Shameless Plug!

Come and visit us! My sister will be coming up this weekend and we will be going to a craft fair with everything you see listed here, and lots more! Check it out...

What Do You Do When You're Stuck in a Body Cast?

Why, you decorate, of course!! (Pardon the mismatched clothes - we were halfway through getting dressed!)

Sleeping Beauty...

Paige fell asleep on the couch - its pitch dark in the room except for the light of my laptop. I could barely see her face when I took this picture - but I'm glad I did.

So pretty.

A Glimpse of Sweet Baby Cole!

Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers gave birth to a beautiful little boy named Cole a few months ago. Cole was born with Down syndrome, and recently, his Mom and Dad spoke out on the joys that raising Cole has already brought them.

We were treated to seeing their family, in this interview. Cole is breathtaking, and his Mom spoke with poise and pride about her son.

One of the most important things Congresswoman Rodgers said was that it makes all the difference to hold that baby in your arms, to look at him, and see him as a person.

Wow.

That is so true, and something that so many advocates for people with Down syndrome try to tell expectant parents when they receive this diagnosis. Before birth, Down syndrome is a list of traits and characteristics and predictions, piled on with yet another list of potential health problems.

After birth, Down syndrome very quickly takes its rightful place in your life - a small part of who your child is, regardless of health or ability.

Suddenly, its a tiny little girl or boy with blue eyes or brown eyes, a funny smile, a tuft of hair. There's milestones to be celebrated, no matter when they arrive. There are birthdays and laughter, and trips to the Zoo. There's first tastes of ice cream, and a nervous first trip to playgroup. There's friends and birthday party invitations, and swimming in the pool.

There is joy.

Joy.

Memory Lane!

A sentimental journey...excuse the picture quality - it was pre-digital!!!

Dakotah visiting us just hours after Paige was born - before we found out how sick she was.

Baptizing Paige just before surgery - my father hated this picture of me, lol - a bit pale and puffy from crying and giving birth!

Six months old - unplugged, and 10 big pounds!

So There!

In the wake of my mother sending my sister an article to forward to me on how to "cure" Down syndrome (another ranting post for another day), I offer my readers this...

http://hightechbiz.com/pub/genius.htm

My Gifted, Talented, Genius Daughter Paige - she meets all of these and more:

24 Qualities That Geniuses
Have in Common

The worlds greatest geniuses have all had 24 personality characteristics in common and you can develop the same traits yourself, says an expert.

"Most people have the mistaken idea that geniuses are born, not made", declared clinical psychologist Dr. Alfred Barrious, founder and director of the Self-Programmed Control Center of Los Angeles and author of the book, Towards Greater Freedom and Happiness.

"But if you look at the lives of the worlds greatest geniuses like Edison, Socrates, DaVinci, Shakespeare, Einstein, you will discover they all had 24 personality characteristics in common.

"These are traits that anyone can develop. It makes no difference how old you are, how much education you have, or what you have accomplished to date. Adopting these personality characteristics enables you to operate on a genius level."

Here are the Characteristics Dr. Barrios lists, which enable geniuses to come up with and develop new and fruitful ideas:

