31 For 21: Having a family member with Down Syndrome affects the entire family!

Down syndrome fact: Did you know that studies show that having a sibling with Down syndrome or other disabilities affect them in positive ways not negative? They tend to be more accepting of others, more compassionate, and more willing to help those in need. And they don't feel their sibling is a burden to them. Contrary to popular belief it also affects cousins uncles aunts and grandparents in a positive way as well.

So take a look at some of Caleb and Isaac's cousins who will grow up seeing children with Down Syndrome as a "normal" part of their family:

Oldie but goodie,our line up at Easter time of the Hanzely grandkids, several added since this photo!!

Nathen and Braden

Goofy fun on vacation

Daniel

Adrienne, Allison, and Abigail

 

31 For 21: October 1, 2011... Retarded

Today begins another month to spread awareness.. To be the voice for the many that have none.. Watching this video brought tears to my eyes knowing that this could be my daughter Tristin, and very well may be in another few years.. The older the kids get the more hurtful the words seem when people say them.  We go to a resturant and see teenagers running around calling each other tards.. we have family members refer to themselves as retards when they do something wrong... we have movie stars that are looked up to by millions let the word retard slip out on a nationally televised interview and say they didn't mean it that way.

I will confess, before.. I said it.. I joked about it.. but I didn't know.. I didn't know how valuable people with Down Syndrome and/or Autism were.  I didn't realize that I was putting them down by joking about not being able to do something as easily as someone else.  I didn't mean to hurt others.  And perhaps, I didn't mean it that way... But guess what I also didn't know???  I didn't know that other ears were listening to me that may take offense to the word.  Other people may have loved ones that inspire them and guide their paths and careers in life. Had I known the joy these people bring to all who get to know them, I would have long ago got involved with them in some form or another.  Speech therapist, Physical therapist, Occupational therapist, Early Intervention teachers, summer camp programs, special education teachers.... I have spoken to MANY and I can tell you that each and every one of them say that the children and adults with Down Syndrome that they work with give them far more than they feel they can give back to them.  The love and respect that just comes naturally from their hearts is almost embarrassing to me that we have to try so hard to "love thy neighbor" and its just the way people with Down Syndrome are made.

October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month.. I am going to once again take the challenge to educate about Down Syndrome and share the joys (and challenges) we get to experience on a daily basis.  Do NOT take that comment as meaning things are not rough for us sometimes raising 6 year old non-verbal identical twin boys both with Down Syndrome and PDD Autism.  There are certainly challenges, and some we may never figure out how to make right.. but seeing the twins be who they are and love like they do is so humbling and heartfelt.

My message today is please PLEASE think about it when you use the retarded word.  Instead try to think of something to lift the person up remembering that we are to love all mankind.  God made us ALL perfect in his sight.  It is the choices we make and the words we use that turn us away from good and seek evil.  I do wish someone would have taught me that at a much younger age than I learned myself, and for that I am sorry.  But now that I know, I know better... and my mission is to now educate others!!

Reflecting One Year Ago Today, Caleb walked..

 

 Good Start Buddy!!!

It took him almost as long to learn to re-walk as he work the SPICA cast.. about 8 weeks.  Here is a few reminder photos of what he went through wearing it:

Comfy Sitting Position?

 

Backside View

wore two diapers at a time, one tucked inside

and the second diaper wrapped around the outside

ahhh reclining and watching tv

This is what it looked like after cast came off..

Happy Boy finishing up his burger on the way home

another shot of this lovely scaley leg

First bath in over two months... he stayed in there for an hour!!

It feels like forever ago that Caleb went through this.  A year later you cannot tell at all he had a broken femur on his right leg, no limp, no weakness, no scarring.  

Kinda funny how mom is going through physical therapy one year later from a ruptured ACL that happened falling from the same swing set Caleb fell from, one the same day, with Caleb in my arms.. That swing set is banned in 2012 the whole week of June 24th.  I only hope that a year after my surgery that I walk without a limp, regaining full strength, and a scar that's not terribly noticeable.  My recovery feels like its taking forever, but reflecting back on Caleb a year ago, next year this time it will feel like forever ago that I was recovering.  **((I hope..))**

Wordless Wednesday.. Twin Tubbing

Elijah's 8th Birthday Party Pics

In all honesty this year was a rough year for me to document his birthday.  He turned 8, he had the count down going for about two weeks before his birthday and he was excited to become another year older.  I confess, I am typing this entry almost two months after his birthday with birthday party pics, but he deserves a record of what he did this year too!!  I was laid up on the sofa from falling back on June 25th and waiting for surgery to happen a week from his birthday. So it was not a huge party, nothing to special happened as far as a party.  Cake and Ice Cream down and grandma and papa's house with family over.  BUT..... daddy did come to the rescue and take him to a Spikes baseball game the night of his birthday.  We got him a personalized baseball bat from BWP bats for his birthday.   Daddy took him to try it out at the batting cages and then off to State College for a game.  Elijah enjoyed it and even got to go down on the field for one of their little events they do between innings.  He was really excited about that and you can read about that here and see photos of his new bat..  So here are the birthday party photos from grandma and papas.  Lots of cute photos with the cousins:

Cousins!

