Christmas time!!

So, holy cow, it has been a LONG time since I wrote. Well, it is getting close to Christmas time! I am super excited! I love this time of year! I have almost all of my gifts bought and my mom, sister and I did our yearly cookie making weekend. It was so much fun, but it just reminds me so much of my grandparents! Especially, my grandpa! Him and I used to always peanut butter up the ritz crackers (or Ho ho crackers as they were called) and I remember him always stealing the "broken" ones and eating them before they were dipped. Then we would be delegated to opening up the carmels for the chocolate carmel brownies. And again, we would sneak a carmel or two! He would then somehow sneak away after all that was done, while I went in and started the tedeous job of dipping pretzels and ritz crackers.
 My grandpa was always, so in love with Christms. He was all about the lights, decorations, gifts and of course the Christmas story! He had the most wonderful decorations in his front yard every year. And as for gifts, they had to be wrapped perfectly!! Everything he did, he did with love and care for his family! I truely feel that the overjoy of Christmas spirit this year is from watching my grandpa all those years! He had so much love in his heart and he gave freely, to all of his grandkids!
So, of course this is my favorite time of year, I get to relive a great time in my live with a grandpa, who absolutely adored me!! Hahahaha!! I miss him everyday, but I am so grateful to have the lessons that he taught me! We may not have the world, but we can make what we have feel like a million bucks!!
So, that being said, Merry Christmas to all who read this and remember it isn't about all of the gifts and the greed! Christmas is truely about the gift of giving and being with loved ones!! Count your blessings because they may not always be around for you to count!! This Christmas I am missing all of my grandparents, my uncle Ron, and uncle Don!! As well as all my family that I don't get to see!

Play dates!!

Oh the past week has been a fun and eventful last week of me being home with the girls!! We went to two play dates!! One was at Zorinsky park and the other was here at our home!
The play date in the park was wonderful!! Jenessa, Clarissa and mom went with water and snacks in hand. We had our double stroller (which is a life saver!!) and Clarissa was still in her car seat, Jenessa was walking. We walked down to the park and Jenessa took off towards the play area. It was all I could do to lock the tires and make sure the shade cover was up for Clarissa and then I ran after her. She absolutely loved playing with the alphabet rollers thing. She did not want to leave it. Then another little girl came along and wanted to play too. She leaned herself against the bar handle and reach over and was spinning the rollers, when I see my daughter take the girls hand and push it off of the handle!! I caught the poor girl before she fell the the metal floor and took my daughter over to the bench for a time out!! I was mortified! But I think she learned her lesson!! She then found the big slide that twists on the way down. Now, I had to help her get to the top to go down this slide, so thankfully two of the mom's that were there helped me by catching Jenessa at the bottom! But Jenessa absolutely loved it! My little dare devil!!! She then found the swings! Her friend Harper was swinging and Jenessa went right over to her and wanted in the other swing. So, up she went and for the first time ever my daughter swung like a pro and I was finally able to go get poor Clarissa out of the stroller! AHAHAH! The poor girl! Thankfully there were mom's constantly going over and checking on her for me! Man, it is hard to manage two little ones while at the park! So, I strapped Clarissa's carrier on and put her in and off we went back to push Jenessa in the swings! She was a pro!
I am absolutely enamored by how much my daughter has seemed to grow since her little sister was born!! She has matured and is more willing to try new things! She also seems to want to interact with other children much more than she did before.

As, for the rest of the play date at the park, well, lets just say Jenessa had many melt downs and wanted with all her might to climb up the small slide. (which she did!) She also, got in the way of many other kids trying to go down. One mom told me not to worry about it, but it was hard advice to head, as kids were sliding down towards my daughter. HEHEHE

Our next play date was at our house. So, we cleaned and got all ready and then our friends came over! Jenessa was down stairs when the all arrived and I went and brought her up after the kids had all started playing upstairs. When Jenessa came upstairs, her eyes got huge and she ran in and started doing a happy dance!! It was so funny! It was as if her life was complete! And I can tell you from that point on my daughter was in seventh heaven!! She immediately started following Brooke, Buffy's 5 year old daughter, around! She was Brooke's little shadow and I think Brooke was absolutely thrilled by this! When we went downstairs to play, Brooke and Jenessa went over to the little wooden table we have and Brooke taught my daughter how to play tea party with her stuffed animals. Usually in Jenessa's tea parties, she is one of the guests, but this time she wasn't. It was very interesting to see the interaction between Jenessa and Brooke, as Brooke tried to get Jenessa to push the chair in with her stuffed animal in the chair instead of herself! It was hilarious! But Brooke won the battle and they proceeded to pour tea for their guests!

