A friend sent me this link (thanks Sharon!) and I wanted to share it. (Just click on the title below.) I love the idea that everyone is important and can make a difference. Everyone can be a blessing. So many times in our world, someone is valued based on things that don't really matter. I love this story about a young man with a heart to serve, bless and love others. I think you'll like it too!
Blessings,
Leslie
I'm thinking that this is my last retropost for September. Then I can focus on the month at hand - for a fwew days anyway. lol
We have had an extended study of this fun FIAR title (The Salamander Room). I love the story and it's been a big hit with all of my children. We've learned about various aspects of nature and had some fun field trips that tied in beautifully with our lessons.
We visited the Stevens Nature Center and went on a hike to learn about mammals. The younger children first played a game. Each child was given a picture of an animal tied onto a necklace. The photo hung behind them and they were to ask questions to figure out what type of animal was on their card. We then went on a lovely hike and stopped all through the hike to learn about each of the animals on their cards. It was interesting and informative. The only live animals we saw were not mammals - we saw a skink and a frog.
Love this picture of my girls!
I enjoyed finding a couple of neat books in the gift shop to add to our library. Some that we read to go along with this study include A Skink's Tale, Are You a Butterfly? and Are You a Grasshopper? All have great illustrations and were helpful in learning more about those particular animals.
For a fun activity, the children made clay salamanders and painted them. (Thanks Candace for the great idea!) I enjoy watching them create and to see their strengths, talents and interests displayed in this way.
We had a second field trip with our Five in a Row group to the North Carolina Botanical Gardens. As I'm typing this, I'm remembering that this one happened the first week in October! (Makes me feel a little more caught up.)
The children were split into 4 groups by age and led on a tour of plants of our state. They specifically learned about the "Pitcher Plant" (carnivorous plant) and were able to dissect a leaf (to see what the plant had eaten!). I don't have many pictures of this as I wasn't with these groups. I'm thankful that others were though so I'll get some later.
The youngest children went on a scavenger hunt/tour through the herb garden with the moms and the older teens.
It was a beautiful day and everyone had a great time. We went to a nearby park afterward to picnic and to play.
I'm thankful for this wonderful group of families with which to go on field trips!
Blessings,
Leslie
This isn't a new story - but I thought it was encouraging and inspiring. Enjoy!
Blessings,
Leslie
One more retropost from September. I think I'll have one more and then can move into October - maybe right before we finish the month! lol
We celebrated 2 birthdays in September - Joshua and Isaiah. Since their birthdays are just 6 days apart, we typically have a joint party. This has worked well. Only one year did they choose different themes - and it was nuts having 2 different things going on!!! Now, I work hard to help them chose a theme that with which they are both happy. This year, it was Cops and Robbers.
I found this cute cake pattern online. We started with activities. The children made police vests and hats when they arrived. Not real comfortable to wear though, so we just took a photo with them and then moved on.
The first activity was a scavenger hunt. They learned that "Brooke the Crook" had stolen the birthday pinata and it was up to them to find her - and the candy. They had a series of clues that they had to decipher and then do an activity before locating the next clue. For example, in the photo below the activity is to build a tower taller than the birthday boys.
After a series of clues, the did find the loot.
They led the crook to jail.
While she was in jail, they throw wet sponges at her. She was a good sport about it!
Next, we had a series of activites including the following.
*Deciphering coded messages for a piece of candy (this one was popular)
*Making art by driving cars throw paint (see photo below)
*Playing red light, green light.
We ate cake and ice cream, opened gifts and finished off the party with a game of cops and robbers. This one was a bit different. There was a bank (our back deck) where the loot (water balloons) were located. The robbers (in the tree area) were to try to steal the loot. The game ended up being a bit difficult so we made some modifications so the loot was actually attainable. The crooks when caught could be thrown into the jail.
We ended with a pinata. More candy for everyone. lol
It was a fun day and we enjoyed celebrating our boys! Hope you enjoyed the photos.
Blessings,
Leslie
I am late in posting this - but we celebrated 2 birthdays in September. Our sweet Isaiah turned 7! What a wonderful 7 years it has been! I know the pic is fuzzy, but I love his smile!
One of our family traditions is that we spend the day doing whatever the birthday person wants to do. Isaiah had a full day planned for us - and we had a great time. He wanted to start the day with a picnic breakfast in the park. He picked a great park that is on a lake and has a fun play structure, picnic tables and hiking trails. He wanted biscuits for breakfast - we had a variety of things to go in the biscuits including sausage, egg, cheese, jelly and ham. It was a yummy start to the day.
