Some days...

There are some days that as a parent of a child with Down syndrome, we all have "Holland moments," where we may get upset or down regarding something that's going on with our child. Whenever this happens to be, I sit down and read my favorite poems, "Welcome to Holland" and "Hang it on the Cross."

I did just that very thing yesterday. Joey was diagnosed with colitis a few years ago. The past few months, it has been at an all time worst. I can't even count the numbers of diapers I've changed in the past 2 months... Last week when I took him to see his GI doctor regarding this problem, we decided it was best to check him out to make sure there's not something else going on with his GI system. Unfortunately to do this, he's going to need an upper GI with a small bowel follow through, a endoscopy and a colonoscopy.

I HATE the thought of putting him through each of those things BUT I know they're necessary to make sure there's not something else wrong. One of the things mentioned at the GI appointment was the thought that perhaps his colitis has possibly turned into Crohn's Disease. This scares the daylights out of me knowing he may have a life time of this disease but I know there's nothing I can do about it.... that's when I turn to "Hang It On The Cross."

These two poems remind me that going to Holland really isn't that bad, sometimes it may rain but it's typically a beautiful place. And that whenever an added obstacle comes our way, rather than dwelling about it, I remind myself just to hang it on my cross and let God take control and also to stop and admire the tulips as I'm journeying through Holland.

And this is Joey, isn't he beautiful?

24 Days of Books for Advent

I really wanted to find an extra special way to celebrate Advent this year. A few of my friends told me how they give their children 24 books, one each day of Advent, I couldn't help but think what a wonderful idea that was! I've been wanting to add to our bookshelves, so I had to jump at the chance.

I decided rather than just wrapping the books and giving them to the kids, I would go a step further. I went online and found popular daily readings from during Advent. I did one for each day THEN I went one step further and searched Google Images for pictures for each of the readings. Believe me, this took A LOT of time but it's going to be so worth it. Not only to give the kids a new book each day but also to read the reading from the Bible and explain Mary & Joseph's journey leading up to the day Christ was born.


Since I want to make this a yearly tradition, I cut each day's page down to a good size then laminated each page. I bought this laminator on Amazon last year, which has been so handy for many projects, LOL!

If anyone is interested, I made the daily readings into a Google Doc to share with anyone that would like to use it. You can access it here.

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Happy Thanksgiving!!

This year, I have so many people and things to be thankful for... 

I'm thankful for my wonderful husband, Patrick, all of his hard work and dedication to us is truly amazing. He works so hard to provide for us! I'm so proud of him to starting up his own business and being successful!! 

I'm thankful all three of my beautiful children, Joey, Leah & Aiden. I am beyond blessed to be their mother!!! 

I'm thankful that Joey's health is doing so much better (besides this recent colitis attack he's having). It was a year ago last week I handed him over to the surgeon during his emergency bowel obstruction and we spent the 9 days in the hospital.

I'm thankful for my very supportive parents, even though we're 12 hours apart, I know they're both just a phone call away. 

I'm thankful for my mother in law and father in law. They're amazing people. My mother in law lends her helpful hands to babysit our kids when needed, especially when I have to take Joey to any of his doctor appointments. 

I'm thankful for my sister finding us in July. Our family has waited 35 years to meet her. She is an amazing and brave woman for finding the strength and courage to have her birth records open. I've thanked God every day since July for the opportunity to now have a big sister (and a big thank you to St. Anthony as well!).

I'm thankful for my big brother. Growing up he was my rock. He was (and still) always there when I needed him. He was a wonderful role model and did so many fun things with me. 

I'm thankful for all of my sister in laws and brother in laws. You guys all rock!! 

I'm thankful for my grandma, aunts, uncles & cousins. I wish we were home in Ohio to celebrate Thanksgiving with you all. 

I'm thankful to have a roof over our heads. I love our house (although a larger kitchen  another bathroom would be awesome, LOL!) and our neighborhood.

I'm thankful for coupons (that may sound crazy to some of you...). Through couponing, I have been able to provide many extra things for my family that I might not have been able to otherwise. It's such an awesome feeling to be able to go down into our basement and have so many items in our stockpile at my fingertips that I don't have to run out to the store & get. 

I'm thankful to have met so many awesome fellow moms that also have children with Down syndrome and autism. Though thick and thin we have all been there for each other in time of need. If it's advice, encouragement, humor, a simple hug, and true friendships, we're always there for each other. 

I'm thankful to have finally found the church I can now call home. I love our parish and the entire congregation so much. I have met so many amazing friends and I'm honored to have met them all. 

I'm thankful for our Blessed Mother. I turn to her everyday. Through saying the rosary to myself, I have been finding the strength lately to deal with stressful situations more gracefully. 

Lastly, I'm thankful for God, he is my rock and salvation. God is Great!!! 

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Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands! 

Serve the Lord with gladness! 

Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord is God! 

It is he that made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, 

and his courts with praise! 

Give thanks to him, bless his name!

For the Lord is good; 

his steadfast love endures for ever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.