What if living independently with a disability didn't just mean surviving, but thriving? Meet James Zoll and Kristen Ruppel Zoll, a remarkable couple both living with Down syndrome, as they share their story of love, independence, and teamwork. Joined by their dedicated Home Health Aid, Lynn Metzger, discover how James and Kristen have not only navigated the challenges of daily life but have also built a fulfilling life together, full of cherished memories and professional achievements. This episode celebrates their over five years of happy marriage, providing an intimate look at their journey from school days to their supportive companionship today.
Join us as we pull back the curtain on James and Kristen's daily routines, revealing the meticulous planning and cooperation that keep their household running smoothly. From meal planning and grocery shopping to chore distribution and financial management, see how this dynamic duo, with Lynn’s invaluable support, maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle. This episode also touches on the role of their families in supporting larger responsibilities, showcasing the intricate web of interdependence that helps them thrive. Don't miss out on this heartwarming and inspiring episode that highlights determination, love, and the power of teamwork.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Greta Harrison (00:00):
Hello, my name is Greta Harrison.
Welcome to Born FabulousPodcast, season 3, episode 25.
The theme of this season isyoung adults with intellectual
disabilities living full livesof independence and
interdependence.
This episode features Kristenand James Zoll and Lynn Metzger.
It is the first of threeepisodes with Kristen, james and
(00:24):
Lynn, which is part of anin-depth series about marriage
featuring parents,self-advocates with support
staff and an employer.
Lynn is an important member oftheir support team.
Kristen and James both havejobs that they love.
They've been married over fiveyears.
James and Kristen have Downsyndrome.
Now please enjoy this clip.
(00:45):
Of Love is a Potion.
The lyrics are by MelissaRiggio, who was the focus of
season one episodes one throughfour.
She had Down syndrome.
The music and voice are byRachel Fuller.
Rachel Fuller (01:12):
Love is everything.
Love is all around, love is allaround.
Love is a potion.
Love is passion.
Love is devotion.
Greta Harrison (01:37):
Love is fusion.
Hello James Zoll and KristenRuppel Zoll and Lynn Metzger, I
am so happy to meet with youtoday.
Thank you so much for giving usyour time and letting us have a
glimpse into your lives, hello.
Kristen Rupple (01:58):
Hello, hello.
Greta Harrison (02:01):
And I want you to take a minute and tell us a
little bit about yourselves.
We can start with James orKristen, whichever one of you
wants to go first.
You can just give me your namesand maybe one or two things you
want people to know about you.
Kristen Rupple (02:17):
I'll go first.
Okay, hi, I'm going to thankyou for joining the show and I
am.
My name is Kristen Rupple.
I'm 38 years old.
I'm working my job at LoveWorks First Aid, first Aid Cards
and my volunteer job doing theCenter for Community.
(02:41):
I'm working with the Centerwareand I got three sisters okay,
all right, thank you, james.
Greta Harrison (02:52):
Can you tell us your name and a little bit about
yourself?
Kristen Rupple (02:56):
my name james.
Yeah, oh, it's okay, it's stillyour mess, yeah.
Lynne Metzger (03:05):
James, maybe you can let Greta know about how you
work at my Yard Live.
James Zoul (03:11):
Yes, yes, I can.
Yeah, I work at my Yard Liveand making a new bill.
Greta Harrison (03:26):
Okay, Thank you, James.
I know you love your job andwe're going to talk about that
later on.
Thank you and Lynn, can youtell us a little bit about what
you do?
What is your title and what isyour role when you help support
James and Kristen?
Lynne Metzger (03:45):
So my title is Home Health Aid and my role here
is as a support person.
James and Kristen have beenliving on their own for a few
years now I think maybe four andthere are some life skills that
(04:07):
I help them with on a dailybasis.
But they, uh, they run thishousehold pretty good.
But my role is to support themin um, keeping the household
running um and assisting themwhen they go to their work,
making sure that they're, youknow, prepared and just kind of
giving them just a little extra,just a little extra helping
(04:29):
hand.
They do really good on theirown, but sometimes they need
just somebody to help you know,maneuver some of the more
complex issues.
So that's my role.
I'm here to help and supportand whatever it is that they
need.
Greta Harrison (04:48):
OK.
So I know that they take thelead.
I know that they run thehousehold.
