Snow Day

We have a snow day today. I'd take a picture but it's still dark out and I'm still having a hard time loading pictures on this new computer. I'm trying to learn how to do it on Zoom Browser. It's not quite as simple as Picasa.

A snow day works okay for me. I'm making a list for the kids. I'll let them sleep until 10:00. In fact, I know one of the first things they all will do is go on the computer so I'll give them my list right here. Then I know they will see it!

1. Scrub the sauna-I'll do that one
2. Clean the basement so grandkids can play down there-Gretchen
3. Clean hall closet-Jeanie
4. Clean under kitchen sink-Molly
5. Clean refrigerator-I'll do that also
6. Clean upstairs bathroom-don't forget tub-Kaitlin
7. Clean boys bedroom-Mom and Danny
8. Clean bedrooms-Kaitlin, Gretchen, Molly, Jeanie
9. Shovel-Everyone

Doesn't that list look great. On paper it always does. Hopefully as Santa is watching, it will all get done! (Unfortunately, "Santa watching" only works for Danny anymore in this house!)

Guess Who's 17 Today?!

Happy Birthday Twinners! Hope you have a wonderful day! Poor things to be born during such a busy time of year! Hopefully we can "celebrate" your birthdays on Monday. Jon and Sara's kids will like that! Happy Birthday!

How to Build a Computer

Our old computer had a few years on it. Fred added about everything he could but it was slowing down and often freezing up. He decided to "build" one. He ordered the parts= i.e. memory, hard drive, etc. (I don't know computers) and put one together. I was pretty confident he knew what he was doing but I have to admit I was a little relieved when it was up and running!

The old one is temporarily set up close by. He transferred most stuff to the new one but there is a lot of "junk" left on the old and until I know all MY "good" stuff is transferred I don't want it too far. We will probably set it up in the "office" so kids can use it for homework.

Danny's Cake

We celebrated Brad's belated birthday also. He had the Ice Cream Cake.

Poor Dan and his brothers!

That was bad enough but when he went to the sink to wash it off.....

He thought it was funny. He went in the bathroom to try clean up. That frosting must have been all shortening. He was having a tough time getting it off. I went to check on him. I walked in the bathroom and started laughing as he looked like a green racoon. He VERY seriously said, "It's not funny anymore. Don't invite Brad and Larissa to my birthday next year." I said Larissa didn't do anything so he said, "Only invite Larissa."

Happy Birthday Teenager

Thirteen years ago today we were given our special gift. We didn't know he had Down Syndrome until he was born. Our first suspician that something was different was the nurses and doctor surrounding the warming crib where he was put after delivery. My OB doctor came up to me and said we sent for Dr. Kim (my pediatrician)"to make sure your son doesn't have Down Syndrome". Dr. Kim arrived shortly after and examined Danny. I saw Dr. Park look at him and he gave a small nod. Dr. Kim then came to my bedside to talk to Fred and I and said words to this effect: "Your son has Down Syndrome. We're able to tell by the "fat pad" behind his neck and by the the lines in his hands. We will run a chromosome test to verify."He was silent for a minute and then said, "These kids go a long way these days. Many of them learn to read and to do most things all kids do. The most important thing is to just treat him like your other kids." To this day I am eternal thankful for my wonderful doctor. Not once did he say, "I'm sorry" your son has Down Syndrome but he right away encouraged us and even told us about one of his patient's that was doing so well, even reading."

We honestly didn't shed many tears. I do think the tears we did shed were for the child we "lost". We were expecting someone different than we received. Fred took some video of Danny and went home to "tell" the kids. He explained the oxygen tube (Danny needed oxygen for four days and came home on the fifth without it.) and then explained to them that God gave us a very special baby this time. That Danny will need lots of love and lots of help from his brothers and sisters. Kids are so accepting. They all fell in love with him watching that video with tears streaming down their faces. And believe me, they still love and protect him fiercely (!) today!

Dr. Kim gave me information on the Michigan Early On program. Danny started going to "school" at 2 months old. The staff there were absolutely awesome! We went every week for two hours. There were several moms with special needs babies. There was a speech and occupational therapist. They gave us tips on ways to play that would strengthen muscles, tips on feeding, tips on anything we needed. Then the second hour the moms would go in another room for coffee and just talk while the therapists worked with the babies.

At age 3 Danny started riding the bus to school. I was a bit nervous that first day putting him on the bus but he was SO excited. He sat in a carseat by the window grinning and waving away. He had an awesome bus driver, Sandy, who I knew was taking good care of him. We have been very fortunate with Danny's school experience. He started out with the great staff in the Early On program and had great teachers. He had the BEST kindergarten, first and second grade teacher, Mrs. Forbes. We loved her and she loved Danny. I never worried about him at school because I knew he wasn't only being taken care of but he was also being loved! She gave him such a great start in his school experience and he continued to have awesome teachers right through elementary school. He had a bit of a "transition" period last year in middle school. It was a tough start but things are going okay now.

Today Danny is Danny. What more can I say. He can be annoying (!), stubborn (!) and lazy. But mostly he is happy, excited and fun! He is obsessed with Harry Potter. He listens and re-listens and re-listens......to the books on tape. Loudly! It doesn't matter if it's Harry Potter or his music, he has the volume loud! We are forever going up and turning it down. His most favorite place to go is the local library. He finds his way around the library like a "pro". He even looks things up on the computers there if he can't find a book or tape. He comes out with tons of music cd's, mostly Radio Disney, exercise books and "fact" books. Anything in nonfiction wether it's on a certain type of animal, the weather, human body......He loves to then share the"facts" with us. He loves the computer. He can surf the net better than I can. He is forever at the computer with books typing in a website from the back cover or from a cereal box or whatever. His saved "favorites" gets out of hand!

Our family gatherings sure would be boring without Dan. He is the life of the party without even trying. He has us in stitches, often by saying what the rest of us only dare think!

Happy Birthday you big teenager! You bring sunshine to all of our days!

Sunday School Program

The Sunday School Christmas Program was last night. Jeanie and Danny had a "piece". Jeanie knew her's and Danny knew his but read it instead of recited it. At the morning practice Danny didn't sing so the girls told him to make sure he sings at the program. I wasn't sure that was such a good idea but he brought his song book up and he did sing! We heard him way back where we were sitting. Very loud, flat and totally out of key! Poor little Caroline S. who was standing right in front of him. She was fighting the giggles but I give her credit as she kept singing. Not sure that was too easy!

Danny saw Santa Clause yesterday. Jeanie refused. We were standing in a not too long line when I realized the line was not moving. Santa wasn't schedule to start seeing the public for another 15 minutes when one of the workers came up to offer me an order form for pictures. I told him I didn't want a picture that Danny just wanted to see Santa. He hesitated a moment and then said, "Santa is seeing special needs kids right now." So he told me to go around to the other side. When we got there Santa had already got off his chair and was going for a break before the line started. He spotted Danny and came over and gave him a big hug! I told Danny to quickly tell Santa what he wanted as Santa was going on a break. He told Santa he wanted "Harry Potter Stuff". Santa said, "I'll see what I can do. I like Harry Potter, too." Then he asked if we were coming back later to see him. I told him that we weren't. So he asked Danny if he wanted some stickers and when back to get him some. Later as we were walking through the mall I heard Danny marvel several times, "Geez, I can't believe Santa likes Harry Potter too!!"