1. DRIVE. Geniuses have a strong desire to work hard and long. They're willing to give all they've got to a project. Develop your drive by focusing on your future success, and keep going.
2. COURAGE. It takes courage to do things others consider impossible. Stop worrying about what people will think if you're different.
3. DEVOTION TO GOALS. Geniuses know what they want and go after it. Get control of your life and schedule. Have something specific to accomplish each day.
4. KNOWLEDGE. Geniuses continually accumulate information. Never go to sleep at night without having learned at least one new thing each day. Read. And question people who know.
5. HONESTY. Geniuses are frank, forthright and honest. Take the responsibility for thins that go wrong. Be willing to admit, 'I goofed' and learned from my mistakes.
6. OPTIMISM. Geniuses never doubt they will succeed. Deliberately focus your mind on something good coming up.
7. ABILITY TO JUDGE. Try to understand the facts of a situation before you judge. Evaluate things on an opened minded, unprejudiced basis and be willing to change your mind.
8. ENTHUSIASM. Geniuses are so excited about what they are doing, it encourages others to cooperate with them. Really believe that things will out well. Don’t hold back.
9. WILLINGNESS TO TAKE CHANcES. Overcome your fear of failure. You won't be afraid to take chances once you realize you can learn from your mistakes.
10. DYNAMIC ENERGY. Don’t sit on your butt waiting for something good to happen. Be determined to make it happen.
11. ENTERPRISE. Geniuses are opportunity seekers. Be willing to take on jobs others won't touch. Never be afraid to try the unknown.
12. PERSUASION. Geniuses know how to motivate people to help them get ahead. You'll find it easy to be persuasive if you believe in what you're doing.
13. OUTGOINGNESS. I've found geniuses able to make friends easily and be easy on their friends. Be a ‘booster’ not somebody who puts others down. That attitude will win you many valuable friends.
14. ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE. Geniuses are generally able to get their ideas across to others. Take every opportunity to explain your ideas to others.
15. PATIENCE. Be patient with others most of the time, but always be impatient with your self. Expect far more of yourself than others.
16. PERCEPTION. Geniuses have their mental radar working full time. Think more of others' needs and wants than you do your own.
17. PERFECTIONISM. Geniuses cannot tolerate mediocrity, particularly in themselves. Never be easily satisfied with your self. Always strive to do better.
18. SENSE OF HUMOR. Be willing to laugh at your own expense. Don't take offense when the joke is on you.
19. VERSATILITY. The more things you learn to accomplish, the more confidence you will develop. Don’t shy away from new endeavors.
20. ADAPTABILITY. Being flexible enables you to adapt to changing circumstances readily. Resist doing things the same old way. Be willing to consider new options.
21. CURIOSITY. An inquisitive, curious mind will help you seek out new information. Don't be afraid to admit you don’t know it all. Always ask questions about things you don’t understand.
22. INDIVIDUALISM. Do things the way you think they should be done, without fearing somebody's disapproval.
23. IDEALISM. Keep your feet on the ground -- but have your head in the clouds. Strive to achieve great things, not just for yourself but for the better of mankind.
24. IMAGINATION. Geniuses know how to think in new combinations, see things from a different perspective, than anyone else. Unclutter your mental environment to develop this type of imagination. Give yourself time each day to daydream, to fantasize, to drift into a dreamy inner life the way you did as a child.

I Got My Hair Cut!

On a whim, I said, "Cut it all off - I want it short." I figured that I just wouldn't want to deal with it over the next weeks, especially if we have a hospital stay (which we might just avoid after all!)

Now, I kinda look like a cross between my (MUCH) older sister and this guy:

Ok, Guys - I've Entertained You!!

Now its your turn to entertain me!!! I posted 31 posts in 31 days for October! I have been getting 40+ hits every day on my blog, but NO comments. ***Aren't you intrigued when someone seems to read your blog often, but you don't know who they are?!?!

Say hi - I love making new friends!


***Edit - Ok, so I got some comments, lol...just not 30 or 40 a day...I live with a teenager - I exaggerate ;)

Happy Birthday Annette!!

Please hop on over and wish my friend Annette a Happy Birthday today! You are an amazing woman!

How Sweet and Fun!

I haven't had this much fun singing the National Anthem in like...well, ever.

Go Red Sox!!

A Store That Gives Back

Check out The Polkadot Platypus. It has a beautiful slide show of babies with Down syndrome on its front page, and a portion of all sales goes toward charities that support Down syndrome.

Does anyone recognize any of the babies in this slideshow? How can there by that many cute babies with T21 out there, and I didn't know about them!!! Just too precious!

Things I've Learned From Paige

In honor of the last day of "Get it Down" - 31 posts in 31 days for Down syndrome, I thought I'd share some very cool things that Paige has taught me.

Thirty One Things Paige has Taught Me

1) Its more important to sing when you're happy than it is to worry about what other people think of your singing.

2) Communication is 95% body language and 5% spoken word. Those percentages are even greater when you use your hands to speak.

3) Favorite stories are funnier if you change the tone of your voice every time you read them.

4) When black is your favorite crayon color, its o.k. to color Valentine's hearts with them.

5) If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.

6) People need to hug more.

7) Sunshine feels warm on your face, and makes wonderful shadows.

8) Friends just know.

9) Dancing does not require standing on your feet.

