Growing Up Flashcards

If you have a child with Down syndrome, you know most are primarily visual learners. During the early years, flashcards as visual cues are a blessing. As a teen, Reagan is not as dependent on visual aides as she was during our early schooling years but they still prove to be valuable learning aides.

Fandex Family Field Guides from Workman Publishing are a resource for the older child with special needs who happens to be a visual learner. I love these sturdy, die-cut aides that we can carry around on our nature walks. Here is some of yesterday's loot:



And a somewhat better picture of the die-cut nature of the field guide:



The content below the visual (also on the back of the card) is not without substance. In fact, I do have to modify the content to simplify it a bit for Reagan. As with many other resources, I usually build upon what she knows and give her more information to build on as time goes by. These field guides are a resource that can be used for many years.

Fandex Field Guides cover many topics - from nature, mythology, historical figures, composers, to Old Testament Stories. There is even a Star Wars Field Guide!

Once a Year Treat...

My family can't get enough of these:



I was dismayed at the price of pumpkins this year in our area. I could not find pumpkins for under $6.00 a piece - shocking! Especially when we live near the pumpkin capital of the world. So, I settled for only two pie pumpkins this year - just enough for the holiday pies at $1.50 a piece.

After roasting the pumpkins, I salvage the seeds for our special yearly treat. Yes, its messy and time consuming but everyone looks forward to roasted pumpkin seeds. After cleaning the pulp off the seeds, I soak them in salt solution for an hour or so. Next drain, add a tiny bit of oil and seasonings. This year I used salt, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Into a 325 degree oven for 25-30 minutes, turning every 10 minutes.

My family couldn't be happier!

Never Thought the Day Would Come....

And neither did Reagan.



Hanging on for dear life because Kiera is driving!



Kiera is an interesting young lady for many reasons - one of which is her lack of desire to obtain a driver's license. Living in two states for a few years has meant that we put off finding a program to teach her to drive. The time has finally come - doesn't she look confident behind the wheel?

Now, to work on Reagan's anxiety. We'll talk about my feelings of impending doom as a passenger in the car anxiety another day...

Model Me Kids

Does your child with special needs have difficulty initiating and maintaining conversations? Does he misread the social cues of others? Does she have difficulty developing and maintaining friendships? I've run across a new (to me) resource that teaches children with special needs those unwritten rules we all use in social situations. Model Me Kids has social skills training on DVD. Model Me Kids was developed for children with autism, nonverbal learning disorders, social anxiety, learning disabilities and delays.

I know I'm sounding almost like a salesman here. Actually, I met with a group of local homeschooling moms with children with special needs and tried to call up from memory the name of these DVDs to no avail so I'm blogging about them.

Reagan loves these DVDs. The lessons are short, easy to understand and target her strength - visual learning. She is using what she learns and generalizes the rules to real life encounters with others. Its very exciting to see!

The Starbridge Series

By Susan Howatch is among my favorite modern historical fiction. Howatch is a masterful writer and created a series that revolves around politics of the Church of England from the 1930s through the 1960s.

As a person fairly new to the Anglican Communion, the Starbridge series brings to life the societal, theological and political issues that brought us to where we are today - schism. The schism we experience today has roots reaching far back in time and this series defined for me just how we got here and why.

The Starbridge series unraveled the complexities of the impact of the post-modern culture on the Church within the differing angles of the three main variations of Anglicanism – Anglo-Catholics, Evangelicals and those with Charismatic traits/beliefs.

Each protagonist (ordained clergy) has a false goal, reflected in a false self, as described in the title of each of the six books. This leads to destructive choices made by living for themselves and not for God. Through spiritual direction, they become aware of what they need to do to be redeemed.

I find it interesting that the presence of evil and spiritual warfare is dealt with in this series. So many people would like to believe that evil is not something we need to guard against. Living in a diocese undergoing massive spiritual warfare, I can tell you evil is always lurking.

I love that each chapter begins with a quote from 20th century theologians which lead to plot development and influence the protagonist’s thoughts and actions.

Has anyone else read this series? I am working on the St. Benet’s trilogy next!

Updated Resource

Teaching Reading to Children with Down Syndrome by Patricia Oelwein has been updated. From the Woodbine House website:

"Now Available...Teaching Reading is updated with refreshed Resources, a CD-ROM of Appendices, and a new cover!

Reading is an essential, enriching, and attainable skill for children with Down syndrome. This guide presents a nationally recognized reading program for children with Down syndrome that can be used to effectively meet a child's unique learning needs and style.

