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What made you call us? Her answer.....just call it all in the Lord's plan.
- Sep 10, 2009 at 11:07 PM
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- Comments (19) Total Views (303) Everyone can see this journal post.
Tawny is my little bundle of energy. She is 6 years old and the youngest of my 9 kids. Tawny is adopted and she has Down Syndrome. So from the beginning....
We had paperwork in for adopting kids (as many as the Lord blesses us with....no limit). After the Lord placed a beautiful 6 year old girl in our home for adoption, then 8 months later a sibling group of 4 that unbeknowest to us at the time, we would also be adopting. 3 months after getting the 4, we got a call from our Case Worker...we have a newborn baby girl. She's still in the hospital, do you want her? Duh!!! Of course! Oh yeah....she has Down Syndrome, will that be a problem. NO WAY!!! No problem whatsoever. At 15 days old, we brought Tawny home. At one point, I asked our CW why we were chosen for Tawny. We weren't on any newborn lists. What made you call us? Her answer.....just call it all in the Lord's plan. Tawny was born July 1, 2003.
Yes, Tawny was given up for adoption BECAUSE she has Down syndrome. Had her birthparents known she had Down syndrome prior to birth, had they taken that test at 24 weeks, they stated they would have aborted immediately without hesitation. I thank the Lord they never had that test. If they could only see her now at 5 years old, they'd be amazed. Up until birth, they had planned on keeping her.
You see....Tawny's birthparents were born and raised in Russia. They'd only been in the United States less than 5 years prior to Tawny's birth. In Russia, they would have been looked down upon for having "such a child". The birth dad (funny thing....if I'd seen him on the streets prior to meeting him, I would have thought he had DS. My thought, maybe Tawny really didn't have DS, maybe she just looked like him) told us if they still lived in Russia and had chosen to keep the child he could lose his other 2 children (both boys), lost his house, and even his job. So sad.
We reminded him, the CW reminded him, that they live in the United States now and there would not be any of those issues. He still said NO. In fact, when he found out my husband was in the National Guard, he almost changed his mind about letting us have her...he thought we'd turn him in to the gov't for having her. The birthmom really wanted to keep her but obeyed her husband. She did come to the hospital everyday to hold and feed Tawny (I believe she nursed her). She hugged my husband and thanked him for taking her. This birthdad was so naive about DS that he warned the nurses about touching Tawny without gloves as they could take the "germs" home and contaminate their families. He sent his wife back to Russia to have her blood cleansed so this wouldn't happen again.
So sad.
Now about our precious Angel.....she is just awesome!!! She is just as typical as any child her age. We are the odd ball type of parents...we didn't seek early childhood development. Why? I worked with another little girl that had DS (I believe the Lord brought her to my attention so I could get comfortable with DS so I wouldn't hesitate about Tawny) and I went to all her therapies, OT, speech, PT, etc.
I just didn't think.....well, I thought I could do a better job of teaching Tawny then they showed me with this other girl. We signed up just in case I had any questions or issues. We had monthly phone calls and quarterly visits. By age 2, they decided to drop Tawny from their roster because she was just not delayed enough for their services. She's not delayed enough to receive SSI, Katie Beckett, or any services of that sort. We ran into the coordinator a couple weeks ago...she was sooo amazed with Tawny.
We homeschool our 6 kids still left at home, including Tawny. Her progress....lets see....healthwise, she only had a PDA. NO other issues whatsoever. That was plugged at 15 months old. She slept thru the night within a month of age. She sat alone at 7 months. Got her first teeth at 8 months and had them all, even 2 year molars by 18 months old. She walked at 18 months. Was potty trained at 2 1/2. 100%. She can run, jump, hop, sing (boy, does she like to sing :) She knew all her colors by age 2. Could count to 10 by then too.
Out of the blue about 6 months ago, she began spelling her name orally. She knows about 100 signs and can "read" several sign books. She knows all her brother's and sister's first and middle names. She knows the alphabet, verbally and by sight. And a majority of their sounds. She can write several of the letters as well. Tawny can dress herself 100%. She has her chores both inside and outside. She pretends to cook and fixes dinner for her baby dolls. Tawny loves to swim but it is scary that she has no fear of the water. She takes a shower by herself and is pretty proud of that.
There is nothing Tawny cannot do, that a typical girl at 5 years old can't do. Sure, Tawny's speech is a bit behind, but strangers can now understand her so I know that is huge progress. We work with her on pronunciations and we have her look at us in the face and watch our mouth. She gets it right off.
Tawny loves....birthdays and asks nearly everyday if it is anyones birthday that day. She loves to sing Bible songs. She likes Dora the Explorer (what little girl doesn't hehe). She is trying to jumprope and ride a tricycle (her legs just aren't long enough for the trikes we have....gotta get her one). She likes 4-wheeling. She has her own spot in the garden she has to keep weeded. Her favorite food is pizza and birthday cake :) She loves going to church and sings to the top of her lungs. She goes to VBS and yells "Hi teacher" when seeing her in church :)
Well, that's my story about Tawny. She is great! No regrets adopting her. She has been a joy to everyone around her.
Hi I am Tawny Sue....age 6.
WRITTEN BY HER MOM
Tags: down syndrome awareness
Comments:
Thank you for posting this! My baby boy has Down Syndrome. I was so scared when he was born because I'd only heard negative. Now that he's home I see only the positive and beautiful things in him. I wish people knew what I know now. Your daughter is beautiful. She found the right family!
she's really, really cute! thanks for sharing!
That is a great story. I'm glad that you posted it. I am wanting to become a foster parent and your story gives me more confidence that I can do it. I have prayed about it and I hope that you will pray for my familys decision on this. Thank you for posting this!
I couldn't help but cry reading that strory. In the first part because I was sad, but by the middle and end it brought tears to my eyes. That is tears of Joy!! Thank you so much for introducing us to Tawny Sue. She is a beautiful girl. Very inspiring story. I wouldn't trade my Dominic for anything. I can't imagine how the birthmother felt.
GOD KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING WHEN HE SENDS US THESE GREAT KIDS. LOVE THE STORY AND GOD BLESS .
How blessed Tawny is to have such a wonderful, loving family. Your story touched my heart. She is so beautiful.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. She is such a precious little girl.
I thank you for your warm moving story of such a beautiful little girl such as yours. She is definately beatiful. I find it hard to believe in this day and age there is still so much misunderstanding about Downs Syndrome. These babies are born filled with pure love and innocence and remain that way. To me that is an angel.
WONDERFUL STORY OF SUCH A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL. COUNT IT ALL JOY!!!!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!
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Aw! What a touching story!! She's adorable!