Why Tri?

Because I can.

And when I can't...

God can.

Triathlon is very meditative for me.  I find comfort, peace, and pleasure in the monotony of endurance sport.  There is an inner calm that comes as the water continually rushes over you, as the road rises to meet you, and the repetition of arms swinging and legs lifting propels you forward.

I have always been a runner.  An endorphin junkie.  As a teenager I did not know the necessity of that endorphin rush.  As an adult I know that those endorphins are my lifeline.  They push me through the day and motivate me to do better in all aspects of my life.  They keep me from putting chemicals in the form of Prozac into my body.

After carrying and giving birth to three children over the course of 4 1/2 years, my body and mind began to rebel.  The diagnosis of Down Syndrome for my third child began a process of  wheel spinning in my brain that led to overeating, stress, and depression.  I would not have told you that then but that's what it was.

Tremendous weight gain, hormone fluctuations, vein insufficiency, high blood pressure, and gall bladder attacks.  I had the saphenous veins in both legs closed and my gall bladder removed with in three months of each other, all the while caring for three children 5 and under. 

Around this same time, Anne Arundel County Parks and Rec announced a Sprint Triathlon at Ft. Smallwood park to benefit people in the county with special needs. In fact, all proceeds go to help pay the registration fees for the special sports programs.

As a senior in high school one of my "ambitions", printed in the 1992 Arundel year book, was to "successfully complete a triathlon by the time I turn 40". So the "Rec Deeds for Special Needs Tri" was a no brainer. As if the good Lord was bonking me on the head saying "hello, you are 36, 40 is 4 years away". So, I did my first tri. Mission Accomplished!! Uh, no.

You see the ambition arose while I watched the television coverage of the 1992 Hawaii Ironman World Championships. I cried my eyes out in my little brothers room, (why he had a tv in his room I do not know), watching all the back stories of the competitors. The Ambition is an Ironman.

2.4 mi. swim • 112 mi. bike • 26.2 mi. run

I completed the Rec Deeds Tri and overcame my fear of murky water and that Ambition began to sit on my other shoulder during my runs. So it is with the Lord. God has plans for me.

Ambition and Religion, proselytizing, counseling, motivating, and healing me. Together.

I have since completed a myriad of Triathlon events including one Half Ironman.  With each training session and race my ambition and motivation is heightened.  Not to be a better triathlete but to be and do better as a person.

There will be many cant's in our life raising three children in this crazy world, I want to be the example of  I can and God can for my children.

Down Syndrome has taught me this:

We are all ABLE just in different ways, we all CAN some just choose not to.

When life gives you lemons....

Today, I was practicing making hair clips to sell for Bridgie's Brigade.

Erin wanted to make one too.

But she's not allowed to use the glue gun

So........

She watched what I was doing and used paper and tape!

I think we might have to do it her way instead!



Odenton Patch Blog Post

http://odenton.patch.com/blog_posts/guest-blog-recognizing-world-down-syndrome-day

Baltimore, D.C.

Car Conversation:

Eoin- "I wanna go to the see-um (museum)"

Erin- "Eoin, It's taking so long because it's in Baltimore, D.C......"

"And that's not even in our country!"

Yesterday we went to the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore

Erin was invited to a student artist reception where her artwork was on display.

Erin and her classmates learned about Chinese pottery and calligraphy and then created their own samples.

Erin and her classmate were given certificates for their artistic achievement at a brief gathering in the sculpture court. 

After the ceremony we celebrated in the cafe with a 'big cookie', some chips and a 'brown soda'.

Eoin says Erin you keep achieving so I can have more 'brown soda'!!

I was worried about Eoin in the 'see-um'  thinking he would be bored, hyper, and uncooperative.

Boy did he prove me wrong!!!

Happy for his sister,

Serious about observing bugs and butterflies,

And enthusiastic about exhibits.

"What can we see now".  "Let's go find some more fings to see"

Erin and Eoin really enjoyed some of the larger sculptures of people.  We played a game called 'what is missing?'

You know arms, noses, heads....

Eoin wanted to know 'what happen to he nose?'

I told him they were very old sculptures and they had been broken.

"broked?  Who did it? Who broked the noses?"

I asked him 'did you do it?"

"NOOOOO"

I said, I know....'Bridgie did it!'

"NOOOO, he too wittwle"

We learned some very valuable lessons as well.

Like whispering and how to pronounce sarcophagus.

Erin found a painting of Jesus resurrecting a young girl from her death bed.  She was very intrigued by this and learned what resurrecting means.

