Nzingha's Soapbox
You are correct.
Children do have some sort of metaphysical powers.
I would be a LUNATIC without my kids.
They are my whole life, and they sure do keep my feet on the ground.
Be sure to take your son to see a pediatric cardiologist. Down Syndrome can sometimes affect the heart.
When I had my son, I found this short story. I thought you might like to read it.
"Welcome to Holland"
I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.
You have a terrific attitude and wanting things to be normal is the best thing for everyone, including Umar. Your kids will always bring you back down to earth, should you go wandering off at times. Best wishes to you and your lovely family.
Sister,
I agree with Susie. She said my words exactly. My thoughts, prayers, and well wishes are with you.
fairuza- the odd part of it all there are days that I feel like a lunatic but that is part of the normal in a home with children 
Lindsey- Umar has no heart problems we had him checked after he was born. At this time his thyroid is fine, as well as vision and hearing. And thanks for copying the Holland story. It sure does fit the situation.
Susie- there are days I want to run away but they keep me on a short leash
Children have the ability to take the drama off any situation, and make it look a lot more natural. When my husband had his second seizure in front of us, in the kitchen, I was so worried. I forgot they were having breakfast and tried to make him "wake up" (useless, but I tried). My then 4 year old just came by my side and said to me "Don't worry, I don't think he's dead" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Masha'Allah Nuri, your kids are very down to earth and direct!!
Susie said it all - alhamdu Lillah for everything, I really do think you are going about everything in the very best way.
Umm Ibrahim
im glad u could get out or a bit...thats great..wow it does take long to get a baby passport here...inshallah all will be well...there will be ups and downs but all will be well...inshallah
That is so true. The wonderful thing I guess is that to them he doesn't have a label. He is just their brother.
It can be hard keeping things normal when you have a special needs child. It is very import for the other children to try and do so.
Parents sometimes will over compensate with the child with the special needs, others will ignore it all together.
Finding a balance is hard work. I find myself drawn MORE to my little one with special needs and he has become my favourite. I have to consciously think about NOT spending too much time with him and NOT ignoring everyone else.
Kids are great.
I'm glad things are going so well. I can't even imagine having a passport for the baby already - we haven't even thought about it yet lol. But diff situation of course... Is gonna be over a year before we leave the country agian & longer for her most likely.
Rereadng your post (didn't have time to comment when I first did) I have a whole new respect for the househunting part. We've been talking about it, and making general plans.. But are actively looking now. Is fun, but... so much to think about.
Commenting by HaloScan
