February 2016

Peekaboo Free Magazine

Annual Birthday Guide

Northwest Arkansas’ Family Magazine

Feb. 2016

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The

PEEKABOO

Family

Kimberly Enderle Editor-in-Chief editor@peekaboonwa.com | 479-957-0532

Jonathon Enderle Creative Director jon@peekaboonwa.com | 479-586-3890

Addi simmons Associate Editor

Columnist

Kim and Jonathon with Ava, Grant and Holden Enderle.

Photo by Main Street Studios

contributing writer/Editor Frances Wilson

Distribution/ Circulation Joyce Whitaker Judy Evans Marcedalia Salinas

Ben Lacy Dad’s View

Columnist

Jeremy Whitaker Michelle Dodson

Peekaboo Publications

Veronica Zucca Story Design

PO Box 1036 Bentonville, Arkansas 72712 Please send inquiries to: editor@peekaboonwa.com or call 479-957-0532 www.peekaboonwa.com Peekaboo may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Views expressed herein are those of the authors and advertisers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine.

Peekaboo Northwest Arkansas accepts writing contributions

Kristin Hvizda Dalai Mama

Columnist

Jennifer Cristofaro Events

Northwest Health System Honors Top 2015 Employees

Northwest Health System honored top employees for their excellence in leadership and service during 2015.

They are as follows:

Northwest Health System Springdale Gregg Stepp System Director of Materials Management Non-Clinical Leader of Year

Angela Cox, RN Director of Surgical Services Northwest Medical Center Clinical Leader of the Year

Northwest Health System Bentonville Stephanie Braswell Manager of Materials Management Non-Clinical Leader of the Year

Mickey Stout, RN Emergency Services Director Clinical Leader of the Year

Northwest Health System Willow Creek Women’s Hospital Jill Battaglia, RT Supervisor of Respiratory Therapy Leader of the Year

Each honoree received a plaque and monetary award as part of the recognition of their service.

They provide valued service to make for great healthcare in NW Arkansas!

Peekaboo nwa W h at ’ s I n s i d e | f e b rua r y | 2 0 1 6 16

Meet William

22

When the School Bell Rings

by: Elizabeth Emis

by: NWA Classical Academy

24

Hypnosis for Childbirth

26

Our Love Story

30

Aquatic SpeechLanguage Therapy

by: Kara Cooper

by: Christina Bull

by: Carmen Shumpert Children’s Therapy Team

32

Holden Turns Six

34

Bravery Truth

44

Our Surrogacy Journey

51

8th Annual Birthday Party Guide!

58

#SingFellow

64

The Story Behind The House

by: Kim Enderle

by: Becca McKim

by: Charlise, Joel, Shannon

by: Thomas Stringfellow

by: Katie Sexton

on the c ov e r :

66

Dad’s View

68

Remembering Brynlee: Our Update

with Ben Lacy

by: Kim Green

70

Rituals of Life

72

Northwest Robotic Surgery Institute

by: Eva Lebens

COVER PHOTO BY: MAIN STREET STUDIOS

by: Northwest Health System

10 February 2016

Madeline (7), Mazie (5), daughters of Phil and Jennifer Cristofaro of Rogers

MainSt.Studios

person in my life, and in this new role as “Mom,” I was in uncharted territory.

from the editor A look ahead: We are working to get a head start on 2016 so that our 9th year will be the best yet! If you have a story to share, or an idea for a story, please email editor@peekaboonwa.com

H

appy birthday, Peekaboo! The big 0-8! When Jonathon and I started the magazine in 2008, we had high hopes that readers would like it, find solace in the stories shared by honest parents telling it like it is, and discover connections with the businesses who sponsored it.

Not only did ‘just a few’ people find it, but most of NWA has embraced Peekaboo as its own guide to family life in this wonderfully unique community. We have helped hundreds of businesses and non-profits connect with readers and become a regular part of their day-to-day lives. Friendships have been formed and support groups established when readers view the stories in the magazine and reach out to the authors to start a real world conversation.

Readers are often curious as to the story behind the “birth” of Peekaboo, so I thought I would share it here with you. Every momentous occasion needs that time of reminiscing, right?

I have lived in Northwest Arkansas my entire life.

Born and raised in Siloam Springs, I moved to Fayetteville to go to the U of A, and then moved to Rogers after I got married. This area is very much home, and I have a lot of pride in that. It wasn’t until Ava was born that I felt like a stranger, a tourist in my own city. I already had all of my personal favorite stores, doctors and restaurants, but for this new little

Luckily, I had taught prenatal Pilates during my pregnancy and had a closeknit group of women who all had babies within a few weeks of each other; so I had an amazing support group of ladies experiencing everything at the same time I did. I had someone to call when Ava was fussy, and when I needed an answer to any question not found in my huge stack of parenting how-to books. With this group of ladies, I had someone to call for a recommendation for a pediatrician, a photographer, a favorite boutique and places to take my baby girl. This was a huge blessing and a saving grace. I couldn’t have done it without them.

I knew that every parent could benefit from a support network... from shared stories written by those been-there-anddone-that parents, to doctors and business owners who can share expert advice. I have a degree in English and journalism, so I figured, “Why not start a family magazine?” If only it were that simple!

Jonathon and I put everything we had into creating the first issue of Peekaboo, and it means the world to us that families across NWA have embraced it as their own.

I have loved watching Peekaboo take on a life of its own, and can’t wait to see what happens over the next eight years.

Another big birthday taking place this month that is near and dear to my heart is the 3rd birthday of our youngest, Grant.

Ava has loved getting to introduce them to NWA on the covers of the magazine. She did so in 2009, with the birth of Holden, and both Ava and Holden were able to grace the cover with their newest brother in 2013.

Inside this issue you will meet a few other new babies with birth stories much more exciting than the typical drive to the hospital. And since no birthday is complete without a birthday party, take a look at the birthday party guide on pages 49 through 57... and be sure to save it to refer to all year long!

14 February 2016

Photo by: Ever After Portraiture

Happy Birthday, Peekaboo!

Happy Birthday, Grant!

And Happy Birthday to all the little ones with a February birth date!

by: Elizabeth Emis

Jen L. Davis

When my first child was born, my husband, John and I decided that I would go from a public relations and marketing manager to a stay-at-home mother. I loved the idea, and set about running our home the way I ran my business: straightforward, goal-oriented and full of accountability. I took charge and, therefore, assumed responsibility for everything, even things completely out of my control. I considered baby weight and height yardsticks an example of my performance as a mama. I counted the minutes I nursed on each side, and seven months later, watched the ounces drip from a bottle, wondering if I did something wrong because Jack didn’t nurse as long.

Photography

I took everything personally, I can tell you like an annual review at my former, traditional work that from the day and vowed that with my he was born, my second child, I would do second son has things differently. While I still monitor ounces and done things his now solid food intake on way,not mine! baby William, I can tell you that from the day he was born, my second son has done things his way, not mine!

Let us back up to August 2014. Jack was 9 months old and finally a great napper, something I worked on for three months. We attended Swim Ranch that month, and he was a real water baby. At nine months, he was walking unassisted, and I felt like, after all this time, John and I had made it. He went from a newborn who wouldn’t nurse or nap to a nearly 1-year-old boy who could sleep, feed himself and get where he needed to go without being carried.

Then, on one of those brutally hot September afternoons, the three of us took a stroller walk.

“Can you smell that? That awful, decaying animal smell?” I asked.

16 February 2016

“There aren’t any animals for miles, honey,” John said. Clue number one.

And then, there was the “Bliss cupcake incident:” Throwing up on the side of the road after eating a cupcake on the way home from dinner... that’s definitely a first. Clue number two.

John begged me to take a pregnancy test when we arrived home. “I’m fine,” I said, brushing it off, adding, “Yes, I’m late, but I’ve been on birth control for months now and the doctor said I might skip a cycle and it’s not a big deal. I skipped last month and I wasn’t pregnant. Don’t worry.”

After discussing it, I decided to go ahead and take a preganancy test. The only test I had was seven

months expired. I took it and, sure enough, it said I was pregnant!

We are living proof of that 2 percent of couples who get pregnant on the pill. It actually DOES happen.

The pregnancy went like clockwork. I gained just 35 pounds like last time, but toward the 35 week mark I started having intense back pain... Pain so sharp I couldn’t stand. My family took me to the ER, and we were told that all was well, but I should take it easy.

Three weeks later, at 38 weeks, I was dilated to 3 centimeters and the doctor wanted to induce.

“No,” I said, “the baby is fine, and my contractions are irregular and manageable.” As we left the appointment, he let me know who the on-call doctor that weekend would be, just in case.

Our family went about our usual week: grocery stores, play dates, manicure and pedicure, lunches, everything while I was contracting.

But, hey, it’s normal, Wow, that and if I can drive, walk, contraction was and carry a toddler awful, but hey, I through these spasms, managed to shave then everything is my legs at 38 weeks fine... Sure.

and four days, so

By Sunday, May 10, it couldn’t be we went back to the time yet.

ER. Strong but irregular contractions, they said, and advised that I get home, go back to sleep, as it was 4AM, and “Please take it easy.” I took a Tylenol III and a Benadryl at their request, and then slept for four hours. When I woke up, I got Jack out of his crib, changed his clothes, made him breakfast, and packed his overnight bag for Mizzee’s, John’s mom.

Just in case.

Then, I took a shower. Wow, that contraction was awful, but hey, I managed to shave my legs at 38 weeks and four days, so it couldn’t be time yet.

Besides, Jack didn’t show up until 40 weeks.

At 11AM, John’s parents arrived to take Jack... again, just in case. I was laying in bed on my side, picturing the rolling ocean waves with each contraction, and since they were seven minutes apart, it wasn’t time to hop in the car. Even Mizzee said the baby could come today, but not for at least 12 hours. I kissed Jack goodbye and he waved and said, “Bye bye!”

As they left, John said he wanted to go to the hospital.

Turn the page ...

“But my contractions are worse if I lay on my back, and they’ll make me lay on my back!” I moaned.

“Yes, but you’ll have an epidural, so you won’t feel it anyway,” he said.

Good point, I thought, so we loaded up.

Things start moving pretty fast from here forward, so try to keep up...

11:50 a.m.: I picked up my overnight bag and walked to the living room. HUGE contraction that John says nearly ripped his arm off.

11:52 a.m.: We pulled out of the garage.

12:00 p.m.: We pass Tyson Foods headquarters. My water breaks. We turn left toward the hospital.

12:02 p.m.: I have to push. I mean, have to!

“Don’t push!” John yelled, going 55mph in a 25.

I have to!

12:04 p.m.: I push once, and our baby crowns, as we pull into the hospital’s ER entrance. John jumps out and screams, “My wife is having a baby!”

12:06 p.m.: The nurses come out, scream “Gurney!” and call for the doctor.

12:08 p.m.: The doctor walks out and says, “Well, no time for gloves. One more push ought to do it, Liz.” John holds me steady from the backseat of our Subaru Forrester, I push and William comes out.

12:09 p.m.: I ask, “Can we delay cord clamping?” It’s raining and 50 degrees outside. They all laugh and take William out of the cold, and help me onto a gurney. And, I apologize for ruining the interior of our brand new SUV.

18 February 2016

It took eight minutes from the time my water broke to the time Will greeted me. Eight minutes. Looking back, that one contraction was me transitioning in the middle of the living room. I had a Mother’s Day baby.

Now, at just over 8 months old, I can tell you Will still does everything when he feels like it, and not a moment sooner. He hates to nurse and also hates to bottle feed, so feedings take forever. He prefers to rotate, roll and army crawl to his destination, whereas his brother was using a diaper box to “walk” from room to room by now. Will prefers applesauce in his guacamole, not banana like his brother did, and if the entire family isn’t eating when he is, then good luck getting a spoonful swallowed.

That being said, his smile can light up Chicago in a snow storm, he’s loved sleep from the get-go (and in his crib from night one) and he can easily go more than a week without crying once. He’s a happy baby. He is 17 and 1/2 pounds of laughter and chunky thighs.

