WELCOME TO HOLLAND

By Emily Perl Kingsley.

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.


To many times I have read this poem. Every time I cry, get mad and feel sorry for myself. But them I remember Bella. I remember how pretty, smart, funny and loving she is and how important she is to me. I could never ever imagine my life without her. And I know God chose me and Shawn to love her and cherish her. I also believe that her brother Isaac was also chosen to protect and love her. I can't thank everyone enough for supporting us all these years. Bella my have a very rare form of Edwards Syndrome but Bella is one of a kind! Once you meet her you love her and want to know her. I just wish that is was the same for all those people out there that treat kids like her and her like they are diseases. Well they are not and we need to teach our kids and others about others with specail needs. I know that if anyone took even 5 minutes with Bella they would treat others with more respect. I may be a little partial to her but she does change people. With that I will leave you all with your thoughts.

Weekend fun!

Last weekend me and Shawn took the kids to the Pike's Place Market and spent the whole day! It was great. It was over whelming for Bella at first. With so many people and so many things to see she couldn't process it all. But when she was able to take it all in she was having a great time. Isaac wanted to see everything that he could see. They both tried some chocolate noodles and they liked them!? Bella got to flirt with some construction workers. She always seems to flirt with someone! Well after a day at the market we went home and planned what to do on Sunday. Shawn suggested we go to Ocean Shores and fly kites.

So we got up early on Sunday and made our way to the ocean. Bella flew a kite for the first time by herself (we tied it to her coat so when she did let go she didn't lose it). We burried Isaac in the sand up to his neck in the sand. He was a little worried at first but he made it! We took this great picture from above him- he thinks that it is the best picture. Well as the sun started to go down we figured we should head out. It took the kids about five minutes to pass out! I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. We are usally so busy and don't have the time to spend like that and I am so blessed that we took the time.

Only 2 1/2 weeks until we leave for Disney Land! I can't wait. We leave on the 11th! We are going to have the best time in the world. There will be no limits on what we are going to do. We will see everything and do it all. The one thing I can't wait to see is the parade. I know Bella is going to love all the lights and music. I will let everyone know how it was when we get back.

Hello! Hello!

I was asked to do this by a friend. I have a family of 4. Me, my husband (Shawn), my daughter (Bella), and my son (Isaac). Me and my husband got married on October 30, 1996. A long time ago now! We gave birth to our daughter on October 21, 2000. She is very special to us. She was born with Partial Edwards Syndrome. This is a very rare form of Edwards Syndrome. She has had her ups and downs. But more important is that she is here with us and making progress everyday. She has taught everyone she meets something different. She has really touched the lives of many!!! We love her very much. She started the 2nd grade a week ago, she really loves to go to school, I think it is because of all the attention she gets! :) Well on to our second child- Isaac came along December 17, 2003. He has grown so fast. I can't believe he is going to be 5! He is the greatest big brother! (even thought he really is little brother) He helps Bella get her coat and shoes on, he helps her when she is upset, he loves to see what new words he can get her to say, and he just really loves his sister. When you ask him what Bella is he says shes a princess! He is just doing great. Isaac is reading, he is counting in English and Spanish. He loves to play soccer, baseball and basketball. Me and my husband are so proud of our kids! We never have a shortage of stories to tell or things to brag about- about them. I really don't know what else to tell you about our family. We have 2 cats- Sticky and Baby and 3 dogs- Sugar, Buster and Ranger. We both work- Shawn is a software engineer for Daptiv and I manage the BASH food bank. We always have time for family no matter what. I hope this is enjoyed and more to come soon!