What my kids are...

My Kids are...

Loved, so loved.

Strong, overcoming so much

Silly, laughter beams from their mouth

Smart, they are able to enjoy the sweeter things in life

Willing, loving everyone and everything no matter what

Challenging, it's not always easy

People, despite what other may thing

Worthy, of so much more than many will give them credit for

Beautiful, from their almond shaped eyes to their sandal gap toes

Gifted, their presence can change your mood in an instant

Encouraging, the troubles in your life seem like nothing compared to what they go through

Blessed, so many will be on this journey to cheer them along

Stubborn, they are not always happy and easy going

Lastly....

They are a gift, sent to us to teach us, love us, challenge us, encourage us and bless us. Everything we do for them, they do for us  x10, not because they have to but just because of who they are. They are a gift that we are so unworthy of but so thankful for. 

Thank you my sweet boys for being nothing more than you. 

Love, Mommy and daddy

Gotta keep movin'

Im a little disappointed by the lack of support I got regarding my last post and my FB post for those of you heading here from there. BUT, the good news is that I am going to do something and the only person I am held accountable to at the end of this life is God. So join me or not, it's your choice.

On a Much, MUCH lighter note...it's Buddy Walk weekend!!! Woo Hoo. Wish all of you lived closer so we could meet in real life and I could love on your sweeties whom I've grown oh so found of!! Needless to say, we will have another HUGE group this year. Malachi and Eli will be the star of the day and I will beam with joy that my children are so loved by so many!! Not to mention all the money we are raising for NDSS!! It is sure to be an awesome day, I will be sure to post all about it!

After 4 hours of therapy with my boys today, I am spent. Good night, sweet dreams my sweet sweet friends!!

I hope this breaks your heart

 My hope is that this post will break your heart, leave you in tears, put you on your knees praying and allows you to look into you're "perfect" life. I want you have a desire, so strong, to do more. I want you to ache for these people, I want your every waking moment to be consumed by the images of their sweet faces. I pray that God puts a burden in your heart to stand up and fight with all your being for the respect these people deserve. Will you allow yourself to step out of the box, your comfortable, safe box for just a moment to watch the following video? Or will you click off this page and going on living your "perfect" life? Or even worse, will you watch it and still do nothing?

Watch the video now. 

Are you sick to your stomach? Are tears flowing down your cheeks? Are you moved to action?

Check all of the above for me please.

I will do something. Will you join me? I don't know when and I don't know how, but I will.

God use me. Use all of me to help these innocent children. I am ready, I am willing and I desire to do something more. I know you made each of those people to be more than a body laying in a crib. They are perfect in your sight and an amazing testimonial to your power. Raise up other who desire to help. Surround me with people who yearn to change lives, to get out of the box and to do something. Give me the words to say to those who turn a blind eye. Give me the strength to go and do. Only you can move this mountain and only you can set the journey. Show me, show us. Keep those safe who are already there, left to die. Give them strength to fight and courage to remain until we come.

Car-seat frustration

As much as I LOVE the ease of Elijah's infant carrier, my elbow needs a break. So we are in the market for a big boy car-seat for my little love. And, actually for my larger love. Malachi currently rocks and Evenflow Advanced, which I like, BUT, it's HUGE and takes up a ton of space. Since a mini-van is not a financial option we have right now (although my little suv is nearing 112,000 miles) we a looking into other cheaper options. We are trying to decided between and Britex Roundabout 55 and a Combi Coccoro. They are about the same price which makes our decision even more difficult. Has anyone out there experienced either of these seats? Give me advice and help me choose...or better yet, just make the decision for me. K? thanks! :)

Big boy

My littlest love is not looking so little anymore. 

I LOVE his smile and the way his little nose turns red when he laughs.

I LOVE his easy going personality and the fact that he is almost always content.

I LOVE when he talks me while we are snuggling before nap time.

I LOVE his big brown eyes and they way they sparkle when he looks at his daddy and big brother.

I LOVE the way he wakes up with crazy bed head. 

I LOVE Elijah and EVERYTHING about him!!! He is perfect, just the way he is!

Freedom

As many of you know, Malachi LOVES to sign. His love goes so deep that he often chooses signing over actually using verbal words. We love that he can communicate so well with those chubby little hands, but audible noises would be much appreciated. His favorite signs, you ask?  Cow, Eat and Chicken. Little man is so smart, little does he know that you can eat chicken and cows! ahaha

His love for animals is what inspired us to take a trip to the Milwaukee Zoo. His favorite exhibit was the fish and turtles. I think a fish tank is in our near future!!

But the one thing that tickled his fancy the most was walking and the freedom it brings. I LOVED watching him explore. His hands touched everything (don't get me started on all the cooties we were exposed to), his eyes scanned around him and the little wheels in his brain were going faster than ever! Freedom never tasted so good!! You deserve it little man, thanks for fighting!!

October!!

Dear Family and friends,
     We can hardly believe that it's already October! So much has happened this past year. Many of you know that October is Down syndrome awareness month and the past 2 years I have participated in 31 for 21 where I commit to blog each day to raise awareness. This year is no different. I will be posting basic information, fun stories, pictures and our own experience raise 2 amazing children with Down syndrome.

    Malachi is now 2 and full of attitude! He loves to answer questions with "yeah" or "no." He is officially walking and the joy he feels shines through his smile. He is proud, I LOVE to watch that!! Brain surgery this summer went great and he is recovering quickly. We see less and less side effects of his stroke and are hopeful that he will make a full recovery. We will go back to Boston in the summer of 2011 for a follow up angiogram to see if the surgery was successful.

     Elijah will be 1 next month! Yikes! He is the most content child ever!! His smiles and giggles happen more and more and his personality is coming out. He talks all the time and eats even more than that!! This past week he has begun crawling and will no longer stay in one place. His adoption was finalized in Aug. and we were blessed enough to have my mom, brother and best friends there.

     Thats all for now. Please check back daily and let me know you were here.
                                                                                                                              Erin

Ps. For those of you that want to share you love for Elijah and Malachi on Facebook, feel free to save the following images to you desktop and use them as your profile picture.