I never thought I’d have a completely natural, drug-free childbirth, let alone do it in a car.

But, I preferred the natural method to the epidural and so did my body. I healed much faster, and didn’t need an episiotomy either.

Parenthood is not something you can control. When you get pregnant, how long you carry the baby or how you deliver, all of those things are out of your hands. But you can control your response, and I’m learning each day how to let go and enjoy the chaos of two under two. It’s madness and joy, all at once.

www.davidadams.com

100 West Center, Ste 101 Fayetteville 479-444-7778

T

here is only one open-enrollment public charter school in Northwest Arkansas that is providing students with a rigorous, college-preparatory experience focused on the classical liberal arts. Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy in Bentonville opened its doors in 2013 for grades kindergarten through eighth. Currently the school serves grades K-10, and will continue adding a grade each year until it is a K-12 school.

Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy was granted its charter in 2013 and is powered by the partnership between Hillsdale College and ResponsiveEd, a state charter school system headquartered in Lewisville, Texas. In its first year, Classical Academy earned a perfect score on the Arkansas Department of Education School Report Card, and continues to see spectacular results each year.

The idea of a classical charter school to serve Northwest Arkansas was first conceived in 2010 through conversations between Scott Smith, Executive Director of the Arkansas Public School Resource Center, and Phil Kilgore, Director of the Barney Charter School Initiative at Hillsdale College.

When the School Bell Rings by: Susan Provenza, Headmaster NWA Classical Academy

According to Kilgore, the mission of the Barney Charter School Initiative is, “to promote the founding of classical charter schools and excellence in their teaching and operations to the end that students in the public school domain may be educated in the liberal arts and sciences and receive instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue.”

Dr. Alan Wimberley, the superintendent of ResponsiveEd Arkansas, has overseen the school since it first opened.

“From the beginning, parents in Bentonville have stood behind the creation of a uniquely classical school in their community. Through their support and that of Hillsdale College, our school has demonstrated student success,” Dr. Wimberley said.

Parents looking for an alternative to large, traditional public schools love both the academics and focus on character development. Shannon Splittorff, mother and parent-volunteer, says the rigorous classical curriculum is what drew her to Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy.

22 February 2016

“Knowing that the classical education isn’t mainstream and is going to challenge kids in ways that they haven’t been challenged is what drew me.

Everyone is doing it the other way and we get these mass results; I’m not pleased with those results,” Splittorff said.

Mother and parent-volunteer Beth Moody appreciates the focus that extends beyond just test scores.

“When looking at schools in our area, my husband and I were impressed with Classical Academy’s desire to remain focused on a rigorous, classical education.

Their goal is not just achieving high test scores, but also developing the character of students and helping them pursue excellence in a way that will make them successful in a university setting,” Moody said.

Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy provides the most time-tested methods of educating students.

The teachers and staff are committed to providing future leaders with a college preparatory education focused on the Classical Liberal Arts. Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy promotes a rigorous academic program fostering intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, virtuous character building, and a lifelong passion for learning.

A strong foundation in the core subjects of English, history, science, and mathematics prepares students for any and every college opportunity while also creating lifelong learners.

Students of all ages are required to study a foreign language. In order to better understand the English language and to best prepare students for modern language study, formal Latin instruction begins in 6th grade, and 7th graders can begin earning high school credit.

At the high school level, the school offers two classes of history that students cannot take anywhere else.

Western Civilization I is a 9th grade history course in which students focus on an in-depth exploration

of the histories of Ancient Greece and Rome as the foundations of Western civilization and as guides for the founders of the American nation.

Parents looking for an alternative to large, traditional public schools love both the academics and focus on character development.

Western Civilization II is a 10th grade history course in which students explore the development of Western civilization from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the French Revolution. It prepares students for a robust study of American History in grade eleven. All students in Arkansas take the required World History course, which provides a brief history of the world from 1450 to the present. The additional Western Civilization courses at Classical Academy provide students the opportunity for deep historical studies with time for rich exploration into original historical texts from Herodotus, Plato, Plutarch, Machiavelli and other greats from the past.

The school’s motto: “Respice, adspice, prospice,” means that, by studying the past and analyzing the present, students will be ready to contribute to the future.

If you would like more information about Classical Academy, you can visit our website at www.nwaclassical.com. Additionally, we have tours every Tuesday and Thursday at 10AM. We encourage interested students to be a shadow for a day and attend classes to get a feel for what our school has to offer.

Hypnosis for

Child Birth

by Kara Cooper

F

ear. I was afraid to give birth.

I dreamt of having children, of getting to be a stay-at-home mom. But the fear! I tried not to think of it, but when I would, there was a panicked, walls-closing-in feeling. This is not something anyone I know ever talked about. Not my mom, not my sisters, not my friends. At my shower, there weren’t stories about easy births or pain-free natural births. Strangers didn’t come up to me and tell me not to worry--that birth was easy or my body could easily cope. The stories women passed around were the exciting, painful, endless hours spent in labor! Husbands falling down on the job in the delivery room!

Once I was pregnant, my little fear was starting to become a big fear. I needed help coping with what was going to be the biggest event of my life.

First, I tried the Bradley Method. This childbirth preparation method focuses on relaxation and a complete understanding of the birthing process. I quickly realized this was not relaxing me enough and I needed something that would truly get my head together.

I’d heard of hypnosis for child birth, but surely that was too weird? I mean, were we talking gold pocket watches swinging back and forth or clucking like a chicken on command? But, I was desperate. I looked into the program Hypnobabies (though there is another method called Hypno Birthing). First, let me clear up what hypnosis and birth really means. It’s about deep relaxation-think meditation--and changing the expectation that this experience comes mostly with pain and suffering. The program claims that birth will

24 February 2016

I mean, were we talking gold pocket watches be quicker because swinging back and your body will not forth or clucking be clenched in pain, like a chicken on fighting itself, but relaxed and able to work command? with the contractions. This sounded exactly like what I was looking for! Also, this is self-taught hypnosis (although in some areas there are classes you can take), so I was going to be in complete control of my hypnosis and my birth. I ran this by my doctor and, while he had heard of hypnosis to quit smoking, he had never heard of it for birth. I knew I was going it alone with very little outside support, but I was determined!

Learning hypnosis isn’t hard, it’s about having an open mind and practicing. From about six months until birth, there is daily practice. Every evening I would listen to my relaxation CD for about 30 minutes. This relaxation time was very enjoyable, and I would come out feeling very refreshed and happy. But it also served other purposes–it worked on changing the negative messages about birth that I had grown up hearing, and I learned how to get fully relaxed in a matter of seconds. Additionally, I would put myself into hypnosis a few times a day, for a couple of minutes at a time, and I had daily positive affirmations that I could listen to while doing dishes or other things. In order to change some of the negative messages about birth, Hypnobabies gives you a new vocabulary (as in, think ‘pressure waves,’ not contractions) and also ways to tune out the negativity that others and pop culture inadvertently share--after all, isn’t it amazing how painfully birth is portrayed on movies and TV? Then, my water broke at work, and it was time! I felt so calm. This was me being calm, and I was about to have a baby! There was no panic, and no fear. I was able to focus on calling my husband and getting to the hospital.

We stopped home to collect my bag. I decided to do some picking up around the house since I knew

we were going to have company staying with us, and I will never forget him nervously telling me that we had to go--he didn’t want to deliver this baby at home! Still, I calmly went around picking things up and adding last minute items to my bag.

When we arrived at the hospital, they didn’t have a bed ready for me, and I had to wait nearly an hour, but I still felt calm. We finally got to the room and I told my husband it would be a good time for him to get dinner. I listened to a relaxation CD that is special for the day of birth.

Then my contractions were getting serious. I calmly put myself in hypnosis and was able to deeply relax through It’s about deep each contraction.

I relaxation (think was also completely aware of everything meditation) and going on, everything changing the the nurses were expectation that saying, all the beeping this experience noises, but I was able comes mostly with to focus and relax. I pain and suffering. remember my husband asking me a question when a contraction started. I stopped talking, went quickly to deep relaxation, and when the contraction was over, I resumed talking without missing a beat. Even I was amazed at how well it was working! For a first-time mom, my labor was progressing very quickly. By the time I was in transition, we weren’t sure the doctor was going to make it on time! I was ready to push and the nurses had to ask me to hold the baby in (which was extremely difficult) and then my baby boy was out in three quick pushes. My labor from water break to birth was five hours and forty-five minutes. Although the doctor had been skeptical about hypnosis in the beginning, after my birth he was very excited and kept congratulating me on how amazing it was! I’ve had two more very quick labors (6 cm to fully dilated in 45 minutes for both babies!) and these later babies came with stronger, pitocin-driven contractions. I was nervous when I had to be induced that my hypnosis would be no match for pitocin, but I was still able to stay calm and focused. I could still feel discomfort and there were times that I was almost ready to give in and get the epidural, but I was always able to come back to a place of calm and remind myself to take it one contraction at a time.

While going to the hospital and being “different” with my birth plan can be intimidating, I always had a positive nursing crew that would respect my need for quiet. When I look back on my births, I feel a sense of peace. I feel stronger for conquering my fear. But above all, I feel peace with my positive birth experiences.

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Being in love with your

f Best riend is everything T

here he was, 17 years after losing touch with him, my best friend from high school... seemingly out of the blue on Facebook.

Adrenaline rushed through my veins when I saw his friend request in my Facebook feed.

I immediately hit confirm request and then dialed my best friend, Tina, to tell her this incredible news.

Josh and I were, as I said, the best of friends in high school, within the bounds of a strictly platonic friendship. I loved his innate ability to make me laugh and smile, his protective nature, and all of the little things he did for me. My emotions shifted over time, though, leaving me longing for more than a friendship with him.

I was 16 years old when we sat down on the yellow metal double glider on my parents’ front porch, I expressed my interest in him as more than a friend, and waited for his answer with bated breath. He, on the other hand, had no romantic feelings for me. My heart was broken, crushed, but there was nothing I could do.

Now, after all this time, at least he was back on Facebook. Over the next few months, we became reacquainted, exchanging emails with stories on what had happened in our respective lives since we lost touch. When I had the occasion to visit my parents for Christmas, Josh asked if we could meet for lunch while I was in town. He didn’t have to ask twice! I told Tina, “You won’t believe this... I am going to see Josh.”

by: Christina Bull Seventeen years ago, we had eaten together at Red Lobster for Josh’s senior prom on April 23, 1994. Although we weren’t a couple, I was his “date,” because his girlfriend at the time had gone on a band trip. He asked me only three days before prom to accompany him--which is not much time for a high school girl!--but, fortunately, Josh’s older sister became my “fairy godmother.” She loaned me an evening gown, found the perfect black high heels, scheduled my hair appointment, and then applied my makeup the day of the prom. I felt like a real princess!

One of my fondest memories of Josh’s prom was our last dance that evening. Most of the guests had already left, so we were the only two people on the dance floor. We danced to Whitney Houston’s iconic, “I Will Always Love You.” I remember holding on to Josh just a little bit tighter, and thinking to myself, “This is exactly how I feel. I will always love you, Josh.”

After all that, it made perfect sense then that we would meet at Red Lobster. A shiver of excitement ran through my body as I realized that today was the day of my Christmas vacation, and that I would soon meet Josh in Fort Smith. I wanted to look my best for him, so I took extra time getting ready. After years of absence, we met, and my heart still raced for him like it had so many years ago when I was a teenager at the prom. At first, our conversation seemed to struggle along due to the time and awkwardness, but, as nerves calmed, our chatter flowed. The time flew by and, before I knew it, we were telling each other goodbye.

Over the next few days, we continued to chat through text messages. Josh asked if we could see each other again before I left town and,

Turn the page ...

www.peekaboonwa.com

27

without hesitating, I said, “Yes, I’ll meet you somewhere.” We met again and, in our conversation Josh admitted, 17 years later, that his feelings for me in high school ran deeper than a friendship. I thought to myself, “Are you kidding me?” and asked him, “Why didn’t you tell me in high school?” He then revealed the truth about that night he left me brokenhearted. Josh explained that he had been in the process of joining the Marines at the time, and was leaving for boot camp soon. He expressed how he felt I deserved more than what he had to offer. He envisioned a very bright, successful future for me, which included graduating college. He feared holding me back.

