Kid's Deployment Line

Tuesday, 31 May 2011

Several weeks ago I took Kayla and Lucas on base for the Kid's Deployment Line.This was a pre-deployment for kids to go through and get a very condensed version of what their parents go through when they deploy.When we arrived they got their folders whic

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This Memorial Day

Monday, 30 May 2011

Today, on Memorial Day, a young man - just 21 years old - will be buried. About a week and a half ago Cheizray Pressley died while serving in Afghanistan. I didn't personally know him and would have probably never even heard of him if not for the fact th

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"Ascension: My Ambition"

Monday, 30 May 2011

"Ascension: My Ambition"I ascend this flight of stairsin hopes of what may come after;but I occasionally stumble;tumbling to the sound of laughter.They say "A wise man would stay down.Sit on the steps. Just lay down.What you search for won't be found.A lowly pauper can't chase the crown."I truly de

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Families in Maryland

Friday, 27 May 2011

There is a precious little girl - Pauline - who has Down syndrome and is available for adoption through Reece's Rainbow.She had several families submit their family profile to commit to her and all were rejected. Her region has come back with a strict se

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"(Rebel) {Radical} [Renegade]"

Friday, 27 May 2011

"(Rebel) {Radical} [Renegade]"What lies under this hoodis a rebel.That's what they call me, at least.They call me "borderline ghastly,"they say I'm nasty,and claim that I do deals with the devil.They say I'm sporadic.They swear that I'm frantic;but I hardly ever act out;so I don't know why they see

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What I Want Others To Know

Thursday, 26 May 2011

The June issue of the Lowcountry Parent magazine is their special needs issue. There is an adorable girl with Down syndrome on the cover. The cover story is The Bright Future for Children With Down Syndrome. Can I tell you how much I love that headline?!

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Special Exposure Wednesday

Wednesday, 25 May 2011

Since Kayla started school I never knew what I was going to get with her school pictures. I wasn't there to make sure she smiled, sat right, hair brushed etc. That was never more evident than one of her first preschool pictures where she had a runny nose

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Not Acceptable

Tuesday, 24 May 2011

The folks at Spread The Word To End The Word have put together a pretty powerful PSA on the r-word. It airs tonight on Glee, in case you miss(ed) it, here it is:"The r-word is the same as every minority slur. Treat it that way and don't use it."

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"If I Had My Way"

Monday, 23 May 2011

"If I Had My Way"If I had my way....Your only memory of yesterdaywould be the loving words we saythat quell the fire of "back when;"gently rinsing it all away.If I had my way....Our profound, perfectly explicit wisheswould be smeared against wallslike mist against shower stalls.Moans would travel d

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when will the long-play video community embrace this adventure game i'm making by breathing on you when you can't see me

Monday, 23 May 2011

Went to the attractive Salem, MA the other weekend to participate in the Massachusetts Poetry Festival. Ate a delicious sandwich with pickles in it. Androgynous old people played bluegrass in overalls. There was a statue of the attractive Samantha from B

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Independence

Monday, 23 May 2011

I'll be the first to admit when Kayla was born I became one of those moms ... a "helicopter mom" ... yes, I hovered over her and trailed on her heels. I don't know if it was being a first-time mom, or the Down syndrome diagnosis. Likely it was a combinat

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Patriots Point

Friday, 20 May 2011

One of the final places we visited using the Be A Tourist pass was Patriots Point. It was one of the few beautiful weekends we had in January and we really enjoyed our visit there.Before we went on to the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown we descended into t

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Around The Pond

Wednesday, 18 May 2011

We have a pond behind our house where we regularly see ducks, geese, turtles, fish, egrets, and herons.The kids have enjoyed watching the wildlife and feeding the ducks and geese when we have some bread.This picture makes me laugh, because the first thin

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Down Syndrome & Buddy Cruise

Tuesday, 17 May 2011

Last year I posted about the Buddy Cruise, which happened right after the NDSC Convention in Orlando ... and how I really wanted to go.If you haven't heard of the Buddy Cruise (a not for profit organization) their mission is "To provide educational oppor

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Joys & Challenges of Marriage

Sunday, 15 May 2011

A friend of mine who lives in TX sent me an article about a Dallas-area couple who are married, and both have Down syndrome. It's an insightful article about their relationship and how it came to be - they met at the annual National Down Syndrome Convent

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