Thank you to our super talented friend, Nicole Fields for taking these pictures in our home. We love them. And yes, we serve bloody marys when the photographer comes over!
Butterflies and Bellybuttons
A single mother with three girls merges lives with a widowed father with three boys. Read how their lives evolve in a world of love, joy, laughter, frustration, anger, guilt, disabilities, loss and all the daily joys of life filled with butterflies and belly buttons. Life is much better when it's shared!
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Friday, March 7, 2014
Hey Batter Batter...
And soccer player, and swimmer! It's that time!
Wow, are we going to have one busy family.
Lucy is continuing on her indoor soccer team. All Dylan, Trevor and Cody are all playing baseball this year. And, Gabby will start Special Olympics Swim the second weekend in March.
I can feel an anxiety attack as I type this.
Currently, Andy is working on re-vamping our desk area where we hang our family calendar (in the kitchen) so that we can accommodate two calendar months, not just one.
Don't mind that this all comes on the heals of the hardest school year (in terms of schedules) ever! We have 4 schools & 5 different school schedules. That alone is EXHAUSTING. Sometimes Andy and/or I are in the car for a 3 hour stretch doing drop off or pick up.
WE CAN DO IT. WE CAN DO IT. I keep telling myself this.
Oh yeah, and we also decided to gut our playroom and turn it into a kids office area. No. Big. Deal.
Wow, are we going to have one busy family.
Lucy is continuing on her indoor soccer team. All Dylan, Trevor and Cody are all playing baseball this year. And, Gabby will start Special Olympics Swim the second weekend in March.
I can feel an anxiety attack as I type this.
Currently, Andy is working on re-vamping our desk area where we hang our family calendar (in the kitchen) so that we can accommodate two calendar months, not just one.
Don't mind that this all comes on the heals of the hardest school year (in terms of schedules) ever! We have 4 schools & 5 different school schedules. That alone is EXHAUSTING. Sometimes Andy and/or I are in the car for a 3 hour stretch doing drop off or pick up.
WE CAN DO IT. WE CAN DO IT. I keep telling myself this.
Oh yeah, and we also decided to gut our playroom and turn it into a kids office area. No. Big. Deal.
The kiddos literally touched every single toy in the playroom to decide if they wanted to keep or toss. So many toys donated and/or sold on craigslist!
Check back for an update on this project!
Labels:
baseball,
playroom,
schedules,
soccer,
Special Olympics
Location:
Roseville, CA, USA
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
What's In A Word? What's In A Look?
Today is Spread the Word to End the Word Day - where people are encouraged to pledge to NOT use the word Retard. When they were originally introduced, the terms “mental retardation” or “mentally retarded” were medical terms with a specifically clinical connotation; however, the pejorative forms, “retard” and “retarded” have been used widely in today’s society to degrade and insult people with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, when “retard” and “retarded” are used as synonyms for “dumb” or “stupid” by people without disabilities, it only reinforces painful stereotypes of people with intellectual disabilities being less valued members of humanity.
Of course, this word is especially hurtful when we hear our friends and family use this word. So, it's important to us to educate and help explain WHY this word hurts us so.
We all know that the saying "Sticks and stones might break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is the farthest thing from the truth, right?
But what about body language?
A few weeks ago, DSIA had our first Self Advocate (person with Down syndrome) join our board of directors and she attended her first meeting. I loved spending time with her. She was funny, smart and full of spunk.
Unfortunately, there was a mis-communication about who was giving her a ride home/picking her up after the meeting. So, I waited with her outside. Our board meetings are downtown, on Capitol Mall. We waited on the corner outside a really nice restaurant. It was the day before Valentine's and there were a lot of people coming and going into the restaurant. We stood there talking, looking for her ride, checking our cell phones....looking perfectly "normal."
Except not.
And the looks from others proved it to me.
Disgust
Horror
Disgrace
Bothered
All words I would use to describe how people felt when they saw us. All because one of us looked different. I would love to think it was because of my way too casual look of sweatpants, but, I am heartbroken to know it was because she had Down syndrome. Because she was different.
So much work done, so much much much more to do.
