...are keeping me busy :)!
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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)
-
▼
May
(14)
- Q & A on Transition and Assimilation
- Life at Home Since Alina's Arrival: Thoughts from...
- Alina & Bridget
- ALL ABOUT ALINA
- My Name is...
- Whistle While You Work
- Beautiful Bridget
- Beautiful Bridget
- These Two Little Girls
- These Two Little Girls
- Video--Gotcha Day
- Video--Gotcha Day
- Two Weeks In...
- Tired & Happy
-
▼
May
(14)
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.
Those two girls are absolutely........BEAUTIFUL!!! All the joy, laughter and the secrets they will hold..........*sigh*:) Congrats again, Lisa, to you and your family!!!!
ReplyDeleteOMG! They are so precious together!!:)
ReplyDeleteAmy
OMG!!! They are so adorable! TOTAL twins!!!
ReplyDeletePrecious!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an adorable twosome!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the pic! Can't wait to get an update on Alina's assimilation process... but I know you must be crazy-busy right now.
ReplyDeleteTwo little cutie patooties!!! I know you've got your hands full which is the best way to be. Enjoy your "twins". :)
ReplyDeleteKristin
Love, love, love them together! They do look like trouble though! : )
ReplyDeleteI am getting ready to write an update on Alina...does anyone have any specific questions :)?
ReplyDeleteThat is really way too cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you have them sleeping in the same room?
ReplyDeleteI bet they are! They are soooo cute!
ReplyDeleteADORABLE little bare-footed "twins". How precious! Heaps of blessings to you.
ReplyDeleteDouble adorableness!!
ReplyDeleteJust wondering how Alina has adjusted to her new family.
Gretchen, yes...they are sharing a room...and it is working out great! That is going to have to be a post in itself :)!
ReplyDeleteSooooo cute!!!
ReplyDeleteI love that picture!
ReplyDeleteLOVE LOVE them! So beautiful together!
ReplyDeleteLOL! I bet they are!
ReplyDeletelisa, i squealed when i saw this picture! sooo cute (said in high-pitched, almost squealing like voice).
ReplyDeleteand the pics of bridget on your other blog...omg. she looks so grown up!
you're killing me with these two...totally killing me...
so sweet... i'm really curious how alina is doing with english- & your family with russian... & how your older kids are dealing with having a new sister (is there jealousy?)... & how much you reference back to her home in the ukaraine with pictures/stories/songs/etc & how she responds.... & if there are any distinct characteristics/habits alina (still) has that reflect her upbringing in the orphanage... & how she relates to you as authority figures... & how much of a snuggle-bug :-) she has become (or not)...? & of course i don't expect everything to be answered!! i can only imagine how your hands are full... all the best.xx
ReplyDeleteYou should really enter that in some kind of a photo contest.
ReplyDeleteSOOO cute!!! Love them!!
ReplyDeleteI hope that everything is going well : )
xo
Uh oh. That's trouble walkin' toward ya ;-)
ReplyDeleteHopped over from Bridget's site, after seeing photos of Ms "Bridgey". I was already smiling until I saw these two sisters together. Love this photo of the two of them- what a joy!
ReplyDeleteOH MY GOSH! To cute. I bet they keep you busy! I am waiting for some posts that will having me laughing off my chair! Bridget is growing up...she is a little girl! It's like the toddler is gone....:(
ReplyDeleteThey grow way to fast! I can't stand it! xoxo
So glad I scrolled down and looked at past posts! I might have missed this picture otherwise! What a sweet photo of two sweet girls! :0
ReplyDelete