31 for 21: Blogging (8)

In the first few days after Colin's diagnosis was confirmed and I got out of the emotional part, I started into "researching Mommy" mode.  Somehow I stumbled upon Bill and Ria's blog (THE first blog I found!) and found a world that I didn't even know existed.  It was so great to read about a real life family who had a child with Down Syndrome.  From there I found Pudge (now Pudge and Biggie - my SECOND blog ever reading!) and Three's a Charm (now The Sanchez Six) and my "clicking" on blog after blog took off.  As you can see, there is a whole list of blogs that I read and follow on a regular basis and get excited to add more as I am led to different blogs.  Although some of the ones that I have followed in the beginning have found different avenues (like facebook), I use these blogs as a source of information, comfort, empathy, and even entertainment as I LOVE following the lives of all of these children.  

There are so many reasons that I blog which include an outlet for some of the things that I still feel on a regular basis.  Although I don't need the same kind of information or comfort that I did in the beginning, I still find that blogging about our daily trials and tribulations gives me a "place to go".  Sometimes I come here to share the excitement of new accomplishments, sometimes it's just a way to log our life, but a lot of times, it's because I need someone "out there" to listen and maybe send a word of encouragement or help!  

While I do blog about Down Syndrome (it IS a part of our life after all), I find that this blog has evolved to take on a different type of role.  I have been encouraged when I receive comments or notes from other families who have found my blog after their own new diagnosis or struggles because it makes me feel so good to know that this blog can provide for someone the same things it did for me when I needed them the most.  

I am so thankful to where this blog has brought me today because there are so many friendships that I have made through Colin.  This is one pretty special community to be a part of!  What once started as a place where I thought I was going to need to "vent" about how we were so "unlucky" to have a child with Down Syndrome, has evolved into something so much more.  

I was reminded today about my blogging "evolution" in reading Deanna's post at Everything and Nothing from Essex.  There are so many posts that I have read along the way that I sit here and laugh or cry, smile or feel sad because I know EXACTLY what that person is saying.  I feel like someone is telling my own story. You see, since Colin HAS Down Syndrome, there are certainly things to talk about with that, however, most days, it's just me being a wife and Mommy to two little kids who can cause more trouble and headache that I care to admit.  Although they make me incredibly happy, there are some days that are just really difficult.    Deanna's post just hit home and reminded me WHY I blog.  Someone along the way in the past three years told me that Chris and I were so lucky to be in this "technology" age because of all that we have available to us in terms of support.  Blogging was such a resource for me in that I found a community and an outlet in a time where I didn't know where the future was going to lead me.  However, that very same blog has now created an outlet and a resource for me just as a normal every day kind of family.  It's comforting to read other blogs and know that other families have the same kind of every day kind of difficulties (and great things too!).  

And for that, I feel fortunate.