Adele Has Down syndrome!

Well, I'm back! Kelsey took over for a while and I am so thankful that she shared her story with all of you. She is an incredibly strong and beautiful woman.

Things are going pretty good here. Adele had her eyes checked and so far so good except that they cross a bit and then go back out. I was told that they would probably straighten on their own, if not, we will be getting cute little pink glasses. :)
We did our overnight oxygen test and I thought that she flunked, big time, but that wasn't the case. Adele's average was 93 and for her to be off of her oxygen, her average needs to be just above. We are just about there! I'm ok with her staying on oxygen at night because it is helping with her development and that is a good thing!

She is gaining weight and it's been quite steady. We are now over 12 pounds and she has little chunky cheeks! I love them! We started cereal and so far that been a success. I worried so much about feeding her solids, I thought that she would choke or just wouldn't like the texture. We've made her cereal runny, a little thicker and now we are pasty. Next, we are going to get going on peas! I'm telling you, I truly had no idea that my life would be consumed with feedings, intake, poops, appointments and more appointments. It's crazy how my two little girls differ so much but then on the other hand are so similar. We are so blessed that Adele's health has been great. We have had a few little bumps but I know that she has a good heart and no GI issues right now. It's crazy being a parent to a special needs baby. Is special needs the right words? A baby with Down syndrome? A little miracle? It's a lot of work and time and worrying and appointments, appointments that I had no idea that I would have to go to....I didn't know that she would need to go to the vision clinic, hearing clinic, get RSV shots.....and on and on and on. Nobody really told me that we would be doing all of this, but to be honest, going to these appointments has brought even more great people into my life.

I still have moments where I go "Adele has Down syndrome." I think about school......a lot. I think about her peers and her teachers and if she will be respected and included. I think about whether or not she is toward the mild end of the spectrum or if she is more moderate. I guess we won't really know until she is a bit older. When I took her to get her thyroid checked, the lab tech told me that Adele was mild. I kind of giggled a bit inside but also it felt good to hear it, but I also know that you can't tell just by looking at a baby whether or not they are mild or moderate. Right?? I don't know. There are just so many things that I don't know and part of me is happy that when things just sort of pop up, I do a lot better. Does that make sense?

When I took Adele for her immunizations, the nurse asked me if I went out with Adele, like leave the house. I may have mentioned this in a previous post, but I've thought a lot about it. It has never crossed my mind to not go out with Adele. I am proud to be able to tell others about our journey. I am not embarrassed that she has Down syndrome. I have never been ashamed or not want to show her off to others. I am so proud of her and her sister. I think Adele is just adorable and she has a beautiful personality. She is calm and sweet and funny, yet she is very fiery and spicy, just like her father. ;)
When we were at ACH for an appointment recently, I was in the elevator with another lady. She looked over at Adele and said how sweet she was and for the first time I heard "oh, she's a little Down syndrome baby." I almost choked. I don't know why I almost choked. I have never had anybody say that to me before. Ever. Nobody has ever walked up to me and said anything besides, how cute and sweet Adele is and maybe asked why she was on oxygen. All I said was "yes, yes she does have Down syndrome."
She then proceeded to tell me that she adopted a little boy years ago and he has Down syndrome.
Ok, she is a part of my club. I was ok then after knowing that she has a child with Ds.
So, I am not embarrassed or ashamed, I am proud but why does it bother me if somebody says that Adele has Down syndrome? I know that she does...I fully get it. I am not in denial. I accepted this long ago. I just don't want people to say to me "Oh, your little girl has Down syndrome." Feedback??
I guess it would be the same with Brinely, if somebody came up to me and said "oh, you have a typical child." That would be hilarious. Maybe it's just because I think of my children as just my children and nothing else.

This leads me to my next thought....I am so happy that many companies are now including all children in their ads. Target, Infantino, Miss Maven and many others. It is about time that companies see the beauty in all children. It's about time that we make a shift, a shift in the right direction, a shift toward being inclusive. I am happy.

