From my eyes…

I know I’ve slacked again on the blog. Boo for me. But I’ve packed a journal and plan to write each day that I’m gone on this big Philmont adventure. I want to make sure that in 10 years I remember every detail.
I’m very excited to go. I need to get away for a bit. It’s been a while since I travelled like this and I need to do it more often, but money you know. Blech. I’ll miss Mike and Abby and Ricky, and 5 softball games- boo. But I think what I’m getting to do will be worth it. Today was the perfect last day to spend at home. I’m all packed up now. I managed my time to the minute and was able to wash bed linens, towels, and load and unload the dishwasher. I ran an errand for work. And have just a few more things to do before I leave. In the middle of all the crazy to-do list chores a nice, windy, thundery, storm blew through my area. The clouds rolled in like waves on Lake Michigan and the sky darkened to the perfect shade of gray. Then came the rain and thunder and even a little lightening. It wasn’t long. I would have liked it to be the whole afternoon, but it passed quickly. Though once it passed, I was able to run out to get that work errand done.
Overall, it’s been a great day. Mike comes home from an over night trip he was on tonight and then I leave tomorrow. I hope Abby does ok - she really missed Mike and he was gone 48 hours. I’m going to be gone 12 days.
I’ll be back when I’m back in town to type out my journal entries and post some pics. But don’t get mad if it’s not the very day I return - I’ll only have 5 days until school starts, so that will take priority.

Thanksgiving and Independence Day are my favorite holidays. I think for Thanksgiving it’s the family getting together that I love and the time of year (fall is my very favorite). And for July 4th it’s always been the fireworks over the lake, the way we watched them when I was a kid. I think as an adult I love the 4th, because I get a to flashback to those younger years and I’m filled with joy like a child. I also have a strong passion for early American history and what better holiday to symbolize that than the 4th.

As much as this true American holiday is my favorite, there are things about our country that get under my skin like nothing else. There are so many things I feel like other countries have worked out that we haven’t. There are so many other places I often feel a sense of homesickness for, strange but true. When I get stressed, I feel like just running off to Europe and that things will be ok. But on July 4th, I focus on the wonders that our country holds. The basis on which America was founded. I look past the conspiracy theories, the slavery, the persecution based on religion, the poor decisions of our leaders - past and present, the violence, the gangs and the drugs. And I focus on the ambition, the drive, the dream. The freedom. The safety.

I focus on the fact that I am a woman who is allowed to speak when I please and say what I want. I focus on the fact that all people in my life are my equals, regardless of gender, religion, race, or sexuality. I relish in the fact that my vote WILL count come November and that I very well may be alive for a another huge piece of American history as the polls close that day. I focus on the brotherhood our country has developed between those of various roots, and how we come together without blinking when we need to. I focus on what our forefathers tried so hard to lay out for us. I believe that those men, and the women who supported them, had the very best in their hearts for us and truly wanted this new land to be a great success. I focus on that. And I celebrate. I celebrate what our lives are like in this country and I give deep amounts of thanks for all of the people who fought for what’s right in the world and created this place that I call home.

And what post about the 4th of July would be complete without a musical montage to my most favorite ever America song? This was the best one I could find - I am so not into the mean looking eagle with the flag waving behind him stuff. This video actually has shots of other parts of America, too (though some of them, like Mt, Rushmore I don’t approve of, today is the day I set that aside and celebrate the good). 

I hope you enjoy your holiday and have a moment to reflect on the good in our country and grandeur of our freedom.

I told you I would report back about how the coupons worked out for us. Well they worked out fabulously!
I did a little extra research to find what stores had deals to go with our coupons so we could get the most out of them. And I wrote down buy one, get one deals on products we like, too.
We did some serious grocery shopping yesterday. We bought stuff for tailgating (Mike went to the Sox game yesterday), we bought pop which we never have in the house, and I bought Nutella also never in the house. We could have passed on that stuff and probably the other 5 or so items that we didn’t really need per se, but we didn’t. And still our bill was just under $200. We were really impressed with what we got for that amount of money - the cart was so full I made Mike push it! And the best part was that our house is stocked for a good long while and we shopped smart and were able to save $63 and change. The only shopping left to do for a while is fresh stuff and items to create our Once A Month Cooking meals.  Next shopping trip I plan to use lots of online coupons also!

** I thought of doing OAMC last school year when we started eating horribly during the seasons that we are both coaching. It gets a little insane. Instead, this year, I am going to spend one day making several meals that can be frozen and simply dumped in a skillet when we get home from work. OAMC is apparently really big, so there are tons of yummy and fairly healthy (if you look) recipes for me to try. I’m looking forward to it.

