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All Feeling Better
12 years ago
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Lisa and Bridget
For more on Bridget and our family, please visit our website (click on above photo), which provides an overview of Bridget's first year, and includes more specific information on Bridget's development as well as product recommendations and a special section for parents with a new diagnosis.
A Beautiful Life
--Our First Two Years with Bridget
Bridget, from two to three
Our Adoption Montage
Welcome
For those of you already following us, Bridget's Light and Loving Alina have merged :). For anyone who is new to our story, Welcome!
Bridget and Alina are the youngest of our six children. Bridget (born July, 2006) is our biological daughter. Alina (born March, 2007, and adopted into our family April, 2010) is the daughter of our hearts. Both girls have Down syndrome.
Feel free to browse this blog at your leisure, to comment or to email us. We're are happy to answer questions or provide more detail to others who are interested in learning more about life with Down syndrome, or about our International Adoption experience.
Bridget and Alina are the youngest of our six children. Bridget (born July, 2006) is our biological daughter. Alina (born March, 2007, and adopted into our family April, 2010) is the daughter of our hearts. Both girls have Down syndrome.
Feel free to browse this blog at your leisure, to comment or to email us. We're are happy to answer questions or provide more detail to others who are interested in learning more about life with Down syndrome, or about our International Adoption experience.
questions or comments?
Living in the Light
I've replayed the day Bridget was born a million times...and I hate saying (and remembering) that the day was filled with sadness and uncertainty. It makes me mad--though I'm not sure at exactly who or what--that we wasted that day being somber when we should have been celebrating. I feel sad for the kids, for Chris and for me, and for our extended family and friends who were worried--heart heavy--for us. If we knew then what we know now, we would have been celebrating. The little girl that arrived in our lives that Sunday in July was the best thing that ever happened to us.
She is everything that is good about Life.
I've re-written the moments in my mind to go something like this:
We were just beginning.
A beautiful life awaited us--
and it was far more beautiful
than we'd imagined.
It is the day we got her;
the day that everything came together.
It is the day we began living in the light...
She is everything that is good about Life.
I've re-written the moments in my mind to go something like this:
We were just beginning.
A beautiful life awaited us--
and it was far more beautiful
than we'd imagined.
It is the day we got her;
the day that everything came together.
It is the day we began living in the light...
New Down Syndrome Diagnosis--Resources
As seen in Gifts 2
Lisa and Bridget
Read Our Chapter Here
Please Also Visit Bridget's Website
For more on Bridget and our family, please visit our website (click on above photo), which provides an overview of Bridget's first year, and includes more specific information on Bridget's development as well as product recommendations and a special section for parents with a new diagnosis.
Important Posts
- Living in the Light, Explained
- Bridget's Light (Gifts 2)
- Introduction & Welcome
- Expecting (Our Story--Part I)
- Bridget’s Arrival & Diagnosis (Our Story--Part II)
- Sharing the News (Our Story--Part III)
- Coming Home (Our Story--Part V)
- Hospital Stay/Learning to Eat (Our Story--Part IV)
- Family Picture
- Family Picture, Part II--The Unfolding
- Owning It
- Living in a World of Possibility
- Bring an Open Heart and Mind
- Thankful
- From Fear to Awe
- From Fear to Awe, Part II
- Left With Love
- I Wish I Would Have Known
- Mission Statement for Bridget's Services
Photo Montage
A Year in the Life (Sunshine Girl)
Bridget, from two to three
An Orphan No More
Our Adoption Montage
Take Your Coat Off & Stay Awhile...
If you visit our house, you are welcome to kick your shoes off by the front door, or leave them on--whichever is most comfortable for you. The same applies when you visit here.
You should feel free to stop by often or sporadically. Leave comments whenever you'd like, but don't feel obligated (I'll always answer questions or entertain topics for new posts. Just email me or leave a comment if there's something you'd like me to address or know. And I'll keep writing even if everyone out there is silent...but if everyone out there leaves feedback, I'll have much more to write about!)
If you knock on my door and I'm in my pj's, I may or may not answer (I always assume it's the Fed Ex guy, anyway). But that is part of the beauty of blogland...you can pop in here, without warning, at any time day or night. You can slip quietly away, or take up residence. Since there's no chance of waking a sleeping baby--or encountering unflushed toilets--you can also go anywhere you please on this blog at your leisure.
