Down Syndrome Awareness Day September 13, 2008

Today was a wonderful day! It was Grandpa's Birthday and so many of my family members came to the Down Syndrome Buddy Walk to show support for me and my friends. My Uncle Randy and Aunt Sandy came. My Sister Jeni, her husband Thomas, Kinley and Madilyn. My Sister Joni, her husband Steven and Brooklyn. Grandma and Grandpa Gardner. I was so happy Grandma could come. She has stage 4 liver cancer and she doesn't get out much, but Grandma and Grandpa would move mountains for me, I believe, if they could.

The theme for the day was Prince and Princesses. Grandpa came proudly as my Prince. He's not only my Grandpa, but pretty much my father figure. Kinley came as Belle and Madi wore Kin's matching cabbage patch dress. Brooklyn came as Snow White. I handed my Snow White dress down to Brooklyn. Joni's proud. Snow White is her favorite Princess. Me? I went as Cinderella :) and a gorgeous one at that. My mom beems with pride over me. She loves dressing me up and playing with me.

After our buddy walk around the block we had lunch, then we had games like the fish pond and the lucky ducky game, decorated castle sugar cookies and put stickers on our crowns to take home, and a cool pink temporary "Princess" tatoo.

Mom and Jeni don't know it, but me and Kinley are really true partners in crime. I love water so I side-tracked everyone's attention at the ducky came and started splashing the water and trying to get in the lil pool, cuz I love to swim and everyone knows it. While everyone was watching me, Kinley spotted the bag full of prizes, snatched it up and ran ...ran with it with every bit of energy she had. Ha..ha.. what a team we are, but they caught her.. but..ha.. we not only did it once, but ya... we repeated the crime...ha..ha..ha...... Mom and Jeni are gonna have to pick up the pace to keep up with us for the next 20 years. I use my innocence and Kinley she uses her energy to get the job done. After the games we had snow cones and the drawing for the raffles. We won some Disney books, a cheesecake pain, an oil change..and mom won a lip and eyebrow wax at a beauty salon (ouch why would someone want one of those)!

I was asleep in my car seat not even 2 blocks after we left the park. I was worn out, so I know grandma and grandpa, and mom were too, so I took a nice nap at home.

Then, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's for dinner for Grandpa's birthday. I got to see my newest neice, Maeleigh, too cuz my brother Jeremy and his wife Laura brought her to the party. I'm excited to have another "partner in crime". Mom's excited with another granddaughter cuz to her that means.. more "Barbie Parties". Bratz is a dirty word in our house.

My ear is starting to feel better. I was sick again last week and mom took me to the doctor, AGAIN, where they discovered a left ear infection and raging yeast infection, put me on another antibiotic and a cream for my sore hiney. I've been really sore and mom lets me run around without a diaper to air it out, but it's taking it's time getting better because although the antibiotic is good for my ear, it makes my yeast infection grow and even worse, but I'm tough. I take all this uncomfortableness in life pretty good. Mom thinks I'm a real trooper.

I'm here to teach my mom how to enjoy the simple things in life and bah the nagging stressors in life. They aren't what is most important. Life is about loving each other, helping each other, and enjoying the little pleasures life gives us.