And I will not stop. My hope is Gabby will never know those looks.
And if she does, my hope is she won't care. She knows better.
Of course, this word is especially hurtful when we hear our friends and family use this word. So, it's important to us to educate and help explain WHY this word hurts us so.
We all know that the saying "Sticks and stones might break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is the farthest thing from the truth, right?
But what about body language?
A few weeks ago, DSIA had our first Self Advocate (person with Down syndrome) join our board of directors and she attended her first meeting. I loved spending time with her. She was funny, smart and full of spunk.
Unfortunately, there was a mis-communication about who was giving her a ride home/picking her up after the meeting. So, I waited with her outside. Our board meetings are downtown, on Capitol Mall. We waited on the corner outside a really nice restaurant. It was the day before Valentine's and there were a lot of people coming and going into the restaurant. We stood there talking, looking for her ride, checking our cell phones....looking perfectly "normal."
Except not.
And the looks from others proved it to me.
Disgust
Horror
Disgrace
Bothered
All words I would use to describe how people felt when they saw us. All because one of us looked different. I would love to think it was because of my way too casual look of sweatpants, but, I am heartbroken to know it was because she had Down syndrome. Because she was different.
So much work done, so much much much more to do.
And I will not stop. My hope is Gabby will never know those looks.
And if she does, my hope is she won't care. She knows better.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Down Syndrome Awareness Month & Gabby's Birthday
Is it any wonder that they share the same month?
This year, Andy asked why is it that I get so emotional on Gabby’s
birthday. I don’t have this same overpowering weepiness on Lucy or Evey’s.
It’s hard to put into words.
12 years later I can still remember everything about that day. The
dimness of the labor room. How scared and tired I was. Finally being moved to delivery.
How very hungry I was. And when the doctor told me I could start pushing –
after 39 hours of labor I could not wait to me my baby.
The room immediately filled up with doctors. There were some other
complications with the birth and I was eagerly waiting for someone to yet “It’s
a…...” Finally someone said “girl”. I
could not believe I had a daughter. And
then I held her. I never experienced a love like that.
And after awhile, the doctor, Gabby’s dad and his uncle all gathered
around the bed to tell me she had Down syndrome. I cried and cried. I asked, “
How do you know?” And the doctor said, “I can tell just by looking at her.” And
I said words that will forever haunt me, “But she’s so beautiful.” As if babies
with Down syndrome were not beautiful. And then he told us we had options – we could
put her in an institution. And I was immediately snapped out of my sadness. Did
he really just say that? I don’t remember what happened next, it was a blur – I
was so emotionally and physically exhausted.
After a bit, we had a visit by Melinda and Cindy, life long friends of
mine. Melinda was the only other person I knew who had a child with a
disability – and I remember her looking at me and saying, “You can do this.”
I remember asking if we still wanted to name her Gabriella. As if
somehow she wasn’t good enough for that name now. I didn’t understand any of my
feelings. When I looked at her, I just thought,
“Oh my, she is such a Gabby Girl”
The nurse swaddled Gabby up and said she was taking her to the nursery
for a bottle. I explained that I had every intention of breastfeeding. I don’t
even think we had bottles at home. The nurse just smiled and said, “Oh honey,
these babies don’t breastfeed.” I don’t remember what came next, but the next
thing I knew I had that baby in my arms, cuddled up to me, trying to nurse. And
it was then that it dawned on me, that for the rest of Gabby’s life, people
would tell us what she couldn’t do and it would be up to us to prove them
wrong.
Once we left that hospital, I never looked back. Taking her home
provided such healing. Our days were filled with normal baby stuff – we did have
extra complications with nursing, but after 3 ½ months, we figured it out and
she nursed until I became pregnant with Lucy. Gabby was my best friend – I
loved spending every single minute with her. I slept with her cuddled up in my
arms next to me. We took the dog on long walks and spent time with friends and
family.
Since starting DSIA in 2004, it has become my passion that people see
people for who they are – not what they can offer or give you, not for what
they might become or do with their lives. I often say that having a child with
a disability is so freeing. It taught me to love unconditionally, in the purest
form.
