Sneaky plans and clever tricks...

I've been painting with acrylics since Christmas.  Have gifted six paintings to friends, and friends of friends.  I wandered into the local children's bookstore with Aidan one day....just so happened to have the Owl and Pussycat with me, and asked if they would be interested in selling them.

The first thing the owner asked was if I had a card.

Added that to the to-do list.

I took his card and gave him my e-mail address.  Thanked him.  Left.  Didn't really think I'd hear back.

One week later owner of said store e-mailed to say they would love to sell them.  The nursery-rhyme-inspired ones.

Not a rejection. 

Yay!

To-do list just got bigger.

Lovin' that music

Last month we worked at a booth at the mall to raise awareness about our local Down syndrome society.  There was live music, and Aidan grooved out:

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

My only regret is that I talked during it...oh well.

Off the easel and pass the baby

I've been working on a painting for my friend's baby....see the cutie I got to cuddle?

 That's Reese.  The family in the yellow submarine is Reese's family:

Reese is one lucky baby to have such wonderful big sisters and amazing parents to boot.  It was a thoroughly enjoyable project...but now my easel is empty...

Life is good...except when it's not

Very emotional tonight thinking of a little girl I've never met.  Carly, age 8 passed away unexpectedly today.  Many of us in the Down syndrome community are heavy hearted tonight as we think about Carly's family.

It doesn't seem right,
it doesn't seem fair,
and it doesn't make sense.

This heaviness of grief,
should make time stop.
Should make the world hush...

but it never does,
and it never will,
life keeps moving all around us.

c.

Playdate...best part of our week

Good fortune to have a playdate yesterday at an acreage near the school.  It was a beautiful day, the kids all got along, we held three-day-old chicks, fed an old miniature horse, caught frogs by the pond, jumped on the trampoline, hit homeruns, and spun around in the fresh air. Truly blessed to have met such nice families here.... and for Aidan, even the lane was exciting!

Little Celebrity

So, Aidan was on the TV not once, but twice this week.  Both times for the Music Therapy program.  The Ronald McDonald House Charity just donated $30000 to build a multi-sensory room for children with critical illnesses to have a studio to relax in. 

While Aidan and his friend Sarah are not critically ill (thank goodness, touch wood...), Johanne asked that they be at the media event to help accept the cheque.  Aidan and Sarah will be able to use the room if they are having a bad day or simply needing a calming space (the therapy room is quite stimulating with all of the instruments).  I think she chose our kids as opposed to someone who is terminally ill to go on camera as it would be less stressful for them.  Everybody is different, but I know that when we were in that horrible time of waiting for heart surgery, I would have found the act of speaking to the media too emotionally charged to handle.  My nerves were raw...

Thankfully, thankfully, we've come through the other side of that stress and now can experience the joy of putting it all behind us.

Aidan is a Star! Indeed it's true - I just watched him on TV!

Last week Johanne (Aidan's music therapist) phoned to ask if he could be filmed for a news report the next day.  Short notice because it was being done in response to proposed funding cutbacks of the Success by 6 program in our province.  Of course, I said yes - with one regret that I didn't have time to get my hair cut (vanity, thy name is Carol) .

Anyhow, just before filming, the station discovered that the funding would not be cut after all.  Great news, but now they needed to change "the story."  It became a general piece about the benefits of music therapy.

Aidan was a star, indeed he was. He was not shy in front of the camera, he played the instruments with gusto, he cheered, giggled, clapped, and had fun.  I was so proud of him.

Johanne said something beautiful in the interview (I'll try to paraphrase):  "we are trying to get the gap between the typical child and the child with challenges as small as possible to make it easier when they start kindergarten."  I love Johanne - I have never met such a genuinely positive person in my life.  Is it selfish of me to think of Aidan's music therapy as "OUR" music therapy?  I hope not because I think I get as much out of it as he does.