Happy World Down Syndrome Day!

Tomorrow (3/21) is World Down Syndrome Day.  It's held March 21st of each year because Down syndrome is caused by a 3rd copy of the 21st chromosome.  It's a day where people across the world celebrate the people they love with Down syndrome, as well as a day to create awareness of the worth of people sporting this extra chromosome.

Obviously, around here, we love those designer genes and celebrate the every day moments we get to have because of them.  In case you were wondering what life with a child with Down syndrome is like, let me give you some hints:

  You might get a kid that thoughtfully examines things one moment.....and then flashes his most rascally face the next.

Spontaneous dance parties in the most unlikely of places are completely normal.

 (This one was at Gabe's cardiology checkup) 

They might get inventive...like when your pajama pants don't stay up so you go find a shoelace and fashion a belt for yourself :)






















And have I mentioned imagination?  Dr. Gabe is always at our service and provides the best care.  I hope you won't mind that he has to do his charting on the computer while you get examined.

Brothers with Down syndrome make great lunch dates...

You'll find them sleeping in the cutest of places, like on dad's lap.  This may cause dads to have wildly proud grins.  

And you'll find selfies of little feet on your phone that will make you smile.

You may get a boy who loves to watch movies with you (as long as there is popcorn involved), and who loves to be silly with the camera, or gives you the "I'm tilting my head because I'm super cute" look.  

You may get notes home from the teachers. 

Or find out your little Russian, who didn't quite know what to do with a book when you first met him, had a bookworm inside his little body, just waiting to come out :)

You might be lucky enough to feel stung in the heart for a child halfway around the world who needs a mama.  

And that little boy may bring you more smiles, more happy tears, more joy than you could ever imagine.

Now, of course, every day isn't rainbows and butterflies around here.  We have our fair share of stubbornness, whining, arguing and tears.  But isn't that how it is with any child, regardless of the number of chromosomes they have?  Yes.  And that is my whole point on this World Down Syndrome Day-we are more alike than different.  And maybe the thing that sets kids with Down syndrome apart from the rest of us is that special sensitivity they have toward giving and receiving love.  In that regard, I wish I were more like them.  Happy World Down Syndrome Day!

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