FINISHED!!!!!

I am finished with my Associate's Degree in Business Management!!! I am officially, at the age of just 34 years, 10 months and 26 days (LOL) an educated woman! As I look back on my life, I am amazed I am still here and my brain works well enough to maintain a 3.87 GPA. I wish my mom were here to see this, I imagine she would be tickled pink to see her "Skinny Minnie" walk across the stage and receive her college diploma. Nearly 15 years ago, my mom went home to her Heavenly Father. I miss her dearly. We were robbed. Death came like a thief in the night and at 9:05 p.m. Monday, September 5, 1994 she passed away.

My kids don't know their Grandma Janet, my sister and brother barely remember her. I too had just a few years with her and most of my memories of her are of her being sick. But I can tell you this, she was loved by many people. My Aunt Susan loved "Chit" dearly. My Uncle Steve always tells me how much I remind him of mom and how she was a good woman and she would be proud of me. My dad loved her even though their love was doomed from the get-go.

Janet Lee Bitner was born December 30, 1956 to Ralph and Nancy Jean (McClain) Bitner. She would be my Grandma Nancy's fourth and last child. Grandma Nancy passed on due to an epileptic seizure when mom was just barely 3 years old and then my Grandma Ruth raised her. Grandma Ruth taught mom strength and dignity. Even when we had nothing, and I mean nothing. Mom could walk with her head held high. When her body was beaten by chemo and her head bald, she walked with pride. When we lived off of welfare and foodstamps, she made sure we had all we needed.

Mom was giving, if she had a penny and you needed two; she could stretch what she had to make sure you had what you needed. If there was little food in the house, she went without. She loved us kids with a fierceness, which is strange because she never wanted kids. She gave custody to my dad when they divorced but she was my BEST FRIEND. My soul mate. My kindred spirit. I spent my teen years living with her, Geneva and Bobby. She passed when I was 20.

Mom loved music but could NEVER remember who sang what song...Ask her who is that on the radio and she would say, "Bob Seger". It could have been Tracy Chapman and she would say Bob Seger. Mom was a great cook and I miss her chili con carne.

Mom was there when I married Jeremy, so at least she got to see me in a wedding dress. I regret I never had children while she was alive, she would have loved being a Grandma. I would have had a babysitter and probably would have had to fight to get my kids away from her. But, I know my angel baby is in Heaven with her and I guess that will have to do for now.

I can imagine mom with Jared, he is so smart. I imagine she would be tickled with all he knows and how he is such an old man in a little boys body. Joseph, my special needs child who can charm any woman he meets, would have her wrapped around his pinkie. And Jackson...well, he is what he is. All boy all the time, and mom would LOVE it. Mom would also be smitten with Joshua and Janae (who is named for mom and coincidentally looks an AWFUL lot like her). Mom would be very proud of Geneva for going back to school too.

My heart still aches and breaks a bit but not as often as it used too. Shawn's father is passed on as well and it is nice to have mate that understands what this loss is like. I think mom would love Shawn too (Lord knows my dad does)! There are days I want to hear her voice, to smell her hair, to hear her laugh. But I can't. I cannot recall those things any longer and it makes me a bit miffed. I should be able to recall these nuances but time is a tricker and things change. So maybe tonight, she will visit me in my dreams again. Maybe, tonight, she will visit my boys.

But then again, if not, just like Otis Redding sang
I've got dreams, dreams to remember.
I've got dreams, dreams to remember.



until the next time....love your momma, hug your hubby, mind your father, and always kiss your babies goodnight even if they are already asleep. Make sure those you love, know you love them.

One little fishy............

Swimming in the water!!!

Today, I took all five kids swimming at Carrie's house. We had a BLAST. Jackson LOVES the water but hates the floatie seat and Joseph LOVES the water in his floatie seat!! Joseph was bucking around and splashing, tossing balls (with his left hand only and that will make his therapist, Kim, very happy) and just having a grand ol' time. Jackson was ok in his floatie seat for a bit but then he had to be out in a swim ring with arm floaties like the big boys (of course).