We then headed to the park and Jenessa went down the slide, oooh so many times! She struggled again on wanting to climb up the slide, but I would walk her over the steps and she would cry the whole time, as she climbed to the top... then she would smile at me when she was ready to slide down the slide and down she would go! Oh, my little drama queen!

I have to say that those two play dates were probably the most fun my daughter has had in the last month!! And I am grateful to the other moms and their kiddos for the experience that Jenessa got! Jenessa finally went swinging and went down a slide on her own!! She is getting so big!

Oh and what did Clarissa do during the second play date?? Well, she got to hang out with daddy!! Something she does not get to do nearly enough!! So, all in all, it was a very good day!

Clarissa updates

So, Clarissa is now 3 ½ months old and she is amazing us every day!! She has currently rolled from her back to her tummy (August 12th) and then from her tummy to her back (August 20th). She is holding her head up like a pro and growing like a weed!! She is already in 6 month clothes!! With Jenessa we could tell how old Jenessa was by what clothes she was wearing! Clarissa on the other hand, well she is just blowing past all of the standard sizes. I understand that is normal, from what I hear, but to us it is crazy!! I know we should not compare the girls, but in this case it is hard not to. The difference is intense! Clarissa is also smiling and laughing at us, which absolutely warms my heart every time!! Her smile is so infectious!! She opens her whole mouth to smile… Josh says she is trying to eat us!!
As for her gross motor, she is rearing to get to crawling! Her legs go a hundred miles an hour! I think it helps that she watches her sister and wants to join in playing with her! She also stands so well with support! I am thinking an early walker!! But maybe not!
Ah, my little girls just amazes me at how she is progressing! She sits in her bumbo and plays with her little butterfly!!

Our little Clarissa has shown us, as my neighbor says, that it is possible to love another child as much as the first!! I have to agree with him!! I love Clarissa just as much as Jenessa! Both my girls just warm my heart and make me realize just how blessed I am!!

Monroe Meyer speech program!

So, this summer we found out that Jenessa got into the speech program at Munroe Meyer Institute. So we went and Jenessa absolutely loved it! I was expecting the typical kid reaction of crying and not wanting to be seperated from us, but not my daughter! She basically pushed me away and then went and climbed into her "desk." I loved it, but was a little sad. I kind of wondered if I don't spend enough time with her in the day and so that is why it didn't bother her to be apart from me. But, then I thought about it and I want her to be independent and that she definitely is! Her nana and grandpa took her for a weekend and when they brought her back my mother in law told us that she thought her kids were stubborn, until she watched Jenessa. I have to say she is stubborn and very independent! So, it really should not have suprised me that she pushed me away and went running into a new environment! She absolutely loves new things! And as for the class, there was only Jenessa and one other girl there, so it went well. Jenessa was so interactive and involved! She loved it! We go back today and I am so excited for her!

My Girls are hilarious!

So, now that I have two little girls, my life is a little more enteresting! Even though Clarissa can't walk or move or even do much on her own, she can cry and make the most bizare faces! And I have to say, when her older sister gives her kisses, we get the most enteresting faces sometimes. Jenessa just loves her little sister and thankfully the Lord is watching out for Clarissa because I am sure at this point we should have some broken ribs or fingers or something. Jenessa is learning, but she still loves to crawl up her sister to give her a kiss! The other day, Clarissa was in her bouncer and Jenessa came running around the corner and fell right into the bouncer! My heart literally stopped! Clarissa's face went from calm and subdued, to oh SHIT! real fast! Low and behold all that happened was Jenessa's hand landed in the space between Clarissa's legs and the bouncer went down really face, which scared Clarissa. After all was said and done, Jenessa climbed her sister to give her an I'm sorry kiss, which I am sure was more painful than the fall for Clarissa!! HAHAHA!

Though, Clarissa seems to get annoyed with Jenessa's kisses and love, you can just tell she loves her older sister! I will be sitting with her and she will just watch Jenessa play! It is so cute. I can almost hear her thoughts of, "when do I get to play too?" I know I shouldn't wish her little cuddly time away, but I will be so excited for both the girls when they can play together!

Jenessa now has the whole basement to play in and she loves to play pretend! I went down yesterday and she was sitting at her wood table with a plate and the letter O in front of her. She would reach down and pretend to take a piece of the letter o and eat it! I was hungry too, so I also joined in. She just loved it as we sat and ate her letter O. :)

Clarissa Marie!!!

