The fight for a little boys life!

 

Jacob Usher is just one of the estimated 6,000 babies born in the United States each year with Down syndrome according to the CDC.  Babies and adults with Down syndrome can have physical problems, as well as intellectual disabilities. Every baby born with Down syndrome is different. In addition to the physical signs, some might have major birth defects or other medical problems.  However, many people with Down syndrome live happy, productive lives well into adulthood. Still, some physical problems associated with Down syndrome include a birth defect of the heart which is the case for Jacob.

Jacob has a hole in his heart and a malfunctioning heart valve, which the doctors at Brenner have tried to repair using a donor heart valve and a complex technique.  Unfortunately, they were not successful and he is back at Baptist Hospital and has very high pulmonary pressure and a blockage. The doctor says that they have tried to make his heart normal and they just can't. Jacob would need a heart and lung transplant, but is not a candidate for it and it would only add maybe five years to his life. The right side of his heart is overworking and causing failure. For now the plan is to medicate him to help lower the pulmonary pressure.

 Jacob is very much loved and cared for by his grandparents (Linda and Tommy).  He enjoys playing with his older brother and sister.  He brings joy into every life he touches including mine.  Join me in praying for the doctors to find the answers and give the family strength as they go through this journey to find a cure for this precious child.

Norma Honeycutt, Executive Director

Oops! Discipline Goofs

We are too negative. "Don't hit your sister!" "Stop pulling the dog's tail."
THE FIX- Ask for the behavior you want to see.

We expect too much from our kids.
THE FIX- Play Teacher. Parents assume kids know more than they do. Remind yourself that he/she isn't trying to be a pain.

We model behavior we don't want to see.
THE FIX- Apologize and take a do-over. If we yell, our kids probably will too! Saying sorry to your children demonstrates that we're accountable for our actions nonetheless.

We use time-out ineffectively.
THE FIX- Consider a time-in. A time out is meant to be a chance for a child to calm down, not a punishment.




Parents Magazine



Michelle Macon, Program Coordinator

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK-----TOO MUCH?

Ceci poses with her art teacher, Meredith



I was one of those moms, I have to confess.  I shuttled my three children from one enrichment activity to another throughout their childhoods.  I organized their activities into three categories:  sports, music and art. (Religion would have been a fourth category except all three children attended parochial schools.)   There were years of swimming lessons, tennis lesson, guitar, piano and violin lessons as well as art camps, summer theater and dance classes.  Oh, and I can’t neglect to mention Daisies, Brownies and Girl Scouts. 

Son Philip: banker, chief, musician



I recently read an article claiming that participation in extra-curricular activities is motived by parents who want to build a college admissions portfolio for their children, but that wasn’t my motivation at all.  I just wanted to give my children an opportunity to expand their world and discover interests and abilities.  One child developed an immense and lifelong passion for music, while another maintains a love of art.  These lifelong passions all began with a JC Penney guitar, music lessons from a very cool instructor, art classes and plentiful art supplies around the house and many, many hours spent driving and waiting to pick up children from enrichment activities.    

  The above photo is of my daughter, granddaughter, and son-in-law on the day he arrived home after 8 months in Afghanistan.  I had always heard about the sacrifices that military families make for our country, but only realized the truth of this statement after experiencing it firsthand. 

Reuniting the family at the end of deployment is a wonderful and joyous occasion. However, these young parents should keep in mind the transition may take time.  Reunification can be difficult because getting life back to “normal” may require a whole new idea of what “normal” means for the family.   Parental roles and responsibilities may need to be reassigned. Dad may feel like he is no longer needed, as his tasks and responsibilities were taken over by mom when he was away.  Mom may also have mixed feelings, as she carried a bulk of the responsibility while dad was away, and still managed to take care of the household on her own. This transition can cause a new set of feelings to arise in family members as roles are redefined and adjustments are made.

  Dad may also feel like the baby is a stranger to him, so special care should be spent in getting to know the infant.   No matter what challenges the family faces upon being reunited and no matter how difficult it might be to make the transition, this is what everyone wants and waited for, so it is worth putting in some extra effort to be together as a family again!

Household Chores...Where do I start?

How do I get organized and get my home and family life under control? Where do I start? Well…Take it one step at a time. Make small goals to accomplish on a daily basis. Your children may ask, “Can I help?” Before you respond, you are thinking, “The chores would go faster if I just did them myself,” but… I believe that with some intention and mindfulness on my part, I can achieve a healthy balance between the speed tasks are accomplished and the valuable teaching moments that including the children provides.

So…when it comes to children helping with chores; “let your hair down” and just let them help. Allowing children to help gives them a level of responsibility that builds their self-esteem, character, and help children learn practical life skills.

Michelle Macon, Program Coordinator

BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER

In this photo, one of our school-aged summer program participants is showing a preschooler how to play a game.  Notice the expression on the young child’s face.  He appears delighted at receiving the interest and attention of the older child.

