The Down Syndrome Creed

My face may be different
But my feelings the same
I laugh and I cry
And I take pride in my gains
I was sent here among you
To teach you to love
As God in the heavens
Looks down from above
To Him I'm no different
His love knows no bounds
It's those here among you
In cities and towns
That judge me by standards
That man has imparted
But this family I've chosen
Will help me get started
For I'm one of the children
So special and few
That came here to learn
The same lessons as you
That love is acceptance
It must come from the heart
We all have the same purpose
Though not the same start
The Lord gave me life
To live and embrace
And I'll do it as you do
But at my own pace

Stonehenge...Again!

We have company! I love when people come visit us! One of the great things about playing hostess is the inevitable day trip (or two, or three). It seems everyone that comes to England always wants to visit Stonehenge. So today for the 5th time in just over a year I loaded the girls in the car and we visited the magical hanging rocks. No matter how often I visit the site it always leaves me with a feeling of awe.

Antalya decided the elements were just perfect to practice somersaults, so that's exactly what she did!

Victoria was happy to have someone her own size to pick on.

And I was just happy to be with this cute gal that I haven't seen for way too long!

Mariela and I go way back - seven years to be exact. I'm from the States. Mariela is from Argentina. We met in Chile. We were reunited in England. It was a good day!

One of Antalya's most favorite things is music. She loves it! We've recently discovered this fun spot!

Princess Tea Party

Last Saturday Antalya was invited to her very first birthday party. A girl in her class was turning 4 and was celebrating with a princess tea party. I was so proud of Antalya. She had never experienced anything quite like it, and most the time didn't understand what was going on, but she tried so hard to go right along with the other girls.

The hardest part was that all the food, juice, and cakes were set out on the table from the moment we arrived, but we started with games, and other "non-eating" activities. Antalya just couldn't understand why no one was eating all the yummy stuff if it was right there. And she got so frustrated when I kept insisting she needed to wait.

But, overall it was a good experience. It was fun for me to see her interact with some of her classmates. I snapped this not very good picture of the group with my camera.

31 for 21: Happiness is a Journey

October is Down Syndrome Awareness month. In the blogging world, that means many bloggers commit to blog everyday during the month to help raise awareness. It's called the 31 for 21 challenge (31 days for Trisomy 21 which is the medical name for Down syndrome). I've done this challenge in the past, and was looking forward to it this year. Although, just today I am realizing that October has already begun. So, I'm a little late, but looking forward to making this a blogging month (if nothing else, I'm sure my mom will love having something to read everyday)!

Grab This Button

I have recently found a speech therapy group that is just what I have been hoping to find. The only draw back is that it is down in the city. Which means I have two options of getting there.

Option A is a 15 minute walk, followed by a 30 minute ride on the metro, ending with another 15 minute walk. Doesn't sound too bad, right? Add to that the fact that I have two kids with me, both of which hate riding in the stroller, and a train similar to a can of sardines - so full of people trying to get to work in the morning that one can barely move, yet alone try to entertain toddlers.

Option B is a relaxing drive in traffic. Which would definitely win out over option A if it were for the fact that I would have to pay $13 congestion fee just to drive in the city, plus gas, plus parking fees which could easily run at least $15-$20, and that is only if I am able to find a parking space.

There must be a better way, right? Well, sort of. It is the coveted blue badge given to people with disabilities that waives the congestion fee to enter the city and grants free parking almost anywhere you want to park (including in no parking or restricted areas). Sounds to good to be true, don't you think?

Well, I've finally been convinced that we need to apply for one - if only for the sole reason of making Antalya's speech therapy a possibility. On the application it asks how far the applicant is able to walk and how long it takes to walk that distance. After thinking it over for a day, I estimated that Antalya could walk 500 meters and do it in 10 minutes. I was a bit surprised when Jason laughed at my answers and told me I was overly exaggerating.

So today on our walk home from school I decided to get a more accurate idea of the distance Antalya would walk. It was a walk just like all the rest, except this time I was looking at my watch and clocking the distance. I was a bit surprised at the results.

With all my typical coaxing, bribing, and pleading, Antalya walked 350 meters (.2 miles) in 20 minutes. That of course is not taking into account all the distance we covered back tracking and veering off course which would at least have doubled the distance, and all the dancing breaks that had to be taken once it was discovered that she could see her reflection in the sides of the cars we passed.

Although the time it takes to get anywhere with her frustrates me sometimes, I must add that it truly inspires me also. Antalya cannot be rushed because she lives completely in the moment. In fact she soaks up every moment of every day and feels more happiness in one individual moment than most people feel their entire day. She doesn't live for the future - it means absolutely nothing to her what is coming tomorrow, or next week, or next year - only that the moment she is in is a happy one. And so although everyone else may pass us by, it's alright, because it's just one of the many lessons Antalya is teaching me.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Dance as though no one is watching you.

Love as though you have never been hurt before.

Sing as though no one can hear you.