With that new information, I got on the road back to Texas. The fear of the unknown and losing him again left me in tears most of the drive home. Secretly, I hoped there was a future for us, but I tried to push those dreams out of my head. I couldn’t handle another heartbreak if it didn’t work out as I imagined.

The possibility of a future with Josh continually crossed my mind, especially on a particular day--January 1st, signifying new beginnings.

Those thoughts were quickly interrupted by the ringing of my cell phone. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Josh’s name on the screen!

He wanted to know what I had planned for the day. “Not much,” I heard myself say casually, “I am just hanging out with the dogs at the house.”

He commented, also quite casually, that he had been thinking about driving to Texas to see me. I could hardly contain my enthusiasm, but managed to calmly say, “Come on over.”

Hours later, Josh, my Josh, was knocking on my door. I invited him inside the house. We sat and talked for hours about everything. I found myself wondering during our conversation if today would be the day we discovered whether or not we had any romantic chemistry. The emotional connection was always there between us, but we didn’t know if we would fit as a couple. “Please, please,” I thought. “If we kiss, let there be sparks!” And then... it happened. We had our first kiss--and it was electrifying!

We continued to talk over the phone and visit each other on the weekends. We had already known each other so long that our relationship as a couple progressed rather quickly.

Three short months later, we discussed Josh

relocating to Texas. I considered whether this was the best move for us, though, because we would have to travel back to Arkansas often to visit our families, both of whom lived in the River Valley area. After a lot of thought, I decided that I would move back home to Arkansas.... and six weeks later the two of us were living in Northwest Arkansas.

♥

Fast forward a year and half, and we were still blissfully happy together. It was a cold, snowy day in December when Josh asked me to go with him to check on the land we owned together. We arrived at the property, and Josh pointed to a bench he put out there for us.

We sat out there admiring our snow-covered acreage, sharing our dreams for the future and enjoying the quiet beauty of nature together.

Josh expressed how much he loved me, how he would always take care of me and that he would never break my heart again. Before I realized what was happening, Josh was kneeling in front of me, asking if I would marry him. I said, “YES!” as tears rolled down my cheeks.

Approximately 20 years after meeting, Josh, my Josh, asked me to marry him. It was my very own fairy tale!

To my surprise, the fairy tale got even sweeter.

Josh told me that he opened a chapter in our book long ago, and now he wanted to close it. He pulled back the blankets covering the bench to reveal something yellow. I thought to myself, “Could it be?” and it was! This was the very same glider that we had sat on years ago as teenagers. My broken heart was now forever mended.

We married on April 26, 2014, at a historic home in Fort Smith, Arkansas, surrounded by our family and closest friends.

Aquatic Speech-Language Therapy?

My top 6 reasons I say, “YES!”

by Carmen Shumpert, Children’s Therapy TEAM Speech-Language Pathologist

W

hen people ask me if speech therapy can be done in the water, my answer is an enthusiastic YES! For children with special needs, being in the water provides an environment for therapy with unique advantages over treatment that is exclusively on land. Many people are familiar with use of pool settings for physical and occupational therapy; however, some are surprised to learn about the many benefits of aquatic settings for enhancing speech-language development.

1. Warm Water Relaxation Promotes Speech The pools at Children’s Therapy TEAM were specifically designed for therapeutic purposes. The water temperatures range from 90°-92° year-round. Warm water naturally provides relaxation, which in turn facilitates speech production. Water provides a gentle environment to target the respiration and phonation required for speech production.

2. Strengthening of Muscles Used in Speech Production The hydrostatic pressure of water at chest-deep level provides resistance to strengthen the diaphragm, a major muscle involved in breathing for speech. As the water is able to give more support to the trunk, head and neck, better positioning for the jaw and tongue are facilitated. This can in turn improve feeding skills and promote more intelligible articulation.

Speech therapists who regularly work in water report improved coordination for louder volume and sustained voicing.

3. A Natural Setting for Oral-Motor Treatment In my own clinical experience, about half of children receiving oral-motor treatment tend to be defensive. Their uneasiness is understandable. The SpeechLanguage Pathologist must don gloves, and actively touch the child’s tongue, cheeks and jaw areas to help them develop awareness, Oral-Motor Exercises strength, during Speech Therapy and mobility of the oral muscles.

However, in the water, a child’s defensiveness to this treatment is significantly reduced. The warm water relaxes them, and the therapist does not have to wear gloves because the water is safely treated and sanitized.

Children’s Therapy TEAM offers:

Adaptive Recreation Activities • Aquatic Therapy Developmental Therapy • Family Support Services Funding Support • International Outreach • Occupational Therapy Orthotics • Physical Therapy • Serial Casting • Speech Therapy VitalStim Therapy... all in one FAITH-BASED TEAM!

Call 521-TEAM (8326) to learn more.

4. Better Focus and Optimized Learning The warm water in the pool tends to decrease a child’s tactile defensiveness.

This helps them to focus their attention on other things like vocal and verbal imitation and production. The environment is also very motivating and reinforcing for developing language and cognitive skills. As children are engaged and attending to tasks for longer periods of time, they get closer to reaching their optimal learning potential.

5. A Routine for Communication Visual schedules and the Picture Exchange Communication System can easily be built into aquatic therapy sessions. Children can have more control over their own sessions with picture choices. Numerous opportunities for requesting and commenting can be provided in the water and during the child’s routine before they even get into the water. Sequencing the steps for dressing/undressing before pool time provides an authentic opportunity for communication. Vocabulary pertaining to these routines, as well as water activities in the pool, can easily be incorporated to target a child’s therapy goals.

6. Opportunities for Fun and Socialization Aquatic therapy provides a natural environment for singing songs, playing games, and group play with emphasis on initiation and turn-taking.

It provides a perfect opportunity to develop social skills with peers and therapists in a setting that is relaxing and fun.

Sources: Blum, Haley. (2015) Water Works.

The ASHA Leader. American SpeechLanguage Hearing Association. Vol. 20, 2627. Dickinson, Kathleen. Aquatic Therapy University Lecture Notes. (December 4-5, 2015) Evidence-Based Aquatic Therapy for the Pediatric Patient. Children’s Therapy TEAM Aquatic Center, Bentonville, AR. Iskowitz, Mark. (1998) Aquatic Therapy: Pursuing Speech Therapy Goals in the Pool.

Advance Healthcare Network for Speech and Hearing. Retrieved from http:// speech-language-pathology-audiology. advanceweb.com/

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warm water pool

Believe in KIDS.

n e d l o H turns w

hen I started dating Jonathon, one of our first conversations centered around our childhood memories. One of his that stood out to me in particular was that he never was able to enjoy a memorable birthday party. Being born on December 30 meant that birthday parties weren’t a priority, since Christmas had just taken place a few days before. I remember feeling sad for him, and vowing to never do that to my own children. Well, we all know what happens when you say “never.” Just an hour before Jonathon’s 30th birthday, I gave birth to our second child, Holden, a day closer to Christmas than even his birthday was!

After our son was born, my goal was to make sure that Holden had memorable birthdays, and for his 6th birthday it was one for the books. We rented a couple of rooms at the Embassy Suites in Rogers and spent the first hour and a half at the pool, because, despite being born in winter, a pool party was on his wish list.

6

When they needed to recharge, we went up to the room and everyone changed into their pjs. Holden opened his gifts and then dined on pizza and cake with a lightsaber salute during the birthday song. The kids then did everything a sleepover would include–movie, snacks, games, and playing with toys–but, when actual bedtime neared, each child was picked up by his or her parents to go to sleep in their own bed. They got the best of both worlds– all the sleepover fun without having to sleep in a bed that wasn’t their own.

While the Embassy Suites was an excellent venue, and we already have plans to do a “just because” stay soon, the party wasn’t defined by the location, or the activities, or even the gifts, but because he was surrounded by some great kids he is lucky to call his friends. Happy birthday, Holden!

32 February 2016

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by: Becca McKim

Photos by: Delyn Stirewalt of MilesWittBoyer Photography

Birth in and of itself is an amazing thing.

Let me explain something about myself. I am a planner who loves making lists simply so I can go through and check things off. I was never one that had a high pain tolerance growing up. I mean, headaches It always proves the undeniable sometimes caused me to cry like a baby. So, when it came existence of Yahweh (God) and to the idea of giving birth, I His miraculous creation. Every had always planned to have all pain-relieving drugs they tiny and major detail is formed the offered. Then I got pregnant within the womb. Then, to top it with my first child. When I to research how I wanted all off, your body is able to move, began my birth plan to unfold, I shift, and stretch in order to bring realized I wanted nothing to that tiny human into the world. It do with my original idea and instead chose homebirth. blows my mind no matter how My husband and I prayed fervently about this decision many times I experience it. and had an unshakeable peace the whole time. However, I quickly learned that homebirth is not something you can categorize into a list. It’s a very organic, everchanging, progressive process.

You can make a list in order to ensure that you have everything you need and are ready for birth, but it all happens in its own time. You can’t “make” it happen, so to speak. When your projected due date comes and goes right before your eyes, or you have a long labor (my first was 47 hours), a type-A person like me starts to get a little impatient. By my fourth birth experience, you would think my patience level was astronomically high, and I would have been the first to tell you how wrong you were. In all honesty, this pregnancy was a huge test of my patience, among other things.

This pregnancy was so vastly different than all the rest. It was

harder, more tiring, and the most “out of control” I’ve ever felt. My hormones and emotions were all over the place, and I’m usually a pretty balanced person. With my previous pregnancies, I remained very emotionally balanced. Then Bravery came along, and I could no longer function like I used to in a way I felt comfortable. That seemed to be the running theme of the pregnancy – becoming uncomfortable and losing my need for control; getting to know myself and learning how to find the balance between privacy and vulnerability. Leaning on Yahweh (God) and my husband instead of myself. Learning to be able to walk and express what I knew to be true, bravely and without fear of what others would think or what I would look like. Needless to say, I went through many trials over the duration of this pregnancy where I had absolutely no control over the situation or the outcome. The only control I had was over my response. I could either respond negatively and make the situation worse, or I could respond positively and persevere, knowing I would come out stronger on the other side.

It all started around 4:30 in the morning when I woke to some very mild and inconsistent contractions. I was a week overdue, and had been woken up to contractions of this nature more than once by this point. So, I laid there and tried to decide whether or not I wanted to go back to sleep or get up and try to keep them coming. I decided to do the latter and went into my living room and began to walk around and rock on the exercise ball. The contractions never intensified, but became somewhat more consistent, so by 7:00 I decided to let my husband know he should probably at least work from home because, at some point that day, our baby girl would be there. I also called my midwife just to let her know I thought this was the day, but told her not to come just yet because nothing was all that consistent or intense. By this time, my three girls were up and I had told them today was the day their little sister would make her arrival. They were all very excited and had been patiently waiting for this day right along with me. My husband got up and began to get their breakfast ready while I continued to try and get active labor started. By 7:30, things changed drastically. My contractions intensified to a point that my girls became concerned when one would hit; therefore, I decided to labor in our room to prevent any emotional outbursts. I told my husband to call our sister-friend so she could come get them.

In the meantime, I continued to have very intense contractions that lasted a good two minutes, but still weren’t consistent in their arrival. Every time one would come, I couldn’t move and had to really focus on my breathing because I would catch myself holding my breath, which is a no-no. So, I began to semi-quietly groan and rock side to side with each contraction until it passed. I am not the

type of person who can be still for very long, even in labor, so the movement really helped in my case. I remember having an incredibly intense contraction that basically brought me to my knees and left me leaning over my bed for the next little while.

I hadn’t ever labored in this position before, but re me mb e re d reading all kinds of positive things about it; and now, looking back, it really did help.

