Life on the Ranch

Bullet Proof Coffee

2023-07-08T16:41:00.000-05:00

Why Bullet Proof Coffee?

Yes, caffeine is good for you! It is a known Nootropic (something that improves brain functioning). Consuming coffee this way usually takes care of any jitters some may experience. By adding a healthy fat the caffeine and MCT oil benefits can actually pass through and into the blood/brain barrier.

Not All MCT Oils Are the Same
From the research I did a few years back, coconut oil contains MCTs (yep, Medium Chain Triglycerides).

There are 5 of them with fancy names but shorter names of C6, C8, C10, C12 and C14. The original scientist behind the Bullet Proof Coffee (BPC) theory has alot of info on his website at https://www.bulletproof.com/diet/bulletproof-diet/bulletproof-for-beginners/

In a nutshell, C8 is great for the brain. C10 is amazing for energy. Of course, all of them are good for you but by isolating the 2, you end up with an MCT oil that is for more specific things. The brain and energy - what most people want more of, haha.

If you go to a health food store and start looking at MCT oils, it is important to read the ingredient list to make sure it is actually C8 and C10.

I believe that C12 is more easily extracted and so some "MCT oils" have a higher concentration of it, and thus less of the C8 and C10.

I use one that only has C8 and C10. I've used it for years and am happy with it. When I've been places without my oil, I'll go find a healthy grocery store and pick one up, but always making sure it is the C8 and C10 only.

I'm thinking of getting just a C8 and seeing how it helps my old brain, that is sometimes forgetful, haha!

The one I get has this in it "Medium Chain Triglycerides (60% Caprylic and 40% Capric Acid)"

C8 is Caprylic
C10 is Capric

Right now I am buying an organic MCT oil at Costco. Just make sure you find one that is only C8 and C10.

Bullet Proof Recipe & Add-Ins

Of course, there are a few recipes when it comes to Bullet Proof Coffee. The basic recipe is:
1. A cup to 2 cups of coffee
2. A Tablespoon of butter or coconut oil (healthy fats)
3. A Tablespoon of MCT oil

I use my NutriBullet blender to mix it all up in. Sometimes I add some real cream to it or even a flavored cream if I'm wanting a different flavor.

I've modified what I drink and add in other things as well, depending on my mood, haha:
1. Collagen powder, sometimes I use Primal Kitchen Collagen Peptides Unflavored powder.
2. A protein powder (sometimes vanilla, sometimes chocolate)
3. Better Body Foods Organic Energy Blend (does add a slight maca powder flavor)

I also bought one of these for easy, no mess dispensing of the oil:
Olive Oil Dispenser - Oil Dispenser Bottle for Kitchen, Oil and Vinegar Dispenser Set, Olive Oil Bottles for Kitchen – Coffee Syrup Dispenser, Mouthwash Dispenser, 2 Pack (Glass Bottles) https://a.co/d/dsxFikU

Zucchini Salsa!

2018-07-26T13:18:00.002-05:00

     It's that wonderful time of year when gardens start producing their bountiful harvest. But suddenly there are many zucchinis! What to do with a pile like this?

     When I have extra produce available to me, I usually go looking for either a salsa recipe or a jam recipe. I have been known to make red tomato salsa, green tomato salsa, blueberry salsa and even banana salsa! It would only seem fitting to have a zucchini salsa recipe to turn to when the zukes pile up.

     This has got to be one of the best salsas I have made. It is yummy with chips, with crackers, with veggies and, it is even yummy on top of cottage cheese!! It can be eaten raw after all the ingredients have been mixed up or it can be brought to a boil and canned for later use. No matter which way you choose to eat it, it is good. I had some of the kids asking me if I had another batch done yesterday, so I was up at 1 in the morning finishing a batch of it up!

Ingredients:

10 cups zucchini, peeled and shredded (about 2 huge or 4 regular)

4 onions, chopped

2 green bell peppers, chopped

2 red bell peppers, chopped

1/4 cup sea salt

1 tablespoon pickling salt

2 tablespoon dry mustard

2 tablespoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon cumin

2 cups white vinegar

1 cup brown sugar, white sugar or 1/2 cup honey (I usually use brown sugar in mine)

1 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon black pepper

5 cups chopped ripe tomatoes, I do not peel my tomatoes.

How to make it:

I have been known to make it without the red and green peppers when I do not have them on hand.

I have also made it with a few cloves of garlic added into it.

I have also added in one or two whole jalapenos - just depends on how hot you like it.

In a large bowl combine; Zucchini, onions, green pepper, red pepper and the salt Mix together cover and let stand a few hours or over night.

Next day rinse, drain well and put into a large pot then add mustard, garlic, cumin, vinegar, brown sugar, pepper flakes, cornstarch, nutmeg, pepper, tomatoes and tomato paste.

Put into jars, I do ½ pints (home watching a movie size) and pints (company’s coming size)

Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes.

     My last batch never even made it to the boiling and simmer stage. We ate the whole batch uncooked in less than a week! And, I didn't have the mustard powder, so i just made it without.

     I thought about adding a jalapeno this last time, but decided to stick with the taste of the cumin and red pepper flakes.

ENJOY!

Triplets Born Today!

2012-12-11T14:42:00.000-06:00

What a way to start a beautiful, cold morning at the ranch. The long-awaited, big & fat doe finally had her babies. All theories that she just had a tumor went out the door! Three little girls to our happiness - although my 8-year-old son was trying to convince us that boys are better. Here are some pictures of the excitement. We should have a youtube video up about it also sometime soon. Our youtube channel is http://www.youtube.com/oklahomaranchlife - come see our videos and subscribe to stay in the loop of ranch life with us!

Around the Ranch

2012-12-09T08:35:00.000-06:00

Just a quick update from around the ranch. Things have been busy around here with auctions, listing things on Ebay, soccer practices and games and just everyday life around the ranch. Here are a few pics one of the kids got the other day of some of the animals. See the picture blow of the VERY large goat . . . the debate is whether she is pregnant or has a tumor (haha! Just kidding on that). We are awaiting her "popping".

Jewels, the resident French Black Copper Maran roo:

Peek-a-boo sheep!

Two of last year's kids fighting for control of the little house.

This little rooster is the coolest little guy around. Small but MIGHTY! :)

There was an unexpected event the other day with a BIG wild hog - but I'll save that for later as I am running late right now on getting the chores done!

