About a week ago we found out that Angela qualified for the 2011 WORLD Special Olympics Games in Athens Greece! For swimming. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

Dean and I had to chuckle a little, because she qualified for her back stroke, which is her worst stroke, and I think she qualified by default, but hey...she qualified!!!

There were others who qualified as well, but not all are actually eligible, and the state of Minnesota can only take so many athletes so there is an application process which includes a fourteen (14) page application which I have spent the past week filling out. You know, in the midst of studying for finals, preparing for our homstudy and adoption, and etc. And it's not just filling out the forms for the application, it's also gathering forms from her coaches (thank you Coach R. and M. for jumping on those right away!!!!) saying they support Angela attending the World Games too!

So what does this mean for Angela?

Well, the biggest thing, of course, is that she'd be representing the United States, and all athletes with disabilities, showing the world that THEY CAN DO IT TOO!!!!!! That with strength and determination you can do anything! Remember, just three years ago Angela couldn't swim!

But here's the other part, the hidden part. The athletes have to be ok separated from Mom and Dad for up to three weeks at a time. Just like the regular Olympics, they're sequestered away from the rest of the world a lot of the time. Dean and I (and her dad if he wants to) will still be able to go to Athens, but we won't be able to be "with" her. She'll be with her coaches, and training hard.

And there is the fact I don't know these coaches. I am sending my kid away with US coaches who I don't know. Her coaches have applied to go, but they, too, have to go through a selection process. Just as there is no guarantee Angela will be selected, there is no guarantee that a coach who knows her will be going.

In March there is a two week training camp in California that she would be required to attend, and then the World Games in Athens.

My child, my baby girl. The one they told me wouldn't get very far. Look at her go!

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~Leah~

Did you visit my mom's blog today?
http://www.gardenofeagan.blogspot.com

And don't forget to visit MINE!
http://itsmylifemom.blogspot.com/

mom to Noah 23, Tyler 21, Angela 14 (DS)

This is so AWESOME!!! Exciting, scary... but AWESOME!!! WTG Angela!!!

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Natalie, sister to Greg (31) and an SLP

I have goose bumps on top of goose bumps. AWSOME, EXCITING, and scary all rolled in one.

Don't you just want to go and slap the faces of all the people that say they won't or can't. She will and she did !! WTG Angela, we are so proud of you !!

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~Christine~
Mom of 6
Brandon ADD/ADHD 17, Chelsea 14, Connor 12, Logan 6, Cody 4 & Austin 1 ( DS & Hirschsprungs pull through 12/8/08 )
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/austinpaquin

Goosebumps then tears of joy over here... Congratulations!!!

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That is too cool!

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Nature goes her own way and all that to us seems an exception is really according to order.
-Goethe

YAY ANGELA

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Jo, Mum to Georgia 11/11/03 ( BIG High School Musical fan) and Ethan 16/12/07 (DS)

That is great! I'm so excited for her!

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Robyn
Grant (6/06 DS), Logan (12/08 )

That is awesome! WTG, Angela!! How is Angela feeling about this, Leah? Is she ok with going and being away from you for so long?

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Maureen - Mom to Daniel(21), Brandon(19), Jordan(13)PDD, Thomas(11), Carrie(7), Samuel(4) and Mark (2 - ds, av canal -repaired 6/10/08, pulmonary hypertension)
https://www.carepages.com/carepages/MarkEdwardC32708

Oh my God, I just got teary eyed!! That is so exciting and scary at the same time. And I want to shout it to all that will hear that yes they can do it, with enough determination and support, they will accomplish anything they want!!! WTG Angela!! We are so proud!!!
She is an inspiration for me, Nicole can not swim very good and I love to swim so seeing Angela who couldn't swim 3 years ago be at this point is great!!

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Michelle
My Angel Nicole (9-12-2000)DS
Faith (2-18-2010)bilateral mild hearing loss

Oh, Angela is ALL ABOUT being away from us! ROFL She goes to two different week-long camps during the summer, and every time she is like, "You just drop me off!" She does NOT want me to go through the check-in process with her, she'd rather do it herself, thank you very much! She is thrilled to death about the possibility of going far away on an airplane without us. She would like nothing more than to leave us in the dust!

