The Back Pack Search

The Back Pack Search...............we all do it. Whether you are a working parent away from the home, or from the home, the routine is the same, but the hour may differ. After school, you approach your beloved child, arms ready for that warm embrace, and as you offer that “I love you” hug and kiss, you ask “How was your day?” Yet, this is when all “normality” ends, as the means to respond differs, the spectrum is vast, as all children are dissimilar in their response. At age 8.5, Nash’s details vary; “I had a good day! No Strikes! " I may get "I played kickball and for lunch ate chicken poppers.” But, for most kids without a disability, what would a “typical” (eh, what is that anyway) response be to a parent’s question of “[h]ow was your day?” Maybe it would include some of the stressors of third graders I found online … a discussion of the nuances of multiplication, a discourse about fashion trends, pop culture. But whatever the response, it would be. Verbal. With many, many words…and description....or maybe a few words with an abundance of attitude. For children with a disability, and in our case, Down syndrome, the response is never “typical”.......It will be short in description, and one you may or may not actually believe is actually “true”, and after the awesome verbal/signing/PEC or whatever method of response is given to our question of “How was your day” if it contained gym/PE class it kind of goes like this….. ”I did kickball” but nothing like “I really enjoyed PE today because we played kickball and I was the pitcher and Mrs. Smith said I did a great job and Zach ran the bases and got a home run”. BUT after I get “I did kickball” from Nash, I search in the Back Pack and find……………his communication notebook that has a short note that he had a good day, no strikes, and best of all.. a “Gym Rat” pin ...and then I know he had a very, very awesome PE day as Mrs. Smith gives a Gym Rat pin to those that have shown that they were a “Star” in PE that day….. thank you Mrs. Smith. and thank you to Nash’s teachers and para because it is so important that you bring the communication from the classroom to our home!

Beautiful October day in Indiana

and we took advantage of it! Seger turns 3 this week, and Nash is 8 1/2 now.

Tomorrow is Teacher conference day for our boy, now 8 years old and in third grade. My blog has taken a back stage to daily/weekly/monthly events; my work at the Attorney General’s office as a criminal appeals attorney for you, the citizens of Indiana, my new appointment with the ARC of Indiana board of directors, working with Down Syndrome Indiana and ARC of Indiana to initiate post-secondary educational opportunities in Indiana, being Mom to Nash and trying so, so hard not to be “educator of Nash”, getting our powerful husband/dad BigDawg back on his feet after retinal detachment surgery took him OUT for two weeks…and still continuing.....ugh, he is so vital to our family! And now that our 2009 DSI Buddy Walk is over, so many positive raising over 110K, but knowing I will be involved in big changes soon, locally and nationally. I am just mind boggled at the split in the national spectrum in the DS movement right now with the major fundraiser (NDSS Buddy Walk) that has allowed ALL of our affiliates to progress to the point they are today. ALL of them. But I digress…. Tomorrow will be a “show me” day, a day for Nash to shine (we tend to leave the negatives for the communication notes, but even those have promise!) and I have no doubt he will do so. We have a fantastic team this year, wonderful accommodations. Looking forward to tomorrow, unlike the days when I couldn't see beyond the tears.

So you wanna see some Hoosier basketball?

Nash is playing on our local Upward Bound basketball league this year. It's a little bit less competitive than the Girls and Boys Club basketball he played with last year in first grade, and also is Christian based. It just seemed like a better fit for him this year, and he is playing on a team for first and second graders. With only three practices, and right off Christmas vacation, they had their first game on Saturday. I have a video of them calling the players in, announcing their names before the game, which I will post later. But, drum roll........Nash got at least two baskets, some say three but I didn't see the third, and got the BEST OFFENSE star award for the team. Oh. My. God. The boys on the team are so awesome. I didn't pass anything out about Down syndrome to the team, as well, now I understand why not many "older" kids parents are on the internet boards lately. It's just getting to be not such a big deal, and no time! Coach Derek is the best! BigDawg talked to Coach before the practices started and told him that while Nash does have Down syndrome, he understands, can learn the game, and play, and just needs to be shown how it is done, not just told. So ready to see one of Nash's baskets? Its a little blurry as we haven't figured out how to upload from our video camera yet, but Nash is the player in white shorts passing the ball in-bounds runs down the court, runs back, then gets the ball via rebound pass and dribbles down to the basket and SCORES! You might hear me say "I'm trying" because BigDawg yelled Go Nash! and Nash yells back "I'm trying"! as he is dribbling....oh so funny our guy. how many ref's high five the players? Awesome! Best Offense Award

Our Holiday Card Photo

Happy Holidays to All! Hope 2009 brings us all better health and happiness! This is a Buddy Walk photo that I just adore, and had to wait to post it as I gave them as presents to family.

