Thirty years ago today

 Thirty years ago today I gave birth to a little girl who we named Andrea Michelle. We found out shortly after she was born that she had Down Syndrome and we were told to put her in a home and forget about her; that she would never walk, talk or do for herself. We were also told that we were young and that we could have more children. Of course, we rejected the doctor's advice and today, she is thirty years old.


Andrea not only walks, but she talks a blue streak. Do for herself? Psh! Of course! This is a girl who walked across the stage to be given her diploma with her class to the thundering applause of her classmates....with 33 credits, one more than needed for graduation.


She has been difficult, stubborn and cantankerous, but she is always, always the most loving individual that I have ever met. Do not mess with any of her family or anyone that she cares for because you might just be taken down, as was displayed one day when a supervisor was playing around with me....she yanked at my supervisor's lanyard and told her that no one messes with her mama! We (my old supervisor and I) still laugh about that to this day. And don't call her a retard, as was displayed in high school when a full of himself basketball player was taken down by a girl half his size. Temper? You bet, but the heart of gold who would give you the clothes off of her back if she thought you needed it.

Andrea loves her animals, too. We just recently got a new puppy who we named Bailey and she adores that dog! As for our cats, well, they're all her babies!





She will be a world traveler in just a few weeks when she and I take a trip to Okinawa to visit her sister and nieces, but in the meantime she has seen quite a few cities, Reno being one of her favorites!

Andrea loves to dance and be silly and have fun with her friends at Camp Blessing, but she loves to be quiet (as much as she can possibly be, considering her nickname is "Chatty Cathy) and color, read or play on her tablet.


All in all....she has proven the doctor who said that she would never do anything incredibly wrong. She is a crazy, cranky, chatty, bull in a china shop, take the world by storm kinda girl, unless of course Paula Deen or Family Feud is on then forgedaboutit! She loves unconditionally, has some pretty decent hugs and today is her birthday. She is thirty today. Just ask her, she'll tell you all about it!



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