School at Three

My girl goes to school.  I'm still getting used to that phrase.  But for her....it is her new norm and she loves it!

Parent Pancake Party at Pearson

 None of my kids really went to school before they were 5.  They just weren't ready for the structured schedule of get up and get going and what not and to be honest, I really enjoyed that time with them.  It is why I am a stay at home mom.  And while I don't know that Aubrey loves getting up early and rushing with breakfast and stuff, I KNOW she loves school.

Aubrey, well, because of her Down syndrome, she is on a different path than my other kiddos.  She is going to preschool at just three years old.  And that has made her "different".

Aubrey's turn to stir.

 In so many ways, she is just like everyone else in her family and all her friends.  She is three and she has temper tantrums and she does chores and she loves life.  But here is where her Ds makes her different.  Her differences aren't something we usually focus on or call out.  And if she didn't need the extra help, she'd be sleeping in and spending her days with me.  Her Down syndrome makes her different.  It means she going to school now.

I still panic sometimes when I look in my rear view mirror and see an empty car seat.  I panic in store when I get that feeling like I don't have enough kids to keep track of.  Cause she isn't there with me all the time anymore....

Aubrey waiting with her classmates in line to have a turn at making pancakes.
Yup, she's the peanut of the class!

 But in so many ways, school has provided a great relief to us too.  From the time that she was born, or rather her heart was fixed, I have felt like every moment of every day has to be learning and pushing.  We were the teachers and it was all on us to help her do the work and help get her there.  Now, I can drop her off at school, know that she is getting a solid 4 hours of intense learning.  I can enjoy our moments and afternoons a little more, because I can relax...the learning for the day is done or at least most of it and not every moment of our day needs to be about teaching her something....it can just simply be about love and laughter and enjoyment of life.  I don't worry so much about whether I am doing enough now.

Making pancakes.

 Our ECI team was well loved and we miss them dearly.  But this school thing is a different sort of team and while I have had to give up the some of the control in her day to day learning, it is what is best for her.  And I trust them with my girl and to tell me as much about her days and learning as they can.

Adding butter and syrup to our pancakes.

In so many ways, she is just like everyone else.

But in some ways she is different.....and that's ok!

Becoming a Donor

One thing I have wanted to do more of is advocating.  And so today's post is advocating for the National Marrow Donor Program.  Many families with Ds and without rely on them to save lives.  


In the beginning, when you first get your diagnosis of Down syndrome, you also get  a LOT of information.   Some comes from doctors that don't KNOW life with Ds kids.  Some comes from google searches.  The best comes from FRIENDS!  Our "friends" live all across the country and they blog about everyday life with their children and we reap the benefits of ideas and questions and answers and so much from them.


 Unfortunately we learn about the bad things too, like leukemia.

This past year, we have seen three of our friends battle and BEAT cancer!  Ella Grace and Emily and Abigail.   We actually got to meet Ella Grace and see how great she is doing this summer.  A couple hours at the beach together and this was the best shot I had of the two girls:)  More interested in exploring the beach than having a photo shoot.

While they have won the battle, there are some who are not winning the battle and need help from you to save them. 


It’s been a documented fact for decades that children with Down syndrome have a 10-30% higher incidence of developing leukemia then typical children.  The good news is that, although scary, it's pretty rare, even in children with Down syndrome. About 1 in 95 will get it (compare this to 1 in 2000 in typical children).

How high is the cure rate? There are different forms of this cancer. The two types that children get are ALL (acute lymphoblastic) and AML (acute myeloid). ALL survival rate is about 90% for kids under 5. AML survival rate is about 55% for kids under 15, EXCEPT for children with Down syndrome--their survival rate with AML is 85%. 

For children with Down syndrome, leukemia treatment is more successful than for other kids. It's likely due to a genetic mutation found only in Down syndrome children, new research shows. However, the same mutation also increases the kids' leukemia risk.
(information taken from this website:  http://www.down-syndrome-facts-and-fiction.com/leukemia.html)

So how can you help?  Make an easy life changing decision!  Join the National Marrow Donor Program!
Successful bone marrow transplants are often the only way to fight this disease.  Joining is free and easy and you could be saving someone's life someday...you could be the match for one of our friends...and hopefully NOT, but you could be our match someday...

You will simply fill out the forms online, they mail you a kit, you swab your cheek and send it in.  It is that simple.  If you are pregnant, you can also store blood cord for future use in your own family, or even DONATE your babies blood cord to help save someone else.  Be someone's hope...the answer to their prayers.