New LGD Puppy

2012-11-15T17:06:00.000-06:00

We brought in a new Livestock Guardian dog just today. She is 7 weeks old and we are hoping she will grow up to be a good guardian for our animals. She is out in the goat and sheep pen with our other LGD. Hopefully she will learn from him as she grows up.

It's Getting COLD!

2012-11-12T22:37:00.001-06:00

It's that time of the year when it starts to get cold. I had 4 layers of sweatshirts on and my jacket this morning. I like to layer so that I can strip the sweatshirts off one-by-one as I go about feeding all the critters in the morning. Usually by the time I get back to the milking barn I have taken several layers off. the only problem with this plan of action is that I have sweatshirts all over the yard on various fenceposts and other places! Thankfully, I have a big pile of sweatshirts I have collected from all of the auctions we have gone to!!

The first water buckets had to have ice broke out of them!

2012-10-30T11:00:00.000-05:00

31 for 21: The "R" Word Controversy

Being in the special needs community for almost 8 years now, I am fully aware of all the 'Politically Correct' lingo that should be used. You know, you say "a child with Down syndrome", not a "Down syndrome child." And there are also certain words which just are not supposed to be said, the word "retard" being at the top of the list.

It took some getting used to for me, because my family has never been very "politically correct" :).

Over the years I've seen the issues that come up when certain popular individuals use the "R" word, when someone who has a child with DS has a friend say this word in a conversation, or when it's use is discussed on a forum. I've never said much about it, because I think a lot of people will have a problem with my view on it.

Last week though, Ann Coulter called President Obama a "retard" on Twitter. There has been a ton of outrage over her use of the "R" word. So, I feel it's time that I say something. I fully expect people to disagree with me, but I'm completely fine with that.

First and foremost, the First Amendment to the Constitution gives us, as Americans, freedom of speech. We should all have the freedom to use whatever words we want to. If someone is offended by a word, then apologize. But it should not be turned into this national campaign to "ban" the use of certain words. That's simply against the first amendment.

When people go on "campaigns" to stop the use of a word, promote "gay rights", advocate for "women's rights", etc, it becomes something that is part of the problem that our nation is in - people thinking that government is the answer.

Besides the above reasons as to why the "R" word should not be an issue, let's look at a little more technical things.

What is the definition of the word "retard"? According to Merriam-Websters it is:

to make slow; delay the development or progress of (an action, process, etc.); hinder or impede.

When I think of this word, I think of it's true meaning. Just like the medical books will use it for "retarded growth" (slow growth) or "mental retardation" (slow mental development).

I wonder if people who have children with Down syndrome get so upset about the use of this word, because they don't want to accept the fact that their child with Down syndrome does learn at a slower level? Or often times do grow/mature at a slower rate? I know full well that my brother, O, learns at a much slower pace than his twin sister who does not have DS. Is there something bad about that? No, not at all.

Another way people explain this word is that it refers to individuals with a lower I.Q. This again brings me to the point above. If my brother has a lower I.Q., does it matter? No, it doesn't. Just because someone may have a lower I.Q. does not mean they are stupid.

I've often heard that if someone says the word "retard," they are insulting your child or loved one with DS because they are calling them "stupid" or "worthless." You know what, I don't think so. I don't view my brother with DS as "stupid" or "worthless," so I don't even equate that to him. Just because someone uses this word that has been used in correlation with special needs in a way other than the proper use, does not mean they are "putting down" someone with special needs.

Not that I am defending Ann Coulter here at all, but I think she brought up an interesting point when she was discussing this on the Piers Morgan show. I have no problem with the word "retard" being used with the definition above. Languages do change though, so *if* the word does not mean the above definition (I'm not saying it does), and society has changed it to meaning "loser", then let go of the word. It's not applying to your child. It's being applied to something totally different!

There's been a few times over the years that I or my family have encountered someone using the "R" word in their conversation with us. What do we do with it? Do we get all angry or tweaked out about it? No, we use it as a chance to educate them. We make it a light thing, because I don't want them to feel bad for using the word around me, because it doesn't offend me. We tell them it does offend a lot of people. And we also tell them the actual meaning of the word (slow) and how it's not really that bad of a thing.

Do I go around saying the word all the time? No, because I know it causes great offense in the special needs community.

My brother is not stupid. He's a smart little guy, even though he may have a lower I.Q. (could care less about I.Q. tests though) or learn things at a slower rate.

Bottom line though, I think people need to be less sensitive. It's simply a word. When people read into the motives as to why an individual would use a certain word (to hurt the special needs community), it gets us into all sorts of problems.

Let the word go. Don't let it offend you. Educate people.

THANKS DAUGHTER FOR THIS POST I WAS ABLE TO REPOST!!

31 for 21 - New

2012-10-29T23:50:00.000-05:00

New lives in the midst of our busy lives . . .

My mom is leaving tomorrow to head back to CA so much of this evening was spent just hanging out with her . . . cutting stuff up for green salsa, playing a card game and sitting by the campfire. More later, Lord willing.

31 for 21 - Today . . .

2012-10-28T22:48:00.000-05:00

we went to the soccer field as usual for a Sunday game. Our team (Revolution) won today. Here are a few pics of that:

After the game we went over to our friend's (the Youngs) to record the Change dance that we are working on. You'll just have to wait for the finished music video to be done (my daughters might work on it tomorrow). Anyway, after that we headed back to our house. One of my daughters was sitting in the way back of the truck and managed to snap some great driving home pics.

Sunset tonight at Liberty Ranch!

Here is the moon rise over the ranch tonight.

More tomorrow, Lord willing!

31 for 21 - Big Boys

2012-10-27T23:47:00.003-05:00

As usual, we had another busy day doing things. So, I am just going to post some pics of a few big bucks I bought the other night. More tomorrow, Lord willing!

31 for 21 - Friends

2012-10-26T23:56:00.003-05:00

Most people have friends. We have some very close friends that have been with us for years. They were at the hospital when I gave birth to my twins (the girl without Down syndrome and the boy with Down syndrome). They were right there looking things up online about Down syndrome for me when I was still in the hospital with little O. They were there to help us along this path of having a child with Down syndrome. They are such close friends that we actually refer to them as family.

The Young's run a sign shop and were a big part of the Tulsa Buddy Walk last year and this year. Here is a link to their Facebook page - Tahlequah's Sign Shop

Here are a few pics of various things we have done with these special friends of ours.

Hair jobs!

Volleyball!

Ice skating!

Yearly pictures!

And, of course, the BUDDY WALK!

