Brent and Michaele

On Monday we said good-bye to our friends, partners, and babysitters. Brent and Michaele left West Side to go and spend a year in Swaziland. We already miss them. Simon has already been asking where they are.
Simon- "Where's Kale?"
Me-"Kale is in Africa."
Simom- "Kale in Africa?"
They have a blog but I'm not sure what the address is. I'll put it in my blog list once I find it.

Cereal and Update

Ian turned 6 months on May 7. So he got his first taste of solids. I was shocked at how well he took to it and by how much he loved it. He has was born at a great time. We will be able to make a lot of his baby food fresh and local. I'm looking forward to hitting the farmer's market! I'm sure the pictures will get messier as we move towards more colorful foods.

Updates- We are all doing well. Ian is starting to sit up and creep across the floor. He loves to smile and just loves Simon and Lucy. Simon is a great big brother. He kisses him, hugs him, he lays on him, puts laundry baskets over him and has given him his first bruise. Lucy is much gentler. She loves babies and gets right down on their level and talks with them in a sweet high tone. Babies tend to love her too. This morning she climbed in bed while I was nursing Ian and Ian just stopped and stared at her with the biggest smile.
I'm amazed at how fast Simon's vocabulary has grown. Every week he has more and more words and is forming more and more sentences. He loves to run and jump and play. He could spend all day outside.
Lucy is doing great too! Preschool is winding down and her IEP meeting is coming up soon. We are going to take a much more active role in helping to develope her goals. I'm acutally looking forward to getting a good plan together for her and her teachers.

Last night Simon and Lucy were chasing each other in the yard. First Lucy was chasing Simon but Simon kept passing her and they were going back and forth on who was chasing who. He is so much faster. Sometimes I feel bad for her that Simon keeps passing her. He's faster, he talks more- the only thing she has is that she's a neater eater and potty trained. I'm just thakful that right now neither one of them seems to mind. They love each other.

The effects of spring

We were just about ready to go and get his hair cut again, but I just can't do it. His curls are so cute! This is probably as curly as it gets. If he were a teenager I think the girls would love his hair. I hope curly wild hair is still in style when he gets older. If so, he's got it made.

Miss May

A special feeling of pride swells up in my heart today. This morning as many people across Ohio turned the page of their DSACO calendar to the month of May they experienced the same joy that I get every morning. Looking at beautiful Lucy! I've been waiting for May 1st since Janurary 1st.

I'm just so proud of her!

Art Show

Lucy's preschool had an art show on Thursday. Her projects were Mars by using an eyedropper and colored water, and the Northern Lights with melted crayon.

Her class is in a building that holds many different preschool programs. This was a building wide art show. We tried to get her to stand by her art work but she wouldn't do it by herself. It was breath taking walking into the gym and seeing all of the different displays.

The school has also held a math night where we played games and then were giving a packet with all the instructions and manipulatives used to take home. Next month there is a literacy night. I'm so glad they work to include parents. You tell that they value what preschoolers can do.

Clinical Remission

Today we went to Children's to see Dr. Spencer about Lucy's JRA. It was just a check-up but the great news is that he thinks she is almost in clinical remission. Clinical remission means that with meds there would be no signs of her JRA. YEAH! He is hoping that this summer she will be free of signs. He feels that since she is doing so well and it hasn't spread to other joints that she has a good chance of growing out of it.


Right now she gets a shot twice a week. She is taking Enbrel. It has worked well for her but we hate that fact that we have to give her such a powerful drug. Once she reaches clinical remission then the next step is remission. That means we can start cutting back the meds.


She has made such progress with Enbrel. She is running more smoothly and jumping with two feet. I almost forgot that we used to get asked daily why she walked funny. That never happens anymore. I'm sure her Sure Steps have helped too.

I was a good visit today, minus the waiting. Dr. Spencer is so personable. Kevin has a friend who is studying to be a chaplain and he stopped by while we were waiting. The doctor walked in the room and told us he would just be a couple more minutes. Then he introduced himself to Rob. Rob said that in his 11 weeks at the hospital he is only the second doctor to introduce himself.

Weekend Fun

Yesterday we had plans to go to the zoo for the Easter celebration but the chance of rain kept us away. The zoo usually closes at 5 and yesterday there was a special event for memembers from 5-8. That's perfect time for us. Everyone is awake and in a good mood.