Last thought before I leave you with a bunch of cute pictures!!!

Adele's Over the Rainbow Baskets - Down syndrome LOVIN has been doing awesome. We are over 4000 LIKES so far and still growing. We have enough beautiful items that have been donated by friends and family, to make at least 20 baskets. They will be filled with so much love, as well, I have included a list of resources that the family can access once they are discharged from the hospital. It's such an exciting project, with donations coming from all across the globe! Making a difference feels great! If you haven't already liked Adele's page, click on the link above and LIKE LIKE LIKE!! We can change the world together! :)

Bright eyed! :)

So cute!

 

Leave her for a second and she gets all acrobatic!

 

7 months :)

 

HAPPY!

 

Adele's Baptism <3

 

Such a big girl :)

 

Booted her sister out of the Bumbo and took over!

 

Cereal!

 

Lookin' cute!

Birdie in a Cage....

Just a few thoughts for the day. My emotions have been up and down lately when it comes to Adele. I hear so often that she will get there, it all just takes some time, she'll get things done in her own time, it takes a little longer for little ones with Down syndrome.
I get it, I tell people the same thing during conversations. I say that she will get there, I give advice to others and reassure them that their little miracle will be just fine, then I come home and close the door and worry, worry, worry.
I know that people say things to be nice. I get it. I say nice things too just to give others comfort, but maybe I should say "ya, it kinda sucks sometimes when you know that your little one needs more time. Ya, it kinda sucks that your little one will need a lot of extra care. Ya, it sucks that it will take a lot of your time, money and energy to get your child to get to where they should be, where you want them to be. Ya, it kinda sucks."

I had a moment the other day when I was looking on Facebook, friends posting pictures of their little ones, around the same age as Adele, and they are sitting up with no support. I know that it seems so minor and really, it is minor but it still bothers me. It doesn't bother me because I'm embarrassed or I feel the need to compete, that is definitely not it. I don't actually know why it bothers me. Is it because your child should be able to sit up by now? Is it because we still need to support her head? Is it because this brings it all to reality that it is going to be work, that there are many more mountains to climb?

I know that she will sit up unassisted . I know that she will crawl, she will walk, she will talk, she will go to school. I know all of this will happen, but it is still difficult and I worry.

When I was pregnant with Adele, I had a whole other set of worries, mainly her health and whether or not she would need extra care, meaning time in the NICU. I also had another worry, I don't know if this would offend some, but I wanted to know what features of Down syndrome she would have....would she have strong features or would they be mild? Where is she on the spectrum? Would you recognize that she has Down syndrome or would it be questioned? I'm not vain. I wouldn't isolate my child if her features where very prominent, I just wanted to know. With Adele, I over analyze everything. When I was pregnant with Brinley, I guess I wanted to know some of the same things, well not in regards to Down syndrome, but what does she look like? Does she have my nose? Is she healthy?

This is such a crazy road. It's sometimes hard for me to explain just how I feel. I love both girls madly and deeply, but with Adele, there is just something else, more worries and sometimes there is heartache. I love the support and love that we have received from others and the words of support, but on the other hand, some, not all, don't know the feelings unless you have been there, in my shoes.  

On the other hand, I have a dear friend whose little girl suffered seizures since the day they brought her home from the hospital. She had a daughter who couldn't walk, talk, eat on her own, get dressed on her own, go to the bathroom on her own. She lost her daughter on her forth birthday. What she would do to have her daughter back here with her and her family. She would give up everything. It was hard. It was a difficult journey, but she was chosen to go on that journey with her daughter and in that time, she became a better person.

When Adele was in the NICU, my dear friend wrote this letter and left it at the NICU for me.

