Here you will find Ruby’s ongoing story. She arrived with Down Syndrome and the many gifts and challenges that it brings. You can read her BIRTH STORY HERE. You can also read more posts about Ruby here. Join us as we endeavor to raise up a virtuous woman who will continue to draw others to see Jesus in the unexpected.
July 2009
Ruby at 13 months continues to be an incredible joy. To know that more than 90% of children diagnosed with Down Syndrome in the womb are aborted is painful, but so is the reality that others discontinue using their wombs because they “might” have a special needs child.
Ruby at this point has no obvious health issues, for which we are so thankful to God! We are using Nutrivene supplements, and she is still nursing. She is eating all kinds of fruit and vegetables as well. She rolls over and back quite easily and laughs, babbles and smiles more than not. Everyone loves to hold Ruby; she is quite a snuggler and loves on each person.
I am excited to be getting her in on a neurodevelopmental program beginning in September, and I am looking forward to sharing more of our life with Ruby with you all. Thank you for your concern, love, and continued prayers for her and our family.
July 2010
Ruby is two and has just recently begun crawling on hands and knees. I am so thankful that we did not push her to sit up before her own time; it is very important to keep her hips together and forcing her into an early sit would have caused her legs to flop sideways more. She is feeding herself and uses an open cup. We are trying to teach her to keep her tongue in her mouth, use a straw, and to NOT throw her plate on the floor when she’s finished. We are still on the neurodevelopmentalist program, and so far it is a good fit for our family. She really likes the Love and Learning program, too (and so do her 4 and 6yo siblings!). Her arms and legs are shorter than normal, and I need to be diligent about sewing those sleeves and hems up for her. Ruby has a ready smile and is so easy to please and console. I wish you could hear her laugh; she is a real jewel.
December 2011
Ruby’s been doing very well! We are about halfway working through a straw program to work her mouth muscles, and are still working with music horns with her too. We are still doing flashcards, too, and she can almost push her own trike. She copy-cats finger plays, and knows how to *read* a book (she holds it and turns the pages properly, and babbles likes she’s “reading”). She likes to color with the big kids at the table, and can feed herself well with silverware. She pees in the pot, but still doesn’t go there of her own accord. We are teaching her to jump, which she finds is funny; she can almost lift off. She loves music and dancing, too. We are still working with the naturpath with allergy elimination and plan to do a follow up blood draw to see if it made any difference to her crazy thyroid levels. Ruby’s still taking the NutriChem vitamins produced by Kent MacLeod. I received the non-verbal communication books that Cyndi recommended and plan to work through those activities as well. I’d like to see some of these markers hit this upcoming year (especially more words; she’s only saying three right now). This year Ruby plans to welcome a new baby brother or sister (late April) so I am sure that will be a delight for her; she loves playing with dolls right now. And we have a trip planned to California this upcoming year, too.