Around 8:30, Zack finished rounding up the girls while I continued to labor by myself. I continued laboring for another hour or so, and then my water broke. That hadn’t happened with my previous pregnancies

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so it was a completely new experience for me, and was a huge game-changer in this case. I immediately called out to Zack who had just gotten the girls loaded up with our friend and informed him of what had happened. I requested that he call our midwife, as well as the other individuals we had asked to help with the birth, to tell them to head our way. I also asked to get into the pool that was currently in our living room. While I waited for it to fill with water, I got into the shower. When your whole body is tense and every muscle is contracting, hot water REALLY helps relieve and soothe some of the pain. Some... not all. For me, it is a must-have.

However, in this case, it was a very short-lived feeling of relief, because while Zack was filling up the pool (and frantically calling our rockstar birth team to see where they were) I suddenly felt the urge to push. Again, I called out to Zack, who came rushing in there saying, “NO! You can’t push yet, no one is here. Are you sure? Maybe just try to breathe through it.” Well, as much as I despised the words coming out of his mouth, he was right. No one was there that could check my progress or see how dilated I was, so, to be on the safe side, I didn’t push and continued to breathe through it. Worst. Thing.

Ever.

A little after 10:00, I discovered that we had used all our hot water. The pool was barely even half-full, and I was left standing in the shower with lukewarm water. My desired water birth was not a possibility. I grabbed my fluffy pink robe and headed towards the living room. As soon as I got to the couch, the urge to push was not one that I could just breathe through anymore. I told Zack to check and see if he could see her head because I felt like this was it. I quickly found myself in the same birthing position I

had been in earlier, and gave one push and a high-pitched squeal.

At that moment, one of our dear team members, who had also been a registered nurse, came flying through the door, and shortly after her, a cop pulled in our driveway. When my husband went out to talk to the officer and inform him of what was happening, the officer very sternly requested that the lady come back out. He then informed her that no matter the situation, you always stop for a police officer when their lights are on. He let her off with a warning and went on his way.

With my next contraction, I pushed and, lo and behold, her head was visible. Almost instantly, our photographer and other nursefriend walked in the door and began helping get towels and blankets together just in case Bravery came before our midwife arrived. Zack came over to encourage me and let me know that our sweet girl would be here very soon. My only request of him during labor was that he consistently have minty fresh breath. Well, in this case, he didn’t, and was talking very closely to my face, so I gently placed my hand on his face and pushed him away while requesting that he go brush his teeth. He sweetly smiled (and laughed) and did as I asked. Next thing I knew, my front door flew open and in walked my midwife. Let the hallelujah chorus begin to play! Another contraction hit, I pushed, and she checked me and said, “You’re doing great Rebecca. She will be here soon.” I remember asking her to give me a time frame as to what “soon” meant exactly, and she sweetly and so calmly replied, “Soon.”

Let me just say, my midwife is amazing. She is like a weird Zen, momma-lion combination. Calm 90 percent of the time, but when it comes to birth, she is protective, nurturing, crazy strong, and ready to attack anything that comes her way. I love her. Zack came waltzing in while brushing his teeth to say hello to her while I was in the middle of a contraction, and he saw Bravery’s head beginning to crown. He quickly went into the kitchen to spit, and by the time he came back around the corner, her head was out. He very excitedly said, “There she is babe! I can see her and she looks chubby.” My dream has always been to have a chubby baby. I love chubby babies, but tend to produce skinny ones, so him saying that was music to my ears. With one more contraction and one more push, she came right out--chubby cheeks and all. She was born at 10:45AM, weighed exactly eight pounds, and was 20.5 inches long.

The Lord knew exactly what I needed, when I needed it, who needed to be there, and they all arrived at the perfect time in order for Bravery to be born safely into our arms.

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CALENDAR

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2015

February Library storytimes: Bentonville Public Library: bentonvillelibrary.org Fayetteville Public Library: faylib.org Springdale Public Library: springdalelibrary.org Rogers Public Library: rogerspubliclibrary.org

Weekly Events Priceless Nights at the Amazeum Wednesdays 4 - 7:30 p.m.

Thanks to a grant from Tyson Foods, Inc., we are happy to announce Wednesday evenings will be Priceless Nights at the Scott Family Amazeum! These pay-as-you-wish evenings allow guests to make a donation to the Amazeum in lieu of admission.

Preschool Art Class » Portraits Wednesdays - February 10 , 17, 24 1 - 2:15 p.m.

Crystal Bridges Inspired by the portraits of our permanent collection, learn how artists see people! We’ll make portraits to share with family and friends. $30 for 3 sessions ($24/Members), register online or with Guest Services.

Homeschool Friday Fun (Ages 5-8) » Sculpture Fridays - February 12, 19, and 26 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Crystal Bridges Prepare to get a little messy as we use a variety of media and techniques to make sculptures inspired by artwork in our permanent collection. $45 for 3 sessions ($36 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services.

Special Events: Friday

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5

Monty Python’s Spamalot Feb 5 - 7 p.m.

Arkansas Public Theater / Downtown Rogers Spamalot retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, and features a bevy of beautiful show girls, not to mention cows, killer rabbits, and French people.

IF: Gathering Feb 5 - 6 p.m.

Grace Hills Church - 2323 W. Chestnut St. Rogers, AR gracehillschurch.com The IF:Gathering seeks to gather, equip, and unleash this generation of women to live out God’s calling on their lives. We are a generation of women that believes God at His Word that He called us to our places and will use us for His glory and for the good of His people. Our goal is to make the name of Jesus great in and through the women of our church, neighborhood, & city.

Saturday

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Free BBQ and Family Fun Carnival Games, Tour of The House, and BBQ 11a.m. - 1p.m.

The House www.welcometothehouse.com

SoNA Presents Valentines Pops Concert Walton Arts Center Titled “The American Songbook,” this concert features America’s beloved popular musical output from the first half of the last century, with a generous helping of songs about love. Featuring guest jazz vocalist, Genine LaTrice Perez.

Super Saturday @ Community Creative Center (6 & up)Clay Hearts Community Creative Center Fayetteville AR (across from Walton Arts Center) 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM To register: info@communitycreativecenter.org It’s that time of year to celebrate love! Young artists will be given the opportunity to create clay hearts for those special people in their lives. This workshop will guide students in creating many different styles of hearts using a variety of techniques.

Tuesday

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Toddler Story Time at Imagine Studios in Rogers www.imaginestudiosnwa.com 10 - 11 a.m.

Thursday

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Toddler Story Time at Imagine Studios in Fayetteville www.imaginestudiosnwa.com 10 - 11a.m.

Preschool Playdate » My Valentine!

11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Crystal Bridges Share your love of art in this Preschool Playdate! Enjoy art projects, story time, and creative play inspired by Valentine’s Day and artwork in our permanent collection. Preschool Playdate begins with a live performance in the Great Hall.

Friday

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Friday Fun Nights 6 - 8 p.m.

Imagine Studios, Rogers For kids ages 4-12 and include arts and crafts projects plus pizza for dinner. Check out the dates and themes and register by email, phone, or online.at Imagine Studios www.imaginestudiosnwa.com

Saturday

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13

Disney Live! Mickey & Minnie’s Doorway To Magic 4 pm Verizon Arena - Little Rock www.verizonarena.com Join Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and the comical duo of Donald and Goofy as 25 of your favorite characters surprise and captivate at every turn of the knob! See the Fairy Godmother transform Cinderella’s rags into a beautiful ball gown in a split second; the Toy Story gang defy the dimensions of Andy’s toy box with the help of the green army men; and the spectacular stage debut of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider as they rise into the sky amidst the floating lanterns.

Chinese New Year Celebration Rogers Public Library 2 -3 p.m.

All ages are welcome to make crafts, play games, and celebrate the year of the Monkey! Children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call 621-1152 Valentine’s Day Daddy Daughter Dance Hosted by Cinderella, Prince Charming, and Friends!

Princess Party Palace NWA 4:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.

Join Cinderella, Prince Charming, Anna, and Kristoff as they host a Daddy/Daughter Valentine’s Day Ball! There will be cookie decorating, glitter tatoos, a royal rose ceremony for each daddy/ daughter couple, love duets performed by your hosts, Valentine’s day story time, a valentine’s day card craft to give to that special family member when you return home, and of course we will boogie down! Tickets are $35.00 per couple and any family member combination is welcome! Tickets are limited! Please call 479-799-6133

Sunday

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The House Launch Service 11 a.m.

The House www.welcometothehouse.com Family Sunday » I Love Art 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Crystal Bridges Mark your calendars for our fourth annual I Love Art Family Sunday!

Bring your loved ones to Crystal Bridges this Valentine’s Day to enjoy music and hands-on fun

Friday

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Crafty Chicks Night 6 - 9 p.m.

Imagine Studios - Fayetteville Join us for a night of girls crafting! Choose from a variety of wood door hanger or picture frame crafts or paint your own pottery.

An Imagine Artist will help you with design ideas. BYOB. Tickets available at imaginestudiosnwa.com

Saturday

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Princess for a Day event (tickets required) Pagnozzi Charity Event at Mermaid’s in Fayetteville 10am-11:30 and 1:30-3:30 Tickets available for purchase at: www.pagnozzicharities.org Join Pagnozzi Charities for the 3rd annual Princess for a Day event.

Bring your little princess dressed in her favorite princess attire to get her nails done, hair styled, make a princess craft and have her picture taken with her favorite princesses and get an autograph from her favorite princess. Money raised from this event goes to assist families in paying for dance & gymnastics through Pagnozzi

Sunday

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Goodnight Moon And Runaway Bunny Presented By Mermaid Theatre Of Novia Scotia Walton Arts Center 2 p.m.

Mermaid Theatre presents two of the most enduring and beloved children books of all time, incorporating innovative puppetry, striking scenic effects and evocative original music! Both tales feature endearing rabbit characters, with the soothing rhythms of bunny banter and dream-like imagery that will enchant your children.

Friday

Artist and modern calligrapher who loves to bring beauty and life back into vintage items. Shop custom prints, mugs, pillows and handpainted household decor.

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Friday Fun Nights 6 - 8 p.m.

Imagine Studios, Rogers For kids ages 4-12 and include arts and crafts projects plus pizza for dinner. Check out the dates and themes and register by email, phone, or online.at Imagine Studios www.imaginestudiosnwa.com NWA Wine Opener Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 6:30 p.m.

John Q. Hammons Convention Center https://nwawineopener2016.eventscff.org This is the PARTY OF THE YEAR!! Great Wine, food and auction and end the evening with dancing to DJ Derrick! All to help raise funds to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis!

Sunday

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NWA Soup Sunday 4 - 7 p.m.

John Q. Hammons Center Please join us to celebrate 35 years of Soup Sunday, a fundraising event for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. (35 years in Little Rock, 15 in Northwest Arkansas.) This event is a favorite for so many longtime fans in Northwest Arkansas. Kids and babies LOVE Soup Sunday.. Our advice is to skip lunch and come hungry so you can sample some of the best soups in town, generously donated by more than 30 Northwest Arkansas restaurants. www.aradvocates.org/events/northwest-arkansas-soup-sunday/

Shop:

ThreeSistersAndaMom.com

Etsy:

Custom family pillow with illustration interpretation of your family.

AndersonAdoptionShop

Custom orders:

SamanthaAndersonJ@gmail.

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S urrogacy Journey Our

M

years and had two My name losses with previous is Charlise surrogates. I took a leap Grisham, and of faith and emailed them. I I am the mother was still nursing my youngest, of five awesome boys. My journey to become Charlise ♥ Joel ♥ Shannon so I wasn’t quite ready to jump a surrogate began years ago. I had a private blog in to the journey yet, but I wanted to put myself where I had become friends with many moms out there. It was an instant connection, and they around the world. A couple of them began their seemed like the perfect couple. They wanted the journeys with surrogacy, so I got to witness the same things as I did, but, sadly, they had just incredible beauty of their experiences. I was still entered into an agreement with another surrogate. having children of my own, but I knew that one They had some concerns about her, so they said day in the future, I would want to travel that same they would be in touch with me if it didn’t work path. I have always had very easy pregnancies and out. births, so I felt like I was made for it.

