tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34098802951748807372024-02-08T11:19:47.964-08:00Getting Down with Nate...Adventures in parenting our sweet T21 BeanEric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-378705679848939192010-10-31T09:40:00.000-07:002010-10-31T18:07:26.764-07:00My Creep-ing Skeleton!Those slippery wood floors at Nonny and Grandpa John's house were just the thing Nate needed to show off his new moves! For Nate this is big stuff. You know we joke around a lot about how easy we've got it because Nate isn't walking (or crawling for that matter). But truthfully I think his immobility is getting to us all. Nate clearly wants to go places and his body simply can't cooperate. Although in some areas he's becoming more independent, this is one area in which he is still very dependent on us - and at 25 pounds he's a heavy load! So to see our little skeleton creep and pull on the floor like this was just beautiful. And so very exciting.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwVcZGJxVZ5dCy0lt0PjzeHZS3NV_p1w1rBb4-XBhkNvie4MmHer-97ubgrjfbpA5cqFnoOwtPzZBm77_sqRw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Happy Halloween!!!!</span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TM4MoVKcZNI/AAAAAAAAGlM/7-bgUM380nU/s1600/DSC08735.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TM4MoVKcZNI/AAAAAAAAGlM/7-bgUM380nU/s320/DSC08735.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534374879100167378" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-71442035806018805172010-10-27T18:16:00.000-07:002010-10-27T18:47:55.467-07:00The first time Nate spoke to me: Written by Nonny<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TMjVd0ikQXI/AAAAAAAAGko/lg0EgKPhsvM/s1600/DSC08531.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TMjVd0ikQXI/AAAAAAAAGko/lg0EgKPhsvM/s320/DSC08531.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532906850521203058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This past weekend,when Crista, Eric, and Nate were visiting for a glorious five days, Nate spoke to me. Now, I had seen Nate sign words and more recently, actually say words. Many of these times the speaking had been a response for a request to "bandstand" for us. For example, we would go, "what does an owl say," and Nate would intelligently respond with something that sounds like "who cooks for you!" Or we would say, "say hi," and Nate would shyly say in a little voice, "hi." But on Saturday night, he actually spoke to me, completely unprompted.I was getting him ready to go to bed by rocking him and singing to him. Foolishly, I thought any song would do. I began singing practice pieces from the choir I sing in. At one point, I sleepily lapsed into "la,la,la" when I heard a little voice slowly and quietly say, "luga, luga." Suddenly I got it. He wanted me to sing Baby Beluga! So I quickly switched into a much more formal singing mode and broke into Baby Beluga. Every once in a while, Nate would join in. Perhaps it was just my own vanity, but I had the sense he was thinking, "Gosh my Nonny is smart. She understands me and can sing any song I ask of her!" I hope this is just the beginning on many long conversations with my grandbean!<br /><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TMjUYAY7H-I/AAAAAAAAGkY/wTB1Aes5oAY/s1600/DSC08507.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TMjUYAY7H-I/AAAAAAAAGkY/wTB1Aes5oAY/s320/DSC08507.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532905651111141346" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(Nate and my mom, "Nonny")</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-3132008143596422152010-10-14T17:26:00.000-07:002010-10-15T05:17:09.566-07:00My list of 21things about Nate!<br /><br />1. Nate can have the worst night of sleep and still wake up smiling. He just sits up, looks at us, and says , "hi" with the most beautiful smile.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLe2fetY4hI/AAAAAAAAGhs/mP8jyX8WehI/s1600/DSC07081.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLe2fetY4hI/AAAAAAAAGhs/mP8jyX8WehI/s320/DSC07081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528087719556211218" border="0" /></a><br />2. When he's tired , Nate makes these squirty sounds with his mouth. We've actually tried to reproduce these sounds, but can't. Nate will "squirt" and then pull on our ears (not his own). Usually within minutes he's asleep.<br /><br />3. Nate loves to read books. This has been his most favorite activity since he was just a little bean. Favorite books include <span style="font-style: italic;">The Very Busy Spider</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Brown Bear</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Whistle for Willie</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">More More More</span>. He just started pretending to read which is the most adorable and absolutely sweetest thing in the world. Nate's perfectly happy in the morning with a basket of books and a bowl of cheerios.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLe2qS4PuwI/AAAAAAAAGh0/zBKQK0ndmdE/s1600/DSC04971.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLe2qS4PuwI/AAAAAAAAGh0/zBKQK0ndmdE/s320/DSC04971.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528087905359084290" border="0" /></a><br />4. Nate really wants to do things like a big boy. He tries to put his socks on by laying them on top of his feet. Today he even tried to put his DAFOs on!<br /><br />5. Nate is working on generalizing his learning. All things red <span style="font-style: italic;">are</span> Elmo and all things that look like balls (like blueberries) <span style="font-style: italic;">are</span> balls.<br /><br />6. Nate loves laughing so much that he will even go as far as to tickle himself. He totally cracks himself up!<br /><br />7. Nate is a totally love bug. He gives these big, loud dramatic kisses. I should also tell you that we made the mistake of showing him how mommy kitties clean their babies. You can imagine what Nate also likes to do now!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLe3FkFBTHI/AAAAAAAAGh8/w5B3bXeEwo0/s1600/DSC08380.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLe3FkFBTHI/AAAAAAAAGh8/w5B3bXeEwo0/s320/DSC08380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528088373832535154" border="0" /></a><br />8. Music is clearly one of Nate's languages. He loves playing his drum, xylophone and toy piano. Nate also has quite the voice! He always chimes in when I sing to him at night. He loves Baby Beluga, My Favorite Things, Row Row Row Your Boat, and Itsy Bitsy Spider.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLe7xEsffLI/AAAAAAAAGiU/VeW0ReyuB9A/s1600/DSC04608.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLe7xEsffLI/AAAAAAAAGiU/VeW0ReyuB9A/s320/DSC04608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528093519368912050" border="0" /></a><br />9. Sometimes it feels that Nate has one personality at home and one out in public. He's mister chatty at home and can be so quiet in new situations. It kills us when he gets that glazed over eye look and his head goes back, resting on his shoulders. I want to say, "that's not my kid"! Really!<br /><br />10. He's not a multi-tasker. Mid bite (of a delicious chicken nugget, for example) Nate will decide he wants milk. Just thinking about <span style="font-style: italic;">wanting</span> milk seems to make him feel some urgency to spit all of his food out. Aye aye aye!<br /><br />11. Another big boy skill Nate loves to show-off is his ability to press his munchkin straw milk container shut. Over and over and over again. Then he acts like he's going to give it to us but then tosses off the side of his food tray. Yes, we are still working on this - haha<br /><br />12. This is hard to explain, but Nate has these little special exchanges he does that are unique to certain people. For example when he sees his SLP, he always makes "fish lips." With me, he makes this scrunched up kissy face. When he sees his grammy, he coughs (because she does!). When he sees his 1:1 at school, he starts doing the little hand rhyme she taught him. These special exchanges with people seem to create much more intimate relationships. It's really pretty amazing.<br /><br />13. Nate has just discovered (thanks to Grammy) that when you drop something, people will say, "uh oh." Of course Nate has his own variation of this, "uh UH oh."