We were having a bath tonight, he and I, as we do several nights a week, when he reminded me I’d forgotten to buy something.

I said “well, why don’t we get out of the bath, we’ll get you dressed and I’ll take you to the shops to get some?”

Realising that I’d just explained that we’d get him dressed and not me, I said – as is my slightly mad sense of homour “…yes Gryff, I’ll get you dressed then I’ll drive you to the shops with no clothes on at all.”

He laughed out loud.

“Imagine, Gryff, if you and I really did walk into the supermarket with no clothes on, what would people say?” I amused myself, not really expecting him to come back with much except more laughter, to which he replied:

“I think they would look at you and say ‘you’re a weirdo’, then they would look at me and say I’m so damned cute!”

Got it in one babe. On so many levels… at 5. How I love him!

~ kristen

I’m honoured – (and a little flawed!) – to have been invited to speak at an International Down Syndrome Conference in the Carribbean in February 2013.

The event, entitled ‘Mission Possible: Sailing To Solutions’, is being billed as ‘a life-changing experience (for parents of children with Down syndrome).’ “Learn proactive solutions with an emphasis on nutrition, bio-medical intervention and innovative therapies that address real issues and provide viable answers.”

Fellow Speakers include Doctors and Health Professionals who pursue a variety of avenues for optimising the potential for our kids. What a thrill it will be to meet like-minded parents and practitioners who agree that things do not have to just remain as they are, but that parents can make a difference to outcomes and to the longterm health and wellbeing of our children born with Trisomy 21.

You can read more about this event here.

I am overjoyed to have been asked, I’m immensely grateful to the organisers for their vision to help parents to follow this alternative path, and of course we wouldn’t miss it for the world!

~ Kristen.

A friend sent me this pic of his kids yesterday.

I love this image for so many reasons. These kids care for their chooks, they chase them round the yard and feed them scraps from their kitchen. They collect the eggs like it’s easter every day and now they’re selling some of them to people who will love eating them, all the more because of these stunning, healthy, exuberant children.

Thanks so much Kim and Amy for letting me share this pic. I could gaze at your angels for hours!

x Kristen.

At this time – exactly 5 years ago – I went into labour with my son. And so began the single most profoundly life-changing and eye-opening experience imaginable. And while he sleeps, dreaming of the dawn of his 5th birthday and the haul of gifts he’ll rip open (at some ungodly hour I’m sure), I struggle to count the gifts he has brought to me in this life, and the gifts he has given to others through his thriving successes. I love you Gryffin ♥

My sister in law just sent me this and I thought I’d share. This applies to all of us, everywhere – not just here in Aus.  If only the majority of people would follow this advice, it could make an enormous difference to local economies:

Christmas 2011 — Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Australians with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods (many in sweat shops/slave labour) — merchandise that has been produced at the expense of Australian labour.

This year will be different. This year Australians will give the gift of genuine concern for other Australians. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift-giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by Australian hands.  Yes there is!

It’s time to think outside the box.  Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone — yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut.  How about gift certificates from your local Australian hair salon or barber?

Gym membership?  It’s appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

And how about a yoga certificate? Great for all ages to get some movement back in the body.

Who wouldn’t appreciate getting their car detailed?  Small, Australian-owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers?  Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or games at the local golf course.

What about a local tradesman such as carpenter, plumber, tiler, glass repairer  or TV aerial specialist for that long awaited but never “got to” repair or adjustment? The list is endless.

There are a lots of Australian owner-run restaurants — all offering gift certificates.  And, if your intended isn’t the fancy eatery sort, what about a half-dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint.  Remember, folks this isn’t about big National chains — this is about supporting your home town Australians with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn’t use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the Australian working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mum?  Mum would LOVE the services of a local Aussie cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal.  Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves.  They make jewellery, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner-operated restaurants and. How about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love (and a little money) too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Not only will it keep the money in your local community, it is a chance to make new acquaintances!   WIN/WIN for all Australians.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house?  When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community.  If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the postie, garbo or babysitter a nice BIG tip.Or better still… ME, your email friend! ;-)

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining Australian pockets so that China can build another glittering city.  Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging Australian small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Australians, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn’t imagine .

THIS is the new Australian Christmas tradition. So what do YOU think?

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list — post it to discussion groups — send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn’t that what Christmas is all about?

Merry Xmas!

~ Kristen

Our eldest daughter, Bronte, came home from school yesterday – she’s studying drug-ed as part of her year 9 health class. She told me this story which I have to share because really, this is what this blog is all about!

The teacher asked all the kids to stand up, then she said:

“OK, sit down if you’ve had antibiotics in the last 3 months.” A bunch of kids sat down. Then she said “Sit down if you’ve had Neurofen or Panadol in the last 3 months” – most of the others sat down. Then the teacher asked “Sit down if you’ve had Coke or Coffee in the last 3 months” at which point Bronte was the last girl standing.

The teacher then asked “OK, Bronte, please tell me that you’ve eaten chocolate in the last 3 months” to which she replied yes and sat down.

By this time all eyes were on her and the teacher then asked “So, Bronte, were you immunised?”. Sheepishly, Bronte said “Um, no….” Teacher asked “Do you take vitamins?” “Yes…” Bronte replied. “Do you eat many food with chemicals in it?” at which point Bronte said “Um, no – My Mum’s kind of an organic freak!”

