Random Questions

My DownSyn friend, RK posted on her blog some random questions. Here are my replies:

1. When it comes to Halloween, which are you? 1) All about it. 2) Don't really care. 3) Avoid it.

Anyone who knows me knows I am All About it!

2. What's your favorite element of the Halloween season? Candy, pumpkins, costumes, or kids knocking on your door?

I love dressing up, seeing all the costumes and especially haunted houses.

3. Which candy is the one you always hoped you'd get lots of when you did your trick-or-treating?

Candy Corn, Blow Pops & Chocolate

4. What's your favorite costume that you had, either long ago or recently?

I don't know if it was my favorite, but in 7th grade I was a Christmas tree. (I will try to post a pic later). I remember getting a lot of attention from that costume and everyone singing "Oh Christmas Tree" as I walked down the halls

5. If you've got kids who are dressing up, what are they gonna be this year?

Cameron was Batman & Mitchell wore Cameron's Superman costume from last year. (Again, I'll try to post pics later).

The Random Questions process
~Choose one or all of the questions to answer.
~Either respond with a comment to this post with your answer or put up a post on your own blog for a full response.
~Don't forget to include any funny or interesting story to illustrate your answer in action.
~Be sure to leave a comment on this post to let us know where to find your post so we can come check it out!

Happy Halloween

Here are some pics from last year (maybe later I can upload some from this year).





And here are some from a few years ago.

21 Things About Cameron

In honor of Down syndrome awareness month I am going to post 21 things about Cameron.

1. Cameron has a great sense of humor and thrives on making people laugh.

2. Cameron uses sign language and his first sign was baby a couple days after his baby brother was born.

3. Cameron can raise one eyebrow at a time.

4. Cameron is a bully, enjoys rough play, pushing, wrestling.

5. Cameron's eyes are hazel like his daddy's.

6. Cameron LOVES books.

7. Cameron refuses to feed himself most of the time (he's a little spoiled).

8. Cameron used to hate baths and would take showers with daddy.

9. Cameron is Mr. October in the 2009 WI Upside Down Calendar. He's also featured in December.

10. Cameron is extremely flexible.

11. Cameron is obsessed with TV and would watch it all day if we let him.

12. Cameron loves to learn and often asks to do his flashcards (I hope this continues).

13. Cameron's cheeks get extremely red during the fall/winter months.

14. Cameron began walking at 15 months.

15. Cameron loves music.

16. Cameron is NOT always happy.

17. Cameron is extremely compassionate and often cries when another child/baby does.

18. Cameron is not too fond of dogs, especially big, barking dogs.

19. Cameron was born 3 weeks early with no complications and went home with us after the typical 2 day hospital stay.

20. Cameron has an oral sensory issue and typically mouths objects, and especially likes rough textures (hairbrushes).

21. Cameron will come give me (or daddy or grandma) kisses when his brother gets told no. (because HE's the good boy - at least for that moment in time)

Political Quiz

Here is a fun political quiz. It will match you with the candidate you agree with most.

For me, it just confirmed that I am confused. I was 8 for one candidate and 5 for the other. Let me know how you do!

Wordless Wednesday

We will miss you

Good-bye Grandma. You will be greatly missed. Thank you for raising such a wonderful woman who I am proud to call mom and has in turn raised an amazing son who I am so grateful to have as my best friend and husband.

Character Lines

My DownSyn friend, Amy, wrote on her blog about lines that give us character. I thought this was a great idea and wanted to share some of mine.

I have lung cancer and it has spread to my brain.

Your mother has passed away, she's gone.

What would you say if I told you I love you?

Will you marry me?

We're in Mexico......and we're married.

Friend #1 - I'm pregnant.

You will need some tests, treatments, medications & surgeries to assist you in getting pregnant.

Friend #2 - I'm pregnant.

IVF will cost approximately $25,000 and is not covered by your insurance.

Friend #3 - I'm pregnant.

The IVF was unsuccessful, the embryo didn't make it.

Friend #4 - We're pregnant.

You will need another surgery before we do IVF again.

Friend #5 - I'm pregnant.

The IVF was unsuccessful. The embryo transfer has failed.

Friend #1 - we're going to have another baby.

Unsuccessful IVF procedure. The embryo didn't make it.

Friend #2 - I'm pregnant again.

You cannot have children.

You are pregnant.

The baby has a heart defect.

It's a boy.

I think your baby has Down syndrome.

We need to get him to the hospital right away, he's in heart failure.

We can't do the surgery he has a fever.

His temp is up to 107.

He's off bypass and doing well.

You are pregnant.

The baby has a cystic hygroma.

The baby could be severely disabled and have no quality of life.

You may want to consider termination.

It's a healthy baby boy.


I would love to hear the lines that have given you character. Please post a comment and let me know!

Feel Good Friday

Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

NKOTB

Then....



Now....


The concert was so much fun. I STILL love Donnie!

Wordless Wednesday

Feel Good Friday

Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect. It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections. God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but HE did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears & light for the way.

Beyond Politics

Wordless Wednesday

Mitchell is 1 Today!

Today is Mitchell's first birthday. This last year has went by too fast.



Mitchell is such a joy. He is loving, smart, cautious, observant, playful, curious and friendly. He is known to observe and follow his big brother's lead, occasionally taking control and becoming the leader. He enjoys music and dancing. He gets a big smile on his face when he sees his daddy (but whines/cries when he sees me - hmmmm).

Happy, Happy 1st Birthday Baby Boy! I love you.

Feel Good Friday

"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance."

Awareness

Happy Heart Day

It was Tuesday, October 10, 2006. Our arrival back at the hospital that we had been staying at the last couple weeks was bitter sweet.

My stomach was in knots and my head was spinning as we rushed down the never ending skywalk to the elevators that would take us up to the PICU.

I tried to control my trembling hand as I pushed the buzzer to announce our son was in room five, hoping that he had a more restful night than I did.

The automatic doors opened as I prayed that the ventilater was able to keep his fevers at bay and his heartrate below 200.

Turning the corner to his room, my legs were weak and I was sure I would collapse at any moment.

"Be strong, he needs you." I thought to myself looking through the glass doors at my miraculous baby boy who had just turned three months old the day before. He was so tiny, yet so brave. He was so fragile, yet so strong.

I hesitantly looked up at the monitor to read the numbers that had fluctuated so dramatically over the last couple of days. Numbers that most people wouldn't know what to make of. However, I knew all too well what they meant.

I was in a daze as I put on the yellow gown, white mask, latex gloves, and blue hat. Anxiously I slid the glass doors open and bent down close to his crib so he could see me, "Mommy's here baby, it's going to be okay now, mommy's here".

I was going through the motions. The same motions I had been going through for the past couple weeks since finding out my baby was in severe heart failure and would need the AVSD repair done sooner than originally expected to save his life. A surgery that had been postponed twice already due to extremely high fevers that no one could explain.



Not a day goes by that I don't think about all the children, families, doctors and nurses at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin as I know all too well the miracles that are performed there daily. I can't express enough gratitude to Dr. Tweddle and the entire surgery team who saved my baby's life two years ago today. God Bless You All!

Wordless Wednesday

Feel Good Friday

God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Wordless Wednesday

October is Down syndrome Awareness Month

Guess who's Mr. October in the 2009 WI Upside Down Calendar?



Yep, my little man sportin' his extra chromosome. I have been assured he is also featured in a couple other months as well, including December (a pic of his first Christmas)



Want to order one of these great calendars?