29 Sep 07 Getting ready for the Buddy Walk

We are really excited to announce that our family has raised more than $2,500 in pledges for the 2007 Buddy Walk. Thanks to everyone for your generous support! We’re really honoured and appreciative.

We thought you might enjoy this clip, “Go walk for a good cause,” from the Today Show on NBC (aired September 28, 2007), promoting the Walk and why it’s so important.

21 Sep 07 NYC Walk for Down Syndrome

On September 30, Dave, Karyn, Marley, Nicole and Aunt Angela will walk in the NYC Buddy Walk in support of the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS).

Thanks to everyone who’s already pledged me or Dave. It’s not too late if you want to donate – just visit our pledge page.

Through Nicole’s therapy, we’ve seen first-hand the benefits of the education, advocacy and research funded by the NDSS. We’ve had lots of ups and downs over the past year, but Nicole’s recent achievements have been especially exciting. Thanks to the support of her amazing therapists, Jane and Robyn, she is:

• Sitting up with increased stability, reaching for and playing with her toys;
• Eating solid food, including many finger foods, and gaining weight;
• Displaying the ability to problem solve by moving in different directions when she can’t reach something;
• Using her hands to speak, mastering the signs for “give me” and “more” and waving goodbye; and
• Saying “bye bye” (which was also Marley’s first word!)

There really are so many developmental stages that we just assume our kids are going to reach. This past year, I’ve learned about how amazing the human body and brain are and how much we take for granted. Nicole will achieve everything she needs in her own time and on her own terms, just like all kids. Her therapy is ensuring she has the strength and the knowledge when she’s ready, and we’re so grateful to have it.

We’ll let you know how the Buddy Walk goes – it’s sure to be a great day!

02 Sep 07 Summer’s over, but the fun ain’t

We have just returned from a totally relaxing and highly enjoyable summer vacation back “home” in Toronto and beyond.

This year’s vacation was the first I can remember when I didn’t take anything from work. No laptop. No Blackberry. Nothing. My biggest adjustment was not having these devices during the first couple of days. But once I was well-adjusted the real vacation started. I actually felt relaxed. Wow.

I was actually able to spend time with my girls, something I rarely have time to do when work is all-consuming, as it’s been of late. I know I’m returning to a firestorm. Oh well. Life goes on.

We’re really excited about life in New York this Fall. It’s such a great time in this city. Here are some highlights we’re excited about:

• We just signed a two-year lease on our apartment, having decided that Park Slope is the NYC neighbourhood for us.
• Nicole weaned herself which means Karyn and I can get out a bit earlier on our twice monthly dates since we no longer need to wait for her final nursing of the night. So far we’ve only been out in Brooklyn (within walking distance), but no longer. Manhattan, here we come.
• Marley starts French classes on Friday afternoons in SOHO. This will ensure Karyn gets into Manhattan at least once a week and provides a great excuse to get out for dinner on Fridays. Yay!
• Marley got a kite for her birthday that we look forward to flying in Prospect Park.
• Karyn is going to finally get her aquarium set up which will add new life to our home.
• We are going to tackle “Ask Marley”; we promise. We started the idea so long ago but work got in the way.
• I started running again this summer vacation, after almost eight years on hiatus, and look forward to making this an early morning habit. This will be a great stress buster, not to mention part of a much healthier lifestyle.
• We’re going to subscribe to the NHL package on cable. We realize that Toronto is a hockey mecca, unlike New York where hockey news is relegated to a paragraph at most at the absolute end of the Sports coverage.

We also look forward to more visitors this fall. Drop us a line if you want to take advantage of autumn in New York. We’d love to see you.