Re: Re: Asthma; Welcome, Irene and Philip

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/19/01 12:45:04 PM Eastern Standard Time, mfroof@...

writes:

<< Hi, Everyone......Gail.....sounds like a good ol' fashion asthma attack!!!

Gareth gets them really bad at times, too. A bad cold, sinus infection, ear

infection, allergies........just about anything can trigger it. Gareth's

had

it now for 3 years, ever since we moved to Illinois......don't know why. I

have only had one attack in my life......brought on by a cold, they said. I

thought I would cough my brains and guts out.........alternating with

gasping

for life!!! Hope it clears up quickly. >>

Margaret,

They said it wasn't asthma, but I know neither of us could breath. Isn't

asthma where you can't breath out? We were having trouble getting any air

in. We're coughing our brains and guts out too! LOL Last time I coughed

this bad I cracked 2 ribs. OUCH....hope that doesn't happen again. Poor

Gareth! I can now imagine how scared he must feel.

Gail

[Guest guest]

Hi:

I'm somewhat new to this board, and I'm glad to know others like myself who

have children with Down Syndrome AND Autism. I didn't know that both of

these could appear together...................... thinking for a long time

that Down Syndrome was quite enough for one young man.

When Philip was born in 1966, I was advised to leave him at the maternity

hospital (to be transferred to a " facility " ) forget about him and go on with

my life.

This was not an option for me, and I told the " experts " that I had arrived at

the hospital with Philly ( in my tummy ), and I had no intention of leaving

without him.

I was told ( about twelve hours after his birth ) that Philly " seemed like "

he had Down Syndrome. I didn't even know that DS was. Our pediatrician

explained that DS had been referred to as " mongolism " ; then I knew what he

meant, but didn't know much about it................ except that it meant

real problems for the child. I have since shuddered at the former name for

DS.

A nurse brought Philly to me, holding him under her arm like one would carry

a football. She looked like a prison matron, and as I looked on in wonder,

she said " I have your baby here, but you don't have to feed him if you

don't want to " . I told her to give my baby to me immediately and never touch

him again. I told her I didn't want to see her, look at her or know her, and

I wanted her to get out right away. How dare she think I wouldn't want to

feed my baby?

That evening Philly's father ( now my former husband )stood in my hospital

room listening ( and writing furiously ) to a doctor listing the names of

pediatric " nurseries " where Philip could be placed................ while I

sat in bed seething with anger that he could even consider sending MY baby

away. It was at that moment it became very clear that Philip was going to be

MY baby.

Also, my mother insisted that I not name " the new baby " after my deceased

father as I had planned, because " the new baby " was " defective. " Philly and

I were pretty much alone together.

The " new baby " was named Philip , my father's first and middle names, I

did take him home, and I have never looked back, nor have I ever regretted my

decision. I consider Philip a GIFT.

In 1966 there wasn't an awful lot of information for a new mother of a baby

with DS, and I discovered that most of the information was incorrect.

Philip had genetic testing, and my (then) husband and I were tested also.

The first set of tests were " lost " , so we had to do the whole thing over

again, and the tests took a very long time to be completed.

By the time the " experts " had our tests completed, I was pregnant with my

third son ( I had a five year old first son from my previous marriage ).

The research MD who came to talk to us was a very pregnant woman.

She told us that since Philly had DS and his father had a sister and a cousin

who had both delivered children with DS, we were at risk for having another

child with DS. She also said that Philip would never even learn to tie his

shoelaces, that he would be a terrible burden for the family, and that we

should never have another child. Then she added........... " Right now,

Philip is cute and cuddly like a 'puppy' but like all 'puppies' would grow up

and be more of a nuisance.

I rose up from my chair and told her that if I wanted to discuss a " puppy " , I

would have gone to a pet store, not to her office to be advised by someone

who obviously deals only in " x's and y's " speak to us this way.

I also told her that being very pregnant had done nothing for her " bedside

manner " while talking with parents who have new babies with special needs,

and that I fervently hoped for her baby's sake, she would be more

compassionate if he or she were born with " problems " .

Then I walked to the door of her office, opened it, said " and

besides............. I'm already pregnant " . I walked out and once again,

never looked back. I delivered my third son twenty months after Philly's

birth, and he is fine.

Even though I'm considered the " old guard " , because Philip is almost 35 years

old, I am still learning about him, and I'm doing this because of all of you

on this board.

