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“ THE WAY TEACHERS TEACH YOU HERE IS
OUTSTANDING.” XAVIER LOVES THAT THE NEW SCHOOL GIVES HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO TACKLE A TOUGH MATH EQUATION, PLAY PETER PAN IN THE SCHOOL PLAY AND SHOOT HOOPS WITH HIS FRIENDS. “The New School really expands your mindset and I want other kids to experience that.” THE NEW SCHOOL IS A SPECIAL PLACE where a welcoming environment is matched with a challenging curriculum. Teachers here are focused on classroom learning that leads to real world discovery. “My favorite subject is math because math is in everything. This building, math made it happen so it’s really awesome to know that math is in everything.” Our low student, teacher ratio and dynamic learning environments help students look at the world in a new way.
Xavier
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Learn how The New School can help your child discover more. Schedule a tour today by calling 479-521-7037 or visit thenewschool.org.
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NORTHWEST ARKANSAS’ PREMIER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL SERVING PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
The
Family KIMBERLY ENDERLE Editor-in-Chief editor@peekaboonwa.com | 479-957-0532
JONATHON ENDERLE Creative Director jon@peekaboonwa.com | 479-586-3890
Kim and Jonathon with Gwen, Holden, Grant and Ava Enderle. PHOTO BY ASHLEY MURPHY IMAGES
FRANCES WILSON Assistant Editor
DISTRIBUTION/ CIRCULATION Joyce Whitaker Judy Evans Marcedalia Salinas
Jeremy Whitaker Michelle Dodson
BEN LACY Dad’s View
Columnist
Peekaboo Publications 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
6 February 2018
JENNIFER CRISTOFARO Events
DAVID HOVEY Story Design
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From the moment your baby is born through childhood and adolescence, your relationship with a skilled and caring pediatrician is crucial to the health and wellbeing of your child. That’s why it’s so important to find a pediatrician who makes you feel comfortable and confident every step of the way. At our Northwest Physicians practices, we focus on providing preventive care, such as routine checkups, sports and school physicals, immunizations, allergy care, and diagnosis and treatment of childhood illnesses.
WE’RE WITH YOU
EVERY INCH OF Northwest Pediatric Convenient Care
3057 Springdale Ave., Springdale, AR 72762 Mon.-Fri.: Noon-8 p.m., Sat.-Sun.: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
479-751-2522
Susan Averitt, M.D. Staci Graber, APN
Best Start Pediatric Clinic
Megan Kumpe, APN
5501 Willow Creek Dr. Suite 104 Springdale, AR 72762 Mon.-Fri.: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
479-575-9359
Mark Lovell, M.D.
The Children’s Clinic at Har-Ber Meadows 6636 W. Sunset Ave. Suite A Springdale, AR 72762 Mon.-Thur.: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri.: 8 a.m.-Noon
479-306-4242
Laurie Anderson, M.D. Millicent Ford, M.D. April Durham, M.D.
The Children’s Clinic at Springdale 3057 Springdale Ave. Springdale, AR 72762 Mon.-Fri.: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
479-751-2522
Members of the Medical Staff of Northwest Health and Allied Health Staff of Northwest Health.
8 February 2018
Ask about our same-day or next-day appointments. To learn more or find a location near you, visit NW-Physicians.com.
THE WAY.
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Inside 16 18
20
26
FEBRUARY 2018
16 20 24
52 26 30 37 50 52 54 60
Leighton & Omar
by: Laine Harper, Walter Williams
Celebrating 10 Years by: Peekaboo Magazine
The Adoptive Mom by: Sarah Avery
Tick-Induced Alpha-Gal Allergy by: Jenny Marrs
Dad's View
with Ben Lacy
Birthday Party Guide
What Just Happened? by: Chelsea Hermez
Birthday Freebies by: Christy Martin
It's a Girl! It's an Addison! by: Jennifer Frank
Kelly's Korner Singles by: Kelly Stamps
On the Cover: Noah, age 11, (son of Michael and Kelly Brothers) and Ava, age 11(daughter of Jonathon and Kim Enderle). Photo by Lazer Lee Photography On location at the Record in Downtown Bentonville. www.recorddowntown.com Cover Sponsored by: Northwest Health www.northwesthealth.com
Revved up, STEAM-powered interactive learning
Come visit Hot Wheels at the Amazeum!
JANUARY 27 through APRIL 29
Produced by
HOT WHEELS and associated trademarks and trade dress are owned by, and used
under license from, Mattel. Š2017 Mattel. All Rights Reserved.
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Math & Language Therapy
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READING • SPELLING HANDWRITING • MATH GRAMMAR
Multisensory Language Therapy “Take Flight” , a comprehensive intervention for students with dyslexia based on OrtonGillingham concepts. Reading • Spelling • Handwriting • Phonics Vocabulary • Fluency • Comprehension (classes available) Pre-Flight (Phonological Awareness) Multisensory Math • Counting and Numeration • Addition & Subtraction facts for instant recall • Multiplication & Division facts for instant recall • Fractions • Decimals & Percents • Integers & Algebra I & II Multisensory Grammar • Parts of Speech, Capitals, Punctuation … Verbal to Written Expression (thoughts on paper) Writing Treatment for Hyperlexia (can read, but does not understand what is read) Study Skills • Time Management • Notetaking • Memory Technique • Test Taking Strategies …
Visit us at www.amltherpy.com or call 479-253-3256
Bentley
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104 North 37th Street Suite B Rogers, AR 72756
Karen Sykes — Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) 29 years experience teaching
Lisa Lundeen — CALT, 6 years experience in Social Work, 6 years experience teaching
If you have a story to share, or an idea for a story, email editor@peekaboonwa. com and be a part of the Peekaboo family!
From the Editor
HERE IS A LOOK AHEAD! _____________________________ MARCH is dedicated to non-profits. Do you have a favorite you want us to share? Let us know! APRIL is our CAMP GUIDE PREVIEW. We want to have the most comprehensive camp guide yet to make sure you know every possible camp option for your kiddos this summer.
Happy Birthday Peekaboo!!!! The Big 10!!!!
T
he cover this month is a special one, because it is a re-creation of our very first cover.
When Peekaboo was first created, I was the mother of only one child, where now there are four that call me 'Mom.' My sweet baby girl was a few months shy of two years old at the time. Since the magazine was making its debut in the same month as Valentine's Day, we decided to include Ava's best friend at the time, and get them both dressed up for the special occasion.
Fast forward 10 years. and those same sweet cover models are now 11! To commemorate the milestone anniversary, we dressed them in a tux (thank you, Mr. Tux!) and a pretty red dress, respectively, and asked them to re-create the same pose as before. This time, the thought of handing a rose was a bit awkward (because: tweens) so, we switched out the rose for a giant cupcake from Bliss Cupcake Cafe to help celebrate our big birthday! I can hardly believe that 10 years have gone by as quickly as they did. Starting a brand-new magazine was a daunting task at first, but it quickly became a labor of love. It was truly a family effort, and was even named for Ava's favorite game at the time. This issue pays homage to the many types of support Peekaboo has offered over the past decade. Inside you will find personal stories both from moms who have incredible tales to share, and businesses that are designed to make life easier for parents, while offering them the best of the best. Another special part of this issue is our popular birthday party guide, where families can learn from the plethora of information we have gathered over the years and use it to make each birthday this year (and for years to come!) memorable for their little ones. Last, but not least, to celebrate our readers who have made each issue possible, we have showcased them this month with a fun collection of smash cake photos! And since you can't have a birthday without a birth, we also included two birth stories from folks right here in NWA.
Very first issue of Peekaboo Magazine!
I hope you enjoy this very special issue, and happy birthday, from us to you! - Kim Enderle
A look ahead:
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By Laine Harper and Walter Williams On August 27, 2008, our lives were flipped upside down, sideways and every other way that you can imagine. Richard and I were brand-new parents to the most precious blessing on earth, our 31-weekold 'preemie,' diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). We named him Leighton Clement Harper, and he began his life as our tinman… a little boy in need of a new heart. We found out at our 20-week ultrasound that Leighton had HLHS, a congenital heart defect that causes the left side of the heart to either not grow, or form incorrectly. Finding this out so early in my pregnancy was devastating, especially after we Googled stories about other HLHS kids. Story after story had a tragic ending–either that, or they were always followed by the dour phrase: “We have a long road ahead.” There were many days when I would sit and cry, wishing my baby was healthy. Since HLHS is genetic, there was nothing Rich and I could have done differently to cause a healthy outcome. All we knew was that we were in love with this boy from day one, and would do anything and everything in our power to make sure he grew up as happy and as healthy as possible. Leighton was only 3 pounds and 9 ounces when he was born. No baby born with HLHS this early, this small had survived… ever. My husband and I truly believe in miracles, so we fought for his life and decided to continue with medical intervention. If you had asked me on day 10 how long we would be at ACH, I would have answered, "Only a couple of months, tops." In the end, however, our family spent a total of 210 days in Little Rock. 16 February 2018
Ultrasound photos by: Tiffany Rea Photography
On February 5th, 2009, at 5 months old, Leighton received the greatest gift on earth: a heart. We were so blessed to have an angel with the perfect heart send this gift to our son. Without that perfect heart on that day, we might not have our son today. God’s timing was perfect. It was one of the hardest, yet most wonderful, days of our lives. As worried and scared as I was, my family helped give me peace. I never could have made it through the surgery without my husband by my side. He was as scared as I was, but always seemed cool and collected, which helped me be strong, too. We both cried as we took him to the operating room, and held each other through the whole surgery. Our friends and family were there for support, and I will never forget the sigh of relief the whole waiting room gave when we were told his heart was beating on its own. Leighton came home two months later. It’s amazing what a new heart did for him! I will never forget how many babies and children we met while at ACH that did not go home. I am reminded of how blessed we are to have such a great hospital in the state of Arkansas for heart issues every time I look at Leighton. We have told our story of Leighton Harper and our family’s journey many times, but, there is another side to this story that we are now able to share. It’s the life of Omar and our new family.
minutes. I told her that my car had broken down, but that I would be there as soon as I possibly could. My adoptive parents, Lee and Mary Silva, showed up at 5AM and drove me the five hours to Amarillo. We spent all day that first day in February in the ICU, with the doctors running numerous tests, trying to figure out what went wrong and why his heart had stopped beating. As I was driving to the store to get something to eat, I got a phone call that I had won $1,000 on my football square for the Superbowl. Something that would have been such an exciting call before, now meant nothing to me. How could I get excited about anything when my son was fighting for his life? I prayed incessantly for the next two days, without any progress in Omar's condition occurring. We met with a priest, and decided to leave it in God's hands. The doctors finally decided that there was nothing else they could do. That five minutes when his little heart stopped beating had prevented oxygen from getting to his brain for too long. Once the doctors made that decision, our next visitors were from Life Gift. They wanted to share information about organ donation. I had never thought about organ donation – especially for one of my kids. They were supposed to live longer than me! I was on the fence, and his mom was leaning more toward "no." She couldn't imagine someone cutting her child. So,
It's Saturday, January 31, 2009, and I'm hanging out with my brother and his family in Haskell, TX, having a pre-Super Bowl party, when my phone rings. It's my son's mom, Yolanda, crying, telling me through her tears that my son, Omar, is having trouble breathing, and she doesn't know what to do. The ER has already sent her home twice. The doctors have diagnosed him with RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), and told her to simply give him breathing treatments. They have reassured her that he will be okay. I wanted to be there to help her, but, since I was five hours away, all I could do was encourage her to take him back, even if they did send her home. About three hours later, she called me back to say that his RSV had worsened and they were care-flighting him to Amarillo, TX. While preparing for the flight, however, something happened while they were sedating him. The team thought that they might have overdosed him, which caused his heart to stop for five whole
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again, we went to prayer before discussing it. I looked at Omar. Then I looked at Omar's Aunt Vanessa, who was 7 months pregnant. I said to them, "What if Omar's cousin needs an organ when he is born? Or, how would we feel about organ donation if we were the ones in need?" After that, we made the decision to donate his organs.
sad that I didn’t get to meet him. I didn’t know if I could handle trying to meet the other organ recipient, with the same thing happening, so I stopped trying to find them. Then, in May of 2017, I started trying again. On August 3, 2017, I got a message from someone asking me if I was Omar’s dad, and if I was ready to talk about Omar.