This is all to say that however you got here, and whatever shape you came in, I'm glad you stopped by. Feel free to stay awhile and look around...
You should feel free to stop by often or sporadically. Leave comments whenever you'd like, but don't feel obligated (I'll always answer questions or entertain topics for new posts. Just email me or leave a comment if there's something you'd like me to address or know. And I'll keep writing even if everyone out there is silent...but if everyone out there leaves feedback, I'll have much more to write about!)
If you knock on my door and I'm in my pj's, I may or may not answer (I always assume it's the Fed Ex guy, anyway). But that is part of the beauty of blogland...you can pop in here, without warning, at any time day or night. You can slip quietly away, or take up residence. Since there's no chance of waking a sleeping baby--or encountering unflushed toilets--you can also go anywhere you please on this blog at your leisure.
This is all to say that however you got here, and whatever shape you came in, I'm glad you stopped by. Feel free to stay awhile and look around...
Blog Archive
-
▼
2010
(128)
-
▼
April
(29)
- Watching the Girls Outside
- Am I Dreaming? (A Family of Her Own)
- Happy Girl
- Sisters
- Q & A
- HOME
- Leaving Kiev
- She SMILES...
- Leaving Zaporozhye
- We Have a New Roommate...
- There are no words...
- New Life
- A New Day
- An Orphan No More
- Day 3, Afternoon Visit
- Day 3, Morning Visit
- Details, Details, Details :)
- Be Still My Heart
- From dad....
- A Little Show and Tell
- A Song in My Heart, Feathers in My Hair
- Pieces of Life Here
- Cost of food in Ukraine
- From Experience
- April 8, Post II
- Big Day Today
- Blog Pause
- The Adventure of a Lifetime
- Getting Closer
-
▼
April
(29)
Labels
- A Bright Future (168)
- A Bright Future. Giveaway (4)
- Adoption (114)
- Advocacy (113)
- Alina (103)
- Background (25)
- Background (Our Story) (22)
- Beautiful Bridget (225)
- Bigger Picture (138)
- Bridget (40)
- Buddy Walk (23)
- CODSS (2)
- Daily Life (253)
- Development (95)
- Disability (171)
- Down syndrome (398)
- Down Syndrome Awareness Month (62)
- DSACO (17)
- Hope (52)
- IEP (12)
- Introduction (2)
- Just a Thought (80)
- Light (67)
- Myth Busters (29)
- New Ds Diagnosis (108)
- Nothing to do with Down syndrome (32)
- Photos (40)
- Poems (2)
- Potty Training (12)
- Preschool (36)
- Quotes (4)
- Reece's Rainbow (15)
- Services (22)
- Siblings (115)
- Sign Language (4)
- Speech (5)
- Status Update (40)
- tips (4)
- traveling (10)
- Ukraine (29)
About Me
Followers
You can choose
...to worry about everything, second-guess every decision you make, compare your life to the lives of others or to the life you thought you'd have.
Or, you can choose to embrace your life, whatever choices you've made and whatever has come to you by chance.
You can make the choice to be grateful, and hopeful, and to live a life filled with love.
Or, you can choose to embrace your life, whatever choices you've made and whatever has come to you by chance.
You can make the choice to be grateful, and hopeful, and to live a life filled with love.
While some people will make assumptions and predictions about what children with Down syndrome are capable of accomplishing or how they might be limited in life, it is impossible to predict the future for any child in terms of health, achievement or ability.
All children deserve and need love, attention, guidance and nurturing. All children benefit from a loving, accepting, encouraging, stimulating and positive home environment.
There's no telling what our children will accomplish, and what they will be happy doing.
With our guidance, attention and love, the world is full of possibility--for them, and for us.
All children deserve and need love, attention, guidance and nurturing. All children benefit from a loving, accepting, encouraging, stimulating and positive home environment.
There's no telling what our children will accomplish, and what they will be happy doing.
With our guidance, attention and love, the world is full of possibility--for them, and for us.
