Kate's declaration

[Regarding her two remaining front teeth, not the two that have already vacated the premises.]

"They're not loose, but they are amazing."

A couple of Kate-isms

(The following dialogues took place within minutes of each other, Christmas Eve 2007.)

Kate (at the dinner table): Do you know what's gross?
Dad: What's that?
Kate: 'kay, don't throw up about this [pauses to make sure we brace ourselves]
Kate: …sheep brains.

(Toward the close of dinner, Andy has cleared his plate and Kate, in typical fashion, still has some left.)
Kate: Andy, I have a present for you and it doesn't go in a box. [She then unceremoniously dumps the contents of her plate on Andy's]

Kate update

Our favorite five-year-old continues to delight us with her intelligence, wit, and looks. Ever recognizable by her oh-so-cute hairstyle, Kate is also a classy dresser. She is doing great in Kindergarten and, as a true sign of developing maturity, loves her dad. I've extracted a prolonged promise that Kate will still love her dad in ten years. At this time, Kate notes, dad will be "really old." That smarts, especially the emphasis she puts on the word 'really.'


Kate playing in New York City with her cousin Kyran.


Kate enjoying the parade and, more immediately, central park and her brother, Andy. They had a ball.


Finally getting into the true spirit of New York, Kate sulks on a city street feet from a hot dog vendor. $4 for a dog at Columbus Circle? What do I look like, a tourist? Forget it!

Lily Jane update

Lily Jane has had a couple of fun months. She is now fully upright and prefers to walk wherever she goes. She has still got an infectious smile and a giggle that attracts admirers.



Lily Jane with a mouthful posing for the camera with sister Kate.



Lily Jane playing with Andy at uncle Steve's house in Brooklyn, NY. (Picture by Andy)



Lily Jane snuggled up in her coat (and chocolate on her face) while sitting in Central Park and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Picture by Andy)

Andy update

We had a wonderfully successful Buddy Walk here in Atlanta. And we'd love to express thanks to all those who generously supported Andy with donations. Andy, personally, wished to express the following:



He's 7. So we'll forgive him for that.

A couple of days after the Buddy Walk, Andy developed pneumonia and found himself in the hospital. Although he struggled to maintain his oxygen saturation levels during his stay, including a few in the intensive care unit, his health was not in serious danger. It was taxing on him and his parents, though, and we are again grateful for all those who helped us during that time. Andy made it home and is doing great.



Last Saturday, Andy returned to the soccer field for the final game of the season. Energetic and happy as ever he chased the ball, or at least that's the story we're telling. In any case, here he charges toward the goal to score the first of two goals.

DSAA Buddy Walk

Dear Friends and Family,

Last year, we where overwhelmed by the support of our friends and family for the project to translate the book, Babies with Down Syndrome, into Russian. Even though the project presented numerous challenges involving international donations, we are thrilled to announce that the translation of the book is almost complete as a result of the donations from some incredibly generous friends and family. Moreover, the National Down Syndrome Congress has agreed to sponsor the project.

Consequently, this year we can refocus our efforts on the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta and invite our family and friends to support us in the DSAA Buddy Walk on Saturday, October 13, 2007. You can support us by registering to walk with our family that day and enjoy the fun fall festival with the Down syndrome community. You can also make a donation to our team at:

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=237018&lis=1&kntae237018=16AE3E3A4CE1414B9B5EC744A8349E48&supId=190807362

or send a check for DSAA to us at:
357 Pinehurst Way
Canton, GA 30114

DSAA offers numerous services and programs that help us better provide for Andy, including advocacy, educational conferences, and recreational events. DSAA has also pledged $25,000 from the Buddy Walk both last year and this year for a Down Syndrome Awareness Campaign.

In January, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended that every expectant mother, regardless of age, receive pre-natal testing for Down syndrome. While this recommendation alone is not cause for concern, a 2005 Harvard study revealed that a large number of doctors deliver the news negatively, and approximately 85% of Down syndrome pregnancies are terminated. Therefore, our organization is dedicated to raising awareness among the medical community and the public about the true potential of people with Down syndrome.

I must admit that when Andy was younger, I used to be complimented when strangers used to say that Andy didn’t really look like he had Down syndrome. Not anymore. I have now seen the potential and the dignity of so many people with Down syndrome that I realize he is like them...and so am I. We are proud to be part of this wonderful community, and we invite you to join us.

