Wordless Wednesday.....And A Video Too!



wyatt recently started crossing his legs like a "big boy!"

this is definitely an "i don't feel good" look...
poor little guy...another sinus infection.....

even with a yucky rash, he's still a pretty happy guy!

so much better today! 

wyatt has recently started playing with his

big brother's rescue heroes!

great occupational therapy session today!    

FAMILY CAFE ARTICLE!

i submitted my article for our local early steps newsletter this morning, and thought i'd share it with y'all, in case you don't know about florida's family cafe!  early steps provided funding for us to be able to take advantage of this conference, and our family resource specialist asked if i could share a little bit about the conference....probably more than she was thinking! 

You’re probably wondering, “what IS The Family Café?”  The Family Café is a conference for families who have a child or other family member who has a disability of any type.  According to their website, www.familycafe.net , “The Family Cafe Annual Conference began with a simple idea. Why not bring together individuals with disabilities and their families with state agencies, non-profit organizations and other service providers, so families could network with each other, learn what services are available to them, and find out the best way to go about accessing those services? The conference would provide a unique environment where families could connect with peers, commercial service providers, and public entities. The Family Cafe has always believed that well-informed people make the best possible decisions for themselves and their loved ones. Our Annual Conference provides the opportunity to put that principle into action.”   THAT’S what The Family Café IS!!!

But personally, how does that benefit you?   There are dozens of breakout sessions covering a multitude of topics that are helpful to families!    Topics range from peer groups of families affected by the same disability, to playgroups for preschoolers, to Medicaid information, to Med Waivers information, to Sensory Processing Disorders helps, etc!  The list goes on from there….too much to include here!    There is also time to relax and enjoy our beautiful Florida weather by the pool, visiting with other Family Café families!

My personal favorites this year were the playgroup that was organized by the Family Resource Specialists from each Early Steps region…including our own Laura Mainor!    They had a conference room full of fun things for the kids to do, as well as terrific ideas for playtime for the parents to implement at home!     Spiderman and Snow White were there as well!    Wyatt and Spiderman became fast friends, they had a blast together, playing “chase,” and Spiderman even read a book to Wyatt!    I was also able to attend the session on Sensory Processing Disorder.  The room was PACKED OUT.  Standing room only!   The professionals who led that session shared lots of information about SPD, which also applies to any sensory processing issues, as well as displayed and shared tons of toys/materials/ideas that are easy and inexpensive to put into practice at home.   

Above all else, Family Café gives you a broadened base of support!   It helps you realize that you are not alone in this journey, whatever your journey might be!  I have connected with, and stayed in contact with, families across the state since my first visit to Family Café.  We are able to share with each other our joys, as well as our difficulties, and also share invaluable lessons we have learned from our own life experiences!    You will not regret the decision to attend Family Café!  

Wordless Wednesday.....Another "YES" Day!

although tim had to be in meetings two of the days of our trip, the younger boys and i were able to FINALLY tour st. augustine (the oldest city in the u.s.!).   it had been several years since i had been there, and forrest and wyatt had never been!   we did not send forrest on the 4th grade (overnight) field trip to st. augustine this past spring, a fact that he told EVERYONE that we encountered!  so we had a fun time touring all the places that he had studied about this past year (the big florida history year!).  and i even said "yes" and let the boys dip their toes in the atlantic ocean!   enjoy!

wyatt would have dove in if i let him!

it was FLAG day.....see our flag shirts?

shell seeker....

yep, the water is down there....and we did drink it!

and then we went to the fountain of youth...

forrest really enjoyed the LONG talk this indian gave about
native life in the 1500's!  he was awesome...it was H O T !!!!

we then visited the castillo de san marcos national monument (fort).....a boy's paradise!

forrest enjoyed running all over the fort!

st. augustine lighthouse....lighthouses are
"my thing!"

he's a history buff...like his mama!

finally, we visited the historic spanish quarters....

a very patient boy on a H O T day!

forrest LOVED this....the man fired this musket...and it was
R E A L L Y   L O U D!!!!!

hanging with the sheriff....

 and the old jail......

being "deputized".....

the end of a fun day.....

Hanging Out With Other Holland Families in Jacksonville....

first time petting a goat!

we had such a wonderful time on our trip to jacksonville and st. augustine last week!   today i'm sharing pics of some wonderful friends we have met through the bond of that "little something extra!"   i have made friends all over the world who have children with Ds!    we had a great time at the jacksonville zoo with kelly and her daughters chloe (t21) and hannah, and were so glad that suzanna joined us with her sons, including wesley (t21)!  we had a great time!

forrest helping groom the goat!

forrest with wyatt, chloe and hannah

boys....wyatt and wesley were
fast friends...stuffing leaves in the holes!

wesley talking to the dolphin!

we also had fun in downtown jacksonville at the museum of science and history, as well as taking a water taxi across the st johns river!

excavating dinosaur bones!

wyatt really connected with this fish!

a beautiful day on the river!

josiah

we even worked in a visit with the middleton family at chick fil a....it was a great visit with these friends we met last year at national conference!  josiah (t21) is a sweetie!   forrest told us "josiah is one of the sweetest kids i've ever met!"  

todd was weighted down with
both of these boys!  



Wordless Wednesday...... Self-Feeding....... Fun, Fun!

as a control freak, it's REALLY hard for me to allow wyatt to feed himself.....but a mama's gotta do what a mama's gotta do....pics from breakfast this morning!

 

"i did not do it, really....."

Wyatt's Week at Vacation Bible School....



brother steven was wyatt's snack time buddy!

wyatt spent a LOT of time with mr jim!

what did wyatt do during vacation Bible school this week?   well....he went from man to man as much as he could!   with 2 brothers and a daddy at home, wyatt prefers the company of men!   so these guys, and a few others, graciously helped out with wyatt throughout the week!   who could resist this cutie?   

mr. ben took the early morning shift!

brother dustin took his turn with wyatt too!

wyatt really stretched mr mitch's aching back!

hanging out in new york city with brother carl!

wyatt created his own arts and crafts/recreation time!



bring it on.....time for chick fil a with friends!!!!

he did let his birthday buddy, mrs. karen hold him!

Wordless Wednesday....

two of wyatt's favorite things....
a ball, and a man to play with!

some pictures from "the family cafe" conference that we attended last weekend.....
the early steps staff put together this awesome playtime for our kiddos!  wyatt had a blast with all the other kids!

who doesn't love bubbles?

hey, mom...it's a lion!

                                                                                     a highlight of his day.....spiderman!

and he meets spiderman.....

they became fast friends.....



finally.....napping.....for a very short time!