Quick - Take It!

--- 1 ---

Gah. The end of school feels more like The End Times now that there are 3! total humans to attend events for and buy teacher gifts for all the while pretending to care about all the school work that has come home while planning how deep I will have to bury it in the garbage can. Not to say that I don't love the school work that comes home. I do. I just don't want to keep it foreverandeveramen, as my children would have me do. Occasionally I will throw an episode of Hoarders on our T.V. and remind the kids that this is what happens if you keep everything you ever get. But at the end of school they are nostalgic, so I pretend I will keep it in their folders, and then trash it slowly as they forget about it.

--- 2 ---

I'm guilty of the sin of pride with my teacher gifts. I give alcohol. The way I see it, not all teachers have to drink to appreciate that I, as a parent, understand that they are not robots who never need a break. The alcohol is a symbol of vacation. They can give it to the neighbor for all I care. I just want them to know that I get it. Summer rocks. This year I gave mini buckets of margarita mix and a mini bottle of tequila. I call it "Vacation in a Bag." Two teachers got white wine because the store ran out of the mini buckets...

--- 3 ---

Mariana. Geez, she's normal. Which is funny in that it's not funny that she has given up sleeping through the night. I have heard of babies that slept through the night at first and then, upon a growth spurt and the discovery that mom and milk are one-in-the-same, started waking up. I hate this. I feel like there was a bate-and-switch. 

--- 4 ---

Speaking of the Normal Baby; she sort of failed her EIP intake in that she probably won't qualify for services. Our caseworker was stunned at her mobility and coordination. She's also "talking" a little and when I stick my tongue out at her, she sticks hers back at me. I really couldn't remember what the normal curve was, so I went to babycenter.com to find out. She has the skills of a 4 month old. Er. She's 12 weeks on Monday. Huh. She is so failing at Down syndrome.

--- 5 ---

Our family diet. Another gah moment. The pediatrician thinks maybe Paul has a milk allergy. There is no way there can be cheese up in this house and not in his belly. We all have to go dairy free to figure it out. I cheat though. There will be cream if I drink coffee. Which I am thinking about giving up for the Normal Baby who has reflux. I suspect my coffee habit is irritating this. Do you think, "I love you so much I gave up coffee for you." will have much weight when she is a teenager?

--- 6 --- 

Today was the last day of school. I'm so excited for our crazy-busy summer. That is all.

--- 7 ---

Oh, right, 7 quick takes. Ummmm....Cardinal Dolan is right, the government is wrong. How's that for ending on a controversial note? Heh.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Nothing of Note to Write, Unless You Count Politics

The biggest problem with a blog about caring for a baby who has Down Syndrome is that, well, she is still pretty much a baby. There is no new drama to report, and I'm busy as can be with everyone but Mariana. She did have a 2 month check up, which was a non event. So far Mariana eats well, sleeps through the night, cries when something is actually wrong and is generally treated as a baby doll by her siblings. She's an easy going girl, what's to talk about?

On the other hand, the end of the school year is kicking my ample and injured behind. (My stupid hip flexor is a jerk.) May is a busy month. First communion, Mother's Day tea, Molly's birthday, a bazillion check-up appointments. The weather is gorgeous, but I spend the month in the car. Not that I am complaining. (Okay, I'm complaining.) Life could be far more complicated, and I've been blessed to be made aware of that fact.

Let's talk about politics. How awful is this garbage? I know that it's always been this dirty, you can look up political cartoons from way back to the first elections and confirm, but at least you didn't have it in your face 24/7. I can't get away from it! I'm no fan of our president, but I don't need to be reminded 10 times a day. It doesn't help that I'm not excited to vote for the other guy either. I guess the happy news is that I have my faith, which is way better than depending on your party for fulfillment. Yay God!

Okay, this post is a dud, and I have half a mind to trash it, except I haven't written in a while, so I won't. Here's hoping I don't drown in schoolwork in the remaining days of May!