Q&A #118 - Truth Be Told Edition

OK I have had lots of questions and comments about the show both here on the blog and on facebook, so I wanted to answer them all in one spot so I don't confuse myself... which is pretty easy to do! haha

How did you get to do the show?
WELL in early 2009, one of my blog readers who works in the TV industry contacted me about the show and told me to call the production company because she thought our family would be a great fit. SO I called Pink Sneakers Productions and we talked for a long time about the show... what they wanted from the show and about our family and stuff, and then I didn't hear anything for a long time, so I thought they decided to go with other families. THEN Mid-April I got a call from them asking if we would be willing to do the show and they wanted to come like 2 1/2 weeks later! They came the day after Mother's Day and stayed for a week, which covered Kennedy's birthday which was kind of cool. It was a lot of fun having them here. The producers and film crew were SO great and we had a lot of fun hanging out with them. We were exhausted by the end of the week!!! Just getting up in time to have my hair and make up done every day wore me out. When I told them I usually take the kids to school with my hair in a pony tail and sweat pants on, they said I should do that on camera too, I was like, "hmmm... NO!" haha We really had a blast with the whole thing though! It was emotional at times, obviously, but the kids had fun, we had fun... it was a great experience!

It was really inspiring seeing her in her pre-k class too...I don't know why, but I never thought I could put Gabby in a typical pre-k. I knew we would push for inclusion in elementary but I just didn't think it would be an option before that. So THANK YOU!
Yes, it's actually a law here in Tennessee that if a child goes to a typical pre-k, they get to go to regular kindergarten. I actually didn't even know that when I enrolled Kennedy in a regular pre-k. We just knew we wanted her to have good role models to learn from. She definitely learned a lot in pre-k!!

I recently found your blog, and think your family is just beautiful. I have always loved children with ds and am wondering if we could adopt a sn child thru reeces rainbow. I was so excited to watch the show tonite. Kennedy is beyond precious!! So happy Kellsey is coming home !! I cant wait to continue to follow your journey :)
You should definitely check into it! Right now is the best time as the angel tree is up and you can see all the beautiful kids waiting for their forever families! Visit Reece's Rainbow for all the information you will need and you can contact Andrea Roberts to get the process started. You can always feel free to email me with questions as well. Go to the contact tab on my blog!

Just a few cents from me...I do wish they had used "People-First Language" on the title... also one thing that struck me a bit when watching it was that Kennedy definitely has had more health issues than the "average" child with Ds. I just wish that maybe could have been mentioned... just so people don't immediately assume such major health obstacles when they hear "Ds." Make sense?
I agree, I wish they had too! Yes, that does make sense. I think I actually did talk about that at one point, but it probably got cut. There were hours and hours and hours of footage.

I want to know more about what YOU think, if you've had time to process it. I loved the whole thing... all 3 stories touched me in different ways. I feel like I "know" your family more and wanted to see more of you guys, but that's my bias. :) What did the kids think?
I am watching it again right now. I think overall it was great! There were a few things I would change, of course, but nothing major. And yes, somehow I think Sam's friends wanted to see more of her and Camryn's wanted to see more of her! haha The kids LOVED it! Keeghan didn't stay up to see it last night, so he's watching it now... he's sort of interested. LOL

What did Keeghan have attached to his pacifier? Great show!
That would be a Wubbanub. LOL He doesn't walk around with those anymore, thank goodness!

We still have over an hour before it airs here....but we can't wait to see it!!! I was just thinking to myself that this is a show that i totally would have watched had I just seen it advertised because of the content.....but how much more fun that thanks to the internet and blogland I have a connection with this show, you. Did that make any sense what-so-ever??? LOL
Yes!!! I love seeing things I have a connection with, makes it more special!

I'm really curious how you feel about the whole thing. Did you feel at any point that they edited something to where it didn't come across the way you intended? What was the part that made you wonder, "Why did they show that?!" Was there something specific that you really wish would have been included?
Well the scenes at school, in her classroom and me with her teacher, could have been a little more positive... The scene with her teacher was the one thing that I thought, "REALLY?!" But I guess the other scene they had with the two of us was worse sooo... and the whole musical chairs thing was a little more dramatic than I remember it actually being LOL. I wish they would have shown our Down syndrome support group. They filmed a lot from there and none of it was shown and none of her cheerleading was shown of course my mom got cut which stinks! BUT they only had so much airtime, and I think overall it was great. :)

Wish your Mom had been included, since she's such a huge part of your lives and that they would have updated with Kellsey's homecoming. Maybe they're get lots of feedback and do follow up shows on each family.
I know! She actually was in the first cut and then TLC edited those scenes out for whatever reason. :( Such a bummer!!!

Have u gotten to chat with the other moms??
Yes! Eve and I have been chatting for months, waiting for this thing to AIR! LOL She rocks! I finally just connected with Marybeth today. You can follow Samantha's caringbridge page here.

Had you seen the finished product before?
No! This was the first time for us too! :)

We dont have that channel, how can we watch it???
I'm working on that. I'll get back you.

ya, I knew hippotherapy would be great for her! This is the family you keep in touch with, right? Is it still helping her?
Yes it is the family... as far as I know she is still doing it. I will ask though!

I would love to add your blog! But how?
On the left hand side of my blog, about halfway down there is a "follow" button. You can also find me on facebook and all my blog posts are published there as well :).