And now.... A word from DAD

 Tonight's post is one of those that has a predetermined topic, and tonight that topic is "I'm glad I have a child with Down Syndrome because..."

Before I get into the meat of the post, I guess I should introduce myself.  This of course is Shauna's blog about Reagan but tonight she thought it would be the perfect night for a guest poster and she thought the perfect guest poster would be me, the husband, AKA Dad.

Well, any man who's ever had daughters knows that special and visceral bond that a father and daughter has.  I have three!  Before they were born I had heard about that bond and maybe even understood it in a very intellectual level but when she's born and you hold her in your arms and she looks at you with those big brown eyes, you fall in love and you know right then and there that your only job on Earth is to teach her, take care of her, and above all watch over her and protect her from all the worlds dangers.  And I had experienced the miracle twice.  So....

Looking back at it now, I'm more than a little bit ashamed to say that when Shauna told me she was pregnant again I was secretly hoping that this time maybe we would have a boy... Of course, when we found out she was a girl, there was some disappointment.  Then, a little time later, we were told of a marker that could point to Down Syndrome but was still very unlikely.  Shauna didn't seem to be bothered by it but from then on I had my fair share of anxiety about it.  When it was confirmed the night she was born I was surprised, pleasantly, that the most pronounced emotion I experienced was Peace... (later that night was a whole other situation that I'm sure Shauna will address in a later post).

So now that I've given you this long winded history, you're wondering how this ties into tonight's topic...

I'm glad I have a child with Down Syndrome because in the short time I've known her she has taught me so much about me and has transformed me.  I've learned so much about myself in the last year.  Before I knew her I put out that I was bulletproof and arrogant about it but now I've learned about my weaknesses.... fears and anxiety about my future, my family's future, her future.  It's something that I've really had to learn how to control.  I've also learned that under that facade of arrogance and confidence, there is REAL strength there, strength that will pull me and my little family through the good and bad times.  The beauty is... is that she's only ONE!  And I know that there's more that she'll be teaching me and that means loads and loads of time I'm going to get to spend with her and learn with her.  I'm excited about the future!

So here she is my third miracle, from that first moment she looked into my eyes, I knew she was placed in my arms so that she could teach me, take care of me, and protect me from the worlds dangers.  Most of all she had no expectations and it didn't matter to her who I was.  She just knew I was Dad and she loved me.....

Note from mom...I gave him the topic and set him loose...and now I have tears rolling down my face.  Did you like it?  Leave a comment to let him know.