Homework?

After getting home from Trick-or-treating, Trevor suddenly got our his paper and pencils and sat down to practice his alphabet TOTALLY on his own. It is amazing that only a few months ago he couldn't write a single letter on his own without help. We are so proud of him:) When he was finished, he put his papers in the "finished" box (the mail basket on my counter). I LOVE that he loves school. I even put a litte love message in his lunchbox for tommorrow on his little voice recorder. I LOVE that he is still little enough to let me be a little mushy with him, and that he is excited that I'm visiting his classroom tommorrow. Just the other day, Trevor hugged me and said, "Mom, I just want to hug you and never let go..." I was in heaven. Thank Heaven for little boys....:)

Happy Halloween!!

Backward, turn backward,O Time, in your flightmake me a child againjust for to-night!"~Elizabeth Akers Allen

Tonight started off a little shaky, but ended just Happy!

Trevor got off the bus and just had a tired meltdown about getting the costume on and in the car to go to the Halloween Parade. I think everyone was crying at the sheer chaos of it all.

I'm not going to lie, sometimes trying to do FUN things with three little ones just isn't FUN. Josh and I were ready to bang our heads against the wall, but stuck in out in the hope of a good time.

One street over, they have A Halloween parade every year complete with a firetruck. It was so much fun to see all the kids out and about in costumes. Their faces lit up with pure excitement as that firetruck rounded the corner. All the kids paraded in the streets in their costumes following the firetruck. Then we headed over to our old neighborhood for some Tric-or-treating. It is fun to see our old neighbors, Bob and Cindy. We are their only trick-or-treaters for five years and counting. Then we headed over to one more neighborhood and then back home to count our candy. Spirits were defiantely lifted after a little candy! Enjoy the pics:)

Thanks Michelle For your support and reading my blog:) You are too sweet:)

"And Our Life, by a fellow Mainer. She has a little one with DS, plus 2 other young ones. Her blog is a peaceful reflective place, great music and wonderful concise posts that make you think and remind you to celebrate all the good things in your life. "

Mom, aren't you proud of me? I got my own snack!

ORDINARY MIRACLE
by Sarah McLachlan

It's not that unusual
When everything is beautiful
It's just another ordinary miracle today

The sky knows when it's time to snow
Don't need to teach a seed to grow
It's just another ordinary miracle today

Life is like a gift they say
Wrapped up for you every day
Open up and find a way
To give some of your own

Isn't it remarkable
Like every time a raindrop falls
It's just another ordinary miracle today

Birds and winter have their fling
But always make it home by spring
It's just another ordinary miracle today

When you wake up everyday
Please don't throw your dreams away
Hold them close to your heart
'Cause we are all a part of the ordinary miracle

Ordinary miracle

Do you want to see a miracle

It seems so exceptional
The things just work out after all
It's just another ordinary miracle today

The sun comes up and shines so bright
And disappears again at night
It's just another ordinary miracle today

It's just another ordinary miracle today

2007 Kindergarten

Soccer Banquet

Friday evening all the families gathered in the High School Auditorium for the Kindergarten Soccer Banquet. As we were driving there we happened to see the ENORMOUS,beautiful, harvest Full moon in the sky. It was spectacular. The auditorium was loud and packed with children. All the kids sat with their teams (for girls and boys combined there were about 15 teams) and each team went up to claim their trophies. Trevor was so excited about his trophy that he slept with it that night:). After the trophy ceremony, they played a thirty minute slide show with pictures of all the kids. The kids were dancing to the music-it was so cute (I'm not sure where they learned the YMCA!) It was definitely a night to remember. My favorite part of the season was getting to know the kids parents and coaches on Trevor's team. They are all such good kids. In a blink of an eye--they'll all be in high school!

Our Newest Pumpkin creation...

Brothers

Josh: "Where is Lucas?"

Trevor: "I think he was interested in the clothes basket, so that's probably where he is..."

Trevor's nickname for Lucas: Chromey (what!?)

Standing up.......In my crib :)

To measure the man, measure his heart.

Malcolm Stevenson

So into Sports....