Hates his photo taken, these are the faces I get

now thats a cute smirk

Eric and Elijah

Love this one!!!

and of course,,,,

Isaac chooses..

the R E D Cupcakes!!!

My 911 Babies

On a day that many in our country reflect on the sadness of events that took place in New York and Pennsylvania on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, we celebrate.  Our reflection of this day was sitting and admiring the brand new baby girl my husband and I just brought into the world.  Our reflection of this day was our first daughter being all excited to have a brand new baby girl on her 4th birthday.  Some people call siblings born on the same day years apart Irish Twins.. We called the girls our double blessings. Little did we know that just over four years after Camille was born we would get real twins...

I have to admit that this year with it being the 10 year anniversary of the day our country was attacked, I did have to turn on the tv for a few minutes and observe some of the television coverage.  In the 20 minutes that the tv was on, I had to run for tissues twice as my tears freely ran down my face for the families who were not celebrating this day.  For the stories they were telling were so different than my own.  After getting that out of my system and praying for those who still needed comfort and closure, I got back into my birthday party mode and got the house ready to host family and friends for our celebration.

This year with me still recovering from ACL reconstruction surgery on August 3rd I was a bit limited to what I could do for a party.  We just had our backyard fenced in so what a better place to host a party than within the safety of our own backyard.  The girls each invited a couple friends over and Tom's family joined us for some cake and ice cream.  Generally I enjoy making homemade birthday cakes, but this year that was a little to much for me, so Wal-Mart did a wonderful job!

Tristin is 14.. Our baby.. she is 14!!!  I am really beginning to feel the words of wisdom I have heard from my grandmother and mom from the day she was born, time goes so fast, enjoy your time with her while she's little.  Oh how I already have regrets of time not spent with her "while she was young".  She has totally declared her independence from cuddles with mom anymore.  She has totally declared her independence with her likes and dislikes with clothing, music, and tv shows.  She is growing up before my eyes and I couldn't be more proud of the little woman she is becoming.  She has such a sense of responsibility and compassion that many young ladies her age have yet to figure out.  She loves her music, she is so artistic, she joined the marching band playing the clarinet this year, and she excels at her school work.  She makes her mama proud!!

Beautiful

Look at the FLAMES on this cake this year!!!

Since I couldn't make cake this year we bought blank cakes from Wal-Mart and Tristin still decorated it with her name.

 Camille is 10.  She has asked me a few times recently if I was sad I had her on such a day.  I told her that I looked at it as quite the opposite.  I was so happy that God decided to bless us this day with a brand new baby girl and a new journey together that will last us a lifetime..  She was born at 2:30am, I was recovered and in my hospital room admiring her and her cute little face and tons and tons of dark hair she was born with.  Tom had gone home around 8am to get a shower and I remember calling him at home and telling him to turn on the tv and then to hurry up and come back to us at the hospital.  Tristin was with her grandparents and I needed Tom there with me to assure me that everything was going to be ok.  Of course things were going through my mind like we just brought this perfect child into the world and a war is going to start and change so many things.  I do feel for Camille because this day has and will do down in history as a day of tragedy and pain.  I think that in some ways this affects her self-esteem and worth.  If you did not read my post on my discussion with Camille on 9/11, its a must read!!  She is amazing.  She is an invaluable part of our family, she helps me more than no other here at the house with the twins.  When she is in the right mood she helps around the house and did I mention that she gives the best back massages ever!!! I think she has a career in massage when she gets older.  I have actually paid her to rub my back, she's worth every dollar that I have given her.  A buck for a 20 or 30 minute massage is a big money saver too....lol!!!  She has made the past 10 years interesting, unpredictable, and full of love.  God has been so good to me and I feel his blessings as each year goes by.  Love Ya Toots!!!

 

Look at that cutie pie :)

Silly Blue Tongue Girls

While we were getting the girls candles going on their cakes and preparing to sing Happy Birthday to the them both,  Isaac went over to the gift table and decided he wanted to open a pretty present and see what was it in.. Camille was a little upset that her baby brother was opening her first present, BUT we did allow Isaac to open it because he has never unwrapped a present before.  Good Job Buddy :)

And so another year begins, with God's help and guidance this will be a better year for us all than the past few.  Thank you Jesus for blessing my family with these two beautiful girls!!!!

Conversation with Camille on 9/11

My darling adorable girly girl Camille and I were sitting this evening watching a program on Discovery about the rebuilding of Ground Zero.  As we were watching it she began asking alot of questions, some to which I had no answers.  But then she stopped with tears in her eyes and the conversation went like this:

Camille: Mom, am I bad because I was born on that day?

Mom: Absolutely not honey, you were one of the best things that happened that day, God brought you to us that day for a reason to celebrate!!

Camille:  Well mom, you always tell me that I have the biggest heart of any child that you know, I think I got a little bit of some of those people's hearts who died on 9-11

Mom:  sniff ... sniff  (reaching over to hug her)