31 for 21 - What A Blessed Life

2012-10-25T23:38:00.003-05:00

I tell my kids many ties that they are so blessed to grow up on a ranch like we have. It is so nice to be able to go outside and enjoy the beautiful area we live in. It is so nice to see trees, grass and animals everyday. The other day, little O and a few of his sisters went outside with our last Bullmastiffs, The weather was perfect, the sun was shining bright . Here are a few pics just to show how "normal" a little boy with Down syndrome is!

Hiding behind a tree with sister!

This is Canuck, the last Bullastiff that we have right now.

Big sister, Ezriyah, with her "pup"!

O, standing in the pasture.

It seems as if the cow is looking at the kidos in the field to figure out what they are doing.

My little man with Down syndrome - WHAT A BLESSING!

31 for 21 - What You Can DO!

2012-10-24T18:16:00.003-05:00

I think from the posts I have been doing this month, it should be apparent that our lives have not slowed down at all since our little blessing with Down syndrome has entered our lives. We feel that he is a BG blessing and an enhancement to our lives.
As I was sitting here wondering what to write about today, I was reminded that many years ago (almost 8), I was told that my life would be different having a son with Down syndrome. I was told how he wouldn't walk at the same age as "normal" children. I was told that he would need WAY more work than "normal children. I was told a bunch of things that he wouldn't be able to do. I was given a very grime and sad picture as I sat in the hospital just days after giving birth to him.
Well, being the family that we are - one that likes challenges, one that doesn't mind if things take a little bit of hard work, one that likes to try to overcome obstacles, one that goes against the grain of society in general - we set out to raise our little boy with Down syndrome in the best way that we felt we could. Little did we realize that there was SO much that we COULD do with him. Okay, so maybe there was a little extra work along the way, but it has been totally worth it.
Because we were learning so much, we decided to put our thoughts and the information from others into a book that we called Down Syndrome - What You CAN Do. It is about 600 pages long and has lots and lots of info in it. We published it through an online publisher called lulu.com that prints the books as they are ordered. The little bit that we make on the books usually goes back into either buying more books that we have handed out or it has been used in other ways to promote the book. You can check it out here: Down Syndrome - What You CAN Do

31 for 21 - Just an Ordinary Day . . .

2012-10-23T21:28:00.003-05:00

I thought I would put up another picture post about things from around the ranch. Our morning started with the biggest stick bug we have ever seen. It was right on the milk room door. That is my 18 year old daughter's hand next to it! It was so big the kids were calling it a "branch bug"!

This is Cougar, the resident male cat. He is the dad to several kitties that are running around this ranch right now! We lost his dad last year to lyme disease.

This is Cuddles. She is an outside and inside kitty. Some nights she is in and some she is out. I think she is a good mouser.

Here are some pictures of some of the beautiful chocolate Muscovies that were hatched out here this past year. There are 6 or 7 of them that are found hanging out in one of the hay trailers every morning. They have even begun to lay a clutch of eggs in the hay trailer. One of my daughters got a few pics of them flying today.

Here is a picture of the red gate that goes out to the 40 acres. We close this most nights to keep the goats and sheep in when the early morning comes.

A look towards the buck pen. Pretty cool wooden fence that one of my sons put up, huh?

Martha, one of the resident female llamas. Her and the other 2 llamas have been staying out in the 40 at night lately. I guess there are enough hickory nuts and leaves out there to keep them full.

Fall pictures are beautiful!

One of the bottle Finn ewes that have grown up on our ranch. This one is bred for February lambs.

31 for 21 - The 10th Annual Down Syndrome Buddy Walk!!

2012-10-21T22:27:00.000-05:00

Well, today was the big day. Us and some of our friend's went to the Buddy Walk. I think we all had a great time checking things out, playing games, eating food, dancing to live music and just hanging out together. SInce I am really tired, I will let the pictures "tell the story":

31 for 21 - The Buddy Walk is Tomorrow!!

2012-10-20T12:12:00.001-05:00

In the midst of our busy ranch life that involves animals being born, animals dying, goats needing to be milked, cows needing bottles, birds needing fed, eggs needing to be collected, political meetings to attend, grandparents from out of state visiting and whatever else our crazy days bring us - we are still planning on being at the 10th Annual Down Syndrome Buddy Walk tomorrow in Tulsa.

This morning, (yes, the day before the buddy walk!), Qadoshyah was at the kitchen table getting our sign ready for the walk. Nothing like being prepared, huh?!? Well, last year we were "O's Ranch Hands". We decided to change our name this year to "O's Freedom Fighters" - kind of appropriate for where our life has headed this past year.

Anyway, if you happen to be in the Tulsa area tomorrow around 1:30pm, please feel free to join us at the event. Click this link for info about where it is being held this year:

Buddy Walk 2012

31 for 21 - Life & Death

2012-10-19T22:29:00.000-05:00

One of the things we deal with here on our ranch is life and death. Sometimes there seem to be days , weeks or even months that go by without a single life or death being added to the ranch. Other times, there are many that happen. This week has been somewhat unique in that we have had 4 new baby goats born, found one sheep unexpectedly dead in the sheep shed and have our oldest Bullmastiff not doing well. We also have a goat that is old and not doing so hot.

I count these life lessons as something important. Little O and his siblings are not growing up in some fantasy land of just good things happening. On our ranch they are forced to face these "harder" issues and I am glad for that. There are times we all cry together and other times that we laugh together. It is all apart of this life.
A few years ago, I started an "opposite" blog to this one. It is called Death on the Ranch and you can see it here - Death on the Ranch - it is somewhat out-dated, I will try to get it up to where it should be sometime here.

Here are some pics of a recent goat birth that happened:

This is Arrow, our oldest Bullmastiff. She recently had a tail amputation because she had some kind of tumor on it that was most likely cancerous. My wonderful daughter, Ezriyah, has spent hours upon hours taking care of her dog. Yet, it seems as if some things just go down hill. Arrow is happy and comfortable but not doing so well right now. She has been a wonderful dog.

This is Ezriyah . . . on a walk . . . maybe to clear her head and cry a little bit . . .

31 for 21 - FAQ from our Website

2012-10-18T22:31:00.001-05:00

Q: What is Down Syndrome?

A: Down Syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21, is caused when there is a triplication on the 21st chromosome. People with Down Syndrome have 47 chromosomes instead of 46, like people without Down Syndrome. This is the reason it is called Trisomy 21, being there are three 21st chromosomes instead of the usual two.

Q: Can Down Syndrome be cured?
A: Cured? No. But, can the processes and metabolic imbalances going on in their bodies be slowed? Absolutely! This is what Targeted Nutritional Intervention for Down Syndrome is all about. Please see our articles section for more information on that.