The reading method and lessons presented here are specifically designed to be motivating, fun, and rewarding. Filled with sample flash cards, games, charts, and recommended story books, the program emphasizes the visual learning style typical of most children with Down syndrome. Parents can customize lessons to capture their child's interests and set the learning pace to a level for greatest success.

This step-by-step guide to reading allows parents to work with their child at home and helps them coordiate reading lessons with teachers, ensuring the continuity of their child's education year after year.

Now includes a CD-ROM of all the visual supports. Print out the Appendices--picture and word cards, lotto games, charts, and more--as often as you need!

Do you need just the CD-ROM?
You can order the CD-ROM for $6 (including shipping & handling) by calling our office at 800-843-7323.
Note: CD-ROM not available for order online."

Down Syndrome and Challenging Behaviors

If you are a parent with a child with Down syndrome (Ds), you might know our kiddos show higher rates of challenging behaviors than their typically developing peers. Challenging behaviors common to children with Ds include wandering, attention difficulties, inappropriate social behaviors, noncompliance, and compulsive behavior.

Did you know that many children with Ds do not respond to typical parenting styles? As parents, we often use negative consequences (time-out, spanking, punishment) for inappropriate behavior. In many cases, using negative consequences with the child with Ds can exacerbate behavior issues!

Reagan was one of these kids. Like many children with Ds, she has quite the delightful personality. She is kind, thoughtful and affectionate most of the time. She is right there when someone is in need to offer her love and support. I don't think she has a malicious bone in her body but we have faced many challenging behaviors. Challenging behaviors in children with Ds tend to be complex in nature - related to processing/language difficulties, fear of failure/motivation, cognitive issues, lack of choices, etc.

For Reagan, the most challenging behaviors stem from her highly stubborn nature. I think every parent of a child with Ds deals with what appears to be an exaggerated stubborn streak. Negative consequences did nothing to change her patterns of behavior.

As a homeschooling parent, I took our discipline issues very seriously. After all, without control of challenging behaviors and discipline (on all parts) we cannot effectively educate our children at home. Reducing challenging behaviors had to become a priority if we were to continue on our homeschooling journey.

In my research, I found that children with Ds respond better to positive behavior supports which encourage appropriate behaviors. Little things like sincere praise, positive attention to appropriate behaviors, and rewards made a huge difference in effecting changes in behavior.

My parenting patterns had to change to effect changes in Reagan’s behavior. I had to be much more creative in parenting this child to make our home environment more conducive to learning and her behavior outside the home socially acceptable so that learning and social opportunities were more available to her.

I learned about looking at behavior in the context in which it occurs. I learned about A-B-C (Antecedents – Behavior – Consequences) patterns to look for ways to effect changes in behavior.

I learned that ridding a child with Down of problem behaviors often takes more learning trials than it would with a typically developing child.

I learned that you must teach the child exactly what you expect. Most young children with Down syndrome learn little incidentally (by example) - appropriate behavior must be explicitly taught and modeled. Skill building vs. trial and error which can lead to frustration and even embarrassment!

The younger child may benefit from a pictorial guide to refer to when placed in known difficult situations as a reminder of what is expected. In the school age child, social stories are often used to teach social skills to children with special needs but can be adapted to address challenging behaviors in the child with Down syndrome. They are easy to create on a word processor and can be tailored to the unique needs of the child.

I also ran across a book that I recommend to every parent with a child with special needs, Steps to Independence, Teaching Everyday Skills to Children with Special Needs, by Bruce L. Baker and Alan Brightman. This book not only speaks to skill development but has several chapters devoted to behavior and positive behavioral support. The book does not specifically target children with Ds but I have found it to be an invaluable resource!

At 14, Reagan understands negative consequences and I use them effectively as necessary. In the real world there are negative consequences for inappropriate behaviors so she finds them at home too. I think maturity has made a huge difference in her ability to understand the consequences of her behaviors and increase her compliance.

Homeschooling Reagan at home has been quite beneficial in ridding her of challenging behaviors. She is in an environment where behavior issues can be dealt with immediately and consistently. As she has matured and her language comprehension increases, we can discuss various choices she has as she problem solves and the consequences of her actions. She gets plenty of time out in the community - more opportunities for working on developing proper behavior and social skills. At times it has been exhausting - especially in the early years - but definitely well-worth every ounce of effort! She is growing into a lovely young lady.

