Connecticut, Friends, New Foods, and a DIY Laundry Room

It has been far too long since I last wrote.  Life seems to be speeding by at a fast pace lately and I don't want to miss one minute of it!  Every time I sit down to write, I am called away and as such a few weeks pass and so here I am trying to get all caught up on writing.

Earlier in March, Ellie and I headed off to Connecticut to visit my best friend Megan for Spring Break while my husband stayed behind and installed a ridiculously large hot water heater (Yes, this would be the hot water heater to replace the one that went out back in December.  Yes, I said December.  Yes, I have more pictures with a story behind the laundry room demo, but that is another blog post all together.).  I also have the most awesome laundry room sink, but those pics will come later.  As in once the laundry room has walls and the sink is hooked up and well just check back in a few months.

My beautiful, energy efficient water heater.
It is actually located in what used to be a doorway to a closet.

Our ridiculously large water heater wouldn't fit in the original laundry room.
So we knocked down a wall that connected the old laundry room to a closet.
The washer/dryer are in the old laundry room and the water heater sits in what used to be a closet.

Moving on! Ellie and I took a 6 hour long flight to Hartford where I was finally reunited with my best friend.  It had been years since we had last seen each other and while "distance makes the heart grow fonder", I really wish there weren't so many miles between us.  Megs, I am signing the "Lonely" song for you right now.

Aren't they beautiful?  You know what?  Megs is pregnant in this pic!
I am going to be an "auntie" again!

The Chunky Chicken was awesome on the flight up there.  We had a 2 hour layover in Atlanta and that was fun.  Well, not really and I have a few words over Southwest Atlanta's idea of what "disability pre-boarding" is. (Let's just say that they let a bunch of other people [like 30] from another plane board before the 3 people in the wheel chairs and the teenager on crutches.  Seriously, I got all assertive and respectfully asked the attendants just how far these people were supposed to walk to their seats and how much of a sensory overload meltdown do they want to see with my Bear?  The pilot overheard me and requested everyone in the front row of the plane to move back to accommodate those with ambulatory difficulties.).  Anyway, to distract Ellie from all the noise, the altitude pressure, and a small closed in area with a gazillion people, I implemented most of the strategies that I outlined a few years ago with regards to flying.  Although not the passenger escort tip.  Nor the carseat.  Girlfriend was in her seat solo and was pretty proud of being a "big girl just like mommy".

Traveling with a Toddler Part 1
Traveling with a Toddler Part 2

Amazing things happen when you go to a new country. . . er. . . state.

Megan's son, C, is around the same age as Ellie and I cannot get over how much he has grown.  Of course, the last time I saw him he was 6 weeks old!  It was really good for Ellie to be able to play with another kid her age and being able to see him go through the day-to-day activities such as sharing meals together, bedtime, bath time, car rides, etc.  Since Andrew and I cannot provide Ellie with a sibling and our play dates are few and far between, this was quite the treat for Ellie.  As as well as quite the developmental nudge that she needed.

Hanging out at Bertucci's. Bear touched and licked pizza twice.

During the visit, Ellie tried a bunch of new kid foods such as pizza.  She didn't like it, but she tried it twice.  We are talking about melted cheese, tomato sauce, and crust all together.  Like 3 foods touching each other. TOUCHING!  This was HUGE! She also tried and loved: a hot dog, multi-grain crackers with Havarti cheese, and penne pasta with artichoke sauce.   She actually just hopped into my lap and devoured half of my pasta. . . my dinner. . . she stole it.  I about peed my pants with shock and excitement.

AND she slept!  As in all night for more than 5 hours at a time. On a fold out futon.  In a strange place aka the playroom.  She slept past 2:30am each night.  Did I mention that Bear slept!?  As in sleep.  As in shut eye.  As in counting your Z's. It official, y'all! We are moving to Hartford and into Megan's house for my own sanity's sake.  Megan, here we come!

