On My Mind Monday 14

In my mind to day, is something that piqued my interest yesterday when Pres. Monson spoke. (okay someone that knows how to link his name with the church web site? help me here) I love what he said about living in the moment, not spending too much time in the past, and not waiting for tomorrow. How many of us wish for something different than what we have. More money, bigger house, kids that are older more self sufficient, nicer furniture, new kitchen? We could spend a life time wishing and waiting for something that may or may not come. I don't enjoy the kids toys all over, or the hand prints on my window. But I know (because every time I'm in the grocery store check out line behind a lady that raised 6 kids, tells me this) I will miss it when it's gone. I honestly love having my kids at home. I want them little, I want them to need me, I want to be the one they come to. I love where i am in life right now.
And for my grateful moment. I am eternally grateful for a good husband. I love him, and i know he loves me. He tells me all the time. I love that we can disagree for a moment, then say were sorry, and it's like it never happened. I love that he holds his Priesthood dearly. I love that he is willing to serve. I love that he want to hold a job to support our family, and thinks that my job is the most important one of the two. I would not ask for anything or anyone else.
And for my DS tidbit. I need suggestions. I am going into 1 and 2 of 5's classes on Thursday to talk about DS with the kids. They are 7 and 8 yr old. Give me age appropriate ideas to tell them about DS. I have an idea of what i want to say, but tell me what you think. What is the most important thing we can teach kids that see DS as a problem. Thanks

Tomorrow is Monday, Duh

Yes, today i am grateful for Conference. I love the opportunity to spend all day Sunday with my husband. I love to hear messages from our leaders, and I enjoy getting different things out of the talks, than other people do. I love to have conversations with people about what stuck out to them. I think it is interesting, last time, it seemed geared towards, less active and inactive members. this go around, it was definitely geared towards the active members. We need to get our financial and spiritual houses in order, then have Faith. I loved what Neil Anderson said on Saturday morning about "faith is not only a feeling, it is an action" And "fear and faith cannot exist together".

And i decided for my DS tidbit, I wanted to take a topic someone else posted. Lily's mom from http//lilyslifeisgreat.blogspot.com/2008/10/get-it-down-day-4.html posted the things she wanted for her daughter. Here is mine.

What i hope for 4 of 5. I want her to read. I want her to sign. I want her to live on her own. I want her to go on a mission. I need her to be happy. Which means than none of these things are going to happen necessarily. I don't care if she dates. I don't care if she marries. I just need her to be happy.And although I don't understand fully, her job here on this earth, I would love for her to be able to attend the Temple . I would love to go on a mission with me and her dad. If she is not independent, that is. I am not burdened with the possibility that she may live at home for the rest of her, or my life. I need her to have friends that accept her, and love her. I need her brothers and sisters to love her and understand her. I need parents to teach their children that she is different, and not in a bad way. That there is nothing wrong with her. I need her to feel loved.

Favorite Saturday

I LOVE these kind of days. Rainy, cool, mellow. I love the FEEL of fall. I love hot chocolate weather.

Today I am grateful for my home. Even as run down as it is. It keeps me warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. It provides a place to grow food, and for the kids to play. I love having the yard all the kids want to play in. I have always wanted a brick house. Maybe someday we will finish the inside and outside. Maybe.

I love that we got it for dirt cheap.

My tidbit on DS for today is something that I didn't know until 4 of 5 had an appointment with the lady that did her Early Intervention, and I mentioned that her fingers and toes were always cold. No matter what. She told me that their thyroids rarely work like every one else's. Even when they test them yearly, and they come back with reasonable numbers, they still are a bit off. So, they over heat easily, and chill easily. Marsha (Early Intervention) said that her daughter passed out when they were at the Hill AFB airshow one day. So now i always bring water with us to keep 4 of 5's hair wet, when we are out in the summer, and put her in footed PJ's starting in about Sept.

Free recipe Friday 14

I'll start with my "grateful minute", move onto my 3rd DS tidbit, then finish up with my recipe.

Today I am grateful for my sisters.
I love that I have 3 of them. I love that I could talk to them at any moment, for 2 hrs if I had that many free hrs. (some days I do) Except for my sister that is serving on a mission in Chicago, who's a little preoccupied these days. I love that she is setting such a good example to my kids. I could talk to my sisters about anything, they are my best friends.

