My Very Special Katie Weekend

I had the greatest surprise this weekend.  Do you remember when I was collecting coins in a jar for Katie?  We were raising money in the store to help bring Katie home from Russia.  Guess what?  She came to see us this weekend.

 

It was so exciting.  Her whole family came all the way from Tennessee to meet me.

 

 

Look at this. They brought me a shirt.  We have a customer who is really going to like it when I wear this because she is from Tennessee too.

 

 

At first Katie was a little shy.  So I just sat in my chair and waited until she got used to me.

 

 

First, she went to Katrina. She really liked her. Katrina is so nice. She is a nurse.  We are so lucky she works with us on Saturdays.

 

I think Katrina really liked Katie too. 

 

 

And then Katie went to my mom.  My momma really liked that. They squeezed and hugged and I could tell my mom really loved Katie.  Then she took her over in the corner and put a dress on her. We had been waiting for Katie to arrive to see if it would fit.  It was made with fabric from our favorite designer Kate Spain.  They share a name.

 

Katie went over to the mirror to see herself.

 

She loved the dress.

 

And she loved looking at herself in the mirror.  I don't think they had mirrors in the institution Katie lived in.

 

She was so cute making faces at herself.

 

Then we tried another dress on.  She loved that one too. It fit perfectly.  And then she came and sat in my lap.  I melted.

 

We just sat there for a long time.  Katie was drawing.

 

 

And I was holding her.  And talking to her.

We were having a good time.  She liked my dog.

 

We were talking about her being a smart little girl.  She is talking a little bit.  And she can follow directions.  My mom told me she will learn really quick now that she is with her forever family.  I am so happy for her.

 

Katie and I started becoming friends.  I don't think she knows that we both have Down syndrome.

 

We started playing together.  Katie loved drawing with this pencil set.

 

 

I wished she lived closer to me.  I would play with her all the time.

 

 

I could not forget about Katie's brothers, Henry, Jack and David.  They were so good waiting for us.  So I gave them each a pillowcase I made.  They have two dogs at home so we picked ones with dogs on them. 

 

Oh my goodness. Look at this. Flat Stanley came along.  Do you know who Flat Stanley is?

 

Look at Jack. He is so silly. He put his pillow case on top of his head.

 

I was so happy that Kim made all the plans to come see us. It was such a treat.

 

Before they left, Flat Stanley had to pose with me and my sign.  He gets to travel the world!!!

 

On Sunday, I had to get up really early to go to the Apple store.  We were signed up for the class.  It turned out to be the wrong class.  Darn.  As we were walking out of the store, I told my mom I missed Katie already.  She asked my how I was feeling. I said, "I feel fine mom."  She said great. I have an idea.

 

Next thing I know we are at the Cleveland Zoo.  And KATIE IS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you see us?

 

It was really hot.  So Katie rode in a big stroller and I rode in my transport chair.  Today, we were two queenies in our carriages!

 

 

But then we would get out to look at the animals.  Katie was so excited to see the sealions.  They were swimming like crazy.

 

It has been a really long time since I have been to the zoo.  The polar bear is all grown up now. Do you see him lounging under the waterfall?

 

Ahhh look at this.  Katie and her new momma. I love this picture.

 

This is my new buddy Jack.  He is awesome.

 

Katie took a break to have some water.

 

She is so sweet.

 

She is 5 and I am 23.  I love her.

 

Jack and I were sharing popcorn.  He made sure to show me everything there was to do.

 

Ahh look at this.  The whole bunch of us.  We could all be like cousins.

 

 

This is sorta sad.  It is time for Katie to go back to the car for a little nap.  We have been here all day long so she is really tired.

 

 

Jack and David and I went to the rain forest before we left.  Jack was so curious about my trach scar.  He asked me if I died a little bit before I got it.  He is super smart. 

 

I will miss him too.  Maybe one day I will be able to go see him at his house.  It is by Nashville.  Country music.  Oh yea, I like country music.   Bye Katie. Bye Jack. Bye David. Bye Henry. Bye Flat Stanley. Bye Kim. Bye Mr. Simpson.  Thanks for coming. See you later.

A Week in My Life

August 1- 18, 2012

We got a message that one of our little friends from Florida was going to be coming through Ohio for a visit.  Once she got here she was taken to the emergency room and was going to need surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.  So I got busy making a pillow case.

I am getting really good at pressing. I used to be afraid to use the iron but not anymore.

I think I like sitting on this bench. Maybe we will win this house and then it will be my bench. 

We are at the Lake County YMCA dream house.  Every year there is a new one and we always come to tour them.  But we never win.  That's ok.  I like my house the best.

We found out that little Marissa is out of surgery.  So we packed up and headed down to the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital. 

One of our customers makes these bags for us to bring with us for the little ones.  First I stop at the store and pick out things I think they will like and fill it up.  I picked some big crayons for Marissa...

...and a soft ball.  I think she likes it.  She is so silly.  She won't keep her hospital gown on. I remember being just like that.

This is Marissa's mom.  They look so much alike.  People say that about me and my mom too.

Next she pulled out the pillowcase I made.  I do this in memory of my friend Kristen.

I just knew Marissa would like these sunglasses.  They are from the show Dora the Explora.

Oh man, the laptop does not work.  The batteries must be dead.

That's ok. We decided to have a tea party instead. I had to pretend I was drinking the tea.

Well it is itme to clean up. Marrissa has to go back to her room for some medicine. I used to play in this very same playroom when I spent so much time in this hospital.  My brother TJ spent a lot of time in here too.

In goes the coloring books.  She does a good job of cleaning up.

It's time to say goodbye.  We had a good visit. I am so happy Marissa is feeling better. 

I've got to put my laundry away.  I did not have any clean pajamas.

Look at this. Sometimes I get to eat lunch with my big brother at the office.  We were making plans.

I had to get back to work though. I had a lot of labeling to do today on new patterns.

I am cracking my mom up.  Can you tell?

I am fanning myself like she does when she gets hot.

Look at this. My mom could not find me. She was looking all over the house.  Haaaa I was sleeping in TJ's old bedroom.  I did not stay here too long though. Only until about midnight... 

And then I got up to play with my new iPad.  My little brother came down to help me do some things.

He is trying to figure out how I got the keyboard split in two.  He did not know you could do that.

The next day, I had to go shopping.  The bottom sheet on my bed has a big hole in it.  I saw some here that I liked a few weeks ago.  Do you know where I am? 

Haaa, I know I'm not a kid anymore but I love these sheets.  They match my room perfectly.

Then I had somewhere important to go. 

I am at the Apple store. I have an appointment at the Smart Bar.   

This is Al. He was so nice to me. Oh my gosh. He spent like an hour with me helping me to learn so much.  Now I am smart. LOL!!  I guess that is why they call it the Smart Bar.   

Time to go home.  Do you like how I carry my new bag?  I got it for my birthday from Auntie Bonnie, Adam & Karen. 

OMG!!! We stopped at the drugstore to pick up my medicine and look who was here.  My little brother Matt.  He is here getting snacks with his girlfriend Jessica.  They are in driving school this week.