Where do I begin, we have been given so many gifts over the past 12 years.  I am lucky to have found a person to share my life with who also happens to be my best friend.  Our marriage has its up days and not so up days like everyone else but some how the not so up days have given us strength and made our relationship and marriage stronger.  The last 3 years have been life changing but through these experiences we have been transformed into the people we are today and for that I am so thankful.  Tom and I married 12 years ago and since then we have been blessed with 6 amazing kids.  Liam (10 years), Patrick (8 years), Ryan (6 years), Sean (4 years), Colin (3 years) and Grace (2 years) that makes 6!!!

I have to say most of my life I really didn’t have any idea what thumb print I would leave on this amazing earth till I was given children.  I now know that my thumb print will be with each of my children.  They were all a part of me (and my husband, of course!) and they are now growing into amazing individuals.  I have something to do with that and I take that job very seriously.  I feel so lucky to have this one opportunity to be their Mom!

As for what makes me happy….anything creative!  I love Gardening, Cooking, Sewing, Photography, Knitting I could go on and on!  I am great at some and not so great at others but not for lack of trying.  Some day I imagine myself with a little shop on etsy selling my home made goods and if that does not work out then just being capable of making things for my grandchildren.  I would love that!

I have a secret obsession with photography!  I love love love it!  I love documenting our family and playing around with my camera.  Bare with me I am OK but hope to grow.  I am lucky to have relatives who are amazing photographers and share their knowledge with me.

3 years ago we were told that our 6th and final baby would have an extra 21st Chromosome which is called Trisomy 21 or Down Syndrome.  The day we found out will forever be etched in my heart.  We were scared and very uneducated to the community of special needs.  Since that day she has opened so many doors for us and brought such light to our family, words will never be able to communicate to her how thankful I am for that.  Through her life we have learned there are so many possibilities we never even knew existed.  She taught us about acceptance, pure love and the importance of being present in our own lives.  When I say she saved our life I truly mean it.  We are on a better path….a path that might be a little bumpy at times but a path that is much more exciting.

1.5 years ago we discovered that my son Ryan as well as his brother Colin have a severe Wheat and Dairy allergy.  We are not sure if Ryan (the worst of the 2) has celiac but suspect.  Unfortunately the only real way to confirm that would be to put him back on Gluten and then biopsy him.  Gluten makes him unbelievably sick, not to mention the aches and pains he has in his joints and legs, headaches and he is neurologically compromised, so that is just not in the cards.  We treat him like he has celiac because if we do not he becomes very ill.  So needless to say feeding my children can be interesting but I have mastered it.  By the strength of God I was able to master it.  I would love to help, support or encourage anyone who is going through this challenge so please feel free to contact me!

I am also currently homeschooling my son Ryan and Colin and administrating all Grace’s therapy needs under the direction of our therapy group.

We are blessed….I am starting this blog because it is something I wanted to do years ago.  I want to share with you what it is like raising 6 kids in 2012!! and hope that I can educate people about families with children that have special needs.  We are the same, we have concerns and fears just like everyone else.  Our children are precious gifts and we are so thankful for all of them!