Friday Fun & 2011

Good-bye 2010?!  Are you kidding me? Okay ... 2011 here we come!  I hope you and your families have been enjoying this holiday season. I hope the New Year brings you happiness and many opportunities to make memories with your loved ones. 

In honor the New Year's holiday ... here is something fun for the kids to make and enjoy!

Grab a spoon and toast the New Year with a cool, sparkly dessert that wiggles.

1. Make bubbly Jell-O according to the directions on a box of Sparkling White Grape Jell-O. Be sure to use club soda, seltzer, or ginger ale and follow the tips on the box for getting the gelatin to sparkle.
2. Chill the Jell-O in champagne flutes or parfait glasses. We suggest making these the day of the party, since they might lose some bubbliness if they're made further ahead. Wind a metallic multicolored star garland (available at party stores) up the stem of the glass for pizzazz.

I wish you a safe and happy New Year!

Buddy Play

Oh what fun they had!  Last buddy play the kids made wrapping paper for their holiday gifts this year.  I was so impressed with their creativity!

The idea of Buddy Play is for children with special needs and "typical" children come together as one group, both sides can learn a great deal from each other!

 Everyone has a great time and they walk away with new friends ...

Thank you Miss Bernadette for all your hard work in making this happen.

Sinus Infections

This past summer, my 4 year old with Down syndrome had a runny nose that just went on and on for months. We did two rounds of antibiotics and his nose would clear up while on the antibiotics and stay clear for a week or two following the antibiotics and then it would start right back up again. After the second round of antibiotics when the runny nose came back, the pediatrician didn't want to do antibiotics again but just let it run its course.  However, after 4 weeks of a crazy runny nose that just wasn't improving at all, I consulted the ENT. She said that if the runny nose cleared up while on the antibiotic that it was likely a sinus infection and that he should be considered contagious and that it may just be a resistant strain that would

require stronger antibiotic for longer. She had us come in and took a sample of his mucus from his nose and ran a culture that came back "heavy growth of strep bacteria." She put him on a stronger antibiotic for 21 days and that did the trick.   

Liam was runny nose free for about two months.  Then a cold swept through our family which left Liam with a thick yellow runny nose again.  As per the ENT's recommendation I waited until it had gone on for over 2 weeks and then I made an appointment.  I brought him in on day 18 of the runny nose and again she took a sample to culture.  This time it came back "heavy growth of Moraxella" (apparently a bacteria that commonly causes sinus infections).  Again antibiotics cleared it up in a few days.  

Liam has had these thick yellow runny noses that go on and on in the past and it was always a guessing game of whether it was a sinus infection or just a "Down's" thing.  The poor guy was suffering needlessly before when we just let it run and run.  I am so thankful for this new protocol of getting cultures done when his nose runs for more than two weeks.  It makes so much more sense to actually find out what is going on and whether he has developed a bacterial infection. And I am so grateful to no longer be wiping his nose constantly!

Barbie, Batman, and Backyard Safari …

I know I say this every year – and I will say it again, I just can’t believe how fast the Holidays snuck up on me this year! The food, the family and friends, and the most important part to every child – the Gifts!


My brother is 12 … and he lets you know EXACTLY what he has had his eyes on all year, but for the younger ones sometimes its hard to buy for them.


There is a link that I like to share with all parents but it is really helpful for those with special needs children too. toys R us has a taken the time to go through what they carry and categorize them into age and ability groups. 

Click here ----> toysrus - differently abled toy guide

"He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree".  ~Roy L. Smith

Show and Tell

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

Send Us Your Photos!

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month.  I am putting out the call to the families of the DSC to send me an email of  your favorite photos and cute facts about your son/daughter to share.  Send your emails to :  Redbride05@aol.com.

I can't wait to see all the cuties!!

2010 Bay Area Buddy Walk

2010 Bay Area Buddy Walk

Come walk a mile with us! Over the last fourteen years, the Buddy WalkTM has become the premier advocacy event for Down syndrome and has become a major platform for inclusion in communities across the country. This year it's at Little Hills Ranch and due to the generosity of Little Hills Ranch personnel we will have access to a full day of family fun with exclusive use of this great facility. Cool activities are included with your registration, like swimming, rock climbing, playground, air brush tattoos, bounce house, volleyball and much more.

Most importantly we will walk approximately a mile together to promote acceptance and awareness for all people with Down syndrome.

Special thank you to the Kiwanis Club of Walnut Creek who has volunteered to do all the BBQ’ng and provide the food for this great event.
Don't miss our concert with Public Eye – A high-energy rock band, specializing in great music, dance-able rock songs from the 70's thru today.

2010 Charity Auction Gala

This was an amazing event that I was so honored to be a part of and capture.  Here are the pictures from the Charity Auction Gala.  It was a beautiful night filled with beautiful people with generous hearts. To view the slideshow from the night click here ---->slideshow