Eyes

So, I didn't get to take pics of the girls like I wanted to today but I did get some nice shots of Klo Bow. And I have missed my camera so so so much!!!

Kourtney woke up in a rather foul mood today. And I do mean FOUL! A lot of our attention has been focused on her and not going insane. But she finally fell asleep so I got to spend some quiet time with Kloey and Sesame Street. It never gets old apparently. As I watched Kloey today I started thinking about lots and lots of things. Because that's how I pass my time... I think way too much.

Anyhow, I thought of how different she and Kourtney are, that's quite obvious. But then I thought of how similar they really are. Klo's temperament may be quite different from Kourtney's but there are other things that are so much alike! One thing that struck me today were their eyes. I know, they're shaped a bit differently but that's not what I mean in particular. Sure, they are physically similar, very much so, but I mean the sparkle in them.

I see in Kloey's eyes the same passion that I see in Kourtney's. A passion for mischief, absolutely. A passion for fun, most certainly. Also a passion for learning, for growing, and for understanding new things. They both love to discover new abilities, new boundaries, and new friends. They love to discover how much Mom and Dad will actually tolerate and how much they won't tolerate. They love to be adventurous and create stories and run (or crawl in Kloey's case) incessantly.

Kloey is a child like most children. She watches Sesame Street because she loves it, true enough, but I also see that sparkle of learning when she is watching. I see discovery, I see adventure, and sometimes there is just a hint of mischief. I think Kourtney had it absolutely right when she said to Kloey yesterday, "Kloey you are just so smart! You are like a GENIUS!!!!"

And she is.

Another cheat

This particular post from last year got many private comments from my viewers. So I am excited to share it again this year. As for it being soooo late, I completely forgot about my blog tonight. I've been working crazy long hours and then when I got home it was all about babies and bedtime and late night snuggles. Those are very important. So, here you are.

Have we been doing this for 11 days already?!!! FANTASTIC!!!

So, I want to know if anyone out there has any questions about Down Syndrome. As this is Down Syndrome Awareness month it only seems right to maybe answer a question or two... or seven from readers. It can be ANYTHING!!! So, leave a comment on here... or send me a message on facebook .

Today, let's focus on Klo Bow's sweet happiness. It's true, she is much happier than Kourtney was at her age... much happier.  She is so laid back that it makes me feel bad for being so high strung sometimes. Really, Kourtney and I are a lot alike in the fact that we can be pretty high maintenance, I'll admit it.  Heck, the child barely cried when she was born. She had more the attitude of... "Welp... I'm here. I'm with my mommy and daddy. It's a bit brighter than I expected. No use cryin'... can't change things." Yeah.... love this kid.

Now, let me clarify. Just because my Klo Bow is happy pretty much all of the time does not mean that all people/children with Down Syndrome are happy all of the time. (although, I've never come across one that wasn't unless they not only had Down Syndrome but something else as well) When Klo does cry it only lasts for about 30 seconds... not even that long. She was fussy yesterday though. And when I mean fussy I mean she was making a lot of small noises that other mothers would never dream of calling "fussy". But that is Kloey and I know her cues.  However, I had to keep telling her "no" and re-directing her when she wouldn't leave something alone the other day and she got thoroughly upset with me. She started crying and then banged her head into my chest out of frustration. Seriously, that hurt.

But, like I said, to say that all people with Down Syndrome are like this is probably not accurate. The simple truth is that every person in this world is an individual. They have their own spirit, their own personality, their own conscience. Down Syndrome is an extra chromosome... it's not defined as "an extra chromosome 21 that therefore creates clones throughout the world".... no, every person has their own personality... even those with Down Syndrome.

However, I do believe that the extra chromosome is an extra love chromosome. I've said in an earlier post that I've worked with Down's people for sooo long and they ALL seemed to possess extra love. Except one girl. She suffered from some mental illnesses (Down Syndrome is NOT a mental illness) that made her pretty unreachable. Anyway... What great teachers they have been for me of acceptance and love. My goodness... it's too bad that we don't all have an extra love chromosome... but we can fill that hole by spreading love and acceptance of ALL people.

Next time you're out and about, say hi to that woman that has Down Syndrome... Smile at the man in the wheel chair... Stand up for what is right... Put a little more love into your life and into the world!

Jordan is picking up my slack

    Howdy again, it’s Jordan Hansen J

    As you all know, I can be very blunt, I do it with the best intentions for my daughter’s sake, my family’s sake, and for the sakes of everyone who ends up on this page, Because I know you’re here for a reason.

    I wanted to tell everyone thank you all very much for reading my wife’s blog. She works very hard to express how blessed we feel. We hope that by reading these posts you are inspired with courage, hope, and a new desire to be like these wonderful people. There are many people out there who come across this milestone in their life, the milestone of raising, living with, or being a person with any kind of physical difficulty or handicap. If it’s one thing I want to get across to people it’s that there is absolutely no reason to fear. As long as things are taken one day at a time, step by step, the only thing that will happen is the growing of love, and pure joy among everyone. I’m not going to lie, it can break your heart to not be able to hear words yet from your 2 year old’s mouth.  Obviously there can be some physical challenges out there, but particularly in the case of a person with Down syndrome, the benefits certainly outweigh the minor few things that for no reason are brought up (Most of the time by our own mind). Ironically enough this fear is only ever brought about, or experienced by people who know nothing about, and have never spent time with a person with Down syndrome. I hope that you can imagine the heart wrenchingly wonderful moment when she was able to start signing for more, and when she gets thirsty. That moment, and hundreds of other insignificant (to other people) moments is what makes it all worth it.

