Megan's got 47

Got to figure out how to get it back!

Go on shake it up, what you gotta lose?
Go and make your luck with the life you choose
If you want it all, lay it on the line
It's the only life you got, so you gotta live it big time

LOVE these lyrics. And now Megan is in LOVE with James and listens to this song constantly. So we will now start living more by these lyrics. I think we all should.

It's the only life you got, so you gotta live it big time

We got to meet James Maslow tonight, oh and Carlos, Kendall and Logan from Big Time Rush at the Best Buy by our house! It was surreal! They were so sweet with the girls. Guess we live it BIG TIME!

Just thought I would check in on here and just say all is well.
Megan is doing amazingly well in 1st grade.
She is 98% included in 1st grade. She gets pulled once a week for 1 on 1 ST and the rest of the day she is in the classroom. All other therapies come to her. It is a GREAT set-up and she just LOVES being there. Loves her teachers, therapists, EVERYONE!
We do once a week private ST so I am good with the 1 session at school.

Megan has been doing a great job with both her reading and math skills. She amazes me everyday with her knowledge.

We figured out tonight Megan is smarter than her dad when it comes to direction. It was pitch black out and we were coming from a strange direction when we left her school picnic...we barely ever drive this route and my husband was confused. Megan pointed out (let me remind you it is pitch black out) the playground we play on on occasion. Joe was still clueless.
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I feel like I have dropped the ball with my blog. I do want to continue to update it with special events and such but I am just so busy. Right now I am Communications Officer on Megan and Olivia's schools PTO Board, I am troop leader for both of their Girl Scout Troops, I am on the Yearbook Committee, I do watch care and library aide...oh and let's not forget Kid Writing helper and now I am homeroom parent for Olivia's class. That is a full plate which leaves me no time for the computer. I will try to update more just for you mom, but can't promise!

8:15 a.m. till 12:30 p.m.

Meeting Attendees: Both parents, principal, kindergarten teacher, 1st grade teacher, guidance counselor, speech therapist, occupational therapist, special educator, special education supervisor for district, IU consultant and IU assistive technology

IU consultant did a presentation to explain the SAS Toolkit.

We sat and brainstormed all of Megan's Strengths and Interests.

We then went through what level Megan is at in her reading, writing, phonics and math subjects.

After that, the 1st grade teacher filled out the poster sized toolkit page where we discussed areas of 1st grade, Megan' Strength's and what we could do to make her successful next year. (i.e. what supports, modifications or technologies that would help Megan be successful)

It was an amazing meeting. We will continue the discussion on June 1st. Will update again soon.

5:30 p.m.
Megan asks "Mom, can I have sausage pancakes"
Mom responds, "Umm, no, it is almost dinner"
Megan, "Well, can I have cheese then"

I love this girl!

It is that time of year again. Dance Recital is right around the corner.
Rehearsal is next Wednesday and we should be getting the costume today.
Megan is home with me today so we practiced doing her hair and I decided to have her sing the song they are doing.
This is not a common song that you hear every day but she does sing it more clearly today.
So here it is...what is the song?


2009 2008

Before we went out to the bus stop this morning Megan said, "Mommy, you stay here, I do it, I big girl now"....she marched to the driveway took a seat in the sun and waited as I watched from the porch...when I tried to come to her she signed "Stop" and when I stopped, she signed "I Love You"...Miss Independence I tell ya.

The bus pulled up and she ran to it and climbed those big stairs all by herself. Who needs a mom anyway? LOL

Megan did a great job again today with kid writing. She wrote the date, her name (first and last) and smart copied 'went' too. I also sounded out P-A-R-T-Y for her and she spelled it like this p-a-r-t-e....so proud when she does typical stuff!

Hi Mr. and Mrs. Bissol,

Good evening! I just wanted to take a moment to touch base regarding the wonderful things we are seeing lately with Megan. We sent home to you today, a copy of the Kid Writing that she did today. You can see how clear the letters look in the words mom and Olivia! I have been sounding out words for her and she is almost always correctly identifying the letter that makes the sounds! We are still working on forming the letters independently, but this is tremendous progress from the beginning of the year. Also, I have noticed that Megan is forming sentences that are much longer and detailed than earlier in the year. Today she went on and on about Mom, Dad, playing...it was awesome!! I didn't want to wait another day to let you know of all of the positive progress we see happening in Kindergarten!
Enjoy your evening! See you soon!

Thank you,

Megan's Kindergarten Teacher

sniff sniff, proud mommy moment!

How do I sign up? I want her to come to me and help me get my shit together!
I feel like I want to get healthy and fit but it would just be another thing to add to my list of a gazillion things to do.

I think Jill could totally help me get my life, mind and food issues in check. I would totally never want to piss that little lady off...lol
How do I sign up?

