MOSAIC MOMENTS

Last week, I told you about our strong family bond within our support group. We are all family, and when we get a new member of our family we oooo and awww over the new baby, just like any other family would do!  So, when Carrie joined our family and told us all about her beautiful baby Kayla, this was no exception. Kayla is beautiful and looking at her pictures I am sure you will agree!

At just four months old, she has the whole world in front of her. And, with such a wonderful, loving family, Kayla will be able to not only reach for the stars, but also grab them and soar!

Join me as we hear what Carrie had to say about her wonderful family!

(see…I told you she was beautiful!)

Kayla Marie Wheeler was born June 3, 2008 and ever since that day our lives have been changed for the better.  She was 7 pounds 1 oz and 19 inches long and she was just beautiful.  We had already had tests done while I was pregnant to see if she would have Down syndrome. None of the tests came back 100% for sure so we just had to wait and see.  When the doctor called me in recovery and said that Kayla had characteristics of Down syndrome we were not really surprised at all. 

My husband and I both said the same thing..”OK. What do we need to do to help her?”  We had already decided that no matter what the outcome was, Kayla was going to be loved and accepted into our family.  She was diagnosed two days after birth with mosaic Down syndrome. I had never heard of it!!  We immediately started searching the web trying to find as much information as possible. We saw a genetics doctor a week after she was born and they gave us more information and answered questions. 

Kayla had her heart checked and she does have three minor heart defects but they are not serious at this time.  She will just have to be checked by the heart doctor every six months. She also had her eyes checked and will again in January and it appears she will need glasses. She was doomed from the get go because her father and I both have terrible eyesight!!!! Kayla seems to favor her right side and is currently in therapy to help work on that and to help her to start using her left side more.  The therapy seems to be helping and she is doing pretty good.  She is about a month behind in doing “baby things” but that’s ok.  She is 4 months old and is growing like a weed. 

I have a 17 year old son from my previous marriage and he just LOVES his baby sister.  He is a great kid and would do anything to protect or help his sister. Kayla is truly a blessing to our family and is loved very much.  I look forward to a wonderful life with her and I am sure she will have much to teach us!!