Quite a Week!

Today ends the 2nd Annual Cri Du Chat Awareness Week, and quite a week it has been!!!  

Ever since Taleigha was born, I have kept fairly "quiet" about her diagnosis of Cri Du Chat Syndrome.  I didn't post a whole lot on facebook, only shared information with certain people, and really didn't get very involved with too many other families with children with CDC (through support groups).  I guess you could say that I have kept a bit of a wall up when it came to Taleigha being special needs.  Facebook has been the biggest place that I have kept pretty "tight lipped" about it though.  I am not close friends with every single person that I have on facebook... some are old friends from school, some are new acquaintances, some are people that I really haven't talked to in a very long time, and so the fact that Taleigha had Cri Du Chat Syndrome was never really "put out there" for all to see.  It was mainly because I really wanted people to see Taleigha for who she really is, having no other preconceived  judgements based on a diagnosis or 'label'.  I wanted people to look at Taleigha - really look at her - and see her beauty.  It has also been because of my own need to really handle the news that my daughter's life may not be exactly what Clint and I had 'dreamed' it would be.  It's a very emotionally trying experience, this life as a parent of a special needs child, and it's a process to digest such information when you receive it.  It's a process that is hard to explain, and difficult for others to imagine... but each person handles things differently, and for me... I needed these years of 'privacy' to really get a hold of my new reality.  My life was changed, more than by just having a child... but by having a "diagnosis" as well.  I'm okay with that though.  I really am!  Because I know that Taleigha is a special little soul, and I know that she was hand picked to be in my life.  She was given to me for a reason and I know that I was meant to be her Mommy.  She has made me a better person.  She has taught me things in life... Showed me what was really truly important.  I am grateful for her.  I know I've said it a million times, and I will probably say it a million times more... It's not always easy, but the challenges and struggles that we go through... they cannot come close to the good, amazing, and wonderful things.  

My 'privacy' in the matter has never, ever been because I was not proud of my daughter, or ashamed, embarrassed, etc.  Please, let that be clear!!!  I have been in love with that girl since the day I found out I was expecting... and I have been proud of her every single day of her life.  

>>There would never be shame in something so amazing<<

It has been a changing time for me lately, though, as I have now openly shared the fact that Taleigha does have Cri Du Chat Syndrome.  I feel free to share that now, because I feel that in the [almost] four years that Taleigha has been here, people have had more than enough opportunity to really see who she is - even if it has only been from a distance.  I also know that I, myself, am in a place in my life that I feel comfortable letting people in a little more. 

I have to say how touched I am, especially over the course of this last week, by all of the outpouring support, kind words, love, compassion, and very pure acceptance that I has been given.  I am also so very grateful for all of my new "family" that has come into my life...

- my CDC family -

(as a side note: I very much welcome questions or discussions about Cri Du Chat Syndrome... or about Taleigha!  So if anyone wants to talk, please feel free to do so!) 

 

~ I AM GIVING TALEIGHA A VOICE ~ 

and I am raising awareness each and every day by sharing our story, and I am PROUD to do it!

i . am . PROUD . of . my . beautiful .Taleigha Karyce

Tae Tae!

Taelyn Ryelle, my beautiful baby girl.  

(or Tae Tae as her big sister has affectionately named her!)

Tae Tae is just simply amazing.  There really isn't a better word to use other than amazing!  She really is my everything.  She is one of the sweetest, most caring and compassionate little ladies I have ever met in my life.  She is also so well mannered (okay, well most of the time!!!  Let's not forget that she IS two!!!  haha), saying please, thank you, I'm sorry... I especially like the "I sorry Mommy!  Tae Tae no mean to!" comment that she says so sweetly!  She loves wholeheartedly, and it shows in all that she does.  I think it's absolutely adorable how she can be miss "mother hen" to Tia.  She is so "in tune" to her big sister, and takes care of her in so many ways.  Granted, she also does the same thing to me (for example: if I have a fainting episode, Tae is definitely the first one to either run and "get help" if someone else is around, and if not, she is usually grabbing a pillow and blankie for me for when I wake back up!)  The other day, Tia was having a bit of an upset tummy, and Tae Tae went to her room, grabbed a pillow, brought it out for Tia to lay on (literally helping Tia to get her head on the pillow), covered her up with a blankie, and said, "It's okay Tia, Tae Tae here for you!  Tae Tae snuggle you!" and rubbed Tia's back, trying to comfort her!!!  That brought tears to my eyes (and actually, I have tears forming right now while I am writing this, thinking of that beautiful memory)!  Taelyn has such a sweet soul and I am so grateful for that!

She has just grown up so fast.  It's so hard to believe!!!  Some days, I literally do find myself staring at her, feeling like it was just yesterday that I was cuddling my baby in my arms while watching her sleep.  Now, she is running all over the place, talking a blue streak (actually having full blown conversations at this point), and stops me in my tracks with how extremely intelligent that she is.  She is counting and singing her alphabet!!  She knows so many of her letters and numbers by sight (actually she can seriously blow me away with how well she knows these things already)!  

Can I just tell you that this kid is absolutely HILARIOUS!!!!!?!  Because she is!  Seriously - I wish I could have a video camera going 24/7 to capture of all the hilarity!  She keeps me laughing all the time (and she is especially good at being funny WHILE being sassy, which makes it so extremely difficult to keep a straight face!  ha!).  One of my favorite things that she does, that literally makes me smile so much, is when she sets up her little singing stage (a.k.a. A little toy stand up vacuum and a toy broom which she uses as her microphone and guitar), and sings her precious little heart out!!!  It is so funny when she really, REALLY gets into it because she throws her head back, mouth wide open, and sings as loud as she can!!!  I'm pretty sure we watch American Idol and The Voice too much!  Haha!  It's so great though!  I love it!

I really could ramble on and on about how much of a blessing that Tae Tae has been in my life.  There is just something about her that I can't explain... She is perfect, and I thank God for her. 

She is just.... SPECIAL!