wonders....

I always wonder, can people tell by looking at him… Many times people will go out of their way to say HI to Lincoln, all of the ladies at the grocery store just love him, and always comment on how cute he is.  Is this because they can see the DS in him? The anxiety of waiting for a reaction from people is certainly not at the top of the list when we go away, but it’s there and I wonder if that feeling is ever going to disappear.  For the most part people don't give us a second look.  Very seldom do we get approached. We did however,  in line at the zoo.  The lady behind us noticed Lincoln and thought she would share her story.  She also had 2 children, 2 years apart.  Her youngest has Down syndrome.  She asked if we were part of any groups, which we arent because of our rural community, and the lack there of.  She didn't have much to say, but the thought of her noticing Lincoln had it makes me wonder if its just because she is on the same page because they do tend to have some of the same physical features.  The most common type of Down syndrome is Trisomy 21, which accounts for 95% of all cases. In this type of Down syndrome, abnormal cell division results in an extra chromosome 21 in each cell. Prior to or at conception, a pair of chromosomes 21 (in either the sperm or the egg) fails to separate. As the embryo develops, the extra chromosome is replicated in every cell of the body. At present, researchers are not sure what causes the presence of an extra chromosome 21. They do know that it can come from either the mother or the father. In a person with Down syndrome, each cell makes excess amounts of chemicals regulated by the chromosome 21 genes. This imbalance in part explains physical similarities in people with Down syndrome.  Other less common forms of Down syndrome result from other processes occurring during cell division, which result in an extra partial chromosome. 2% to 3% of people with Down syndrome have a type called translocation - which means its transferred genetically and approximately 2% of people with Down syndrome have a type called mosaicism - where only half of the cells in the body carry the extra chromosome.  Even though they tend to have similar features, people with down syndrome still look like their other family members.  

Families that have been touched by a child with special needs are always talking about the glory’s and the beauty’s of their child and how wonderful life is.  I dont mean to repeat myself (although its bound to happen during my week of blogging to raise awareness), but anyone with children will say their life is wonderful, and its true, children are an amazing gift! I've been doing alot of research myself on blogs and information sites to get re educated on facts about down syndrome, and I think maybe I'm thinking a little too much about it.  Our life has down syndrome in it, but our life isnt just down syndrome. What would our life be like without down syndrome?  I dont even want to try to imagine. Its as much "normal" as anyone elses.  We have routines, we have outings, we have talents.  Lincolns talent is music.  He loves his drums and harmonica and play pianos.  He is also quite talented in his communication. He impresses me with all of his sign language.  We live our lives just like any other family, just with a story that interests others. Our wants now out weigh our needs. That is a good feeling.