Monday, November 4, 2013

Our hearts

After Orphan Sunday at our church, today my mind keeps running, my heart aches for all the children that are waiting on families, and also for all those children that are being aborted because of a diagnosis that they are given. we were already aware of this but at church yesterday it was brought up again that  96 % of babies diagnosed with downs syndrome are aborted.
Michael and I firmly believe God creates each child exactly the way he intended for them to be, some might just need a little extra help through life. If only those parents could just see how much of a blessing that our little Landry truly has been in this first year of her life!

Yes as two very young first time parents getting this diagnoses, we were scared, I always thought if we have any questions we can ask our parents, after all they've raised children and they know all about it. But this was something new, even for them, but you know what, we learned together, and God was and is there with us every step of they way, as well as our church, family, and friends.
Our desire is that through us and Landry our community and all people around us can see that DS is not a bad thing and to help bring that percentage down!

I always like to do a little update on what she is up to lately,
still waiving at everyone and trying to give them high five at walmart as we get our weekly groceries, except adding dada to it! she loves her daddy dearly!
Her uncle taught her to shake your hand but only if you say it in Pennsylvania Dutch! Yes we are teaching her Pennsylvania Dutch, but also English. We have had people encourage us to do that, that's what we speak mostly in our home and what we both grew up speaking.
She is mobile by crawling backwards. I love the way her face lights up when I am holding her hands and she stands by herself.
 She has also added a couple new words, baby is one of them. While Michael and I were talking one evening she was sitting there contently listening and repeated baby twice after I said it.
That showed us she is very well aware of things going on around her.
Her favorite food to snack on is a Graham Cracker.
And the thing that makes me melt into a puddle every time is her giving you eye-eye.

We love our spunky little princess dearly!




 


 





Thursday, October 3, 2013

A Princess Celebration!!



Our baby turned 1!
This momma can barely believe it!
Oh how fast that first year can go, and oh how many things you learn! Love Landry's personality, and the age she has right now is such a fun age!
She is constantly talking! Last night at Walmart I'm sure she could be heard throughout the store.
Along with the two words she has been saying for quite some time (Mama & Dada) she added a new word to her vocabulary, Baba! (which means bottle)
She loves nothing better than to hit the keys on her little piano.
And she also loves to put things in containers.
Her smile just got whiter with her first tooth! She has been working on the second one all week, hopefully it will come through soon!
And we cant forget dancing! This girl can dance!

 We decided our Princess needed a princess party!!

You will notice in the birthday pictures Landry is sporting either a pink or white cast, about 5 weeks ago while we were in Columbus for Michaels softball tournaments, we were staying at a hotel and she tried crawling off the bed, it was a high bed and little girl broke her leg. She has been a trooper with everything! After the first two weeks munchkin wiggled right out of her pink cast so we had to  replace it with a white one, 8 more days till we can take it off!!

 
I enjoyed making her first cake and the cupcakes with the help of my sister and sister in law.
 
 
Thanks to Pinterest for the idea of making my own cupcake stands out of plates and candleholders. I used a wine goblet as well. so super easy!
 
 
Some cupcakes got a small crown made out of lace on the top. As well as the cake.

 
My grandma helped and made the cinnamon popcorn.
 
 
And of course pink lemonade!


 
Love looking at these pics in order, she wasn't sure at first...
 



 
 
 
What a wonderful evening we had!
Looking forward to seeing what this next year brings for our little princess!
Twila.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

What is Normal Anyway?

The post today has been weighing heavy on my heart for months now, I struggle to get it written because of fear of offending anyone (which I most definitely don't want to do). However the whole reason of having this blog is to show how having a DS child is not a bad thing, but more a blessing, and to share with you how Michael and I truly feel and they way we look at life in general.

It bothers me so badly to know that the most dangerous place for a DS child is in their mommy's belly.  Breaks my heart because as a mommy and daddy God chose you to take care of this precious child, and each and every person is created exactly the way God intended. We feel special that God chose us to take care of, teach and raise Landry the way he intended. When I was pregnant we had the option to do the Amniocentesis to test for certain things including DS, Michael and I declined, because we said, why would we want to know? What difference would it make, because it didn't matter to us if our child had DS or anything else we would love them no matter what. And mostly we don't feel its right, no matter what your child has, God blessed you with the greatest gift, a child! While driving to Michaels softball game one night,  I was talking to Michael (mostly pouring out my frustration to him) about how this subject bothers me, to hear of people that say if they would learn that their child has DS, they would not proceed with the pregnancy, How someone could do this to a baby, looking at Landry in the backseat behind us with her biggest grin, I said seriously Michael she is the cutest kid around. (we might be just a little proud of our little girl). Which he replied, Twila anyone that would even think of aborting a child like Landry or with any other special needs, is in Gods eyes not meant to be able to take care of a child as special as this. I love this man, and the way he encourages me at just the right times, he always knows what to say!

Two things that are like nails on a chalkboard to us are:

A special education teacher that I talked to once said, a thing that bothers her is people putting a label on Downs Syndrome Children. Most times people don't mean it but say, she IS Downs Syndrome, she is not. Landry simple HAS Downs Syndrome. Landry is her own person, yes she has Downs Syndrome but it should not define who she is.

The word Normal, like nails on a chalkboard to us. Because really what is normal? Every child is created in a different and unique way. Hearing people refer to their children or grandchildren as "normal" is hurtful, because as far as Michael and I are concerned Landry is normal! She has just as much potential as any other child, she will need some extra help and encouragement along the way but that's what we are for. From the very first day we found out she has DS we promised each other and her that we would never treat her like she has something wrong with her, or like she is different. By doing so we would only be hurting her, and her doctor encouraged me that we are doing the right thing. We are here to help her, to encourage her, I know we wont always be able to protect her but I feel that are duty is to surround us with encouraging family and friends that treat her just like we do, and don't look at her differently.