A year went by and, in September of 2014, I got Fast forward to the birth of my youngest son in another email. The surrogate didn’t work out and 2013, and I found myself a single mom. I left the they were wondering if I was still interested. I was baggage behind me and felt like this would be no longer nursing, and I was definitely interested. the perfect time to embark on my own surrogacy I got back with them and within days we were journey. I did my research and decided that I talking on the phone and planning to meet in wanted to be a traditional surrogate. A traditional person. surrogate is one who uses her own egg, so she is biologically connected to the child. It was For our first meeting, I brought all five of my boys important to me to not only help a couple build with me and we went to eat at IHOP. I wanted their family, but to also be available to the child and to see how they were with my rambunctious be a part of their life, just like an open adoption. I children. They were as sweet as I expected, and surfed around on some online surrogacy classified everything just felt like it was meant to be. We boards, and in August of 2013, I found a profile decided to wait until after the new year to start on our inseminations so they could finish some home that stuck out to me. renovations they were working on.

The profile was of two men, Joel and Shannon, who lived in the Dallas area and were looking for Once the baby’s room was mostly complete, we a traditional surrogate to help start their family. started moving forward. I’ll spare you the details They had been trying to have a baby for five of our inseminations, but it worked on our second cycle. I sneakily surprised Joel and Shannon with the news of our pregnancy and they were overjoyed!

44 February 2016

Photos by: Blush Little Baby Photography ♥ www.blushlittlebaby.com

We chatted via text message multiple times a week.

They came to every midwife appointment, asking a ton of questions. They enjoyed hearing all of my parenting tips and secrets. When we found out the baby was a girl, we were all extremely excited!

They had so much trouble with surrogates in the past that they decided to keep quiet about the pregnancy until we were past the “danger zone” of miscarriage, so finding out the gender made it so much more real.

They were able to announce the pregnancy and gender of baby Laken to their family in July of 2015. Over time, we became closer and closer.

My boys were involved as Laken’s brothers, and I became Mama Char. We were the modern family.

We all just fit together like a puzzle that had been missing pieces for years. I was so glad they decided to give surrogacy one last chance after all of their heartbreaks. I attended their two baby showers with each side of their families, and was completely accepted and loved by everyone. This baby was bringing everyone so much closer together, which was so incredibly touching to see. It seemed like the pregnancy just flew by and, before we knew it, December was here.

{ }

I have a past of fast labors and of going overdue with most of my pregnancies, so I wanted to be at their home when I went into labor for our home water birth. We decided that I would stay with them starting at 39 weeks and stay through a few days after birth. Our due date of December 27 came and went. New Year’s Day came and went.

We tried nearly every natural induction method possible and nothing was working. After walking, squatting, eating pineapple and spicy food and drinking red raspberry leaf tea for nearly two weeks, we opted to have my membranes stripped.

On January 8 we went to visit the midwife and I endured that not-so-fun procedure. I began having contractions late that night like I had been having for weeks, about every six minutes, but they didn’t stop. Around one in the morning on January 9, they quickly sped up and I knew it was finally time. I woke Shannon and Joel and we called in the birth team.

My photographer arrived at just about 1:50AM, and my midwife arrived about five minutes after.

We had already gotten the birth tub partially filled and I was in it, laboring quietly. Once my midwife walked into the room, I informed her that I was about two or three contractions from pushing.

Two contractions later, I gently pushed the most

Her daddies looked down upon her with tears in their eyes. My heart filled with such extreme happiness and pride. I did it! I did it for them. Their baby was finally here to be placed into their arms.

The most precious gift that they had been waiting for for almost eight years had arrived tiny, pink and crying. In that moment, a new family was born.

beautiful little girl into my arms and out into the world.

I just held her, admiring her long black hair and her tiny little parts. Once her cord stopped pulsing, her daddy, Joel, was able to cut it and take his sweet daughter into his arms. He immediately placed her skin to skin, embracing his amazing partner, Shannon. It was so surreal that this idea that we had talked about two and a half years prior had, in an instant, become reality. It was amazing and breathtaking to see the happiness between the three of them.

In the days following Laken’s birth, I spent as much time as I could sharing all of my last-minute parenting tips, I breastfed her and gave her as much love and cuddles as I could. Shannon and Joel took great care of me just like they had over the past three weeks, despite being completely exhausted. On the day I went home, we visited our chiropractor and Laken took her first bottle like a

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pro. Shannon and I were struggling to get through me with such joy. I look forward to seeing all of the day, with lots of hugs and many tears. Joel was Laken’s first moments, her birthdays, vacations, there with his calm and wise words, reminding me family events, creating traditions, recitals, and all of that it was only the beginning, but walking out that the amazing things that she does. I look forward to door on January 12 was the hardest thing I have shopping for fun, girly things for her and with her. ever done. I wasn’t worried that they wouldn’t be I couldn’t have planned a more perfect journey and able to take good care of her. I wasn’t worried that we are looking forward to another journey in the I wouldn’t get to see her enough. I knew that I near future to give Laken a baby brother or sister! was family and welcome anytime. I knew that her You can read Laken’s birth story and keep up with daddies would be sending me pictures every day, our future journey on my blog, crunchyfamily.com involving me in all of the most important moments.

As Dear Charlise, homesick as I was, After six long years of ups and downs in our journey we finally had I was just sad that the pleasure and honor of meeting and speaking with a real-life angel it would be the last named Charlise Grisham. Words cannot fully express how eternally time I would have grateful Shannon and I are for the ultimate and priceless gift that her right there to you’ve given us “our beautiful and precious baby girl Laken.” Where rub her soft cheek there was once darkness and sadness in our hearts there is now light or sniff her precious head without having and joy; our lives would truly be incomplete without you! to travel across town.

Love you forever, I had done my part, and it was time to

Joel let her parents be Dear Charlise, parents.

Since I’ve been home, I have gotten so many messages and pictures that just overwhelm me with happiness. There’s a new sparkle in the eyes of these happy daddies that I helped to create and it fills

That one in a million beautiful giving soul was placed in our path and all we had to do was take that leap, we found you Charlise. You are a beautiful soul with such a big heart. You are that silver lining, that ray of sunshine in our family journey. Every time I look at our precious baby girl Laken I think of you and how you made this possible. We are tremendously blessed to have you in our lives. From the deepest parts of my heart and soul I want to thank you for giving us the best gift “our baby girl”!

With oceans of love and gratitude, Shannon

birthday party guide

No birthday would be complete without a birthday party -- so we are excited to share this annual birthday guide filled with top party places. Make sure to save this guide to refer to when you have that special celebration coming up - whether for a birthday or a “just because.” Don’t forget, when you book your party, let them know that Peekaboo sent you!

School of Rock Northwest Arkansas

www.schoolofrock.com (479) 936-8838 Imagine: you and your friends.... rock stars! We teach people of all ages and musical capabilities to make music together. School of Rock is a perfect event for your gettogether of 5 to 20 people. Our professional music instructors will introduce partygoers to popular rock songs, teach individuals (regardless of musical experience) to sing the song or play an instrument, and perform the song together at a rock show as the highlight of the party!

Super Science NWA Fun City www.funcitypizza.com (479) 872-7529 Parties at Fun City are super fun! Our parties make for precious memories with family and friends at a price that parents love, too. We have packages for every budget. Includes a private party room, pizza, tokens, birthday invites, SPIN on Birthday Wheel for Birthday Child and more!

www.super-sci.com (479) 444-0303

National Science Presenter Stephen Warren Cox brings the big show to your child’s birthday party at the venue of your choice.

From the humblest at home party to the grandest main stage indoor/outdoor show, Super Science has an entertaiment plan to fit your needs. You can even embellish your party with a cool add-on like an awesome Laser Show or Electrostatic Generator that makes your hair stand up.

www.peekaboonwa.com

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birthday party guide Kaleidoscope 900 SE Village Loop Bentonville (479) 464-5977 kaleidoscopedanceacademy.com

Kaleidoscope Dance Academy hosts some amazing birthday parties! We offer theme parties from Teen Beach Movie, Black Light, Princess and HipHop to Deejay Dance Parties! Parties can be parent-led, or dance instructors can be hired to run the whole thing!

We have 5 dance rooms to choose from!

For that Perfect Gift

Fast Lane Entertainment 1117 N. Dixieland St. Lowell (479) 659-0999 fastlanebowl.com

There is no place in NWA like Fast Lane to celebrate a new year with your child and his/her guests. Choose from a Bowling Blast, a Gamer’s Deluxe Party, or a Cosmo’s Ultimate Lazer Tag Party!

Happy Feet (479) 553-8810 NWAHappyFeet.com

Add fitness and fun to your next party with a HappyFeet Soccer Party! HappyFeet coaches offer an action-packed experience for your special day! Happy Feet classes and parties are designed to build off the developing imagination of preschoolers, which means guaranteed fun!

THE LITTLE GYM

2603 Pleasant Grove Rd. Rogers (479) 636-5566 Nothing captures the magic of childhood better than a birthday party -- especially one that they will never forget! For children ages 1 to 12 years old. You will receive the entire facility to yourself and your guests, music, and fun created just for your child, with no worries about set-up or clean-up!

Starlight Skatium 612 N. College Ave., Fayetteville (479) 444-7827 starlightskatium.com

Most of us remember celebrating at least one birthday at a local skating rink, and now your children can, too! Choose between a pizza party, an Ultimate Sk8r Party, and a private kid’s birthday party. All include admission and skate rental for your child and guests, a reserved party table, party favors, and classic games like limbo and the hokeypokey played in your child’s honor.

Little Giggles 112 East Central Ave, Bentonville (479) 866-9057

Rollie Pollie is a store for children carrying a carefully curated selection of toys, fashions, and gifts located in the heart of downtown Bentonville.

52 February 2016

3301 South Walton Blvd.

Suite 11, Bentonville (479) 268-4949 www.littlegigglesplay.com Little Giggles’ aim is to make each and every one of our parties a unique and special occasion, tailored to your needs and wishes in any way that we can. We offer a variety of party packages and look forward to working with you to ensure that we take all the stress out of party organizing, making it a day to remember for years to come. Ask us about special ‘add-ons’ like face painting, clowns, balloon twisting and more, to make the Little Giggles Party one your child will never forget.

We see our children grow up in a flash, but the memories they carry with them will be there forever.

Princess Party PALACE NWA (479) 799-6133 925 College Ave., Fayetteville, princesspartypalacenwa.com

birthday party guide

Make your child’s dreams come true by giving them a party at the Princess Party Palace - a new 1,500 square foot upscale party event center specializing in custom children’s birthday parties and events hosted by your favorite fairy tale princesses.

Your little princess will have a magical experience meeting their favorite princess characters played by professionally trained entertainers from some of the nation’s top performing arts schools. Their entertainers have over five years of party planning experience and over 10 years of professional acting, theme park, and musical theater experience. Party options include the spa package, princess tea party, royal ball, and One-derland!

Imagine Studios 5212 Village Parkway, Suite 11, Rogers 3017 N. College Ave. Fayetteville, (479) 619-6085 imaginestudiosnwa.com

S t udi

s

Give your child a birthday party that inspires! Let your child and their guests paint their own pottery and then take it home to show off their creativity! Imagine Art Studio offers everything from the planning to the set-up, invitations, and more, so you always get a personal touch.

lokomotion lokomotion.com 4520 N. College, Fayetteville (479) 582-5656 There is a reason why Lokomotion is considered the #1 destination for family fun... we have it all! From Go-Karts to Lazer Tag, from arcade games to an award-winning mini golf course, we provide the facilities and entertainment for all ages. rides, games, party rooms, Lazer Tag, and the all new Spin Zone.

w w w. f u

ncitypizza.net

OZARK CENTER POINT PLACE 5320 West Sunset, Suite 157 • Springdale, AR

479-872-PLAY (7529)

Fun City Pizza Is Northwest Arkansas’s Favorite Family Venue!

PARTY your #1 GROUP DESTINATION! out-of-this-world play area full pizza menu with salad bar the best game room in Arkansas PRIVATE party/meeting rooms Fun City has six private rooms available for our guests.

Rooms are complimentary with either the Fun Birthday Package or the Super Fun Birthday Package. For details, call or visit our website.

