First Gerber baby with Down Syndrome, 1-year-old Lucas Warren

Photo: Courtesy of Gerber / Cortney Warren

My husband Oliver and I had been trying for quite a while to get pregnant, so when we did, we decided around 11 weeks to opt into a noninvasive prenatal test in order to find out the gender. Or so we thought. The following week, the results came back positive for trisomy 21, the most common type of Down Syndrome. Because that was just a screening test, we went through the diagnostic process and around 12 or 13 weeks, we finally had the confirmed diagnosis. We both cried.

Throughout the weeks and months that followed, as we tried to process the diagnosis, we were on a fact-finding mission, in search, mainly, for what the potential quality of life would be for our child. We read about every possible challenge: 50 percent of babies born with the extra copy of chromosome 21 have a heart defect that needs to be operated on within the first year of life; problems with vision, hearing, and the thyroid could arise. And, while the one in 691 children born with Down Syndrome in the United States each year faces different challenges, both mild and severe, the hard fact of the matter is, a majority of pregnancies that are identified prenatally with trisomy 21 are ultimately terminated. At the time, it was really hard to process, and I felt separated from the pregnancy for a while. We were reading scary thing after scary thing, and it wasn’t until we participated in the First Call Program in Massachusetts, where we spoke to other parents with kids with the condition, that we came to the conclusion that above all, the potential for a high quality of life and fulfillment and happiness was the same for any other child. I think that’s when Oliver turned to me and said, “I know it’s weird, but I feel like we were meant to have this child. And I believe we can provide for her.”

Tenley at 3 months-old with her father, Oliver Foley - Photo: Courtesy of Kinnon Foley / @kinnonmf

We turned the corner together, and at 20 weeks, we found out the gender: a girl. We named her Tenley, a name many people associate with Tenley Albright, a formidable woman, Olympian, and surgeon. Tenley was due on May 3, 2017, surreally my uncle’s birthday. He had trisomy 21, too, and grew up in the ’40s, when it was rare to raise a child with Down Syndrome in the home, and lived a very full life until the age of 65. But, Tenley came three weeks early, on April 16, the day before Oliver was supposed to run the Boston Marathon. She was born around 1:00 p.m. in the afternoon, and we slept in the hospital together and the next morning, Oliver went to the starting line and ran with her name printed on his arm. He made a personal record of three hours and 18 minutes, and after, ran directly back to the hospital. People were yelling her name and she was less than 24 hours old.

Now, Tenley is 9-and-a-half months old and while she has a number of challenges as a result of trisomy 21—she has some respiratory issues, and was on oxygen until she was six weeks old because her lungs didn’t shed their immature cells quickly enough; as well as hypothyroidism, which is very common in children with Down Syndrome—she is so happy. There is a stereotype that people with Down Syndrome are always happy, and it’s one that, for me, is hard to dispute. In fact, people always ask me if I only take pictures of her when she’s smiling, but the truth is, no, she’s actually just always smiling. My dad, whose brother had Down Syndrome, believes that once there is more research done on the disorder, scientists will find that it negates whatever gene causes judgment. There is no science behind it, but, anecdotally, it’s absolutely true: Tenley loves everyone.

People are always saying, “Oh, Tenley is no different than anyone else,” but I like to say, “But she actually is different. She’s not your typical baby: She goes down at 7:30 p.m., she sleeps through the night, she’s always happy. . . .” We’re very lucky and proud. In fact, I like to announce almost immediately when introducing Tenley that she has Down Syndrome. I don’t like feeling like people are guessing, “Does she?” or “Doesn’t she?” Sometimes, people will say, “I can’t even tell!” And even though I know they don’t mean to be offensive, the truth is, I’m proud of her cute little nose and her almond-shaped eyes and her rosy red cheeks.

That’s why, upon seeing her condition celebrated on national television last night, (February 8, 2018) with Gerber’s announcement that, after more than 140,000 submissions, they’ve named their First Gerber baby with Down Syndrome, 1-year-old Lucas Warren, the feeling was truly inexplicable. Tenley was already asleep when we sat down to the watch the Nightly News With Lester Holt. I remember Oliver pausing the preview and saying, “Oh man, this is going to be a tearjerker,” and sure enough, we both cried. Later, we watched the full segment from the Today show because we just wanted to see more.