What I would love people to know is that people with any sort of
disabilities are just like you and I. They love, they feel, they learn, and
they teach. Sometimes they do things at a different pace or a different way,
but they try just as hard, if not harder than someone who does not have a
disability.
My hope, in the coming year, with DSIA’s Medical Outreach Program that
we can change the way doctors give a diagnosis. That it is not riddled with misinformation
and fear. That professionals are educated about what living with Down syndrome
is truly like – and there is support and love out there to help you in this
journey.
To this day I am haunted by my sadness on October 30, 2001. I feel like
I betrayed my daughter by feeling so sad over who she was. In truth, she is
perfect. Blissfully perfect.
"Had I any inkling of what (her) life would be like
when she was born, I wouldn't have shed a single tear." Ellen Jennings
Friday, August 30, 2013
Middle School and Letting Go
This year Gabby started Middle School, 6th grade
or Junior High…however you want to see it. Big stuff, Right?
She started on August 15th, a Thursday. Her aide
from elementary school, Mr. Williams, met her there and stayed until she told
him to leave, which was after second period. He made Gabby show him where her
classroom was, her locker, the gym etc.…. He told her, “Gabby, I don’t know
this school, it’s your school, and you show me around.” He had sent me text
stating that she was doing great and was getting the hang of getting around.
So, on the following Monday, I took her to school and on our
drive (which is from West Roseville to Carmichael), I asked her a few questions.
“So Gabs, tell me again
what class you have first?”
And she said “PE”.
“And what do you need to bring to PE again?”
“Just my binder”
“Do you need your locks?”
“No, no locks yet, they will tell us when we need our locks
for our PE lockers”
“I forget, what room do you go to?”
“25.”
AWESOME. She knows it all! So, I walk her up to the hallway
that leads to the lockers, say bye and walk away with Lucy. Lucy and I get
about halfway around the building and I tell her, I have to go back. Lucy can
tell that I am crying and she asks if I am worried about Gabby and I tell her
yes. I look down the long hallway and Gabby is standing at the end, almost to
the hallway she needs to go down for her locker. She’s looking around, and then
her shoulders pick up and she knows where she needs to go. We watch her put her
stuff in her locker and we walk away.
There are teachers at the end of every hallway making sure
kiddos are going where they need to go. I stop to talk to one but I was having
a hard time through the tears. But he gets the gist of what I am worried about
and calls over the principle. The principle is so nice and he walks Lucy and I back
to his office, pulls up Gabby’s student file and says, “I’ll got check to make
sure she is where she needs to be.” About 3 minutes pass and he walks in with 2
thumbs up and says she’s in room 25 listening to her PE teacher lecture. He reassured me that he had met with Mr.
Williams last week and Mr. Williams was VERY confident that Gabby could handle
this new transition. The principle then hands me a handful of Tootsie Roll Suckers
and tells me to have one every time I am worried about her today and to
remember that she can do this.
Of course she can. She knows what she is doing. She’s got this.
I’m bursting with pride and happiness. And a little bit of
shame that I doubted her abilities.
Picking her up was amazing. An aide walked out with her to
let us know how great she did. She said, if she were I, she wouldn’t think
twice about dropping her off. Gabby knows what she is doing, where she is going
and what she needs to do. I thought my heart was going to burst open. Her and
Gabby then rattled off names of all her friends in each class and lunch.
AMAZING!
I high fived my girl and we headed off to pick up Lucy.
Gabby ran into her 5th grade teacher and Mrs. K hugged her and said,
“Gabby I have missed you! You were my inspiration!”
Truth is, Gabby is my inspiration too.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
It's been a year
… a year
since we have last posted. A year of ups, downs, and changes. And this blog is a place for us to share…. So
we can learn from others and ourselves.
This post contains some pretty personal topics and strong language… So,
read at your own will.
I have been struggling with the balance of work and home life – and it
leaves me tired and on edge. Andy is at home all day with the kiddos, which
leaves him wanting adult conversation. We have been struggling in our
partnership. So, we are working on some options and continue to make sure we
are taking time for ourselves. Most importantly, we are focused on talking
about things. You would think after three years, I would figure out this whole
communication thing. We are focused on getting US back on track. We notice that
our kiddos do better when we are doing better. Go figure!