10) Batteries are an awesome Christmas gift - favorite old toys come to life again!

11) An 80 lb. dog and a 60 lb. kid in a cast can both fit under a coffee table.

12) The world is more beautiful when seen through Brushfield spots.

13) A set of markers and a naked belly make for great tattoos.

14) Mimicking Daddy's snoring does NOT wake him up.

15) Words are important - even when you can't speak.

16) Water splashes, leaves crunch, snowflakes taste good on the tongue, and spring flowers smell nice.

17) Big sister's rooms are full of wonderful treasures.

18) If you say hi enough times, eventually they'll say hi back.

19) Peers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and ages and abilities.

20) It does take a village to raise a child.

21) Big sisters are important.

22) Sometimes you can have a "first" more than once - we're looking forward to first steps again!

23) Don't believe everything they tell you.

24) We all matter.

25) You can't tell a lot about a person from their karaotype

26) You can tell a lot about a person if you look in their eyes, smile, and let them show you who they are.

27) Its kinda fun to do the impossible.

28) Blessings sometimes come in disguise - and its great fun to unwrap them.

29) Sometimes you gotta take life one day at a time.

30) Sometimes, you wish those days would last forever.

31) Live joyfully.

One of My Favorite Shows of All Time!

The Great Pumpkin is on ABC tonight! I so love Peanuts shows - these are the ones I remember from my childhood - when there were no such things as vcrs or the ability to watch a show whenever you wanted. My dad and I looked forward to these seasonal favorites, and always watched them together.

Its a Good Life

One of the good things about being 40 (o.k. 40ish) is that you really do gain a bit of life wisdom along the way.

One of the lessons I've learned is that, at least for me, life is very cyclical. This lesson is tremendously helpful to me when I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself, or overwhelmed with life in general.

Last Monday, I was really feeling like I was holding on by my bootstraps. My brain was working 1,000 miles an hour, but my body was protesting. I was in that kind of mood where, if anyone had been nice to me, had offered a hug, I would have broken down and sobbed for hours.

Not a lot has really changed since last Monday, except my attitude.

When I get in a funk like that, I know that I really just need to ride it out and it will get better.

Today, I feel happy, and peaceful - ready to face some challenges that are ahead of us. My kids are healthy - except for that danged body cast - and I have a warm safe place to live, with food on my table for dinner - and that is enough for me today.

We really are obliged to live good lives. Its how we honor those whom we have loved and lost. Its how we thank God.

This week, one of Paige's caseworkers passed away from ovarian cancer. She was just 52, and has her first grandbaby on the way, her other daughter is getting married in the Spring.

She was such a kind person, and her death was sudden - she had been doing well with her treatments until just a couple of weeks ago. She touched many lives through her work, and through her friendships.

The lines for her calling hours were out of the building and down the street yesterday. This morning, her family will say their final goodbyes to her. They will mourn, and weep, and feel incredibly sad. I imagine there will be times when they want to crumble, and not go on.

But, they will go on. And they will welcome that new baby, and the new husband, and their deep sadness will change to a longing for her to see them live their best lives. The memories of her will become stories for her grandchildren to be shared and cherished.

My thoughts and prayers are with them today - may they be blessed with the ability to do it one day at a time...

Could This Be True?

Dakotah was at a friend's house this weekend, looking at the Guinness Book of World Records. One of the records she read about was the youngest child to ever have their gallbladder removed.

It said the child was six. That can't be possible???

Paige had hers out at 2 years, 11 months old - is she a record holder??!?!

Somehow we knew if she ever got her name in the book it would be for something like this, lol.

Top Five Halloween Candies

According to my family. (this idea stolen from Jennifer at Pinwheels)

Wayne: (he's such a Canadian!)

1) Peanut Butter kisses (those chewy things)
2) Coffee Crisp
3) Peanuts in a shell
4) Mr Big
5) Aero

Betsy:

1) Peanut Butter Cups
2) Nestle Crunch
3) 3 Musketeers
4) Snickers
5) Candy Apples (only ones we make ourselves though!)