We recognized so much of Tenley in Lucas, and not just in the common features we love so much. He was practicing waving, and that’s something we are working on with Tenley, along with getting on all fours, something she is having trouble with due to her slightly low muscle tone. The news made me remember when I was pregnant, and, it’s so silly, but in this world where everyone’s lives are on display with social media, one of the things that crossed my mind was: When I post a photo of her, what will people’s comments be? You know, a common comment that you see when somebody posts a photo of their baby is “Oh, he or she is perfect.” I wondered whether someone would ever comment on a photo of my baby like that. Getting that affirmation last night, from a company like Gerber who is associated with the quintessential idea of the “perfect baby,” and then discovering that baby has Down Syndrome, it brought back all those emotions for me. Both of our families texted us, with a ton of positive emojis, asking if we had seen the news. Oliver’s mom said, “Tenley is Miss World in our eyes.”

I think it goes without saying that all people think their children are beautiful; and we absolutely think Tenley is beautiful, inside and out. Despite all the worries we have about her adolescence and adulthood, we know she will have an incredibly fulfilling life. But I think, for all kids, it’s important to see yourself in the world around you so you can dream about what you want to be when you grow up. And now, Tenley will.

 Vogue did publish this Story first @https://goo.gl/j1MaFa

Are You Stressed Out? Discover These Powerful Essential Oils For Stress Relief.

In today’s worlds, stress is almost impossible to avoid.  But essential oils can bring some relief from stress so that you can calm your mind and body and reduce the risks associated with it.

The most commonly used oil for stress relief and relaxation is lavender.  Lavender is also helpful for improving concentration and for helping out to get a better night’s sleep.  It can also be used to reduce headaches caused by stress.

Grapefruit essential oil can also be used to improve your mood and reduce fatigue caused by stress.  The aroma of this oil is refreshing and can help reinvigorate you during those tired afternoon hours.

Eucalyptus is also known for its refreshing properties.  It has a minty aroma and can cause the skin to feel cool when it is applied.  Eucalyptus can be used to help open sinuses when you have a cold or congestion.  But it can also help pep you up during stressful times and alleviate fatigue.

Orange is another citrus fruit that has an uplifting quality.  It can relieve stress and even improve mood when used regularly.  Orange oil will help to give you a boost when you’re dragging.

Rose essential oil works to relieve stress by promoting a feeling of peace and calm.  It is frequently used for stress relief as well as depression.  Many people report feeling more positive with use.

Stress can often make it hard to focus.  Sandalwood essential oil can help to improve your focus and clarity.  It has a woodsy aroma that is calming and warm.  Adding it to a diffuser can bring on a feeling of emotional wellbeing.

Cedarwood is similar to sandalwood in that it has a woodsy aroma.  It has actually been shown to stimulate the release of serotonin – the happy hormone.  Using it regularly can help you to have a better mood and also to sleep more soundly.

Ylang ylang essential oil comes from the ylang-ylang flower.  This essential oil can help you to feel calmer but it can also help you to feel more alert.  It is particularly helpful for helping to calm feelings of anger.

Jasmine essential oil is a natural substance that can calm anxiety.  If you’re prone to feeling overwhelmed and anxious, this is a good oil for you.  It will help you to have better sleep, feel calm, and even improve your libido.

Frankincense oil is also useful for alleviating stress.  This essential oil has been used for many years both medicinally and in religious services.  It is deeply connected with spirituality and is thought to bring better feelings of peace and intuition.

All of these oils can help with reducing and managing stress.  You can use them in a room or person diffuser to help inhale the fragrance and medicinal properties.  Some people also create massage oils using a carrier oil such as coconut oil with a few drops of the essential oil.

You can also add a drop or two to your wrists or temples which will allow you to inhale them for several hours.

Post by DesignToCareDaily.

Note: This post should not be categorized as a medical advice but as an observation.

STOP DO NOT COMMIT SUICIDE READ THIS TO CHANGE YOUR MIND.

