Everyone is equal ...

One more thing I love about my sweet son is he has no clue ! I don't mean that in a bad way I mean that in a very literal way.

For example: on our way home from the bus he wanted to play tag, I said laughing "no, I don't want to run because I'm to fat" Right then and there I realized he doesn't care her doesn't even know what "too fat" is!

He also doesn't know what:
Too Skinny
Ugly
Stupid
Four eyes
Dumb
and all those other childhood names kids call each other.

The BEST part of all this is he doesn't CARE...because he literally treats everyone equal ...Isn't that the life ?

Don't you wish we could all go back to that kind of innocence?and not judge everyone for anything. We are all guilty of it whether we admit it or not.

Let's try it for a day ... let us know how it felt

Have a great day!
Shannon

Heart Day

That is our official name for Valentines day...Here is why.

  Last night as Lorenzo was signing the back of his Valentines (30 of them)we were having the conversation about Valentines Day. I told him it was all about love . Then we proceeded to try  to say"Valentine" .For those who know and love Lorenzo ,also know that his speech is his biggest challenge.We struggle with it. I understand him and do my best to be his interpreter ,but I am not always around him. A lot of people ask if he signs , he knows a little but if you think about it even if he did,the general public doesn't know sign either so I would have to interpet that also. Yes , this is a challenge.

  After about 30 minutes of trying to say "Valentine" we decided to change the name to "Heart day"
He Says it very well ,and now understands that "Heart day" includes two party's today at school.

  OMG... the first thing this morning I could almost feel his eyes popping open ,he jumps up and says Mommy is it "Heart day" ? I replied yes Lorenzo today is "Heart day!" He smiles super big and gives me the biggest hug and saying Thank you mommy thank you !!! So, Everyone Have the biggest and best "Heart Day "From Lorenzo and I !!

Holland

Did you know that Lorenzo was a preemie(3 weeks early) and he had to stay in the hospital for two weeks after I left? Yep,that was one of the worst things I went thru .Leaving my sweet baby every day going back and forth everyday (right after a c section) I don't know how I did that. He had a feeding tube,and when they finally thought he was doing well enough they trained me on how to put it back in if it came out. That pretty much freaked me out,but I learned, Was scared shit less on it coming out and having to put it back in I mean SHIT LESS . I was a nervous wreck but he came home and it was the best ... About a week later I had kept seeing him grab the tube in his nose .I knew then I had to have this heart to heart talk with him.I literally told him that "If you  yank out your tube ,you have to be ready to eat on your own because mommy is a scary cat and I am to afraid to put it back in" I think he agreed.
That same day he did it...he yanked it out ...DONE he was over it .I think it annoyed him because it made him look funny(lol)Anywhoosies from that day on he ate from his bottle and we never looked back.

Here is a story we were told after we found out that Lorenzo had Downs syndrome. Thank you Alice (if you are reading this) for sending me the copy.
http://www.our-kids.org/Archives/Holland.html if you want to get in the head of any parent with a child with a disability that please take the time to read this.

Thank you for reading today's blog. This is a release for me and it feels really good!

Shannon

Soccer time!!

Well here we are on a Saturday morning everything is running right along except Lorenzo very exited today ...Its the start of spring soccer !!! He can barely contain himself.
  All week long we followed the calender and I showed him how many days and nights till the big day. He understands now a little about the days.We use stickers to make the soccer days. He put them all on .Yes ,as you are beginning to tell soccer is his thing. He goes,he hardly listens,he mostly plays by himself unless of course the girls are there,then he pulls out the pinkie and wraps them right around it and that makes a good soccer game for Lorenzo.Lets not forget how he fake falls to get sympathy(he is totally OK) then at the very end they do the parachute ,after that is done when the coach is trying to put it away he jumps on it and goes for the ride.Yes,soccer is here its 8:22 in the AM and "Tito"already has his Jersey on ,yep he went upstairs found it in the drawer and put it on over his P.J's ! It is going to be a long morning! Thank you Topps soccer http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/programs/tpsoccer.asp for such a wonderful program for our little man !


Shannon

All about Lorenzo & his family: Regret...

All about Lorenzo & his family: Regret...: The only regret I have to having a child at 40 is that I couldn't talk my sister's,and friends to have another child with me! I used to be...

Regret...

