life...little Eliot sure proved that life was possible for 99 days...amazing. it really touched me in that you just don't know what God has in store for us...I guess you can say that this past year has touched me in more ways than all the other years of my life! I view things differently, I live for the moment and don't look too far ahead...you have to enjoy what you have NOW! I need to stop being so sobby with all these tear jerker stories but I thought this was too wonderful not to share...

Brayden's story written by his Grammy and Papa has been selected!

After being diagnosed during my pregnancy that Brayden had Trisomy 21, aka Down Syndrome...I was told by many to buy the book " Gifts", well at my special baby shower a friend fo mine gave me the book as a gift....what a wonderful book and great way to be so excited about the delivery of a baby that has down syndrome. It is a book that is compiled of stories written by birth mothers about their stories of their journeys of their Down Syndrome babies. Some of them had found out prenatally as we did...but most found out at birth. There was a startling number that I found out after being diagnosed prenatally...of the ones that find out prenatally...only 9% carry through to delivery. So, you can imagine the stories touching our lives and our extended families lives in so many ways...WELL... in a chat board I belong to for Down Syndrome moms I was reading an invite for stories written from loved ones ie..grandparents, neighbors, friends, professionals, etc.. The editor/author of Gifts was coming out with a Gifts vol.II.. .at this time back in August my in-laws were going on vacation for a couple of weeks and I thought I would ask them if they might be interested in writing a story about their journey with us while they were on vacation.

Along with my mom...they have been there for us from the minute we found out our diagnosis. They accepted the invite and wrote a beautiful story! SOOOO...we just got the email from the editor that she wants Brayden's story in the next book that is going to be sold EVERYWHERE! So exciting! I can't wait until I see the book! Unfortunately the book won't be out until 2010 and the author is wanting to focus on just Grandpa's side of the story (since they don't have too many grandpa stories), but I have the original from both of them!!!...So the author/editor is going to be working with my father-in-law in the next several months, along with taking some photos of Brayden and Papa for the book...yeah! Well, that's all for now...just wanted to share the exciting news... THANK YOU GRAMMY AND PAPA! We love you!

Hillcrest Pumpkin Patch

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=164525&l=6a8cd&id=1386411640 For some reason I am not able to load up my photos from the pumpkin patch right now...so I am providing this link...since I promised my niece I would post some pics....I will try and fix this problem later though...hope this works...we sure had a lot of fun.

We went to a beautiful countryside pumpkin patch at Hillcrest in Reedley this afternoon. They had a steam train that the kids road and walked through a forest path...there were hay rides and a small corn maze and lots of pumpkins...we went with my brother and his family...just wanted to share...

Just want to say how thankful I am for all I have...

I just felt compelled tonight to write how thankful I am for my wonderful husband and my amazing 3 children...I feel like one of the luckiest girls to have it all. Yes, sometimes I dream about our DREAM home (BIGGER house), lots of materialistic things...but quite honestly I am so darn lucky to have a loving husband who is a great father to his children, healthy children who I think are the greatest kids ever, a wonderful extended family and unbelievable friends! So, to all of you that think you NEED, NEED, NEED...stop and look at what you HAVE because that's what life is all about! I live for today, dream about yesterday and can't wait until tomorrow....

Discovering and getting stronger everyday!

I just couldn't help but post this cute picture of him...he is so curious and I happened to capture his adorable look!

Thanks to my best friend Jordan...I love playing in the jumperoo...mommy is constantly stimulating me! He is such a pleasant baby though...anything makes him happy!

Yes...I am very flexible....eating my toes

Brayden is growing up!

Brayden loves sitting in his Bumbo seat...his teacher says this is a good tool for him to learn to sit all by himself...what a big boy!

Cody is Character of the Month!

Cody was awarded Character of the Month! He always seems to get all of the good example awards vs. academic awards...but that is ok...He loves to charm his teacher and peers. We are so proud of him and he is doing really well academicly as well...just wanted to post his accomplishment... His teacher, Mrs. Korenak is awesome...

Brayden had his 6 month check-up today

We went to the pediatrician today for Brayden's 6 month check-up...just a few days shy of it anyway and he is doing GREAT! He weighed in at 15 lbs. 13 oz. and is 25 inches long. Haven't checked the charts yet, but he is growing amazingly awesome! Usually DS babies have a slower growth rate Have started him on solids and he is doing so good...I am even making all my own baby food....Yeah! Saves so much money and tastes and smells way yummier...We got a Magic Bullet and that thing is AWESOME!
So, just wanted to update and I will post some pictures very soon. Need to do a download of photos...talk to you all soon.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness month!

I just wanted to let all our family and friends know just how much we appreciate them...

December 5, 2007 changed our lives forever...we got news of Brayden's diagnosis via amniocentesis that evening...in a few seconds of meeting with our doctor that evening after closing hours in his office, I seriously had moments of thinking my life was never going to be happy again! After talking with our doctor and going home that evening I had never felt so numb in my life...Jared was being as strong as he could for me, trying not to let any tears show, but I knew he was feeling the same emotions...Why us? I kept thinking...what had I done to deserve this? Until your a parent that has gone through this, it is truely hard to understand the emotion that you feel...It took a couple of days for the numbness to disappear, for the tears to dry and we prayed so hard! I seriously have never prayed so much in a matter of a few days in my life...( and I pray all the time) Finally Jared and I had some time to come together and talk this all out...after a few hours of telling each other that God doesn't give people things that they can't handle and we have so much in our lives to be thankful for and blessed for...everything was going to be ok...I felt like a brick house was lifted off of me and I thanked God for giving me the man of faith and courage in my life to bring me back up...Jared is truly my rock and from that moment on we really were ok with the diagnosis. No longer was I asking "Why us?" I knew we had been CHOSEN to be Brayden's parents and I made a promise to God that I would be the best parent I could be and knew he would guide us on this amazing journey.

Well, it has been 5 1/2 months now that we have had our little guy Brayden in our lives and I could not imagine my life without him. He is such a joy to our family and has touched so many others lives as well. I know God has a plan and purpose for everyone in life, and I feel so blessed that he chose us to walk this path! Thanks to all of you again for embracing our little man. He is doing so well and off the charts for many of capablities...he is amazing and will continue to amaze us everyday!

Our video montage of Brayden...

http://www.onetruemedia.com/my_shared?z=2edf312c95bc71ab2688c6&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

My little blessing from Heaven...Brayden...love you so much!

Our family of 5 at the Buddywalk...

Some of the men and boys...Brent, Aaron, Wyatt, Bryce, Jeff, Dad, Richard, Jared, Brayden, Colton and Cody

(left to right) Marissa, Caleb, Renae, Kaylee, Me, Maddy, Christy, and Leah

Buddywalk 2008

Our little guy...Brayden 5 months old...this Buddywalk was for all to come and celebrate people who have Down Syndrome and raise awareness....we had 35 people on our little team come and it was so amazing. There is so much potential for these little ones...we are so very blessed to have Brayden in our family. He has touched the lives of so many, including ours...