Spirits

“When I was 16, I remember holding my tiny niece as my mom babysat her one afternoon, and as I gazed at her, I felt her VERY powerful spirit that it brought me to tears. These are very special people.”
-Meridith

Elf

Dan says she looks like a house elf in her sleep sack & with her pigtails and I can’t unsee it. 😂

Inspiration

“I'm a teacher because of an experience I had teaching Camille, a nine-year-old, how to swim. We did multiple private lessons over one summer. The family was just hoping she wouldn't be so scared of water. We actually started in the locker room showers because she wouldn't go near the water! At the end of the summer, she jumped off the diving board and swam all the way across the pool. It was the most rewarding experience I had ever had, and ultimately made me decide to go into teaching. 😊”
-Stacie

Magnet for Magic

When Lydia was born I was afraid that love, opportunity, education, and acceptance would be lost to her. I never knew that she would, instead, be a magnet & a magnifying glass for these things. Her potential for impacting the world for the better is incredible. I just watch in awe the magic that follows her. #misslydiefaith #downsyndromeawareness #theluckyfew

Opportunist

When you leave your homework unattended... 📚 She’s a good climber & ready to participate in everything. 😁 #misydiefaith

Leaf Pile!

Lydie’s first time playing in leaves. The boys were excited to show her how it goes and she didn’t even lose it when they almost buried her! They were mostly gentle, but you know, brothers 😜.

Capable

“So for me, I’ve learned about how much those with DS are CAPABLE of. The stigma of a life full of inabilities and shortcomings doesn’t exist for me anymore. From following you, @terahbelle, @cedarsstory, and from being blessed to have children with DS in our music class, I’ve had the opportunity to learn that the potential they possess is amazing. And, no one loves more genuinely and freely than they do.”
-Meghan

Appreciate

Throwback to one of my favorite pictures of this girl who is just so good at appreciating every beautiful thing. Going to make this my goal, today. 💛

Giggles

::Quietly sneaks in more sunglasses pictures:: 🕶

Celebrate!

“Some of my students have Down Syndrome. The love and laughter that we share together are the favorite parts of my days at school. The hugs and high fives when they have accomplished something they’re proud of are the best! It helps me to remember that every single accomplishment is worth celebrating!”
-Betsy
#downsyndromeawareness

Living Miracle

About 50% of children born with Down Syndrome also have congenital heart defects. While any heart problem is traumatic, the good news is that only about 1 in 5 of those children have CHDs that are considered “severe.” My Lydie Faith is a heart warrior. She was born with 4 congenital heart defects, three of which were repaired in open heart surgery when she was five months old. A week after her first surgery, Lydia underwent a second surgery in which she had a permanent pacemaker placed after a rare complication with the repair surgery. Through the miracle of medicine my sweet girl has graduated from a tiny baby who didn’t have strength to eat or cry to an energetic, mischievous two year old 😄 If asked to weigh the two diagnoses, I would say that, to this point, the heart defects outweigh the stress of the Down Syndrome diagnosis 10 to 1. In spite of that, her prognosis for a long & healthy life is very good. 🙏🏻 Lydie has strength, courage, meekness, and faith like I have never witnessed firsthand, before. She’s our living miracle. #misslydiefaith #lydiesheart

Pure

“The hugs I’ve received from friends with Down syndrome were the most accepting and welcoming and healing hugs.” -Cebre #downsyndromeawareness

Siblings

I love watching them play. 🥰
This may not seem like a DS awareness post—Lydia isn’t even in it! But here is the thing: Yes, Down Syndrome impacts our lives, but Down Syndrome is not our lives. Even for Lydia. It is one tiny aspect in a world that keeps going and (minus 2020) looks very normal. Just like in any family, a new family member brings unique contributions while still fitting into the unit as a whole. Life did not end for these two (or any of us) when Lydia was born. It got deeper. They still get to live and be themselves, and I am here for it.

Cheers!

Lydie brings the party 😁 Loved this capture from our fam pictures by @sherryreneephotography who honored my need to actually be in pictures with my kids, sometimes! Meanwhile Dan was behind the camera doing jumping jacks like a champ for those smiles 😆 When it was his turn with the kids I took my turn being an idiot because there is no such thing as pride for parents during pictures when you’re trying to get those grins. Like, not even a little bit. 😂

Up, Up, Up

Stuff he climbs 2. He was covered in white aspen dust after that 😆 Also, THERE ARE NO LOW BRANCHES. He just bear climbs on up there. 💪🏻

Redemption

There’s no way to prepare for a moment like we experienced when Lydia was born. An ocean could not contain my feelings. I want to write a book someday about our first 18 mo with her, but even that could not contain it all. Shocking, riddled with fear, traumatic... sacred, transformative, and transcending. My sweet, fragile, miracle angel. If we had only known who you really are instead of all the world had taught us to believe. If we could only glimpse the light and joy you bring.
What is life but deep pain and incredible redemption. You will always be my most tender place. My forever tie to heaven.
#misslydiefaith #theluckyfew

Lottery

There is no known cause of or way to prevent Down Syndrome! The extra 21st chromosome usually exists in an egg/sperm BEFORE conception even occurs!! It’s like winning the lottery! While we don’t know whether it was Dan or me who had so much awesomeness that it spilled over into an extra chromosome 😏, we agree that together we made someone EXTRA amazing.
📷: @kylaewert

#misslydiefaith #downsyndromeawareness #theluckyfew

Fashionista

Yes, I have 10,000 pictures of Lydia in sunglasses and yes, I want to share them all. 😎😁 #misslydiefaith

Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month 2020!

Hooray for October & Down Syndrome awareness! I have been saving up pictures of Lydia to share with you this month, and if there’s anything that I’d hope for you to take away or a message I would send back to myself on the day she was born and we found out she had DS it would be this: Individuals with Down Syndrome are beautiful and worthy and make the world a better place. We need them!!! And to the newly diagnosed mother, Congratulations! I promise that you will come to understand and embrace why we call ourselves “The Lucky Few.” 💛💙
#misslydiefaith #dsawareness #theluckyfew