The End of an Era

Beth received Linus on her second birthday. They have been unseparable ever since. She has taken him on road trips. He has been in more motels than I can count. He even came to the hospital when she had her tonsils out. Over the years he has acquired a little dirt. I gave up washing him a while ago. And somewhere along the line, he was given a pink dress. Or maybe he borrowed it from a cabbage patch doll. Anyway, last week when she moved downstairs (with a little help from her sister) Beth put Linus on the bookcase. When I asked her about him she told me, "He was for when I so little."

A Big Surprise

We walked in the door from our vacation, pulling our luggage behind us. Beth immediately took hers to her room.... and stopped dead in her tracks. Her sister Diana had switched rooms while we were gone!

It is something we have talked about doing for years. When her sisters move out, Beth would move downstairs and get her own 'apartment'. We have a daylight basement with a bedroom and large family room. The family room would become her livingroom and kitchenette. We knew it would be alot of work and have been in the planning stages for a very long time. Well, not any more!

In the 2 1/2 days we were gone, Diana took everything out of the rooms, painted BOTH rooms, drug furniture up and down the stairs and put both rooms back together. Wow! Beth was shocked. She reluctantly took her suitcase down the stairs and just sat on her bed. For a couple of nights she didn't even sleep. I woke up at 3 one morning to find her watching TV. At 5 AM, she was in the kitchen getting something to drink. It has been quite an adjustment for her. Her night light creates unfamiliar shadows on the wall. The furniture is not arranged exactly as it was. Change is difficult for Beth. It's been more than a week and I think she is finally beginning to adjust to her new room. She slept on the couch for a while, but has been in her bed the last few nights. The family room still has some extra furniture and there are boxes yet to be unpacked. We have been cleaning closets and sorting through drawers. Today Beth and I went though her large bin of crayons, markers and colored pencils. We checked every marker and threw away those that no longer worked. We put all the good crayons in a bag and Beth is going to donate them to All Aboard. (An organization that provides activities for adults with special needs.) She then sharpened all the colored pencils! There were a lot!

It's Friday! Time for fun photos!

We bought sandwiches at a local deli,

then ate them in the car while parked on the beach.

We had a few friends join us.

As we ate, they got closer.

On the roof!

Even on the hood!

A Little Time

We're still on vacation.

Still enjoying this time away from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives.

A little pool time.

A little beach time.

A little alone time.

A Room with a View

We were able to get away for a few days and are spending some much needed time at the Washington coast. The sound of the ocean. The seagulls. (I would add 'quiet' but the hotel is in the process of powerwashing everything, siding, windows, etc. What are ya gonna do?)

This is the view from our balcony

Occasionally, we have the beach all to ourselves

Fun Photo Friday!

This is Sharaya at 2 years old.

In the Dog House

I rearranged Beth's room today.

It was not welcomed with open arms.

Or even a smile.

Her room is small and she has a lot of furniture.

Double bed, two bookcases, large dresser and a desk.

The desk is very close to the side of her bed.

She likes it that way because it was close to her TV.

Well now the TV is on one side of the room.

Her desk - where she sits to watch TV - is on the other side of the room.

There is a lot more open space.

She can get in and out of her bed easily.

But she is not a happy camper.

I've told her it doesn't have to stay like this.

We can change it back if she doesn't like it.

But I want her to try it for a couple of weeks.

At one point she had moved her chair to the middle of the room; was sitting or sort of half laying in it, arms folded; head back, tears streaming down her cheeks.

I know change is hard for her.

For anyone really, but especially for those with Down Syndrome.

I've been talking to her about this for months now.

Doesn't matter.

She is not happy.

I peeked in on her a few minutes ago.

She has moved her desk chair away from the desk and is just a couple of feet from the TV.

She's watching Les Miserables.
And singing at the top of her lungs.

That's got to be a good sign, right?

Ahoy Mateys

I went shopping tonight. Needed to pick up a few wedding and baby gifts for upcoming showers. As I pulled out of the driveway, I realized I was alone.

Completely.... alone.

I haven't been shopping alone in a very long time!

I decided to stop at Target first. Made sure I had all the registry papers with me, grabbed a cart and headed on my way.

I noticed immediately that my cart had a wobbly wheel.
(You know the kind, I don't even have to describe it!)

I decided I would just go slow and not let it bother me. Past the picture frames, the clothes, into the kitchen area....

Aarrggg! It was driving me crazy!

All the way back to the front of the store -

'Squeak, wobble, squeak, wobble'

Get a new, quieter cart and head toward the baby section. So many cute clothes! And socks! Allie could use some new socks. Put those in the cart and reach for the registry papers....

and realized I left them in Mr. Wobbles.

Back to the front.

There sat Mr. Wobbles, right where I left him.

Grab my papers and head out a third time. Sigh.

Now I know this is NOTHING

compared with what some of you are going through.

I thought about you as I headed out with Miss Whispers.

I thought about the things you were dealing with.

The new diagnosis.

The latest medication.

Tomorrows doctors appointment.

I've been praying for you.

And crying with you.

I couldn't believe I let Mr. Wobbles decide my mood.

Aarrgg.

It's been a while since I've written anything.

Had a really tough week at work. Lots of sad news.

Husband at home sick for a couple of days.

A daughter gone overseas by herself.

I didn't sleep well while she was gone.

Lots of tears from Beth -

Nightlight bulb burned out;

couldn't buy a soda at the store....

Ever have those days where ya just don't wanna do it anymore?

Yea, it's been one of those weeks.

It's Friday and you know what that means....

It's Fun Photo Friday!!

Beth loved that baby in the mirror!