On Tuesday and Wednesday of each week we take Noah to physical therapy. This is in additional to his bi-weekly occupational therapy. (Which was also in addition to his weekly feeding therapy. However as of just a few weeks ago, Noah eats like a champ and no longer needs to go!)
To be honest, when we found about all of the appointments that my wife and I would need to take Noah to, I thought I was going to be forever frustrated.
Actually, I was a little frustrated. Not at Noah, nor at all of the many appointments that were now a part of our life. It was all the extra stuff that went into those appointments.
Fighting the traffic to and from the appointments.
(By the way, don’t always trust the time your iPhone says it takes to get somewhere. Trust me.)
Waiting in doctors office’s. Lots of them.
(By the way, why is it so hard to find a Doctor in Dallas who still subscribes to Highlights magazine!)
Dealing with paperwork. Lots of it.
(If you know me in real life, you know administration isn’t my strong point. Thank God for my amazing wife!)
Waiting at (insert your pharmacy of choice name here.)
(If there was a pharmacy delivered. That pharmacy would win. Fact.)
This list could go on, but the truth of the matter is I’m ok with it. Seriously. Really. I’m ok with it.
In fact, I actually thank God for it. Seriously.
I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true. I’m thankful that we live in a time and place where we have access to all of the resources. I’m thankful that are therapists that we can take our son to. I’m thankful for X-Ray machines, and labs that give doctors the ability to see inside my son’s throat so that he can do awesome things…like eat.
I could go on, and on with this list as well. In fact, this list would be way longer then the one above.
My wife and I often talk about the million and one emotions we experienced during the first few weeks of Noah’s life. In fact, I still tear up sometimes just thinking about it. We had no idea what our life was going to be like on June 8th 2011, (today) but here we are six moths later and guess what – it’s way better then we could have ever dreamed it would be!
I often have people ask me,
“What’s life like being the parent of a child with Down Syndrome?”
Here’s my answer:
1. Being a father is awesome…!
2. Our life is way more “normal” then “un-normal.”
Seriously, this journey we are on is incredible. Watching God work in this little six-month olds life is amazing! I seriously can’t believe I get a front row ticket to watch him grow up. In fact, when I think about this site and the daily one minute videos I’ll be posting, I get excited. I know one day I’ll get to go back (and will you) and watch Noah grow up minute, by minute; literally. Wow…!
So I guess you could say this is my attempt at a geeky-sappy-dad-digital-scrapbook. (That the whole world is invited to view!)
The “inspiration” behind this site came from our friends Joel and Emily Skaggs. When Noah was born we Facebook Stalked them as we eagerly checked their page each day in hopes of them posting a new video of their three adorable three year old son, Seth; who also was born with Down Syndrome. We wanted to a glimpse into the future. We wanted to know our life would be “normal.” No one we knew had a child with Down Syndrome, and those videos, posted by people we had never met, were our window into the unknown. Through that window we say hope, encouragement, and lots of fun!
If you have randomly stumbled upon this website on your search for the same thing, my prayer is that the information on this site would bring you the same hope and encouragement. Feel free to check out the connection page to find out how you can stay connected with our journey!
-Rick
About Rick Smith
That kid is adorable. Thanks for posting videos. They are fun to watch.
Thanks! I appreciate the encouragement!
It’ll be fun to let the world watch him grow up, minute, by minute! 🙂
I love this post but do wish you separated it into two posts. I read it because of the PT mention in it (being a PT myself) But from being a Mom, your reasons for why you Thank God for your beautiful son need to be in a title of a blog post so more can read it. Brought me to tears and an awesome realization. We all need to thank God for the little things in our lives which sometimes are not so little (like the ease of going to a pharmacy, insurance coverage, medical tests, etc.). Just shared your website on Facebook with my fans. It continues to get better and better. thanks for letting us view your digital scrapbook. I believe it will offer guidance and hope for other families. You are such supportive and invested parents. All parents can learn from you. Keep up the good work.
I did quite accidentally stumble upon this site…a friend had posted on Facebook. Someone once said that only very few people are lucky enough to become parents of “special needs” children, I wish you all the best with little Noah-he is adorable, and he looks to be in fantastic hands, to help him along his journey, How different the life of a Down Syndrome baby is now,,,compared to only a generation ago. God Bless you, your wife, and everyone fortunate to become a part of NOah’s life!
Can’t help but comment again, even though I know these posts are old. I swear Noah is looking at the giraffe as to say “ok, you darn giraffe, they keep teasing me with you. Someday I am going to get a good hold on you, take you home with me and play with you all I want without any of this therapy stuff.. Again, absolutely precious little boy.