Local T21 Friends
-
-
A Fresh Start14 years ago
-
We’ve Moved….14 years ago
-
-
Other Places I visit
- 5 Reasons I Smile
- Alexandra Rose
- Archie's Room
- Audrey & Stella's Playground
- Band of Angels
- Bill and Ria (Matthew)
- Blessings from Aubrey
- Bloom
- Brennan's Beginnings
- Conny Wenk & Juliana
- Dan Drinker
- Days with Dylan & Laurie
- Down Syndrome New Mama
- Down Town DS
- Down With Oz (Ozzie)
- Ella Grace with the Pretty Face
- Emma Sage
- Enjoy the Journey
- Enjoying the Small Things (Nella)
- Feisty Kaelyn
- Fighting Monsters with Rubber Swords (Robert Rummel-Hudson & Schuyler)
- Finnian's Journey
- Genetially Enhanced (Sheridan)
- Gifts
- Giggles and Scribbles (Justin)
- Hannah's Shenanigans
- I Don't Know What To Say (Abby)
- Larkin's Place
- Learning as I go (Rylee)
- Life As We Know it
- Life Decanted
- Life with Bubba, Chicky & Nika
- Life With my Special K's (Kennedy & Kellsey)
- Lila's Miracle Life
- Little Miss E
- Little Miss Magic (Maren)
- Little Wonders (Zoey)
- Livia the Great
- Love for Colin
- Love Notes to My Family (Jack)
- Malakai Stow
- Monkey Musings (John Michael)
- Mothering by the Seat of My Pants (John)
- Mundo Bean (Lucas)
- Narrow Ridge (Ian)
- Not That You Asked (Jude)
- One Day at a Time
- One More, More Than One (Malea)
- Our Bundle of Joy (Joey)
- Our Life with Emmie
- Our Unexpected Journey (Bennett)
- Pinwheels (Jennifer Graf Groneberg & Avery)
- Prince Vince
- Quinn's Crusaders
- Raising Reid
- Reimer Reason (Kellen)
- Ruby's Life
- Sara's Feeding & Speech Thoughts
- Sarah--Class of 2008
- Small Swift Birds --formerly I Never Thought...(Evan)
- Speak Softly...
- Stumbo Family Story (Nichole)
- Ten Squares, Three Squiggles (Caden)
- The Bates Motel (Sammi)
- The Flege Farm (Mayson)
- The Seal Bark (Morgan)
- The Tao of Tulips
- Three Little Birds
- Three Little Butterflies
- Three's a Charm (Joaquin)
- To The Max
- TPFFDSBB
- Unringing the Bell (Georgia)
- Where There's a Will
- World of Possibility (Candee Basford & Katie)
- Yo Mamma Mamma (Violette)
- Zip - Perdue - Dee - Dah (Kira)
The Bigger Picture
This page is not just about Down syndrome; it's about acceptance--of circumstances, of self and of others. It's about embracing Life and understanding that while we can't control everything that happens, we can choose to see the goodness nonetheless...
A Beautiful Life
(A Poem for Bridget by Mom)
Look at me
Loving Life
Laughing
Watching
Becoming
See what
I can do and
All I am
Look closely…
Through the soft focus of my life
frame by frame
You’ll see the essence of things
I see the world
in its most perfect state
I see the good in things
and in people
I see a world
of Joy, Hope
and Infinite Possibility
See me for who I am
Deliberate, sweet and true
I am beautiful
I am strong
I am happy
I am loved
I live a Beautiful Life
I am
A Beautiful Life
Look at me
Loving Life
Laughing
Watching
Becoming
See what
I can do and
All I am
Look closely…
Through the soft focus of my life
frame by frame
You’ll see the essence of things
I see the world
in its most perfect state
I see the good in things
and in people
I see a world
of Joy, Hope
and Infinite Possibility
See me for who I am
Deliberate, sweet and true
I am beautiful
I am strong
I am happy
I am loved
I live a Beautiful Life
I am
A Beautiful Life
In the right light,
things glisten, glow, sparkle—
appear extraordinary.
Light is simple, basic, necessary. Light is comfort; it is a guide;
it is a metaphor for happiness,
for knowledge, and for clarity.
It is a symbol of enlightenment
and of promise.
