Mama Bear

We have connected with so many wonderful people near and far, new and old via the internet. Yesterday I was reminded that there are also a lot of evil people out there that use the internet to harm others. As I was happily starting my Saturday morning I stumbled upon an email from a group of parent-advocates that told of a very horrible group of people that are stealing images of individuals with Down Syndrome and creating captions for them that are very cruel and insensitive. This was not a good day for me:( I am somewhat nieve and it is hard for me to believe that there are really people out there that would think this is funny and not see how hurtful it can be to those who love these individuals.

Many times I still wonder, why was I chosen for this job. I am not sure I can be the fighter that Will deserves. I am just not a fighter, I never have been. I have always seen myself as the peacemaker. My mom says that this will bring the 'Mama Bear' out in me but I am just not so sure.

As a group we were advised to take down all our pictures on our blogs and to consider requiring people to sign in to access our page. I am just not going to do this. I was reminded by Ron that there are always going to be horrible people out there and we can't do much to change that (I really hate it when he is right when I am trying to freak out about something!), and we will just have to protect Will the best we can from insensitive, mean people. Will and his adorable, smiling face knows no different. Which is comforting, at least for now:)

Otherwise Will is doing great. He has starting grabbing for his toes and is looking like he wants to roll over. This week he has his big meeting with the Help Me Grow therapists, his vision screen and his 4-month well-baby check. So it will be an exciting week and hopefully a good one filled with good news. We have had a rough couple of weeks. Will was sick and on breathing treatments, Ron got carbon monoxide poisoning, our family dog Ellie died, the Deacon that baptized Will passed away, Uncle Ricky had surgery on his leg...so we really need some good news around here. Thankfully, Will, Ron and Ricky are all recovered and doing great!

One last thing...I hope everyone likes the new blog layout and has seen that I have posted some buttons on the one side that I hope you will check out. First, we are on the list for the Traveling Afghan and you will have to go to the website to read more about it. It is such a neat project! Second we missed the official day for the Spread the Word campaign, but please go to the site and pledge to help end the R-word. Third, all of you that are local and interested, there is a 5K run/walk on May 1 in Columbus to support Down Syndrome awareness. We will be walking/running and would love to have company:) There is another one in the fall that is nationwide so if you miss this one maybe we will catch you in September. Last, I have been following a blog written by a Mom that had a little girl in January with DS. She is an amazing writer and it has become so popular that CNN is doing a piece on her on Tuesday at 4:00 PM. If you haven't heard of her, she wrote an emotional, truthful and beautiful story of her daughter's birth. She too received the diagnosis at birth and in so many ways puts into words EXACTLY how I felt when Will was born but either couldn't express or was afraid to. Her blog is http://www.enjoyingthesmallthings.blogspot.com/ .