Dear Kitta, (my nickname)

I would like to share a story with you....there was a day that J was really sick and I was a total basket case. Another mom found me crying in the stairwell at the Children's. She sat down beside me and told me her story. Her daughter was 16 and had Down syndrome. She told me how she spent 9 months in a horrible depression over her daughter's diagnosis. She told me an inspiring story about how her daughter overcame all of her expectations. She worried that she wouldn't walk, but she did. She expected her to have speech delays, but she had her own quirky way of getting her point across that made everyone smile. She said that she worried that her little girl would never have friends and would be teased, but in grade 1, she was in trouble for pushing an older boy who was laughing and teasing her older brother. She worried she would be lonely, but she constantly attracted crowds of kids and started games with them, anywhere they went. She worried about her daughter's happiness, but discovered that she almost never stopped smiling, and that her smile and silly personality made everyone around her smile and laugh.

Eventually, it hit her that all of her worst fears were causing her to limit her daughter. She was the one who expected bad things, mean people, limitations. Meanwhile, it was her daughter who saw joy in the world, who made everyone laugh, who marched through life with no "damages" from society. She was strong and wonderful.

When I met this mom, her daughter was at the hospital in a transition clinic, learning how to start going to adult doctors by herself, learning what medicine she was on and what health conditions she had. Her daughter was already talking about moving out on her own, to a group living facility with her friends from Special Olympics. She went to school by herself, on the bus with friends and made her big brother sit "away" from her. She dreamed of working at a bakery because she could make great cupcakes and bread.

I told the mom that I was just so scared for J. I was completely consumed by fear for her....for what she would have to face in life. She told me that she understood, and that she realized that her own fear had been her daughter's greatest disability. She said to me "you go ahead and be a momma bear for your daughter, just like you are for your son, but remember cages keep little birds safe, but it's not where they are meant to be."
I still cried many times after she said all of this but I was really inspired by what she said. I wanted to share with you, because her daughter was such an achiever, and because when I imagine Adele as a big girl and as a teenager, I think she will be a lot like this woman's daughter, because she is yours, and let's face it, you don't hold back. :)
I picture Adele the same way - smart, funny, strong, social and definitely not a push over.

I'm so happy for you and your family that she's here and you both are ok. I can't wait to get to know her as she grows into an amazing little person.
xxoo

Rainbows and Me Time.....

 

 

 

I decided to set up a Facebook page for Adele's Over the Rainbow Baskets.

The Facebook page has been set up to share stories, pictures, blogs and to share our project, Adele's Over the Rainbow Baskets. Through donations from the community, friends and family, we are able to make up baskets for families who have a baby born with Down syndrome in the Calgary area. Our goal right now is to make twenty baskets, filled with lots of goodies for baby and resources for the family to access once at home with their bundle of joy.
Please share your pictures and your stories, no matter where you live and remember to always be respectful of others as they are travelling on their own journeys.
I am still waiting for others to share some of their pictures and we need more LIKES! :) I don't want to be the only one going all picture crazy, I would like it if others would go picture crazy too!

I want Adele's Facebook page to be filled with a lot of love and comfort for others. I will also post the blog link on there whenever I write a new post.

Adele's Over the Rainbow Baskets  :)

One of my friends, writes a blog on Down syndrome and her journey with her children, husband and extended family. She has a very insightful and personal blog that is shared with many people.
She recently discovered that parts of her blog have been copied and pasted on other sites and that pictures of her children were discovered on porn sites. She has decided to now make her blog private and only allow those who have asked to continue reading, to take part in her journey.

I am so disgusted by others. I am appalled that people would be so disrespectful and hurtful towards another person. Her blog is designed to help others and to share her story, which I know has helped many families. Her privacy settings are also fairly tight, so she thought, but I guess there are always ways to get the information or story and to disregard another person's feelings.

After I read all of this, I went into a bit of a panic, so I Googled the girls' names and the blog. I am safe. I am going to see if I can possibly increase the privacy settings without going private. The whole point to the blog is to share our story, to connect with others and to hopefully educate the world :) and to let families know that it can be done.

What a pain!

Loving my MONKEY!