<br /><br />14. I'm not sure if it is because of the last sound he hears, but Nate is starting to say words by their ending sounds. Milk has become /k/, for example.<br /><br />15. Nate LOVES Elmo just from seeing a few DVDs on our laptop. He sleeps with his friend, "Mo" every night.<br /><br />16. Nate is a total water boy. He could easily stay in the bathtub for an hour. He loves to scoop, pour water, and splash splash splash! On of his favorite things to do is pour water on his head. Go figure!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLe5kX7RgEI/AAAAAAAAGiM/-qWnUzkaNnE/s1600/DSC07127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLe5kX7RgEI/AAAAAAAAGiM/-qWnUzkaNnE/s320/DSC07127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528091102169628738" border="0" /></a><br /><br />17. Nate is fascinated by light and shadows. At night when I put him to bed he loves to wave his hands in the air and see the shadows dance on the wall. When we're in the car, he loves watching the flickering light coming in through the car windows. I have to say that I love looking at light patterns too....<br /><br />18. He also likes to identify all light sources by pointing them out to us. We swear he's communicating with some alien friends when he looks up at out dining room light. We also wonder if Nate is destined to be an electrician.<br /><br />19. Nate isn't big on sweets except for vanilla ICE CREAM!! This summer I think he asked for it by sign every night.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLe5NJDq04I/AAAAAAAAGiE/lRRP3gJM9e0/s1600/DSC06778.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLe5NJDq04I/AAAAAAAAGiE/lRRP3gJM9e0/s320/DSC06778.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528090703041319810" border="0" /></a><br />20. His all-time favorite food is yo-yo. He eats yo-yo with Earth's Best's pears and mango every day.<br /><br />21. More than anything Nate wants to be noticed you. He wants you to make faces with him, read books with him, sing songs, roll around with him, give him snacks or just be silly with him.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLhBqntULrI/AAAAAAAAGio/SkFHWNRcC-0/s1600/DSC07505-1-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLhBqntULrI/AAAAAAAAGio/SkFHWNRcC-0/s320/DSC07505-1-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528240743066644146" border="0" /></a>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-91237072551165652262010-10-11T04:25:00.001-07:002010-10-14T17:21:22.825-07:00We've been busy!!So busy that I am having a hard time keeping up with the 31 for 21 challenge!! Yikes!!<br /><br />It took us about a week to recoup the Brattleboro Buddy Walk. I don't think I had mentioned in the Buddy Walk post that we had been in the ER two nights before the walk because of croup! Nate's airway just closed right up on him! Well during last week Nate's cold got worse again (maybe a new virus - who knows?) and sleep deteriorated for all of us. I only have Nate so don't have much perspective on this but congestion for him is really pretty awful. Is it worse for DS kiddos? I don't know. He (and us) are just miserable when he gets sick. Nate takes these gurgly breaths and then chokes on all that phlegm. When we listen to him it feels like we're drowning. At one point on Saturday night we had to put him back in his crib for an hour just so we could get a little sleep. He snores, chokes a bit, then gasps for air. Just writing about it makes me feel short of breath. Ironically when are completely beat in the mornings Nate wakes up like a bright new penny (in my mom's words). Big green snot runs down onto his lips, eyes are totally crusty, and there's this scab of white snot above his lip and yet he's in the BEST mood! -- Smiling, making faces, giving us loud silly kisses. Just amazing.<br /><br />Anywho, even though we were completely exhausted Sunday morning we packed up and headed out early to the MDSC Buddy Walk. We had been waiting for it all week!!<br /><br />Our hero and inspiration Rachel Coleman performed before the walk. Yes, the Rachel Coleman from Signing Times!!! She was incredible with the kids and just as beautiful in person. Just about every sign we know is because of her. Nate can communicate with signs because of those wonderful Signing Time DVDs. Check her out! <a href="http://www.signingtime.com/">http://www.signingtime.com/<br /></a><br />Here she is performing......<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLL2FheAyQI/AAAAAAAAGhI/8qMyvWeFHx4/s1600/DSC08314.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLL2FheAyQI/AAAAAAAAGhI/8qMyvWeFHx4/s320/DSC08314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526750267481049346" border="0" /></a><br />We even got a picture with her and Hopkins!! --- Of course here I am trying to get Nate to just look at Rachel (not even sign) and all he can do is stare at Hopkins' fingers - hahaha<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLL2FYi9sWI/AAAAAAAAGhA/3xZeX1MTptQ/s1600/DSC08360.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLL2FYi9sWI/AAAAAAAAGhA/3xZeX1MTptQ/s320/DSC08360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526750265085899106" border="0" /></a><br />For the walk we joined our friend Noah's team. Noah's Dad is on the right. He helps to organize the Massachusetts D.A.D.S (Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome) chapter - <a href="http://www.dadsmass.org/home">http://www.dadsmass.org/home</a><br />How cool is that?<br /><a href="http://www.dadsmass.org/"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLL2FU53ynI/AAAAAAAAGg4/XTOdya5uni8/s1600/DSC08356.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLL2FU53ynI/AAAAAAAAGg4/XTOdya5uni8/s320/DSC08356.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526750264108239474" border="0" /></a><br />They had over 3000 walkers on Sunday and raised over $326,000! WOW!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLL2F8oG0qI/AAAAAAAAGhQ/nA_shLRVTvM/s1600/DSC08367.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLL2F8oG0qI/AAAAAAAAGhQ/nA_shLRVTvM/s320/DSC08367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526750274771145378" border="0" /></a><br />After the walk we enjoyed catching up with old friends. We even got to see our cousin Meghan! She took this picture of us at the end of the day.....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLL2iuL_OMI/AAAAAAAAGhY/sPvaQ5dgNy0/s1600/DSC08372.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLL2iuL_OMI/AAAAAAAAGhY/sPvaQ5dgNy0/s320/DSC08372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526750769111316674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />AND.....I can't write a post without mentioning that my two most favorite brothers Jesse and David had birthdays in the last few weeks. Jesse turned 20 and David turned 30! This picture still cracks me up. Yes, there is our Nate, "kiss-a-saurus" magee, going after Jesse! Too cute.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLL2FM5LlDI/AAAAAAAAGgw/MIqFY8ZcWc8/s1600/DSC06832.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TLL2FM5LlDI/AAAAAAAAGgw/MIqFY8ZcWc8/s320/DSC06832.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526750261957858354" border="0" /></a>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-22956195062104505572010-10-07T17:41:00.000-07:002010-10-07T18:23:42.016-07:00Happy Birthday Nonny!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TK5yOvNcqDI/AAAAAAAAGfc/mJ0TL0YAr2k/s1600/DSC04467.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TK5yOvNcqDI/AAAAAAAAGfc/mJ0TL0YAr2k/s320/DSC04467.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525479390346782770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TK5yObkWwLI/AAAAAAAAGfU/lCnSZl5xiZ4/s1600/DSC00037.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TK5yObkWwLI/AAAAAAAAGfU/lCnSZl5xiZ4/s320/DSC00037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525479385074155698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TK5yOfFQx8I/AAAAAAAAGfM/MHFFAeB9BVA/s1600/DSC00140.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TK5yOfFQx8I/AAAAAAAAGfM/MHFFAeB9BVA/s320/DSC00140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525479386017482690" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Love, Nate<br /></div>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-44041311882062564872010-10-06T18:49:00.000-07:002010-10-06T19:54:10.050-07:00What was your first introduction to inclusion?Last week Eric participated in a panel discussion through our local childcare association about early childhood inclusion. The panel included a preschool directer, early interventionist, a EEE teacher, child care provider and a parent. Each of the panelists were asked to answer the following questions:<br /><ul style="font-style: italic;"><li>What was your first experience with <span class="il">inclusion</span>?