Merry Christmas

All is calm, all is bright!

Wishing you a Merry "Christh-muth",


And a happy new year!

costume party at school

Can you guess who this maniacal angel might be?!


The costume parade through the school

Frances X. Cabrini

Her feastday is not until November 13, but I must take this time to testify to the special affection I feel for Mother Cabrini. Please take a few minutes to read about her remarkable life--there are many short bios about her on the internet.
My first connection with Mother Cabrini occurred when we were living in Denver during the 1980's and visited her shrine west of Denver. I remember climbing the hillside of her outdoor shrine, and seeing the white rocks she herself had arranged into the shape of a heart in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (these rocks are now under plexiglass for protection). Many years passed before I thought of Mother Cabrini again. It was January of 2002, and I had just discovered I was expecting a baby at the age of 45. My next youngest child was 10, and I was excited and more than a little shocked and worried. A couple days later, I decided to clean out some boxes of old correspondence and found a letter dated 1993 from a priest friend of mine who had died several years earlier. I had forgotten that Fr. Griese had ever written me and opened his note with curiosity. It read: Dear Betty, I am sorry to hear of your recent miscarriage. If and when you get pregnant again, entrust the pregnancy to St. Frances X. Cabrini. I enclose 2 holy cards, one for you and Bill. I have great confidence in her intercession, and I will join you in your prayers.
I felt a chill when I realized that this was my first pregnancy since that miscarriage, and that somehow the note came into my hands within days of finding out. Needless to say, my husband and I prayed to her earnestly through the pregnancy and beyond. I know in my heart that I owe so much to this dear saint. Get to know her, you'll love her too!

latest from school

Today I received this email from Lucy's teacher:
Hi there,

I just needed to tell you a funny story about Lucy today. She was helping me run some errands and we stopped to talk to Ms. Peters. She told Ms. Peters that she was not a good girl last week and that she was not a good friend to Mrs. Turner and I. She then went on to tell her that because she was a bad girl you made her clean the ROOF! We said, "Your room?" And she said, "NO! The roof!" - while she was waving her hand above her head. We both agreed that you must have some tough discipline at your house! :o)



My response:
That is so funny! I wish I had an explanation, but this beats all! (although there have been times when I wish I could have sent various children to the roof, or at least gone up there by myself for some peace and quiet!)
Bill will be home tomorrow and was hoping to visit the classroom sometime between 1 and 2 if possible. He could hide in one of the closets, but after what happened with Sutter's parents it might be better if he just visited rather than observed. Please let us know if that will work via email as we will be running errands in the morning.
thanks!
Betty

thought for the day

I saw this on a plaque yesterday:

Give thanks for unknown blessings, already on their way.

This is a good thought for those expectant parents who find their baby has special needs--because there are blessings to come!

Lucy's first Catholic craft

My friend Sally has started a little religious ed class for Lucy and her daughter, and this was their first craft!

the canary in the mine

Lucy's teacher told me that the parents of one of Lucy's classmates wanted to observe their son in class from a hidden location, so the teacher stationed them in one of the closets with the door slightly ajar. Their plans were foiled once class began, for dear Lucy noticed them and, pointing, announced loudly to the class: "People hiding! People hiding!"

riddle answer

nothing!

riddle

What is greater than God, more evil than the devil, the rich need it, the poor have it, and if you eat it you die?

Heartwarming!

Lucy's picnic offerings

Somehow irresistible in spite of being indigestible!

The family spent the day in gorgeous Shenandoah

Yep, they're carrots.

School issues

Well school has been going quite well overall for Lucy, until this past Tuesday. We got the dread letter in the folder that described very naughty kindergarten behavior: squirting water on fellow students at lunch and (much worse) purposefully kicking other students at recess. I told Lucy that she would have no dessert or starfall time, and gave her a "timeout" while I was making dinner, so she had to just sit and watch me (and help set the table etc) rather than play with her toys. She very solemnly promised that she would be better the next day. On Wednesday, I kept in touch with her teacher through the day, and was happy to hear that Lucy was back to her normal, nice self. Apparently Lucy also thought she was much improved, because when she arrived home she pulled out her folder and the school newsletter that was inside, held it in front of her as if reading it, and said, "Lucy very good today. Can have dessert and watch videos!"

Lucy's first day of school

You would think with 20 years in the "get the kids ready for school on time the first day of school" department, I would be a seasoned professional. These pictures were taken in haste, with a smear on the lens of the camera (my tears?--it's possible), Lucy eating her buttered toast literally on the way out the door (more likely source of the smear!), quick rendezvous with the neighbors and suddenly with a rumble and hiss of the air brakes the bus arrived and Lucy climbed up the huge steps and was whisked away! She had a wonderful first day of kindergarten and bounced home full of joy and energy much to my amazement after 7 hours of school! Thank you for your prayers!!!!