"My darling C with those puppy dog eyes.  I just love you.  I will sit so nicely next to you
in this cart and share my cracker with Havarti cheese with you."

Oh and girlfriend sat in a Costco grocery cart without screaming, standing, or climbing out.  Nor pulling food off the shelves.  Or pitching a fit. Or me having to bribe her with ice cream.  Why?  Because she was  in-love.  "Oh my darling, C.  You are so handsome and strong and sitting in that cart so nicely.  I must sit next to you and make eyes at you.  Sigh. " 

The most heartwarming thing was to see C and Ellie play together.  C would come home from school and ask to see his friend Ellie from Taxis (Texas).  He treated her just like any other kid, which is sadly something we no longer see too often, even amongst family.  C is a little charmer with a  big heart and these big brown eyes that seemed to hypnotize Ellie into being on her best behavior.

After going to the Kid City Children's Museum, we checked out this local cupcakery.
Bear was so excited to see the mini-chocolate iced cupcakes.  Strangely, she didn't eat more than 1 bite
of the cupcake. I am questioning whether or not she is truly my child.

For myself, I have to say that most exciting part of the trip was the lack of electricity for several hours.  You know, when you have a well that runs off an electric pump so that you not only have no lights, but also no water?  Yep.  No water.  Not to fear, y'all!  Apparently, this occurs more often than my best friend would like to admit as she owns a back up generator.  When it became apparent that the power wasn't coming immediately back on or just back on in the near future, the excessively loud, roaring generator gave power to the refrigerators, the well pump, and to some of the outlets in the master bedroom.  Most importantly, there was power to the television in the master bedroom and we got to watch The Mocking Jay Part 1.  It was just like old times.

Added bonus, Megan and I went out alone, together, without the kiddos to a movie.  Like a real movie in a movie theater with no lights, stadium seating, and popcorn.  Not a TV.  Not a sensory screening.  Not during the day.  But a newly released in-theaters-only movie in a real movie theater at night after dark.  Now don't laugh, but Megs and I saw Frozen Fever.  Yeah yeah, I know.  Kid cartoon without the kids.  So shoot me.  It was fun! "some day my prince will come. la da da da da".  Oops, wrong princess song.

Facebook Friend Meet!

While in the frozen tundra, Ellie and I had the privilege of meeting up with my other Megan (Megan M.) and her daughter A who made a 5 hour round-trip drive just to see us! Megan M. and I met through Facebook and have chatted on an almost daily basis for a few years and yet, we never met.  It was so lovely to see her in person and spending a day with her and her darling daughter.  As it turns out, we are both talkers.  Every time Megan M. would say"it is time to leave", we would then chat for another 20-30 minutes.  This repeated a few times until it was so late, it would be dark for a huge chunk of her drive home! Isn't it amazing how you can form such a connection with a person that you have never met?  I am forever grateful for our two daughter bringing us together.

Hello Kitty rainboots. Check!
Double socks, shirted, pantsed. Check!
Borrowed winter coat. Check!
Borrowed hat. Check!
Borrowed snow gloves. Double Check!
You can find most of these things in Austin in March, FYI.

Our visit was over all too soon, but we encountered an unexpected surprise. Ellie and I were supposed to return home on a Friday, but the first leg of our flight was canceled due to bad weather in Baltimore.  While we could have been routed through 5 other cites, all flights to Austin were fully booked until late Saturday evening.  Thank you SXSW for bringing much business and traffic to our eclectic city of music. Consequently, the Bear and I got to spend the rest of Friday and a huge chunk of Saturday with Megan and family!  It also meant that Ellie got to play in the snow. . . something that just doesn't happen in Austin.  Being the perfect imitator that she is, Ellie learned how to shovel snow, make a snow angel, and sled as well as get intense sensory input by "tasting" a snow ball. Oh how I miss snow!

