God is so good to us. We are receiving photos of the crowd and were speechless, humbled, amazed and so grateful.
God is healing our baby girl at the hands of talented doctors and nurses.
We appreciate your prayers for her healing. We knew God would make our Pepper's little body whole either through surgery or by taking her home to be with HIM. We had mysterious peace as the nurses came to take her away. Knowing that we would see her again was such a comfort that we shed only a moment of tears. What a comforter we serve!
When her surgery was finished and her tiny body paraded through the hallway attached to cords and hoses, we knew it would only be UP from here.
She's doing great! She's had only minor complications from the surgery. Her eyes have been open and she even grinned at us today!
We would love to be there to hug each of you and tell you just how grateful we are for coming out to support us. But our girl is still recovering and we can't chance getting sick and not be here for her.
We sure do love you guys.
Pepper was an answered prayer when she was born, when she was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, when she came out of surgery. She is a gift! God knew from the beginning of all creation that he would give us such a child-and we are grateful that she is who she is.
We are praying that God will bless each of you for your generocity.
With Sincerest Gratitude,
Justin, Nicki, 'Red' & Pepper Scott
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
The Open Door
Pepper is still tiny. At the time of this post, she's 3.5 months old and still weighs less than 8 lbs. Everywhere we go, some stranger is asking how old she is. Strangers stop me to talk about her. There's almost a script to my responses because they always ask the same questions- 'how old is she? When I tell them, the next question is always 'was she premature?' Then I will usually say, 'she has a heart condition associated with her Down Syndrome that makes it difficult for her to gain weight.'
I used to get flustered by the length of time it takes to grocery shop because of the questions. I also used to get annoyed at people who acted sad or apologized. Some people will actually argue 'Well, she doesn't look like she has Down Syndrome.' It is at this point that I am speechless. I just don't know what to say to the people that go that far. 'Ummm... Thank you??' ...Or maybe tell them about the blood tests that confirmed it?
It recently occurred to me that each one of these people are an opportunity to tell a stranger about what God is doing in my life because of Pepper. Each time a stranger approaches me, I should remember that if I didn't have Pepper I wouldn't be talking to strangers. They approach me! When else in my life will I have people coming up to me in droves and asking questions -flinging the door wide open again and again for the awesome love of Christ to shine? What a divine calling!!!
So, I'm trying to change the script so that my words glorify the One who created my sweet Pepper this way. Please pray for me and for my husband-that we might be a light in our town. That more people will have seeds planted in their hearts because we answered the calling to love strangers.
We are always counting on your prayers.
Blessings,
Nicki Scott
I used to get flustered by the length of time it takes to grocery shop because of the questions. I also used to get annoyed at people who acted sad or apologized. Some people will actually argue 'Well, she doesn't look like she has Down Syndrome.' It is at this point that I am speechless. I just don't know what to say to the people that go that far. 'Ummm... Thank you??' ...Or maybe tell them about the blood tests that confirmed it?
It recently occurred to me that each one of these people are an opportunity to tell a stranger about what God is doing in my life because of Pepper. Each time a stranger approaches me, I should remember that if I didn't have Pepper I wouldn't be talking to strangers. They approach me! When else in my life will I have people coming up to me in droves and asking questions -flinging the door wide open again and again for the awesome love of Christ to shine? What a divine calling!!!
So, I'm trying to change the script so that my words glorify the One who created my sweet Pepper this way. Please pray for me and for my husband-that we might be a light in our town. That more people will have seeds planted in their hearts because we answered the calling to love strangers.
We are always counting on your prayers.
Blessings,
Nicki Scott
Buddy Walk 2011
Sunday was a wonderful day. Pepper will grow to love the Down Syndrome Awareness 'Buddy Walk' more with every year. She didn't know what to think about being outside all day. Her beautiful bright eyes spent most of their time squinted -even in the shade. Perhaps next year she'll be big enough for sunglasses! Red was sprayed down with sunscreen. We learned the hard way to always use it on his head, too (he usually refuses a hat). He was slick from head to toe but had a good time at all of the free activities. There was a small car show that included some of the coolest shriner-size cars I've ever seen. There were at least 10 carnival style games with prizes and 7 or 8 inflatables for kiddos to jump/climb on. The very talented band played feel good music all day long and covered lots of popular songs from several eras and even different genres! There were ponies to ride and live reptiles to see (eeew). And a huge court for people to draw with sidewalk chalk and blow bubbles. I was told there were McDonalds Happy Meals for everyone, too. All of these wonderful activities were donated by local business owners and large companies.
Volunteers were everywhere. Cheerleaders and mascots from local high schools, colleges, and even a WNBA team! These people each know and love a person with Down Syndrome.
When the time came to walk, there were so many participants that the first people on the track had to step off before making the entire lap because the end of the group overlapped the finish line!
We saw a few adults with DS walking around. They looked so capable and independant. One in particular appeared to be in his thirties. He was walking toward us as we were entering the park. He was clean cut and dressed like he came straight from church services. I wish I would have had the nerve to speak to him! He was on a mission-looking for someone at the gate. We saw several children with DS running around. Each one looked different and the same- no matter their age or race.
Everyone there was happy. Really happy! Especially the people with DS-they were rockstars for a day! I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to go take part in your local 'Buddy Walk' and learn how to support and enourage families like ours.