She'll be able to compete in 4 events ( I think!) Backstroke (which is what she qualified in) Freestyle, breast stroke, and possibly butterfly. She has NEVER competed in butterfly before, but that's because she's never been able to do it before. Suddenly she "gets it", so I'm not sure if she'll be able to compete in that event.

The athletes who travel need to be quite independent. Our only concern is a couple pieces of clothing (bras have a certain tangle factor, but we have a year to work on them! LOL) and cutting food. However, two of her coaches have gone to the world games before and said they would not hesitate to bring her, that she is "just fine" with her independence skills. Her ability to adjust the water temperature in hotel showers worries me a bit, since at home we have everything set up for 100% indepdencence, and even I have challenges in some hotels abroad! But her coaches have assured me that they can help with this, then just step out and let her do the rest herself.

At home we have dispensers installed in the showers so she doesn't have to manage bottles, etc. so now we'll be buying travel bottles so she can start practicing with those and learning to manage the flip tops. I think she'll do just fine with them. Her hair has gotten long, and she can't get it into a pony by herself, but her coaches have assured me this is not an issue! She would be in group of 1 coach to 4-5 athletes.

She hasn't been chosen yet, and it's a year away, and already I'm nervous.

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~Leah~

Did you visit my mom's blog today?
http://www.gardenofeagan.blogspot.com

And don't forget to visit MINE!
http://itsmylifemom.blogspot.com/

mom to Noah 23, Tyler 21, Angela 14 (DS)

SO cool!!! I am so proud!!!!
Wow. Too awesome!

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Mom to:
Jesper 07/23/95 (stepson)
Hanne Torill 06/06/98 (daughter)
Benedikte 04/14/00 DS (daughter)
Mads & Emil 07/05/00 (stepsons)
Svein Atle 05/13/03 (son)

OMG LEAH!!!!!!! I literally just got goosebumps. She is amazing and I am so proud that she will be standing tall (well kind of ) and representing all of our children. What an honor!

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Lori
DH and I are 33

June 19, 2008~ Alyssa

Natalie's web page
Natalie's video montage
Alyssa's web page
My photography website

Oh Leah, that is wonderful! Congratulations Angela! What a great opportunity.

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Lorene in MI
Wife to Thad
Mom to Mackenna (6/1/97) Tanner (2/12/99) Ashton (3/8/01) and Sienna (7/14/09)
http://vimeo.com/6835028

That is just wonderful news! Congrats to Angela.

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Michelle, Fiance to Wyatt, Mom to Shane (20), Aubrey (17) and Baby Cameron DS (02/06/08 )

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

AMAZING!!! How cool! I can understand why you'd be nervous, Leah--I'm nervous for you just thinking about it!

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Maresa,
Mom to Alisa (10-29-2008) DS, complete AV canal repair on 3-6-09

That is incredibly, amazingly, awesomely so exciting!!!!!!!! Angela is fantastic

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Karyn
Mum to Nikki (Jul 89), Stefanie (Sep 96), Joel [June 98] and Talitha (DS) (Nov 05) AVSD/PDA repaired 23 March 06

"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well." Psalm 139:14

WTG Angela! You must be so proud Leah!

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Karen- Mum to the world's cutest baby!! Ben

Wow! Congratulations to Angela and your whole family!!! How exciting!!!

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Heather
Mama to Heidi (11/27/07) & Bridget (2/20/10)

Sounds very exciting! Every girls dream to be an Olypian.

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Sherry
Evan 10, Olivia 9, and Nate 6*

Hosted on Fotki

Angela, you are sooooooooooooAwesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so proud.

She is truly an amazing child.