Do it for our friends.  Do it for Aubrey and all those other littles out there, with and without Down syndrome who are waiting on a match.

Click on Aubrey's button (on the right side bar) to take you to the National Marrow Donor Program site to join.


Be SOMEONE's match.

Have you heard?

Have you heard?

It is that time of year again.  October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month.  I have once again committed to blogging every day in October (31 days) to help raise awareness and support for individuals (and Aubrey) who happen to have an extra 21st chromosome.  

ALL children are blessings, but I think that sometimes, we need someone with a little something extra to help us see what TRUE beauty is and to take a step back and be thankful for all the little things in life that we so often take for granted.  It is our hope that by sharing Aubrey's story, our friends and the world will see people who have challenges and disabilities in a new light...an accepting light...in a beautiful light.  Join us this month in CELEBRATION of life...especially those with a little something extra.

Down to ONE box of diapers

Yup....you read that right.  We are only buying one box of diapers at our house these days.

There has been a lot of this.....

I love how she crosses her feet (that don't touch the floor) and HAS to have a book to read while sitting!  Sometimes we sing or paint nails, but she likes her a good book.

And she has shown great support to friends who are also trying to use the potty....

Notice that she is reading Thomas to him.   That was his choice....not hers....we do princesses, not trains at our house:)  We don't have many "boy" books at our house:)

And while we aren't really even close to the day that I will let her out of the house in just undies, her little sister is gaining on her and is big enough to share the SAME SIZE diapers.  I could have squeezed her into the size 2's for one more package, but to be honest, I would have been doing more leakage laundry and it just wasn't worth it.

 Two different girls....

  Two different physiques.........

Both wearing the size 3s!

 I'm so used to my chicken leg girl and with this one.....I actually have to peel the rolls to get clean in between!

But I'll tell you what....it's gotta be ALL muscle cause the girl is on the move ALL the time!  She'll be 8 months at the end of the week and she is crawling everywhere, pulling up on everything and has started to let go and stand alone as well as cruise on the furniture and got up one step of the stairs today!

Yes this one keeps us busy!

Wordless Wednesday--Preschool

Flag helper for the week

Learning about the sense of TOUCH

School....Take Two

I was wondering how today would go....talked it up all night....prepared for the worst.....

Got Aubrey out of her crib....told her we were going to eat and get ready for SCHOOL and to see her TEACHER and FRIENDS.

Got her dressed so we could go to SCHOOL and to see her TEACHER and FRIENDS.

Ate breakfast so we could go to SCHOOL and to see her TEACHER and FRIENDS.

I said, "It's time to go to SCHOOL and to see her TEACHER and FRIENDS.  Let's get your backpack and go out to the car."

She promptly walked to her hook, grabbed her backpack and lunch box and signed "school"!

One of her IEP goals (for the YEAR) states that she will carry her own backpack and lunchbox and follow school routines (walk in by self, carry all items and put them away in her locker).... CHECK!

 That icepack in her bag was SOOOOO heavy...and while it wasn't far to the car....she got it all the way there.

 Another IEP goal is to remove shoes and clothing.  Because being late on the second day (by two minutes) wasn't enough....Aubrey removed her shoes, orthotics and socks in the car on the way!  Second day of school....second CHECK!

 After returning shoes to her feet and putting her backpack on and handing her her lunch box, we walked into school.  After a quick hug and kiss she willingly went with the Principle down to her classroom...DIDN'T EVEN LOOK BACK AT ME!!!!  Sad and proud all at once.  Yup, today was a good day and I had high hopes.  No worries here, just spend the morning wondering what she was up to.

Even though the school day for her class runs until 2:15, we have opted to only send her 1/2 days.  I pick her up after lunch and we come home for nap.  I got there a tad early (timing my different routes, so we aren't late tomorrow) so I had to wait.  Across from the front office is the library.  The kids have story time here and also can check out books to their classroom.

 This is only half the library!  Reading is a big deal and I'm so glad they take it serious here....

And then I heard the secretary coming down the hall with my girl and as they turned the corner, I didn't see a crying girl....

I saw a VERY excited girl.  She was full of hugs and kisses for me and Emelia and couldn't stop smiling.  I'm pretty sure she had a good day!  And that makes this mama happy.

Maybe we are ready for the carpool line.....if we can get there on time:)

Aubrey at School

Her teacher just emailed  me some pictures from this morning!  That totally rocks!  Love her school already!

Snack Time

Center Time - Housekeeping (no surprise there:)