This is what I will say:

I have the chance this coming week to talk with the other parents at my parent participation class.  This is what I will say:

October is Down syndrome awareness month, and i believe one of my roles as Liam's mom is to educate others about the ups and downs of what that means.  

The gist of what I want to say is mostly positive.  

The rare times I was asked at the beginning about anything related to Ds was usually if I knew befor he was born.  The answer is no.  It was a surprise, and I had never known anyone with DS before, so this has been one wild ride.  I want to tell people about DS because the abortion rate for a prenatal diagnosis is very high, between 75-90 %. That is a personal choice and I firmly believe every woman's right.  

The fears I had at the beginning have turned into worries, no longer  fears, but I am a worrier in general.  Would he have a girlfriend?  Would he go to normal school? Would he drive?  Always live at home?  Would he engage, or have an empty look in his eyes?  That last one was and still is the hardest for me.  And I get a lot of mixed feelings when I see adults with DS.  But I am finding that Liam is indeed very engaged.  Shy around others often, but a funny and lively guy.  He loves books and playing ball and following his sister and having dance parties to lady gaga before bed.  He will have romantic feelings, have a job, quite probably live on his own.  I read about a young man who did get a drivers license, though this is uncommon.  And a man who was recently the first in Spain to get a normal college degree.  

Facts:  around half of babies have heart problems and need surgery. Hearing loss is common.  Low muscle tone ism the big challenge. Thyroid issues, autism, celiac disease and leukemia are all more common than in the typical population.  Early onset Alzheimer's. 

So I have a two year old and I am already thinking way ahead into the future.  How to offset decline in memory and cognition with nutrition and supplements.  His financial future if we were to die before him.  What needs to be put into place if when he turns 18 if we feel he isn't the best judge of financial and health matters.  

We have occupational and physical therapy once a week and an early interventionist and we also do a separate therapy program of our own volition which we love.  Right now we are working on core strength and bringing his legs in closer when he walks.  Reading books and flashcards and the input of a lot of knowledge.  Oral stimulation.  Processing, which for Liam right now means following two step directions.  

When he does typical two year old things I am thrilled.  When he started using a pincer grasp for the first time to pick up old food from the kitchen floor I said "no!", but inside I was shouting "yes!"  I freaked out hearing that some kids didn't potty train until 6-7 years old, so the fact we are starting is just friggin awesome.  

Here's what we have learned:  having high expectations is absolutely and vitally necessary. We will never let his diagnosis be an excuse for not trying our hardest at things.  We will raise him in the same way as his sister. He will be bilingual and well travelled. We will help him delve into and develop his passion.  There's a man in Arizona with his own restaurant. A woman with an internet cooking show.  I cling to these stories.  There is a catch phrase common in the DS community, "we are more alike than different". 

Questions?