Down Syndrome Awareness Month!!!

Welcome to October! 

Many know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, but did you also know that it is Down Syndrome Awareness Month?  Wellllllll...it IS!  ☺

Once again, I am participating in Unringing the Bell's annual 31 for 21, which is a bunch of bloggers that have made the committment to blog everyday of October for Down syndrome awareness.  All of the posts do not have to be about Down syndrome (Ds).  Our life does not revolve around Ds, but there are definitely some different challenges that we face because of it.  I will try to write about the mix of both and in between. 

So, today I challenge you to smile because you have someone with Ds in your life!  If you don't, just look at this precious face- I guarantee you will smile! 

She's awake...BEWARE.

Everyone has been warned. 

Mmmmmm, Chili's!

Join Chili's in the fight against childhood cancer.

Create a Pepper.

 
I created this pepper for Ethan.  You can create your own pepper here.  If you are able, please eat out at Chili's today!  100% of the profits will be turned over to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital! 

This I Believe {Seriously, a MUST read}

My friend, Michelle, called me early the other morning.  She proceeds to tell me that her daughter, Kayleigh (she took the Reflections pictures of Ethan), wanted to do her AP English paper on the "R" word.  The topic had to be controversial and she would have to persuade the reader that her opinion was the right one.  The "R" word topic seemed perfect!  Until, her lovely older brother chimed in.  "You can't do that."  Um, ok...why not, Devin?  Because that is what I wrote my paper on last year for the same teacher, and I got an "A". 

Needless to say, I was in tears.  Good tears, of course.  Michelle said the sweetest thing to me that morning:  "You have no idea how much of an impact you and Ethan have had on my kids". 

What is so amazing to me is that Devin wrote this paper without telling anyone.  He didn't look for recognition or praise.  He did this from his heart.  He had enough conviction to go against the norm of society, especially teenage society to stick up for what's right.  Ethan- my darling, wonderful, loving, son- taught him. 

I offer to you, with permission and great pride, Devin's paper. 


This I Believe
By:  Devin Lyons
13 December 2009

To many, a word is just a word, used to communicate one’s thoughts, ideas, and knowledge to another, nothing more. Hardly ever does one stop and think of the true power of words. Everlasting encouragement in times of need, the passing on of crucial information, saying a first hello and final good-bye to a loved one, all given such powerful influence based upon the words used. The choice of one’s words can sway mass amounts of people in their thoughts and can even move some to tears. Words can also discriminate and cause anger and hatred among people. They can be used as slander, cut our enemies down, and ruin a lifelong reputation. I believe that many people in this age have become too comfortable with some words which offend many others, which deliberately disrespects others by refusing to try to comprehend why they are offended by these words and instead conforming to a single-minded state of being. These words used by many very causally as a joking term can be a figurative slap in the face to others who have dealt with the literal subject. I believe that in a world with an endless amount of words and phrases that we should be obligated as descent human beings to take the route we know will not offend or spark conflict.


I used to be one of those kids who would always speak without thinking, not caring what words I used and how they truly affected those around me, whether I was speaking or referring to them or not. The term “retard” itself was probably one of the most common words in my vocabulary, which makes sense considering the stupid things I see on a daily basis because of some of my friends’ actions. This specific word is what changed my views on speaking due to a courageous little boy and his mother.


“Haha, yeah we always do retarded things like that.” That sentence still sticks out in my mind like a sore thumb. To many people, it seems like a simple enough sentence, seemingly harmless, used only to describe a healthy friendship; or at least that’s what my single-minded brain thought at the time. But this time, a mother put her two cents in. In a very frank message, she explained her story concerning her son. He has suffered and survived a three-year bout of leukemia, back surgery, almost debilitating ligaments, and also has autism and Down syndrome. Oh, and he’s also only eight years old.