We stayed for a couple hours and swam for the about and hour and half total. Fed the kids and then we headed back home. My munchkins passed out on the way home but are still sleeping an hour later. Ahhhhh, the days of summer swimming....wears a wee little one out!!

I think we will be taking a trip to the zoo rather soon. I just hate that it is sooooo very hot right now, but with both the big boys in school this fall it is kinda hard to go when school is in so we have little choice in the matter. Debating on whether or not to take the littlest ones. Well, that's all I got for today. Here are some pool pics. ENJOY!!

Boshidara......

I will warn you now, if you watch this video it will most likely leave you in tears. I could not watch it in its entirety. I stumbled upon it by chance, while visiting another blog.

If you do nothing else, please take time to pray for all the children left in orphanages to die alone and unloved. Boshidara has been suffering for 2 years. I cannot fathom not loving her and caring for her simply because she is disabled. God bless you sweet child, may you find peace in the arms of Jesus.

Reflections

Nearly two years have passed since the twins were born. Where has the time gone? My babies who were a month early are now toddlers busy within the world around them. Nothing seems to stop either child from accomplishing what their little minds conjure up.

Jared is gearing up for 1st grade and Joshua will be in Kindergarten this fall. I believe we will put the twins in preschool one day a week and Janae might get to go too but she will go three days a week. Shawn is back to work and I am nearing the end of my schooling (for now). Geneva will also be re-enrolling at Ivy Tech this fall.

Three years ago, I would have never believed my life would be like it is today. Three years ago today, June 20, I closed on my house and was reading myself to move in next month. Three years ago, I was divorced. Three years ago, I was planning on raising my son on my own. Three years ago, I was still employed at Chrysler working as much as I wanted and earning great money. Three years ago, Jared and I walked the acre that is my back yard hand in hand and admired what was 'ours'. Three years ago, I was concerned with me, work, and Jared and nothing more.

Today, my days are filled with concern for my family, my kids, my sister, her kids, my husband, my school, and how to find more hours in the day. My days revolve around physical therapy, doctors visits (for me, Shawn, and all the kids), cooking meals, cleaning house, doing laundry (which is NEVER, EVER done) and trips to the grocery. I can look back now and see how really bland and boring my life was. My days are hectic that is true but even on the days when it seems all I do is holler at someone, I am grateful for all I have been blessed with.

Jared is so very smart and sweet (I just wish he was sweet all the time) but he is getting bigger by the day and before I know it he will be a teenager. Joseph and Jackson are truly amazing. The blessing of watching one twin develop typically and then watching the other twin develop on his own time frame is truly a gift. It is such an eye opener to witness all the little things you take for granted that your children will accomplish and being a stay at home mom this time around has really shown me all I missed when Jared was this age.

I cannot look back with regret; I did what I had to in order to provide for my family at the time. Matter of fact, back then I refused to quit my job and stay home to raise Jared much to the chagrin of his father. In hindsight, I see now I made the correct decision in staying with Chrysler then. If I had not stayed on at Chrysler then, I would have NOTHING that I have now. Chrysler helped me to buy my house, my home. The home that now protects 8 people. What a blessing. So all the working mothers out there doing what you must, don't ever second guess yourself. In time you will see, you are doing the right thing and your family will benefit from it.

Blessed be the number 3.

So we all know the number three is linked to the Bible. We have the Holy Trinity, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus was resurrected on the 3rd day. Moses asked God 3 questions. Earth was formed on the 3rd day. The number 3 is mentioned over 500 times in the Bible. We (Christians) have 3 lives: Birth, Life, and Death (where we receive our everlasting life with God). The rooster crowed on the 3rd time Peter denied he knew Jesus. The list goes on and on.

