A reminiscent tune...
Over the last few weeks, I've been approached by three different folks who have a distant or close friend expecting a child with DS. All three cases are exactly the same... Family in shock, a bit of mourning with this unfamiliar news and all kinds nervous. One hundred and ten percent normal. Last night we were doing our usual evening routine. Scarlett was coloring while eating (probably coloring with food), Scott was doing dishes (okay, not that usual ;) ) and I was feeding Welles his mushy, non-textured baby food. Scott had just given me the "are you ever going stay within your budget!?" run down and surprisingly we were both still in great spirits! It was a pleasant, light-hearted evening where I felt completely satisfied being with my favorite little group of people. Scott, as per norm, had music on shuffle. Suddenly, a very familiar song came on. A song I hadn't heard in quite a while. It was a song Scott and I discovered when we were staying in the hospital with Welles. It's a very touching song about a doctor giving someone difficult news to process. A song we listened to, cried to and grew to love while we held our new, perfect and unexpectedly special little child.
While reminiscing and listening to the familiar song, I felt my eyes fill with warm tears as I was feeding the mushiness to my little Welles. I wished so badly that sixteen months ago, I could have had a flash forward and see how simple and amazing life would be in just a short amount of time. We weren't sad when we listened to this song in the hospital, just emotional with all the unknowns and love for this new tiny person.
Within a minute of the song, Scott dried his soapy hands, put them on my shoulders and said "We sure are lucky he came to our family, aren't we?". He knew exactly what was going on and the cause for red, puffy eyes.
Talking to expectant mothers who are carrying babies with DS is one of my favorite things to do. I understand the mix of emotions perfectly, and there is nothing wrong with feeling them. It's a roller coaster, no doubt. But once you hold that baby and embrace the journey, life gets all kinds of wonderful. I can't even describe the way Welles has blessed our family or I would be typing until tears killed my computer! But really... We sure are lucky he came to our family, Scott. We sure are.
