Being Up With Down Syndrome

Today is Saturday and I took a break. I have been hiding today for a variety of reasons, but mostly from burn-out. The list of duties is never ending along with the chores. The endless, laundry, dishes and cleaning along with a lot of illness on many levels. Burn-out. I can hear Kate's growling. It's her new thing to do when she is unhappy. When I am back in my room where laundry is too, bad mistake, I can hear her communication better than ever. She raspberry's when she needs changed and growls when she wants the channel changed or attention. She brings us her snippy cup when she wants more to drink and gets plain crabby like the rest of us when hungry. She is embarking on a new communications program at school. We will soon be purchasing a new iPad and a program named LAMP. Kate really likes it and it will make all our lives easier. So today is Magnolia Magazines and books on planting our garden. We are planning on raised beds this year with a few pots of di...

Every year we plan different books, readings and prayers for our Lent. Lent is never what we plan. So this year I decided to truly surrender to God’s plan for our marriage, children and disabilities. Now the disabilities part, you think I’m referring to Kate, but I’m actually referring to all of us.Fear can be a true disability. Completely trusting in God is not easy, especially if your other disability is micromanaging! Kate has a compromised immune system. Kate needs to see an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist. She is having some swallowing issues. This is where my disability kicks in. Kate is six and for all of her life, I have been trying to treat ailments with more vitamins, essential oils and pro-biotic. God is so good that we have the blessing of seeking medical care. As I got older, I changed immensely on what the medical field can do for her. Trying not to have Kate to the Doctors at every ailment. Many times leaving the Doctors office with a new ailment picked up in the waiting...

Praising God for all His blessings in our lives this past year and asking Him for His graces in 2018! This past year was busy and very telling.  Kate getting into her special school and thriving!  We can't wait to see what 2018 brings.  This school is better than we imagined and we are so grateful for every single person at this school. This New Year is the year for true forgiveness.  To forgive.  Forgiveness is not a feeling, it’s an action.  I find myself drawn to love and forgiveness more this New Year than ever.  To be free of condemnation.  To support BJ in our new business endeavors!  We have such high hopes and the future is bright with promise.  God has this!  He always has this! So Happy New Year everyone and may God keep and bless you in 2018 and always!

I read an  article  about David Cassidy's last words.  "SO MUCH WASTED TIME!" This resonate's in my families lives.  There are people in my own family not speaking to each other.  There are people in my husband's family not speaking to us.  The reasons?  Everyone has their own opinion on who is right.  Our children see it all.  Hear it all.  Tuck it away inside.  We have tried to make peace but it takes the other side to want this too.  They made it loud and clear they want none of us.  So much wasted time. So.  How do you fix this?  You don't.  You forgive and then you turn to the ones who you love and love you back.  Don't waste time. Find those around you that bring you joy!  Laughter!  LOVE! Everyday I wake up and pray in gratitude for blessing me.  Thankful for our busy life. Kate is turning SIX YEARS OLD, November 30.  Almost six years ago we were thrown into the unknown....

Kate is doing fantastic in her new school!   Kate needed more structure with a teacher, two aides and three therapists.  You may wonder how I can Homeschool Kate! Well, the first job as parents is to bring our children to Christ!  That job is mine and our family's.  Teaching our children to pray is so very special.  I still have to help Kate to make the sign of the cross, but she then folds her hands in prayer.  When showing Kate a beautiful picture of Jesus, she began to squeal and laugh with joy.  This was so special to me!  I could see that she knows who he is and loves him unconditionally.   As we place holy statues and pictures throughout our house we are showing Kate her family!  Wondering how to teach a child with special needs who Jesus and Mary are, worried me some.  Her reaction tells me that she is well aware of her heavenly family.   Her big brother Beau recently got married and Kate was the flower girl....

The title is how I feel.  The reality is that Dan is my cousin.  Our Dads were/are brothers.  Both men now in Heaven.  I am five years younger than Dan.  It doesn't matter now, but back in the day I was the little cousin.  He is so so funny.  He has THE best sense of humor and one liners ever.  I always felt a special place in my heart for him.  What changed our relationship was love.  We always loved each other but it was by jokes and so much joyful laughter.  Then I was almost killed in a car accident when I was 20.  It shook him.  He wrote me a wonderful poem/card about how everyone and how he felt.  Through my life, he was always there, somewhere...  I depended on this.  When my Dad died he was a big part of my strength.  I suffered greatly from depression that first year.  He was "around".  Then Dan's Dad got sick with Cancer.  I loved my Uncle Tom and needed to be there.  By th...

Today I realized something amazing has happened. I found peace. Every weekday morning Kate happily gets out of bed EXCITED to go to school. She loves it so much and so do we. When we walk into school in the morning she can barely contain herself, waiting for her teacher to come and take her to class. She smiles bigley! For the first time since I was pregnant with her I am not worried about her. We see her changing so much! She is calmer. She is more engaged. She is listening to directions and she is so loving. To not worry about Kate is so new and so peaceful. The teachers and all the workers are so kind and caring. We knew this school was a perfect fit. Trinity and I witnessed a very stressful event with a child in the parking lot, one morning. The school was so on top of it and expertly handled the incident professionally and lovingly. To work full-time with special needs children, you need a loving heart. That is all I see. I see parents that want so much for their ...