Chromosomes & Chaos

🚨 THIS ONE IS A MUST-LISTEN! 🚨 This week, we're sitting down with Jen Jacob, co-founder of the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network (DSDN)! If you aren't familiar with DSDN, it's an AMAZING organization dedicated to supporting families who have received a Down syndrome diagnosis. What started as a small online group connecting moms has grown into one of the largest national support net...

WE MADE IT TO ONE YEAR! 🎉 In this episode, Amber & Patty are celebrating ONE YEAR of the Chromosomes & Chaos Podcast! We're looking back at the past year, the conversations we've had, the laughs we've shared, the things we've learned, and everything in between! What started as an idea has turned into something we genuinely look forward to, and we're so grateful fo...

🎙️ NEW EPISODE + ONE YEAR OF CHROMOSOMES & CHAOS! 🎉 What better way to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month AND one full year of this podcast than with a little CHAOS. 😂 This week: 🚲 Addi goes for a bike ride…and is LOST for 20+ minutes. 😳 💙 Pierce is out here doing AMAZING things and making us proud. 🎙️ And somehow…we’ve officially been doing this podcast for ONE YEAR! One year of Dow...

🎙️ NEW CHROMOSOMES & CHAOS EPISODE! We’re playing WOULD YOU RATHER: Parent Edition 😂 And some of these choices are just… cruel. Would you rather step on a LEGO or have your kid wake you up at 3AM EVERY. SINGLE. DAY? 📝 IEP meeting or dentist appointment? 👩‍🏫 New associate or new teacher? 📅 Routine or flexibility? 📧 School email or SCHOOL PHONE CALL? 😳 (You already know that phone call hi...

What if you walk into your child’s IEP meeting and have no idea what anyone is talking about? What if you disagree—or leave wishing you’d spoken up? This episode of Chromosomes & Chaos is for the parent who wants to feel more prepared, ask better questions and make sure their child is truly seen. We’re breaking down 10 things to know before your first IEP—from navigating confusing language and...

CHROMOSOMES & CHAOS: THE LOST FILES The stuff that probably should’ve stayed in the drafts… but here we are. Unfiltered conversations. Things that have absolutely NOTHING to do with the episode. Questionable life advice. Oversharing. ADHD in full force. Adderall doing its best.  And the moments where we completely forget we’re recording. Basically… Chromosomes & Chaos with even less superv...

Back-to-school season is here... and somehow it feels like summer just started. Whether you're sending your child to school, homeschooling, or navigating a completely different path because of a disability or unique needs, this time of year can bring a mix of excitement, stress, pride, and maybe even a few tears. In this episode of Chromosomes & Chaos , we're talking about:  🎒 The e...

🎙️ NEW EPISODE DROP! This week on Chromosomes & Chaos , we're joined by Holly from Texas as she shares the incredible journey of raising her 11-year-old daughter, Siley , who has Down syndrome. 💙💛 This is an honest conversation that doesn't shy away from the hard topics, including: ✨ Being told by doctors to terminate her pregnancy. ✨ Navigating Siley starting her period at just...

Summer definitely had other plans for us... 😅 First off—thank you for sticking with us. We know it's been a little quiet around here, but sometimes life reminds you to slow down, take a breath, and focus on what matters most. In this episode of Chromosomes & Chaos, we're catching you up on everything that's been happening behind the scenes. We talk about: • Why we've been...

This episode is a heartfelt one. 💙 We’re saying goodbye to two incredible people who have made such a huge impact on Pierce and Addi—our amazing para and special education teacher. Letting them go is not easy, and we talk about just how much they’ve meant to our families. We also chat about our summer plans, take time to remember sweet Hudson and the lasting impact he has had on our hearts, and o...

🎙️ NEW EPISODE: Chromosomes & Chaos 🎙️ Okay, hear us out... There’s a National Donut Day. There’s a National Pizza Day. There’s even a National Talk Like a Pirate Day. 🏴‍☠️ But there isn't a National Special Needs Day?! This week, we're talking about why we think there should be one and what it would look like if we got to create it. Would there be parades? Free coffee for therapy p...

Welcome back to Chromosomes & Chaos — the podcast where we keep it real about parenting, diagnoses, advocacy, and the beautiful chaos in between. In this episode, we sit down with Leanne to talk about her 9-year-old son, Jacob, and the journey of navigating life after receiving a diagnosis. From potty training struggles and school experiences to the day-to-day realities most people don’t see,...

