Being Up With Down Syndrome

Kate is going to a very very special school and our school district is paying for it.  Our school district, Burgettstown, tried to convince us that Kate would be fine at their elementary school.  The schools whole entire defense was to make Kate deal with "normal" children.  To get her integrated.  Seriously.  So BJ and I hired a lawyer.  We won and now she is going to be "secluded".  The districts words.  We say, now Kate will thrive. When I saw what this school district was doing, it made me sick.  The reason they fought us was because the special school costs of The Watson Institute a year.  It had nothing to do with what was going to help Kate, it was about the money.  Burgettstown would pay half the tuition and the State the other half.  There were people telling me, with the best intentions and experience, that we needed to "play the game".  Just send her to the public school for six months, and when they fa...

BJ took me on an awesome date last night!  For Mothers Day, BJ and the kids got me tickets to see  Sal Valentinetti   at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg, PA.  Sal sings Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and more!  He is 21 years of age and on his way to big success! Beej took me to dinner at  J Corks !  We had so much fun!  It is so nice for us to get these moments.  This past week was hectic with meetings regarding Kate's future and what school she will attend.  We also are in wedding mode!  Everything is coming together beautifully. BJ and I have been together 24 years.  We still laugh and love.  It is rare to find us going to a better restaurant than Applebees!  Lol!  Because we like to relax and not all the fuss.  Our favorite evening out is going to a pub for food and the the American Legion for beers.  We go with my cousin Dan (my brother from another mother) and his girlfriend Sharon, who I conside...

I miss my Dad. My Dad. I could write for days about my Dad. He was the very first man I fell in love with. He was handsome, he was kind and he worked harder than most. When I was little, 3 to 5, he would put me in the car and we would travel! To the Post Office, Bank and THEN somewhere for food. He would hold my little hand and introduce me as his girlfriend. Out of everything I remember about my Dad, it is his hands. How he held mine, how he typed, how he held a cup, and how he danced holding my Mom's hand. I loved everything about this man. Even when he got mad...I reflect with humor. He NEVER swore. If he slipped a swear word we all ran for cover. He took me to my very first day to school. I didn't go to Kindergarten. I was told it was because I was too smart for that. Later when I was torturing my siblings with my intelligence, I was told it was because I was still a baby...attached to my parents!!! I love that now. Well, he brought me to a First Grade. M...

In my defense. I am a strong woman. I am a strong wife. I am a strong mother. I am a strong advocate for the disabled. I, I, I! BUT! Without God, I am nothing. Without His guidance in my life, I am nothing. Without His love, I am nothing. Everyone has a story. Everyone of us suffers in our choices. We all suffer from someone's cruelty. I'm good until the cruelty is directed at my children. Before Kate was born I fought to keep the pregnancy. During her delivery, I fought to keep us both alive. When the doctors told us she had Down syndrome, we fought for what was best for her. When she was then diagnosed with Autism, we went into a huge fight with the public school to send her to a wonderful school for her needs! When I was put under attack for how I protected my children, I fought the derogatory barbs. If we as parents don't protect our children, who does? Society? Government? With me is BJ and my children under God's guidance. I pray all day ev...

This weekend was about my husband BJ.  We took a road trip Sunday after Mass to Ohio to pick up some new pens for the show pigs.  We spent nine hours together.  It was a beautiful drive in farmland.  We had the best conversations about family.  We talked about the wedding coming up for Angel and Beau and how this is the beginning of a new chapter.  The chapters will start to come faster now.  Before you know it, it will be more marriages and  grandkids. We talked about our dreams.  We share the same dreams and more than anything we share humor.  We love to tease each other and we laugh a lot.  Laughter has gotten us through so many things.  Anger!  Hurt feelings!  BJ has this wonderful way of  saying something to shake me to a smile.  I am able to do the same.  This has lightened up many stressful moments. BJ injured his eye this past week and thank God will be okay.  It was scary.  As soo...

We just got back from a well needed, well deserved vacation.  We love Tybee Island, GA.  It is twenty minutes outside of Savannah on the Atlantic Coast.  This was our fourth time on the Island.  It is not commercialized.  It is a small town with history, small restaurants and shops.  It takes you to a time of relaxation.   We took our three youngest with us.  Ireland 14, Trinity 13 and Kate who is now 5.  Ireland and Trinity rented bikes to add to seeing the island.  Reminded me of when BJ and I were kids in Crafton.  Hopping on our bikes to ride to the store or pool.  The girls actually rode to the beach.  Such freedom!   I got to spend a lot of time with Kate.  You would think I always do, but during the school year I do a lot of chauffeuring back and forth.  Along with lots of meetings for Kate's future.  So there was a ton more snuggling and talking to Kate.  I saw her change.  She was...

A dad, a husband, a son and a Priest all go to a party...want to know how this turns out?  Well, it is still going on, it is the party of Heaven and earth.  My Dad passed away Wednesday, July 26, 2006.  Worst day of my life.  It will be eleven years this July.  I miss him every single day.  Now I remember the great talks and all the laughter.  I ask him to pray for me and my family.  I know he knows Kate.  I know he is a guardian for her. A husband, my husband.  The love of my life and what a life.  All of our children adore this man.  One day I asked him if he ever regretted having all these children and even Kate because of how hard this is sometimes.  He said he couldn't imagine his life without any of them.  He adores them more than they can even comprehend.  BJ reminds me of how we loved my Dad.  I remember how much BJ loved dinners at my parents house.  So much love and laughter.  All were ...