In this message she explained, quite frankly I must add once again, how the term “retard” is not only an insult to her and all others who are medically diagnosed as “mentally retarded” but her son as well. When we use this word, she explained to me, we not only infer that these mentally handicapped kids are stupid but present the idea that they are incapable of doing anything smart or praiseworthy in their lives. Her last statement to me on the subject was “Hasn’t my son been through enough in his life to not have to worry about people making fun of him for something he has absolutely no control over?”


One single word caused this. One single word, spoken one time. I hadn’t meant it in this meaning, but that could never control the outcome. How many times had she heard this hated word in this context? Five? Ten? One hundred? More? Her son, who had been through more in eight years than most people will ever encounter their entire lives, had made it through the physical trials of life, but now was being subjected to a stereotype in which he was better than. His mother saw him struggle through one of the most deadly forms of cancer, back and ligament problems, and watches him grow up apart from normal kids because he cannot speak and communicate due to his mental conditions, and they are strong enough to push through. However, the words we use to speak of extreme stupidity which are the same words which characterize her son’s condition have enough power to draw her to tears.


There is no justification for us in choosing words we know will negatively affect others. In the world we live in, we have countless numbers of words to describe basically the exact same thing. So why do we choose to use a word over and over again that may hurt another when there are tens of other words or phrases that get across the exact same message? I believe that it’s one of the ultimate forms of disrespect to use words we know will lead to another feeling offended. Although some people view this as people being too sensitive to a simple word, words are what dictate the world. Each person in this world knows that there are some things that if they would hear, they would go off. This is the exact same situation that I am speaking of. That sentence, that phrase, that word, it just makes us lose control of our emotions for a split second, no matter if the speaker meant it to be offensive or not. It causes superfluous anger and hostility into an already volatile world. Choosing not to avoid this effect by simply changing a few words just because you don’t care what how other people may react or be affected is extremely disrespectful. If there’s such an easy way to avoid conflict or making another feel offended right in front of us, I believe that it’s only descent and respectful to everyone around us to take advantage of that.

Random observation {by Scott}

Scott was looking at the atlas the other day and noticed that Atwater, CA (where we moved from) looked like it was the same latitude as Winston-Salem, NC (where we live now).  So, I looked it up via trusty Google and sure enough, they are pretty darn close!

Atwater:  37° 20' 52" N
Winston-Salem:  36° 5' 59" N

So, basically we moved STRAIGHT across the country.

Random, yes, but that's how we roll... 

Coolness from Uppercase Living!

I have some exciting stuff to share! 

NEW! Exclusive Halloween Welcome Kits

Greet all your little ghosts and goblins this season with Uppercase Living's new—and exclusive—Halloween Welcome Kits! Available to customers beginning today, September 1 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) MT, through October 11 at 11:59 p.m. (midnight) MT or while supplies last, these kits are just $7.95 (an over $20 value) and are great for adding fun Halloween décor to any space. You can use them as a door hanger, wall hanging, or display them on an easel—at this price you can afford to buy one for yourself and one for a friend!

Each kit comes with a newly released black Mini Punched Metal Tile, black ribbon, and a Halloween welcome expression, which is available in three pre-selected colors: Valencia Orange; Electric Lime; Soft Silver.

The Halloween kit is only available for a limited time, so don’t wait.

Start your very own Uppercase Living business for FREE!!!

Beginning today, September 1 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) MT, through October 11 at 11:59 p.m. (midnight) MT, new Demonstrators who purchase our Essentials Starter Kit ($99) and achieve $400 in qualifying Open House sales during their first 65 days will be reimbursed their entire kit purchase price!

Don’t let this limited-time offer pass you by.  Join my team TODAY!


Hostess Bump-Ups ARE BACK!!!

From September 13 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) MT to October 11 at 11:59 p.m. (midnight) MT any Hostess who submits an Open House will automatically bump up a level on her Hostess Rewards! (This is in addition to any Double-Up amounts your Hostess may apply to her Open House.)

