Kelle Hampton is a little bit of a celebrity in the Down syndrome world. I’ll be honest – I’m not 100% sure how that happened so I don’t have a good story about why she rocks other than to say that this woman, in fact, totally rocks. (I’m willing to bet this “celeb status” is […]
About Melissa
Mom, writer, advocate, knitter.Author Archive | Melissa
Well Baby
Today Rowenna had a well baby doctor appointment. Baby girl is lookin’ good! Ya Baha’u’l-Abha! I am totally in love with her pediatrician. It hit me today how absolutely lucky we have been to have her pediatrician and her cardiologist. I have heard absolute horror stories about how little ones with Down syndrome are treated […]
My Family
Right now I’m sitting in the living room of a truly beautiful beach house amidst absolute chaos. It’s good chaos, though – kids laughing, dishes clanking, people trying to carry on conversations from opposite sides of the living room. If I could only say one thing about my family it’s that these people live life […]
December 23
A year ago today, hubby and I nervously walked into my OB’s office for an ultrasound. A few days earlier we had received the results of our quad screen – 1 in 227 risk of having a baby with Down syndrome. The first step after that was an ultrasound to check all her little parts […]
Fragile Emissary
Sometimes you read something and you wonder if that person somehow read your thoughts and put them into writing for you. I stumbled across this poem while reading another blog about a mom and her kiddos, including a beautiful girl with Down syndrome. Instant tears. Our Fragile Emissary by Nancy Tupper Ling With modern screening […]
What I Know – December 2010
I’ve been inspired by something I read in an online forum for parents of kids with Down syndrome. Someone posted a list of things she knows for sure in light of all that is uncertain in her life right now. Since I can absolutely relate to that feeling, I thought it might be helpful for […]
Translocation
Today we received a difficult phone call. Down syndrome is caused by a third full copy of the 21st chromosome. That is why it is sometimes called Trisomy 21. Of all the people in the world with Down syndrome, 96% have a completely random form caused by a third 21st. 3% have what is called […]
6 Months
My baby girl is 6 months old today. If you would have told me 6 months ago that today I would be this happy, I would not have believed you. Those early days were rough and ugly and raw. A hundred horrible things ran through my mind as I tried to come to terms with […]
Thanksgiving 2010
Thanksgiving is hands down my favorite holiday. Always has been, and I suspect it always will be. For me, it is the holiday that best embodies love, family, friendship, and laughter. I can’t think of one Thanksgiving I didn’t laugh. I can’t think of one I didn’t enjoy. It’s a pure holiday – no trappings, […]
A Rowenna Update
So this blog doesn’t always need to be philosophical. I hadn’t meant for it to take that turn. I just wanted to go on philosophical tangents now and again. To get back toward my “this is what life is” course, here’s an update on Rowenna. Yesterday we had a visit with her cardiologist. Rowenna was […]