So, what is the connection here? The 3 copies of the 21st chromosome of course! ;o)

Trisomy 21 is a blessing. Trisomy 21 has been a blessing to my family from the very beginning. I can honestly say I have never cried a tear over Joseph's Trisomy 21 diagnosis. Have I cried? Sure, I have but not because of Trisomy 21. I have cried over the prospect of Alzheimer's when he gets older, I have cried over his epilepsy diagnosis. I have allowed pity to overwhelm me when back in March I witnessed 20 month old typical twins playing together and knowing my boys were not doing that and wondered when they would. And like usual, I came to my senses and realized I was feeling pity for myself not my boys and decided that was not something I wanted to woller in.

My message for the world is simple. Trisomy 21 is not the end of the world; Trisomy 21 is the beginning of a world you never knew before.

Joseph poses his own uniqueness in this world. He loves his therapists. He gives sweet, wet, opened mouth kisses. He laughs with sweet abandon. He is learning as he grows. He does this great "Wonder Twin Powers" activate thingie with is twin Jackson where they reach out their forefingers to one another until they touch and it makes my heart melt. He feeds himself with a fork and he is getting much better about not throwing his plate on the floor. He uses about 20-25 words with intent. He can even say Sarah (and that is the name of his speech therapist).

Now, I won't try persuade you with all rose colored examples. Is life tough? Sure is, sometimes. But that is not because I have a special needs child. It is tough sometimes because life is unsure, unfair and unpredictable. My first born son, Jared, has severe allergies, strabismus (which was corrected with surgery and then went awry again) and is very intelligent and extremely STUBBORN. Joseph is my mellow fellow, my carefree baby, but he has needed tubes in his ears and when he had his tonsils and adenoids out we wound up in the hospital for severe dehydration. During that time, my spirit was broken. My baby was sick and I could do nothing to make him better, in time it passed and I am stronger for having been there with him. Jackson is my WILD CHILD. He is stubbornly independent but also the best little helper ever. He is the one I never worried too much about.......UNTIL he escaped was found two houses away from ours just toddling down the country road that we live on. He SCARED the living day lights out of me and his dad. But, with everything in my heart and soul, I can without a doubt say life with Down syndrome is no tougher for me than raising my typical child.

I never knew the joy I was missing and Joseph has showed me so much. I have learned to slow down because of him. I have learned to focus because of him. I have learned to wait patiently (still learning that one!) because of him. God has shown me so much through Joseph, and I imagine these lessons are the same ones HE has been trying to show me for years but, shamefully, I admit it took Joseph to open my eyes. I missed out on a lot of Jared's early years and cannot get them back now but I am grateful Jared was my first born, Joseph my second and Jackson my final baby. What a motley crew they are and I love them for it.

This picture is an oldie but a goodie......taken in January of 2008

The price of perfection.

I was shocked to read of a family who is suing their doctor because of a missed prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. I am both angered and disgusted and ashamed of people like them.

The price of perfection (thank you Heidi for that quote). What price were they willing to pay? Abortion and had they known, they would have terminated. The price is a life. They admit this today, not only do they admit their utter disappointment but they are wanting restitution for a life changed. How utterly disgusting. My heart breaks for their 2 year old little girl. CPS should take her and give her to a loving home, namely mine.

The price for perfection, statistics that shock me are nearly unbelievable. There are NO guarantees in life. No guarantee the "perfect" child born will be "perfect" their entire life. NO guarantees that child will develop "normally". No guarantee your child will look like all the other kids, talk like all the other kids, grow like all the other kids, be skinny like the cool kids, be smart like the honor roll students, be athletic, be heterosexual, be only male or female, be born with full vision, hearing, and the like. If you are not willing to accept what you get when you roll the proverbial genetic dice; keep your legs shut.

This is not about religion (but I do believe abortion is an abomination). It is about life and what you do with it when life comes to you. My heart always aches a bit when I think about the 90% of babies with Down syndrome that are not born just because the woman carrying them found out while she was pregnant and then terminated. I did not have a prenatal diagnosis because I declined all testing; the testing would have made no difference to me and Shawn.

