A special little lady

Yesterday we attended our first event hosted by the Down syndrome Connection of Anne Arundel County.

It was a pool party held at a nearby pool and the kids were ecstatic to get to go to a new pool.

Bridgie paved the way, making new friends with long haired ladies and teens.

Fist bumping teenage boys

Swimming with two little ladies and one little man in the baby pool

Sharing pizza crust with another little lady her same age with the cutest pig tail braids I have ever seen on any 2 1/2 year old.

Mommy and Daddy got to see that there are people like us out there and to talk with other parents and some teenagers with Down syndrome.

Erin and Eoin got to eat as many cookies and cupcakes as they wanted and swim in a new pool and play in the largest baby pool they have ever seen.

A great event and one that will pull us back for more events.

The blessing of this day came at the end of the night when I was tucking Erin in for bed.

I asked if she had fun at the party.

Yes.

What was your favorite part?

The two little girls in the baby pool with Bridgie.

Oh, really? (insert, complete surprise here)

Yes.  There faces were so cute.  I loved them and I think they should come over for a playdate with Bridgie. 

They could even do a drop off and I could help you take care of them.

Why did you think their faces were so cute?

They were just so round and little, and their eyes were so pretty and they were so smiley waving bye bye, you know like this...

I wish Bridgie looked just like them.  Why doesn't she look just like them?

Well, because she looks just like me and you.  She has a little nose and chin like them but she is not as small as they are.

Oh, yeah, well, I wouldn't really want her to look like them because then she wouldn't be Bridgie.  And Bridgie is so cute too.

Did you see any of the older kids with Ds.?

Yes, but I don't want to talk about it.

(insert, my heart sinking here and my wheels spinning, ready to say why?!)

Well, It's just so complicated and they were all so different from each other and I am too tired to talk about them all.  Did you see them swimming?  And the one boy had an ipod touch.  And the one boy was holding the baby.  Did you see any Mommy's or adults with Ds?

No, I didn't.

Well, that's okay because Bridgie will be one and we will get to see her.

I am ready to go to sleep now.  I already have dreams in my head.

Bless you little one, sweet dreams.

This is the part of the journey that I often forget about.  The love of siblings and the learning that is taking place everyday, every instance.  Sure there are fights and annoyances and wishing to be an only child but at the end of the day there is love.

I love you Erin Kelly Bryl.  For everything about you and your unconditional ability to love.

 I love learning through your eyes and heart.

You bring beauty to our family.

You say it's your birthday....

Yup.

It's my birthday.

38.

My favorite memories of birthdays are of pool parties and eating crabs.

Over the years, things no longer become important on birthdays.

People and memories do.

For me seeing the kids get excited about my birthday makes me happy.

While, I can count my dear friends on one hand, this too makes me happy.

We all want our children to have life long friends and support.

For some, this is harder than for others based on stereotypes, differences, and ability levels.

For my birthday this year would you consider our friendship and consider supporting Best Buddies and the role it plays in developing and supporting friendship between the differently-abled.

Come out and see us tonite or tomorrow for our Bridgie's Brigade Yard Sale.

Buy, sell, or just say hi!!!

If you can't make it would you consider a small donation to Best Buddies in honor of friendship.

$1 - think of sharing a popsicle with your best friend

$3- think of sharing a cup of coffee with that same friend, 10 years later

$5- think of sharing a beer or a single Crab with that friend, 20 years later

Regardless of circumstance we can all do something.  It does not have to be money or getting together it can be a note, a hug, or best yet a prayer for that friend of yours!!!

Blessings come in all shapes, sizes, and sentiments.

"The Lord is good to me and so I thank the Lord for giving me the things I need, the sun, the rain, and the apple trees.  The Lord is good to me."

To donate to Best Buddies

http://www.dcchallenge2012.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=997266&lis=1&kntae997266=9199AD5CC3034C9990BFE952B5FD46B5&team=4942614

Water, water, everywhere!

I may like my sister and my dad but I LOVE water!

See,

I told you.

I may look so sweet but beware when extracting me from this paradise.

I wanna be like Bridgie....

On my Uncle Bill’s driveway last night, I watched as my youngest daughter ‘worked the room’ so to speak.  Walking up and down the flat paradise as if she owned the place, waving and shouting ‘hi!’ in her raspy voice to all who graced her path.  I began to wish that I could be like Bridgie.

