National Child Abuse Prevention Month

National Child Abuse Prevention Month . April was first declared Child Abuse Prevention Month by presidential proclamation in 1983. Since then, April has been a time to acknowledge the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse.

For more information…..

 

This month is very important to me. My mom passed away after having a major heart attack and we never knew she had heart problems. Get your heart checked and watch for the signs of a heart attack!

October Fun Facts

The 10th month of the year brings us Halloween, Columbus Day, and the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

In the Georgian calendar, the calendar that most of the world uses, October is the tenth month of the year. In early Roman calendar, it was actually the eighth month and there are 31 days in October ever since the since of the Roman emperor August. In North Temperature zone, the first frost happens, leaves change colors and leaves fall. By the time, most of the birds would have left for the South hemisphere to protect themselves from cold weather. However, in southern hemisphere, October’s weather is just like the northern hemisphere’s April weather. In October, farmers bring the last of the fall crops and ship them to other parts of the U.S. and also, many apples are harvested.

Below are some fun facts about October:

1 The birthstones for October are the tourmaline and the opal.

2 The zodiac signs for October are Libra (September 23 – October 22) and Scorpio (October 23 – November 21).

3 The birth flower for October is the calendula.

4 On October 1, 1896, free rural delivery of mail started in the United States.

5 On October 4, 1957, the first artificial satellite was launched by the Soviet Union.

6 On October 5, 1947, the first presidential telecast address from the White House was made by Harry S. Truman.

7 On October 7, 1816, the Washington (first double-decked steamboat) arrived at New Orleans.

8 On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed in America.

9 On October 18, 1867, The U.S. flag was formally raised over Alaska.

10 On October 22, 1836, Sam Houston was inaugurated as the first president of the Republic of Texas.

11 On October 31, 1864, Nevada became the 36th state of the United States.

12 National Cookie Month

13 National Chili Month

14 National Pizza Month

15 National Dessert Month

16 Lupus Awareness Month

17 National Seafood Month

18 November 5 – World Teacher’s Day

19 Columbus Day – second Monday of October

20 October 31 – Halloween

National Down Syndrome Month

 

 

Down syndrome is the most common genetic disorder in America.

People with Down syndrome have mild to moderate disabilities.

There are many supportive programs for people with Down syndrome and their families, helping people with Down syndrome to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

 

Down syndrome (sometimes called Down’s syndrome) is a condition in which a child is born with an extra copy of their 21st chromosome (hence its other name, Trisomy 21). This causes physical and mental developmental delays and disabilities.

 

Many of the disabilities are lifelong and they can also shorten life expectancy. However, people with Down syndrome can live healthy and fulfilling lives. Recent medical advances as well as cultural and institutional support for people with Down syndrome and their families provide many opportunities to help overcome challenges.

 

What Causes Down Syndrome?

According to the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), about 1 in 700 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome. It’s the most common genetic disorder in the United States.

 

A quick explanation of basic genetics can help you understand how it happens. In all cases of reproduction, both parents pass their genes on to their children. These genes are carried in chromosomes. When the baby’s cells develop, each cell is supposed to receive 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 chromosomes total). Half of the chromosomes are from the mother and half are from the father.

 

In children with Down syndrome, one of the chromosomes doesn’t separate properly. The baby ends up with three copies, or an extra partial copy, of chromosome 21, instead of two. This extra chromosome causes problems as the brain and physical features develop.

 

Types of Down Syndrome

 

There are three types of Down syndrome:

Trisomy 21

Trisomy 21 means there is an extra copy of chromosome 21 in every cell. This is the most common form of Down syndrome.

Mosaicism

Mosaicism occurs when a child is born with an extra chromosome in some but not all of their cells. People with mosaic Down syndrome tend to have fewer symptoms than those with trisomy 21.

Translocation

In this type of Down syndrome, children have only an extra part of chromosome 21. There are 46 total chromosomes. However, one of them has an extra piece of chromosome 21 attached.

 

Will My Child Be at Risk for Down Syndrome?

