Thursday, October 16, 2008

And One More Thing

Chris is angry about the Baby Stroke line. For reals. Any joke or mention of harm to the children is never ever a laughing matter around here. He refused to discuss signing up for the dependant life insurance when we first got married. To acknowledge the chance of harm is to invite harm.

Yesterday I told him about Heidi's sister blogging about when her baby was born with Down Syndrome and they hadn't known that she had it until then. She talked about what a shock it was and the coping process of adjusting your expectations suddenly being changed. Something that has stuck in my head has been her doctor telling her that if they felt that they couldn't handle it there were couples who were waiting to adopt Down Syndrome babies. I found that amazing and wonderful. Not just the couples who are there to take that challenge on, but just that sometimes it's helpful to know that there are options available. Not that you would take them, just that it helps with that overwhelmed feeling. That's what it made me think about anyway. So, of course, just like when I heard about the abandoned baby girls in China, I felt that I should save the baby, save the world and adopt a baby with down syndrome. Chris saw this coming a mile away. Amy, I could never ever do that. Do you even remember how I reacted when kids saw Kaila's extra thumb and made fun of her? Do you realize that you'd be raising all of the children alone because I'd be in jail for murder the first time anyone said anything derogatory about my baby? It's true. I don't understand it completely, but it's true. I saw him get right in little kids faces and explain to them that his daughter was not "weird", she was "cool" because she was different and special. All, while somehow holding his temper in check. He's a little protective. I still think we could do it, though. He would just have to learn to cope and educate people. I think he'd be pretty good at that.

5 comments:

heather said...

How fun to be included in your blog post today! I feel like you do with the adoption. I have days where I feel like I can save the world and adopt all those cute little kids being neglected in orphanages all over the world. But I really felt it when someone posted a link to orphanages in eastern europe with older children with Down syndrome that were being restrained in cribs. Seriously, they had pictures of 5 year olds with their arms and legs tied to the crib rails. It made me sick! There are so many children out there that need loving homes. I just wish I had more room in my home and family for some of them--but maybe it's not right right now but down the road for our family. I think it is something that everyone should at least consider --every child deserves love and a family!

Sam said...

You two are so blessed to have found one another. An amazing man for an amazing woman. I just LOVE the ferocity with which he protects those baby dolls of yours. Such a blessing to have someone that passionate about your babies and all ya'll's safety. (Secret...this post made me cry.)

jlcumber said...

Me to Sam...and then I had to go and read Heather's comment. DANG IT! Send them to me. Ashlynn needs some siblings. :( SNIFF SNIFF

heather said...

Hey I just wanted to leave the link for an agency that does international adoptions for Down syndrome. (I'm still trying to remember where I saw the link with the disturbing pictures of the children in the orphanages but for now I have this)

http://www.reecesrainbow.com/index.html

heather said...

Hi! It's me again! :) So I found the link--
http://hamula.blogspot.com/2007/11/christmas-angels-in-need.html