The Happy "Button"

As Cora gets older, many of her behaviors and emotions are maturing.  I find it humbling as I look back through the three years of her life, and see her accomplishments and activities. I am humbled by the perseverance and positive attitude that seems to be an inborn trait of hers.  There is no such thing as "can't do" in her vocabulary, tenaciously working at figuring out whatever has caught her attention.

In the last few days, Facebook has posted these little one minute videos reviewing a persons posts since they started using their services.  Mine was filled with Cora pictures and Cora accomplishments.  While I watched that video I was brought to tears of joy, and I was again humbled.  I watched her age progression and body development in that short one minute video and I was filled with an overflowing amount of gratitude and pride.  That feeling showed itself in the form of tears.

Seems like there are a great deal of tears in this house lately.  Now, don't get worried.  I am talking about tears of happiness, gratitude and yes, even tears of faith and abundance.  How does one cry tears of abundance?  With laughter.

I started today's blog post with the intention of coming to this point...laughter.  Cora's maturity level has now included laughter.  Laughter at the silliest things.  A full belly, tear inducing, breath stealing kind of laughter.  She hasn't had this in the past three years.  There was always little nasally giggly quiet laughter.  All of a sudden she can laugh with the best of us.  And laugh we do.

I am again granted a gift on this journey and that gift has been the laughter of Cora.  She can turn the most somber moment into a game of laughter and play.  That is a gift most professional comedians long to have, and Cora does it without inhibiting her laughter.  A pure, full belly, breath stealing laughter that is instantly contagious.

I ask you this, "How long has it been since you laughed or giggled?".  Has it been some time since you laughed so hard tears came to your eyes and you fought for the breath to laugh again?  Take a note from Cora and just let go.  Look around you and smile and laugh at the wonder of everything.  Be humbled enough to embrace laughter and not worry about who is looking or listening.  Be yourself and love yourself enough to offer the gift of happiness.  When you laugh that kind of laughter your life is filled with abundance of happiness and the faith it will happen again.

Spend this day in laughter.

Self-promotion Saturday

The reviews are coming in on the newest book! I am so excited, yet, at the same time, I am filled with humility and gratitude.  I am humbled enough to hesitate to self promote as much as I need to without seeming like I am continually "tooting" my own horn.  I am filled with gratitude that this life with Down syndrome is teaching me many Life Lessons.  Those lessons are taught in the form of a pint sized, 3 foot, blue eyed, strawberry blond, chatty patty, hugging baby girl. 

As I continue to travel this road with Cora I will continue to share the Life Lessons I am learning.  In hopes they will ease the path for other travelers on this journey, or maybe ease the path for those whose lives are touched with moments of chaos, hardships or trials that have nothing to do with Down syndrome.

With that, I have dubbed today Self-promotion Saturday!

Blessings my friends

Uplifting Down Syndrome

The newest book is published and available on amazon.com.  This is the third book I have written. I am happy with how this book turned out.  I wanted to write something inspirational for all the parents who are traveling this journey.  I think I accomplished that with this book. 

The real beauty of the book is it would be a good read, with many lessons and inspiration, for any parent or adult.  I hope you enjoy the new book as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Blessings,
Katrina

Pink Earmuffs are sometimes necessary

I need to share a story with y'all.


 Since getting my medical clearance and being able to again lift Cora, I have been taking Cora with me to Pickford when I run errands and to encourage her walking skills.


Adventures always motivate!


 While walking into the grocery store an older woman pulled up in her car. She got out of her car, the whole time watching Cora, and walked over to us.
"Oh, she is so adorable. How old is she?" She asked me.
 "Thank you," I said, "She is almost three years old.". 
 "Well," the woman replied as her smile faded away and was replaced with a stern look, "She should be walking so much better than that. You shouldn't be holding onto her hand and she should be walking on her own!". 
 I looked up and smiled at the woman. This beautiful, over seventy year old woman who was my elder and deserved the respect from me that her years demanded. "I think, for a child who has endured two open heart surgeries, she is doing phenomenal. Have a blessed day."
With that I walked away. Cora said "Bye" and blew her a kiss as we walked away.  Cora in her adorable snow boots crunching the snow as she worked at walking across the parking lot and into the store.