 Introduction

I read a lot of other people’s personal stories online and I am left wondering at the wickedness that surrounds the world, story of that of a lady that was gang raped, others are completely boxed into a corner now all they can see or feel is the end of their lives on earth, some admittedly are truly in a very sad situation, even reading their stories takes courage, some just feel so lonely and cannot believe that things will ever be fine, some are feeling so completely deflated and some actually feel they have disappointed their families and the list goes on.

Life has very lovely and memorable times and those times do fill our lives with so much laughter, joy, excitement, it is always a time of giving back. Everyone laughing, playing, singing along to the same song, flip the coin and someone else is faced with war, experiencing pain, disillusionment, rape (some were ganged raped, others are being continuously raped) anger, hopelessness, disappointment, and grief (loss of very dear family members, who were killed unexpectedly, died suddenly), some have terminal illnesses and are in so much pain, whatever the situation might be – stop do not kill yourself.

The world can truly have two sides, some are born completely protected, others are born exposed to all the negativity that life can throw from its belly at them, so they feel all the wickedness that results from that exposure. The tough situation can also affect you indirectly even if you are not going through something terrible - When we happened to know someone going through severe pain because of what they are passing or have passed through, we sometimes feel guilty for our happiness, for example, a mother started nursing suicidal thoughts when her ex-husband killed their two children he picked up after school. She just feels she should never be happy again. when you watched someone die in your neighbourhood out of neglect this can make you feel as if you should die too.

Whatever the case is today I am writing to that person who is thinking of committing suicide and I am saying that there are two voices right inside you, feed the good and let the bad rot. Allow yourself to heal, accept forgiveness and open a new chapter.

How to Open a New Chapter

The essence of writing this piece is that wherever you are, or you find yourself today, could it be that you are in prison, could it be alone in the dark, is something urging you to take your life or a voice insisting that you are not good enough or you are of no use – please do not listen – Open A New Chapter in your Book, It is your unique Life story that you are writing about and it’s not fiction, you are the author of your story and it is a best seller; the entire world is waiting for you to manifested life's superiorities.

You see life is in chapters, just as the Sun rotates around the earth to give it light, so also, you see light as the Sun shines. it is not shining the light to every part of the earth at the same time. I will like to believe that now you are seeing, writing or reading a very dark page in your life’s book, but tomorrow the chapter will be so beautiful because you are the one writing the book - the light will shine for you, the sun is rotating to your side of the world - figuratively, if you know what I mean.

7 thoughts on Opening a New Chapter.

1.Learn to Pray and Meditate always – there is a God in heaven who listens and answer prayers – never give up, He is working out something for you. Draw strength from praying, be full of courage, go on to fulfill your one of a kind destiny.

2. Join a group – there are so many groups out there seeking to assist you – did not list any group because you might be reading this in any part of the globe, so find out what is available and please be humble enough to go join them.

3. Speak up – as you do, you drown the voice of that wicked spirit trying to get you to end your life - talk back - say I will not die but live to declare the glory of God and do great things.

4. Big Goal - Have a goal that is so big that It will keep you awake at night dreaming, and motivated enough during the day to give your best at work.

5. Feel dignified – never lose your self-respect, do not try to escape reality by using drugs. Someone rightly said that today is the first day of the rest of your life.

6. Give Back or Mentor Others – Teach others and influence others positively, Give hope to others.

7. Arise Shine – Isaiah 60:1 – means that you should get up and make a move, the universe is open to you.

Conclusion

You might be thinking right now that “do I believe that it is that easy to live on by just opening a new chapter?” Please go easy on yourself and allow what you have read be your help and rise from this point to do notable things with your life. Whatever things are true, lovely and powerful think about these things. And if you think you have gotten to the end of the first book, start another book right away.

Thank you for reading, you can share your experience in the comment session and let us discuss.

 The design2care team.

Yes: Coffee Can Make You Feel Better

Yes, you must have heard a million people say how coffee is the first thing they want in the morning as soon as the splutter their eyes open and how it is the only hot drink that can help you to cut through and make way past all the stress.
Then there are the other populations of people who have waved the "No-No" flag for Coffee and only support the harmful effects.
However, this article is for the coffee lovers who in spite of desperate trying cannot seem to give up on the luxury of Coffee.

