31 For 21 Challenge

DAY 1

October: 10th month of the year

4 of my 8 children have birthdays this month

signifies fall is here

Christmas items start hitting the stores (WOOOHOOO)

my favorite time of year

and.........

DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH

This will be my first year to participate in the 31 For 21 Challenge. The purpose of this challenge is to bring awareness to and educate people of the wonders of Down syndrome. So what we are doing is posting every day during the month. I think that what I am going to do aside from showing you just how much Princess Carrington has grown and continues to capture our hearts, I am going to do 4 things each day:

1. Share one fact about Down syndrome
2. Share one beautiful orphan who is waiting for their forever family
3. Share one thing about Carrington
4. Share one blog which shares the blessing of a child with Ds

So, since today is DAY 1 here I go........

1. Down syndrome is not a disease but rather the presence of an extra chromosome located on your 21st pair of chromosomes. (You have 23 pairs)

2. Meet Maxim

Maxim

Boy, Born September 15, 2004

Maxim is a precious little boy who has already been sent away to the institution. He needs a family immediately!! He is 6 years old, with blonde hair and blue yes. He struggles with strabismus in both eyes and a significant tongue thrust, but surgery/glasses and OT will help with that! Please give Maxim the chance to grow up in a loving family, so he can realize his full potential!! We have already had a family adopt from this institution, so Maxim still has an opportunity to be saved and to live the life he so richly deserves!

From one of our adoptive families who visited with him in October 2010: I don't know if I can openly share how the whole encounter went so I will just say that we were able to go and while we were there I was able to see Maxim. To hold him and love on him. To laugh as he passed gas and laughed about it. That was one of the best parts of the visit, how he thought "tooting" (is it called that when boys do it?) was just the funniest thing – just like any other 6 year old little boy would. He was so sweet and so alert and attentive to those who had come to visit with him. Here's a little rundown of his abilities that I witnessed first hand:

• He can pull up to stand and walk with assistance.
• He knows his name and responds to it.
• He has a sweet nature, personality, and sense of humor
• He copies hand motions (I believe he could learn to sign)
• He can crawl
• He likes cars! They said he crawls through the window to look out when the car comes to their building.

In the one pic above where you see his hands, he kept touching his thumbs together and so I put his pointers together to make a heart and after that he kept trying to do it himself. His worker was a really sweet lady who obviously believes that people with DS are capable. She hopes to see change in her country someday. That really touched my heart to know that he is being cared for by someone who believes that he can be something if given a chance. AND HE CAN!

Maxim's Mom and Dad? Where are you? I've seen him. I've held him and kissed his sweet face. He is waiting patiently for you to come for him. I KNOW, I just KNOW, that he will be the biggest blessing to his family. Please hear the call – for Maxim.

$10.00 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

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3. Carrington has gained a total of 12 lbs and 12 oz in the 6 1/2 months she has been home.

4. www.angeleyesadoption.blogspot.com

Well here is just the beginning of my 31 day challenge for the blessed chromosomally enhanced. Not too bad for my first ever post in this challenge if I may say so myself and, well, since I am the one posting I will say so :) Why am I posting in this 31 day challenges? Aside from the obvious fact that Ds is near and dear to our hearts, I am posting because there is a world waiting to be enlightened to all of the amazing blessings that come from an individual with Down syndrome. Not all days are picture perfect but then again that all depends on what your picture looks like. My picture is my children LIVING, not lying along in a bed with no one who loves them or feeds them, or educates them. My picture resembles that of maybe a 2 year old who may have gotten a hold of mom's diet Coke (not mine mind you bc I have taught all my kids that if we are all to have a good day then we leave Mommy's soda alone :) ). It is a picture that some cannot see for its true beauty. It is one that you often see people scratching their heads and tilting them all the while trying to make sense of this strange picture set before their eyes. My picture is unique and not for everyone. My picture was picked out just for me by someone so very special and who has very special plans for me. My picture is entitled; PURE JOY! My picture is my 7 children who keep me busy and blessed as well as my little angel boy whom I know is just loving sitting and playing with his Great Grandma who recently joined him in the greatest of all playgrounds-Heaven, and my picture is supported and encouraged by the love of my life-my wonderful husband. So my challenge to you tonight is to take a look at your picture and then marvel at how uniquely God created it just for you.