Our babies were coming. Two boys, two first born sons for my husband. New life. A new beginning, a fresh start, a challenge but then again all children are. Joseph has Down syndrome and I knew it the moment I laid eyes on him. I knew his secret, his blessing, his gift.

My heart breaks for all those babies who are gone and the would be parents that don't know the blessing, who refuse to accept the blessing, who never see that gift, who never revel in the secret and then SHOUT it to the world.

My poor husband........

Yesterday, we had plans to spend the day with my dad at the Young family reunion and later head to my best friends house for double birthday/pool party. Well, we were getting ready to leave and Shawn leaned in the garage entry door to the house to get Joseph; well, from here it gets kind of ugly. Suffice it to say, he and Joseph both went down. Shawn missed a step and rolled his ankle. He saved Joseph from any harm but his own ankle was not so lucky.

He was able to get up a few minutes later and then came in and iced it for about 10 minutes. Now, I TRIED to get him to go to the walk-in clinic to have it X-rayed to make sure it was not broke but he would not, WOULD NOT, go. So he sucked it up and hobbled around for the rest of the afternoon. Speaking of hobbled, remember the movie Misery? When Kathy Bates hobbles James Cahn and his ankles are all swollen, bruised, ugly and flat out gnarly? Well, that is what Shawn's left ankle looks like. Thank God it was not his right because it would have snapped the bone; the right ankle was reconstructed in 2003.

Saturday night about 9:30 we make to the ER. We made it home at 1:45 this morning and were in bed by 2:00 a.m. Tiresome for sure but we did have a good time while we were there. The waiting room was full and everyone was friendly and I was pretty much punchdrunk since I was so tired and cracking up most the night.

Today we are tired........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Busy, busy, busy

So I am nearing my final day in my course work and will graduate with my Associates in Business Management from IWU with a 3.87 GPA. Yes, I am bragging! LOL I am very proud of myself. This course is kind of heavy with group work but that is ok. Aug 8, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. I will attend my graduation ceremony and then I am taking some time off before hitting the books again for my Bachelor's in Marketing.

Now, I know, you are all thinking.......don't do it. Don't take time off or you won't start back. Never fear, I will start back......we cannot afford to pay on my student loans!!! LOL

Jared is spending more time with his dad this summer break. I reckon this is good. I am just glad Tom is calling and asking for him. Jared is ready to head to the library and get some books, so maybe Sunday afternoon we can do that.

Jackson is amazing, he was helping me push my cart through Wal*Mart yesterday. I am just stunned at how UNLIKE both of his brothers he truly is. Jackson is very headstrong and so much more mature for his age. Jared was similar but Jackie has him beat. He's vocabulary has just exploded AND he is now answering questions properly when asked.

Joseph is my charmer; he captures the hearts of nearly every woman he comes across. He had all the gals at the pediatricians office swooning over him again today. I was able to thank Dr. Eric O'Bannion for ordering the EEG so quickly for Joseph. He is a wonderful doctor and gave me hug when I thanked him. Joseph has thrush and so long as we can get rid of it, there should be no worries. However, if it returns or we cannot get rid of it, it could point to leukemia. Either way, Joseph is due for his routine leukemia blood workup and check. This will be done either June 18 when we see Dr. Pappas (if he orders any blood work, Dr. Escobar is going to order all of Joseph's routine screens to be done at the same time) and if not at that time he will have all his routine blood work and screens done in July at our 2 year well baby check.

I am fearful of leukemia. Who wouldn't be? But I do not have that gut feeling like with everything else I was keenly aware of with Joseph. Just keep him in prayer and we will leave it up to God.

Until next time, I leave you with love and hugs.....

We officially have two toddling toddlers in our house!!

Just a quickie here........Joseph took his first fully unassisted steps today!!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Prayers for a soldier

Yesterday, Shawn and I spent 10 hours out of our house with no kids! That was certainly different. We went to lunch at Hacienda for some rockin' chips and salsa and then chowed down on some truly unauthentic Mexican food...........YUM!! From there we headed over to a going away party for a very close friend. Bill Watson is his name and he is leaving for Afghanistan near the end of July or first of August for a year long (maybe a tad longer) tour.

