February 2013 - Praying for Parker

Well, Puke

I can’t believe it. On Wednesday our substitute nurse received a phone call from her babysitter letting her know her kids were throwing up. Fabulous. About an hour ago Parker hurled from the very depth of his toes. You can tell by the smell that...

Published Thu, Feb 28 2013 7:52 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Frequent Flyin' ar the PCMC, stomach flu, throwing up over a Nissen, Norovirus, Puke

Why, yes…….. I do bite.

I’ve been happy with the services Parker has received from our District’s Home and Hospital program. I feel as though I’ve had an good working relationship with the teachers, physical therapists, and speech therapists that have come...

Published Thu, Feb 28 2013 8:40 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Special Needs Homeschooling, Advocacy, IEP, kids with special needs, homeschooling kids with special needs, occupational therapy, small motor skills, OT

Life Saving Frugality

I knew he was trying to broach the topic as gingerly as possible by the tone of his voice. Are you really serious about getting out of debt?, he asked. Serious as a heart attack, I replied as convincingly as I could. Money is such a freaking stressful...

Published Wed, Feb 27 2013 10:47 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Holding On Tight To My Faith, frugal living, Politics of Special Needs, prepping for hard times, Bitter Pill: Why Medical Bills Are Killing Us, Financial Ready Utah

Spring

Spring. It really is coming, right? Read More...

Published Mon, Feb 25 2013 8:01 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Holding On Tight To My Faith, frugal living, spring, Victory Garden, Backyard Gardens

Breathing in Style

I was watching a show the other day where three different couples had redesigned a part of their homes and invited designers in to decide which couple would get the biggest bang of a return from their design dollars. I sometimes like to watch design shows...

Published Mon, Feb 25 2013 8:58 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: The HIGH Cost of Health Care, pulmonary hypertension, chronic lung disease, Life With Special Needs, trachs, oxygen concentrators, durable medical equipment, trach noses

The Fear of Down syndrome

No matter how hard I try to wrap my head around it, I cannot grasp the concept of being so afraid of something that I would choose to kill a child in utero. Apparently the fear of Down syndrome did exactly that to a family in the southern province of...

Published Sun, Feb 24 2013 10:32 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: abortion, Life With Special Needs, A life worth living., Hatice Demet Buzpınar, The Fear of Down syndrome

Mountains to Climb

I came across this short video, Mountains to Climb, that touched my heart in ways I don’t even have the words to express. I believe that there are times when truths are put in such ways as to address our spirits and mere language is unable to do...

Published Sat, Feb 23 2013 8:05 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Holding On Tight To My Faith, faith, Mountains to Climb, Mormon Channel

You can learn a lot from a Picture Book

Parker has known this secret since his was his littlest ever. You can learn a lot from a Picture Book. ABC’s and 123′s. Rhyming Words. How to be a friend. Books with gorgeous illustrations and stories from the Bible. Books about the seasons...

Published Fri, Feb 22 2013 9:31 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Special Needs Homeschooling, The Hat, Donald Crews, Noah's Art, Charlie Harper, Parker's Books, Jan Brett, One Duck Stuck, Freight Train, Bear Snores On

Fire Station Field Trip

I don’t usually take Parker on the field trips with his class. Either he’s sick, just getting over being sick, the class has had something going around, or there’s a chance something’s might be going around. Today I took a chance...

Published Wed, Feb 20 2013 6:03 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Advocacy, down syndrome, Special Needs, homeschooling a child with special needs, Fire Station, Field Trip, Field Trips

Take THAT Pulmonary Hypertension

A certain Hero of the Brave kind has been driving us a bit nuts the last few days. Maybe it’s the weather, or the phase of the moon, but Parker has been moving at the speed of light with a never ending quarter added. In my mind I can almost hear...

Published Tue, Feb 19 2013 6:04 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Holding On Tight To My Faith, down syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, Life With Special Needs, medical miracles

Oxygen Concentrators and what I learned from Charlie Brown.

Oxygen concentrators. Today’s topic Du Jour. Well, oxygen concentrators and what I learned from Charlie Brown. You may remember me writing about our hopes of getting a oxygen concentrator for Parker that was either light enough to travel with, or...

Published Mon, Feb 18 2013 7:36 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: pulmonary hypertension, Life With Special Needs, medically fragile kids, oxygen concentrators, DME

Food Storage and Income Tax Returns

It’s the time of year when I start hearing everyone talk about how they are going to spend their income tax return. I gotta say a trip to Cabo sounds really sweet right now. Or all new furniture. Have you seen some of the media rooms people have...

Published Thu, Feb 14 2013 11:03 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: From Scratch, frugal living, food storage, prepping for hard times, zaycon, saving money buying on sale in bulk, Vitacost

Valentine Blessings

The owner of the littlest Hodson heart is starting to feel better. Not great, but better. I’ll take it. Happy Valentine’s blessings to us. There will be a party at school and I’m in charge of the treats, but I don’t think I’ll...

Published Wed, Feb 13 2013 6:46 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Advocacy, Sensory Tubs, Politics of Special Needs, Family and Friends, Valenines Day, montessori inspired Valentine Activities

Unconditional

Every once in a while a post percolates around in my brain, that despite countess attempts of me trying to banish it, insists on being written. Today’s post is one of those. My topic? Unconditional. Tomorrow I’ll be taking treats in to the...

Published Wed, Feb 13 2013 9:17 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Advocacy, Special Needs, Life With Special Needs, least restrictive environment, small groups classes

How to tell when a Brave Hero is Sick.

Knowing how to tell when a Brave Hero is sick is pretty easy. It’s not the fever. It’s not the snot you find all over your clothes. It’s not the sleepless nights. It’s not the whining. Nope. How to tell when a Brave Hero is sick...

Published Mon, Feb 11 2013 8:30 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Advocacy, down syndrome, medically fragile children, Life With Special Needs, Hospital Frequent Flyer, children with special needs, parenting, no cure for the common cold