Trevor, Breanna and Lucas are so into sports! Trevor loves to watch Football, and baseball and it is remarkable that he KNOWS what is going on in the games even at age 5! Breanna loves playing basketball and here she is in her first pigtails (she actually got her haircut after that )-so cute! Breanna is always bugging us to pick her up so she can "dunk it". Lucas just LOVES watching his siblings and his dog. We are so lucky that the weather has stayed so nice this fall so we can get outside alot. :)

Look Mom....NO hands!

Who needs silverware anyway?

"Life's most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?"
~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.~

Baby Weekly
Week 32 (week 32?!?!?! already!?!?!)

You may notice that Lucas increasingly tries to repeat the sounds he hears - including those made by people, animals, and inanimate objects. If there are two languages spoken in your home, he will try to make sounds from both languages. If you think you know what Lucas is trying to say, repeat it back to him. Listening to you pronounce words will help Lucas understand words and talk earlier.Lucas's vocabulary will grow steadily as he adds gestures to the mix. For example, he may have learned to hold his arms above his head when he wants to be picked up. He will also probably point to indicate the majority of his wishes. Help limit frustrations by interpreting the more cryptic gestures for other caregivers who may not spend the same amount of time with Lucas.Your baby also is gaining a new understanding of how to grasp and hold objects. He can probably hold two objects at once (one in each hand) and use both hands cooperatively to accomplish one task. He is also learning to use his hands in more complex ways. The way he shapes his hand to grasp a round object will be different than the way he grasps a flat object, such as a piece of paper. He will also start to understand cause and effect and will learn to pull a string or cord to move an object closer. A fun game right now may be tug-of-war. Let Lucas grasp the end of a towel and gently pull towards you. He may pull back in response. This will also strengthen his muscles and coordination.

It was an perfect WARM fall day today. The leaves are in peak color this weekend. We headed over the pumpkinland at chipman farm which is near the camp. We also drove by the camp before hand to check the progress on the NEW lakehouse. It was AWESOME! the work site was neat and clean and we could see the foundation and a little framing work that had been done. I can't wait until the house is finished. We are really going to enjoy that beautiful new house next summer for fun family gatherings. How exciting! Anyway, We hadn't been up to the pumpkinland carnival in a few years and BOY have they expanded it. There was too much to do for just a few hours and we hardly scratched the surface of all the rides and things they had to do at the farm. Plus, it was SO crowded. I think everyone had the same idea b/c the weather was so warm. Trevor's favorites were the TWO giant slides, cornmaze, and HAUNTED hayride (HE was so proud of himself for not being scared). Last but not least, we took a hayride out to the pumpkin patch and selected two perfect pumpkins to carve up next weekend. It was such a fun day! Enjoy the pics:)

Favorite Pictures this week....

Date night...

5:00 Saturday, Sarah our babisiiter arrived, we were ALL ready to go! The kids weren't thrilled about us leaving, but We needed this night out. WE hadn't been out to a NICE dinner in over a year. The resturant 5-55 was AMAZING, one of the classiest places I ever been. All the food was presented so nicely, and tasted wonderful. We got a bottle of Red Zinfandel wine and started off with an order of mussles which were cooked in a smooth buttery wine sauce great for dipping bread. Then I got an apple salad and Josh got a grilled caesar salad (the lettuce was actually grilled) which were both to die for! What interesting flavors. Then Josh got a hanger steak and I got scallops. We finished off with some interesting icecream and cookie desserts and then we were on our way. The dinner was wonderful, relaxing, and it took several hours. Then afterwards, we headed over th the mall to see if we could pick up a few treats for the kids. We did find a Red Sox sweatshirt for Trevor, he would be so excited because he is SO into sports lately. When we got home, It didn't look like Sarah had had a good night. Lucas cried ALOT (he does anyway) and she looked tired. Oh well, I guess that is why we pay her the big bucks for watching all three. AS soon as she left, I scooped Lucas right up and he feel right asleep on my chest. He was SOO tired. A very cozy ending to a wonderful evening:)

The right place..
Josh and I have date night tommorrow night, that's right NO KIDS and a nice resturant. I can't wait! It's probably been a year. As we were trying to find a resturant to go to, we got some reccommendations form a woman Josh works with who goes out to dinner 3 nights a week. We decided on 555 resturant which had been written up in Food and Wine magazine. As we were talking We were envying his work associate that had no kids and could go out to dinner whenever she wanted to. Then Josh says, " I wouldn't trade it though." "Trade What?" I said. "You know trade having our kids for getting to go out all the time." Definately a Dad with his heart in the right place. How lucky are our kids... How Lucky am I...

