Mommy Life: Jonny's birthday - celebrating 17 years of Down syndrome in our family!

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The American Catholic Experience

Leaving Cold Sassy

On Being Catholic

Sister Wendy's Story of Painting

Les Miserables

Rules for Radicals

How did Obama do it?
Here's the blueprint.

World

Our family has been subscribing to this news magazine for 12 years - News from an enlightened, intelligent Christian perspective - and getting better all the time. Great reading for teens too.

Surprised by Truth 2

15 men and women - including some evangelicals who were deeply prejudiced against Catholicism - share their personal experience as well as the biblical and historical reasons why they became Catholic.

Reading to Kids

Story of the Orchestra

With CD!

My Big Book of Catholic Bible Stories

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The Little Red Hen

Hooray for a good work ethic! The little red hen asks but receives no help in her efforts to put bread on the table. Yet all who wouldn't help would like to eat. In a refreshingly old-fashioned triumph of moral consequences, they don't get to!

Noisy Nora

Poor Nora! The loveable mousette experiences all the pangs of the child-in-the- middle, caught between the demands of baby brother and bossiness of big sister. Catchy meter, playful illustrations make for a wonderfully satisfying mouse's tale. Baby-Preschool

A Chair for My Mother

A remarkably beautiful story told by a young girl whose mother is a waitress. Since they lost all their furniture in a fire, they've been saving mother’s tips in a jar – so they can buy a big comfortable chair for their whole family to enjoy – daughter, mother and grandmother. Life has its ups and downs, but there’s always lots of love. Ages 4-7

Caps for Sale

Be dramatic! Shake your fists! Stomp your feet! You and your toddler will have so much fun with this wonderful story, in which common sense prevails over temper tantrums! 3-7

See more great kids' books under Barbara's Picks

Character Sketches From the Pages of Scripture, Illustrated in the World of Nature

Institue in Basic Youth Conflicts

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March 31, 2009 7:21 AM

Jonny's birthday - celebrating 17 years of Down syndrome in our family!

Seventeen years ago today something happened that changed my life forever. My son Jonny was born. Within five minutes, I knew he had Down syndrome. He was our eighth child, and I guess God had prepared my heart for this Great Adventure. That's the only way I can explain the feeling of basking in God's love and goodness - I knew this would be the opportunity of a lifetime.

And it has been!

Tripp sent this to everyone in our family last year on Jonny's 16th birthday:

Dear Family,
Today is a "day of days" in our family...Every one of you is special in God's Eyes and in my heart, but I believe we were all transformed in one way or another by Our God when he sent us Jonathan. I praise Our Heavenly Father for His goodness and thank my wife for being Jonny's Mother and Advocate.

Love to you all!
RoboPop

Along with a bunch of pictures - which I can share with you too:

Since Jonny was a baby, this has been my song for him:

And you can tell everybody
This is your song
It might be quite simple
But now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world.

Happy Birthday, dear Jonny!

~~~~~~~
See also: About that extra chromosome

Love,

Posted in Down syndrome, Family | Permalink

Comments

Happy Birthday Jonny!

What great pictures.

I love Elton John.....

Posted by: paigeu | March 31, 2009 9:04 AM

Happy Birthday, Jonny!

Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

Posted by: Lauren | March 31, 2009 9:35 AM

Happy Birthday, Jonny. :-)

Posted by: Julana | March 31, 2009 9:55 AM

I can see in the pictures that Jonny is happy and full of life! Happy Birthday Jonny!

Posted by: evergreen | March 31, 2009 10:49 AM

Happy Birthday Jonny!

Thank you so much for sharing your life together. You've opened my eyes and made me appreciate all life. You and your family stretch me to live outside the box I've always been in.

Posted by: Alison | March 31, 2009 12:01 PM

Happy Birthday Johnny!
We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers today!

Posted by: Jennifer | March 31, 2009 12:16 PM

Happy Birthday, Jonny!

Barbara, thank you for sharing those pictures with us. I'm rejoicing with you today that God chose to bless you with Jonny.

Posted by: AZtwinmommy | March 31, 2009 12:50 PM

I was praying for your family and especially for Johnny because I knew his birthday was coming up as we were both in church at St. Francis particating in the Holy Mass last Sunday. We were in the choir loft as you and your family were up in the front of the church. It is so wonderful been able to witness the family love you all have. March birthdays rock!!!!!

Posted by: Renee | March 31, 2009 1:09 PM

Happy Birthday!!! what great pics of him! :)

Posted by: Momma | March 31, 2009 2:56 PM

Happy Birthday!!! what great pics of him! :)

Posted by: Momma | March 31, 2009 2:59 PM

This is a beautiful celebration of a very wonderful boy, thank you for sharing. Happy Birthday to Jonny!

Posted by: Addie | March 31, 2009 4:53 PM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JONNY!!!!

Posted by: Libby | March 31, 2009 5:14 PM

Wow, 17.

We are very proud of you!

Happy Birthday!