This letter of introduction has become a novel, I'm afraid, but you know how

we grandmothers can ramble on and on ( and on and on ).

My best to you.

Irene, mother to Jerry ( 39 ), Philly ( 34 ) DS/AUTISM/ CELIAC.... and

(33).............

and grandmother of (14 )

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/19/01 4:53:36 PM Eastern Standard Time,

SINGSONG5@... writes:

<< This letter of introduction has become a novel, I'm afraid, but you know

how

we grandmothers can ramble on and on ( and on and on ).

My best to you. >>

Irene,

Oh how glad I am that Seth was born when he was! I would like to think I

could be as strong as you, but I know I would fold. Philip is one lucky

son!!!! I remember when my Mother could finally bring herself to hold Seth,

she said " Don't you think these kids are better off aborted? " I must add

that her ignorance is gone and she adores Seth now. I think she was more

afraid of him than anything. Fear of the unknown I guess. Ya know, I think

her seeing how much happiness he brings all of us helped her through that a

lot. I bow to you Irene, you are one remarkable LADY. :-)

Gail

[Guest guest]

I am so sorry that you had to go through all of that. I remember when was

a baby, well, maybe a year old, and we took him to a military barber. The man

was asking us all kinds of questions, did they tell you to just let him die, did

they tell you to put him in a home, did they tell you that if he lived past 3

that he might live until he was 30 or 40? Things like that. Turned out he had

had a son in the mid to late 60's and that was all that they had told him.

We were very lucky. was born in Westerly, RI. They let me have a

semi-private room, but never assigned anyone to it, so it was to all extents

private. The nurse asked me if she could give my name to the night volunteer,

who was a retired RN who had a Down's girl that was 10, so she could talk to me.

My husband handled it well, but mostly because all of his " dreams " for a child

involved a daughter. He didn't have visions of baseball, sports, or whatever.

We both cried when we found out, because I had only seen the worst cases. Then

we just both accepted it. He had a visiting nurse for early intervention, and I

mean early. She gave me exercises to do with him because he wasn't bringing his

arms to center early enough.

Times sure have changed. You must be a very strong woman to not be " bullied " by

the medical profession. I had a cousin who was just a few years younger than

me, I guess she would have been 34 or something like that. She died at 31. She

had something wrong, small brain, they thought she only had a brain stem, and

the doctors actually told the mother to starve her that she would be a

vegetable. Like I said, she lived to be 31 and had about the mentality of a 4

or 5 year old. Very sweet lady, I wished I had known her better, but she was a

distant cousin and in a different state.

Well, I've rambled long enough. We just got back from a " short " trip to Walmart

that turned into 5 hours because I had to call hubby and we had to go get a new

battery for the car.......it never rains, but it poors.

Wife to Dewight

Mom to , 10 years, Down Syndrome, PDD-NOS, and celiac disease

And , 19 months and strong-willed

Both homeschooled

See my poems on Themestream:

http://www.themestream.com/gspd_browse/author/view_author_info.gsp?auth_id=97650

-------------------------------------------------------------

Sign up for ICQmail at http://www.icq.com/icqmail/signup.html

[Guest guest]

Hi:

Thank you for welcoming Philly and me.

I too heard tales about what to expect when Philly was born. I was told that

if I could get him past his first year of life, there was a pretty good

chance he would live. So for that first year, while he was on antibiotics

the whole time, I was always getting up in the night to check his breathing

etc. I became " obsessive " myself about making sure he was healthy.

I feel so sorry for that man who asked so many questions about babies who

have Down Syndrome. To think this has been on his mind for so long that he

would still have such feelings............... it is so sad.

You mentioned Westerly, RI. All my sons were born in Providence in what used

to be Providence Lying-In Hospital. I had lived there in my teenage years

and returned to Providence to have my babies after living in MA for several

years.

I always loved RI and still do. In fact whenever I think of it, I tape the

TV show " Providence " , just so I can view the city in its more recent

incarnation. It holds a lot of memories for me.

In the sixties, things were beginning to get to a turning point when it came

to dealing with the reality of special needs children. There were some

people in the medical community who, while not advising it, would admit that

children with special needs did better in their own home with parents and

siblings than in an institutional setting.

It's true that I had an unfortunate set of circumstances which propelled me

into the action I needed to take, if I was going to raise my child at home.

I had to play " hard ball " ( I watch CNN ), and become the crusader for my

own baby's welfare.