Instead, we spent the evening with Carey, Ben, Madi, and Luke. We had such a great time. I'm sure the zoo would have been fun but not as relaxing. It's always great to take the kids to a place that's chlid proof and offers a new array of toys. Too bad they live in Columbus!

Today Nana and Papa came up to drop something off and decided to take us to lunch and to the park. As I watched Simon and Lucy run around I was so amazed to how quickly they are growing up and changing. They are kids. I wish I had taken my camera. I need one that I can keep in my car or purse.

The rest of the evening was spent laughing and playing. I love spring. Fresh, New, Warmth.

We usually don't blog much about normal stuff but this "normal" weekend was perfect. I wanted to remember it.

Tomorrow it's off to Grandma Marcum's. The perfect way to top off this weekend!

Name Game

So lately Simon always wants to know what everyone's or everything's name is. I think it started at Nana house with all the Thomas trains and Aunt Jessica and Julian telling him their names.
The other day he brought me his mini toy dinosaurs and asked, "Name, Name?" So I named them. Spike, Pointy, Bill. I guess I wasn't feeling too creative at the time.

Today we were upstairs playing and he brings me a different dinosaur (that also has some spikes like the one I already named Spike) and says "Name, name?" I draw a blank for synonyms for spike so I just say Spike. Then Simon replies, "Spike downstairs." The kids are keeping us on our feet! Luckly Kevin was there and he named him Thorn.

This week Lucy and I are on spring break. Over this past weekend Lucy and Simon spent some time with Nana and Papa while Kevin and I went to DC. I had never been and we had such a good time. We're so lucky that Ian is such a good baby. He did so well on our trip. A special thanks to Amber for letting us crash at her place. Lucy and Simon had a great time being spoiled! Simon is still talking about the trains.
Today we went to the zoo. It was the first time we were able to let the kids walk around and not be bound to the stroller. Lucy has finally learned about consequences so she will listen much better than she used to. I was amazed at how well Lucy did walking. Her arthritis is doing so much better. The gorillas are always a favorite. A bonus was that we got to see the zoo keepers feeding the tiger.
Elliot's Nest is one of my favorite blogs. Lucy is about the same age as Aidan and we get to see his parents at many of the DSACO events that we go to. I read her blog today and wanted to shout Amen! I was trying to think about how I could rewrite it over here. I decided just to copy it.
From Elliot's Nest by Jennifer Elliot
Huffington Post
I was reading a story on the Huffington Post about Obama's joke with Jay Leno about the Special Olympics. There was a poll at the bottom, so I voted and was surprised by the results...
Obama’s joke about the Special Olympics was…
Just a light-hearted, self-deprecating comment. Get over it people. 27.54%
Maybe a dumb thing to say, but he didn’t mean it in a mean-spirited way, and it is pretty funny. 26.04%
A tasteless comment that he should not have said, period. 24.92%
Why are we even talking about this? 21.5%
I guess I'm surprised that almost 50% of people don't think this is a big deal at all. Does that mean that almost half of our country thinks it's perfectly fine for the President to ridicule people with disabilities? Perhaps that's not too surprising in a country where 90% of babies with Down syndrome are aborted, but I guess I just wish for more for our country, more for Aidan, more for children with disabilities. I hope for a day when Aidan has the same opportunities as everyone else, not just by law, but in people's hearts as well.

Well said.

Field Trip

Dear Friends,

Today I went with my preschool class on a field trip to the post office and to see a train. We have been learning a lot about trains in school. At the post office I got to see what happens "back stage" and mailed a post card I made.The best part of the day was getting to see the train. It is parked in Gambier on the Koksoing Gap Trail. The train is fully restored and we even got to get inside the caboose. It was so much fun. Another fun part of the day was riding the school bus!

Love,
Lucy

Spread the Word to End the Word

I saw this on the Elliot's blog and wanted to share. I'm buying the t-shirt. It's worth four minutes.

