Do you know your Osmonds?

*Did you know that the Osmonds were the first to sing "One bad apple"- not the Jackson 5?
*Did you know that the Osmonds had 2 older brothers that didn't sing at all (they were deaf)?
*Anyone know the youngest Osmond's name?
*Did you know the Osmond brothers discovered that they loved to sing together during a family road trip to Yellowstone? They were all singing in the car and they realized they all sounded pretty dang good.  (This Reminds me of some of our Rampton family roadtrips HAHA.  We'd always sing this song in our BMW aka big mormon wagon.  Except we didn't have as cool of dance moves and hand movements.  Dad, I know you always wanted us to start a family band, maybe your grand kids will instead! Side by Side baby!)

 Why do I know all these random facts?  Well, while my parents/Bobby were out here (I'll post pics/stories of their trip soon!), we got to go see the Osmond brothers perform live up in Branson, Missouri.  The Osmond Brothers put on such a great show!  It was a quaint little theater, we were towards the back of the crowd, and I think we were row 9 if that gives you any idea of how little the theater was and how close we were to them performing.

I didn't know too much about the Osmond brothers prior to the concert, other than they were Donny and Marie's older brothers and then also remembering from my childhood a big huge record cover my mom and dad had of them in their collection growin up.  The cover had this on the front:
 
and then opened up to feature all the Osmond "older brothers" standing in funky 70's clothes with their names written by them (Alan, Merrill, Wayne, Jay, and then Donny).

I do remember their songs being catchy and fun and we'd dance to them sometimes in the living room (lightly of course so the record didn't skip a beat).

Well, the concert was really cool because it told so many stories about their life and their singing careers and history.  And it was so entertaining!  Even Alice was on my knees clapping almost the entire time.  Jimmy was laughing so hard at the jokes (Wayne Osmond was telling the funniest knee slappers).

The Osmonds really do have a neat story.  They began as just these really cute little band of brothers that could harmonize incredibly well.  They started out performing at disney land.  Check out this video of them:

Andy Williams' father saw them perform at Disneyland and told Andy he had to have them on his show.  So Andy invited them and they were a big hit and became regulars after that.  Check out this cute video of a teeny tiny Donny and Marie!

At the time of the the older Osmond brother's fame, Donny and Marie were just little babies/toddlers, but as their younger siblings got older, they proved to be just as talented.  Really, this family was just born to shine!

The boys went on to grow up and out of their barber shop style and into some groovy Elvis outfits.

During the show in Branson, Merrill Osmond shared a story that touched my heart.  He said that their 2 eldest brothers were born deaf.  Doctors told their parents not to have anymore children.  Well, their parents as anyone knows, DID have more children- 7 in fact (so 9 total!), and how ironic they went on to have children with such an amazing sense of tune and key!  All of those Osmonds even in their old age can harmonize like no one else!  They are old, grey haired men now, but they still sound so good!  It was so much fun to see them live and I am now an official Osmond fan.  Here is a great 10 minute video that is a short bio on their family.

Another neat thing I learned during the show was that it was the Osmond Parents (George and Olive) that started the "Children's Miracle Network".  Ever since having my own children born with special needs, I've always made it a point to donate to that network when given the opportunity at a cash register.  Now knowing the story behind the network and how it began, and how the 2 eldest Osmond brothers motivated their parents to create this wonderful organization, it all touches my heart even more, and inspires me what they created with their experience of going through what they did with their first 2 sons.

You know, since Jimmy and Johnny were born, for the most part, people have been very kind and loving and understanding of the wonderful gift our boys have been to our lives.  People have realized what incredible little human beings our boys are and how they are the "sunshine" of our lives.  We have however had a few friends, who have said things a bit on the inconsiderate side.  I want to give these people the benefit of the doubt, so I believe they said them because they didn't understand or because they were just trying to say something in the moment, but it came out wrong.  Or maybe I err, and they meant what they said, but in any case, I have often been puzzled at their comments and wished they understood and knew what I knew.