Q: Are there degrees of Down Syndrome?
A: No, there are not degrees to Down Syndrome. However some individuals with Down Syndrome may not seem as mentally retarded as others. Why would this be? This could be dependent upon the person's upbringing and what foods or vits they have had or not had. The individual may not be deficient in some things that DS people generally are deficient in. They may also be using TNI, or eating a diet high in anti-oxidants and foods that will help protect them from so much oxidative stress and the like.

Q: Are there different types of Down Syndrome?
A: There are 3 different types of Down Syndrome, they are - Full Trisomy 21, Mosaic DS and Translocation DS. Full Trisomy 21 is where all the cells have a third 21st chromosome in them. Mosaic DS is where there are two cell lines. Meaning, there are some cells that have the normal 46 chromosomes and there are some cells that have an extra 21st chromosome to them, making 47 chromosomes. Thus, that is where the mosaic pattern comes from. Translocation DS is where part or all of the third 21st chromosome is Translocated to another chromosome, usually chromosome 14. This only occurs in about 3-5% of the DS population.

Q: What does DS stand for?
A: Abbreviation for Down Syndrome.

Q: What does TNI stand for?
A: Abbreviation for Targeted Nutritional Intervention.

Q: What is Targeted Nutritional Intervention?
A: Please see our article, What Is Targeted Nutritional Intervention all about?

Q: I am expecting a child with Down Syndrome, what should I do?
A: First, start finding out all that you can about Down Syndrome and be ready to love that baby when it is born. You can see a lot of links with information on them on our Links page. You can also see a list of our recommended books on our Books page. We would also encourage you to look into Nutrivene-D and order the vitamins now, before your child is born, that way, when he is born, you can start giving it to him as early as possible!!

Q: I gave birth to a child with Down Syndrome, now what do I do?
A: Congratulations is the first thing to say!!! You have just been BLESSED with a wonderful Down Syndrome child. The very first thing to do is to love that child as much as you can. I would also highly suggest to research out all that you can about Down Syndrome. Some big things to look at are: Targeted Nutritional Intervention, Teaching Reading & Speaking to a child with Down Syndrome, Oral Motor Therapy.
http://www.gotdownsyndrome.net/faq.html
Q: What are the first thing(s) you would recommend for someone who is new to Down Syndrome?
A: Targeted Nutritional Intervention would be the first thing. Secondly, we would recommend Oral Motor Therapy, not just Speech Therapy. See our articles section and links page for some more info on both of these.
Q: Are all people with Down Syndrome "retarded"?
A: In a way yes, but in a way no. In Down Syndrome, they have a progressive mental retardation. Brain cells start to die off earlier than individuals without DS. Individuals with DS also have more oxidative stress problems than individuals without. Thus, this is the reason for Targeted Nutritional Intervention (TNI) - to help slow down and prevent some of the cell death, oxidative stress/damage and retardation.

Q: Do people with Down Syndrome learn to talk?
A: Absolutely!! They can learn to talk, just like anyone else. They may have some difficulties, particularly because of their muscles in their mouth, but there are therapists who help with these issues. Sign Language and Cued Speech can also be helpful in this area.

Q: Do people with Down Syndrome learn to read?
A: Yes, they can learn to read just like anyone else. Again, they may have some problems with learning to read, but there is no reason they cannot. Sign Language and Cued Speech may also help with this.

Q: Can people with Down Syndrome live a normal life?
A: Yes, they absolutely can. There are quite a few who are. For a few examples of that please see the links below:
- Erik Behnke
- Chris Burke
- Jane Cameron
- Sujeet Desai
- Karen Gaffney
- Raymond Hu
- Michael Johnson
- Rachel Roberts
- Ashley Wolfe
- Carrie Bergeron

Q: Can Down Syndrome people get married?
A: Yes, they can. There are a few recent couples that have taken the step of matrimony. See the links below:
- Sujeet Desai & Carrie Bergeron
- Proposal ; Wedding Plans - Article 1 & Article 2 , Another link on Sujeet & Carrie , Wedding Photos
- Josh Putnam & Bernadette Resha - Couple with Down syndrome Prepare to Wed
- A Down Syndrome couple marry, from a mexican newspaper
- Down's Syndrome couple celebrates their 2nd anniversary
- Special Wedding For A Special Couple
- Jim Lindquis & Sarah Stanchfield - May I Have This Dance?
- Eric Neatrour & Christine Kurvits - Couple with Down syndrome win contest, exchange vows

31 for 21 - Bounce-U & the Buddy Walk!

2012-10-16T11:21:00.001-05:00

Tonight is the big kick-off event for the 10th Annual Down Syndrome Buddy Walk of Tulsa, Oklahoma. We will be going to the Bounce-U event tonight to pick up our registration packets and drop off all of the buttons we have been making.

Here is some more info about this week's events:

View last year's Buddy Walk video here.

The Buddy Walk is a multi-city advocacy walk in which people with Down syndrome invite "buddies" to walk with them. Buddies can be anyone from friends to teachers or coworkers to politicians. Goal of the Buddy Walk is to celebrate National Down Syndrome Awareness month, which is October, and promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome .

The Buddy Walk includes entertainment, prize give-aways, food and fun activities for the whole family. The Buddy Walk raised more than $65,000 in 2011 to provide support and services for local families. 93% of all money raised stays at the local level. Nationally, more than 285,000 people participated in walks around the world and approximately 6,000 participated in the Tulsa Buddy Walk last year.

When & Where:
Sunday, October 21, 2012 from 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm at Union Public School's Central Park in Tulsa. (62nd & Mingo, Tulsa, 74133.) Central Park is located south of the Union 6/7 Grade Center.
***Please note: No early entry

Registration:
Registration is $10 per walker and all walkers with Down syndrome are admitted with no charge. All registered walkers receive an eco tote and a 10th Anniversary Buddy Walk t-shirt. Online registration closes at midnight on Tuesday, October 16.

To register online, click here.

View the 2012 Buddy Walk poster here.

Registration is encouraged, but not required to attend this event. T-shirt (if available) will be for sale at walk, but only those who have pre-registered will be guaranteed a t-shirt and goodie bag.

Marketing Material:

All marketing material including but not limited to Postcard, poster and press releases, can be downloaded from the media tab above.

Media:
Press Releases and articles regarding the Buddy Walk can be found at the media tab.