When you said, I know they bothwork and volunteer, both Do you
help with rides for them or forthem, or yes, okay, so, um,
(05:12):
myself, I am kristin's job coach.
Lynne Metzger (05:12):
I provide the transportation to her work.
Um, we did the interviewprocess together with them, got
her familiar with it and then Ihad a hands-off approach.
She would would be independentat work, but I provide
transportation, facilitateschedule changes.
James has another aide thathelps on his work.
(05:33):
Her name is Kayla.
Greta Harrison (05:36):
So let's talk about when you guys were in
school.
I know you were both includedmost of the time in general
education classes in school.
James, can you share yourfavorite memory of maybe when
you were in school?
Art?
James Zoul (05:52):
class.
Greta Harrison (05:53):
Art class.
Are you an artist?
James Zoul (05:58):
No, just school.
Greta Harrison (06:00):
Just in school?
Yeah, but you loved your artclass.
Yeah, okay, just in school, butbut you loved your art class
okay.
Was it because of the teacher,or was it the teacher and the
kids?
Why?
Why is that special for you?
James Zoul (06:17):
Yes, both Kids and teacher.
Greta Harrison (06:21):
Okay, all right, but you're glad that you were
included in school, aren't you?
Yes, also fully included inschool, in general education
classes most of the time untilhigh school, and even then, most
(06:41):
of the time.
Can you share a favorite memoryof your school years?
Kristen Rupple (06:47):
I went to Wissakami Foreign Arts.
I take dance ballet and team inWissak.
I'm teen in music and in myhigh school I went to prom.
I went to NAMO with my friends.
Greta Harrison (07:05):
You like going to prom?
Huh, mm-hmm.
Okay yeah, you had someboyfriends before James, didn't
you?
And James, you had somegirlfriends before Kristen,
didn't you?
Yeah, yeah, you had somegirlfriends before, okay, well,
and Kristen, were you glad thatyou were included in general
education classes in school?
(07:26):
Were you happy about that?
Kristen Rupple (07:29):
Yes, I'm happy.
Greta Harrison (07:30):
Okay.
Thank you, James.
Did you always know that youwould meet the love of your life
and that you would get marriedone day when you grew up?
Did you know that?
Yeah, I knew.
You did know that you wouldmeet the love of your life and
that you would get married oneday when you grew up.
Did you know that?
Yeah, yeah you did know that.
Yes, okay, all right.
How about you, kristen?
Did you always know that?
(07:51):
I know that my dream is gettingmarried your dream was getting
married and you had a lot ofsisters so, so you watched them
get married, right?
Kristen Rupple (08:01):
Yes, I do, and James is so sweet to me and I
stare at his sparkly eye.
Greta Harrison (08:08):
James is so sweet with you.
And what was that after?
You said after that James is sosweet with you.
Kristen Rupple (08:15):
I always stare at his sparkly eye, like always.
You like his sparkly eyes, Istare at it.
You stare at his sparkly eye,like always.
Greta Harrison (08:19):
You like his sparkly eyes.
Kristen Rupple (08:21):
I stare at it.
Greta Harrison (08:23):
You stare at it.
Oh, that's sweet At his sparklyeyes.
I love that.
So would you both tell me astory, a story about how you met
?
Kristen Rupple (08:39):
Who wants to talk about that?
We met in 2003.
He's my best friend and we grewup together.
Greta Harrison (08:44):
And when you met you already you were kind of
dating somebody else and Jameswas kind of dating somebody else
, right, and you just got alongbetter with each other, right?
You were like magnets to eachother, right, right, yeah, okay,
each other right, you.
You were like magnets to eachother, right, right, yeah, okay,
(09:04):
james.
What did you first think ofKristen when you started dating
her?
What did you first think of her?
Love all, all day.
Can you say that again one moretime, james?
James Zoul (09:16):
love all day.
Greta Harrison (09:18):
Love all day.
James Zoul (09:19):
Love all day yeah.
Greta Harrison (09:21):
Okay, and Kristen?
What did you first think ofJames?
Kristen Rupple (09:26):
He's very sweet.
Greta Harrison (09:28):
He is very sweet .
It's a very important qualityin a husband.
All right, did you each knowthat you wanted to move out of
your parents' house when yougrew up?
Kristen Rupple (09:40):
When I never I talked to my parents.