Mommy the Zoo Keeper

Everyone has those toddler talk stories. You know those ones when the family is in the car and the toddler in the back seat says something totally silly. Those things they might say as you are putting them down to bed that make you forget about the mess they made and just ease the stress you have. Times when they are trying to make sence of their world with the vocabulary that they have. Lucy is doing amazing things but I've longed for some of those moments. I remember waiting for her to say "Mommy." I took a litte longer but it came.

Today I talked with her speech therapist and am glad to report that those comments could be right around the corner. During speech she was playing with a plastic hippo and the zoo keeper, who she called Mommy. Mommy fell off the hippo and her therapist told her to tell Mommy to get back on. Lucy came back with a 5 word sentence. A five word sentence! (a rough measurment is one word per year 3 years = three word phrase) Lucy said, "Get on please hippo Mommy." A little out of order- but I do believe that's the cute toddler phrase I've been waiting for.

Locker Soccer

Saturday we were able to attend the 3-5 playgroup. We were so excited to finally be able to go.It had been a while since we have been able to make it. We went to an indoor soccer place in Powell called Locker Soccer. It was great. The kids got to play inside a walled in area that had some fake grass so it was kind of soft. They ran around and kicked soccer balls. It was so nice to see some families we hadn't seen in awhile.
They had some organized games planned. When ever the "coach" would call them over Lucy would head right over and sit in the circle. He had them run back and forth from wall to wall. She was able to stay right in the middle of the pack. So often she's heading up the rear. Then he had them stretch. I wish I would've caught it on video. She followed right along. During the actual "games" she just ran around. It was so much fun! I got some pictures but nothing special. It's difficult chasing after two kids holding one and remembering to capture the moment. I guess it was one of the times we just enjoyed the moment. Simon had a great time too. With only a car nap he wanted to follow his own agenda.
Days like these make me wish we lived closer to Columbus. I wish Lucy (and us) could have a chance to interact with our DSACO friends more often. There are also opportunities there that or little town just can't provide.

Family

We finally caught him smiling. He has been smiling for a while not but we haven't been able to catch it on camera. They grow and change so quickly.

Things here are good. Lucy is enjoying preschool. We had parent teacher conferences and those went well. We are always trying to decided what is the best classroom setting for her. We weren't totally convinced she's in the right place now. Right now she is in a small classroom with only 12 students and 6 of those kids also have an IEP. She will probably be in preschool for two more years and we know that we want her fully included when she goes to kindergarten. So when do we switch her to a "typical" classroom? Do we switch her? What truly is the best for her? We know what we want for her but we want to make sure we do what's best and not just what we think looks the best. I feel like we could be doing so much more for her but time just seems to go by so quickly.

Simon and Lucy get along so well. You can already see how he challenges her. He can go down the steps standing up now and so Lucy has really been working on it. She needs an extra hand. (She so short and you can tell it strains her ankles) She works so hard at it though.

We have really been working on getting more 3 and 4 word pharses. Yesterday Kevin heard her say "This is serious." It's from the Wonder Pets. It's too cute!

I was reading some blogs this morning and came across this video. I love things that help to break down the sterotypes. Take a moment to watch.

Mondays

On Mondays usually one of us takes Lucy to see Joanne for tutoring. When I have the day off work both of us like to go so that we can head to COSI after Joanne's. So that's how we spent our President's Day. COSI was very crowded but they kids didn't seem to mind. While Lucy was at tutoring I took Simon to Cookie Cutters for his first offical hair cut. I hated to see his curls go but they were getting a little out of control. Here's the big boy. He looks so grown up.

Before the snow melted, we were able to spend some time outside on one of the warmer days. Since the snow was pretty icy it took a lot of work for Lucy to manuver around. So she wasn't up for pictures. Simon on the other hand had a great time. They love being outside. Its been so hard being stuck inside this winter.

Valentine's Day

This was my first Valentine's box. I made it in preschool. I had such a good time at my party. Mommy and I brought cheese and crackers for snack and we cut the cheese into heart shapes.

Waffles Fall Down

So the other day at breakfast. Lucy looks at me and says, "Mommy, waffles fall down" and then she laughs. She keeps saying this over and over and continues to laugh at herself. Now she was eating a waffle so I'm thinking she just being silly. She has said this a few more times in the past week. Always laughing.
Then on the way to preschool this moring. We were singing some songs in the car. Then she says again, "Mommy, waffles fall down."
"Lucy that is not a song." Then I think to myself... "waffles fall down.... We all fall down." We have been playing Ring Around the Rosie often. That time at breakfast I think we had played it the night before. "Lucy are you saying we all fall down?" "Uh huh." Then we began to sing.

