The Bittersweetness Of Down Syndrome.

Well, while Gideon was getting his teeth brushed this morning one of his lower front teeth fell out! To say that we were surprised is an understatement. You see, Gideon has a pretty small single word vocabulary so he did not inform us that he even had a loose tooth. As parents of 13 we have always made much of the losing of the teeth. I have kept every tooth each child has lost and stored them in a pretty little tin. And of course the excitement of seeing what the Tooth Fairy (aka Mom and Dad) has left under the pillow! Well....you know what I am talking about here. So Giddy got lots of hugs and cries of exclamation but I don't think he grasped what the fuss was all about. It made me feel really sad inside. He does not understand about lost teeth or money under his pillow. And I felt a sense of loss in that. I think there will be many things in the days ahead that Gideon will not understand, and though there are so many days when he seems more like a typical kid....it is moments like this morning when I am reminded that he isn't. So here is a picture of my sweet little boy missing his first tooth. I love you Gideon.....for who you are and I am so thankful to God for giving you to us!