Finding his voice

Lucas is babbling more and more these days, his development has been so fast, it is just amazing to watch. I love to listen to his little babbling noises, squeaks and squeals. He even says Mammma and Daaadaaa! Enjoy:)

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The fairytale

http://downbloggers.blogspot.com/

Please see her post about the new movie Mr. Blue sky. My feelings exactly.....

This is me:)

WHY I LOVE MOM

Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, "I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed"

She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.
She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer. She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry.

She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair.

She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her purse.

Mom then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails.

Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed."

"I'm on my way," she said.

She put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on.

She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and TV's, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.
In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals and went to bed.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one inparticular. "I'm going to bed."

And he did...without another thought.

Anything extraordinary here? Wonder why women live longer...?

CAUSE WE ARE MADE FOR THE LONG HAUL..... (and we can't die sooner, we still have things to do!!!!)

A little homesick..

This morning Trevor gave us extra long hugs goodbye. He says he misses his Mom and Dad at school. A little tear was even running down his cheek. It was one of those hugs when you just don't want to let go....

A little Inspiration for today..

Every morning is a fresh beginning. Every day is the world made new. Today is a new day. Today is my world made new. I have lived all my life up to this moment, to come to this day. This moment - this day - is as good as any moment in all eternity. I shall make of this day - each moment of this day - a heaven on earth. This is my day of opportunity.

-Dan Custer

For those who haven't seen this yet.....

pause the music first..

You have to go right now??

I don't know what's up with my kids' bodily functions lately or why I'm always at the wong place at the right time per say. Well at the block party last weekend, Trevor HAD to go #2, let's just say we didn't quite make the neighbors toilet. I had to run home for some clothes to discover I didn't have the keys, then run back to the party, get the keys to the house and then back through the woods to the neighbor's house to get Trevor cleaned up. By that time I had missed dinner. Today, Trevor got off the bus and HAD to go. WE ran home and made it barely, just a little pee on the floor to clean up. The soccer game tonight-HAD to go again, What is UP? He isn't sick. WEll, I discovered that in 5 days he has eaten almost a WHOLE box of heart to heart cereal. Well at 5 grams of fiber per serving and 11 servings per box- you do the math, but that is a WHOLE LOT of fiber for a five year old!

Some Days I wish I had an Easy Button



I try to pride myself on always being prepared for everything. I'm the Mom on the soccer field with the sunscreen, bugspray, sweatshirt, hat and so forth... This week Breanna started going to preschool 5 days a week. So, On Tuesdays I pick her up Early at 11:30 and we head over to her Physical Therapy appointment about 20 minutes away. So, far, so good. We arrive in plenty of time. We are in the waiting room and suddenly I look over at Breanna and there is a wet spot on the floor next to her. What is going on? So I very quickly scoop up Breanna and Lucas and head out to the car for a diaper change. Let's just say IT was everywhere. There I am in the middle of a busy parking lot, changing this awful stinky thing in the back of the van while I have Lucas strapped to the front of me. Not an easy thing. Luckily I had diaper (even if it was Lucas') and wipes, but no extra clothes. Then the moment of panic-what do I do-do I go to the appointment or home? Well I took the kids back inside (Breanna was only earing a shirt and a diaper) and Jackie was waiting for us. I was praying that she couldn't smell any of the smell that was still lingering. I told her Breanna had wet pants and she said no problem that she had some extra shorts Breanna could wear. So we survived, but didn't have a great session today. Note to self: ALWAYS have extra clothes, diapers, LOTS of wipes and plastic bags in the car for every child. You just never know....