Family update… we now have a Junior Higher! And Gabby is rockin'
it! Lucy is in 5th grade, Dylan in 3rd and Trevor is in 2nd. Cody started Kindergarten at the same school
as D & T. Evey will be starting her last year at Tricks Preschool. WHEW! In
addition, T and C moved out of car seats and into booster seats and C & E
are taking showers by themselves! Time, please slow down!
Milestones…. This summer we were deeply aware that it was the mark of Dylan
now moving in a direction where he has been alive longer without Jen, than with
her. And of course, since he is the oldest of the boys, that’s been true for Trevor and Cody even longer. The boys started an Art Grief Therapy group back in April. They go every
other Tuesday and it gives them a place to talk about Jen and share. We are
hopeful that the stories that Dylan and Trevor are sharing are creating
memories for Cody. They seem to enjoy it and really look forward to it. And, Andy
has met another Dad who lost his wife to cancer and Andy feels he’s been able
to be of some support. I have no doubt he is.
This summer also brought along BIG conversations for me, Gabby and
Lucy. One morning while Andy had the 4 littles at a birthday party, we were
able to have a nice long conversation about body changes. I had had a few discussions
with Andy, their pediatrician, and friends and felt I had a good plan. We
talked a lot; we read books and had a small demo with grape juice and feminine
products. TMI, right? Well, it has to be done! HA HA. Gabby was pretty focused
and took away some key points of the conversation. Even though her body seems
far off from ANY changes, I know that she will need more time to grasp all of
it so it’ll be a lot of revisiting…. Which is fine since Lucy asks questions
NON STOP. After
about 3 hours of talking, she grabbed her journal and wrote copious notes, making lists of what brands of deodorant, tampons and pads. It was sweet and she
doesn’t seem embarrassed at all to ask any questions. SCORE! There's not many times I feel like I am rocking this parenting thing - but this day I felt on top of the world!
About 6 weeks after the talk, Lucy ran a duathlon, and had been
complaining of pain in her breast area. We noticed very small growth and decided
this, paired with Gabby starting middle school was the perfect time to go bra
shopping. Did I really just say that? So, yea, we have a middle schooler and 5th grader who wears bras! Again, time, please slow down!
We spent a lot of time at Grandma Betty and Papa's pool this summer and Dylan and Trevor learned to swim without their life vests! So Proud! And, Cody and Evey are SO close!
Some other changes…our lab Annie, has come to live with us. She was
staying with Gabby and Lucy’s father when we moved in with Andy and the boys. After 2 years of
getting our routine down, I was ready to add her back into our mix and Andy was
excited to also! She is doing great here!
We are busy with home projects…whole house fan, recessed lighting and
adding new pictures. We are looking forward to painting room by room and some
smaller projects.
About a week before school started, Andy and I found ourselves with a
night alone and headed up to Tahoe. It was FANTASTIC and just what we needed. We erased some bad
memories. We do that by going to a place that one of us has previously been and
where had created a bad memory, for whatever reason, and create a great memory
there together. We call it PIPE WRENCHING it. It’s a reference from Good Will
Hunting. When Matt Damon’s character Will, is talking with Robin William’s character,
Sean, about his dad giving him options when it came to a beating and he would
pick the wrench.
Will:
He used to just put a belt, a stick, and a wrench on the kitchen table and say,
"Choose."
Sean:
Well, I gotta go with the belt there.
Will:
I used to go with the wrench.
Sean:
Why?
Will:
Cause fuck him, that' why.
We also created some amazing memories of our own. It was so wonderful to just be able to sit at talk. We had drinks at Fire
& Ice, Pizza at Blue Dog Pizza and a fantastic breakfast at Beach Bear
Café, overlooking the lake. We then hiked around and headed home via Truckee.
We ate some more… at Bar American and had beers, bought fudge and headed home!
It was PERFECT!
Here is to building memories, more time together and more time to
blog!
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