And lastly, I know everyone prays and hopes for a healthy "normal" child, I have been thinking about this lately, is this wrong? Because God creates our children exactly the way he intended them to be. Through my entire pregnancy Michael and I prayed that God would provide us with a healthy happy little girl, and God did exactly that! Anyone that knows Landry knows how happy she is, she can pout but for the most part she is full of smiles and giggles, and so far she has been blessed with great health.

There I feel about 10 pounds lighter, I sincerely hope I didn't offend anyone, because that was the last thing I wanted to do, but I felt the need to share how we look at life, and Downs Syndrome. Hoping you can see the Joy she brings to us!

In other news our little princess is turning one a little over 2 weeks! Wow what a year! So thankful for everything we have learned and since Landry's birth we look at life a different way. We are planning to have a princess party filled with popcorn, cupcakes, tiaras, and tutus! Lots of pink! Excited to share pictures!

-Twila


Monday, July 22, 2013

A Day At The Park

Oh what a beautiful day we had yesterday, after all the rain we have had it sure makes you appreciate the sun!
After a wonderful church service, we ended up at Tuscora Park. Its a small, cute park, perfect place to take your little ones on rides! This was our first experience with Landry, an we will definitely go back!
 

 

Not to sure about this Sea Horse.

Wow Daddy not so bad after all, these things are actually kind of fun!
 
Oh The swings! Did she ever enjoy them!

Looking at this picture makes me smile everytime!

 
 


Our little big girl on her first Ferris Wheel Ride!
 
On to the Carousel! Pictures did not turn out good at all.

 
Our little family!
 
 
Oh how I love our little girl! She lives her little life to the fullest! I wish everyone would be able to experience the happiness and love Landry brings to our family.  My desire is to really enjoy the small things in life and to in someway look at life through a child's eyes. The smallest things, mean so much to them!
 
 
 -Twila

Monday, May 6, 2013

Guest Post: McKenzie

About two weeks ago I got a message on facebook, a friend and also a wonderful young lady, her name was McKenzie. She shared with me how Landry impacted her life, and that evening I shared it with Michael, we both were both amazed and felt so blessed! As we kept on talking we decided we would like to share it on my blog, so I asked Kenzie if she would like to and she said absolutely!! So here is my guest McKenzie and what she shared!


Hi everyone! My name is McKenzie Miller and I am just finishing up my freshman year at Ashland University. So this entire year I have stressed about what I wanted to do with my life after college and what major I wanted to pursue. I had been really praying for God to open my eyes and just show me what I was meant to do but I never was reassured about anything. Well I had been reading Twila’s blog the other week and I came to a part and just stopped in my tracks. She said when she and Michael found out Landry was born with Down syndrome, she wasn't different. She was incredibly special and they were truly blessed that God put her in their life. Right then and there I knew I wanted to be an intervention specialist and teach kids with disabilities. I felt like God hit me on the head and was like “KENZIE! This is what you are supposed to do!!”The very next day I went to my academic adviser and declared my major. It’s crazy to think how much little Landry has impacted me already, and she doesn't even know it. Landry is so incredibly lucky and blessed to have parents like Michael and Twila. I can’t wait til Landry gets older, because who knows, maybe I will be teaching her. J

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

6 Months!

Our little girl is 6 months old! I absolutely can not believe how time flies! She is doing absolutely amazing so far. So far she is doing everything she is supposed to. It makes my heart warm and fuzzy to see the delight in her eyes each time she discovers something new.
The things she thinks are the coolest right now are:
- Tummy Time! She could lay there for hours (well not hours) just looking around. When she's on her tummy she is able to see everything that's going on. When Michael and I lay on our tummies beside her, and play with her now that she thinks is the coolest yet!
-Her swing, absolutely loves relaxing in the swing to watch her shows. I always put Little Bear and Franklin on for her.
-Sweet Potatoes, the biggest mess ever but faces and hands can always be washed, she loves her sweet potatoes. Its so much fun seeing her discover food.
-Talks constantly, Im surprised she can keep going as long as she does without running out of breath.
-Toys, absolutely loves playing with all her toys, her favorites right now are her dolls and her owl quiet book. Each time I go get groceries, I cant help myself but buy her a toy, hey its a treat for her being so good while getting groceries! :) Besides children don't stay young forever!
-Baths, she splashes now and tries to get her toys that swim around in the water, cutes thing ever!

We are so incredibly proud of our princess! Her daddy calls her tootsie, she adores him just as much as he adores her. Everyday makes me so proud that I can call him my husband and she can call him her daddy!

 To think of everything she went through at birth and how tiny she was brings tears to my eyes. She has come so far in her life already.
 
Tiny little legs!

Holding her daddys ring.


What she has been up to these past months.
This monkey is her favorite, always with her in the car.

Landry's first play date, she slept through it though.
 
Landry's first Christmas!
 

Daddy had to help her open her first present.
 
Our Princess ready to head out on Christmas morning.
 
First time at Cabelas.
 
 And some of Landry today


All Princess.

 

We are enjoying her so much, such a bundle of fun and joy. I look forward to her many other firsts. We think she will be sitting on her own before long too. Her 6 month has so many things in store for her, her first roadtrip and first beach trip! We are so excited for her and for us to have a little getaway!

Happy 6 Months Princess, Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you!


-When you look at a person, any person, remember that everyone has a story. Everyone has gone through something that has changed them.-