999 Reasons

For starters, Asher turned one! I made a train cake like Adam had for his first birthday and we had a jumping castle and all the local gang of kids around and had a great day. But where does the time go? Especially with your second child I am sure it flies by faster and all the milestones just seem to appear without notice. Especially as they were such a big deal with Kayla. He is walking more now though needs a little encouragement to get going and looks so cute toddling along. It is great having a little boy to dress up in surf clothes and a Dad to take him to check out the waves and although still quite clingy, he is just such a great little guy! It was suc a pleasue to take them both down to Palm beach on Mothers Day and watch them running around like little mad things. He is on my lap as I type this, giving me kisses! Can't get any better than that - oh besides the dirty nappy I smell - peww. 

The Lifestart Fundraiser is finally over and was a huge success with the profits exceeding all our expectations of almost $50,000! So thanks for all your attendance, donations and support. This means that we can expand the much needed hours of our staff. I say 'our' as Lifestart is so close to me. I am the Parent Coordinator and on the Fundraising Committee and attend playgroup there with Kayla every Tuesday along with 5 other kids in our group who all have special needs (mainly DS). She loves going and sitting in classtime listening to a story, playing on the trampoline, doing structured activites like learning her colours and shapes, song time and having morning tea. Even Asher comes along and plays with his volunteer helper Jenny and the other siblings - especially Jorja. The physio, speech and occupational therapist all come to our house for one on one sessions and all say Kayla is doing really well. She will be three in August and her development is around the age of a 2 year old. She is attempting to say words and signs a lot and is only just learning to ride a bike and kick a ball. Things Asher is trying to do now at 1. She knows how to manipulate and get her own way when she wants it, knows how to smile and batt her eyelids to get a cuddle, like kids her age. But you see we have to work a lot harder with her to achieve the things that come so easily to most kids but the thing is, Kayla can achieve them, there is no doubt she will do the things other kids can, just at her own pace. 

Down Syndrome (DS) was named after a man named Langdon Down first described similar traits in some children in 1886. It is a syndrome as there are similar characteristics in people with an extra chromosome 21 but mainly people with DS will take after their parents and have attitudes of their own shaped by the people around them. If only his name was something more positive perhaps the stigma surrounding Down Syndrome wouldn't be so bad! Everyone I know who has a DS child is from a loving family, with support from friends and family and the overall community around them. I think when someone with Down Syndrome comes up or you pass them in the street and you don't know anyone personally with DS to show you otherwise, you may think they are retarded, can't understand you, can't communicate. It is so important to me to change these views. I want Kayla and our family to be spokespeople to everyone we meet that people with a disability can lead full lives, go to normal schools, work alongside you and be your friend. 

Don't judge people and try to embrace the differences we all have that make us unique and you can help make this world a better place.