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!

Chickenbutt, Bobin and Dude

Do you have nicknames at your house?

Sharaya tells it like this -

"One day Dad took Beth, Diana and I to Kmart but the 3 of us decided to wait in the car while he shopped. We were just playing around and Beth and I kept calling each other Bob (like Bob the Tomato from Veggie Tales). She got really hyper and started saying 'Bobby, Bobbo, Bobba, Bobin!!' I said, 'Bobin'? And she said, 'Yes, B-o-b-i-n! Bobin!' And it just kind of stuck. So we've called each other Bobin ever since. I think I was about 12."

To this day, they still call each other Bobin.

We were teaching Sunday School last week and Diana called Beth Chickenbutt. Chuck and I didn't think anything of it but Theresa, a high schooler who was helping us raised her eyebrows and slowly asked, "Chickenbutt?"

Typing the word does make it seem rather... odd.

But at our house, it shows love and a bond that can't be broken.To be honest, I don't remember how or when this came to mean,

"You are important to me and I love you."

But for Beth and Diana, that's exactly what it means.

When Beth walks through the house, on her way from her bedroom to the kitchen or laundryroom, and she sees Chuck she says, "Dude." Won't look at him, won't go over and give him a hug, just keeps walking and says, "Dude." We don't know why she uses that term, don't know where she got it from or when this all began but for years now, he's been Dude.

As he's walking up the driveway at the end of the day, she will run out to the yard to give him a hug and welcome him home. She sits at the kitchen table and gives him her bowling score for the day or will tell him the song (complete with track number!) she sang at karaoke. But walking through the house, casual, relaxed, happy in her world, he hears, "Dude."

And he always responds with "Dudette!"

And I Cried

When I first found out I told myself I wouldn't cry.

I'm an adult. I can handle this news.

I'm different from everyone else.

Well, I'm not.

And I cried.

I kept wishing the doctor would leave but he didn't.

He just sat on the bed and watched me cry.

He mentioned something about chromosome tests,

But I wasn't really listening.

All I could feel was the pain.

My insides were in a knot.

I had a lump in my throat.

And I cried.

They said she was only showing signs of Down Syndrome.

They would have to do tests to be sure.

We should know in 7 days.

Seven days can be an eternity.

I had almost forgotten about it.

Almost.

The phone rang.

The results are positive?!

It can't be!

They must have the wrong blood cells!

I was stunned.

I hung up the phone.

And I cried.

That began the testing.

The special schools.

Evaluations.

Therapy.

It's been many years since that first week of Beth's life.

I'm still accepting her diagnosis.

Each new day brings reasons for acceptance.

Again and again.

My daughter is a glorious gift from God.

When my love for her overwhelms my heart,

I cry.