Hi just got back from conference

[steffipoo]

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Hi Folks,

Just got back from the conference here. It was in Costa Mesa CA. BOY was it ever neat.First off the folks from the adult down syn clinic in Chicago were there and spoke. They also wrote the book in which Jackies Emily is on the cover. Mental Wellness for Folks with ds. McGuire and Chiccone. McGuire is an absolute HOOT and had many funny thought-provoking stories for all to hear.. Then I saw a lady Terri Couwenhoven who spoke about Sexuality begins at home. I also bought her book titled Teaching Children with down Syndrome about their bodies, Boundaries, and Sexuality. She had some interesting ideas and this is a topic I am feeling like we need to get to quick and wanna approach it in a tried and tested manner cause I definately needed a teacher for this one. ANYHOW Jackie Emily is on the COVER of this book TOO. I showed my buds and anyone else would listen and they think shes beautiful. Then went to a lecture called L.E.A.N. with dr. sears. He really stresses the real food idea and we are gonna try to get any and all processed food outta this house altogether. He made some really powerful statement about what we r doing to our children by feeding em all the crap some of us have. He measures our kids by the waist size and any parent who doesn't get it and continues to feed em crap he tells em their kids are pre-diabetic, pre-heart disease etc, somehow he explained that some parents don't "get it" till he throws in the pre medical things which are very true and sometimes just what a parent needs to get em started. Learned a lot and he stressed the importance of omega 3's. he gives his son an omega 3 pill in the morn and said to make sure our kids eat lotsa fish and recommended trader joes wild salmon as a gr8 choice. Not the farm raised as they are shot with coloring and stuff like that. really had a gr8 day. Thought I'd share that C ya. OMG Wednesday my dad had a heart attack. He just so happened to be at the hospital taking an insulin class that his doctor forced him to take and said if he didn't take it he would drop him as a patient. So from the onset of his heart attack to the time the nurse at the lecture wheeled him to the ER iun the building next door it took 8 minutes for him to be on the table in the ER. Saw him Friday and rubbed his bald head and made a wish for luck as he has got to mbe the luckiest guy alive. Got him to crack up. So he is doing great as he was seen by the docs so fast. ((((HUGS)))) Steff

[CC]

WOW Steff, sorry to hear bout your Dad, hope he continues to keep dong GREAT.

The conference sounds very cool ;D

BTW any chance he said if there is a chart for what waist size one should be compared to height?? Just wondering.

CC ~

[steffipoo]

;D ;D ;D Aww CC thanx he didn't say though am going to most likely get his book soon so maybe it will tell but I doubt it never thought to ask. He has kids lose weight by belt or skirt sizes. Never ever recommends low fat says we need fat for brain development. K... forgot to add something funny dr. McGuire said. he was talking about self-talk and added he has had many a parent have their kids carry a non-working or working cell phone or even better lol a blue tooth in the ear this way if they tend to forget to keep self talk more private at the very least they won't stand out. LLOLOL I can just imagine what Olivia must think seeing all those people walking around here with the blue tooth in their ears thinking they are simply talking to themselves. Me thinx they look kinda kooky but living in L.A. am getting used to it as it seems everyone here is blue-tooth crazy walking around having animated conversations with themselves. LOL (((HUGS)) Steff

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

Sorry to hear about your Daddy. That is so scary. Been there done that w/ my hubby. Here's to a quick recovery

The fish thing is soooo correct. I will only eat fish that is wild. No farm fish around here Hubby even throws his catch back if it's clipped. The things they pump into those poor fishes

I'm glad you had a good time at the conference. I wish they had some close to me. I haven't found one yet. Going to the buddy walk this year though

[Pat]

Glad to here your dad was in the hospital at the time & is okay. Let us know how he's doing.
Does Dr. Sears have a book? or is it in the "Mental Wellness for Folks with DS" book?? Sounds like a neat conference.
Pat

[Ericsmomma]

Steff,
Sounds like a wonderful conference...I get a newsletter from Dr. Sears...excellant articles!
Sorry to hear about your Dad...it could be his doc was his "guardian angel" by making him attend the class at the hospital...time sure does count when you are having a heart attack.
Prayers for a speedy and complete recovery.

[Emilysmom]

So sorry to hear about your dad, Steff! That had to be a scary thing; even if he did have it in the hospital!

The conference sounded wonderful!!! I heard the session about teaching sexuality to our kids at home last year in Kansas City, and it was really good!!! I hope to do the preconference with McGuire and Chicoine in Boston. Glad you had such a great day!

Susan

[twosomy21]

very informative meeting glad you enjoyed it. your dad is fortunate and i bet he has found his favorite doctor in that man he did not want to listen to.