31 for 21, Day 11

I LOVE this story!!

Player with Down syndrome Scores Touchdown

by JAKE WHITTENBERG / KING 5 News kgw.com

Posted on September 30, 2010 at 11:11 AM

SNOHOMISH, Wash. - By most accounts, Ike Ditzenberger is different.

The 17-year-old junior at Snohomish High School has Down Syndrome. He takes special classes during the day, but after school Ike is just like one of the guys.

He’s a varsity football player.

“He gives it 100 percent every time he’s out there,” says Head Coach Mark Perry. “On the sidelines, he likes to crack jokes, and sometimes he’ll eat a cookie or two.”

The players embrace Ike as one of their own. Every night at practice, the team runs a special play. They call it the ‘Ike Special’.

“Ike runs it up the middle and the guys pretend to tackle him,” says Perry. “Everyone loves it and Ike gets to play.”

On Friday night, Coach Perry pulled the ‘Ike Special’ out of the playbook. He told the opposing Lake Stevens High School Football players what was about to happen and he called number 57 out on to the field.

“I told them if he gets 10 or 20 yards, that’s great,” Perry says.

The play call was a surprise to almost everyone in the stands, including Ike’s mom.

“I heard a lot of commotion and then I saw my son Ike run out onto the field,” says Kay Ditzenberger. “My first thought was, ‘I hope he doesn’t drop it!,’” she laughs.

4th quarter. 10 seconds left. Quarterback Taran Lee hands the ball off to Ike.

“I dropped back to hand it off, and Ike ran backwards a little bit,” says Lee.

Over the next 18 seconds, Ike ran a zig-zag pattern around the field, every step still inching closer to the goal line. Then he straightened out his run. The opposing players for Lake Stevens made admirable attempts to dive for Ike, but came up short, knowing Ike was going all the way. Then magic happened.

After a 51-yard run, Ike Ditzenberger crossed the goal line for a touchdown.

“I was bawling and everyone was screaming. It was such a special gift,” says Ike’s mom.

After a short celebration with his teammates in the end zone, Ike ripped off his helmet and ran toward the sideline with a grin from ear to ear. Thanks to both teams, Ike got his moment.

“To see the players and fans react the way they did was special,” says Coach Perry. “They went nuts. I’m glad it could happen.”

Snohomish High School lost 35-6, but the score didn’t matter. Already Ike is thinking about the future.

“He wants to play for the Huskies,” says mom. “But first, he says he wants a date for homecoming.”

31 for 21, Day 10

Okay, I didn't get a post done yesterday. My sweet family gave me a much needed mom-cation.

I love you, Brent, Tyler, Emmalee & Nathaniel!!

31 for 21, Day 9

First Day of School -- 2010

Tyler started 1st grade. Doesn't he look thrilled?!

Tyler LOVES the bus and he was very excited to meet his new bus driver and aide.

Bye, Mom!

Emmalee started kindergarten. She really didn't want to stand still long enough to take a serious picture.

She was also very excited about riding the bus. Her bus driver is great!

Nate started his first year of pre-k. Sadly, this is the only decent picture I got that morning.

31 for 21, Day 8

Down syndrome Myths and Truths

Myth: Down syndrome is a rare genetic disorder.

Truth: Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring genetic condition. One in every 733 live births is a child with Down syndrome, representing approximately 5,000 births per year in the United States alone. Today, more than 400,000 people in the United States have Down syndrome.

Myth: People with Down syndrome have a short life span.

Truth: Life expectancy for individuals with Down syndrome has increased dramatically in recent years, with the average life expectancy approaching that of peers without Down syndrome.

Myth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to older parents.

Truth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to women younger than 35 years old simply because younger women have more children. However, the incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother.

Myth: People with Down syndrome are severely “retarded.”

Truth: Most people with Down syndrome have IQs that fall in the mild to moderate range of intellectual disability (formerly known as “retardation”). Children with Down syndrome fully participate in public and private educational programs. Educators and researchers are still discovering the full educational potential of people with Down syndrome.

