After 16 years abroad, I moved back to my native Sweden. My husband is Austrian and we met in the US where I lived from 1996-2006, and then we moved to Alp-land aka Austria where we lived til 2013. I am still trying to get over that culture shock.
We have two kids. Vincent, our first born was born on May 12, 2006 with an extra chromosome aka Down syndrome (Translocation 21;21). Edgar was born October 10, 2009, but only 46 chromosomes there.
I admit to thinking it was the end of our world when we got the results of the blood test showing our son had DS, 5 days after Vince was born. I was so wrong! Though everything is not easy, life is a lot of fun! That extra chromosome really did not change much.
I started running again in 2011 and completed my first half marathon in October 2011. In 2012 I completed two half marathons and a handful of other races. Running is now a big part of my life and I run at least five days a week. Both for fun and for peace of mind. I am starting to think a full marathon would be fun. Maybe in 2014...
This blog is about living life Upside Down. Enjoy.
The kids are in bed and fully prepared to celebrate Christmas tomorrow!
Meatball test run went without a complains
Cookies, porage and milk set out for Santa, check.
And the snow keeps falling outside the window. Christmas spirit at its best.
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December 13 and it was time for Edgar’s first Lucia performance. He was choosing between being a Lucia and a ginger bread man, and decided for option two. However, as it was time to get dressed he refused to be said ginger bread man, and only compromised by being a worker, so work pants on (like every single other day, why the h**l did I ever think they were a good pair to buy???) and his ginger bread shirt and hat with that. He did not once open his mouth to sing, but stayed on stage all through the performance.
See for yourself!
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Swell and dandy, with two kids, and one who has a whole team of super dupers to his help, we are adding up to 15 christmas thank you gifts. Vince and I made choclate treats and decorated more ginger bread cookies.
The first batch was delivered with delight today to speech therapist, physio therapist, special needs aid, cognitive therapist and pediatric. Only 10 to go…
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Vince and I took the bus to the city today and did some Christmas shopping. I recently noticed how much easier things have gotten with him. He rarely runs away, he walks (most often) holding my hand or stopping when prompted, and he has a lot less melt downs. Also, we were far from alone in the city today and he was being really good with waiting for his turn and he no longer gets so stirred up with being in big crowds. It was all very what-do-you-call-it? Normal?
Thumbs up and Cheese for waiting for the bus
Thumbs up for riding the bus
A bakery cart
Playing with the trillions of different Schleich animals
Finally getting a turn, after waiting patiently at the cool race track. Stitches will come out on Monday by the way….
20 min later we are still at the race track. He did awesome driving the cars! (When will I stop thinking he cannot do certain things just to constantly proven wrong by Vince?)
Subway lunch
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Singing time with Edgar 2 years old. And a bonus brotherly kiss ending with crying:
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Decorating the cookies.
Claudia (our baby sitter) and Edgar. Picture taken by Vincent
Edgar and I. Picture taken by Vincent.
Vince decorating cookies
A very staged photo. Vince told me exactly how he wanted this one done.
Cookie table
Filed under: Christmas, Holidays, Just Life | Tagged: Baking with mini-monsters, Gingerbread Cookies | 2 Comments »
We are staying in Austria for Christmas this year. Wish all of you the very best Christmas!
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No we ae actually done with the decorating of the tree. It became very obvious very fast that there is NO chance Edgar will leave any of the ornaments alone. In a micro second he had stripped a Santa off his beard, and that was just the beginning. So this year only the top half of our tree will be decorated.
(it does look a bit better live)
Filed under: Christmas, Family, Just Life | 2 Comments »
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