Proof (the pictures )

(part 2 from earlier) - proof of the blast we had!



He had a blast! I promise!



Proud Daddies!

Two amazing ladies! - Rosa and Ali

My Andrea

Me and My Gabby

Ethan... in the ice cream shop!

Friends!

Pearland Mommies!

Hand in Hand

Sunday was our Annual Gathering of Friends picnic, hosted by the Down Syndrome Association of Houston, for all the families with a loved with Ds and all of their families and friends! (We weren’t able to convince any of our family and friends to come, but the experience was still absolutely unforgettable.)

Sunday 1st of all, was just a day like no other. It started at church, where I felt something completely different in my heart, I felt Jesus that day, but stronger than I ever had. I felt Him, I felt Him so close, right next to me. As I held my little boy, worshiping and praising Jesus, it touched me so deep and I couldn’t fight the tears back. Every now and then Ethan would lift his little hands up in the air, and if my heart could explode, it would have rained drops of joy all over the place.

“You are Holy, oh so Holy..” I can’t get it out of my head.

And had it not been for this little boy, who knows if I would have ever step foot in a church. God and Ethan, they really do go hand in hand. I once thought I could never have and raise a child with special needs… I once thought I didn’t need to go to church. Thank you Lord for proving me wrong.

And I would love to invite YOU to church! Yes, YOU! If you are reading this and do not attend church and live here in Houston, this is my invitation! Call me, text me, email me!!! I’ll be waiting.

So once at the gathering of friends, I couldn’t stop looking around at all the beautiful faces. Those with and without Ds. Just beautiful people overall, those who are ever so lucky to be able to love a person with Down syndrome.

We let the kids run loose. We mingled with all of our friends. Ethan discovered new flavors at the ice cream shop! There aren’t many girls in the area with Ds, or it is quite possible that their mom’s are hiding them from Ethan. Ethan likes to lead the women on, then he leaves them crying. But Sunday, them pretty girls were out! Even with Ethan’s allergies and runny nose, the girls couldn’t get enough of him. Pure Hunkness, I tell you!

My favoritest (yeah, I can make up words too!)thing to do was watch the kids and grownups dance. I was however pretty embarrassed that these kids moved with more rhythm than mine and Santiago’s combined. No, we weren’t brave enough to go up there and dance. Besides who could compete with those kids up there! They shook it and dropped it and all sorts of it. And here is a confession of a twenty something- married with 20kids- woman… I might secretly have a crush on Bobby! He danced with all the confidence in the world with them shades on! I swear when Emilio’s “Cómo hare” came on, I was for sure he was singing to me! I am just saying. According to his grandma, his favorite things are music, sports and GIRLS. Just like any other young man. MUAH – kissing his picture on my calendar!

Another thing I really enjoyed was watching David and his girlfriend. She was ALL over him, just like any other girl her age would be. And I LOVED every second of it. And they called it puppy love! I loved the way she so lovingly placed her hands around him, how she wrapped her arm around his, and I loved David’s “cool guy” attitude as she, just like hot butter on the stove, melted over him. One day, Ethan is going to have a girl melt all over him just like that. I just know it.

This extra chromosome that Ethan entered the world with has been the most rewarding gift I’ve ever received. It has opened up my eyes to many things. This extra chromosome helped me seek God, and even after I had abandoned him long ago, He was still there waiting for me. This extra chromosome has showed me that no matter who you are, we are all more alike than different.

(part 2 with pictures to come later!) 

 

Halloween Wish

Today we went on the hunt for Halloween costumes for Ethan and Andrea. Andrea has had her heart set on a Senorita costume.
And we found it!
Sadly, it wasnt all she had dreamt it to be! So we are still on the hunt for something.

But I found THE costume for Ethan. And if only Ethan loved it as much as I did... sigh.

NO! It is not Santa Clause! But A GARDEN GNOME!

If I could just have one wish this Halloween.... would be to have my own personal little gnome!

The $1 Challenge!

I challenge each and every one of you to take one minute out of your day (truly one minute...I timed it for you because I know how busy each of you are.) and pledge $1 to Ethan’s Jackrabbits.  I know how much everyone loves a good sonic drink (or beer or whatever daily treat!).  Just give that up for one day and help change the lives of many!  The challenge does not stop there.  After you have signed up, forward this email to everyone in your address book.  If 100 of my friends do this and 100 of their friends do it as well...We could raise $10k more! Direct link to Ethan’s BW page:

https://www.syssolutions.com/fr/DSAH/2010BuddyWalk/EthansJackrabbits

Every year, the Down Syndrome Association of Houston (DSAH)host the Buddy Walk (their biggest fundraiser of the year). The Buddy Walk promotes awareness and inclusion for those living with Down Syndrome. Money raised  benefits the DSAH, which helps those with Ds and their families by providing resources, Gymboree for the babies, social events for the adults, respite care, educational programs and so on.

We are 3 weeks away from the Buddy Walk and the event is still over $80,000 away from reaching its goal! Without proper funding, some of these programs will be taken away from our children! Please help us help our children!
Thank you all for all of your efforts and support!Feel FREE to share this blog!


(thank you SW for this great idea!)
(31 for 21 - post # 13... motherhood got in the way...)

For the sake...

of not losing the challenge (again!)

Pictures of my beauties...

Ethan is Ethan - Neighborhood Newsletter

(31 for 21 -#11)
So somehow without begging much, I was allowed to write a short article for our neighborhood newsletter, due to some family circumstances (board members) the newsletter came out a little later than usual. Nonetheless, I was very flattered to be allowed to write my gibberish!


And my neighborhood, no it isn't big and fancy, but it's my charming little neighborhood... with it's beautiful pecan lined streets, and neighbors that are proving to be far beyond amazing. Neighbors that will look out after your house and make sure your kids are safely playing outside. Neighbors, that when in a time of need are there for you. This is definitely the place we want to raise our kids. And like they say, it takes a village, well it sure does take a village!



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and if links fail: (REMOVED THE LINKS, THIS SEEMS EASIER)

 

Failure!

I was told that I have failed the challenge!

Yes, everyone, yes, I did not blog yesterday…

And I guess this is where the world ends! Ha-not a chance.

I have a million and one things I can possibly blog about,but  yesterday I was caught up with all sorts of excitements, from going to church to a birthday party and even grocery shopping (exciting…?).

Upon arriving at home, it greeted me with toys all over house, and dishes waiting to be scrubbed (ahem, by the dishwasher that is)  and few loads of laundry, all anxiously awaiting my arrival.

By the time I made it to the laptop, my eye lids were heavy and my mind could not possibly type one whole sentence, that made actual sense. I already cheated the day before with a picture post, and cheating is only acceptable once a week. I think, since I’ve made up my own rules.

But I will get in 31 entries this month!

And I will leave you with a fact about Down syndrome:

Life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has increased dramatically in recent decades - from 25 in 1983 to 56 today.

Now isn’t that amazing!