Evangeline's birthday party pictures

Evangeline's fourth birthday was a weighty day for me. Whenever I talk to people about our adoption journey I usually end up telling them about kids being transferred to institutions after they turn four years old. I tell them about children who are transferred who don't survive the first few years. There are kids who have died in institutions because of the lack of love and affection, or because of a common cold that turns deadly without medical care.

Evie was one of those kids determined to be transferred to an institution. But instead, on her fourth birthday, she was surrounded by family who loves her. We had laughter and presents and cupcakes.

Evangeline is still more interested in the wrapping paper and bags.

She wasn't real sure of the cupcake at first.

She loved the dancing part of the evening, though.

The gang: Evie, Zoya, Elaina, Polly, Mike (Karli's friend), and my niece Karli.

Evie's sisters helped her with the presents and cards :).

Polly showed Evie how to properly eat a cupcake.

Party down!

Blow out your candle!
This is improvement.
Last year she screamed bloody murder when she saw the candles.

OK, yea, I like cupcakes.

I'm happy!

Our Ukrainian birthday cake song.
It's a family tradition to sing and do the dance.

Happy Birthday sweet girl. We love you.

Today I read on facebook that a little boy waiting for his family to come get him through Reece's Rainbow was transferred to an institution. They don't know where. Please pray that this sweet family can still adopt him.

Go to Reece's Rainbow for more information about adopting kids with Down syndrome. If you can't adopt, you can pray, or give financially or pick a kid and fundraise for him.

Sergei and Evie

In Ukraine while adopting her.

In Chicago on her fourth birthday.

EmmaLee McDonald (12 yrs. old) wrote this story, "Pete the Purple Pumpkin" in honor of her brother Toby, who has Down syndrome. WOW!

Pete the Purple Pumpkin

By EmmaLee McDonald

(Dedicated to EmmaLee's little pumpkin Toby, who happens to have Down syndrome)

There once was this purple pumpkin named Pete. Unlike any other pumpkin, Pete was purple. Every fall he hoped he would get picked. But every fall he didn’t get picked, he wondered why. He thought, “Sure I might be purple, but you can still carve me and eat my seeds.” The only thing different was his outside. People would look at him and then laugh. Every pumpkin thought that Pete was the kindest, sweetest pumpkin ever! They also wondered why Pete wasn’t getting picked. Now, Pete was getting older and the farmers said that if Pete didn’t get picked this fall, he would have to be thrown away. Pete didn’t want this to happen, so he hoped this fall would be different. Two days went passed and people only looked at him and laughed. Then, the next day, a little girl with a pink tutu and a tiara looked at Pete and said “I want this one.” Pete was so overjoyed. This girl loved Pete the most. Once this girl carved him, she placed him on her porch. That evening, she saw all of the neighbors on her lawn. Hoping they weren’t making fun of Pete, she ran out. Then, she realized what they were all staring at. It was a light brighter than any she had ever seen, shining from within Pete, without even one candle. It was a light that shown from within. Then, people came from far and wide to see this bright, little pumpkin. Just imagine what the world would have missed if Pete were simply thrown away. Even though people may look different on the outside, true beauty comes from within.

Big thanks to EmmaLee for sharing her story with me. Great job!

(EmmaLee is twelve years old. Amazing, huh?)

Leave EmmaLee a comment telling her how much you love Pete the Purple Pumpkin :).

31 for 21 bloggers! Listen up!

A story about YOU, 31 for 21 bloggers is up at Examiner.com.

Go here and leave a comment with your blog handle. Let's spread the word about our kids! This is an opportunity for the public to know you are blogging for Down syndrome awareness.

Yay! Down syndrome awareness month!

Big shout out to Tricia at Unringing the bell for doing the interview for the story and for dreaming up 31 for 21 and to RK at Just RK for the button allowance.


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Evangeline

Here are five things about Evie:

1) Evie has some emerging new skills: 1) putting things 'in,' 2) and seeking out toys to play with.
2) She finds Sergei and I repeatedly throughout the day for hugs and cuddles . Yay!
3) She loves getting on the school bus in the morning for school.
4) Evie hated baths when she came home from Ukraine. Then she started liking them and then, wham, hated them again. Now, she is tolerating baths again. It's cyclical.
5) She loves her big sisters. When Zoya and Elaina come home from school she's all hugs and smiles!

Different types of Down syndrome?

First question: "Can you tell me the differences between all 3 (I hope that is right) types of Down Syndrome? I get a little confused on the differences. Thanks so much!"

Thanks for asking, Molette!

Yes, there are three types of Down syndrome:

Trisomy 21, Translocation and Mosiac.

Here's an explanation of the three types from the National Down syndrome Society:

Down syndrome is usually caused by an error in cell division called "nondisjunction." Nondisjunction results in an embryo with three copies of chromosome 21 instead of the usual two. Prior to or at conception, a pair of 21st chromosomes in either the sperm or the egg fails to separate. As the embryo develops, the extra chromosome is replicated in every cell of the body. This type of Down syndrome, which accounts for 95% of cases, is called Trisomy 21.

The two other types of Down syndrome are called mosaicism and translocation. Mosaicism occurs when nondisjunction of chromosome 21 takes place in one-but not all-of the initial cell divisions after fertilization. When this occurs, there is a mixture of two types of cells, some containing the usual 46 chromosomes and others containing 47. Those cells with 47 chromosomes contain an extra chromosome 21. Mosaicism accounts for about 1% of all cases of Down syndrome. Research has indicated that individuals with mosaic Down syndrome may have fewer characteristics of Down syndrome than those with other types of Down syndrome. However, broad generalizations are not possible due to the wide range of abilities people with Down syndrome possess.

Translocation accounts for about 4% of all cases of Down syndrome. In translocation, part of chromosome 21 breaks off during cell division and attaches to another chromosome, typically chromosome 14. While the total number of chromosomes in the cells remain 46, the presence of an extra part of chromosome 21 causes the characteristics of Down syndrome.

Keep the questions coming friends! Thanks!