Guess who is turning into a little chunk!  Oliver is finally growing!  At his last Synagis vaccine injection on Feb. 29th, he weighed in at 13 pounds and 10 ounces!  He is 26 inches long!  He is still wearing 3-6 months clothes, but I am hoping that we will be out of them soon since he is finally growing!  We will be celebrating his first birthday April 26th.  Normally we wouldn’t have a big party for a 1 year old, but with Oliver I feel a big party is in order.  This past year has been full of tears and joy, and an unknown future.  Oliver literally fought for his life the first five months.  I believe a celebration for the life of Oliver is so appropriate.

Yesterday we met my neighbor for the first time.  She is expecting a baby and she was absolutely the sweetest lady.  When I got home, I wondered if she recognized my Oliver’s almond shaped eyes, small low set ears, short stature, or thick nuchal fold.  I then wondered if she did notice the Down syndrome, what she thought of us.  It started to make me feel nervous.  I caught myself mid thought.  Why do I care what she thinks of us?  Seriously!  What others think of us should be the last thing on my mind.

We have been shown nothing but love from so many people!  I feel sorry for those that show pity on us.  Please, do not show pity on us.  The worse thing you can do to us is say your sorry.  There is nothing to be sorry about!  Oliver has an amazing life.  Ethan and Charlie (my other two kids) have and amazing life and have been given an amazing opportunity to develop a knowledge and awareness of equality.  My husband and kids are crazy about Ollie.  He is the happiest baby!  I am so blessed to have a baby that loves me the way Ollie loves me!  My other two kids did not look at me the way Oliver looks at me.  It is so pure and deep!  The love and need for me shows in his eyes and it is the most beautiful and wonderful look ever!  Oliver is truly in love with me!

Is it more work to take care of a baby with special needs?  Well, yes of course it is more work.  It is also much more rewarding when we reach milestones.  Oliver just started signing!  He knows how to say mommy and daddy.  Since Oliver has mastered the art of rolling, we are now working on sitting.  The therapist continues to come to our house twice a month to work with us.  While he is young we are going to continue with just twice a month.  As he gets older, we will increase the number of visits to once or twice a week.

I absolutely hate that I am constantly reminded that my baby has Down syndrome.  First of all he is my baby.  Down syndrome is only a part of him.  I know that he has three of the 21st chromosomes.  I know that he is at increased risk for things like difficulty hearing and seeing, low thyroid, and leukemia.  I know that he is going to develop at a different rate than the average child.  But guess what!  This guy is a champ!  A fighter!  A heart warrior!  I know he can do anything he wants to do!  I will make every effort to provide Oliver with all the tools needed for him to be successful in life.