A Voice (plus the Giveaway Winners)

Much of my time lately has been consumed with thoughts of Eslea and the kind of future she is facing.

This week I have been reminded that I must not read comments on certain articles that relate to Down syndrome. I have to remind myself that people are fueled by things such as hate and ignorance.

It seems that the need to ensure our community of designer gene HUMAN BEINGS have a voice is becoming greater. Thanks to technology, we have a way to share that voice world wide. I am so thankful to those that choose to do so through outlets such as blogging, tweeting, and utilizing facebook.

68.
That's the number of bloggers we had link up to participate in Hoppin' for 21 blog hop.
We had over 7000 views between all the different sites in just one day. The blog with the most views from the hop was Our Cora Bean with 88 hits in one day. The smallest number of views for any one blog was twenty. Twenty! That is still a wonderfully high number. So people, I do not know how many visitors left comments on your site but I do know they were visiting.

That is amazing to me considering the short amount of time we had to get the hop information out to everyone. Some of those bloggers were not from special needs blogs. How wonderful is that?
Because as much as I love to read and met other members of our very special club, we can not possibly change the world unless those outside of our community take an interest also.

We need to grow. We need to spread as far as we can and to whomever we can reach.

March 21, 2012 is World Down Syndrome Day. I hope you will all join us on that day for another awareness hop.
That is, of course, unless....
anyone would be interested in a monthly hop?
What if we have a Hoppin' for 21 blog hop on the 21st of every month?
That's twelve chances a year for us meet more members of our club.
Twelve chances a year to reach outside our community and share with others.
We will also have a hop on World Down Syndrome Day in addition to our monthly hops, but I will do something extra special for that hop. A hop extravaganza if you will.
So, who's up for a monthly hop?


Now onto the Giveaway winners!
Thank you to the Down Syndrome Association of South Georgia for donating the $10 Target giftcard for the Hoppin' for 21 Facebook Event. The randomly chosen winner of that gift card is Penny Putman.

Thank you to everyone that participated in the Hoppin' for 21 blog hop! I think it was a great success and I hope you do too. I could not get to everyone in two days so I am still visiting. I hope you are too. You can scroll down to view the list of blogs again.

A special thanks to the DSA of South Georgia, again, for donating a $10 Walmart giftgard for the blog hop giveaway.
The randomly selected winner of that card goes to linked blogger #66: Ramblings and Reflections.

The final giveaway is the super cute Lily Bloom bag donated by Ross Department Store. It  goes to linked blogger #9: My Stubborn Little Miss.

Congratulations to both bloggers. Please email me your details to info@crazybeautifullove.com and those will be in the mail heading your way soon.

Here are the blog links again for those who are still hoppin' around....I know I am.

Hop On...

Yes. I have extended the blog hop for one more day.

Why? Why not?

I have read so many new blogs.

Some in our Down syndrome circle and many not.

I will be visiting new families and sites for days to come.

Today is the last day though so link up to get in on the giveaways.

The linky will be available for viewing after,
 so take time to visit more blogs if you will.

Go HERE for the Hoppin' for 21 "rules".

Now, hop on...

It's a Blog Hop:Hoppin' for 21

Today is Blog Hop day!

Visit as many blogs as you can and share this information with others.

For complete "rules" (and I use that term loosely), go here...

Hoppin' for 21 Blog Hop

Grab the button to share with others...

<a href="http://acrazybeautifullove.blogspot.com/2011/10/join-blog-hop-hoppin-for-21-on-1021.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff382/eleak16/Collages1-1.jpg" /></a> <br /> <br /> <script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=111880" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

You can also join the facebook status event.
Find out how by going here...
Hoppin' for 21

If this is a success (and I know it will be),
plan to have another hop on 3/21/12-
World Down Syndrome Day

The giveaway winners of the hop and facebook events will be announced on Sunday.

If you would like to join the hop, just scroll down and link up!
ALL bloggers are welcome!
Now, let's get hoppin'!

Wordless{ish} Wednesday: Hoppin' for 21

Yep.

I'm promoting a blog hop on Wordless Wednesday.

You can read my post from yesterday to find out WHY the hop for

Down Syndrome this Friday is so friggin' important!

So please, please share

Hoppin' for 21

with your friends!

We would love to have you join

the HOP too!

Here's the button...

<a href="http://acrazybeautifullove.blogspot.com/2011/10/join-blog-hop-hoppin-for-21-on-1021.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff382/eleak16/Collages1-1.jpg" /></a> <br /> <br />

Just scroll down to enter the Hoppin' for 21 linky...

Share the Love & Prenatal Testing for Down Syndrome

Friday is the blog hop for Down Syndrome Awareness!
Please share this button on your site through Friday so that others will join!
The more people we can reach the better chance
our kiddos have for a more tolerant future.

<a href="http://acrazybeautifullove.blogspot.com/2011/10/join-blog-hop-hoppin-for-21-on-1021.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff382/eleak16/Collages1-1.jpg" /></a>


Now more then ever we need to promote awareness.
Why?
Well just read this...
Safer Down Syndrome Test Hits Market Monday

A quote from the article...
"a genetic condition marked by mental retardation
and early death that affects one in 691 babies."

The number of people out there that are misinformed and
ignorant about Down syndrome is
FAR GREATER then the number of those like us.

How will you make a difference?
What can you do to help prenatally diagnosed mothers?
How can we stop the elimination of an entire population of human beings?

We spread the word people.
You spread the word.