There’s a layer of life that not everyone sees—the constant questions, the stares, the assumptions, the need people feel to understand… or worse, to judge. In this episode of Chromosomes & Chaos, we’re saying it clearly: WE ARE DONE EXPLAINING. Done explaining our child. Done explaining our parenting. Done explaining why things look different, feel different, or are different. When you’re rais...

Summer is here… and apparently we’re “taking the summer off.” But are we really? And more importantly… does anyone actually believe Patty can do that? 😅 In this episode of Chromosomes & Chaos , we’re talking all things summer—slower schedules (maybe), shifting routines, family chaos, trying to be intentional, and the pressure to make summer magical while somehow also surviving it. We’re divin...

Welcome back to Chromosomes & Chaos —where real life gets loud, unfiltered, and a little messy (just how we like it). This episode hits on something EVERYONE deals with but no one really prepares you for… online trolls and negative comments. From keyboard warriors to unsolicited opinions, we’re breaking down how we handle it, what it actually feels like behind the scenes, and how we’ve learned...

CONFIDENCE. Not the kind you’re born with… The kind you build. In this episode of Chromosomes & Chaos , we’re diving into what it really takes to have the confidence to go after what you want in life— ✔️ Raising a child with Down syndrome  ✔️ Starting something new (like this podcast)  ✔️ Showing up for your workouts  ✔️ Becoming the person you know you’re capable of Because here’s the truth…...

On our newest episode of Chromosomes & Chaos , we’re diving into a topic that so many families understand all too well—eloping. We’re sharing real-life experiences with our kiddos, along with the safety tips, strategies, and lessons we’ve learned over the years to keep them safe while still giving them the freedom to explore. If you’ve ever felt that moment of panic or are looking for ways to...

“If you’ve ever wondered what the teenage years REALLY look like after a diagnosis… this is the episode.” If this is your first time here—welcome to Chromosomes & Chaos 💛 This podcast is about real stories from 2 moms who have kids with Down Syndrome navigating life’s highs, lows, and everything in between—from parenting and purpose to adversity, fitness, and finding strength in the chaos. It...

We’re giving you a Gala Update + getting READY for Down Syndrome Awareness Day (3.21) 👉 Wear your BLUE & YELLOW 👉 Show up 👉 Spread awareness 👉 Celebrate the extra chromosome that makes the world better If you’re new here— Chromosomes & Chaos is a podcast about real life, real stories, and real perspective. We talk about parenting, purpose, resilience, and what it means to find strength...

🍀 NEW EPISODE: Chromosomes & Chaos 🍀 St. Patty’s Day looks different for everyone… and today, we’re celebrating something WAY bigger than green beer. 🎉 Patty is celebrating 13 YEARS SOBER 🎉 Let that sink in. 13 years of choosing strength. 13 years of choosing better. 13 years of showing what’s possible. This episode is a powerful reminder that you can still celebrate, have fun, and live FU...

🎉 5,000 DOWNLOADS… WHAT?! 🎉 We are celebrating a HUGE milestone today — 5,000 downloads of Chromosomes & Chaos. Seriously… thank you. Every listen, every share, every message — it means more than you know. What started as a way to process our story has turned into a growing community that reminds us we’re not alone in the chaos. 💛 In this episode, we reflect on how a diagnosis we once feare...

In this episode of Chromosomes & Chaos , we sit down with Mallory (AKA Mart's Mom) and her 4-month-old son, Marty, for a conversation that will move you, stretch you, and remind you what really matters. From receiving a birth diagnosis…  To navigating a scary pregnancy…  To an unexpected NICU stay no parent ever feels ready for… Mallory shares their journey with honesty, vulnerability, an...

Twenty-eight years ago, Bonnie received a diagnosis that changed everything.  She was scared. Unsure of the future. Unsure of how the world would see her son—or her family. Today, Issac is thriving. In this episode of Chromosomes & Chaos , Bonnie and her son Isaac sit down to share their journey—from fear and uncertainty to confidence, independence, and strength. Isaac lives on his own and is...

January tested us. Sickness. Surgeries. Schedules blown up. Plans derailed. And honestly? Survival mode was the win. But February? February is a reset. Not a “new year, new you” kind of reset… A grace-filled, meet-yourself-where-you-are reset. On this episode of Chromosomes & Chaos, a podcast about real life parenting, advocacy, fitness, and navigating the beautiful chaos that comes with raisi...

In this episode, we sit down with Liz from Ruby Rainbow , an incredible nonprofit on a mission to send individuals with Down syndrome to college —because higher education should be accessible to everyone. We talk about breaking outdated expectations, why post-secondary education matters for individuals with Down syndrome, and how Ruby Rainbow is creating real opportunities through college scholars...