Happy Halloween!!! The punk rocker and scary monster had a great time trick-or-treating!

Joy

Here I am, the day before my last entry in the "31 for 21" challenge. The challenge was to blog every day for the month of October, which was Down Syndrome Awareness month. It has been hard - even though I talk a lot, finding something newsworthy and/or interesting every day to blog about was difficult. I found that there were days I was a lot more negative than I usually am regarding Williams Syndrome. Was I just trying to find a topic? I actually think that was the case. I definitely have my days where the world is bleak, but they pass, and I move on. This month I captured them and kept them alive. Didn't mean I didn't have them, but I think I widen the spotlight, sustained it.

Here's the truth... and I will swear to it: Brady brings me joy. His every obstacle and hurdle that he leaps over, his scrunched up face that breaks into a smile that I waited for for 14 months, every happy dance I do when he eats the whole container of yogurt... simple and serious, he brings me joy. Does it break my heart he struggles to learn to sit up? Yes. But then he accomplishes that task and my heart bursts with joy. Does it break my heart when I feel we're left out of children's activities because he hasn't developed? Yes. But then today we spent the afternoon with Clare, 2 w/WS, and we make plans to visit Tatum in January :):), and we don't feel alone. Especially when we gets hugs from Clare, and Jamie to boot! Does my stomach tighten when we need to go to the cardiologist, the geneticist, the xxx-ist? Yes. But then I remember we live in 2007, with revolutionary treatments, medicines and therapies.

There's a cloud. There's a silver lining. The trick is to remember that all clouds have them.

Ok -Teresa started it, Kati followed suit, so now I will join the herd. A little info about me, author of the blog.

1. What time did you get up this morning? 5:45 a.m.
2. Diamonds or pearls? Hmmm... not a jewelry person, but diamonds are my birthstone!
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Michael Clayton... very good! George Clooney is delicious!
4.. What is your favorite TV show? House, The Office, Criminal Minds (...and How I Met Your Mother)
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Been on a cereal kick lately - today, Corn Pops!
6. What kind of soap do you use? Dial
7. What is your middle name? Grace
8. What food do you dislike? Olives & Guacamole
9. What is your favorite food? Bread ~ Which is why I joined Weight Watchers!
10. What kind of car do you drive? Toyota Camry
11. Favorite sandwich? BLT or anything from Panera
12. What characteristic do you despise? Selfishness
13. Favorite item of clothing? Pajamas - comfy clothes!
14. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Without kids - a beach, like in Aruba. With kids- Grand Canyon
15. What color is your bathroom? Mint green and white
16. Favorite brand of clothing? Old Navy/Gap... and one day, Express
17. Where would you retire to? where my family is, wherever that may be
18. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Nothing too exciting since I turned 30 and my husband threw a party for me
19. When is your birthday? April 17
20. What is your favorite scent? White Shoulders
21. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night person
22. What is your shoe size? 9.5
23. Pets? Our cat died last February... we may be getting a new pet soon....
24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? Brady is on the verge of something BIG, but I'm not sure yet what that is
25. What did you want to be when you were little? writer
26. How are you today? Inspired! Organized all my clothes :)
27. What is your favorite candy? I'd take a Hershey's bar with Almonds
28. What is your favorite flower? Tulips and Carnations, not necessarily together
29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? November 9 - Ange and I are going out for a night on the town! LOL
30. What church do you attend? Saint Theresa's
31. What are you listening to right now? TV is on upstairs and I am sure Tom is sleeping in front of it
32. What was the last thing you ate? Pork chop and applesauce (ain't that swell!)
33. Do you wish on stars? no
34. If you were a Crayola crayon, what color would you be? blue
35. How is the weather right now? Cold- turned on the heat!
36. Last person you spoke to on the phone? The other Kerry
37. What is your favorite soft drink? Pepsi!!!!!
38. Favorite restaurant? We're so lame.... Chelo's, a family restaurant
39. Hair Color? Brunette or Auburn, depending on my mood :)
40. Siblings? one brother, one sister
41. Favorite day of the year? Christmas
42. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbies
43. Summer or winter? winter
44. Hugs or kisses? Hugs
45. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
46. When was the last time you cried? A few minutes ago reading some WS mommy blogs!
47. What is under your bed? Dust bunnies and my aunt's old suitcase
48. What friend have you had the longest? Michelle - from 6th grade!!
49. What did you do last night? Watched the Red Sox WIN the World Series!!!
50. Favorite room in your house? family room
51. What are you afraid of? my children being hurt or death of my parents
52. Popcorn salted? buttered? Yes!
53. Favorite sport to watch? football and baseball
54. Favorite sport or activity to participate in? softball or volleyball

We are the CHAMPIONS!!!!
Way to go Red Sox!!!!!

World Series, Game 3

Here we are again... it's the bottom of the sixth inning and Sox are beating the Rockies 6-0! Can you believe it - Dice-K hit a double!! There must be a lot of praying going on out there!

11 p.m. and the night is still young...

I have "met" so many people online whose children have Williams Syndrome. Some Brady's age, some older. Even though all the kids are different, I can get some kind of idea what is ahead of me. They all have differing challenges, but the core is pretty similar. I also remember when Brady was first diagnosed, I was told if Brady were to have a syndrome, Williams was the one to have -- I think in terms of future problems physically and mentally, plus the "happy" gene that follows so many of the WS kids.

I see Brady is delayed. I see Brady is a little peanut. I see Brady slowly getting to the crawling, walking, running stages in his life. I don't see a child who will not do what all the other children are doing. Will Brady be able to play baseball as good as his brother? Probably not, but that could have been like that anyway... nothing to do with Williams.

Today we had a sales rep from an equipment company join Brady's PT appointment, along with another PT who specializes in equipment. The equipment were items that would help Brady in his quest to walk and to aid with his low muscle tone. Things like specialized strollers, with removeable seats for a highchair or car seat; walkers; bath tubs in help him sit upright. Even though Brady has been making great strides, he is still working on everything. He sits great, sometimes he still squirms to lay down. Some items - like a walker - would be an aid for a few months or so; a stroller he could use up to age five if his energy is low. It would all be covered under insurance.

The other PT was nice and helpful; the equipment man was nice and helpful. Heck, here is an adorable picture of Brady and Lisa using the walker -- upon which he immediately started moving while he was in it:

Then they brought the stroller out - a stroller similar to the hundreds I've seen at Children's Hospital with severely disabled children in them. I immediately froze a bit, not that anyone noticed because they were too busy talking about all the great benefits. I understand why they brought it, I understand if he has trunk support while sitting at a table he can concentrate on doing OT type stuff without concentrating on sitting. I understand. And Brady's PT Lisa said how it would be great to use now while he's trying to reach his goals, that he wouldn't need to use them for a long time because he would reach his goals.

But I don't see my son in equipment like that. In a specialized bathtub. And not that he needs it, but the catalog was filled with other equipment that was for more severely disabled children. But the catalog is here in MY house, sent to help MY son. How ironic, just when he has come along so far, I see something like this and it hunkers me down to earth. I know once I get past the moment, I will be fine and realistic about his needs. But it was NOT the way to start my morning.

On the left is Brady coming home from the hospital - on the right is his two-year birthday. Whenever I think about how far behind he is, or how he's not doing what even a lot of other WS kids are doing at his age, I remind myself how far he has come, how much he has accomplished since even this past summer. I need to give him a break, before I break my own skull banging my head against the wall. Hey, I am always a little late myself, so what's the big deal if he is? LOL

I just declared it Relax-About-It Thursday today, so this is what I am chillin' out about!

GO SOX!!!!!!