I am doing a fundraiser raffle, it's a secret. The money will go to a special friend and her son. Hopefully to get him a new bike since some people think it's ok to destroy other peoples property. The boy has NLD, a learning disorder and has been bullied enough.

$5 a ticket could win you $100 worth of Athena's products.

If you didn't know, I sell this stuff. Here's the website...
Athenashn.com/2774

You can contact me or donate through the Paypal button below.

Take something you believe in with all your heart, something amazing to you, something that you are in awe of, something you can not live without, something that gives you that feeling of pure joy and love. Give that something the name "rex". Got it? Really try to believe that REX is that certain something.

Now pretned REX is the word people use to make fun of other people, it's used instead of "stupid", it's used when someone goofs up. But...it's your most wonderful possesion, your greatest feeling and you know that a few selected others feel the same as you. How could it be? Certainly we don't mean it to be cruel but what other purpose could it serve?

Maybe start using REX instead of retard!

"I can’t change that I have Down syndrome, but one thing I would change is how people think of me. I’d tell them: Judge me as a whole person, not just the person you see. Treat me with respect, and accept me for who I am. Most important, just be my friend.

After all, I would do the same for you."
- Melissa Riggio

Doctors and doctors and more doctors...ugh.

This is all Vinnie's stuff, just to be clear.

We went to the eye doctor yesterday. Vinnie has a blocked tear duct that at this point would need to be probed. He will be put under for this. Otherwise his eyes look great. So we set April 1st for his surgery.

After the eye doctor was the genetics appointment. I really don't understand why we see her but I am assuming because she kind of knows what things should be looked at with children with DS. She is amazed at Vinnie, he is doing so well. Oh and amazed at his parents too! She suggests since he snores to go the an ENT to see what he says as far as sleep apnea. If you didn't know Vin has a very small penis, almost an innie. So we mentioned that and she suggested seeing an endocronologist (spelling?) to make sure it's not a hormone problem. Because of his itty bitty pee pee it's hard to pull back on the skin and he will most likely need ot be re-circumsized so we are trying to get appointments for all of these things and will most likely put a hold on the tear duct surgery so if he does need to be re-circumsized they can do it while he is under for his eye. Phew...I think that's all.

Rylie is going home

Yahoo! Not sure if she is home yet or not but the latest news on her Carepage was she had done all the things required to go home. I am sure that her and her parents have a lot still to go through, her being in a cast from belly to ankles(I think that is where it is now). Thanks for thinking about our special little friend!!

Wow, an award!

Life is Grand


I actually won an award from Karyn at Quinn's Crusaders! Go check out Quinn, she is sooooo cute! I am hoping to meet them one day so Vinnie and Quinn can fall in love! LOL

I guess this means that people are actually reading my blog – ha ha. (I felt the same way Karyn!)

Thanks Karyn!!

The award is called the Life is Grand Award. And for this award I must give five reasons why I think life is grand and then tag five more people. My reasons life is grand are:

1. Life is grand because of my kids, Rudy and Vinnie. What amazing little men!
2. Life is grand because of Jayson, my hubby, even if he does screw up (a lot! te he) he makes it possible for me to be home with the boys and puts up with my crazy emotions.
3. Life is grand because Vinnie has Down syndrome. I know some of you are saying "is she crazy?"...nope, not one bit. Because of Vinnie and his extra chromosome I have met some amazing people, opened my eyes to many new things, and has brought me to a new level of love. What an amazing journey.
4. Life is grand because I have so many people in my life that I can lean on and can lean on me. I love that I am able to lean and be leaned on because if it was just one way or the other it wouldn't feel so rewarding.
5. Life is grand because I am alive, this may seem small to some but I have been through and have seen so much in 32 years that I am truly amazed that I am here.

I think I am suppose to tag other people but I really don't know how to do that. I would love to see anyone else's "Life Is Grand" so consider yourself "tagged" and let me know so I can read!

Rylie update good news

good news

Posted 18 hours ago

Well we have just been informed Ry is being moved out of ICU today. As I mentioned before Rylie will be finishing her recovery on the cardiac floor instead of the orthopedic floor.....just so they can keep an eye on the cardiac piece. Rylie has turned the corner and is showing huge signs of improvement which is such a relief to Jim and I. What were weren't posting before was Rylie wasn't talking. She was trying to but couldn't formulate her words. A consult was done with the neuro team and no one could really pin point what the cause was. In the end they are thinking it was a combination of all the medicine she was on. Thank you to our friends/family who helped educate Jim and I quickly on the questions to ask and what to look for. You guys are the best!
So from here I believe the last hurdle she has is to get off the o2. Everything else it out which is making her much more comfortable. She is eating and talking to us and right now watching Charlie Brown with Auntie Joanie. Her nurse Lisa and I are going to try and wash her hair and clean her up. This should be an adventure!
We will update later.
Mary