Art, Crowns, and Beth at Work

Beth went back to the dentist today to get the permanent crown put on her back tooth. I could tell she was a little nervous but I told her it would be much faster than the last appointment.

When we got into the room she immediately decided to go use the bathroom. I'm sure she was thinking of the last time when they stopped the procedure so she could go. 

She got settled in and they began.

They took the temporary crown off and cleaned the tooth up a little. She was still nervous though because she was holding on to that arm rest.

But, it only took a few minutes and we were out the door and on our way home! Everything went well.

Last Thursday I was able to get a few pictures of her at work. She empties the trash in our preschool classrooms, then takes it out to the dumpster. I caught her coming out of the elevator but she doesn't look too happy to see me.

I followed her outside and noticed the lids were down on the dumpster. I watched to see what she would do and she got right up there and tried a few times to throw it in! I was already half way there when she got frustrated. I was holding the lid open (just barely - those bins are big!) and we ended up laughing as she would throw the bag and only get a corner over the edge, then I'd use one hand to try and help get the rest of it up and over... we were quite the team! 

Another thing she just started doing is delivering printer paper to the third floor work room. She gets the paper from the second floor work room, takes it up the elevator and into the office wing. We're always running out of paper up there so the third floor staff is going to love her for doing this!

Beth has another appointment the end of next week, and then Diana and Peter are coming for a visit! We are so excited to see them!!

Oh, I know what I wanted to show you. Our middle daughter Sharaya loves to paint and draw, and she posted this the other day, titled 'Michael.' I just keep staring at it.

Well, I should go start dinner so I'm going to close this. I hope you all have a blessed day! 

One of Her Favorite Places is The Hair Salon

Beth had her final appointment with the Dermatologist today. Nothing has changed since she started the cortisone shots but the doctor said she believes the scarring alopecia is dormant. She's been monitoring it for about a year and it looks exactly the same, and it's still the same size. We've been able to cover it with a small pony tail so that's really good news. 

Between meetings with her case worker and various doctors, Beth has had 10 appointments so far this year. Plus she still has three more this month. This is the most she's ever had and I think it's just due to her age and how our health changes the older we get.

After we left the doctor we headed to the hair salon. She got a shampoo, cut and style. We were the only ones there so it was easy to get some pictures. It's a small salon and we've been going there for a few years, the mom owns it and her daughter is the main stylist. They both love the Lord so we kind of feel at home there. 

She's so excited to show her friends! After every hair cut she tells me, "All Aboard will be surprised to see me!" (All Aboard is the day program she goes to for karaoke and art.)

She loves her time at the salon! 

Interesting Appointment

Hey everyone ~

Beth had an interesting dentist appointment the other day. She has a broken tooth way in the back, on the top, so this was the first of two appointments to get a crown. 

She's not thrilled about going to the dentist but she's not scared either. She was in a private room, separate from everyone else who just getting a cleaning. She struggled a little to get into the chair but finally got comfortable.

She fell asleep waiting for the dentist to come in

 

They did an impression of the tooth where you bite down on that gooey stuff. She made a face when they pulled out the mold.

The tooth was hard to get to and they had to work to get it cleaned out and ready for the temporary crown. It took them a while but they finally got it done, then left to give her a short break. While they were out of the room, Beth began to cough. Just a little at first, then more. I opened the door and called them back, they felt so bad! (Our dentist and his team are fantastic. We've been going to them a long time and we love them. They're so good with Beth.) 

I think it was just due to all the stuff they'd had in her mouth. They sat her up, got her some tissues and water. Then she had to go to the bathroom. 

When they finished and put the temporary crown on, it had been almost two hours! We left there just a few minutes before they closed. We got home and I suggested she go into the bathroom and rinse her mouth really well. But she turned to me and asked me to check the tooth. 

"Sure."

Kind of muffled she said, "It fell out!"

Sure enough, there was the tiny crown between her teeth and gums! Thankfully we live right down the street, you can see the dentist's office from our mailbox. We quickly put it in a baggie, jumped back in the car, went back to the dentist, and she was back in the chair.