They took Omar off all the machines, and he passed away on Wednesday, February 4, 2009. The next few days were spent wondering how somebody so innocent and full of life could be gone so early. At the same time, I began wondering if his organs would help save anybody. February 9th was the hardest day of them all, though... no parent should have to watch their child being lowered into the ground. I knew the only way I would be more at ease with the situation is if I could find out if he was able to live on by saving a life. I spent the next five years trying to write a letter to his recipient family, but I could never seem to finish it. Finally, five years after the biggest loss of my life, I finished that letter and sent it out. Now I would endure the process of waiting and waiting, wondering if the letter would reach them. All I knew was that Omar's organs were able to save two lives.
Just reading that message gave me new life and hope... my prayers were answered! It was Omar’s heart recipient’s mom, Laine. We messaged back and forth for a few hours, and she told me that her son’s name was Leighton, and sent me pictures. I cried tears of joy, because I could see Omar in Leighton. The hair, the look, the smile. I called her, and it was an instant connection – I felt like I was already part of the family, and that made it all worth it. Then, on August 25th, I finally got to meet Leighton and his family, and hear and see Omar’s heart beating strong in Leighton.
I emailed Life Gift asking them if they had heard back, or if I needed to write another letter or do something differently. Then, sometime in 2015, I heard back from Life Gift letting me know that they had found one of the recipients, but that he had passed away. The recipient had lived another four years thanks to Omar, but, after his passing, his parents went back home to their country. While I was happy that he lived longer so that his parents got to spend more time with him, I was
That was a very emotional day, and the happiest day that I have had in a long time. Meeting all of Leighton’s extended family was so special, because they all became our family. We celebrated Leighton’s birthday, and had a candlelight vigil for Omar, which they surprised me with. Even now, I stay in close contact with Leighton’s family. I message one of them almost every day. When you check the ‘yes’ option in the organ donation box for your driver’s license, please know that you are checking 'yes’ to becoming somebody’s family. If we hadn’t made that decision to donate Omar’s organs on February 4, 2009, I don’t know where I would be, emotionally. It never gets easier when you lose a child, but now that I know that somebody else’s child is living on because we made that hard decision, I feel peace and comfort, especially since I know that Omar is still living on, and still touching peoples lives.
I remember the day when I finally got an answer back from a message I had sent to many different Walter Williamses: “Are you Omar’s Walter?” This answer was different from all of the others. It was a yes! My heart was full of butterflies and joy when I found him, and after speaking to him once, he was 100 percent our family, immediately. Two weeks later, Walter and his family came to visit for Leighton’s birthday. This was one of the very best moments of our lives. It was a sunny day as Leighton and I stood in the 21C surrounded by modern art (perfectly
reflecting the modern medicine that saved our son). Walter walked to us, and Leighton smiled immediately. I was very nervous. Would this family approve of us? Are we worthy of receiving a heart from their son? Will they want a relationship with Leighton? Nerves were immediately calmed when I saw Walter’s tears. He held Leighton and cried. Being the emotional soul I am… of course I joined in. I had made special arrangements for that day. Thanks to my friends at Northwest, our families went together to the clinic and, instead of just letting them listen to his heart through a stethoscope, we showed them Omar’s heart on an echocardiogram. I have seen ECCOs hundreds of times since Leighton was born, so I didn’t expect my reaction. I saw Walter watch the screen, revealing the heart that links my son to his. This heart pumps perfectly in his tiny body, and the ECCO reflected that. We all stood in the clinic and cried tears of joy. What an amazing gift. What an amazing day. We held a candlelight vigil at Leighton’s birthday party in honor of Omar. We prayed and spoke of how Omar had blessed each one of us. 45 people stood around our pool, all crying happy tears of love. Our relationship with Omar’s mom, Yolanda, began in December when we met her in Dallas during a dance competition. This was another special weekend. Not only was it my birthday, but also the first performance of a dance dedicated in Omar’s memory. A dancer from my studio performed “Omar’s Gift” as we all held hands and cried during the performance. The words from the song “How rare and beautiful it is to even exist,” hit home. We all know what it means, but to see, hear and feel it all at once was a true honor and a completely overwhelming feeling of joy and pain. Yolanda and I held hands and hugged over and over. We are family. Because this family chose for Omar be an organ donor, though they lost a huge part of their lives, they gained a full family. I am beyond blessed to share our story.
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H
appy birthday, Peekaboo! To say the impact of this milestone is lost on me would be a great understatement. The fact that a magazine that was built from the heart of a writer-turned-new-mom would be embraced so quickly, by such an amazing community, is something that very few words can convey my gratitude for. When Jonathon and I first created PEEKABOO, we had no idea how quickly it would become an integral part of the parenting and family community in Northwest Arkansas. It is such an honor to be a part of something that connects readers each month with businesses, events, and – most importantly – each other. While the name "Peekaboo" was inspired by our firstborn's favorite game at the time, it represents something even greater now. PEEKABOO is a special look into NWA through the eyes of a mom, or dad, grandparent, or friend. PEEKABOO represents a unique perspective into all things parenting and family. The concept was inspired by a group of women who were my "goto moms." I taught prenatal Pilates while pregnant with my first, and this group delivered their babies (most of them first-time moms) all within weeks of each other. During our workout sessions, we asked each other a million questions about what to expect, where to shop, what we needed for our little ones, and every health question in the book. We were also just there for each other, and, since it was before
texting became the most popular form of communication, we actually talked on the phone – a lot! It was a bond that helped me survive those first weeks, months and years of being a parent, and I wanted to extend that same lifesaving sense of community to parents across NWA. The group of women who came together to celebrate this 10th anniversary / birthday have all played important roles in its success, and the fact that they were as excited as I was to commemorate the occasion meant the world to me. I have loved being a part of connecting people, helping businesses grow, and bringing brand awareness to readers across the area. Thank you for being a part of this journey! Here is to the next 10 years! - Kim Enderle
Photos by: Lazer Lee Photography - lazerleephotography.com On Cake by: Wow Bakery - www.facebook.com/wowbakeryarkansas Loc
20 February 2018
"My favorite thing about Peekaboo is that they truly have a heart for others in our community and they give people a place for their voices to be heard. They can share their ideas, their dreams, their businesses, and their stories. It’s a community where people can be raw and real in their struggles and their victories." - Jennifer Cristofaro
"A memory close to my heart is Peekaboo Media Group. I was a part of a trio that put on live events for families, dicussed all things parenting and marriage on a weekly TV segment, and so much more! So thankful for that and all the experiences I've had with Peekaboo! Congrats on 10 years, here's to another 10 more! Loria Oliver
"I have been honored to be given the opportunity to write four articles for Peekaboo Magazine. I love getting to share my story of losing my son, Taylor, and bringing awareness to Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood through his Foundation, the Taylor McKeen Shelton Foundation. I also loved sharing my story about my rainbow baby, Thayer. Happy birthday, Peekaboo!! " - Ella Shelton "The magazine is such an amazing connector of people, and a great way for all of us to realize we're not alone in the things we're dealing with in our lives." - Ann Meythaler
On Location at: The Ballroom at I Street in Bentonville - www.theballroomatistreet.com
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Sarah Bohannon
This is 41. Sarah. Wife. Mom. Daughter. Sister. Teacher. Friend. Encourager. Widow.
Jessica Ritchie Loria Oliver
Lela Davidson
This is 48. Lela. Mother. Wife. Teller of truth and fiction. Proud contributor to the 1st issue of Peekaboo, and many more.
Ann MeythAler Ella Shelton
Lindsay Welsher Photo by: Lauren Harris
This is 37. Loria. Dedicated wife and mother. Volunteer. Entrepreneur. Inventor of the Tot Tote. Thankful.
This is 38. Ella. Mother. Wife. Sister. Daughter. Friend. Jewelry maker. Child loss survivor. Foundation founder.
This is 35. Lindsay. Mother. Educator. Photographer. Fierce advocate
Kim Enderle
for loved ones and underdogs.
Kelly Brothers
This is 36. Jessica. Wife. Mother. Sister. Daughter. Friend, and photographer.
This is 36. Ann. Foster Mom. Adoptive Mom. Cancer Mom. Big Van Mom. Foster Care and Adoption Advocate. Lover of coffee.
This is 34. Kim. Mom of 4. Builder's wife. Daughter. Friend. Editor. Terrible cook. NWA native.
This is 39. Kelly. Wife. Mom. Friend. Cook. Activity director. Listener. Adventure seeker
Jennifer Cristofaro Lazer Lee Photography - lazerleephotography.com. 21c in Bentonville - www.21cmuseumhotels.com/bentonville
This is 36. Jennifer. Child of God. Wife. Mom. Friend. Dreamer. Realtor. Encourager.
