Yooo hooo!!

[Guest guest]

Not much going on lately at . I know that the loss of Ben has been

heavy on everyone's mind and heart, and frankly, I haven't been surprised to see

a decrease in postings, I think we have all been turning in to our families, and

holding everyone close.

However, I am missing everyone, and wondering how things are going at the end of

summer.

For us, we start school Thursday. is so excited, she can't wait to be

back in her routine. I will be very grateful also, because the " what are we

doing " questions will decrease. She loves having a schedule, and we haven't had

one for a while now.

is also moving to the middle school. She will be in 6th grade. She

states she isn't nervous, however she hasn't slept well the last 2 nights. We

went to 6th grade orientation last week, met all her teachers, etc. She was

very disappointed because lockers weren't assigned that night.

Mike has been very busy at work, as usual. He did take last week off, fished a

couple of days. And wouldn't you know it, our TV broke. He finally has time to

watch TV, and it breaks.

I am doing well. I hope in the next couple of weeks to post some pics from the

NDSC convention.

I found some jeans for that fit her perfectly, including length. They are

from Lands End, and are women's petite denim cropped pants. They are full leg

length for , but aren't too long. I am so excited to not have to hem jeans

this year. They are $24.50 a pair. I also bought some shirts from their

overstocks section. They are knit tops, and 3/4 length sleeves, which for

are full length sleeves, and again, I don't have to hem them. This is so

exciting for me!!!!

I, along with several women in our area, are starting a new support group, the

Grand Strand Down Syndrome Society. We are officially registered with the

state, etc., and affiliated with NDSC. This past Saturday night, we had a mom's

night out at a local restaurant. Six moms came, which I thought was great for

the first time, short notice, and a Saturday night. We are receiving calls

almost daily about the group. We hope to have a website going within the next 6

months or so, and in the next month hope to have some big news I will share when

I can.

Well, I am off to bed now. I hope everyone is doing well. Check in if you have

the time. Kathy, we want to hear about the wedding! And , how is

doing with her braces?

Sharon H.

Mom to , (14, DS) and , (11)

South Carolina

" Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of

battle. "

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/16/2006 8:17:45 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

cindysue@... writes:

Friday is 's 13th Birthday and all he is asking for is chocolate cake

and balloons. Any ideas from other parents with teen boys would be most

appreciated.

:

For Nick's 13th Birthday, he got a chocolate cake (1x) and a marble cake

(1x) (we ended up having cake twice, once on the big day and once last Saturday

when his big sister was in to visit). Gift wise he got: from my parents -- a

CD/tape/radio boombox type player, from my grandmother he got 14 gold dollar

coins and from Jeff and I he got an outfit (that he picked out with a little

guidance from me) and a gameboy game (Madagascar). He wanted Fantastic Four

but at the time I couldn't find it.

Cari

[Guest guest]

I'm here, I think I am always here!

This month is busy for us. Every weekend finds Tim or I or both going back

to WV during the weekend. He had his high school reunion, then I had my

family reunion and now this weekend, Katey moves into her first apartment -

her daddy is taking her, but she wants me to come the next day and take her

grocery shopping...sigh! She just wants her mommy there and grocery

shopping is the best excuse she can come up with.

Friday is 's 13th Birthday and all he is asking for is chocolate cake

and balloons. Any ideas from other parents with teen boys would be most

appreciated. We are also going through many medication changes/adjustments.

His seizure med was changed, but we may have to switch him back. His OCD is

as bad as it's every been, if not worse. He starts on buspar tomorrow. He

starts back to school on the 5th. Grandma is to come and babysit. Maybe

I'll ask for my own buspar while she is here, lol!

Tim's mom is actually having angioplasty this morning on her stomach. Her

health is getting poorer and she doesn't take care of herself. She is a

very vain person and she even says she scares herself when she looks in the

mirror (rapid aging). She can be a real PITA, but loves her dearly.

is moving on base and Matt is getting ready to head back to Iraq. I

think it's pathetic that a soldier has to go there three times! This time

he will be there for a year - but this is his most dangerous deployment.

He''ll be impeded with Iraqi troops flushing out insurgents in Tikrit. He's

learning Arabic in the mornings and working with Iraqi's brought here for

training in the afternoon. plans on delivery her baby in NC - Tim

and I are hoping she decides to move home in October and deliver at a

miltary hospital here. We don't want her to be alone (women in our family

go quick) -there will be military support for sure, but it's better to have

your own family with you, especially when your husband is deployed.

is having a girl- my granddaughter's name is Hayley and I can't wait to

spoil her. I told Tim that I need a granny recliner/rocker and he just gave

me the money to get all new family room furniture. If only I didn't have

plans for every weekend, I could go furniture shopping........... Oh yea, I

kept 's crib, so Hayley has a place to sleep while she is here! It's

going in my room, lol!

TJ is at Fort Benning and his wife is getting ready to go back to school.

TJ uses every minute of his free time to call her, he forgot he has a mom

He'll be going to Aberdeen in land next month - so he and

will spend most weekends here at our house. He'll be moving all of his

stuff out in January/February - as he moves to Hunter Army Air Base for at

least three years. By then, he'll probably remember me again and the

honeymoon may be over, lol!!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

I'm trying to think of gifts that Mav has gotten the past couple of years.

The bowling ball was the favorite.

CD player. CD's. (I buy them and burn them and store the original).

Kareoke. Race track. Gameboy and games. Footballs, basketballs.

Skateboards. Videos, Videos, Videos. I spy books. Mostly active things.

I think this year, for #16, he'll get a Trekke..I found a website that sells

them at a good discount.

" Regardless of how good of a swim instructor you are, you can't teach a

person to swim in the parking lot of a swimming pool. "

Norman Kunc