31 For 21 - TGIF

Oh, thank goodness it's Friday. You don't know how happy I am that it's Friday!

Tonight we get to be home. Chuck caught a cold this week. Sore throat, stuffy nose, coughing, wheezing. He's been sleeping in his recliner the last couple of nights.

I worked 40 hours this week. I haven't done that in a long time.

Diana got hired at an infant center. They care for kids ages 3 months to 1 year. Now she'll be working 3 jobs.

Tomorrow Beth goes bowling with Special Olympics. They are gearing up for their tournament at the end of this month. Last week one of the dads was 'coaching' Beth and with each throw of the ball... she did worse.

Her final score of the game was 35. I am gonna have to tell the dad tomorrow not to talk to her. I know he was just trying to help but Beth doesn't respond well to constant instruction. Give her one or two pointers, then leave her alone.

I appreciate what he was trying to do, but tomorrow I have to ask him not to do it.

Gulp. Not looking forward to that.

31 For 21 - Twenty Eight

After cake and presents she went downstairs to watch TV. 

Allie and I went down to take her picture!

 

Happy, Happy Birthday Beth!!

(We want to thank all of you for your birthday wishes!)

31 For 21 - 10/10

 

Twenty seven years ago we celebrated Beth's very 1st birthday. 

This is what I wrote in her baby book.

 We celebrated your birthday tonight, October 10, 1985. One year ago tonight, I gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl.

Miss Burkhart (from mommy's work) came to the car and gave you a birthday kiss this afternoon.

This weekend you mommy and daddy are going to Los Angeles to see grandma Mary Ann. She called tonight and you told her, "Aahhgg!!" I think she was impressed!

You sat on Uncle Joe's chest for a long time chewing on his watch. Auntie Debbie sat on the floor with you and she read to you out of your prayer book.

Uncle Kenny gave you a kiss before he left and he even fed you some of his ice cream from his own spoon! Uncle Ken has come a long way!

 

So many people love you Beth! After everybody left we put you to bed and you fell right to sleep. 

Happy first birthday!!

31 For 21 - Chatterbox

It's been a very looong day.

I usually have Wednesdays off but I'm filling in tomorrow for a friend who is on vacation.

Then Chuck and I have a meeting tomorrow after work.

So tomorrow is going to be a very looong day.

Tomorrow is also October 10th.

October 10th, 1984 I gave birth to my very first child.

A very scared mom-to-be.

An emergency c-section.

A very beautiful, sweet baby girl.

Beth hasn't stopped talking today.

Every word has been about her birthday.

We plan to celebrate her birthday on Thursday.

But tomorrow. Tomorrow Beth is going to be the star!!

31 For 21 - Unsuccessful

I tried making an appointment for Beth's thyroid treatment today during my lunch hour. I wasn't successful.

I work about 4 minutes from home so I always go home for lunch. Today I stopped at the grocery store on my way home and after I put away the groceries, that's when I remembered I needed to call the doctor!

I was on hold for almost 10 minutes and needed to go back to work so I hung up. Two minutes later they called me. It's a little complicated, this whole procedure thing.

Beth has Graves Disease and is on medication to help regulate it. Except her thyroid speeds up and then slows down so they keep adjusting her meds. It's causing her to gain weight, she sometimes seems depressed... There is a treatment that will kill her thyroid, then she'll take a hormone pill that will do the work of the thyroid. But they'll be able to figure out that dosage fairly easily and she'll just take that amount for the rest of her life.

For the treatment, she'll be taking radiation in pill form and will have to be quarantined for 3 days. The pill will be in a sealed jar and she'll go into a room by herself, unscrew the lid and take the pill. Then we come home and she goes downstairs. And she stays downstairs except to go to the bathroom. Beth's apartment is in the daylight basement and both bathrooms are upstairs. We aren't allowed to use the bathroom she uses, I think that will be the toughest part. I don't expect this to be very hard, but it's gonna take a lot of planning and prep work.

Anyway Beth's doctor wrote something unusual on her chart and the staff won't schedule the appointment until he clarifies it.

He's on vacation this week.  

31 for 21 - It Was Our First Time

Today was the Puget Sound Buddy walk! I think it's been held here for 16 years and this was our first time attending. We didn't know what to expect, certainly didn't expect all those people! It was fun! So many yellow shirts. So many more almond eyes.

I didn't see many adults with Down Syndrome. We didn't have a team or collect money this year. I wonder if it would be more fun if we did? I mean, we did have fun, but it was just the 4 of us. Chuck and Diana met two families who actually lived here in Edmonds; part of the time Beth and I sat by the stage and listened to the speakers.

We were in downtown Seattle, right under the Space Needle. This picture is about 20 years old, but it will give you an idea of where we walked. If you follow down the Space Needle (don't look to the right of the base, but below the base) there is a carousel, roller coaster and a few other rides. Well those aren't there anymore and that's where we all met. We then walked out toward the fountain (to the right of the stadium.) We walked around the fountain, following the tree line, then around the actual fountain and back to the start.

