Megan's got 47

ok, I wanted to switch providers for my website Megansgot47.com so I cancelled my Yahoo account and now my blogger account is blank (notice there is no background?). What do I do? I wanted to use blogger and buy megansgot47.com but it wasn't that easy since I already owned it through Yahoo. Anyone who is good with this stuff please post here and HELP....I would normally bug Rebecca who set it up the 1st time but she is a new grandmom, so she is busy! Thanks anyone!

On Tuesday we went to the shore for the day to see my Aunt Karen. We had a blast.
Here is a video of our day.

Megan graduated from her 2nd year of pre-school today but because she doesn't turn 5 till November we get an extra year. We were so proud of our ham bone today! She did not participate in her songs because she was too busy waving to Mommy, Daddy and Olivia....Joey was there too but sound asleep next to me and Megan couldn't see him. Olivia yelled back "Hey Meg, whatca doin'?" in the middle of everything. I just love how the 2 of them think they are the only people in a room when in actuality there are 30.

Today a good man passes. Randy Pausch.
Rest in peace.
Oct. 23, 1960 - July 25, 2008

Please take the time to read this article,"Learning Love from Baby Grace"
This article is why we the mom's of Gifts put it together.
I just wish I were in this specific class when this particular moment happened.
How amazing.

I wish I had my camera tonight because my Olivia came out of her shell and was a real fish tonight. She was going under the water and jumping off the side. When she was jumping off the side she was not jumping to me but onto a noodle. She so amazed me as she hung onto the noodle and swam across the pool. I promise to now get a video of her doing it! I was so proud of her tonight. I hope she remembers her bravness tomorrow.

Editing Post to add a video:

After dinner tonight our dinner table conversation went like this:
Olivia: Mom, can I have a cookie?
Mom: What was that?
Joey Whispers in Olivia's ear: May I have a cookie please?
Olivia yells: NO MY COOKIE
We all laugh and Joey Whispers again: No ask, May I have a cookie please?
Olivia whispers back to Joey: May I have a cookie please?
We all laugh again.
Then Joey says again, No ask mom if you can have a cookie PLEASE.
So Olivia eventually giggles and says: Oh, can I have a cookie please mommy!

Don't you just LOVE IT!

I arrived on Thursday at 2 pm to meet my friend Renee and her friend Megan at their Terminal at Logan Airport to catch a taxi to our hotel. For the record, we stayed at the Westin Waterfront and not the Westin Coplay as the taxi driver thought. Here is our rooms view:

As we settled in we started our tour of the convention. Our hotel was not as convenient as we would have liked but it did give us tons of exercise during our stay. As we walked through, I introduced myself to Coleen from the Delaware Down Syndrome Group whom I went to High School with. She has a son with Down Syndrome and I always get updates on them from my friend Jen. She joined the NDSC this year to organize the Convention and she did a wonderful job.
As the day progressed, our friends started to arrive. We decided to go to the original Cheers for dinner. My friend Bethany plugged in the address into her navigational system 84 Beacon Street....and to our dismay this was 84 Beacon Street:

Because our trip to 84 Beacon St took so long Bethany's kids were tuckered out so we dropped them back off at the hotel and took a taxi with some more friends out to Cheers....the taxi driver had a much easier time finding the place.

Shylo, Bethany, Renee, Megan, McKenna and me

Friday morning I got up early and headed to the Pre-Conference to see the class "Supporting Membership, Participation, and Learning for Students with DS in Inclusive Classrooms" by Cheryl Jorgensen from University of New Hampshire. It was an awesome class and Dr. Jorgensen was amazing and truly gave me the AH HA moment I wanted....I totally understood the true meaning of inclusion when it was all over. I will be forever greatful for her teaching me that. Friday class was all day long but for Lunch I went and meet with some old but dear friends. I had a wonderful time.
Friday night was our Downsyn Dinner. For those new to my blog, downsyn was the 1st place I went after Megan was born. It is safe to say without downsyn there would have been no Convention, no blog, no experiences. Downsyn is it for me, downsyn is my link to all things DS! And here is a picture of the man responsible for all of my BEST FRRIENDS (him included) and his son Mikey, the inspiration for it all. I am not sure if Tom can actually wrap his head around all he has created.