Value with tons Make it a Great upons. or printable coor ile ob m ith w s phone print of saving upon sent to your e co Have your favorit net/coupons/ sit funcitypizza.

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Monday – Thursday: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm Friday and Saturday: 10:00 am- 10:00 pm Sunday: 10:00 am- 9:00 pm DAILY SPECIALS Monday-Thursday!

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At Imagine Studios, we put the ART in PARTY! When it’s time to party, we offer a fun and creative atmosphere for your special event: birthday celebrations for kids and adults, bridal showers, bachelorette parties and even team-building activities. Now with locations in both Rogers and Fayetteville, we’ve got more party options than ever.

And that’s not all! Walk-ins are welcome during all business hours to paint a piece of pottery, paint a canvas, or to paint and design a wood door hanger.

There are so many choices of things to do!

Hosting a party can be stressful but, at Imagine Studios, we take care of all the details so the host or hostess can celebrate too! An Imagine Artist will be there to help with your entire party, from set-up all the way to clean up. We also provide all party supplies and invitations so all the host/ hostess needs to provide is cake, drinks, and food (optional). The party atmosphere is bright and welcoming, so any decorating is minimal as well.

In addition, we offer a variety of party packages to choose from! Parties are generally 1 1/2 hours in length for kids and 2 hours for adults.

Choose from a variety of creative party ideas and make a masterpiece to remember!

• Paint Your Own Pottery - Choose from a large selection of options from our kid’s pottery shelf with a hand-picked selection of kid-friendly paints.

• Canvas Painting Party - Each guest will paint an 8 x 10 or 11 x 14 canvas.

• T-shirts (tie-dye or paint) - Each party guest will learn tie dye techniques to tie dye his/her own t-shirt.

• Craft Party - Choose one craft: picture frames, flower pots, candy dishes, or canvas purses.

• Door Decor - Each party guests will design his or her own wood door hanger and adorn with matching bow.

For Adults: Adult groups can choose pottery, canvas (3 sizes) or door decor for their celebration or teambuilding event. We can host up to 30 comfortably in both studios. If you have a bigger group, we are also happy to come to you!

If you book your party before March 15 and mention you saw it in Peekaboo, you’ll receive 10% off your entire party! For more information about parties or to register for creative classes, visit us at www.imaginestudiosnwa.com or call Miss Melanie at (479) 619-6085.

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birthday party guide Max out cooking parties Facebook: MaxOutCooking MaxOutCooking@gmail.com

ATA Martial Arts Bentonville: (479) 273-1212 atabentonville.com Fayetteville: (479) 443-5425 atafayetteville.com

Have a martial arts-themed party for kids interested in Karate and Taekwondo. Let your child kick, jump, tumble and celebrate their birthday all at the same time! ATA’s team of instructors will create an unforgettable experience for your child.

Amazeum 1009 Museum Way (J St & Museum Way) Bentonville www.Amazeum.org Looking for a remarkable birthday experience? Host your kiddo’s next birthday party at the Scott Family Amazeum! Not only will you have a great party in the party room, but all of your guests will get to play at the Amazeum after the party. Room set-up/ clean-up. Party crown for the birthday child, and party favor for each child.

Celebrate your little chef’s BIG day with a delicious party they’ll never forget! All parties are 2 to 2.5 hrs. either in your home or at an outside kitchen venue.

We’ll take care of all the supplies & clean up so there’s no fuss for you! Examples of themes include Cupcake Wars, Pizza Party, Princess Party and more.

imagine - A Child’s Adventure World 3801 Johnson Mill Blvd Fayetteville, AR 72704 479-249-8020 imagineadventureworld.com Imagine A Child’s Adventureworld is a place where imagination and play come to life! A party where kids actually spend time playing together and being creative.

There is a market where kids can grocery shop, a racetrack, a construction area, a fire station, a large wooden train and a cottage. In these imaginative little worlds, kids can be whoever they want to be and explore each area, making the whole experience one that is exciting, creative and interactive.

For that Perfect Gift

3005 N College Ave, Fayetteville (479) 521-1915 learningoasisonline.com Fayetteville’s must shop store for all your toy wants and needs!

www.peekaboonwa.com

57

Meet Thomas Stringfellow NWA’s next

n a c i r e m A

Idol

Story by: His biggest fan, his

father, Thomas Wesley Stringfellow

M

arch 10th, 1998... That’s when this journey really begins.

For many people reading this article, their first experience with a young man named Thomas Stringfellow began January 14th, 2016, when they saw him audition for a golden ticket on American Idol. However, for his mother and me, our first day with Thomas was one of the most terrifying days of our lives. You see, Thomas was born on March 10th, but he was not due until mid-May. He was two months pre-mature and barely weighed four pounds. His lungs were underdeveloped, and the doctors gave a long-term prognosis from uncertainty to brain development issues, blindness, hearing loss, and delayed motor skills development. I could literally place Thomas in the palm of my hand, he was so tiny and vulnerable... but we were not allowed to hold him, because he was in an ICU incubator at St. Vincent’s hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. In some ways we were fortunate. Connie (Thomas’ mother) was diagnosed with gestational diabetes during her pregnancies with Thomas and his older sister Kyleigh. This meant that, although Thomas’ lungs were still underdeveloped, his body weight was more than a pound over the average baby born two months premature, so that was a plus. It gave him a fighting chance to survive, but he would have to be a fighter to grasp and wrestle for his life. The first 24 hours were critical for Thomas.

#SingFellow

58 February 2016

Thomas has two sisters: Alyssa Rachael, born December 25th, 1991 and Kyleigh Elizabeth, born March 4, 1996, two years before Thomas. We were living in North Little Rock, Arkansas at the time, and I was working as a Loss Prevention officer for a video/DVD replication facility after serving as a youth pastor for several years, while Connie was a telemarketing fundraiser for Mothers against Drunk Driving. This pregnancy had already been a difficult one for Connie--not only was she suffering through gestational diabetes, but she anguished from advanced double pneumonia that the doctors did not diagnose until the premature labor and dehydration from being so sick during the pregnancy. All of these conditions were brought to a head when Connie suffered third degree burns on her stomach while shielding Kyleigh from a pot of boiling water that Kyleigh tried to pull of the stove. When Connie suffered the burn, she immediately went into labor. Connie went into premature labor with Kyleigh as well, but the doctors were able to stop it at the time.

Honestly, I just assumed they would do the same thing this time. I thought that we would take Connie to the hospital, the doctors would do what they do, stop the labor, Thomas would wait to be born on his due date, and everything would be fine. But that’s not what happened. Instead, we got Connie to the hospital, the doctors tried to stop the labor, but they couldn’t, and Thomas was born that day, with no one able to prevent it.

Our worst fears were realized around 23 hours after Thomas was born. He stopped breathing. The maternity ward immediately placed Thomas on a respirator, and also called the family in to explain our greatest fear, that Thomas not only may die, but the odds were that he would die. Even though a machine was breathing for Thomas, many premature babies in his situation never transition back to breathing on their own when the respirator is removed; they simple slip away, unable to resume the ability to breath without a machine.

So, there we were, Thomas could not breathe on his own, and Connie could barely breathe on her own, so we did the only thing we knew to do. They say that prayer is like breathing, so we inhaled all of this circumstance and exhaled our hearts to God. Connie’s father was a pastor for 33 years;, and I had been in the ministry up to this point, so me, my parents and Connie’s parents all gathered around Connie’s hospital bed and we drew our breathes of prayer to God. I wish I could say that the earth shook, that light from heaven engulfed that hospital room and healing was evidenced instantly. But, when we said our amens, a machine was still breathing for our precious son and Connie had to receive a breathing treatment as well. We are a family of faith, and our faith, regardless of the outcome, would see us through this moment.

By 48 hours after Thomas’s birth and 24 hours after our prayers when Thomas was put on a respirator, Thomas began to fight. He started trying, with those tiny little hands, to pull that tube out of his mouth. The doctors said that that was a good

sign. After being on the respirator for 72 hours, the doctors decide to take him off of it. We were all holding our breath, praying that Thomas could take one on his own.

When they pulled that tube out of Thomas’ mouth and removed it from his chest, Thomas took a deep breath and let out a cry. I have never been so happy to hear a baby cry in all my life; and Thomas was not the only one crying. Thomas was our miracle baby. Not only did he breathe on his own with no problems, but he was released from the hospital 19 days after his birth. It was originally thought he would need to be in the hospital at least 40-60 days. Although Thomas was on a heart monitor for 6 months and had to wear leg braces for over a year, he has suffered no ill effects from his premature birth. He played football for 6 years, French horn in the middle school band, and has always been active in numerous school and church activities.

Music has always been Thomas’ passion.

He would always pull his mom off to sing for her and Connie, a singer herself, was always so encouraging to him as he developed his love for music. Thomas sang in children’s choirs in church and VBS, but his first venture into singing by himself was at his 5th grade talent show at Park Hill Elementary School in North Little Rock where he sang “Fall for You” by Secondhand Serenade.

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As a result of our involvement in the ministry, Connie and I moved several times during Thomas’ childhood. As a result, Thomas is pretty quiet when you first meet him, but as he gets comfortable with people and his surroundings, has a great sense of humor and personality. It generally takes Thomas a while to get comfortable when introduced to a new situation or new people, so we felt like this affected his willingness to sing publicly when he first developed an interest in music. We bought him a guitar when he was in 8th grade while we were working in a foster care ministry, the New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home, in Portales, New Mexico. I’m sure the boys there remember Thomas practicing often. After our time there, we decided to move back home to Arkansas to be closer to family.

Thomas finished out his 8th grade year in Bentonville, Arkansas and by his 9th grade year had really taken to his guitar, singing and writing songs, but still primarily in the privacy of his room and for an audience of one, his mom. Thomas, Connie, and his sisters love watching American Idol. It has been a staple in our house since Thomas was 3 or 4 years old with Connie, Alyssa, Kyleigh and Thomas always playing the “what if ” game while watching. Like “what if I got to sing with Colton Dixon” or “what if I meet Jennifer Lopez” or “what if I could win American Idol”? Almost every episode was an exercise in how amazing it would be to get to sing on American Idol.

By his 10th grade year, Thomas continued to develop his song writing and singing skills.

He added piano and ukulele to his instrument ensemble while increasing his practice time to at least an hour or two a day. Neither Connie nor I have ever really told him to practice. It’s just something he does on his own. We believe it’s his way of expressing himself. Thomas is one of the deepest and emotionally rich people I have ever met, and those traits are always the most visible and discernable in his music, where he is the most vulnerable and sincere.

To learn more about Thomas, and connect with him visit: tommyjake.com. Be sure to catch American Idol on FOX, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7pm central time. Live shows begin this month! Tommy received his golden ticket to Hollywood, and now you can be a part of supporting Tommy on this once in a lifetime journey.

By the end of Thomas’ 10th grade year, when American Idol announced its audition schedule, Little Rock, Arkansas was one of the five cities that were hosting auditions. It almost seemed too good to be true. Thomas could go back to the city of his birth and try out for a show that perfectly embodied all of his childhood dreams... including getting to meet Jenifer Lopez. That’s where we are today, living a dream--so if you see us, don’t wake us up! Thomas has his golden ticket and it’s even better than touring a chocolate factory. Our precious little boy who stopped breathing just 23 hours into life is now exhaling songs that take people’s breath away. My wish is that you will join us on this journey as we share one of the most precious gifts we have to share with the world, one of our children.

Family Fun Center

Go-Kart Track | Bumper Cars | Bumper Boats Mini Golf | Arcade | Lazer tag

Indoors or Outdoors, we’ve got you covered!

LokoMotion Family Fun has 4 indoor party rooms and an amazing and beautiful outdoor park that has an incredible choice of entertainment for all ages.

Birthday Party Packages available

Winter Hours Monday – Thursday: 12 PM – 9 PM Friday & Saturday: 10 AM – 10 PM Sunday: 10 AM – 9 PM

4520 College Avenue, Fayetteville, AR

479-582-5656

www.lokomotion.com

O

S e xt o n

welcometothehouse.com

b y: K a ti e

ur story has been a long time in the making, as I always knew that God was drawing me into ministry.

