Cora's Christmas

This year Christmas was filled with laughter, food and a healthy and happy Cora.  Such a difference from last years quiet and reserved one.  As her mama, I am so proud of her continuing success that she has achieved throughout the days that have passed since last Christmas.

Cora was enthralled and fascinated with the Christmas day and all the activities that were involved.  She learned how to open her Christmas stocking and her three presents.  At first she did not want to rip the paper on the presents (I have been really working with her on her being softer with her hands) but after a few examples from older sister she dived right in and opened the presents.

Cora's first love of the day was a baby doll that she found while rummaging around in her stocking.  Santa was smart when he brought that gift for her as Cora fell instantly in love with her baby.  She has this way of scooting herself in a circle while pivoting on her bottom and her day was filled with holding the baby doll and spinning around to watch what everyone else was doing.  There was such a wonderful look of curiosity and amusement on her face that I found myself watching her reaction as much as watching the others open their presents.

During the day, no matter what she was playing with, she would look around and pick up her baby and rock it and kiss it.  She was in love with her baby and spent the day nurturing that love.  Such a blessing to see this baby girl loving and nurturing and playing.  In between loving her baby doll she would sign "food" to anyone that was snacking and she was enjoying all the different tastes of the foods that were shared with her.  At one point, she started to try and feed her baby doll some of her yummies!

As this year comes to a close and the new year is fast approaching I look forward to watching Cora continue to nurture her baby doll just as I will continue to nurture my own baby.  I think I have the advantage though, my baby gives hugs and kisses... 

 What's in here?

 A baby doll!

 What are you eating?

 A very tired Cora.

Christmas is full of truths

Cora is exploring this season with the gusto of a normal , almost two years old, toddler.   She may not be walking yet, but she can surely get around!  She is being fitted for some ankle supports to help her with the standing part of her therapies and those will be delivered soon on Santa's sleigh.  While it isn't a toy, it is something that Cora needs in her toolbox of success and I am sure she will understand that...besides, everything becomes a toy for Cora.  She finds comfort in the simplest of things and can play for minutes on end with whatever she has discovered.  Lately, she is enthralled with big sister's PSP handheld game.

Still, as the day of presents looms closer and closer, she is learning what this holiday is all about.  learning these life lessons are an important part of her growing up into a thriving part of this family.   Here are some of the life lessons she has learned in the past week:

1)  You are not allowed to open other people's presents and ruin the surprise of what is inside because the other person might not appreciate it.

2)  Wrapping paper does not make a good hat, it tears too easily and causes static cling in your hair.

3) When sampling  goodies that a family member makes it is polite to only take one bite, even if you love the taste, and it is not polite to grab the item and squish it in your hand so you don't have to share.

4)  Chocolate is amazing no matter what form it comes in....cookie, fudge, candy, etc.

5)  Pushing the play yard with your hands and feet so you can be closer to the presents and the tree is allowed, however, reaching through the fence panel and pulling presents into your play yard is not a good idea.

6) singing into the empty roll left over from wrapping paper is fun!  Its especially funny when you look in the bottom when big brother is singing into the top!

Along with these life lessons Cora has also learned new words with her signing.  We are now up to her recognizing almost fifty signs, using twenty signs and still getting better at her verbalizing words.  She continues to thrive in our house and we all continue to treasure the moments that we are sharing with her.

So, in keeping with the holiday season, we hope you are all feeling the love and blessings that come around this time of year.  If you find yourself with nothing to do, make a wrapping paper hat and laugh out loud at your own discovery....that's what Cora does everyday!

Continuing forward

Cora made it to the Upper Peninsula Down syndrome Association Christmas party in Marquette this week.  We were so fortunate to meet other families that have children similar in age to Cora and to see the development and skills of all ages.  Our children are so different and yet so similar.  One thing that was a definite given, all the children enjoyed the company of each other. 

There was a little fella there that was a few months younger than Cora and Cora instantly wanted to hug him.  She clapped her hands in happiness and hugged him really hard.  Then she signed "baby" and "more" to be able to keep on hugging him.  This little fella wasn't into older girls though and one hug was enough for him..haha!

For me, as a parent, it was rewarding to talk to a couple who's son is fifteen years old.  I listened to there advice and their struggles from years past and took away a greater wealth of knowledge than what I arrived with.

This journey with Cora continues to teach me about always being open to new ideas and suggestions and not being closed to those very things. 

While there this past weekend Cora also saw her Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor and he was delighted in Cora's growth and healthiness.  Her ears are normal and her canals are not terribly small, so it was a great visit.  He did remark several times on Cora's high function and abilities for having Down syndrome.  He told me I was fortunate and blessed.  (His son has Down syndrome). 

I am left, these past few days, with a feeling of happiness that I have not experienced before.  While there are storms that still rage in other areas of Cora's life, the seas we are sailing right now are calm and soothing.  This offers me a chance to catch my breath and a moment to relax, reflect and watch the sunset.

As I sat and held Cora during that Christmas party, and watched the other children sing Christmas carols and saw the patience of the other parents, I finally felt like we weren't alone.  A moment to relax indeed, and bask in the sunshine and happiness of others who are exactly where I am and understand everything I am feeling.  I saw those parents interacting with their children and I could see the pride in their faces.  It was a happy time in this journey and with it came the knowledge that Cora has a very bright future and along this journey she will be giving hugs to those that really want one!

 Cora and oldest sister Kelsey