Step Up For Down Syndrome!

Saturday both Justin and I participated in the Step Up For Down Syndrome Walk in Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium. We raised money for the Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City. As most of you know, or maybe you dont; I have a one year old cousin with Down Syndrome. His name is Evan, therefore we were Team Evan.

 

He is the son of my cousin John and his wife Veronica. He is an absolute joy to be around, however they live in Suffolk, Virgina so I haven't been blessed to be around him much yet. He was at our wedding if anyone remembers a baby from our wedding. John was one of my bridesmen. 

Anyways, the walk was amazing. I signed up to form a team and raise money.  I thought $200 was a good goal for our team. We hit that, so I raised our team goal to $500 and I thought that would be a great goal and would be a challenge for our team. I dont know the final count but confirmed we have raised $815 and I know we turned in another $105 that was raised from the wonderful Star Wars group that raised money for us as well. A friend of Mom's that she works with Kari, is involved with a group who dresses as Star Wars characters and goes around for causes and raises money for community events. Just by taking pictures with people they helped us raise an additional $105 while at the walk. I can not thank them enough!

This is Team Evan, minus a few!

It was truly an amazing experience. I can't wait until next years walk. My first goal for the team is going to be $1000. I think if we hit $900 our first year we can for sure hit $1000. our second! I am going to start early and try to get more involvement. I've already had people tell me they want to help next year, which is a wonderful feeling. There were 270 walk teams total. It was just an overwhelming experience, I can't explain. So many wonderful people at one place. 

Anyone interested, you can still donate to Team Evan just go to https://www.syssolutions.com/fr/FDFDS/2010StepUp/EvansEntourage and click "Donate to Team Evan"

The Week in a Nutshell

The past week was rather busy.

Last Tuesday and Wednesday I was sent to a training for work to learn the Parents As Teachers 3-K curriculum. By me being sent to this training we now have handouts and topics to discuss with parents of 3-5 year olds. The book is absolutely amazing and will open a lot more doors for us to be able to help. So for Tues/Wed I was in Raytown Missouri. Wasn't terribly exciting but wasn't horrible. Stayed in the Holiday Inn Express that is technically in KC MO was absolutely wonderful! I was almost late day 2 of training due to the big comfy bed I didn't want to get out of. It was a nice "get-away" until Chicago next month.

Saturday Justin and I drove to KC to pick up the t-shirts for the Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk we are participating in this coming Saturday. I am so excited to arrive and see all the people who are participating. Registration is open until Wednesday so if anyone else wants to join they are more than welcome. Visit our team website for more details https://www.syssolutions.com/fr/FDFDS/2010StepUp/EvansEntourage

Justin and I spent the rest of the afternoon shopping in KC. We didn't really even spend any money just enjoyed getting out and about with each other. My job hasn't really allowed us to do a whole lot lately so it was a nice change of pace. Once we were done shopping we headed to Ottawa to have dinner with his parents and then go to the Ottawa Car show downtown and watch the cars "cruise." I enjoyed it, I took a lot of pictures. I'll have to upload some at a later time.

We've been helping my parents put in windows in their house. We have put in all new windows on the lower level except for two of them. We took out the original windows which has been a fun and challenging process. Lots of square nails and surprises. We discovered that there is about a 3" gap between the original siding and the second layer of siding which explains the drafts in the winter time. Next step is siding. I hope that process goes smoothly, or more smooth than the windows has. It truly hasn't been awful but it hasn't gone terribly easy either. We'll see.

Guess thats the week in a nutshell. Thanks for reading.

Do you remember?

I am on call this weekend for work. I dont care for it but Im only on call every 5 weekends so I guess its not terrible. Its definitely nice on those "off" weekends to not have to worry that at any minute the phone could ring and I can actually enjoy my days off. Well so far I've received 3 separate rounds of calls so far nothing that required an extended amount of attention. Can't complain thus far. Definitely work with some who really make you think about life and how grateful I've had it with such a loving family and then there are the ones who really let you know that you are making a difference and tell you how much they appreciate you.

Well Thursday evening my Grandpa (the only one I have) was taken to the hospital due to having some abdominal pains. They decided to keep him overnight and run some tests. They ran multiple tests, an ekg, ct scans, stress tests, finding nothing wrong. They kept him for a second night just to make sure but he was discharged today. I was happy he came home. He hasn't seemed like himself here lately so I hope whatever it is goes away soon.

Today as many know was the anniversary of September 11th. I can't believe its been 9 years. As most everyone can, I remember exactly where I was when I first heard what was going on. It was junior year of high school. I was in Mrs. Lindstrom's junior English class, Brandon Perry and I were working on a project in the library. Adam Schreiner came in to get a TV for the class he was in and asked us what we were doing, we told him we were working on a project and shrugged it off like no big deal. He told us to go back to our classroom because the tvs were all on and that the World Trade Center had been hit by a plane. We shrugged and went back to class. I remember that Mrs. Lindstrom was in the hallway hugging another classmate who was crying and they were comforting each other that they both had family in or near the towers. We were dismissed for the next class period which was History and we had a test that day. Mr. Vinduska (our principal) came in and told us we had to go through with our test but when everyone was done we could turn our tv on. I think we all just bs'd our way through the test and turned it in as fast as we could. That day was a friend of mine's 16th birthday. So, where were you? Do you remember?

Happenings

There really is no big new exciting news but I felt like starting a blog. So here is the first post. Thought it could be a fun way to keep those who care to know our business up to date with the happenings here in T-town with us. So I guess if you are reading this, thanks.

Justin has started his fourth year of driving a school bus for USD 345. This year he asked for a different route, the one he drove the past two years was really stressful and dangerous. So his request for a new route was granted and he is now the proud bus driver of the short bus, literally :) He drives preschoolers to the preschool in the district. So far he seems to enjoy it. It is definitely a lot less stressful and the kids aren't so much of a handful.

 As for me, well Im still working at KCSL as a Family Support Specialist for first time parents who are at risk for abusing or neglecting their children. It has been a lot more stressful lately than it has been the past two years. I am currently carrying a caseload of 15 families. Visits vary between them, some I see weekly, some bi-weekly and one is monthly. They definitely keep me on my toes. Somedays I want to run screaming but there are the wonderful moments too however few and far between.

As for us. We just booked a flight to Chicago for October 28 - November 1st. Its the week before our one year wedding anniversary. I am super excited, thus I have never flown before. *gasp* I know, its weird but no I have NEVER flown, ever. Honestly it terrifies me, but I am excited to finally do it. Tickets are purchased and I want to go to Chicago so there's no backing out now.


We are also participating in the Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk on September 25th in Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium. I am the "team captain" for Team Evan. Evan is my baby cousin who lives in Virginia who just turned one. The money for this fundraiser walk benefits the Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City.

I think that covers the big happenings right now. Thanks for reading the first post :)