31 Days Already?

I can't believe it's the end of October! Which also means the end of "31 for 21" - whew, I made it! Posted every day for October!

I just realized I never answered the questions that were asked to me on that first post either - so here goes.

1. What are your plans for once Joe's back home? Where do you see yourselves 18 months from now? I'm actually going to answer this in an upcoming post!

2. I would like you to post on how you and Joe met, how long you dated, were engaged, etc. Here is the story of how we met. I was telling Joe the other day that although we did meet in high school, our relationship more closely resembles one where the couple met online! We pretty much 'dated' for 2 years long-distance...so all the 'getting to know' you time happened via emails and chats!

3. Because I recall Kayla being a bit of a peanut, what size is she in now and is Lucas catching up to her? Kayla is in size 6 for tops, although in long-sleeves the sleeves are a bit long on her. But if I go with a 5 the shirt is too short in the waist. Her pant size is 5, but again the length is a little long on her legs, but it fits better in the waist then a 4 would. Shoe is 9.5. Kayla is 40 lbs and 41 inches. I have no idea where she is on the Ds, or typical, charts. At Lucas's 18 month appointment he was...hmm...I think 27 lbs and 32 inches...geesh I need to keep better track! He's not catching up too quickly, yet! He's in 18 month pants and 18-24 months shirts. I know Kayla was not wearing 18 month clothes when she was 18 months though!

4. How has inclusion worked for Kayla so far? How are you going to explain ds to Kayla and Lucas? I think, so far, inclusion has been the right thing for Kayla, and her classmates, at this stage in her life. The kids here (just like last year in NM) seem to want to 'help' Kayla and while that is sweet of them, I know she does not like assistance like that - she is so independent and wanting to do for herself. I think because she is smaller and looks younger for her age they tend to want to 'mother' her. Hopefully the teacher is helping the kids realize that there is a lot Kayla can do on her own and she doesn't always need so many helpers :)

As for how we are going to explain Ds to Kayla and Lucas: I honestly don't know yet! I guess I'm thinking it will be some gradual realization for them and we'll definitely talk about it. We have the book "Meet Annie" and there is a part in the story where she says "I have Down syndrome." This isn't in the book, but then I say to Kayla "Just like you. You have Down syndrome too." I know she doesn't understand that right now, but eventually she will. I also plan on getting the book "We'll Paint the Octopus Red."

5. Would you ever consider adopting? Yes Joe and I have mentioned adoption a time or two! It is something I've thought about, but not enough where I've given it serious consideration and we've started the process or anything.

6. Would you ever consider adopting a child with down syndrome? Yes I've considered this too! Especially when looking over the pictures at Reece's Rainbow an international Down Syndrome Orphan Ministry. Kids with disabilities in Eastern Europe are transferred from orphanages/baby homes to mental institutions around age 4. After that it becomes very difficult for adoption, and most don't survive the institutions. It's such a sad situation over there and it breaks my heart to think of what those kids go through. I do what I can by sponsoring adoption funds for the children waiting for their forever families.

7. Where do you and Joe (& the kids) plan to be in 5 years? Could you live abroad again? I think I remember your saying you lived in Germany. Will you go back to visit? Where would you like to travel to as a family? I have no idea where we'll be in 5 years - wherever the military sends us! Actually when Joe gets back next year he'll only have 3 years left before he hits that 'magical' number of 20 years in the service; and then he can retire! Yikes! That's kind of scary to think about because I'm not sure we're quite ready for the military retirement - we don't even know where we want to settle down at. So we could possibly still be in SC (where his orders are for after this deployment), or stationed somewhere else. We've talked about living in Germany again, maybe we'll stay in past 20 and try to get orders to Germany - that would be a neat experience for the kids. We do have friends stationed in Germany now and it would be fun to go back and visit them; although the thought of an overseas flight with my two kids stresses me out! Flying period stresses me out!

8. How is inclusion going in school for Kayla? See above :)

9. If Lucas had been a girl, what name would you have chosen? I posted the names we were thinking about, and even up till I was in labor we still weren't 100% sure what name we were going to use for a boy, or girl!