Certain parents have a greater risk of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome. Mothers age 35 and older are more likely to have a baby with Down syndrome than younger mothers. The risk increases the older the mother is. Research shows that paternal age also has an effect — one 2003 study found that fathers over 40 had twice the risk of having a child with Down syndrome.

 

Other parents who are at greater risk of having a child with Down syndrome include:

people with a family history of Down syndrome

people who carry the genetic translocation

 

It’s important to remember that no one of these factors mean that you will definitely have a baby with Down syndrome, but statistically and over a large population, they can put you at higher risk.

 

SYMPTOMS

 

What Are the Symptoms of Down Syndrome?

Though the likelihood of carrying a baby with Down syndrome can be estimated by screening during pregnancy, you won’t experience any symptoms of carrying a Down syndrome child.

At birth, babies with Down syndrome usually have certain characteristic signs, including:

flat facial features

small head and ears

short neck

bulging tongue

eyes that slant upward

oddly shaped ears

poor muscle tone

 

An infant with Down syndrome can be born at normal size but will develop more slowly than a child without the condition.

 

People with Down syndrome usually have some degree of mental disability, but it’s often mild to moderate. Mental and social development delays may mean that the child could have:

impulsive behavior

poor judgment

short attention span

slow learning capabilities

 

Medical complications often accompany Down syndrome. These may include:

congenital heart defects

hearing loss

poor vision

cataracts (clouded eyes)

hip problems, such as dislocations

leukemia

chronic constipation

sleep apnea (interrupted breathing during sleep)

dementia (thought and memory problems)

hypothyroidism (low thyroid function)

obesity

late tooth growth, causing problems with chewing

Alzheimer’s, in later life

 

People with Down syndrome are also more prone to infection. They may struggle with respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and skin infections.

 

Down syndrome is the most common genetic disorder in America.

People with Down syndrome have mild to moderate disabilities.

There are many supportive programs for people with Down syndrome and their families, helping people with Down syndrome to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

Down syndrome (sometimes called Down’s syndrome) is a condition in which a child is born with an extra copy of their 21st chromosome (hence its other name, Trisomy 21). This causes physical and mental developmental delays and disabilities.

Many of the disabilities are lifelong and they can also shorten life expectancy. However, people with Down syndrome can live healthy and fulfilling lives. Recent medical advances as well as cultural and institutional support for people with Down syndrome and their families provide many opportunities to help overcome challenges.

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the National Down Syndrome Society and the National Association for Down Syndrome for help and hope.

Article reso

 

September Fun Facts

The 9th month of the year brings us Labor Day, and the start of the Fall season.

In the Georgian calendar, the calendar that most of the world uses, September is the ninth month of the year. However, it used to be the seventh month on the Roman calendar. It had 29 and 31 days but it later was changed to 30 days by Emperor Augustus. In Southern United States, it is the warmest months of the year and very cool nights for Northern states. It is the harvest time for crops and that is why Switzerland calls September the harvest month. In the Northern hemisphere, beginning of September leads to the beginning of meteorological autumn while it is the beginning of the meteorological spring in southern hemisphere.

Below are some fun facts about September:

1. The birthstone for September is the sapphire.
2. The zodiac signs for September are Virgo (August 23 – September 22) and Libra (September 23 – October 22)
3. The birth flower for September is the morning glory.
4. On September 1, 1905, Alberta and Saskatchewan were established.
5. On September 1, 1939, World War II began in Europe because the German troops invaded Poland.
6. On September 2, 1789, the United States Department of Treasury was established.
7. On September 3, 1783, the Revolutionary War in America ended after Great Britain signed the Treaty of Paris.
8. On September 6, 1901, William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, was assassinated.
9. On September 8, 1565, the first permanent white settlement was founded in St.Augustine, Florida.
10. On September 10, 1846, Elias Howe patented his sewing machine.
11. On September 14, 1847, United States forces took control of Mexico City.
12. On September 14, 1940, the Selective Service Act was passed by Congress which provided the first peacetime draft in the United States history.
13. National Chicken Month
14. National Rice Month
15. National Potato Month
16. National All-American Breakfast Month
17. Labor Day – first Monday of September
18. September 8 – Pardon Day
19. September 13 – Uncle Sam Day (his image was first used in 1813)
20. September 16 – Mexican Independence Day

Goodbye August!