I think about my friends, the small group of people I’ve taken the time and effort to know on a deeper level than I’ve had the opportunity to know most people in my personal and professional life. I have an interesting and diverse group of friends, and I find that my best friends are my oldest friends, because we share history and, generally, common backgrounds. Our common backgrounds facilitate volumes of subtext that provides a comfort and trust in our relationships. I am sad to say, though, that the majority of my friends are cohorts in regard to age, as most of them are within a decade or so of my own age.


Like you, I treasure my friends. I learn from them as we travel along our paths in life together. I imagine, though, how insightful and interesting it would be to have a friend or two who are a generation older than me; wise women who have traveled further along the road in life. I watched my granddaughter interacting with her swim coach last week. I observed as Ceci was not only learning to swim but was also studying this young woman who was teaching her, collecting data and information that will be useful as she begins to understand and formulate an idea about what kind of young lady she will become.

Our summer program has included visits to the Brian Center, a rehabilitation center where many older people reside. It is amazing to watch the interactions between the residents and our young children. We need to encourage more interactions between people of different developmental life stages. It’s important, don’t you agree?

Katherine Generaux, Community Inclusion Director

Daddy Date Night

It is a father's role to show his wife and daughter how a queen and princess should be treated. Madison was excited all week to go on her date with her dad. He bought her a beautiful navy blue dress and wedge heals to match. All week she asked us, "Is it time for my date night yet?" We replied, "No, today is not Friday." Well....Friday is finally here!! CJ, Madison and I arrived home from school and Madison rushed into her room thrilled and excited to get dressed for her date night with daddy.

Date destination: Dinner and a movie. Madison wanted Japanese food.

Say Cheese.....

He even opened the door for her. What a gentlemen.

Date night with your child will create memories that will last forever.





Michelle Macon, Program Coordinator

Healthy Living Apps

Looking for a quick and easy way to manage your fitness and diet routine?  There are many free apps for your cell phone that let you actually scan the barcodes and in seconds your will have the nutritional values of thousands of food products.  You can also track your weight, calories, and other important dietary needs with more of the sophisticated apps.


My favorites so far are the Weight Watchers Scan Calculator and the My Fitness Pal.  I can scan products  to learn the WW point values and plan my meals while I shop.  Then, I can record my weight, daily calories, exercise, and total nutritional values in the My Fitness Pal.  These apps keep me on track and help me be mindful of what I am doing to live healthier every day.

Even though I am a natural gal at heart, I am embracing technology so I can spend more time practicing my art!  Contradictory but it works for me!

Colleen Carman
Finance/HR Director

HOW DO WORKING MOTHERS DO IT?

When I learned that Whimziggy was offering a one-week morning art camp, I immediately enrolled my five-year-old Granddaughter, Ceci. We’ve done overnights for the last couple of years, but this is Ceci’s first full-week visit. Our first day went as follows:


Following written instructions, I drive past the Whimziggy art studio, turn around in the cul-de-sac, and get in the cue to drop Ceci off for her first day, and then I go to work.

I start my lunch hour back in the cue for art camp pick-up. We make our way to the library to select some books and DVDs for home-time entertainment, stopping at Sonics for a kid’s meal on the way back to work, (Partners In Learning), where Ceci spends the afternoon.

At 5:00, Ceci has a private swim lesson at the local YMCA, so I have to abandon my work early to take her. It is at this point that I discover that Ceci is a world-class dottler. “Oh, look at that bug, Amah. What kind of bug is that, Amah?” “Do you think it flies?” “Can we stop and look at the fish pond on the way to the car.” “Oh look! I found a really fancy rock!” “Oh look, there’s another one.” The simple task of getting her to, from, in and out of the car through the course of the morning and afternoon is a day’s work in itself.

I have a six-thirty meeting, so I drop Ceci off at home to spend time with her grandfather. I have pre-prepared dinner and a “busy box” to entertain her during my absence.

I’m home at eight o’clock. It’s time for bath, bedtime stories, (three), lots of dottling and, finally, bed.

At 9:00, I’m EXHASTED!

How do working families do it?

Katherine Generaux, Community Inclusion Director

Beautiful Minds - A Must Watch Video!

 

AUTISM!  It can be a gift!

Making Family Dinner Fun!

Family style meals are important for children and a great bonding opportunity. Children in the summer camp classes made their own sandwiches today by picking their toppings. Even if it didn't "match!"

Katie chooses to put on her sandwich jelly, lettuce, tomato, mayo, cheese, bacon, and pickles.

She ate the whole thing!

Madison chooses to put on her sandwich, peanut butter, mustard, pickles, ham, and cheese.

When you eat together you enjoy the family, find out what everyone did that day and children also learn table manners and pick up your values. It's where families can enjoy time together.

A two year old who doesn't want to sit still for more than five minutes can't be expected to sit for half an hour at a dinner table. But by the time they are five, children should be able to sit at the table and start to learn good table manners.

It's sad to say that a lot of kids are coming home and popping a meal into the microwave and then going into their rooms to eat it without ever getting a chance to interact with their parents.

Whether family meals happen every day or occasionally, your family will feel the rewards of spending

more time together. Savor the food and savor the time.

 

Michelle Macon, Program Coordinator

Nature's Perfect Sweetner: Oh, Honey!