I sat down with them.
I talked to them.
That's what we do I sit downwith my parents, talk to my
parents.
Greta Harrison (09:51):
So you sat down with your parents to tell them
that you were going to want tomove out.
Kristen Rupple (09:57):
That's right.
Greta Harrison (09:58):
Okay, what about you, james?
Did you do the same thing?
Yeah, you did.
You did the same, so you satdown with your parents and you
told them you wanted to move out?
Yeah, okay.
And what did you have to learn?
What did you have to work on tobe able to move out of your
(10:21):
parents' house?
You know there's a lot toliving on your own.
You know there's the shoppingfor groceries and paying bills
and all of that, what did youhave to learn?
Kristen Rupple (10:35):
I learned like going to the grocery store with
my dad, trash, and dishes.
Greta Harrison (10:47):
Okay.
And what about cooking andcooking?
Yes, and cooking, okay, okay.
And when you were learningthose skills, was that when you
were still at home and yourparents helped you?
Yes, they helped you learnthose skills, okay.
Did you have chores, kristen,kristen?
(11:08):
Did you have chores?
Yes, I do.
And when you were growing up,did you have chores like when
you lived with your parents?
Kristen Rupple (11:16):
Yeah.
Greta Harrison (11:17):
You did?
I did, okay All right, james.
When you were living at parents.
Yeah, you did, I did, okay Allright, james.
When you were living at home.
Did you have chores?
James Zoul (11:25):
Yard work with dad.
Greta Harrison (11:29):
That's a big one , okay, so your yard work you
did with your dad.
So when you moved out, is thatwhen you learned about cooking
and grocery shopping and all ofthat?
Did you learn that when youmoved out or did your parents
help you before?
James Zoul (11:47):
I don't know.
Greta Harrison (11:48):
I'm sorry, can you say that one more time?
James Zoul (11:51):
I don't know.
Greta Harrison (11:53):
You don't know.
Okay, all right, that's okay.
Now tell us about your supportteam.
You have Lynn who helps you,and you have other people.
We have four aides.
Kristen Rupple (12:08):
Okay, we have four aides and they help us all
the time.
Greta Harrison (12:14):
They help you all the time.
Okay, can you tell us a littlebit about how they help you?
Kristen Rupple (12:22):
Drive me all the time, okay, going to the store
and laundry and who needs help?
Greta Harrison (12:31):
Okay, and Lynn, are you there?
I am, lynn.
You want to fill in some gapsof how you help and maybe the
rest of the team helps.
Okay.
Lynne Metzger (12:45):
Absolutely so basically, james and Kristen, on
a weekly basis they puttogether their meal plan for the
week.
That's done as a team.
James and Kristen.
They collaborate and decidewhat kind of meals, and they're
they're really good at it.
They pick balanced meals,sometimes treats here and there,
(13:10):
and do a sanity check, makesure we've got everything
covered and take them groceryshopping so they are able to do
the planning, the shopping andwhen we come back, limited
(13:31):
cooking, depends, microwaveThings like that is totally fine
.
If it gets a little bit more, Iwould step in and maybe cook
some things in the oven.
On a day-to-day routine theyhave their chores, which they
both have a list that they planout every week.
Who's responsible for what onwhat day, okay, and if there are
(13:56):
busy times in their schedule, Imight pitch in and help to
facilitate that, because onething that we try to do here is
teamwork, encourage that we'reall in one apartment during the
course of the day, and so we allneed to help each other.
So we try to make that areality in all of our day-to-day
(14:21):
activities.
But for the most part, jamesand Kristen have an excellent
grasp of the planning, thepurchasing and the cooking slash
preparation for their meals.
Due to the covid happening afew years ago, laundry, uh is
done by kristin's sister andit's kind of just kept that way.
(14:44):
Uh, laundry with james is takencare of by his mom.
Similar thing just became aroutine.
Didn't really see a need to tochange it they don't.
Greta Harrison (14:56):
There's no washer dryer in the apartment.
Lynne Metzger (14:59):
There are.
And so what happened was duringCOVID, uh, the parents would do
the laundry because of what wasgoing on.
Now, um, the?
Uh, james's parents still stilldo, and it's more so a residual
from the activity in COVID, andI think it just kind of works
(15:20):
out better for them.
