My SPECIAL child

Madison informed us recently that she is the only special one in this house.

Because she is the only one with a birth mark on her forehead.  If you look close at this picture, you can see it in the middle of her forehead.

For a while, Madison was upset and embarrassed about her birth mark.  She would look into the mirror and say, "Mommy, why do I have to have a birth mark?  I don't want it." 

I told her that everyone has things that make them special or unique, and that is one of the things that she has.  Apparently, that answer went over better than I thought, because it convinced her that she was the only one who is special.

There was a time, when I worried about what Kamdyn would think about the fact that she has Down syndrome.  I thought it would make her depressed or sad.

Little did I know, that research shows that 97% of people Down syndrome like who they are and 99% are happy with their lives.

At the time, I was still sorting out my feelings about Down syndrome.  I viewed Down syndrome as it's own entity, its own being.  This being brought with it delays, heart defects, and challenges.  At the time, Down syndrome had overtaken everything else. 

When I look at Kamdyn now, I don't see Down syndrome.  It feels good to be able to say that.  I think if you have a child with Down syndrome, you know what I'm talking about.

One day, I looked at Kamdyn's eyes, and it just hit me.  This is Kamdyn.  I didn't see Down syndrome.  I didn't see her almond eyes and think Down syndrome. 

Kamdyn has delays in areas.  Kamdyn has blue eyes.  Kamdyn has blonde hair.  Kamdyn has a heart defect.  Kamdyn loves to sign.  Kamdyn loves to make people laugh.  Kamdyn has Down syndrome. 

These are all just little parts that make up the whole.

She is special.  Not because she has Down syndrome.  She is special, because she is Kamdyn.  And as she grows, and we learn who is she, and who she is growing to become, we learn about what makes her special.