The blog hop is this Friday.
Please sign up and let's try to reach as many non-down syndrome related blogs
and viewers as we possibly can!

Just scroll down to enter the hop....

Join the Blog Hop: Hoppin' for 21 on 10/21

October is Down Syndrome Awareness month!
We want to support all those that rock that extra chromosome with a blog hop on the 21st!
Hoppin' for 21 is hosted by Crazy Beautiful Love, The Bates Motel, and Carrie with Children.

Interested? Just read the hop "rules" and scroll down to enter!

Hoppin' for 21 "rules":
1. You need to be a blog owner. The blog does not have to be a special needs blog. You only need a desire to promote awareness for Down syndrome. (Scroll down to see how those that do not blog can participate too!)
2. Link your blog up below. You can begin linking up immediately. You must be linked below to be eligible for the giveaways! (see below)
3. On the day of the hop (10/21), visit as many blog hop participants as you possibly can!
4. Leave a comment letting that site know you found them from the Hop and you appreciate them supporting awareness of Down syndrome.
5. (Optional) If you see a site you like, become a follower! Make sure you let them know you are a new follower and they just might follow you back.
6. (Optional) Mention somewhere in a post on the 21st that you are supporting Down Syndrome Awareness month by participating in the hop. I will provide a thumbnail for those that want to share it with others!
7. (Optional) Drop by each site of those hosting the hop and say HI! Let them know you appreciate them hosting!
8. (Optional) Help us promote the hop! Mention it in posts, on facebook, twitter and provide a link back to the hop link page. The more people that participate, the more people become aware of the beautiful designer gene world of Down Syndrome.

Giveaways:

Every participant (excluding the hosts) will be entered in a random selection giveaway. Right now we have two prizes and I hoping for one more donation. You only need to participate and follow the "rules" to be eligible.

1. $10 Walmart Giftcard   

2. Lily Bloom lunchbag

3. (Facebook giveaway)

Facebook:
So, you don't blog huh? That's okay! You can help spread awareness too!
An event has been set up on Facebook for those wanting to participate. Just go here to see how.... Hoppin' for 21 on Facebook. Those who take part in the Facebook event will be entered into their very own giveaway for a $10 Target Giftcard. The basic idea is that you join the facebook event and follow the event "rules". The rules involve you posting a status on 10/21 stating that you are participating in the Hoppin' for 21 event to support Down Syndrome awareness and provide a link back to the Hoppin' for 21 on Facebook event page. That's it. Simple. Plus, don't forget you do not have to be a blog owner to read blog posts and leave comments!

Questions about the hop? Send them to info@crazybeautifullove.com and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

So, now that you've read all the details, are you ready to Hop, Hop, Hop for T21?!
Well, let's go!
Just scroll down to the bottom of the thumbnails, enter your site information and you're ready!
The Hop starts at 12:00am on Friday October 21st and ends at midnight!

Blog Hop and Giveaways

Start signing up for the blog hop now!
On Oct 21st we will be Hoppin' for 21 to promote Down Syndrome Awareness!
One of the giveaways:

Just scroll down to enter...

Reality of Life (Day 11)

Day 11: Reality of Life

For the most part, I love life. I love my life. But would I say that I'm a "glass is half-full kind of girl"? Most days, no. That's the truth. Honest to goodness. I actually find myself confused by those that profess to be the other kind of person. Glass is half-full and all that. It makes me wonder the true sincerity of it all. Is it that they live their life in blissful ignorance only focusing on the surface? Or is it perhaps that someone has yet to poke a hole in their magic cup that somehow always stays on that half-full line?
Now, before you start to label me as "negative" or "cynical" let's clarify that I am also not a "glass is half-empty" gal either. I truly believe that there are silver linings. That things do work out in the end. My family even tells me often that I'm an optimist...gasp!
Maybe I am. But lately I have just found some blogs I can not read anymore because if their life really is THAT great...I must be doing something wrong.
My life is blessed. I am blessed. I am damn lucky to have a beautiful bouncing one year old not only overcome her open heart surgery but come out the other end thriving.
This week I reminded that there are those of us that are not that lucky. Those that have a beautiful baby undergo heart surgery, make it through recovery and only to have that precious baby pass away weeks later from pneumonia. A baby that was the same age as Eslea when she underwent her surgery. How does a parent recover from that? Ever?
I would be so confused and guilty. I would be questioning if somehow those weeks of black thoughts that plagued my mind somehow came to light.
Was I being given what I had asked for?
How can a parent not think that?
Those of us in the T21 community undergo so many similar thoughts in the beginning soon after that initial diagnosis. Thoughts we keep buried only to remember when forced. Not because we still have them but because we are ashamed. Those thoughts are now so far from reality and so not a reflection of any current ideas....well, if they could be removed forever by taking some kind of pill or undergo some therapy...we would do it. In a heart beat.
I just want us all to remember how friggin' blessed we are today. We get to hold our beautiful designer gene babies and plant a kiss on them tonight before we put them to bed.
I want to remember tonight that it could have just as easily been Eslea. Nine months ago as she underwent her own open heart surgery...she could have been the one to not make it.

So tonight I will tell Eslea again what a blessing she is to our family.
I will hold her just one minute longer.
I will smell her sweet baby breathe for one extra heart beat.
I will rock her cradled body in my arms.
I will acknowledge how wonderful it is that her designer genes allow her stay tiny just a wee bit longer so that cradling with mama can be assured for many months years to come.

Enjoy your precious ones tonight my friends like there is no tomorrow!
-erin