This was very unlike me. I always was the child who let other children get

their way; who was careful not to make waves, so I wouldn't be " noticed " , who

was quite content to sit somewhere and let the world come to me; in other

words, I was painfully shy.

It wasn't until Philip was born that I became the mother " tiger " protecting

her " cub " . I think that the people who knew me best were rather taken by

surprise that I put out my claws at all. All of this came from a place I

never knew I had within me. Perhaps it was a hormonal thing that set me off;

I don't really know. What's important to me is that I stood up for myself

and my baby, and the results are more than satisfying.

You and all the mothers on this board have this same determination.........

against all odds. The bond between mother and child is not always equal in

every situation. I know this because I have since learned that some grammar

schoolmates of mine have had children with Down Syndrome and have elected to

send them away and have never admitted they gave birth to these children.

That might have worked for them; it wouldn't have worked for

me............... or you.......... or you and you and you etc.

I look forward to continuing to learn about my son, as I read the posts

written by other mothers committed to their children. I hope I can offer

something in return.

Thanks again for your very kind letter.

Irene............ mother of Philip ( 35, almost ) DS/AU/ CELIAC

[Guest guest]

Irene,

big welcome to you and phily. i commend you for having the strength and

fortitude back in those days to help you and philip survive... i had my

daughter in 1991 and i was told the same thing " give her up for adoption,

put her in a home, or put her in foster care, your young and can learn to

love again " what a bunch of bs.... i have learned to love her very much, it

wasn't a hard job to do.... she is my life along with her five hear old

brother...welcome and thanks for sharing....... leah-mom to ashton 9ds-pd

and cameron 5-heart problems and who knows what else:-(

>From: SINGSONG5@...

>Reply-To:

>To:

>Subject: Re: Re: Asthma; Welcome, Irene and Philip

>Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001 16:51:44 EST

>

>Hi:

>

>I'm somewhat new to this board, and I'm glad to know others like myself who

>have children with Down Syndrome AND Autism. I didn't know that both of

>these could appear together...................... thinking for a long time

>that Down Syndrome was quite enough for one young man.

>

>When Philip was born in 1966, I was advised to leave him at the maternity

>hospital (to be transferred to a " facility " ) forget about him and go on

>with

>my life.

>

>This was not an option for me, and I told the " experts " that I had arrived

>at

>the hospital with Philly ( in my tummy ), and I had no intention of leaving

>without him.

>

>I was told ( about twelve hours after his birth ) that Philly " seemed like "

>he had Down Syndrome. I didn't even know that DS was. Our pediatrician

>explained that DS had been referred to as " mongolism " ; then I knew what he

>meant, but didn't know much about it................ except that it meant

>real problems for the child. I have since shuddered at the former name

>for

>DS.

>

>A nurse brought Philly to me, holding him under her arm like one would

>carry

>a football. She looked like a prison matron, and as I looked on in wonder,

>she said " I have your baby here, but you don't have to feed him if you

>don't want to " . I told her to give my baby to me immediately and never

>touch

>him again. I told her I didn't want to see her, look at her or know her,

>and

>I wanted her to get out right away. How dare she think I wouldn't want to

>feed my baby?

>

>That evening Philly's father ( now my former husband )stood in my hospital

>room listening ( and writing furiously ) to a doctor listing the names of

>pediatric " nurseries " where Philip could be placed................ while I

>sat in bed seething with anger that he could even consider sending MY baby

>away. It was at that moment it became very clear that Philip was going to

>be

>MY baby.

>

>Also, my mother insisted that I not name " the new baby " after my deceased

>father as I had planned, because " the new baby " was " defective. " Philly

>and

>I were pretty much alone together.

>

>The " new baby " was named Philip , my father's first and middle names,

>I

>did take him home, and I have never looked back, nor have I ever regretted

>my

>decision. I consider Philip a GIFT.

>

>In 1966 there wasn't an awful lot of information for a new mother of a baby

>with DS, and I discovered that most of the information was incorrect.

>

>Philip had genetic testing, and my (then) husband and I were tested also.

>The first set of tests were " lost " , so we had to do the whole thing over

>again, and the tests took a very long time to be completed.

>

>By the time the " experts " had our tests completed, I was pregnant with my

>third son ( I had a five year old first son from my previous marriage ).

>The research MD who came to talk to us was a very pregnant woman.

