MBT's first Easter....kind of

Although this really wasn't Marybeth's first Easter it was the first one she really enjoyed as an important part of our family

Happy Easter...A Day Late!

This year Easter arrived and we had the best intentions of making it a wonderful day for all. We have so much to be thankful for this year; good health, a happy family, a way of making money plus much more.

First trip to Lake Placid

This past weekend we decide to head up to Lake Placid for a few days to get away. Rick was teaching in Elizabethtown on Friday night and Saturday morning so the kids and I (minus Sammy..she had to work), took off Saturday morning and drove up to meet up with Rick.

Photos of MBT in her 1st year and a half

Marybeth's 1st year and a half photos

 I have put together a bunch of photos of Marybeth throughout her 1st year and a half. not sure if this is the best way to post them but being new, I am willing to try anything. Just click on the link above and it'll take you to flicker.  Hope you enjoy!

Marybeth's Faith

It's been a busy week so far and it's only Tuesday!  This week our church, St. Lawrence, in connection with a neighboring church, St. Mark's, are having a Lenten Retreat.  It began Sunday evening and runs through Wednesday evening. 

Finally! Her first 3 steps

Today Marybeth had physical therapy. She has been doing PT since she was 6 weeks, first every week then around the year mark she went to 2 times a month.  Today was one of those days.

today's funny

Today was a day just like most others. Being a Tuesday, I drive Rick into the hospital for his clinical. He needs to be there before 6am so my day starts a lot earlier than normal.  For the most part, it was a normal Tuesday, the kids got up, had breakfast, then began their school work. 

Superman???

Faster than a speeding bullet, stronger than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound....it's a bird, it's a plane.....No, it's not superman...it's Marybeth!

Jyl's blog

My 10 year old daughter has decided she is going to start a blog of her own.  She has found something she feels quite passionate about and somehow wants to make a difference.

Lent

I am very glad that Lent is finally here.  It is one of my favorite times of the year.  I see it as a time for the cleansing of my soul, a chance to rid myself of bad habits (even if only temporarily), and the newness of life with spring approaching.

So many options!

I am so much an amateur at this whole blogging thing but I have to admit I am enjoying myself.  Problem is that sometimes I spend too much time on it trying to figure things out and I fail at completing those things I should be doing during the day; laundry, dishes, schooling, you name it. 

A typical Tuesday morning?

My morning began very early. Dad needed to be to clinical at the hospital by 6am. He is almost finished with his nursing degree; one more semester! (YEAH!) Thankfully everyone was still asleep when we left and I was able to wake up my 20 year old just long enough to be sure she knew I was leaving in case Marybeth woke up.  Trip over and back went quickly but by that time I was wide awake so there was no chance of going back to sleep. Not a problem though.  I actually enjoy that quiet time of the day when all the kids are still sleeping.  There aren't too many quiet times so I am glad to grab them when I can.  Within the hour the kids woke up, first my 8 year old then Marybeth, then the rest.  It still amazes me, even after a year and a half, how happy Marybeth always is.  From the moment she wakes up to when she falls asleep. Even her "bad" moments are nothing compared to my other kids when they were little.  After breakfast we began our school day.  For some reason today seems more hectic than usual, it wasn't but it seemed to be.  The noise level was amazing!  One of the kids was practicing piano for their class today, one was watching a Math Rap video because she is having trouble remembering all her facts,  Marybeth was talking, playing, and throwing blocks and my last one was trying to get my help and had to talk above it all.  Thank the Dear Lord for head phones!  Not sure why I didn't think of it for the first 2 hours we were working but then, Click!, the light bulb went on and so did the headphones into the TV and Piano.  I have to make a mental note though, don't let Michelle dance around with headphones on attached to a long cord while Marybeth is playing in the same room. Pretty soon it looked like Marybeth was tied to the chair like a criminal.  But she had a grin on her face and somehow was managing to continue throwing her blocks!  It's calm and quiet now.  How long will that last?

Planning for her future

I've spent a lot of time recently wondering how to go about planning for Marybeth's future. I am not talking about long term future but just the next few years.  I home school 3 of my children now and would love to do the same with Marybeth too. I wonder whether I am being foolish thinking that way. Am I hurting her by now getting her into a school, whether it's our own district (YUCK!) or a specialized school?  I don't want to treat Marybeth different. I don't want her growing up thinking she is different from everyone else. I see too many people do that to their children and I am not sure it is a benefit to them . I think they come to rely on the fact that they have disabilities and then expect to be treated differently or be given special treatment or benefits because of it.  Don't get me wrong. Marybeth is a very special little lady. There is a quality about her that I hope never goes away. A special innocence, a special twinkle, a special "love" gene that makes her who she is.  She is so much like her siblings too though that sometimes I find it hard to believe that maybe she will have difficulties learning or doing things later on.  I want to keep her sheltered and protect her from all the bad in this world but yet also offer her everything so she can live life completely with so many opportunities.  My mind is spinning with all the possibilities and all the questions. I have to remember that I have a lifetime to teach her and show her the world. One step at a time and with God's guidance i know we'll make all the right choices. He has loaned her to us indefinitely and I will use every opportunity He gives us to teach her all He has to offer.  Yes, my kids were loaned to me to raise and to teach, not to anyone else, and I will do all I can not to disappoint Him, no matter what doubts I may have.

Marybeth is growing a little each day. It amazes me how things just seem to click for her now.  To begin with she will sit in a room, surrounded by her toys and carry on a conversation with herself. Actually it probably isn't herself, I just can't see who it is.  Maybe her guardian angel, maybe her brother and sisters that are up in Heaven already, or maybe it's her grandpa, my dad, or even Rick's mom and dad.  Can't be sure but whoever she is talking to, she has a great time and is very animated and laughs constantly.  She also loves to stick her butt high in the air and look behind her through her legs.  Figures it's pretty cool to see the world upside down.  She stood by herself again today. She seems to do that a lot but this time she was standing by our fireplace and Jyl put a headband on her. I guess she really didn't want it in because she immediately let go of the fireplace and just stood there for a while trying to take the band off her head.  It was really cool to see. I am very much looking forward to the day that she takes her first steps.  She is also taking less and less naps these days.  Today she woke up about 830am and took her first nap around 130p.  Not bad!  She was in a great mood all morning and had tons of fun just playing with her siblings and her toys.  Her nap lasted till about 5pm. Not sure if that is too long but if she sleeps through the night again, I'm cool with it!  It's now 10pm and she is still up but beginning to fade. I figure within one half hour she'll be asleep till tomorrow morning.  Gonna try and put her down now. I think I'll try and post some picture tomorrow and see where this blogging will take me.  Till then....Goodnight!

MBT's First Post

This is my first attempt at a blog. Thought I would try and keep an account of Marybeth's daily life.  She is 1.5 years old.  I am amazed at who this little lady is each and every day.  Marybeth's milestones come a little later than most kids her age but she is doing great.  She has no health problems to begin with, which is not always a common thing from what we have been told about Down Syndrome kids.  She is constantly talking, babbling mostly but can usually let us know what she wants. She loves to read, or be read to, and loves music.  Her favorite movies are anything having to do with "Word World".  She is content listening to and watching them for hours.  She currently creeps around the room holding on to the furniture, knows a few signs or I should say, uses a few signs but understands many of the ones we use.  She finally is eating lots of different foods, for the longest time it was yogurt and ice cream and she is finally sleeping through the night. However, that really is no different than her siblings since they hated sleeping in their cribs too.  She has each of us wrapped around her little finger and brings such joy to this family it boggles my mind.