</li><li>What is one example of a time <span class="il">inclusion</span> worked well--what made it go well--what did it look like/sound like/feel like?</li><li>What is one example of a time when <span class="il">inclusion</span> didn't go so well--what did that look like/sound like/feel like?</li><li>What is one recommendation/wish/ piece of advice you would give to others regarding <span class="il">inclusion</span>?<br /></li></ul><div>When Eric was asked to address his first experience with inclusion he talked about an experience he had in college. He shared that one day when coming home from his classes he found himself on a bus sitting next to a young man with Down syndrome. Being friendly, Eric decided to ask the young man what he was doing. This young man shared with him that he was in the process of building a surfboard. Of course this peaked Eric's interest for two reasons: one because we live in New England and nowhere near the coast and (2) because it isn't very often you hear about an individual with Down syndrome building something like a surfboard!<br /><br />For Eric that encounter represented the spirit of inclusion. Eric didn't know what kind of education this person had, but he knew from talking to him that something had worked. The fact that this young man was riding a bus to town (independently I might add) and talking to Eric about his surfboard showed that something was right about his education. It was clear that this young man's family, teachers, and community found a way to give him the skills and support he needed to pursue his dreams. Isn't that what inclusion is all about?<br /><br />What was your first introduction to inclusion?<br /></div>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-38863037437574810922010-10-05T17:40:00.000-07:002010-10-06T17:30:59.763-07:00Airbrushing away diversity?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKvM-KkQq9I/AAAAAAAAGe4/CJsGS0CQB2Y/s1600/DSC00804.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKvM-KkQq9I/AAAAAAAAGe4/CJsGS0CQB2Y/s320/DSC00804.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524734736260443090" border="0" /></a><br />Our friend Jane shared this article with us soon after Nate was born. In light of all the advances in prenatal testing (which we hear is becoming safer and more accurate), we are faced as a culture and as a community to consider what this testing means for individuals with Down syndrome. Will we someday have a world without Nates?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=7ef9c418-70c1-49cc-bbbf-cb1ae997b326&p=1">http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=7ef9c418-70c1-49cc-bbbf-cb1ae997b326&p=1</a><br /><br />This whole idea of prenatal testing feels a little like pulling a thread on a sweater. First we may be diagnosing Down syndrome prenatally, but down the road it could be the breast cancer gene or something else. It also makes me wonder about "designer" babies with pre-selected genes. Are we saying that there is more value in a certain kind of person or a certain kind of life?<br /><br />On top of it there is so misinformation expectant mothers receive about Down syndrome. Unfortunately the medical community doesn't always give parents accurate and complete information about DS. Dr. Brian Skotko from Children's Hospital Boston reviewed research that showed a 15% decrease in births of babies with Down syndrome between 1989 and 2005 in the United States. Talk about airbrushing diversity! By no means are Eric and I advocating that prenatal testing not be done, or that other couples should make the same decision we did, but we do want medical staff to have accurate information about Down syndrome and a protocol for how they talk to families about what a Ds diagnosis really means in 2010. Things have changed a lot in the last 30 years!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.childrenshospital.org/newsroom/Site1339/mainpageS1339P1sublevel560.html">http://www.childrenshospital.org/newsroom/Site1339/mainpageS1339P1sublevel560.html</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Below is a picture of our Bean (and hopefully future taxpayer) that was taken at our first trimester screening. </span><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKvKHsKIq9I/AAAAAAAAGew/gMmhGCm8QF0/s1600/bean_01_23_08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKvKHsKIq9I/AAAAAAAAGew/gMmhGCm8QF0/s320/bean_01_23_08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524731601361611730" border="0" /></a>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-31289205525245255802010-10-04T16:51:00.000-07:002010-10-04T17:51:15.499-07:00The language we use...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKp2En0CFkI/AAAAAAAAGeo/XNSVhIWKJb0/s1600/DSC06283.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKp2En0CFkI/AAAAAAAAGeo/XNSVhIWKJb0/s320/DSC06283.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524357714702112322" border="0" /></a><br />Thank you to Bill and Ria (<a href="http://billandria.blogspot.com/2010/08/downs-syndrome-boy.html">http://billandria.blogspot.com/2010/08/downs-syndrome-boy.html</a>) for sharing this language guide written by the United Parent Support for Down Syndrome: Go to<br /><a href="http://www.upsfordowns.org/home.aspx">http://www.upsfordowns.org/home.aspx</a>. Click on "Information" in the drop down menu and then "Brochures" and "How do I talk."<br /><br /><strong>Good words to use:</strong><br /><em>Baby/Child/Person with Down Syndrome</em> - the emphasis should always be on the person first, not the disability. When we take care to put children first, and let the disability remain in the background, we are teaching others where the emphasis needs to be.<br /><br /><em>Developmentally Delayed</em> - This term is the common reference to describe delays in development, such as language, walking and all other areas of a child's learning process. Most families find it less offensive than the term <em>mentally retarded</em>.<br /><br /><em>Has Down Syndrome</em> - Someone who has Down syndrome is not a <em>victim of</em>, <em>diseased by</em>, nor do they <em>suffer from</em> or are they <em>afflicted with </em>Down Syndrome. They simply have Down syndrome.<br /><br /><em>Mental Retardation</em> - This is an accurate term to describe developmental functioning level, but is less acceptable to many parents than the term "developmentally delayed". Use it with caution.<br /><br /><em>Typically developing/ Non-disabled child</em> - Both of these terms are acceptable and positive ways to refer to people who do not have Down syndrome or another disability.<br /><br /><strong>Big No-No's:</strong><br /><em>A Down(s)</em> - A person with Down syndrome is not the disability. There are many things that should, and do, define that person. It is dehumanizing and strips people of their dignity to be referred to as a disability. Instead of saying "He is a Down" or "She is a Downs", try "He or she <em>has</em> Down syndrome."<br /><br /><em>Down Syndrome Child/Baby</em> - This goes back to referring to the person first, not the disability.<br /><br /><em>Normal kids</em> - Please realize that we perceive our children as being pretty normal kids. Comparing them to <em>normal</em> children implies that a child with Down syndrome is something less than normal.<br /><br /><em>Retard/Retarded</em> - The best reference is <em>developmentally delayed</em> (for children) and <em>developmentally disabled</em> (for adults).<br /><br /><em>Mongolism</em> - As most of us know, this is an extremely outdated term that was once used to refer to people with Down syndrome. This word should never be used when referring to or about someone with Down syndrome.<br /><br /><em>"They" as in "they are so loving; they smile all the time; they are always happy."</em> - Please don't generalize about people with Down syndrome. "They" are not all alike; nor are people with Down syndrome "eternal children."<br /><br /><em>"How mild/severe is it?"</em> - A person either has Down syndrome or they do not. Down syndrome is not an illness. Having Down syndrome does not mean a person is sick.