Reagan, like most of us, is still a work in progress. We continue to work on appropriate behaviors and social skills in the home and around the community. It is said that good behavior and social skills are the keys to success for adults with Down syndrome so we continue working to become the best we can be!

Foodie?

I guess I've not thought about what the term foodie means. When I saw this sign on a recent trip to Cincinnati, OH, I knew it was speaking of me! I cannot visit Cincinnati without making a stop at Jungle Jim's International Market.

Jungle Jim's is a self-described theme park for foodies. For someone like me, hailing from a small town where grocery stores are of the large chain variety with not a lot of imagination, a trip to Jungle Jim's sends thrills up and down my spine! I guess I am a foodie.

Jungle Jim's is a funky place. Surprises abound. It is NOT your usual marketplace! Ever seen a boat in the produce section?



Or the fish market underneath a shop-lined boardwalk?



Jungle Jim's boasts of "offering 150,000 different items from over 75 countries." Some of it is quite exotic. This fruit, durian, looked very interesting to my girls.



I'm so glad we didn't satisfy our curiosity and purchase the durian for a snack later. I understand the smell is offensive despite the savory to slightly sweet (depending on the variety) creamy flesh. In certain parts of Asia the fruit is banned in public places and can draw people dressed in hazmat suits to remove the odorous fruit from hotel rooms!

Ah, the dangers of living a foodie life...

Desert Spirituality - An Encounter with God

The veil that I spoke of in Grief in the Shadows is beginning to lift. Life has greater clarity and focus. As the veil recedes though, I have found a bit more anxiety present in my day to day activities. While pondering this, it occurred to me just how present the Lord is during my grief - whether it be in the acute phase or episodic shadow grief. I was missing His deeply felt presence associated with the veil!

Which led me to think about how we generally experience the presence of the Lord. I know He is always there but why is it sometimes He is more tangibly present?

In my daily life, I know God in many places - the beauty of His creation, His word, the sacraments, in prayer etc. During my grief journey, our relationship was a bit more intimate.


As I've said before, the loss of a child is devastating beyond description. After Michelle’s death, I felt my heart and soul were a nuclear wasteland. I had given everything I had within me to love and support my precious child during her suffering. Much of me had died with her – only a shell of my former self remained.

What was I to do? I had friends who were more than supportive. I saw a Christian therapist. I spoke with several priests who were comforting. How do you heal from the death of a child? Learning to live without her was excruciating. A still small voice whispered, “Wait upon the Lord.”

So I waited. I struggled with obedience. Life as I knew it was over. I was completely without motivation – lost in my grief. I wondered what I was waiting for.

I struggled with God. I knew He was there and desired the struggle. Where can you go if you can’t go to the Father?

I asked Him all the hard questions. Why me? I believe. I trusted you. I have always loved you and tried to serve you to the best of my ability. Why her? An innocent child created in your image. How could you let her suffer so? I yelled and screamed in my rage and He cried with me, comforting me as a Father does.

Jesus was waiting. Waiting for me to turn my eyes from what I had or didn’t have here on earth - waiting to transform my wounded heart and soul.

I thought it strange at the time, but He took me to a desert place. A place without visible signs of life. A monochromatic landscape of rolling hills of sand and rock with an occasional seemingly bottomless abyss. A place without birds or other wildlife, no flowers, trees, bushes or grass, no water. Not another human in sight. It was a place without pain or fear. In this desolate place, I rested in the love and safety of the arms of Jesus. I believe these were encounters with the Living God.

It was here that I was offered the substance of my new self – tossing away the façade that remained. A new self, based on a loving, merciful God, letting go of my chaotic upbringing and healing the past and the present.

The Holy Spirit worked to transform my heart and soul. I struggled more. I wanted to hang onto the pain for it was the only thing I had left of Michelle. Oh, I had her ‘things’ but they had become meaningless without her. The pain was a tangible connection with the child I had lost in the pain present whether awake or asleep – unless I was with Jesus in the desert. I was being asked to give it over….and I did eventually. The new, transformed self was/is not perfect. She is still sinful and broken but joyful in the transformation, edified by the real presence of God throughout my life – especially in my grief.

The work of healing after the loss of a child is to walk on holy ground. Though invaluable, the real work cannot be accomplished with a therapist, a good and dear friend or family member. It is about getting things right with God, developing a mature faith, dependent on God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

I left that place a long time ago - or was it taken from me as I healed? When we visited the Holy Land in 2006, our tour made a stop in the wilderness where Jesus was tempted. Before me and all around me I saw a familiar place. I had been there in my grief. I had somehow forgotten about it as the new self developed. I wept as I was reminded how much God loves His children - so much that not one sparrow will fall apart from the will of the Father.