Growing up, I didn’t know exactly what it would look like, but I knew that I was happiest when I was serving Him. Through the ups and downs of teenage life, including my parents’ divorce, I always found refuge in my relationship with God and my church. While at college, I remember distinctly sitting in the middle of campus with desperation, asking God what he wanted me to do next. He led me to Applied Life Christian College in Hot Springs, where I met Steven, the man who grabbed my attention forever.

The Story behind

Steven was adopted from a foster home at 6 months old and, at the age of seven, his adopted parents went through a divorce. Throughout the challenges at home, and living with ADD and dyslexia, the church played a vital role in helping him recognize the calling on his life to lead. With our shared commitment to the Lord and ministry, we began dating, and three years later, we were married.

During our first years of marriage, we served on staff in Hot Springs at Christian Ministries Church, Applied Life Christian College, Brookhill Ranch Summer Camp and High Point Leadership Camp. From the beginning, we knew that God was leading us to step out and start our own ministry.

After our last child was born, we knew it was time to make a transition. We resigned and launched “Be the One Ministries” in 2012. It was exciting, and, to be honest, a little scary. We began traveling around the states ministering at different churches, then hosting conferences and mission trips. Over the span of the last three years, it has grown to see authentic transformation in so many lives.

Steven and I have always loved helping people find forgiveness, focus, and family. We have dreamed of pastoring a church that was passionate about loving people and teaching them as well. In 2015 we were strongly convinced our next step was to plant a church in Northwest Arkansas. Long story short, we’ve made NWA our new home and are so excited to begin this adventure.

Our dream can be broken down to three simple words: “Heart-Head-Hand.” We believe that if

the church provides an atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to transform a heart, then that can prepare a mind to be transformed by the Word, and then transformation is complete when we reach out their hands and minister to others.

in Rogers. We were able to begin renovations last month and it’s looking great. During our time of preparation we have formed a team that is ready for this adventure. We have been meeting for months

Our church is called The House. Everyone can relate that your house is where you eat, sleep, and receive emotional support to go live your life. Likewise, the church can be that for all of us spiritually.

Everyone has something inside of them that calls them to do something great. The church can be a place that provides the sustenance and support necessary to go out and accomplish whatever that is. It may be to raise Godly kids, to be the best employee, or to be an honest businessman/woman.

Many see church as something to come in and out of as behavioral management. Instead, we dream of a life-giving, life-transforming, communityimpacting church that people of all ages and all walks of life love to come to. The House will be a church that empowers people to live better outside the walls of the church than inside.

Now, in the midst of dreaming, anyone that has begun anything knows there is a lot of practical things that go into doing something like this. God is so good to care about the small details as well as the big dream. He led us to a building that a church was moving out of at 1704 W. Industrial Dr.

preparing for this day. Our dreams come true as The House launches at 11AM on February 14, 2016 in Rogers, AR. Anyone who comes can expect to be welcomed, loved, and taught. Our weekend service will provide an opportunity to connect with God and other believers. They will include contemporary worship, a relevant, Biblically-based message, and a time of ministry and prayer. Our hope is that everyone feels right at home in the fun and casual atmosphere. Because we have four children who are the priority, it is vitally important that the whole family has a place.

Quality children’s ministry from three months through 6th grade will be provided.

There was also a girl there. A really beautiful girl. No, that isn’t good enough... a stunning girl. Necksnapping gorgeous; hot enough to change your religion. A redhead, too. Whoa, mama! We dated in high school, and even in college. Those were the days... I remember countless date nights, so many bad movies (Captain Ron, Hook, numerous Segal flicks), and so many Sonic drinks.

Sonic was kind of our “thing.” You see, I was sitting on the back of my car at Sonic the first time I asked her out – yeah, I’m THAT romantic.

I hadn’t really seen her in years. Life has a way of getting in the way, but man, did she look great. We talked and talked about old times and the good times. She chatted up all my friends too; she was just mesmerizing.

I stared at her. I know she noticed--as Jimmy Buffett says, “I’ve grown older, but not up.”

An Old Flame Dad’s V iew by: Ben Lacy

Recently the Dad’s View dude found himself back in his hometown at the local watering hole. Pre-class reunion party, some old friends, some old foes, lots of musing about music, muscle cars, and mullets.

One of those great nights where society doesn’t frown upon you acting like a perpetual teenager.

We left the tavern together and drove back to her parents’ house, down the road we use to “cruise” on past all the party spots of our little country town.

Not to sound overly cheesy, as we know I’m not very romantic, but it was a magical night.

Then, we arrived at my in-laws where we found our three little minions screaming, yelling, and bludgeoning each other. Back to reality. You see, the hot redhead at the bar was, and is, my wife.

But I hadn’t seen her like this for a very long time. That night, she was freed from captivity, off the leash, sans kiddos, away from the casa, no work, no practices, no games, no Uber-esque kid shuttling, just her. I missed her, greatly.

You see now, like most of you, we’re “Mom” and “Dad.” We’re no longer dating or a couple or boyfriend/ girlfriend or engaged or newlyweds.

We’re “Mom” and “Dad.” Man, it used to irk me when my parents called each other Mom and Dad instead of their first names, and of course, we

now do that. At some point, the “us” went away, but that night at the prereunion party, it was back. I guess it was because we were around old friends who only know us as “Ben and Mendy.” They don’t know us as “TJ’s mom” or “Sophia’s dad” or “John’s parents.” We were Ben, who used to have really horrid hair and drive an even more horrid tannish/mustardish 1977 Malibu Classic, and Mendy, the Swiss Army knife of our school (Class President, Student Council, Head Cheerleader, BPA President, Homecoming Float Coordinator.. oh, and Homecoming Queen). Side Note: Yes, I outkicked my coverage, big time, so don’t blow it for me and tell her she could do better. The Mrs. has poor vision and less than perfect hearing, so I stay quiet and in the shadows so she will stick around.

trade them for the world--duh. But with kids comes responsibility, and with responsibility comes time and there is only so much time in the day... And the easiest time to cut is time with your spouse. You feel guilty when you aren’t with the kids anyway, so why not cut out date night? I mean really, all you end up doing is talking about the kids anyway, right?

Wrong.

But this article is supposed to be about kids, so let’s look through their eyes.

So, my advice to you this Valentine’s Day is to be “Ben and Mendy” again instead of just “Mom and Dad.” Give each other a big smooch and watch the kids yell, “GROSS!” It will be a great lesson for them.

First, we love our kids and wouldn’t

There is so much to teach kids these days. I feel parents today have to do more than any other generation given the communication and technology “advancements” (quotations, as I very much admire, but very much despise Apple).

There’s a lot to learn and a lot to monitor and a lot to teach. What I think gets lost in the shuffle is teaching them how to love.

No, I’m not talking about the “talk.” I’m talking about showing them how to treat others, how to think about her first, how to be romantic (beyond Sonic date proposals), how to have respect and even how to argue, how to say you are sorry and how to forgive. Often, the love lessons are the lost lessons.

www.peekaboonwa.com

67

OurUPDATE: Remembering

Brynlee by: Kim Green

T

he night Brynlee was born into Heaven, my aunt was awakened by a dream about my grandmother. In her dream, my grandmother, who is already in Heaven, said, “She’s coming. She’s coming.” I believe she had her arms spread wide, anxiously awaiting our precious Brynlee to arrive. God didn’t put Brynlee in my life to cause me to lose hope and carry sorrow on my shoulders. I believe God put Brynlee in my life for a purpose, and I choose to continually breathe life into that purpose. I know with God beauty will arise from the ashes and the pain. Yes, she was coming. She was coming into our world to bring glory to God. -- Read original feature at: www.peekaboonwa.com/carrying-brynlee/--

When I became pregnant with Brynlee, I began to have hopes and dreams of two beautiful girls, two years apart, dancing through life with cherished memories of late night giggles and endless dress up parties.

Once I learned she was sick, I had a hard time accepting the fact that she might not make it. I held onto the hope that she would make it until the moment I saw her, and I knew in my heart that she was not with me. As I was holding her after she was born, I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to rock her, but that wouldn’t bring her peace. I wanted to hug her, but she wouldn’t feel my warmth. As I kissed her sweet cheeks, I was still amazed by her beauty

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even though it was obviousthat she was sick. That’s when I cried and begged God to let her know how much I loved her and championed for her life regardless of what the doctors had told me. Four days after she was born into the arms of Jesus, I learned she had Costello Syndrome, which is very rare and not genetic.

We celebrated her life a couple of months later with our family on Mount Sequoyah. We said prayers, read scriptures and poems, and released balloons.

Although prayers from friends and family encompassed my heart, there were still days when I was sad.

Dealing with the sadness of losing her and letting go of future family plans was not easy for me.

That’s when I started to dislike the word “hope,” because I didn’t want to set myself up for further disappointment. It was a way of protecting my heart during a season of sorrow that rolled like sea billows. I am thankful to have Lilianna, who overwhelms my heart with happiness daily, but it was hard to let go of the hopes and dreams that came along with Brynlee.

In February of 2013, Brynlee joined the rest of our family in Heaven. Until quite recently, there have been too many times I have verbalized my dislike of “hope”. The game-changer occurred when someone referred to hope as a frame of mind. At that point, I knew I needed to change my attitude.

I needed to quit being so upset about the fact that my hopes and dreams had dissipated. The truth is, God gave us Brynlee for a purpose greater than I may ever realize or understand.

It would be glorious to say I now have two, maybe even three children, but our family hasn’t grown since then, and that’s okay. God had already given us our beautiful Lilianna, who makes our hearts joyous, and we smile when we think of her. I praise Him each and every day for blessing me with Lilianna. We enjoy making gummies, playing games, and watching movies together.

There is an empty spot at the table, but I choose to wait until God decides to intervene and gives us peace about moving forward to have another child. Sometimes I feel as though I’m waiting at the DMV for someone to call our number, and there might not even be a number on our strip of paper.

That’s when I have to remember that the best way to bring beauty from the ashes is to choose each day who I will serve. Each and every time I feel sad, I have to choose to serve my Savior, and for that reason I am blessed. I am blessed with peace when I read my Bible, joy when I go to church and my Bible study group, and comfort when I pray. I am also thankful for non-profit organizations like Mamie’s Polly Plates and Molly Bears, who seek to bless families who have lost infants.

My geneticist told me that one day my apprehension would be at rest because I would find a way to accept the things I could not change. I’m not completely there yet, but I’m so much closer.

Choosing God each day makes all things better, because choosing Him means I choose to open my heart to love, faith, joy, and hope. I choose to believe this story is woven into a greater plan.

I choose to be an overcomer, and I’ll continue to

carry Brynlee in my heart and seek to fulfill the purpose for her life with every fiber of my being.

He has done great things in the lives of people who have heard our story, and He will continue to do great things for those who seek His face and turn their worry and concerns into prayer. I might have lost my hope, but I will never lose my praise or faith in God. I in my Savior am happy and blessed, watching and waiting, looking above, filled with His goodness, and lost in His love. This is my story – this is my song – praising my Savior all the day long. (Blessed Assurance)

Rituals of Life

Nice eve - nice-eve.com Rootines - rootines.com

Eva interviews people living in NWA about their family routines and rituals.

This month, Jennifer Jensen Kelly shares her story. Jennifer is married to Lee and they are the founders of Cross Fit North West Arkansas (CFNWA), the oldest and biggest CrossFit gym in Bentonville and the surrounding area. They have passionately built a strong and welcoming community over the past seven years. Recently (December 2015) they took a big step and opened CrossFit South in Springdale. Jennifer and Lee have two children: Josy, 13, and Chance, 5.

CrossFit and routines My dad joined the Air Force before I was born. He is American and met my mom while stationed in the Philippines. I was born there, and we moved to the U.S. when I was 9 months old. We moved every three years until I was 15, when my dad retired and we settled in Riverside, California.

My grandmother lived with us until we moved to Japan. I remember how I loved sipping her (very watery) coffee and playing cards. Solitaire was my favorite game, but I also enjoyed playing different card games for nickels and pennies as a family.