Oh MAMA!

kindergarten on the mind

I sent Lucy to "see the sheriff" and, seeing as how it seemed to be taking longer than normal, checked in on her to discover this academic scene.

I never knew Tigger was Catholic!

Tigger attended mass today with Lucy and during the sign of peace I was surprised to see it was Tigger who exchanged handshakes with those around us. I asked Lucy to show Daddy later, and hence the picture.

A stranger's kindness

Also at the fair, we decided to let Lucy try her hand at a game of chance. She had to throw a ball into a basket to win a prize. She missed her first throw, so the fellow manning the booth had her stand on the counter. Missed the second, so he had her stand on his stool. Missed the third, so he had her throw again. Finally she made it (to happy cheers), and he let her choose her prize amongst all his offerings! She chose the cow (a nod to Chick-fila?). When I thanked him for his kindness to Lucy, he would have none of it and insisted that she's the one who made his whole evening! God bless him!

It is more blessed to give than to receive

We went to the fair recently and saw the sea lion exhibit. These animals are trained to lean their heads in for a picture, so the gang decided to get their picture taken. Lucy was QUITE excited, and afterwards, when the trainer asked Lucy if she would like a kiss from a sea lion, Lucy misunderstood her and, much to everyone's surprise, swung around, wrapped her arms around the sea lion's neck, and kissed him with a loud smack! We all laughed, and when the trainer told one of the sea lions to kiss Lucy, it leaned over and licked her on the cheek! This time Lucy looked surprised and--it must be said--disgusted, and wiped off her cheek with the back of her hand!

Thought for the day

How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower!
--Isaac Watts


When we practice the presence of God through the day, we do the same!

A beautiful tribute to a lovely family

This youtube video and internet article are very moving tributes to a special family and their son with Down syndrome.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uUVez3kNcI



Among several lasting memories of John Mark Stallings, one always stands out
in my mind.

It was moments after the University of Alabama football team had soundly beaten Miami
in New Orleans, clinching the 1992 national championship.

Before he went to meet the national media, Alabama head coach Gene
Stallings, always a friend to local reporters, slipped into a small room
deep beneath the Superdome to speak briefly to me and to Charles Hollis, the
Birmingham News' beat reporter at the time.

Amid the massive celebration that still echoed in the stadium, that tiny
cubicle contained only the coach (still a little damp from the Gatorade bath
he was given by his players), Larry White of the UA sports information
staff, Hollis, myself - and the person who put it all in perspective: John
Mark Stallings.

All sorts of grandiose descriptions of Alabama's achievement were running
through my brain as I prepared to describe the epochal victory. But it was
John Mark who saw it all in its proper light and summed it up in four words
- 'Way to go, Pop.'

More than anything I could have said, that summed up the entire journey from
Stallings' hiring and the tumultuous 1990 season, through all the patient
building process that constructed the awesome defense that swamped the
Hurricanes . So much can go wrong on the way to a national title. Stallings
had managed to guide Alabama past every pitfall.

John Mark Stallings wouldn't have expressed it in that way, but he
understood. It was a job well done. Alabama had won, which was the way he
wanted things to be in his world, and his father, of whom he was justifiably
proud, had guided the team there, as John Mark knew that he would.

John Mark Stallings, who passed away at 7:28 a.m. Saturday, always provided
that kind of insight. In a way, his whole life - his great gift - was in
teaching people to look at their circumstances in a different way.

That was certainly a theme in his relationship with his famous father. I
wouldn't say that was the entire relationship, because who can sum up all
that exists between a father and a son? But it is true that, just as Gene
Stallings taught and nurtured John Mark, then John Mark Stallings brought
out and developed the human side of his father as no one else could have.

Imagine being Gene Stallings in 1962, a fiery, motivated young football
coach on Paul W. 'Bear' Bryant's staff. Toughness was in every fiber of
Stallings, the sort of toughness that helped him survive the famous trip to
Junction as a Texas A&M player, the kind that made Bryant want to have him
on hand as a member of his staff when other, more experienced coaches were
available.

Junction had been a test. Playing for 'Bear' Bryant had been a test. But
those tests were nothing compared to the crucible that Stallings and his
wife Ruth Ann, neither of them yet 30 years old, were to face that year.
That's when they learned that their infant son had been born with Down
syndrome.

What emotions would someone feel at such a time? Anger, at the random
unfairness of such a fate? Disappointment, knowing that the child would
never play football or become a coach or fulfill those dreams?

But, in perhaps his greatest moment, greater than coming out of Junction in
one piece, or leading Texas A&M to a Cotton Bowl, or taking Alabama to a
national championship, Gene Stallings put anger and bitterness aside. He
embraced the challenge of raising his son. And what rewards he received for
it, what lessons he learned.