She wished she had some paper and markers with  her so she could draw some of the things she saw.

As for Bridgie, she did what she does best, make friends with  all the guards and women with long hair!!!!

A very wonderfully fun and exciting family day!



Motherhood

In My Humble Opinion....

Things are not always what they seem...

The first appearance deceives many, the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden. (Phaedrus)

I have this little daughter, Bridgie, she is small and very funny. *

She is two and toddlerish

Stubborn, Stormy, and sometimes Shocking.

Coy, Cunning, and Conniving.

A typical toddler.

There is something else about this typical toddler you should know.

Bridgie has 47 chromosomes.  3 copies of the 21st chromosome.

 Trisomy 21 or Down Syndrome

A little something extra.

You may have heard that people born with Down Syndrome are so loving, kind, and sweet.

Laid back, easy going.

While some people may say Bridgie was born with more to love,

I am here to tell you that she was born with a little something else as well.

Spirit, Spunk, and Sassiness.

Our girl, well, she was born with attitude.

Could simply be her mother's Fiery Irish-Lithuanian background or her father's Hardworking, nose to the grind stone Czech heritage.

Could be that Bridgie is simply just another member of the every evolving, dynamic, and diverse group called the human race.

Bridgie is so much like her older sister and older brother.  She looks alot like one of her cousins, my brother's daughter.  She likes Mickey Mouse, baby dolls, and goldfish.  She loves bathtime and screams because she does not want to get out.  She feeds herself, says mama and dada, loves her big sister and instigates her big brother.

And this may be one of the areas where she is most like other little girls who are the baby of the family.  Big sis is the light of her life, makes her laugh like no other, and has more concern for Bridgie's welfare than her own.  Big bro is her nemesis.  Since she was old enough to sit up in the jogging stroller she has been terrorizing him.  Taking his blanket, his sippy cup, his lollipop, pulling his hair, biting his toes.  Just touching him to be annoying.  You know like you did with your brother or sister in the back of the station wagon?

Seemingly like alot of other little girls, baby sisters, Bridgie is well, how do I phrase it?

 Bridgie.

Unique, different, diverse.  And like....you.

One word, one category, one group, one characteristic, one action, does not define you.

Nor does the fact that you only have 46 chromosomes.

Down Syndrome does not define Bridgie. 

Bridgie is unique and evolving.

At two, Bridgie is not yet walking.

Yet she is fast. 

She has a champion 'scootch' and a warriors desire to keep up with the troop.

At two, Bridgie does not have very many words. 

Yet she is a great communicator, engaging,  magnetic, leaving her friends and family speechless and feeling as if they have just been with a long lost friend. 

 Some might say an 'old soul'.

In two short years Bridgie has provided me with opportunity, purpose, desire, drive, passion, a chance to come out of the fog that I was living in. A belief in my abilities.

Most of all, she has given our family love.

Great big, wet, sloppy, goldfish crumb-filled kisses and amazingly warm, purposeful, unconditional hugs for no reason and for every reason.

March 21, 2012 is the 7th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day.  In 2012, the day has been recognized by the United Nations. 

The aims of World Down Syndrome Day are to promote awareness and understanding, seek international support, and to achieve dignity, equal rights and a better life for people with Down syndrome everywhere. (Muttiah Muralitharan)

World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated on March 21 (3/21) to represent the 3 copies of Chromosome 21 that is unique to Down Syndrome.

On this day I ask you to reflect on what it means to be a human being, how you like to be treated, how you treat others, and what you can bring to the table of the human race.

And in the words of the pesky Lorax

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothings going to get better. It's not."

As for me,

I am the mommy, and I'll yell and I'll shout for the fine things in life that are on their way out.**

                                                                             

*altered and paraphrased from Lauren Child's Charlie and Lola books

**altered quote from the Lorax

To support our crusade go to Bridigie's Brigade on Facebook and "like us".

A Little Something....

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun.
And find your shoulder to light on.
To bring you luck, happiness and riches.
Today, tomorrow and beyond.

Some fun videos of the kids that reminded me of a special Man this morning.

Uncle Ken McCoy

Gone from us too soon

But what lasting and amazing memories I have

Such fun, laughter, and spirit all around

Giving, caring, and genuine

So, Here's to Kenny

Happy One Year, cousin Yolanda!  Here's how we enjoyed your video and song!!

Take Two!

His spirit lives on.  I think they've got it without any lessons!

This one is the longest therefore the most blurry :(

And in the words of Uncle Ken, It's time for me to:

"Get along home, Cindy, Cindy, Get along home I say"