Keeping you in our hearts Annette

Carol made this tribute to you, our dear friend.....We're keeping you in our hearts for awhile [forever]

In Loving Memory

With heavy hearts, we say 'good-bye' to a dear friend.

Our dear, darling friend Annette passes away in the early morning hours...surrounded by her family who loved her and treasured her. Her sweet little boys were able to go out an play in the freshly fallen snow this morning.....I know Annette is smiling down from heaven, watching her precious little boys.

Godspeed Annette.......until we meet again.

"Don't be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetime, is certain for those who are friends." ~Richard Bach

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." ~Theodor Seuss Geisel


Today has been such a difficult day. On one hand, I am busy with life......we picked out our Christmas tree and have been busy all day decorating the tree and house. Music is playing on the stereo, we are singing, talking, sharing beautiful family time together. It is a very special family time for me.

And then I slip off to cry.....to reflect....to say a prayer.

A dear friend, who has fought a courageous battle against the demon Cancer, is resting comfortably at home....surrounded by her family who loves her dearly, tended to by the gentle and caring souls of hospice. Time is not on her side.....it is totally unfair. She is blessed, as she is an incredible woman.....a wonderful and loving Mother and Wife. Her husband and children are nestled close, letting Annette know how much the love and treasure her.

We are praying for a miracle......and pausing in our days to reflect on a friend....a kindred soul.

"You and I will meet again
When we're least expecting it
One day in some far off place
I will recognize your face
I won't say goodbye my friend
For you and I will meet again"
~Tom Petty

Can you figure out what this photograph is?

Click on the photo and you can go read what it is......

Guess who is back.......

modeling?!?

Yup, Emma Sage.

She had her first shoot this afternoon.

This was a difficult day for me, as my Mother was the one who would come help me out in a pinch when she got calls to model in the past. After my Mother's passing away, I withdrew Emma Sage from her agent, as I just couldn't see how I would be able to accept a modeling session on short notice and with no one to help me out with my daycare business.

My sister and sister-in-law, both convinced me that we could 'figure it out' and we sent in updated headshots, bodyshots and stats.......

and here she is....

Getting set up with a pencil and a book....


Test workbooks never looked so cute or so much fun!!!!


On the way home waiting to switch on the PATH train......

Emma Sage was such a great girl....she adores the whole process of modeling, and just loves New York City!

She was just too darn cute, everyone who looked over at her on the subway, got a big smile and a wave.....you should have seen all the smiles and waves back that this little girl got. We were on one smiling, waving subway car!!!!

Heart & Hands

What is it about the hands that can tug on the heartstrings.......



Well, if it is the hands of your child, you know exactly what it is......in a beautiful essay at Bits-Of-Besty, go read one of the most moving essays on hands I have ever read.

This weekend I had a beautiful moment that dealt with the precious hand of a child with Trisomy 21....

Greta and I took Emma Sage to a festival at the River Valley Waldorf School that is not too far from our home.

In one of the rooms, Emma Sage had just sat down to work on a felt project. I had just finished taking a few pictures of her [like you wouldn't have guessed that] and was stepping back towards the door, when the most precious pinky caught my attention. My heart paused and I looked closer at this little cherub of a hand drapped over her Mother's shoulder.

I knew that pinky........

I quickly spin around to look at that little girls face......and a smile comes across my face. I was right......that was one special litle pinky and it belong to a sweet little girl who was sporting a little bit extra like my Emma Sage.

The Mother must have sensed my interest and was curious at my actions......until she looked over at my little girl who was smiling and waving at me.......and the Mother turned back to me and gave me a huge smile back.

No words were exchanged....but we knew, we were sisters on a very beautiful journey.

Now and Then......

I came across some pictures from last years Holiday Party and had to laugh, as Emma Sage loved the microphone last year and this year.....and her favorite dance partner is still Devany!

Too cute!

Then........


and Now......


Then......


and Now.....

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

A C*E*L*E*B*R*A*T*I*O*N

What a magical day today was.....

We had fun Celebrating the season with our local Down syndrome Groups Holiday Party.

It was just Emma Sage, Rick and I.......as Otto went to the movies with friends and Greta went to the city with a group of her friends. 'they both missed a great time....and we missed them'

I think that the most special part of the day, is watching Emma Sage playing with her best-est friend in the whole world.....her friend Devnay. It just melts my heart, as these two just adore each other. They epitomize the word 'friendship'

Here are a few pictures that captured there playful interaction.......








Daddy has two special girls.....


These two danced and danced.....











These two are natural born stars......they danced and sang to the crowd [it was too darn cute!]





and I think that the greatest thing that I heard today was that Devany and her family are going to be moving closer to us. This means that we can get the girls together more often, and let their friendship to continue to grow and blossom!

Down syndrome

What is Down syndrome?

Down syndrome is a common genetic variation which usually causes delay in physical, intellectual and language development. It is caused by a triplication of the 21st chromosome, or accurately called Trisomy 21.

There are many wonderful websites on the Internet that have factual and current information on Down syndrome.

These are a few of my favorites:

National Down syndrome Congress

National Down syndrome Society

Down syndrome - Health Issues

Down syndrome Educational Trust

Riverbend Down syndrome Parent Support Group

and others [if you have a favorite site, I would love to add it to my list]

As a parent, I have researched all I can on Down syndrome [since our first prenatal 'soft marker' until now] I am always reading and learning......connecting with other parents and support groups to make sure I am aware of all that is new in the world of 'Down syndrome'

As a parent, I would recommend that exact course of action upon your child's diagnosis and always do what you believe is in the best interest of 'your' child.

I started this blog to share my daughters life with the world....to show others the 'Normalcy of Difference'

I also wanted to note that I have never subscribed to any of the 'supplement' programs that are tauted by others [although, I do believe they have every right in the world to express their observations with others] just as I have the right to express my observations.

On that note, I did want to express that while Emma Sage has never been on a 'supplement' program, she is an extremely healthy child. She has never had a serious illness, not one ear infection and recovers from childhood 'bugs' quickly. She nursed till she was 3 years 10 months old. She began walking at 15 months and saying words around the same time. She began speaking two to three word sentences by 2 and could write her own name by three. At six she is reading at a first grade level and completing math assignments at the same level. She loves to cook and bake. She paints and draws everyday. She loves to explore the world around her and she never participated in Early Intervention.

I guess I wanted to express to others that she is uniquely her. She is not doing these things because she is on some super nutritional supplement or therapy. She is doing these things because that is what GOD has gifted her to do.

She is happy, healthy and learning about the world around her.....and that is all that matters to me.

Please research everything you can about Down syndrome, and make choices based on what you believe is in the best interest in your child. Know that all children blossom with proper nutrition, interaction, stimulation and love........and they will grow and blossom to their fullest potential given your unconditional love.

And as P.T. Barnum understood so clearly "There's a Sucker born every minute"......be weary of people who are to profit off of claims that are broad-brushed and overly generalized. While there are many similarities in people with Down syndrome, there is no 'one-size-fits-all' and over doing something 'good' can be more dangerous that one could ever imagine.