<br /><br /><em>"But you're so young!"</em> - Although the chances of a woman having a child with Down syndrome increase significantly over the age of 35, there are far more children with Down syndrome born to younger mothers - they are having more babies.<br /><br /><em>Handicapped</em> - Use "has a disability" instead.<br /><br /><em>Downs or Down's Syndrome</em> - There is no "s" or "'s" in the name of this syndrome.<br /><br /><em>Suffers From/ Afflicted With Down Syndrome</em> - Our children are not suffering or afflicted. We must instill a great sense of pride and self-esteem in all children, so should ensure that we do not make anyone feel that Down syndrome is something terrible or something to be ashamed about.<br /><br />I imagine that there are different opinions about whether or not some of this terminology is acceptable. More than anything, we want our friends, family and community to be thoughtful about the language they use about our sweet Bean.Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-89346956817442733132010-10-03T17:36:00.001-07:002010-10-03T18:31:51.226-07:00Do you have a favorite place?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKkooHxMO1I/AAAAAAAAGec/hgbBjSUILFM/s1600/DSC08265.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKkooHxMO1I/AAAAAAAAGec/hgbBjSUILFM/s320/DSC08265.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523991087691873106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKkom2lxmJI/AAAAAAAAGeU/BE2glmJ3ZmM/s1600/DSC08263.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKkom2lxmJI/AAAAAAAAGeU/BE2glmJ3ZmM/s320/DSC08263.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523991065900718226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKkomekBCnI/AAAAAAAAGeM/HC8ApDqnp1w/s1600/DSC08260.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKkomekBCnI/AAAAAAAAGeM/HC8ApDqnp1w/s320/DSC08260.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523991059450890866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKkolTM7vlI/AAAAAAAAGeE/U8OSs2ZXZr0/s1600/DSC08258.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKkolTM7vlI/AAAAAAAAGeE/U8OSs2ZXZr0/s320/DSC08258.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523991039221415506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKkokSAvxgI/AAAAAAAAGd8/trJGhfBEjLw/s1600/DSC08257.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKkokSAvxgI/AAAAAAAAGd8/trJGhfBEjLw/s320/DSC08257.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523991021721994754" /></a><br />We do. It's Green Mountain Orchard in Putney,Vermont. Besides the fact that they have the most amazing apple cider doughnuts, sticky buns, pumpkin muffins, and apple pies, they have gorgeous rolling hills with beautiful apple trees --- And blueberries, plums and a pumpkin patch too!<br /><br />I'm not sure how exactly this happened, but we've now been there every weekend since the last weekend in July. Sometimes we just walk and visit with the horses and chickens and have a snack. Other visits we load up on their fruit. I am loving those Macouns. <br /><br />The vastness of the orchard seems to open us up. We find respite from our daily unfinished to-do list. Breathing in that sweet apple air, we fall into that happy, sleepy, silly, no worries kind of place. We walk, talk, listen, and laugh.<br /><br />The pictures above are from today's visit with our love-bug. What a kiss-a-saurus!Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-72328677182754602982010-10-02T18:17:00.000-07:002010-10-02T18:59:52.459-07:00The 2nd Annual Brattleboro Buddy Walk!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKfgzBelKBI/AAAAAAAAGdM/vnviPCoRfeU/s1600/DSC08115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKfgzBelKBI/AAAAAAAAGdM/vnviPCoRfeU/s320/DSC08115.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523630635167852562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKfgy6NYI8I/AAAAAAAAGdE/WAg29-ndCHI/s1600/DSC08090.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKfgy6NYI8I/AAAAAAAAGdE/WAg29-ndCHI/s320/DSC08090.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523630633216648130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKfgykh8H_I/AAAAAAAAGc8/6ZhQ8q88wc8/s1600/DSC08076.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKfgykh8H_I/AAAAAAAAGc8/6ZhQ8q88wc8/s320/DSC08076.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523630627397312498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKfgyB8y8CI/AAAAAAAAGc0/oB0F7dWveq0/s1600/DSC08007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKfgyB8y8CI/AAAAAAAAGc0/oB0F7dWveq0/s320/DSC08007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523630618114715682" /></a><br />I have to say that today was pretty amazing. It was a cool crisp morning with bright blue skies and a warming sun. Nate was up early like last year - and so was I. This is a day we'd been waiting! We had a few minutes of family snuggling time (which these days mostly involves making funny sounds and funny faces) and then we were up and moving. <br /><br />This day came together pretty perfectly.......Dedicated volunteers, amazing supporters, great vendors, an inspiring key note speech, lovely walk, great music and yummy lunch. Not only did we get to see old friends, but we made many new friends today as well. It just felt so good to be there. I think we must have had at least 300 people attend and had over $9500 in donations. Wow.<br /><br />The best part of this magical day is that everywhere I looked I saw people smiling. It was just one of those days....<br /><br />Thank you my family..thank you friends...thank you beautiful sunshine. <br />And most of all, thank you Bean for being you. We love every one of your 47 chromosomes.Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-67292524964375201752010-10-01T18:09:00.000-07:002010-10-02T03:58:13.050-07:0031 for 21 Blog Challenge!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKaIwrnUydI/AAAAAAAAGX4/eUeE4PxthdE/s1600/DSC07915.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TKaIwrnUydI/AAAAAAAAGX4/eUeE4PxthdE/s320/DSC07915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523252362939255250" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Did you know October is Down Syndrome Awareness month??
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<br />We've decided to accept the 31 for 21 Blog Challenge from <span style="font-style:italic;">Unringing the Bell</span>! (I'm having some difficulty connecting her link to this post).
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<br />It may be late -- but we're in ; )
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<br />Quote of the day....
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<br /><meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/sped/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>36</o:Words> <o:characters>208</o:Characters> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>255</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1280</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Chalkboard; panose-1:0 3 5 6 2 4 2 2 2 2; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} span.body {mso-style-name:body;} span.bodybold {mso-style-name:bodybold;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:.9in .9in .9in .9in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span class="body" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Chalkboard;"><i>“If we are to achieve a richer culture, rich in contrasting values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities,
<br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span class="body" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Chalkboard;"><i>and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric,
<br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span class="body" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Chalkboard;"><i>one in which each diverse human gift will find a fitting place.</i></span></span><span style=";font-family:Chalkboard;font-size:100%;" ><i>”</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>
<br /></i></span><span style=";font-family:Chalkboard;font-size:11pt;" ><i><span style="font-size:100%;">-</span><span class="bodybold" style="font-size:100%;">Margaret Mead</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->
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<br />....now off to get some sleep before our 2nd Annual Brattleboro Buddy Walk tomorrow!!!