Bill was one of Shawn's bosses, while they worked together they became very dear friends. Our families are similar; we both have a special needs child. Bill and April have two kids and their daughter has Autism. Of course, as you know, one of our twins has Down syndrome. Bill totally understood some of Shawn's challenges and vice versa and the two just hit it off. Last year they took a motorcycle trip to the Dragon in Tennessee. And when Bill returns home, safely, they will be going on another trip to the Black Hills (I think).

April worked her booty off and many people came to have one last revelry with Bill before he heads off for his tour and I am sure we will have one HUGE revelry when he safely returns!! I was honored to make his send-off cake. While we were there I was able to see and reminisce with some old friends from Chrysler too. Double "D" showed up with his buddies, stepdaughter, and gorgeous little boy. Then later in the evening Carlson came with his wife. It was great to see those guys again. April and I sat and chatted, once she was finally able to sit down (which was not until 10 or so in the evening).

Some of the kids there were swimming, some were in the hot tub, some just ran around the yard having a grand time. It was good to see so many people who love Bill and April and their kids show up to send him off with fond memories of his last days at home before he leaves for a year or so.

I cannot imagine being in April's shoes. I have such respect for her and her family. Trevor is a teenager now and such a great kid, I am sure he will be a great source of help to his mom. I can say this, I am so eternally grateful for the men and women like Bill; those who willingly choose to serve and protect no matter the cost. He is going away, sacrificing family time with his wife, son and daughter. Why? Because he is proud to be an American, because he is proud to protect you and me, because he is a man of exceptional selflessness.

You do not have to support this war but how can you not support and pray for a man or woman willing to sacrifice of themselves when they don't even know you? This is as thankless a job as it is a thankful one. A soldier's job is never done. I am not asking for debates here, this is not a political thing. I don't care if you support our government in this war, all I am asking is prayers for a man willing to risk it all for you.

I will be praying for Bill Watson and asking everyone I know to do the same. He is a good man, a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a cousin, and a friend to many. He deserves our prayers. This pic is Bill in the mountains on the trip to the Dragon with Shawn.

This pic is Bill and Trevor on the April 2008 "Ride for the Troops".
God speed, Bill Watson.

We love you....

Epilepsy

A little over a month ago (April 29 to be exact) I called the doctor's office to voice my concerns about some peculiar behavior Joseph had been exhibiting for about a month. After speaking with Nurse Cynthia, and every time I say that it reminds me of The Rugrats and the bratty little girl's doll Cynthia the doll that looks like Barbie with a really, really bad hangover, I persuaded her to contact one of the NP's in the office. Martha suggested we contact Dr. Escobar our developmental specialist in Indy.

I called Dr. Escobar's office and they wanted and EEG done but I did not want to go to Indy for it. Soooo, I had to call our pediatricain's office back ask them to schedule it. At nearly 4:oo in the afternoon, I called Dr. Jones' office and asked for the EEG. At 6:30 that evening, I got the call our EEG would be April 30 at 10:45 in the morning.

The EEG was performed and it was during the testing I realized I was right. Did I want to be? Absolutely not; this was the ONE time in my life I WANTED to be wrong. I wanted so desperately to be wrong. Now, flashforward one more day to 5:20 in the evening. I was gone taking Jared to this Mamaw Federspill's house and had stopped off at Rural King to exchange some bibs Grandma Taylor bought for Joseph. Shawn got the call, Dr. O'Bannion (who is filling in for Dr. Jones since his kidney transplant) said our EEG did show some abnormalities and he "highly recommended" we see a pediatric neurologists and would set up the appointment. One more thing, he said, "Be sure to tell Christie she did a fantastic job catching this when she did."

Comforting? No. Reassuring? No. Reality? Absolutely.

