Saturday, May 24, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
I'm SO mad!
Tonight we met my sweet great niece, Avery Hope, for the first time. I took the most beautiful picture of her and Tarenne together. They were BOTH looking right at the camera and looked breathtaking!
Packing for the Visitor
We are a mentor family for the University of Kentucky. We host medical students and seminary students for 2 programs that are intended to help them see a realistic picture of the lives of people who have Down syndrome.
Tuesday night we had a great gal come over who is going to be an OB/GYN. The bad part about the program is that the future doctors who don't really need the sensitivity training are the ones who follow through and keep their appointments with the families. This girl fell into that category, she is an incredible person and we had fun with her. The girls did not want her to go.
She went out to eat with us and as we were getting ready to leave for the restaurant, Tarenne ran back to our room for a few minutes with Sarah's binder.
When she came back she sweetly had a bag packed for Sarah. The binder along with a DVD I was letting her borrow were placed nicely into a Libby Lu backpack. I opened it up to see what else my girl placed in there.
These are the items that Tarenne thought might be helpful for a future doctor:
- a pair of my pajama bottoms
- Joe's underwear
- a bra I had hanging up to dry (it was still a bit damp)
- toothbrush
- tooth flosser
- toothpaste
- t-shirt
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Come on People Just Leave Her Alone!
I know you mean well, and perhaps there will be a time when my girl actually does need your help. But when I stop to think about what my little girl goes through on a regular basis I have to first stand up for her. Would you stop her if she were a typical 8 year old girl? I don't think so.
Saturday was Emery and Tarenne's recital. I was dropping Emery at her back stage room and signing her in when Tarenne asked me if she could go out into the hall. I told her sure, but stay close by. I saw a woman immediately try to stop her as she got out the door and I stuck my head out and said, "She's okay." I finished signing Em in and walked out into the hall to see that the lady had followed Tarenne down the hall and was talking to her telling her to come back down the hall. I smiled at her and said, "She's fine, I told her she could come out." I mean I know she was trying to help, but poor Tarenne, doesn't she deserve the same respect as all the other girls in her class who too were wondering in the hall? The lady told me that she was Tarenne's backstage Mom. Tarenne looked at her, then at me and said, "Mom, she's mean!" I smiled and said, she knows the other Mom, I'm sure she'll be fine. Then when she realized where I was coming from she admitted, "Well good for her, she doesn't know me, I don't blame her for not wanting to come with me." I just finished with, "Well I had just told her she could come into the hallway."
Then on Sunday after I dropped Emery at her class I was walking down the upper hallway when I saw Tarenne walking from the elementary class toward Marley's class where Joe was dropping Marley off. I saw a lady stop Tarenne. I walked down the stairs to them, and Tarenne said, "Mom, I don't know where I'm supposed to be." The lady just smiled at me like she had really helped us out. I continued my conversation with Tarenne, "You were going to get Daddy weren't you?"
"Yes Mom!"
"Well let's go find where you are supposed to be."
Last night I was telling Joe about this and told him how much I felt for Tarenne. That even though she KNOWS what she is doing and where she is supposed to be or where she is going those around her assume she doesn't. I said I want to get her a shirt that says, "I'm capable thank you" and then on the back put "Mom and Dad Say So!".
I had to laugh when tonight I went to Dave Hingsburger's blog and read about a young adult with T21 who has found her own solution to this annoyance. You should go read it: www.davehingsburger.blogspot.com
Tragic Loss
A couple that we used to run around with has suffered an unimaginable loss. Their daughter Ashley drowned in a neighbor's pool Sunday evening. Ashley has a twin Alexis who will need our non-stop prayers along with her parents Barry and Michele. Please help me lift this family up to our Lord for peace and healing. To get to know Ashley better and read the details of what took place, you can visit http://adventuresinautism.blogspot.com/.
The Brocks moved from Kentucky to Maine after Ashley's diagnosis of autism to provide her with the best care and treatment. This little girl was loved and adored by many. It's hard to make sense of this world sometimes!
Monday, May 19, 2008
I'm Here!
Thanks Stella for your concern. :)
Joe's parents were here this weekend to visit. The girls had recitals on Friday and Saturday with rehearsal on Thursday evening. They were adorable and Friday night Tarenne performed perfectly! :) Saturday she was wonderful too but not as perfect with her timing. That however is the day that I got video from the front. I have video of Friday night from backstage. I'll share that soon.
Tarenne had pictures for T-ball on Saturday, and I have some funny video to share when I have time.
I'm also doing a fund raiser at the girls school for our Down syndrome association.
And lastly I had to resize 16 inflatable cheese hats for Tarenne's class play. LOL
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Darrah is Exceptional
and I am thankful that she knows her little sister Tarenne is too! I was disappointed that she didn't do the dedication at the beginning of the song, like she was supposed to, but she lost her nerve. Tarenne however DID know that Darrah was singing to her. :) Forgive the occasional camera shake as Tarenne kept leaning on me. And the BIG camera shake when Lysee wakes up and I am asking someone to grab her. :) We really do need a REAL video camera, but I am thankful that my still camera has this option even if the picture isn't so great!
G. K. Chesterton
There are two ways to get enough: One is to accumulate more and more; the other is to desire less.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Happy Mother's Day
I saw this on Wednesday and was saving it for tomorrow. However after today (see below) I am afraid I'll be too exhausted to even pick up the computer. So here you go, my Happy Mother's Day to you....through somebody else. :)
Cardinal Hill Creates Chaos for Families
Courtney and I have known each other since Sam was born. She is an incredible advocate for our community. She spent a lot of time raising money to help save this program for her son, and the administration has made it impossible for the families to remain committed.
My Day

