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He's their little BIG brother

And he has a huge heart! - by Beth Young
  • 10 Aug 2018
He's their little BIG brother
Supplied

Jade Morley, 36, from Casuarina, NSW, wouldn't change her little boy for the world. Here, she tells her family's heartwarming story in her own words.

Breaking the news to our nearest and dearest, tears flowed and there were endless apologies.

There’s nothing to be sorry about, I thought, looking at my five-month-old son, Floyd-Henry. Cradled in my arms, he grinned up at me – perfect in every way.

‘You’re going to be small, that’s all,’ I smiled.

jade_audrey_love View Profile
284 likes - View Post on Instagram
Awe hi baby Floydy pops!!
jade_audrey_love View Profile
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A little throwback to floydy, 10months.. Awe I just love him so much. He is so fun ATM and he has so many muscles 💪💪💪

See, my husband Ross and I had just found out that our first born had a rare condition called Achondroplasia – a type of dwarfism.

The diagnosis was a shock, but we were so grateful for our precious boy. There was certainly no need for tears!

So, we created a blog and posted a video, which celebrated Floyd-Henry and his differences.

‘Floydy will be short – a little man, a little dude, a little legend,’ Ross explained to the camera.

We wanted to dispel any misconceptions right off the bat. Floydy’s ability to learn would be in no way affected by his condition.

‘As a matter of fact, due to his intelligent parents, he will be a little genius, so watch out, he’s already a little smarty pants,’ Ross joked.

Our journey

Uploading the clip, we got exactly what we were looking for – an outpouring of love and positivity.

Viewed millions of times around the globe, our Floydy Pops went viral!

Afterwards, an amazing mum, Mel, emailed me a photo of her adorable baby boy, Ante.

I’m a little person just like you. Will you be my friend? she’d written.

Floydy even got a letter from a really cool dude named Bailey, in his 20s, from Toowoomba.

A drummer in a band, he also happened to share our boy’s condition.

Everything’s going to be good, mate! he wrote. 

Just after Floydy’s first birthday, Ross and I had another announcement.

We were expecting twins!

jade_audrey_love View Profile
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Seriously going to burst.. Come on twinnies.. 37 + 3 days.. I may look comfortable but trust me I'm NOT... Very excited though!

When Cleo and Harrison arrived, Floydy beamed with pride.

‘My bubbas,’ he declared, cuddling his tiny siblings.

But the littlest members of our tribe didn’t stay that way for long.

jade_audrey_love View Profile
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These 3 are pure perfection.. All is well in our household after last weeks disaster.. My mum came for a visit and stayed for 4 nights and took a feed away from Ross and I so we could get some sleep.. On Friday last week I thought about going back to hospital I was so exhausted but it turned out I had mastitis and was just so tired. I Feel so much better the last two days thanks to my sister and mum helping us out. Twins are hard work but twins and a toddler is utterly crazy.. We have been featured in a few articles for the daily mail about the family and @womensweeklymag that I have posted on our Facebook page if you want to check them out. I did an interview with a lovely reporter from the courier mail. Also All our newborn pics are up on our blog today.. Link in profile.. @kistphotography
jade_audrey_love View Profile
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The BEST big brother. 👶🍼👶🍼
jade_audrey_love View Profile
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Best friends! #twinsandatoddler #harrycleoandfloyd

Turning one, the twins were already taller than their big brother.

But that didn’t matter to Floydy – they were still his bubbas and he was their big brother.

Once Cleo and Harry were big enough to run, the three of them were forever having races. And while Floydy tried his hardest to keep up, his siblings would whiz past on their longer legs.

jade_audrey_love View Profile
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Dwarfism awareness month! Flash back to when Floydy was only 2. When we found out we were told that we should not expect him to walk until around 2-3years. He has slightly lower muscle tone to others. He actually walked at 15 months but he could not even stand unsupported as he couldn't balance before he walked. He managed to learn to walk on momentum. He was always so determined to do it. Kids with Achondroplasia can do whatever your children can do they just do it differently or find another way. I get blown away with floydys determination and how he never ever complains that he can't access something that the other kids can at pre school. He just finds a different activity until he is strong or big enough to work it out. 😘😘

So resilient, coming last never phased him. Crossing the finishing line, he’d grin so hard you’d think he was the winner.

And like his daddy had predicted, Floydy was a real smarty pants, devising countless ways to stump his siblings.

‘You have to go that way, Harry,’ he directed his brother. ‘And I’ll go this way,’ Floydy added, taking a much shorter route.

But my tiny trickster still had a heart of gold.

‘Mummy, you’re my best friend,’ he shouted as he zipped past, scoring first place.

jade_audrey_love View Profile
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Can you get any more squishy!! My adorable 3 #awesomeachon #achondroplasia #dwarfism #differentisbeautiful #familygoals #mumlifestyle #mumlifeproject

Floydy and the twins were all too young to realise he was different to other kids.

Still, Ross and I knew the questions would begin sooner or later.

So, before Floydy started preschool this year, we began acting out role-plays.

‘Floydy, if anyone asks you why you are small, what do you say?’ I’d prompt him.

‘My bones grow slowly!’ my clever boy would reply.

And it paid off.

‘Mum, if my friends say I’m a baby, I say, “No! I’m a big boy – I’m almost four”,’ he exclaimed, proudly.

But I’d never know how it felt to be in Floydy’s shoes, so last year Ross and I took him to the Short Statured Convention in Lake Macquarie.

There, we met Jono, who had a similar type of dwarfism, his wife Alyssa, who had Achondroplasia, and their bub Sienna.

jade_audrey_love View Profile
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💥 Fam bam! 💥

Jono played with Floydy loads and our little guy adored him!

‘Mummy, will I be this big,’ Floydy asked later, stretching his arms out as wide as they could go.

‘Or this big?’ he said, drawing his hands in a tad closer.

‘That one,’ I said.

‘Will I be like Jono?’

‘Yep,’ I nodded.

And Floydy’s response was like music to my ears.

‘Ohhh, I like Jono,’ he beamed.

jade_audrey_love View Profile
1,074 likes - View Post on Instagram
This beautiful boy is 5 today! What a handsome, kind smart dude he is. If you read this one day Floydy, we want you to know we are so proud of the person you have become and the love that you give to all of us. Your brother sister adore you and so does the world. #differentisbeautiful #dwarfism #achondroplasia #choosekind #perfect

With Floydy’s fifth birthday just around the corner, he’s 87cm tall – about the size of a one-year-old.

Out and about, our family gets a lot of attention.

‘Are they triplets?’ passers-by ask in the shops.

Sometimes, curiosity will get the better of some strangers and I’ll catch them gawking.

I never make a scene, but I do find I get caught in a lot of stare-offs!

It’s human nature to be intrigued, but I’d much prefer it if people came up to say hello instead. I promise it’ll make their day.

jade_audrey_love View Profile
321 likes - View Post on Instagram
Interview with Floydy pops!

What Floydy lacks in size, he makes up for in spirit. I’ve never met another child with such capacity for kindness.

If Floydy is given a single lolly snake while Cleo and Harry are out with their dad, he’ll hang onto it for hours.

When his besties are back home, he’ll split his treat into three and share.

I wouldn’t change our little legend for the world.

His heart is huge – and that is what matters.

Beth Young
Beth Young
Beth is senior features writer for that's life! and host of the podcast How I Survived.

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