Plagiarism

Ever had your original content stolen? I deal with the at least once a year - not necessarily here on my blog - but with articles I have published elsewhere. Most website owners who like my stuff and feel it valuable to the homeschooling community will write me and ask permission to publish the information on their website. It is the morally right and polite thing to do.

On rare occasions I have seen my original content, often copied word for word, around the web. Usually I just write the website owner a note and get a fairly quick reply in the form of an apology and removal of the information. Of course, its usually not their fault - the fault lies with someone who who works for them. The offenders are usually extremely contrite. They know plagiarism is a crime.

This time, a simple, quick e-mail outlining my concerns did not work. I got absolutely no response.

Am I wrong to be surprised that this would happen within the homeschooling community? I guess I shouldn't be. After all, we are all sinners.

Perhaps the offending website is just a website that likes to make money off of the homeschooling community by offering informational content for homeschoolers. I wouldn't know since they did not respond to my inquiries.

Perplexed as to what step to take next, I took to the internet in search of answers. Darren Rowse of Problogger had an easy to follow, step-by-step plan of action for me to follow.

So, I worked my way through the steps. I contacted the site owner, ran a whois search, and contacted the website host without response.

Step 4, contacting the site's advertisers, finally yielded results. The stolen content has been removed.

I'm happy to say I did not have to go to step 5, name and shame, and beyond.

I have often wondered why it bothers me so much to find my work appearing around the web without credit. Most of my work is just putting together pieces of the puzzle in how children with Down syndrome learn. I have put in countless hours in accomplishing that task for the benefit of my daughter -- and others traveling a similar path. I give it away freely and without reservation when asked. I look at all those countless hours spent in research as the Lord's work in me and a way to serve others.

We're talking about my blood, sweat and tears here. It took me many years to get where we are in educating my daughter. After years of unanswered question from those who are supposed to know (professionals), I did the work to find the answers. So, it does bother me when people steal from me. In the few seconds it takes to copy and paste, a rare person here and there will use that information and call it their own.

It also offends God - see the Ten Commandments.

Next time, just ask. What is mine is yours -- if you ask.

Back in the Groove

In my last homeschooling update, I noted that Reagan was less than motivated to return to our regular homeschooling routine after an entire summer off. I’m happy to report that she is back in the groove of things. Reagan wakes each day excited to begin the day and her usual schooling routine.

Speaking of grooves, it is a well-known fact that people with Down syndrome thrive with something called ‘the groove.’

From Down Syndrome: Visions for the 21st Century, edited by Cohen, Nadel and Madnick, p. 228

"A groove is simply defined as a set pattern or routine in one’s actions or thoughts. In the general population, this tendency may be considered obsessive-compulsive disorder but in the individual with Down syndrome (Ds), it provides them with structure and order. The groove allows people with processing disorders (common in Ds) to have more control over their lives."

When I first discovered the presence and importance of grooves in my research about people with Down syndrome, I noted the fine art of the groove in my daughter’s life. The groove allows her and her very set routine to accomplish the activities of daily living, her school work and recreational time in a set order where she doesn’t have to think about it.

The groove is so common in individuals with Ds that a book, Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome: A Guide to Emotional and Behavioral Strengths and Challenges by Dennis McGuire and Brian Chicoine, has devoted a whole chapter to these characteristic behaviors. Do not wait until your child is older to get this very important book. It speaks to many issues common to children/teens/adults with Ds, such as challenging behaviors, autism, self-talk, memory issues and much more.

How Fitting in My Melancholy State

A new release by Steven Curtis Chapman - Heaven Is The Face



H/T Barbara Curtis at Mommy Life. Feel free to stop by Barbara's blog to hear how this song came to Mr. Chapman after the tragic accident which took his daughter's life last year.

Grief in the Shadows

This time of year brings on a familiar sensation. Since the loss of my oldest daughter, the crisp, cooler weather which signifies the arrival of fall brings with it a veil which slips over my heart and mind. Life takes blunted tones – lacking the meaning and joy that generally fills my days.

The veil is commonly known as shadow grief. The experts consider it normal after the loss of a child. It can have many triggers but is usually associated with the birthday or anniversary of the day which the child passes on. Fleeting episodes will be with me for the rest of my days on this earthly journey.

