Unringing the Bell

31 for 21 Eve

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Tomorrow, October 1st, begins the first day of the 5th Annual 31 for 21 Challenge. Are you ready?? I am. I guess. I mean, why not? Right? We can do it!

Get your typing fingers ready, folks! We have 31 (at least) posts to write. I discovered that I have less than twenty to write before I reach two thousand! Wow! What's thrity-one more in the grand scheme of things?

Sign up here, tell your friends, and happy writing! I hope to check out some of your blogs over the coming weeks. And please back and tell me how it's going!

And remember, while the only real rule is that you post once (at least) a day for the thirty one days in the month of October, it's great if you mention somewhere, somehow that you're doing the challenge to raise awareness of Down syndrome.

Goooooo, 5th Annual Challenge!!!! Hurrah!

(By the way, I noticed some folks signed up on last year's linky. Make sure if you want to sign up for this year's challenge you do so below or on any of the linkys from THIS year 2011.Thanks!)

 

A Veritable Language Explosion

Convo #1
Me: Hi, Georgia.
G: Hi, how are you?
Me: I'm good. How are you?
G: Good.

Convo #2
After a bath tonight, G came down to find the kids' friend Ruby visiting while her Mom works out. She ran up to her and waving in her face said, "Hi, Ruby!" Ruby said "hi." Then Georgia ran to the playroom door and said "Let's play!"

:D

Confession

I've actually had a few things I've been wanting to blog about lately and even a little time on my hands. But guess what? I've just been making lists of this stuff so that I will have material starting on Saturday!!

I guess 31 for 21 is a go! Stay tuned for Saturday when I will have the linky thing up (where you can sign up) and the html to get the button.

Here's a little Rainerism until then:

Me: I love the circle you drew.

Rainer: Oh, no, no. It's a rock!

The 5th Annual 31 for 21 Challenge????

1. True story: I actually came here to post about a week and a half ago and when I was about to hit publish our electricity flickered, we lost our wifi for a minute and I lost the post. I am sure it was nothing profound as I didn't quickly try to recreate it (frustrated as I was), and seeing as how I have absolutely no recollection of what I wrote. My guess is it had to do with how school is going for the kids. School has been a big topic the last couple weeks.

2. Clearly, I don't write here very often. I am busy, sure, like everyone, but there's more to it. After all, I found time to write when I had newborns (one of whom was in the NICU and one of whom came while my first born was only just learning to walk.) I get a little nervous about what to share--that's one thing--now that the kids are growing up. Though honestly...I gotta' admit, facebook steals some of the thunder.

3. ...that leads me to 31 for 21. (See here for information on 31 for 21 from last year.) I was really torn about whether or not to do the challenge this year. I don't know that I can keep up with it, I don't know how many people are really blogging these days. And...well...I suppose there are all sorts of excuses not to do it. But...if there's ANYONE out there still reading this ol' bloggity blog, or perhaps more important, if there are any new parents with a wee babe just born who has Down syndrome...well...I like the thought that maybe they'd stumble upon my blog, or someone else's blog because of the 31 for 21 Challenge and they will see that this Down syndrome thing ain't so bad.

4. So. I guess that means I am doing it.

5. Do you want to sign on? To make it official, I will have the Link Daddy thing-a-ma-whosit on the site on October 1st.  But feel free to leave a comment if you're thinking you might do it.

6. Yikes!

7. Feel free to spread the word. Remember, the only rule is this: post every day, at least once day, for thrity-one days (each of them in the month of October, which is Down syndrome Awareness Month) on any topic, to raise awareness about Trisomy 21. 31 for 21! (Topics about Down syndrome are not neccesary, though it's encouraged that you mention why you are taking part in the challenge at some point during the 31 days.)

8. HTML to grab the button will be available in the next few days.

9. Let's roll.

10. Yikes again!

Who Knew?

Though I have been absent a whole bunch from the ol' blog this summer, I am feeling a great desire to write again. The difficulty lies in finding the time (per usual) and in knowing just what I am comfortable putting out there now that the kids are both entrenched in "The Real World" where people know them and me and I am not sure I want everyone to know our business. Funny place to come and write, then, eh?

I'm going to try to write, but I am not sure just what it will end up looking like.