We would like to announce the arrival of our newest addition, Clarissa Marie!! She arrived May 2! And is an absolute doll!!

Jenessa came up to visit her baby sister while we were in the hospital and seem a little apprehensive at first, but she warmed up to her!

I honestly didn't realize that my heart could grow any bigger than it did with Jenessa, but I am now a happy mamma of two adorable girls and I love them both the same!! Our family went from being three to four without any questions or concerns!! We are now a happy family dominated by girls!! Poor Josh!Clarissa was ready to come home on Thursday! Though, in the process of us leaving, we left my cell phone, pillow and all of Clarissa's bath stuff at the hospital!! Oops!!

Once we got home Jenessa was intrigued by her little sister! She is such a good helper!!

Now we have been home for a month and Jenessa is still doing well with Clarissa. She has her jealous moments, but absolutely loves to help with Clarissa! She also loves to give her kisses and loves! It is definitely a different experience from having one child, but I am loving it. Josh and I are extremely tired from getting up with Clarissa and then Jenessa waking us up about 6:30. We are getting used to the exhaustion and I know we will welcome the day that Clarissa sleeps through the whole night!

We really are doing great at this point though! We know we are blessed to have two healthy girls. I get to stay home with both of them and watch them both grow and change! It is amazing at how much there is to see. I am not going to lie and say it is all roses and beautiful! Jenessa and Clarissa have crying matches sometimes. I think they like to see who can cry louder. Usually it is during lunch or snack time, when they are both hungry! But, I wouldn't change anything for the world.

Past 2 years

So, I was thinking the other day about the past two years! I cannot believe it has been two years since my little angel was born!! However, I was thinking about how it must look from the outside into my family and life these past years. I can tell you how it feels. But I am going to let everyone experience it:
Two years ago on March 31st, my beautiful baby Girl was born and I looked into those gorgeous eyes and knew my life was changing in more ways than just having a new baby. I knew she had down syndrome. Then on April 2nd it was confirmed and we took it as it came, or we took what God gave us and said ok we can do this. We then read the books and helped her to grow and advance at a rate that was hers. They told us she would get things slower and we took it as it came. She seemed to be doing fine, but we didn't know any better because she was our first. Then February 5th 2010 came and Josh lost his job and we took it as it came. Of course I was angerier than a hornets nest that had been knocked down, but with time it got easier. The March came and we thought, Thank you Lord Josh had another job... I mean surely after 3 interviews they are going to hire him. Then came April and we found out he wasn't getting the job and we took it as it came. We looked at all the options and thought well we can move closer to family and make it a little easier and then Hallelula, May 27th came and Josh was offered a job with Travelers!! We were so estatic! We had to move, but that was ok, so I told my principal that I would not be returning and we put our house on the market on June 1st. We then found out about all the traveling Josh would have to do for his job and we took it as it came. So for July through October, I knew I was going to be a single mom two weeks out of the month and we took it as it came. I mean, it's not so bad... Some wife's husbands are gone for months at a time.
Josh and I then decided to try for another baby and we were blessed with our pregnancy quite fast. And knowing Josh would be traveling, we took it as it came. The house was on the market, but not moving, so I really didn't have that much work to do. And thankfully God blessed me with a great friend, who when the time came to show the house while he was out of time, she came running over to help me pack up the dogs and Jenessa and take them to a park. After 6 months the house didn't sell and we took it as it came. We knew I had to be working to pay the bills and so subbing was pretty much the only option. It's not as good as actually having my own class, but I was willing to do it, so I could still be home with my little girl!
Then December came and we took the house off the market and Josh started working on the basement. At this time he was also told that he may not have to move after all. But we would know more come spring and so we took it as it came. The pros to moving, we could move into a house we could afford on one pay check and be closer to my family. Pros to staying, we love our friends here and all the support and love we get from them. There are more medical facilities and options for Jenessa. And yet again we take the uncertainty as it comes.
Jenessa really had not had any true physical delays until walking and come December and she still was not walking, this after crawling the previous January. So, we had to get a little pushy with our pt to get braces. She was resistant, but we took it as it came and Jenessa finally started walking in February and got her braces in March. Now she is a little pistol that we cannot keep up with!!
It is now spring and we still know nothing on the moving issue, so Josh is getting the basement done and we are gearing up to put it back on the market.We had Jenessa's 2nd birthday party and are excited to meet Clarissa! (I am more than ready for that to happen!)And we are still taking our lives as it comes. All the ups and downs these past two years have made it even more rewarding to look back on and say, "yeah, I made it through and you know what... Lord, I have taken as it has come! Thank you!" Because through it all, it may look like a hard or tough or whatever type of situation you wan to call it, but it has made us a stronger unit. We have had some wonderful experiences through it and made amazing friendships during all of it! Plus, I can tell my husband anything and he can tell me anything and we may get upset, but we know we can make it through. We just ask the Lord to help us and we just take it as it comes.
By the way... Thank you to all of our family and friends who have helped us take it as it comes these past two years!! I don't think you hear it enough!!

