Back to School

Last night I came home from work and on the kitchen table was an envelope from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. In June I had sent in my application to go back to school and finally finish my Bachelors Degree 11 years after I left Whitewater.

I left Whitewater right after my junior year to pursue a Meeting and Event Management Associates Degree at MATC and loved every second of it. I always knew that I would want to finish my Bachelor's Degree since I was so close to it that I could pretty much reach out and grab it.

On the application it said that I had to write a statement of how my presence will enrich the school's community. I spent a lunch hour thinking about what I could write.

Here is what I sent in:

"I am thirty years old and am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister and a friend. I am defined by all of these titles but most importantly by one.

I am a mother to a one year old girl named Taylor. Taylor has strawberry blond hair, striking blue eyes, a light twinkling laugh and Down Syndrome. She has defined who I am more than any other aspect of my life. My husband, Brian, and I did not know that Taylor had Down Syndrome until she was born and the nurse told us what they suspected. We both went through the shock, grief and the pain, but out of all of that came something wonderful.

Taylor has made me both grow up and learn to live life fully. I have had to learn about Down Syndrome and the devastating statistics that come along with that knowledge. I now have to worry about life expectancy, developmental delays, inclusion and so much more. I am a mini expert in the field of Down Syndrome and am learning more all the time. I have joined support groups that help get out frustrations and more importantly celebrate milestones.

Taylor has taught me to live a life full of celebrations and encouragement and excitement. You have never seen a happier mother until you saw me celebrate when my daughter sat up on her own.  Sure it might take her longer to learn to crawl, walk and talk, but she will do it. She will crawl, she will walk and if she is anything like me, she will talk. And we will celebrate loudly.

I will bring a presence of knowledge, compassion and celebration of life to UW-Whitewater because that is what my one year old daughter taught me."

So last night I opened the letter and it started with "Congratulations and welcome to UW- Whitewater!" I am pretty sure my statement is what got me in!

Papa Rich

Silly grandpa! You can't eat my foot! I need it to grab my toys with instead of my hands!

Walk For Taylor!

Did you know that the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin (DSAW) hosts an awareness walk every fall at the Milwaukee Zoo?

In April of last year my daughter, Taylor, was born with an extra 21st chromosome that causes Down Syndrome. After receiving the diagnosis one of the first things we did was reach out and try to connect with other people that could understand what we were going through and teach us what we needed to know. It was through this search we found DSAW.

The Awareness Walk is designed to help raise funds, AND to help raise awareness and promote inclusion, diversity and acceptance of Down Syndrome, as well as strive to guarantee access to a full life for all individuals with Down syndrome, their families and friends.

DSAW has been, and will continue to be, an unbelievable resource for us. This walk is their major fundraiser for the year. Please help us show our appreciation by joining us!

We are putting together a team called Taylor’s Wild Ones in honor of my daughter. If you are unable to join us for the walk, donations are also greatly appreciated.

Join our team "Taylor's Wild Ones" by clicking the "Join Now" button here

You can also Donate to our team here

The event details are as follows:

Register by Friday, September 7, 2012 to be guaranteed a T-shirt!

Walk Details

Sunday, September 30 at the Milwaukee County Zoo

Registration and Check-In starts at 10:30am at the Maple Grove and Oak Grove picnic areas. Your registration includes zoo admission and parking!

10:30am-12:55pm Registration, Lunch and Pre-Walk Activities

Food, DJ, Crafts, Temporary Tattoos and Face Painting, Raffles and Silent Auctions, Resource Tent, visits from your favorite mascots and much more!

1:00 Pre-Walk Rally and Awards Ceremony

Led by the Down Syndrome Awareness Walk Master of Ceremonies, Vince Vitrano, Today's TMJ4 Morning News Anchor

1:15pm Walk Begins 

Approximately 1.5 mile leisurely stroll through the Milwaukee County Zoo.

Blue eyes

We are enjoying a lazy Saturday outside today!

Buddies

Taylor and Erwin are obviously having a very deep conversation!