Well, I got this news too late to call Dr. Escobar's office on Friday so I had to wait til Monday to make the appointment. I called first thing Monday morning and we were to be in Indy on May 5 at 4:45 p.m. The office was sliding us in to get the EEG read ASAP. The appointment went great, Dr. Escobar is such a genuine man. He told me, "This is not bad, this is not bad. But...Joseph needs to be on medication. He needed to be on medication yesterday. If you don't mind, I will call Dr. Pappas and get him on medicine right away."

I agreed, I would wait. He left the room and I looked down at my little guy and my heart broke a little more. I was having my own little "oh, poor me" party. Blech! We got our script and left to come home. I called my hubby and apologized. I called my dad and cried. I called my sister and bawled. I called my best friend and tried to hold it together.

The next day we started the meds and for the first couple, three weeks they kicked his butt! He would just konk out and would get very grouchy. Thankfully, my fears of "losing him" in the medication (Trileptal) never came true. His personality still shines but he does konk out early into the afternoon and sleeps for a LONG time.

I have not noticed any of the old peculiarities and I believe the meds are working. This in and of itself is amazing. Many times, medicating a child for seizure activity is trial and error finding the right med and dosage. We hit the nail on the head the first strike.

He is plugging right along, still making developmental strides. And now, epilepsy, is not so scary. I don't like it, and I don't have too. Epilepsy took my maternal grandmother when she seized and then passed away at the age of just 27 years. Epilepsy does mean a greater chance of Alzheimer's for my son and that freaks me out, but for today I shall watch my kids with wide wonder and not think about what might be.

OMG!!! He did it!!

Joseph did it!! Well, actually, he did LOTS today. For starters he took three steps, unassisted, from the couch to me. He stood up in the middle of the room unassisted today and did this many times throughout the day. He bonked his noggie today while rising to the standing position under the dining room table......and he giggled when he did it! He also stood to rise from a squatted position and toddled three or four steps over to me.

He ate three fish sticks all by himself and even dipped them in ketchup on his own, off of his plate, AND did not throw his plate on the floor. Then he ate velveeta shells and cheese and would ask for "muh bite-bite" and say "yes" when I would ask, "More"?

Now, I realize this is not a big deal to many parents out there.......but lemme tell ya, when your child who is delayed does even something so minute as asking for more when eating and NOT tossing his plate on the floor. This is BIG business!! LOL Oh, ya, he also did not throw his sippy on the floor tonight.

Yes, my middle child, my smallest boy is plugging right along. And I am sure his brothers and cousins have a lot to do with his progress. If only they all knew how great they are for him. Someday they will know, but for now, I am just happy they are here and loving him, playing with him and encouraging him.

It is funny, my nephew, Joshua, will encourage Jackson to say new words. And Jackie is more than happy to oblige. Funny thing? Joshua, the child who attends speech therapy weekly, is so in love with my boys that he encourages them to speak. Unbeknownst to him, even in his difficulties with announciation, he is making my boys stronger in their verbal abilities. What a blessing he is to them.

Janae, my niece, spent the day outside with Jackson today and they had a blast. Nae-Nae would push him around the yard in the Cozy Coupe and they would "yammer" back and forth at one another. Then it was time to just push empty "vehicles" around the yard. Nae-Nae took the empty coupe and Jackie was pushing an old army type dune buggy that used to be my ex-stepsons. They did this for nearly an hour and a half today, just rambling about the back acre having a ball together.

Today was a good day...
Good night all.

My Blessed child

Just wanted to stop and share something I wrote about a month or so ago. Some of you have read this before and for some it will be a new experience for you.

My Blessed Child

My child, my love.

You are my gift.

The one I never dreamed of.

So sweet and pure

With a smile to light the room

when the world seems a blur.

I could hold you tight

And never let go

but then again I think I won’t

for that just wouldn’t be right.

You are a teacher, a mover, a mind-changer

You will likely never know a stranger.

47 chromosomes have made you blessed

To change the world

on our shoulders the task now rests.

