Day 6 and 7

Obviously yesterday was a non posting day : ) I felt like crap STILL, even went back to the doctor, got some good meds for the nebulizer, new antibiotics, and a steroid inhaler. I have to say I think I am feeling a bit better today! So there's my post for yesterday : )

I figured today I would post pictures of Ella in her "big girl bed." We moved Ella to a toddler bed in August, though it didn't really start till September. We had to move Ella's crib into our bedroom while Chris' mom was here so she could sleep in there, so after she left I decided it was a good time to try the toddler bed. We tried a couple of nights but Ella would get out of bed and go to the baby gate at her door ( I SO do NOT trust her and therefore gated her in!) and cry and of course being the middle of the night, like any champion parent would do, I would just bring her to my room and put her in her crib. Then we went to Georgia for 2 weeks where she shared a bed with me, so when we got back I tried the new bed and voila! It worked. I was really hesitant to move her into a toddler bed, yes I know she's 3 but the kid has ZERO danger perception and therefore I was perfectly content to leave her in the crib. But then in her sleep her legs were getting stuck between the slats. Plus she is acting like such a big girl these days I just knew she would get a kick out of the bed, and I was right!

This is her "daddy" doll

from her doll house and

he is going "ni - ni!"

Day 5, still feel like crap

Day 4 just pics

Since I still feel like crap I am just posting pictures from our trip to Georgia. These in particular are from the Georgia Aquarium, where the kids had a great time!!!

Making fishy faces

with Grandad

Day 3 a day late

Okay so I didn't get to post for Day 3, I have a really good excuse though!!! I was in the ER for 4 1/2 hours last night because I felt like crap. Diagnosis: viral pneumonia most likely due to the flu (although the swabs the took from my nose turned up negative for influenza.) So there you have it that's my excuse!!!

Day 2, my tattoo

While in Georgia I got another tattoo, yes another I have 4 now. I knew that I wanted a tattoo that somehow incorporated Down syndrome since it is such a big part of my life now. So, I found a picture of a Ds awareness ribbon surrounded by butterfly wings. Why the butterfly you ask? A long time ago I ran across a poem, here it is.....

Each person is like a butterfly in the wind.
Some can fly higher than others;
But each one flies the best it can.
Why compare one against the other?
Each one is different.
Each one is special.
Each one is beautiful

This is from the Down syndrome Washington home page! They use the butterfly as their mascot, here is their comparison of individuals with Ds and butterflies....

Butterflies are fragile, delicate, beautiful - so too there is a vulnerability and a true beauty that is touching in people with Down syndrome.

Butterflies have very individual colours and designs - so too the colourful personalities of individuals with Down syndrome are infinite.

The metamorphosis of the caterpillar which emerges from its cocoon transformed into a magnificent butterfly is stunning and symbolises the potential that is in all people with Down syndrome.

The image of a butterfly in flight is also one which sits very comfortably with the vision that we have for all people with Down syndrome. Our vision is for people with Down syndrome to have the freedom to take flight, to live a life of their choice, to follow their dreams.

Anyhow, I really liked all of that, and so here is my tattoo. Sorry for the really crappy picture. It is much harder to take a picture of your right wrist than one would think : )

31 for 21: Day 1

Okay, it's that time of year again!!! It is Down syndrome awareness month!!! For those of you unfamiliar with Get It Down 31 for 21, go here.

So, I will try to post everyday. TRY being the key word, I'm hoping this renews my desire to blog : ) Somedays you may just get some pics with no words, but hey that counts right???

Currently I am on day 4 this week of staying home with a sick girl!! Poor Ella has missed her entire 4th week of school. I think she is on the mend though, luckily we have till next Monday before she has to go back to school.

Since my baby girl wants me to cuddle with her on the couch, and lets face it those moments do not present themselves as much as they once did, I will simply leave you with some pics from this summer that never made it on here!!

Here is Ella riding her new 4 wheeler, and of course Hunter on his tractor!!

Ella video

My next couple of posts will be about Ella's 18 months that she spent at Spokane Guild's School and Neuromuscular Center. It is such an amazing place and they did wonderful things for my baby girl. (As most of you know I am incredibly lucky to be working there now!!) Anyhow, I guess I'll start at the end just because I am really anxious to share this video of Ella at her last "circle time" in school.

It is really incredible that she is actually participating in the songs. For several months she was "too cool" in her own mind to do these songs and when told to do the motions she would say "nooooooo."

Well here she is, and the cutie next to her is her beau Riley!

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