Kids with DS have a pretty constant runny nose. This does not mean they are always sick. They are more prone to allergies, and they have smaller nasal passages and sinuses, so the mucus stays longer after a cold. And because it stays longer, they are more prone to ear and sinus infections. Also, there is quite a large group of moms participating in the "30 in 21" They are talking about DS on their blog everyday for the month of Oct. I ran across this one this morning, and it was pretty much exactly what i hope to get across to you this month. It will take a whole month for me to say what this mom said in one post. So, if you get a minute, please read it. http://http://hamula.blogspot.com/2008/10/perceptions-of-down-syndrome.html

And for the recipe. My family loves oatmeal. I will make a pot of oatmeal, and add 2 tbs of unsalted butter, 2 tbs cinnamon sugar and a cup of fresh raspberries or chopped up peaches, Makes a perfect treat. I could eat it for desert.

There Is Something Wrong With the Chicken

One the left here. You see a normal egg.
A Hershey Kiss.
Then "The Egg". This was the biggest egg i had ever seen.

Um, ouch. This is the 2nd such sized egg this chicken laid. I'm a little curious to see if there are 2 yolks in there. the last one had 2. I think i will boil it before i crack into it. I won't save it, do you know what happens to old eggs? From experience, i know that they explode.
Then, I just wanted to share this. 5 of 5 and her pumpkin. This kid LOVES squash. There was some chili mixed in there too.
3 of 5 decided to wear his costume yesterday. Blue/ Moe (whatever his name is) decided that he looked a lot like a big moving stuffed animal. So, he decided wearing his costume wasn't as much fun as he had hoped.

DS day 2

First my "I'm grateful for" moment.
I am grateful for prayer. How comforting it is to know, that we are never alone. That we have the guidance of a Heavenly Father, that has a vested interest in who we are, and what we become. Just like we have a desire to see our kids do the right thing, and become someone who feels compassion and empathy and does good to others. Our Heavenly Father wants the same for us. And the means to get to that place, is through asking.
GBH said "The problems we face in our individual lives, in our families, and in our nation are greater than any of us can solve with our own wisdom. They are problems for which we need inspiration and spiritual guidance." In light of the current economic situation, is their any doubt that this statement is true. I hope these people that run this country know this. I pray that the leaders of this country know this. We would most definitely would be in a great place, if everyone made an effort to get on their knees, and asked for guidance, and what He would have us do.

And, for my DS tidbit for the day.....
Did you know there are 3 different types of DS?
Trisomy 21. Which is what 4 of 5 has, is the most common. It makes up 92 % of Down Syndrome .
Then you have Mosaic DS, which makeup 3-4%. Mosaic is really interesting to me. These kids generally have a higher IQ than kids with T21. And some times don't have the typical look of a child with DS.
And last is translocation DS. This one is hereditary. Apparently, the chances of the parents having another child with a translocation, depends on which parent is a carrier of the gene. Although, it can occur, spontaneously.

If you want to read about any of these, I got info from this web site http://www.ds-health.com/benke.htm.

Have a great day!

National Down Syndrome Awareness Month

October is DS awareness month. So In light of that, for my 3rd item from my 30 days of gratitude it is just that. I am tremendously grateful for the blessings that my 4 of 5 has brought into my life. She has truly changed who i am, for the better. I have a different outlook on life. I don't know, maybe i would have gotten here with out her. But I know it would have been a lot slower and more painful. I know my Heavenly Father knows who i am, and new that i needed her. She has shown me, prefect doesn't always LOOK perfect. To me, she is perfect. And, things are never what they are on the outside. You have to give a second look. Slow down, and accept people for who they are, and find the beauty not the flaws in EVERYTHING. I could not ask for a greater blessing. I would not ask for a different child in her place. I would not ask for 4 of 5 to not have down Syndrome. It is one of the many things that makes her beautiful. I am so excited to see who she becomes. I pray that i do not hold her back from what she is able to become.

For all of October, I will add a fact about DS, story about 4 of 5 or just something DS related.