 

 

I while ago, I wrote a post about stay at home moms and dads. Just a quick summary...I said that I didn't think that a stay at home mom has the hardest job in the whole world. I said that I think that a mom who has to go to work has it a bit harder. Having to get up in the morning, get ready, get the kids up, get them ready and fed and off to school and daycare then go to work, pick the kids up after work...you get the point. After that post, I was having a Facebook conversation with a childhood friend and she came out and said that she knows how I feel about stay at home moms and that she shouldn't whine instead she should realize that she is incredibly fortunate to be able to stay at home with her children. I then explained that I never said that it was easy. It isn't easy. It's hard. It's a lot of work. I think my point was that being a parent, period, is such a difficult job but I am turned off by moms who blog and list hour by hour what they do in a day and who whine about how hard this life is for them....

 

:)

 

 

This brings me to my next point. Our conversation then went in another direction. She told me that she doesn't feel appreciated. She doesn't feel satisfied. She doesn't feel like she is ever placed on a pedestal and that what she does throughout the day is expected by her family. That is her job. She should get everybody up in the morning. She should feed everybody breakfast. She should clean up after breakfast. She should get the kids off to school, healthy lunches that contain all the food groups packed in their backpacks. She should do the laundry. She should go grocery shopping. She should walk the dog. She should make the beds. She should pick the kids up from school. She should prepare dinner. She should clean up after dinner. She should sit down with the kids and help them with their homework. She should get everything ready for the next day. She should have the house in order before she goes to bed at midnight. She should...she should...she should.

 

She told me that there is never a thank you. There is no appreciation. There is no meaning to her day. She said that she feels lost. She said that she doesn't have an outlet, a time just for her to fulfill her needs. She said that she doesn't feel valued and because of this, her life sometimes feels like it is lacking so much. Her focus, all of her energy has been spent on taking care of others for the past 20 years. She has always put their needs before hers and it has now taken a toll. Her self esteem is almost non existent and her smile has faded.

I told her that she needed to do for herself. She needs time for just her, something that makes her smile. Something that interests her and that makes her feel more complete, something that makes her feel valued and appreciated.

 

Happy 6 months beautiful princess xo

 

 

When you stay at home with your children, you need to make sure that you are taking me time. You need to make sure that you are still pursuing things that make you happy. You need to get out of the house. You need to spend time with other grown ups and have grown up conversations. You need to feel worthy. You need to have a purpose. It is so difficult to be all things, a mom, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a niece, an aunt and a friend. There are so many roles that it is easy to get lost and forget that you are your own person. If you aren't taking care of you and your needs, you are no good to anybody. You need to be content. You need to feel appreciated. You need your own hobbies, your own interests, your own life.

 

Now, I'm not saying that you should up and leave every night at 6:00pm but that you need balance. You can't do it all. You shouldn't be expected to do it all. You did not enter a marriage expecting to do it all. It's a partnership. Both husband and wife need to put the effort into making their marriage successful and making sure that the other person gets recognized for all that they do. It's a simple THANK YOU! It's appreciating each other. It's about teaching your children how to wipe their own asses! :) Teach them how to take care of themselves and that a simple thank you goes a long way.

 

If you are a single parent, I bow down to you. I don't know how you do it. You deserve a medal!

 

 

Your goal this week......take me time.

 

 

I want to get to 100 000 views by April. I am at 81 820 right now. If you share my blog, tag me in the post and you will be entered in a draw for a great prize!! If you are sharing again today, you will have another chance to win! I will mail it to anywhere in the world. My goal...get the word out. Bring reassurance to families. Bring comfort and joy to those who are struggling. Lots of shares so far! If we are not friends on Facebook, send me an email after you have shared, at krowland23@hotmail.com. <3 The contest is almost over.



Childhood Memories...

Ange and I at my aunt and uncle's wedding :)

As I was laying in bed last night, I was thinking about how our lives get into such a routine that maybe sometimes we forget to let loose. I was thinking about all of the fun things that I used to do as a child and wished that I could re-live some of those moments, just some!  I actually came up with a list. I'm wondering how your list compares to mine. I guess if we are around the same age, there may be some similarities.

