I Know They're Out There, So Where Are They?

Beth, Diana and I went to the grocery store recently and there were so many people that looked at Beth. As I'm walking toward them, I can see their eyes are on her. 'They probably haven't seen anyone with Down Syndrome in a while, if ever,' I thought to myself.

Then I realized I hadn't seen anyone with Down Syndrome in a while either. In fact, I hadn't seen anyone else with Down Syndrome in months! Well, that's not entirely true.

There's one man who works at our grocery store and he and Beth know each other from back in high school. He and I will sometimes talk when I'm there, just about work and his love for music.

When we were out to dinner for Mother's Day, a gentleman came up to our table and waved at Beth. She shyly waved back and I asked her if she knew him and she said, "Not really." He had Ds and looked like he was maybe 40 or even older. He told us that he recognized Beth from Special Olympics. We think he said 'Special Olympics swimming' but Beth was only 9 when she swam in SO, so we're not sure. We talked with him for a minute and then he went back to sit with his family.

So that makes... two. Two people with Down Syndrome in the last, how many months?

I tried looking up the population stats of people with Ds in WA State but couldn't find any data. The Global Down Syndrome Foundation website states, "Surprisingly, the population of people in the United States with Down Syndrome is currently unknown."

I know they're out there. There are a few adults in the All Aboard program, but not a lot. So where are they? How do they spend their days? I'm curious about where they're hiding. :)

I Wish My Mom Was Here to Send Me to My Room

I loved being sent to my room. I'd sit quietly and read. Or write in my journal. The housework or dinner or whatever would still get done on the other side of the door, but inside, it was quiet and comfortable and peaceful.

Today has not been any of those things.

Last night I went to bed with the worst case of dizziness that I've had in a long time. At 3 AM I tossed my pillow over the side of the bed to lower my head, then raised my feet in the air. SO dizzy. All through the night. Woke up thinking maybe it's all the tea I drink. Hot tea, cold tea... so I decided not to have tea today. So far so good. No dizziness and no headache do to the lack of caffeine!

Came out to the kitchen sink, turned on the faucet and water began pouring out from the cupboard onto the floor! I grabbed some towels and soaked everything up. Took out everything from under the sink and slopped up the puddle. The pipes are leaking. Terrific.

When to work to find our database system is still not working properly. Something about ports and proxy servers. Our IT says it's the database system. They say it's us. I run the database. We've had it three years. I left work crying. Again.

I came home early to get Beth because she had a doctors appointment. She was still in bed. Even though I wrote her note and told her what time to be up and ready... she was still in bed. My prodding and 'encouragement' :) didn't help her mood. She was slow and full of attitude the entire morning. The doctor checked her height, weight, looked at her feet, checked her hearing and eyesite.... wait. That's required for a sports physical!? They sure have gotten detailed.

Back to work and everyone is coming to me because they can't do their work on the database. I know. I can't do mine either. Ya know, 4:00 didn't come soon enough.

And tomorrow I go for my biopsy to see if I have thyroid cancer.

Can't I just hang out in my room for a few days?