We've been consumed, like many, with back to school stuff. G is at a new school (which, obviously means a whole new team) and Rainer is starting school for the first time. This is, I have to admit, a stressful adjustment. For all of us. I am trying to go with the flow and let things go to the best of my ability. I don't want my anxiety to spill over onto the kids, but it's tough. Having the kids at two different schools is a comedy of carpooling. I think it'll work out fine once everyone is on the right schedule, but with all this late starting (because of Hurricane Irene) and gradual entry garbage I have found myself needing to be at two schools at the same time. It's...not fun.

Thankfully, that stuff is all done and we're onto the regular schedule tomorrow, but come to find out there was a miscommunication and the bus company did not factor G into the equation and the earliest bus service is going to start is Friday. I don't know what to do. I was originally planning to have her take the bus to and from school, but then R's schedule conflicted so it would only work to have her go TO school on the bus with me picking her up (and then hightailing it to pick up Rainer), but now...with the bus company screwed up, I am beginning to think maybe I should just ditch the bus all together. She's had (and enjoyed) that experience with the bus, but I keep thinking there's no good reason to send her on the bus this year. I can get her there (and then get Rainer to his school on his days) with only a little extra hustle.

I think I am beginning to think about this more for this year because while last year G was on the bus with several other kids. This year, it seems that there will just be a "special" bus for her. All the other kids in her class go on the "regular" bus, but because I do not want Georgia riding without a restraint system, and because she needs assistance getting on and off the bus (I am not legally allowed to be that person), she needs and aide on the bus. The regular bus does not have an aide.

I'm torn. Because of where we live (close to, but on the opposite side of a busy boulevard from where the school is), she would technically be a busser, but...maybe I don't want her to ride the special bus when I can just take her. It's about attitudes and how she will be perceived. If she needed the bus (if I weren't available to drive her), I could just look those perceptions in the face and say "bite me," but...because it is not a necessity....

and on and on my brain goes. WWYD? I feel like I need to make a decision ASAP before the school and bus company go out of their way to make this happen.

And Rainer. Oh, dear boy.

He is going into a 3-year-old class, even though he won't be three until Halloween. He's a smart kid, I know he will wow them in terms of what he knows...but emotionally? I dunno. I am a little worried. There's another girl who will turn three (also on Halloween!!), and the cut-off date for turning 3 is December 31st, but...we'll see. He has some learning to do in terms of circle time and...following the directions of someone he doesn't know well.

Funny, I have been convinced and unworried about him going to school (unlike how I've been with Georgia), and as it turns out, he is having a harder time of it (this early on...I know it's early...today was the first day!)

He TELLS me he had a good day, but he threw himself on the floor and cried when the teacher tried to take a first day picture (none of the other kids did that). And when I picked him up I was told "Rainer was a little shy today."

Rainer told me "I saw my teachers Ms. Kate and Ms. Barb!" but he also told me he didn't want to sit in circle time and he didn't want a cookie at school.

He didn't want a cookie??? That doesn't sound like my guy?

Why is this stuff so hard?

Anyhow. Is Mom's Taxi Service up and running full-time? I think I am going to try to decide by the end of the day.

PTA meeting tonight. PTA! Wow! Life is certainly full these days. And a little stressful.

Where's the wine????

Not Really First Day Of School

But here's a picture anyway since we had to go in.

With gradual entries and all the changes due to the hurricane and power outages, who knows WHAT the first day of school is, anyway. We'll just snap some pics. These ones need notes.

First off, let's just get it out there that Rainer has become Mister Insistent. I thought two was supposed to be difficult, but we're coming up on three and so far it's not looking...easy.

Rainer insisted we take pictures on the front porch (because that's where G had pics taken yesterday). He insisted on bringing this black rocking chair out to sit in. He insisted in holding up his tote. And yes, he insisted on those wacky blue and yellow socks (that have chickens on them). Who am I to mess with individuality?

He's a regular comedien, eh? His teachers are gonna' love him. (Ay yi yi.)

Then, we finally got the bag off his head and he refused to look at the camera. Refused. On purpose. He said, "No, I'm looking down there!"

Ok. Fine.

When we went back inside he jumped up on the toy box and asked me to take his picture there while he was counting on his fingers.

So I did.

And then we went to school. For ten minutes. To fill out forms. Though he insisted on bringing the bag. With a ball in it.

(Also. After seeing these pictures I cut his hair. No pics of that though. Just a trim.)