1) Run through the sprinkler
2) Jump on a Pogo Ball in the courtyard
3) Run after the Dickie Dee man to get an ice cream....you know when he used to ride a bike  instead of driving around in a pimped out van!
4) Go door to door, and see if somebody could come out and play
5) Play house
6) Put the mattress on the stairs and slide down it over and over again for hours
7) Put my hair in pigtails
8) Wear stirrup pants
9) Leave the house in the morning and play with friends until the sun sets
10) Have a birthday party at McDonald's and tour the back and make an ice cream cone
11) Make a Slip n Slide, pour liquid soap on the plastic and turn the sprinkler on
12) Eat raw hot dogs
13) Call friends and chat and laugh and just be silly
14) Pin my jeans around my ankles
15) Go swimming at Acadia Pool
16) Go on road trips with the family and visit The Enchanted Forest
17) Walk to 7-11 and buy a slurpee
18) Skip rope and not die
19) Play Barbies and Transformers and make believe games
20) Go to Harvey's Restaurant with my grandparents
21) Go to the Ice Capades
22) Speak French in front of others because it made us look cool
23) Wear overalls
24) Lose my teeth again and have the Tooth Fairy leave a dollar bill
25) Go camping and wake up early to go fishing
26) Go to the local video store and spend an hour trying to pick out a VHS movie
27) Ride my bike all through Fish Creek
28) Jump and splash in puddles
29) Watch scary movies then be too scared to sleep
30) Listen to the Rodeo Song in secret and giggle with my sister
31) Have sleepovers with friends, eat junk food and giggle until the wee hours of the morning
32) Buy a Mondetta sweater
33) Buy a Chip n Pepper tie dye shirt and look cool - were they ever cool?
34) Send fan mail to NKOTB - make boxers and use fabric paint and send them to NKOTB :)
35) Listen to Cory Hart and pretend that he loves me
36) Play on the monkey bars and slide down the pole - keep your minds clean
37) Wear my Beaver Canoe sweater, crimp my hair and put on a jean jacket and blast Tiffany
38) Play on our Commodore 64 
39) Build a pillow fort
40) Play with my Cabbage Patch - the real one, with the yummy smell.
41) Listen to my Strawberry Shortcake album
42) Flip through old photo albums
43) Play hide and seek and get that feeling like you are going to pee your pants when you're hiding
44) Play hopscotch
45) Make ghost gum with your marshmallows
46) Go to the mall with friends and shop at HMV
47) Pretend to smoke Popeye cigarettes and feel naughty
48) Get new pajamas and be all excited for bed time
49) Eavesdrop on my parent's parties
50) Going through the Sears catalogue and circling and cutting out things we wanted

So many memories. :)

A little therapy!

A little Adele update. We went to ACH yesterday for a therapy appointment and it went really well. I was the only person in flip flops but I like to make a statement!
We met our genetics' counsellor, Karen for lunch. She has become one of our dearest friends and she keeps spoiling James and I and the girls. I think we will keep her around ;)
Adele is getting a lot stronger and she isn't as floppy. I don't think we will get going on solids just yet, I need for her to have better control of her neck. There's a window for feeding solids and as long as we don't wait too long, it should be fine.

Fell asleep on mommy. Best moment :)

I also made a phone call to Cause and Effect out here in the Foothills. Leslie, the director is absolutely amazing, kind and caring and you can tell that she loves what she does and makes it a priority to help out the families. I told her that I felt like Adele wasn't getting all of the services that she should be getting right now. I'm sure people laugh hysterically at me because she is only six months, but in my opinion, it's time to get going. I don't have unrealistic expectations, I just want Adele to reach her full potential. I am not a Physical Therapist or Occupational Therapist or Speech Therapist. If you show me, I can work with her at home but if I am left to figure things out, we could all be in trouble.
When we went for Adele's Respiratory appointment last month, the PT came in and said that Adele was a bit floppy and that it would be difficult to do some neck exercises. That was it. I wasn't shown any exercises, just told to work on her core. I thought that most babies with Ds are floppy and require PT, so shouldn't that be her field of expertise?
I find myself getting frustrated sometimes in that it is up to me to find the resources and scout out supports. I understand that as a parent, you need to do some leg work, but if you aren't familiar with Ds and the supports that are available in the community, it's difficult and very frustrating.
Anyways, Leslie from Cause and Effect will be coming out next week to meet with Adele and myself and go over some options. I feel like we are in a good place with what supports I am getting in place. It's so important to be proactive.