Here are a few reasons showing how coffee does quite a lot of good things to us and our body.

1. Free from the pain
Who likes the clinging bothering pain after a tiresome workout? However, a lot of study and journals have been found to ponder over the subject that an increase in the take of the fiber helps to reduce the post-workout pain. Gulping down 2 cups of coffee post workout can reduce the muscle pain up to 48% providing you with a bare minimum relief.

2. Protect the heart
Various researchers have shown that individuals indulging in the intake of 3-5 cups of coffee a day have fewer chances of showing the signs of a weak and fluctuating heart. Heart diseases are common and are often seen for various reasons as one age over the years, however, coffee almost solves that burden and the heart are somewhat secured. It was a Korean study that confirmed this concept, as to how coffee plays its role in diminishing the beginning signs of heart diseases.

3. Ditch the taste and emphasize the qualities
Black coffee is a rare favorite. But one should not merely go for the taste and should think more about the health benefits that you might get if you choose black coffee over milk coffee. Black coffee helps you to stay rid of tooth cavities by killing the bacteria on the teeth. If this is not done the tooth is led to a decaying process. Black coffee can help you avoid that. Adding milk and sugar sort of goes against this benefit so here black coffee is shown in a more positive light.

Hence here are just a few of the advantages of showing Caffeine as the winner.
Yes, there are bad factors too but this article is solely to emphasize on the good parts as Coffee is a day to day companion in busy lives of today's generation.

How You Can Get Rid Of the Static Electricity that is Causing Shock in Your Body.

Introduction

Static electricity is caused by the accumulation of electrical charges on the surface of objects.

it is a familiar electric phenomenon in which charged particles are transferred from one body to another. For example, if two objects are rubbed together, especially if the objects are insulators and the surrounding air are dry, the objects acquire equal and opposite charges and an attractive force develops between them. The object that loses electrons becomes positively charged, and the other becomes negatively charged. The force is simply the attraction between charges of opposite sign.

It Is Very Common During Dry and Cold Weather

Static occurs when electric charges accumulate on an object's surface; this is commonly a result of two materials that are moving apart or rubbing together. Very dry air and cold weather increase static electricity, so static shock takes place more often in the winter when the air is especially dry.

How to Get Rid of Static Electricity from your body.

When you walk on that wool carpet, your body builds up a charge that it cannot get rid of through the insulating soles of your shoes. Then, when you touch that metal doorknob, the door of your car, or another person; the resultant effect is such that jolts of electricity travel through your body causing shock waves. Dry air is also an insulator, so static electricity is even more common during the dry and winter months.

Things to do to discharge the currents of electricity.

1.    Touch a grounded object - The simplest way to get rid of static electricity in the body is to let it do what it wants to do, which is to discharge from your body into the ground. You can do this by touching any conductive material that is not isolated from the ground.
2.   Ground yourself - Take off your shoes and socks so your feet touch the earth, or bend over and touch the earth with your hand. Static electricity can only build up in your body if you are not grounded, otherwise, it would dissipate immediately.

Note: If not discharged by grounding after you have stopped the friction that created the build-up, Then give it time - Static electricity naturally dissipates slowly, perhaps, if you created the situation by dragging your feet across the carpet, stop moving for several minutes and the charge will dissipate.

Prevent static buildup 

You can prevent static electricity from building up in your body or in the air around you:

·       Prevent by raising the humidity level.

·       Applying moisturizer to dry skin or using an ionizer.

·       Cool, dry air is a good conductor for electrons and allows friction to create static buildup. An ionizer uses a small electric current to re-balance the lost electrons and thus prevent static electricity from forming.

Another Example of Static Electricity is lightning.

Heavier, negatively charged particles sink to the bottom of the cloud. When the positive and negative charges grow large enough, a giant spark - lightning - occurs between the two charges within the cloud. This is a static electricity spark you see, but much bigger, this is the most dramatic example of static discharge in nature.