All About Annabelle

It's been way way long since I have even logged in to this blog account.  I wondered for a minute if they would even let me back in.  Well, here we are.  Now that we are here, let's move on....

HAPPY WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY!!!!!

This day means something to us, obvi.  But, over the last (almost) nine years with Annabelle, it seems days like this have slowly been less celebrated in our house.  I guess the only reason is because both Annabelle and Down Syndrome have just become so normal to us.  In the beginning it was so new, fresh, and actually kind of exciting.  Part of me feels guilty that we let big days like this one slip by without even noticing it.  But, then part of me feels a little bit of joy and relief that this all has become so normal and just part of who we are.

There's a lot of good stuff that I have to say, and some precious pictures of my girl smiling and playing.  To be transparent, and avoid coming across as all rainbows and butterflies, Annabelle and Down Syndrome can be tough. So, I will just say that before giving you the good stuff.  It almost seems like sometimes we reach this point of victory in a certain challenge, only to be faced with a totally different one.  Life, right?  That's just life.  It's life as a parent whether or not your child has special needs.  For Annabelle specifically, these victories often take a long time.  And when they take a long time, a new challenge presents itself right on top of the struggle that's already there.  Sometimes it's exhausting.  Some days we just feel so defeated.  Again, that's just life.  So, I don't feel bad for us.  Or throw the towel in and just give up.  Pursue, nurture, investigate, praise, invest, discipline, and LOVE.  That's how we get through the challenges we face with HER and with each kiddo.

Over the past year or two, we have struggled quite a bit with the environment she spent the majority of her time...SCHOOL.  Again, some days were good, some were bad, and some were just really bad.  This school year specifically, I struggled hard.  Craig and I both did.  We could see Annabelle changing in such a way that we had not experienced yet and we didn't see these changes as 'good'.  Some struggles she has already were just being magnified.  There's not a good way to explain it in words.  And to make a long story, and very long months short, I MISSED HER!  We missed her physically while she was at school, but started missing these parts of her that seemed to almost be disappearing.  Do I understand that this happens to EVERY KID, yes?  But, this felt to both of us that we needed to pay more attention to what may be going on.  And, like close attention.  Such close attention, that in late February I pulled her out of that environment for the remainder of the school year.  I almost did not bring her back to school after Christmas break, but reluctantly did.  But, I could NOT shake the feeling that I NEEDED to take her out.  The mommy gut feeling was so strong for way too long.

Before taking her out, when it was just an idea, I wondered what we would DO!  What would happen to all my freedom?!?!?!  This is the first year since Annabelle was born almost NINE years ago that I haven't had someone with me ALL THE TIME.  Sweet baby Skylar started preschool in September for three days a week.  For three days every week, I HAD ALONE TIME!   It was a magical time of life.  And I really enjoyed it.  If you are a stay at home mom, I know you can relate to how magical this time was.  ;) . But, then, something in my mind changed from "aww dang! There goes MY time!"  to "I will have at least three days a week to JUST focus on ANNABELLE! Yay! I haven't had that since Carter was born.  This is going to be so great!"

And, y'all, it has been great. Well, I mean, mostly. ;)   I am getting to know Annabelle all over again.  And THAT is magical.  To get right down to the issues of "what the 'H' is going on with our Annabelle?!?" it's going to take TIME to...pursue, nurture, investigate, praise, invest, discipline, and LOVE.  So, this is where we are now. With Down Syndrome.  With Annabelle.  With parenting.  With life.

(These two pictures) This is a morning after she would NOT get out of the car when I was trying to bring her to school.  (which was happening more and more frequently)  I said "Fine. I don't want you to get out anyway, so lets go home!"  She was pretty happy about that.  Sure, you can't make that choice for every child, and I do know that I may recieve some judgement. Like this:  "You're spoiling her" or "You shouldn't give in just 'cause she doesn't want something" or "This is going to make it harder for her to return to school next year".  She isn't their kid. She's the kid that God gave to ME.  Parent your child and make decisions for them based on YOUR parenting.  Not everyone else's.  Worry 'bout 'yoself!

Here's how you can "homeschool" when you're out and about.  Take her to an arcade to play and receive tickets.  Work on math when choosing the appropriate prize for the amount of tickets you have.  Math time for the day! 💥

"HOMESCHOOLING".  Working on those fine motor skills with chopsticks! 😉

More "out and about homeschooling" Story Time Pottery Painting and Library time!!

So far, we have had a really great time together.  We just hang out.  She sticks by me when there are things that I just have to go do and we have made the most of it.  We have had the freedom to explore her world a little more and just see where she is at.  We play a LOT.  And we also mother-daughter fight real good.  It's a new adventure, and we have just a couple months left of it before it is summer and "Annabelle/Mommy time" becomes everyone's time.

Pray for us if you think of it.  That this time I have with my girl will be so fruitful and amazing even through it's super tough challenges.