Noah's Dad

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• Soooo happy for your family! What an exciting time. Noah will be an amazing big brother.

• Thanks. And we think so also!

• I think having two children or more is different because you have to give time and attention to both or all of your children and not just one. Where as you had two hands to give to one child before now you have one hand to give to each. If you get more than two then you have more kids than hands. Multi tasking is your friend. Also being careful not to treat them the same because they will both have differences unique to them. It's easy to get into treating them the same because it is what you are used to. We have 3 girls and they couldn't be more different from each other. And we are due to have our little boy Ben who will have T21 in late April early May and he will be completely different too from his sister's.

• Thanks for your comment. This is a very wise statement that I've never heard before, :Also being careful not to treat them the same because they will both have differences unique to them." What a great observation!

  By the way, your family is beautiful, thanks for sharing the picture. I can't wait to hear about Ben when he is born. How are things going thus far? How are you guys doing? Do you have a good support network and friends/family where you guys are from?

• So far so good. We had a rough adjustment to the news at first. After talking to our therapist and having a wonderful group of church friends, and family to encourage us, we are doing a lot better and we're getting to the excited phase now. We have always, even when it is hard, been willing to say, "Yes, Lord!". God planned this whole pregnancy. Apparently he wants Ben in our lives. We were done having children. We were moving on to a whole other phase of our lives. Everything about Ben's pregnancy has been a surprise. A true act of faith and reliance on Him. We're just walking the path and moving forward. Your page has really been quite an encouragement to me. He does at this point have an AV Canal defect and a possible stomach blockage. We'll know more when we go to the Cardiologist apt in Plano on the 10th. Prayers are always welcome. :)

• Oh and also: One of the most wonderful things our pastor's wife did for my oldest when my 2nd was born (that was when we lived in CA we are in TX now) was, that when we walked into the choir room at our church to introduce the new "baby Jesus" for the Christmas Concert, she made sure several people talked to my oldest first, asked her to introduce her sister, to help with the sibling jealousy. It really helped. She felt so proud to introduce her sister and tell everyone all about her.

• I am so glad you are having a 2nd child. Noah will be a great big brother:) I don't have a child with Down Syndrome but my 1st born,a son, was born with another rare syndrome,Rubinstein/Taybi Syndrome and Peters' Syndrome(cloud over left eye,legally blind). I have been following your story and think it's great. I don't know anyone who deals with my sons syndrome. His name is AJ and was a perfect pregnancy. Until he was born. he had several deformaties-club feet,broad thumbs that curved,xrtra toes,undescended testacles.I love my son and wouldn't change him. he is 25 now and can't talk,he's in a wheelchair ,not potty trained, he does sign language and understands alot. I had a 2nd child to give him a sibling and it was a girl. She is real smart. She started to walk at 9 months and AJ didn't walk until 2 years,when he saw his sister doing things he wanted to copy her. She became his advocate from kindergarten up. They are best friends. She is wonderful with him and she would do anything for her brother. She is my angel sent to me in disguise!!! Just watch your kids. They will become best friends. My son is living in a group home now because I was alone and could not care for him that well,but he is very happy and my daughter is his legal guardian and advocate because I remarried and live in another state. God bless you,see you on facebook!:)

• You sound like a loving mother. Thanks for the comment, and for sharing the picture of you son. He looks like an awesome guy!

• I wanted to wait until I had some experience, before weighing in, so ahem, here comes what I've learned so. I was where you are 19 years ago.
  1) nothing prepares for being a dad. Everybody says of "course, that's true", but until it happens to you, it's just words, and you really, really truly have NO idea, and then you do.
  You are past that, since unborn children are children, so you are en route to...
  2) having one does NOT BEGIN to prepare you for two. Sorry.
  3) at three, you are outnumbered. Your perfect man to man offense/defense now reverts to a zone. Good luck.
  NB we stopped here, so the rest is hearsay. The best nugget I heated on this topic, from a dad of seven, is:
  "After four, you don't really notice the extra ones so much. It doesn't make much difference"

• At three children you're outnumbered indeed!

  By the way, your comment made me think about this clip from one of my favorite comedians, Jim Gaffigan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEbZrY0G9PI

• You just need to be there. Sure it's hard at first with more than one child but it gets easier as time goes on. With my son AJ we had to spend extra time with him because he needed more help but we also tried to give our daughter some equal time. Something i didn't mention before about my son ,was we spent hundreds of hours in the hospital with him due to several surgeries and procedures,some critical and some not so critical. You will be a great dad I am sure. Just make sure ylou and your wife get the rest and time together that you need.

• Great advice, thanks for commenting!

• Hi Rick! I have no insight on transitioning from one child to two children, but I did want to tell you and Abbie "congratulations!". I know that Noah is going to be an awesome big brother. Oh and you might want to cancel, that Art Team Meeting that is scheduled for 1 hour after Jaxten's delivery :-)

• We have two children. 3 years old and 10 months. Boy and a girl. A few things about #2.
  We were much more relaxed.
  Our daughter is nothing like our son was. Things that were easy with him are difficult with her. Ways he was challenging, she's a breeze.
  When you hold your second for the first time your heart grows three sizes. And you understand how you can love more than you've already been doing.
  You'll love love LOVE saying 'my children'. (It feels like a different club almost).
  Watching them interact is amazing!!
  Divide and conquer will be your mantra.
  Congratulations. There really is nothing like it.

• I just neet to tell you congratulationsfor the amazing job with Noah and special for your second child .I found you as soon the doc told i will have a baby with DS. Was very hard for the few months after the news and i have to tell you thank you!! thank you !!! for the good inspiration , you dont know but you help me go truw the terrible time and help me to make my decicion to keep the baby. Happy to see Noah dancing !!! he is very sweet ...God bless you keep inspiring :)

• You and your wife will begin to develop an even deeper understanding of teamwork by having a second child. Make sure (if your hospital has it) to order the big brother cake!! We also had our daughter wearing scrubs that had big sister written on them. She felt like one of the nurses/doctors that were there to care for me and my son.

  (My daughter turned 3 shortly after my son was born. We did not know he had DS until after his birth.)

• Hi, I have 3 kids, 11, 8 and 6. My worst fear was always how to give them equal time but kids teach you themselves, tbey have different characters so we getting along. I try to have individual time with each of them as life permits, like going shopping with one, a walk with the other, even a good conversation while hanging the laundry :)
  Wish you and your family all the very best.
  Sharon

• Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and for the kind words!