St. Annes last day of school performance!

Wow!!  They started with the Pledge of Allegiance and went on to sing at least 12 songs!!  Talk about cool!  She was amazing!  This was the same class that had some parents questioning if GiGi "belonged" in their school.  So it was great to see her do so much better than some of the other kids!  When that happened I was hurt beyond words.  In fact, the very next day is when I committed myself to the national "i have a voice" traveling gallery project.  Though I knew I couldn't (shouldn't) take on such a huge project these parents left me no choice.  I can only hope and pray for their "perfect" children.

Some of GiGi's facial expressions and dancing had me cracking up!  My favorite part was during the Pledge of Allegiance when she said "and to the repubic, for which I stand, one-ation, under dog, individible, wit liberty and just for all."  "under dog"???  Is that show still on???  

It was a proud and weird day.  Knowing people teach their kids to judge others just freaks me out!  OK, I am over it.  (I am sooooo not!)   

  

I can read!!

I am so behind!!!  Between school, baseball, the 5k run/walk, the after party prep, finalizing the new 2009 "Inspire" calendar (which is amazing!!), tutoring, board meetings, birthday parties and my own partying I am buried!!  I usually don't complain but what the?????   OK better now!

GiGi started back in the free literacy program at the Playhouse and she is learning to read a book  a week!!  She is even getting the phonics component!!   Here are a couple of pictures of her and her tutorer Beth.  She is amazing and a VOLUNTEER!!!!!   The Playhouses are so blessed to have people like this teach our kids.  A book a week!!  Sorry, did I say that again??  We were reading earlier today and I am just so blown away by her progress.   

I love summer!!!

You can tell summer is here when the Hannah Montana CD is blaring at 7:30 am and the kids are outside playing in their pajamas before 8!!   I love it!  

I remember reading recently in a magazine that one of the best things you can do for your child is to allow them time to play alone outside.   You guys know me... I am still stalking from the window, but it still gives them a since of independence and they begin to explore a world they might not see with us constantly around guiding them!   

I have to share something I read on one of the 5k registration pages.   It was a quote from a proud Mom.  I wish I had a picture of her son to share but here is the quote.   

"When Vincie came into our lives we had no idea what a blessing he would be and how he would bring our family together in the truest sense you can imagine. When you're pregnant thinking of having a baby with Down Syndrome is the scariest and most taboo thing and when it happened to us we were shocked and a bit scared of the unknown. My sister, who has been Nancy's friend for years and a part of Gigi's Playhouse from the beginning was actually excited and happy for us. Her reaction was confusing to us at first but we didn't know what she knew - how absolutely amazing these little angels are. I feel like God gave us Vince as a gift. Down Syndrome awareness is so important for the quality of life for families, friends and children with Down Syndrome. We are excited to give Vince a good life and let him shower us with happiness as he's already done in his 8 months of life."

That sister is Auntie Ang who we all love so much!!  Vincie is a lucky boy!

Gotta go!  GiGi just came in and wants to do yoga!

Finish last post!

I guess I said Mother's day weekend so I should finish!  

Saturday morning started with a spa treatment for the girls!  (I was supposed to be at a spin class but I had scrapped my knee Friday night playing softball on a play at home. (yes, I got her out! Totally worth the blood!)  I know I could have done the class but I had an excuse! (In my brain anyway!!)  So the girls got up and wanted their nails done and their hair etc....  We had a non stop day ahead of us so it was good to have some girlie time alone with them.  We then headed to the Playhouse to catch the end of the 2 and under group (my favorite!) and attend the Hop, Skip and Jumper class for GiGi, which she of course LOVES!!!   From there we went straight to a party at a hall downtown for a communion party, then straight to Franco's baseball game then to my nephews 21st birthday party which lead to me singing with the band at 1 am!  All this was without my trusty camera so I have nothing for ya!  Except a great weekend with GiGi rockin' along all the way!  (except the later part of Saturday night!)  (Psheew!!)    

Mother's day weekend!

Yes, that says "We love you Grandma" but it was for my Mom!   (Don't start my nasty little friends!) 

Anyway, Sunday morning I woke to the most beautiful face staring directly in my eyes.  She was holding my hand (that was hanging off the bed) and excitedly said "HI!" Then "Good morning Mommy!" with so much anticipation in her voice!!  Well, the kids had been up getting breakfast ready (it was 6:44!  If they only knew I was out with my best friend the night before and on stage with the band singing "I love rock and roll" just 6 hours before!) Anyway, with all the kids getting things ready downstairs GiGi knew we were celebrating Mommy and couldn't wait to get started.  She had already given me all her gifts she made at school on Friday so when the kids started to give me stuff she just smiled and took it all in.  She opened up Bella's card to read it and said "Oh, lovely Bella".  She then disappeared and came back a couple of seconds later with a gift behind her back.   It seems she had gone into Franco's room to "go shopping" and came back and proudly presented me with a bobble head!!  It was hilarious!   

