Tonight we decided to run out for Italian food.  We headed to a favorite restaurant only to find it closed on Sundays.  Bummer!  So, we searched the area and saw a Chinese buffet.  Okay, that’ll do.  We had a… well let’s sat it was an “interesting” meal.  Between dodging Syd’s lighting fast arms and trying to keep Ant from running back to the buffet ALONE… We were definitely on our toes.  It was the end of a long day and somehow I managed to spill my newly refilled iced tea right on Sydney!  Poor baby, her eyes got HUGE and the look on her face was sheer surprise!!!  Not only did it rush across the table and straight into her lap, but her face was dotted with little ice tea droplets!  (BAD MOMMY!)  Luckily there was another outfit in the car for the poor baby.  The wait staff took pity on us and we switched tables and tried to eat the rest of the meal without incident.  We were successful, whew!  It wasn’t a total loss, the meal ended with some ice cream (mmm, yumy) and of course, fortune cookies.  I decided to blog our fortunes because tonight they were right on the mark!  These are EXACT quotes… (I can’t make this stuff up!)

Randall:  “Avoid scattering your energies”  Ah, good advice. We are getting into the holiday season and my sweet husband is a jack of all trades and has a tendency to get involved in a LOT of things.  So if you know my energetic hubby, then you know how fitting this was.

Me: “Others appreciate you more than you think.”  Wow! Now that was a message I needed to hear!!!!

Anthony:  “No one knows what he can do until he tries.”  This is my Ant’s motto.  There are very few things that he won’t try.  Case in point: he went on his first roller coaster this summer at SeaWorld.  So, lately my little 4 year old (ahem, I mean 4 and a HALF year old) has been trying out his brother’s skateboard in the street and frankly scaring the daylights out of me.  I have a feeling I will be needing some blindfolds and Prozac in my future.

Sydney: “You find beauty in ordinary things.  Do not lose this ability.”  Wow, this fortune almost made me cry!  What a beautiful message, and it was for my beautiful baby girl.  I recall Anthony finding joy and beauty in everything.  I look forward to seeing the world through Sydney’s eyes.  I know that she has a LOT to teach me!

Marianne at The Enigma won the necklace set.  Congratulations Marianne!  I hope all of you had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving.

Just when you thought that the bathroom was the epitomy of privacy… you hear a giggle, then look down to see this….

I yelled for my son to pass me my phone under the door b/c I had to take a picture.  =0)

This weekend we were so excited to meet one of my blogging buddies face to face.  Barbara from Therextras came into town and we met for lunch.  My hubby had a prior engagement so it was just Sydney and I.  We met with Barbara and her handsome hubby and beautiful teen daughter.  We had a nice lunch and here are some pictures.  This was such a joy.  I’ve gotten to know Barbara via the blogworld and email.  She is a lovely lady with so much to offer.  I have learned so much from a PT perspective.  I enjoyed our lunch and hope to see her again soon.

Since this summer I have been the New Parent Coordinator for our DS association, DSACT.  It has been an AMAZING blessing in my life.  I so clearly remember what it was like to hear the news that my unborn daughter was going to have Down Syndrome.  I remember the flood and range of emotions that came with those words from the doctor.  I also remember meeting Denise and her beautiful daughter Olivia.  They came to my house on behalf of DSACT and brought us a Packet filled with all kinds of information, reference books, referrals, photographs of children with DS, and a photo album to store the pictures of our Sydney when she arrived.  Most of all, she answered my questions and didn’t judge me for how silly or naive they were.  She welcomed us with open arms, and I got to hold 9 month old Olivia and she was the BEST ambassador ever!  Denise and I became friends and so did Olivia and Sydney.  Unfortunately they moved a few hours away over the summer so we don’t see them very often.  (This is an old picture)

Best Buddies in April 2008

So, since this summer, I have had the privilege of talking to about 15 new families.  I have not met them all.  I make the first contact and then I deliver the packets.  But if they live in certain areas, we have other volunteer parents who will deliver the New Parent Package.  I have however been able to meet most of them through our social program called InkDots that meets once a month.  I really enjoy talking to these new families.  My heart really goes out for them, because most are in an uncertain and sometimes fragile state.  I love to see them relax after time, and I really love to see them delight in their children.  I feel so blessed to be given the opportunity to do this service.