Important Dates:

Tuesday, October 16 from 5:30 – 8:00 pm – Kick-Off Party at Bounce U
Location: Bounce U at 91st & Memorial (8922 S. Memorial Drive, Tulsa 74133)
FREE event. Kids can jump while you pick up registration bags.
Pick up registration bags, turn-in incentive money and receive incentives prizes.

Tuesday, October 16 – VIB TENT INCENTIVE DEADLINE
To qualify a "VIB" tent, incentive money must be turned in by Tuesday, October 11th. You may turn in additional money up until the walk but no VIB Tent incentive will be awarded after 10/11/11.

Tuesday, October 16 – Final day for REGISTRATION.
After midnight on 10/16/12 registration will close. T-shirts will be on sale day of walk but quantities will be limited.

Hope to see you tonight or on Sunday!!

31 for 21 - KICKBALL Again!!

2012-10-15T23:50:00.000-05:00

It's late. I'm tired. Little O likes going to "kickball" games every weekend. It is a great family time for us. One of the few days where we all go and hangout together not being on our iPods!!

These are O's cousins (in the red shirts):

His dad is over 50 and still playing soccer (in the red shirt and black shorts):

His dad giving a high 5 to O's brother after scoring a goal:

Another one of cousin Aaron:

The 16 year old brother giving a good run after the ball:

His oldest brother making a great save in the goal:

Dad after a head ball:

31 for 21 - Coturnix Quail

2012-10-14T14:01:00.003-05:00

I have tossed the idea of raising quail around for a year or more. Well, several months ago I bought a group of chicks from someone I know and there happened to be 14 Coturnix quail chicks in that batch of birds that were 10 days old. They were cute and small. We raised them up not really realizing what we were getting into. Within weeks (7 to be exact) we found little eggs in the cage with them!! I figured I better start doing some research - I found out that these unique little birds are quite amazing, as they begin laying eggs at 7 to 8 weeks of age! They are like little action-packed, power-filled little birds. Their egg-laying abilities are just one benefit of them. They also are very hearty and do not seem to be as sensitive to some of the various bird diseases and viruses that go around at times. They also do not actually consume that much of the game bird feed that we buy for them (unless of course, you have one that likes to scratch the feed out of the food container).

Here is some interesting info about quail eggs from Chadborn Game Farm and Slowsprings Farm

Below we have addressed some of the more frequent quotes and statements you will find on-line or in literature about the Quail Egg. Typically the statements made about Quail Egg nutrition are taken at face value or even chalked up to folklore. Really, you never see the specifics about each vitamin and mineral the Quail Egg offers and how it helps a human body. So we have elaborated on the most frequently seen Quail Egg benefit statements...

"Quail egg nutritional value is three to four times greater than chicken eggs. For instance, Quail eggs contain 13 percent proteins, compared to 11 percent in chicken eggs."

Why is this important? Because protein is what our body needs to build muscle and use as a long term energy source. Carbohydrates, when consumed and not used by the body end up becoming fat that we carry. Protein found in Quail eggs is of superior quality in that it is accompanied by a very high nutrient load. As follows:

"Quail Eggs contain 140 percent of vitamin B1 compared to only 50 percent in chicken eggs."

Why is Vitamin B1 important? B1 is also called Thiamine. Thiamine is responsible in the biosynthesis of GABA. Deficiency in Thiamine can cause optic neuropathology, Korzkoff's syndrome, a condition called Beriberi (involving neurological system, cardio vascular systems and gastrointestinal systems), malaise, weight loss, irritability and confusion. Thiamine is essential and can be obtained easily by consuming Quail Eggs.

"Quail eggs provide five times as much iron and potassium."

Why are Iron and Potassium (minerals) essential to the human diet? Iron deficiency can result in anemia. Iron is essential in binding to protein and carrying oxygen in the blood. Pre-menopausal women and children are most susceptible to Iron deficiency. An Iron deficiency begins via the main regulatory mechanism of Iron, situated in the gastrointestinal tract. When Iron is not absorbed there, deficiency /anemia can result. Quail eggs, providing 5 times the Iron to a chicken egg are simply a far superior source in so small a portion. Potassium when mildly deficient in humans typically shows no symptoms...However when symptoms do arise from a lack of Potassium intake they can present in the form of muscle weakness, muscle cramps and or constipation. The main way we loose Potassium is through excessive fluid losses such as sweating, polyuria (urinating a lot due to medications or diuretics such as caffeine intake) and by fluid losses from being sick (vomiting and such).

Here is a picture of the quail egg:

Since those original 14 Quail, we now have about 31 adults, about 30 teenagers and 39 babies!! Someday, I hope to build a flight cage like the one below and also raise Bobwhite Quail!!

31 for 21 - Top 100 Special Needs Resources on the Web

2012-10-13T11:19:00.000-05:00

Pretty neat. Our Down syndrome blog made it into the top 100 List of Special Education sites. In the Down syndrome category it says this:

"Down (or Down’s) Syndrome, also known by the name trisomy 21, occurs when an extra copy of chromosome 21 is present in a person’s genome. Down syndrome is diagnosed at birth, and can be tested for very early in pregnancy. Those with the condition usually have low IQs and unusually broad, flat, and round faces, as well as large tongues, which may cause their speech to be impeded. Since trisomy 21 is the most common known chromosomal disorder, special education programs are often well equipped to serve people with Down Syndrome. Additionally, a strong support community of bloggers and others willing to share their stories about Down’s Syndrome has evolved. The sites below are some of the best sources for info on parenting, education, and other aspects of raising a child with Down’s."

If you click on the button below, you will be taken to the Top 100 Special Needs Resources on the Web. You can scroll down to see our site at number 20 overall and number 2 in the Down syndrome section.

I must give a special thanks to my oldest daughter, Qadoshyah Fish. Without her efforts, our knowledge about Down syndrome and all that can be done for our little guy would be way different, I think.

Please feel free to contact us if you need help in understanding the health and nutritional side of things in relation to Down syndrome. You can email me here - Kim Fish

31 for 21 - Do Vaccines Disable The Immune System?

2012-10-12T18:18:00.000-05:00

This is a very interesting article about vaccines. I encourage anyone to read this. It is apparent to me that there are MANY things going on in our society where the truth has been hidden or not revealed for various reasons - politics, religion and even the medical world are filled with things that when looked at closely, reveal information that is shocking.

If vaccines really do cause immunosuppression & autoimmune problems, it seems that it would be even worse to vaccinate a child with Down Syndrome. Why? Because they are already prone to automimmune diseases, immune suppression & weak immune systems.