The "good game" line up!!

OK, Seriously...You know she has to be the cool one with her hat on backwards!  When we did our team pictures they said she should wear hers that way because it is so her!  (Couldn't have anything to do with her "cool chick attitude" could it??)
I think this is every kids favorite part of t-ball!  (mine to because it means another game over!) 

The kids all line up, slap hands and say "good game".

I love to see GiGi do this!!  I don't know why, but I think it is just another thing that I didn't think she would do when she was born.  I had heard so many things she wouldn't do and now she is doing them all!!   I am not saying she doesn't work at it.  We work hard, but the normalcy of her life just blows me away.  I still hope and pray that someday people will see her as I do.

Last year, I was trying to build up her stamina by walking to the park.  (1/2 mile each way).  So a mile walk for a four year old was pretty good.  Every time she wanted a horse back ride, or wanted me to carry her I would change how we were walking.  I would turn around and shout... "backwards"!  Then "hop on one foot"!  Then "sprint"!  By the time we got to the park we had so much fun that she never realized how hard she had worked!  Is distraction a good form of motivation?  I don't know but it works!!

I have to say our motivation has always been a bit...different!  As an infant when I wanted her to learn to pick up her food and feed herself I used a broken up pop tart!   Who doesn't love a frosted pop tart!  Plus, it was sticky so even if she accidentally stuck her hand in it it would stick and when her hands went to her mouth she got that yummy sweet treat! 

Same with drinking out of a straw.  She was 10 months old and I was still breast feeding.  I was at a big outdoor party, wearing a halter top, when she decided she was thirsty!  Of course, I couldn't find my husband and I was watching Bella who was 2 1/2 so I couldn't go inside to find a spot where I wouldn't be flashing anyone!  (The halter top was cute but not a good Idea when breast feeding!) Anyways, I tried to wait but it was like 90 degrees and she was parched!  So I just grabbed Bella's juice box and put it to her mouth.  She was so thirsty and once she got the taste she sucked up the whole thing!   (I had heard drinking out of a straw and open cup were going to be very difficult for her... but as usual she steps up to the plate!  (With proper motivation like dying of thirst!) KIDDING!

I am sure a nutritionist would question my methods...but whatever works is what I am going to do!!  It is not like we did it all the time. (well at least not after we mastered it!) 

Wow!  Sorry, don't know what started that rant..... 

GiGi starts the literacy program again today at the Playhouse!!!!  I am so excited!  We have been out of it for almost a year and she really misses it.  All the words and letters she knows perfectly are the ones she learned there!!  Can't wait!!  I'll keep you posted!

      

  

OUCH!!

What those pictures did not show was the gallery after party hosted by Steven Bagby!  (thank you Steven and Rose!)  They really know how to do it right!   

The problem was boot camp the next day at 6 am!  I woke up at 5 and got up to get dressed but instead laid down on my closet floor!  I finally got up and made it to boot camp only to hear we were going to start the work out with a 2 mile run!!  I had just finished my last glass of wine 5 hours ago!!!!  As usual, I thought about GiGi and how hard she works for me and I knew I had to do it.  (Even though my feet were ready to bolt to my car and go back to bed!)

Launched our traveling gallery at the Loyola University Museum of Art!!

The first picture is of photographer Thomas Balsamo, me, our Executive Director Jenni VonTobel, gallery project manager Lisa Schuh and Steven Bagby our partner in crime!  The second is Steven walking out of the room right before we opened the doors to the public and the third is the people drinking wine, eating delicious food and taking in the incredible gallery!!

LUMA was blown away at the amount of people who attended this exhibit!!  The flow was non stop all night!!

Talk about incredible!!!  As you guys may or may not know...We started the "i have a voice" traveling gallery with the help of photographer Thomas Balsamo and Steven Bagby from Babgby advertising.   

It made it's debut last week at the Loyola University Museum of Art on Michigan Avenue!!  Yeah Baby!!!  The gallery brings a unique sophistication to Down syndrome and makes you take a second look at our kids and all they have to offer.  To see the wisdom and strength in their eyes through these larger than life photos is something I can not explain.  You need to experience it for yourselves.  The gallery will be traveling across the country and the schedule will be on our website soon!!!   We are also doing a book based on the "i have a voice" philosophy.

Anyways, between the McHenry location opening and the gallery launching (both within 4 days!) I was on an emotional roller coaster!  To see the life the Playhouses have taken on just blows me away!  I still believe that it is all based on miracles that happen to this day but the people helping those miracles grow make me so proud!!  I never would have dreamed we would come so far so fast!  Thanks to all of  you!!!!!!