This weekend was especially gratifying… I was able to deliver four new packets.  Three of them came to the InkDots event at an indoor play gym and I got to see and hold the babies.  Such joy!!!  They are so precious!  It was also amazing to see our community through new eyes.  They watched all of the other children, and there were LOTS and LOTS of children from 6 week old babies, to toddlers, to 6 year old kids and thier siblings.  It was a great day!  One of the parents I met at the hospital.  Her baby is not due for 8 more weeks, but her water broke, so she will be hanging out in the hospital until her sweet baby girl arrives.  Both mother and baby are doing very well.  No signs of heart or lung troubles, (yeah!).  But please pass your prayers in their direction.

I know that Denise made such a strong impact on us.  She was our welcoming committee to “Holland”.  Both Denise and Miss Ambassador Olivia.  They were living proof that Holland was a good place to be, not a scary place.  I pray that Sydney and I can do the same.

Up/Down:  We have been riding a bizarre roller coaster for the last few weeks.  There are things that I haven’t blogged about because they were in the works or just plain uncertain.  Randall was told recently that his job would be moving overseas at the end of January and that he had a job until then and would receive a severance package if he didn’t find something else within the company in that time span.  SOOO, the last few weeks has been a waiting game.  He interviewed with a company that sent him to New York after 5 local interviews and he met with 10 people there.  We got the news yesterday that he did not get the job, overqualified. (ugh)  He is looking into other internal options, so prayers are appreciated. 

Down: Sydney has been on and off sick for the last month.  She slept a total of about an hour and a half last night, and that wasn’t in a row.  She CRIED all night long.  The poor bay was miserable!  I took her to the doctor this morning and she has the beginning of an ear infection and is on antibiotics for that and the cold that she can’t shake.  So, in 72 hours she should start feeling better.  Sigh.

Downer: My kitty who is almost 17 years old is not doing well at all.  She has the beginnings of kidney disease which is common in old cats.  In the last week, she has developed high blood pressure which is responsible for detaching both of her retinas.  So, other than some shapes and shadows, she is now blind.  I am struggling with the decision on when to let her go.  I had to put her sister (dog) to sleep three years ago and it was the hardest thing to do.  She seems to be coping okay, and the dogs and kids are respecting her new special needs.  I am preparing myself to say good-bye to my oldest “baby”.

Downest:  My heart is going out to my second cousin Jerry and his family.  He fell into a coma after having some breathing problems and is not going to live.  The family is struggling with letting him go and keeping him here.  He will not recover and is totally dependent upon machines.  I do not know Jerry well, I have only met him a few times in my life.  My extended family however is aching from this tragedy and is seeking Peace.

Up:  My long lost aunt Jeanette (my father’s older sister) has popped back up.  She is living only a few hours north of me.  My dad went to visit her this weekend and get reacquainted.  Someday I will post the whole story.  They have made arrangements for her and my uncle to come visit us during the Christmas season when both my parents will be here in town.  I haven’t seen her since 1991, so I am looking forward to seeing her again.  This time we will all keep in touch.  Especially since she is so close to me.  =0)  Another wonderful benefit of having my dad here in town going to seminary.  It was a quick car trip and not a plane trip for them to have a reunion.  =0)

Alright, that is it for now.  Sorry, more downs than ups.  Please be sure to tell me what you are thankful for in the give-away post.  I LOVE reading your responses!!!

There is a lot to be thankful for, even in these economic times.  I would like to celebrate Thanksgiving by giving away some more handmade jewelry.  Just leave a comment on this post and tell me what you are thankful for, and your name goes into a hat.  That’s it, no catch.  The winner’s name will be picked and posted on Thanksgiving Day.

NOTE: If you grab the logo above and post this give-away on your blog/site, just come back and tell me and I will put your name in TWICE 

What am I thankful for?

• My precious family (hubby, boys and baby girl)
• My extended family (so many, spread out all over)
• My church family
• My friends
• My blogging buddies
• Living life in the Light of Christ
• The Holiday Season
• Oh, and I can’t forget to mention Chocolate!