Okay, kristen does her likesheets and towels with Usha when
Usha's here on Wednesday orThursday and the balance of her
clothes.
That maybe need more specialtype of laundry care.
Uh, special garments.
(15:41):
Her sister picks that up, Idon't know, once a week or once
two weeks, I'm not sure theroutine, but that's, that's how
they they manage their cycle.
They're responsible for theirtime.
They've got a very good graspon time um and uh, for the most
part and that's part of the ageresponsibility is just to kind
(16:05):
of keep them working towards theschedule if it needs to have to
be a schedule.
So that's basically how thehousehold runs in a nutshell.
Greta Harrison (16:16):
So what about financial things like paying the
bills?
How does that get handled?
Lynne Metzger (16:23):
So in regard to, I'll just do the, the grocery,
the grocery money James andKristen independently go to the
bank on a weekly basis withtheir aid and withdraw monies
for the grocery for thefollowing week and we help them
pay the bill at the checker atthe store.
(16:45):
In regard to their own personaleffects and incidentals, they
both have a debit card and cashand know how to use it.
Sometimes needs some extra helpIn regards to the larger rent,
et cetera, utilities the parentshandle all that Okay.
Greta Harrison (17:04):
Okay, so it's a combination.
It's really a team effort.
Lynne Metzger (17:07):
It is.
Greta Harrison (17:08):
And everybody has some responsibility.
Lynne Metzger (17:10):
They do yeah.
Greta Harrison (17:12):
Okay, Now, when you were talking about meal prep
, I saw a great picture of Ithink it was you, Kristen, but
it might have been James holdingup two plates of really healthy
looking food that you hadcooked, and I heard that you
were in weight, that you guysare very avid participants of
(17:33):
Weight Watchers.
Is that correct?
Yes, we were in Weight Watchers.
Do you want to tell me a littlebit about that?
Um, thank you, thank you.
Thank you, Lynn.
Yeah, yeah, I'll just pop in.
Kristen Rupple (17:44):
Okay, well, we, James and I, joined the Weight
Watchers.
I feel like I lose weight maybe, and um, we watch our eat.
And we watch our eat, of course, and we go to, we watch his
meetings.
We stay in the morning 9o'clock.
Greta Harrison (18:04):
Okay, you go to the meetings and you follow
their meal plans.
Kristen Rupple (18:08):
Right, you try to cook the healthy recipes.
Greta Harrison (18:12):
That's right.
Okay, I think that's a greatexample, and, lynn, you can pop
in for this to help too with myquestion that I'm about to add
here.
You all also with your diets.
You manage around gluten-freeand thyroid issues and things
like that, correct, that's right.
It's something that I can't do.
Dairy you can't do dairy, okay.
(18:34):
And what about gluten?
Do you avoid gluten too?
Lynne Metzger (18:38):
oh, sometimes not all the time so, if I could
just interject so with kristin,her dietary um restrictions are,
uh, to be cautious with thedairy and cautious with the
gluten.
Um, it's never been rolled downthat that's a hard fast rule,
but that's her preferred methodof of shopping, looking for
(19:00):
those items and also cookingwith those items.
But she's not restricted fromhaving them from a dietary
doctor reason, but she is toldthat she needs to.
You know, keep those at aminimum, okay, yeah, minimum,
okay, yeah.
James does not have any dietaryrestrictions per se that I'm
(19:22):
aware of, and so he's.
You know he generally likes toeat the same type of food that
Kristen does, if it's agluten-free and or dairy-free,
depending on what the meal is.
Greta Harrison (19:37):
It makes sense because they're together.
His diet is more in line withhers, instead of cooking two
different meals for everything.
Okay, right, right, all right.
Okay, I think that's great.
Well, I commend you on thehealthy cooking, thank you.
I appreciate that.
Thank you for listening toepisode 25 of Born Fabulous
(20:00):
Podcast's third season.
This was the first of threeepisodes featuring Kristen and
James.
I hope you enjoyed it and wantto hear more.
Short video clips from mostepisodes are available on our
YouTube channel and onBornFabulousPodcastcom.
You can also hear all releasedepisodes of Born Fabulous
Podcast on YouTube.
(20:21):
Now, in episode 26, you willhear Kristen and James Zoll and
Lynn Metzger further discusssupport staff.
James and Kristen also talkabout their wedding and what
marriage really means to them.