Some years I don’t see it coming, but unconsciously it creeps in and slowly comes to my awareness. It comes with extreme fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating and general loss of interest in daily activities. It is no longer associated with acute pain but only occasional tearfulness.

In some strange way, I find comfort in it because I know Michelle is on the other side of the veil that separates us waiting for me. Waiting for the last day when we will all rise in glory and live in heaven for all eternity.

For you see, I believe in the promise that Jesus Christ made. The promise of eternal life for all who believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Until then, I know the veil will soon be lifted and I will live fully and joyfully in that promise and my hope in Him. The veil serves only to remind me of that precious love between and mother and her child and that our separation is only temporary.

With a grateful heart - for her life and the love we shared, I sit in the shadow of the foot of the cross and pray that all I do and say will glorify Him...

Down Syndrome Awareness

Isn't this too cute?



Get yours by clicking on the image!

H/T Barbara Curtis at MommyLife. She also has a cute Down Syndrome Creed on the same page but I'll have to edit the color - wrong green for my blog :-)

Touchstone, A Journal of Mere Christianity

Over the years, we have received many religious publications by mail. I must say Touchstone, A Journal of Mere Christianity is the best religious journal I have encountered. It comes as a graduation gift from hubby's seminary. The content is meaty, insightful and thought-provoking - from an orthodox viewpoint.

From the inside cover:

"Touchstone is a Christian journal, conservative in doctrine and eclectic in content, with editors and readers from each of the three great divisions of Christendom — Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox. The mission of the journal and its publisher, The Fellowship of St. James, is to provide a place where Christians of various backgrounds can speak with one another on the basis of shared belief in the fundamental doctrines of the faith as revealed in Holy Scripture and summarized in the ancient creeds of the Church."

This month Touchstone had two articles written by homeschooling fathers. Education Normal by Mark T. Mitchell on "the oddity of giving children a moral imagination."

The other article, "Except the Lord Build" by Anthony Esolen, is the commencement address given by Dr. Esolen to the Rhode Island Christian Home Educators in 2007. It is unavailable on the web but worthwhile reading. As I am looking all to soon send my homeschool graduate off to college, Dr. Esolen's words offer comfort to me.

"For through your labor, and perfecting your labor, the Lord has built the home. Maybe sometimes your T-square had a ding in it, or your level had a bump, or you troweled the mortar on too thin. I am sure that your daughters can think of many incidents to prove that their teachers were indeed human. But I am sure also that on this night they are filled with gratitude, and will not recall those times. Yet those times, too, have been redeemed. If your hand was shaking as it settled in place the next stone of wisdom and understanding, still it was the Lord who guided your hand, and his was the work."

Touchstone also has a blog for those who might be interested - Mere Comments

Check it out - this is one gift subscription we will be renewing!

The Absent Blogger

That would be me! Life has been so very busy that I have little time to sit and write which saddens me but sometimes life just gets in the way!

We have finally started back to school. This is the first summer I have taken off in as long as I can remember. I usually school Reagan (14 y.o. with Down syndrome) year-round. Year-round schooling has helped her dramatically with retention of skills/concepts. This past summer I could just not keep up with much of anything let alone summer schooling with hubby's ordination and the flow of family in and out of our home.

I have to say that I was quite pleased to see very little loss of skills/concepts as a result of our long summer break! I have to admit Reagan is not very motivated to return to our school routine. I'm sure adolescent hormones are a huge factor in her lack of motivation. Hopefully, as we get back to a full schedule, it will once again be just what we do every day. I'd forgotten just how hard it can be to go from summer fun and relaxation to a structured school day as a homeschooling parent. I have reverted back to the time when I did take summers off and slowly introduce each subject back into our day until we are up to full speed.

Kiera (17 y.o) finished her high school course work this past May and will do her senior year of high school at our local community college. So far, she is quite happy with her classes and schedule and is thriving in the classroom setting. It seems to me that homeschooling enabled this child to excel in the classroom with confidence in what she knows, how to display it well in the classroom setting -- with her love for learning intact. The only difficulty she has faced is the perceived apathy she sees in her peers - many just going through the motions on their post high school journey.

We are awaiting the results of her ACT exam scores to begin a serious college search. She tested quite well in the pretests so is not very anxious about the results. This fall we will visit a few schools but she is pretty sure about where she wants to go and they seem anxious to have her!

