Holland

When we found out a couple weeks before Aubrey was born, that she might have Down syndrome, we tried to prepare for her. But really there is no way to prepare for something like that. Every child is unique and different and we had no idea IF she would have it much less HOW she would develop.

When she was born, we didn't really focus on it either. She have more pressing matters, like two big holes in her tiny heart! So we put our heart and soul into loving her first and then feed, sleep and grow her so that she could have surgery.

During those long sleepless nights of feeding her, I read a book by Jennifer Graf Groneberg called,

"Roadmap to Holland: How I Found My Way Through My Son's First Two Years with Down Syndrome". http://www.amazon.com/Road-Map-Holland-Through-Syndrome/dp/0451222954

It was a touching story about a mother, and family and how they learned about their son Avery and Down syndrome. In it she included a poem by Emily Perl Kingsley about what life is like raising a child with a disability. It is an analogy that I still use. We went to Italy three times and we thought we would do it again. Instead we are in Holland...and we love it here!

Here is her poem: http://users.erols.com/jmatts/welcome%20to%20holland.html