Re: *RE: *RE: *Re: * Re: Now: bifocals Was:Politics...off topic NOW KATHY R

[Guest guest]

LOL! Not at all, but thanks for being polite! I try to read everything here b/c it is so helpful, and sometimes I write an email in response but for one reason or another, they don’t all get sent. Does anyone else have that problem? I start to reply then get interrupted by something else, thinking I’ll get back to it later. The next thing I know, the computer is shut down (by another family member) and the email is lost. Or else I’m so far behind on emails that it seems silly to reply a week later!

This is better late than never, but I want to take the opportunity to share about Kathy & her family. There were some emails about them a few weeks ago & I thought I drafted a reply, but again, it was lost. ;( I don’t want anyone to think that I disagreed!

I have the pleasure of knowing them in real life and they are awesome. Kathy is a tireless advocate for our kids and families and she is always the “go-to” girl in our group. She has an infinite thirst for knowledge, which I love, and if she doesn’t know the answer to something, she won’t give up until she finds it. Exactly what she is like online, in other words! She is on the board of our local group and always gives to the max – and beyond! There are several board members that seek to bring our families the best up-to-date information at our local support meetings, conferences, and of course, on our local listserv. The latest one was with Kauffman (apraxia of speech) at a local college, and Kathy & co. somehow managed to pull off bringing together professionals, students & parents for an important day of information. All that, and the Buddy Walk was the next weekend!

The rest of the Ratkiewicz family is not to be left out, either. They are always at events helping out where they are best needed. One of Kathy’s sons is a great photographer and a pretty good graphic designer as well. He has helped Kathy with our calendar for the last few years and it’s fabulous. This year her husband helped with it, too, along with leading a Dad’s band at the Buddy Walk. The rest of the family is very involved, too, and very much appreciated. We are so fortunate to have Kathy & her family involved in our group here.

By now, Kathy has probably turned fifty shades of pink in her modesty. I just wanted her to know that I appreciate her! She has always been a help to me and I consider her to be a good friend.

Colleen

Ha…I didn’t want to blow your cover in case you wanted to remain anonymous..;-)

From: DownSyndromeInfoExchange [mailto:DownSyndromeInfoExchange ] On Behalf Of Colleen Reck

Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 4:55 PM

To: DownSyndromeInfoExchange

Subject: Re: *RE: *RE: *Re: *[DownSyndromeInfoExchange] Re: Now: bifocals Was:Politics...off topic

Sorry, I am getting in here a little late in the game. I’ve been trying to catch up on my emails & this is one I must have missed.

Kathy is talking about me! I had a sample sent before Specs4Us “went public” on the website and at the NDSC conference. the owner was trying to get the word out and since I emailed her quite a few times over the years , she took a chance and sent them. They are very nice frames (model #2 in pink), and they do seem to be designed “upside down” to fit our kids’ faces better. I went ahead and had lenses put in the frames but unfortunately, they don’t fit my daughter too well. I was so bummed. ;-( An optician told me it was because my daughter’s ears are not lower, like some kids with Ds have. Fortunately, we found a plastic pair for Elise (another mfgr) and they have worked pretty well for her so far. I still have the Specs4Us pair as a spare, but she really prefers her plastic frames.

Speaking of plastic frames, at SPecs4Us told me in the spring that she is developing a line of those, too. The molds that she needs to have made are very expensive (I think she told me about $80,000 for each model) and she is trying to raise the money to do that.

It sounds like the frames would work out great for some kids, though. Like Kathy said in one of her emails, maybe your kids’ optometrist or ophthalmologist would consider ordering a pair or two and trying them out. Can’t hurt to ask!

Colleen

P.S. I really hope I don’t sound negative about these frames. I think it’s a great idea and ours is a market segment that is so often overlooked, as we well know. Like so many things, it’s not for every kid. I was really hoping that these were for Elise, though! I looked at the WedGees mentioned by CarolD & they look like they may work well.

I *think* that they might send you a sample..they did that for one of the families here.

From: DownSyndromeInfoExchange [mailto:DownSyndromeInfoExchange ] On Behalf Of ~ Romero~

Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 11:43 PM

To: DownSyndromeInfoExchange

Subject: Re: *RE: *RE: *Re: *[DownSyndromeInfoExchange] Re: Now: bifocals Was:Politics...off topic

No, I am looking at them now. I will have to see what size he needs if we cant find any that fit him here. Anyone have any good experience with them???

     Jules Romero

If you don't stand behind our troops, please, feel free to stand in front of them!

-- *RE: *Re: *[DownSyndromeInfoExchange] Re: Now: bifocals Was:Politics...off topic

…I know you have thought of this…but are you sure that they are the right strength for him? Seems like if they helped him, he would keep them on? Danny got his first pair of glasses when he was 22 months old, and I never had a problem with him keeping them on (and I really thought I would, because he HATED having stuff on his face ever since he had an NG as a baby) I felt so guilty when he got his first pair, because once he had them on, he just started at everything like he could finally actually SEE, and I was sorry that it had taken me so long to realize that he needed them so badly. He always puts his glasses on first thing in the morning…he used to call them his ‘eyes’ KathyR

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[Guest guest]

Colleen,

I have the same problem here - I start to type up a response and then I get called away to another disaster in our chaotic house. :-)

I used to have SUCH a problem with interruptions - now, I feel like I'm totally off of my game if no one is around to interrupt me! I have to do everything FAST and NOW - or else it doesn't get done!

I should try and write a blog about my experience of trying to work from home in this environment. I sometimes wonder WHY I put myself through this - and then I see little Olivia there and I think about how it's all worth it! This morning, I actually had to wrestle down our beagle to get the bubble wrap out of his mouth, answer the door for Fed-Ex and take a customer call all at the same time!

I'm actually at home ALONE for a few moments right now. I think I better go upstairs and put away the growing mountain of laundry so my kids don't have to sift through a bin for their socks.

MoThEr oF tHe YeAr....

Carolyn :-)

http://stores.ebay.com/ck-antiques_W0QQsspagenameZL2222QQtZkm

We've gone co-op! Come and see our newest location at Black Diamond Antiques in the Schuylkill Mall, Frackville, PA!

'Don't worry about the world coming to an end today.It's already tomorrow in Australia ' ( Schultz)

-- *RE: *Re: *[DownSyndromeInfoExchange] Re: Now: bifocals Was:Politics...off topic …I know you have thought of this…but are you sure that they are the right strength for him? Seems like if they helped him, he would keep them on? Danny got his first pair of glasses when he was 22 months old, and I never had a problem with him keeping them on (and I really thought I would, because he HATED having stuff on his face ever since he had an NG as a baby) I felt so guilty when he got his first pair, because once he had them on, he just started at everything like he could finally actually SEE, and I was sorry that it had taken me so long to realize that he needed them so badly. He always puts his glasses on first thing in the morning…he used to call them his ‘eyes’ KathyR - - .