Here is my girl Lisa and I. I so was looking forward to spending time with Lisa and her family but the weekend seemed to sneak away from me! I love you!

Here I am with Kristen and Ann. They are 2 of the awesomest mom's on the planet club. The 2 of them inspire me everyday.


Saturday was spent in classes and on a tour boat. It was so much fun touring the Charles River with Renee, Megan and Kris...we learned a lot about Boston. Do not rub the foot of John Harvard.

Also on Saturday I got to meet Karen Gaffeny (Crossing Tahoe), Kathryn Soper (editor of Gifts) and go to the Dance and see all the cute kids dancing.




Sorry this is out of focus but this is baby Vinnie and he is so adorable!

Sunday was spent waking and leaving behind a weekend full of what I wish everyday life was...a time to spend with best friends and be in a place where stares are good and people are genuine.
Thank Goodness for the Convention, see you all in Sacramento in 2009.

So I am finishing up my packing to head out to the NDSC Conference in Boston tomorrow. I am very excited to see some GREAT speakers and gain a ton of information in the process.

I am a little nervous to leave my family and fly alone but it is for a good cause.

I will be back on Sunday.

Just over a month ago we were at the ENT where Megan's tyimponogram (sp?) was flat. The doctor didn't seem too concerned but wanted to see her back in September to replace her tubes and drain her ears. We would have to wait a whole 6 months? Wonder if this is why her speech has leveled off? I thought maybe she wasn't hearing all the stuff she was being taught in school. The school was concerned as well since she didn't talk a lot when she was there.

But after having her home with me for the past 3 weeks on break I have noticed an explosion of speech. She can hear EVERYTHING I am sure. She is much like a chipmunk who finds all his nuts and hords them in this "space" for winter. Megan must take in so much and hord it until she is in her "space" because she is talking more than ever....saying words and sentences I only wished I would hear.

Have any of you noticed this "theory" with your kids?

Here is some video footage of Megan singing this morning so you can see how stinking cute she is!

So today I walked into Megan's dance studio because Joe left a book there during Hell Week. Megan's teacher Ms. Sharon was there for summer classes and asked to talk to me in her office.
Ms. Sharon told me that when I came in with Megan to sign up for dance she doubted herself. She wasn't so sure she would be able to handle a child with a disability. She never conveyed this to me. She was so postitive when I brought Megan to her last September. She was the one who told me all children had "special needs."
Ms. Sharon continued on to tell me that Megan stole a piece of her heart this past year and it has made her start thinking about things. She asked me if I would be ok with her starting a 501 C (non profit) and to name it "Megan's Friends". That Megan has inspired her and made her not doubt that she can touch anyone like she has Megan. That she can teach ALL kids to dance.
I of course balled my eyes out and told her that it was an awesome idea and then she asked me to help her with it!

She is 3 today! My Olivia Rose. My lover of life, my inquisiter, my 3rd leg!
I love her so much! Her beauty, her laughter! I love her more every minute!
Happy Birthday Sunshine!

She got Fancy Nancy from her Nana and Pop Pop which she LOVED...notice the pinky out and she got a new bike from Aunt Meme and Pop Pop Remmey...

She was a little tired in the picture as she had a long day, one in which included her 1st bee sting, OUCH!

To all my family and friends who are vested in this with me, Kennedy is out of Surgery and all went well. Please go check out Renee's Blog
for details and to see some beautiful pictures.

Thanks Uncle Randy (Dr. Betz) for being THE MAN!

Yes, they are out there and they have nothing better to do than mess with you!
This post is a warning to all not to get sucked in by others so called CRAZY LIVES, many people lie and exaggerate and STEAL photos and use them as there own.
This recently happened on our downsyn.com forum and many were taken by a so-called new SCARED MOM! and a REAL new mom was faced with idenity theft. PROTECT YOURSELF PLEASE!!:)

As of July 2008 Joey has done karate, flag football, baseball, basketball, swimming and now tackle football. Yes, I did it, I signed him up for Football.
Lord help us all!