Overcomer.
www.davidadams.com
100 West Center, Ste 101 Fayetteville 479-444-7778 peekaboonwa.com
23
Meet Sarah Avery: Right after finishing my undergraduate degree, I moved back home and started dating a new guy. After only dating for a few months, I found out that I was pregnant. To say I was scared and upset would be a massive understatement. I was devastated. Here I was, a “Christian girl” who was pregnant outside of marriage with a guy with whom I had no future. I didn’t know what I was going to do, so… I didn’t do anything. I told no one except my sister and one close friend. I moved to Memphis for graduate school, as planned, and just put it in the back of my mind. After several months of hiding behind oversized sweatshirts in the Memphis summer heat, I knew I had to tell my mom. She came to see me that next weekend, and we both just cried. I knew I wasn’t ready to be a parent, I knew I wanted more for my child than a single-parent home, but that’s all that I knew. After speaking with a wise friend, my mom and I visited Bethany Christian Services, a wonderful adoption agency and a strong resource for women facing unplanned pregnancies. After going back and forth between deciding to parent or make an adoption plan, I chose adoption. I looked through
adoptive family books, and saw only one family I felt called to. After a few meetings, I ultimately chose them to parent my baby. My wonderful pregnancy counselor was with me every step of the way, and continued to stay by my side for the emotional storm I was about to face after placing my child with her new family. In June of 2012, I gave birth to the most precious little girl in the world. She was perfect. And, while I cried happy tears because I was so thrilled to finally be able to hold her, my heart was broken at the idea of handing her over to the family I had picked out for her. There aren’t really any words to adequately describe the emotions that came with the act of placing my child with anyone other than me. It’s a happy moment, because the child is here and healthy, but, after I placed her with her adoptive family, I grieved as though someone had died. No one in my family really understood. No one anticipated it, because no one in my family had ever walked through this journey or heard a birth mom’s story. Over the next two years, I fell into a rather deep depression, but I held onto the connection I had felt towards my daughter’s adoptive family when I was looking at photo books. I had that hope that the Lord had a bigger plan than what I was seeing and feeling during this very dark time in my life. Fast forward to now, my daughter is five years old and doing fantastic. She has three older brothers
that absolutely adore her, a two-parent home, and a whole biological family that loves her. She is encased in love. In our adoption agreement, we arranged for me to go visit her every six months and receive picture updates three months after each visit. The Lord continues to work in my life. I still have hard days, but I bounce back more quickly than I used to, and now it has become my life’s mission to be there for other women and girls who find themselves in a similar situation, to inform them of all of their options, and support them with whatever they choose. Life is messy, and I believe God has called us to walk purposefully with others in the mess. --- Excerpt from Sarah's podcast interview --Alex: What do you wish that someone had grabbed you by the shoulders, looked you in the eye, and told you at the beginning of this journey? Sarah: I was fortunate enough to have that wise friend tell me exactly what I needed to hear, which was, “This is going to be okay.” But, I think if I could say something else and wish someone else had been said to me, it would be, “This does not define you. This sin is not who you are,” because that was an identity that I carried for a while. Alex: What is the biggest encouragement you have for women or girls in similar situations? Sarah: You have options, and it will be okay. Whether you have the same support that I did with my mom and my friends, you are not alone and there is support out there. It’s going to be hard, but never give up on that child inside of you, and it’s going to be okay.
Alex: What is the singular biggest thing you wish that women on the other side of adoption--so, me, and most of the people listening to this--realized, and how can we be more sensitive to it? Sarah: I wish that they realized that there is an actual woman on the other side. That it’s a woman, and not just her sin. It’s not the drug addiction; it’s not just a girl who is 15; it’s not just a girl who is getting ready to go to jail; it’s a woman. And she needs grace. And while people may not think that she deserves it, the Lord did choose her to carry this child into the world, so there is value in that. He finds value in her. And I can’t relate directly, but I can understand how hard it would be to learn to truly love and pray for someone like that, to see her more as a woman going through everything, and not just her sin identity.
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Alex Fittin hosts The Adoptive Mom Podcast: A weekly program for the strongest of moms (and dads, too!). This podcast features all kinds of characters from the adoptive community, including support systems, grandparents, pastors, birth moms, educators, adopted kids, and of course, lots of adoptive mamas! On this show, we are honest, raw, and supportive about the struggles, joys, wins, losses, and the beautiful and ugly pars of this adoption thing. No topic is off-limits, and you can always count on a real take on one of the most important things one can do: adopt.
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By Jenny Marrs
N
ot unlike generations of boys who have gone before them, my seven-year-old twins, Ben and Nathan, spent summer afternoons exploring the thick, lush woods surrounding their selfappointed fort on the shores of Beaver lake. Aside from the occasional swim break to cool off, the hours unearthing treasures and cultivating adventure along the shoreline formed the framework for their summer memories. Despite working our way through countless bottles of bug spray, evening tick checks often resulted in the discovery of at least one or two tiny little pests hidden on their skin. Months later, long past the scorching heat of summer, our family found ourselves dealing with the unexpected aftermath of those camping adventures in the woods. On a blistery cold Monday afternoon, my youngest wasn’t feeling well, and I planned to pick her siblings up from school before heading to her 3:15PM doctor’s appointment. As my turn approached in the car line, two of my three bounded to the car, while Ben walked slowly, and looked like he had also started feeling ill. I assumed he had the same virus as his sister, and felt thankful we were already headed in to the doctor’s office. During the fifteen minute drive to the office, Ben’s breathing became unusually loud and labored. 26 February 2018
Assuming this was caused by the virus, I wasn’t overly concerned, and asked him to take slow, deep breaths. We arrived at the clinic and were taken to a room where our nurse started taking Ben’s vitals. Dr. Fankhauser popped his head in to say hello and to let us know that he would be back in a few minutes to see us. However, he immediately noticed Ben’s breathing and quickly entered the room to listen to his chest. The pulse oximeter on Ben’s finger read 84% and I noticed his lips were turning an alarming shade of blue. Panic registered in Ben’s eyes, while my heart raced and I looked to Dr. Fankhauser for reassurance that this was somehow normal. Of course, this was not normal. In fact, Ben was having an anaphylactic reaction. Dr. Fankhauser had already alerted a nurse to call 9-1-1, had epinephrine and steroids ready, and was administering oxygen when the paramedics arrived. Meanwhile, I called my husband, who happened to be a few minutes away from the clinic. He raced over to pick up the other three kids while I rode with Ben in the ambulance to Mercy Hospital. For the next 24 hours, steroids and breathing treatments were administered and multiple tests were run, all attempting to uncover the cause of
Ben’s respiratory distress. Because he had no prior history of allergies, presented no other obvious symptoms, such as hives, and hadn’t eaten anything since lunch at 10:45AM, a full five hours prior to the incident, the hospital attending physician released us with a tentative and shaky diagnosis of croup, rather than anaphylaxis.
Our hope in sharing Ben’s story is to educate other families of yet another reason to fervently avoid ticks and to raise awareness of this fairly unfamiliar food allergy.
Thankfully, Dr. Fankhauser refused to accept the croup diagnosis and set up an appointment for Ben to see Dr. Hedberg for allergy testing. Once more, I quizzed Ben, pleading with him to remember anything else he could have possibly eaten that afternoon, eager to find the missing piece of this scary medical puzzle. He had only eaten yogurt for breakfast and a beef taco with refried beans and rice for lunch, still insisting that he had not eaten anything just before school pick-up.
Dr. Joel Fankhauser, M.D. of Direct Care Clinic of Northwest Arkansas
After reviewing everything he had eaten that day and completing initial skin allergy testing, Dr. Hedberg and Dr. Fankhauser agreed we needed to run blood work for pork, beef and dairy allergens. Ben’s blood work proved the theory our doctors had been working off of. Ben had an alpha-gal allergy. Alpha-gal is a carbohydrate molecule present in the meat of mammals, thus causing Ben to be allergic to red meat. Unlike most food allergies, symptoms typically set in three to six hours after eating beef, pork or lamb - explaining the five hour lapse between eating the beef taco at lunch and his reaction after school. The question remained: why did he suddenly develop an allergy to foods he had eaten all of his life? Dr. Fankhauser explained that this particular allergy is spread by the bite of a Lone Star tick. Our summer camping trips and the sporadic tick bites Ben received had caused concern for Lyme or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, but never a food allergy.
Alpha-gal allergies are, fortunately, uncommon but seem to be increasing in prevalence in the southeast United States. Developing meat allergies after tick bites was first described about 10 years ago in Australia, At approximately the same time, it was discovered in the United States that there was a chemotherapy drug which led to allergic reactions more in the Southeast than elsewhere, which was ultimately tracked to alpha-gal antibodies as well. There are several unusual things about tick-induced food allergies. The allergic reaction tends to be delayed, sometimes by up to 6 hours after exposure, whereas traditional anaphylactic reactions to foods like peanuts are more likely to occur within seconds or minutes of exposure. The allergic reaction tends to be influenced by events unrelated to the actual food, such as exercise, other illnesses, even certain medications and alcohol use. Alpha gal allergies also tend to wane with time, but may persist (or even return after they have totally resolved) with persistent tick exposure. Right now, our best treatment plan is tick avoidance through 10-30% DEET, or, in children over the age of 3, lemon eucalyptus oil.
For more information visit www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/ topics/alpha-gal-allergy
Photo by: Angela Lopez Photography
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Dr. Ashu Dhanjal
I
t’s become common knowledge that heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States, taking the lives of more than 600,000 Americans annually. Medical and research communities continue to expand their efforts toward better prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. A recent study was conducted at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, focusing on the impact of trauma on a woman’s general heart health. The results were significant, indicating that women who have experienced at least three traumatic experiences in their lifetime have poorer endothelial function than their counterparts with fewer traumas. “Endothelial function refers to the cells lining the interior of the heart and blood vessels, and how well they help constrict and relax the blood vessels,” says Dr. Ashu Dhanjal, board-certified cardiologist at Northwest Cardiology - Fayetteville. “Endothelial dysfunction is known to be a risk factor for heart disease, often leading to hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure.” Past studies have focused on the association between mental stress and endothelial function, but few studies have looked at the effect of
actual trauma on this risk. This particular study analyzed 272 women who were either perior postmenopausal and non-smokers. Those experiencing traumas such as sexual or physical assault, motor vehicle accidents, natural disasters or death of a child showed weaker endothelial function than those who had not experienced that level of trauma. This is not the first revelation to be uncovered by research into potential cardiovascular risk factors. In recent years, researchers have found links between women’s heart disease and yo-yo dieting, preeclampsia during pregnancy, and endometriosis. “Given the increasing percentage of postmenopausal women affected by heart disease, this study is important in understanding a patient’s overall risk,” Dr. Dhanjal says. “Physicians should be reminded of the need to look at the totality of a woman’s history and situation – physical, mental, emotional and environmental.” Additionally, experts have been focused on uncovering disparate symptoms between men and women, for the purpose of earlier identification and intervention during heart attack.
The points below represent some of the key distinctions in how women encounter heart disease: + Age of onset. Men are at risk for heart attack earlier in life than women. Estrogen offers women some protection from heart disease until after menopause, putting the average age of heart attack in women at 70, vs. the average age of 66 in men. + Sweating and shortness of breath. These should be particularly alerting symptoms when they occur without exertion, or when either is accompanied by chest pain or fatigue. Other indicators are shortness of breath that worsens when lying down, and a cold, clammy feeling occurring without obvious cause.
+ Pain in the neck, back or jaw. Pay special attention to these pains when they are not accompanied by specific muscle or joint aches, or when the discomfort worsens with exertion and gets better when you stop. Also, the pain can start in either arm, while it’s typically felt in the left arm in men. + The role of fatigue. Women are disproportionately impacted by fatigue as a pre-cursor to a heart attack. The feeling of excessive tiredness, or a “heavy chest,” can appear up to a month before a cardiac event, and often occurs with little or no physical exertion.