Do Vaccines Disable the Immune System?

Randall Neustaedter OMD, LAc

Parents watch with proud satisfaction as their infant, just a few months old, begins to reach out into the worldâ”tiny hands grasping at toys and gently twirling locks of their mother's hair. Just when they have begun to take a lively interest in the world, rolling-over, cooing, and smiling, the first illnesses strike.
The baby's runny nose develops into a fever, fussiness, and night-waking. Her previously placid demeanor suddenly changes to obvious discomfort, crying, clinging, refusing to leave her mother's arms. The pediatrician sees red eardrums and prescribes antibiotics. That first infection starts a seemingly endless battle against viral and bacterial illnesses that persists despite repeated treatment with a barrage of different antibiotics. Something is dreadfully wrong. Frequent visits to the pediatrician do nothing to prevent the continuous pattern of ”antibiotic" illness.
Why do these illnesses begin when babies are three or four months old? What event triggers this frustrating scenario? What happens to babies at two to four months that could initiate this relentless course of symptoms? Perhaps maternal antibodies are beginning to wear out, making babies susceptible to these environmental microbes. But why don't these babies develop their own antibodies in response to the initial viral or bacterial infections? What prevents the immune system from mounting a vigorous response? And why does this pattern of illness with recurrent ear infections occur now, a pattern that seldom occurred prior to thirty years ago? What is weakening the immune function of today's infants?
The only event that all infants routinely encounter at two months of age is vaccination with at least five different vaccines (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis-Polio-Hemophilus). They are repeated at four months. Could this simple fact explain the onset of the recurrent illnesses that plague so many infants? If vaccines stimulate antibody production to fight diseases, why would they weaken the immune system? Is there any evidence that vaccines do cause illness and immune system dysfunction?
One answer came in a careful study of illness patterns observed in babies before and after vaccination. If vaccines cause a weakened immune system, then we would expect to see a higher incidence of illness following vaccination. In that study the incidence of acute illnesses in the 30 day period following DTP vaccine was compared to the incidence in the same children for the 30 day period prior to vaccine. The three-day period immediately following vaccine was excluded because children frequently develop fever as a direct response to vaccine toxins. A total of 82 healthy infants received DTP, and their symptoms were reported by parents and observed by a pediatrician at weekly intervals. Those babies experienced a dramatic increase in fever, diarrhea, and cough in the month following DTP vaccine compared to their health before the shot (Jaber et al., 1988).
The incidence of asthma has steadily increased in the modern era. During the period 1980 through 1989 the prevalence rate of self-reported asthma in the United States increased 38 percent, and the death rate for asthma increased 46 percent (Centers for Disease Control, 1992). In the five years from 1985 through 1990, projected estimates for asthma's medical costs increased 53 percent. The total estimated cost of asthma rose from $4.5 billion to $6.2 billion, or 1 percent of all US health-care costs (Weiss et al., 1992). This dramatic increase has been attributed to increased exposure to environmental pollutants, and to the toxic effect of asthma medications themselves. Could vaccines be weakening the immune system of our populations and causing asthma and allergies at unprecedented levels? A recent study suggests the answer is yes. A team of New Zealand researchers, found a greater rate of asthma and allergy episodes among immunized children. Of 1,265 children born in 1977, the 23 who did not receive the diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus shot had no recorded asthma or allergy problems before age 10. Of the children who were vaccinated, 23.1 percent had asthma episodes, and 30 percent had consultations for other allergic illnesses (Kemp, et al., 1997).
How do researchers investigate immune system reactions to vaccines? First, they can observe the incidence of serious disease onset soon after vaccination. They can also study immune functions following vaccines given to children and adults. Two research models have been used to discover the possible adverse effect of vaccines on the immune system. Laboratory researchers observe whether vaccines have any negative effect on white blood cells, the body's primary immune defense system. Clinical researchers study illness patterns preceding and following vaccination. All of these investigative channels have reached the same conclusionsâ”vaccines can trigger immune system suppression.
Vaccines are destroying our immune systems. Amazingly, the medical profession ignores the incriminating evidence against vaccines, and continues to inflict more unnecessary and harmful vaccines on our nation's infants. A recent study from the New England Journal of Medicine reported by Time magazine and the Associated Press revealed that tetanus vaccine disables the immune system in HIV patients. Tetanus vaccination produced a drop in T cells in 10 of 13 patients, a classic sign of immune deficiency. HIV viral replication increased dramatically in response to tetanus vaccine. Finally, white blood cells from 7 of 10 uninfected individuals became more susceptible to HIV infection following tetanus vaccination. Despite these findings, the authors made no comment about the immune depleting effect of the vaccine (Stanley et al., 1996).
Why is the public unaware of these findings? Why has the medical profession kept these reports hidden from the public eye? With typical condescension, Dr. Martin Smith, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, explained that the inclusion of this type of information in vaccine brochures "would confuse many parents and could even needlessly alarm them" (AAP News, 1989). An uninformed patient is compliant.
The cover-up of immune system failure following vaccination is reminiscent of the tobacco industry's continuous denial and disinformation campaign about the dangers of cigarettes. In both instances huge profits are at stake in multibillion-dollar industries. Vaccine manufacturers cannot afford to have their product maligned in a public forum.
Doctors have often stated that broadcasting adverse effects of vaccines to the public would hinder the vaccine campaign. This attitude emerged in congressional hearings more than thirty years ago.
It is hard to convince the public that something is good. Consequently, the best way to push forward a new program is to decide on what you think the best decision is and not question it thereafter, and further, not to raise questions before the public or expose the public to open discussion of the issues (Intensive Immunization Programs, Hearings, 1962).
The medical profession has been aware of the damaging effects of vaccines on the immune system since their introduction. For example, the ability of pertussis and DTP vaccines to stimulate the onset of paralytic polio was first noted in 1909. In every polio epidemic since then DTP injections have caused the onset of polio disease.
In 1950, two careful studies were conducted in the state of New York to evaluate the reports of an association between the onset of paralytic polio and recent injections. Investigators contacted the families of all children who contracted polio during that year, a total of 1,300 cases in New York City and 2,137 cases in the remainder of New York State. A history of vaccinations received in the previous two months was obtained on each child and from a group of matched controls in the same population. Those studies discovered that children with polio were twice as likely to have received a DTP vaccination in the two months preceding the onset of polio than were the control children (Korns et al., 1952; Greenberg et al., 1952).
The association of vaccines with the onset of polio continues in the modern age. During a recent polio epidemic in Oman, DTP vaccination again caused the onset of paralytic polio In that epidemic, 70 children 5 to 24 months old contracted paralytic polio during the period 1988-1989. When compared to a control group of children without polio, it was found that a significantly higher percentage of these children had received a DTP shot within 30 days of the onset of polio, 43 percent of polio victims compared to 28 percent of controls (Sutter et al., 1992). The DTP vaccine suppresses the body's ability to fight off the polio virus.
The destructive effect of vaccines on the immune system can persist over an extended period of time. One study documented a long-term depressive effect on interferon production. Interferon is a chemical produced by lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) that renders the host resistant to infection. Interferon production is stimulated by infection with a virus to protect the body from superinfection by some other organism. In this study, vaccination of one-year-old infants with measles vaccine caused a precipitous drop in the level of alpha-interferon produced by lymphocytes. This decline persisted for one year following vaccination, at which time the experiment was terminated. Thus, this study showed that measles vaccine produced a significant long-term immune suppression (Nakayama et al., 1988)

