Who
needs a clock when you are running on CJ time?
From desating on command in the NICU to getting his first tooth a year
to the day of coming home; Charles James Galvin, named after his
great-grandfathers and affectionately known as CJ, rolls at his own pace.
For
Miranda Galvin in the summer of 2011, the idea of becoming a foster parent was placed
on her heart, and about this same time her dream to adopt a newborn baby with
Down syndrome also started. As a special education teacher in Sioux City,
Iowa, she was thinking more like when she was 35 or 40 and either was married
or had decided to start a family without Prince Charming. After
completely foster care classes, and while waiting to get a call for her first kid,
she signed up with the National Down syndrome Adoption Network.
Fast forward to November of 2013; Galvin is
busy planning a birthday party for one of the two siblings in her care. Thing 1, as the birthday girl is
affectionately known as, enjoys going with Galvin to GiGi’s Playhouse in Sioux
City where Galvin is heavily involved in the educational tutoring, playgroups
and Down syndrome Awareness Walk operations of the Playhouse.
The
morning after the cupcake birthday party, Galvin receives an email from
Stephanie at NDsAN. A baby boy had been
born the day before, Thing 1’s birthday, and Stephanie is wondering if Galvin
would like to be considered as a potential forever family for the little
boy. Not wanting to close the door on
any opportunity in life, Galvin agrees but assumes a young, single gal from
Iowa doesn’t have a chance.
Thirty-six
hours later it is time to pick Thing 1 and her little brother up from daycare
to take them to visit their mom for the weekend. As Galvin arrives at daycare, she realizes
she has a voice mail from Stephanie congratulating her as the new mom of the
baby boy in Tampa, FL! In the midst of a
life changing weekend of preparations, Galvin heads to the Playhouse to work on
a project day she is orchestrating to get the latest set of photos of smiling
area children on the walls. It is in the
middle of just another morning at the Playhouse that Galvin shares she is
officially a Playhouse mom.
Today,
a morning at the Playhouse includes 14 month old CJ playing on the floor with
his friends, while Galvin pauses to add another hat to her duties at GiGi’s,
the one as mommy sitting on the couch catching up with her cherished friends,
fellow moms.
CJ
could be described as “super” for a number of reasons. First, CJ is
super tough. CJ at only 7 months old had undergone 3 successful
surgeries and taken each one in stride. He has a smile that lights up a
room. One of my favorite things is being with him in public and
watching people’s faces at they can’t help but smile because his super
smile is contagious. CJ is also a super friend, he knows when you are
talking to him and begs to be talked to more. CJ is super aware and
loves listening to stories, he looks intently at the pictures and even
helps you turn the pages. CJ is also super friendly, he loves being
around people and getting to cuddle.