31 for 21, Bonus Photo of the New Normal

31 for 21, Acceptance

This post is for the mother of a child with Down syndrome...maybe you just got your child's diagnosis.  Maybe you got it a while ago and are just now ready to search the internet for more information.  

I just want you to know that I felt like you do once.

Like a billion years ago (or was that just 4?) I thought life would never be the same.  And I was right.  It hasn't been the same.

But who wants life to stay the same?  Staying the same means you're not growing.  Life isn't about never changing.  Right after Chase was born, if someone had told me that, I would have said, "!*&**! you and your  growing- I like the same, the usual, the boring.

I just didn't know how good different could be.

I searched the internet to find moms with blogs about life with Down syndrome.  How different is it?  What can I expect?  What am I in for?

So, if you are searching, and you find this:  It's okay.  It's gonna be ok.  It's gonna be great, in fact.  You'll see.

Happy 31 for 21 :)

31 for 21, Halloween Preview

Went to our first Trunk-or-Treat (at Elevation) ever tonight.  The kids did really really well, even though it was pretty crowded.

...a "kick" line...HA!

 Our family + a random church member wearing a soccer ball mask :)

 Zeke was losing steam about halfway through- so he got a ride :)

 I love his smile.

 Guy was so excited to say Trick or Treat...and the costumes and the crazy trunks didn't phase him a bit.  In fact, one car had a giant spider on top of it, and we had to go visit it twice for him.

 The goods!

 I didn't have to call any fouls.

 Thank you, 4 years of playing soccer for the costumes this year :)

 Tired boys ready for bed.  Oh, and candy.  Ready for candy and bed.  

Everyone decorated their trunks with different themes- there was a Dr. Suess one with Thing One and Thing Two, a couple pirate ones, a CSI SUV, a hippie van, and like 60 others.  One of our babysitters did his up as a giant mouth with big teeth and dry ice breath coming out :) So fun!

Kinda strange note:  Someone had 2 firepits going, and for some reason that freaked Zeke out.  He kept pointing to the smoke and whimpering.  Weird.

31 for 21, Jack-O-Lantern

Ian carved our pumpkin this year.  The others missed out, and I feel bad about that.  Except that they would have liked it for 30 seconds before moving on to another activity.  We did it at nap time today, so Ian got to take his time and have our undivided attention.  That's nice, too.

 He made me take this photo, and then told me, "Type next to it: This is when he got slime on his hands."

31 for 21, Puzzles

Sorry, 31 for 21.  I've been busy doing this stuff when I'm home now, and slacking on the blog.

It's worth it :)

31 for 21, General

General goings-on:

• Working and being a mom is HARD.  Especially when you're a teacher and don't clock out and leave everything behind at your job.  The last time I worked, I had one very tiny kid, and even that was only for a month before I gave up.  I'm trying really really really hard to find a balance.  So far I've tried staying up late and getting up early.  I'm very very tired.  
• Zeke has been sick this week, and on a ton of meds.  Some for his poop cooties (thank you, Ukrainian orphanage) and some for an ear infection and croup.  The poop cootie meds are especially disgusting, and I think that they are not only causing him to completely clean out his whole system, but also make his throat sore.  Last day for meds is on Saturday, so that will be a real treat to not have to make him hate us 3x a day.
• Chase is so freaking cute.  AND I know where both pairs of his glasses are.
• Speaking of glasses, I have to order some for Zeke.  I'm thinking about going with Zenni, but am not sure about using them for his first pair because of fitting and such.  Although, they have this pair that I am completely in love with.

• Gavin is doing really well in his preschool.  His favorite part of the day is when he gets to wash his hands in the little sink.  He tells me about it every day.  It's our think.  "Guy- what did you do at school today?"  "I washa my hands inda sink." (I don't know where he picked up his Old World Italian accent.)
• Ian reads everything everywhere now.  I love it.  I especially love that he'll help read stories to the littles  at night.  He's so fun right now.  My favorite time with him is staying up past his bedtime doing Highlights together, or playing games...or shopping.  One on one time with him is awesome.
• Not that one on one time with any other kid isn't just as awesome...it just honestly doesn't happen so much with anyone else.  I think about ways to change that, but cannot begin to do anything but survival right now.  I dream of someday doing a "date night" once a week with a different kid each week.  
• How is it almost 10pm again??!?  Frack. 

31 for 21, Belated post about the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad EC Meeting

This is a belated Tuesday post.

I went to a meeting for parents of children in the EC program with the county last night.  I went last year, it was pretty informative.  They had some good speakers, and I was able to talk with some therapists and get general information stuff.

This year there was supposed to be a parent speaking, but there was some issue and he didn't make it.  So they filled in his time slot with the "Transitions Coordinator" and her presentation about what to think about when your child is ready to transition from the school system to the real world.

Now, I don't know if I am the only one living in a bubble here...but I am not ready to think about that yet.  I don't want to look at a grocery bagger and say to myself, "Gee, I think my kids should do that when they grow up."  I don't want to hear that Quincy's is a business that welcomes people with disabilities as workers.  At this point, I don't want to imagine a fulfilling life as a busboy.

It may be reality someday, but right now I want to pretend that there is something more out there.  Maybe like that man who helps in the genetics counseling practice, or maybe they'll write a book.  Maybe they will be artists or musicians or speakers...I don't know.  I guess I just don't want specifics, or limits.  Or reality.

Anyhoo.  It seemed like I wasn't the only one who didn't want reality highlighted that evening.  There were at least 5 other parents in tears during the meeting.

I'm happy I wasn't one of them.  I save my tears for dinners out with my Ds Mommies.  That's the proper time.  Meetings like that are good for checking emails and downloading new apps on my phone.