Caleb's Journey: December 2010

Friday, December 31, 2010

New Year's Eve!!!!

Quiet evening with family. It is not another year gone...
but another year earned.

Monday, December 27, 2010

The Ocala Star Banner did another wonderful article on Caleb & our family. We appreciate them wanting to help educate people on Trisomy 18...and to put God and a personal story to it.
http://www.ocala.com/article/20101225/articles/101229835

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Thoughts of Christmas

Christmas is only a couple of days away. It is getting here way too fast. I am so excited, yet sad too. As I shop for presents for Caleb, or driving around looking at Christmas lights...I'm overwhelmed with so much happiness. I am also overcome with the feeling of saddness because I wonder if this will be the last year I can do this. I want so badly to hold on to this moment...to cher

ish every second. The boys are so excited and I love seeing them smile....especially when they are with Caleb. I pray we have many more Christmas', many more days to cherish the blessings God has given us. I love my family and the moments we have together....I guess I'm a little bit selfish because I want more time...more tomorrows. But I also thank God for every moment.....these are the moments we never thought we would have.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Funny paper

Caleb LOVES the sound of the paper that they put on the Dr's tables. He just laughs and laughs. So one of his Dr's gave us a role to bring home....she thought it was hillarious how he gets so excited over it. Caleb is 21 months old now....he finds laughter in the simplest things in life :)

Thursday, December 2, 2010

STINKY!!

Getting ready for my bath...daddy's taking the wrap off my foot from the pulse ox...and it TICKLES!!!!! See my teeth :)

Definition of Trisomy 18 (Edward's Syndrome)

Edwards Syndrome : Edwards Syndrome (Trisomy 18) is a chromosomal abnormality where there is an extra chromosome present in every cell of the body. This is an example of where “the more the merrier” is not true. This extra chromosome means that every cell has extra information encoded into it. The extra information causes confusion in the way that the cells are formed and results in the potential malformation of all of the body systems. Sadly, this condition is considered "not compatible with life". Just like with Down's Syndrome (Trisomy 21), there is a wide range of how this condition will play out (what the doctor's will refer to as your child's phenotype). Unfortunately because there is more information encoded on the 18th chromosome, the severity of this condition is greater than that of Down's Syndrome. Current studies show that while 1:1500 children will be diagnosed prenatally with trisomy 18, only half that number (or 1:3000) will be born alive at full term. Of those who survive to birth, only half will make it to two months of age, and only 10% will survive to their first birthday. Children who live can be an important part of their family and community, but are profoundly developmentally delayed.

Caleb's Journey