Myth: Most people with Down syndrome are institutionalized.

Truth: Today people with Down syndrome live at home with their families and are active participants in the educational, vocational, social, and recreational activities of the community. They are integrated into the regular education system and take part in sports, camping, music, art programs and all the other activities of their communities. People with Down syndrome are valued members of their families and their communities, contributing to society in a variety of ways.

Myth: Parents will not find community support in bringing up their child with Down syndrome.

Truth: In almost every community of the United States there are parent support groups and other community organizations directly involved in providing services to families of individuals with Down syndrome.

Myth: Children with Down syndrome must be placed in segregated special education programs.

Truth: Children with Down syndrome have been included in regular academic classrooms in schools across the country. In some instances they are integrated into specific courses, while in other situations students are fully included in the regular classroom for all subjects. The current trend in education is for full inclusion in the social and educational life of the community. Increasingly, individuals with Down syndrome graduate from high school with regular diplomas, participate in post-secondary academic and college experiences and, in some cases, receive college degrees.

Myth: Adults with Down syndrome are unemployable.

Truth: Businesses are seeking young adults with Down syndrome for a variety of positions. They are being employed in small- and medium-sized offices: by banks, corporations, nursing homes, hotels and restaurants. They work in the music and entertainment industry, in clerical positions, childcare, the sports field and in the computer industry. People with Down syndrome bring to their jobs enthusiasm, reliability and dedication.

Myth: People with Down syndrome are always happy.

Truth: People with Down syndrome have feelings just like everyone else in the population. They experience the full range of emotions. They respond to positive expressions of friendship and they are hurt and upset by inconsiderate behavior.

Myth: Adults with Down syndrome are unable to form close interpersonal relationships leading to marriage.

Truth: People with Down syndrome date, socialize, form ongoing relationships and marry.

Myth: Down syndrome can never be cured.

Truth: Research on Down syndrome is making great strides in identifying the genes on chromosome 21 that cause the characteristics of Down syndrome. Scientists now feel strongly that it will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the problems associated with Down syndrome in the future.

31 for 21, Day 7

31 for 21, Day 6

21 Things I Love About Tyler

(In no particular order.)

1. I love Tyler's facial expressions when he is trying to get a laugh out of someone. He sort of raises one eyebrow and then stares at you and waits for you to crack up. No matter how hard I try to keep a straight face, he can get me every time.

2. I love that he can walk. It took him a long time to finally get enough strength and courage to start but once he did, there was no stopping him.

3. I love how much he loves Emmalee. I really believe she is his best friend. He gets super excited when he sees her and LOVES it when she plays with him.

4. I love how much he loves Nathaniel. There was a time when he wasn't so sure about Nate. Now that they share a room they have really bonded and play so well together.

5. I love his enthusiasm when he sees someone he knows. He'll call out, "HI DADDY!" (or whomever it happens to be.) It is awesome! It makes you feel like the most special person in the whole world.

6. I love listening to him pray. I only understand a couple of the words he says but I know that Heavenly Father understands him perfectly. It touches my heart and renews my faith. It is the sweetest thing.

7. I love how much he loves music. All kinds of music. He loves to sing and I am constantly amazed at how many of the words he knows to different songs. Sometimes I will hear him singing when he doesn't realize I am listening. He really loves listening to his dad play the piano. He has always loved that. Right now his favorite song is "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train. He asks for it several times a day by saying, "Hey Hey Hey...." We listen to it quite often.

8. I love watching him dance. He dances with his whole body and really gets into it. It is so fun to watch him! Watching him break dance is the best!

9. I love how much he loves his daddy. He has been a daddy's boy from the very first day we met him. I love watching the two of them interact and seeing the bond they have. It makes my heart melt to see them together.

