Perspective

Perspective: A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.

If I had to choose the greatest lesson I've learned since hearing Colton's diagnosis, it would have to be Perspective.

I have my days when I'm stressed or sad that Colton has DS. I think back to when Weston, my oldest son, was 13 months old. There were so many things that I took for granted. Weston could crawl, walk, run, climb, jump, clap, wave, self-feed, swallow liquids, see, and rarely went to the doctor. Weston grew up so fast and those milestones flew by...and I didn't appreciate them. I remember being so physically tired because all I did was chase him around and make sure he didn't hurt himself every second of every day. And now, with Colton, I so wish I was chasing him around and watching him blow through those milestones. Colton is making progress...but that progress is really, really slow. Things that Weston picked up naturally, Colton doesn't. I have to teach him how to sit up from lying on his back. I have to teach him to put things in his mouth. I have to teach him how to suck from a straw. We haven't lowered his crib mattress because he can't pull to his knees or pull to stand. I'm not chasing him all over the house because he will pretty much stay where I put him....with the exception of a few rolls in either direction. In some ways, Colton is easier...but only because he's not blowing through milestones like Weston did. Weston was physically exhausting. Colton is mentally exhausting.

But when I have my down days...I try to put things into Perspective. To think about things from somebody else's point of view. There are so many people out there who wish they were in my shoes. Who wish they had a child to love and teach. I recently heard about a lady who found out her baby had Trisomy 18 and he won't live more than a few days after birth. She wishes she had a child with Trisomy 21 that could live a long life. There are people out there that have lost a child or who can't get pregnant. They would long to have a child, even with special needs. I hear about these things all of the time...and I know that God is the reason. He knows just how to put people in my life at the right time...to give me perspective. To show me that what I'm going through isn't so bad. To show me that I'm blessed. That I'm the lucky one. I have a beautiful, healthy baby boy. His smile and pure happiness draw people in EVERYWHERE I go. They always comment on Colton. He makes people happy. He makes me happy. Yes, he's behind...but in the big picture of life...does that really matter? Who cares when he crawls or when he walks or when he reads? He will get there...at his own pace. Don't we all just want our children to be happy...to be good people...to bring joy to those around them?





I want to use my experiences to help others. Having Colton has changed my world...my perspective. I want to encourage you...when you're having a down day and you're feeling sad, stressed, tired, cheated, etc... Try to put yourself in somebody else's shoes. There's someone out there who would love to have a husband to fight with, a child to work with or chase, a husband who has a job that requires him to work late or travel, a house to live in, a mom or dad to call in times of need, a car to get them places, etc... You can always find the positive in your life. Nobody's life is perfect. We all go through tough times and wish things were different. Life is all about Perspective. Find the good in your life...and remember, somebody out there would love to be in your shoes. "Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect; it means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections and enjoy the day."


"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." Dr. Wayne Dyer

"The right perspective makes the impossible possible."

Ophthalmology Appointment

Guess who's getting glasses??????



Colton is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We took Colton to get his eyes checked last week because he's had one eye that would turn in every now and then. I noticed that it would happen more when he was tired. I had no idea what to expect at the appointment because our family has never had glasses. What would they even do with a baby that can't read an eye chart? But we both were about to find out...



Well...they put eye drops in his eyes to dilate his pupils. Then after a few minutes, the doctor came in and shined a few lights into his eyes. He then grabbed some lens looking things and held them over each eye until he found a lens that worked for Colton. The good news is that Colton doesn't have Glaucoma. So his eyes are healthy. The bad news is that Colton is farsighted, which means that he has trouble seeing things up close. Most adults become farsighted as they age and need to get a pair of readers to help them see things up close. Colton needs a +5 in both eyes. For people with glasses, that might mean something to you. To me, it meant nothing. But...I hear that's pretty significant. The doctor held up some lenses for me to look through to see how Colton sees. It was pretty blurry to me and kind of made me dizzy. The doctor told me that the reason Colton's eye would turn in was because he was trying so hard to focus on things up close, that one of his eyes would move too far in. It makes sense. It also might be why he's had more trouble grabbing at things in front of him like puffs or toys. Feeding yourself might be hard if you can't even see the puffs clearly in front of you. Glasses might open up a whole new world for Mr. Colton. He doesn't seem too mad about it.



They sent me away with a prescription and told me to go get him some glasses. I was like...UMMMMM.....OK???? I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do. This is all new to me. He did tell me that since children with DS don't have much of a nasal bridge, there are certain glasses that are better for them. He couldn't remember the name and said their facility didn't carry any, but thankfully, I have a Facebook Group that came to my rescue. Some suggestions were: Specs4us (Erin's World) or Dilly Dally. I called an Eyecare place nearby and they can help me. They said to bring him in and we can try some on and look through a catalog to order a few pairs we're interested in. When those come in, we can take him back to see if we like the way they fit. I want to make sure they fit well so that he isn't able to grab them and throw them across the room.....which I'm sure will still happen ALL OF THE TIME!

I have to admit that finding out that Colton needs glasses hurt my heart a little. I was a little bummed. In the big picture of life is it really a big deal? No. But it's one more thing to deal with. In the beginning, I'm gonna have to put those things on and off multiple times a day. It's gonna be hard at first, but he'll get used to wearing them. I'm hoping that he realizes how much better they make his world and he wants to wear them. But in the end, it's not about me. It's about Colton....and I want him to be able to see! So we are gonna go pick out some glasses and he's gonna ROCK them. I mean, he's gonna be pretty darn cute in some glasses. My project this week is to go find the right pair for him. Stay tuned for pics of the new and improved Colton!