Kristen and James have Downsyndrome.
Please follow and like us onFacebook, instagram, twitter and
(20:43):
Threads.
If you enjoyed this episode,I'd be honored if you would
leave a review wherever youheard this podcast.
Now, please enjoy this clip ofLove's a Potion.
The lyrics are by MelissaRiggio, who had Down syndrome
and was the focus of Season oneepisodes one through four.
The music and voice are byRachel Fuller.
Love is a potion.
(21:22):
Love is passion.
Love never fails, lost inmotion.
Hello, my name is Greta Harrison.
Welcome to Born FabulousPodcast, season 3, episode 25.
The theme of this season isyoung adults with intellectual
disabilities living full livesof independence and
interdependence.
This episode features Kristenand James Zoll and Lynn Metzger.
It is the first of threeepisodes with Kristen, james and
(00:24):
Lynn, which is part of anin-depth series about marriage
featuring parents,self-advocates with support
staff and an employer.
Lynn is an important member oftheir support team.
Kristen and James both havejobs that they love.
They've been married over fiveyears.
James and Kristen have Downsyndrome.
Now please enjoy this clip.
(00:45):
Of Love is a Potion.
The lyrics are by MelissaRiggio, who was the focus of
season one episodes one throughfour.
She had Down syndrome.
The music and voice are byRachel Fuller.
Rachel Fuller (01:12):
Love is everything.
Love is all around, love is allaround.
Love is a potion.
Love is passion.
Love is devotion.
Greta Harrison (01:37):
Love is fusion.
Hello James Zoll and KristenRuppel Zoll and Lynn Metzger, I
am so happy to meet with youtoday.
Thank you so much for giving usyour time and letting us have a
glimpse into your lives, hello.
Kristen Rupple (01:58):
Hello, hello.
Greta Harrison (02:01):
And I want you to take a minute and tell us a
little bit about yourselves.
We can start with James orKristen, whichever one of you
wants to go first.
You can just give me your namesand maybe one or two things you
want people to know about you.
Kristen Rupple (02:17):
I'll go first.
Okay, hi, I'm going to thankyou for joining the show and I
am.
My name is Kristen Rupple.
I'm 38 years old.
I'm working my job at LoveWorks First Aid, first Aid Cards
and my volunteer job doing theCenter for Community.
(02:41):
I'm working with the Centerwareand I got three sisters okay,
all right, thank you, james.
Greta Harrison (02:52):
Can you tell us your name and a little bit about
yourself?
Kristen Rupple (02:56):
my name james.
Yeah, oh, it's okay, it's stillyour mess, yeah.
Lynne Metzger (03:05):
James, maybe you can let Greta know about how you
work at my Yard Live.
James Zoul (03:11):
Yes, yes, I can.
Yeah, I work at my Yard Liveand making a new bill.
Greta Harrison (03:26):
Okay, Thank you, James.
I know you love your job andwe're going to talk about that
later on.
Thank you and Lynn, can youtell us a little bit about what
you do?
What is your title and what isyour role when you help support
James and Kristen?
Lynne Metzger (03:45):
So my title is Home Health Aid and my role here
is as a support person.
James and Kristen have beenliving on their own for a few
years now I think maybe four andthere are some life skills that
(04:07):
I help them with on a dailybasis.
But they, uh, they run thishousehold pretty good.
But my role is to support themin um, keeping the household
running um and assisting themwhen they go to their work,
making sure that they're, youknow, prepared and just kind of
giving them just a little extra,just a little extra helping
(04:29):
hand.
They do really good on theirown, but sometimes they need
just somebody to help you know,maneuver some of the more
complex issues.
So that's my role.
I'm here to help and supportand whatever it is that they
need.
Greta Harrison (04:48):
OK.
So I know that they take thelead.
I know that they run thehousehold.
When you said, I know they bothwork and volunteer, both Do you
help with rides for them or forthem, or yes, okay, so, um,
(05:12):
myself, I am kristin's job coach.
Lynne Metzger (05:12):
I provide the transportation to her work.
Um, we did the interviewprocess together with them, got
her familiar with it and then Ihad a hands-off approach.
She would would be independentat work, but I provide
transportation, facilitateschedule changes.
James has another aide thathelps on his work.
(05:33):
Her name is Kayla.
Greta Harrison (05:36):
So let's talk about when you guys were in
school.
