The FIVE J's: October 2011

Friday, October 14, 2011

Today Jamie's mom, Betty, took Joel for several hours. I was so grateful. We were supposed to see friends we have not seen in a year this weekend. Partially because of a snafoo on my end, we were unable to do so. It was a rough day because I had been looking forward to it for, oh, a year.:) I got my hair cut, nails done, and went to the library by myself. I grabbed lunch for me and Jamie and took it by his office. It was so wonderful to be alone - it was a nice consolation prize since we were unable to see our friends! Thank you, Betty!

At the end of school today, I grabbed Jono and we waited for Jackson to come out of the building. While we were waiting, one of Jono's classmates greeted him and introduced him to her brother. The little boy first asked if Jonathan had a new hair cut. Then he asked, "What is wrong with his face?" The child knew Jonathan looked different and was innocently pointing it out. I had difficulty not crying right there in front of the school. I needed to remember that this child was not being unkind and that made a big difference.

When Jonathan was born, I envisioned comments like that. I was terrified of looks we would receive. We did get looks when we were out, but often they were more curious or from people enamoured with Down syndrome. I didn't know anything about special needs. I was bitter about being involved in PADS (Parent Advocates Down Syndrome) - that I didn't have a choice. Members often say it is the club you didn't sign up for and didn't ask to be a member of. Jamie and I had just spent four years raising money for the Bell Center. We realized we would have to help this organization for the rest of our lives because of Jonathan - it was overwhelming and we haven't exerted much effort in the last three years on the fundraising side.

However, when Jonathan was two, I became treasurer of PADS and Jamie sat on the board (and still does). We had attended new parent meetings since Jonathan was born and received so much simply from the relationships developed there. We enjoyed giving back but still did not wholeheartedly fundraise. We figured our service was enough at that point and we took time off from fundraising.

Now that Joel is two, I have my sea legs. I don't feel so overwhelmed and have embraced DS wholeheartedly. I still have my moments but I am ready to get back in the game. I was late this year but I believe in this group and hope that any of you who love us and want to support us will donate - even if it is just $10. If 200 people donated $10, that would be $2000! Easy! You can donate online anonymously - I think some people don't give because they don't want others to see the amount they gave and how it would compare to other donations. Don't let that stop you, please. We will take any donations - large or small.

If you would like to attend the Buddy Walk, it will be from 2-4pm at Regions Park this Sunday. There will be music, face painting, bounce houses, and more! The actual walk usually begins around 3pm - it is just a loop around the parking lot. There is info below on how to register or donate.

To watch a video of Jono over the last year, watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ1WXtBNha8

If you want to register to walk with us, go here:
http://www.downsyndromealabama.org/content.asp?id=100740

If you cannot walk with us and want to donate, go here:
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/julie-warren-2/2011PADSBuddyWalk.

Thanks for your support and love,
Julie:)

Monday, October 10, 2011

Buddy Walk on Sunday

Please join us this Sunday from 2-4pm at Regions Park. We will be walking to fundraise for our Down syndrome support group, PADS. You pay $10 per person (that will go towards our fundraising total) to get a t-shirt which serves as a ticket for the games and bounce houses. At around 3pm, we will begin our walk. The fundraising winners will be announced at the end.

PADS has been huge in our lives. It has been a tremendous source of comfort, support, and encouragement for us. It is where we meet with other families in our boat, encourage new families, and support our kids. Your donation funds new parent baskets, gifts for speakers at new parent meetings, meals to new parents or hospitalized kids, educational books, speakers, conferences, our Adult Down syndrome clinic and its staff, and our executive director's salary just to name a few.

Jamie currently serves on the board and I was treasurer for two years. I took a few years off after Joel was born and am now helping with new parents. This group is one that we will be connected with for the rest of our lives. We appreciate your help!

To watch a video of Jono over the last year, watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ1WXtBNha8

If you want to register to walk with us, go here:
http://www.downsyndromealabama.org/content.asp?id=100740

If you cannot walk with us and want to donate, go here:
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/julie-warren-2/2011PADSBuddyWalk.

Thank you so much for supporting us,
Jamie, Julie, Jackson, Jonathan, and Joel

Thursday, October 06, 2011

Warren Family Update

Over the last six months, a lot has happened. In the fall of 2010, our pastor asked our church to begin praying about moving to a different part of town. He said it would make sense to live in a place we served, rather than just swooping in to be saviors and then going back to our nice homes. We didn't think this was the plan for us, but we began to pray. A lot of the people moving were going to homeschool. While I was a teacher before the boys were born, I don't feel equipped to homeschool Jonathan. I think he will get better help with teachers who have specialized in special education.

Previous to this, we had found out about a home in our neighborhood that sat vacant on a dead end street. The street had many other families on it, one of whom were friends of ours - they had three kids like us and their middle child (Jonathan's betrothed:)) has Down syndrome as well. The owner of the home is a friend of our family. Jamie contacted him a few years ago to ask if they would be willing to sell. They politely said "no" and that five other people were in front of us. So, we decided to stay where we were and put down roots. We had great neighbors across the street, down the street, and behind us. Our street could be busy at certain hours and we thought drug deals could be going on next door, but that was okay.:)

When we began praying about if we should move or not, our family friend (the owner of the home we had been interested in) contacted us and said he was ready to sell and we were at the top of his list. I was thrilled - I thought praying for the church move had been God preparing us to move to this other street in Homewood.