What does this promotion mean for you as a Hostess? More free products and additional half-off items, of course! Here is an example of what you can expect:

Typically, if an Open House sales total reaches $500, your Hostess would receive:

· $70 in free products

· two (2) half-off items

With the help of the Hostess Bump-Up promotion, however, Hostesses will receive the following for an Open House with the same total:


· $100 in free product

· three (3) half-off items

This is a fantastic way to kick off the new Holiday Mini!


Holiday Mini???  What is that? 

Holiday Mini Now Available!

The 2010 Idea Catalog: Holiday Edition is now live, you can purchase décor and gifts for all of your upcoming holiday celebrations! This catalog, available from September 1 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) MT to December 31 at 11:59 p.m. (midnight) MT, features an exciting collection of seasonal expressions, including classic vinyl, new Decorative Prints, invitations, cards, and of course, our latest product, Iron-on Vinyl!

Contact me to take full advantage of all the possibilities this new catalog has to offer!

Kristen Faulkner

Independent Demonstrator, Uppercase Living

336.782.0580

faulknerkd@gmail.com

http://kris10z.uppercaseliving.net

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

1st Day of 3rd Grade

Ethan didn't go to school on the actual first day of school because he had an appointment and I didn't want to mess with the first day of school- it was a new school/teacher after all.  Well, that may have been the wrong idea because he was in the worst of moods ALL.DAY.LONG.  Finally, I asked him if he was mad because he wasn't at school and he immediately signed, "YES!".  Oooook, then....

When I woke Ethan up at 6am yesterday morning, he popped up signed "YES!" when I asked if he was ready to go to school.  Um, so I think the boy wanted to go to school, what do YOU think?  LOL 

My Mom bought Ethan his new super-cool backpack (look close- the camo is actually skateboards!) from Potter Barn Kids and I topped it off with the matching lunch tote.  I think the backpack is perfect size for him!  And, he is just too flippin' cute.

We got into class and Ethan was, obviously, ready for Mom to leave so he could go about his day.  I didn't get any calls, so it must have gone fairly well.  That is, until the last 15 minutes of school.  Apparently, they had a fire drill, so Ethan was placed under the shade tree outside so he wasn't in direct sunlight.  Something happened while out there.  He either got bit/stung or he had an allergic reaction to pollen/poison ivy or something outside. 

When I got to school to pick Ethan up, his face was breaking out in hives and his right eye was almost swollen to the point of being completely closed!  I looked at the assistant and asked what happened!!?!?!?  She hadn't noticed.  This led me to believe that this reaction was happening fast, so I zipped him down the street to his pediatrician to make sure his airway wasn't swelling up too. 

Luckily, his heart rate/pulse was good, so Ethan was given Benedryl and then monitored for about a half hour.  Boy, that Benedryl was a miracle drug!  It kicked in fast!  The swelling in his eye was cut in half by the time we left.  We left the office without a clear answer of what Ethan was having a reaction to, but the doctor was on-call for us if we needed.

I put Ethan down to rest once we got home, but he woke up not long afterwards crying.  Ethan's pain tolerance is so high that when he cries, something is really wrong.  He cried for over an hour and he won't let me comfort him.  It is one of the most heartbreaking things- to have a child who does not want you to comfort them when they hurt.  It is like he goes into his own survival mode of having to do it himself.  One day, I pray, that he allows me to comfort him when he hurts...

The Benedryl was wearing off after only 2 hours and we couldn't give it to him again until 4 hours had passed, so we had quite a few episodes of misery last night and today.  It was a looooooooooooooooonng night. 

Ethan did not get to go to school today.  :*(  He got to stay home and have Mommy monitor his swelling and give him Benedryl around the clock.  I went and got some Zyrtec eye drops tonight and I am hoping that they will do the trick for him to be able to have a good night's rest and better day tomorrow. 

I really hope this is not a preview of how the year is going to go! 

Sleep Study Results

Overall, GREAT news!  Surgery was a success!

