We heard last night where next year's conference is scheduled to be held... (drum roll please)... Washington DC! Can't wait! The kids would LOVE going to DC and all of the museums and historic sites. They're into that sort of thing.
I just have a minute or two to post. I'm on my way to another session soon. Yesterday's presentation on video modeling was simply GREAT, and the lawyer/Dad that presented on how we can all change the world of DS with simple actions to make our voices heard was INSPIRING. Can't wait for more time to blog and share!
We took a short trip last night to the Riverwalk and had dinner. It was hot but nice. We ended up eating dinner close to 10:00 p.m., and it had cooled off to 98. Whew.
Gotta run... more later!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Technical Difficulties.... Sort Of
The first morning sessions have ended, and the next are about to begin. I'm experiencing some frustration with our computer. You see, the night before we left, our laptop power input (where we can charge it and plug it in), broke. We had to bring our (very) old laptop instead. Although its charging port works, I don't have a port to download all my great photos of the conference! Once I find a way, I will add lots of pics to all of my descriptive messages :)
Meanwhile, there are SO many great topics to choose from here at the conference. Everything has been moving along like a well-oiled machine. David and I have been attending separate sessions so that we can cover more ground, so to speak, subject-wise. We'll pool all our knowledge later.
Gotta run to the next session about video modeling and creating learning materials. This computer is much slower, but I'll keep you posted nonetheless!
P.S. San Antonio is HOT, but it's a beautiful area and the "serene adult pool" area is amazing!
Meanwhile, there are SO many great topics to choose from here at the conference. Everything has been moving along like a well-oiled machine. David and I have been attending separate sessions so that we can cover more ground, so to speak, subject-wise. We'll pool all our knowledge later.
Gotta run to the next session about video modeling and creating learning materials. This computer is much slower, but I'll keep you posted nonetheless!
P.S. San Antonio is HOT, but it's a beautiful area and the "serene adult pool" area is amazing!
Friday, August 5, 2011
So Awesome!
3:30 a.m. is just too early to start the day :) Our flights went well. We had a 1 hour layover in Atlanta before taking the last jaunt here to San Antonio. It's been a great first day; and hot! I believe it went to 108 today.
This year's conference got into gear today, and it's been great! We had a chance to visit the vendor room today and I was so honored to meet a very special Mom at the Reece's Rainbow table. I picked up a few things from some friends that are adopting through RR that couldn't make the conference this year. Can't wait until tomorrow to take some more time to browse.
Today there were some sharing sessions, medical sessions, and opening for the conference. This evening we also went to the "Let's Dance!" opening party. I think that may be my favorite part of the conference. The music, the treats, and most of all I just love to see all of the amazing babies, kids, teens,and adults with Down syndrome having such a great time together.
Just before dinner time, we took advantage of the pool and lazy river to cool off. A very nice woman approached me to ask if we were here for the conference. She is a teacher of 3-4 year olds with Down syndrome in a school here in Texas. We had a great conversation, of course, and Abigail just happens to be 4 so we had loads to discuss. How kind of her to welcome us!
I completely forgot that there's a 1-hour time difference here in Texas, from Rochester. I missed calling my girls tonight and feel just awful! We did try even though it was late. I could at least have Grandma let them know that I did call. They must all be sleeping, though, as there was no answer :( I love you my darlings, and I PROMISE I will be sure to check the time carefully so that I can talk to you!
Now, since we've been up since so very, very early this morning, it's time to collapse into bed and get some sleep before tomorrow begins with some great learning sessions. Decisions, decisions. There are so many topic to choose from!
This year's conference got into gear today, and it's been great! We had a chance to visit the vendor room today and I was so honored to meet a very special Mom at the Reece's Rainbow table. I picked up a few things from some friends that are adopting through RR that couldn't make the conference this year. Can't wait until tomorrow to take some more time to browse.
Today there were some sharing sessions, medical sessions, and opening for the conference. This evening we also went to the "Let's Dance!" opening party. I think that may be my favorite part of the conference. The music, the treats, and most of all I just love to see all of the amazing babies, kids, teens,and adults with Down syndrome having such a great time together.
