If I knew then what I know now

If I knew then what I know now, "then" being the first time I heard that Anthony had Down syndrome, my whole being would have felt a lot better about my baby and his future.
All the negative thoughts would have left me like leaves blowing in the wind. Yes, they'd be flying around me for awhile until I knew the wonder and beauty of my Anthony. Health wise, he had a low body temperture and heart rate, but his heart was in great shape. Some with DS have heart issues and need to have some surgery. Ever so grateful, we felt blessed he was healthy.
It was a rough start, and if only i knew that him having DS was not as bad as it sounds, the whole first week of life with him could've been much happier and less stressed. I wished I had knew more about that extra chromosone and every thing that comes a long with it. It's a slower way of life, and I can't imagine it any other way.
I'd rather parents of an older child with DS told new parents the news - The official diagnosis was told to us by a physician in Rhode Island Hospital whose son had Down Syndrome. Dr. Sig Puechel  was the perfect person to tell us. He spoked so eloquently and happily about life with his son and after that meeting, we felt a lot better about the new road we'd be traveling in life.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/efarrellfamiglietti

Reasons why I have not blogged....

I meant to but just let my thoughts run out of my brain before I could get them on blog. I am very unlike most writers (or bloggers), you probably all have a set schedule for when you write. I do not. I am too flighty. Even when I try to schedule it in, something comes up that detours me from Blog Street. Admittedly, I am one of those people that seems to talk more about writing than actual writing. I ready about writing yet the most writing I've done is to review books I've read. So, I guess that accounts for some form of writing.

Laziness and lack of organization is the truly one reason that holds me back. If I could just keep inside my head the thoughts I have when I do write, I'd remember, "hey, writing is fun, and it helps keep me centered." Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Plus, I have too many blogs. I'd like to condense down to one and so far so good. After not blogging at all, this is the first stop on the Blogging road and I intend to stay here.

It's not like I don't have anything to blog about. I have TONS of stuff I could write about. My family/kids, my other passions, movies, books, music, and other random things - like this blog in particular. I'd rather just write about whatever I feel passionate about at that moment. There are a lot of parents of children with Down Syndrome who have blogs that seem to be strictly about life with their child who is blessed with the extra chromosome - like my Anthony - He makes a great topic but so do my other kids and other things that come up on any given day. There's a lot to say and I am going to start writing it all down right here.

So stay tuned for more. .... I am not using my noggin very well today. What stay at home mom blogs after school? I am going to hang with my kiddos now and then head out to their last football practice of the season. Peace & Love

A message brought to you from Me & Anthony

Okay, I have three beautiful boys, but this blog is about Anthony. The day after he was born I was told he had Down Syndrome. The first hearing of this I was scared, for him, for us, and clueless -

How could I not be? My education about the genetic disorder stemmed from watching Corky in "Life goes on", and I had only a few interactions in my life with people who have the extra chromosome. I made one boy's day when I gave him all my coke cans for recycling. Watching him put his gloved hands into a trash barrel I knew he'd appreciate it. So, he was pretty psyched when I gave him two big green bags filled with cans. You'd have thought it was full of Christmas toys by the wide grin on his face.

Wait, this blog is about Anthony and the message I want to spread to everyone I know, and all who read this.  I know we all have opinions and some of us can be ignorant about many things. However, in my encounters with people who are first meeting Anthony or if I am simply announcing his difference from typical kids, I sense the pity they have for me. What do I say? How do you react to something that shouldn't have been said?  My retort - "Don't be sorry." When I would like to say, "You should be the pitied party for asking and my son.Anthony, is healthy, bright, and a good boy. So there is nothing to be sorry for."
And I would do this with a smile so they don't jump over the moving belt strewn with groceries and smack me.  However, I digress. I know deep down they just don't know anything about Down Syndrome. It is not as bad as they make it sound. There are some health issues for some children/adults with it - heart problems are the scariest. Fortunately, Anthony's ticker is in tip top shape.

When I meet other families with children or friends with D.S., they are smiling, and they know - they have done their homework now that they have someone in their world with the 21st chromosome.


My message is simple - educate yourself and those you love...you can never have too much knowledge...

Start here and ask me - Google can't give you the kind of answers I will.

Class reunions - go or no go?