Ethan's Central Apnea episodes went from 98 to TWO!  His OSA episodes were minimal, but still there.  He did not have any oxygen desaturation lower than the 90's, which is great! 

Because the obstructions are still present, just not causing as much havoc, we will have to repeat the study again in a year to make sure that we can remain CPAP/BiPAP free.  Ugh and Woot. 

YAY, Sam!

This is our gorgeous niece, Samantha, signing her declaration of candidacy to graduate from UC Merced in the Spring!!!  WOOT!  Go Sam!  We are SOOOOO proud of you!  Reach for the stars, doll.  ♥

Happy 17th Birthday, Sebastian!

Truth be told, I am in total denial that my oldest nephew turned 17 years old today.  I mean, really?  It was just yesterday that I was waiting in the waiting room along with the rest of the family anxiously awaiting Sebastian's arrival.  I will never forget, the delivery room had a small window, and me, Kim's bff, my grandma, and my cousin all crowded that little window in order to see when Sebastian was born.  It would have been great to get a picture of that from the inside, LOL. 

Sebastian and I have always had a special connection.  I have watched him overcome some significant medical obstacles and grow into a young man.  Kim wrote a very touching article for her column this week- you can read it HERE.

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SEBASTIAN!!!  We love you very much!  Continue to make us proud.  We miss you!  *muah*  ♥

For my MIL

Dear Lynda,

Enjoy your eye candy. ☺

You're welcome,
Your Daughter-in-law

{Thanks to GoogleImages for providing said eye candy for MIL}

Happy 4th Birthday, K(Ch)ristopher!

Today is my youngest nephew, Kristopher's 4th birthday!  Happy birthday, little man!  We love you very much over in North Carolina.  I hope that you were spoiled with lots of love today.  ♥muah

Exciting News!

Some may have just got an e-mail from me, but I want to reach out to those that may not be in my contacts...


Dear Friends & Family:

I have a few questions for you:

Are you and your children eating the recommended 9-13 servings of fruits and vegetables a day? Do you have a history of disease in your family? Are you interested in better health and nutrition for you and your family?

These were all questions I was asking myself when I was introduced to Juice Plus+ by a close friend. And today ... my family and I are benefiting from Juice Plus+!

Despite the name, Juice Plus+ is not juice ... it's a whole food nutritional product made from 17 fruits and vegetables compounded into capsule or gummie form. The vine ripened fruits and vegetables are juiced, after which the sugars, salt and water are removed, and then it is dehydrated under low temperatures in order to maintain the nutrient content ... it is then encapsulated or made into gummie form. Juice Plus contains phytonutrients and antioxidants that have been proven through numerous research studies to be absorbed into the body, unlike many synthetic vitamins on the market.

Juice Plus is gluten free and dairy free with no artificial flavorings, additives, or colors.

The purpose of Juice Plus is not to replace your consumption of fruits and vegetables, but to bridge the gap between what we ARE eating and what we SHOULD be eating. There are numerous double blind, placebo controlled research studies that show that JP+ prevents cancer, stroke and heart disease. You can find information about the clinical research on my website noted below.

Juice Plus offers a great Children's Health Study where kids ages 4-18 can take JP+ for free for up to 3 years when an adult in their life is taking JP+. Your only obligation is to complete a short survey every four months. There are over 750,000 children participating in the health study. Info about the study can be found here: http://www.childrenshealthstudy.com/index.htm

There is a short video located on my website (http://www.fillthegap-juiceplus.com/) that gives an overview of Juice Plus. It's worth watching!

As someone who has suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis for over 8 years, my energy is stripped away on a daily basis. I have benefitted greatly already with the energy I have since taking Juice Plus+! AND, Scott has reported that he has more energy than the younger guys that he works with!

I would love to hear what you think, and I would love even more for you to take the step with me to a healthier self!

Feedback, please! Ü

Saying Good-bye to Grandma Lynda

So sad that Grandma is leaving!