Just before dinner time, we took advantage of the pool and lazy river to cool off. A very nice woman approached me to ask if we were here for the conference. She is a teacher of 3-4 year olds with Down syndrome in a school here in Texas. We had a great conversation, of course, and Abigail just happens to be 4 so we had loads to discuss. How kind of her to welcome us!
I completely forgot that there's a 1-hour time difference here in Texas, from Rochester. I missed calling my girls tonight and feel just awful! We did try even though it was late. I could at least have Grandma let them know that I did call. They must all be sleeping, though, as there was no answer :( I love you my darlings, and I PROMISE I will be sure to check the time carefully so that I can talk to you!
Now, since we've been up since so very, very early this morning, it's time to collapse into bed and get some sleep before tomorrow begins with some great learning sessions. Decisions, decisions. There are so many topic to choose from!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Oh, so close!
Crunch time is here! The bags are beginning to bulge with clothes and sundries. I'm already missing the kids, and we haven't even left yet! Abigail knows something is up, and has been a velcro kid all day, which has made it difficult to get things done. Since we'll be up so very early, we weren't going to wake the girls when we leave. It will be so hard to say goodbye while they're still sleeping!
David arrived home from Scout Camp just in time for lunch and to do a few loads of laundry before packing up again. It's a shame these two events had to overlap this year. It's hard as a parent when you want to be in more than 1 place at a time!
We'll be up and out quite early in the a.m. tomorrow morning. Grandma and cousin Becky are ready and have plans to hold down the fort while we're away. Chauffer schedules have been arranged, and meals have been planned. I have a suspicion that the kids will have an easier time of it than I will, being away from them!
Gotta run and get all of those 'last minute' things ready and done. Why do we call them last minute when they always seem to take hours?
Next stop... San Antonio. See you there!
David arrived home from Scout Camp just in time for lunch and to do a few loads of laundry before packing up again. It's a shame these two events had to overlap this year. It's hard as a parent when you want to be in more than 1 place at a time!
We'll be up and out quite early in the a.m. tomorrow morning. Grandma and cousin Becky are ready and have plans to hold down the fort while we're away. Chauffer schedules have been arranged, and meals have been planned. I have a suspicion that the kids will have an easier time of it than I will, being away from them!
Gotta run and get all of those 'last minute' things ready and done. Why do we call them last minute when they always seem to take hours?
Next stop... San Antonio. See you there!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Feeling the Heat
Arrgh! I knew this would happen! So little time and so much to do. Tomorrow is a full schedule of preparations and driving. The pressure is on. I'm getting more and more excited about attending the conference, and more and more worried about leaving the kids. I don't know if I'll be able to find a happy medium.
I took a look at the weather forecast for San Antonio yesterday. Are you ready for this?... sunny and 104. Yep. Temps in the 100's. Thank goodness for air conditioned conference rooms and halls :) The pool won't be out of the question, either.
Another task is to decide which topics to look into during all of the sessions offered. There are always so many topics and presenters, but only a few time slots to choose from! Last year we learned quite a bit about health issues that children with Down syndrome typically face, and about general development, and reading, and supporting your local non-profit network, and of course all about D.A.D.S! (Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome). David and another FCDSN member dad came home with such great information and enthusiasm that they started the local Rochester chapter of D.A.D.S.
A shameless plug for this fantastic group of Dads! You can learn more about them at www.dadsroc.com Don't you just love their name? Dads really do ROCK in Roc!
I took a look at the weather forecast for San Antonio yesterday. Are you ready for this?... sunny and 104. Yep. Temps in the 100's. Thank goodness for air conditioned conference rooms and halls :) The pool won't be out of the question, either.
Another task is to decide which topics to look into during all of the sessions offered. There are always so many topics and presenters, but only a few time slots to choose from! Last year we learned quite a bit about health issues that children with Down syndrome typically face, and about general development, and reading, and supporting your local non-profit network, and of course all about D.A.D.S! (Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome). David and another FCDSN member dad came home with such great information and enthusiasm that they started the local Rochester chapter of D.A.D.S.