>

>She told us that since Philly had DS and his father had a sister and a

>cousin

>who had both delivered children with DS, we were at risk for having

>another

>child with DS. She also said that Philip would never even learn to tie his

>shoelaces, that he would be a terrible burden for the family, and that we

>should never have another child. Then she added........... " Right now,

>Philip is cute and cuddly like a 'puppy' but like all 'puppies' would grow

>up

>and be more of a nuisance.

>

>I rose up from my chair and told her that if I wanted to discuss a " puppy " ,

>I

>would have gone to a pet store, not to her office to be advised by someone

>who obviously deals only in " x's and y's " speak to us this way.

>

>I also told her that being very pregnant had done nothing for her " bedside

>manner " while talking with parents who have new babies with special needs,

>and that I fervently hoped for her baby's sake, she would be more

>compassionate if he or she were born with " problems " .

>

>Then I walked to the door of her office, opened it, said " and

>besides............. I'm already pregnant " . I walked out and once again,

>never looked back. I delivered my third son twenty months after Philly's

>birth, and he is fine.

>

>Even though I'm considered the " old guard " , because Philip is almost 35

>years

>old, I am still learning about him, and I'm doing this because of all of

>you

>on this board.

>

>This letter of introduction has become a novel, I'm afraid, but you know

>how

>we grandmothers can ramble on and on ( and on and on ).

>

>My best to you.

>

>Irene, mother to Jerry ( 39 ), Philly ( 34 ) DS/AUTISM/ CELIAC.... and

> (33).............

>and grandmother of (14 )

_________________________________________________________________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Hi, Leah!

It's not difficult to love our special children. They are " innocents " who

grace us with unconditional love.

Your daughter is blessed to call you " Mom " .

My best to all of you.

Irene

[Guest guest]

gotta remember that asthma is reoccuring with certain factors and you will

wease your chest will feel tight and coughing helps clear but maybe you guys

just have a rough upper respiratory infection, drinks lots of water!!! this

helps thin out the mucus. try to refrain from milk as much as possible until

feeling better too. Oh, if you like spicey foods? these actually help people

with breathing probs, something about them help open up the airways etc,

like green/re peepers, onions etc, hope you guys feel better soon.shawna.

Re: Re: Asthma; Welcome, Irene and Philip

> In a message dated 2/19/01 12:45:04 PM Eastern Standard Time,

mfroof@...

> writes:

>

> << Hi, Everyone......Gail.....sounds like a good ol' fashion asthma

attack!!!

>

> Gareth gets them really bad at times, too. A bad cold, sinus infection,

ear

> infection, allergies........just about anything can trigger it. Gareth's

> had

> it now for 3 years, ever since we moved to Illinois......don't know why.

I

> have only had one attack in my life......brought on by a cold, they said.

I

> thought I would cough my brains and guts out.........alternating with

> gasping

> for life!!! Hope it clears up quickly. >>

>

> Margaret,

> They said it wasn't asthma, but I know neither of us could breath. Isn't

> asthma where you can't breath out? We were having trouble getting any air

> in. We're coughing our brains and guts out too! LOL Last time I coughed

> this bad I cracked 2 ribs. OUCH....hope that doesn't happen again. Poor

> Gareth! I can now imagine how scared he must feel.

> Gail

>

>

> http://www.onelist.com/community/

>

[Guest guest]

very nice to meet you irene, my son nathan was born in 1991 and they still

suggested theat we have no more children ( he was our first) but we were

blessed with another son who is normal and loves his big brother as much as

we do, they are only about 18months apart, we were being to careful,lol,

but things turned out fine in the end, i cant imagine my nathan any

different, nathan's mom shawna, and his brother nicholas.

Re: Re: Asthma; Welcome, Irene and Philip

> Hi:

>

> I'm somewhat new to this board, and I'm glad to know others like myself

who

> have children with Down Syndrome AND Autism. I didn't know that both of

> these could appear together...................... thinking for a long time

> that Down Syndrome was quite enough for one young man.

>

> When Philip was born in 1966, I was advised to leave him at the maternity

> hospital (to be transferred to a " facility " ) forget about him and go on

with

> my life.

>

> This was not an option for me, and I told the " experts " that I had arrived

at

> the hospital with Philly ( in my tummy ), and I had no intention of

leaving

> without him.