Our tag for the baskets minus the business label across Adele's face :)

Lastly, I haven't mentioned in the blog yet that Adele and I have set up a project to help new families who give birth to a special miracle. Our project is called Adele's Over the Rainbow Baskets.  Our goal is to start with 20 baskets filled with donations, plus I will include a package filled with resources that families can access after they go home from the hospital. I am in the process of collecting adorable and sweet baby items from friends and families. The response has been just fantastic. I am so fortunate to have such amazing people in my life.
Thank you to everybody who has donated. Your generosity it greatly appreciated.


I want to get to 100 000 views by April. I am at 81 135 right now. If you share my blog, tag me in the post and you will be entered in a draw for a great prize!! If you are sharing again today, you will have another chance to win! I will mail it to anywhere in the world. My goal...get the word out. Bring reassurance to families. Bring comfort and joy to those who are struggling. Lots of shares so far! If we are not friends on Facebook, send me an email after you have shared, at krowland23@hotmail.com. <3

Stretch Marks and Babies....

Loves the outdoors!

Last night, I had a really great conversation with a good friend. We talked about how much our bodies have changed since childbirth. We are two very different people, well, when it comes to body shape and age. Kelsey is in her 20's whereas I am in my late 30s. Kelsey is a model, whereas, I am not! :) As women, we are so critical of our bodies and feel the need to compete with the skinny jeans mom. I don't look the same as what I did when I was 20. I don't look the same as when I was 30. I got to where I wanted to be when I was teaching, then met James and it all went downhill. ;) What happens when you get married? You get comfortable and fat! You eat pasta, you order food, you go out for dinner, you go out with other married friends for dinner, you go our for ice cream with the kids, you go to McDonald's because there is a play place and it's quick and easy, you don't go bar hopping anymore, you sit on the couch and watch TV with the kids, you go to bed early, you try new recipes that require cream and not skim milk, you get comfortable. It's almost like you have somebody now and you become this person who doesn't care as much because there is no more searching, no more dates, no need to get dolled up, no need to impress. You kind of let yourself go. It's not how we all roll, but it's sometimes how I feel. I need to get the confidence back, I need to get my body back. I don't care so much about the baby stretch marks. I made two beautiful girls. I earned every line. What I care about is how I feel as a woman. How I feel about just me, Krista. I want the feeling that when I walk out of the door, I want the gods to sing my praises, I want to hear halleluiah, you look fab Krista. I want to feel super! I've ran into a few friends lately and they have said that I was lookin' good, the first thing I do is argue with them. I usually say that I have so much work to do. I'm far off from where I want to be. I don't ever just say "THANK YOU."

Hanging out at the park!

My conversation with Kelsey....

KB...

Well I got lots and lots of scarring and big c section scar that I ripped open too. Remember? ;)
I'm sure by the time I have a few more I'll look different.

KR...

I was 7 weeks pregnant with Brinley when I got stretch marks on my belly. I'll get my ass in gear and start going on the elliptical...soon!!! You'll probably bounce right back!!

KB...

I have them on my sides my legs and my boobs and a big scar in front that has dimples from where it ripped.

KR...

But we sure love our kids!!!!

KB...

My mom had two kids and I'm shaped like her so I'm guessing I'll probably look like her when I'm older. Yes I love my kid I wouldn't change a thing.

Getting ready for Disneyland!

KR...

When I was out one day all alone, the cashier asked me when I was due. I told her 4 months ago!!!!!

