Links

If you are friends with my Mom on Facebook you will see that she keeps posting all these links to stories about kids with Down syndrome.  It's kind of annoying.  Yeah, yeah, Mom.  We get it.  Kids with Down syndrome can do everything that every other kid can do.  But I guess I will let it go for now because she explained it to me like this,

"Cooper, when I was growing up, you never saw kids with Down syndrome in school with other kids or on teams or doing anything other than riding around in vans with other kids with Down syndrome.   They went to special schools and people called them retarded and made fun of them for being stupid.  It's only been recently that I've started seeing these adults in the community working, playing, eating out with friends and families, and generally being ordinary citizens.  And it's only been since having you that I even recognized my own prejudices, stereotypes and hurtful words.  I have a lot of atonement to do and the best way I can think to do that right now is to share the stories of you and people like you.  So, you'll just have to get over your embarrassment.  I'm sure it won't be the last time I embarrass you :) "

I guess that's it.  She's determined to do it so we'll all just have to endure.  She means well.  And who knows, maybe someone will understand a little more by what she shares and will learn that I am not stupid because I have Down syndrome.  And maybe she can teach one person that calling someone "retarded" is a terrible word of the past just like other hurtful words we have removed from our daily language.

In other news.  If you rub my belly and make a wish, I think it might come true.  See below.

Hangin' with the Mama

The photo above tells the story of the day.  We spent the day in our jammies doing a lot of napping.  It's nice to be home.  We've been running crazy for about a month and spending a lot of time everywhere but home.  Mama says today is about resting and healing so that's what we're doing.  

New Word

Today I learned a new word...Generosity.  My mom can't stop using it.  I overheard her talking so many times today about how generous the people in our lives are.  Here is but a small sampling of what I heard:

"Betsy (that's Momma's best friend since the time of the dinosaurs) organized all of the food for the funeral through her brother Steve (a chef) and her sister Becky brought it up from Battle Creek.  Her whole family is so amazingly generous!  Her mom found and purchased dress clothes for Cooper. and Becky is helping me deliver a very important work piece to Grand Rapids so that I don't have to drive out there in the morning.  This is just the beginning of the kind of love and generosity that Betsy and her family have shown us during this horrible time.  I can never thank them enough."


"People from the Red Cross (Grandma was a big volunteer for them) organized a lunch for the family in between visitations today.  What a generous act from an organization my Mom was proud to be a part of.  Thank you for thinking of us today."


"Rosalynn Bliss (Momma's boss) and the leadership team at work have been so generous in their willingness to work with my crazy life over the last few months.  They have been a constant source of support and encouragement for me.  I can't believe how lucky I am to work for such a wonderful group of people at a place that does such good."

As you can see, I've heard this word, generosity, so many times...and this doesn't even begin to cover all the little and big things that people have done for me and my Mom during this time.  Oh, Momma asked me to make sure to include how generous Aunt Annie has been in giving up her life to help care for Grandma and how Aunt Becki had to generously take on the extra work with Aunt Annie being away.  Also, Aunt Valy bought me an awesome outfit and shoes to wear to the funeral....I think that's pretty generous...plus got Grandma's house cleaned for Grandpa.  There are so many people who have done countless acts of kindness for my Mom and our family that their generosity can never be thanked enough.  But I will try.

THANK YOU.

Me and My Grandma

I spent the night with Grandma last night.  We're at this place called The Hospice House of Holland.  Grandma isn't awake anymore and that's really hard on my Momma.  She says that Grandma will just drift off soon and she won't be in anymore pain or have anymore fear.  I'm glad for that but I will miss her very much.  I don't understand why she can't be with us but Momma says we'll get through it and we just have to love her for as long as we have her.  She sang me my first song and I will try to remember that.  I will remember how she rocked me to sleep and our "Grandma Naps."  I will remember that she smelled nice and held me close for as long as she could.  I will remember that I have the best Grandma ever.  But, she told me that she will be watching over me so I guess I don't have to worry that she's too far away.  Get some rest, Grandma because it's going to be hard work keeping up with me!  I love you.

I've been a busy boy

There has been a lot going on since I posted last.  Mommy has been having a hard time with Grandma in the hospital but she told me to stop using that as an excuse and let you all know what's been going on.

As I told you in my last post, I caught my first cold.  I'm still fighting it a little and it didn't help that I got my immunization a few days ago and haven't felt quite right since.  Mamma's arms are getting really strong because I'm not feeling much like sitting by myself these days.  It just feels better to sit with her when I feel bad.   But don't get the wrong idea about me.  I'm no crybaby.  I got my shots and didn't shed a tear when they attacked me with those needles.  Mamma was all worked up and ready for me to scream and cry.  Instead I looked right at her and smiled...I mean, there was this brief second where I thought I might lose it but for Mamma's sake I stayed strong.

We've been at the hospital every day for the last week.  You should see these nurses!  They just won't leave me alone.  Everyone knows my name and when a new nurse comes on who hasn't met me yet, I hear "Is this Cooper that I've been hearing so much about?"  I guess I'm kind of a big deal.  I've been getting to spend lots of time with my Aunt Annie and Aunt Renee.  That's pretty cool but hopefully Grandma will get to go home soon because the hospital is getting old.  We got to change floors yesterday so that was a nice change in scenery.  There are rocking chairs on the second floor and I love to rock. Mom says we try to find the small things to be happy about these days...even if it's just that there are rocking chairs in the waiting room.

I better get going.  Grandma awaits!  Sorry for the delay in the update.  I know this one is not up to my usual standards but I needed to just get it done so I didn't stop all together and ruin Mamma's New Year's resolution.

My Very First Cold

I am sick.  What the heck?  I don't understand why I can't breath and why I'm so hot and why I neeeeeeed to be glued to my mama's side.  Doesn't make any sense to me.  I did hear Mom say something about it being nice of me to get sick on the same day as my 4 month well baby check-up...I guess those are covered 100%.  I think I should get the $25 difference.  I need it for my college fund.  Do you have any idea how much college is going to cost by the time I get there?!?  So yeah, this sucks.  I am really sleepy but I can't seem to stay asleep for longer than about a half an hour and Grandma couldn't hold me at chemotherapy because I'm contagious or something.  I need to get better so that I can continue to be Grandma's best medicine.

Mama told me to tell you that I weigh 12 lbs and 5 oz and am 24.25 inches long.  That's almost double my birth weight and I've grown over 5 inches in length.  My doctor is very impressed.  I am charting on the typically developing charts and meeting all of my developmental milestones.  I guess that's pretty good or something.  All I know is that right now, I'm too tired to care.  I going to put on my jammies and cry.

I am not a stinky boy

I took a bath without screaming my damn head off.  Oh, sorry.  Mommy says "damn" is on the censored list. You'll have to forgive me.   I was very excited because it was the first time ever!  I'm not sure what the problem with baths has been but I really don't like them.  I think it might be post traumatic stress from the first day I was breathing.  They ripped me out and threw me in a bath.  Apparently, there are pictures floating around of the event and they are not pretty.  I think Mommy has decided they are too scary to share so you'll have to trust me on this one.   Plus I'm naked in them and I wouldn't want any potential girlfriends to see me in all my glory.



I sum up today's post below.  Enjoy.