Praying for Parker

Pinewood Derby

Turning 9 years old brings a lot of excitement, not the least being able to compete in the Pinewood Derby. I remember my other boys working to put together a car that had the secret combination to beat all the other cars out there. Unfortunately, Parker...

Published Mon, Feb 03 2014 8:53 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Stuff We LOVE!, down syndrome, Life With Special Needs, kids with special needs, special needs parenting, cub scouts, pinewood derby, boy scouts

The Great Hearing Aid Chase

A year and a half ago Parker had a sedated ABR. The news was surprising at best. Parker’s hearing in his right ear was severely damaged. His left ear not as bad, but still not as good as his newborn hearing test had shown. We were given the name...

Published Wed, Feb 05 2014 7:28 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Life With Special Needs, Frequent Flyin' ar the PCMC, special needs parenting, hearing aid, ear tubes, audiologist, audiology booth, sound booth

Over at Simply Preparing Today

Parker and I are over at Simply Preparing today. Well, actually I’m sitting here in the Family Room of Now I Can while Parker is in the Small Heroes room with two therapists stretching him out. Parker’s chewing these guys out big time for...

Published Thu, Sep 26 2013 7:51 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: frugal living, food storage, Life With Special Needs, prepping for hard times, prepping on a budget, special needs parenting, emergency prepaedness

Alphabet Letters

We were working on picking out specific alphabet letters in an array of three. Parker was nailing each and every query I gave him. We were ready to wind up the experience and so I told him that after one more time we’d be all done. I offered up...

Published Tue, Jul 09 2013 5:48 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Special Needs Homeschooling, Special Needs, homeschooling, home school, non-verbal children

Halloween Playdough Mats!

It’s been a really weird few days around here for sure. I’m excited to get things back on track and have the perfect idea to share! Halloween Playdough Mats are wonderful fine motor and sensory activities. We make our own playdough, but the...

Published Mon, Oct 21 2013 10:11 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Special Needs Homeschooling, playdough recipes, teachers pay teaches, playdough mats, Halloween crafts for kids

Storing Grains

In our never ending quest to pay the mortgage and keep a lot of stomachs full, I’m tweaking the way our family buys groceries…and what we eat…..again. In my area the coupon deals just aren’t what they used to be. Some amazing deals...

Published Tue, Mar 06 2012 9:46 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: From Scratch, frugal living, thrifting

The State of Illinois and the lives of medically fragile kids with special needs.

We’ve all had the experience of needing to cut our household budgets. We go, line by line, over each dollar spent and where. We put that new pair of shoes off until later. The pair we have now will last a few more months. Who really needs this many...

Published Tue, Feb 14 2012 9:34 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Advocacy, frugal living, medicaid, travis c. waiver, Politics of Special Needs, DSPD

Behaviors of the concerning sort.

We’ve noticed some behaviors our Brave Hero is sporting lately that are a bit concerning. Little things, that are at the same time big things. Like Parker’s car seat. Parker LOVES to go for rides in the car. I used to feel guilty seeing how...

Published Thu, Apr 12 2012 7:56 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Holding On Tight To My Faith, Advocacy, medically fragile children, Insurance appeals, Medicaid appeals, sleep safe beds, Mama guilt

Nobody Ever Said It Would Be Easy

When Parker was born nobody told me that raising a medically fragile child with Down syndrome would be easy. I could spend my time complaining and bemoaning and all kinds of weeping. Instead I’ve chosen to empower myself by taking the best care...

Published Thu, Apr 12 2012 9:12 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Holding On Tight To My Faith, Advocacy, Life With Special Needs, Family and Friends, yard sale 2012, Happiness and Down syndrome, Why I Blog, Beauty in the face of Down syndrome

Using plastic Easter Eggs to teach sight words.

So much of any holiday is out of Parker’s grasp considering that he isn’t able to eat by mouth. Let’s face it, food and holidays go hand in hand. Instead I try to incorporate the fun in other ways. Like in sight word lessons. We are...

Published Sun, Mar 25 2012 8:27 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Special Needs Homeschooling, homeschooling, Reading Activities, sight words

When one life is worth less than another…

Imagine you child needed a kidney transplant. You have the donor. You are at one of the best hospitals in the country. You are ready to move on and get this life saving procedure behind you. Except, the doctor doesn’t think your child is smart enough...

Published Sat, Jan 14 2012 11:52 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Special Needs, Life With Special Needs, Ameilia Rivera, CHOP, kidney transplants

In Celebration of WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY

In celebration of WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY, today, 3.11, a quote from Allen Crocker, on hearing from parents raising a child with Down syndrome: “Parents tell me again and again how they have been unexpectedly rewarded and blessed by seeing...

Published Mon, Mar 21 2011 7:41 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: A Day In Our Life, Advocacy, People I Love, World Down Syndrome Day

Spring Break Hodson Style

Reed usually works the week of Spring Break. No vacations here. I think most people would be surprised to discover that Reed works a second job on his days off from Alpine School District. This week though we also packed in some heavy duty get ready for...

Published Wed, Apr 13 2011 8:02 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: A Day In Our Life, Advocacy

It takes a bit of patience sometimes….

It started with a yell: Mom! Help! It was the blue eyed girl beseeching me for rescue. Apparently Parker had decided that his big sister had slept long enough. It was time to play….now. It takes a bit of patience to be the big sister sometimes....

Published Mon, Jun 13 2011 6:29 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: A Day In Our Life, Fantabulous-ness, down syndrome, Special Needs, People I Love, family life, big sisters, big families

You could learn a lot from a little kid with an extra chromosome…

It’s been quite the weekend. Parker’s been sick. Heartrate in the 80′s. Puking. Even though the kid has a Nissen. TWICE this week that I’ve KNOWN our HERO has aspirated. A prescription of Septra. An Enema. I woke up at 6:30 this...

Published Mon, Apr 25 2011 12:16 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Special Needs Homeschooling, down syndrome, People I Love, home school, homeschool post, homeschooling a child with speical needs

Syndication

Recent Posts

Tags

Archives