February is American Heart Month, and Feb. 2 is designated as national Go Red for Women day. Put on your red sweater, hat or socks, and show your support for heart health and longevity for the women in your life. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dhanjal
Call 479-757-5200 or visit NW-Physicians.com
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Trust in Dog
-
L
-
ong weekend here at the Lacy abode. No, the munchkins didn’t have Friday or Monday off... it was just a LONG weekend. Lots of sibling shenanigans, silly schedules, sleepless situations and dreadful dieting. One of those 48hour periods where you question your ability to continue this whole parenting racket. However, there was always one I could turn to in the midst of the madness. Someone who always has lots of love, caring eyes, unlimited hugs and more than enough wet kisses to allow me to make it through the lunacy. I’m, of course, talking about my dog, Sadie, the chocolate lab. Without her to hold me steady, this weekend could have featured sirens and fire trucks and events that mimic the absolute worst parts of the Old Testament. This weekend also got me thinking: if I’m ever elected President (which is about as likely as the Cleveland Browns winning the Super Bowl... or maybe even a single game) my first act of state would be to require any potential parent to first own a dog (Side note: sorry, cat people--I do not understand your fondness for felines). Once you complete a few years of study with a pup, then you can try your hand with a miniature Homo sapien. Of course, that sounds as crazy as my circa-1987 idea of an automatic transmission for a 10-speed bike (yep, I’m that lazy), but someone has actually figured that out, so maybe I’m onto something. Why would I require everyone to spend months with a mongrel? Because dogs are exceptional teachers. Learning from a lab or studying with a shepherd is, in my opinion, the best proving ground for
toddler training. Amazon’s most outstanding child rearing book can’t touch Professor Pooch, and, despite their intelligence, Kumon’s best are no match for a hands-on PhD in doggie development. Unfortunately for me, I did it backwards. Not one, not two, but three non-furry creatures were roaming the home before the fur ball arrived. So, let me state my case endorsing prefacing the person you want to have with a pooch, with a few teaching topics.
Education.
Fido can be taught, but only via repetitive education. Teach your dog how to sit, stay and obey, and it will save you millions of minutes down the road. They will learn, but it takes time and repetition. Same with kids: put in the effort to teach manners, how to always say 'please' and to stay in their own bed all night, and you will reap the benefits. Otherwise, you will have the belligerent boy or goofball girl that the neighbors avoid, and you will be the parent sleeping in the short bed for the next decade.
Exercise.
Dogs love it, and kids will too; as long as you follow through with your daily demand for it. Ignore the pooch’s needs for a walk, and they might ignore your needs for a clean carpet. Make the effort to get them out each and every day. Case in point – a friend of mine was one of five children adopted by a family in St. Louis. Each day, when they arrived home from school, they were given a healthy snack and a glass of water. Then, they were tossed outside, the door was locked and they were not allowed back in until dinner. None of the five children were biologically related; however, all five
children went on to play sports at the Division 1 level (true story). Yeah, that’s probably an outlier and there’s likely a little luck involved, but the fact that they were outside running, playing, kicking, screaming, etc., each day had to help their physical prowess. Dogs love to be outside; learn from them.
Patience.
Kids are going to be kooky, dogs are going to be dopey, but you gotta roll with the wags and the wackiness. This weekend has put me on the very edge of sanity; however, that’s what garages and beer fridges are for. Example: The dog decided, after coming in from the rain-soaked backyard, that this would be the ideal moment to try jumping on the couch for the first time. The kids responded by chasing the muddy mutt off the couch and into my bedroom… and onto my bed. Despite the damage inflicted, the dog sat still while being cleaned up, then proceeded to lay on my feet and stare at me with those darn cute puppy dog eyes. Kids break stuff, and dogs really don’t care about your stuff, and in the end it’s all just stuff; be patient.
Love.
As Paul taught, you need faith, hope and, most of all, love. Here is a situation where the “master” must become the student. Despite whatever your hound throws at you – or on you – they are absolute Jedis at teaching love. You remember the Flintstones, right? Dino went b-an-a-n-a-s whenever Fred came in the house, and in this situation, life does truly imitate art (Wow, did I just make the case for the Flintstones to be considered art?). Every time I leave the house to get the mail, my dog greets me like I just returned from the moon. Not to get too deep, as we all know I’m pretty shallow, but tomorrow is never promised, so why not get a little excited each time we see each other?
So, like I said, if elected POTUS (chortle, chortle) I’d require everyone to go a few rounds with a mutt before a munchkin. And, if I had to do it all over again, I’d go canine before kid. Dogs will teach you some great lessons, and, let’s face it, for training purposes, plastic bag waste removal is far easier than meconium disposal. Those of you without kids, go ahead and Google “meconium;” those of you with kids, yeah, you feel me.
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yyy FEBRUARY
February 3
Girl Scout Scouting Outing at MONAH 9am-5pm Museum of Native American History Be our guest and earn a fun patch all at once! Bring your Girl Scout troop to the Museum of Native American History for a self-guided audio tour and a scavenger hunt designed especially for your troop's level. While you’re at it, hunt for an arrowhead, too, before you leave with your fun patch! All Girl Scout levels are welcome to drop in at any time during museum hours for a unique look at the stories of the First Americans. Free; no registration required. For more information, contact the museum at 479-273-2456 or monah202@gmail.com.
Free Home Depot Kids Workshop -Valentines Bean Bag Toss - Registration Recommended 9am - 12:pm All Home Depot locations Best for ages 5-12 & their parents/caregiver Score points with your loved ones and build a Valentine bean bag toss in this hands-on workshop. You and your child can construct a fun bean bag toss game for the whole family to love. Following the bean bag toss game board construction, your child can decorate their creation with paint and stickers. All kids' workshop attendees must be accompanied by a parent or adult at all times. All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a workshop apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last. Children must be present at the store to participate in the workshop and receive the kit, apron, and pin.
Father & Daughter Valentines Dance 2-7pm 1101 SW Citizens Cir, Bentonville The Bentonville Community Center will be throwing its annual Father/Daughter Dance at the Bentonville Community Center on Saturday, February 3rd! The event will feature: dancing, DJ, red carpet, paparazzi, snacks, photo booth, dance contests and more! 2:00pm-4:00pm- Ages 4-12 5:00pm-7:00pm- Ages 13+ $55-father/daughter ($5 for each additional daughter)
Library Story Times:
Bentonville Public Library: bentonvillelibrary.org Bella Vista Public Library: www.bvpl.org Fayetteville Public Library: faylib.org Springdale Public Library: springdalelibrary.org Rogers Public Library: rogerspubliclibrary.org Siloam Springs Library: siloamsprings.com
February 4
Insect Hotel Make & Take Class at Botanical Garden (registration required) 2:30 pm - 3 pm: Botanical Garden of the Ozarks Cost: $15 Insects are important for gardens, ecosystems and our food production. Learn from BGO Education Director Roslyn Imrie about their interesting lives and habits, as well as how we can help them. Then, make your own beautiful insect hotel for the beneficial critters around your home. All materials will be provided. Register for this class: https://form.jotform.com/73344540162147
February 8
Preschool Playdate » Love Birds 11:30am Crystal Bridges One, two, tweet! Discover artmaking, creative play, and storytime inspired by our feathered friends. Playdate begins with an 11:30 a.m. performance in the Great Hall.
February 9
Razorback Gymnastics vs. Auburn 7 pm Daddy-Daughter Princess Date Night The first 100 kids that attend Arkansas’ meet against Auburn will receive a light-up tiara as costumed princesses make appearances. Other princess-related promotions geared toward young girls will take place before and during the meet. All girls are encouraged to wear their favorite princess costumes. as there will be an opportunity to take photos before the meet.
Night to Shine- Tim Tebow Foundation -Prom for Special Needs Cross Church Springdale 6pm - 8:30pm
We will have vendors of all kinds for your shopping pleasure. Need something for Valentine's Day, we can help! Need help finding something special for your Valentine, let us help you find the perfect gift for them. Or if you just love shopping come and check us out, something for everyone! Even a table for the kids to help entertain them while mom and dad shop. There will also be specials and a door prize drawing. Ft. Smith Convention Center | 55 South 7th Street | Saturday, 10AM-4PM
479.544.5777 @ThomCoProductions
yyy Ages 14 & up with special needs FREE The Tim Tebow Foundation and Cross Church share a great passion to serve and care for people with special needs. In 2014, the Tim Tebow Foundation began an initiative to partner with churches around the country to provide an incredible prom night experience, centered in God's love, for people with special needs, ages 14 and older.
February 10
Beaver Lake Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Arkansas
Prairie Creek Recreational Area 10am-12pm Price: $50.00 —Registration fee We invite you to take part in Arkansas' largest polar plunge... the Beaver Lake Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Arkansas! Come join the over 350 polar plungers who annually take part in this fun event, all for an amazing cause.
Daddy/Daughter Valentine Dance 3-5pm iNFiNiTi Athletics / 305 SE 22nd Street, Bentonville We have an exciting time planned for all you dads and your special little girls, creating memories that will last a lifetime! Ages 4-11. $20/ couple; $5 for each additional daughter. The event will feature refreshments, dancing, photos, crafts and games/contests.
February 14
Little Sprouts Valentine's Day Fun Botanical Garden of the Ozarks Little Sprouts is the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks' story & activity time for preschoolers and their parents. Little Sprouts sessions will be offered once a month from November-April! The 30-minute sessions will take place at 9:30AM & 10:15AM on the second Wednesday of every month.
You’ll spend time in the galleries looking at and talking to your baby about art before enjoying sensory playtime. We’ll visit new artworks and make new discoveries together each month! Make sure you are able to hold your baby or have them in a front carrier; they need to see and physically react to the artworks. This is a time to bond with your baby, so please make other arrangements for siblings.
February 25
Shh! We Have a Plan
Walton Arts Center 2pm and 4pm Prepare to be enchanted and amazed by this award-winning production featuring magic, music, puppetry and more! Based on the Chris Haughton book of the same title, this delightful and poignant tale follows the journey of some madcap characters, all on a quest to capture a beautiful bird perched high in a tree.
February 28
Parent Cafe: Don't Eat the Marshmallow 6-8pm Amazeum The Parent Cafe is filled with some pretty tasty tidbits of parenting ideas. Parent Cafe is an educational opportunity for parents/ caregivers of children ages 10 years and younger. It can take a lot of self-control to wait to eat that special treat. Discover activities that families can use to help develop children’s skills in paying attention, remembering the rules, thinking flexibly and exercising self control. $15 Amazeum member/$20 non-member Advanced registration and payment required. Parent Cafe is for adults only.
February 21
Who Was George Washington Carver? 12-1pm Shiloh Museum of Ozark History Free www.shilohmuseum.org A program by Curtis Gregory, park ranger at George Washington Carver National Monument.
