Day 1

Meaning Behind Your Blog Name

This one is easy.  When we were expecting Jack, we had to pick out his name.  We knew he was a boy, and the whole family LOVED the Pirates of the Caribbean movies (I admit it, I was obsessed.)  Cap’n Jack Sparrow was the most interesting, fun character we’d seen.  We wanted our little baby with Down syndrome to have a fun and easy name that also could be strong.  Jack fit perfectly.  So we named him Jackson because all the kids have ended up with names that can be shortened.  When I started the blog, we already knew our little guy was running the house, hence we’re all the crew!  Adding “The Adventures” wasn’t very original, but it worked.  And of course now that we have Dashlyn, she’s another member of the crew!  I keep thinking I should change the header pic to one of all of us, but I’ll have to get one taken first!

30 Day Challenge

So my friend Shelley decided to start this 30 day callenge to get herself back into the blogging mood. Since my blog has been a bit neglected lately, I figured it wouldn't kill me to try it too. The goal is to write one post a day with each of these as the topic:

Day 0: The 30 Day Challenge Explanation and Description
Day 1: Meaning behind your blog name
Day 2: Take a photo of a random part of your day and tell us about it
Day 3: Photos from your wedding
Day 4: A weird hobby or collection
Day 5: A song that means a lot to you
Day 6: A random picture that makes you happy
Day 7: Favorite books
Day 8: A place you've traveled to
Day 9: Your favorite quote
Day 10: Something you're afraid of
Day 11: TV shows that your currently addicted to
Day 12: Something you don't leave the house without
Day 13: A photo that makes you laugh
Day 14: A website you love to visit
Day 15: Share a Bible verse
Day 16: Describe your dream house
Day 17: What’s in your purse?
Day 18: Photos from around your town
Day 19: Something you miss
Day 20: Nicknames
Day 21: Favorite Movies
Day 22: Share the oldest photo that’s saved on your computer
Day 23: Something you fear
Day 24: A photo of somewhere beautiful
Day 25: 3 things you hope to accomplish by the end of the year
Day 26: Something that stresses you out
Day 27: Your favorite poem
Day 28: A photo of the inside of your car
Day 29: 5 things you are thankful for
Day 30: a picture from today

I'll try to keep to the schedule but I may take liberties with the "post a day" part of this challenge! Wish me luck!

THE Birthday Party!

Today was The Party.  The party to celebrate Dashlyn’s 3rd birthday.  Also Madelyn’s 15th birthday and Dashlyn’s first EVER birthday party.  There were balloons and presents and cake and ice cream!  Most importantly, there were family and special friends to celebrate the life of a special little girl with Down syndrome.  I could post a whole album of pictures, but I’ll try to whittle it down to just a few:

My 2 beautiful daughters:

Presents:

Family and Friends:

Cake!

There’s so much more to write about.  Like how the family members who haven’t seen Dasha since Christmas were so impressed by how well she’s doing.  And how I got all teary when everyone was singing “Happy Birthday”.  And the way she looked when I put her into bed; so tired and sleepy and happy.  It was a super awesome party and tonight I am one tired and happy mommy.

Awesome Video

Please watch the video with sound on.  It shows the beauty of our sweet kids with Down syndrome.  I bet you’ll see a few familiar faces too!

Sending lots of love to our Down syndrome family!  I honestly don’t know what I would do without you all!

I’ve Been Having a Bad Week

Andrew and Madelyn are gone on their orchestra trip so I miss them of course but they are having a fun and wonderful experience with school friends so that is just a teeny part of my sadness this week.

This is a big part.  My friend Stephanie posted about Carrington.  She was in Dasha’s orphanage.  I just don’t have the words.  My heart breaks for her and her new mommy and daddy.  Stephanie has also set up a chip-in for anyone who would like to help support the family financially while Carrington is in the hospital.  Click here to see info on that.  Summer and Jill have written beautiful posts about sweet Carrington too.

This is the other big part.  A family had their court date this week to bring home their sweet boy from EE.  The judge said no.  I don’t think I could breathe for several minutes when I read that.  NO.  A little, harsh, heartbreaking word.  Our court date was the most anticipated, terrifying day of my life; but we were granted permission to make our little girl ours!  What if we weren’t?  Another adoptive mom, Julia, has written their story and explained far better than I could.  Please read and pray for them too.

My “Gotcha” Day

Yep, mine.  Gotcha day is a big day in the life of adoptive parents; huge.  It’s the day they get custody of their child; sometimes the very first day they laid eyes on that child.  It’s every bit as important as the day you give birth and sometimes the parents worked waaaaaay harder for this day than if they had given birth.  I’ve done both and Dasha’s Gotcha day was every bit as meaningful as emotional as any of the birthdays of my other babies.

I was adopted as a wee little girl, not quite 6 weeks old.  My parents didn’t get much notice that I was coming.  They had to borrow most all the neccessary baby equipment, and I was at the baby shower thrown for my mom.  The pictures of my mom and dad as new parents are awesome.  They look so young, and happy.  Well, you know I was kinda cute!  So, Happy A Day Mom and Dad!  I love you very much!

What we’ve been up to

Not much, which is good, I guess.  Some days I have so many things floating around in my head and other days, nothing.  This past week or so has been nothing.  But we’ve managed to entertain ourselves anyway:

Chillin in the recliner:

Hangin’with Grandma and Grandpa H:

Playing this game where Jack makes us all imitate him (this is his latest favorite thing to make us do):

And guess what day is was???  Baking day!!!  German chocolate cake cupcakes!  Thanks neighbor Linda!