Jamie and I got our house ready and put it on the market in the fall of 2010. Every couple of months, we would wonder if we were doing the right thing. I wondered if I had misinterpreted what I thought God was saying. It was stressful trying to keep the house clean when I never knew when a call would come to see the house. Jonathan was potty training and letting the boys have fun but trying to keep things neat was hard.

In June, our contract was up with the family of the "new" house. We ended our contract with them. Three days later we got an offer on our house while we were at Disney. Jamie sat outside Pirates of the Caribbean, wheeling and dealing. We closed on a Friday in July and were supposed to be out by Sunday. We were in a quandry - we had no place to go. On Wednesday of that week, we had no place to go. We were looking at a house a third of our home's size. The realtor called this house "The Mountain Chalet of Homewood." I affectionately referred to it as "The Deathtrap." There was no front yard or back yard and it was on our old street. The backyard had a deck - on one side were stones and the other had tree stumps. Knowing my boys, they would jump off and be dashed to their deaths. Inside, you walked in at the second level and looked down into the den. Two bedrooms were upstairs. One room had French doors that were locked. If, however, someone were to get them open, they would look down into the den. I was terrified that the boys would kill themselves. The staircase was not up to code.

Jamie and I talked about it. He had scoured the neighborhood, as had our realtor and friends. He said, "We have prayed about this. We have no other options. This is what God has provided. We will trust Him." He was right, but that night I prayed. I told the Lord that I knew He had provided us that house but would He please give us something else?

The next morning (Thursday) I woke up feeling peaceful. My mom was in town. She and I had been to visit my aunts and sister and she had stopped back through with me. She helped me with the boys while Jamie and I tied up loose ends. That afternoon, an hour before we had to sign the lease, a man called. He told me he owned a home on the same street of the home we wanted. He wondered if we wanted to rent his house? I almost started crying. I called Jamie, we met this man at the rental, and we took it right away. God is so good! I know that there are more serious things in the world going on, but I was so grateful He chose to provide differently for us.

Now we are living on a new street. We hope to buy and renovate the house down the street but we will see if that works out. We miss our old neighbors, but we are so grateful for our fenced in backyard and the quiet street. The boys can run outside and I don't have to worry that they might get run over. There are other kids on the street that come out to play and they are kind to our kids. Everyone is accepting of Jonathan and so good to him. I often get nervous about our reception in new social settings so that was great for me.

We don't know what is going to happen next but we are confident God will determine our steps.

Joel's Second Birthday

Joel turned two in June. He is a most delightful child. He can't wait to do what his brothers do and jumps right in, thinking he is as old as they are. It has been curious to watch him develop and catch up quickly to Jonathan. Jackson loves having him around and is a great big brother. Joel drives Jono crazy but Jonathan loves him as well.

Because of Joel, we have locks on the fridge - both the refrigerated side and freezer side as well as on the pantry and dryer. We constantly find him hiding behind the couch, eating ice cream sandwiches. That is why we got the locks but if someone leaves it unlocked, he seems to know when and opens it to help himself to a snack.

Joel's vocabulary is growing, as is Jono's. We hear that the two help each other and it seems to be true. One night, I was putting both boys to bed and Jamie was with Jackson in the other room. I was on our bed, flanked by Jono and Joel. I had turned out the light, they were settling down, and I was telling Jonathan that Jackson's friend, William, was sad because someone had thrown William's bey blade into the bushes and it could not be found. Jonathan does not like for people to be sad and proceeded to start talking about how William should not be sad. Then Joel chimed in and said, "Johnny, William IS sad" and Jono would come back with "No, William not sad." It was entertaining to be in the middle of such a simple yet wonderful conversation between brothers, one of whom we did not know would ever talk. Thank you, God.

Joel fits right in. As Jono has tapered off with the destruction, Joel has kicked in right behind him. In addition to the locks, Joel likes to skim his hand along the countertops, looking for food, drink, or toys. He enjoys taking apart Jackson's Legos. He has lots of bruises and scrapes from falling down - often in a hurry to get places. He likes Little Einsteins and enjoys playing games on my phone. Jono and Joel fight over my phone to see who can play Thomas games.

Joel throws food at the table and refuses to eat. He wants to eat junk all the time and I have to negotiate with him. Honestly, Jono has prepared me for this guy. Joel refers to himself in the third person as well. Not sure how to break that one.

Happy second birthday, Joel! We love you, Buddy!

Joel enjoying opening his gifts.

Trying to keep track of who gave what.

Taking a break, lying down on the couch.

Thomas Legos ("gegos").

New train table. Hopefully, better access to

trains, less fighting. Probably not...:)

A parking garage!

Sharing. Wow.

Happy second birthday, Joel.

May - Jono's Preschool Graduation

Jonathan had a great year in preschool this year. It was sad to see it end. Mrs. Connie, Mrs. Kendall, and Mrs. Patsy worked so hard with Jonathan, especially on potty training. Thanks to them, Jonathan learned to use the potty. That in itself was a HUGE accomplishment. They also were on the receiving end of us figuring out meds to help Jono attend better. That was rough - some days we didn't know if Jono was on the right meds or if he was getting sick. Because of them, their patience and creativity, Jonathan made tremendous progress this year. Many thanks to Hall Kent!