Praying for Parker

Hold the pity. Please.

I love showing off the awesome that is Parker. There are days where I could swear this kid glows with his love of life. The joy he radiates is not just contagious, it engulfs you, sweeping you up in a happiness hard to find in this world.. This is one...

Published Wed, Feb 22 2012 7:28 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Advocacy, down syndrome, World Down Syndrome Day, Life With Special Needs

A Tale of Futility….. and Portable Oxygen Concentrators

I knew it wasn’t likely. Seeing as I had just yesterday been contacted by a friend with the same exact optimism. She, too, learned the hard way. You know what they say about hope. It springs. Eternal. Unfortunately it makes no promises about actually...

Published Thu, Feb 23 2012 8:36 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: The HIGH Cost of Health Care, Life With Special Needs, portable oxygen concentrators, health insurance

Because we all live Illinois.

I’ve told this story before. But Parker’s blog has had a bit of an explosion lately (yea!) and so I’m going to share the condensed version again. Then we’ll get to some facts. Because, no matter where you are from, if you have...

Published Sun, Feb 26 2012 4:35 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Life With Special Needs

Medical Binders and the kid with special needs.

Our local children’s hospital is also a teaching hospital. We would take Parker in for an appointment and the nurse would have a zillion questions for us to answer about Parker’s history. Then a resident would come in. Same questions. By the...

Published Tue, Feb 28 2012 6:50 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Life With Special Needs, medical binders

A Tenacious Pursuit of Altered Dreams

In 1955 Jill Kinmont Boothe, a U.S. champion skier, crashed during a race, which paralyzed her. Boothe became a role model for her tenacious pursuit of altered dreams. She learned to use her shoulder muscles to write and paint. She studied German and...

Published Fri, Mar 02 2012 9:44 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Advocacy, down syndrome, Special Needs

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

There are no retards here……

Even before Parker was born, the r-word wasn’t allowed in our home. I was taught from a very young age that people with disabilities, especially intellectual disabilities didn’t need to have the same experiences on earth as I did. That, in...

Published Wed, Mar 07 2012 9:45 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Advocacy, end the r-word

How to make a Snowman…..Parker Style

This winter has been one for the record books. Mild temperatures. Not enough snow for a Hero to be pulled around on his beloved sled. But the sick. Oh, have we had the sick. Parker is just now starting to get over his latest sinus infection. I love experiencing...

Published Thu, Mar 08 2012 8:23 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Special Needs Homeschooling, Art Activities, snowman craft

What it’s Really Like: Life with Special Needs

I often have friends tell me that they could never do what I do with Parker. They tell me that they can’t even imagine what life with a kid like Parker would be like. So I thought I’d try to describe it: It’s the joy of watching your...

Published Sun, Mar 11 2012 6:46 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Life With Special Needs, I love a kid with Down syndrome

Right Now

Right now I’m listening to the nurse as she suctions terrifying crud from Parker’s trach. Again. Right now I’m wondering what to put into Parker’s blenderized diet that would be compatible with another round of antibiotics. Right...

Published Wed, Mar 14 2012 10:39 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: down syndrome, Special Needs, home health care, gardening, Life With Special Needs, Victory Garden, Family and Friends, Barnes and Noble

My First Utah County Republican Caucus

I can’t believe how nervous I was last night. All I could imagine was that a caucus meeting would be a lot like politics on Facebook, where I’ve been accused of everything from holding a gun to a person’s head and robbing them via the...

Published Fri, Mar 16 2012 12:14 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Advocacy, Politics of Special Needs

Saving Money by DIY.

We have a bathroom in our home, the shower in which we haven’t been able to use in close to 4 years. Reed had tiled it years ago, but over time we developed an issue and the tiles started to fall off. Reed blamed the kids for not taking care of...

Published Mon, Mar 19 2012 10:25 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: frugal living, DIY, my husband rocks

World Down Syndrome Day 3.21.12

I spent a long time trying to figure out what I wanted to say today. Did I want to do a walk down Memory Lane? Did I want to talk fact vs. myth? Truth be told, I’m thigh high in the nursing situation again. I’m also working on getting bids...

Published Wed, Mar 21 2012 8:51 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Advocacy, World Down Syndrome Day, Life With Special Needs, end the r-word

Where you’ll find my kid.

Before I get to far into this post, I wanted to comment on Parker’s hair. I was hoping that maybe, just maybe 7 would be the magic age during which to grow out the Brave Hero’s hair. I imagined thick hair cut in the style of cool. Alas, Parker’s...

Published Thu, Mar 22 2012 6:47 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: down syndrome, Special Needs, brave hero, Life With Special Needs

Miracles. Gardens. And my kid with special needs.

I woke up early this morning with the need to walk outside to check if the peas I had planted several days ago had make their appearance yet. It’s still a few days before the pea packaging experts claimed they could have pushed their way through...

Published Sat, Mar 24 2012 11:43 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Special Needs, gardening, Life With Special Needs, Victory Garden, extra chromosome

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