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<br /><a href="http://brattleborobuddywalk.org/">http://brattleborobuddywalk.org/</a>
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<br />Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-88564400259625680712010-08-18T10:33:00.000-07:002010-09-26T18:17:10.896-07:00Having a voice....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TGwge3qXLFI/AAAAAAAAGSY/IoN7MQHXx-w/s1600/DSC07517.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TGwge3qXLFI/AAAAAAAAGSY/IoN7MQHXx-w/s320/DSC07517.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506812159077067858" border="0" /></a>In the last few months, Nate has really started to talk. At night before Nate falls asleep we hear him babbling up a storm in his crib (mostly to his friend, "Mo"). It takes all of us not to go in there and just swoop him up into our arms and start yakking away with him. It's just too damn sweet. There's some level of seriousness to what he's saying and yet it's so silly and playful at the same time. He babbles out a clear story and then inserts a few good raspberries at the end.<br /><br />This is a video from over a month ago... I think Nate's vocabulary has tripled (at least) in the last few weeks, probably with his return to school. Even though it's sometimes hard to understand Nate, it's clear that he has something to say. The more words (and signs) he learns, the less frustrated he seems. Nate just seems like such a different kid now that he has some communication tools....<br /><br />All we can hope is that Nate always feels this joyful about talking..........We want our Bean to know that what he has to say<span style="font-style: italic;"> is</span> important and that when he talks, we will always listen....<br /><br />Yep, our Bean has a voice!<br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='455' height='333' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxWeCd-vqXRItvhUDl8PpWnUpILYY3bPDHHkkFl9VUFLOpV6U-7T6lrLq7KbV04450lMcqBVdOyQNAyh3c-bQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-35750265827409014082010-07-23T10:53:00.000-07:002010-09-02T17:29:28.018-07:00Relationships & Collaboration- The Bridges to Inclusion...<span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >A follow-up to our January post on inclusion (click link below to read)... </span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://gettingdownwithnate.blogspot.com/2010/01/including-nate.html"><span style="">http://gettingdownwithnate.blogspot.com/2010/01/including-nate.html</span></a></span></p> <span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >This weekend a friend and former colleague and I were talking about issues that are important to us as we head into the new school year. I excitedly shared that our school district will be showing a free screening of the documentary, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Including Samuel</span> at our local theater and having presentation by the associate director of the Institute on Disability at UNH (Dr. Mary Schuh) during our opening day district meeting. I talked about how we have been working to create a more inclusive school district. My friend shared that inclusion doesn't always work - and may not always be what is best for a child <span style="font-style: italic;">all the time</span>.<br /><br />The bottom line is that inclusion is complicated....there are so many pieces to it. In some ways I feel like it's just become this blanket term about students with disabilities being able to learn with their non-disabled peers (that inclusion just happens and students are successful if you do this). Of course we want that for Nate when it works. But how we think about how Nate is </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >included</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > and </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >learning</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > is more than just having him in a classroom alongside of his peers.</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > It's of about how we work together. Also, as we have mentioned before....having Nate participate in all general education programing and classrooms may not always be best for him at times during his schooling. Of course we don't want Nate to be excluded from opportunities with his peers and feel he should always have the <span style="font-style: italic;">choice</span> to participate<span style="font-style: italic;"> with</span> his peers -- but we also know that for Nate participating in tenth grade Biology may not be providing him the optimal learning environment for where he is developmentally (then again, Science could be Nate's thing - who knows!). The point is that we don't know where Nate will be in his learning from year to year. More than just seeking inclusion for Nate, we hope that he has the opportunity to work with a team of teachers who are thoughtful, creative, and caring about his school programming. We want to learn and work together with his teachers and specialists to make thoughtful decisions about <span style="font-style: italic;">how</span> Nate participates in school. This collaboration, like a beautifully woven quilt, is what creates a meaningful school experience for Nate. It is what ultimately helps Nate become a productive and <span style="font-style: italic;">included</span> member in his community...<br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">So what makes this collaboration work?<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Relationships.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">How we work together</span>...<span style="font-style: italic;">How we listen...How we share we share our opinions...How we share our knowledge and expertise...How we respect each other...How we value what each member of his IEP team brings to the table</span>.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The relationships I have with Nate's teachers and the relationships his teachers have with him are just so very important to our work together...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I am not sure Nate would have had the kinds of successes he had last year if it weren't for his amazing teachers and specialists and the time they took to work with us...for Nate.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Yes, </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >relationship</span><span style="font-size:100%;">s and </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >collaboration</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> are the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >bridges to inclusion</span><span style="font-size:100%;">....</span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span></p><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/THOwClV5qqI/AAAAAAAAGS0/Q4pKoRkXTA4/s1600/DSC07115.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/THOwClV5qqI/AAAAAAAAGS0/Q4pKoRkXTA4/s320/DSC07115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508940327634447010" border="0" /></a><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Here is Nate with his beloved teacher, "Aggy."<br /><br />Thank you to all of Nate's team ...</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />You have done so much to help Nate learn and grow<br />and be included in his classroom community...</span><br /></div>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-63136239329389738092010-07-11T11:19:00.000-07:002010-07-11T11:56:51.915-07:002 years ago today...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TDoQpmUfTFI/AAAAAAAAGDc/q_NB7pMetyg/s1600/DSC00400.JPG"><br /></a>we welcomed our sweet Bean into our family!<br /><br /><br />Happy Birthday Nate!!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TDoQpmUfTFI/AAAAAAAAGDc/q_NB7pMetyg/s1600/DSC00400.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TDoQpmUfTFI/AAAAAAAAGDc/q_NB7pMetyg/s320/DSC00400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492721002378906706" border="0" /></a><br />The night before you arrived...<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TDoQpcbwtbI/AAAAAAAAGDU/_2-wg_Vbgn4/s1600/DSC00419.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TDoQpcbwtbI/AAAAAAAAGDU/_2-wg_Vbgn4/s320/DSC00419.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492720999725053362" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Born at 7:06 on July 11, 2008...<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TDoQo4RFfbI/AAAAAAAAGDM/bH5JW5hjtBI/s1600/DSC00156.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TDoQo4RFfbI/AAAAAAAAGDM/bH5JW5hjtBI/s320/DSC00156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492720990016601522" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">One!<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TDoQoRiQ2_I/AAAAAAAAGDE/ygTMiXfAzqA/s1600/DSC06718-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TDoQoRiQ2_I/AAAAAAAAGDE/ygTMiXfAzqA/s320/DSC06718-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492720979619666930" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">....And our now two year old!<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-29691572971617888682010-06-20T04:22:00.000-07:002010-06-21T03:51:06.614-07:00We love our Daddies...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TB67rarmknI/AAAAAAAAGA0/mD2fMq78K1o/s1600/DSC01908.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TB38zFoTfzI/AAAAAAAAGAU/P1sHE7bf4i0/s1600/DSC00577.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TB38yikQo7I/AAAAAAAAGAM/fVr7ujycwEc/s1600/DSC00481.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TB38yikQo7I/AAAAAAAAGAM/fVr7ujycwEc/s320/DSC00481.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484817866409681842" border="0" /></a><br />...Nate with his Daddy<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TB38x1JSFuI/AAAAAAAAGAE/qAxW-kZw1ns/s1600/DSC00442.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TB38x1JSFuI/AAAAAAAAGAE/qAxW-kZw1ns/s320/DSC00442.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484817854216935138" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">with Grampy...