I'm trying hard to remember every minute enjoy these final months with Kiera at home before she goes off to college. I thought I would feel some relief when she was done with her home education and the dramatic reduction in my work load but I only feel the upcoming loss as she looks toward going off to college. Oh, I'm doing and saying all the right things - I know it is almost time for her to spread her wings and fly. I know I'm not really losing her but things are changing. I just didn't know how difficult this would be. I do my best to focus on what exciting things God has planned for her future but those feelings of impending loss filter in. All I can do is try give them over to the Lord. We can do this together!

Ordination to the Sacred Order of Priests

I really did not know what to expect while awaiting hubby's ordination to the priesthood. I had attended many ordinations - all quite moving but to see one's husband ordained was a totally different experience.

As I entered the church to find hubby with others gathered around him in prayer:














It was quite apparent to me that the Holy Spirit was powerfully present. I was so moved that I really didn't think I could remain functional for the next 2 hours. But, of course, I did with God's help.


















Smells and bells abound.













Fully priested.


It was a glorious day surrounded by the Holy Spirit, family and friends. Now on to do God's work for His Holy Church!

What a Busy Summer...

Now that our guests have all gone home after hubby's ordination, I hope to catch up with my blogging. The summer is flying by and it has been packed with once in a life time events.

I've hardly seen Kiera this summer. Between social activities, babysitting (her summer job), Happening, Church Camp, St. Michael's Conference, and the ACNA Asssembly I only get bits and pieces of time with her. She has made lots of memories this summer!

Here are a few pictures of Kiera with some old and new friends at the ACNA Assembly:














She's been invited to Kenya to visit Archbishop and Mrs. Nzimbi.














Here she is with Archbishop Robert Duncan of the ACNA.















And with an old, dear friend, Bishop Ackerman, retired Bishop of Quincy.

Her days were filled with duties as the youth delegate from our diocese. Evenings were filled with worship and fun with the youth attending the Assembly.

These are very exciting times - filled with hope for our young orthodox Anglicans. I hope and pray for my children (and future grandchildren) a place to worship, safe from the rampant heresy and secular humanism found in the post-modern culture that exists today. Kiera has had the opportunity to be a part of history in the making as the Anglican Church in North America seeks its place in the world-wide Anglican Communion. What a bright future awaits her and all those young people she met at the Assembly...young people who are on fire for the Lord and seek to bring others to Christ!

5 Minutes for Mom

What an honor!



Read the interview here!

Church Camp '09

Was an amazing experience!















Church camp has become a place where Reagan is supported and loved for who she is - unrelated to her enhanced genetic material.

We were blessed with bright sunny days filled with all the usual camp activities and cool summer evenings - perfect for campfire chats with prayer time and roasting marshmallows. Campers and counselors were vying for Reagan's attention to the point where I was told on more than one occasion "you have her all the time, its my turn." How my heart did soar to know that she is so loved, valued and respected!















Reagan was given a great honor this year at camp. Each year 2 children are chosen based on their Christian leadership and behavior to carry a wooden cross to lead the camp session into the final Mass. Reagan was chosen to lead the group this year - a mark of how she loves and lives her life in Christ. Down syndrome comes with many gifts, most notably unconditional love and a deeply caring heart. If only the rest of the world would take the time to look beyond her appearance and appreciate her gifts...

Please take the time to read this essay by Dennis McGuire, Ph.D., If People with Down Syndrome Ruled the World - an inspirational look into life and people with Down syndrome. What a wonderful world it would be and its all mine!

Charity Update

After more than 10 weeks - most of it spent in the PICU, little Charity is home with her family. Thanks to all who joined me in praying for her and her family. She truly is a miracle child!

America's Rockin' Roller Coast

Time for our annual 'pilgrimage' to Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH.















Yes, those are my girls in the front row of the coaster - the best seat for every coaster they ride and they rode them all! We ran from coaster to coaster from the time they let us in until our energy was zapped. At one point, we stopped to admire a really cool looking t-shirt and R got a little upset with us -- "Focus people, we've got coasters to ride."

I am not a coaster person but I do love to watch my family have fun. This is my kind of ride...and I don't tolerated it very well now that I am getting on in years:














When we first started going to Cedar Point, it was very difficult for me to let Miss R ride the big coasters. I was very worried about her safety and the level of difficulty some rides have for securing the rider. Well, let me tell you she has absolutely no problem securing herself and I am no longer anxious when she runs off to get in line. Coasters are another opportunity to promote independence!

Ride on!