31 for 21 - Day 6!!!!!

Thankful Thursday

It's Thursday, and it's a beautiful day here.  We don't get many October days when it's in the 80's like today - definately something to be thankful for!!  Driving home from school, it got me thinking how much Steve and I have to be thankful for....

I have said it before - I have an amazing (almost!) 8 year old.  She is a heck of kid - and I'm constantly amazed by her.  She has such a good heart.  She's caring.  She loves her brother so much and I know that he will have a great advocate in her as she gets older!

I think about how much I have learned since Colin was born just over a year ago.  In fact, my learning began when we received his DS diagnosis in May of 2010!  I was one of those moms from the beginning of this journey who wanted to know exactly what was going to happen.  Of course, most of that couldn't be answered.  I was thankful to be able to have Colin near our house at St. Anthony's (they don't have a NICU) since our doctors were comfortable that there wouldn't be any surprises at his birth.  Everything went the way we wanted it to.

I am thankful that I was able to breastfeed and pump for the first 10 months of Colin's life.  This was so important to me - and we went through a lot to get to that point.  {Thanks Lavawn!!  I LOVE YOU!!  I couldn't have made it without you and your amazing support!}  So many babies with DS aren't able to breastfeed and Colin did pretty good. 

I am thankful that my little guy wasn't born with a heart defect.  That was my ONLY concern I had throughout the last 1/2 of my pregnancy.  We knew there *shouldn't* be anything major - his fetal echo and multiple level 2 ultrasounds showed his heart looked great.  But of course, we wouldn't know 100% until his echo at birth.  I'll be honest, that would have set me over the edge - I'm not sure I would have been strong enough to handle that! 

I am thankful that throughout Colin's 1st year, he's been a healthy little guy!  Sure he's had some respiratory issues - sick a handful of times, but I'll take that!  Sure he's watched closely by a pediatric endocrinologist for some slightly elevated thyroid levels - but I'll take that!  Sure he's been on the tiny side - but again, I'll take that! 

When I read about families who have children with DS that struggle or medical issues, I realize how blessed we truly are. 

I am thankful for Colin's extra chromosome...  In fact, I'm not sure who he would be without it!  It has certainly made me one lucky and thankful momma!