During a recent visit my little nephew and I were taking a stroll in the flower garden and a curious bumblebee decided to check us out.  Ethan wasn't thrilled with the bee buzzing his head so off he ran.  Of course, Mr Bumbler decided Ethan was worth going after and followed him for awhile.  After much running, shrieking, and swatting, Mr. Bumbler buzzed off leaving Ethan fuming at the vicious attack.  We talked about why the bumblebee was so interested in him and I remarked that Ethan was so sweet that the bee couldn't resist him.  He then wanted to know why bees liked sweetness.  The story of bees took the right turn and we were discussing how the bees made honey.  Ethan enjoyed his taste of honey and I decided that maybe others would benefit from learning some facts about nature's perfect sweetner.


The benefits of honey go beyond its wonderful taste and natural sweetness.  It is a great natural source of carbohydrates which provide strength and energy to our bodies.  Honey is a great immunity system builder and is a natural remedy for many ailments.  Also, it is known that honey has been found to keep levels of blood sugar fairly consistant compared to other types of sugar.


So, next time, before you go for a workout, have a sore throat, or just want a great natural snack, try a tablespoon of honey on your toast, in your tea, or just out of the jar and enjoy nature's bounty.  

** Warning Note on Honey and Infants:  Honey should not be given to infants under the age of 18 months (to be on the safe side, though some doctors say 12 months)

For more information and the benefits of honey, visit these websites:

http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/health-benefits-of-honey.html

http://www.honey.com/


Colleen Carman
Finance/HR Director

Connecting Through the Years

Each week the summer camp group loads up the bus and heads to the Brian Center to spend an hour with the residents.  The first week the children were unsure of this new situation but we introduced ourselves and learned some of the residents names. The residents were so excited because they were getting ready to enjoy a game of baseball. All of the kids kept looking around thinking "How are they going to play baseball." We had to see it for ourselves. It was amazing to watch they lined up in two lines and took turns hitting a giant foam dice off of a cone and each number represented a hit!

The next week the children were entertained by the residents putting on a play for them. The kids sat and listened as each person read their part in the play. This week we enjoyed a game of bingo. The children stood beside the residents and watched their cards for the numbers that were called. Some of the children had the opportunity to call the bingo numbers as well! Each week the children are getting more and more comfortable and starting to call the residents by name. I can't wait to see what will happen over the rest of the summer..... Stay tuned!!!!


Deborah Howell, Assistant Director

FEMINISM REVISITED

FEMINISM REVISITED

I haven’t thought much about feminism for some time now, but something happened this past weekend that made me revisit the subject. I attended a local 4th of July celebration that offered live music, carnival rides, food and other entertainment. The “other entertainment” included a wrestling match, and I happened to notice, when walking by, that one of the wrestlers was a woman, competing against a man. Before I even had a chance to process this scenario, my attention was drawn to a group of middle-school boys, one of whom was yelling, “Hit her hard. Beat her up!” Really? Is this where feminism has taken us? I found the whole scene a bit disturbing.

Feminism was a major topic in the 1960’s and 70’s when I was emerging into adulthood. My cohorts and I were raised to believe we would secure “Mr. Right” and spend the rest of our joyful lives’ behind a white picket fence. But the game changed rapidly, and by the time I had completed junior college, women were proclaiming their right to not only participate in the workplace, but also demanded equal pay and opportunity. Unfortunately, most of us had grown up with full-time mothers at home, and we married men who had done the same, so we found ourselves in the workplace while at the same time maintaining almost exclusive responsible for the care of the home and the children. “You’re not trading up,” my mother would say, “You’re only adding on.” She was right, of course. Women were experiencing growing pains. Marriages were strained. Resentments grew.

My question is: What does feminism mean today? I will occasionally ask young women I meet if they consider themselves to be feminists, and I am surprised to hear many of them say, “No, not me”. The meaning must have changed somewhere along the line. Will somebody please help this old feminist understand?

Katherine Generaux, Community Inclusion Director

LOL...



We all need humor and play in our lives. It connects us, lightens our burdens and keeps things in perspective. A hearty laugh makes us feel good, even after the laughter stops. Humor helps relieve stress. It reduces tension and makes us more relaxed.


• Learn to laugh at yourself. Humor reminds us it's ok to be human. Laughter keeps us from taking ourselves too seriously. If we can live with and laugh at our own flaws, we can reduce the stress of not always meeting our own expectations.

• Laugh together. Nothing in this world is perfect. Neither are co-workers, family or friends. Sharing the humor that often comes from imperfections binds us closer together instead of separating us.
• Use humor wisely. Let humor help you share openly and talk about feelings and problems, but don't let it prevent you from dealing with important issues in your life. Don't use humor to embarrass or hurt people.

• Add humor to your everyday life. Take a humor break each day. Read jokes, listen to a funny tape, rent funny videos or watch tv comedies. If you hear a joke you like, write it down or tell it to someone else. Start looking for the silly or funny things that go on around you.

http://lancaster.unl.edu/family/Laugh_987.shtml


Michelle Macon, Program Coordinator