February 23-24
10th Annual NWA Beautiful Girls Retreat Doubletree Suites in Bentonville We are excited to announce the 10th Annual Northwest Arkansas Beautiful Girls Retreat on February 23rd and 24th, 2018 at Doubletree Suites by Hilton in Bentonville, Arkansas! This year’s theme is “Brave,” which will encourage and equip young women to live confidently and courageously, without comparison and doubt. This has grown to be a large regional retreat, drawing local participants from NWA and other surrounding areas. We are community-based and serve hundreds of girls and women in two teaching tracks (4th-7th grade and 8th grade-college age and their mothers/leaders) at our overnight retreat. It will be filled with creative breakout sessions, tea time, visual arts presentations, a fashion show, and a whole lot more! The NWA Beautiful Girls Retreat will cost an Early Bird price of $99 per girl until February 2nd, and then $120 until registration closes on February 15th.
February 24
CB Babies Crystal Bridges 10-11:30am $10 ($8/members) - register online Oh, baby! Join us for this special program for the museum’s youngest visitors:: infants ages 3 to 24 months with a caregiver.
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FEBRUARY YOUTH & FAMILY PROGRAMS
Toddler Tots & Tales » Messy Masterpiece
(Ages 1.5 to 3 with an adult) Wednesday, February 7, 1:30 to 2:30 pm $10/session ($8/members), register online.
Preschool Playdate » Love Birds Thursday, February 8, 11:30 am to 2 pm Sponsored by The Segal Family Foundation & Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
FREE, no registration required.
Afterschool Art Class » Art with Soul
(Ages 5 to 12) Thursday, February 8, 15, 22, 4 to 5:30pm $45/3 sessions ($36/Members) register online.
Homeschool Friday Fun » Mixed Media
(Ages 5 to 8 and 9 to 12) Friday, February 9, 16, and 23, 2 to 3:30 pm $45/3 sessions ($36/Members) register online.
Studio Squad » Word Power
(Ages 11 to 13) Saturday, February 10, 4 to 5:30 pm Sponsored by Rui J.P. de Figueirdo, Jr. & Natalia Ferretti, & Nickelodeon.
FREE, register online or with Guest Services.
Family Sunday » I
Art
Sunday, February 11, noon to 5 pm
Sponsored by Procter & Gamble, Rockline Industries, & the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Transportation provided by Pinnacle Car Services.
FREE, no registration required.
Mini Masters » Color Abstraction
(Ages 4 to 5 with an adult) Wednesday, February 14, 1:30 to 2:30 pm $10 ($8/members), register online or with Guest Services.
CRYSTALBRIDGES.ORG BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS 34 February 2018
479.418.5700
Peekaboo's
ULTIMATE
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 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 get-together 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!
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, a spin on the birthday wheel for the birthday child, and more!
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GUIDE
Peekaboo's
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
SUPER SCIENCE NWA www.super-sci.com 479-444-0303 ROGERS AQUATICS CENTER www.rogersaquaticscenter.com 479-936-5481 Plan your next birthday party at Wet Willy's Water Park. $250 birthday package allows you and your guests 2 1/2 hour pavilion rental, 12 admission tickets, 12 beverages, and a party host or hostess. Bring in a cake and your party is complete! With all the activities at the Rogers Aquatics Center, everyone is sure to have a great time and make great memories!
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 embelish your party with a cool add-on, like an awesome laser show or electrostatic generator that makes your hair stand up.
PRINCESS PARTY PALACE NWA 925 College Ave., Fayetteville, 813 W Central Ave #15, Bentonville princesspartypalacenwa.com • (479) 799-6133 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!
My daughter opted for a Little Mermaid theme, and Autumn with Princess Party Palace made party planning a dream. She provided all of the flatware, tableware, table decorations and banners, in colors that coordinated with my theme. Ariel entered the party and my daughter was transfixed and glowing. All of our royal guests were welcomed to change into princess gowns or superhero capes. Ariel then led the children through a craft activity (making tiaras and masks) and getting glitter tattoos and applying make-up for those who wanted. She also led the children in singing songs, story time and a dance party. We wrapped up with a coronation ceremony where Mallory was crowned with a sparkly tiara. The team at Princess Party Palace made Mallory feel so incredibly special and took the lead in controlling the flow and timing of the party, making sure all our guests were having so much fun. Jenny Champlin
IMAGINE STUDIOS 5212 Village Parkway, Suite 11, Rogers 479-619-6085 imaginestudiosnwa.com Looking to throw a fun and creative birthday party? Or, maybe you're planning a bridal shower or a team-building event? Let the party experts at Imagine Studios help. Whether you book a birthday party, join a kids' art class, or join us for a girls' crafting night out, you'll be sure to make lasting memories when you paint at Imagine Studios. We even do field trips! We can come to you, or you can bring your class to us. At Imagine Studios, we put the ART in pARTy. Book your next birthday party with us! Our party experts will take care of the kids and guide them through the art project while Mom and Dad enjoy time taking pictures and talking with guests. Our parties are best for ages 4 and up.
We can work with any theme. The birthday child chooses the art project--anything from painting a wide selection of pottery, to canvas painting, tie-dye, purses, picture frames, wood crafting, and more. We even provide all of your party supplies, including invitations, and do all of your set up and clean up; you just need to provide the cake and drinks. With more than 10 years of birthday party experience, your child's party at Imagine Studios will help you turn imagination into memories. For more information, visit our webpage at imaginestudiosnwa.com. You can also sign up to receive our newsletter or follow us on Facebook. Walk-in painters are welcome during all business hours, or you can schedule time for a private group. We do recommend reservations for groups of 6 or more.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
• School Assemblies & Workshops • Special Events & Camps • Corporate/Non-Profit Presentations • Awesome Party Concept
EDUCATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL AGES! www.super-sci.com • 479-444-0303
GUIDE
Peekaboo's
YOUNG CHEFS ACADEMY OF ROGERS 5208 Village Parkway Suite 6, Rogers (479) 401-2006 • youngchefsacademy.com
Come celebrate your child’s birthday and let him/her be the “CHEF OF THE DAY” at Young Chefs Academy! All birthday parties are filled with interactive & amusing activities for your child and their friends to stay entertained and engaged. Young Chefs Academy offers an “ALLINCLUSIVE” party package, where you supply the chefs and we supply the rest! They will introduce each guest to some essential culinary skills as they make their very own “creation” from scratch--all while being provided hands-on instruction by our lively party hosts! “We had my daughter’s 8th birthday party there (at Young Chefs Academy). The staff and owners were amazing and very helpful. All the girls had a great time. Quote from the birthday girl as we were leaving, “Best birthday party EVER!!!” Thank you so much. We are really excited to come back for classes.” Sarah Busby Pigo
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!
KALEIDOSCOPE DANCE ACADEMY 900 SE Village Loop, Bentonville (479) 464-5977 • dancewithkda.com We offer theme parties from "Beach Party", "Movie Theme", "Black Light", "Princess Party" and Hip-Hop Deejay Dance Parties! Some of our most popular parties are "Dance and Movie Night" and our "Lock-in Night". Parties can be parent-led, or dance instructors can be hired to run the entire thing! We have 5 dance rooms to choose from!
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. Party favor for each child.
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 - 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!
Peekaboo's
GUIDE JUNQUE2JEWELS 210 W New Hope Rd, Rogers (479) 877-3188 www.junque2jewels.com
LOKOMOTION 4520 N. College, Fayetteville lokomotion.com (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 included
Pro Martial Arts 5204 W Village Pkwy, Ste 5, Rogers (479) 250-9899
Junque2Jewels offers kids parties for ages 6 and up in their new party room! Pick which project your group would like to do--each guest can customize their own project. Bring in food and cake and enjoy watching your guests be creative. They even get to take their project home as a one-of-a-kind party favor! 16:9 ENTERTAINMENT, LLC 479-601-5196 www.169entertainment.com 16:9 Entertainment, LLC offers a variety of unique pieces of equipment, from inflatable bounce houses, slides, and combos, to mechanical bulls and mechanical hogs. They even have a 30' outdoor movie system. They're known for the cleanest equipment, a friendly and professional staff, and creating events that will give your kids memories for a lifetime!
Peekaboo's
Altitude Trampoline Park 648 East Van Asche Drive, Fayetteville jumpaltitude.com/fayetteville
PAINTING WITH A TWIST 1401 SE Walton Blvd, Ste 111, Bentonville (479) 254-1997 1404 N College Ave, Fayetteville (479) 966-4222 paintingwithatwist.com You pick the painting from their library of over 7,000 paintings. Each party includes a fabulous instructor providing you stepby-step instructions. You have the room for 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after the class to decorate, mingle, and celebrate. Kids' parties require a minimum of 10 guests.
GUIDE PLAYSTRONG KIDS 3625 W. Chesnut, Rogers (479) 246-1040 • playstrongtherapy.com Parties include 90 minutes of exclusive rental of our gym or art area, and use of our birthday room to eat cake and open presents. We provide all the materials, including 1 dozen balloons, table cloths, plates, napkins, plasticware and drinks. All you need to do tell us what you want, show up, bring the cake, and we handle the rest! Even better, you don’t have to clean up afterwards.
Community Creative Center 505 W. Spring Street, Fayetteville communitycreativecenter.org Arkansas Razorback Women's Basketball Game https://tinyurl.com/y7bzcwvo (479) 575-5151
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 Hokey Pokey played in your child’s honor. BENTONVILLE COMMUNITY CENTER 1101 SW Citizens Cir Bentonville, Arkansas 72712 (479) 696-0200 www.bentonvillear.com
Have your child's birthday party at a Arkansas Razorback Women's Basketball game! Parties are just $100 for up to 10 children and 6 adults (additional tickets are $5 for adults, and $3 for youth). Parties include game tickets for 10 children and 6 adults, as well as 10 cupcakes and a special in-stand birthday visit by cheerleaders and mascots. There's a special gift for the birthday child, oncourt recognition with an announcement, and fun for everyone. Sign-up online by selecting the game you wish to attend at https://tinyurl. com/y7bzcwvo Every kid would love a pool party, but winter birthdays make it nearly impossible! Host your next birthday party at the Bentonville Community Center! Their pool party room is the perfect space for guests to enjoy games, cake, and fun! The zero depth entry pool features water slides, an adventure river, and play structures.
305 SE 22nd St. Bentonville, Ar. 72712 (479) 418-3116 infinitichildcare.com
Now Enrolling! Brand New, State Licensed Pre-K Program Now Taking Full and Part Time Enrollments!
Classroom
302 SE 22nd Street, Bentonville infinitichildcare.com
Peekaboo's
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ARKADIA RETROCADE 1478 N College Ave Fayetteville @ArkadiaRetrocade (479) 445-7844 Arkadia is the best-kept secret in NWA! A great party for kids and adults, and the perfect place for an 80's themed party! For a $5 entrance fee per person, you have access to any and all games inside, for as long as you like! PacMan, Donkey King, Frogger, Dig Dug, SpaceInvaders, Galaga, just to name a few! Rent the party room to enjoy pizza or cake, or to have a place to rest from the excitement!
FLIP SIDE NINJA 213 Grant Place - Lowell, AR 72745 479-856-3161 Flipsideninjapark@gmail.com flipsideninja.com Flip Side Ninja Park offers a birthday party experience like no other facility in Northwest Arkansas can. Your birthday ninja and friends get FULL access to the gym for an hour and 30 minutes.