 

 Everyone gathering to begin walking.

There were so many people!

 

 

One of the speakers was Eliza. She went through all the hoops to get into college, then was told she couldn't attend. They told her college wasn't right for her. So her family moved to Washington State and now she's enrolled in college! Her basic message was "Believe in yourself! Don't give up on your dreams!" 

 

After her speech, we got up to go sit back with Chuck and Diana. All of a sudden, they started playing The Climb by Miley Cyrus. You bet Beth made a u-turn, sat back down and began to sing and rock out to the music!!

 

  

31 For 21 - A Novelty

Beth is a shy, introverted adult. She doesn't talk much, doesn't make a splash. She doesn't 'light up a room' when she enters. She doesn't have many any friends. But she did make an impact on two people. Two people who I always thought were cold, harsh and selfish.

When Beth was born, people came out of the woodwork to see her. My hospital room was always packed with people. My doctor relaxed the rules and allowed as many people in the room as possible. Beth was brought in a-n-y-t-i-m-e someone came. I didn't realize this wasn't the norm until day 3, when my dad came to visit and Beth wasn't allowed in my room. The nurse said my doctor had wanted to see how the family treated Beth. When he saw how much everyone loved her, he knew she would be fine and put the restrictions back in place. Sneaky doctor. :)

On the day we went home, our house was packed with people. We lived in a small, one bedroom apartment but everyone was there. Even our apartment manager came up to see how we were!

 

   

In our church, we believe a person has to make a decision to accept Christ before they can be water baptized, so we dedicate babies. Usually it's the parents and siblings if there are any. When Beth was born, the whole family showed up!!

But the people who surprised me most were my grandma and grandpa on my moms side. Her dad and step mom. My grandma didn't have kids. She didn't want kids. She didn't like kids. When we'd visit them all we heard was, "Don't go into that room. Don't touch that. That's not for you." Their lives were all about themselves and their money. 

Until Beth was born.

 

 

They came to the hospital. They didn't come to the hospital when our other girls were born and I don't remember them visiting my sisters when their kids were born. Just Beth. They were enamored with her. Just wanted to stare at her. This... this baby who had a condition that they'd only heard about. Now there was one in their family!

They came to her birthday parties and they started coming to other family functions. They'd show up at Christmas, with presents! They sent cards and always stayed in touch. They became more a part of the family and I think they softened a little.

That little baby. That tiny, extra chromosome. Who knew??

31 For 21 - A Very Special Reason

 

 

 

I remember those first few weeks rushing by. Not rushing like, 'Gosh where did the time go?' but like I had fallen in a rushing river. My life jacket kept my head above water, but I was helpless to navigate or decide anything. I could only go where the river took me.

It was like I was in one of those images you see on TV where the person slowly spins in one place while the world around them is moving so fast it's just a complete blur. Everything was moving at warp speed, but I couldn't even form one solid thought. I remember feeling tossed and pushed and pulled.

I couldn't catch my breath.

31 For 21 - You Make It Look Too Easy

Ryan and Sharaya came over for dinner tonight. They used to come on Wednesdays but Chuck and I lead a home group on Wednesdays now... so now they come on Thursdays.

Brilliant, don't ya think? :)

Today was so busy at work. Every. Single. Moment. was filled with phone calls and emails and questions and errands and... I usually finish up around 4:45 and have cleaned off my desk (can't stand to leave my desk messy overnight!) and am ready to go by 5:00. Not today!! I finally finished a big project at 4:55! More than one co-worker asked if it was a full moon today.

Next week will be busier. Of course. As soon as I agree to blog every single day... isn't that always the way?! :)

Let's see, what else?

Ummm.... Thinking...

Sorry guys. My mind is just fried.  How about just some pictures tonight? When we were in Canada last week, Chuck and I tried taking some 'facebook photos' of ourselves. You know the kind where you hold the phone at arms length in front of you? Yea.

 

 

Our problem was, we weren't using our phones, they're SO old they don't take good photos. No internet, nothin'. We only had my camera! That thing is heavy! I held it while Chuck pushed the button. I'm surprised they came out as clear as they did! We're not sure where to look or when to smile! We cut off the scenery, had the glare of the sun. You guys make this look too easy!!

 

 

31 For 21 - Makes Me Nervous

I guess I'm afraid to fail.

October is such a busy month for us and already I've missed two days. I guess I should at least try though. Even though we have two kids at home, they are grown. I only work 31 hours a week. Maybe I could do this. :)

On a very positive note, Beth talked to her DART driver this morning! This is a HUGE thing! When the driver asks how she's doing, Beth usually just answers with a grunt, "Fine."

Today, before she even stepped off the porch, I heard her said, "We're back from vacation."

I was shocked! I watched as they walked across the driveway to the bus. I couldn't hear but I saw Beth say something else to her, and the driver responded. Right before Beth stepped onto the bus she looked at the driver...

I'm sorry, did you get that?? She looked at the driver and said something else!

Oh my gosh! I ran into Diana's room, "Guess what just happened!!" This is very cool. :)