KB...

They said on a TV show something I really liked "when a woman has a child her beauty does not flee her, simply passed down to the next generation making her beauty immortal."

I definitely had a few people ask me when I was due after I had him.

So rude.

KR...

Were you asked a day after you gave birth to E? 

I was 4 months!!!!!

KB...

No it was several months later when I had a beer in my hand.

KR...

I felt so deflated, I bet you did too.

My ego, that I already don't have went so far into the crapper.

Almost!!

KB...

I didn't even feel like I looked pregnant and still got asked a couple times but then when I was pregnant nobody said a word ever.

I would go to the gym and people would look at me like "is she? Isn't she?" And I wanted to just scream "YES JEEZ."

KR...

Honestly!!!!!!! I am up 50 pounds since I got married. Thank god for being tall but I seriously need to get it together. It's hard when you stay at home with the kids and meet friends often for lunches and dinners.

KB...

And I've had a few people pinch my belly or my arms. Just rude.
I'm still up about 15 from before I got pregnant but I'm comfy with it. People tell me now I looked gross then as if that's supposed to help.

KR...

Are you kidding me?? People have no tact. You do look really great! Truly!

I don't allow anybody to take my picture.

KB...

You look pretty!

KR...

Thanks Kelsey!!! I'm not like all locked up in my house crying myself to sleep at night because I have no self esteem. That drives me nuts!! Just need to get where I want to be. We are so critical of ourselves and the older we get, your body gets more loose!

KB...

I know but as far as our bodies go they will never be the same as before but I think that that's beautiful because it shows what we've gone through. Especially US. But if some changes help to improve self esteem I'm all about that.

Napping on dad :)

Kelsey also sent me a link to another blog. When I read this post, I enjoyed it and felt like all moms could relate. Yes, her body is pretty good but we don't know how it looked before her baby, so I tried not to judge....too much. ;)

We Seek Joy.
"Babies Ruin Bodies"

An Ode to my Postpartum Body.

Before I became pregnant, someone told me, "don't have a baby, babies ruin your body."
It has been over a year since Anabel began her life. This time last year she was a microscopic speck inside of me, and we were announcing our pregnancy. Between then and now, I have gained and lost fifty pounds. Four months after her birth, and my body still carries proof of her existence. 

I have dark pools under my eyes. A valley where my belly button once was. Hips with a new amplitude that my teenage self wouldn't recognize. I have lines mapped across the mountains of stretched skin left over on my midsection. Lightening bolts on my sides proving I once was too small to contain all of the love that filled me. Lines indicating that my daughter once lived inside of me. 
Do you realize the significance in that? Every limb, finger, toe...her heart, even, developed near the very place my own heart beats inside of my chest. Those mountains of skin are all I have left to prove that we were once one and not two. 

How can I be ashamed of that? 

I have so much to say about seeing my grandfather's eyes embedded into the sockets, and under the brows and lashes of her father's. I see the seventeen year old boy I fell in love with, and my grandpa as a child all at once every time she looks up at me. She even wears my ears and my chin. The two very things I cursed having the most growing up. Not much makes me feel more beautiful than seeing tiny renditions of those same features on Anabel, and realizing just how special they are. 
My body grew that. 
Not everybody has that privilege. 
Sure my belly is a bit softer nowadays, but the way it moves when I jump up and down sends my girl into fits of giggles. And yeah, my hips are hardly as narrow as they used to be, but they sure know the perfect figure-8 motion to sway her to sleep. My twenty-one year old hair is even beginning to gray, but not much soothes her more than my hair between her little fingers.

I am not something flawless in the eyes of society, or even close to what I once was physically, but my perfect girl sees me for who I am. 

To her, I hang the moon. 
She knows my heart - she knew it long before we met.
And she loves me for it.

 

 I cannot tell you how much worth and validation I feel because of that truth. 
My body is only a vessel for my spirit. An incredible vessel. It is strong, well, abled, and undefeated. 

