World Down Syndrome Day

World Down Syndrome Day is annually celebrated on March 21st to raise public awareness of Down syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by having 3 copies of the 21st chromosome.  

Get it - 3.21 - March 21st

World Down Syndrome Day is observed in more than 60 countries world wide.  Communities and organizations, including the United Nations, promote World Down Syndrome Day to raise people's awareness and understanding of Down syndrome.

Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the human condition, being universally present across racial, gender and socio-economic lines.  According to the UN, it affects about 1 in 800 births worldwide, causing intellectual disability and associated medical issues.

Source - http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/down-syndrome-day

Check out the amazing video by the International Down Syndrome Coalition 

A few of my favorite quotes about Down syndrome - obviously written by those who are lucky enough to know someone with the extra special chromosome. 

"Enhancing the world, one hug at a time"

"Friends don't count chromosomes"

"The only disability in life is a bad attitude"

"The love chromosome"

"That extra chromosome brings more with it, not less"

We love you sweet baby Clay James and wouldn't change you for the world!

Future Baller!

This is Clay's favorite game right now!  I love that he is able to actually "play" with us.  Wyatt & Hazel think this is a riot and always make adorable comments like, "Clay is such a big boy now!".  My heart melts a little bit every time ;-) 

On another note - could these pants be ANY cuter!!??

Snow White

Translation - "Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of the them all?  Snow White!"

Proclamation Signing

Thank you Governor Heineman for declaring March 21st as World Down Syndrome Day in the state of Nebraska!

Down Syndrome Association for Families of Nebraska: Proclamation Signing

Restaurateur with Down syndrome serves up tasty grub -- and hugs!

This is such a great story!  Go, Tim!

Restaurateur with Down syndrome serves up tasty grub -- and hugs

Wyatt's 4 Year Old Interview

I do not know all of these answers to be true....but who am I to question!?

Read his 3 year old interview here

St. Patrick's Day Scavenger Hunt

Thanks to Pinterest and a little blast from my past, I made a scavenger hunt for the Wyatt & Hazel with a "pot of gold" at the end.  I told them a Leprechaun came while they were sleeping and left the clues and treats for them.  They were SO excited!

I vaguely remember a babysitter we had growing up that made scavenger hunts for us.  I don't remember who it was or what we were "hunting" but I remember they were AWESOME!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Mahoney State Park

We convinced Luke to skip work and join us for a day at Mahoney State Park and had SO much fun.  

The place was pretty much vacant besides a grandpa and his grandson fishing and some geese swimming in the lake.  

Wyatt and Hazel (who I carried the WHOLE way) made it to the top fo the lookout tower with me and instantly turned it into a fairytale, Repunzel tower.

They had an indoor play area, craft center, and kid's theater that were closed for the season but will definitely be going back to check those out!

Top of the lookout tower!

View from the top

Phone dump

Dear iPhone,

Thank you for helping me document the cutest moments from my day!  I couldn't live without you.

Hazel "Snow White" proud as punch in her new dress

My sweet boy on an ice cream date

I love that he loves me to rock him to sleep...may it never end

Getting pretty toes pre-San Diego trip

Hazel refers to this as the "mama hold two babies".  Who needs daily cardio when you have 2 babies!?

When there is a will, there is a way.  Yes, I own a triple stroller and I love it - walking around the lake.

Clay Basket!  Dad - this one is for you!

Say what you mean. Mean what you say.

Today is the 5th annual day of awareness from the Spread the word to end the word campaign.  360,000 people have taken the pledge to STOP using the word "retard", "retarded", and "tard".  Have you???

"That show was so retarded!"
"My boss is making me work on Saturday.  She is so retarded."
"I can't believe you said that!  Retard!"

To you, these may just be words.  You didn't mean it in a bad way.  Well, to millions of people with intellectual disabilities, their family, their friends, and those who have taken the pledge - it is mean and it is bad.

It makes me both pissed and sad every time I hear the dreaded r-word.  I am pissed that people would still think this is okay to say - especially around me.  Um, my son has Down syndrome remember!?  If your child had Down syndrome, would you still say "Did you see the game today?  They looked like retards out there!"  I doubt it.  Because what do you mean?  They looked stupid, pathetic, slow, incompetent???

It just slipped out on accident?  It is okay, we are still friends.  We are all human and many of us grew up in the 90's when everything was "retarded".  But it isn't the 90's anymore and we aren't 12.  It wasn't okay then and it definitely isn't okay now.  Say you're sorry and move on.  But please - for the love of Clay - try to refrain from using the r-word in the future.  Not just around me but - ever.  It doesn't make you sound cool.  Honestly, it is something tweens say as the "ultimate slam" and for the thrill of saying a "bad word".  It doesn't make you sound educated.  Would you use other demeaning slang in your everyday language?

...and it makes me sad.  Like literally I want to cry...and sometimes I do later when I hold my sweet boy in my arms.  I want to cuddle Clay forever and shelter him from the big, bad world.  Clay has a tough enough road ahead of him, he doesn't need this.  
"So, what's wrong with 'retard'?," he asked.  "I can only tell you what is means to me and people like me when we hear it.  It means that the rest of you are excluding us from your group.  We are something that is not like you and something that none of you would ever want to be.  We are something outside the 'in' group.  We are someone that is not your kind." - John Franklin Stephens, a man from Virginia with Down syndrome via A Word Gone Wrong

"Most people would never call a kid with cognitive disabilities a "retard" to his face (and if you are a person who would do that, step away from this blog and go search for your soul).  If you wouldn't say that word to my child because you know it's offensive, you should avoid using it elsewhere, too.  Either way, it's demeaning.  Either way, it hurts my child." - Max's mom via Love That Max 

Please watch this powerful video also made by Max's mom.

So stop saying it.  Stop allowing others to say it.  Today is the day.

How could you be mean to this face!?