Day Three - it's after midnight :(

which means it's day 4! But I am still counting this as day THREE!


Last night Jaden asked me to lay down with her.
I did.
And fell asleep.

I woke up suddenly and realized I had not blogged and it was only day 2 of the 31 for 21 campaign! I could not miss day 2! I dragged myself out of her cozy, warm bed and posted.

Tonight, after a long day at work, homework, soccer practice, dinner, getting the girls to bed, paying bills (wow, as I type this the day sounds so unexciting and uneventful)!

OK, I was just going to be short and sweet, because I am tired, but reading that last sentence about my day did not truly describe how great it was.  Yes, all the above did happen, but there were so many sweet, special, joyful moments too! I took a break from work and picked up Kamryn from school today (my mom ususally does this). She was not happy to see me at school and I was greeted with her usual stomping of the feet and chanting, "Grandma pick me up, Grandma pick me up!"  I am not sure how you are envisioning this scene, but it actually cracks me up. It makes me feel so blessed that she loves her grandma so much! The teachers almost always respond, "be nice to your mom" and after a few minutes she is fine.  I swear those teacher must think I am some big Ogre at home!  But I can't compete with grandma, and I don't try to!

I took her to McDonald's, something my mom usually does (OK, I was trying to compete:). This propelled me to the top of her likeable list and I was happy. :)

Another sweet moment, Jaden came home with 100% on her spelling test! That was awesome! Good grades always excite this mama!

I took Naomi to soccer practice and got to sit on the grass with Brynn while we did her homework.  Watching Naomi practice and sitting with Brynn. Two wonderful ways to spend the evening.

It was a usual day sprinkeld with wonderful moments.

Life is beautiful.
Sleep is too, good night! :)


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Day Two-Waiting for the bus.

 
I can remember, when I heard other mothers sharing how their children (preschoolers) rode the bus to school, I thought they were crazy!
My thoughts: None of my children have ever ridden a bus to school and neither will Kamryn!


This morning (October 2, 2012) waiting for the bus.  (Maybe I will write more about this decision later.  I am happy to share I am much less judgmental about the choices other people make for their families...lesson #152 I have learned over the last 4 years.)

                                  Field trip today with Brynn's class. We walked to the local aquarium.

It was a beautiful day. Life is beautiful.

Down Syndrome Awareness!

I can't believe it's October 1st!  This means we are heading into the holiday season and the New Year is right around the corner!  I don't want to get ahead of myself, and trust me I consciously try to live in the moment-day-by-day, but our annual Halloween party will need to be planned soon, then Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas will arrive (plus a million other great days in between) and boom, 2013. 

What forced me here tonight is something very personal.  Anyone who reads my blog is aware of my (our) story....our youngest daughter, Kamryn has Down syndrome.  After almost drowning in grief the first year of her life (do to her diagnosis), I am back to being on top of my world.  Embracing my life, soaking up the joys that exist in each day, taking the challenges in stride and just feeling incredibly blessed. And HAPPY.

It's good. It's really good. In fact, I don't want to brag, but my life is pretty amazing! One (of the many) heartaches I had during the first year was that our life was no longer normal. That we were now different from everybody else.  And this wasn't a good different. This was an uncomfortable different.

I am no longer uncomfortable with my life, and sadly, it was never my life I was uncomfortable with. I was uncomfortable with Down syndrome. 

October is Down syndrome Awareness Month. The blogging community challenges those of us to a 31 for 21 campaign.  Post everyday on your blog (31 days), to spread awareness about Trisomy 21 (the medical term for Down syndrome).  I hesitate to jump into this challenge, because as you can see by my blog I don't even post weekly!  But I sit here tonight and plan to participate. I am reminding myself, just like I remind my girls,  "Just try your best and we are proud of you!"  I will try my best to post something every day to join in the effort to spread awareness.

My life is not normal.  Read the definition and you won't want your life to be normal either..."conforming to the standard or the common type, average."


This is definitely not normal. :) I know the last thing I said when I stepped out of the car was,  "Stay in your car seat and keep your seat belt on!"

Please take a minute everyday to visit my blog and share it with someone. Down syndrome awareness, PASS IT ON!