Some sense of normalcy...

Today's post comes directly after a visit to my local grocery store for a gallon of milk....


You know you are overly emotional when: 


You are standing in the produce aisle and you spy across the way, standing at the deli counter, a man and his girlfriend. From far off, you can tell from behind, that the girlfriend has Down syndrome. He was hugging her around the waist and bossing her around. Ha! The man, having some sort of disability of his own, was also giving the deli guy a hard time - laughing and joking that he was slicing meat to slow and he was gonna tell his boss, etc etc. You are frozen watching this everyday 'normal' life style for them. 

You look like a stalker so you pretend to look at the lettuce.

You gather that the man works at this store and he is there shopping and joking around with the deli guy who appears to be his friend and coworker. His girlfriend pats the man on the butt and you giggle slightly embarrassed that you are still staring. 

You pick up a tomato to still not look like a stalker. 

You see the deli manager come over and the mans girlfriend runs full steam ahead to the manager and embraces her, with what may seem like the biggest hug this side of the planet. 

You feel your eyes well up. 

You hear the man say, 'Hey that's my lady there, easy!' 

The tears get worse and I know I have to move on to another aisle or I may just have picked up every piece of produce in the store. I couldn't help but look back one more time as I wiped a tear away from my eye. A very happy tear.

This is what I wish for my son. Normalcy. 

Two grown adults - shopping, caressing, joking with coworkers.
Yes. That is what I want him to have.
And I will do ALL in my power to make sure he succeeds in this. Because everyone deserves, love, friendship and a sense of pride.

And on a side note, we will now be having salad with our dinner.

I Run For...

Recently in one of my many Down syndrome groups someone posted a listing.
It intrigued me...

It said...

Hello everyone, I'm Tim Boyle, Founder and Executive Director of a group called "I Run For..." We pair up runners and other athletes with children and adults with special needs and they do all of their workouts, exercising, and runs in their honor. Right now we have several runners on the waiting list hoping to be paired with someone special. If you are interested please check out the fb page. If you are interested in having your special someone paired up send me a message or comment on this post. Here is the link to the page...
www.facebook.com/groups/irunformichael

I thought, "What a great idea!"

So I joined the page and added Dakota's name to the list. We were paired up with a runner that very night.
I have to say, I had no idea what it was even about, but the thought of someone running for Dakota made my heart smile. Dakota is not a great runner, heck he doesnt even really run at all, he kind of does this weird skipping hopping thing. I know he will someday. And he is still fast, but someone who can run, like really run - run... Like marathons and not casual runs across the block runs was an awesome thought.

Our runner posts his runs and workouts in the group and tags us in them to motivate us to keep trying, and we in turn post things for him, to keep him motivated.

Awesome concept!

I just thought I would share. And if you know anyone who would like to sign up as a runner or as a person who is ran for, then the link is above.

Many blessings!!

Laughter - 31 Days of Joyful Blessings

Laughter.

It seems meaningless, right?
Why is laughter a blessing?

Laughter has gotten me out of some hard times. I mean, who doesnt love to laugh.

I am a jokester, I am snarky and sarcastic. Thats me. I joke. About everything.

If I am uncomfortable, I laugh. If I am sad, I laugh. If I am happy, I laugh. Its just what I do.

I am so thankful for laughter. It has turned some really dark times into something worth living. And that has to be worth something, right?

Look, I can be serious if I need to be. But who really wants to walk around like a zombie in a depressed state of living? We only have one life. One life to get it right, or wrong. One life to walk around in coma, or one life to live up and laugh!

I know which one I choose!

But hey, I am not always happy and chipper, I do cry, a lot... But I hope when I get to the pearly gates I can get there and God can say, "Wow, you made a lot of people happy and I could hear their laughter from here!"

I hope to the person reading this, that one time, just one, I made you smile, or I made you happy, if only for a moment! And if not, then lets talk! :)

Thank you Jesus, for laughter!!

Friends - 31 Days of Joyful Blessings

My friends.

The real ones.

See I have several types of friends. I have real friends, I have occasional friends, and I have people who think they are my friends.

This post is for the real friends. The ones who really know me, who have seen me at my best and worst and are still willing to call me a friend.

I am not going to make a list and thank each one. They know who they are. Their names are written in my heart.

But I do want to take a second and acknowledge them.