Stephanie, Justin, Andy, Kate, and, of course, Lily Jane Meredith

A Night at the Museum

So, we're planning on going to New York for Thanksgiving to spend time with David and Steven and their families, and we are going to take the kids to the Museum of Natural History. The kids loved the movie, "A Night at the Museum," so we told Kate and Andy we were going. Then, Kate's eyes grew wide, and she asked me, "Will that dinosaur come alive when we go there?" Without flinching, I replied, "No, because we won't be there at night." I believe in keeping the mystery alive.

Old Things Become New

For those of you eagerly anticipating a report of our gold panning adventure, you will have to continue to wait until Justin can muster the energy to bring the cable home from his office. Between teaching seminary and running a business, he is running a bit low on energy these days. And so goes my problem with the technology advancements in our household...one missing battery, unknown step, or missing cable and, well, I'm out.
So, I'm dredging up pictures from my library and thought I'd share a new talent I learned from one of my favorite people. We needed to create a girl room for our precious girls (However, quite honestly, I still have not been able to separate Kate and Andy. Apparently, Kate has her doubts about Lily Jane's ability to protect her.) So, when my sister offered my old "golden oak," thoroughly "eighties" daybed, I grimaced. The potential remained masked until I discovered the delights of creating "antique white" furniture. So, much to my dad's chagrin, I roughed up the golden oak finish, painted it white, and "antiqued" it. And there you go...an old thing became a new thing for free.


And the dresser too!

Kate Lesson of the Day

Recipe to convince mom or dad to let you stay in bed with them after having a nightmare:
1. Clamber in bed noiselessly.
2. Lie silently a few moments for a dramatic pause.
3. Offer a prayer that the bad dreams will go away, that Andy's teeth will grow in straight, that mom will feel better, and that dad will be able to ride his bicycle.
Who can resist sincerity?

Hostage

I'm holding the next posting about our fascinating gold-panning adventure hostage until I receive some comments about my existing postings. I received some e-mails from some wonderful friends, but I need some positive feedback to keep my intertia going.

Kate Quote of the Day:
"How was Kindergarten Kate?"
"It was absolutely fun!"
For Kate, the world is hot or cold, never lukewarm.

Best Buds

For those of you wondering, here is Andy's little posse from church and cousin Jared. Andy truly loves these boys, and they love him. If only Andy could attend the CTR 10 class!

Kansas City Trip

Justin and I visited Kansas City for the National Down Syndrome Congress Conference in August..a bit crazy considering school started the following week. Mama and Papa watched Kate and Andy while Justin and I drove (yes, drove) to Kansas City with Lily Jane. We were a bit nervous as we pulled in late at night to the location of the historic bed and breakfast and saw pawn shops and easy cash stores with bars on the windows. Sadly, the historic district was run-down, but the bed and breakfast was absolutely breathtaking (detailed woodwork, huge stained glass window, and winding staircase) and run by a sweet couple. Sad to see the general trend of the neighborhood, but downtown Kansas City was wonderful...very 40's decadent. We also took the time to visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum to see the giant shuttlecocks and Monets...all for free.
It was interesting to attend a conference with Lily Jane instead of Andy when most other parents bring their child with Down syndrome. It was my first time having people look at my child and wonder why she didn't have Down syndrome. It was actually kind of cool to have a complete paradigm shift. Perspective is everything.

Kate Quote of the Day

Reenacting the scene from "Guess How Much I Love You," Kate extends her arms and says, "Mom, I love you this much."
On cue, I stretch out my arms and say, "But I love you this much."
Kate responds, "But Mom, my arms will never be as big as yours."
"That's because I will always love you more than you love me," I tell her knowingly.
Kate extends her arms again, and after examining them, pronounces, "Mom, I wish I had freakishly huge arms."
She really loves me.

Kate Quote of the Day

"Mom, I can read my own mind."
"Really? What are you thinking right now."
"That I can read my own mind."
Duh?

Steph and Jane pose

While the rest of the family, unfortunately located above the Mason-Dixon line, shivered in the cold, we spent a week at the beach in 70-degree temperatures. On one of the colder days (i.e. only in the 60s), Steph posed with Jane.

Kids last summer

Sometime in the void when we didn't have a blog and weren't updating the world on the daily adventures of our tax deductions, Aunt Marie and Tyler came to visit. The weather was warm and we played outside our fair share. Note that Jane isn't around; at this point, she's still in the womb where she turns up mom's thermostat.

New blog for Andy, Kate, and Jane

So the old blog had lots of pictures, musings, and oh-so-clever quips. But it lacked Jane. Now we bring you the adventures of all three of our cute, little tax deductions.