Hudson's Journey
Hudson’s Journey: The EXTRA Family Favorite
As 2022 is coming to a close this week, I can’t help but feel very privileged for this front row seat in Hudson’s life. I get to hear most all of his giggles. I get to watch him explore in a way my older two children didn’t. I get to celebrate the inch stones and…
Read MoreHudson’s Journey: Pray EXTRA
Since Hudson’s birth, many new prayers have filled my FaceTime’s with God. I have wept and begged that He hear me, I have called on Him in my new fears and thanked Him in all of Hudson’s achievements and for his iron strength. I have always prayed, but Hudson forced a deeper needed connection with…
Read MoreHudson’s Journey: Chosen for his EXTRA
For the last year, I have been blessed to share this beautiful journey with my Huddy. Hudson is a vibe, a mood, a reminder of how precious life is and a reminder of just how resilient we’ve been created. Thank you for reading my heart over the past 12 months. My goal has always…
Read MoreHudson’s Journey: EXTRA Buddies, EXTRA Fun
In September, my family went on an amazing vacation. A very needed vacation away from our house remodel, therapy and doctors appointments. When we booked this particular vacation, I knew it would be fun; however, I didn’t know the profound impact we had in store. We took our first Buddy Cruise. Buddy Cruise partners with…
Read MoreHudson’s Journey: EXTRA Priceless
With school starting back, I started thinking about all the new; new classrooms, new teachers, new routines and, especially, new friends. We have a real opportunity at the beginning of so much new to start instilling new good habits, too. We can get a bedtime in place, a better dinner routine after a summer off,…
Read MorePASS CHRISTIAN RESIDENT TO BE FEATURED IN TIMES SQUARE
Hudson Jag Hartman of Pass Christian, Mississippi, will appear in the bright lights of Broadway on Saturday, September 17, as part of the annual National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) Times Square Video presentation. The one-hour video of roughly 500 photographs includes children, teens, and adults with Down syndrome from all 50 states. These collective images promote the…
Read MoreHudson’s Journey: Lagniappe means EXTRA
Many will already recognize “lagniappe” as a commonly used word; for me, the word has a whole new meaning since Hudson was born. Lagniappe (lan-yap): “Something given as a bonus or EXTRA gift” and the cajun meaning is “a little EXTRA”. Hudson is lagniappe. Our family received lagniappe the day he was born. Down…
Read MoreHudson’s Journey: EXTRA Broken
The journey that I am on is filled with so much love, laughter and smiles that can fill you up to the brim, but not everything on this journey is easy or beautiful. Hudson is always wonderful, but the world can be ugly and hurtful. Some things bring sadness and make you feel broken.…
Read MoreMy EXTRA Reminder
If you’re feeling relieved that your genetic testing came back with little to no chance your baby will have any chromosome abnormalities, you can and should celebrate. Your baby will not face all the challenges my baby does. I am super happy for you. I will celebrate your baby with you. I would…
Read MoreHudson’s Journey: My Life’s EXTRA Curveball
Bases are loaded, I’m up. This pitcher facing me is the best at fast curveballs. Deep breath. Focus. Believe. I can do this…. I have no choice but to knock it out of the park. As a mom to three and as a mom to a child with special needs, my own…
Read MoreBeing EXTRA While I Can
“Every parent plans to raise their child for about 18 years, set them free for 30 years and then hope they come back to help them face the final years of their own life…. … A SPECIAL NEEDS parent can sometimes plan to raise their child for 65 years and while doing so also…
Read MoreThe EXTRA Awesome Day in March You Need to Celebrate
I started writing all about World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) and how my family and I have been able to celebrate this day the last four years. March 21st wasn’t a day we even knew to celebrate before Hudson’s diagnosis. Now we have this annual beautiful day and it has the most wonderful fun meaning,…
Read MoreEXTRA Xs and Os – We all need love
By Guest Columnist Mika Hartman My husband and I have been married over 24 years. Celebrating us today is as important as it was our first Valentine’s Day. The first one, CJ came to my work and left perfume on my windshield. “Tommy Girl” perfume became my new favorite; I can still smell it. Not…
Read MoreNo EXTRA Time Needed
As we tiptoe into 2022, I am hopeful and, yet, I am angry. It’s 2022 and we are still so far behind in protecting the biggest treasure we have: All Human Life. Mississippi is proudly leading this country down a new path, one that is long overdue; but we still have so many laws that…
Read MoreEXTRA Love This Christmas
As we all start to reflect on the year that is now past and to His birth and the (our) new beginning, I am reminded of how resilient we are; how hope is not gone. What the past two years have said about me is that I can bring needed change. My voice is…
Read MoreMS Governor Tate Reeves Signs “Hudson’s Law” to Protect Babies from Lethal Discrimination Abortions
Legislation Would Require Doctors to Provide Accurate Info to Parents That Will Empower Them to Choose Life The national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) celebrated today as Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signed the Down Syndrome Information Act, legislation that would require doctors to provide accurate and up-to-date educational information to parents of…
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