IT'S A BOY!!!

Mrs.LoneGOPinCT | 14 Dec 02 | LoneGOPinCT

[LoneGOPinCT]

I am pleased to announce the birth of our son! He is child #3, boy #2. He was born via C-section one full week before his scheduled birth and two weeks prior to his actual due date. Needless to say he threw us for a loop so it's taken us this past couple weeks to get everything straightened out that we thought we had another week to do.

He and Mrs.Lone are both doing fine. The little guy was born with Down's Syndrome (a surprise to us-no history, both under 35 & no testing during pregnancy because it wouldn't have mattered anyway), however we are very lucky that he doesn't show any signs of coronary or digestive problems that are very common with children with Down's. The combination of him being early and having DS has slowed the closing of two bypass valves in his heart (they exist in all children but generally close up prior to birth, AKA "the hole in the heart"), but the cardiologist is fairly confident that they will close up on their own and his heart looks otherwise very healthy. If not, they run a catheter into the valve and essentially scratch it with a small wire to promote scarring to close it up. He is very attentive and shows good tracking skills, good head and neck movements, no narrowing of the rib cage (also very common in DS kids), and has surpising strength so the pediatrician is very optimistic about his future.

We know it is going to be a tough road but as his Doc says, nowadays there is no reason to rule out anything for children with DS, especially the more mild cases. They are no longer institutionalized and as such have greatly benefitted from a "normalized" environment when it comes to teaching them early on and adapting them to social (i.e. school, friends, family) situations.

Some people don't quite know how to react when we tell them he has DS and in turn seem sympathetic. Trust me, we don't need sympathy. We feel blessed to have this little guy and are facing it head-on. As a few have told us, HIS prayers have been answered. It is all about him, not us. Right now he is like any other newborn. Eat, poop, sleep. We'll tackle any other obstacles as we come upon them.

We are still adjusting, but are coping surprisingly well. He's just such a cute little bugger that it probably helps! So no need to feel sympathetic, but please keep us in your thoughts and prayers to help guide us and give us the strength to keep us on track to best benefit HIM. We already consider ourselves lucky and will do our best to make sure he benefits from it!

Now, have a cigar for me!

[CyberAnt]

Why are you so anxious to tell people. Not that it's anything to be ashamed of, but why preset people's expectations of him? And ... isn't that presetting your expectations of him??

Since he seems to have a mild case, why not allow him to develop as normally as possible by not pigeonholing him at such a young age into a "DS" mold he may never quite fit into?

Just a suggestion.

Remember, if you tell a child he is stupid long enough, he will believe it. Instead, tell a child he can do whatever he sets his mind to, and just allow the child to develop to his fullest potential.

[spectre]

Congratulations!

No sympathy per your instructions. How can there be, with all that LOVE you and your family share with each other. What a blessing. That's one lucky little boy. God Bless...sw

[griffin]

CONGRATULATIONS! Babies are such a blessing. My brother has a DS baby girl. She is doing just fine. God's Grace to you and the Mrs.!

[Dubya]

Congratulations

[AlwaysLurking]

Thank you SO much for posting that George Will piece....it was really beautiful.

Lone....may your new little one be the greatest gift of your life!

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

You are the turd in the punchbowl of life.

[wimpycat]

What a stupid post! Everyone who sees him will know he has Down Syndrome. Why try to pretend he doesn't? It's a fact. He's got an extra chromosome. It's a syndrome meaning that there are a host of conditions and potential problems that go along with it.

I believe what this family is doing is the right thing--they're not going to ignore the special challenges their son will face, but at the same time they're not going to let it hold him back from reaching his full potential.

LoneGOP, congratulations to you and your family. It sounds like your son was sent to the right house.

[trussell]

Congratulation on the birth of your newest blessing.

My ex sister in law has DS, and she is the most loving, caring person I have met in a long time. She has adopted a baby and is doing a beautiful job of raising him. She is in her thirties. She is also a wonderful benefit to the community where she lives.

She was raised with encouragement from her mother that she could accomplish anything she put her mind to.

You and your family will be in my prayers.

Continued blessings.
trussell

[manna]

Congratulations!!!

[CyberAnt]

What a thoughtful comment!

[CyberAnt]

"everyone who sees him will know"

Not exactly! In fact, many, many downs syndrome children are undetectable from the most common or obvious physical differences.

I'm being real here - the child deserves an opportunity to fulfill all the potential he has - without being labled as something less than normal.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Learn some manners, puke. Your mommy and daddy sure raised a cretin, didn't they.

[Tribune7]

Wonderful news. Congrats and God bless.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Congradulations!

[CyberAnt]

Excuse me ... your manners sure are wanting - calling people names when you don't agree with them shows your ignorance. I don't care if you agree with me or not - I'm still entitled to my opinion.

[wimpycat]

Saying a Down Syndrome child has Down Syndrome doesn't take away from the opportunities to fulfill their potential.

You seem to be hung up on the "label".

The kid has Down Syndrome, and you're the one having the harder time getting past that than his own parents.

[kitkat]

Dad, your little guy sure knew how to pick loving parents. You make me proud to be a member of FreeRepublic. And, yes, you'll be in my prayers for future guidance for you.

[Ol' Sox]

Warm congratulations from a fellow CT Yankee, and the adoptive father of two special needs sons. You haven't yet begun to experience the blessing that raising your DS son will bring to you and your family. You are in for a treat! All the best to you.

[mafree]

Babies are a blessing- may God bless all of you. Post a pic of the li'l tyke soon OK?