Everything happens for a reason

Dear readers,

It's almost down syndrome awareness month, and we couldn't be more excited. Thanks to our precious Laksh, this is our second year celebrating the unique and talented people with Down syndrome.

The more I think, the more I feel like Laksh and us were meant to happen no matter what. I know its silly but I always keep looking for omens, like God is trying to guide me through these signs. I am sure, you guys are aware that Down syndrome is caused by a third copy of the 21st chromosome, which incidentally happens to be my husband (3rd) and my birth date's (21st). If this isn't God telling us he got it, then I don't know what is.

God's favorite child

In today's time, children and adults with down syndrome are achieving so much and paving the path with success for all of us to follow. They are giving us "hope", something that unfortunately most of the medical world never does. You may have heard some doctors saying that your baby will always be happy, which some how paints them to be different than other kids. I have heard so many parents with typical kids telling me their kid is a happy child. How is that different from a baby with down syndrome being happy? And most importantly, your child will experience an array of emotions, just like anyone else. It is just that they might be easier to forgive you and move on. Live in the present and be kind. 

One thing that irritates me the most is how doctors let down syndrome define your child's life. Anything I say Laksh is feeling, the answer is because is has hypotonia. I remember once I asked his doctor about excessive salivation and she said he has low tone in his mouth, but in reality it was because he was teething. You have to remember that this news will not over power your life. In fact, in a while it will slide into the background and you will just have good and bad days like anyone else which has nothing to do with down syndrome and everything to do with having a baby. You may have heard of Mikayla Holmgren - the first Miss USA contestant with Down syndrome, she once said in an interview that she has down syndrome on the side. I absolutely loved that and feel that is the best way to make people realize how it is not what defines you but just something you happen to have.

Also, more recently a 19 year old with Down syndrome won an international beauty pageant. Read more about her here:

https://metro.co.uk/2018/08/20/girl-with-downs-syndrome-wins-international-beauty-pageant-7858920/

Could become a teacher, you never know

To mention a few more to make us see the ABILITY and not the disability in people.

Angela Bachiller from Spain became the first person with Down syndrome to ever be elected as a councilwoman

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ángela_Bachiller

Sujeet Desai from USA plays seven muscial instruments including the violin, piano, saxophone and trumpet

http://www.sujeet.com/

Megan McCormick from USA is the first person with Down syndrome to graduate with honors from a technical college

https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/community/article44423688.html

Pablo Pineda earned a bachelor’s degree in educational psychology and has gone on to be a writer, speaker, and actor.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Pineda

Ruby Plachta is a 7 year old awesome kid living with her parents and older sister in Texas and has already helped so many adults with down syndrome to attend college. 

https://rubysrainbow.org/

Madeline Stuart is an Australian to become  the world's first professional model with Down syndrome. 
http://www.madelinestuartmodel.com/

Isabella Springmuhl Tejada is a 20-year-old fashion designer from Guatemala.
https://aplus.com/a/fashion-designer-with-down-syndrome-isabella-springmuhl?no_monetization=true

John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome is a co-founder John’s Crazy Socks
https://johnscrazysocks.com/

Laksh walking towards success while rocking his ponytail

These are just a few examples of how these young adults are shattering the image of what or how someone with Down syndrome should be. These talented individuals have so much determination that nothing can keep them down. Nothing can stop them and my Laksh from succeeding in life. All we need to do is believe. Thank you for reading. Remember to always be kind. 

Therapy Thursday

Laksh currently has physical therapy twice a week and his PT has recommended we start him with some OT as well. We are in the process of getting that done. There is just way too much paperwork involved for everything and also it is a bit time consuming. Anyway, whatever he needs.

Laksh has been getting therapy for a couple of weeks now, and my boy is doing his best. I try to get him to do exercises on the day he does not have therapy but working full time and spending way too much time traveling to and from work makes it difficult (disadvantages of working in NYC, everything is just too damn far) to get home before his bedtime.

Day one of therapy:

Laksh and mamma waiting for PT to get home

Starting his session with some range of motion exercise

He then moves on to some massage for his back muscles to improve his tone while weight bearing on his arms.

                                                                                                                                                                                           

This is something new that his PT added which highlights his better head control while reinforcing and continuing training his neck muscles to further improve head control

This is just Laksh chilling on his play mat after therapy

Day two of therapy:


Some range of motion exercises for his legs. lease note: both upper and lower limb range of motion exercises are done each session followed by the therapy ball. Have shown only few of the exercises so it does not get too long and repetitive.

This is tummy time along with some lower extremity exercises. Towards the end you can see Laksh look right at the camera and complain to his daddy about how hard we are making him work.

Here he is chilling on his play mat but in a new style where he is now kicking the objects instead of his usual attempts to punch or grip them

Laksh got bored of all the videos his mamma kept taking so he gave me this look.

Hope all these videos are helping you guys. Please feel free to ask me any questions in the comment section. Follow us and spread the word. Thank you guys. Have a nice weekend. 

21 things I am grateful for this Thanksgiving

In this busy life, it is easy to forget what things we have going for us and keep focusing on things that are not. For instance, focusing on not getting the promotion you were gunning for and forgetting to be grateful for having a job. Getting upset over not being able to get that branded bag but forgetting to be grateful for the other bags you already have. Crying over baby having diagnosed with down syndrome at birth instead of being grateful for this tiny miracle you created.(see what I did there 👶❤)

I know this blog is not completely from Laksh's point of view or even fully about him like it usually is, but I needed to put this in writing for him to see when he grows up. It being thanksgiving weekend, I decided to come up with reasons 21 that I am thankful/grateful for this life that God gave us. (21 has become my most favorite number recently, oh & also, it is my birth date)

1. We have Laksh and he has us
2. We have a roof over our heads
3. We have food in our bellies
4. We have love in our house
5. We have people that care about us
6. Laksh has both sets of grand parents
7. Laksh has two older sisters (cousins but closer than the real deal), aunts and uncles
8. Laksh has a fur brother
9. We are healthy
10. We have an amazing online DS community, our extended family
11. We have jobs so we can provide for our baby
12. We have access to great medical care
13. We became parents
14. We saw his first smile
15. We heard his first cry
16. We celebrated his first Rakhsha Bandhan
17. We celebrated his first Diwali
18. We celebrated his first Bhai Dhuj
19. We celebrated his first Halloween 
20. We celebrated his first thanksgving
21. And last but not least, we will have the rest of our lives to see his many firsts and seconds and more.

Never forget to be kind to others as kindness is all that matters. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours.