January 2016

Peekaboo Free Magazine

Happy New Year!

Growing with the Gibsons An Adoption Story

The Family Behind the Voice Meet the Babers

Northwest Arkansas’ Family Magazine

Jan. 2016

(479) 935-9992

ozarkcca@gmail.com

The

PEEKABOO

Family

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

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

Addi simmons Associate Editor

Columnist

Kim and Jonathon with Holden, Grant and AVa Enderle.

Photo by Main Street Studios

contributing writer/Editor Frances Wilson

Distribution/ Circulation Joyce Whitaker Judy Evans Marcedalia Salinas

Ben Lacy Dad’s View

Columnist

Jeremy Whitaker Michelle Dodson

Peekaboo Publications

Veronica Zucca Story Design

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

Peekaboo Northwest Arkansas accepts writing contributions

Kristin Hvizda Dalai Mama

Columnist

Jennifer Cristofaro Events

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

Growing with the Gibsons: Our Update by: Lindsey Gibson

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Aubree: Our Update by: Audra Shaw

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Making Healthy Choices to Help Prevent Birth Defects

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New Year, New You with the Dalai Mama by: Kristin Hvizda

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FreeRide Studio by: Addi Simmons

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A Positive Spin: Meet Isa by: Brittany Smith

Carter: Our Update by: Diane Fowler What a Voice! by: Sarah Baber

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A Little Luck and a Lot of Love: Our Update by: Candace Peltier

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Pray for Ruth: Our Update by: Tiffany Hansen

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Going Local in 2016 by: Frances Wilson

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Dad’s View

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Obesity is a Disease in Which Arkansas Ranks Number One by: Northwest Health System

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with Ben Lacy

o n t h e c ov e r : Brooks, age 3.5 and Elliott Baber, My Child Has Been age 1.5. Children of Sarah and Diagnosed with a Disability, Barrett Baber of Fayetteville

Now What? by: Kate Lunsford, Elizabeth Richardson Center Zero to Four in Less than a Year by: Alex Fittin Imagine: A Child’s Adventure World by: Addi Simmons

10 January 2016

COVER PHOTO BY: MAIN STREET STUDIOS MainSt.Studios

Clothes by: 3 Monkeys Children’s Boutique, Fayetteville

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from the editor A look ahead: We are working to get a head start on 2016 so that our 9th year will be the best yet! If you have a story to share, or an idea for a story, please email editor@peekaboonwa.com February - Happy Birthday Peekaboo and Happy Birthday to You! - This is the time to showcase all the great birthday party hot spots across NWA. February is also our issue to share exciting birth stories! To be a part of this issue, email editor@peekaboonwa.com March - Spotlight on Non-Profits! We would love to include a story about the reason behind your organization, or a testimonial by someone who has been touched by your nonprofit. We want to continue to offer exposure, as well as give information and ideas for volunteering opportunities to the Peekaboo readers. Let us help inspire the Peekaboo readers by including a story of your nonprofit in our March 2016 issue.

W

elcome to 2016! It is surreal that we are already having to write “2016” at the end of the date. I am almost 100% positive that “2015” was much shorter than 365 days. It had to be, because it was over before we knew it!

I love everything that the New Year represents and all that it brings. Coming right out of the most magical time of the year and into the month that represents fresh starts - it is hard to have anything other than a hopeful and postivite attitude. It is also a time to set new goals and work toward accomplishing them all - big or small.

As I write this month’s letter, I am sitting in a line of cars waiting to pick Ava and a few of her classmates up for a field trip.

Also, in these few precious moments before they hop in the car, I am emailing community leaders and editing stories.

Being a parent means doing as much as humanly - or super-humanly - possible at any given time to ensure at least some of your to-do list gets done.

Difficult as it may be, I wouldn’t have it any other way. In addition to being a mommy to three children, I feel as though Peekaboo is like my fourth child.

I am so honored that I have been a part of sharing stories from families across Northwest Arkansas for the past 8 years!

I love that I get to cry with these families who share, rejoice with them, and celebrate with them as they open their hearts in the pages of the magazine. I am always so thankful to be even a small part of their amazing life journeys. Through these stories, many connections have been made and bonds have been formed among parents and children that will span far beyond a single issue, a season, or even a year.

Even though these families’ stories are only in print for a single month, readers are always curious to learn updates and new developments. That is why this issue is dedicated to updating you on the stories of a few memorable families we have met over the last few years.

I wish everyone a wonderful and beautiful 2016. The start of each new year is like receiving a giant gift, but you only get to unwrap just a tiny piece each day. With each of the 365 days, you get a little glimpse at what the year has in store for you. Then, at the end, you get to reflect on all that has transpired, good and bad, then look forward to yet another year!

I look forward with great anticipation to all that 2016 will bring with it.

Thank you for making Peekaboo a part of your family!

14 January 2016

Photo by: Ever After Portraiture

Our UPDATE:

Meet Martha Mabry Gibson Story by: Linds ey Gibson PHotos by: Stephanie He nderson Photography

Growing with the Gibsons Original story shared at: www.peekaboonwa.com/meet-parke-henry-gibson www.peekaboonwa.com/meet-bretton-james-gibson

Sometimes, the hardest periods in your life end up having the most purpose, showing you God’s hand so clearly that it makes all the struggle a little sweeter. The last thing I expected was to be writing another follow-up story to our first adoption of our precious Parke Henry, who was born in January of 2013. Parke was our first blessing through adoption, and we had no idea how he would change the story of our family in the years to come.

February 2013

16 January 2016

We were matched with Parke’s family through a local private attorney, and quickly fell in love with his birth mother and his squishy little face through ultrasound. Very soon after being matched, however, we found out that Parke had some complications with his heart. We pursued treatment and answers with the birth mother through ACH. While spending that extra time together, his biological mother and I grew very close. We found out that Parke’s complications were extremely serious, and he would likely not live any longer than two weeks. We prepared our hearts to bring him into our home, knowing that our time would be short, and planned to love him and keep him comfortable for any number of days God chose to bless our family with him. He ended

up being such a fighter, and lived an incredible 49 days. He was the sweetest baby with the craziest head of hair! Our older children, Landry (3 years) and Collier (17 months) were absolutely crazy about him, and if anything, he was over-loved during his short little life.

After Parke’s passing, we stayed in contact with the birth family as much as we could, but it was very sporadic. A few months later, we began moving in the direction of adopting again, this time through the state and expecting a much older child. We prayed God would make our path clear and bring us the specific child he wanted in our family. We told all of our friends that we were willing to adopt any child as long as it was not another Marshallese baby boy like Parke. We didn’t think our hearts could handle that. Well, God had a different plan in store for our family. The very day after we prayed that prayer, God did make our path clear.

We received a phone call from Parke’s aunt and ultimately ended up adopting our newest son, Bretton James, in the same year that we lost Parke.

He was a biological cousin to Parke, and every bit that Marshallese baby boy that we didn’t think our hearts could handle. Goodness, how we were wrong! He has brought so much joy, laughter and healing to our family. We saw so much purpose in God’s plan of us walking through the loss of Parke. If we hadn’t walked through that extremely difficult time with faith and created such a bond with his family, we would have never experienced the blessing of them allowing us to adopt Bretton into our family.

After Bretton’s adoption, we moved forward, experiencing a crazy 15 months of raising three young children. Things were wild and never glamorous, but my heart was content knowing that we were the exact family God planned us to be; perfectly imperfect and missing the one that was in Heaven. We were still able to talk about Parke openly in our home without it being a gloomy topic, because it always ended with us realizing that the blessing of Bretton came through that storm.

About 15 months after Bretton’s birth, my heart became restless again. I knew there was another child out there that was meant for our family, and I had a strong feeling that “it” was not an infant.

At that point, we started the process to adopt an older girl through DHS, and we moved forward with the trainings, home studies, and background checks that go along with adooption. We attended a state adoption event and inquired about several children during those months, but we encountered

Turn the page ...

Growing with the Gibsons timing. I could have never, in a million years, imagined that we would follow up our adoption and loss of Parke with adopting two of his biological cousins-one that even shares his same birthday!

Our UPDATE numerous setbacks and became discouraged. I knew in my heart that we were supposed to add to our family, and I was frustrated and sad that it was so hard to give a child a forever home. I shared on social media that we planned to adopt an older girl, plus a tiny bit about our process. Shortly after, the unexpected happened again. I received a message from another of Parke’s aunts asking if we would consider adopting their 18-month-old daughter, Martha. Initially, my heart was torn… I wasn’t sure if this was the path we were supposed to take. I felt like it was an amazing thing for Bretton to have a sister that was so close in age and from the same biological family, but I questioned whether this was the right thing for us. After all, we had been preparing for a teenage girl, not an 18-month-old!

As the birth mother and I continued to talk, she told me of Martha’s birthday… the exact date of Parke’s birth, one year later. She said she always felt like she was meant to be our daughter, but expected we would not take her as an infant, since she and Bretton were so close in age. She was right, of course--we probably would not have been up for twins two years earlier! After seeing our pursuit for another adoption on social media, she felt like it was the right time to ask. God truly ordained the

We told the birth mother we would be praying over whether this was right, and we set up a time for them to bring her over from Oklahoma a week or two later. Much (very much) to our surprise, they showed up in Arkansas with her two nights later. It was a dark, rainy Tuesday night, and they contacted us to let us know they were in town and had Martha with them for us to pick her up.

We picked her up directly from the birth parents and all four of us prayed over her and what her life would come to be. It was the most heartbreaking and joyous moment I have ever experienced, and I was feeling so many emotions that I can’t even capture into words how that felt. We decided in a very short time that we would like to name her Mabry, but we also wanted to keep her given name of Martha. We officially named her Martha Mabry, and our kids woke up the next morning with a new sister! She was the opposite of what we had prepared them for, and even after she was here for several weeks, they still called the bedroom we had set aside for a teenager “the new sister’s room.” I kept telling them over and over, “This IS the new sister--she is just much younger than we expected!”

Martha Mabry has been home for four months now. Her adoption was finalized in September. The weeks of transition have taught me so much about love, patience, and allowing a child to feel safe.

She is experiencing new things that I don’t even realize are new until we have a struggle. Escalators for example, are a huge fear. At church, one of her teachers told me how much she loved bubble time, and I realized that I didn’t know if she had ever seen bubbles before. I missed those 18 months, and I hadn’t had a chance to even realize that during the whirlwind of her entering our family!

I was hesitant to write this update with so

.. all four of us prayed over her and what her life would come to be. It was the most heartbreaking and joyous moment I have ever experienced..

much controversy swirling around Marshallese adoption at this time. There have been a number of issues in the area of adopting Marshallese babies and cultural differences of what “adoption” actually means. I am here to tell you, if it is done through love, prayer, and ultimately through the guidance of the Lord, it can be the most beautiful relationship. I am so thankful for the gift and the blessing that our Marshallese families have been to us over the past two years... Not only by blessing us through adoption, but by loving us as part of their family. Martha Mabry’s birth mother told me I am like her sister, and those words mean so much. We love their families deeply, and we look forward to having long relationships with them as our children grow.

Our family looks different. We get lots of looks, several smiles, and some really crazy questions.

Our story is very unique and not expected, especially when people find out how our family grew through such a devastating loss. I just can’t express enough how clearly we have been directed.

I can’t tell you how much I would not have chosen to have four kids 5-years-old and under for myself, but it is perfect. Messy, loud, chaotic, and crazy… but also full of love, laughter, smiles, and snuggles.

His plan is always, always better than mine.

www.peekaboonwa.com

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{ } The grace of God shines every day in the sweet smile of our almostrunning toddler.

Aubree

Our UPDATE

by: Audra Shaw

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little less than two years ago, my husband Derrick and I finally got to bring our 1 ½ year old daughter Aubree back home from an over 300 day pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stay at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), one of the only places in the country that specializes in a rare genetic condition she was born with. Aubree has a genetic condition call Jeune’s Syndrome that causes her ribcage to not grow with the rest of her body, restricting her lungs from growing and inhibiting her ability to breathe normally.

At the beginning of her PICU stay--initially due to complications from a cold--at just 10 months old, we had no idea that she would be in critical condition for so long. We knew that any cold or respiratory illness could be quite serious for any baby with Jeune’s Syndrome, and Aubree was no exception. Ultimately, after many failed attempts of Aubree breathing without a ventilator, she had to have surgery to place a tracheostomy, so that she could be connected to a ventilator--essentially a life-supporting breathing machine--continuously.

Aubree has had and continues to have surgeries every 4 to 6 months to expand her ribcage through Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium Ribs (VEPTRs), implanted on each side of her ribcage to force ribcage growth and to allow her lungs to continue to grow.

While all of this sounds overwhelming, which it can be at times, Aubree is doing amazingly well! She is getting stronger and healthier every

22 January 2016

April 2014

day! Even the breathing support she is getting from the ventilator has decreased tremendously, meaning she is able to contribute more to the breathing process than ever before. Since coming home from her lengthy, critical hospital, Aubree has accomplished and gotten to experience so many things! Through hard work, she learned to crawl, then walk with the assistance of a walker, and now walks independently. Just recently, she was able to jump off of the floor unassisted. Huge accomplishments for a toddler who was in critical condition and bedridden for almost a year!

Just as her physical development has flourished,

original story available at:www.peekaboonwa.com/?s=aubree her personality has, too! Aubree has been a total well-meaning or out of curiosity, these comments sweetheart, and continues to get sweeter and more often come out of a place of pity. Our view could fun by the day! Her daddy and I love getting to see not be more different. We know that Aubree is her experience life and take joy in it. Since coming blessed! God has spared her life on more than one home, Aubree has gotten to experience many occasion, allowing her to be a blessing to us and firsts: going to the park, attending church, going so many others around her. And, there is nothing to a water park, riding a carnival ride, riding in a wrong with her! Psalm 139:14 says, “I praise You, shopping cart at the grocery store, and attending a for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful half a morning a week of a Bible-based preschool, are Your works; my soul knows it very well.” Yes, as well as her first Christmas at home and not in Aubree needs help breathing, just as those with the hospital. Getting to experience all of these glasses need help seeing. Even though she needs everyday tasks with Aubree continually remind us help, she is wonderful and made perfectly! of how blessed we are, after having faced the grim reality of possibly not having our daughter with us We continue to praise the Lord for time as a family of three with our sweet daughter Aubree. Her on Earth during her most critical of times. daddy and I constantly talk about how awesome The grace of God shines every day in the sweet it is to experience life with Aubree, and how much smile of our almost-running toddler. We have joy she brings to our life. With all that might be been given the gift of a chance at life with her, and different from typical life with a toddler, so much we couldn’t be more thankful. Yes, life as a parent is still the very much the same. The laughter, can be stressful, particularly that of a medically excitement, messes, fighting naptime, picky complex child. We have added medical equipment eating, fun, and love are all there! We can’t wait that can be cumbersome to carry around. These to see what the future holds for Aubree, as she gets added medical accessories can also attract attention stronger and healthier as time goes on. The hope from those who don’t know Aubree or why she is that, with continued VEPTR surgeries, she will has tubing connected to her. This can sometimes be able to breathe independently and come off of garner comments and questions such as, “Bless the ventilator. However, we love her exactly the her heart” and “What’s wrong with her?” Whether way she is and trust God with the exact details of her future.

M a k i n g h e a lt h y c h o i c e s t o h e l p p r e v e n t b i rt h d e f e c t s Make a PACT for Prevention Plan ahead

Planning ahead encourages women and men to focus on their pre-conception health by taking steps now to protect the health of a future baby. Getting and staying healthy is incredibly important, as half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, and unhealthy lifestyles can be passed on to children.

Avoid harmful substances

Certain substances, such as alcohol, tobacco, and drugs can increase the risk for some types of birth defects.

Key messages Avoid alcohol There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, and lifelong physical, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities. These disabilities are known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).

Avoid smoking cigarettes Women who smoke during pregnancy place themselves and their unborn babies at risk for health problems, including premature birth.

Key messages Folic Acid Folate (folic acid) is a B vitamin that can help prevent major birth defects of the brain and spine. All women need 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day. A woman needs to start taking it at least one month before she becomes pregnant, and the entire time she is pregnant.

Medical checkup Get a medical checkup at least once per year.

Family planning Use birth control and make a plan for having children – or not having children! This is especially important if you are taking certain medications or using other substances, including alcohol.

24 January 2016

Avoid marijuana and street drugs A woman who uses marijuana or street drugs during pregnancy can have a baby who is born preterm, of low birth weight, or has other health problems, such as birth defects.

Environmental and Workplace Exposures Some workplace hazards, such as exposure to fumes or toxic metals, can affect reproductive health, the ability to become pregnant, and the health of your unborn baby.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Choose a healthy lifestyle

One of the best ways for women to prepare for healthy pregnancies and healthy babies is by adopting healthy habits before becoming pregnant.

Talk to your Healthcare Provider

Whether you are planning to become pregnant or not, talk to your healthcare provider.

Key messages Discuss all medications Taking certain medications before or during pregnancy might cause serious birth defects for your baby.

Discuss all medications, both prescription and over-the-counter

Talk about family history Collecting your family’s health history can be important for your child’s health.

Key messages Control diabetes Poor control of diabetes during pregnancy increases the chance for birth defects.

Reach and maintain a healthy weight Obesity increases a pregnant woman’s risk that her baby will have a serious birth defect.

Get mentally healthy Mental health is how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life. Everyone feels worried, anxious, sad, or stressed sometimes; however, if these feelings don’t go away, get help.

Prevent infections Some infections that a woman can get during pregnancy can be harmful to the developing baby and can even cause birth defects. Such infections can include sexually transmitted diseases, and vaccine preventable diseases.

Making a PACT to get healthy before and during pregnancy can help you have a healthy baby.

For more information, please visit www/cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/ prevention.html and www.cdc.gov/ preconception/showyourlove

The Arkansas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention 13 Children’s Way • Mail Slot 512-40 • Little Rock, Arkansas 72202-3591 email: ACH.ARCenter@uams.edu • Website: http://arbirthdefectsresearch.uams.edu • 1-877-662-4567

Newyear,new you The Dalai Mama

by: Kristin Hvizda

Deep thoughts (well not that deep) on life as a mom, wife, and transplant in NWA

It’s that time of year again; a time for new beginnings, a fresh start and an opportunity to inch towards becoming a better version of ourselves.

That’s right folks, ringing in 2016 isn’t just about toasting with a glass of champs, but an opportunity to begin anew. The New Year symbolically marks an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and begin living an improved way of life.

That’s why 50 percent of hopeful Americans will make a New Year’s resolution this year, but only about 12 percent (seemingly self-disciplined ninja warriors) will actually keep it. Why are New Year’s Resolutions so hard to keep? Why do we have the best intentions for self-improvement in January, but lose focus come February?

By far, the most popular New Year’s Resolution is to lose weight, or some form of adopting a healthier lifestyle. Where October, November, and December are months of overindulgence in candy, food, presents, and drinking; January is supposed to miraculously mark the beginning of reigning it all in and tempering our urges. So, while we may be nursing a hangover on New Year’s Day, we are also expected to be fostering an emotional and disciplinary shift in our awareness. Ironic, don’t ya think?

It makes me wonder about the bipolar nature of our culture. If “More! More! More!” is the motto for the months leading up to the end of the year, “Less! Less! Less!” seems to be the prevailing message come January 1st. Our resolutions of exclusion, such as “lose weight,” “quit smoking,” “give up sugar,” are in direct opposition to the gluttonous lifestyle we fostered over the holidays and many times throughout the year. You want it? Buy it! You want a second piece of cake? Eat it! More wine? Yes, please! All of a sudden we are supposed to act in a moderate way?! We are supposed to tell ourselves “no” instead of constantly appeasing the Veruca Salt internal monologue of, “I want it now!” No wonder 88 percent of us are failing to keep our New Year’s resolutions! “No” doesn’t seem to be in the American vocabulary.

Perhaps we fail at our resolutions because we are going about it all wrong. Maybe we’d be more successful if we didn’t go so overboard in other times of the year. Our propensity to indulge our every whim may be the very thing that holds us back from reaching our selfimprovement goals.

Perhaps, “moderation” should replace the implicit American principle of “everything.” Limiting ourselves after we’ve been living a life of excess takes discipline and willpower, and if we haven’t been practicing those behaviors, it can be quite difficult to make the shift when the calendar strikes January 1st.

Here are some ways to improve your odds of sticking to your New Year’s Resolution this year: 1. Flex your discipline muscle Start with small goals that you can easily achieve and work your way up. Build the confidence that you can follow through with your goals and keep challenging yourself a little more every day. Tell yourself you are going to do something and (here’s the catch) actually do it! When you master the baby steps, you can start making larger leaps.

2. Come from a place of “Yes” If possible, reframe your resolution from something that you are giving up to something that you are adding to your life. Instead of “I will limit my sugar intake,” your resolution could be “I will choose fresh fruit for dessert.” You know what your overall goal is, but framing it as positive instead of negative will do wonders for your psyche.

3. Don’t overdo it Typically I have a laundry list of resolutions that I have every intention of implementing, but end up failing miserably because my goals were too lofty. Do yourself a favor.

Make one resolution and keep it simple. Unrealistic goals and expectations could be the number on reason people give up on their resolution.

Instead of “I will limit my sugar intake”, your resolution could be “I will choose fresh fruit for dessert”.

4. Be specific Instead of your resolution being “adopt a healthier lifestyle,” specify what that means to you.

Choose one thing that you will concentrate on for the year that will have the biggest impact and create a plan. What are you going to do specifically, how are you going to do it, and what ways will you use to measure your progress throughout the year?

This resolution needs to be executed with military precision.

The more you plan, the easier it will be to accomplish. Think of it as a business plan for your life. Put it on paper and hold yourself accountable.

5. Expect setbacks and plan for them Chances are, we are not going to be able to harness the same motivation and enthusiasm for our New Year’s resolution throughout the entire year. Expect that there will be times that you are stressed or discouraged and will want to throw in the towel; how are you going to push forward? Most of us have a hard time sticking to our resolutions because they seem arbitrary and/or non-essential. Perhaps framing our resolution in terms of why we want this change in our lives and how this change will affect us, will increase our persistence in times of stress. In addition to your New Year’s goal of “run five miles a day,” include what impact this could have on your life. “I will have more energy to play with my kids. I will feel more confident. I will be healthier, live longer, and get amazing runner legs.” If the prospect of runner legs doesn’t motivate you, I don’t know what will.

6. The Road less Traveled Changing a habit requires us to create a new neural pathway in the brain. How do we create new neural pathways in the brain? Not by simply stopping an old behavior, but by replacing it with a new one. So, if your goal is to quit smoking and you always smoke on your drive home from work, you’ll need to replace it with a new behavior. Otherwise, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Without a new activity to replace the old one, the memory of smoking on your drive home will haunt you down and make you it’s -itch (with a B).

Self-improvement isn’t instant or immediately gratifying. Usually it feels worse before it feels better, but if you can persevere through the uncomfortable part, you will be richly rewarded.

7. “Want to” instead of “have to” Remember this resolution is a choice you are making for yourself. This is not an obligation or a duty. Framing your resolution as something that you want for yourself, that is important to you and is something that you value, exponentially increases the likelihood of succeeding.

8. Slow and Steady Know where you’re going, and take strides to get there. It will take time to change a habit. Although we are accustomed to instant gratification, changing oneself will not happen overnight. Don’t get discouraged, and stay on the path. Let go of the “all or nothing” mentality and remember that even if you slip up, you can still achieve your goal.

It’s not perfection we are striving for, but progress.

I see why New Year’s Resolutions have become a tradition in our culture, but I also see how keeping them has gotten more difficult. Our cultural climate has changed, and each generation is getting a little more self-indulgent. Pair that with the instant gratification of the technological age and you have a recipe for disaster as it pertains to self-improvement.

Self-improvement isn’t instant or immediately gratifying. Usually it feels worse before it feels better, but if you can persevere through the uncomfortable part, you will be richly rewarded (or so I hear.)

This year, harness your motivation for change and remember the only person standing in your way is you. If it is important, you will find a way; if not, you’ll find an excuse.

www.peekaboonwa.com

29

FREERIDE

indoor cycling - barre studio

By: Addi Simmons If you are looking to shake up your current workout routine and are ready to push yourself to new limits while actually having fun, check out Freeride Studio in Bentonville.

Freeride Studio, which opened in May of 2015, was welcomed with open arms in Northwest Arkansas as a way to diversify a normally mundane, although rewarding, exercise – indoor cycling. At FreeRide Studio, clients have the opportunity to strengthen their entire body through spin and barre classes.

That’s right--these spin classes not only work your lower body, but also include core training and an arm section with weights.

“Whether you are on the bike or at the barre, all of our classes are designed to work the entire body,” Freeride Studio owner Betsy Soos said.

Although the classes are driven to challenge you, don’t shy away if you’re a beginner. The choreography is specifically designed for all levels, with different adjustment options available to make classes more or less challenging. The goal is to push your body as far as it can go, not keep up with anyone else’s pace.

“There are modifications that we can give participants in class that will keep our classes challenging every time they come, so there’s no limit. We can go from very beginner all the way to advanced in a given class with slight adjustments or modifications,” Soos said.

Another aspect that is great for beginners is the atmosphere of the indoor cycling studio. The studio is completely in the dark, illuminated only by blacklights with an advanced sound system playing heart-pumping jams throughout the class to keep you motivated and having fun.

“We like to call it a party on a bike,” Soos said. “I tell new people hesitant to try it, to ‘wear black and no one will see you.’

It’s a little less intimidating for new riders to come into a dimly lit studio.”

However, what makes Freeride Studio truly unique is the barre classes that it offers in addition to spin. Barre incorporates ballet techniques so that clients can get a less rigorous, but just as intense, workout. The classes not only include workouts using the barre, but also stretching techniques, which are essential to building muscle properly.

Soos said there are influences of both pilates and yoga in their stretching. The clients will work the targeted muscle at the barre until they reach fatigue and then stretch the muscle back out to elongate it.

“That’s how you get that dancer’s body, by doing small movements that are really designed to reach deep in the muscle to break down those muscle tissues. Then we stretch it all back out to repair those fibers,” Soos said.

The barre choreography is specifically designed to work in sections to ensure that you’re

getting the most out of your workout. Soos said there are also options catered to any sensitivities you may have, and even to help repair those issues.

In addition to energy-filled, challenging classes, Freeride Studio also offers free child care services for morning classes Monday through Friday and

“I had the opportunity to check out some of the country’s best studios, and while I was there I just thought, man, Bentonville needs this experience,” Soos said. “I wanted to bring that big-city experience to small-town Bentonville.”

“We have a lot of variations, so if a client comes in with any hip or back issues, we can tailor to that client’s needs and find movements that will help rehabilitate those areas,” Soos said.

Soos, a fitness enthusiast herself, spent time traveling all over the world and taking different spin and barre classes, which not only sparked the idea for her to open a studio in Bentonville, but also enabled her to incorporate techniques from the studios she has visited and bring them into her own classes.

a wide-range of athletic wear, including technical apparel brands like Onzi, Alo and Spiritual Gangster.

As for the future, Soos plans to expand the Freeride Studio business model into other metropolitan regions similar to Bentonville. Already, there are plans being implemented to put a second location in Fayetteville in the second half of 2016.

For more information on Freeride Studio, visit freeridestudio.com or call (479) 802-6245.

www.peekaboonwa.com

33

A positive spin m

eet Isa

by: Brittany Smith

O

ne of the quotes I think about often is “A negative mind will never give you a positive life.” I try to think positively daily, and I try to see the best in everyone and in every situation.

Lately, it’s been hard. Let’s face it--it’s hard to remain positive when we have so many things that are negative going on in the world. As a high school senior, I have listened and watched as the world around me has exploded with bad news, such as stories of refugees and terrorism.

Less than a year away from casting my first vote, I have also witnessed a presidential election full of name-calling and negativity.

In an attempt to focus on what is good in the world, I decided to write about young people who bring positivity to the world, specifically those who uplift others and spread joy. The first person who came to mind is the most radiant person I have had the privilege of meeting this year, Andrea Isabella Perez, or “Isa” as she is called by her friends and family.

Isa inspired me. She possesses joy and gratefulness that touches everyone. According to her teachers, the experience of living with Cystic Fibrosis has been a journey for all of her classmates. The students read books about CF and, on days when Isa could not participate in activities, or the few times she was in Children’s Hospital, her classmates have rallied around her. Isa is known at school as a hard worker who wants to live life to the fullest, and expects to be treated like any other kid.

Isa is a student at Helen Tyson Elementary in Springdale. She is poised for her age, with a beaming smile and gorgeous brown eyes. I met Isa when she received the greatest surprise of her life, a trip to Disney World from the Make A Wish Foundation. I was one of the students who, under the guidance of our amazing sponsors Cindy Whitaker and Tracy Reed, got to help raise $5,000 for the trip. We were able to surprise Isa by inviting her to a pep rally under the guise of being selected as the most spirited student at Tyson Elementary, then rolling out a red carpet and having Disney princesses appear as confetti fell, and she was told she would be going to Disney World. We all felt an enormous sense of accomplishment and joy for Isa. The project changed my life and was one of the happiest events of my high school career.

Brittany: Lets get the basics out of the way, What is your favorite book?

34 January 2016

I sat down and chatted with Isa about her trip and and what is most important to her in life in an effort to find what makes her so positive and joyful despite a tough situation. She explained to me that friendship is what matters.

Isa: Snow White!

Brittany: Your favorite movie?

Isa: Tangled!

Brittany: What is your favorite color?

Isa: Definitely pink.

Brittany: How surprised were you to get a trip to Disney World?

Isa: Oh, I was so surprised! It was a total secret.

My cousins came down from Chicago to see what happened, to see the look on my face.

That was the best part, just having my family there, and then I found out I was going to Disney World! I did not know, not one hint.

Brittany: What was the best part of the trip?

Isa: That my family got to go, my brother and

my parents, and seeing Snow White and the castle. Snow White is my favorite.

Brittany: You look a little like Snow White.

Isa: Once my mother brought me a Snow White dress from a trip to Mexico, and it was my favorite present ever.

Brittany: What is something interesting about you?

Isa: I have this lung issue, I have CF, it’s short for Cystic Fibrosis. I have to cough everyday to clear my lungs.

Brittany: Is that hard on you?

Isa: Sometimes. I don’t like it, but I have to do it.

Brittany: What is it that gets you through tough times?

Isa: Definitely friends! They make you laugh and act crazy, they hug you and stick with you.

When you know you have friends you can get through anything.

Brittany: Well, you have a lot of friends here in Springdale.

Isa: I do! It’s my favorite place, except for maybe Disney World.

Do you know a young person with an inspirational story to share? If so share with Peekaboo by sending us a tip at editor@peekaboonwa.com Brittany Smith is a senior at Springdale High School a member of DECA who recently started her own photography business. Brittany plans to major in journalism at the University of Arkansas.

Brittany is interested in documenting the everyday life of people with extraordinary spirit, which she believes is all around us.

carter Nev

when there’s very little we can do to prevent it. My heart breaks time and time again, because a child should not suffer from something so preventable.

er Shake a Baby by: Diane Fowler

Our

G

Update

od gave us our biggest blessing five years ago, when Carter, who is now legally our son, came to us through foster care.

Carter is a hero in every sense of the word--once a victim, now a strong survivor. Carter was shaken by his biological dad when he was a tiny 5-weekold baby, and became a victim of the entirely preventable Shaken Baby Syndrome, or SBS. He was simply crying, as babies do, and his dad got very, very angry, and shook him so hard that it caused permanent damage. Carter is six years old now, and hasn’t been shaken since, but he has serious life-long injuries from those few seconds it took to shake him.

Our life with Carter is very blessed. In reality, it’s also very hard. We are constantly fighting with our insurance company to get Carter the equipment and therapy he so badly needs, which is incredibly stressful. Many times, our pleas are denied by insurance, so we’ve had to get creative. Fundraising has, unfortunately, become an absolute necessity in order to get the funds to purchase Carter’s alltoo-necessary equipment. It’s very difficult for us to ask for help in this way, but, as a parent, I would and will go to whatever lengths I need to to get my son the help he deserves. The financials of all this are definitely taxing, but the toughest part of our reality is having to watch Carter hurt and struggle

Carter has made big improvements in certain areas, but in others I see the hope dwindle away the older he gets. One of my biggest hopes is that Carter will eventually get head control. He can hold his head up right now, but his movements are very random, and he can’t sustain them for very long. Additionally, I would love to see Carter be able to bear weight on his legs. As he grows, this would be a tremendous help to me during transfers. Now, he is 42 pounds and 44 inches tall, but he feels twice as heavy, as I need to lift him and move him literally everywhere he needs to go.

I definitely worry sometimes about what I would do if my back gave out. I pray every day and ask God to keep me healthy and strong so that I may take care of HIS child.

As of right now, Carter stands in a ‘stander’ for an hour each day, which is helping build up strength in his legs. Being in the stander also helps with Carter’s hip issues. Carter’s left hip is 50% out of the socket. The more he can stand on his legs, the better the chances that we can avoid a very major surgery that is often required on children who are non-weight-bearing.

Carter also has cortical vision impairment, leaving him legally blind. His ophthalmologist did put Carter in glasses about two years ago. as he feels Carter may see shadows, and the glasses may help to define what Carter sees. Since Carter is nonverbal, it is very difficult to assess exactly what he can see. We can definitely tell he knows the difference between light and dark, but beyond that we may never know. He wears a patch over one of his eyes each day for four hours., which helps to strengthen the muscles in his eyes.

Carter continues to have painful muscle spasms and such severe reflux that he often chokes. As a mother, this is so very hard to watch because I feel so helpless. Despite all we do to help Carter with his therapies and medication, the spasms and choking still happen. He continues to get fed by a feeding pump for 18 hours a day. Carter more than likely will never be able to have food or drinks by his mouth.

Because of all of this, Carter has many hours each week of speech, occupational and physical therapy.

I feel very blessed because we found a truly wonderful developmental daycare that Carter attends while I work. He gets excellent nursing care, and all of his therapies are given while he is at daycare. Carter will be in public school next year, however, and all this will change. We will have to start getting his therapies outside of school, which

Despite all of the hardships and struggles that Carter has each day he is a very happy child.

We strive to do things that allow Carter to enjoy life in ways that he can. means lots and lots of trips back and forth to and from therapy.

Carter also takes as many as 14 scheduled doses of medication each day. The medication helps with his tight muscle tone, painful spasms, choking issues, seizures and stomach issues. He also continues to get painful Botox shots every 3 to 4 months. The Botox is very beneficial in reducing the stiffness in Carter’s muscles and the painful spasms.

Carter is and will always be 100% total care. This is the simple reality for many babies and young children that are shaken. Carter’s life, the life he was born to have, was stolen from him on that day.

Lately, Carter has been very sick and has been in the hospital twice since October. He is doing better now, but still needs lots of prayers as he continues to fight his current illness.

As his mom, it hurts my heart very much to see and know how many struggles Carter faces each day. But, I know that this is Carter’s life, and the only life has ever known. Despite all of the hardships and struggles that Carter experiences each day, he is a very happy child. When I see his big huge smile and hear his contagious giggles, I know he is happy... And that makes me very happy. We strive to do things that allow Carter to enjoy life in ways that he can.

Things that make Carter especially happy are: when his big brother Artie plays with him, when he hears other children laughing, and sitting on his mom’s lap, getting lots of snuggles.

Certain random sounds can cause the most amazing giggle fits! He really is the most precious child!

He is loved so much by our large

www.facebook.com/carterslawlovemedontshakeme extended family, friends and people all over the world through Facebook.

Carter’s Facebook page has over 62,000 followers from every state in the U.S. and 17 countries worldwide. Such an impact this little boy is making!

God is a merciful God, and Carter’s suffering is not in vain. I have received the most amazing messages of how Carter’s story helped a parent have more patience with their child. I have even been told that, as a parent became increasingly frustrated with their child, Carter popped into their head, causing them to stop, immediately hug their child, and just cry thinking of what COULD have happened.

Carter’s story is being told all over the world. We thank everyone who has shared hist story for this.

We are amazed at how much awareness of SBS is spreading because of our sweet little boy!

Carter’s Law is raising a lot of awareness in Arkansas specifically. Junior high and high school students are being educated in many parts of the state. Daycare facilities, hospitals, birthing centers and health departments, as well as doctors’ offices, are all required to educate their clients on shaken baby syndrome.

Did you know that between 1400 and 1600 babies die or are left severely injured for life every year?

SBS is 100% preventable. The number one way to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome is to raise awareness about normal crying is, and how to have a plan for what to do if you feel frustrated or angry with your baby. The first thing to do is: put the baby in a safe place and walk away. Check on the baby every five or 10 minutes until you are calmed down. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Babies don’t die from crying, but they will die or be severely injured if they are shaken. Never shake a baby!

Original Story available at: http://www.peekaboonwa. com/carters-law/

July 2013

CALENDAR • 2016 Weekly Activities: ROGERS FUN & GAMES Closes January 10 at the Rogers Historical Museum Don’t miss your opportunity to explore the history of golf, roller skating, bowling, tennis, and swimming in Rogers through objects from the museum’s collection and private collectors.

Ice Skating Lessons Lawrence Plaza - Downtown Bentonville Group Ice Skating Lessons Register online www.bentonvillear.com Join us at Lawrence Plaza to learn how to ice skate! Learn techniques to skate faster, smoother, and other skating skills.

There are classes available for all ages. All ability levels are welcome. Come celebrate the winter season with us and learn fun new skills!

Session 2: January 2nd-January 18th Age Requirements: Level 1- 3-5 year olds, Level 2: 6-15 year olds, Level 3: 16 plus Choose your class time: Mondays from 4:30pm-5:00pm or Saturdays from 9:00am-9:30am, 9:30am-10:00am Homeschool Friday Fun (Ages 5 to 8) » Picturing a Story Crystal Bridges Friday, January 8, 15, and 22, 2 to 3:30 pm Examining character, plot, and setting, our teaching artists will guide you in using our permanent collection to inspire your own stories and artistic creations. $45 for 3 sessions ($36 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

Preschool Art Class » Texture Crystal Bridges Wednesday, January 13, 20, and 27, 1 to 2:15 pm Get a feel for texture! Use mixed media to create art that can be touched. $30 for 3 sessions ($24 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

Fridays:

Creative Movement Class at Little Giggles in Bentonville 10:30 am FREE with admission to the playground ($8.50 + tax for first child, $6.50 + tax for siblings of first child, unlimited play all day!) Music can be enjoyed by children of all ages Dancing and movements best for children aged 18 months 5 years Miss Elise helps foster a love of music, dancing, and healthy exercise in young children by guiding them through a series of simple but enjoyable stretches, dance moves, and other fun actions. Movement and learning with props, such as streamers, shakers, and drums. Ends with parachute game and story time. This is a parental/guardian involvement class.

Saturdays:

Storytime at Barnes and Noble, Rogers and Fayetteville 11:00 a.m.

January

Library story times:

Bentonville Public Library: bentonvillelibrary.org Fayetteville Public Library: faylib.org Springdale Public Library: springdalelibrary.org Rogers Public Library: rogerspubliclibrary.org Siloam Springs Library: siloamsprings.com

Special events: Thursday, January 7

spa810 Grand Opening in Fayetteville spa810 - N. College and Milsap between Gloss Nails and Zoe’s Kitchen 4-8pm Big Discounts, valuable giveaawys, free chair massages and eyebrow waxing, food and beverages provided by Zoe’s Kitchen

Friday, January 8

Family Game Night Community Building Siloam Springs 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Free event. Participants will have the opportunity to play BINGO and a variety of board games. This event will be a fun time for all ages. Refreshments will be served. Come join us for a great time of family entertainment.

Saturday, January 9

Story time with Miss Sarah Museum of Native American History 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM www.monah.us/index.html Story time will feature Native American Folktales, animal books and much more! Free and open to the public. For more information about story time, please contact The Museum of Native American History, 479-273-2456, monah202@gmail.com.

Thursday, January 14

Preschool Playdate » Shapes!

11:30 am - 2:00 pm Crystal Bridges Circles and rectangles and squares, oh my! Enjoy art projects, story time, and creative play inspired by the shapes around us. Preschool Playdate begins with a live performance in the Great Hall. Free, no registration required.

Saturday, January 16

Wonder Of Winter Wildlife Hobbs State Park Celebrate the Wonders of Winter Wildlife at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area! Cure your cabin fever with this spectacular winter event! Activities and crafts for the whole family will be going on throughout the day!

www.peekaboonwa.com

41

by: Sarah Baber

The family behind Barrett Baber’s journey on the biggest singing competition in the world “Girl, you’re looking fine tonight, and every guy has got you in their sight…”

By the time this lyric was sung, four of the biggest stars in music had pressed their buttons to their chairs around for my husband, and our lives as we had known them were changed!