  The only regret I have to having a child at 40 is that I couldn't talk my sister's,and friends to have another child with me! I used to be such a good salesperson but they just wouldn't listen to me . I am losing my touch.
  Sometimes I feel its a little lonely for Lorenzo hanging out with me and his dad all the time , So, I try to keep him busy with soccer. There isn't alot of activities in the Renton area Lorenzo. It is sad . Most activities are for the other "normal"children. I do have a great friend Stephanie that will take him for the day so he can hang out with her two boys.After a day with them is very rewarding in so many different ways,He is tired,happy to be with the boys,he loves Stephanie, and we cant forget his new found "Papa"(Stephanie's dad), He loves his mustache totally thinks Papa is hiding something in there! there is a video on that.Hilarious.
  Anyway , another thought passes thru my mind and onto my blog.

Shannon

What is Normal?

When Lorenzo was younger,just a baby I was always waiting for him to act "not normal"because of his DS(remember still fearing the unknown),He was always a little slower in learning stuff ,slower to crawl,slower to walk slower to eat by his self etc. Seriously ,it always seemed NORMAL to me because I don't really remember what "NORMAL "was because my first child was 20 years earlier.
  Then it started happening ,the older he got I noticed when we were around other children his age,I realized  the other kids were a little different they were all crazy ,running around ,talked alot more,climbed higher,jumped higher,ran faster(away from their parents)That is when I made my conclusion THEY  were not NORMAL ! Lorenzo was ... Just kidding,what my conclusion was a big fat on-going question "What is NORMAL"?

Here is my answere ...Normal is what you are used too...

Your thoughts?

Shannon

The "WHY"

Hello everyone

  I was asked "WHY"I didn't have the amino test done when I was prego, The answer is that my currant doc told me about a less invasive test that would pretty much give us the same results . It was two separate blood test at two separate times of the pregnancy. We choose that test. I took both of the blood draws and never heard about any results. If you are familiar with the way Dr.s are they only discuss results if there is any thing negative to tell .So, when I didn't hear ,I assumed that all the test came back positive!
  I changed doctors at 34 weeks . My new doctor noticed a few things that needed to be done. She sent me to get test done asap .Things were fine.
  After I had Lorenzo the new doc noticed that that less invasive test was completely the wrong test ! The Doctor screwed up the testing.
  At one point we concederd suing , but instantly changed out mind when they said it would have to be a "wrongful birth " suit ! NO WAY that was a closed book .

That's the story ...

Shannon

Our story...

I met Rodney at karaoke,It seems I knew he was the "one"and at one point during our first couple meetings I actually told him that we would be together forever! REALLY ,yes I had been drinking but It was in my thoughts and for anyone who knows me knows my thoughts are well... um, out there !

  Anywhoosies, fast forward a year. We had a beautiful baby boy Lorenzo.The day of Lorenzo's birth was the day we found out that he had down syndrome .WOW to be totally honest I was freaking out ,I was like,really what the hell just happened? My reaction was a simple "fear the unknown "reaction" . I had no clue that my sweet child that I carried in my belly for 9 months would come out with a disability. Not going to lie I was scared as hell. Did I mention that was the same day Rodney found out he had MS? UM yep it was a day for the books .

What did all this mean? Oh ya I know, it meant my life was changed forever. At the time didn't know whether it was for the good or what.

What I have learned Thur time was I would not have him any other way ! he has my heart all wrapped up and takes it with him everywhere he goes(along with all the Lady's he meets along the way!)So, he is full of love,joy,and cant believe at one point I was scared tho have this little guy.

So, I wont make this first blog a million pages long, But I do want to tell the story of how he changed his name to Tito!

 We lived in a three floor town home. On a very stressful Friday evening I came home after work and was very scattered. Rodney & Lorenzo was downstairs. I went to the bathroom , and when I was done I went on the computer to unwind ,about 20 min later Rodney thought Lorenzo was with me and I thought he was with him...we panicked and ran outside and he was not in our sight! We split up looking for him and finally I found him hanging out with about 10 Seniors(not high school) they were all huddled around him laughing and talking to him ! Well after my heart beat subsided One of the guys asked me what his name was?I told him "Lorenzo",He said huh,he told us his name was "Tito" ...REally that kid has his own ideas on how he is going to live his life !

  So, that's how he got the name Tito. One of the main things I learned on that day was little DS kids wounder!So, if you have a little munchkin with downs... Keep them locked up tight,they think its a game .

  Lorenzo is 6 years old now ,in the first grade and has quite the following in our community of  Renton Washington. I have many more story's to tell about "Tito" so, if you read this and want to share a story please do so ! Also, if you have any friends with a child with ds or any other disability ,please invite them to my blog I would love to have them!

Shannon

"Tito's" Mom