Blackberry Face

This is the purple blackberry girl who will not go to sleep on summer nights. Not without a fight anyway. This is the girl who thinks it's funny to keep Momma occupied until she has to go to bed. Maybe all the summer sounds of kids and dogs and trains and boats and watering and conversations make her think she's missing something. How could she miss anything when she's the centre of it all?

Peace be the Journey

This is probably all over the community news already but I just got wind of it. This guy Casper is riding across Canada to raise money for the Canadian Down Syndrome Society. His goal is $1 million. His inspiration is his cousin Andrew. Click here to find out more. You can even sign up for a daily inspirational text message. Go Casper, Go Andrew!

Summer BBQ

Here's little A at a BBQ earlier tonight. My friend took the photo with her excellent uber camera. A is quite the party girl. I get that horrible song in my head "my girl likes to party all the time". I think it was Eddie Murphy in the 80's. It's true though. I put a dress on her and let her see herself in the mirror and she goes mental. She loves the outfits and she seems to get that a dress means a party. This one is a little pinafore for that sophisticated casual look.

It takes her ages to fall asleep on party nights though. It's tough to wind down. Like mother, like daugher.

I've gotta keep this short. I'm stealing time from sleep myself.

humuhumunukunukuapua'a

Farmor, your grandson has something to say to you.

Thankful for Good Health

Last week I took baby A to the hospital for a routine blood test for her thyroid. T had taken her to a medical lab the week before but they had not been able to get a good vein so the poking and prodding had been in vain. The lab at the hospital was a better bet for finding kids' veins.

I was not looking forward to it but it had to be done so off we went, just the two of us. I had had a restless night so I was bone tired. Being tired is not unusual for me but most of the time, bad nights are due to one or both of the kids. So, I was scanning my state trying to figure out what was bugging me. As we made our way there, parked and walked to the lab it became increasingly obvious. I was having an internal freak-out about the needle that was about to pierce my precious child's arm. I've always hated needles and the thought of her happy little self suddenly feeling pain while I held her there insisting that it was good and the right thing to do was causing a turmoil that kept me awake and created a pit in my stomach. As I waited there with her in the waiting room, I kept thinking how foolish I was. After all, she's healthy. We've only had a few routine tests. We've never had a hospital stay. We've only had one really bad fever / flu. We are so blessed and lucky. And yet, there I was shaking in my boots.

Her cry of protest was heartbreaking but the very experienced nurses did their work quickly and little A was cheerful again long before I was.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I can't believe the bravery of all the parents I've read about who have kept vigils for their little ones while they undergo all kinds of scary procedures. Brain operations, heart operations, bowel operations. I'm also trying to say THANK YOU GOD! We are so lucky to have been spared that walk so far and my heart and prayers go out to all families who are in waiting rooms with that pit in their stomachs.

Well, what did I expect?

Really, what was I expecting? When A was born my expectations were shattered and replaced by some terrifying images. Gradually, those images have also been shattered and replaced by some great stuff.

Did I think she would light up our lives the way she does?

Did I think she would make the 'Homer' noise when presented with tasty food?

Did I think she would be able say a few words so soon?

Did I think I'd be her handler at a professional photo shoot?

No, no, no and no but here we are having a grand time mugging for the camera and showing off the fine outfits designed by my friend L over at Green Bean Baby. One of the many wonderful things about my friend is that she didn't think twice about including not one but two models who happen to have an extra chromosome each. She simply chose a group of cute kids to show off her great stuff. I guess including is the key word here. Here they are sporting the new hoodie. Looks great on boys and girls alike. If you want to see A on the website, navigate to products and then bedding.

Hair cuts

The boyz went to the barber last weekend. Here they are in all their newly revealed handsome-ness. A and I are lucky ladies. Happy May. It's raining here.