For a little while longer

I will hold close and show you the way

Then I will set you free

and then smile and say,

“Now go change the world my blessed child.”

by Christie Taylor

April 23, 2009

Don't pity me.........

I don't know why I do it. Why I cannot turn away from the news that breaks my heart. The sight of a beautiful babe gone in the blink of an eye, never to feel his mother's caress again. A mother left shaken and battered by the loss of her beloved child. The breast that aches for a nursling, the momma's heart shredded by a disease, a failed surgery, the one final attempt to save her beloved child only to learn the child would be taken from her. The heart of a mother truly left bleeding from an open hole that will never be completely filled.

Never in my life have ever been so completely aware how fragile life truly is. How absolutely blessed I am to have healthy children. My children are not medically fragile and for that I am eternally grateful. So why do people feel pity for me and my family? Oh, yeah, wait.........I remember now.

Down syndrome.

Who cares? So what! My son has 47 chromosomes. Yes, he is delayed. And yes, he does not walk (yet). But my son is here! On Earth with ME. Society, don't pity me. The shoes I wear are not ugly and they do not hurt my feet. So, society, don't pity me. Save your "I'm sorry's" for a mother who has so very unnecessarily earned your condolences. Society, don't pity me. Send your "Are you allright's" to a mother who cannot sleep at night because all she dreams of are the last moments she spent with her child before saying "Goodbye, my love." Society, don't pity me. When you see me out and about with my boys and wonder what is "wrong" with the little one, don't pity me. You see, society, I have the pleasure of taking my children with me wherever I go. I have the pleasure of knowing what it is like to hear "Momma" from a boy many women never choose to give birth too. Society, don't pity me. Save your pity for those women who fought with the prenatal diagnosis of an extra chromosome and believed they were doing the "right thing" by not birthing that angel. Society, don't pity me.

Abortion, cancer, heart defects, surgeries, MPS, SMA, fatal trisomy's and the list goes on and on. These are the takers of babes, the robbers of families that leave behind devastation in their wake. Society, don't pity me. By God's good grace, I have not experienced the heartaches out there. I have simply enjoyed the blessings of my boys, even the one with 47 chromosomes.

Society, don't pity me.

Today, we sleep............

Wow! 2200 miles in just 4 days will wear a family out! Shawn and I decided to take our boys, my nephew, and my niece to Mississippi to visit family for an extended weekend trip. The kids did great riding in the van (thank heaven for DVD players in automobiles today) and we made great time down there.

The first night we arrived we met Uncle Johnny and Kay at their house, visited for a bit and then called it a night. Saturday we played in the sandbox, took a trip to Wal-Mart and had a cook out. Then bath time and lights out to head on to Biloxi the next day.

Sunday we did family pictures with my sister, Brianna, and her family; as well as my dad and step-mom. That was a BEAR!! Getting the twins to stay in on place at the same time is nearly impossible. I was soaked with sweat from head to toe by the time it was over. All in all, we did get a decent family shot (12 people total) and some great shots of all the kids. However, the one shot I wanted of all 6 kids, Jared, Joshua, Janae, Joseph, Jackson and Brison never happened. Jackson WOULD NOT stay within camera shot for that one. BUMMER! But the kids were cute in their 2009 Old Navy Fourth of July shirts.

We left pics and went back for yet another cookout at Bri and Jason's place and then headed to the casino we were staying at. Monday we spent the afternoon at the beach and in the ocean. The kids had a blast, Joseph passed out and we spent the afternoon in the shade with him snoozing in the breeze. Lights out came early Monday evening and we headed home Tuesday morning. We were on the road by 6:24 a.m. and we arrived in K-town at our house at 8:39 p.m. Not too shabby for a van load of 6 and traveling 855 miles.

All the kids were in bed by 9:45, the twins slept til after 8 in the morning (WOO-HOO!) and the big kids were up and moving shortly thereafter. Ahhhhhh, it's good to be home.