Don't worry. . . it wasn't a "yellow snow cone"

Because the flight from Baltimore to Austin was after her usual bedtime, she slept almost the entire way!  That means I got to start reading a good book, Motherhood Unexpected by Deanna J Smith

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The Many Faces of Down Syndrome

I am really excited about this blog post.  Several parents came together to make this happen and I am so appreciative of them.  All people are unique, wonderful individuals that shouldn't and cannot be defined by their disabilities.  I'll let the children tell the story:

Clara Grace loves to dance.  This girl has some serous moves!

She enjoys playing with her twin sister.

Avery loves going to school, playing softball, and riding a horse!

Blog: Life With My Girls

Owen is a 5 year-old boy who is a sports nut and will watch just about anything with a ball or a puck. He loves his Philadelphia Phillies very much and likes playing basketball with his dad at the YMCA. He enjoys books and is learning sight words. He's a big fan of Qdoba cheese quesadillas and chips too!

Blog: The Sumulong 3

Hannah loves dancing, swimming, and gymnastics. 

Not to mention movies--here she is as Merida!

Hailey is the youngest of three.  She loves stealing her big brothers' iPods and the remote control.  She is totally in love with Doc McStuffins, jewelry, chocolate, baby dolls, and Frozen.  She doesn't like asparagus, her brothers' soccer games, or her Dad singing her Doc McStuffins' songs.  She is doing great with her new glasses and loves preschool.  Hailey has made our family complete!

Blog: The Hailey Herald

Autumn is a loving, funny, energetic, stubborn, and hot tempered self-proclaimed princess that loves her sisters and French fries. She creates chaos along with fun and love and our family is so blessed to have her! Dinneen and Bonnie, her sisters, absolutely adore her. We just would not be complete without her.

Hannah is a 7 year-old little girl who loves to play outside 

and ride her scooter.

Blog: More Sunshine Than Rain

Wyatt loves to run. That is why Miracle League baseball is so fun for Wyatt! He has a blast running to 1st base! He also loves ice cream and enjoys it every night after supper whenever else he can talk someone into getting it for him!

Blog: Penny's Peeps

Lily is a sassy first grader who loves school...especially all of her friends there.  Oh...and recess!  At home she loves all things "Frozen" and "Sophia the First".  Lily knows her way around an iPad better than the rest of her family!!  OK...really it's just her Daddy, but he doesn't even know how to turn it on!  Lily LOVES clothes and shoes.  Sound like any other first grade girls you know?!?  Probably!  We don't let Down syndrome dictate our lives.  As a matter of fact, our lives are pretty darn typical...and totally AWESOME.

Claire is a typical almost 5 year-old. She loves Sofia the First and Doc McStuffins, playing with her kittens, and her sister, when they're not fighting, of course! She loves preschool and going to church.

Blog: Moos Crossing

When I found out for certain at 22 1/2 weeks pregnant that Brooke had Down Syndrome I was scared to death.  The doctor advised us to terminate and I’m ashamed to say that Eric and I very nearly made that decision.  We already had a 6, 4, and 2 year old and the thought of raising a child with special needs that most definitely needed open heart surgery was more than we thought we could handle.  Only by the grace of God was I directed away from the idea of termination and Brooke was born in January of 2010.  Today Brooke is a spunky, sassy, gorgeous little girl who is loved by not just her siblings and whole family, but most people she comes in contact with.  Brooke is in a VPK class with 15 other typical children who are ridiculously sweet with her and also very protective.  Watching them together makes my heart melt.  Do we have challenges with Brooke? Sure we do…potty training is a struggle, we’re working on speech, and honestly, sometimes I’m nervous for her future and how she’ll be as an adult, but don’t we worry for all of our children?  At the end of the day, Brooke is my daughter and I love her…and that’s all that matters.

Blog: Not A Perfect Mom

Alex is a 21 year old high school graduate living her dream of attending college....six states away from her mother. She has always set goals for herself including participating in the World Special Olympic Games that were held in South Korea in 2013. Alex does not believe in barriers.