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TB38zFoTfzI/AAAAAAAAGAU/P1sHE7bf4i0/s1600/DSC00577.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TB38zFoTfzI/AAAAAAAAGAU/P1sHE7bf4i0/s320/DSC00577.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484817875821887282" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">with Grandpa John..<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TB67rarmknI/AAAAAAAAGA0/mD2fMq78K1o/s1600/DSC01908.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TB67rarmknI/AAAAAAAAGA0/mD2fMq78K1o/s320/DSC01908.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485027750754816626" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> with his Papi...<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TB38wQzWC_I/AAAAAAAAF_0/IAaLvhHHJvg/s1600/image-4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TB38wQzWC_I/AAAAAAAAF_0/IAaLvhHHJvg/s320/image-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484817827281374194" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and his Papi with me....<br /><br />So much love!<br /></div>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-18223780992943855512010-06-16T04:59:00.001-07:002010-06-17T17:52:23.297-07:00He ate a whaaa?A cinnamon raisin bagel.......<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TBq9ECZ9m3I/AAAAAAAAF-4/1P1x95egElM/s1600/DSC06482.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TBq9ECZ9m3I/AAAAAAAAF-4/1P1x95egElM/s320/DSC06482.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483903373339892594" border="0" /></a><br />and a BLACK.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TBq9aTAhcxI/AAAAAAAAF_A/SelYPK3I0C4/s1600/DSC06485.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TBq9aTAhcxI/AAAAAAAAF_A/SelYPK3I0C4/s320/DSC06485.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483903755753714450" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">BEAN....</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TBq-ZNwEjSI/AAAAAAAAF_I/Q_0R4VZhbkc/s1600/DSC06486.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TBq-ZNwEjSI/AAAAAAAAF_I/Q_0R4VZhbkc/s320/DSC06486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483904836674293026" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">QUESADILLA!! </span><br /><br /><br />So essentially Nate went from eating 4 foods, to about 8 in a week! We're over the moon! I actually got a little teary when he put the quesadilla in his mouth. Any of you who have dealt with picky eaters who try new foods know the feeling I am sure..<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TBq_HchUr3I/AAAAAAAAF_Q/orYw-HtJpZ8/s1600/DSC06487.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TBq_HchUr3I/AAAAAAAAF_Q/orYw-HtJpZ8/s320/DSC06487.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483905630912950130" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Look Ma, I can even eat it with no hands!"</span><br /></div>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-20852998987083038332010-05-12T17:53:00.000-07:002010-06-01T14:32:05.566-07:00Becoming a Momma....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TAT1pJoCPWI/AAAAAAAAF1k/pXF6Si0kNJM/s1600/DSC06026.JPG"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S-72CTRNxfI/AAAAAAAAF0Q/zkHxGIq1e8s/s1600/DSC04920.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S-72CTRNxfI/AAAAAAAAF0Q/zkHxGIq1e8s/s320/DSC04920.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471581116694382066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S-72CTRNxfI/AAAAAAAAF0Q/zkHxGIq1e8s/s1600/DSC04920.JPG"><br /></a><br />took a very long time for me. I remember when Eric and I started trying to get pregnant. We were so sure that first night of unprotected sex would surely knock me up. We laugh about it now.<br /><br />It's hard to describe the pain of infertility to those who haven't experienced it. I felt broke...incapable...and end...not enough...and so very alone. I was an outsider to a club I wanted so desperately to be a part of. So many nights I would put my hand to my belly trying to will life out of it. It felt so cruel and unfair to me. I felt like a misfit. Each month I didn't get pregnant I felt myself giving in more to the anger and hopelessness. I secretly cursed my pregnant friends. Although I knew it wasn't their faults (that they had what I wanted), I hated and envied them anyway.And I just couldn't (or wouldn't) accept being childless.....<br /><br />Four years later, after 8 IUIs, an IVF and subsequent miscarriage, and a FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer), I became pregnant with Nate. Although I had taken about 8 pregnancies tests (at least!) I got the official HCG blood test results the day before Thanksgiving. Yes, how perfect is that?<br /><br />Becoming a momma...and more specifically becoming Nate's momma has been a journey into love.<br /><br />I still remember the first time Nate really<span style="font-style: italic;"> saw</span> me (and not just my boobs!). We were out apple picking and Nate was in the baby bjourn. Eric likes to characterize this time as the beginning of "momma worshipping." That look was full of anticipation...curiosity and vulnerability (<span style="font-style: italic;">Or maybe it was me who felt vulnerable with those eyes locking into mine..</span>.)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TARa-C_yqJI/AAAAAAAAF1Q/JZXUMYwAg4s/s1600/DSC01522.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TARa-C_yqJI/AAAAAAAAF1Q/JZXUMYwAg4s/s320/DSC01522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477603068792187026" border="0" /></a>Over the last two years, we have learned how to communicate with the most subtle of looks or touches....I know all of the ridiculous faces he makes by heart...I know what will make him laugh and that tears won't last as long if I sing My Favorite Things (yes, this is one of Nate's most favorite songs). I feel phantom touches - little fingers pinching my neck - or hands gliding up and down my arm - when we're apart. I know him (as he knows me)...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This love we share is intimate, full of trust, knowing and belonging....<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S-72CTRNxfI/AAAAAAAAF0Q/zkHxGIq1e8s/s1600/DSC04920.JPG"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TAT1pJoCPWI/AAAAAAAAF1k/pXF6Si0kNJM/s1600/DSC06026.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/TAT1pJoCPWI/AAAAAAAAF1k/pXF6Si0kNJM/s320/DSC06026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477773134096645474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">for both of us.<br /><br /></div>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-91374942180742764562010-03-11T04:10:00.000-08:002010-03-13T17:32:12.597-08:00More cheese pizza please!After his surgery Nate would only eat a handful of things...yogurt, baby cereal, Earth's Best Turkey Dinner, pureed fruit (only in jars), Pirate Booty and Goldfish. AND he hardly had an appetite. It was like we had taken a few steps back again with his eating and we were already feeling behind. There seemed to be so many issues to address with his eating - desire, texture, quantity (for calories), and movement towards some self feeding. Ugh. We felt super stuck and rather depressed about it all. Eric and I kept telling ourselves to keep plugging away with the food we offered Nate. That's all we could do - Right? We were reminded that it sometimes takes 10 tries to get a little one to start eating a new food.<br /><br />As some of you know, Nate and I took a wonderful trip down to B-more to see my family. We're not exactly sure what magic happened while we were there, but it seemed like Nate changed during that trip. Besides just being in the sweetest mood ever, he was more active, more communicative, and more hungry!! By the time we left, he was eating peas again and a lot more snacks. Whew!<br /><br />When we came back, everyone seemed to notice something different about Nate (besides his new haircut - hehe). The ENT we saw for his post adenoidectomy follow-up remarked that Nate seemed older. At school, his teachers shared that Nate was signing like crazy and moving around on the floor a lot more - -He could sit and pivot around to get something! Also they were able to get him to eat some regular fruit, English muffin, and waffle. Super exciting.<br /><br />BUT, Nate still wouldn't try anything for us at home.........<br /><br />....Well until last Friday........<br /><br />We were shot from the week and neither us felt like cooking, so Eric threw an Amy's cheese pizza into the oven. After Nate had some pureed peas and a jar of turkey dinner, I decided to offer him a little cheese pizza. Now I should tell you that one of Nate's favorite songs is from a <span style="font-style: italic;">Signing Time</span> DVD. It is the famous <span style="font-style: italic;">Silly Pizza Song</span>. I know some of you will know what song I'm talking about. Since watching those the Signing Time DVDs, Nate has been signing many foods he hasn't tried yet, one of them being cheese. He also was familiar with pizza - and for him, the sign for pizza kinda looked like snake too - a new favorite sign (which also kind of looked like Nate giving us the middle finger too! haha).<br /><br />Here are both signs:<br />Pizza (Nate does variation 3): <a href="http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/p/pizza.htm">http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/p/pizza.htm</a><br />Snake: <a href="http://http//www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/s/snake.htm">http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/s/snake.htm</a><br /><br />Once I offered Nate one bite of pizza, he asked for more and more and more until he ate an entire piece of pizza! I nearly cried.<br /><br />So without further adieu --- More cheese pizza please - starring Nate!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw13_64KUH3qBEfuV67OP_DWd0Riv8XzFrc6JlXlM8mZHZnNU5JMbEEBDCSHQG69pfp3ZluhrPXa1FodB4MLg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-22001867346090438682010-03-03T04:28:00.001-08:002010-03-03T04:50:21.565-08:00My joy......