INFINITI 305 SE 22nd St., Bentonville (479) 715-6840 www.infinitiathletics.com Nothing but a FUN Time for the kids, and we make it simple for the parents. Choose from one of our exciting packages--or, let us know if there is anything special you would like us to do, and we would love to design the perfect party to make your child’s party an experience to last a lifetime! Our options include: Superhero Party - Guests dress up as your favorite superhero and have a blast flying, jumping & bouncing around the gym! Nerf War Party - (Nerf guns & bullets provided) It’s Nerf War time through an indoor war zone set up for team play & open play! Bounce Party - Have fun bouncing through our Bouncy Obstacle course--or, for the younger ones, our tropical-themed bouncer and slide is a lot of fun! Movie Night Party - Bring your movie and we will project it on the big screen!
Party includes 1 hour of running obstacle courses and playing Ninja games without worrying about other parties or people getting in their way. The last 30 minutes are reserved for your Ninjas to refuel with food and birthday cake. All set up and clean up are done by Flip Side staff, so you don't have to worry about it. What to expect: We'll do our best to take the stress out of your birthday party prep. Our staff will decorate and set up everything for your party before everyone arrives. Once the party begins, our certified Ninja coaches will organize and supervise all of the activities to keep everyone safe and having fun! What we provide: All set up and clean up of the party necessities. This includes all tableware and decorations. All you have to bring is refreshments and cake!
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FARMLAND ADVENTURES 5355 Parsons Rd Springdale (479) 799-5033 farmlandadventures.com
MALCO THEATRES, INC www.malco.com What is better than a movie with your best friends? Birthday party room, party host, and tickets to the movie that include a drink and box of popcorn! You can even opt for a private screening to make your child feel like a true VIP.
Have a fall birthday? Let us host your birthday party or special celebration. Kids love the farm and animals. What better way to entertain your child and his or her friends than out in the open air and space of the country? At our location, the guests of your party will have their own table set up under our tent. They will have access to our Mini Maze and Kid's Corner - a play area just for kids. They will also be able to ride the ponies and have a chance to enjoy our petting zoo with each party package.
FAST LANE ENTERTAINMENT 1117 N. Dixieland St., Lowell 479-659-0999 • fastlanebowl.com Let Fast Lane Entertainment take care of all of your birthday party needs. Birthday parties at Fast Lane Entertainment are stress-free, with birthday party hosts that handle all of the set up and clean up. All of our birthday parties include plates, cups, napkins, forks, tablecloths, balloons, candles, drinks and pizza! All you need to bring is the birthday cake, the guests, and your camera to capture the unforgettable memories that will be made while celebrating your child’s birthday party at Fast Lane Entertainment.
SUP NWA 2003 SW Airport Blvd, Bentonville supnwa.com 479-426-3793 Birthday party on a paddle board? Yes, please! SUP NWA offers two types of packages. Each birthday party includes a 2-hour time slot with up to 10 people. There is a paddle boarding lesson, free swim, land games and time to eat cake and open presents (where parents supply cake and ice cream.) Make the most unique birthday party even more unique with the addition of a theme--think pirate, mermaid, luau, unicorns, etc.!
Here is the first picture of Emiliano and me, maybe a minute after his birth (he’s still grey!) We will be 4 and 35 our next birthday!
By Chelsea Hermez March 13, 2014 was my 31st birthday. I was 39 weeks pregnant, and that evening was going to be the first anniversary party of my flower shop, PIGMINT. I had my party outfit on, my hair and makeup done, but I never made it to my own party. After lunch, I started feeling crampy. I quickly finished payroll, then asked my husband to come pick me up. He pulled up in front of the building, but I had to go to the bathroom... and then my water broke all over the bathroom. All I could think about was that a hundred people were going to be there that night for a party, and I had just made a huge mess. So, I started cleaning the bathroom, all the while groaning like livestock. My husband was on the other side of the door, pleading for me to come out. Once the bathroom was clean, I opened the door, my contractions incredibly strong by this point. I went wailing through the flower shop. Luckily, just one regular customer was in the shop, and she said, “Uh... I can come back. I don’t have to have flowers right now.” Two employees led me to the back seat of my husband's car. I was on all fours, hugging my two-year-old's car seat. My first was a home birth, and I had planned a home birth for this baby. My husband called the midwife, Shawn House, to tell her we were 5 minutes from home. While he 50 February 2018
was on the phone, I was feeling a lot of pressure. He hung up, and I said, “Tony. Pull over. The head is out.” We were on Wedington Drive in Fayetteville, where there really is no shoulder. So, my husband quickly pulled half up on the sidewalk, half blocking someone’s driveway. Our son was born after one push, and 40 minutes of labor, at 1:00PM on my birthday, at the corner of Wedington and Sang in the backseat of our car. The baby didn’t cry right away, and, while I was thinking, "WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!" I could hear my husband saying, "Come on baby, come on baby..." over nothing but cars whizzing by. My husband cried like a little girl when our son finally started crying! My phone was in arm's reach, so I called the midwife to tell her what happened. She started laughing, which really eased my tension. We were blocks from the house, so I said we would meet her there. Tony handed me the baby (still attached) wrapped up in his sweater. My first thought was, "No one is ever going to believe this!" Since my phone was right there, I even snapped a selfie of the two of us! We pulled up to the house, and my mom and midwife pulled in right behind us. The midwife got me situated, and asked me if my husband wanted to cut the cord. He was pacing in the front yard, crying on the phone to his mom. I said, “I think he’s had enough for today!”
Dr. Dan Weeden
Dr. Lynn Davis
Dr. Joel Fankhauser
We are accepting new patients of all ages + We are board certified in both adult medicine and pediatrics We offer 30-60 minute appointments + Doctors and staff that will know you We offer same day appointments DIRECT PRIMARY CARE PLANS
SERVICES
We want your medical needs to be at the center of our new direct primary care practice. Therefore, we offer four simple subscription plans that enable you to pay a set amount each month, based on your age, that give you unprecedented acute and preventative care for all ages. As our patient of our direct primary care plan, you are able to email us, call us directly (and we’ll answer!) and even text us your questions. We also enjoy seeing you in the office on short notice and for routine clinic visits.
PEDIATRIC
Without the added complexity of accepting third party insurance, we deliver primary care much more efficiently.
+ Newborn and routine well childcare + Sports physicals + Care of any chronic pediatric illness + Coordination of care with pediatric subspecialists + Urgent and sick visits ADULT + Annual wellness, with yearly lab included + Routine gynecology care, with PAP (extra fee for path but can be billed to most insurance plans)
+ Management of chronic medical problems + Coordination of any specialty care needed + Urgent and sick visits
The Direct Care Clinic of Northwest Arkansas has been such an incredible resource for our family. We love the ease of scheduling appointments and asking medical questions and the way they check in on our family if there has been an illness. I was even able to text him from Zimbabwe to get medical advice when I found myself sick in a foreign country. The service Direct Care Clinic offers is invaluable to our family!!! - Jenny M
2104 S. 54th Street, Suite 4, Rogers, AR 72758 | (479)268-4504 | www.directcarenwa.com
By Christy Martin Let’s be honest, getting older offers plenty of surprises. There are those unexpected curve balls, like pulling a neck muscle after a good sneeze, and realizing a trampoline isn’t quite as easy and enjoyable as it was when you were a child. However, adding another year should be filled with FUN surprises, too! As my birthday comes around each year, I can’t help but get excited about all the BIRTHDAY FREEBIES offered from some of my favorite places! If you’re ready for a few birthday surprises of your own, here are my best BIRTHDAY FREEBIE tips:
Plan EARLY! Most birthday freebies require you to sign up for their rewards program or download their app. In some cases, it may take several weeks to receive your birthday coupon.
Be PREPARED!
Have your offer ready. Many employees may not be aware of their birthday offer. By having your coupon printed or the offer visible on your phone, you can avoid confusion and holding-up lines.
Read the small print. Some birthday freebies are totally free. However, others may simply offer a free dessert, or require you to make a purchase. It’s possible certain locations may choose not to participate, so it’s always a great idea to call before.
Plan the DAY! Make a list of your favorite freebies that are only valid on your actual birthday. Other great offers may be available during your birthday week or month. While you might enjoy a free pastry (Panera) and coffee (7 Brew or Starbucks) in the morning, an ice cream (Cold Stone) or smoothie (Tropical Smoothie) might be more enjoyable after school with a child.
Lastly, Have FUN and enjoy your special day! Here are just a few great spots in NW Arkansas that you won’t want to miss on your special day: 7 Brew Coffee, Firehouse Subs, Panera Bread, Starbucks, Red Robin, Wild Wing Cafe, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Denny’s, IHOP, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Edible Arrangements, Uncle Maddio’s Pizza, QDOBA and NOTHING bundt CAKES, Cold Stone Creamery, Bojangles, Arby’s, Atlanta Bread Co., Redbox, Sephora, Zaxby’s and plenty more! 52 February 2018
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† Zachary is a 2016 K12 student in Washington, D.C. and his statement reflects his experience at his s Zachary is a 2016 K12 student in Washington, D.C. and his statement reflects his experience at his school. Families do not pay tuition for a student to attend an online public school. Common household Families do not pay tuition a student attend online public school. Common items and officefor supplies like to printer inkan and paper are not provided. Ourhousehold enrollment consultant can h and office supplies like printer ink and paper are not provided. Our enrollment consultant can help address your technological and computer questions and needs. address your technological and computer questions and needs. †
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by: Jennifer Frank
Birth in and of itself is an amazing thing.
John and I lived in Kansas City, both worked in architecture but with different firms, and we both traveled a lot. It was completely normal for John to be in several cities in Nevada Ten years ago, my husband one week, and me in New Hampshire the next, and so on. John and I were a typical couple We understood each other’s anxiously awaiting the arrival of jobs so well and what each entailed, so we really only our first child. We chose not to trip told each other what city we find out the gender of our baby, would be in that night because so we were filled with extra the other details seemed unnecessary to keep up with. anticipation to meet our son or It was a system that worked for us for several years, and we daughter. never thought much about it. We made sure to talk every evening on our then “fancy”(but not 'smart') phones. After all, ten years ago, smart phones were not a thing yet. In fact, I had a super cool red flip phone, and John had a new model where the keyboard slid out. Yeah, that’s where phone technology was 10 years ago. When we were 5 weeks out from my due date, John scheduled his last trip trip out to the Phoenix office of his company before the baby, while I had already taken a break from traveling by this point. The day after he left, I went in for my 35-week appointment. The doctor was worried about the size of the baby (measuring large for 35 weeks) so she ordered an ultrasound. I looked at her and said “You shut your mouth with that kind of talk! My husband is out of town for two more days!” We laughed and moved on with the appointment, and I went on with my day. In fact, I went on a job interview- yes, a job interview at 35 weeks pregnant — and, no, I was not one of those women who barely had a belly bump!