Breakfast

Breakfast is usually the most uncomplicated meal of the day. Waffles, mini pancakes, Honeynut Cheerios, or oatmeal - any of them make Simon and Lucy content. This morning Lucy choose Cheerios but also insisted that Linny, Tuck, and Ming-Ming sit with her. Simon was already finished and I tried to sit them in his seat but she wanted to hold them. This was her attempt at Cheerios with the Wonder Pets in her lap. As you can see, she was able to fingure it out in the end.

Happy Birthday Simon

Today Simon turned 2. Here he is enjoying his favorite dinner- Spaghetti. We topped it off with cupcakes. In honor of his birthday we thought we would list just some things about him.

1. He has the most amazing personality- So sweet, kind, and full of life.

2. He loves to laugh.

3. He loves to cuddle and give hugs and kisses.

4. He absolutely hates it when his sister steals his cars and trains.

5. He is so gentle

6. He would sit on your lap and read books all afternoon.

7. Like his dad, he loves to go to asleep, but hates getting up.

8. He went from one word sentences to three word sentences in the last fewweeks.

9. He makes friends so easily - everybody loves him.

10. He's all boy.

He has truly been a gift from God. He just has this way of making you smile and laugh when you need it most. We are so lucky to have him. He brightens our home.

Another Snow Day

Another day off for Lucy and Mommy. We had such a fun day playing together.

Listening

As I sit here and check facebook and some blogs. I'm distracted by the sounds of Lucy and Simon playing together. Talking, chasing, laughing. These moments give me a view of the friendship that will build in the years to come.
Although they know how to push each other's buttons - Most of the time they really do play well together. I can't wait until Ian can join in.

You maybe surprised by two post in such a short amount of time. We are trying to be more faithful.

boxes

We live in a world where people are constantly put in boxes and we have this love of labeling people. The day Lucy was born she was given a huge label and put in a tiny box. Most people felt sorry for us (including ourselves) and they told us all the things she would never be able to do.

It was a constant battle to get people to look at her as an individual and not this person with a huge label and a tiny box. Whenever we had a concern about something or mentioned something about her, people (Doctors and therapists) would say it was because of Down Syndrome. We had to fight for them to see Lucy as a unique individual and not just the Down Syndrome girl.

One example of this was when took Lucy to see the chief orthopedic at Children’s because she wasn’t walking right and we knew something was wrong. He told us some time kid’s with Down’s just walk like that. It took us another visit before he at least said it might be something else, but even then he didn’t refer us to anyone else. After we did some more digging we finally got a referral, from someone else, to a Rheumatologist who very quickly diagnosed her arthritis (JRA) and eventually got it under control. But because the first doctor refused to look past her “Down Syndrome” she could have been in pain a whole lot longer that she needed to.

Then today I had a conversation with Lucy’s Speech Therapist. This lady is wonderful! Today she told me that Lucy told her three different four word sentences. Which in her words, “Is almost advanced for her age.” Advanced, not for kids with Down Syndrome, but for any kid at three and a half. This lady, along with some other therapists and tutors we have found our pushing Lucy to be all that Lucy can be and not what Down Syndrome tells them she can be.

Now I know that in certain ways Lucy fits the Down Syndrome stereo type pretty well, but not nearly in all ways or even most ways. The problem is if you start looking for the Down Syndrome you can get tunnel vision and not see anything else or worse, not expect anything else. And if you don’t expect any thing else you will usually not get anything else.

We don’t want Lucy babied her entire life. We don’t want her just dealt with in school. We don’t want her to get by or get away with stuff just because of her diagnosis. We expect a lot out of our little girl and we find the more we expect the more she blows our expectations out of the water.

Are we going to push her and be these demanding parents her entire life? Of course not! But we will strive to give here the room and the support so that she can achieve anything and everything she has the potential to do in her life. That means no boxes for Lucy! And though she has a label of Down Syndrome, that is not nearly as important as who she is… Lucy Kay!

New Brothers Name

New brothers name is Ian James Peterson.