P.S. I left Breanna's coat in the waiting room, and didn't notice until I got home that I had left it. Maybe I don't need an easy button, maybe just a new brain!

Fun Saturday

These Fall Weekends sure are flying by. Yesterday, Trevor's soccer game was delayed until the afternoon and we were so excited that Mom, Dad and Aunt Diane were able to come. The weather was cool and the sun was bright so it was just a great day for soccer. Trevor had alot of fun at the game and almost scored a goal. He's getting more confidence every week. After the game, we came back to the house and had some cake (what was up with those candles?) to celebrate our birthdays. Mom gave me the "brothers" statue to add to my collection and 3 more charms to my bracelet with my kids' birthstones on them. What wonderful gifts! LAter on in the afternoon we headed over to a neighborhood block party. It was so much fun! Everyone has their grills out there and we all just hung out. It was great to meet some of the new neighbors, see some old faces, and meet people we haven't met before. We are convinved that we have just about the nicest group of neighbors ever:).

7 Months
Sucks his Thumb
Plays with toys (legos)
wants to be held
crawls
pulls up
loves peek-a-boo
smiles and laughs
doesn't like many solid foods
loves the jumpie bouncer
likes to flirt:)

Carving Out Our Pumpkin

"I want to be a baseball player when I grow up"

Trevor, Age 5

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MY CHILD

Marie Bristol, Director of Family and Preschool Research and Services
at the School of Medicine - University of North Carolina, at the
NATIONAL DOWN SYNDROME CONGRESS' CONVENTION in October, 1989, gave
this message to parents to relay to the "professionals" working with
their children:


Remember that he is, first of all, my child.
Let me see him smiling in his sleep.
And let me think how handsome he is-
Not about how delayed the smile was in coming.
Help me not lose sight of my son In the sight of his limitations.
I know that you care for my child, And that you work hard with him.
I need your expertise to help him become All that he is capable of
being.
You need my help in understanding who he really is.
And in the following through at home with things that are important.
Remember though, that you send him home at night.
And have weekends off and paid vacations.
Let me have the luxury of having a vacation...
Sometimes physically, sometimes emotionally.
For a day---a week---a month--- Without your judging me.
I will be there for him when you are long gone.
I love my child with an intensity that You can only imagine.
If on a given day, I am tired or cross with him, Listen to me.
Lighten my burden. But do not judge me.
Celebrate with me.
Rejoice in who he Is and who he will become.
But forgive me if, from time to time, I shed a tear -
For who he might have been.

We now have an IEP

Today, Breanna had her meeting to increse her days of preschool form 3 days to 5 days a week. Since CDS has been taken over by the state, Children as young as 3 years old have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) that follows them from 3 to 20 years old. Before the IEP didn't start until the child reached the public school system. In recent testing, Breanna scored very low in her cognitive score, but given that she JUST turned 3 and teh test was meant to test all ranges of 3 year olds, it wasn't that discouraging. She scored pretty well in other aspects of testing and was labeled low average. Anyway, the worst part of getting the IEP is that the label of MR (mental retardation) is placed on the child with Breanna's diagnosis much earlier than normal. I knew it was coming, but it's hard for any parent to hear I guess. It's reality, but I still want to have high hopes....

We All Have Our Flaws…

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots; each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.

At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.


But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?"

"That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them."

"For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.

Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.

You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

As Josh always says....."You need a license to run a hot-dog stand, but no license needed to have a kid.."

Unbelievable!!!


http://wcco.com/local/local_story_282170339.html

How sweet...

TO BREANNA ON HER BIRTHDAY


I SAID A PRAYER FOR BREANNA TODAY
I KNOW GOD MUST HAVE HEARD
I FELT THE ANSWER IN MY HEART
ALTHOUHGH HE SPOKE NOT A WORD
I DIDN'T ASK FOR WEALTH AND FAME
I KNOW SHE WOULDN'T MIND
I ASKED HIM TO SEND TREASURERS OF A
MORE LASTING KIND. I ASKED THAT
HE BE NEAR HER AT THE START OF
EACH NEW DAY. TO GRANT HER
HEALTH AND BLESSINGS AND FRIENDS
TO SHARE HER WAY. I ASKED FOR
HAPPINESS FOR HER IN ALL THINGS
GREAT AND SMALL. BUT IT WAS FOR
HIS LOVING CARE I PRAYED
FOR MOST OF ALL

LOVE YOU
GREAT GRANDMA ANNE

The terrible,horrible, no good very bad day....