Live as though heaven is on earth.

-- Father Alfred D'Souza

For You, Mom

We recently moved. I've been promising my mom a video walk through our new place to help her visualize where we live. So here it is as promised. Sorry the quality is so poor, but at least you get the idea.

Antalya vs The Escalator

I've just found a great speech therapy group that meets every Friday down in the city. That means every Friday I've got to take the girls on the tube to the appointment. Today was my first experience getting there with both girls. We managed pretty well on the tube, and even managed to get the stroller, plus all three of us up two flights of stairs.

Then came the escalator. Antalya LOVES escalators. I knew I didn't stand a chance convincing her to sit this one out in the stroller, so I explained that she needed to hold my hand. So with one hand pushing Victoria in the stroller and the other coaxing Antalya along we got to the bottom step of the escalator. I pushed the wheels of the stroller on, the stairs rose up and we were on our way.

Well, part of us were. At the last minute Antalya had broken away from my hand. She wanted to do it all by herself. And it was too late for me to do anything but just watch. I feebly tried to pull the stroller down the steps, but I knew there was no way I would reach the bottom - we were going up quicker than I could pull us down.

So I watched, and panicked as Antalya, with a big grin on her face, took a step onto the escalator with no one to help correct her step. Then I watched as her foot landed right on top of the crack where the stairs would soon be splitting. Sure enough, the stairs rose, Antalya lost her balance. In very slow motion I watched as she fell back, then the next stair tipped her back even more, and I knew the next stair would tip her back all the way and she would somersault backwards down the staircase.

It was an awful moment. Knowing exactly what was going to happen and not being able to do anything to stop it.

Then suddenly out of nowhere a man appeared and caught her fault and carried my crying, kicking little girl up to where we were.

I think the stranger carrying her was the scariest part of the ordeal. He set her down next to me. I held out my hand and said, "will you please hold my hand?" She quickly grasped it, and didn't let go.

I'm pretty sure next time we come face to face with an escalator and I ask her to hold my hand, I won't get any protests.

Different Strokes for Different Folks

It's a very rainy day today in London, so after lunch we decided to pull out the paints. It was Victoria's first painting experience. I think she must have thought I was finally letting her play in my makeup; as soon as I handed her the paint brush she instantly put it to her face.

Before I knew it, this is what I was looking at.

Odds and Ends

This was taken on Antalya's first day back at school. She is in nursery school which meets five days a week for three hours, except for Mondays when she goes all day. She is so excited to be back, and it is so wonderful to be back on a schedule.
Of course after watching Antalya pose for a picture, Victoria had to do it also!

A couple weeks ago I took the girls on a day trip. Just me and them. It was the first time I have gone anywhere all day with them without someone else to help entertain during the car ride and lend a hand when girls wouldn't cooperate. We visited this beautiful home (if you can really call it a home) called Audley End House. We didn't actually go inside (I knew that would really be pushing my luck with the girls), but we did enjoy walking around the many gardens, playing on the playground, eating at the cafe, and buying an ice cream. The best part of the day was, We did it! We managed just fine the three of us. In fact, I would even do again!
(forgive the smudge on the photo - I didn't realize that little, sticky fingers had been playing with my lens)

Victoria still very much enjoys her meals.

And Antalya loves her pink boots!

But not nearly as much as Victoria enjoys wearing my bras.

And I am enjoying all the silly things my girls do. They keep my smiling more and more each day! And the best news of the day...the landlady has agreed to put in new carpet. Hooray! I'll wait to post pics of our flat until after the new carpet arrives :)

Back Online

It's been almost two full weeks of feeling very disconnected from the world. But as of a few hours ago we are back online and life is grand again. If there is one thing the English pride themselves on - it's not fast customer service. If it's the check-out line at the grocery store, plan on at least 10 minutes; if it's getting a cell phone or internet connected plan on at least 2 weeks. It's just the way it goes here.

We are working on getting all settled into our new flat. It's about the same size as our last one, but the lay out lends to a lot more room for running and playing which has been fun for the girls. Plus we have two gorgeous sets of french doors, and our own little balcony. I'll post some pics soon. We are still in the process of getting it presentable. The small fortune we are saving on rent each month came at a price. I don't think anyone had cleaned this place for a long time. Jason and I have spent several hours every evening for the last week deep cleaning the place. As I'm cleaning a line from "Annie" always comes to mind, "You're gonna clean this place until it shines like the top of the Chrysler Building." And that's exactly what we are doing. And by the time we are done, this little space is going to feel just like home (plus I'll have the added satisfaction of handing it back to the landlord in better condition that I received it).

Antalya started school last week. She is loving it. The first day of school she ran almost the entire way there (it's just under a mile away). She comes home every day happy. And her TA is amazed at how much she has changed over the summer. She reports that she is much more attentive during story time, and was amazed when Antalya climbed to the top of the play equipment a couple days ago. I have a feeling it's going to be a great year.

Pictures coming really soon. I promise!