New Little Brother

Mommy had my new little brother this morning at 6:22 AM. He weighed in at 8 lbs. 14 ozs. and was 21 1/4 inches long. Both mom and new brother are doing great!

WNZR

Welcome to all of those who heard my mom and dad get interviewed on WNZR this morning! For starters, mom and dad are going to try really hard to update this sight a little more often. Next if you want to read my story from the beginning you'll have to click on "2005" on the right hand side of this page, then scroll down to the bottom of that page and click "older posts," and then scroll down to the bottom of that page and that should be the first post on her blog. You should be able to find your way from there. It's been an interesting journey these last three plus year, but one my whole family is so grateful for! Enjoying reading all about me!!!

Update

Sorry for not updating as much as I should, but here are some updates:

Preschool is going so much better! I don't cry anymore and I usually don't even want to leave when dad comes to get me. I've learned so much there and mom and dad are so proud.

My arthritis has really come under control lately; I can even keep up with Simon now! For a while there I struggled with anemia do to my arthritis medicine, but my last two blood tests showed that is now within normal ranges.

The Buddy Walk was so much fun. Thank to everybody who showed up, helped, gave money, or just wished us well. We raised almost $2000! I'm also Miss May in the anual calendar our associations makes. If you want one they cost $10.

Mom and dad will be on a local radio show to talk about me and down syndrome for down syndrome awarenss month on Thursday the 16th at 7:45 AM. WNZR (90.9) for all of you in the Mount Vernon area (though you might be able to find it on their web sight as well). They are a bit nervous about doing it, so they picked the station where they know the dj's to start and might try to go on a few of the bigger stations in the area if this one goes well.

And last but not least, my new little brother should be here within the next month!

I love you all!

First week of Preschool...

Let's just say it was tough. There were tears every day, and not just mine. But I made it through every day and ended up having lots of fun. Here's some pictures from my first day...

Here's one of me of getting my hair brushed that morning:

Here's one of Simon cheesing cause he knows he's gonna get mommy to himself all morning long now:

Looking all cute with my new bookbag:

Me and Mommy:

Going in the kids door:

Playing with play dough at my table:

Tips...

I found this on another blog:

Sarah Palin has just joined John McCain as his running mate, and she took the stage in Dayton accompanied by her husband Todd and four of her five children — including youngest son Trig, who was born in April. (Oldest son Track is in the Army, and will deploy to Iraq next month.)

A few minutes before Palin appeared, I heard David Gergen on CNN referring to Trig Palin as “a Down syndrome child.”

Ouch.We can do better than that.

It’s worth remembering that people with Down syndrome are just that — people — and should be referred to as such. Let’s make an extra effort, when discussing Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, to say that Trig “has Down syndrome,” or is a “child with Down syndrome.”

Using language that puts the person first sends a strong message that people should not be defined by their disabilities. Like all Americans, people with disabilities deserve our respect and consideration.

And while we’re on the subject, let me offer some guidance on disrespectful language to avoid in discussing the lives of people who have Down syndrome.

Please, people, let’s not say that they “suffer” from Down syndrome, or that they are “afflicted” by Down syndrome. Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition that doesn’t interfere with a person’s ability to lead a happy, satisfying and productive life, and to contribute to their family and community.

Please, don’t refer to Trig as a “Down’s child,” a “Down syndrome child,” or “a Downs.” This is outdated language that demeans in its assumption that a person’s disability is the most important thing about them. And I shouldn’t have to tell you that old-fashioned terms like “mongoloid” and “mongol” are considered insulting by the disability community.

Looking for more information? Here’s a release from the National Down Syndrome Congress and the National Down Syndrome Society.

Almost time to start school...

Last night mom, dad, and brother took me shopping for school supplies and then this morning we went to an open house where I got to meet my teachers for this year. Next Tuesday we start for real. Mom and dad are excited for me, but I can still see the tears in their eyes when they talk about it.

THE BUDDY WALK

Friends and Family,

For the first time Lucy will be leading a team of walkers around Crew Stadium for her first Buddy Walk! The Buddy Walk is basically a way to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome and to raise funds for the organization (The Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio) that has helped our family so much over these past three years. They helped send our family to the National Convention a few weeks ago, they have provided a support group for our family, they provide a play group for Lucy, and they have tons of other stuff they we haven’t even tapped into yet. Without them we don’t know where we would be right now.

