Where are we now?

It's been a few months, I know. I'm sorry (not that anyone actually reads here anymore).

What's been going on around here?

1. I officially finished my program in April 2014. It feels like it's been both a lot longer than two years and not nearly that long all at the same time. The last 14 weeks of my last semester involved three days of school and two of placement. Graduation is on June 10; and while I am excited to be done, it's also sort of scary to be done...two years of my life are gone, and it's a little frightening to not have that routine anymore.

2. That being said, it is exciting to have been hired on at my placement after it was over! Yes, I was hired...as in an actual paying job in the field I was studying in! It's only part time, and it is not where I want to be long term, but it is a open door into the field. I can only go up from here, and I am SO thankful to the doctors that I work for for giving me a chance.

3. R moved in at the beginning of May. Things are going really well with us. Technically we only started dating on NYE...but we dated for a year or so before I had Everleigh...so it wasn't like starting over with someone new (people always tell me that 5 months is far too fast to have him move in with us). It was more like slipping back into a really comfy pair of pants. Familiar and comfortable.

February 2014

4. Everleigh turned 3! Yes, it has been THREE years since this little ball of light entered my life. Her three year stats were 22.7 lbs (10.3kg) and 2.7 ft tall (82cm). She is still wearing 12-18mo pants...though 24mo is still much too big for her. In shirts she takes 24mo-2t. Shoe size is still a 3. Sometimes a 4 or 5 depending on the shoe.

 5. Everleigh is in the preschool room at her daycare (where she started going when I went back to work when she was 5 months old). Her teachers are J, J, and D. Everleigh gets OT and SLP through our local outpatient program, and she does not (thankfully) qualify for PT at this time, though we still get assessed every few months just to make sure she is not falling behind. She is also potty training and, in my opinion, rocking it!

Well, that's it for this update! :)

3:21 2014

On this day, which means so much to our community. To our family and friends. To the hundreds of thousands of people across the globe living with Down syndrome. On this day, I say...

As time continues to fly past us at neck-breaking speeds, as the three-year anniversary of your birth fast approaches, I must say this....

Auntie Amanda rocking her blue/yellow and her funky socks

 I love you EXACTLY as you are. I would not change a single hair on your head. I could never take away your extra chromosome.

Auntie Coco's work reppin' the blue/yellow!

Auntie Coco's funky socks!

If you had asked me this a little bit ago, I would have stumbled over my words trying to get my feelings across. There is a difference between having a child with an intellectual disability and having a retarded child. The medical terminology has changed so much in the past few years - and is continuing to change - and I hope that one day you will be able to live in a world where the word retard is no longer used to describe another human being.

Great-Auntie Kim and Cousin Emily's socks!

In three years you have learned so much. And your journey is uniquely yours. Nobody will learn things exactly as you do. Nobody will ever have your personality. Nobody will ever have your exact mixture of DNA.

People all over the world with Down syndrome may share some of your characteristics, but the extra chromosome manifests itself differently in each one of you...and for that I am thankful. I am thankful that you will always have a community of friends, family, teachers, and acquaintances who are willing to walk your journey with you while appreciating the fact that each step you take is one that can never be duplicated.

Kathy and her awesome socks, and her blue/yellow!

On this day - as people who love someone with Down syndrome share pictures of themselves wearing blue and yellow, wearing funky socks, or both - I am amazed at just how large the network is. People we have never met join with those who are both near and far to us to join in a show of just how much you, Everleigh, are loved.

Kiki and her outfit!

Sarah's Down syndrome bracelet charm

Sarah's socks

Great-Aunt Teresa, Cousin Melissa and Cousin Chris with their socks!

Then vs. Now.

2011

 

2012

2013

One Myth, One Truth, One Picture

I've been trying to think of something to write about for a few days now...but seeing as we are coming to the end of the semester, all my free time is taken up with doing homework or doing nothing in an attempt to take a break from school brain. Coming up with a coherent blog post isn't high on that list.

I've seen a blog hop around the Ds community, where you post one myth, one truth, and one picture. since I don't feel like linking up to the hop, I'll just post my three things here.

