Last Day and Waiting Wednesday: Sunny

Today is the last day of October, the last day of Down syndrome awareness month, and the last day of 31 for 21. I managed to blog 31 times in the month of October... I missed two days, but made up for it later. I hope you enjoyed or learned something from one of my posts this month!!

Today, on the last day of Ds awareness month,  I want to introduce you to a sweet princess who has Down syndrome, and is in need of a family. Meet Sunny.

Love her bootie mittens!

Summer 2012 - Goodness gracious! Look at that chunk!

Oct 2012

Isn't she adorable! Sweet Sunny turned 1 in August, and she would benefit from a family while she is still so young!

Her medical diagnosis includes: Down syndrome; Heart murmur, hydrothorax, umbilical hernia, hemogioma on the nose

And here's what an adopting family had to say about her when they met her recently!

"Saw “Sunny” today and she is just a peach!   Beautiful sweet girl and the nannies seem to love her.

When I first met Sunny in June of 2012 I was picking cherries with my kids and spotted a little girl in an outside crib with her back to me. Thought nothing of it and kept picked cherries. Then I herd a little voice say “Mama” clear as day and turned in that direction to find it to be that same little girl, Sunny. This time she was facing me. She had literally turned herself around and did a belly crawl across the crib facing me calling out “Mama”. I got the pleasure of seeing her here again in October of 2012. She is precious as ever. I just met her after a nap in her little roller chair with her adorable pouty face. Her and I pointed and counted fingers together. She is such a precious little girl and so very smart and is loved by the nannies at her orphanage and I firmly believe she will flourish in a family having a mama and papa to call her own."

She is in my brother's former orphanage, and looks like my other brother - the Chunky Monkey! She should be in a family like they are, not waiting in an orphanage still. Is there room in your heart for this sweet princess??

They have something to tell you!

Day 30 of 31 for 21! And these adorable kids all have something to tell you before National Ds Awareness month is over! 

Thanks IDSC (International Down Syndrome Collation) for the photos!

A year later....

I posted the following post a year ago this month.... It was interesting to go back and see who is home now, who has a family, and who has a new picture. But the part that broke my hear was how many of them were still waiting, a year later. (Captions in italics under the pictures are updates I added for this post.)

My face may be different

Jimmy - still waiting.

But my feelings the same

Tabitha - still waiting.

I laugh and I cry

Mark - still waiting.

And I take pride in my gains

Brigita - HOME!

I was sent here among you

Rebekah - still waiting.

To teach you to love

Lilly - still waiting.

As God in the heavens

Lizzy - mama is working to bring her home!

Looks down from above

Ilya - still waiting.

To Him I'm no different

Maxim - his family is working to bring him home!

His love knows no bounds

Lyla - HOME!!!

It's those here among you

Dennis - still waiting.

In cities and towns

Timofey - still waiting.

That judge me by standards

Robert - HOME!

That man has imparted

Chandler - HOME!

But this family I've chosen

Tory - still waiting.

Will help me get started

Orion - his family is working to bring him home!

For I'm one of the children

Jonathan - still waiting.

So special and few

Meredith - her family is working to get her!

That came here to learn

Lucy - HOME!

The same lessons as you

Artem K - his family is working to bring him home!

That love is acceptance

Vika - her family is working to bring her home or she is home?? 

It must come from the heart

Tanya - still waiting.

We all have the same purpose

Nadine - HOME with her family - adopted domestically.

Though not the same start

Alice - her family is working to bring her home!

The Lord gave me life

Margurete - her family is working to bring her home!

To live and embrace

Cyril K - still waiting.

And I'll do it as you do

Bobby - still waiting. - His Birthday is tomorrow!!

But at my own pace

Robyn - still waiting.

(Down Syndrome Creed)

what myth do you think is true?

Myths about individuals with Down syndrome... which ones have you thought to be true?

MYTH: Down Syndrome is a rare disorder.

FACT: Down syndrome is not rare. About 1 in every 700 babies is born with Down syndrome and over 6000 babies are born with Down syndrome in the US each year. Currently, it is estimated that there are over 350,000 individuals with Down syndrome in the United States.

MYTH: Most children with Down syndrome are born to older parents.

FACT: Over 80% of babies with Down syndrome are born to women under the age of 35, and the average age of a mother of an infant with Down syndrome is 28 years.

MYTH: Children with Down syndrome must be placed in separate special education programs.

FACT: Most children with Down syndrome in the United States are “mainstreamed” into regular schools. They attend regular classes for some subjects and attend special classes for other subjects. Each school system is required to provide the best learning environment possible for all special needs children.

MYTH: People with Down Syndrome will live at home forever.

FACT: A large percentage of adults with Down syndrome live semi-independently in assisted living facilities and group homes. Adults with Down syndrome often hold jobs and have romantic relationships.

MYTH: People with Down syndrome are always happy.

FACT: People with Down syndrome experience a full range of emotions such as sadness, anger and happiness, just like everyone else.

MYTH: Individuals with Down syndrome die young.

FACT: The average life expectancy of an individual with Down syndrome is now 50 years of age.

(source: http://downsyndrome.about.com/od/downsyndromesupport/a/mtyhs_ro.htm)

Jimmy's Benefit

Tonight was Jimmy's benefit. I blogged about the benefit/him here. There was a great turnout, but no total yet!

Rachel and I had a table of our stuff, including some Ghana flag themed items. :) The donation basket on our table (we did prices labeled as suggested donation, not actually sold it) $166 for Jimmy!! Praise God! Ironic thing is, that's the same amount as our farmers market last weekend for  Lilly! :)

The tables all set up, ready for lots of people to eat lots of pie!

And the pies.... yes, I'm being cruel and making you hungry. Bwahaha (evil laugh)! ;]

All the people watching the groups that played tonight...

In Harmony...

Con Brio...

Don Shire...

And the Ott Family led several songs at the end, one of which I will share when my ridiculously SLOW internet finally finishes the 1 min 30 sec video after 2 hours. No, I'm not joking.

And then there's the fun in the nursery! :) My little 3 sibs - Elijah, Rachel, Jonathan, my mom, "big" Rachel, and half of the Prevost family, including Caleb! :)

It was an awesome night to bring an awesome little boy home!!