Einstein Syndrome: Down Syndrome with a Positive Attitude

Lots has been happening in the world of Down syndrome.

Waking up in Illinois is discussing Down syndrome and breast cancer. The good news is that our daughters with DS will probably never get breast cancer. A protective protein, Endostatin, is coded for on Chromosome 21 and therefore at higher levels in DS. It’s cool that breast cancer researchers are looking to DS to plan effective treatments.

Rickismom blogged a creative  way to end an argument with her teen daughter.  I laughed at her word picture of Ricki hollering that this was not standard procedure.  Since she blogs from Israel, she has been writing about their lives under random bombardment from their unfriendly neighbors.  She says her shelter is ready.  I hope she never has to use it.

Hannah had a sleep study done.  Mary can attest that the glue to hold the leads in place Stinks.  Beth has a great photo of Hannah all ready for bed, with wires attached to every spot on her body.  This blog is full of great pictures of joyfilled life with a child with Down syndrome.  I wish I lived close enough for Mary and Hannah to become friends.

Nathan just celebrated his first birthday.  If you’re a sucker for adorable baby pictures, head on over to Nathan’s blog.

Over at So Much to Say, So Little Time, Kathleen has a lot to say about clarity of speech.  She says it begins with opening your mouth!

Clarity of speech is achieved by opening the mouth. It sounds inane, I know—but in speech, we don’t move our mouths much. Opening the mouth has implications not only for singing, but also for elocution.

Actually this echoes what Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson has been saying for years.  In Down syndrome the key issue is jaw stability.  You have to be able to control that open mouth to correctly form the vowels, and then on that stability you add the lip and tongue movements.

Liam’s dad has been writing an intriguing journal of his son’s first few months.  He covers his thoughts on the r word (it’s not the word, it’s the attitude), has a collection of photos of adults with Down syndrome (wonderful!), and reminds us how ordinary his life is with his discussion of diapers (use cloth) and bottles (natural nipple, please).

Mosaic Moments has the goods on why the Aricept study was canceled.

Jennifer has been rearranging the furniture at Pinwheels.  And this week she asked new parents what they wish they had known right from the start.  Be sure to read the comments on that post.

IDSC for Life is welcoming a new board member, self advocate Bridget Brown.

Blessings and Glory wants to make us all jealous that we don’t live in her house.  These photos of Charlie are some of the most personable I’ve ever seen.  Those expressions!

At Big Blueberry Eyes, Michelle has been packing, moving, and starting her daughter at a new school–  so stressful over the holidays!