One Myth
People with Down syndrome are always happy.
HA
Anyone who's ever been around Everleigh can attest to the fact that this is a total myth, plain and simple. Sure, she may be in a better mood more often than some kids, but she is as emotionally diverse as they come. Tantrums are an every day occurance around here, along with sadness, frustration, annoyance, upset, and pretty much any other emotion you can think of.

One Truth
Kids (46 or 47 chromosomes) teach you patience.
Well, this is a truth I'm still in the midst of learning. I had NO patience for anything before Everleigh came along, and the truth is, I still pretty much don't. I want it done now, and if I'm waiting on someone, I'd usually just rather do it myself and get it done. That being said, I have been trying very hard to be more patient with Everleigh (and in general). And while I still don't have a lot of patience for people who are old enough to know better, I am slowly learning that I don't have a choice BUT to be patient with Everleigh. It's hard - her independent streak is becoming more and more apparent - but I'm getting there.

One Picture
....just one? Hmmm...

Cheeeese! (with a mouth full of arrowroot cookie)

Vaccinations

What a touchy topic. I know that every family makes the best decisions for their specific situation. But what I would like to talk about is my side of the story.

For every child that does not get vaccinated, you raise the risk of my child contracting whatever it is you neglected to vaccinate for. For the purposes of this post, I'll pick MMR.

You may be saying "well it's only one kid, that barely even raises the chances". This is true. YOUR family is only one family. But consider, briefly, how many parents do not vaccinate their kids (for religious reasons, personal reasons, what have you), and then consider how many kids are not being vaccinated. If MMR were to have an outbreak, and your child contracts it and manages the illness fine, that's great. But if your child passes it to my child, who has a compromised immune system, it could mean some serious health repercussions. And then my child may not be taken out of daycare fast enough, pass it to another child....well you see where I'm going with this.

Okay. I get it. MMR has been vaccinated against for so long, it won't be making a come back. Same with polio. Pertussis. The other vaccines we pump into our kids. And besides, don't vaccines cause autism?!
No. No they do not. It has been debunked. The doctor that originally made the claim has had his license revoked. Vaccines do not cause autism. And even if they did - I would rather my child become autistic than die or suffer serious ongoing health issues from an illness that could have been prevented.

Warning, the video below is NSFW due to vulgarity. But it perfectly illustrates my point on vaccinations.

 

So, tell me, do you vaccinate your kids? I do realize, again, that it is a personal decision, but I'd like to hear your thoughts! (side note: Any inappropriate comments will be deleted)

31 for 21 - Day 31

Happy Halloween!

Okay, so I didn't blog all 31 days (actually only 10 days including today). But I tried. And the jist of it is, I have other things I would rather do than blog sometimes. Like spending time with Ev snuggling on the couch, or taking a nap with her, or stringing beads...or just watching her play.

I thought I would try to find some pictures of past Halloweens for you.

2011. First Halloween!

2011. She wasn't crying, it was cold outside!

2012. Ladybug. This was also the theme of her birthday earlier that year

2012.

2013. Little Strawberry :)

2013

2013. Everyone says she looks like me, but I just don't see it!

31 for 21 - Day 29

It's been a busy weekend (as usual). I worked Friday and Saturday night 3:18-11:18 pm, then spent Sunday with Everleigh. She went to bed at Grandma's, then I went home to bed myself. I then worked 6:30-2:30pm on Monday. Yawn.

Now, back to school today. I also forgot that today is picture day at the daycare (oops. Good job mom).

I thoroughly enjoyed my week off last week. I didn't do a whole lot, which was most of the beauty of it. It was just nice to bring Everleigh to daycare in the morning, then go back home and do whatever I felt like doing, or nothing at all. I did laundry, dishes, Scentsy, took Ev to the dentist....beautiful and laid back. Just what I needed.

Now, back to the grind. We are now starting week 8 of 13/14. My last classes should be the week of December 9. Here's hoping the last weeks fly by, because I can't wait for December so I can be off for most of the whole month!