So thank you my dear friends.
Thank you for letting me call you in the middle of the night if I needed something.
Thank you for putting up with my childish temper tantrums.
Thank you for holding my hand through all my relationship woes.
Thank you for answering the phone, even if you didnt want to.
Thank you for listening to me complain for the umpteenth time about something you could care less about.
Thank you for helping me with advice on how to tend a sick baby.
Thank you for loaning me that dollar when I was so thirsty or hungry.
Thank you for not asking for that dollar back.
Thank you for just sitting with me, when I wept.
Thank you for that hug I needed, even if I didnt ask.
Thank you for knowing when to and when not to say the right thing.
Thank you for telling me my fly was down.
Thank you for not always pointing out my faults or saying I was wrong.
Thank you for taking me on adventures, I would have never dreamed of.
Thank you for allowing me to make bad decisions, so I can learn on my own.
Thank you from stopping me, on many occasions, from doing the wrong thing.
Thank you for supporting me, no questions asked.
Thank you for letting me be me, no matter what any one else thought of me.
Thank you for helping me become the person I am.


You guys are amazing, and I know there is nothing I can possibly do to thank you. Ever.

But I promise you, that I will always be a faithful friend and you will always have a place in my heart.

Even if its been a long time since we spoke. Even if I just talked to you an hour ago.

I will always be here, thinking of you and thanking you.

Much love!

My Faith - 31 days of Joyful Blessings

Welcome!

Today starts 31 days of Joyful Blessings, where I will be sharing with you the blessings that have changed my life...

I cant possibly start off this journey with out naming #1 most important factor in my life: My faith.

Here is my story:

I grew up in a catholic family, I went to catholic schools. But I never really knew what it was about. I never really took it seriously. I hated going to church - it was so boring. I just went and "existed".  I sang the hymns, I stood, kneeled and sat when supposed to. But there was never any feeling in it. And then my mom got into a horrible relationship. I feel like my life took a sharp left. He abused her... bad... and I watched. I felt like God wasn't there. He wasn't watching over us. He was letting my mom die inside. I hated it, and I hated Him for allowing it. I didn't understand there was a bigger plan working.
Sometimes I like to look back and think, wow, look at what we over came! Its astounding sometimes.
I lived my life as an atheist for a very long time. I had heated battles against Christian friends. And felt like I won them, because I shut them up, they always stopped arguing. But I didn't realize then, that I didn't win and they didn't stop because they had no more to say. I learned that sometimes, as a Christian - you have to digress. I know and understand that now.
Back in 2008, I was going through a very tough time. Financially, mentally, physically. I felt like a no one. A nothing. My husband was out of work. We were so poor. We were about to lose our apartment, we had no food, our electric was getting turned off. We were in a bad spot. I was fighting with my mom, my boyfriend, my kids. This is not where I thought my life was headed. I was so depressed. I thought, if I leave maybe everyone will be happy...
I turned on my internet to check my email to turn on a vacation response, as it was getting shut off the next day, and there was an email from a  friend.  It was simple, just a few words..

"Was thinking of you and felt that I should ask you to come to church."

Keeping in mind, this person never emailed me. We talked on the phone, saw each other in person, but never emailed. Keeping in mind that this person has asked me to church a million times since high school, and stopped asking years ago... Keeping in mind this is the person I would argue faith about all the time.

I laughed at the email and shut off the computer. I started at the screen for a while. and my laughter turned into tears. My boyfriend came out and asked what was wrong. I asked him if he wanted to go to church. He said, "Sure"

I turned back to the computer screen, took a deep breath and turned it back on. I hit reply and entered - Yes. and hit send.

We attended church that Sunday and I didn't burn up in flames! ( I joked about this for months)
Something stirred in me. I cried. A lot.  I felt my burdens and shame leave.

We went back again and again. The first Sunday in June, we attended as usual and the Pastor had spoke his prayer to recommit ourselves to the Lord. I spoke it in my heart and on my lips. And then he asked for those who spoke it - to stand up and profess it to the world. I was thinking NO WAY am I standing up in front of all these people!!  He was scanning the crowd, people were standing left and right. Then the Pastor looked right at me. I felt his eyes burning in my soul! How does he know???  I still sat, he went through the crowd some more, and as he started to look back my way - the Lord gave me a not so gentle push. I jumped out of my seat like a rocket. My Pastor acknowledged me and I collapsed in my seat in a bundle of tears. All the weight of the world left me that day. And I have never felt the same.

Even as hard as it gets, I will never be the same.

As for the rest of the story?