Strong

Confident

Loving

Friendly

Fun

These are just a few of her wonderful traits.

Innocent

Trusting

These are a few more.

It’s the innocent and trusting that got me thinking.  While in and of themselves they are great qualities, there is a fine line with them.  In this great big, bad world of ours they can be harmful.  

This got me thinking about being Bridgie’s mom and how it makes me feel.  While that is a post for another time, I want to talk about how those qualities propel me into action.  Ways my parenting has become more purposeful.

Enter Bridgie’s Brigade.  It has recently been brought to my attention that perhaps I am just parading my daughter by bringing attention to Down syndrome in the ways I have chosen.  I gave about 2 minutes thought to this and then trashed it.

What I have chosen to do with this bit of information is further explain Bridgie’s Brigade and it’s purpose.

Bridgie’s Brigade is a journey.  There is no real definition here.

Bridgie’s Brigade was born on a series of training runs, swims, and rides.  (I have written before about God perched on my shoulder whispering in my ear.)  Listening to God and tuning in to His plan can be hard for me.  Tuning out my own thoughts and plans in order to hear Him more clearly takes time.

When Bridgie was born I contacted a local Down syndrome group and for very significant reasons we never connected but recently have and are excited about the new doors opening to us.  During the two years that followed I began trudging my way through all things Down syndrome.  Blogs, websites, books.

One of the resounding messages was that of education.  When you become a parent of a child with Down syndrome you take on another role as well. One of educator.  If you want the world, your community, or even just your family to accept this new love of your life then you have to be willing to share information and educate people on the ins and outs of Down syndrome.  

People think they know.  “Oh, but they are just so sweet and happy all the time”. No, not really. “Things are so much better for ’them’ nowadays”.  Yes and no.  

Our life has taken a turn and I would not change it or go back for any reason. None.  Bridgie is my daughter, Erin and Eoin’s sister.  Down syndrome does not define Bridgie but without it she would not be Bridgie.

Strong

Confident

Loving 

Friendly

Fun

Innocent

Trusting

We love Bridgie and therefore we love Down syndrome.  

Bridgie loves the world and the world loves Bridgie.

Bridgie’s Brigade is born out my concerns over  that last statement.  How do I protect my children from that statement.  ALL of my children. 

You see Bridgie’s Brigade is not about Bridgie.  It is about the collective Bridgie and their caretakers.

I KNOW that I can care for Bridgie and give her all of the resources and skills to become an independent, productive member of society.  But I may not always be here to do the job. 

 Enter Erin and Eoin.  

Add to that the fact no one can TRULY protect the collective Bridgie’s from the world.

So what is a mother to do?  The only thing she can.

Educate.

Bridgie’s Brigade has chosen to support Best Buddies as our first fundraising effort because of it’s focus on integration, education, training, independence, and leadership.  Our family may have to rely on this organization to support our Bridgie, therefore, we must support the collective Bridgie’s and the organizations that support them now.

When Bridgie was born and she was diagnosed with an extra chromosome, my only real concern was Erin and Eoin.  How will this change their lives?  Daily, I see the blessings she has brought to  their lives and how they truly are just brothers and sisters.  But the education is already beginning.  ‘Things’ are different.  And at 6 ½ Erin is asking questions.

We are straight forward and honest in our answers.

She understands that Bridgie has Down syndrome and that she will learn some things at a slower pace.  She understands that we have to communicate through signs with her as she learns words.  She understands we need to speak clearly to her and limit fun baby talk so that she can learn words.

And for now that’s enough.  It does not bother us, therefore, it does not bother her.

The other day she said “Mommy, I wish I had Down syndrome.  Then I could be the same as Bridgie”. Followed up with the question “have I ever had Down syndrome?”  So, we talked about chromosomes and genes and how are bodies are formed and how Bridgie’s body map has one more chromosome and how she could never have Down syndrome because she does not have any extra chromosomes.

And that was enough.  For now.

Bridgie’s Brigade  is about awareness, advocacy, understanding, friendship, and fun.  

A journey.

We are here now, raising money for Best Buddies.

http://www.dcchallenge2012.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=997266&lis=1&kntae997266=9199AD5CC3034C9990BFE952B5FD46B5&team=4942614

Who knows where or what we will be doing in a year.

Won’t you join us?