Shillig 4 Family

 I saw the maternal fetal medicine doctor and my normal OB (Dr. Light) today in Dallas.  It was the best we could hope for, he looks AMAZING.  As the doctor said last time, "you've got a perfect baby who just happens to have an extra chromosome."  I think I have just been waiting for them to find something physically wrong, or thinking they have to be missing something instead of just embracing this amazing news.  I have talked to so many mothers and their children with down syndrome already showed their issues by this time.  So that encourages me that he is ok!  I am trying so hard not to focus on every aspect of Cub's life for the next 60+ years and just enjoy the NOW.  We love him so much already!  Today,  there were lots of tough, strong, big, healthy adjectives used. I say he’s right on track to take after his namesake, his daddy.

Around the beginning of the girls' 8th grade year they said they wanted to try out for cheerleader.  I was supportive, but realistic.  I told them that so many of those who try out have likely been doing competitive cheer for years.  We signed them up for tumbling, enrolled them in a cheer tryout clinic, and even did a private lesson.  I learned that if we want them to make any of these teams at their competitive school that I had to make sure they were prepared.  I was so nervous that with them both trying out that one would make it and one wouldn't.  It was hard on my Mama heart.  We prepped all we could and then the week of tryouts came.  They had to miss tennis and work at Chick-Fil-A for Aimi Lark, but they did it.  On the day the results were released Jake and I were just settling into our Miami trip with Malachi.  We were walking the streets of South Beach as I refreshed my phone over and over again waiting for the results to pop ...

  Five weeks ago we first heard the news that there was a 9/10 chance that our baby boy would have Down Syndrome.  We did follow up tests that confirmed he would have that extra 21st chromosome.  We are so grateful for all the love and encouragement we all feel.  Here is the message we shared with all our family and friends: We wanted to share some unexpected news with y'all. We have learned (after much testing) that our sweet baby boy, due September 1, 2021, has Down syndrome. Approximately one in every 700 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome, making Down syndrome the most common chromosomal condition. About 6,000 babies with Down syndrome are born in the United States each year. We feel as if an angel is joining our family and we are asking for all your love, support, and prayers for the healthiest pregnancy, delivery, and baby. We will keep you updated about any issues that may come up and when our baby boy, Jacob Thomas Shillig II, arrives. Ple...