French Fry Face

Last night at dinner Lucy said, "Look Mommy a face." She had created this french fry face. Too cute!

DSACO Calendar

At the Buddy Walk we got to see the new DSACO calendar and were super excited about the fact that one of the pictures we submitted was selected for the month of November. There is a new layout to the calendar this year and we love it! Thanks for all your hard work Gayle! If anyone wants one let us know.

Free Books

Last year Lucy's preschool sent home a flier informing us about Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. If we signed up the kids they would receive a free book every month until they turned 5. Lucy didn't quite make the cut off but Simon and Ian did. Every month we get two books in the mail. So far they have been big hits. Tonight I asked Lucy what her favorite book was and she said, "Wild Little Horse" It's one of the ones we got in the mail. Simon's favorite is "The Little Engine That Could." I can't wait to see what we get in the mail this month.

Some Days

Some days I almost forget that we walk a different road. Most days I defiantly feel "more alike than different. "

Then occasionally a day comes by, they sneak up on me, and I feel different.

Today was one of those days. Thankfully they don't last long!

Expectations

Every week I pile the kids in the van and drive to Columbus so that Lucy can go to her tutor, Ms. Joanne. Ms. Joanne spends her whole week tutoring kids with Down Syndrome and she is quite good at it. What I like about Ms. Joanne so much is that she expects a lot out of Lucy and she gets a lot out of Lucy. Lucy sits in a chair and does work with her for an hour straight without a break and she never complains. She works on reading, math, and other important skills for school. Lucy has accomplished so much we never would have known she was capable of doing if we didn't have Ms. Joanne saying she can do it and then helping her do it.

People with Down Syndrome can do so much... we just need to expect it out of them just like we would expect it out of anyone else.

Cheerleaders say, "Yeah Lucy!"

Wow! What a year at the Buddy Walk this year! It was cold. It was windy. It was rainy. But in so many ways it was the best year yet!

It is hard to describe what is so great about the Buddy Walk. I'm sure many people like different things best, but from this parents perspective it is so wonderful to see so many people celebrating my daughter. They understand how wonderful Lucy is and they see of what great worth and value she is. They see how much she has to offer our world and they want to include her in their lives. Thanks!

When we got home I asked Lucy what she liked best about the Buddy Walk. She said, "Cheerleaders say, 'Yeah Lucy!'" When we actually go on our "walk" around Crew Stadium three group of cheerleaders were stationed in different places cheering the teams on and making up cheers dedicated to each "Buddy." Whenever they cheered for Lucy she would just light up. So thanks to the Cheerleaders from New Albany, Gahanna, and the other High School I just can't remember right now.

Thank You!

As we get ready for the Buddy Walk tomorrow we are amazed by how much support we have received. We have over 40 people walking with us and we have raised over $1300. Thank you so much for all your support!!!

But we are so thankful for more than just the support we have received for the Buddy Walk. Every day, in so many ways people support Lucy and our family. So many people accept and include our daughter in their lives. They value her, love her, and help her become all that she can be. Thank you!!!

Lucy on TV

By the way October is Down Syndrom Awareness Month. So in honor of this we will try to blog every day throughout the month. Well, we are one for one so far!

Come out and join us this Sunday at the Buddy Walk at Crew Stadium! Hope to see you there!