Inspired by Adoption

I have always been fascinated by the idea of adoption.  As far back as I can remember, I have wanted to adopt a little girl.  At one time in my life, as I got older, I wondered if I would ever marry.  I thought adoption might be my only option.  Ironic that I sit here, now, with three boys.  The dream of a girl still unfulfilled.  As I go about my day to day business, I don't long for another child; I don't long for a girl.  As I watch my friends with their daughters, I often thank God for blessing us with boys :)  Though I don't think much about adoption any longer, I was reminded of it's omnipotent power the other day. 

Earlier this week, a pastor at a Virginia church put out an unusual plea: Agree to adopt an unborn baby with Down Syndrome and save him from being terminated. You see, a couple in the pastor's congregation found themselves pregnant.  Their unborn child had been diagnosed with Down Syndrome.  The couple felt unable to care for such a child.  They were feeling overwhelmed and desperate.  They were considering abortion.  The pastor asked them for one day - he would attempt to find a family for their unborn child.

It must have seemed a daunting task.  He persevered none-the-less.  He took to facebook and asked the world for help.

To his amazement, the church received over 1,000 phone calls and emails from around the globe from families asking to adopt the child.  With the help of the pastor, and a local adoption agency, the field was narrowed down to three families.  Each family will be interviewed.  The birth parents will choose a family for their child.

I am amazed at the selflessness of those who can choose another family, and situation, for their child.  It takes courage, compassion, and intense love to make such a difficult decision.  I have a good friend from college who placed her son in an adoptive home when she, herself, was just a teenager.  Though I've known her for almost 20 years, I remain in awe of her strength.  My respect for her cannot be described in words.

As for the current story, I pray for the birth parents as they complete this pregnancy and prepare to say goodbye to their baby.  I pray for the selected family that they welcome this baby with open arms - fully prepared for the joys (and struggles) they may face when they fill their home with this little person, with an extra chromosome.

I also pray for the pastor who, without help from above, took a tragic set of circumstances and turned it into a miracle.

“It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the 

greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.”

 ~ Dalai Lama XIV

For those that may be interested in adopting a child with Down Syndrome, here are a few places to get you started:

http://www.dsagc.com/programs_adoption.asp


http://reecesrainbow.org/

http://specialneedsadoption.rainbowkids.com/Down_Syndrome.aspx

As with anything, be sure to research your options.  I have provided a few links but have no personal experience with any of the above agencies.

 

 

Facebook and Towheads

On February 6th, Up The Down Staircase officially joined facebook.  Here is the link for anyone who is 'liking' our page there :)

https://www.facebook.com/#!/UpTheDownStaircase

I post a few pictures (or videos) per week on the happenings of Josiah.

It's short.  It's sweet.  It's right to the point.

One of my first questions on FB was this:
"She called Josiah a "tow head". Insulting? Endearing? or simply Ignorant?"

Let me start from the beginning.

Josiah started receiving speech therapy from EI.  On February 26th, the new worker (speech therapist) came out to the house for her very first visit.  

In the course of the visit, she said (to Josiah) "You're the cutest little toe head I've ever seen." 

WHAT????

I had no idea what that meant.  I had never heard that expression before...

I quickly swallowed my tongue in an effort to suppress my mouth.  I immediately reached for my phone and began 'googling' the term.  Here's what I found:

"In colonial times, families grew their own flax to make into fabric for clothing. Transforming the flax into thread was a complicated, involved process with many time-consuming steps. After the flax was harvested, it was soaked in water for several days to soften it so the inner fibers could be removed from the stalk. To separate the long, thin fibers from the shorter, coarser ones, the flax was pulled through a bed of nails or combed in a process called "towing." The shorter fibers that were extricated were of a lesser quality and were called "tow." This led to the term "towheads" to describe people, particularly children, whose hair resembled these strands.

Our favorite online dictionary, MerriamWebster.com, provided further support and evidence for this explanation. The definition for towhead reads:

Main Entry: tow�head
Pronunciation: 'tO-"hed
Function: noun
Date: 1829
a head of hair resembling tow especially in being flaxen or tousled; also: a person having such a head of hair

The dictionary dates "tow" to the 14th century and states that its origin is "Middle English, from Old English tow-spinning."

As I mentioned, I also took to facebook.  I asked what people thought.  Apparently, I was behind the times on this one.  Friends had heard it, knew what it meant, and found it endearing (for the most part).

In this day of political correctness (which I usually don't adhere to), it's sad that I was so quick to question.  But, "tow head?"  It just doesn't sound endearing to me :)

2-months old

Has it really been 2 months since Josiah was born???  This is an amazing journey we are on.  I'm loving every minute of it.

Josiah had his first EI visit and he did very well.  He is a social little boy and likes the EI worker.  At this point, they simply monitor his movements, etc.  He's turning his head in both directions (favoring the right, slightly).  He tolerates laying on both sides.  He brings his hands up to his mouth.  Even on his side, he is able to bring his hands to mid-line and then to his mouth.  He is alert and enjoys looking around his environment.  He recognizes voices and searches for those he knows.  His eyes are big and bright :)  No delays evident, as of yet.  The EI professional has requested a PT and RN consult.  This is not due to any concerns, per se.  Rather, they want to assure that a whole team is in place in the event they are needed.

I enjoy facebook very much but am very selective with whom I'm friends with (I have to actually know you, for example lol).  Carl & I were recently introduced to a local group of parents.  They have a page on FB & we recently joined.  What an amazing group of people.  There are approximately 130 members.  They are all local and they are all raising a child with DS.  They have get-togethers once per month & special annual events.  We look forward to attending our first get-together & getting to know our new friends.

With the Holidays rapidly approaching, I have not yet made an appt for Josiah's "new baby" visit to Boston Children's DS clinic.  We'll likely schedule that for January.  His first clinic appt is scheduled for June.  At that time, he'll meet with their team of specialists.  They will monitor him approx. every 8 months until the age of 18.  What an amazing time & place we live in.  I thank God everyday that Josiah has such wonderful supports.  I know he will truly blossom into an incredible young man, just like his two brothers.

Josiah's older brothers are great.  James just turned two & cherishes every moment he is afforded to kiss his baby brother.  James will say, "Hi, baby!"  We have to keep reminding James that Josiah is not like his Elmo doll but rather a real baby.  James would love to fling him on the floor and play with him....hence the constant supervision :)  Jesse will be turning 5 in a few weeks.....I don't know where those 5 years went.  He's doing very well in preschool & adores his baby brother(s).  Jesse knows that Josiah has DS but it matters not.  Josiah is his brother - nothing more, nothing less.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention the best thing.  Yesterday, Josiah turned 2 months old & he smiled at me.  I mean a real ear-to-ear smile.  My heart melted!  As my friend said, "he turned 2 months old but you got the best present."  She's absolutely right!

God knew what he was doing when he sent us Jesse, James, and Josiah.  They are wonderful children & we couldn't ask for more.  If I had to go back and do it all over again.....I wouldn't change a thing <3