Anthony was SO excited when he lost his first tooth today!  It was barely hanging on when he came home from school.  Randall assisted with a pair of pliers and out it popped!  Seeing how we just saw the tooth fairy a few weeks ago, who knows what his image is of the tooth fairy, but he is completely psyched!!!

Last Saturday, Anthony and I were sitting on the couch when my husband comes into the room and asks “Where’s the dogs?”  This is a typical question, as our front door sticks and it takes some elbow grease make sure it is shut all of the way.  If not, the dogs are really good at nudging their noses in the door crack and propping it open.  So, this is NOT an unusual question.  I replied “Well, Chuy is right here”.  Randall replied with “Well, where is Boomer….. for that matter… where is Sydney?” 

My internal alarms went off and I jumped off the couch and made it to the front door in maybe two steps.  Randall, Anthony and I are all outside calling Sydney’s name (and Boomer too).  This is what you see when you walk outside of our door.

We run out into the court and continue to holler when Randall hears some “beep, beep and electronic engine vroom, vroom” sounds.  On the other side of the huge bush is a very happy Sydney sitting on the neighbor’s big wheel pushing all of the electronic noise buttons.

WHEW!  My heart could beat again!

Today is the National day to stop the r-word.  You can take the pledge.  What I really want is for people to just stop using the word in everyday speech.  I know that it is difficult to understand the impact this word has on those of us who have children, family members or friends with Dow

n syndrome or any intellectual disability.  And to many it just sounds like another instance of political correctness.  But please hear these words, it just plain hurts.  When I hear someone use it, I don’t get angry per se, unless pf course it is said in a mean and derogatory way, then I am not to be held responsible for my momma bear instincts…. Hell hath no fury than a ticked off mama!!  But I do CRINGE to my very core when I hear it, because it basically means that you are comparing yourself, another person or a situation as being “retarded”, which like it or not, is a clinical term for my daughter.  Basically replace the word “retarded” with the words “like Sydney” and that is how it feels.   Now, I KNOW that when people say it, they do not MEAN to be offensive, which is why my personal response is a gentle request to not say it. Intended or not, it really does hurt.  I cannot even imagine how much it hurts when you are personally the one that resembles the remark.

I used to say it casually before I knew better, and I am SURE that there are things that I say that are truly offensive in the eyes of others.  So I ask anyone who reads this to be gentle with each other and when someone says, “please don’t say that, it hurts”  respect those feelings and drop that offensive term…. and I promise I will do the same… just let me know.  I will leave you with this verse fro, 1 Thessalonians 5:11  “¹Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…”  And an AWESOME video that explains the true feelings of a brother…

Gotta love Austin weather.  Over the weekend, it was in 70’s and we were in shorts and outside playing in the sun.  Today, we had snow.  Not little flakes, but actual snow!  It is so rare that the whole neighborhood was out playing with their kids and making snowmen and snow angels.  We were one of those silly families who were out enjoying every second of the wild weather.  Anthony was in heaven but Sydney was fairly unimpressed.  It was cold and wet, so she just stood back and watched.  Here are our pictures from our fun time in the snow with the neighbors Olivia and Ethan.  Angi and I were thoroughly entertained watching our kiddos have the time of their lives.  =0)  Carpe Diem… sieze the day!

Anthony took this picture with my phone of Sydney eating the sucker on the end of her HEB balloon.  There is something about the lighting and the color that I just love.  He was so tickled that she managed to open it and eat the whole thing (she has never done this before).  By looking at this, you would never know that we had spent the morning at the doctor getting both kiddos antibiotics.  We went to HEB to fill the prescriptions and buy groceries.  On the way home (okay… Wendy’s THEN home)

Welcome to my world.  Sounds disgusting huh?  It is amazing how much snot can come out of one tiny little nose in one day.  Poor Sydney and Anthony have been passing around cooties for the past few weeks.  There are rogue fevers that don’t get too high, but seem to repeatedly pop up, snotty noses that range from stopped up to LOTS of green gunk.  (I know.. EWWWW)  This weekend I was following poor Sydney around with tissues and lotion. Her poor cheeks were angry red!  She got to the point where we put a kleenex box down on the couch and a trashcan next to it.  She was even bringing me the aspirator (aka booger-sucker).  You know when a two year old WANTS the aspirator, she is tired of being snotty.

I am hoping that we can kick this bug… in the meantime, I think I am going to buy stock in Kleenex.  (insider tip…. hint, hint)

Sydney has been called Sydney-Bean for quite some time.  Funny thing is…. one of her FAVORITE foods is refried beans.  She likes Mexican food as much as her mama.  Here’s a quick picture.  Enjoy!

As nervous as I was to put Sydney into daycare, she is thriving!  It has been 1.5 months since she started school and she is talking more, eating EVERYTHING in sight (woo hoo!), and generally doing more physically.  What is funny is that she is much quieter at school.  She is just now starting to socialize more.  Apparently she was very observant of others, but not interacting as much as the other children in her class.  She has been coming out of her shell over time and now has a buddy, Gracie.  Gracie loves to do most everything with Sydney.  She holds her hand when they move from place to place, she gets Sydney to come play, and invites Sydney to do whatever she is doing.  I LOVE that Sydney has a buddy.  Her teachers just love her and I couldn’t be happier about that!  They are working hand in hand with Sydney’s ECI specialist and are learning quickly to continually challenge Syd. 