I have chills and am teary eyed! You guys are doing such an amazing thing...Alina is all smiles because she has an amazing, loving family! You can tell she completely feels the love!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy for you guys :)
ReplyDeleteShe couldn't be any cuter or sweeter!
What a blessing.
You gave her life back to her... amazing!!! In the photo of the two of you, there is a look of peaceful contentment in her eyes. It shows... she knows she has been saved and she knows she is loved. Love following your blog! GOD Bless You all.
ReplyDeleteabsolutely beautiful....
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa! I've been following your journey and am so inspired by what you are doing for Alina. You and your family are so special and she is so lucky to be a part of it. I'm so happy for her and for your family. She is adorable! I hope to meet you sometime in the near future.
ReplyDeleteI just knew she would blosson in your love!
ReplyDeleteOh Alina! You are just precious!
ReplyDeleteShe is BEAUTIFUL!
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures. You are SO blessed. She looks beautiful and so happy. Happy to have a mom and dad to call her own.
ReplyDeleteHave a great trip home.
Lisa, I've been following your blog and those smiles are precious. This blog will be a great gift for Alina when she is older. Safe travels..
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I can't stop getting teary-eyed whenever I see her. Love her smiles!
ReplyDeleteOH HOW HAPPY YOU MUST BE :) I am so happy for all of you !!!
ReplyDeletePrecious! She looks very happy with mommy and daddy by her side. Congratulations again!
ReplyDeleteLisa (Kristin's best friend)
You both have such pretty teeth!
ReplyDeletechris & lisa...i am sitting here in tears seeing your photos & that little angel your bringing home! it seemed like just yesterday emmy ran up to us in the cul de sac and said you were adopting a baby girl...and here she is on her way home to her new family! miss seeing you...life is too busy these days & yours is about to get even busier! lisa, you are truly an inspiration!!!
ReplyDeleteso amazing!!
ReplyDeleteso happy things have worked out so well!
can't wait to see you all at home :)
I am absolutely happy for your family and I cannot wait to meet her. This will be the best Buddy Walk ever!!!! Hopefully soon we will have good news about our Yana. I cannot wait to get my three angels with your two. Let me tell you, my boys are pretty handsome :) Take care and have a wonderful time with your beautiful little girl!!
ReplyDeleteYou have to look at my facebook buddy walk pictures :) I just was looking through them and realized I have a picture of Miss B! I knew I knew you guys :)
ReplyDeleteGoosebumps!!!! Oh, Lisa, those are beautiful! Such an amazing smile... and to think of all the previous photos of Alina - you have truly lit up her life!
ReplyDelete...and this is just the beginning, your love will take her to places she never would have known without it. Thank you God that Alina is with you...you can just see what a precious little soul she is in these pictures.
ReplyDeleteI missed checking here for a couple of days just to see that you already have her! Oh my that was fast! They must have waived the 10 days, how wonderful!
ReplyDeletepaperwork in Kiev should only take you one day, unless they take it easy on you if you can't fly out yet. As you enjoy the blossoms though, do make sure you go to that central garden in Kiev (cannot remember the name right now) it should be beautiful!
Hey, Lisa, I am the first-time commenter here. Your daughter looks so much like you! That smile and elegance!.. Absolutely YOUR biological child!
ReplyDeleteI am amazed how your journey shapes up my life. Though my son is 4 months old now, I cannot get rid of the thought that MY CHILD IS WAITING FOR ME in the orphanage.
Best wishes for your family! Great blog, great job, perfect life!
She is beautiful!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for your family and the new life you have given Alina. We are contemplating adoption through RR and have fallen in love with one particular little boy in Ukraine. How did you raise funds so quickly? Do you have any suggestions for us? We have not made any committment yet because the cost of the adoption process is a bit daunting. Any suggestions would be great. I know you are very busy, so whenever you get a chance that would be encouraging to hear how you dealt with the cost.
ReplyDeleteMy email: browning.onehappyfamily@gmail.com
Thanks
Charrissa
I am sooooo HAPPY for her! And for you! Love, a BEAUTIFUL thing!
ReplyDeleteShe is amazing! I can't wait to met her...now Dylan will have two lovely ladies to take to prom;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderfully happy ending!! Or is it just the beginning? Can't wait to see how the other kids love her!
ReplyDelete