This time they glued it on. So much better. She hasn't had any pain and is eating just fine. Her next visit to get the permanent crown is in three weeks. They've assured us that appointment will go much better! 😊 

Drum Roll Please

 Hi,

We're staying busy around here. We've had doctor's appointments and furniture deliveries. Things have been busy, but fun! 

Drum roll please...

We finally got our dressers! They chose a delivery day that didn't work for us so I rescheduled for 10:00am April 3, forgetting it was Good Friday. But when I realized it, I figured they'd be done in plenty of time for our 7:00 service. Chuck had taken the evening off so he could attend, but ended up missing it. They changed our delivery time from 10 to 3:00. Then from 3:00 to 7:00. I was so disappointed! Since I was helping with the kids event that night, Chuck had to stay home for the delivery. But we were thankful he had taken the night off! And we love the furniture! 

Our old dresser: the top drawer was broken and wouldn't close. And nightstands - 

And the new - 

We know it's not conventional to have different colors of the same set, but it matches our room perfectly. 

And Beth's old dresser. She's had this a very long time.

And the new - 

She loves it! She told me every time she filled a drawer. 😊

And... her glasses came in. Last time she got new glasses she refused to wear them but wouldn't say why. After many months she told us she couldn't see out of them. So this time I told her to please let us know if she can't see out of them, or if things are blurry or it doesn't seem right. I had her walk around the office, look out the window at something far away, and look at something close-up. She liked them right away!

These are her old ones - 

 And her new ones

Well guess what? I just went downstairs to get a close up of her glasses so you could see how amazing they are -

And she wasn't wearing them. She had her old ones on. I asked her why and she shrugged her shoulders, "I dunno."

"Beth I think you do know."

In a quiet whisper, "They're dirty."

But they weren't dirty.

"Beth, why aren't you wearing them? It's okay, we just need to know so the doctor can fix them."

"They're not me."

Hmm, I get it. So I told her it's like wearing a new style of shirt and I said you might look different at first, but it's still you. You just need to get used to them. I asked her if someone had said something to her but she shook her head no, "Uh uh." 

"You should try wearing them all day today and tomorrow you might feel differently."

No response. She just looked at them on the desk.

"Beth are they too tight on you? No response. 

"Do they hurt?" No response.

I told her to please wear them the rest of the day today and we could talk more about it later tonight. I brought her old glasses upstairs with me and I'll check on her later. I think if she really couldn't see she would have said something. 

This is where the second guessing comes in, should I force her to wear them? Is it truly as minor as her looks or is something more serious going on? Are they making her dizzy?

Sometimes it's hard to know.

Busy With Good Things

There has been so much going on around here lately. Good things though.

Beth went for an eye test and will be getting new glasses soon. She helped me fill out the paperwork then I had her take it back to the desk. The admin thanked her and said she really appreciated her bringing it back, I couldn't hear if Beth actually said anything back to her. The tests went well and she found some new frames. It was funny to watch her expressions as she tried on different styles and colors. I suggested she look away from the mirror, then glance back at herself, she made some awful faces, "I take it you don't like those?" "Nope." And we'd laugh. The frames she ended up with are called Purple Confetti. They're due in next week.

That was last Friday, the 20th. This past Friday she had an appointment at the Dermatologist for more cortisone shots for the alopecia. Afterward she wanted to go out for frozen yogurt so we went to our favorite place: Revelations Yogurt. We were there a few weeks ago too.

After we left the yogurt place we walked around the shops for a few minutes and came across this mural. It's of the pier I often walk when I'm down by the waterfront.

Let's see, we've finally found some new dressers! We've been to so many stores, we're thankful the search is over. They'll be delivered this Friday.

They'll be delivered before we head to church to help with the Good Friday service.

Plus Beth's case worker is coming by tomorrow for the in-house assessment. Just to make sure Beth is in a good living situation. We'll take her downstairs and then Beth will show her around her apartment.

