First Day Fiasco!

So today was the first day back to school for both my little guys! Memphis getting ready for first grade at his same school. Wesley getting ready for fourth grade at a brand new school! Now I am nervous to begin with because this year half of his day will be mainstreamed with "typical" fourth graders. This is what we want for him, but can mom handle it. Kids can be so mean. My stomach is in knots about our first day. He has been to this school one time before, Thursday for Open House. Well our nanny gets him on the bus and sends him on his way. She calls me to let me know he did not have an aide on the bus. No big deal, right, just feel sorry for the driver who has to stop 300 times to have Wesley sit down in a seat, any seat! Wait, that aide is suppose to get him to his classroom. He is going to get off that bus and have no idea where to go. Wesley isn't very verbal either. He can't tell anyone what his name is. As a mom, I hit hysteria. OMG, what are we going to do. I am an hour away from his school, at work. By the time I get there it will be to late. I am calling any and every person that will listen to a hysterical mother rant about her child with special needs that is going to get lost when he gets off the bus. Eight plus phone calls later, everyone under the sun knows Wesley will not know where to go when he gets off the bus. The ESE department calls me at work to let me know they have gotten the message and they will have someone to direct him to his classroom for his first day of fourth grade! And that they are working very diligently to get an aide for the afternoon ride home as that should have been the case to begin with. Now that I can breath again, I can continue to worry about how nice or mean the other kids are going to be to him. I think he will do wonderful in a mainstreamed environment. If there is one thing Wesley is, it's social! God help us through the rest of the day!

Ties That Bind, Connections In The Down Syndrome Community

Every one of US has been there......at one point the Doctor says those words that change your life FOREVER! Whether it be while you're pregnant, at birth or even months later. Your child has Down syndrome or Trisomy 21. Little did we know how those words REALLY change our lives. At first you don't know what to do, lost if you will. You are just trying to figure it all out. How? Why? What do we do now? Your head is swimming with questions and with information. Then it happens....That first connection, the first person that gives you comfort or insight on this life you have just entered. It could be a nurse, family member, friend or even a stranger. Little do they know what kind of impact that person will have on you for the rest of your life. It's the first step to the rest of your new life.

For me, it was my mother-in-law, (who has a child with Cerebral Palsy) saying to me as I weep in my hospital bed, "it all happens for a reason". Brings tears to my eyes as I read those words today. Those are words you hear all the time, I know but that day; it's what I needed to hear. As the years have past this has happened time and time again as we have traveled this new path given to us. We have met some amazing Medical professionals, families, friends, and strangers! Each one just as important as the next.

Our family albums are full of the usual stuff, family gatherings, birthdays, weddings. But as you look through our albums you will see what look like complete strangers. But to us they are far from that. Some have titles others do not. They are the many physical therapist, occupational therapists, speech therapist, cardiologists, nurses, teachers, aides, ESE Specialist, Coaches, other families (not in order of importance). Each of them saying or doing something a little extra, helping make this new path we travel a little brighter and happier. Having such an impact on Wesley's life or ours, far more than they might ever know. People our family have became so familiar with that we all know each other on first name basis'. That we have spent so much time together that they have been "pictured" in our families life. These ties BIND us for life. Even if they are not in our life forever. They have left a connection that will always be there. Wesley in almost 10 years old now and that list of ties is continuing to grow everyday.

The most resent tie for our family is CJ and her Traveling Afghan Project. Check out this unbelievable act of kindness and dedication for friends and strangers alike. http://www.thet21travelingafghanproject.com/ We are super excited about being a part of this experience. Again, a stranger (not so much anymore), has made an impact our path know as Down syndrome, helping make our path a little brighter and happier. And again pictures will be added to the family album.

T21 Traveling Afghan.....

I have to say I am totally excited about this project. If you don't know what it is click on the link to the side or go to www.thet21travelingafghanproject.com. I am glad that our family will partake in this experience. I am probably more excited about it than Wesley is. Who know's when we will recieve it but that will be a fun day when we do. If you have a friend or family that has family member with Down syndrome, please pass along this message......

She said what.....

So I am sure many on you have had a friend lie to you before. And chances are you didn't know it at the time. But you found out......how did that make you feel? Pretty upset! What if you found out they lied more than once to you? How could you be friends with someone you did not trust. At that point they become an acquaintance or not even. Now to top it off, your friend lied to you about another mutual friend. Not to mention I obviously had to question the person in which the lie was about to even know it was a lie. Who do you trust the person that you know has lied before or the person who hasn't lied to you before. This is out of control! I mean, I have enough going on in my life that I do not need this kind of negative causing chaos! I want happy positive people in my life. Someone I can rely on, if needed. I sure can't rely on someone I cannot trust! It's like the trust exercise you do in camp, you fall back and hope they catch you......guess what I just hit the ground. That hurt and its sucks, I will think twice before I do that again. So do you confront the friend that lied to you? Or do you just let it go because they know they lied? Confused and wishing I had that motherly advice on friendships....she was good at that stuff!

First Post!

So I am new to the Blogging world! Looking forward to it though! One more way to tell the world how I feel. Stay Tuned for what happens next......