Update on First grade spelling

Well, we have gone from Week One of our spelling test to week two to now.......drum roll.........week seven ......... and although it's not 100%, he typed it, and it sure makes sense to me!

Nash's Natter

Nash varies his prayers every night. He always includes Mom, Dad, Seger, and sometimes adds a generic "friends" and "teachers". Usually he adds specific names though. Tonights prayer: god bless Lukie (his Ty black lab given to him by a co-worker of Jeff's about 6 years ago who he sleeps with each night and is missing a nose), Seger, Mommy, Daddy, Edy (gal from 1st grade class), Gaga, Grandma, and "leaving the toilet seat down." Amen from Mommy on that one!

Happy 7th Birthday Nash!

We love you! Off to the Bounce Planet Party and more later.................

wow that pitocin is some strong stuff!

7 years ago Jeff was by my side after a frantic afternoon of me being at the OB's office, a stress test indicating our son should be induced at 37 weeks due to decelerations and my pre-eclampsia, and we were discussing the realities of having our son being born......... No clue of what really would be in our path, just anxiety on my end....me a mom? Will our baby be ok? Can Jeff and I be good parents? And Jeff looking at the lovely, comfortable "pull out" in the birthing unit at Naperville IL at Edwards Hospital...a 6'5" guy on a 3' plastic couch. Pictures of him being "catcher" of the baby during the birth process...fun, laughter, no real scares. Jeff did sleep a bit as I listened to his snoring...and the pitocin didn't work very well, and I was anxiously up and down all night........tick, tick, tick......... Jefferson Nash Huffman would be born this next day.........but the drama of the event we had no clue at this point........

1st grade Basketball Star

Nash was chosen player of the week last week!

Nash's First Spelling Test

100% He is so very proud, as are we!

Football.....its over but hey, its the pictures that matter right?

Nash's season ended a month ago but my scanner didn't work to upload his picture. I just was so tickled at this as he never smiles so big for pictures- you know he loves his football. Here is a link to one run he made this year....and his buds.

NDSS 2007 Buddy Walk Video is out

Nash and his buddy Andrew on the Big Screen! Come see the young, old, and the inbetween! CLICK HERE. Nash is at 6:12 on the video... I would love to go to NYC next year if his photo is chosen again! to learn more about the Time Square Video and how photos are chosen, CLICK HERE.

Nash football pictures

Well, my scanner broke so I can't post my pictures of Nash's football game, but he passed one that was caught during the game, and played center on many plays. He also ran the ball once and an ex-Indianapolis Colts player's son took his flag. Nash got mad and spiked the ball at him. hee hee CLICK HERE to see some pics from the first game. Nash is number 3

Guess who lost his third tooth at age 6?

Its the top one, lost at school..... He said "its in my box".....hmmm Looks like braces will be in store for us!

Well oh golly, guess who played quarterback at football practice?

Yeppers. Our Nashman. The center handed him the ball, he drew back and threw that sucker about 10 feet right into the hands of his bud Ben. Ben then ran the ball in for a touchdown! Too. Cool. Guess he is going to play quarterback Saturday during the game. Be there 10am at James Dillon Park (located behind the Kroger store) at 146th Street and Hazel Dell. He's the one in the red number three and the big ol' smile.

Nash and Seger Playing on a Rainy day

They wrestle like two boys! Then later, the neighborhood kids came over and played in the hot tub.....who cares if its raining if you are already wet anyway! Originally uploaded by Nashtaters

Two Boys Fishing - Memorial Weekend

We went to Jeff's sisters yesterday and Nash and his cousin - who is also 6 years old - decided to go fishing. Jodie sent me this picture and I love it. I also love it in Black and White and can't decide which one to frame Happy Memorial Day, and I am thinking of you Dad....

Nash was chosen as one of five kids from the whole school to read today....

at the 9 week convocation celebrating the end of the year, and those that had reading skills with the most gains from the beginning of the year. While we are still working on our First Grade IEP, as we have issues with LRE percentages and categorization- 51 or 50, I know we have the support of the principal and staff and will get there.... but I digress. This post is about today, and Nash. Reading. To. The. School. We are so, so proud. He didn't read "What Am I" like the video here; he was quiet (hmmmm where did THAT come from?) and you couldn't hear him well, but he read his book, got great applause from the wonderful kids at his elementary, and we are so, so proud... did I already say how proud we are of our Nashtaters? Once I can figure out how to edit a 45 minute video of the entire program (we gave away 4 bikes for reading too!) I will post it.... I just have to say, again, how proud we are of our boy! And thank you again Mr. Harvey - our principal - for your philosophy of acknowledging and praising diversity in all children. And a shout out to Mrs. Minnich and Mrs. Tappy...the wonder team. I so hope we can continue the gains in First grade...

Nash was asked to read for the principal....

at his elementary this week, and so we practiced tonight...he read "What Am I". First grade...here we come! Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos