Gala Time!!!

It is time for the Central MS Down Syndrome Society Gala again!!! This year it is going to be at the newly remodeled King Edward Hotel in Jackson on Saturday, August 28th. It will be the usual...food, live band, drinks, dancing, visiting, the oh-so-fun silent auction, and the 2011 calendar reveal. Like I say every year, it is a blast and it makes me so proud to see so many come out and support our cause and our loved ones. The tickets are now for sale at the CMDSS website: http://www.cmdss.org/index.php

You've got to be kidding me...

You know some people really amaze me...they shock, disappoint and break hearts. That is how I feel about the recent idiots that stole images from the NDSC's More Alike campaign. NDSC is doing a great job promoting DS awareness by letting parents make and post their own poster for the We're More Alike Than Different Awareness Campaign. The public will vote and the top 3 posters will be produced and used for awareness in the community. Well, some jack a%# stole the images, changed the wording of the posters and posted them on a web forum. You can pretty much guess how ignorant and tasteless the posters were and not to mention the disgusting comments and conversations that took place on the forum. NDSC has closed the campaign for now and are currently discussing legal action. Thankfully, the offensive forum has been taken down.

It is situations like this that make you realize how lost and cold the world can be. How ignorant and heartless people can be...for what...a good laugh?? And yes, Jack did have a poster in the campaign. Was his image one of the ones stolen? Honestly, I don't really know. I went to the site on my phone, glanced through a few and was so heart broken I closed the page. I did not need to see anymore. I am not sure what this all means for the More Alike campaign, but I know I will not remove Jack's poster. I would love to see my baby's face all over the community!!! Maybe his sweet face could change one jerk at at time!

Now on to JACK! He got to play in the snow for the first time. He was not to impressed, it was cold and wet, so it was a short play! We did occupy him long enough for pics and building of the snowman.

It has finally been warm enough to go to the park a few times...great photo op! Jack is still in weekly OT and ST, and PT twice a month. He continues to do well, saying a few new words and getting a lot more independent. We just continue to expect Jack to do things and he does. I really, really think that is what it is all about. Jack is just Jack...to my friends, family, co-workers, everyone around him. He is a typical child and we know he will do great things. He might go about it a different way but he gets there!!! Life seems so much easier now than in the beginning of the diagnosis...whew, don't miss that feeling!

So sad...Christmas is over!

We had a very busy but great holiday with family and friends. Jack was not to impressed with Christmas, he did enjoy opening some things, but not much kept his attention for long. Anything that had to do with a train was a big hit. I got him a dry erase/chalk board and surpisingly he really likes it, which is great for those fine motor skills, so I'm pumped about that! Now we are getting back on our normal schedule and he is back at day care. He had a good first week back and also had a very good week at therapy, so all is good! His new words are still coming and he has quite a few we cannot understand, but he is really trying.

Jack and KK's handprints that grammie collects

All of our cards...love it!

Playing with daddy on Christmas Eve

Christmas morning

Sweet Boy!

Christmas at Dad's

Pop with the boys

My daddy

My mom

Christmas at Aunt Lisa's

Baby Hayden

KK

Christmas at grammies'

Ash with Hayden and Jack

Happy Holidays!!!!

Here is our Christmas card for 2009...it definitely captures Jack as we all know him! He is doing wonderful. He loves daycare more and more every week and he is starting to pick up a few new words! And for some reason, "mama" is still not one of them! HSM cut back his PT to twice a month which was no surprise. We will see how he does and just hope he doesn't start to slow down his progress. He is acting like a typical 2 year...likes his independence and can throw a good tantrum when he doesn't get his way! He is starting to learn about Christmas and he definitely knows who Santa is...Santa is one of his new words actually : ) The whole speech issue is going to be a hard and challenging one for all of us. It is amazing all that he knows and remembers, but he just can't express it like other 2 year olds. We have found a lot of help in flashcards, because he can just point to the objects he knows. He does know a few signs but his new speech therapist does not sign, so we have kinda stalled in that area. Any advice on the issue would be nice!

I hope everyone has a safe and peaceful holiday...Merry Christmas!!!

Fall Snapshots and the Pumpkin Patch

Petting zoo

The three boys taking a stroll


One of his bday outfits...thanks Jerica aka Izzy B Designs!

About to ride the train with dad

Asleep in the pumpkin patch

Em, Darb and me

Looks so uncomfortable!!

KK with his green pumpkin