Hi everyone!
I have been on here once before, under my daughter's old name. My name is Robin. I am Mom to Jan, who is my oldest daughter. She and her husband are currently living in Naples, Italy due to his service in the Navy. Jan has given me two sweet grandbabies, MadeLynn and Nathaniel.
My other daughter, some of you know, is Amanda....And has given me four sweet grandchildren, Elizabeth, Caleb, Emily, and our dear Timothy Luke, who is 18 months old and has Down Syndrome. I am also Mom to Ethan and Jacob, who are 13 and 16, and the greatest boys ever.

I know that this forum was a very dear place to my daughter Amanda for a very long time, and I am so very grateful for that.
It is my utmost intentions while being here to learn all that I can, as my other daughter Jan really was a great support for Amanda, and while she is gone, I hope I am able to help fill that void.
Perhaps I do not know the things that I should, and I am excited to join this community. I may have erred in providing the support that I should have for Amanda, and I hope I can change that.
I have informed my Amanda that I would like to join your group, and was told that I would be dealing with a spectacular group of people. While she is no longer on here, I do hope that I can contribute in any way I can.
I am looking forward to learning and sharing...Expecially pictures of our cute Timothy Luke, whenever I figure out how to do that.
This is a poem I wrote the night Timothy was born... I love him so!

"TIMOTHY"

A BABY BOY WAS BORN LAST NIGHT

ANOTHER MIRACLE OF GOD,AND AS WE STOOD IN WAIT TOGETHER,I KNEW OUR LIVES WOULD BE CHANGED FOREVER.

TWO SISTERS HOLDING ON TO YEARS,REMEMBERING ALL THE LAUGHTER AND TEARS.CHILDHOOD MEMORIES SHARED ONCE AGAIN,WHILE WE ANXIOUSLY AWAITED HIM.

HOLDING HANDS AND OUR BREATH TOO,VISIONS OF BABY THINGS ALL IN BLUE,BOUND BY THE LOVE OF ONE ANOTHER,I FELT THE WINGS OF BUTTERFLIES FLUTTER.

YES. A BABY BOY WAS BORN LAST NIGHT,GUIDED HERE BY HEAVENS LIGHT,A SPECIAL GIFT FROM OUR FATHER,CREATED ESPCIALLY FOR MY DAUGHTER.

SPECIAL EYES IN WHICH TO SEE,THE VISIONS IN ALL MELODIES,SPECIAL EARS IN WHICH TO HEAR AND A HEART IN WHICH WILL KNOW NO FEAR.

FOR EVERY GIFT THERE IS A PLAN,IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'LL UNDERSTAND,BUT AS THE DAYS AND NIGHTS UNFOLD,THIS SPECIAL MIRACLE WILL BE TOLD.

WE'LL KNOW THE PLAN WITH EVERY SMILE.WITH EVERY STEP WITH EVERY MILE,WITH EVERY TOUCH WITH EVERY KISS,WE'LL KNOW THE REASONS FOR ALL OF THIS.

FOR WHILE WE THOUGHT IT SHOULDNT BE,THIS LITTLE ONE KNOWS WHAT WE CAN'T SEE.THAT GOD MADE HIM SPECIAL LIKE NO OTHER,FOR MY CHILD WHO IS HIS MOTHER.

AND THRU THE STORM,THE SUN SHONE BRIGHT,IT STARTED LATE IN THE NIGHT,A PRECIOUS GIFT LIKE NO OTHER , TO GIVE PURE LOVE TO HIS MOTHER.

GOD LAID HIS HAND UPON THAT CHILD,THE ANGELS KISSED HIM SWEET,THEN GENTLY SENT HIM ON HIS WAY SO THAT FINALLY WE COULD MEET.

AND SO THE BEGINNING HAS BEEN TOLD,SO MUCH IS YET TO COME.A BABY FILLED WITH PRECIOUS LOVE SENT ESPECIALLY FOR MY DAUGHTER FROM ABOVE.

AND WHEN I THINK OF TRIALS AND STRIFE,AND ALL THE CHALLENGES OF THIS LIFE, I'LL THINK BACK ON THE MIRACLE OF THIS LIFE,WHEN I WATCHED THAT BABY BORN LAST NIGHT.

NO WE DIDN'T EXPECT THIS AND WE WEREN'T PREPARED,BUT THEN IF WE HAD IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR,FOR THE GREATEST GIFTS COME FROM OUT OF THE BLUE,SENT WITH EXTRA BLESSINGS DIRECTLY FROM YOU.

WHY WE WER'E CHOSEN,WE'LL NEVER KNOW,ONLY THAT YOU DECIDED SO,SO TAKE OUR THANKS AND OUR LIVES TOO,AND GUIDE US IN WHAT WE SHOULD DO.

FOR WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WANTED WAS ALL BEFORE ,YOU GAVE US THAT AND SO MUCH MORE,WHAT ONCE SEEMED WRONG,NOW FEEL SO RIGHT,WHEN YOU GAVE US "TIMOTHY" LATE LAST NIGHT.

2005~ROBIN O'NEILL

Robin,

Welcome!! I was so excited to see your post. I have thought of Amanda often. I hadn't been here very long before she left, but I really liked her. You've found a great place for information, friendship, love, and support. This is HOME to me!!

I'd love to see a picture of T. Luke. Please tell Amanda I said hello.

I'm looking forward to learning more about you. I admire you joining in order to be a better support to your family. That's awesome!!

Ibby

Hi Robin,

Glad to see you are back. I've missed seeing pix of Timothy Luke. He is soooooo cute. Post some new pix when you can.

Maureen

Welcome! I'm so glad that you joined us! This is a great place to come for information and support. There is a wonderful group of people here!

I also posted a message to you in the general forum, where you asked if there were any other grandparents here.

I love your poem about Timothy Luke! He is a beautiful little boy! We miss having Amanda here, but I think it's wonderful that you have joined us!

welcome!! i dont remember Amanda.... but my baby boy is also 18 months so i will love to see more about timothy luke

Hi...welcome. Hope all is well with Timothy Luke and Amanda. Looking forward to seeing some updated photos!!!
amy

hi and welcome to the site, its great to have you hear and we are glad you are able to update us about our precious T.Luke as we miss him and say hi to his mom for us

love the poem too

Welcome......
Give T Luke a big hug from us all as downsyn. We miss him and Amanda.

Very pleased to meet you.

welcome! i think its great to have all these gramas on here!! i am amy , mama to mayson who is 6months old with ds. we also have a son jayden who is 12 and a daughter rylee, who is 8! cant wait to see timothys pictures!

Its lovely to have you here. Looking forwards to seeing pictures of Timothy Luke he must have grown so much. Send Amanda our best wishes.

Welcome to DownSyn!!! It is so good to have you join us. I makes my heart sing that you are stepping in to help out. And so willing.

Welcome, Welcome!! You are welcomed with open arms! It will be so wonderful to get updates and see new pics of Timothy Luke! We've missed him and his mom! Your poem is absolutely beautiful - it made my eyes well up. Thank you for sharing it with us! Welcome again, we are so glad you joined us!

Welcome!! I am so glad that you are here to share with us about Timothy Luke's progress and pictures. We sure do miss Amanda on here. Please tell her that I think of her often.

Can't wait to see some pictures. I bet he is growing like a weed!!!

welcome! i look forward to seeing pics of timothy luke!