Romance Awareness Month

Romance Awareness Month is an annual designation observed in August.

CELEBRATE
Being aware of and adding more romance into your relationship will be a win-win for both you and your significant other.  Romance has always been a very important part of relationships. Sometimes it is the little things that really make a big difference,  such as; holding a hand, rubbing a shoulder, a flower, dinner, a song, a note, watching a movie together, etc..  

Romance Awareness Month is also a great time to catch up on some reading with the wide selection of romance novels that are available. 

If posting on social media use #RomanceAwarenessMonth.

HISTORY
The origin of Romance Awareness Month has not been determined. 

Welcome August

August Facts
The 8th month the year brings us National Aviation Day, and the last full month of the Summer.
Below are some fun facts about August:
1 The birthstones for August are the peridot and the sardonyx.
2 The zodiac signs for August are Leo (July 23 – August 22) and Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
3 The birth flowers for August are the gladiolus and the poppy.
4 On August 1, 1876, Colorado, also known as the Centennial State, became the 38th state of the United States.
5 On August 2, 1909, the Lincoln penny was issued.
6 On August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail on his first voyage across the Atlantic.
7 During the Civil War on August 5, 1864, the Battle of Mobile Bay was won by the Union forces.
8 On August 6, 1926, Gertrude Ederle successfully swam the English Channel.
9 On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was used in warfare on Hiroshima, Japan.
10 On August 7, 1942, the U.S. troops landed on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands during World War II.
11 On August 9, 1974, Richard M. Nixon resigned from office, making him the first United States president to ever resign from office.
12 On August 12, 1877, the phonograph was invented by Thomas Edison.
13 On August 12, 1898, Hawaii was annexed by the United States.
14 National Family Fun Month
15 National Peach Month
16 National Golf Month
17 National Picnic Month
18 Romance Awareness Month
19 Friendship Day – first Sunday of August
20 August 26 – Women's Equality Day

National Military Month

May Fun Facts

The 5th month of the year brings us Memorial Day, Mother’s Day, and the last full month of Spring.

According to the early Roman calendar, May was the third month. Later, the ancient Romans used January as the first month and therefore, became the fifth month and it always had 31 days. May was first named for Maia, the Roman goddess of spring and growth. In the North Temperate Zone, may is one of the most beautiful months of the year. Usually, the snow and ice are gone by this time but the hot temperature hasn’t arrived yet. In May, the first garden begins to sprout and the wild flowers start to bloom and the trees and grasses turn green. Wild flowers such as forsythia, dogwood, violets, and jack-in-the-box bloom and many birds build their nests to sit on the eggs that will soon hatch.

Below are some fun facts about May:

1. The birthstone for May is the emerald which represents success or love.
2. The zodiac sign for May are Taurus (April 20 – May 20) and Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
3. The birth flower for May is the Crataegus monogyna and the Lily of the Valley.
4. On May 1, 1931, the Empire State Building was officially opened.
5. Armed Forces Day – celebrated the third Saturday of May
6. Mother’s Day – celebrated on the second Sunday of May
7. Memorial Day – celebrated on the last Monday in May.
8. May 5 – Cinco De Mayo
9. On the first Saturday in May, the Kentucky Derby takes place.
10. On May 11, 1858, Minnesota was admitted to the Union.
11. On May 14, 1804, Lewis and Clark, the great explorers began their trip up the Missouri River.
12. On May 14, 1948, the last British troops left Palestine which led to Israel becoming an independent country.
13. On May 15, 1918, the first regular airmail service began in the United States.
14. On May 20, 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act.
15. On May 20, 1932, the first solo flight by a woman across the Atlantic Ocean was made by Amelia Earhart.
16. On May 23, 1788, South Carolina became the eighth state.
17. On May 24, 1607, the first permanent English settlement in America was established in Jamestown, VA.
18. On May 27, 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge was opened in San Francisco.
19. On May 29, 1790, Rhode Island became the 13th state.
20. On May 29, 1848, Wisconsin became the 30th state.