A shameless plug for this fantastic group of Dads! You can learn more about them at www.dadsroc.com Don't you just love their name? Dads really do ROCK in Roc!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Anticipation
I've been thinking about all the wonderful things we'll be able to see at this year's conference. One thing I'm very excited about is that Reece's Rainbow will be there! I can't wait! For those of you unfamiliar with them, Reece's Rainbow is an organization that advocates for the adoption of children with special needs from other countries.
"Why other countries", you ask? Why not "our own" kids?
Well, here in our own wonderful nation, there are often waiting lists to adopt a child with Down syndrome. Children (and adults) with special needs can receive help by asking any of a large number of local and national programs designed to support them.
Over in some other countries (Russia, Latin America, China), children born with Down syndrome are considered cursed or useless. They are quite often abandoned by their parents at the hospitals or government-run orphanages. Many of these orphanages do not have the financial, social, or emotional support of their communities. This means they cannot feed the children enough food, clothe them with clean clothes that fit them, or offer them the love and attention they so desperately need and deserve. The older generation, especially, still tends to view these children as cursed or untouchable and will avoid them and neglect them at all costs.
"It can't be that bad!" you say?
How about the 3 1/2 year old that came home weighing just 11 pounds? This is not an isolated incident. How about the children that are transferred, once they reach the age of 4 or 5 (we're talking Kindergarten age in the U.S.A.) to mental institutions that do not differentiate between child care and adult care? How about the staggering percentage (up to 80%) that die within 1 year of being transferred? If they can't walk and feed and clean and dress themselves, so many are left to lie in their beds and waste away. What a horrible, lonely way for a child to die.
I would ask that if you're at the convention, to please stop by the Reece's Rainbow table and offer your support and a kind word or two; or maybe even a dollar or two you'd spend on coffee for the day, to help their efforts to save these children.
If you can't be at the convention this year, you can still help! Go to their web site (below) to see how you can help in your own way. I don't want you to be overwhelmed with sadness, but spurred to action to help these children and to support organizations that advocate for them. Take a peek at www.reecesrainbow.org to read the inspiring and miraculous stories of redemption for these beautiful, deserving children.
I can't wait to meet the people from this inspiring organization!
"Why other countries", you ask? Why not "our own" kids?
Well, here in our own wonderful nation, there are often waiting lists to adopt a child with Down syndrome. Children (and adults) with special needs can receive help by asking any of a large number of local and national programs designed to support them.
Over in some other countries (Russia, Latin America, China), children born with Down syndrome are considered cursed or useless. They are quite often abandoned by their parents at the hospitals or government-run orphanages. Many of these orphanages do not have the financial, social, or emotional support of their communities. This means they cannot feed the children enough food, clothe them with clean clothes that fit them, or offer them the love and attention they so desperately need and deserve. The older generation, especially, still tends to view these children as cursed or untouchable and will avoid them and neglect them at all costs.
"It can't be that bad!" you say?
How about the 3 1/2 year old that came home weighing just 11 pounds? This is not an isolated incident. How about the children that are transferred, once they reach the age of 4 or 5 (we're talking Kindergarten age in the U.S.A.) to mental institutions that do not differentiate between child care and adult care? How about the staggering percentage (up to 80%) that die within 1 year of being transferred? If they can't walk and feed and clean and dress themselves, so many are left to lie in their beds and waste away. What a horrible, lonely way for a child to die.
I would ask that if you're at the convention, to please stop by the Reece's Rainbow table and offer your support and a kind word or two; or maybe even a dollar or two you'd spend on coffee for the day, to help their efforts to save these children.
If you can't be at the convention this year, you can still help! Go to their web site (below) to see how you can help in your own way. I don't want you to be overwhelmed with sadness, but spurred to action to help these children and to support organizations that advocate for them. Take a peek at www.reecesrainbow.org to read the inspiring and miraculous stories of redemption for these beautiful, deserving children.
I can't wait to meet the people from this inspiring organization!
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