Autoimmune Reactions to Vaccines

- An 11 year old girl received a routine tetanus booster dose and three days later developed blindness in the right eye and light perception only in the left eye. Her optic discs were swollen on exam. Two days later she had partial paralysis of her legs and loss of bladder control, then more widespread sensory loss including a lack of vibrational and positional senses. Seven weeks later she still had some vision loss and decreased muscle power. Within one year she recovered (Topaloglu et al., 1992).
- A 20 year old woman experienced pain and swelling of her right wrist and fingers 4 days after a hepatitis vaccination. The pain and swelling resolved, but returned again 6 months later with more severe swelling and pain, following a second hepatitis vaccination. Nine years later, X-ray of the hands showed destruction of the bones throughout her wrist joints (Gross et al., 1995).
- A 4 year old girl developed progressive weakness of the legs, pain in the legs and feet, and gradual inability to walk 10 days after Hib vaccination. On the fifth day she had swallowing difficulties, facial weakness, and a monotonous voice. Her symptoms gradually improved, and within 3 weeks she could walk with help (Gervaix et al., 1993).
- A 42 year old man received tetanus toxoid on three separate occasions over a period of 13 years. Following each vaccination he developed acute nerve symptoms diagnosed as Guillain-BarrÃ© syndrome, a disease of the nervous system characterized by rapid onset of motor weakness and loss of sensation. (Pollard & Selby, 1978). A nerve biopsy revealed destruction of the myelin nerve sheath. Following his last injection he continued to experience multiple recurrences, and continued to show abnormal findings on examination 15 years later (Pollard, 1993).

What is the effect of long-term immune suppression? Some investigators are concerned that vaccines could be disabling our body's ability to react normally to disease, and creating the climate for autoimmune self-destruction. The many reports of autoimmune phenomena that occur as reactions to vaccination provide incontrovertible proof that tampering with the immune system causes devastating disease.
Federal legislation of 1986 commissioned the Institute of Medicine to establish a Vaccine Safety Committee. The purpose of that committee was to search the medical literature for reports of adverse events associated with the vaccines routinely administered to children, and report their findings. Computer searches revealed 1,800 relevant articles. However, the committee's rigid criteria for establishing a causal relationship between vaccine and adverse event made it nearly impossible for a disease condition to make their short list. Without a case-controlled study proving a relationship, the hundreds of case reports of immune system destruction following vaccines were relegated to coincidence. Case-controlled studies are expensive. They must include tens or hundreds of thousands of children.
Even the Vaccine Safety Committee acknowledged the onset of several autoimmune diseases as a result of vaccination (Guillain-BarrÃ© syndrome following tetanus and polio vaccines, that causes muscle weakness and paralysis; thrombocytopenia, destruction of blood platelets responsible for blood clotting, following MMR; and chronic arthritis following rubella). These types of symptoms have occurred following every vaccine routinely given to childrenâ”the suppressed immune system begins to attack the body's own cells, usually the nerves and joints. Thousands of autoimmune incidents following vaccines have been reported in the medical literature and adverse event reporting systems (Neustaedter, 1996). These autoimmune responses to vaccines have resulted in permanent, chronic disease conditionsâ”deforming arthritis and muscle wasting and paralysis.
In their attempt to explain the repeated occurrence of autoimmune diseases that attack and destroy the myelin sheaths of nerves as a direct result of vaccines, the committee members explain:
It is biologically plausible that injection of an inactivated virus, bacterium, or live attenuated virus might induce in the susceptible host an autoimmune response by deregulation of the immune response, by nonspecific activation of the T cells directed against myelin proteins, or by autoimmuniity triggered by sequence similarities of proteins in the vaccine to host proteins such as those of myelin (Institute of Medicine, 1994).
Since the committee's report, a large ecological study in New Zealand revealed that an epidemic of diabetes followed a massive campaign to vaccinate children against hepatitis B. This report, published in the New Zealand Medical Journal in 1996 revealed that a 60 percent increase in childhood diabetes occurred in the years following the 1989-1991vaccination program of chidren aged 6 to 16. The widespread use of the new Haemophilus meningitis vaccine has similarly resulted in diabetes epidemics. Diabetes is an autoimmune disease that has been frequently observed to occur as a consequence of mumps vaccine (Fescharek et al., 1990; Helmke et al., 1986). The dramatic rise in vaccine-induced diabetes has led researchers to raise a warning flag. "We believe the effects of vaccines on diabetes are of tremendous clinical importance and that trials need to be started immediately to address the effect of vaccines on diabetes and other autoimmune diseases (Classen & Classen, 1996).

Vaccines have become a sacred cow of our culture, unassailable to criticism. Now that we know their devastating effects on the immune system, perhaps we need to take a more cautious approach to the vaccine campaigns. The zealous rush to bring new vaccines to market may be setting the stage for the unwitting destruction of our population's immune system integrity.

