Mishmosh

The week is over and things are finally calming down a little at work. Whew!

I visited a friend a few weeks ago and got to see all the models he's been making during covid. He just turned 90! He started out with the paper models and now he's doing wood. I was very impressed.

 

Beth had another dentist appointment. This time though it was just the dentist and his office is right by our house. They put on a temporary crown, we'll go back next week for the permanent one. Look at all those tools!

Ally came over the other night. I went outside to water and told her it was time to put down her phone and come outside. She brought out the sidewalk chalk and after a few minutes remembered her bike was in our garage! The house behind us is empty right now so she was able to ride all the way back to their garage.

 

Then last night Sharaya had an appointment so we took Ally with us to buy a suit for Chuck for the wedding. Only 2 months away! We  were  thankful she had her phone. It would have been awful boring if she didn't!

Chuck found a suit and some shoes. I'm so glad that's done. Then Ally and I went into Claire's and she bought some earrings and I found a full-sized Uno card game! The one we have is travel size and the cards are so small! We stopped at Starbucks then came back here to break-in the cards. 

Well, it's been unusually dry here so I should go out and water the plants. I hope you have a wonderful week!

Have you ever played Uno?

What's the weather like where you live?

So Thankful

Linking up with Rebecca Jo

It's been such a difficult 6 weeks but even with all that's happened in our family there's still so much to be thankful for.

My niece is doing okay. She got her kids back to school, and she applied for and got a new job!

We tried something new last week. Beth never learned to ride a bike without training wheels and last week she tried riding an adult trike. She was exhausted but she loved it! Sharaya, Allie, Beth and I rode around for quite a while!

 

My job is going so well. My team is eager to work, they all get along... it's been nice! 

My dad is finally getting the type of care he needs. His health is declining but I get to fly down to San Diego in the morning to see him and my sister. I can't wait!

Have you tried something new recently? If not, is there something you've always wanted to do?

"It Doesn't Define Her" - What Exactly Does That Mean?

Many years ago someone complimented me on how we had raised Beth and said that "You can tell you didn't let Down Syndrome define her." I said thank you but I've always wondered what exactly that means. Even before she said it, I've thought about that phrase over the years and tried to figure out what exactly people mean by it.

And please know my heart here, I'm being genuine. I just want to think out loud for a few minutes so feel free to interject at anytime. :)

Sometimes I think Down Syndrome does define Beth. It causes low muscle tone and slower reflexes and for that reason, Beth isn't able to drive a car.

She never learned to balance a bike and never rode again after we took off the training wheels. (We took them off once but she struggled for such a long time, we put them back on and she eventually got so big for the bike that they broke. And they didn't make training wheels any bigger.)

Having Down Syndrome causes her tongue to be larger than normal and that affects her speech. And when she got old enough to realize people couldn't understand her she became withdrawn and shy.

Would she be shy if she didn't have Down Syndrome? I don't think so because when she was young, about 7, 8, 9 years old she was outgoing and friendly, even to strangers.

In the dictionary the word 'define' has this definition:
-To be what characterizes something
-To describe precisely
-To mark the limits of
-To outline clearly

A few posts back I wrote about the day both Beth and Sharaya were born. To be honest, it was really hard to not mention Beth having Down Syndrome. I kept going there, and then would delete what I had just written because I really wanted it to just be about her birth and not her diagnosis. But it was really hard.

So is Beth defined by Down Syndrome?

-- Or --

Does the term "It doesn't define her" mean that she has hobbies? Like she goes swimming or horseback riding? That having Down Syndrome doesn't stop her from doing the things she likes? Is that what it means?

Is it that she tries new things that people think she isn't able to do? That people think having Down Syndrome would limit her abilities? But I think the phrase "Down Syndrome doesn't limit me" would apply better. (Apply better. Is that a real term?)

Anyway, what are your thoughts on this? What do you think it means?

A Bargain!

Chuck and I have spent some time working in the yard this weekend. Nothing spectacular, just doing the basics of pulling weeds, mowing, edging. The first month or so is hard, trying to get everything tame again after the long, wet winter. Plus my muscles get sore after not using them for so long! But once it's done, and all we have to do is a little maintenance, I love it!

 

 

 

I was wandering through a thrift store the other day and found this bike for only $10! The tires were flat but it only took Chuck a few minutes to pump them up and she was ready to go! It fits Allie perfectly right now so I doubt she'll be able to ride it next summer. But every time she comes over, she runs to the back door, "Can I ride my new bike?" I love a bargain!

 

 

Rewind Wednesday

I've kept a journal for each of my girls since they were just a few months old. I wrote about when they learned to ride a bike, their friends, favorite teachers, etc. This is a journal entry for Beth just before she turned two.


September 2, 1986

Hi Beth,

You are almost two (next month) and really advancing! You love to walk but still won't do it alone. You walk pushing your bike all over the apartment complex. You use furniture, walls, you even walk holding on to just one of our hands! You are learning!

Mommy and Daddy are trying to prepare you for a brother or sister. Mommy is going to have a baby in a couple of weeks. You don't seem real interested, but we're making it an every day thing. We have the bassinet and playpen out all the time. We took you to the hospital yesterday to see all the babies but you seemed more interested in talking to the nurses!
I love you so much!
Love, Mommy

These pictures were taken in August, 1986, the journal entry was in September and Beth began walking regularly on her own in October. She worked at it for months, but finally, when the time was right for her, she did it! It's amazing the celebrations that occur when the milestones are reached. :)