Your Life

If....a big if...you were going to write about your life in a blog, where would you start?  What would you include? 

I've thought about writing my life story...not that it's full of fun, drama or exciting. But, so it's out there to share with people just in case I might forget one day.

Then I thought, do I really want to put myself out there an do that?  Would I start an anonymous blog and write about it or just write about it here but adding some made up stories so no one would really know the truth.  It sounds daring to me.  

As of now, I share stories about my family, especially things that are related to military life and Down syndrome.  But, I've never shared anything else that is part of my life.  I mean, would you really want to know? 

Would you or are you already doing it? Do you have have a another blog that no one knows about?

31 for 21:14

Today I am SOOOOO tired! 

Back in July I opened up a home daycare.  I really wanted to bring in some extra income, couldn’t get a job as a teacher (stupid cutbacks) and really didn’t want to put my two younger kids in daycare anyway.  So, I was left with home daycare.

I can honestly say I like doing it.  What I don’t like is all the paperwork and inspections that come along with it.  Ughhhh….So many inspections on a monthly basis.  I started out with an infant, a 3 year old and 4 four year old.  Currently, I have the infant and 3 year old, another 3 year old and a 12 year old.  Yes, I have a 12 year old!  I only have him in the mornings, his parents drop him off here so he is not home alone in the mornings. 

Needless to say, my day starts at 530 a.m. and the last kid leaves at 5 p.m. daily!  Even with the kids gone, my day isn’t over.  Paperwork can really get annoying and the clean up from having so many kids is very daunting.

OK…so what I’m trying to get at is Lillian is learning a lot by having other children around.  She is pretend playing and doing all the sing along games.  She loves to play ring-around-the-rosie.  She also thinks the infant is her baby doll, so there is A LOT of supervision in that area!  She will sit when the other kids are sitting during story time.  However, she does not show much interest in coloring.  She is also learning to pass me her plate when she is done eating, because she use to throw the plate on the floor!

ON the bad side, she is hitting a lot more.  She learned this behavior from a previous kid I had.  I used to put her in time out, but then she would hit someone and go and put herself in timeout.  Now we say and sign gentle and sorry and she spends time out in a porta crib.  She also thinks if she keeps saying gentle while in the crib, she will be able to get out.  Not happening… I tried letting her take naps on the floor mats with the other kids, but that soon came to an end.  Nap time was no fun for me and the other kids when she would continuously get up and run off or throw things at the other kids.  So, she is sleeping in her porta crib until she can stay put on the mat.

But my favorite part of the day is when they are all doing this….

 

Oh so sweet.

31 for 21

 

Grab This Button

Today marks the 4th Annual 31 for 21 Blog Challenge.  This will be my third year participating and I’m hoping that I will complete this challenge without a flaw, as last year I didn’t so well!

The meaning of 31 for 21 is very to the point…blogging for 31 days straight to raise awareness of Down Syndrome or T21.  As much as I would like to enlighten everyone (that is not part of the Down syndrome community), let it be known that not all 31 days will only be about Down Syndrome, or maybe it will.  But, I hope that what I blog about the next 31 days will help understand and appreciate how Down Syndrome isn’t ugly, but beautiful in every single way!

Please take the time to read other blogs who are doing this challenge.  As we all share a common link, our children and our lives are very different.  The 21st chromosome is the only thing that brings us together.

I hope you will find love and happiness here…

3rd Annual 31 for 21 Blog Challenge

It's here! 31 days of blogging. Not just for any reason, but for Down syndrome of course! Last year I participated and completed and I'm hoping to do the same again this year.

However, if most people who read my blog know, I haven't been a good blog author. Life has gotten a hold of me, but for the better.

I started taking online courses to become a Medical Transcriptionist. This course is really kicking me in the butt, but (hahahaha...get it) I will not give up! You would think after completing high school and college, that this would be easier. I was wrong. Wrong because I didn't have three kids, a husband and two dogs to look after back then. I'm so happy this course is a self pace course with no deadlines!

And at last, I have become serious about deflating my spare tire. I'm just getting tired of looking at it, feeling it, and lugging it around. Because really, there is no good use for a spare tire on me! And it's so not pretty. I'm competing in a Biggest Looser Challenge online with some friends. I've done good with it and have lost 16 pounds since February...but need to really work harder. So, the gym has been my second home. The great thing about my gym is they have a family room. The not so great thing is the family room has two elliptical machines, one treadmill, and two bikes. And everyone wants nothing to do with the bikes. AND even when I show up at 8:20 a.m. everything is already taken up! So, my new plan is to hit the gym at 5:30 a.m. so I can work out without kids in the cool adult room, where there are big screen t.v.'s and personal t.v.'s at each station! I think getting skinny thing should be some what enjoyable with a t.v. in my face at all times :) So, wish me luck and I will keep you all posted!

Maybe, at the end of this challenge I can get an "I did it" tee shirt too!

Niceville, FL

Back in 1994, my father was still in the Air Force and we were living in England.  Because the base we were living at was closing, I was not able to start and finish my senior year at Croughton American High School.  In fact, during the summer of 94, there were a lot of us leaving and moving to either Florida, New Mexico and various other places.  My dad chose Eglin AFB(air force base), FL.  Eglin AFB was located right outside of Shalimar, FL, which was right next to Niceville, FL.  Niceville is where we lived and is where I attended my senior year.  Not only was living in a town called Niceville, we lived on Sparkleberry Cove!  So, my address was:

XXX Sparkleberry Cove

Niceville, FL 

Can you believe that?  Until then, I thought Sparkleberry was a nice of a kool aid flavor and didn't think there would ever be a town called Niceville!