David at Yesterdays Basketball Game!

I wish every nay saying Dr. we came across when David was a baby could watch this video... all I can say is never say never...

Out of The Mouths of Babes...

This morning Ben was helping Caroline put her watch on... it is a Beeeutifulll hot pink Barbie watch.

Caroline told Ben that she gets to wear it because she is the only girl in the house! Ben looks at her and says " No... Mom is a girl too" Caroline lets out a big sigh, puts her hand on her hip and says in a rather annoyed tone to Ben " No Ben... mom isn't a girl... shes an old lady!!!"

Wow.. I'm speechless... I don't think I've ever been called an old lady before!!

Just had to share...

~Vicki

The Last Entry Got Me Thinking...

about some of the other insenstive things that have been asked or said to me in regards to our family over the years. Something about having children with special needs, having children who we have adopted, or even just having a large family like ours makes some people feel that they have the right to ask very personal questions. Usually I either ignore the questions or say something lame and smile back, because as much as I'd like to fire off with a comeback like the ones below, I also realize that most people are genuine and just don't get how invasive their constant questioning really is.

The story I am going to share with you now though, still makes me smile when I think of the comeback I had for this very nosey person.

It was summertime and I was at the beach with the kids. Ben was maybe 4 and Caroline was 2. They were playing at the waters edge with buckets and just having a wonderful time. I was standing and playing right there with them when I felt like I was being watched. I looked up and there was a lady standing maybe 5 feet from us watching us play. So I smiled at her and went back to playing with the kids. That was all the invitation she needed to come over to us. She first commented on how cute the kids were and asked if they were mine, I said " yes they are and thank you" and continued to play. Then she asked how old they were and so I told her they were " 2 and 4" Then she asked if they were brother and sister and I politely said "yes" and went back to playing with them.. ( In hind sight I should have seen where this was going, but honestly they are my kids I don't look at them as looking different from eachother) So here is the kicker!!! There is a pause and I look up to see her really studying both of them ( now to really understand... Ben is blonde and blue eyed, and Caroline is dark haired, dark complexion she is half Korean and half Italian) Sooo she continues to study my kids who are TOTALLY unaware of her presense... Thank God! And she says.... Are you ready for this???? Hold on to your hats!!!! "DO THEY HAVE THE SAME FATHER?"
WHAT???? Are you kidding me??? I just about swallowed my tongue!!! I took a deep breath (and don't ask me where this came from, because I am usually not good at quick comebacks) and I said " No, they don't and they don't have the same mothers either!" Then I turned back to playing with the kids and left her standing there with her mouth hanging wide open! I could see her out of the corner of my eye for a god solid minute before she quietly turned and walked away. I can just imagine what was going through her head as she tried to figure out what I meant.
I guess I could have been more polite and explained the whole adoption thing to her, and explained about PWS, and that I have 7 kids.... blah, blah, blah.... but all I really wanted to do is enjoy playing with the kids and not be bothered by someone who felt it was ok to ask such forward questions to a complete stranger. Do they have the same father?? jeez lady come on!

People Say the Dumbest Things

As part of my role as Parent Mentor with Prader-Willi Syndrome Association, I am often in contact with parents who have babies newly diagnosed with PWS. During a recent conversation with a new parent, she commented on the ridiculous things that people had been saying to her about her childs diagnosis. Although it has been 13 years since David was born and we received the devastating blow that he had PWS, some of the comments we got from people who just don’t get it are fresh in my mind.

I guess you could say it is one of my biggest pet peeves… and the list is never ending.. I will give you all an idea of some of the things I have heard over the years… please feel free to add your own in the comments section at the end of this entry… I will add them to my list.
These are in no particular order… In red are the things I would love to say to these stupid comments.

#1 Wow.. He LOOKS Normal! (Yea.. too bad YOU cant ACT Normal)

#2 Is he retarded? (Not as Retarded as you are for asking that Question!)

#3 Did you know before you had him that there is something wrong with him? (Yeah, but we kept him anyway)

#4 What is wrong with him? ( He has Prader-Willi Syndrome, what’s your excuse?)

#5 He will grow up to be normal though, right? ( Can you define NORMAL?)

#6 Does he know there is something wrong with him? ( Do You know that you are RUDE?)

#7 At least you have Normal children too! ( Yeah it’s a good thing, it makes up for the fact that he has PWS)

#8 God gave him to you because you are special. ( Can’t even comment on this one)

#9 I could never do what you do. ( You’d be surprised what you can do if you have to)

#10 what will you do with him when the new baby comes? ( swear to God, this was asked of me when I was pregnant with Jake) ( why we are going to sell him to the Gypsies of course!!!)


Ok… just had to get that off my chest, these things shouldn't bother me any more, but they still do. My Husband Dave's favorite saying lately is
"You can't FIX Stupid" That couldn't be more true!!!

Please add you own!!

~Vicki