We believe in DSACO and all the good they do in Central Ohio. For that reason our whole family will be walking with Lucy on September 28th and we would like to ask you to join with us. If you would like to help you have several options: You can just donate on line to support her team. You can sign up to walk with her ($15 for an individual and that comes with a t-shirt, $25 for a family and that comes with two t-shirts with each additional shirt costing $10). Or you can sign up to” walk” with her so you can get a t-shirt even though you can’t make it out for the actual walk around Crew Stadium. No matter what, you can give as much money as you want for Lucy’s Team which is called “We Love Lucy.” You can also raise money yourself for her team, contact us for more information on how to do that.

If we get 24 people to sign up to walk with us we will get customized shirts with our team name on the back. To get one of those shirts you must be signed up by September 8th. Everything can be done using credit cards at Lucy’s team page: http://www.dsaco.net/bwt.php?id=563&u=3987 Or see the information below about where you can send a check if you want.

A quick update on Lucy: Lucy has been doing great lately! Her arthritis is under control and she even started running! She has been working with a tutor who specializes in kids with Down syndrome and Lucy can now recognize the whole alphabet, can sight read twenty to thirty words, knows all of her colors, and is learning to count. She is almost potty trained! She starts pre-school this September and Mommy and Daddy are very nervous about that. She loves to torment her younger brother Simon and is looking forward to welcoming in little brother #2 sometime this November!

We were scared to death three years ago when we found out Lucy had Down Syndrome. We were scared for her and scared for us. We didn’t know what her extra chromosome would mean for our lives. We still don’t have all the answers we want, but we now know that Lucy is one of the most wonderful things that has ever happened to us and we wouldn’t trade her for the world! Thank you all for your friendship, love, and support you have given us on this journey!

Grace and Peace,
Kevin and Mandy Peterson

P.S. If you have any questions you can email (peterkevinson@yahoo.com) or call me (740-392-3197)

Below is some more info that was copied from the Buddy Walk page at dsaco.net

The Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio (DSACO) will host its 7th Annual Buddy Walk on Sunday, September 28, 2008 at Crew StadiumWhat is the Buddy Walk?The Buddy Walk is an event where we celebrate and support people with Down syndrome. We use this event to gain support for our organization. Individuals with Down syndrome, families and friends walk a one-mile course beginning at 10:00 a.m. and then enjoy fun at Crew Stadium. This includes music with Arnett Howard, superheroes, face painters, balloon artists and clowns. This year, we anticipate the Buddy Walk to attract over 3500 participants from across Central Ohio and hope to reach our fundraising goal of $200,000. More importantly, we hope that all participants will help to spread the message that individuals with Down syndrome possess a wide range of abilities and are active participants in the community.Where is the Buddy Walk?This year's Buddy Walk will be held on Sunday, September 28, 2008 at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio ( view map ).HistoryThe Buddy Walk was established by the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) in 1995 to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome and to raise funds for education, research and advocacy programs. In 2006 alone, the Buddy Walk raised more than $5.5 million nationwide. This year over 250,000 people are expected to participate in more than 260 walks across the country. It is the premier advocacy event for Down syndrome. NDSS would also like to congratulate and recognize the Columbus Buddy Walk for their great success last year. To show their appreciation, Joe Bockerstette, Chair of the NDSS Board of Directors, will be attending the Columbus Buddy Walk in 2008! NDSS is representing ten (10) Buddy Walks this year and because of our generous contribution made in 2007 ours is one of them. In addition, a picture of the Columbus Buddy Walk will be included in the 2008 Times Square Video. RegistrationYou can pre-register online with a credit card by clicking on one of the links on the left or complete a registration form and mail it to the office. Our office address is:Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio2879 Johnstown Rd.Columbus, OH 43219Walk day registration starts at 9:00 AM ET. There will be separate areas for walk day and team registration. Each participant, family or team will need to check-in in order to receive the Buddy Walk t-shirt. If you are pre-registered on a team, your team captain has your t-shirt.TeamsOne of the ways you can help build excitement for the Buddy Walk is by creating a team that raises money for a specific "Buddy", an individual with Down syndrome. Buddy Walk teams can consist of family, friends, students and/or colleagues. Teams with 24 or more individuals walking on behalf of a buddy receive customized t-shirts with your team name. You can show your team spirit at the Buddy Walk by creating your own pins or buttons and proudly carrying banners and/or signs with your team name and picture of your buddy.To join a team, click on the "Register to Walk now" link on the left and select a team from the list or search for a team by entering all or part of the team's name in the "Find or Create a Team/Buddy" area on the left. If you want to start a team, click on the "Create a New Team" link on the left. Note: If you have already registered as an individual participant or family and want to now start or join a team, you need to send an email to office@dsaco.net to let us know which team you wish to join or form.The Buddy WalkOn September 28, from 9:00 AM ET until 1:00 PM ET, local celebrities, Andrea Cambern, Gabe Spiegel, and Dino Tripodis, from Sunny 95 Radio, will host activities. At 10:00 Am ET, the walk will start with Arnett Howard leading the walkers with a heart warming trumpet call. The walk around Crew Stadium begins and ends where post walk activities include a live band, raffle, face painting and many more activities.DSACO Buddy Walk Night with The Crew: Sunday, October 26th at 5:00 pm ET The Crew will be offering special to all Buddy Walk participants, family and friends with a portion of the proceeds being donated back to DSACO! The kids will be able to interact with the Crew players and be part of the players' tunnel on the field! You can purchase these special discounted tickets for $10.00 by contacting the office.What you can do to helpPlease register for the Walk and join in the celebration. You can help us promote the Buddy Walk by distributing posters and brochures, obtaining pledges or starting a team. We always need volunteers, please contact the office if you would like to help. If you would like to become a sponsor, view our sponsor page. For more information, call the DSACO office at 614-342-5757 or email office@dsaco.net.Online registration is Open. Use the "Find or Create a Team/Buddy" to join a team either to attend the walk with or direct a donation.