Well, it's a few months of my high school graduation which means reunion is this year. It will be my 25th. Reunions are a funny thing, they are kind of like traveling back in time for about five hours, unless the planning committee plans a barage of events for Thanksgiving weekend.
At first glance of reunions, the idea of the 5th reunion being on a boat did not sit well with me, especially since I still had some underlying anger with a certain ex best friend. Would I have pushed her overboard? I can't say for sure.
The 10th was at a hotel in Dedham. It wastrue fiesta a albeit a surreal event but people were really nice. The truth is, I was happy to be there. I was engaged yet recently fired but whatever! I hated that job anyways. It was fun to catch up with old friends and classmates.
The 15th was in Norwood and it was a smaller crowd. I was now a mom to a very handsome 18 month old and showed off with pictures. I was amazed at how many people looked the same and how some had changed so drastically. One person, who I didn't even know in school but I knew who they were looked so different. I won't try the old back handed compliment so I digress. We were all wearing nametags with our senior class pictures on them, and wow, what an amazing change this person had.
However, I looked the same, it was the person inside that emerged and became the opposite of my younger self- happy, confident, and full of life.
The 20th was at the same place my wedding reception was at, Concannons' in Norwood. Oh My God, what a fun night that was! This was by far the best turn out, and I only wish I'd worn better dancing shoes. I now had Frank and T.J. and well, I was pregnant but unfortunately, i lost the baby soon after the reunion. :( . On a positive note, I sort of talked a classmate(from elementary school all the way up to the end of our high school days) into attending the reunion. and he told me he was very glad he had come, he was having the time of his life-at least he looked like he was, but i think he may have quite a few cocktails. I wish I had been up mingling more because I missed a few people that I later saw in pictures.
Reunions aren't for everybody, my husband doesn't go to his and this year we were in England when they had his 25th. I may not still hang out with my old friends but the 20th spawned some new peeps that I try to see once in a while now.
High school reunions are good because you get to get inside a time warp for a night and have fun! So, do you go to your class reunions?

Me vs Food

Food -

Like a friend it lifts me up and makes me feel good. It is always there for you. However, it doesn't talk back, or give hugs, and it can't go out with you to a movie or shopping.

Like an enemy, at least depending on what you are eating, it can creep up on you and make you miserable. Maybe it might be easier to turn away a real enemy as certain foods are hard to resist. It's later on that we might harbor a regret for scarfing down that whole bag of chips.

If you are often reassess what you have eaten all day and regret more than half of it, you are not alone. I have to make a concerted effort to think before I eat at night. - I say to myself, do I really want to undo my whole day? The next day I wake up a little better about myself. Life seems to take on a whole new meaning once you get in the zone to live healthier.

I have periods where I've been really healthy, and at what was a healthy weight for me. (Even my doctor thought so. She checked my BMI and said everything looked great. I was not a slave to the scale then. One thing I did do was make healthier choices for my snacks, exercised a lot, and had a well balanced diet. With the occasional potato skin or brownie sundae thrown in. Plus, I had cut back on alcohol.

I am currently losing the battle and need to get back on top. I am ready! no more "I'll start tomorrow!"

Ignorance is NOT bliss!

My son Anthony has Down Syndrome - He is amazing, sweet, cuddly, and he has his moody days. Today he doesn't want to nap and seems to have a tickle in his throat.

After his playgroup at the library today, Valerie, the nana of Ant's friend Nathan, informed me of the ignorant behavior of a mother-yes, another mother. Apparently a few weeks ago, when her son, Rock, went to sit next to Anthony, she said(and outloud supposedly, cuz i amazingly didn't hear this ugly comment) outloud how Anthony had Down Syndrome and she didn't want Rock to sit next to him. --It's so sad that people actually think this way. It's probably a good thing I did miss her say it. Between the MDSC(Mass. DS Congress) and the national DS e Congress, strides have been made where ALL the individuals who have that extra chromosone will be treated like the rest of us.
More people need to be educated about all special needs. DS is not contagious. The love and goodness of Anthony is contagious as he makes most people we encounter smile and they would all be more than happy to sit next to him and even give him a hug. :)

A paid writer

Back in January of this year, I became a paid writer for the Patch. Patch.com is an online newsletter/local newspaper of sorts that is spreading like wildfire throughout the country. A friend of mine was working on a fundraiser, and the editor. Abigail (who is now my editor - I Love saying that!) for Patch was covering the fundraising event. Editor Abby was looking for local moms to be on the mom's council - we would be given a question every week about being a mom and it is now a weekly article.

My thoughtful friend, Dee, had remembered I am a writer, and when Abby mentioned they are looking for writers for Patch, she informed me of this opportunity. That was the beginning of my writing for profit. My weekly article is called Patch Picks. I have a different topic every week. My most recent article was on local parks for families to visit. Much like my recipe for french toast, I spice it up to make things more interesting. By using my own flair, sense of humor mixed with good advice to go with my selections, I feel proud of every article I do. I am grateful for Patch.com!