One friend while visiting us shortly after Johnny was born said "It is so weird that you guys have had these children born with this condition. Especially since you guys are such a good looking couple."  I know this friend probably just didn't think clearly through what she was saying before letting the words come out of her mouth, but I have often wondered- what did she exactly mean?  That my boys aren't good looking?  Could she not see past their clefts, to see their adorable little faces, their strong bodies, their cute little smiling eyes?  Could she not see as I could what incredibly little handsome dudes these boys were and would become?

 On another occasion (shortly after our 20 week ultrasound with Johnny where we found out he too would have a cleft), another friend told me "you need to abort this baby".  I told her "No, I will not do that, I love this baby.  Sure, it saddens my heart that he will have a cleft too, but look at Jimmy, I have so much to look forward to".  She had no interest in my explanation and went on to say "Anna, you have no idea what you are doing, it is best for the baby if you abort it".  These words have always stung me.  I felt so misunderstood and judged by her.  What did she think- "those Fowlers are having abnormal babies, and really should stop"?  I realized quickly that I shouldn't judge her back.  She was making those judgements on me because she didn't understand.  She had not been through what I had been through.  She did not have the experience of being Jimmy's mom, and all my precious little moments with him.  And how I felt every moment was worth it. She did not have my understanding on life and its' purpose and how precious and purposeful every single child on this earth is.

And so I still love this friend and I realize she merely didn't understand.  I know over the years, she has changed and understood a little bit more as she has seen Johnny grow and become a wonderful, handsome little man.  And do hope she now realizes why I loved Johnny so much from the start.
 
When my boys were first born, I would have loved to change them and heal them in an instant.  In fact, while pregnant with Johnny, there was not a night that went by that my heart didn't pray that the baby within me could be miraculously healed. I made countless "deals" with God that I would do a bunch of good things in the world if he could just heal my son.  Alas, that little wide smile was ever present when he wriggled out of me.

When he was born, I would have done anything to take that cleft away.  But with the passage of time, a miracle in itself occurred.   With each passing day, with each surgery behind us, with each step of the journey, I began to feel more and more that I wouldn't change my children, cleft and all, for anything.  I wouldn't change their beautiful little lives.  They are who they are because of what they've been through.  I am who I am because of the path they have led me through.
 
I know I quote Carol Lynn Pearson just about every other day on my blog, but this is another one of her poems that really speaks deep to my heart: 

For A Flawed Child

I would retouch you

Like a photograph

If I could

Smooth you and tint you

Into glossy perfection.

But we are

Without a lab, my love

And maybe I wouldn't
Do it anyway.

Some people get stuck

On surfaces, you know

So satisfied

With the outside

So thrilled with

The topmost layer of skin

They're never moved

To move within.

I have glimpsed

What's in you, my darling

And I wouldn't have you

Or anybody else

Miss it for anything.

-Carol Lynn Pearson

So I guess that is why the Osmond's story touched me so much.  Because I could relate to them having their first 2 sons born deaf, and having people tell them not to have anymore.  I really think it is a very personal decision anyone makes as to what family size they choose to have, whether that be big or small, and whether they are able to actually have as many children as their heart yearns for.

With the miracle of the internet, we have found and developed friendships with families very similiar to us- that have had 2 sons born with clefts, and most of them have decided to stop with regards to having more children.  I don't blame or judge them.  And I pray that people won't judge us for our family size and our decision to have more.  I can't help but wonder what those Osmond parents felt when their 7 younger children were born, not a single one deaf, but so incredibly musically talented.  I have felt at times a little twinkle in my eye at what a beautiful girl Alice is.  I still every day thank Heavenly Father for her little rosebud lips.

 I have often felt like she is God's little blessing to our family after the journey we have been through.  As if God is saying "you already know that beauty is so much more than just what's on the outside, but just for fun, we are going to give you a little cherry on top, and we're going to make it a really, really, really pretty cherry." :)