Well today is my 33rd Birthday. I woke up this morning and Trevor gave me cards that he had signed all by himself for himself Breanna and Lucas. So cute! Then Trevor brought me downstairs and showed me the digital photo frame they had gotten me. I love it! Now I get to see my slideshows all the time on display. Then the terrible happened. Josh called my upstairs. Our golden retirever Maggie had passed away in her sleep during the night. She lay near the bed totally lifeless. It was SO sad. I feel so bad that yesterday was her last day on earth and I was gone most of the day. I still remember the day we got her. She was my Christmas present 10 years ago-my first "child" you might say. ANother little reminder of how fast the passage of time is. She had a wonderful life, full of love and activity that a young family can provide. Not many Dogs get to go to their version of "disneyland". Her arthritis had been getting worse, so maybe this was a blessing in disguise. It was still really sad though. I guess I have such a bad track record for birthdays.... Goodbye old friend...We will miss you.

Not the least hard thing to bear when they go from us, these quiet friends, is that they carry away with them so many years of our own lives."-John Galsworthy

Look How Much I have grown in 6 short months!

Pulling up....

Over the past few days Lucas has been trying to pull up on things. Today at Breanna's PT appointment he actually pulled up onto a stool and took a few steps pushing the stool forward-what a strong boy!

Snapshot of Breanna at 3

Favorites:

Peek-A-Boo

Pillow Fights

Jumping on the bed

Wrestling

Curious George

Coloring on anything and everything

Ice cream

Playing on the Swingset

Baths

Sitting on Lucas

Playing with her "babies"

Playing Chase with Trevor

The appletree song

BLocks

Yelling

The leaf pile

Talking on the phone

Diving

Run /chuck

School

reading books

Snacks: cheese, tings, cheese puffs, juice

Things she hates:

Milk, brushing her teeth, brushing/blowdrying her hair, going to bed, napping, wearing shoes, sitting at the table

Nicknames: Boo Brebre

Size: 24.8 lbs, 32.6 inches (almost exactly the same size as Trevor was at 18 months) she wears size 18-24 mos. pants, 2T shirts

Flying by the Seat of my pants...

Today Breanna had her yearly appointment with the pediatric genetic specialist, and then Physical therapy right afterward. It was such a rush of a morning! The appointment went well, I mentioned my concern about Breanna's diet and we are going to meet with a dietician who works in the office soon. Breanna weighs in at 24 lbs. 8 oz. which is at the 25 percentile on the Down Syndrome growth chart for 3 years old. The doctor also ordered some labs to be drawn and Breanna got her yearly flu shot. The doctor is also going to look into why Breanna has gotten bald spots in the back of her head. It may be some type of rare autoimmune process going on, but I don't think there is really any treatment. I have to say that is was difficult to stay focused on the appointment, I was really hot in there and with Lucas on my back and a sweater on I was sweating to death. Also, I had to rush out of there to make it over to the next town in about 8 minutes (which I was 10 mins. late for anyway). I was exhausted by the time we got home and didn't eat lunch until around 2pm.
I can't imagine what it will be like to go places and not have to carry two kids and a bag with me. It's a constant battle of how I am going to accomplish carrying all I have to carry and keep everyone safe when I go places. If you see a Mom on the street carrying a toddler in front and a baby on her back while trying to keep her bag from falling off her shoulder.... That's me:)

Happy Birthday Kevin!!

We hope you have a great day:)

10/8/07-Happy 3rd Birthday Breanna!!!

What a special day for us and for you! You have come so far--you are amazing..... We love you sweet girl:)


In My Daughter's Eyes - Martina McBride

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes
In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me gives me
strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her handaround my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about
It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daugter's eyes
In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy
she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

Some of the best moments from Breanna's first 3 years :)