What some take for granted we cherish and celebrate…

From the get go, we knew Emily was different. 

Nobody believed us but we knew. 

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What we didn’t know was why and what it meant. 

She didn’t have that survival instinct that makes a newborn latch on their mother or on a bottle…

She didn’t seem to understand how to drink at all…

We knew she was different. 

We struggled immensely while trying to feed her but we never gave up. 

15 months later we had a diagnosis of cri du chat syndrome.

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Emily’s syndrome has changed our life’s.  

What many take for granted, we cherish. Accomplishments that are too small for others to notice, we celebrate. 

Emily’s diagnosis has changed us. 

In the future weeks, I will repost previous posts that explains what Cri du chat syndrome is and share some of my favorite blogs showing how Emily is defining herself as opposed to allowing her syndrome to define her. 

If you are new at following my blog and want to learn about other families with a child or adult with Cri du chat syndrome, search my site for interviews. 

Emily’s syndrome has given us an extended family of incredible individuals. Come meet them! 

If you want to connect on Twitter, you can find me @plebrass

Or if you prefer Facebook, I just created a page for Lessons from my daughter.  Please look it up. 

Emily loves when I tell her how many followers her blog has.  So please follow and share if you like her stories and enjoy sharing our journey. 

In the meantime, here is a preview of my next post…

  
Yes, after years of wanting to be a cheerleader, Emily did it!

She’s a cheerleader, her team had a showcase over the weekend and are now getting ready for competition season. 

I’m loving how fearless she is!

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

Autumn Bucket List – 6th and final update!

Back in September, I sat down and wrote my first ever bucket list.
You can find my original post here:Β Autumn Bucket List

The last 2 items on my list are:

39. Document my bucket list with pictures

40. Blog about my progress weekly ….😞 I didn’t do this weekly but here I am with my 6th and final update.

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This is my last update… what did I do and what did I “not do”!

#3 – Spend an afternoon painting pumpkin.

We waited so long that we ended-up making winter pumpkins… at least it started that way….

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But ended this way… Β πŸ™‚

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#14 – Make cookies with Em and let her eat as many as she wants.

We do that regularly but didn’t take any pictures. Β We made chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies.

#16 – Trim our Christmas tree

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Did you notice the cute ballerina on the wall? Β That’s me, many years ago!

#25 – Donate a turkey to the turkey drive.

Emily and I donated a turkey to her school to help them in their food drive. Β I am really happy to say that her high school was once again the top high school in collecting food for our region! Β I am so proud of those kids and families for all they do for our community.

 

And now, here is what I didn’t do!

#11 – Jump in puddles with Em – She always walks through puddles πŸ™‚ and I walk around them. Β I haven’t jump in a puddle with her! Β Maybe that should be a summer item!

#24 – Take Jake and Maple to the groomer… Β We should really do this. Β I am going to move this to my to-do list.

#26 – Help deliver Christmas food box with my team. Β I am slightly ashamed to say that I didn’t do it this year. Β My schedule was so full, I couldn’t figure out how to rearrange my schedule…  😦

#29 – Bring goodies for the next bake sale at work – I was off the day of the bake sale and didn’t bring anything. Β I will bring some for the next bake sale.

#30 and #33 – Write and mail Christmas cards – I suck at this, I know it means the world to many to receive hand-written Christmas cards but I like human contact. Β I like to visit when I can and I like to buy gifts when I see my nephews. Β I don’t mail gifts…

Here you have it! My final update.

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