Down syndrome Family Alliance Christmas Party

 All dressed up the Christmas party!

 Blake was so excited when Santa arrived...

 Waiting in line to see Santa. Blake screaming at Blair & Dane pouting. Typical.

 Another classic. Blair will enjoy this picture one day.

The Down syndrome Family Alliance of Greenville throws a Christmas party each year complete with a sit down, home cooked meal, games and activities, and Santa Claus! Each child received a gift this year wrapped with their name on it. It was such a generous personal touch! Matt was recognized for his contributions on the board, and we tried to take in all the wonderful people we have met over the years as we will miss them when we relocate next year. There is nothing more comforting than meeting amazing people who are in a similar situation. Those we've met are so caring, intelligent, funny, nuturing, and supportive. I can only hope we meet similar people in San Diego and wherever Matt's job takes us (which we hope to know VERY soon!).

One Final Boo!

Buzz Lightyear, Spider Man & our little pirate girl had a blast at their final Boo in the Zoo and trick or treating in Greenville! My parents were able to be here to witness the mayhem at Boo in the Zoo. Between the arrival of the baby giraffe and the entire city wanting to partake, busy was an understatement. Thanks to following the advice of a friend to purchase tickets in advance we waltzed right past the long line and enjoyed perusing the zoo in costume. Sadly, we spent our final Halloween night with the Barden's :( For five years they have welcomed us into their home and neighborhood where we have enjoyed pizza, trick or treating and their friendship. I remember bombarding their home with our two boys when they had not yet had children, and now we total five children between our three and their two! We will sorely miss spending this holiday with them! This year our friends Alben and Shafer Miller (and their parents) joined us, which was so fun and made for great memories.

Dane is 5!

Dane turned 5 on October 30th (yes, I am behind)! We had a fun Spider Man themed celebration that included a bounce house in our own backyard complete with a GIANT Spider Man at the entrance. Dane had no clue this was happening and the look on his face as it was blown up was priceless. He enjoyed bouncing with his friends, snacks and cupcakes, and a generous spread of gifts. Our youngest son has turned into such a smart, kind, funny little boy who continues to have a strong personality. Dane is amazing us with his reading abilities, his quick understanding of addition and his natural athletic abilities. We know this year has great things in store for him!

Buddy Walk 2012

Our last Greenville Buddy Walk was on October 27th. This year I was asked to be on the committee, which was such a great learning experience and so much fun to spend time with such great parents of children with Down syndrome. However, that also made for a very long day of work for me. I was also unable to walk with my family because I was appointed the event photographer the morning of the walk! Although it wasn't ideal, this year's walk was extra special because my parents were able to travel to Greenville to join us. The event was wonderful with lots of games, a local Tae Kwan Do group (see Blake breaking boards above!), the Greenwood Genetic bus (a science experience) and of course the walk and activities took place at the beautiful Furman University campus. We will certainly miss the smaller, quaint walk here in Greenville, but look forward to the Buddy Walk in San Diego next year. What a fun day it was and how great it is that we are able to set aside a day to celebrate Blake!

Behind

In the past week or so we have celebrated Dane's birthday, Halloween, The Buddy Walk and a visit from my parents. Great fun was had by all and I have lots of pictures to prove it. However, after being up to my elbows in cupcake frosting, wrapping paper, costumes and editing pictures from all of the above, I have been neglecting the blog. I have high hopes for some free time this coming week...

Fall Pictures

A few of the picutres I captured last weekend. Wish I could share them all...

Apple Pickin'

We took our final trip to Sky Top Orchard in the North Carolina mountains. At least while in residency. The weather was perfect as was the experience as a family. It is so hard for me to believe my first trip Dane was in a baby carrier and had not turned one year old yet! 

Sky Top knows how to celebrate the season with an array of apples to pick, apple cider, those to die for donuts, animals to see, hayrides to enjoy and a fun play area for the kids. Unfortunately, we didn't leave without an accident as you can see in the picture of Blair with the pumpkins. Poor thing fell face first onto the asphalt :( Aside from that we are enjoying apples

and look forward to warm apple crisp this weekend!

Traumatized

One more day on trauma rotation, then Matt is done. Forever. No more trauma rotations while a resident. It also means we have a mere 9 months left here in Greenville. To say the least all who are involved are traumatized while on this rotation. We look forward to returning to a normal life. As if that exists while in residency...

36

At first it was just another birthday. Then, I started thinking about my upcoming thirty-sixth year...

~ 4 years away from 40

~ 2 years until my 20-year high school reunion

~ I will have a 5, 7 and 2 year-old

~ We will likely know where we will settle

~ Completion of residency

~ A move to San Diego & the start of Fellowship

 

Not just another birthday.

Back to School!

 A proud Kindergartener!

 Excited for 4K at Oakview Elementary!

 This picture is worth a thousand words...of what our school mornings look like.

 Matt escaped long enough to see the boys off on their first day. One amazing Daddy.

Blake looking very big in his desk. No shared table this year!

~

Everyone had a great day on their first day of school this year! I did get a few dirty looks this morning after waking them up bright and early, and I needed an extra cup of coffee, but all went well. Dane enjoyed his new classroom and has an amazing teacher who is beyond organized and creative. I need to take some lessons from her! Blake was so excited to see familiar faces in his teachers and classmates in his special education classroom and seemed comfortable in the regular education classroom he will be integrated in for the day (with the exception of subjects that don't come as easy or need additional adaptations - that's where the spec ed room comes in). He is repeating Kindergartener which was our request and wish. Blair and I were a bit bored and unsure of what to do with ourselves, but soon enough she will start Mom's Morning Out two days a week where she will enjoy other children and fun activities. And I have many projects that have been shoved aside that I will be able to tackle! Here's to a great school year and our final one here in Greenville!

Building Tolerance

Matt's first rotation this 5th and final year of residency is trauma. Most of you know by now trauma is a nightmare for all involved. He has hit the half-way mark (6 weeks) and today was the first day that something insignificant made me have a breakdown. Dane's seatbelt wouldn't work after an exausting trip to Target with all 3 kids and I just had to have a good cry. Afterwards I felt much better and realized that during last year's trauma rotation this was happening by the 2nd DAY. Hooray for building tolerance to this lifestyle and here's hoping I can make it the other half of trauma without another breakdown...or maybe just one.

Kiawah Island

 One view from our balcony

 Another view from our balcony. Amazing!

 Our last evening on the island.

We enjoyed our trip aside the other GHS ortho residents and their wives!

Pictured here are us with the Kruse's and the Adams'.

The Watson's had made a trip to Charleston so we missed

having them in this picture!

~

Matt and I were beyond blessed to be able to travel to Kiawah Island last weekend for him to attend a conference and me to enjoy some rest and relaxation on the beach! A HUGE thank you to my parents who traveled to stay with the kids, which was the only way this trip could happen. It meant the world to us to be able to get away alone! Matt's conference lasted until around noon each day, so we enjoyed time together lounging at the beach, pool and taking in all the beauty that The Sanctuary has to offer. We had fantastic food, great company with fellow residents and attendings and none of the daily demands that comes with parenting and being a resident. We made wonderful memories on Kiawah Island and hope to return someday soon!