I know you were both includedmost of the time in general
education classes in school.
James, can you share yourfavorite memory of maybe when
you were in school?
Art?
James Zoul (05:52):
class.
Greta Harrison (05:53):
Art class.
Are you an artist?
James Zoul (05:58):
No, just school.
Greta Harrison (06:00):
Just in school?
Yeah, but you loved your artclass.
Yeah, okay, just in school, butbut you loved your art class
okay.
Was it because of the teacher,or was it the teacher and the
kids?
Why?
Why is that special for you?
James Zoul (06:17):
Yes, both Kids and teacher.
Greta Harrison (06:21):
Okay, all right, but you're glad that you were
included in school, aren't you?
Yes, also fully included inschool, in general education
classes most of the time untilhigh school, and even then, most
(06:41):
of the time.
Can you share a favorite memoryof your school years?
Kristen Rupple (06:47):
I went to Wissakami Foreign Arts.
I take dance ballet and team inWissak.
I'm teen in music and in myhigh school I went to prom.
I went to NAMO with my friends.
Greta Harrison (07:05):
You like going to prom?
Huh, mm-hmm.
Okay yeah, you had someboyfriends before James, didn't
you?
And James, you had somegirlfriends before Kristen,
didn't you?
Yeah, yeah, you had somegirlfriends before, okay, well,
and Kristen, were you glad thatyou were included in general
education classes in school?
(07:26):
Were you happy about that?
Kristen Rupple (07:29):
Yes, I'm happy.
Greta Harrison (07:30):
Okay.
Thank you, James.
Did you always know that youwould meet the love of your life
and that you would get marriedone day when you grew up?
Did you know that?
Yeah, I knew.
You did know that you wouldmeet the love of your life and
that you would get married oneday when you grew up.
Did you know that?
Yeah, yeah you did know that.
Yes, okay, all right.
How about you, kristen?
Did you always know that?
(07:51):
I know that my dream is gettingmarried your dream was getting
married and you had a lot ofsisters so, so you watched them
get married, right?
Kristen Rupple (08:01):
Yes, I do, and James is so sweet to me and I
stare at his sparkly eye.
Greta Harrison (08:08):
James is so sweet with you.
And what was that after?
You said after that James is sosweet with you.
Kristen Rupple (08:15):
I always stare at his sparkly eye, like always.
You like his sparkly eyes, Istare at it.
You stare at his sparkly eye,like always.
Greta Harrison (08:19):
You like his sparkly eyes.
Kristen Rupple (08:21):
I stare at it.
Greta Harrison (08:23):
You stare at it.
Oh, that's sweet At his sparklyeyes.
I love that.
So would you both tell me astory, a story about how you met
?
Kristen Rupple (08:39):
Who wants to talk about that?
We met in 2003.
He's my best friend and we grewup together.
Greta Harrison (08:44):
And when you met you already you were kind of
dating somebody else and Jameswas kind of dating somebody else
, right, and you just got alongbetter with each other, right?
You were like magnets to eachother, right, right, yeah, okay,
each other right, you.
You were like magnets to eachother, right, right, yeah, okay,
(09:04):
james.
What did you first think ofKristen when you started dating
her?
What did you first think of her?
Love all, all day.
Can you say that again one moretime, james?
James Zoul (09:16):
love all day.
Greta Harrison (09:18):
Love all day.
James Zoul (09:19):
Love all day yeah.
Greta Harrison (09:21):
Okay, and Kristen?
What did you first think ofJames?
Kristen Rupple (09:26):
He's very sweet.
Greta Harrison (09:28):
He is very sweet .
It's a very important qualityin a husband.
All right, did you each knowthat you wanted to move out of
your parents' house when yougrew up?
Kristen Rupple (09:40):
When I never I talked to my parents.
I sat down with them.
I talked to them.
That's what we do I sit downwith my parents, talk to my
parents.
Greta Harrison (09:51):
So you sat down with your parents to tell them
that you were going to want tomove out.
Kristen Rupple (09:57):
That's right.
Greta Harrison (09:58):
Okay, what about you, james?
Did you do the same thing?
Yeah, you did.
You did the same, so you satdown with your parents and you
told them you wanted to move out?
Yeah, okay.
And what did you have to learn?
What did you have to work on tobe able to move out of your
(10:21):
parents' house?