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teresa,
mom to chelsey 6-9-84 collin 2-17-95, Caty 2-14-98, clay 8-3-99, chloe ds 1-21-03, caycie 9-28-04, Caden 4-9-07, mammy to Mason 11-30-06, new grandbaby due 8-27-10

That is great

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Carol mom to Adam 6/17/96 ,Emily 8/7/98, Abigail (DS)8/16/04

That is great

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Carol mom to Adam 6/17/96 ,Emily 8/7/98, Abigail (DS)8/16/04

WOW! How incredibly exciting!!! I would be terrified, but somehow, you'll survive, and Angela will do wonderfully without you!!!!!

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Janet (44) and Jeff (44)
Joshua (angel) '85
Sarah-age 22
Jaret-age 5
Jacey-born 2/22/08 (dx w/ Ds 9/10/07)

Wow, that's great!!! Way to go, Angela! (and mom)

Jan

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wife and mother of Katherine (2004) and Christopher (Aug. 2007, DS)

I got chills reading this and the last line of your post brought tears to my eyes!! So amazing!!! WTG Angela!! I can't imagine having to make the decision... good luck!! This is just so GREAT!!!

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-Jamie
Mom to
Mary Elizabeth DS (Feb.16, 2005)
Amelia Anne DS (Aug. 10, 2007)

This is so awesome!! Way to go Angela

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Stephanie Hakes, mother to Abby born 5/6/07
Reed 9/21/09

Rock the World Angela!

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"Life is What You Make it..."
www.henryfamily-lifeiswhatumakeit.blogspot.com

Jackie (34 yrs.) - wife to Brian (31 yrs.) and Momma to Asa (3 yrs.).

Congrats! I'm sure she'll love this experience

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Mom to: Nicholas (May/02), Nathan (April/04), Charlene (June/06), Noah (DS) (May/07), Jesse Lynn (July/08 ), Tessa (Apr/10)

How very exciting for you all!
Sounds like you'll all grow from this experience!

I'm so excited for you and Angela!
Will be shouting for Angela in Dublin!.........GO ANGELA GO!

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Linda & John
mom to Hannah Kate (Age 12 ), Robert (Aged 6 - DS)


First day at school

HOW FREAKING COOL!!!!!!!

Woohoo Angela!!! GO GIRL!!!!

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Adrienne - mom to: Regan 17, Russell 12 DS, Autism, Visually Impaired, Reece 9.

DSAGSL 2009 Buddy Walk

What a great opportunity! I think that Angela would make an awesome representative at the World Special Olympics and hope that she gets to go!

Kim

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Wife of Marvin
Mom to Logan (3/6/03, Ds) and Carson (9/6/05)

That must be so exciting!

A big step for you as a mom to let her go by herself for a couple of weeks.

Another big step !

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Chelsea DS ( 24 november 2006 ) & Noah ( 20 april 2008 )

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www.ceciliaytarek.blogspot.com

WOW ~ that is stupendous! Congratulations... looking forward to the news and pictures! Good luck!

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Eli
Mom to Abby (DS 10/21/03), James Thomas (01/31/06), Katie (08/12/08.)

What an incredible opportunity!
WTG angela!

I would be nervous too, but it sounds like Angela can handle it.

Sucks that we have to wait a year for pictures of this event though

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http://www.carepages.com/carepages/DavidLucas

Wow! In that case, for backstroke, I guess I will have to be rooting for USA!!! Well done Angela, x

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Helen

Mum to ...
Rachael Kinza (25/07/01), Matthew Isaac - DS & Autism - (14/06/03) and Hannah Cerys (14/06/05) - my gorgeous kids!

Whooo Hooo! Way to go!!!

Michelle

What a fantastic opportunity! WTG Angela!

Kristin

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Happy, busy mama to 6 beautiful kiddos -- Kieran (11), Hanna (9), Cameron (8 ),
Charlotte (6), Sophie, (4) 4/20/06 (DS), and Duncan (1)

How exciting and amazing for Angela!!! Woot! Woot!! Can't wait to watch her!

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Linda - Wife to Ted and mom to Brendan 4/28/03, Chase 11/27/06 & Sir Aidan 5/4/09

My Three Sons

Brotherly Love

Chase at 3.5 yrs

Pucker Up

Playing cars with Aidan

Hanging at the park

A day out at Greenfield Village

Chase swinging and loving it at OT session