My boyfriend, L.J. and I went to the church for financial help. And we got way more help then that. An associate pastor, agreed to marry us - FREE. In a few weeks!
Marriage! YIKES!!!
His only request was that L.J. live separately from us until the wedding, as God intended it to be. To show we were serious about our commitment.
And we did.
L.J. lived in a place called Calvary house for a month.
We got married December 21, 2009, at my step dads restaurant. In front of family and friends. and of course... God, Himself.

I got a new life that year. Jesus wiped my slate clean with the spilling of his blood a long time ago. But I never felt the impact until then. I never felt thankful until then.

I cannot wait until the day we go to our real home. In heaven.
Wont you join me there?
Its never too late!

Blog Hop - Growing up...

For parents of children with disabilities: How have earlier interactions with individuals with Down syndrome – or other disabilities -  influence (d)  how you felt and feel about your child’s diagnosis?

Hmmm, growing up, I never knew anyone with Down syndrome. The only experience I ever had with it was watching "Life Goes On" faithfully! I LOVED that show. And when I was little I didnt even realize Corky had a disability!  To me it was a regular ol family, just trying to get by!

I did however grow up around disabilities and differences. 

See, I moved to Florida so my mom could come help out my aunt. My cousin was born with a little leg. She was going through some crazy surgeries and they needed us. My cousin never outwardly let it get her down. She was one of three daughters, and was the middle child. She was always, happy , energetic and upbeat. Even with all the stares and whispers, she just went on her merry way. Which taught me to do the same. I never looked at her as different. I never really noticed the casts, or scars, or lift attached to her shoe. We were just kids, we made up our own stuff - the shoes, yeah they were spice girl shoes! And I so desperately wanted to try it on!! 

Growing up with someone "different" molded me into the mom I am today. It has softened the blows of the stares and whispers. It made life seem not so scary.  

After high school, I volunteered with a hospital group of quadriplegics. The most amazing group of men, I had ever met! Some had been paralyzed since birth, some from accidents. They made me smile and love in ways unimaginable! I never saw them as their wheelchairs. Never. I saw them as a group of guys, who liked to have a great time!

My best friend growing up had a brother with cerebral palsy. He was such an awesome kid! And he was utterly in love with me. He was my little buddy. I admit, this one was a bit harder to swallow then most, as I couldnt understand what he said clearly all the time. But I adapted. And I still give him huge hugs when I see him! I watched him grow from a little boy to a grown man! And my life was changed because of it!

So when I got pregnant the second time, and I failed the AFP and they told me there was a chance of Down Syndrome. It didnt phase me. When my son was born, and our eyes met. There were no tears of sadness.  There was utter joy.

Because my God prepared me for him. My God had my life planned before he was born. My God eased my mind. I wasnt scared. I was happy. I wasnt worried, I was in love.

My sons diagnosis doesnt own him. He is not Down syndrome. He just happens to have an extra chromosome. And an extra dose of special.

I was ready.

Baby Celebration for Teagan

So at first glance at the invitation, I thought... What is a baby celebration?? Why not just say shower?

Well I have this totally awesome friend who asked us NOT to bring gifts, but just prayers. And to come to celebrate the life growing inside her.  See, her baby was diagnosed with HLHS. Or an easy term, a broken heart. My friend wanted to chance to celebrate her baby, before... well, before the bad stuff comes.  But what I think she doesnt realize, is just how many of us are out there praying for her and baby Teagan. And our God, well... He is a miracle maker! So I am excited to see the plans he has for their family!

If you are interested in keeping up with her blog or finding out more info on HLHS or her growing family (this is baby Number 8 -or 9 if you count her step daughter!)...

Check out her blog here: YES! They are all Mine!

I wanted to share a few snap shots of this celebration, as we had a HOT   SWEATY   ATE LIKE A PIG GREAT time!

First off, I have to give a shout out to Faithful Cake Creations for making this astounding cake! I mean seriously, look at the little baby foot pushing out! How cute is this!!

We had a great time, with a few mishaps... Dakota hauled butt for the playground, without telling us, right after I took this pic:

Eli had a good time too, as usual. He ate a bunch and then went on the swings with some of our friends! He always looks so serious, but I swear he had fun! He cant wait to meet Teagan to see if they "hit it off"! Wink Wink!

We hope you had a great weekend! I know we sure did! It seems like it is never a dull moment here! Stay tuned for more fun and adventure...