I wanted to title this post “Right place at the Right Time” or “Revived Passion” or ” My newest Buddy” (as a play on words from the Best Buddies program. Instead, I’m shootin’ straight to the point. This post is about my neighbors newborn Chase.
Chase was born 8 days ago. He was a week past his due date, so mom went to be induced early Monday morning. He was a 7lb, 3 oz baby boy with lots of brown hair. He resembles his sister and make the cutest little squishy face. His dad says he looks like an old man when he does that. Chase was born with Down Syndrome. He was born to young parents who had no idea that their son would be different from their almost 4 year old daughter when he was born. From what mom says, they don’t have any background in Down Syndrome. I can imagine that they are ridiculously overwhelmed, scared, and disappointed all at the same time. I know, that with a background in special needs, specifically DS, I would still feel a loss for the child that I thought I was bringing into this world.

Thankfully, in my own life I know I have a tremendous support system. And I’ve got background knowledge and experience that would help me focus on the blessing quickly. I’m trying my best to combine my people skills with what I know about Down Syndrome to help my neighbors as much as I can without being pushy, or making them feel bad because they don’t know some things yet. I’m trying my best to make them see the miracle that is their son. It is clear they love him. It is also clear that they are nervous about the hard work that lays in front of them in raising this boy. I’m trying to take some of that pressure away, by mentioning a few things my best friend’s mom suggested. My best friend’s sister was born with DS 23 years ago and has a lot to show for it. She leads a very full and active life, something I know my neighbors hope for their new son. I’m hoping to be able to set the two moms up to chat soon, but again, it’s a delicate situation and I can’t be pushy. I’ll keep you posted on his progress as he grows - though I’m guessing that most of the growth will be within his parents and adult family members. His sister doesn’t understand how/why he is different and frankly, won’t care by the time she does understand. I know how eye opening it is to spend time with my best friend’s sister and her friends….that’s what my neighbors are in for and I can’t help but feel warm inside when I think about it. I can just picture this little baby grinning from ear to ear as a toddler and being a little terror to his big sis and bowling with his buddies as he gets older. I can see it, because I have seen it in others. I’ll keep trying to show it to his parents, so they can rebuild the dreams they have for their son!

The reason I was going to title this “Right place, Right time” is because I feel immensely connected to God’s will at the moment. I mean really, what are the chances that someone with my background (sociology degree emphasis on family, teaching degree with which I taught special ed teacher for 2 years, autism therapist, best friend who’s DS sister I’ve known since she was 9) would end up living in a cornfield where my neighbors have a son with Down Syndrome and the people across the street have a neice with Autism. I feel totally placed here. It is NOT where I picked to live. Not entirely. I thought I was going to be MUCH closer to Chicago when I moved here. When I finally found a job, but didn’t like it, I thought that was my cue to pack it up and head to where I wanted to be in the first place. But by the time I came around to doing that, I’d met Mike. And I was settling in here and the hard parts about living in the city were becoming more apparent. So, I decided to be a grown up and buy a house. It happened sooner than I’d intended, I found this house, the one I’m sitting in, very early into my search. But I loved it and I couldn’t pass it up, so I made it happen. I wonder now, if it was really my choice at all? I love helping people. I’m glad these are my neighbors. I’m glad we’ve developed friendships and trust so that I can help. It makes all the choices I’ve made in my life so far make sense.

The reason I was going to title this post Revived Passion, is because since chatting with my neighbor on that first day she was home, I’ve felt compelled to learn all I can about DS. I know what my experiences say. I know what I’ve been educated on from my friend’s family. I know the basics of the the cause, but I don’t know much more than that. I know from being in the Special Education world that my neighbors needs to get Chase signed up to start therapy when he’s the right age. And they need to put him in play groups and what not. And most importantly they need an advocate to help guide them through all of this legal non-sense. It’s this side of Chase’s life that has caused me to do a lot of Internet research. I’ve found blogs of families in my neighbors shoes. I’ve found letters from parents of DS kids sharing their stories of what a joy their children are. I’ve looked more closely at the Best Buddies, that I’m sure Janet and Kevin will want to sign Chase up for eventually. The best thing I’ve found is that they’ve got time. Chase is just a baby. Just a simple little baby, who eats, cries, sleeps, and poos like any other infant - just like the infant they thought they’d be bringng home. I think this is a hidden blessing in Down Syndrome - that it gives parents time to cope with what has been laid in their lap. Chase coming into the world has made me want to be more involved in both the DS world and the Autism world, for which I will always carry a deep passion for. I know my best friend, who I’ve been talking to everyday regarding Chase, feels that same way. It never ceases to amaze me how twists in turns in life can affect so many. Chase’s birth has been truly inspirational.

Now, I just wait for the right opportunities to help where I can. And I get to watch this darling child grow up right next door!

** This has been my favorite site so far, though there are some amazing family blogs out there, too. It has testimonials from parents, one from a sibling, one from a 13 year old girl with Down Syndrome. It also has a link for people like me, the friend, to know what to do/say to help the best way possible. It also includes what NOT to say which I wish all people we required to read. Be sure to click on Welcome to Holland in the first paragraph. It really puts thing in perspective!