Just checking in

It's been a busy week as usual. Today was another holiday (Shemini Atzeret), and tonight and tomorrow are Simchat Torah. So the boys were out of school again today (and tomorrow), and tonight we all went to shul and danced like maniac, celebrating the Torah. Sofia had a blast, waving a flag in the air and marching around the room, and then she settled into the arms of our friend T, who is definitely on the verge of being ready to be a grandpa! They looked adorable together.

This afternoon the kids and I went to R's house and her daughters and our friend D's daughters and my boys all played together. Micah accidentally ate some chips that had sesame in them, but the Benadryl I quickly dosed him with seems to have worked fine - no other adverse reaction. Whew!

It was gorgeous weather all week, so we were able to eat in the sukkah every night. Today and tomorrow are HOT and muggy, 'tho. Yuch.

The other night, I got a phone call from one of the CJP volunteers. CJP is Combined Jewish Philanthropies, the umbrella organization for many Boston-area Jewish organizations. Anyway, the woman who called turned out to be someone I had known back in USY when I was in high school! She'd seen my name on one of the lists, and even though she wasn't supposed to be the one to call me, she did!

I'm so glad she did, not only because it was nice to hear from her, but it turns out she's a Geneticist in Boston, and we ended up with her taking my phone and web info to pass along to new parents getting a diagnosis of Trisomy 21! I'll be so glad to help people who are just discovering the unique (and wonderful) world they are about to enter. (Oh, and she's a nice single doctor - anyone know a nice Jewish boy for her?!)

Ok, why am I up at 12:55 am? Because I keep taking naps in the afternoons because I'm so exhausted! Oy. I'd better get to sleep.

Oh, and October is National Down Syndrome month!

Twisty Ties

Do I lose my status as a Domestic Goddess if I use twist ties from the produce department to tie my daughter's hair back? My neighbors thought it was a rather Martha Stewarty-thing to do. I couldn't find any hair bands and we were on our way out the door to play (and the boys had grabbed handfuls of the twist ties when we were shopping). Anyway, it really did work, held that pony tail better than some of the "official" hair bands we own!

"Twisty Ties" is also a good name for this post, because this morning we followed the twisting turns of our lives to have a playgroup with people (to whom we are "tied"). (Ok, I'll stop with the metaphor - it makes sense to me, but 'nuff said). Anyway, back about a year and a half ago, they'd held a Down syndrome playgroup/meet&greet at our EI center. There were a handful of moms and kids, ages ranging from about a year to nearly 3. Several of us moms had planned to get together on our own - and that very week, one of the babies in the group died suddenly (see Because of Sophia, Maria's blog). So we never got together. But this summer, another mom started emailing us, and eventually I had the idea of asking to use the center (and invite new families).

It was lovely. Unfortunately, two of the original planners didn't make it (kid issues), but we had my friend N and her 2 month old, one of the other "original" kids who is now 3, another boy Sofia's age, and an adorable little Miss of 15 months. We also got to use the center, and our Speech Therapist and another OT stayed with us.

I was proud to be the official facilitator, and I called on everyone to share their stories or words of wisdom. It was so nice to meet or see everyone!

Here's Sofia, hinding in the stairwell after playgroup - she loves this spot!

I'd forgotten when I scheduled this that today was the 2nd day of Sukkot and the boys would not have school, so before the playgroup, I dropped them at my friend J's house - her two girls are very good friends with my boys (her older daughter and Sammy look identical from the back, same long dark hair, slender bodies, same height). They all came back to our house after the playgroup, and we had lunch in the sukkah, and the kids rode their bikes and played while J and I relaxed and chatted a bit.

Then I packed my gang back into the minivan to race to Sudbury for my haircut (which I'd also scheduled for during the holiday!). Sofia fell asleep in the car and stayed asleep in the stroller during the cut, but of course woke up for snack at the Cafe afterwards.

Here are Micah and Sam playing on the Nintendo DS during my hair cut:

A quick stop at the grocery store, and home again. Micah and I were on the computer (I made a DVD last night for my cousin, of the wedding pictures from last July), Sofia and Sam were playing. Eventually Sofia and I went outside with Sam to visit the neighbors (that's when I grabbed the twisty tie for her hair).

We had a really nice dinner in the Sukkah. The weather has been just lovely today. Not too hot, not cold yet.

Oh, and I just love the fact that Sam askes every week who we are having over for Shabbos dinner, and gets really annoyed if we are not having company. Today he invited the other neighborhood kids (but they couldn't come). We still had a nice Shabbat, but I'm so glad that he's taken the idea of Guests so seriously.