We then spent some time playing on the play structure. Since we were the only ones there, dodgeball was the game of choice. If you were tagged you were frozen. Once frozen three times, you were then it.
Then we spent some time hiking. We followed one of the nature trails and read about various animals and plants living along the trails. The camera battery died partly through our hike, so I don't have a lot of pictures.
We then headed to Golden Corral for an early supper/late lunch. It's a great choice because everyone is happy with what they are eating. Even Eliana has some things there she enjoys. The waitress even fixed a special dessert for our birthday boys (Joshua and Isaiah have birthdays just 6 days apart).
We had a fun day celebrating our Isaiah. For those that don't know him, I'll share a little bit of what I love about him. I love his voice - it is deep. Really deep for a little boy - and it's always been that way too. He sings beautifully and projects like a professional. I often wonder what type of job he'll have and will he use his magnificent voice. (The flip side is that we always know where Isaiah is playing b/c we can hear him! lol )
Isaiah has a great imagination and loves to pretend a great variety of things. He loves to dress-up, build and play with playmobil! We have large cities and fortresses frequently in our home.
Isaiah has a great money sense - though I'm not sure if he'll work on saving or spending. He likes to earn money and is frequently wanting to have some type of "stand" in front of our house selling something.
Isaiah is active and full of energy. He is constantly moving and doing. Isaiah enjoys learning about pirates and adventure stories. He loves doing Five in a Row - it's his favorite part of school. Isaiah has strong opinions and is quite comfortable sharing them. Did I mention that he is very funny?! He often has us in stitches and I love his sense of humor!
I thank God for this sweet boy and am so glad he is a part of our family!!!
I love you Isaiah! Love, Mommy
Thanks to my friend RK for sharing this! (Click on her name to visit her blog and see her cute little Braska!) It was too good not to pass on - and every bit of it so very true!
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Newsflash: DS is contagious!! Keep reading!!
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by a triplication of the genetic material on the 21st chromosome. This trisomy occurs with the first division of the developing zygote, as a result there is extra genetic material present in every cell of the individual. Recently, science has discovered that this cellular abnormality is highly contagious. As result, family members (and even friends) of individuals with Down syndrome often find themselves exhibiting dramatic changes due to this "something extra" permeating their bodies at the cellular level. These changes manifest themselves in a number of ways. Something extra in the visual cortex results in parents who view the world differently. In addition to seeing things in an entirely new light, these parents also report having an increased ability to focus on what is important. Spontaneous appearance of tears of joy have also been confirmed. The section of the brain used in logical thought undergoes dramatic changes.
Parents suddenly find themselves able to comprehend and discuss complex medical procedures. The ability to decipher long strings of acronyms appears almost immediately and it is not uncommon for affected parents of newborns to be able to differentiate between ASD, VSD and PDA. Familiarity with G-tubes, picc lines and the NICU is another side effect.
Over time, the entire nervous system is transformed, enabling parents to perform tasks previously thought impossible. These changes result in individuals finding the nerve to advocate before large crowds, speak to classrooms of medical students and educate the population at large about issues they are passionate about. These changes are closely tied in to dysfunctions in the verbal abilities, which makes it virtually impossible for parents to bite their tongue. Often, individuals who previously considered themselves reserved will find themselves outspoken and effective communicators.
The pulmonary system is altered to a dramatic extent. Parents report having their breath taken away at the slightest prompting. The cardiovascular system develops similar vulnerabilities and reports of hearts pounding loudly and swelling unexpectedly are not uncommon. One mother reported that her heart skipped a beat when her son smiled at her for the first time. The extremities are also altered. Arms reach out to strangers for support, and in turn, hands comfort and nurture those in need. Legs strengthen and balance improves, allowing parents to stand firm in their convictions and walk without faltering, even when shouldering a heavy load. Scientists are baffled by the widespread scope of these symptoms. Equally perplexing is the response of those afflicted. Parents readily acknowledge fundamental changes in their being, however, almost universally declare a preference for their new, altered level of functioning. "I wouldn't change a thing" is a common refrain. Apparently, the presence of a little "something extra" enhances the lives of individuals fortunate enough to be infected.
Wendy Holden
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Blessings,
Leslie
Hi friends,
Would you join me in praying for our sweet 4yo boy. We had what I thought was going to be a routine visit to the eye doctor today. The appts with Rebecca and Joshua went smoothly. Joshua's vision has improved with the continous patching he has been doing! The appt with Daniel took longer.
We talked and I had shared some of what had been going on with Daniel regarding sensory issues. I wasn't sure if she knew what to make of that - but then again lots of people don't. She even commented that my last two children were giving me a run for my money.