We've had a new little boy in our Sunday school class. So now there are three kids, one girl and two boys: 7, 5, and 3. They're all autistic and have many of the same behaviors. Today they did so well together, it was a really good day.

I got a framed picture sent off to my sister.

Took a bunch of stuff to Goodwill that had been taking up space in our office area.

Tomorrow we go live with our new room reservation system at work.

And next Monday Beth and I have dentist appointments.

And I think that's enough for now! :) 

I hope you all have a great week! 

World Down Syndrome Day 2026

March 21st is World Down Syndrome Day because most people have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs.) But people with Ds have an extra one on chromosome 21. So 3/21 has become a day to celebrate all those "with an extra" as it's known in the world of Down Syndrome.

We found out Beth had Down Syndrome after she was born. We called our family and asked them to come to the hospital, so we could tell them all together. We were a little  surprised because there was no inclination during the pregnancy, not even a hint that anything was different. They asked a lot of questions about Down Syndrome which we couldn't really answer because we didn't know ourselves. But we all instantly fell in love with her!

Getting ready to go home

A few months old

We were assigned a social worker who came to the house and began physical therapy.

Since she was our first baby we didn't really know what to expect, Down Syndrome or not. She learned to sit up at one year and learned to walk at two.

When she was two the social worker recommended she start preschool to give her the best possible start to education. Chuck and I talked it over and decided to try it, so with a lump in my throat I put our two year old on a school bus! And she loved it! 

Then we had Sharaya. And then Diana. And we just... raised our kids. Taking one day at a time. Trying to figure out what worked best for each of them. You know, parenting! 

Kids grow, they learn and adapt. Parents love, they set boundaries, and they teach. 

And then, before you know it - 

Sharaya and Diana learned to drive cars, got married, had kids... all things Beth will never be able to do. She struggled when Sharaya first got pregnant and Sharaya remembers Beth not speaking to her for a long time. Was Beth confused about what was happening to Sharaya (did I not explain it to her?) or was she sad that she might never get to have kids? It's really hard to know. 

But today Beth loves her life. She loves having her own apartment downstairs in our daylight basement. She's got her own space but has family close by if she needs help with something. She loves her family, her sisters, her brother, and her nieces and nephew. She loves riding DART to her day programs - Karaoke and bowling. She loves her job and the people there love her. And she loves her church. We started going there when she was just 4 years old. She knows her way around there better than most. 

People with Down Syndrome love their routines. (So do some of us without Down Syndrome! 😊) And Beth has made some pretty good ones. Happy World Down Syndrome Day.

Valentine's Day

Hello! I'm stopping in for a few minutes to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day. I hope you know how loved you are.

Beth and I got haircuts yesterday. Same style, just trimmed. Then went out for frozen yogurt.

This morning we went shopping for new dressers. The top drawer of our dresser is broken, which impacts the second drawer as well. And Beth has had her dresser for many years. In fact, she and Diana had it when they shared a room while they were growing up. Definitely time for a new one. We've been looking for a year or so but haven't found any that we really loved. Same as today. There were a few we liked okay, but none that we really wanted. So the search continues.

Then the three of us went to The Olive Garden for lunch. We hoped it would be less busy than tonight and we were right. Got seated right away. Had a delicious lunch - those bread sticks! - and brought home leftovers. 

Now we're back home just hanging out, watching the Olympics and relaxing. Hope you had a blessed day!

Deep Breath

 Do it with me, deep breath in... and exhale.

One more time, deep breath in... and exhale.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks. My last post was about Beth stepping on the nail. That was on a Thursday. 

Then on Monday she had her first cortisone shot in her scalp for the scarring alopecia. They're going to monitor it to see if it works. If they can see hair growing in that area, they'll do more injections next time. She did okay with the one, but I'm not sure how she'll do with multiple shots at once.