>

> I was told ( about twelve hours after his birth ) that Philly " seemed

like "

> he had Down Syndrome. I didn't even know that DS was. Our pediatrician

> explained that DS had been referred to as " mongolism " ; then I knew what

he

> meant, but didn't know much about it................ except that it meant

> real problems for the child. I have since shuddered at the former name

for

> DS.

>

> A nurse brought Philly to me, holding him under her arm like one would

carry

> a football. She looked like a prison matron, and as I looked on in

wonder,

> she said " I have your baby here, but you don't have to feed him if you

> don't want to " . I told her to give my baby to me immediately and never

touch

> him again. I told her I didn't want to see her, look at her or know her,

and

> I wanted her to get out right away. How dare she think I wouldn't want to

> feed my baby?

>

> That evening Philly's father ( now my former husband )stood in my hospital

> room listening ( and writing furiously ) to a doctor listing the names of

> pediatric " nurseries " where Philip could be placed................ while I

> sat in bed seething with anger that he could even consider sending MY baby

> away. It was at that moment it became very clear that Philip was going to

be

> MY baby.

>

> Also, my mother insisted that I not name " the new baby " after my deceased

> father as I had planned, because " the new baby " was " defective. " Philly

and

> I were pretty much alone together.

>

> The " new baby " was named Philip , my father's first and middle names,

I

> did take him home, and I have never looked back, nor have I ever regretted

my

> decision. I consider Philip a GIFT.

>

> In 1966 there wasn't an awful lot of information for a new mother of a

baby

> with DS, and I discovered that most of the information was incorrect.

>

> Philip had genetic testing, and my (then) husband and I were tested also.

> The first set of tests were " lost " , so we had to do the whole thing over

> again, and the tests took a very long time to be completed.

>

> By the time the " experts " had our tests completed, I was pregnant with my

> third son ( I had a five year old first son from my previous marriage ).

> The research MD who came to talk to us was a very pregnant woman.

>

> She told us that since Philly had DS and his father had a sister and a

cousin

> who had both delivered children with DS, we were at risk for having

another

> child with DS. She also said that Philip would never even learn to tie

his

> shoelaces, that he would be a terrible burden for the family, and that we

> should never have another child. Then she added........... " Right now,

> Philip is cute and cuddly like a 'puppy' but like all 'puppies' would grow

up

> and be more of a nuisance.

>

> I rose up from my chair and told her that if I wanted to discuss a

" puppy " , I

> would have gone to a pet store, not to her office to be advised by someone

> who obviously deals only in " x's and y's " speak to us this way.

>

> I also told her that being very pregnant had done nothing for her " bedside

> manner " while talking with parents who have new babies with special

needs,

> and that I fervently hoped for her baby's sake, she would be more

> compassionate if he or she were born with " problems " .

>

> Then I walked to the door of her office, opened it, said " and

> besides............. I'm already pregnant " . I walked out and once again,

> never looked back. I delivered my third son twenty months after Philly's

> birth, and he is fine.

>

> Even though I'm considered the " old guard " , because Philip is almost 35

years

> old, I am still learning about him, and I'm doing this because of all of

you

> on this board.

>

> This letter of introduction has become a novel, I'm afraid, but you know

how

> we grandmothers can ramble on and on ( and on and on ).

>

> My best to you.

>

> Irene, mother to Jerry ( 39 ), Philly ( 34 ) DS/AUTISM/ CELIAC.... and

> (33).............

> and grandmother of (14 )

>

>

> http://www.onelist.com/community/

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, a:

Your son was born 25 years after Philip, and they were still advising new

parents to stop having children?!?

It indicates that in some instances, we haven't come very far. I would have

thought that the information offered in the " 90's " would be more in step with

the times. That shows how out of touch with things I am!

Philly and his 20 month younger brother grew up almost as " twins " , because

they were about the same size ( as youngsters ), and I dressed them pretty

much alike.

At Christmas time there would be two of everything for Philly and .

They played together all the time and displayed a lot of affection for one

another.

I was told that at some point my youngest boy would start to " pass "

Philly............... that they wouldn't have as much in common as they did

when they were little. I was sure this wouldn't happen.

The two of them stayed close until the " baby " started setting out on his own

with his friends, and although they remained close, I could see the

distancing I had been told to watch for was becoming apparent.

Oddly enough, my oldest son who was born in 1961 has always been close to

Philly. I used to let him feed Philly baby cereal and fruit, and it was a

joy to watch. Jerry also played with Philly.............. not the way

had, but the way an older brother would play with a young child.