As the appt continued, she just kept looking and looking into his eyes. I thought it was just because he was wiggly (he was) and maybe not cooperating as best he could. I didn't realize that she was looking for something specific and having a hard time finding it.
When she finished the exam she told me that she could not find the outline (may not be remembering the words exactly right) of his optic nerve in one eye because it was swollen. She said it had been difficult at times in the past, but that she had always found it. Well, this time she couldn't. As I sat listening to her, I really had no idea what she was talking about or what this could mean.
Her next words though sent a chill through my body. She wants Daniel to have an MRI to see if there is a mass or ??? causing him to have a swollen optical nerve. As her words sank in, I could feel tears coming to my eyes.
We talked about details - when would it be done and where (Duke). What the process entails (40 min scan of his brain inside one of those tubes) and would he be sedated (yes!). As I worked on details, it was easy to let go of the idea that something might be wrong in my little boy's brain. 
She tried to assure me that she didn't think that there was anything, but that we needed to do this to rule it out.
I didn't ask a lot of questions about what this could mean. A "mass"? I don't know. I wasn't sure I wanted to go there. At times, the details can just overwhelm me and I'm trying to just be reassured by her thoughts that everything is probably fine.
Daniel also has a malformation of his skull (it has a name ... cranio ... something). His ped told me when he was a baby that we could have it repaired, but that it was purely cosmetic and wouldn't affect him in any way. I took his word then and didn't ask for any further testing. Now I'm wondering if I should have done more.
I'm trying not to think about it because when I do it's scary. One more opportunity for me to learn to trust. To be willing to put my child into God's capable and loving hands. He is there anyway - I just need to trust. I know Gods love and I'm thankful for that.
We have scheduled an MRI for the 27th at 2pm. I would love your prayers - for peace for us while we wait, for a smooth procedure and clear results. Obviously too we are praying that there is nothing wrong with Daniel.
Thank you dear friends for standing by me once again.
Blessings,
Leslie
Well, I was hoping to post yesterday about our fabulous Buddy Walk! I will post soon - and with pictures. We had a fabulous day and I'm so glad we were able to be there!
I wanted to share a blog entry with you. It is a powerful story of the influence of a little girl on a woman's life. There is so much to this story - deep sadness that breaks my heart. And hope that encourages too.
Click on the link below to read Linda's story.
Reading this story encourages me to pray fervently and look for ways to help children find homes with a loving family. I'll be sharing more about this in the future - and ways you can help too if you are also led.
I'm so very thankful that our Eliana was born at a time when bringing her home was encouraged. Our lives are so much richer for having her in it. I'm so very glad to have her in my family. God has blessed us abundantly!
Blessings,
Leslie
Hi Friends,
I wanted to let you know about a raffle on my friend Stephanie's blog. She is doing this to help raise money for Oleg, one of the children at Reece's Rainbow (the site I mentioned yesterday). One of the biggest factors keeping these children from being adopted is the high cost of adoption. Having a "grant" that goes toward the adoption helps so very much!
She is raffling a very cute, custom-designed handbag. Check it out!!!
My heart is heavy for these precious children. I'm praying that they would find homes, that they would receive the care that they need and that God would touch the hearts of those that he wants to bring them home. Please check out Stephanie's site (just click on her name in the first paragraph - and join me in praying.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress." (James 1:27)
Blessings,
Leslie
Wondering about this title? I just recently read about this - 31 for 21. It's something in support of Down Syndrome Awareness Month which is October. Many bloggers are blogging each day in the month (that's the 31) about Down syndrome (that's the 21 for the extra 21st chromosome). I think it's a great idea.
I'm not sure what I'd write about for 31 days. I guess that's one advantage to starting a little late - there are only 21 days left in the month now. I'm going to borrow an idea from a friend. If you have a question about Down syndrome, my experience or just something you've wondered but haven't asked, please feel free to ask. You can email me or just post a question in the comments and I'll blog an answer. (I'm really wondering if anyone will ask a question! LOL)
I wanted to share about an organization that I think is pretty special. Reece's Rainbow. It's an organization dedicated to helping people adopt children from foreign countries with Down syndrome. You can visit the site and see many of the beautiful waiting children. There is a lot of information there too about adoption, sponsoring a child and helping families to bring a child home. You can click on the link above (in the name of the organization which is underlined) or go to the button on the right hand side of my blog.
We sponsored a child last Christmas in lieu of Christmas gifts and are looking forward to doing that again this year. We've also talked about other things we, as a family, can do to help this organization. These children are heavy on my heart and I pray for them often. Will you join me?
Blessings,
Leslie
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