I was so worried about putting my daughter in someone else’s hands, and God gave us Good Shepherd.  She is doing GREAT!

I don’t know about you, but I am SOOOOOO ready for a new year.  This last year was definitely full of challenges!  The most obvious one was the lay-off in January that was finally relieved with Randall and I getting employed in October.  Yes, I said OCTOBER!!!  Wow, 10 months!  Needless to say we learned a lot in the last year about frugalness.  (if that is even a word).  We learned to pinch pennies, recycle things that we never dreamed of, and stretch things that were disposable in our previous years.  So, we learned a whole new appreciation for the value of food, money, resources, and time.  2009 changed us!

We are starting 2010 ready for a fresh start.  Anthony is turning 6 in a few days and just started the second half of Kindergarten.  Sydney is now established in pre-school and doing WONDERFULLY!  She is chattering up a storm and real words are coming out… along with the cutest Blocka-blocka-blocka babble you have ever heard.  She is eating everything in sight and trying new things every day.  YEAH!!  If you have been following us in the last year, eating has been out biggest struggle with Sydney.  She is walking up and down steps by herself holding the rail, and playing with all of the outdoor play scapes and toys! 

I am starting a new chapter in my volunteer work at DSACT by being the Vice President this year.  Yikes and yeah!  I am excited and nervous all at the same time.  New adventures always give me those butterflies.  The flutter away quickly and I am looking forward to a great year ahead.  I am working on getting more pictures to put up of the holidays!  Stay tuned.  =0)

A VERY special woman and sweet friend of mine went home to Jesus today.  Deborah fought a long battle with cancer and today she is free from her broken body.  I met Deborah and her husband Bernie at church.  We became part of a discipleship group and became incredibly close to three couples, Deborah and Bernie Davies, the Callaways and the Wrens.   We were so close that all three couples are Godparents to our kids.  Yes, Deborah was not just a friend, she was a sister-in-Christ and a Godmother to my kids.

She was a woman who kept a close circle of friends.  Unlike my social-butterfly self, she was much more introvert and I am forever blessed to have been one of the few that she let get close to her heart.  She had a love of all things in nature.  If there was anyone that literally stopped to smell the roses (and identify them, and take a picture of them) it was Deborah.  She also had an amazing talent for quilting.  She made Anthony a gorgeous quilt when he was born.  It was in the colors of his nursery; blue, yellow and green.  Not only was it filled with beautiful fabrics and textures… but she sewed something EXTRA special into it…. squares hand written with scriptures and notes from all of the godparents!  It is such a treasure.   She also made one for Sydney that included squares of scriptures and prayers but also was full of butterflies and Randall, Anthony, Zach and I all had our hands dipped in paint and created a family of butterflies on the quilt.  Needless to say it is beautiful!!

Deborah “adopted” Anthony when he was born.  She had a special place in her heart for him…. and he for her.  She sent him post-cards from wherever she travelled, and every holiday bought him books… his FAVORITE thing!  She even found a book on camoflauge after hearing Anthony’s Camel squash story.  I was also blessed to be in a reunion group with Deborah for many years.  This is a weekly group of a few women that get together and share our lives and hold each other up.  We shared our hearts and joys. 

Deborah fought cancer a few years ago.  We all stood with her through her journey to remission.  Then it came back this Spring.  This time she was stronger in spirit and faith and soared through it with amazing Grace.  Just when she was declared in remission… she was experiencing sharp pains in her side.  A few short weeks later she was given the news that she had terminal cancer and told that she had up to 6 months to live.  This time it was very painful, and she spent many nights and days going in and out of the hospital.  I was incredibly blessed to have many hours of one on one conversations during these hospital visits.  I think I grew closer to her in these last few tragic months.  For that I am grateful. 

I visited her everyday since Christmas when she was whisked to the hospital and tests concluded that she was in renal failure and the end was near.  I wanted to be there more but also wanted to respect her family who was making their way into town from Louisiana, California and even Germany.  Luckily all of her family was able to make it here before she passed.  She spent the last two days in a hospice facility.  When I saw her last, she was responding, asking questions, and having moments of lucidity.  What a blessing that was.  When I left yesterday, she was covered in a beautiful blue quilt that she had made for going to Chemo sessions. 

I will miss Deborah terribly!  She has been lifted up and is in the hands of God now.  She was surrounded by her family this afternoon as she went home to God.  She had Bernie by her side as well as her children Kathryn and Christian, her twin Chris as well as other family and friends.  She was also lifted up in prayer by many many more who were not able to be with her.

Deborah is a bright spirit that has left a beautiful legacy with all who were blessed to call her friend, sister, wife, mother, daughter.  She is an amazing woman, whom we will all miss dearly.

In this time of great loss, please pray for Bernie and the family as they cope with this difficult time.  I will leave you with this scripture that popped into my head when I got the call… Deborah is now on wings as eagles….

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31