Today Kindergarten ran 1/4 mile fun run. Megan although a cute runner has no ability to keep up with the kids her age. I watched her class finish as Megan was not even half way done. As we continued to run to the finish line her music teacher came running up to cheer her on to finish along with all her girlfriends! It was so awesome to see them care about her and come to help her finish! It was a great moment! I was a very proud mom.

Do you all remember this?


Well as season pass holders of Sesame Place we actually get to see Dan Zanes, FOR FREE this summer, can you believe it? Megan is going to flip! So excited.

Also on the list of FREE summer concerts are:
The Fresh Beat Band
Father Goose
The Doodle Bops
Choo Choo Soul

So excited for this awesome summer ahead! Thanks Mom for getting us the passes!

DSRTF Volunteer Spotlight

This section of our website is dedicated to acknowledging parents, children, companies, community leaders and others who have gone above and beyond to support DSRTF and Down syndrome cognition research….

Thank you for all of your support!!!

* * * * *

Sarah Kearney- Yardley, PA

When Afton Elementary 3rd grader Sarah Kearney received a letter from her principal explaining the importance of "Acts of Kindness in the Community", Sarah was immediately on board.

Earlier this year Sarah met an amazing kindergartner named Megan Bissol. Megan was born with Down syndrome and after Sarah received the letter from her principle, she had an inspired idea. Sarah decided to get in touch with Megan’s mother to ask her all sorts of questions about Down syndrome. Sarah also wanted to do something to help Megan and everyone else living Down syndrome. Megan's mother immediately started telling Sarah about DSRTF and all the work the foundation is doing in the field of Down syndrome cognition research. After hearing about DSRTF, Sarah was "on it"!

Sarah asked the manager of the local Friendly's Langhorne restaurant to hold a fundraiser in honor of Megan to raise money for DSRTF. The event raised $632 and the night was amazing! Sarah's efforts will definitely make a difference and she plans to do this fundraiser again next year!



Everyone at DSRTF would like to extend a very special thank you to Sarah, Megan, Afton Elementary and everyone who attended the event at Friendly's Langhorne!!! Thank you all for your effort, generousity and support!

Life is not fair. Rest in Peace Sweet Carly.

Had to share. Today at the playground in the little tree house Megan held class. All her students were little boys...it was too funny she had them lined up facing her. She would tell them what to do and say and they would listen. She is always trying to imitate her teacher...she just loves her! I think I was most amazed today at how much more vocal she is being. I heard her say "Hi, I'm Megan, whats your name" several times....when she would get a response, she would then say "Hi __(fill in name)___"
And once Megan knows your name she won't forget it!
So proud of her lately!

Anyone out there who has BTDT please respond. I am thinking ahead to 1st grade. We have a perfect day set up for Megan right now but it is half day so there is more time in a day for therapy. I hate the idea of "pull-outs" but she will be full day so when will she get it? What do you give up...not math or reading or writing or specials? I hate the label on children who get pulled out, it disrupts everything and also makes the child feel different and left out. But do push-in's really work? Can the child get all they need in a classroom environment? Or do you spend your evenings going to private therapy? So much to think about...anyone out there have the perfect schedule let me know! Thanks!

So I have been absent on my blog for a while. Just been extremely busy with the kids and their activities. Megan and Olivia are both in dance and soccer, Megan started with her Daisy Troop, Joey is on 2 baseball teams and I am hoping to start up basketball again soon. Life doesn't get easier when the kids get older like I thought!
I need to upload some pictures but my monitor for my PC is busted and I can't store photos on my laptop. SO, we wait. Hopefully we will win the lottery or something and I can go out and buy things without saving first.

Megan has been doing extremely well at school. She just loves her teachers and her friends. Yesterday we got such a nice note on Megan's school work. The teacher was thrilled that Megan completed her worksheet completely independent w/o re-direction.

Next Tuesday the 20th, our school is doing a fundraiser for DSRTF. A third grader who helps Megan during lunch came up with the idea. If you go eat at Friendly's in Langhorne, PA between 5 and 8pm, 15% of your total bill will be donated in Megan's name to DSRTF. It was such a nice gesture that I am speechless. Megan's school has really welcomed her with open arms and we are blessed to have our community in our lives. If you are around, come out and have dinner with us!

I think as soon as I heard what that stood for I was in!
Then I read my friend Bethany's words here and I was motivated!

Here is what it is in a nutshell.
From your couch to a 5K run in 9 weeks! It almost sounds too good to be true! I won't know for sure until the 9 weeks are over. I am posting it here on my blog to make it official and make sure I follow through and also to enter for a chance to win a gift certificate and ipod (BONUS)!

Read more about it on Bethany's Blog as she already has done a great job of posting all the information.

You can also join our facebook group by clicking here.

I thought since we gave the photobook to my parents it was ok to share some more of it on here.
So here are just a few of the pages out of the book.