Our First World Down Syndrome Day!

"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly" - Proverb

Today is World Down Syndrome Day, and therefore the perfect time for me to re-enter the blogosphere. Today is meant to create awareness about Ds, including teaching real facts, sharing stories about actual people, and helping eliminate offensive or outdated language.

As a recently new mother of a beautiful daughter with Down syndrome, I still have a lot to learn about this wonderful community...actually, I should say family. The most important thing I already know for sure though, is that my baby girl is just that above all else, a baby girl!

I am not going to lie, from the time I learned of Piper's diagnosis until the moment she was born, I thought more about all the potential issues of Down syndrome than the joys of being a mom. Of course it is natural to worry, but there were times when I felt I wasn't going to be able to handle a "special needs" child. I felt like Down syndrome was going to consume my world, and always be the foremost of my thoughts.

The moment I held Piper Grace in my arms, however, my entire paradigm of raising a child with Down syndrome changed. I couldn't beleive that the only thing I saw when holding her, was the most gorgeous little angel I ever laid my eyes on. She was perfect, extra chromosone and all.



So in honor of this day, please take a few minutes of your time to visit some of the links below.

The official site of WDSD, where there are many beautiful stories about individuals with Down syndrome: WDSD

Provides some insight about preferred language when referring to people with Down syndrome: Preferred Language Guide

This touching video was shared with me by a friend shortly after I learned of Piper's diagnosis: 

A video that has been circulating the news and social media as of lately:

And of course, here are some pictures of my beautiful baby girl, Piper Grace:

Piper Grace's Birth Story, Part 1

Preface

Wow.....it has been a while since I last blogged! It is not that I haven't wanted to, but life just got in the way. At first I didn't have any updates or anything exciting to blog about. Then I was extremely busy with work, and then the holidays, and then more work. Before I knew it I was going to the doctor's office for my 37 week check-up, which is where this story begins.....

You've Graduated!

I woke up on Friday February 1st, 2013 excited for my 37 week growth scan with the perinatolgist (doctor specializing in high risk pregnancies). My mother had just moved into her apartment the day before, and was coming to this appointment with me. She had temporarily moved to Charlotte in order to help me out with Piper because Court could only be here for a short amount of time. Since I wasn't due for a few more weeks, we had planned on spending the time prepping for Pippa's big debut and relaxing. Anyway, I couldn't wait for her to see the little one on the ultrasound that morning and then grab some lunch and go shopping. Like many things in life, however, the day did not go according to plans.

The appointment began like all the others.... the technician squirted the blue goop onto my belly and began clicking away. The anxious feelings I had from the first time I was in that room were a distant memory, replaced now by anticipation and pure excitement. She took measurements of Piper's head circumference, belly circumference, and femur length. With a couple more clicks she told me that LO's estimated weight was 5 pounds. Cue the return of anxiousness.

The technician then left the room to get the doctor so he could confirm her measurements and make his assessment. The moment she left the room, I turned to my mom and told her I was a bit worried. I knew that according to these measurements Pippa wasn't growing as much as she should be. My regular OB had told me she typically induces when growth starts to slow like this. I was scheduled to see her early the following week, so I thought that during that appointment she might decide to induce me earlier than the tentative date of February 15th we had set.

After a few nerve-wracking minutes, the doctor entered the room and repeated the same measurements the technician had took. He came up with a similar weight estimation, and without hesitation turned to me and said, "You are having this baby today!" It took about 10 seconds for the words to really sink in. As we were leaving the office, the doctor jested, "Congrats! You've graduated from here (perinatology)!"

Is This Really Happening?!

The next couple hours or so are a blur.... I remember driving home to gather my things and just saying, "Oh my God, oh my God!" It's funny how after months and months of anticipation, and even knowing that I would probably deliver early, I was not at all prepared for the news I just received. It was all I could do from not freaking out as I rushed around my apartment throwing the last minute items into my already half packed hospital bag. I took care of a few important things (including purchasing tickets for my sister and I to "The Package" tour, which had went on pre-sale that morning).

It was early afternoon when I finally arrived at the hospital. I was admitted and given a lovely hospital gown. The nurse hooked me up to a couple monitors... one measuring my contractions and the other Pippa's heartbeat. Suddenly it started to feel more and more real. My doctor came into the room a bit later and gave me the game plan, which slightly eased my mind about the immediacy of the situation. That night I was going to be given an insert of Cervadil. This would "ripen", or prepare, my cervix for the labor process. The next morning they would start the Pitocin, which is the drug that really kickstarts labor and contractions.

And so it began.

(To be continued in Part 2!)