My body is full of life. 
My body is powerful. 
My body made me a mother. 

If anything, I was ruined by the world before I knew her, and she made me whole again.

I want to get to 100 000 views by April. I am at 80 225 right now. If you share my blog, tag me in the post and you will be entered in a draw for a great prize!! If you are sharing again today, you will have another chance to win! I will mail it to anywhere in the world. My goal...get the word out. Bring reassurance to families. Bring comfort and joy to those who are struggling. Lots of shares so far! If we are not friends on Facebook, send me an email after you have shared, at krowland23@hotmail.com. <3

Love my Hugaboo!!

 

 

Facebook Complaint!

I have sent this letter out to several TV stations here in Calgary as well as several in the States. I have disabled right click on my blog, but if you would like to share the letter, please send me an email and I will send it to you. Thank you.

 

To Whom It May Concern:

On Thursday, January 16th, 2014, I was perusing photographs and reading stories on one of the Down syndrome sites on Facebook. I have joined several sites that support parents who have a child diagnosed with Down syndrome. These sites are to connect with others and gain knowledge on a topic that we were not familiar with before getting pregnant with our second daughter, Adele.

http://aperfectextrachromosome.blogspot.ca/

I came across a message from a young adult that read “fuck u retards” and he tagged one of his friends in the post. I was so disgusted but knew that if I reported the comment to Facebook, they would take action as this goes against their Community Standards.

Hate Speech
Facebook does not permit hate speech, but distinguishes between serious and humorous speech. While we encourage you to challenge ideas, institutions, events, and practices, we do not permit individuals or groups to attack others based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability or medical condition.

The response that I received from Facebook.

This post wasn't removed

Thank you for taking the time to report something that you feel may violate our Community Standards. Reports like yours are an important part of making Facebook a safe and welcoming environment. We reviewed the post you reported for containing hate speech or symbols and found it doesn't violate our Community Standards.

I am confused as to why this would not be removed as it does clearly go against the Community Standards on Facebook. It is verbally attacking others based on a disability. It is verbally attacking all 118 000 members.
I understand that this is possibly an isolated incident by this individual, but it’s the fact that the policies and guidelines were not followed and respected and that Facebook refuses to take action.

There are millions of teens being bullied and abused on Facebook on a daily basis and because Facebook refuses to disable the accounts or reprimand these individuals, young kids are taking their lives, bringing weapons to school and taking the lives of others. When will this come to an end? When will social media take responsibility and accountability for the policies and guidelines that they have set up by owners, lawyers and shareholders? The situation that took place on the Down syndrome site is one of many incidents that are occurring on a daily basis. This needs to stop. We need to take a stand. We, as a community, need to take on the large social media sites whose care and concern revolve around revenue, not around the well being of its users.
It’s not socially acceptable to post pictures of a woman breastfeeding her child on Facebook, but it is acceptable for a fourteen year old girl to bare her breasts to others without the photo being removed. It is acceptable to make hurtful and unkind comments toward others, this is what Facebook is teaching our children, this is was is being encouraged and condoned.

I am so disappointed in Facebook and the lack of respect and total disregard for innocent individuals and their families.

I am bringing this to the news and writing this letter on behalf of millions of parents, children, grandparents, relatives and friends of those with a disability who are bullied and not supported by the community and by a social media outlet that doesn’t back its policies.
I appreciate you taking your time to read the letter and would be grateful if you made your viewers aware of this ongoing concern.

Thank you
Sincerely,

Krista Rowland-Collins
Krowland23@hotmail.com

Today is a really great reason to share!

I want to get to 100 000 views by April. I am at 79 000 right now. If you share my blog, tag me in the post and you will be entered in a draw for a great prize!! A really great prize. If you are sharing again today, you will have another chance to win! I will mail it to anywhere in the world. My goal...get the word out. Bring reassurance to families. Bring comfort and joy to those who are struggling. Lots of shares so far! If we are not friends on Facebook, send me an email after you have shared, at krowland23@hotmail.com or comment below. <3