World Down Syndrome Day!

Happy World Down Syndrome day to everyone reading this! I have to say that I am so honored to be a part of this wonderful day! Jenessa, Josh and I didn't do much to celebrate... I wore my Jenessa's Pupils shirt and then we went and got groceries! Josh worked, as usual!
Though, it is such a wonderful day, to celebrate those who have an extra chromosome, like Jenessa! To me looking back over the last two years with her, it is amazing to me to be apart of this world. I can't even explain how different the world is now to me. I kind of feel like Saul and that having Jenessa was having the scales come off my eyes! I now see the world in a totally different way! I understand that before I had her I was completely ignorant of others with disability. Please, don't get me wrong, I knew people with disabilities and I even would interact and act curtious. However, I never saw them for who they are, I saw them for what they were. And honestly my heart broke for them because I felt sorry for them. Now, I don't feel sorry, I feel honored to know them and be apart of their teachings!
Jenessa has honestly taught me some of the best lessons I could have ever learned! She taught me how to love beyond myself and look past the exterior! She taught me that being capable doesn't always mean being able to do it on your own, but finding the resources to accomplish something, is sometimes much more powerful! She has taught me that no matter how hard something may seem, eventually through persistance you can accomplish it!
Now, Jenessa has not been the only teacher I have come across in this journey through Down Syndrome. I have met many wonderful moms and thier children and wow! That has been so life changing. I can honestly say that when we first met some of these wonderful children, I was still in denial about my daughter. Honestly I still sometimes am, but I am more open to the possibilities now. I see wonderful kids that just love to have fun and play! They love life and all that it has to provide. I see kids that even though they have challenges still laugh and love and never complain! They will come up and hug you just because. And of course we don't want our kids to go around hugging everyone, but they just love for the sake of loving!! However, I don't want to forget that they also are just like every other child I have ever met! They are each unique in their own ways! They each have stregths and weaknesses. They each get mad and cry. They can be naughty or sweet! They are just kids. I see that they each have different abilities, just like a "typical" child. Though, they may have a label, someone forgot to tell them that they have a mold to fit into.
I guess I just have realized that God created each of us differently and for different reasons. Do I think that Jenessa was born to change the world... YES! She was! She was born to change one person's perspective at a time! She has already changed my perspective and her family's. She is a very special girl! She is a blessing in everyone's life that she has come in contact with. She is just like every other child out there... She has her days where she tries my patience and there are days that she is as content as can be just playing. I know that with our next child it will be different, but not because Clarissa probably won't have down syndrome, but because she will be a totally different child.
On this day, World Down Syndrome day, one thing I hope we can all remember is that no matter how special all of those with Down Syndrome are... They are regular people just like everyone else! They may look different or have larger challenges than some, but they still are capable and want to succeed! I think we can all relate to that!

Walking... walking and more!