Bronte told me that after this incident, a lot of kids had a LOT of questions, but one of the most common questions was “Why aren’t you dead?” They asked this question because she’s not immunised!

So there you go. Hard to believe it really, but we are absolutely the minority and we’re ridiculously healthy, despite the lack of chemicals. Or because of it?!!

~ Kristen.

MIRACLES IN MY INBOX
My heart stops for just a second when I open my email to find something like this, which arrived this morning. Thank you so much to this Mum who generously shares her story about her son:

Having read Naturally Better from start to finish two days after it had arrived, I was keen to get started on whatever form of treatment I could lay my hands on for my precious 1 year old. First on my list was the Osteopath and it just happened that I was able to schedule an appointment a day before the scheduled ABR to test his hearing in the left ear. The Osteopath was supportive of my decision to try his services and was aware of Kristen’s writing and had treated quite a few other children with Down Syndrome.

Well, as I sat there watching curiously, I wondered just what was happening to my little one as he cradled his head and neck in his palms. I queried, “What can you feel?” He informed me of the tightness in the right hand side as well as the left and talked about clearing the blockages.

A 1/2 hour passed and he was finished. We scheduled another 4 lots of treatments on a fortnightly basis to be timed with my visits to Brisbane and I left with plans to come back on the Friday for the next treatment before I left the city to return home.

The next day, to the utter surprise of the audiologists and myself, Beni passed on the left with hearing at 40 decibels. It was amazing and unbelievable as he had failed the test twice before and had been sporting a hearing aid for the last 9 months.

So now, rather than being on the Cochlear Implant program which would have lead to a very invasive surgery and a lifetime of wearing permanent aids, we are looking forward to a more holistic approach including a focus on diet, nutritional supplements, and Osteopathic treatments as required. Next on the lists is the homeopathy.

I am indebted to my Disability Services officer who presented me with Kristen’s book the first day I met her and ‘naturally’ Kristen who has, through her own pursuit of her son’s health and well being, managed to provide us with a guide to help us along the way.

Beni has been attending a local Early Learning Childhood Centre and his teachers noticed a dramatic difference the next week when he turned up without his hearing aids, they were totally amazed and confirmed that he was more responsive and alert and turned consistently when they called to him, he was even babbling away to his friends – the difference was remarkable.

Before the treatment, Beni was moderate to severely deaf in the left ear and severe to profoundly deaf in the right. After the treatment he passed on the left and no longer requires the hearing aid. He will be tested on the right again in the next few months. Fingers crossed the treatments will help with the tightness and blockages in the right as well.

We are ever so grateful for finding a little piece of the puzzle to help him make connections.
Thank you Kristen. ~ Julianne (Beni’s Mum)

A NOTE RE OSTEOPATHY
The Osteopathic method discussed here and in my book involves very gentle work on the plates of the skull. Osteopathic technique varies from country to country. Those who are looking for an Osteopath or a Chiropractor are best to ask if the practitioner has done this kind of work with children, as there are several different approaches. In USA, for example, the Osteopathic method required is referred to as OMT – Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy, but again make sure the practitioner has done cranial work with kids.

~ Kristen.

It’s Down Syndrome Awareness Month and so my good friend Geralyn Spiesz and I have co-authored an article. Like thousands of parents around the world, we are focussing our attention on treatments to optimize our children’s potential and we are getting results.

At 4 years of age, Gryffin was tested and found to be functionally normal in most areas of neurological function. In some areas, he is well ahead of his neuro-typical peers. Today, we continue to address those areas which remain in need of work – and the improvements are still daily.

Modern medicine focuses its attention on earlier methods of detection so that the very birth of babies like ours can be avoided; modern medicine appears to have no interest in our results – results which are common to literally thousands of children around the world.

How is that modern or forward thinking?

Geralyn and I challenge you to look at Down syndrome differently, because we can make a difference to outcomes, we can prevent what is often thought to be inevitable for children whose only real exception from the ‘norm’ is a pesky extra choromosome…

Click here to read our article.

~ Kristen.

It’s hard to believe that tomorrow marks the 2 year anniversary of the ebook publication of Naturally Better, and 2 years since this site was created. Time has certainly flown!

The ebook was launched online, and this launch was the first post on my blog.

Writing this book was never about money – it was always about helping other parents by sharing our family’s story.  In the last 2 years I’ve been thrilled to meet parents whose children’s lives have been changed by reading this book. Today, I receive regular emails from parents of well children, hurt children, children with Down syndrome, Cerebral palsy, ADHD, Autism, unknown diagnoses – and children with little more than a recurring cold All of these parents tell me that their eyes have been opened to possibilities which were previously completely unknown to them. Possiblities which have enabled them to make a difference in their children’s lives, just as we did.

This is a book for every parent to understand the power of natural and alternative therapies for every child, through our family’s 3 year journey with Gryffin.

So, on the eve of International Down Syndrome Awareness Month, it seems only right that I mark my book down as much as I possibly can, so that during the month of October Naturally Better can raise even more awareness for the potential our children ALL have to thrive and get better, naturally.

The specials are all live – click here to see the markdowns including the ebook version for $7.50, paperback edition at $20 including postage throughout Australia and $22.95 including postage throughout USA.

To happy, healthy kids.

x Kristen.