Well Darrah's birthday on Thursday was crazy too, so I'll start there:
- Awaken from a slumber party for Darrah's birthday
- Go to Katie's at 8:40 so that she could follow us to the Down syndrome Association's meeting where she had sweetly agreed to talk about having Tarenne is Kindergarten and what good inclusion looks like in a classroom
- Leave there and go to Tarenne's t-ball game (thank goodness it was Toyota's sponsor day and they were serving free lunch)
- Head to the mall to buy birthday presents for twins because Darrah had a birthday party to go to
- Drop Tarenne at dance
- Go to Darrah's guitar recital
- Take Darrah home to change & then to the birthday party
- Go back to the dance studio for Emery's class and to pick up Tarenne
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Celebrating Darrah's First Decade!
A Friend's Fight Ends In Disappointment
A close friend of mine led a crusade to help save her son's preschool after it looked like the funding would not be there to continue it. After months of hard work the CEO of Cardinal Hill, the facility that runs the program, raised tuition just for the children that had special needs. After the families questioned the ethics of this, the same letter including the rate increases went out to the typcial kids' families as well....a month later.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
A Friend's Writing
I was touched this morning by the following post and wanted to share it with you all.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Two Tarenne Funnies

Monday, May 05, 2008
Beyond the Evening Star Theatre (B.E.S.T.)
http://www.kansascity.com/static/Entertainment/050208_BEST_STARMAG/
This is an incredible short video. Please watch it!
And here is the performace troupe's web site:
http://www.thebestnetwork.org/
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Videos of Tarenne at T-ball
Tarenne really likes her Buddy! (thank goodness) On the way into the park another team was doing the "Let's Go Orioles" cheer and Tarenne crossed her arms and said, "I hate that let's go". So every chance I got I cheered for her like that. She was very tickled!
Tarenne's first time up at bat
Her buddy wasn't helping her pay attention to the fact that the others were advancing bases. LOL At one time 3 of them scored at once!
Tarenne scores!
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Tarenne M**** is steeeeaaaaallllling center field!
We are playing in the Miracle League for the first time. It is a BLAST! Everyone wins and everyone has fun. We are always so busy trying to get our kids who have disabilities to conform to society's norms that it is great to have a place where they can simply do what they want and be themselves.
Funny Girls
Eight Belles Euthanized
Okay that was THE saddest Derby I have ever watched. I know they don't want to focus on the negative because the Kentucky Derby is supposed to be a time of joy, but I think it shows just how the horse industry is simply a business.
We had many tears in our home for the beautiful girl that ran such a great race. And for us Derby 134 will always be about this tremendous loss. To see this beautiful horse go here.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Thursday, May 01, 2008
I Hate That Baby Talk
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
To recognize the signs of God, pay attention to your stirrings. Look closely when you feel the swell of joy within or the tightness as your throat closes up in sorrow. Live in that moment, poke around it its corners, and feel the texture of its walls. Sit with it for awhile, long enough to sense the presence of God sitting with you.~ Author Unknown
Meaningful Award

Thank you Michelle at Elliot's Expeditions for giving me this award! Sounds like the start of an Emmy speech doesn't it. LOL
Rose and Emilee's Appointment News
Please keep praying!
Rose was diagnosed with rheumatoid juvenile arthritis. :( I am so sad for my girl. Please pray that they can control this and there will not be any long term damage or effects.
Emilee's seizures have greatly improved however they did have to increase her medication which Randy says makes her VERY tired! Please pray these end quickly and that our baby can come off the meds and start catching up developmentally.
Thanks so much!
Souljah Girl
PS Okay maybe the funniest thing is that I didn't know this was a dirty song until Debbie just emailed me to tell me. Thanks Debbie. I'll leave it up because...well it's done and you adults need a good smile. :)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Just In Case You Were Worried
At this point I am not sure who I shared with, so I'm just going to post it here to alleviate any worry. And also because it's too dang funny not to share.
I've been tagged!
Cynthia at MeAnderings has tagged me. Here is how to play:
Rules:
Link back to the person that tagged you
Post these rule on your blog
Share six unimportant things about yourself
Tag six people at the end of your entry.
- I've always liked short and stocky men (then I married one)
- Our living room furniture is as old as our relationship
- I used to hate the color pink and hearts
- I used to drive a forklift
- I rarely look in the mirror throughout the day (so please tell me if I have a booger hanging)
- It drives Joe nuts because I always miss the corners of my mouth when using a napkin
- Jan at Mauzy's Musings
- Betsy at Bits of Betsy
- Laura at Now I'm A Mom
- Kei at Unlimited
- Karen at Chewymom
- Tara Marie at Emma Sage
Please Help Me Pray for Emilee and Rose Today
Em is going to Cleveland to be rechecked for seizure activity. They will decide the next course of action. Pray for the doctors to have knowledge and insight.
Our little friend Rose is having some signs of arthritis and will be seeing a rheumatologist today in Cinci. Please pray that they can find whatever is causing her pain.
Also Erin will be seen on May 6 by a neurologist at Riley and will have her MRI on the 15th. I will remind you again to pray when it's closer, but so many of emailed to see if we have heard anything else.
Thank you so much for your love and concern for our family and friends!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Marley My Teacher
Last night the whole family played on the trampoline together and it ended with the girls and I laying down in a big mass of femininity and Joe jumping by us bouncing us all over the place with his testosterone. :)
Tarenne's Poetry
T's class just finished up a poetry unit at school and I just had to share it with you.