References
AAP News Vaccine brochures: AAP proposes changes. June 1989, p 2.
Centers for Disease Control. Asthma - United States, 1980-1990. MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) 1992, 41:733-735.
Classen, J.B. Childhood immunisation and diabetes mellitus. New Zealand Medical Journal 1996; 109;195.
Classen, J.B. and Classen, D.C. Vaccines modulate IDDM. Diabetologia1996; 39:500-501.
Fescharek, R., Quast U., Maass, G. et al. Measles-mumps vaccination in the FRG: an empirical analysis after 14 years of use. II. Tolerability and analysis of spontaneously reported side effects. Vaccine 1990; 8:446-456.
Greenberg, M., Abrahamson, H., Cooper, H.M., Solomon, H.E. The relation between recent injections and paralytic poliomyelitis in children. American Journal of Public Health 1952; 42:142-152.
Gross, K., Combe, C., KrÃ¼ger, K., Schattenkirchner, M. Arthritis after hepatitis vaccination: report of three cases. Scandinavian Journal Rheumatology 1995; 24:50-52.
Helmke, K., Otten, A., Willems, W.R. et al. Islet cell antibodies and the development of diabetes mellitus in relation to mumps infection and mumps vaccination. Diabetologia 1986; 29:30-33.
Institute of Medicine, Adverse Events Associated with Childhood Vaccines: Evidence Bearing on Causality. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1994.
Intensive Immunization Programs. Hearings before the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, 87th Congress, 2nd Session on H.R. 10541. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1962.
Jaber, L., Shohat, M., Mimouni, M. Infectious episodes following diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccination: a preliminary observation in infants. Clinical Pediatrics 1988; 27:491-494.
Kemp, Trudi; Pearce, Neil; Fitzharris, Penny; et al. Results of the Christchurch Health and Development Study. Epidemiology 1997, 8:678.
Korns, R.F., Albrecht, R.M., Locke, F.B. The association of parenteral injections with poliomyelitis.American Journal of Public Health 1952; 42:153-169.
Nakayama, T., Urano, T., Osano, M., et al. Long-term regulation of interferon production by lymphocytes from children inoculated with live measles virus vaccine. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1988; 158:1386-1390.
Neustaedter, R. The Vaccine Guide: Making an Informed Choice. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 1996.
Stanley, S.K., Ostrowski, M.A., Justement, J.S., et al. Effect of immunization with a common recall antigen on viral expression in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1.New England Journal of Medicine 1996; 334:1222-1230.
Sutter, R.W., Patriarca, P.A., Suleiman, A.J.M. et al. Attributable risk of DTP (diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine) injection in provoking paralytic poliomyelitis during a large outbreak in Oman. Journal of Infectious Disease 1992; 165:444-449.
Weiss, K.B., Gergen, P.J., Hodgson, T.A. An economic evaluation of asthma in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine 1992; 326: 862-866.

31 for 21 - Old Pics

2012-10-11T22:01:00.000-05:00

Okay, since I am really tired and running out of time for today, I decided to just post a few pics from this past year of some of the favorite things O likes to do.

One thing is to go on walks around our property. Here is O posing by a tree for his sister that he was with:

Baby goats and sisters - 2 more things O is really thankful for!

Sheep, yet another animal adventure he enjoys. This is one of his sisters picking out a few sheep.

KICKBALL DAY!! Certainly something O looks forward to (as do the rest of us also).

WOOHOO! Life is GREAT!

31 for 21 - Through Unchartered Waters

2012-10-09T23:21:00.004-05:00

Some of the kids and I picked up Granny at the Tulsa Airport this afternoon. On the drive back, I got to talking with her about Curcumin - she didn't know too much about it, nor that we have part of an "experiment", so to speak. There are quite a few posts on our Down syndrome blog about it right here - Longvida Curcumin.

Anyway, I decided to repost some of the information about it right here. If you want to know more, you can go read more on our blog about it. For now, here is a look through unchartered waters as told by my oldest daughter on November 11, 2009:

"I received an email today from Greg Cole, a professor of Medicine & Neurology at UCLA. He works with Sally Frautschy on Curcumin and other things. He was emailing in regards to Longvida Curcumin and our use of it.

His email was a word of caution. A caution to realize that we are "experimenting" with Longvida Curcumin, as it is not clinically proven to help individuals with DS. There have been no clinical trials done on it's safety & use in people with DS. This is a great concern and word of caution and I totally understand where he is coming from and agree.

Whenever we use a supplement that is not clinically proven in people with DS, we are going through uncharted waters and "experimenting." We always need to be cautious and aware of what we are doing. Aware of any changes that are seen with a certain supplement, be it good or bad. And aware of the dosage we use, whether it is too high or too low, or just right.

We've been on the path of using various supplements and "experimenting" with Osiyyah since he was 8 months old (he's 4 1/2 years old now). The way we feel, is that we have to do everything we can for him. Even if something has not been proven in clinical trials. If the research looks promising, is something that looks like it'll benefit him, and as best we can tell is safe to give him, we give it a try. Of course we don't jump into giving him anything unless we have thoroughly researched and am convinced that it is safe & good to try.

It would be wonderful if clinical trials are done, but we can't wait for clinical trials to be done. My brother's life & understanding is on the line. He needs the help right now. This is why we, and many other families of children with DS, take the initiative to use certain supplements well before they have gone through clinical trials.

If we were to wait until something was proven to help children with DS, it would be YEARS and the most crucial time of Osiyyah's development would be gone. I want to do all I can to help my brother reach his fullest potential. That's what I determined from the time he was born and we knew he had DS. To do any less, would not be beneficial to him.

I am so incredibly thankful that we have taken many out of the norm, against the grain steps, because Osiyyah has progressed so well and benefited from them so much. I am convinced he would not be where he is at today had we not started this journey of research back when he was 8 months old. I know that because he visually, before our eyes changed and was a different child, when we started him on the first supplement back then. Granted, that first supplement is Nutrivene-D. But, still, there are MANY people who advocate not to use that supplement, because it is not "clinically proven." If we would've listened to many of the "professionals" in the DS world, we would not be giving Nutrivene-D. I'm so thankful we didn't listen to them.

There is so much that many families use with their kids with DS that are not clinically proven in DS. But, why are they used by so many families? Because someone took the initiative and stepped out of the box and decided to give that particular thing a try. Those who have taken the initiative into uncharted waters have benefited many families. To name a few, Dr. Turkel, Dixie Lawrence, Dr. Leichtman, Teresa Cody, and others.

Our family will always be thankful for the work of people like Dixie Lawrence & Dr. Leichtman in regards to Nutrivene-D. It changed Osiyyah's life. He is not the boy he was before Nutrivene-D.

Or mom's like Chris Hempel, whose twin daughters have Niemann-Pick Type C disease. That's how we found out about Longvida Curcumin. Longvida Curcumin has changed Osiyyah's life also. He can communicate & understand so much more than he was able to 5 months ago. It's amazing.

We will gladly continue to go through uncharted waters and step out of the box to be able to benefit my wonderful little brother and others with Down syndrome.

Qadoshyah"