10. I love how much he loves me. As much as I know that he is a daddy's boy, I also know that he loves his momma.

11. I love seeing him interact with animals, especially dogs.

12. I love how strong willed Tyler is. He is determined and stubborn. I'll admit, sometimes that can be frustrating. But I know that it is because of his determination that he accomplishes things. He will be able to accomplish anything he sets his mind to. He has a can-do attitude and never says that he can't do something. If he can't do something the first time, he doesn't get mad, he just says, "oops, try again," and works harder until he accomplishes it.

13. I love how excited he gets about things that might seem mundane to anyone else. He truly embraces life and sees the joy in everything. That is one of the greatest lessons I have learned from him.

14. I love that he loves to eat and is always willing to try new foods.

15. I love his giggle.

16. I love it when he says, "again" and then grabs your arm to blow raspberries on you. That's one of his favorite things.

17. I love hearing him talk! He seems to learn a new word every single day and it is amazing! Today's new word was gross.

18. I love his empathy for others. If one of us gets upset or cries, it breaks his heart. If one of the other kid cries, he gets so upset for them and says, "you okay?" He truly hates seeing someone else who is in pain or upset.

19. I love that he accepts EVERYONE. It doesn't matter who they are. He loves everyone. He is completely unconditional.

20. I love how he yells "HI" to every single person he sees. It is fun to take him shopping or to any public place. He does tend to get irritated if people don't say hi back. :)

21. I love that he is always willing to share.

Wow....I could go on and on. I may have to do 21 more things sometime later this month. There are just so many things I love about this boy. I am truly blessed to be his momma!

31 for 21, Day 5

31 for 21, Day 4

I love the pictures that I posted yesterday. They are so Tyler. My friend Shelly took them and she truly captured his personality. Tyler LOVES to make people smile and laugh and he has several facial expressions that he uses to get a response. The first and second pictures are so "Classic Tyler" -- one eyebrow raised, a bit of a goofy grin. I love it!

When I made the appointment for these pictures, Brent and I really debated about whether or not we should get Ty's hair cut beforehand. His hair was pretty wild, as you can see. It was uneven and super messy. In the end, we opted not to cut it first. Why? This is the most hair Tyler had had in two years.

For those of you that don't know, Tyler was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, or ALL, on March 2, 2008. He started losing his hair pretty quickly after treatment began. His hair began falling out in giant clumps. I finally ended up shaving his head in the hospital. It was one of the most heartbreaking things I have ever had to do. When his hair started falling out, it was the first physical sign that he had cancer. It finally started to sink in that he was sick. His hair loss was much more difficult than I imagined it would be.

Thankfully Tyler is now cancer free. He is also finished with treatment. His hair has finally started growing in properly and he has had several hair cuts since these photos were taken.

When I look at these photos I am so happy that we decided not to cut his hair first. His hair is a sign of how far he has come. These pictures will always be a reminder that Tyler triumphed over cancer.

31 for 21, Day 3

31 for 21, Day 2

I think one of the greatest myths regarding people with Down syndrome is that they are always happy. I can be completely honest here when I tell you that that is not true. Tyler is not always happy. He is just like any other six year old. Granted, he is happy much of the time. But he also gets frustrated, angry, sad, scared, disappointed, overwhelmed and every other emotion you can think of.

The fact is, people with Down syndrome are more like everyone else than they are different. They love, they hate, they have fears, they have joys, they laugh, they cry. More than anything, they want to be included and treated fairly. As Tyler's mom, I want that for him more than anything else.

On my sidebar I have the Down Syndrome Creed posted. I think of this often. I know that Tyler will do all the things that other kids do. I know he is capable. I know that he will succeed. I also know that he will do it at his own pace. It may take him longer and that's okay. I am excited to enjoy the journey right along with him!

Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month! 31 For 21, Day 1

Hooray! 31 for 21 is here! I am really hoping for two things by committing to blogging each day this month.

1. That I can help to make others more aware of Down syndrome in general.

2. That I don't bore everyone to death.

The rules of 31 for 21 are pretty open. You don't have to blog about Down syndrome specifically every day if you don't want to. I'm glad for that rule but I am really hoping to have something pertaining to Down syndrome every day, even if it is just a picture of Tyler.

