Jacob's Journey | A Special & Determined Little Boy

a window into the beautiful world of down syndrome

Product Review: I Was Wowed By Tide Pods

PRODUCT REVIEW FOR TIDE PODS


We had to recently purchase a new washing machine, our old one broke however our dryer was fine.  Well after looking around all we noticed was these new “High Efficiency” washer and dryers.  We are definitely trying to get “more green” in our house, so when we heard of the opportunity to save some money in our water bill by using cold water to wash our clothes and still get the clothes clean, we felt it  was a good investment.  So we got both an HE Whirlpool washer and dryer.

Now we just needed to get rid of the good working gas dryer.

So we contacted our local Restore (Habitat for Humanity) store and asked if they were in need of a gas dryer.  Of course they were, so we felt good knowing that with our purchase we were also able to make a donation to charity.

But for all those that have HE washers you know that you can only use HE liquid detergent.  A sample of the HE Liquid Tide came with the washer so we tried it and liked it.

Well of course we had to now look for HE detergent, but I was shocked to see how much more expensive it was.  However, after thinking about it you really are using less of the HE detergent.  So again over time you really are saving money.  So we had purchased some of the liquid Tide, but I heard Continue reading →

Determination is Powerful!

We went to a festival this weekend at our local farmer’s market, it was fun.

You can spend half the day there picking from the freshly, locally grown vegetables and meat.  Or just see the goods the local vendors are displaying.

But this weekend there was a special event a May festival with a carnival, animals and even camel rides. Yep camel rides!

Well Jacob was so excited to go on the horsey ride.  They of course were little ponies, but Jacob had to pick the biggest one.

It was so cute, because he kept saying “neigh”, “neigh” as his Dad walked around with him.

Then he turned and pointed to the camel, and shouted Continue reading →

Sharing a Great Post: Exersaucer VS Jumperoo

I just came across this great post by Rick Smith from Noahsdad.com ”Exersaucer Vs Jumperoo – Which is best for your child?”, and I had to share it with all of you.

For those of you who don’t know Rick Smith he has became such a wonderful resource to us here in the Down Syndrome community, such an advocate for down syndrome and is such a wonderful dad with a gorgeous son named Noah.

His blog Noahsdad.com is like one of the most read special needs blogs that I know.  He does such a wonderful job Continue reading →

Going Green but Have Questions

Well it’s spring and it appears that the allergies/pollen are going to be far more worse this year than last.

So I am on a mission to “go green” in my house.  I have noticed that my son seems to be getting bronchitis more often and him and I both are starting to suffer from allergies a lot sooner than we both would have liked.

As much as I try to keep our house clean, I have also been thinking that the cleaning products I use are probably not the best for my family.  So I have taken it into consideration that I need to make a change and Continue reading →

Unveiling the “21 Faces of Down Syndrome” Video

In honor of World Down Syndrome Awareness Day, being celebrated around the world on March 21, 2012 I wanted to do something special.

I posted a request for beautiful faces of adults and children with Down Syndrome on my Facebook page, then I created a Pinterest board entitled “21 Faces of Down Syndrome”.  I was so excited and happy to see the beautiful faces that people shared I decided I wanted to make a video to celebrate life, awareness, acceptance and inclusion of people diagnosed with Down Syndrome.

World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated on the 21st day of the third month of year to symbolize a third copy of the 21st chromosome in Down syndrome. This year is especially exciting Continue reading →

Jacob’s New Birthday Book “I Believe In You”

Every birthday we give Jacob a new book, and I had to share this book with all of you.

It’s called “I Believe in You” by Marianne Richmond.  As I was reading the book I thought to myself this is really an amazing book I need to share this with everyone.

“I Believe in You” explores the powerful feeling in every parent’s heart as you watch a child take on the big job of growing up.  This inspiring and meaningful book puts into words the love and little moments that reveal just how much you believe in your child, no matter what life brings.

Again as I was reading this book Continue reading →

Jacob’s 6th Birthday Party

I can’t believe that after all the planning (over a month) my special little guy’s birthday party is over and was a huge success.  Celebrating our little man’s birthday is really a special occasion for our family.  After all that he has been through in his six years, celebrating another year that he has brought us so much joy and love into our lives is so meaningful.  We are the blessed ones.

I wanted to make sure his birthday was fun and special for him and right now he seems to really be able to relate to Caillou.  Since Caillou is a fun adventurous toddler, I thought this would be perfect birthday theme.  When I told him of the plan to have a Caillou birthday he jumped for joy.

So now it was on to the party planning.  As Caillou’s logo captures all the primary colors red, blue and yellow, I went from there.  We also incorporated orange and green into the palette.  Well the first thing I started with was the invitation.  I didn’t want it to be the ordinary invitation I wanted it to say something.  I wanted people to know that we were going to have a fun, adventurous party and I thought by putting Jacob’s picture on the invitation would be a great keepsake for him.  So I went on Etsy and found Peace Love Invites.

I thought this really captured the fun and colors of the party that we were going to have.

Well as everyone knows the entrance to any place sets the tone of the fun that the people will have through the day.  So I wanted it to be big and colorful.

  With the big yellow tissue balls and fabric multi colored banner I thought this was perfect.

After the guests arrived Continue reading →

Another Beautiful Face Added to the Pinterest Board “21 FACES of Down Syndrome”

Source: special-and-determined.com via Marla on Pinterest

21 FACES of Down Syndrome is an awareness campaign that I created to celebrate not only the beauty of Down Syndrome but to help celebrate World Down Syndrome Day – March 21st.

World Down Syndrome Day was established in 2006 by Down Syndrome International, with the goal of raising awareness and mobilizing support and recognition of the dignity, rights and well-being of people with Down syndrome across the world. March 21, the 21st day of the third month of the year, was chosen to symbolize the third copy of chromosome 21 present in Trisomy 21, the most common form of Down syndrome. This year, World Down Syndrome Day is especially significant as it is the first time that the day will be officially observed by the United Nations.
 Please visit our 21 FACES of Down Syndrome Pinterest board to see these beautiful faces.  There is still time to add a picture.  Just go to our Special & Determined Facebook page and add a photo there.  I will repin it to our board.
Then the real surprise will be shown on March 21st the first “21 FACES of Down Syndrome” video for all to see.  Mission of this campaign is to show the beauty of down syndrome, the normalcy of our children, to encourage awareness, acceptance and inclusion of all people diagnosed with Down Syndrome.
Come join in the celebration.  If you should have any questions please email me at specialanddetermined@gmail.com.
Marla Murasko, Proud Mother of Jacob
Special Needs Blogger/Advocate, Mompreneur and First Time Author

A Prayer For You

May today there be peace within
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that
has been given to you.

May you be confident knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to
sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.