It's been a month, tomorrow will make it six weeks to be exact, since we have been in Holland. Well, not literally, but since we had our son Henry. I can't tell you that I am over the fact that he has Down syndrome but I can tell you that it doesn't hurt as badly as the day we found out. Oh, it still hurts, don't misunderstand. I don't know if I'll fully ever be over it but I think that "getting over it" isn't necessarily the point. It's accepting him the way he is. It's understanding the fact that just because he's different doesn't mean he's bad.
In the short time we've had Henry he has taught me a thing or two. He's taught me that my expectations are different than assumptions. I expected Henry to be distant and not interact with me, but I was merely assuming that he wouldn't be like any other baby. I was wrong. He looks more deeply into my eyes when I talk and read to him than either of my other boys. He has studied my face and memorized my voice. He knows when I'm lying next to him and his breathing speeds up and he kicks his legs as he's excited Mommy's there and then his breathing slows as he relaxes and turns his face toward mine. He's taught me not to assume he's incapable of relationships.
He's taught me perseverance, when he couldn't nurse in the beginning. I wanted to throw in the towel, but I didn't. He's nursing much much better with a lot more ease now. He's taught me that when you've been trying for four and five weeks to accomplish something- don't give up- because you could be one week away from success! I wonder if he'll be that determined to accomplish his goals? I bet he will!
Henry is the sweetest, easiest baby to take care of. He only cries when he's really really hungry or has a dirty diaper. That's it! I'm very blessed with that as my second son was completely the opposite! (But he's very fun now!)
So we're in Holland looking around. We've kind of caught our breath and now we can begin learning the language and start looking for all the neat things that are exclusive to Holland alone...the windmills...the tulips...the Rembrandts!!
