Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:51:56 -0800WeeblyWed, 01 Dec 2010 15:39:07 GMThttps://www.21strong.org/guiselas-perspective/post-title-click-and-type-to-editPotty Training...I think we made it!

After two weeks of very dry pull-ups, I decided it was time to try  'big girl underwears".  I followed the advice of my friend Susan and started on a Monday.  With her backpack full of extra cloths and her pink princess underwears on Grace set off to school. 

I was wondering how her morning would go.  Her teachers were aware of the plan and were ready to bring her to the bathroom every 30 minutes.  When I picked her up I was very surprised to see her in the same outfit.  No accidents!  They said she went to the bathroom when they brought her and was proud of her big girl underwear.  The next test was her afternoon preschool.  They too knew about the plan and were on board.  Once a again I was surprised to see her in the same cloths.  No accidents! 

The real test was home time.  I must admit I am not very diligent at putting her on the potty every 30 minutes.  Some how life seems to get in the way and 60 or 90 minutes have gone by.  Neadless to say we have had a few accidents at home.  And perhaps one at school (though Grace claims her pants were wet beacuse she went down the slide that was wet...)  Bedtime and night time we still use pull-ups, but Grace is loving her pink big girl underwear and so is her mom!]]>Tue, 27 Apr 2010 02:33:57 GMThttps://www.21strong.org/guiselas-perspective/happy-4th-birthday-to-my-girly-girl1Tue, 27 Apr 2010 02:33:53 GMThttps://www.21strong.org/guiselas-perspective/happy-4th-birthday-to-my-girly-girlHappy 4th Birthday to my girly girl Grace!! 

This evening as she enjoyed her favorite cake (Chocolate Moose from St Maritz)  I could not help but remember how sad and gray this day was 4 years ago.  We were so excited to have a little girl after 5 boys.  With excitment in our hearts we called everyone we knew-a girl!  Two hours later the news of her diagnoses numbed my heart and filled my mind with fear, doubt and sorrow.  "Down syndrome?  What does it mean?  Now what?  Our little girl has Down syndrome"  Our family gathered around us and cried with us.  It was a very sad evening four years ago today...

But today!  Today it is a diferent story.  Today I watched as my little girl enjoyed pink cupcakes with her class, vacuumed the floor along side me with her new pink vacuum cleaner, and enjoyed her birthday cake with her family.  Those that cried with us four years ago celebrated with us today the life of one amazing little girl! 

I thank God for the gift he has given our family.  The gift of all my children and especialy the one that came in pink.  Psalm 23 was a comfort to me during those early days with Grace.  It gave me hope, strength and a reason to believe things would get better....]]>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:47:44 GMThttps://www.21strong.org/guiselas-perspective/handprints-in-the-mirrorThis was originaly writen 9/13/2009

They were right there this morning as I sat down on my favorite chair.  Little hand prints on the mirror hung way too low for decore, but just the right size for the little girl who dances in front of it.  She looks at herself in fill length.  She makes faces and giggles as she puts on her hats and hugs her dolls in front of it.  But yesterday she danced.  And I willingly and gladly let others clean up after dinner so I could dance with my little girl.

Go back 3 years and I never would have thought I would dance with her.  Three years ago the shock of her diagnosis clouded my vission and dampened my spirit.  Those early days with Grace were gloomy and gray for me.  She just layed there..in her car seat..in her basinet..in her crib.  She just layed there.  I asked my husband one day, "Will she be like this forever?  Will she be a toddler and just lay there on her bed?".  That is all I could see.

Well, that little girl is now 3 and no, she does not just lay there.  She climbs on her brother's bed and gives him a big hug as she says "wake up!"  She rides her little car on the deck and goes on the seesaw with our neighbors...and she dances.  With joy and smiles she dances in front of her mirror she dances, and I get to dance with her too!]]>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:34:19 GMThttps://www.21strong.org/guiselas-perspective/first-postI have often said if "I had a blog I would write this!"   Before there were blogs there were journals.  I started writing in mine in college.  When Grace was born writing was a way for me to get my thoughts out, what I was feeling etc.  Now that I have this oportunity to have a small blog as part of 21 Strong I am excited!  What I would liek to do is read over my old journals and share with you some of my favorite entries.   So get ready here we go...
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