I ♥ this pic even though you can't see Ethan or Scott's faces.  So sweet.





Until next visit!  Thank you for spending half of your July in the humid southeast with us!!!  We love you.

I want...

I want to have a conversation with Ethan.  I want for him to say something cute that I can share and remember forever. 

Seriously, all of you parents with kids who talk incessantly just don't realize how lucky you really are to hear those voices and thought processes come together. 

Deedah

I have been seeing the link for Deedah all over Facebook the last few weeks and I couldn't be happier!  I was able to pick up the movie while in Florida for the NDSC Convention.  I started watching it one night in the hotel room and finished it with my family the following day.  This is such a wonderful short film about a young boy with Down (UP- right, Jonathan?!!) Syndrome and his sister and the bond that they share. 

Ethan is an only child, but I do pray that will not always be the case.  I can only hope for the day that Ethan will have his very own "Deedah" and that they will have a relationship as awesome as Charlotte and Jonathan. 

I highly recommend purchasing the movie.  It is a perfect length for sharing with friends over a visit.  I have shared it with a few friends already.  You can read more about Deedah, here.

Beautiful work by Kayleigh Lyons!

Do you remember Kayleigh?  She took the pictures of Ethan for her Reflections project along with two other precious ones with Down syndrome.  Kayleigh is so talented- I am slightly envious.  She took it upon herself to draw a picture of Ryan, one of the other children from the Reflections project.  I was so impressed that I asked her to draw one of Ethan.  I gave her a couple of choices of pictures to use and she chose Ethan's "Mr. GQ" shot that Bethany took a couple of years ago. 

I am amazed, simply amazed.  Kayleigh is SIXTEEN years old.  Sixteen and FULL of amazing talent.  She has such an amazing heart to boot.  I just love this girl.  I have told her that she could probably sell some of these drawings and help pay for her college education!  So, seriously- if you have a picture that you would love to see in a more artistic way, let me know!  I will pass it on. 

Love you, Kayleigh!  Thank you!

Another Sleep Study

Sunday night, we headed up to Brenner's for Ethan's follow-up sleep study post-tonsillectomy/tongue reduction.  I look forward to sleep studies about as much as I would a root canal without novacaine.  Seriously. 

I was told that we could get some chloral-hydrate (sedative) when we got to the hospital, but then the tech called and said that I was given misinformation and that they don't do the sedative anymore.  Alrighty then...

I was pleasantly surprised how well Ethan did during the process of getting the electrodes on his head and the canula situated around his nose.  Mind you, I had him in arm restraints, but still...

One thing that made things easier for me was that the hospital is finally using a odorless paste vs. the melt-your-nosehairs glue they used to use.  The paste washed right out, which was SO nice.

Ethan's biggest challenge during a sleep study is keeping him on his back.  He is such a tummy sleeper that he constantly wants to flip to his belly, but when you have a canula up your nose, it is not really a great idea. 

While it was still a rough night for me, it had to be the best sleep study experience so far.  We had a really good tech, which I am sure was part of that.  I know that Ethan had some apnea episodes, so now we just wait to see how bad his apnea still is post-op.  It would be a total Ethanism for him to still need a CPAP after surgery.  Ugh. 

Happy 15th Birthday, Jaidyn!

Today, my nephew Jaidyn turns 15 years old!  Where has the time gone?  I mean, really????  LOL.  I still remember his arrival like yesterday.  I drove like crazy down Oakdale Road in order to get there on time for his grand entrance, but ended up still missing it by about ten minutes. 

This kid has always had the biggest personality!  He just grins and you have to smile back at him, even if he was getting into trouble!  Sneaky kid!  LOL! 

Jaidyn is good at anything athletic and has now surpassed us all in height.  It was quite a change to go home and have my nephew towering over me! 

So, Happy Birthday Jaidyn!  I love you so much and miss you every day.  *muah*  ~Aunt Kristen