Introductions...

After the initial shock of Trinity's Downs Syndrome diagnosis we started talking about things that were going through our minds and one of those things was how are we going to tell people?  We discussed this and decided first to only tell those that were very close to us and that were going to have immediate contact with her like my parents.  We also decided that we had appreciated the time we had prior to knowing about Trinity's diagnosis so we thought this would be a great way for people to get to know her without a prior stigma.

The first person I told was my friend Amy.  Amy had been there during delivery and she is someone I have confided so much in and I knew she would be a big support, if not my BIGGEST Cheerleader.  Amy just has that "this is ok, we will take it one step at a time and things will work out" attitude!  She had left after the delivery to give us time to get to know Trinity and came back later that evening with our son Tristan.  She stepped through to the 2nd room where Trinity and I were and asked how I was doing and I lost it.  She just cried with me and said the most supportive things a friend could say.  I felt better getting it out there in the open, but still I wondered if it was a dream and this was all going to be a joke.  We talked for a bit and soon  Tristan was invading the second room as he had explored the first already and was ready to see his Mommy.  As I was getting myself together Amy and Washington took the time to introduce Tristan to his new baby sister...

This turned out to be pretty funny as the next few days Tristan referred to Baby Trinity as "not our baby, it's Aunt Mimi's baby!"  It is funny how kids deal with things and how simple situations to us can lead them through the different stages right before your eyes.  Thankfully the denial stage wore off quickly which turned into more of ignoring her for the most part for a few days which has happily lead to acceptance and love.

Shortly after Tristan being introduced Grandma arrived, thanks to Aunt Hilary who was playing chauffeur for the weekend getting people to and from the airport and hospital. Grandma was all hugs and kisses for Tristan.  She spent a great deal of time with him to let him know that he was still her #1 guy, but as he grew sleepy she was able to hand him off to Washington and come meet Trinity.

Whispering things only Grandma's share with their grandchildren...

Hilary was able to stay a little while and even brought NEW baby gifts.  She knew I was freaking out about not having certain items so she provided!  We got clothes that were closer to her size so we could actually take her home in something, preemie size diapers and a whole slew of stuff.  It was like another baby shower all over again!

After Hilary left and my mom had had time with Trinity we finally told her.  She cried as we all had, but was supportive and had words only a mom has for her grieving children.  I think at this point I was so tired and could not process anymore information so we just sat in the dark as she rocked Trinity.

The next day was back to "new baby normal" as I began to call it, where I was not thinking about Trinity's diagnosis I was just enjoying my daughter, her smells, her noises, her silence.

Grandma came mid morning and started her Grandma ways of getting all the sugar Trinity was producing and just loving all over her.  They even had "Spa" time where Grandma did her nails.

Trinity's nail actually look like she had already had them done before making her entrance into this world!  They were very long, but perfectly shaped in rounded tips.  Grandma just took the time, singing and talking to her the whole time, to file them down some so she would not scratch herself up.
 
Grandpa was able to make it into town the next night and again we went through the emotional roller coaster of telling him.  He broke down a bit,but I think all in all it went well.

So far we have told our family and close friends. At this point we think it will be best to limit this to the people we know will love and support us, who will help us on our walk.   If we have not told you it is not because we do not love you, but more that we are still processing ourselves.  I am not sure where it will go from here or how we will deal with this. Right now it will be one day at a time.

Today was a harder kind of day...

The Mommy