Four days after that, we went downtown Seattle for a follow-up diagnostic appointment. They couldn't get clear images so they've decided to just do a biopsy. "We really don't know if it's needed, but just in case, let's do it." Then they explain the procedure as "difficult, painful, and lasting about 45 minutes."

I'm going to call them to see instead, about trying once more to get better images. Really praying about what we're supposed to do about all this.

Chuck hurt his back a couple weeks ago and started physical therapy this week.

I have been overseeing our room reservation system at work for more than 12 years. It's not supported anymore so for the last few months my boss and I have been learning a new program, and transferring all the data from the old to the new. Every room, every user, and every resource, (chairs, tables, tablecloths, cups, plates, napkins, stanchions, room dividers, sound tech) everything the admin might want for their events. 

Yesterday we had a zoom call with the company, and with the 13 admin who will use it for their departments. With set up, the zoom call itself, Q&A and lunch afterward, I was in there for four hours. By that point I was done! 

I've decided this weekend I'm not doing a thing! Maybe a load of laundry. And watching the game on Sunday. Seattle Seahawks are in the Superbowl! It's been exciting around this city lately.

Last Friday after Beth's appointment downtown, we decided we needed a little retail therapy.

She tried on some jean jackets but the sleeves were very long on one, and the other was just a little too small. And for some reason these didn't have working side pockets. That girl loves her pockets!

I'm sorry this is short but it's about all the energy I have for now. I've been reading your posts, but not always commenting. Hoping to get back to that soon. Have a great weekend. 

Breathe in.... and exhale. I've got to remember to do that!

Thankful It Wasn't More Serious

It's been quite a weekend/week. Nothing major, just non-stop. After work yesterday I came home and got Beth because she had a doctor's appointment. After that we stopped at the grocery store, and got home a little after 5:00. 

Fixed dinner, (we had sliders) then I went out to the computer to look something up on google maps when my sister texted, 'Can you talk'? Sure. We talked, we laughed, we made plans, we hung up an hour later. 

As I was putting my phone into my pocket, I got a text from Chuck letting me know he was heading home. So I went into the kitchen and began making his sliders. After he got home, I went in and took my shower.

For a few days now it's been just one thing after another, nothing major, nothing hard just... constant. :) 

Okay, on to my story. On Thursday Beth and I were at work. She cleans our preschool classes and I learned later that she had just taken a cart full of trash out to the dumpster.

This was taken last year

I was headed to another part of the building when I passed a window that looks down to the second floor.

She was sitting alone at that little table, looking out the doors. When I knocked on the window, she looked up at me And. Was. Sobbing. I kind of hesitated, not sure which direction to go to get down there and by the time I did there were a few people with her.

When she had put everything in the dumpster and then came back into the lobby with the cart, she somehow stepped on a screw, about an inch long. Thankfully she was wearing her crocks that day and the thick sole took most of the screw. It did go into her foot just a little bit though and it hurt!

We were having our clothing bank that day and we provide small shopping carts for the clients to take their things to their cars. Some people are homeless and they bring their own carts, I heard staff members were in and out with carts, that screw could have come from anywhere!

The people who were with her had gotten a first aid kit and handed me disinfecting wipes, antibiotic ointment and a band aid. It wasn't really bleeding but you could see where it went into her foot. By now she was calm and feeling better so she put the cart away and met me at my desk. She got her backpack, I logged off my computer and we headed to the walk-in clinic. 

The doctor looked at her foot and by then it looked like it had started healing. It wasn't bleeding, and the wound was closed. She had a tetanus shot back in 2023 so didn't need another one. She was glad about that! He told me some things to watch for in the next day or two just in case, and said she could take some over-the-counter pain meds if needed. She took some once but hasn't needed any more. Every time I look at it, it looks better and better. 

I asked her today if her foot was hurting and she said, "Not very much." 

So I said, "So it is hurting a little?" 

"No." 

"When you say 'not very much' it means it's hurting a little. Is it hurting?"

"Nope." 

"Okay, well that's good!"

But I'm still checking it every day. :)

We're thanking the Lord it wasn't more serious!