Posted in Down syndrome, Thoughts on Nov 20th, 2007 2 Comments »
A few weeks ago (October 16) I was listening to NPR’s Talk of the Nation. The program of the day was entitled “A Medical Crystal Ball.” It was a discussion on genetic testing, i.e. if you could have a genetic test to determine if you we’re at risk of getting this or that disease, would [...]
Posted in Down syndrome, Family on May 13th, 2007 2 Comments »
Ava is eating with a fork and spoon! Whoo hoo!
Posted in Down syndrome, Family on Mar 2nd, 2007 2 Comments »
One of the hardest things about leaving Austin is leaving the kids’ preschool. The Rise School of Austin and all of the people working there that have touched our lives has been nothing less than transformative.
In the few short months that Reid and Ava have attended Rise, they have grown in ways that I [...]
Posted in Down syndrome, Family, Thoughts on Nov 24th, 2006 No Comments »
One of the very first things that Amy and I recognized following Ava’s birth was that we were now members of a new club. I don’t mean that in a trite kind of way. I mean that we realized that we would be forever and profoundly connected to a new group of people. [...]
Posted in Down syndrome, Family, Thoughts on Sep 1st, 2006 3 Comments »
I was sitting at work writing promotional materials for the new MOWAM newsletter. In my job, I am advocating for the rights of the elderly, the homebound and the disabled—citizens who are often forgotten in our competitive, fast-paced, technologically driven society. While writing what I hope to be a compelling piece, I couldn’t help but [...]
Posted in Down syndrome, Family, Thoughts on Aug 29th, 2006 No Comments »
This was written by Esti Levitansky Rokowsky at age 17 in honor of her special sibling. It resonates with me tremendously.
–
A feeble cry shatters the still air
another child born
Joy, happiness, ecstasy, laughter -
crash!
Suddenly our world comes tumbling down!
Hushed whispers there,
tears falling here
What is wrong with our beautiful little girl?
“Down Syndrome,” the doctor mechanically pronounces
“nothing will [...]
Posted in Down syndrome on Aug 28th, 2006 No Comments »
The Ringer succeeds in moving well though being laugh out loud funny, touching, and thought provoking. Viewers who look for The Ringer to be simple slapstick or to allow them guilty laughs in the name of political incorrectness will miss the entire point of the film. The Farrelly Brothers do an excellent job of presenting [...]
Posted in Down syndrome, Family on Aug 19th, 2006 No Comments »
She said “ball.” Once. Hasn’t done it again, but she said it. Plain as day. “Ball.” She was signing it at the same time.
I contribute it to an entire 2 weeks spent on The Letter B and the “buh” sound at school. The Rise School of Austin. It’s been fabulous.
Admittedly, I was a little nervous [...]
Posted in Down syndrome, Family, Thoughts on Apr 6th, 2006 No Comments »
At the recent Easter Seals gala, a live auction was the highlight of the evening. We were all there, and since it was getting late and Reid and Ava were maxing out on all of the action, we decided to watch the first item on the block get sold – a white rocking horse [...]
Posted in Down syndrome, Thoughts on Mar 22nd, 2006 No Comments »
As Ava and I were leaving the Austin Children’s Museum today, I met a woman who told me about her good friend who is expecting a child with Down syndrome. We talked, I shared information with her to pass along, we talked some more. I asked her to tell her friend one thing [...]