To this day, Jerry ( who will be 40 in July ) remains close to

Philly........... always treating him with respect and as his equal

.................. taking him to baseball and hockey games etc.

has a very busy life and doesn't get here too often, but I know he

loves Philly. Things and people change, and no one can predict the future.

When our children develop their own personalities, all we can do is step back

and let them do what they will do, and hope everything turns out well.

The affection between your sons is a very good thing. Each of them gets

something very precious from the other, and I know it brings you great joy to

see them interacting. They are learning from one another, and they are

making wonderful memories for you and your husband.

Thank you for welcoming us, a.

Philip's mom.

Irene

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/21/01 4:26:06 AM Eastern Standard Time,

SINGSONG5@... writes:

<< Your son is blessed; don't ever forget the truth in this.

So take a bow................ can you hear me applauding?

Be well.

Irene >>

Ahhhhh shucks! Thanks. :-) Ya know, it's strange to say, but I wish every

Mother could feel the joy that Seth has brought me, without having a disabled

child. Out of all five of my kids, Seth has by far taught me the most and

brought the most joy. I try hard to make each of my kids feel special, and

they all truly are. God has blessed each of them with wonderful talents and

gifts. Just different ones than Seth. Gosh, enough bragging about my

family! LOL Thanks Irene, you are right. We are all remarkable parents!

Gail

[Guest guest]

irene, thankyou for the note, we did have it a lot easier than you though,

allthough we were advisied not to have any more children, the doctor and

staff went out of their way to help us understand down syndrome bring in

videos in my room, teaching us baby cpr, even someone with a school age son

w/ds brought by a book, that was way better than any books i could find in

libraries they made me cry often i couldnt read them they were awful, those

books should be burned but occasionally i stil find one thats awful, but i

stay away from those, nowaday one can find many good books. The doctor was

very interested too, he even read through some of the book and ordered his

own, never delivered a baby w/ds he had to call in a specialist to see what

was wrong for sure, the main thing besides the no more kids thing that i

didnt like was how he told me, he didnt wait until my DH was in or anything

just blurted it out, mainly and couldnt really answer any of my questions

other that my hyperemesis wasnt the cause. So i think many docs still have

quite a ways to go, even when i bring up issues or tx's im curious about

they often say where do you get this info or we dont know of that kind of

stuff here blah blah blah, When most of its right in thier hospital library.

shawna.

Re: Re: Asthma; Welcome, Irene and Philip

> Hi, a:

>

> Your son was born 25 years after Philip, and they were still advising new

> parents to stop having children?!?

>

> It indicates that in some instances, we haven't come very far. I would

have

> thought that the information offered in the " 90's " would be more in step

with

> the times. That shows how out of touch with things I am!

>

> Philly and his 20 month younger brother grew up almost as " twins " , because

> they were about the same size ( as youngsters ), and I dressed them pretty

> much alike.

>

> At Christmas time there would be two of everything for Philly and .

> They played together all the time and displayed a lot of affection for one

> another.

>

> I was told that at some point my youngest boy would start to " pass "

> Philly............... that they wouldn't have as much in common as they

did

> when they were little. I was sure this wouldn't happen.

>

> The two of them stayed close until the " baby " started setting out on his

own

> with his friends, and although they remained close, I could see the

> distancing I had been told to watch for was becoming apparent.

>

> Oddly enough, my oldest son who was born in 1961 has always been close to

> Philly. I used to let him feed Philly baby cereal and fruit, and it was a

> joy to watch. Jerry also played with Philly.............. not the way

> had, but the way an older brother would play with a young child.

>

> To this day, Jerry ( who will be 40 in July ) remains close to

> Philly........... always treating him with respect and as his equal

> ................. taking him to baseball and hockey games etc.

>

> has a very busy life and doesn't get here too often, but I know he

> loves Philly. Things and people change, and no one can predict the future.

> When our children develop their own personalities, all we can do is step

back

> and let them do what they will do, and hope everything turns out well.

>

> The affection between your sons is a very good thing. Each of them gets

> something very precious from the other, and I know it brings you great joy

to

> see them interacting. They are learning from one another, and they are

> making wonderful memories for you and your husband.

>

> Thank you for welcoming us, a.

>

> Philip's mom.

> Irene

>

>

> http://www.onelist.com/community/

>

>