There continues to be moments on this journey where I long to be able to turn off the sound of another person's voice.  To push a button that floats in the air so I won't hear the words spoken in negativity to the progress that Cora has worked so hard for.  Often we have to find the next best thing.


While walking away from this woman and trudging through the parking lot as a snail's pace, each step a victory for my Little Button, I had one final thought about the encounter as Cora navigated the  step up and through the sliding doors and into the store, Where are Cora's pink earmuffs when I need them!!!

This journey with Down syndrome has taught me many lessons, lately the new ones seem to have a common theme.  I am learning to not take on another's comment, to not hold them as personal attacks.  I leave the conversation, or situation, with my head held high and my gratitude/peace of mind intact.  I refuse to allow another person who is negative to take up residence in my mind, after all they aren't going to pay rent for the space they occupy!  

I leave you with that thought today.  Increase awareness, defend your child, but do it with gratitude in your heart and a "not for rent" sign posted on your forehead.

 

((Lately Cora's favorite pasttime has been putting on the pink ear muffs I use in the summer time when I mow the lawn.  For an inspirational poster with her picture go to:  www.facebook.com/thegiftedchoice))

 

Cora keeps on growing!

Having reached the 90% on her growth chart, and spending time shopping for new clothes for the growing girl, I really noticed the change in her today.  She was playing in her favorite kitchen cupboard when I kept hearing her say, "Ouch".  I turned around from doing the dishes to find my Little Button was hitting her head on the cupboard interior.  She has grown so much she can no longer just reach into the cupboard without banging her little noggin on the wood.

Sep 2013

Jan 2013

This New Year is bringing many changes into my and Cora's life.  I hope you are open to the many changes it offers you.  Strive to grow and thrive in 2014, instead of staying stagnant and in the same ole rut as usual.  Stop and ask yourself, "Am I still banging my head on the same closed doors or am I making adjustments so I can move forward?" 


Keep enjoying our travels as we walk the road paved with Down syndrome and I will continue to challenge you just as Cora's daily adventures challenge me and teach me Life Lessons.


Blessings,
Katrina

"Shotgun"

As the month of Down syndrome awareness draws to a close I am once again astounded by the changes in Cora.  she has added a consistency in signing two and three word sentences along with a lessoning of random verbal words.  she has become quite adequate at saying "Brother", "Sister", "All done" and several other words.

I delight in knowing that she is able to be understood by others and not just myself and her siblings.  This month of Down syndrome awareness had me giving a speech at a book signing for the book that I wrote.  I found that while I was talking about the book, I was also sharing some heartfelt memories that Cora has offered me along this journey.

In the talk I could feel myself slipping into the role of Life Coach and Mother.  The two blending perfectly as I talked on and on for a half hour.  I met new people who share this journey with their own children who were born with Down syndrome, and I met people who had no idea what this journey is like.  After the talk I was given countless praises and compliments on my ability to engage a crowd and lift those that attended into a new degree of awareness.

Earlier in this month I spoke of a challenge for you to advocate for Cora and others that might be walking this path paved by Down syndrome.  I found myself again thrown into an arena of onlookers who were crying with me, laughing with me and enthralled at the healing that Cora was granted from our Creator.  While I have experience in public speaking and it does not bother me, I understand this is not for everyone.

As this month draws to a close and the Down syndrome awareness takes a backseat for other causes, I encourage you to keep in the front seat and riding shotgun with you until this time next year.  In the smallest of ways, or the biggest or ways, continue to advocate for Cora's growth and others too.  Try not to hide your support under a cloak of fear, share this journey with pride.  Grab the keys and rev the motor....

You just might hear a little voice shout "shotgun" as she signs "outside"!

 

October Awareness

Being that October is Down syndrome awareness month I thought this would be a great way of advocating for Cora.  I came across this little banner on pinterest and it held my interest.  LOL.

I was going to write a wonderful, heartfelt blog that would hopefully leave you with a hidden message and blessing for the day.  Then, when I found this little banner I thought to myself, this truly says everything I wanted to write today.  So with that I leave you with this...

Have a great weekend and know that you are supporting others with Down syndrome simply by reading the blog and smiling when you read the banner.