I would love topic ideas from all of you. Is there anything about Tyler that you'd like to know? Are you curious why we chose to adopt a child with Down syndrome? Do you have questions about Down syndrome in general? Please, ask away!

I am really looking forward to this month of posts. I am also looking forward to reading the other blogs that have also committed to 31 for 21. I LOVE connecting with other families.

Wish me luck!!

31 for 21

I have seen the 31 for 21 blog challenge the past couple of years and always think I will commit to doing it. And then I don't. This year I decided to step it up and make the commitment.

What is 31 for 21? Well, October is Down syndrome awareness month. Down syndrome is also known as Trisomy 21. So, 31 for 21 is 31 days in October to blog about Down syndrome. Hooray!

I am excited to share more about Down syndrome on my blog and to blog more often in general. So watch out....you all may get real sick of me by the time the month is over.

Grab This Button

Things NOT to ask adoptive parents.....

I saw this post today on another blog and just had to share it. Yes, we have been asked many of these questions. Not only are thy inappropriate, they are hurtful. I know most people mean no harm but it can be very frustrating. I LOVE to talk about adoption, especially with those who are genuinely interested. However, I don't like being asked silly questions by total strangers, especially in front of my children.

As adoptive parents to children with special needs, it seems that the questions are even more inappropriate. If I don't know you personally, it isn't your business. End of discussion.

There are some things that I know for sure. I know that we are blessed with three amazing children. I know that adoption is a miracle! I know that our children were meant to be in our family. I know that all of the years struggling with infertility, all of the tears, all of the fear and worry that we would never be parents, all of the heartache and pain and agony -- it was all worth it. These children, these amazing children, are ours in every sense of the word. No, they are not flesh of my flesh or bone of my bone but they are miraculously my own. No, they didn't grow under my heart. But they grew in it. I can not imagine our lives without these incredible children. I am truly blessed to be their mother.

Conversation with Emmalee

Emmalee: "Mom, what happens if you die first?" Me: "Then dad will take care of you." Em: "Oh, so what happens if dad dies first?" Me: "Then I'll take care of you." Long pause.....Em: "Huh, I sure hope you die first."

Nice to know how I rank around here! I couldn't help but laugh. She is too much!

Moving On.....

No doubt about it, I really should be sleeping. It is now 4:40 in the morning and I have my alarm set for 6:30. The movers will be here at 8:30. I still have things to pack up and get the children situated for the day. And yet, I simply can't sleep.

This is the last night in this house. The last time I will sit in my too small kitchen writing a blog post. The last time I will sleep in my too small bedroom. The last time I will wish we had more space, more bathrooms, bigger bedrooms. The last time I will complain about how much I hate hardwood floors. The Gardner family is moving on.

I am really excited about the new place. It has all the things this house doesn't -- larger bedrooms, a master bathroom, the laundry room on the upper level next to the bedrooms. It has carpet, a larger dining area for our table, a much quieter neighborhood, a double garage. Really, it is everything we want.

But this house......oh this too small house. I love this house. We have so many memories here. We have been here for four years.....four years today, in fact. Tyler had just turned two when we moved here and Emmalee was fifteen months. They were babies.

We knew right away the house was too small for us. We decided it would be fine for a year and at the end of our lease we would move on. And then life happened and we simply couldn't bring ourselves to leave the comfort of our little house.

I can't even begin to remember all the amazing events that have happened in this house. Tyler learned to walk here. Emmalee grew so much that she could finally see out the living room window. We got the call about Nathaniel in this house and we brought him home to this house. This is really the only house our children have ever known.

We've celebrated four Christmases, four anniversaries and several birthdays here. We had movie nights and friends over for dinner and had so much joy here. This house has become so much more than just a house. This house is now a home. And as much as I complain, as thankful as I am for all the things the new house has, I will truly miss this little home. I pray we can be as happy in our new house as we have been here.