You know there's a lot toliving on your own.
You know there's the shoppingfor groceries and paying bills
and all of that, what did youhave to learn?
Kristen Rupple (10:35):
I learned like going to the grocery store with
my dad, trash, and dishes.
Greta Harrison (10:47):
Okay.
And what about cooking andcooking?
Yes, and cooking, okay, okay.
And when you were learningthose skills, was that when you
were still at home and yourparents helped you?
Yes, they helped you learnthose skills, okay.
Did you have chores, kristen,kristen?
(11:08):
Did you have chores?
Yes, I do.
And when you were growing up,did you have chores like when
you lived with your parents?
Kristen Rupple (11:16):
Yeah.
Greta Harrison (11:17):
You did?
I did, okay All right, james.
When you were living at parents.
Yeah, you did, I did, okay Allright, james.
When you were living at home.
Did you have chores?
James Zoul (11:25):
Yard work with dad.
Greta Harrison (11:29):
That's a big one , okay, so your yard work you
did with your dad.
So when you moved out, is thatwhen you learned about cooking
and grocery shopping and all ofthat?
Did you learn that when youmoved out or did your parents
help you before?
James Zoul (11:47):
I don't know.
Greta Harrison (11:48):
I'm sorry, can you say that one more time?
James Zoul (11:51):
I don't know.
Greta Harrison (11:53):
You don't know.
Okay, all right, that's okay.
Now tell us about your supportteam.
You have Lynn who helps you,and you have other people.
We have four aides.
Kristen Rupple (12:08):
Okay, we have four aides and they help us all
the time.
Greta Harrison (12:14):
They help you all the time.
Okay, can you tell us a littlebit about how they help you?
Kristen Rupple (12:22):
Drive me all the time, okay, going to the store
and laundry and who needs help?
Greta Harrison (12:31):
Okay, and Lynn, are you there?
I am, lynn.
You want to fill in some gapsof how you help and maybe the
rest of the team helps.
Okay.
Lynne Metzger (12:45):
Absolutely so basically, james and Kristen, on
a weekly basis they puttogether their meal plan for the
week.
That's done as a team.
James and Kristen.
They collaborate and decidewhat kind of meals, and they're
they're really good at it.
They pick balanced meals,sometimes treats here and there,
(13:10):
and do a sanity check, makesure we've got everything
covered and take them groceryshopping so they are able to do
the planning, the shopping andwhen we come back, limited
(13:31):
cooking, depends, microwaveThings like that is totally fine
.
If it gets a little bit more, Iwould step in and maybe cook
some things in the oven.
On a day-to-day routine theyhave their chores, which they
both have a list that they planout every week.
Who's responsible for what onwhat day, okay, and if there are
(13:56):
busy times in their schedule, Imight pitch in and help to
facilitate that, because onething that we try to do here is
teamwork, encourage that we'reall in one apartment during the
course of the day, and so we allneed to help each other.
So we try to make that areality in all of our day-to-day
(14:21):
activities.
But for the most part, jamesand Kristen have an excellent
grasp of the planning, thepurchasing and the cooking slash
preparation for their meals.
Due to the covid happening afew years ago, laundry, uh is
done by kristin's sister andit's kind of just kept that way.
(14:44):
Uh, laundry with james is takencare of by his mom.
Similar thing just became aroutine.
Didn't really see a need to tochange it they don't.
Greta Harrison (14:56):
There's no washer dryer in the apartment.
Lynne Metzger (14:59):
There are.
And so what happened was duringCOVID, uh, the parents would do
the laundry because of what wasgoing on.
Now, um, the?
Uh, james's parents still stilldo, and it's more so a residual
from the activity in COVID, andI think it just kind of works
(15:20):
out better for them.
Okay, kristen does her likesheets and towels with Usha when
Usha's here on Wednesday orThursday and the balance of her
clothes.
That maybe need more specialtype of laundry care.
Uh, special garments.
(15:41):
Her sister picks that up, Idon't know, once a week or once
two weeks, I'm not sure theroutine, but that's, that's how
they they manage their cycle.
They're responsible for theirtime.
They've got a very good graspon time um and uh, for the most
part and that's part of the ageresponsibility is just to kind
(16:05):
of keep them working towards theschedule if it needs to have to
be a schedule.