Boston Pictures

On the Waterfront...

Boston Commons...

Worn Out...

At the New England Aquarium...

We're Back

Well we've made it safely home from the NDSC convention. We had a great time. Boston is a kickin' city. We took a lot of walks and Mom and Dad took turns going to seminars. Brother and I did a fabulous job sharing a room. I met lots of new friends and Mom and Dad continue to dream big dreams for me.

New Doctor

This week mom and dad found me a new doctor. It was an answer to prayer. This doctor actually has two boys with down syndrome and is on the national committee that makes the medical guidelines for kids with down syndrome. One of the biggest frustrations we have found over the last three years is that no one specializes in down syndrome, at best it is just a very small part of their practice. So when we went to see this doctor, mom and dad were thrilled to talk to someone who knew more than anyone we ever talked to be before. He gave us so much good advice.

We also got my latest blood results back and I'm not anemic anymore!!!

We are also heading out soon for our first Down Syndrome National Convention. We are all really excited about it!

Update

Well, it’s been a long time since I’ve last updated everyone. As you can tell from all the pictures dad posted below I’ve recently turned three and mom and dad have said I’m going to have another little brother this November. I’m enjoying life more and more every day!

The little brother I already have, Simon, already weighs more than me, but I am sure to always remind him that I’m the oldest. We got along great and always play together, though we occasionally fight over toys.

Mommy has started potty training me this summer. It’s been tough, but I’m already making a lot of progress. The accidents are getting fewer and fewer every day.

My tutor is making lots of progress with me. I know almost every letter in the alphabet and can sight read approximately fifteen words. You can’t always understand everything I say, but my vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds every day.

My arthritis is doing tons better. We’ve finally found a drug that works really well. I rarely feel any pain and I hardly even limp anymore. I’m pretty much running now and can almost jump. The only problem is that we think the new medicine is causing me to be anemic. So now mom is trying as hard as she can to get more foods with iron into my little body.

I thought I would close with my Top Ten Favorite Things:
10. Waking up at 6 AM to Watch Cartoons
9. Playing Outside
8. Singing
7. Taco Bell
6. Music and Dancing
5. Ice Cream
4. Mommy and Daddy
3. The Wonder Pets
2. My Brother Simon
1. Picking on Simon

By the way...

I'm gonna have another little brother this November!