<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S45aWWUmcaI/AAAAAAAAFVg/ljnxohfFqro/s1600-h/DSC05254.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S45aWWUmcaI/AAAAAAAAFVg/ljnxohfFqro/s320/DSC05254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444388339533115810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S45aVyLFmdI/AAAAAAAAFVY/TuZlST8ahUs/s1600-h/DSC05253.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S45aVyLFmdI/AAAAAAAAFVY/TuZlST8ahUs/s320/DSC05253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444388329829538258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S45aVh57G_I/AAAAAAAAFVQ/FKVSiHn2v_8/s1600-h/DSC05252.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S45aVh57G_I/AAAAAAAAFVQ/FKVSiHn2v_8/s320/DSC05252.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444388325462580210" border="0" /></a>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-36410626780737757402010-01-26T18:05:00.000-08:002010-02-02T04:46:08.403-08:00Tubes In Adenoids OutSince his birth, Nate has had chronic congestion. On top of that, recent hearing tests (specifically tympanometry) indicated that he has fluid in his middle ear. Very often people with Down syndrome have poor Eustachian tube function. This tube connects the middle ear to the pharynx and allows for ventilation. When the tube is shorter (which is often the case with in children with T21), there is increased potential for fluid to collect (instead of drain). The gunky fluid that collects in the middle ear can make children more prone to ear infections and can cause conductive hearing loss. According to the book, <span style="font-style: italic;">Early Communication Skills for Children with Down Syndrome</span>, an estimated 65 - 80 percent of children with Down syndrome have conductive hearing loss. Even though the hearing loss varies, a build-up of middle ear fluid may make a child hear, <span style="font-style: italic;">"It's fine to go get fed</span>" when you said, "<span style="font-style: italic;">It's time to go to bed</span>."<br /><br />At our recent ENT visit in January, the doc still couldn't see in Nate's ears. Based on his hearing test, chronic congestion, sleep apnea, and ear infections she recommended long term ear tubes and an adenoidectomy. Well, she said she'd at least <span style="font-style: italic;">try</span> to get tubes in and take his adenoids out.<br /><br />Well the good news is that Nate had his surgery on Tuesday and it was a success -the tubes are in and the adenoids out. Our amazing doc was pretty determined. She also mentioned that his tonsils were bigger than she thought. It could be another factor contributing to his sleep apnea. Hopefully we'll know more about that after his sleep study in May.<br /><br />The not-so-good news is that Nate has had a pretty high fever since his surgery. He had some difficulty waking up from anesthesia and did need extra oxygen. After a few hours (with lots of singing and us reading his favorite books to him), we finally got him to stop crying and eat some pureed pears and drink a little milk. We thought he was perking up! Well we got home and felt super hot. He had a lot of difficulty breathing and developed a yucky croupy cough. I think some of that is expected after surgery. Though what is not expected, is that Nate has basically had a fever daily (spiking to 103 and higher) since Tuesday and has been quite lethargic. He's been up for only a few hours each day. Just not his spunky little self.<br /><br />Today, Saturday, his pediatrician had us come in again. We decided to go ahead and get a CBC on him. This afternoon we got the good news that his white blood cell count is in the normal range, indicating that Nate probably has a virus. He has been more thirsty today and finally ate a little of his favorite snack - Pirate Booty! Of course he crashed again by 5, falling asleep in our arms, poor Beanaroni.<br /><br />I am trying not to worry....I keep reminding myself that children get sick. They<span style="font-style: italic;"> all</span> do. We've just never seen Nate quite so tired - he can't keep his eyes open. He's like a little droopy flower. When he is wake, he has a continuous little whimper. Oh it is just awful. He clearly doesn't feel well and he can't tell us where it hurts. And the worst part -we can't fix it - which is what we really want to do. He looks at us with those big teary eyes and all we can do is hold him tight and say, "I know, I know, it's going to be okay, you'll be better soon...Mommy and Daddy love you..." <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />(Boy, I wish all it took was love!</span>)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">***Edited Tuesday --- Nate's fever is gone!! Wahoo! --***</span><br /><br />So here are a few pictures from our week. They seem to capture it all........<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S2RxJBxAuZI/AAAAAAAAFME/Qx2O5SsSMpI/s1600-h/DSC05040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S2RxJBxAuZI/AAAAAAAAFME/Qx2O5SsSMpI/s320/DSC05040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432591450422426002" border="0" /></a>Ooooohh - toe light (the highlight of surgery day)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S2RxI1F34pI/AAAAAAAAFL8/ohAhxlwrvB8/s1600-h/The+realization.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 294px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S2RxI1F34pI/AAAAAAAAFL8/ohAhxlwrvB8/s320/The+realization.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432591447020266130" border="0" /></a>After the novelty of the toe light wore off and Nate realized<br />that he would rather be home.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S2TF37zu4aI/AAAAAAAAFNU/eEPq1fb2c4I/s1600-h/DSC05072.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S2TF37zu4aI/AAAAAAAAFNU/eEPq1fb2c4I/s320/DSC05072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432684615253811618" border="0" /></a>Our sick little boy sleeping in Mommy and Daddy's bed.<br /><br /></div>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-89036301388515292442010-01-19T18:01:00.000-08:002010-01-19T19:44:28.395-08:00Including NateAs some of you know, I am a special educator. Recently, our school district participated in a study that included taking a closer look at our special education delivery model, how we use paras in relationship to providing FAPE (Free and Appropriate Public Education) and LRE<br />( Least Restrictive Environment). The study was headed up by UVM professor, Michael Giangreco (see his work at <a href="http://vtcite.info/%7Emgiangre/"> http://vtcite.info/~mgiangre/</a>). The dialog between our special education coordinator, our school principal, and speech language pathologist brought up many questions for me both as a teacher and as a parent about what inclusion means. Do I think all students should be working towards grade level expectations? Or should some students work on life skills? Is the LRE always the general education classroom? How do we fit therapies into a student's day (especially when it often means that students are coming out of their classrooms)? Should <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> students with disabilities be learning alongside their non-disabled peers <span style="font-style: italic;">most</span> of the time?<br /><br />Micheal Ginagreco recommended the documentary, <span style="font-style: italic;">Including Samuel</span>. If you haven't seen it, find it and watch it. It is powerful and thought provoking.<br /><br />Here is the trailer:<br /><a href="http://www.includingsamuel.com/media/Video/ExtendedTrailer.aspx">http://www.includingsamuel.com/media/Video/ExtendedTrailer.aspx</a><br /><br />After watching the film, Eric and I started to talk more about how we wanted Nate to be included. We realized that it was much easier to talk about what we wanted for Nate, rather than focus on the model. <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />We want Nate to feel included and part of a meaningful learning community. We want Nate to have friends. We want Nate's friends to know and appreciate who he is. We want Nate to develop his reading, writing, and math skills. We want Nate to have the opportunity to participate in the general education curriculum whenever he can (and it seems appropriate). We want Nate to have times in his day where he doesn't have a 1:1 stuck to him. We want teachers to see his strengths and build on them. We want a strong collaborative team that is able to be reflective and think creatively about how to help Nate have a successful school experience. We want Nate to develop life skills so that he can be independent in his adult life.</span><br />If I give myself a few more minutes I am sure the list go on....<br /><br />It's difficult for me to say that there is one way or one model to work with children who are differently abled. Besides there being such a range of disabilities, our children are unique as well. On top of it, there are such differences in the size of our schools, the resources they have, and the teachers they employ. Also what is best for Nate one year may not be what's best for him next year. Needs change (I guess that could be interpreted two ways!).<br /><br />I am not sure I can say what inclusion means to us in a three paragraph blog entry. It's complicated and full of layers. I do know that after I watched the documentary, I know that <span style="font-style: italic;">how</span> Nate is included has to be fluid, flexible and full of creativity.....<br /><br />What does inclusion mean to you? What do you want for your children?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S1Z7KgZoNTI/AAAAAAAAFGs/cal6Dyhlq80/s1600-h/DSC04170.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/S1Z7KgZoNTI/AAAAAAAAFGs/cal6Dyhlq80/s320/DSC04170.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428661821268047154" border="0" /></a>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-55220395721659615802010-01-14T18:51:00.000-08:002010-01-14T19:52:10.724-08:00Our Little ChampIt's hard to imagine that learning to get into the sit position could be so difficult. Just look at how hard he's working!<br /><br />What a champ!-- And also check out those signs too! Go Bean Go!