Sibling Sunday

The Biggest Loser

Before I take my Prom pictures down, I thought it would be sorta fun to try my dress on again. It has been exactly one year and I have lost 37 pounds. So...

...this is how too big my dress is this year.

My mom is showing how much they would have to cut out so it would stay up if I was wearing it this week. That's what eating healthy food will do for you. I'm still eating healthy but I'm not trying to loose any more weight.

This is what I would look like. My dad is hiding behind me so it does not fall down while my mom takes the picture.

Oh here's a close-up of the incision from my heart surgery 19 years ago and what my trach site looks like today. It has been closed for about 13 years. I get lots of emails about this. You should be able to click on the picture and see it even closer if you want.

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Well tomorrow is June, so stay tuned for pictures from my 2008 High School Graduation and my graduation parties.

Flashback Friday

My Point and I DO have One

OK, so I stole that title from Ellen. I love Ellen Degeneres. She is funny, forward thinking, great looking for our age. Yes, Ellen and I are the same age. We even share a name as I was born Joyce Ellen. But what I love the most about Ellen, is she is willing to explore territory that might not feel safe. Not everyone agrees with her choices. Yet, she has a following of dedicated fans.
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And that's my whole point with this series of posts about dance. Yes, Dance. For me, it was not about the fancy costumes, the tiaras, the hair, or even the performances. It was a little about being a princess, more about coordination, even more about gross motor skills, and even more about following directions. But what it really was about is INCLUSION. Just being with girls. Friends.
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Was it easy walking into that dance studio? The only mother of a child dancing with Down syndrome. NO. Did it bother me when Sarah couldn't quite keep up with the other girls? YES. Did I wish my daughter was like them? AT TIMES. Did I hear negative comments? Occasionally. Did I run the other way. NO. Why not you ask?

Look at this picture. LOOK HARD. Study it. What do you see?
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Four girls waiting their turn to dance.
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Wearing the same costumes.
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Hair on top of their head.
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Playing Disney Uno.
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Sitting on Sarah's blanket.
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WITH Sarah.
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Willingly.
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No pressure, no coercion.

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Just being friends.

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Sarah looks like them.
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She acts like them.
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She looks like she belongs there.
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And GUESS WHAT?

SHE DOES. I urge you as parents to go out of your comfort zone. Get out of the small groups that look like you. That have kids who share that extra chromosome. Do something that expands your boundaries. Don't immediately jump into an extracurricular "special program." Do it for you, for your child, for the families with a child with Ds that will follow you. More importantly, do it for all the other children and their families. That is how we spread our message the best.

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It doesn't have to be dance. I could repeat this same story with soccer and softball. It could be karate, Gymboree, Scouts, swimming, skating, bowling. MY point is, don't take the route of comfort. Start early. Don't give up when confronted with negativity. The rewards will be so grand, so far reaching, so euphoric. And the lessons you will teach along the way are priceless. And that is my POINT.

What DO you SEE?

Just Once More...What do you SEE?

Did you SEE this?

What Do you See?

Is THIS all you SAW?

Thank You to all Who Fight for our FREEDOM

I Love A Parade

Memorial Day

Sibling Sunday

LeBron...

...YOU are MY hero tonight!!! CAVS 96-Orlando 95

In case you missed it, check this out: LeBron James, Cleveland's Hero

Flashback Friday

14 Months

Look What TJ just emailed to ME...

A picture of the box. He got it!! And look at the cute note he wrote to me...

Haaaah, I knew he would love it:)

Shhh...It's a Secret...

So I asked my mom to take me to the Post Office because I have to mail a package.

Do you remember the pictures I showed you last week of my new job at the snack shop?

Well, there was a comment from TJ that said he would take an orange Gatorade...

...and peanut M & M's.

So I am sending him his order. First I have to get it wrapped so it doesn't roll around and packed in the box.

He is in college at Ohio State so I am sending it to his apartment in Columbus.

It's going to be a surprise so don't tell him, OK?

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Oh forget that. There are 22 people in line. We will come back later.

The Package is Heading to Columbus...

Much better, now there is nobody here.

I love these self service stations. I can do it all by myself. First, I put the box on the scale.

Now let's see...I want to mail a package.

I hit the top bar first to let the computer know what I want to do.

It's a package...

Now I have to type in the zipcode. And then it will print out the postage. Cool. I hope TJ takes a picture of the box once it gets to him. He is going to be so surprised.

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P.S. Did you notice I have my headphones on? That way I can just listen to my music and tune out my mom when she is talking. Hahaha.

A Bear is Born

I guess I never showed you the day my bear was born. It was March 19, 2009.

One day I got the mail and the new spring Build-a-Bear catalog was here.

As soon as I turned the page and saw Curly Bear, I fell in love.

I am making a wish and kissing her heart...

...and then I tuck it inside Curly Bear where it will stay forever.

Time for a bath and a fluff.

Now I have to scan the tag so I can get her birth certificate. Can you Guess what I named her?

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Curly Bear. LOL. Just, Curly Bear.

Matching Skechers...

...for Sarah and Curly Bear

Look who's wearing My Headphones...

My old headphones broke so I had to get new ones. I decided I wanted to get a pair like TJ wears on airplanes. When you have them on you can't hear other noises, just the music on your iPod. Guess who gets to wear them when I am working?

Just sitting in my comfy chair like she owns my room...

...and my iPod. Isn't she cute? She is wearing her Sarah shoes. LOL. We have matching shoes.