It's a girl!... it's an addison! That night, I woke up around 2AM to go to the bathroom and noticed some things that were not normal. I assumed it was nothing, and went back to bed. After an hour of laying in bed without being able to fall asleep, there was no way to deny that something was not right. I called the doctor on call, and she had me come to the hospital. I wasn’t fe eling contractions, so I assumed it was all false labor. It was three in the morning, my husband was out of town, my sister lived 10 hours away in Texas, my mom was in Chicago for work, and I wasn’t about to wake up my in-laws at that hour for false labor. So, after stopping to get gas, I drove the 40 minutes to my hospital. Fun fact: your in-laws will never let you hear the end of it if you drive yourself to the hospital while in labor! The nurses all seemed confused as to why I was there by myself. I explained that my husband was out of town on business, and, yes, I had called him, but he wasn’t answering. And, yes, it was starting to worry me, but at the same time, I was sure there was nothing to worry about. At 6:30AM, I was extremely tired
and ready to go home and get some sleep. So, when the doctor came to check on me, I nonchalantly asked “So, do we know what’s going on?” After all, I had to be at work in a couple of hours! She looked at me like I was insane and said “Um, well you’re having a baby. So... that’s really all that’s going on.” Somehow, I just thought they were monitoring me. Keeping an eye on things. Turns out, I was in active labor, and they were monitoring my progression. She showed me the timing of all of my contractions on the computer, and was amazed because I had never felt a single one. I was in the middle of a sentence and she interrupted, saying, “You’re having a contraction right now, you really don’t feel anything?” “Nope. Not a thing. But can I go ahead and get my epidural, just in case?” And that’s when panic set in… I decided it might be time to start calling family and letting them know what was happening. Of course, I kept calling John over and over and over. His phone was now going straight to voicemail, and I was getting really worried. I had no idea what hotel he was staying in – and there are a million hotels in Phoenix. I never needed to know before now — does it really matter if he was at the Comfort Inn or the Holiday Inn in Cleveland? (Yes, in hindsight we should have always left flight and hotel information with each other… but we traveled so much, we just didn’t. Please don’t think we are bad people!) At 8AM I called the Kansas City office and enlisted the help of a friend who knew where most people stayed when they were out there. He called the hotel and, sure enough, John was there! He got through to John’s room and told him to call me ASAP. When John called I could tell from his voice that he had obviously still been asleep, so he was confused as to what was going on. He had fallen asleep the night before with the TV on and couldn’t hear his phone (the man can sleep through a parade — no joke). I called so many times during the night that I killed his battery, which is why it was going straight to voicemail... Oops. When I said he needed to get home NOW because the baby was coming, he snapped out of it and said he had to go call the airlines. He called back to say that he was on his way to the airport, and that he was on standby for the next flight back to Kansas City. Minutes later, he was on the plane headed home and told me to ‘just sit tight’ until he got there. (Sure thing, buddy. I’ll do just that.) But, as I am 'sitting tight,' I have the sudden urge to push. I call the nurse and she checks — yep, it’s go time. Because it's five weeks before my due date, they brought in all of the NICU equipment and nurses for premature babies. It was complete chaos. Just as they finished setting up my phone rang, and it was John. His flight got rerouted, and they had to touchdown in Denver. I said, “Hang on, I have to push.” I remember setting my phone on my chest, pushing through the doctor’s counts, and then picking the phone back up and asking him what the weather was like in Denver. John said “Um, weather is fine. Were you pushing pushing? Like, the real thing?” I said “Yep. Hang on, I have to do it again.” The next thing John heard was my doctor saying, “It’s a girl!” and then a baby crying. I picked the phone back up and said “It’s a girl! It’s an Addison!” John was so quiet. So quiet, I wasn’t sure if he was still even on the phone. Finally, he broke the silence. “They’re shutting
the doors and I have to get off my phone. I love you. I will be there as fast as I can.” He told me later that he was afraid he was going to lose his composure in front of all of those strangers on the airplane. He was so choked up he couldn’t speak, or else the flood gates would have opened. After the doctors and nurses had done what doctors and nurses do after a baby is born, they started clearing out of my room. Addison had been checked out and, though she was early, she weighed just over 6lbs and was completely healthy and fully developed. No need to go to the NICU. They wrapped her in a blanket with a little pink hat on her head, laid her on my chest, and then suddenly the room was empty. Everyone and everything was gone. It was me and this baby who I was SO excited for, and yet not prepared for — I mean, we hadn’t even bought the car seat yet. She opened her blue eyes wide and stared right at me (she’s always had a very intimidating stare!) as if to say, “Okay, so now what?” I looked at her and said, “Your dad is on his way. He’ll know what to do.” John raced into my room. He picked up his new daughter and, even now, after 10 years, I’m pretty sure he would still be carrying her around if she would let him. Since then, John has never traveled farther than 32 weeks into my pregnancies. He has always driven me to the hospital. He was there for the births of both of our sons. And he ALWAYS leaves very detailed itineraries for even a one-day trip.
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58 February 2018
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By Kelly Stamps
A
lmost eight years ago, I had the crazy idea to try to play matchmaker on my blog. After all, I had hosted a series for a while on Fridays called “Show Us Your Life,” where I had people link up posts showing everything from their home decor, to their favorite crockpot recipes, to their favorite vacation spots. I was half-joking with some of my single friends who said we needed to have a “Show Us Your Single Guys Day” and realized that maybe, just maybe, I could use my platform to do something fun. If people from all over read my blog, then maybe they knew some single people and we could broaden our horizon for my single friends. I honestly never dreamed it would work, but I thought it was worth trying. I asked people to write blog posts about their single friends or family members--or even themselves-and then link up to my blog post on a certain day - Singles Day. The idea was that readers could send their single friends to go through all the posts and, if someone caught their interest, they could make contact and see what happened. I held my breath, wondering if anyone would actually find someone. To my surprise, it worked. A couple met, dated, fell in love and married! They even sent me a wedding invitation. Over the last seven years, I have hosted Singles Day several times, and there are now twelve couples who have married! Twelve couples and 21 kids! Twelve families formed because they took a chance on meeting someone featured on a mom blog. It sounds crazy, but there are crazier ways to meet people, and these days internet dating is extremely common. It has hands-down been my favorite thing about blogging.
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Why have a platform if you can’t use it to connect or help people? One of the couples who met through Kelly’s Single Day is local to NWA. One of Aaron’s friends posted about him on Singles Day, and someone sent him Savannah’s blog. He started reading it, at first deciding she was too good for him, but he ended up finding her on Facebook, where they messaged back and forth and finally went on a date. They are PERFECT together, and were engaged in October 2011 in Wilson Park, and married on February 24, 2012. Today, after six years of marriage, they are the parents of Hudson, Millie Grace, and Annie Sutton, and Crosby will be here in June! Last year, I tried something new and started a private Facebook group for singles. You can find it under Kelly’s Korner Singles on Facebook. It has around 1,200 singles in it. I am planning one more Singles Day on my blog, though, before switching. If you are single, or know anyone who is single, visit my blog and link to a post about you or a friend. Or, if you're looking, come and read the profiles to see if anyone might be the person for you. On Friday, February 16th, it might be my last Singles Day, after all~ I would love to see six more couples meet and marry! You just never know where you might meet your soulmate! Even on a mom blog!
www.kellyskornerblog.com
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An Age-by-Age Guide By Meagan Ruffing February is National Dental Hygiene month which means it’s a great time to get your kids on board with learning how to brush their teeth and actually enjoying it. No more battling your kids to take responsibility for cleaning their teeth or going back and “doing it again.” These insider tips from a mom who has been there and done that will have you feeling prepared to tackle the tricky life-lesson of teaching your children how to take care of their teeth. Ages 0-2 It’s never too early to start cleaning the inside of your child’s mouth. For this age, when your child has not yet sprouted his first tooth use a damp washcloth to wipe his gums down after nursing or bottle-feeding. If your child has a few teeth, use a finger brush with a tiny amount (the size of the tip of a pencil) of fluoride-free toothpaste and do it yourself. Getting your children in the habit of cleaning their mouths is a great way to get them prepared for their very first visit to the dentist. Around your child’s first birthday is when your dentist will recommend doing a “Lap” exam for their first dental visit. This just means the child sits in your lap (facing you) and lays back with her head on your knees. The dentist goes knee-to-knee with the parent while looking at the inside of your daughter’s mouth. The exam is usually just a few minutes long and the dentist is checking for any signs of decay. Ages 3+ By now, your child should be seeing a dentist and brushing his own teeth with adult supervision. Buying a toothbrush with a smaller, softer head will ensure your child has the best toothbrush for his mouth. For the younger ages (3-5), using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste with fluoride in it will ensure your child is getting the protection he needs to keep his tooth enamel strong. To make the actual process of tooth brushing more fun, humming the “Happy Birthday” song is a
great way to get your child involved in the process. Doing this serves two purposes: 1.) Making sure your son is brushing his teeth long enough and, 2.) Keeping him engaged long enough to keep the toothbrush in his mouth. No promises that he won’t smile and laugh while doing this but that’s part of the fun. Flossing & Brushing Your child should be seeing the dentist every six months for regular check-ups following their 1 year exam. Flossing is encouraged even at this young age especially when kids are learning to do some basic tasks for themselves. Buying the kidfriendly floss sticks is much easier than trying to use the floss adults use. You can get all sorts of fun floss sticks that are colored, flavored and even character-shaped to help encourage flossing. If you see that your child is having a hard time with wanting to brush her teeth or brush them long enough to actually make a difference, try brushing your teeth with her. Grab your toothbrush and do it together. Kids are more likely to try new things and be encouraged to brush their teeth when they see that mom and dad do it too. Have a brushyour-teeth-a-thon and see who can brush them the longest. There will still be some children who just don’t want to brush their teeth. Try taking them to the store and letting them pick out their own toothbrush. Sometimes taking ownership and
making decisions for themselves is what strongwilled children want when they are starting to take on more self-care responsibilities. Go ahead and splurge on an electric toothbrush if you can. There are disposable ones for about five dollars with character-themed heads... or, if you want to go the fancier route, you can buy an actual spin brush from your dentist or at the store for about forty dollars (and up) where you replace the toothbrush head about every three months. You will be able to gauge where your child is at in his dental hygiene habits. Do what works for you and your family, and try not to get wrapped up in what your friends’ kids are doing. It can be easy to compare parenting styles, especially when it comes to when your child should start going to the dentist. Take the pressure off of yourself and follow these guidelines for a place to start with what works for you and your child. Call around to different dental offices to see what the best fit is for your child; word-of-mouth is often the best way to find the right dentist.
Special Needs If you have a child with special needs, look for dentists who specialize in this. Most kids get anxious about going to the dentist anyway, so, if you can find one who is sensitive to your child’s needs, you’ll be setting them up for a successful visit. Calling ahead of time and talking to the front office about what your child’s specific challenges are and asking if the dentist is familiar with working with children like yours, can take the worry out of the appointment for you as the parent. Even if your visit does not go as smoothly as you had hoped, you can always try another dentist. Teaching your children about keeping their teeth clean is a great way to introduce what it means to take care of their bodies. Don’t be afraid to tackle the tooth-brushing battle with your kids. They may surprise you at how well they can keep those teeth sparkling white.
