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!!!!!! 

       

t-ball

OK I forgot the pictures last time so here they are!!  The first thing she said when I wanted to take the picture was "pose?  OK...BAM!" and she flung her hip out with her hand on her head.  (That is the official t-ball pose you know!) 

GiGi got the game ball at the last game!!  She totally rocks!  She was the grand slam hitter and had to run all the bases!  It was awesome.  I really wanted a pink helmet but now she thinks she is cool wearing her brothers black one.  (and it actually matches better.  Wouldn't red be cute too?  It would totally match her socks!  Isn't that what t-ball is all about??)  

McHenry Playhouse opens!!

How cool is that!!    Check out GiGi with the donut in her hand during the ribbon cutting!! (how unusual!!)  The other little girl in the picture is Riley and that is her Aunt Susan who spearheaded the opening of the McHenry location!!  The energy and excitement reminded me of the Hoffman opening with about 1/16 the stress!! (that was all on them this time!) 

I can't tell you how incredible it was.   But I will later.  I have to get ready for the Gallery opening tonight at LUMA!!  Down town BABY!!!  I am afraid of drunken blogging tonight so I thought I better at least get the pictures from the opening out before I get all emotional again tonight with the gallery!!    

McHenry Playhouse opens!!