Blessings,
Nicki Scott
Volunteers were everywhere. Cheerleaders and mascots from local high schools, colleges, and even a WNBA team! These people each know and love a person with Down Syndrome.
When the time came to walk, there were so many participants that the first people on the track had to step off before making the entire lap because the end of the group overlapped the finish line!
We saw a few adults with DS walking around. They looked so capable and independant. One in particular appeared to be in his thirties. He was walking toward us as we were entering the park. He was clean cut and dressed like he came straight from church services. I wish I would have had the nerve to speak to him! He was on a mission-looking for someone at the gate. We saw several children with DS running around. Each one looked different and the same- no matter their age or race.
Everyone there was happy. Really happy! Especially the people with DS-they were rockstars for a day! I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to go take part in your local 'Buddy Walk' and learn how to support and enourage families like ours.
Blessings,
Nicki Scott
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Meet Pepper!
My name is Nicki Scott. I'm the proud mama of Shelby Pepper Scott who was born June 30th, 2011 at 39 weeks gestation. At birth, she was whisked away to the nursery after only a moment of holding her 6lb 2oz little limp body against mine. After 4 hours with no word and no baby, I was able to get up and walk to the hospital's nursery to see my sweet baby in an oxygen helmet with tubes and cords coming from what seemed to be every limb. She was beautiful. I loved smelling her skin and petting her little tummy. Later that day, her doctor would come to tell me that he believed she had Down Syndrome and affectionately called her a 'Downie.' Symptoms he sighted were slanted eyes, ear placement, simean crease on one hand, low muscle tone and inability to regulate oxygen levels.
Let me back up. At my first prenatal appointment of this pregnancy, my midwife had me fill out all of the family health history information questionaires. One of the boxes I marked was for Autism. Just a week before discovering we were expecting, our then four year old son's teacher and school counsellor suggested that he might have Aspergers Syndrome (a form of autism). Upon seeing that box marked, my midwife suggested that we have the 'triple screening" blood test done to see if there might be concerns in this pregnancy. When the test was done, the results showed high markers for Down Syndrome in my blood stream. I was referred to a hospital in Tulsa for regular 4d ultrasounds to monitor the baby's growth. The doctor on staff said she couldn't tell us that the baby didn't have Down Syndrome without an amniocentesis-which carries some chance of miscarriage or infection. However, she said everything looked 'normal' so far. As we left, she suggested once again that we have the amniocentesis done soon so it wouldn't be too late to terminate the pregnancy if there was something wrong.
On our drive home that day, we purposed in our hearts to prepare ourselves as if she was going to have Down Syndrome. I grieved as if I had lost a loved one that day and for more than a week I grieved. It was as if the dream of a healthy daughter had died. I still grieve over certain things. Near the end of my pregnancy, I read about Shadrach, Meshak, and Abednego and the furnace. They purposed in their hearts to praise and serve God whether he spared them from the furnace or not. Some days are harder than others, but our God is still good and worthy to be praised! We thought we were prepared emotionally, physically, and financially but it remained a mystery until the day she was born. She was and is beautiful. She is the sweetest baby.
This blog is therapeutic for me. I will be posting about the things we learn about Pepper, Down Syndrome, and about life. Feel free to post comments and questions. We would very much appreciate your prayers and we count on our friends and family to ask others to pray, too. God is good and has been good to us. We know He chose to make Pepper exactly who she is from the beginning of creation He knew this is how our daughter would be.
Blessings!
Nicki
Let me back up. At my first prenatal appointment of this pregnancy, my midwife had me fill out all of the family health history information questionaires. One of the boxes I marked was for Autism. Just a week before discovering we were expecting, our then four year old son's teacher and school counsellor suggested that he might have Aspergers Syndrome (a form of autism). Upon seeing that box marked, my midwife suggested that we have the 'triple screening" blood test done to see if there might be concerns in this pregnancy. When the test was done, the results showed high markers for Down Syndrome in my blood stream. I was referred to a hospital in Tulsa for regular 4d ultrasounds to monitor the baby's growth. The doctor on staff said she couldn't tell us that the baby didn't have Down Syndrome without an amniocentesis-which carries some chance of miscarriage or infection. However, she said everything looked 'normal' so far. As we left, she suggested once again that we have the amniocentesis done soon so it wouldn't be too late to terminate the pregnancy if there was something wrong.
On our drive home that day, we purposed in our hearts to prepare ourselves as if she was going to have Down Syndrome. I grieved as if I had lost a loved one that day and for more than a week I grieved. It was as if the dream of a healthy daughter had died. I still grieve over certain things. Near the end of my pregnancy, I read about Shadrach, Meshak, and Abednego and the furnace. They purposed in their hearts to praise and serve God whether he spared them from the furnace or not. Some days are harder than others, but our God is still good and worthy to be praised! We thought we were prepared emotionally, physically, and financially but it remained a mystery until the day she was born. She was and is beautiful. She is the sweetest baby.
This blog is therapeutic for me. I will be posting about the things we learn about Pepper, Down Syndrome, and about life. Feel free to post comments and questions. We would very much appreciate your prayers and we count on our friends and family to ask others to pray, too. God is good and has been good to us. We know He chose to make Pepper exactly who she is from the beginning of creation He knew this is how our daughter would be.
Blessings!
Nicki
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