Dakotah:

1) Kit Kat
2) Coffee Crisp
3) Aero
4) Hershey bar
5) Peanuts in a shell

Paige:

1) Red m & m's
2) Yellow m & m's
3) Orange m & m's
4) Green m & m's
5) Blue m & m's

Kirby:

1) Pupperoni
2) Snausages
3) Beggin' Strips
4) Rawhide
5) Toilet bowl water

90% of Women Prenatally Diagnosed with T21 Abort

That seems to be the statistic we all know. I wonder where that statistic comes from - is there some sort of registry where everyone who aborts a baby with Trisomy 21 registers? Are doctors obligated to report this to a statistics office?

I heard a psychiatrist at our Children's Hospital speak a while back - he has a nearly grown-up daughter with Trisomy 21. He believes this statistic to be wrong and quite misleading. He thinks that the percentage of women who abort is actually lower, more like 60% than 90%, and that in the last 20 years or so it has steadily gone down.

He says that we, as a society, are becoming more educated, have more resources available to us, and are questioning science and all its predictions much more than our mothers before us would have.

I think this may be true. With all of the prenatal testing available now, we are faced with questions of morality that our parents were not. But facing those questions may challenge us to find the answers to them as well.

I don't blindly believe every word that comes out of every doctor's mouth as gospel. Like most women my age, "google" is my friend - and I research and read and learn and ask questions about things.

I know better, so I do better.

My mother would have never questioned the family doctor who delivered me. In fact, I can remember going to his office, which was part of his house, after dinner for an appointment as a child - I often had tonsillitis - and having him offer my mother a drink while they chatted! And always, always, she would stop for a smoke with him before we left with my prescription for penicillin.

He could have told her that her baby was delivered by a stork when she was asleep (as she was put asleep to deliver!) and she probably would have believed him.

I don't know if that 90% statistic is right or not. I'd prefer to believe the doctor who says it is not. I'd like to think we are evolving, and would not subscribe to chromosomal eugenics.

I'd like to believe that 90% of women prenatally diagnosed with Trisomy 21 would research, ask questions, and meet families living with T21 before they made any decision.

Here's another funny fact about statistics - they really don't mean much unless you are one of them.

10% or 40% - I'm glad I'm the statistic I am.

Campaign for Down syndrome

If you've been blogging for Down syndrome this month, please use one of your posts to link to this very important website.

Perhaps the single most important thing we can do as advocates for our children is to fight for their very right to live.

Campaign for Down syndrome.

Paige is beautiful and smart and worthy. For those of you who will take the time to know her, she will teach you great lessons.

Sweet Noah

Today, my dear friend Carol stopped by for a visit with Paige and me. It was so nice to see her - she always has a great smile on her face, and a big hug for me. Carol is Livee's Mom.

Carol also has six other kids besides Livee. The next little one in age is Noah. Cute little Noah, with a tiny sprinkle of freckles and a twinkle in his eye - quick with a giggle and still so very sweet and innocent.

Noah's still young enough that he has that adorable way of saying words that just makes you smile, and he calls his baby sister "Wivee."

In Noah's kindergarten class, there is a little girl who has some developmental delays so she is not walking or talking yet. Noah just adores her and loves to push her around the classroom and help her out.

While he was planning his birthday party, he said, "If I'm too busy to push her, Nick (his older brother) can push her for a while." So cute...

Carol said they were making applesauce in class last week, and each child was to bring one apple in to school. Noah went to get his before school, and he comes back with two. Carol says to him, "I thought you only had to bring one apple to school today."

Noah says, "Mommy, J can't talk yet to tell her Mom that she needs an apple so I'm bringing one for her."

Today's life lesson comes straight from Noah - tomorrow when you start your day, pack an extra apple, whether it be an actual apple, or just a smile or a kind word, and bring along for someone who might forget to bring theirs...


You're the man, Noah!

Paige Went To School Today!!

Yay!! We were so happy to bundle up and walk to school, even though it was pouring rain, and we were soaked when we arrived. We must have been a sight to see - Paige laid out straight in her wheelchair with blankets covering her entire body, her brown converse high-tops peeking out the end, and me, mopped down like a wet puppy, pushing her along.

But - we had smiles on our faces, and that's what mattered! Paige was so happy to see her friends again - to go into school and just be surrounded by everyone happy to see her. There's still lots of logistical things to figure out, but we stayed for two hours or so, and then bundled up and came home.

Her little soul needed a happy day - I'm glad she got it!