Where is your baby with Down syndrome?

Over the last couple of weeks, we have had several instances where someone will be looking right at Cobee and ask us where our baby with Down syndrome is. My brother got married a couple of weeks ago and one of the bride's maids, whom we have never met before, took Cobee to hold him and once she held him close to her, she was hooked. She held him for over an hour before someone else was able to pry him away from her. Later that night, she asked my brother, "I thought you said you had a baby nephew with Down syndrome. Where was he?" She was shocked at first when my brother told her that he was the baby that she had been holding all night. Then she said, "He was such an angel! I knew that there was something special about that baby. I should have put two and two together." It is so hard to look to the future and know what Cobee will be like. (For the most part). I find comfort in knowing that he is so normal right now, that in 6 years from now, it will still be normal. And in 20 years from now, it will still be normal. That is the only way that I can see it right now.

Sitting Up!

Yet another victory! Cobee is sitting up! He looks like such a little man. I don't like that he is growing up, but each new stage is so fun with him. We are all enjoying watching him grow. We all take our turns pushing him and encouraging him through each stage of devlopement. I often walk around the corner and find the other boys down on the ground with him, right in his face saying,"Use your arms, Cobee!"

LoVe is Unconditional

My boys have such a connection to Cobee. Love is much too shallow of a word to describe the way I feel for Cobee, and I think that I can speek for the rest of us when I say that. I have found a deeper meaning to life. I never, in a million years, thought that I could love my boys any more than I did, but I was wrong. Cobee has brought a deeper, more Christ-like love to our whole family. We speak softer and kinder, we have a more meaningful relationship with each other. Shane and my marriage has never been stronger. I can't explain it. All I know is that I love all of my boys so much more than ever before. I appreciate the little things more and I have whitnessed an unconditional love unfold from the walls in our home.

Mr. T

Cobee has a perfect mohawk down the middle of his head, so we thought that Mr. T was apropriate for Hallowen this year! He was the hit of the pary! I pitty the fool!

I cannot tell you how many times I have noticed people (usually older people) watching me (or I guess I should say Cobester) from a distance. Most of the time they get the courage to approach us, and when they do, they say something like "I was so drawn in by your baby, I just wanted to take a closer look". Sometimes they notice Traits of Down syndrome and then realize why they were drawn in, sometimes they don't. But they all recognize his strong spirit. Pretty amazing. They always tell me how beautifull he is, and they usually have some kind of story for me, or words of encouragement. I can't tell you what a comfort it is to me that people, not just my family, accept him and love him, and they don't even know him. They don't have to know him for very long to feel his sweet spirit. I had it happen, yet again, while I was at the store today. So thank you to all of you who have given such great support to Cobester and our family. Your support has given me great strength, when others, who are ignorant to the world of children with dissabilities, say derogatory remarks without realizing that they are being offensive. I have found the strength to say "It hurts my feelings that you feel that way about a group of children that you know nothing about. Maybe I should bring my son in for you to hold. Maybe that would change your mind on the way that you feel about children with special needs". Support from friends and family has softened my heart, and has helped me learn to be defensive in a kind way when the storm blows, and in turn, has proven to be a good teaching tool to those who are ignorant. THANK YOU ALL!!!!

Victory for the Cobee!

The Cobee has mastered the art of rolling over! Some of you may recognize how significant this is for a baby only 5 months old with Down syndrome, and some of you may not. They usually don't start to roll over for several more months due to low muscle tone in their bodies. But not the Cobester!! It is amazing to me how much I have taken for granted all of the little things, like rolling over, for instance, that came so easily for my other boys. I guess sometimes I lose site of the miracles that take place every day. I didn't realize how much of a miracle rolling over is, or even a baby that can nurse without difficulty, or a baby being able to hold up his head, or how much of a miracle it is for a baby to grasp onto a toy. The list could go on and on. It takes hard work and effort on all of our parts, especially Cobee's, in order for him to master milestones of development. Each milestone reached and mastered is a victory none the less, and causes reason to celebrate. Too bad I didn't realize that 3 boys ago! Thanks for keeping me grounded Cobester!

Therapies

These are pictures at a session of his physical therapy and a session of his occupational therapy. Speech therapy is no fun to take pictures of. His speech therapist works on stengthening his jaw and helping the muscles in his tongue and neck get the excersises they need in order to develope strength needed for speech developement. I don't have any pictures of his developmental therapy available either. It is about the same as occupational therapy--at least for now. It will change when he gets older. Regardless- aren't we so lucky to have these therapies and all of the dedicated people who help the Cobester?!? Cobester works soooo hard at his therapies! He is self-motivated, which is encouraging to us because one trait that most Down syndrome children share is lack of motivation- They naturally have low muscle tone, so everything is more challenging for them, making them not want to try as hard. Thankfully, Cobee has genetics on his side!!!