Inspired by my dad, I joined the Air Force when I graduated from high school. I wanted to continue learning and I was familiar with the lifestyle, which was a huge benefit for a rather introverted girl like me.

Serving your country gives you a different perspective on life. It’s both physically and mentally challenging, and it definitely increased my strength and confidence.

Lee and I met at the base in Florida. When we were discharged from military, Lee started working at the police department in Rogers, close to his hometown of Fayetteville. He trained the SWAT team, and when he heard about CrossFit, he took a course and started using it in his job. The results were amazing! He immediately convinced me to open our own gym--he talked about it ALL

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the time. We opened CFNWA in 2008 while still working full-time jobs in the beginning. The gym grew quickly, and with it, a strong and wonderful community.

Our routines mainly revolve around the gym. We love to do things as a family, such as acting out Ironman or Avengers with Chance and going on beach vacations, but time is limited when you own a gym. I actually think we’re more focused on the routines of others. Going to a gym is one thing, but coming back consistently is another.

Only when working out becomes part of your life will you return. Lee especially is very disciplined, which helps provide the right atmosphere. The programming is thorough, the (fabulous) coaches teach with attention and the opening hours are catered towards the needs of our members. Some athletes come in half an hour before their WOD (Workout of the Day) to stretch and prepare, while some do it afterwards. We do our best to make the gym as accessible, fun and intense as possible to motivate every athlete to come back.

And our members do come back.

They make friends and they’ve built a community like no other.

A lot of fundraising activities are organized and it all happens spontaneously, it all comes from within. People tell us daily how the gym has changed their lives, and how happy it makes them. Members, for example, share that their blood pressure has gone down, that they’re suddenly capable of running a 5K, or that they’ve become so much stronger. Being able to contribute to the improved lives of others by following our passion makes my heart happy. It really is an extremely rewarding profession.

www.peekaboonwa.com

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Northwest Robotic Surgery Institute Brings Twenty-First Century Surgery to NWA and Surrounding Areas

W

hat does the video game you see your kids or grandkids playing have in common with the complex procedures a surgeon must perform on a patient?

The answer is robotics in surgery, and Northwest Health System in Springdale is the only hospital in Northwest Arkansas that has TWO robots, and is the only hospital in the region capable of “single site surgery.” In addition to laparoscopic minimally invasive and the traditional surgical options, robotic-assisted surgery provides the surgeon the ability to perform complex surgeries through tiny incisions. In some cases, only one, single site incision is needed. “This is like the difference between t-ball and major league baseball,” explains Dr. Joseph Ivy, board certified gynecological oncologist at Northwest Health System in Springdale.

The surgeon’s hands guide the interactive robotic ‘arms’ using master controls that work like forceps.

As your surgeon manipulates the controls, the robot responds in real time, translating his or her hand, wrist and finger movements into precise movements of the miniaturized arms of the robot.

This affords the surgeon to perform smaller, more precise surgical movements with the tiny instruments inside the patient’s body. From an ergonomically designed console, the surgeon sits while operating and has a magnified, 3-D view inside the patient’s body, while being in 100% control of the operation itself.

“Patients should have the option of minimally invasive surgery,” Dr. Ivy notes. The staff and physicians at Northwest Health System want the public to know they often do have choices when it comes to surgery. Angela Cox, RN, Director of Surgical Services at Northwest Health System in Springdale adds, “Not everyone is a candidate for this type of surgery. But unless you are aware of

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it, you wouldn’t know to ask about it as an option.

We did just over 200 surgeries using the robot in 2014 and close to 350 in 2015, so we are seeing an increase.” She stated, “In the skilled hands of Northwest Health System surgeons, roboticassisted surgery is faster than open surgeries, and provides faster healing times to get patients back to their normal lives and with less pain meds needed.”

Robotic-assisted surgery affords patients the luxury of less pain and blood loss; a quicker recovery; and smaller, less noticeable scars.

“Single site and straight robotic-assisted surgery offers people a potential outpatient experience due to its advantages over conventional open surgery,” Dr. Ivy explains, “and this is an excellent option for women seeking the benefits of minimally invasive surgery with even less scarring for a hysterectomy.”

He adds, “Outpatient hysterectomy is today. It is not a futuristic event.”

It is important to keep in mind that only a select few are not candidates for robotic surgery, and your surgeon determines the most appropriate approach for each patient based on a studied assessment. Northwest Health System in Springdale offers robotic-assisted surgery for gynecological oncology, gynecology, urology, colorectal and some general surgeries. You should ask your primary care doctor and, of course, your specialist if this type of surgery is an option for you.

For example, endometrial is the most common gynecologic cancer in the U.S. with more than 50,000 cases annually. Robotic-assisted cancer surgery provides the patient an average recovery time of two weeks compared to the normal six or more weeks with open surgery. “Another advantage is that in the event secondary treatment is needed after surgery, you can begin it so much sooner after robotic-assisted surgery because of the faster recovery time,” Dr. Ivy said.

Even if a patient does not need cancer treatment after a particular surgery, a shorter recovery time has many benefits. A patient who received traditional open surgery can often expect to be recovering in the hospital up to two weeks post surgery, while the patient who received robotics surgery for the same condition is able to drop their kids off at school and drive to work two weeks later. Robotic surgery significantly reduces the acute suffering that comes after traditional open surgery as well as reduces lost productivity at home and work.

From the surgeon’s point of view, robotics offers

unprecedented access and views to the nooks and crevices of the human body while providing more control than traditional procedures. From the patient’s point of view, the long term outcomes are the same as traditional surgeries; however, it is the quick recovery, what you feel in those first hours and weeks after surgery, that robotics offers such a big difference; and because it now can be offered in a single-site incision, the scarring is nearly invisible. “Robotics offers a significant decrease in acute suffering after the operation. Less pain, less blood loss, less need for pain medication… and you are able to get back to your family, back to work, back to your daily life sooner,” Dr. Ivy said.

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At a Glance

To advertise and become a part of the Peekaboo Family email : editor@peekaboonwa.com

At a Glance ARTS and MUSIC

BANKS

Crystal Bridges (Pg. 79) (479) 418-5700 crystalbridges.org Imagine Studios (Pg. 56) (479) 619-6085 imaginestudiosnwa.com Trike Theatre (Pg. 53) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org Walton Arts Center (Pg. 20, 55) waltonartscenter.org (479) 443-5600 School of Rock (Pg. 59) (479) 936-8838 First Security (Pg. 42) www.fsbank.com; www.onlyinark.com

CHILDCARE/NANNY SERVICES

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 37) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com Better Beginnings (Pg. 75) (800) 445-3316 arbetterbeginnings.com Bright Haven (Pg. 48) (479) 717-2344 brighthavenshines.com Early Learning Academy (Pg. 73) www.wacd.net Gentry: (479) 736-9012 Rogers: (479) 899-6675 Springdale: (479) 717-2586 Mary’s Little Lambs Preschool (Pg. 65) (479) 273-1011

CHURCH

The House (Pg. 19) welcometothehouse.com

CLOTHING/HOUSEHOLD DECOR Anna Grace Formals (Pg. 71) (479) 372-6797 annagraceformals.com Samantha Anderson (Pg. 41) ThreeSistersandaMom.com

DANCE/CHEER/TUMBLE/STRETCH

The Little Gym (Pg. 37) (479) 636-5566 Kaleidoscope Dance Academy (Pg. 78) (479) 464-5977

DENTIST

Dr. Nick DDS (Pg. 25) (479) 876-8000 DrNickDDS.com Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry (Pg. 12) (479) 631-6377 Rogers

DERMATOLOGY / SKIN CARE

Advanced Dermatology / Skin Care Center (479) 268-3555 (Pg. 35) NWA Center for Plastic Surgery (Pg. 2) (479) 571-3100 nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com

Spa 810 (Pg. 27) (479) 439-6027 Fayetteville spa810.com

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Casa Castillo (Pg. 21) (479) 640-4925 casacastillo.net The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 29) (479) 441-4420 (Fayetteville) The New School (Pg. 13) thenewschool.org (479) 521-7037 Ozark Natural Science Center (Pg. 74) (479) 202-8340 www.onsc.us Shiloh Christian School (Pg.49) (479) 756-1140

FAMILY FUN / ENTERTAINMENT

Crystal Bridges (Pg. 79) (479) 418-5700 Fast Lane Entertainment (Pg. 50) (479) 659-0999 www.fastlanebowl.com Fun City Pizza (Pg. 54) (479) 872-7529 Imagine Adventure World (Pg. 64) imagineadventureworld.com Lokomotion (Pg. 63) (479) 582-5656 Ozark Natural Science Center (Pg. 74) (479) 202-8340 onsc.us Princess Party Palace NWA (Pg. 4) princesspartypalacenwa.com Starlight Skatium (Pg. 71) (479) 444-STAR Super Science (Pg. 33) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com Trike Theatre (Pg. 53) (479) 464-5084 www.triketheatre.org

FITNESS

FreeRide Studio (Pg. 67) freeridestudio.com (479) 802-6245

FOOD / DRINK

TCBY (Pg. 3) (479) 636-8229 (TCBY) Girl Scouts (Pg. 60) (800) 632-6894

HAIRCUT / SALON

Pigtails & Crewcuts (Pg. 78) (479) 935-4121

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Northwest Primary Care of Springdale (Pg. 11) nw-physicians.com Tate HealthCare (Pg. 41, 77) (479) 271-6511 www.tatehealthcare.com

HOUSE / HOME / PLAYGROUND

Closet Cleanse (Pg. 23) www.closetcleansenwa.com Natural State Treehouses (Pg. 61) (479) 387-0701

THERAPY

JEWELRY AND GIFTS

David Adams (Pg. 19) davidadams.com (479) 444-7778

LEARNING CENTER

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 37) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 29) (479) 443-4420 (Fayetteville)

MARTIAL ARTS

ATA (Pg. 80) Bentonville: (479) 273-1212 Fayetteville: (479) 443-5425

OPTOMETRIST

Pediatric Vision Development Center (Pg. 69) nwavisiontherapy.com (479) 795-1411

PEDIATRICIAN

Bentonville Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 43) (479) 273-5437 Best Start Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 17) (479) 575-9359 The Children’s Clinic at Springdale (Pg. 9) (479) 751-2522 NWA Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 38) (479) 442-7322 Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 15) (479) 524-2458 Siloam Springs

TOYS

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 37) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com Children’s Therapy T.E.A.M (Pg. 31) www.childrenstherapyteam.com The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 29) (479) 443-4420 (Fayetteville) Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 15) Lowell: (479) 770-0744 Siloam Springs: (479) 524-2465 West Fork: (479) 839-3359 Tate HealthCare (Pg. 41, 77) (479) 271-6511 Learning Oasis: Toy Zone (Pg. 27) (479) 521-1915

WOMEN’S HEALTH

Birth Center NWA (Pg. 39) (479) 372-4560 bcnwa.com Northwest Primary Care of Springdale (Pg. 11) (479) 927-2100 Northwest Women’s Health Associates (Pg. 7) (479) 553-2525 Parkhill Clinic for Women (Pg. 33) (479) 521-4433 parkhillclinic.com Siloam Springs Women’s Center (Pg. 62) (479) 524-9312 siloamwomenscenter.com Willow Creek Hospital (Pg. 5) (479) 684-3035

PLASTIC SURGEON

NWA Center for Plastic Surgery (Pg. 2) (479) 571-3100 www.nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com

PRESCHOOL/ PRE-K

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 37) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com Better Beginnings (Pg. 75) (800) 445-3316 arbetterbeginnings.com Early Learning Academy (Pg. 73) www.wacd.net Gentry: (479) 736-9012 Rogers: (479) 899-6675 Springdale: (479) 717-2586 Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 15) Lowell: (479) 770-0744 Siloam Springs: (479) 524-2465 West Fork: (479) 839-3359 Mary’s Little Lambs Preschool (Pg. 65) (479) 273-1011 The New School (Pg. 13) thenewschool.org

www.peekaboonwa.com

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