Years later, Stallings would talk about watching John Mark struggle for
every triumph, the effort it took for his boy to master even simple tasks.
It made the coach appreciate the player who worked harder, even if he had
less ability. It made him reach out to so many young people whose lives are
better today because of the Stallings Center (which houses the Rise program
for disabled children at UA) or simply because the head coach at Alabama
took the time to visit their hospital bed, or host them and their family at
a practice.

In that way, as Mal Moore said on Saturday afternoon, 'John Mark Stallings
touched every Alabama fan. The child who, it was thought, could never do
great things did them after all, with his gentle nature and warm smile. Most
of all, he did great things with his complete, unquestioning capacity to
love his family, to love Alabama and to love everyone who shared those
feelings with him in the short 46 years of his life.'

Overheard on the Stairs

Lucy has had the flu, and from the other room we heard her give off a large juicy sneeze.

We then heard her exclaim, "God bless you!" enthusiastically, followed by a short pause and a heartfelt: "Thank you, Pooh bear!"

Garden oddity

The grass may be greener on the other side of the fence, but in the case of cucumbers it's just more of the same.

Got bling?

Lucy wore her ring to Mass recently, admiring it often through the quiet moments of the liturgy. As we piled into the car to come home, she displayed her ring to me and proudly said, "Stop sign, Mommy!"

In the eye of the beholder...

As we walked across a parking lot, Lucy pointed to a handicapped spot and said, "Yook, Mommy, potty!"

Lucy and Bosco

We have all really enjoyed adding a parakeet to the family, our "DLB" (Dear Little Bird), Bosco. Lucy has to be very, very still when I let her hold him--something she is very motivated to do! It's good training for her.

I'm sure mom won't notice

Today, tired of drinking her daily portion of prune juice, Lucy decided to pour the remainder into the flower arrangement on the dining room table. Unfortunately for her, the flowers are in a clear glass vase (complete with acrylic "water") so the inch or so of dark juice above the "water" bore mute testimony of the deed. Initially I did assume (naively) it had to have been an accident, but when sister Anne asked, "Did you pour the juice in on purpose?" Lucy nodded with a giggle.

I think it will require extra postage...

The other day I was teasing and tickling Lucy and said, "I'm just going to wrap you up and put you in the mail" perhaps to visit her siblings Tom or Mary? I don't remember why I said it! "Now where am I going to put the stamp?" Instantly Lucy pointed to the back of her left hand~where she gets stamped every week after ballet class~"Right there!" she answered in triumph!

cinderella had a farm, ei,ei,O!

Fashionista?

I don't know if Lucy has a nose for fashion, but she decided to try wearing a doll's dress in a new way.

Happy Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

I ask the Dear Blessed Mother to bless all our little ones with disabilities. Today's Gospel reading ("whatsoever you did to the least of my brethren, you did to Me") shows how precious these individuals are to God.

Extremes

Lucy can be the sweetest child at times. Yesterday as I made her lunch--her favorite: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich--she looked up at me with her head tilted to the side and said very tenderly, "THANK you, Mommy honey. You are so KIND!" LOL! She can also be a stinker at times, but still cracks me up. She has a familiar way of refusing things, delivered in an imperious almost offended tone: "No, no! No pick up toys! No!" or "No, no! No go to bed! No!" or "No, no! No go boom booms (our euphemism for poops!). No!" We all joke that if we had a parakeet, we know what he'd be saying!

2008--new resolutions

I've been reading a wonderful book on organization called HOUSE RULES. One of the hints is that a habit is like a train locomotive. If you want to add a new habit, "hook" it to an established habit and it will be much easier to acquire. Lucy has quite a delay in fine motor coordination, and I struggled to find time to work specifically on that skill, especially since she is resistant to practicing skills that are difficult for her--hence the endless cycle. Using the tip from House Rules, I have been bringing out paper and pencil or coloring books etc for her to do before every meal. She is motivated to do it because she wants to eat, and I have an easy way of fitting it into our day.

Bella RULES!

Of all the wonderful presents Lucy got for Christmas, (and I do think Santa's bag must have split in our house at one point) the most beloved by Lucy was the Bella dancerella dvd. Unfortunately, the effect of many repetitions has caused the music to relentlessly play in all of our brains. Our one consolation if we all go crazy is that we know we did it for the sake of Lucy's happiness.

Gingko

Beginning in December we have started giving Lucy Gingko supplements, after getting the OK from her pediatrician. I wondered how I would get her to take the pills, but ended up finding Gingko Extract from the Vitamin Shoppe. She gets 3 drops in her juice in the morning, easy as pie! Lucy is definitely talking more clearly and in more words, but whether that is from having all the extra company and excitement over the holidays or a normal growth spurt or the Gingko, who knows? I'm thankful for the ease of giving her this, and happy to give it a try. The other day as I poured her juice for breakfast Lucy asked, "Drops in, Mommy?" Wow!