So that's basically how thehousehold runs in a nutshell.
Greta Harrison (16:16):
So what about financial things like paying the
bills?
How does that get handled?
Lynne Metzger (16:23):
So in regard to, I'll just do the, the grocery,
the grocery money James andKristen independently go to the
bank on a weekly basis withtheir aid and withdraw monies
for the grocery for thefollowing week and we help them
pay the bill at the checker atthe store.
(16:45):
In regard to their own personaleffects and incidentals, they
both have a debit card and cashand know how to use it.
Sometimes needs some extra helpIn regards to the larger rent,
et cetera, utilities the parentshandle all that Okay.
Greta Harrison (17:04):
Okay, so it's a combination.
It's really a team effort.
Lynne Metzger (17:07):
It is.
Greta Harrison (17:08):
And everybody has some responsibility.
Lynne Metzger (17:10):
They do yeah.
Greta Harrison (17:12):
Okay, Now, when you were talking about meal prep
, I saw a great picture of Ithink it was you, Kristen, but
it might have been James holdingup two plates of really healthy
looking food that you hadcooked, and I heard that you
were in weight, that you guysare very avid participants of
(17:33):
Weight Watchers.
Is that correct?
Yes, we were in Weight Watchers.
Do you want to tell me a littlebit about that?
Um, thank you, thank you.
Thank you, Lynn.
Yeah, yeah, I'll just pop in.
Kristen Rupple (17:44):
Okay, well, we, James and I, joined the Weight
Watchers.
I feel like I lose weight maybe, and um, we watch our eat.
And we watch our eat, of course, and we go to, we watch his
meetings.
We stay in the morning 9o'clock.
Greta Harrison (18:04):
Okay, you go to the meetings and you follow
their meal plans.
Kristen Rupple (18:08):
Right, you try to cook the healthy recipes.
Greta Harrison (18:12):
That's right.
Okay, I think that's a greatexample, and, lynn, you can pop
in for this to help too with myquestion that I'm about to add
here.
You all also with your diets.
You manage around gluten-freeand thyroid issues and things
like that, correct, that's right.
It's something that I can't do.
Dairy you can't do dairy, okay.
(18:34):
And what about gluten?
Do you avoid gluten too?
Lynne Metzger (18:38):
oh, sometimes not all the time so, if I could
just interject so with kristin,her dietary um restrictions are,
uh, to be cautious with thedairy and cautious with the
gluten.
Um, it's never been rolled downthat that's a hard fast rule,
but that's her preferred methodof of shopping, looking for
(19:00):
those items and also cookingwith those items.
But she's not restricted fromhaving them from a dietary
doctor reason, but she is toldthat she needs to.
You know, keep those at aminimum, okay, yeah, minimum,
okay, yeah.
James does not have any dietaryrestrictions per se that I'm
(19:22):
aware of, and so he's.
You know he generally likes toeat the same type of food that
Kristen does, if it's agluten-free and or dairy-free,
depending on what the meal is.
Greta Harrison (19:37):
It makes sense because they're together.
His diet is more in line withhers, instead of cooking two
different meals for everything.
Okay, right, right, all right.
Okay, I think that's great.
Well, I commend you on thehealthy cooking, thank you.
I appreciate that.
Thank you for listening toepisode 25 of Born Fabulous
(20:00):
Podcast's third season.
This was the first of threeepisodes featuring Kristen and
James.
I hope you enjoyed it and wantto hear more.
Short video clips from mostepisodes are available on our
YouTube channel and onBornFabulousPodcastcom.
You can also hear all releasedepisodes of Born Fabulous
Podcast on YouTube.
(20:21):
Now, in episode 26, you willhear Kristen and James Zoll and
Lynn Metzger further discusssupport staff.
James and Kristen also talkabout their wedding and what
marriage really means to them.
Kristen and James have Downsyndrome.
Please follow and like us onFacebook, instagram, twitter and
(20:43):
Threads.
If you enjoyed this episode,I'd be honored if you would
leave a review wherever youheard this podcast.
Now, please enjoy this clip ofLove's a Potion.
The lyrics are by MelissaRiggio, who had Down syndrome
and was the focus of Season oneepisodes one through four.
The music and voice are byRachel Fuller.
Love is a potion.
(21:22):
Love is passion.
Love never fails, lost inmotion.
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