Well she finally did it... Jenessa started walking as of Feb. 5th!! She is becoming a pro, but we will be so thankful once her braces come in, to help her stabolize! Her first steps were priceless and I was so flustered that I couldn't figure out if I should holler for Josh first or find my phone to take a video! Hahaha! I found my phone after I yelled at Josh. And Jenessa just worked all night on walking. She would start in the middle of the floor, none of this from furniture thing, right in the middle!! Then she would take off in a run, not kidding it was a run and then fall after a few steps. Now three weeks later she is becoming a pro, but she is still unstable and is more comfortable if she has help. But I knew she would do it!! YaY!
Oh she also got new glasses. We were not happy with the eye glass place we started off with and so we switched. It was more expensive, but we will pay less in the long run. Especially considering Jenessa found out how to bend her glasses beyond use and then brake them, less than two weeks after she got them. She is doing so much better with them though. However, we are still working on figuring out how tight or loose they should be. Since she can't tell us this info, it is a constant guessing game!
As I stated in the previous post, we were planning on putting Jenessa in her big girl bed and we have now have a big girl in a big girl bed! All my worrying was for nothing! In fact, I told Josh I think Jenessa was more ready for the big girl bed than I was! She was so funny, the first night, she just looked at me, pulled her blanket up and then when I hugged her she hugged me briefly and then pushed me away! Wow! Thank you miss independent!! What a stinker, but she has done wonderful in her bed! If all things were that easy in life! And tonight, I wanted to see what she would do if I stayed in her bed with her. She has never been one for sleeping with us and so I wanted to just test the waters. And just so everyone knows, I doubt that little girl will ever come crawling into mom and dad's bed late at night! (Maybe) But I laid down next to her and she looked at me like I was crazy for one, then looked at daddy for answers. Which he didn't provide. He then left and turned the light off and she looked back at me and gave my face a push, as to say, "Hey, this is my bed go away!" I got the hint, gave her a kiss and then left! Again, Miss Independent at her best!! Hahaha! I am not complaining. I have a strong, loving, but independent 2 year old, who would possibly complain about that!! Now, when the tantrums start up and she is "independent" then I might not like it, but I will know that is how I raised her!
Well, I will try to keep everyone posted more often, so it isn't as long next time!!

New in the life of... Jenessa

Hey all, I know it has been about a month since I last posted and longer since a Jenessa update! I am sorry about that!! So, here is our Jenessa update...
She is still not walking, BUT!!!! She is starting to sign like a mad woman! When her teacher was hear last time she signed more blocks improtu, as well as more play. She also copied her teacher in signing car. She loves her toys that she got for christmas and so apparently these new toys have brought out the communication bug in her!! Hehehe! We are loving it!! Then the other day I was taking a bath and she pointed to my boobs and signed more eat!! Hehehe!! She was told that she didn't need those for food anymore, but hey she signed what she wanted!! She also is a babbling fool!! She makes more than one sound at a time and will literally carrie on a conversation with herself in the mirror! It is too cute for words! She will also answer our questions with what we think are answers, in her mind, but we aren't sure what her answers are. Though, every word or babble that she states is like a little miracle in our lives!! We really feel like she tells us a lot that she doesn't wanna!! But, who knows!
She has also been playing with her mega blocks table and blocks! Josh and I decided that this was the best toy we have ever invested in. It has actually gotten her to start stacking, and not just throwing! Her teacher is appreciating that too!! Just this past Saturday the 15th, she took two long blocks and put one on the other then took a two holed block and put it centered on top!! It made me laugh because that is definitely how her mom or dad would stack!! And she has never reminded me of either of us in her organization!! She has gone back to this table every day to play!
We have been so blessed this past month, it seems that a light has come on and she all of a sudden has taken off on her awareness and communication!! We even noticed it at the Young athletes program she is a part of! She actually worked on a station with the teacher and didn't just stare at all the kids around her!! It was just amazing to me!! I am seeing my daughter become older and it scares me! Hehehe!
We are also getting ready to put Jenessa in a big girl bed! The railings have come and they are on the bed! Now mom just has to be ok with it!! Scary! What if she falls out, what if she bonks her head on the foot rail? What if... I have so many things going through my head and Josh is cool as a cucumber!! GRRR! I am not the worry wart!! But I guess I am this time!!
Oh and Jenessa is using a fork like a pro!! We may have to sometimes stick the food on the end, but she knows exactly how to get it into her mouth!! The next thing we are working on is a spoon. She gets it, but she can't quite get it in her mouth correct, as well as, she has problems getting the yogurt on her spoon! But she will get it with more practice! The biggest problem is coming up with foods she will eat that can be used with a spoon! She doesn't like pudding... we haven't tried oatmeal... so maybe that. She does like rice, but that is hard to get on a spoon, unless it is in a bowl(which usually gets thrown!)
Well, I think tha tis all Jenessa is doing... But going back to the walking thing. No, she is not walking yet, she is going to be getting fitted for ankle braces hopefully on Friday. She just seems unbalance, but determined! she will take Josh or mine fingers and drag us everywhere she wants to walk to!! It is hilarious!! She also has started pushing our chairs all over the rooms! Too, cute! We are not in too big of a hurry for her to walk, but it would be nice to have her walking!
I feel that Jenessa is further at this point in her life than we would have thought she would be! We never knew what to really expect, but I think she has gone far beyond our expectations!! Oh and one last note... She loves to dance to music!! It just melts my heart!! I am loving being her mom and so excited to introduce our next little girl into the mix!! I think Clarissa will shake things up a bit! Hehehe!