Meagan Ruffing is a parenting journalist who likes tackling the harder parenting moments by talking about them. For more parenting tips, visit www.meaganruffing.com
SPO N SORED BY: myvillagesmiles.com
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The sight of a father crying happy tears in the delivery room always hits Alexis McCollum, M.D., in the heart. “That one will get you every time,” she says. Dr. McCollum, board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, recently joined the active medical staff of Northwest Health, practicing at Willow Creek Women’s Clinic. From a young age, she was very goal- and taskoriented, liked science and set her sights on working in the medical field. She thought at that time that she wanted to be a veterinarian. “I’m deathly afraid of snakes, so that was out for me,” she says. Dr. McCollum initially thought she wanted to be a pediatrician when she was in medical school. This changed during her third year rotation, when she decided she would rather be in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. “I fell in love with it,” she says. “Nothing else compared.” Dr. McCollum says the most important thing she can offer her patients is education on what is being done and why. She is a big proponent of women having autonomy over their own bodies, which is 64 February 2018
why it is important for her to help women arrive at the best decisions for themselves. A lot of her work is focused around the delivery of babies and recovery. Dr. McCollum said it’s fulfilling to see real-time end results with her patients. Dr. McCollum sees patients from the age of puberty and older. She treats routine and complex obstetric and gynecologic conditions including, prenatal care, pelvic pain, birth control, and abnormal bleeding. Outside of work, Dr. McCollum enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband have two daughters, four and six years old. Dr. McCollum received her medical education at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Ark. She then completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at the university.
Her practice is located at 4301 Greathouse Springs Road, Suite 100 in Johnson, and she is currently accepting new patients. For more information or to schedule an appointment, Call 479-757-1730 or visit NW-Physicians.com
Around
One of a Kind Collection
Town iNFiNiTi adds Pre-K In addition to their after school, school's day out and summer programs, iNFiNiTi now offers a pre-K program!
With low staff-to-child ratios, intentionally themed classrooms, 2800 sq. ft. gym, custom-designed outdoor playscape, and engaging and caring teachers, this new pre-K will be top spot for your little ones. Students will have the opportutnity to sign up for on-site cheer, dance, or tumble classes through Infiniti Athletics and transportation to Kumon Math and Reading Center after school. For more information visit infinitichildcare.com
Safe Exchange Zone The Fayetteville Police Department has had a safe exchange area, located in the parking lot and lobby of the police station, since May of 2015. This "Safe Zone" is geared toward making transactions arranged online safer, and can be used as a child exchange area if needed. Fayetteville residents can feel safe conducting business in a well-lit parking lot or in the lobby that is monitored with video cameras. The Fayetteville Police Department lobby hours are 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The parking lot is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We also want to give everyone a few safety tips while conducting transactions--feel free to ask.
Free National Park Passes
Have you heard of the Every Kid in a Park program? Every 4th grader gets a pass to see National Parks for FREE! Visit www.everykidinapark.gov to get your pass. 66 February 2018
Three small business owners, Selina Aguirre, owner of Rollie Pollie, Loria W. Oliver, founder of The Tot Tote, and Gloria Castaneda, owner of Lou & Moss have joined together to create a one-of-a-kind collection of Tot Totes. The Tot Tote is a travel organizer that can be worn as a backpack, held as a tote bag or used as a backseat organizer. The illustrations are created by Gloria Castaneda, and take inspiration from Selina's family, and life in the Ozarks. She takes traditional children's themes and making them more unique, special and creative. The #curiouslycurated collection includes four fun, detailed designs and can be purchased from Rollie Pollie at 112 E Central Ave, Bentonville.
Wheelchair Dancing
Kaleidoscope Dance Academy is now offering Wheelchair Dancing to all age groups. Dancers may be assisted or unassisted and any level of movement. We are so excited to expand our program of loving dance. These classes are offered at no charge to dancers. Join them on Thursdays and dance from your heart. www.dancewithkda.com
Downtown Siloam Springs Last month, Downtown Siloam Springs shared a Taste of Downtown with The Small Business Revolution team! The Hulu show will feature a small town in their next season... and Siloam Springs is in the top 10!
DEVELOPMENT MATTERS.
William Mahon, D.D.S., M.S., M.S., | Kathryn Rinehart, DDS | Ashley McDonald, DDS The journey to strong teeth and good health starts with a single visit. Your child’s first appointment, to be exact. Around their first birthday, or when their first tooth arrives on the scene, your child is ready to get to know us. And from that introduction will come years and years of smiles that just get bigger and bigger.
Early Dental Care
Space Maintainers
General Treatment
Nitrous Oxide for Children
Hospital Dentistry
Teething Consults
Dental Sealants
My Village Pediatric Orthodontics
Schedule a FREE well-baby check up today! 1909 E Central Ave, Bentonville, AR 72712 | 479-273-9302 | myvillagesmiles.com
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At a
Glance ARTS and MUSIC
Amazeum (Pg. 11) (479) 696-9280 Crystal Bridges (Pg. 34) (479) 418-5700 crystalbridges.org FIA Worldwide Entertainment Agency (Pg. 25) FIAworldwide.com School of Rock (Pg. 15) (479) 316-8288 Trike Theatre (Pg. 43) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org Young Chef's Academy (Pg. 46) (479) 401-2006 Wing Studios (Pg. 28) wingstudios.net
BANKS First Security (Pg. 59) www.fsbank.com; www.onlyinark.com
CHILDCARE/NANNY SERVICES ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 65) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com First Friends Preschool (Pg. 4) 479-636-3338 iNFiNiTi Pre-K (Pg. 45) infinitichildcare.com Mary’s Little Lambs Preschool (Pg. 69) (479) 273-1011
CLOTHING Mr. Tux (Pg. 31) MrTuxNWA.net Oh Baby Boutique (Pg. 27) ohbabynwa.com
DENTIST My Village Pediatric Dentistry (Pg. 67) myvillagesmiles.com Pediatric Dental Associates & Orthodontics (Pg. 61) (479) 582-0600
DERMATOLOGY / SKIN CARE Advanced Dermatology / Skin Care Center (479) 268-3555 (Pg. 65) NWA Center for Plastic Surgery (Pg. 2) (479) 571-3100 nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com Women's Health Associates (Pg. 71) whanwa.com
EDUCATION/TRAINING
Academic Math & Language Therapy (Pg. 13) (479) 253-3256 Aloha (Pg. 33) (479) 426-3419
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To advertise email: editor@peekaboonwa.com Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 63) ERCinc.org FIA Worldwide (Pg. 25) www.FIAworldwide.com K12 (Pg. 53) (877) 344-8785 New School (Pg. 5) thenewschool.org Rubalcava Jiu-Jitsu (Pg. 15) (479) 366-1897 Super Science (Pg. 40) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com Thaden School (Pg. 23) (479) 268-5321 Young Chef's Academy (Pg. 46) (479) 401-2006 Wing Studios (Pg. 28) wingstudios.net
FAMILY FUN / ENTERTAINMENT Amazeum (Pg. 11) (479) 696-9280 Arkansas Razorbacks Gymnastics (Pg. 61) ArkansasRazorbacks.com Crystal Bridges (Pg. 34) (479) 418-5700 FIA Worldwide (Pg. 25) www.FIAworldwide.com Flip Side Ninja Park (Pg. 49) flipsideninja.com Lokomotion (Pg. 36) lokomotion.com Starlight Skatium (Pg. 39) (479) 444-STAR Super Science (Pg. 40) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com ThomCo Productions NWA (Pg. 32) facebook.com/thomcoproductions Trike Theatre (Pg. 43) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org Wet Willy's Water Park (Pg. 48) therogersaquaticscenter.com Young Chef's Academy (Pg. 46) (479) 401-2006
FOOD / DRINK Fun City Pizza (Pg. 42) funcitypizza.com TCBY (Pg. 3) (479) 636-8229 (TCBY) WOW Bakery (Pg. 57) wowbakery.com
HEALTH AND WELLNESS Arkansas Children's Northwest (Pg. 70) ARchildrens.org/nyla Best Start (Pg. 19) (479) 575-9359 Direct Care Clinic (Pg. 51) directcarenwa.com Family Foot Health Center (Pg. 31) rogersfootdoc.com Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 58) fccare.org
To advertise email: editor@peekaboonwa.com Northwest Primary Care (Pg. 8-9) nw-physicians.com
JEWELRY AND GIFTS David Adams (Pg. 23) davidadams.com (479) 444-7778
LEARNING CENTER Academic Math and Language Therapy (Pg. 13) (479) 253-3256 www.amltherapy.com ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 65) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 63) ERCinc.org iNFiNiTi Pre-K (Pg. 45) infinitichildcare.com K12 (Pg. 53) (877) 344-8785 Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool (Pg. 69) (479) 273-1011
PEDIATRICIAN Direct Care Clinic (Pg. 51) directcarenwa.com Northwest Pediatric Convenient Care (Pg. 7) (479) 751-2522
NWA Pediatrics (Pg. 35) (479) 442-7322 Ozark Pediatrics (Pg. 29) (479) 544-9432
PHOTOGRAPHY Katie Cole Photography (Pg. 56) katiecole.com
THERAPY Academic Math and Language Therapy (Pg. 13) (479) 253-3256 www.amltherapy.com Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 58) (479) 524-2456
ULTRASOUND Baby Face & More (Pg. 38) (479) 270-7391
WOMEN'S HEALTH Parkhill (Pg. 53) Parkhillclinic.com Siloam Springs Women's Center (Pg. 12) (479) 524-9312 Women's Health Associates (Pg. 72) whanwa.com
To advertise and become a part of the Peekaboo Family email: editor@peekaboonwa.com
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70 February 2018
Now Offering Aesthetic Services Women's Health Associates is excited to now offer skin care services to look and feel your best! We offer medical-grade products and treatments including:
LATISSE | OBAGI VI PEELS | DERMAPEN MICRODERMABRASION DERMAPLANING This allows us to provide individualized, high quality care for each patient. We would love the opportunity to discuss your cosmetic and skin care needs. Initial consultations are always free.
Meet our Aesthetician Randi Saunders, LMA, CLT, PB
Randi is a licensed medical aesthetician, licensed permanent makeup technician and certified laser technician with over eleven years of experience. She received extensive laser training from the IMAJ Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona with the most advanced aesthetics curriculum in the nation. She has additionally been certified by the American Institute of Intradermal Cosmetic Arts and Sciences in Boca Raton, Florida. She also has advanced training in paramedical micropigmentation and permanent makeup.
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SE Plaza Bentonville, Akansas 2900 500 Medical CenterAve Pkwy., Suite 370 • Bentonville, Arkansas
479-876-8111 www.whanwa.com Our office is open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
500 SE Plaza Avenue Bentonville, Arkansas