    Fortunately, forgiveness is one of their best attributes. Unlike us, being judgmental of others is unheard of. As a parent however that is the thing we worry about the most, the thought that others will think that they’re less of a human being than they are. In all reality, when you spend time with these angels, the thought that their feelings may be hurt is my biggest fear. Like us, they will one day want a boyfriend, want to get married, and want to have a child of their own. This is the situation I personally dread the most. These things can happen, often, but sometimes they just don’t and we are going to have to be the one to break it to them. But like I said, they will understand and are forgiving of it. They will forgive you, the extra chromosome, and yes even themselves. That’s what’s so wonderfully different about them, is their willingness to push on, despite their limitations, and trials, the question is, is can we be just as strong for them?

      Thank you all very much again. Like I said, we are trying to get this word out, so please share this on your Facebook and wherever else, and comment to let us know you’re hearing us J

      God bless,

                         The Hansen’s. 

This community

So, being a parent of a child with Down Syndrome has helped me to discover that I am automatically part of a community. It is a beautiful and wonderful community. We can make friends wherever we go. Here is an example...

Yesterday while we were taking a break from Christmas shopping (yes, we are starting early this year because we normally start way too late). Anyway, we stopped to eat lunch and ended up sitting two tables away from a woman having lunch with her sister. I started to play peekaboo with her daughter and this little girl happened to have Down Syndrome. She was just so stinkin' cute and I kept fighting the immediate urge to go introduce myself to her mother. Jordan said, "just go over there, you would love it if someone did that to you". And I couldn't argue with that, the man was absolutely right.

So I journeyed on over there. I introduced myself and then explained that my little girl has Down Syndrome. Immediately this woman's face brightened with a huge smile and we were instantly engaged in a great conversation. By the time I left the table we had exchanged numbers and were planning a play date. When she left the restaurant she came over and hugged me. See? I LOVE being part of this community! A community where friendship is imminent, love is abundant, and good feelings abound.

This is life at its greatest!!!!

Every little milestone

To most this video may seem small and insignificant in terms of milestones. However, this occurred the other night here in the Hansen household and we were all ecstatic!!! You see, what this video shows is anticipation and imitation from our sweet Klo Bow. This is huge, as she has never ever done this before. It started the other day when she started to anticipate the end of a song and then put her hands up in triumph when the song ended and she was actually right! She was so proud of herself!!!!

The next night is when we captured this video. We noticed that she was muttering something in her room. (excuse her disheveled appearance... we were in the midst of bedtime routine when she quickly got away from us) When we came in to inspect we noticed that she was trying to say "yum yum yum" with Cookie Monster. I almost peed my pants with excitement!!! But really though.... I was that excited.

I am proud of my Klo. She is learning and growing so much. She now knows how to get onto the couch and then off of the couch by herself. She pulls to stand almost everywhere now. Next step is walking!!! Even her signing is getting so much stronger. She tells me when she wants to eat. She tells me when she wants milk, when she wants down, when she's all done. It's so wonderful. She's wonderful.

A look to last year

Another look to one of my favorite posts from last year. I hear some mothers say that they would change their children if they could. I don't believe in that. I would not change Kourtney or Kloey. Enjoy.


Let me start by saying that today is one of those days that really needs to be a productive sort of day. A day in which tasks are in desperate need of completion and chores are piling up in a neverending sort of way. A day where your mind is screaming, "Get your butt in gear sister! Your move is only a week away!!!" and even that revelation doesn't seem to do much in the way of motivation. Yes, today is that day. That day when I want to say "eh, whatever" and sit down with a bowl of chex muddy buddies (which I have on hand) and have a Gossip Girl marathon (don't judge). But, alas, it shall not be. SIGH

So, Kloey has learned a new trick. "Sharing" her food with us. Oh boy, was she excited to share her delicious grilled cheese sandwich with Mommy and Daddy. I was so excited! So so excited when she lifted her sandwich up for me to take a bite. It's something that I never really thought about with Kourtney. Kourtney just did it. Now, it is such a big deal. And it led me to this thought, "would I change you?". I've been asked that question about Kloey so many times from so many different people. If I had the chance, would I change her? Such a serious question deserves some serious thought... so I thought about it...

My answer is a resounding NO!!! No, I would not change her if I could. No, I would not take the extra chromosome away from her. No, I would not take the Down Syndrome out of Klo. It is for this simple reason; if you take the Down Syndrome out of Klo... then she is not Klo. She would be someone else entirely. Down Syndrome does not define who she is, true enough, but it will FOREVER be part of who she is! The moment that I knew for a fact that she had Down Syndrome the first thing I did was kiss her and tell her that I love her. The second thing that I did was promise to always and forever be there for her and protect her and fight for her. The third thing was a bit shocking for me at the time... but the third thing I did was look at her and realize one very important thing... I WOULD NOT CHANGE YOU FOR THE ANYTHING!!! YOU ARE MY BABY GIRL! YOU ARE PERFECT JUST THE WAY YOU ARE! AND YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!

Happy Down Syndrome Awareness month... 12 entries to go!

Another Day

Another day of October. Another day of Down syndrome. Another day of Kloey.

“When you focus on someone's disability you'll overlook their abilities, beauty and uniqueness. Once you learn to accept and love them for who they are, you subconsciously learn to love yourself unconditionally.” 
― Yvonne Pierre, The Day My Soul Cried: A Memoir

Having a child with DS has changed my life...
my life is brighter
my life is more wonderful
my life is filled with love

~ Lorene Kay

Kloey is a darling child who blesses my life day in and day out. It is no secret that there is an extra chromosome present in her life. But you see, it is actually an extra chromosome of love. We rejoice in it.

"I can't change that I have Down syndrome, but one thing I would change is how people think of me. I'd tell them: Judge me as a whole person, not just the person you see. Treat me with respect, and accept me for who I am. Most important, just be my friend. After all, I would do the same for you."

~ "Know Me Before You Judge Me"