<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy6I3rGL24KhOlYi_328wtlj01tmzwSAtjfHDjO8SPAMDCv8YjeYfZoAKNjHYnHTBrWZAWUmz-XlFDWSmo4Fw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-79177255415518658872010-01-02T11:52:00.000-08:002010-03-28T17:44:11.752-07:00Nate's presence....When I was about 11 weeks pregnant with Nate, I lost control of my car on a major highway. It was around 5 o'clock on a cold January afternoon. I had stayed at work late and was driving home completely exhausted. I remember driving in the right hand lane thinking there was a car approaching me to the left. I quickly jerked the car to the right so much so that I lost control of the car. I overcompensated for this and pulled the car left until I spun around crashing into the guard rail in the passing lane. It all happened so fast. Then there was silence. My heart raced and I took a huge gasp of air. I was alive. Somehow in those few moments there was a break in traffic. It still doesn't seem possible. My mind was already working at double speed. Again and again I played it over in my mind. Surely I was dead. I had to be - right? I was convinced that if I were alive I must have killed our unborn baby. There's no way we could both live through the accident. Maybe I wasn't meant to be a mother. How would Eric forgive me?<br /><br />The next few seconds were a blur to me. I continued to try and reconcile how and why I was still alive. I shouldn't have been. What about my baby? As the lights from the increasing traffic got brighter I realized that I needed to get out of the car - fast. Trucks and cars were speeding by to the point where I could feel the ground shudder beneath my feet. A family had pulled up behind me and put on their hazard lights. A man (a dad I soon realized) jumped out of the car and asked if I was okay. I was breathing so hard I could barely get a word out. He told me that he would call 911. After he made the call, he headed back to his car to leave. At that point I did something so selfish that I still regret today. I asked the man to stay. I told him I was pregnant and completely terrified. It was like it finally clicked that I was alive. I had to protect my baby. The man quickly herded his wife and two kids out of the car and had them stand by me off in the median until the police came. They could have been killed. It all was terribly unsafe.<br /><br />The police arrived within 5 minutes or so - Thank goodness. My car was turned in the complete opposite direction, so all traffic on the highway had to be stopped. The man and his family started heading back to their car. I hugged the man and cried. "Thank you for not leaving me," I said to him, "Thank you so much." That was the last I saw of the man and his family. I don't know how I would have gotten through any of it without him.<br /><br />This event continues to live in me today. I can still recall that split second when I lost control of the car. My heart starts racing and I feel this raw, burning feeling in my gut. It is more than amazing that I survived. A split second before or after that moment and I would have been dead and my Nate-Bean would have just been a dream.<br /><br />After the accident, Nate's presence in my body and heart became more pronounced. We had survived the accident together. I also felt like in some strange way, it was the intent of his little spirit that kept us both alive. He was supposed to be...<br /><br />I am not 100% why I have been thinking about the accident.....Perhaps it is all the traveling we've been doing or my father dying so unexpectedly. I do have to say that it strikes me how I was in a situation (car spinning out of control on the highway) in which I <span style="font-style: italic;">should</span> have died (or at least been hurt) and my dad did something that we all do most nights -- he simply fell asleep and yet<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>he <span style="font-style: italic;">died</span>. Based on our experiences we develop some rational about how things work. Neither of these events make sense to me. What or who determines how our lives will unfold or end?<br /><br />One thing I do know, is that Nate's presence in my life then and now is incredibly strong and healing. Even though it has been difficult understanding my dad's death, I know it would be so much harder if I didn't have Nate in my life. He is determined, willful, curious, engaging, and just so <span style="font-style: italic;">alive</span>.<br /><br />He is our sweet and very special Bean.<br /><br />Now for some pictures.......<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/Sz-4GDmbkDI/AAAAAAAAFDM/TPlIVsNk9lU/s1600-h/DSC04715.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/Sz-4GDmbkDI/AAAAAAAAFDM/TPlIVsNk9lU/s320/DSC04715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422254890562588722" border="0" /></a><br />Heading down to Baltimore...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/Sz-4Ft4BCoI/AAAAAAAAFC8/tvKbLOtJpTQ/s1600-h/DSC04649.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/Sz-4Ft4BCoI/AAAAAAAAFC8/tvKbLOtJpTQ/s320/DSC04649.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422254884730768002" border="0" /></a>Nate aspirating Daddy's nose...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/Sz-4F7rJpDI/AAAAAAAAFDE/4hkmzNX5N1c/s1600-h/DSC04823.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/Sz-4F7rJpDI/AAAAAAAAFDE/4hkmzNX5N1c/s320/DSC04823.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422254888434902066" border="0" /></a>Nate with his Grandma-ma on Christmas...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/Sz_BadOfTLI/AAAAAAAAFDU/ZqYu2_marAs/s1600-h/DSC04829.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 324px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/Sz_BadOfTLI/AAAAAAAAFDU/ZqYu2_marAs/s320/DSC04829.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422265136643525810" border="0" /></a>Cuddled up to Uncle David...<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/Sz_Baj9E6UI/AAAAAAAAFDc/u0iN8UN2Wpo/s1600-h/DSC04862.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/Sz_Baj9E6UI/AAAAAAAAFDc/u0iN8UN2Wpo/s320/DSC04862.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422265138449541442" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My sweet family......<br /></div>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-40283296912809583442009-10-28T03:50:00.000-07:002009-10-28T04:30:19.884-07:00Forgiveness....My father and I didn't always have the easiest of relationships. He lived a "hard" life - - drank and smoked for many years. I am sure I didn't always help situations either. We were close, but definitely had bumps along the way........<p>At some point I just decided to not put these unreasonable expectations on my dad. I let go of the little stuff and decided to focus on what was good....I realized that he's had a tough life and I became more forgiving...That shift in my thinking changed a lot of things for us....<br /></p><p>When I got pregnant with Nate, he vowed to call me every single night. I think there have only been a handful of days in the last few years that we haven't spoke. In fact I think I can count those evenings on my fingers. He hasn't come up to visit me often, but he does know everything about our days - From what we are having for dinner --to the weather (always a favorite topic), and course that daily scoop on the "Bean." My dad could tell you all of the things that Nate <span style="font-style: italic;">can</span> do. He has been incredibly supportive and so just so confident that we will get through our toughest days. My dad seemed to have more faith in us than we had in ourselves....<br /></p><p>My two cents for the day -----For those family relationships that are challenging -Look at where you can let go a bit - Hold the line with things that are very important, but also find opportunities to be forgiving. There is a reason your family members became the people they are -----My mom once shared with me a profound (yet so simple) revelation she had: Find forgiveness and have faith in the power of love.<br /></p><p>You just never know when you'll have to say goodbye........</p><p><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/SugkttKZm9I/AAAAAAAAE04/_bCo3RhzQM4/s1600-h/DSC00467.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/SugkttKZm9I/AAAAAAAAE04/_bCo3RhzQM4/s320/DSC00467.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397604521039469522" border="0" /></a><p style="text-align: center;">Dad and Lorie came to see us the day after Nate was born....</p><p style="text-align: center;">This was the first time he got to meet his grandson...</p><p style="text-align: center;">I love this picture.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409880295174880737.post-4249361279544222702009-10-27T15:12:00.000-07:002009-10-27T16:39:32.306-07:00Goodbye PapiAt 2:30 this afternoon, my brother and stepmother called me at work to tell me that my father had passed away in his sleep. It was very unexpected --- Truthfully I think we're all still in shock.I am so glad that my dad got to meet and spend time with Nate. He was definitely a proud Papi!<br /><br />We love you and will miss you so much.........<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/Sud7BvaebwI/AAAAAAAAEzg/OKZe1_KQgyo/s1600-h/DSC00678.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/Sud7BvaebwI/AAAAAAAAEzg/OKZe1_KQgyo/s320/DSC00678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397417948264427266" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/Sud7B1qDaHI/AAAAAAAAEzo/hGeLoovOy9I/s1600-h/DSC00496.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/Sud7B1qDaHI/AAAAAAAAEzo/hGeLoovOy9I/s320/DSC00496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397417949940377714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/Sud7BGc5ZXI/AAAAAAAAEzY/R8ZL5sDcWq0/s1600-h/DSC00521.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7jAewpGEs/Sud7BGc5ZXI/AAAAAAAAEzY/R8ZL5sDcWq0/s320/DSC00521.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397417937268729202" border="0" /></a>Eric and Cristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01483084239178010254noreply@blogger.com5