Blog: The Ordinary Life of an Extraordinary Girl

Book: From Grief to Celebration, by Margaret (Gary) Bender

*Gary's book is amazing! I highly recommend it.

Our beautiful, red-headed Jenni is a twin!  She enjoys playing with her big brother, Ian.  Jenni loves playing with her baby dolls.  

Ian will be 5 this up-coming January.  He loves sports, cars, animals, and his big brother, Bryson.  He is a fearless kid who loves people and helping others.  Ian would survive happily on a diet of ice cream, popcorn, and tortilla chips if we let him!  He has a few dislikes: other people who stare at him.

Kamdyn loves French fries, Frozen(especially the music), dancing, and her iPad. She enjoys watching Curious George, Henry Hugglemonster, and Sofia the First. She is full of personality, but she is really shy around people that are not family. She is one of 5 siblings, and she loves her family, and we adore her.

Blog: Life is Beautiful

Jarrett is 4.5 years-old and LOVES Mickey Mouse!  He also enjoys swinging, sliding, and climbing.  He has a sweet tooth a mile wide and pretty much loves all sweets.  He goes to school and a ball!  Jarrett enjoys horseback riding and looks forward to it every week!

E-V is a beautiful 6 year-old who is in the 1st grade.  She enjoys going to McDonald's to order a cheeseburger, fries, and sprite.  Her favorite shows include Backyardigans and Angelina Ballerina.  E-V love spending time with her friends as well as dancing and listening to music. 

Ruby is a sassy 5 year-old.  She love playing at every park we drive by.  She collects rocks in her pockets and loves to pick flowers and give them as gifts to whoever is around.  Her favorite shoes at Daniel Tiger, Curious George, and Caillou.  Her favorite friend and partner in crime is her little brother, Grady.  Ruby is a sweet and determined little girl who loves to share her smile with everyone she meets.

Benji is 4 years-old. He loves to read books, play soccer with his siblings, and watch Boz! Benji gives the best hugs and is a joy to our family!!

Cora is a wonderful big sister whose smile lights up a room.  

We love her so very much!

Blog: www.corabean.com

Levi loves tortilla chips, playing with his cat, playing hide-n-seek, and climbing to the top bunk. He doesn't like when iPad time ends. Levi loves preschool & his teacher says he is the best listener in the class!

Mary is a student and artist. She enjoys reading. With Mary, 

there are endless possibilities!

Evie is a 6 month- old who loves cereal. She is currently 

trying to master sitting up!

LP loves music, playing in the dirt, and anything with bacon. Lately, he has also discovered the joys of dancing to the Frozen soundtrack after his two big sisters have dressed him up.

Blog: Kimchi Latkes

Elise will be 12 years-old in just a few weeks!  She enjoys singing and watching movies.  Elise also loves Elsa from the movie Frozen and her puppy, Willow.

Blog: Just a Little Bit Muchier Muchness

*After I had Ellie, this was one of the very first blogs I read about a child with Downsyndrome!

Ian is charming, funny, caring, and full of adventure. He is a little brother, a son, and grandson and he makes us each fall in love with him everyday. Ian loves to play, swim, read books, and his speciality is singing and dancing.

Ellis is a mischievous and spunky 5 year-old.  She enjoys playing with blocks, flashcards, and Barbies as well as coloring.  No piece of paper is safe in our house!  Ellie is ever the fashionista; combining various headbands and bows together and wearing her black boots with every single outfit.  She loves to get into trouble by scaling walls and climbing cabinets.  She loves Sofia the First, The Wiggles, and Mickey Mouse.  She keeps us fully entertained with her antics.

Blog: The Chronicles of Ellie Bellie Bear

In loving memory of Margaret "Peggy" Bruns, my Aunt.

Peggy had a wicked sense of humor that could send us all into tears.  She loved the St. Louis Cardinal's bowling, swimming, and John Denver.  More than anything, she is missed.  A bright, shining light in the Heavens.  

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