Now YOUR turn…  What are YOU thankful for?

I suppose I was a little hypersensitive yesterday… Maybe it was the lack of sleep, maybe it was the killer sinus headache due to the Mold count being in the quadrillions, maybe it was hormones.  It was probably a combination of all of the above. We were out and about and I swear there were several people who gave Sydney the “double-take” look. You may know what I am talking about. The glance at the baby, then the double-take back at her… then the glance up at me, who was pushing the stroller. One of these doesn’t bug me too much, a few in a short period of time does. I got several in the length of the mall.  It made me want to see if she had some spinach stuck in her teeth. None of the looks were ill-intended, rude, pity ridden, or anything like that. They were just… curious.

I live in a world where Down Syndrome is a fact. It’s really not a big deal. But there are days where I step on a landmine and yesterday was one of them. This time the landmine was one of aggravation.  Part of me wanted to stop people and say “What?  She’s a baby, big deal”.   My husband was with me and he thinks that I am crazy on this. He didn’t see anything odd. But then again, we are different people and he wasn’t suffering from the above mentioned issues like I was.  But I made eye contact with these folks, and I really don’t think that I am nuts. There is no revelation here, just the fact that “it happens”. People are curious, they will do double takes on occasion. It is what it is.  It was a landmine, and I stepped right onto it. 

Today was a better day.  The Longhorns won, “Hook ‘Em Horns”  (Sorry Barbara) and we got to spend a nice afternoon at Central Market with my dad.  I got a nap (YEAH!  Thanks Honey) and it was a nice cool day.  So, life goes on.  Luckily these landmine wounds heal.  Praise God!

We have been incredibly lucky with Sydney and her health.  Praise God!  In the last year and two months, she has only been sick twice since the initial NICU stay.  Well, she caught something.  Frankly I think that cutting 6 teeth at once brings down your immune system.  She woke up yesterday morning with a strange barking cough which sounded like Croup to me.  I took her to the doctor and he said that she showed no signs of it (of course she didn’t cough for him).  Anyway we are to keep an eye on her and monitor any fevers and listen for a continued or worsening cough.  She only coughs at night and is feeling okay although she had a few rough moments yesterday and today.  For the most part she is typical sweet smiling Sydney, but we are seeing some sad, clingy, whiny times where she is just plain uncomfortable.  As a mom, all I can do is hold her and try to make her comfortable.

It has really made me think about the three kids that we are praying for: Zoey for lukemia, and Emma Rae and Dylan for heart surgery.  They are going through so much more, and I can’t imagine how helpless their parents must feel.  From my little place in the heart of Texas, all I can do is pray for them.  Sydney will recover and be herself again soon.  Between the teething tabs, Tylenol, and a washcloth with crushed ice cubes inside…. We will get through this.  And continue to pray for those three sweet babies.

To bring you an unsolicited product endorsement;

Is your child teething?  Is she waking up multiple times each night chewing on her fingers and wimpering in mouth pain?  Are you risking your fingers in the jaws of life while trying to apply Orajel, all the while just ticking her off?  Besides, it doesn’t last that long anyway?  Bottles not working?  Rocking not working?  Nursing not working?  Are you walking around like a zombie with dark circles highlighting your bloodshot eyes?  Are you falling asleep at innopportune times?  

WELL, Have I got a product for you……

Hyland’s Homeopathec Teething Tablets!

Sydney slept through the night last night for the first time in two weeks!  Can I hear a Hallelujah?!?  She had some moments of minor whimpering, but she was able to soothe herself back to sleep. 

Randall asked me yesterday afternoon, when I was admitting defeat to the teething process, if I was using the Teething Tabs…. In the words of the immortal Homer Simpson “DOH!”  I totally forgot about those!  I dug around and found them and AHHHHHHHH, they worked like a charm.  She accepted the first dissolving tablet and opened her mouth for the second.  We have one good night down!  So, I popped two in her mouth this evening and I am hoping for the best.  BTW, I highly recommend these.  We NEVER would have made it through Ant’s teething without them.

Now I return you to your program, already in progress……