It was late June 2015 and I had flown with my two young children, Brooks (3) and Elliott (1), and my mother-in-law, Janie, to Los Angeles to watch Barrett’s blind audition for The Voice Season 9. The road to that moment was an interesting one.

Our dear friend, Luke Wade, was a contestant on The Voice’s Season 7 and made it to the Top 8. Luke didn’t take home the trophy, but he did make a name for himself and found the show to be a valuable springboard for his career. At Luke’s Me, Barrett, Brooks, and Elliott urging (and in a raging snow storm in February), AT THE BLIND AUDITIONS on Barrett drove to Oklahoma June 26-30th. We City to audition. A few had not seen him weeks later, he was asked for 3 weeks before to come to LA for the this and Elliott “Blind Auditions” that the had just turned 1 show is so well known for. the week before.

44 January 2016

Janie and I found ourselves in LA, at 8:00 pm with two tired and cranky kids on our hips, waiting nervously in a sound stage with Carson Daily for Barrett’s song to start.

Barrett had been writing songs and performing all over Arkansas for 15 years and had seen some success, but he was still searching for the “break” needed to make music his career. The moment I saw Adam Levine’s face, I broke into tears.

It didn’t matter how many chairs turned after that, because all we needed was one.

By now, you know how this story ends. Barrett chose Blake Shelton as his coach, delivered some incredible and emotional performances, and on December 15th he took home third place.

That was just a couple weeks ago, and I still can’t believe the journey we’ve been on the last 6 months. We spent weeks apart, with Barrett

other that this schedule wasn’t forever--it was only for a few weeks. We could do anything for a few weeks!

I realized during our journey on The Voice that it was similar to raising a family. It’s hard!

You don’t sleep much. You have to work long days and sometimes it even feels like a grind. But, in the end, there is such amazing joy, pride and satisfaction awaiting you.

Much like Barrett’s time spent on The Voice, “just making it through” is the win! Sometimes that’s all we as parents can do… just make it through today to put a mark in the win column.

The third time, we took the kids with both in-laws Mark and Janie. This show was the cut rounds from 12 down to 11, Barrett sang Richard Marx Right Here Waiting

THIRD PLACE ON THE VOICE! in LA for the entire month of August, and then again for six weeks straight from October until the finale. When the live rounds began in November, I flew to Los Angeles every Sunday and flew home every Wednesday. Once, I even took both kids out there by myself for literally 48 hours--not my best decision. Any of you who’ve flown with children know what I mean, and if there’s a layover… forget about it. My mother-in-law and I took the kids to LA two more times during the show, and I’m so glad we did. They needed to see their daddy, and he probably needed to see them even more. Barrett has said it time and time again that his number one job in life is to be a good husband and father. It’s not lip service.

Being separated from his kids for so long was incredibly hard on him. Even though we Face Timed every day, he needed to hold his babies and remind them they still had a daddy who was insanely crazy about them.

While sometimes glamorous, The Voice requires some serious dedication--not just from the contestants, but also their families.

I watched my husband work 18-hour days alongside hundreds of crew members and production staff. We had to focus intensely on our communication and mindset during the show. In truth, there were moments when we asked ourselves, “Is this worth it?” or “Should we be putting our kids and ourselves through this?” Eventually, we always reminded each

My kids may not remember one second of The Voice Season 9, but I will never forget it-when Elliott yelled out “Dada!” after one of Barrett’s performances, and Adam Levine turned to us and said “That’s right girl, your daddy just killed It!” Or the time Blake Shelton told Brooks he looked “so cool” in his vest... Or when our sweet girl clapped in her sleep for Barrett after he sang Silent Night in the finale. My husband came in The night of the finals!

3rd place in the biggest singing competition in the world, and when those chairs first turned around, I will never, ever forget the feeling I had that something amazing was about to happen in our lives. My father-in-law’s famous saying is “Son, hard stuff is never easy.” While it may be a running joke around our house, it’s really very true. It’s true for chasing your dreams as a family, and it’s certainly true for parenting. It’s not easy… but it’s more than worth it.

www.peekaboonwa.com

45

Our UPDATE:

I

t has been 2 and a half years since we found out we were expecting twins--two years since those all-too-true words from our ultrasound technician, “You guys hit the jackpot!” were uttered. Flash forward to today, as the twins, Brooks and Carson, just turned two in November, and our sweet daughter, Ashlyn, will be four years old in February. Suffice to say, it has been a wild, busy, crazy, exciting and exhausting ride!

As I look back on the twins’ first year, I feel a true sense of accomplishment that we survived. Throughout all the insane sleep

story by: Candace Peltier photo by: Lazer Lee Photography

deprivation, busy-ness and numerous challenges that come with having newborn twins and three kids under two, we were still overwhelmed with happiness. Our happiness didn’t come without challenges, however.

When Brooks was five months old, he was fitted for a ‘cranial band’--also known as a helmet. For six months we were kept very busy as we braved numerous appointments with all three kids in tow. Between the well visits, appointments for helmet adjustments, physical therapy, and a bout of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, for both boys and a feisty daughter at home, we felt proud that we not only made it through, but mastered the first year. My husband and I were alive and still in love with each other!

I get asked a lot if being a mom to three small toddlers gets easier, and honestly, I never know how to respond to that question. Sure, it gets easier in certain areas, like how we aren’t sleep-deprived anymore compared to when we were in the newborn twin stage, but other areas get more challenging. The twins are inseparable and extremely alike, and not just in their looks. This makes sharing quite difficult, especially when big sister gets involved. You know the saying “three’s a crowd”?

This definitely rings true at times! To help stay sane and happy, Craig and I were diligent about nap and bedtime schedules for the twins and Ashlyn. We wanted to make sure that we would have time to refresh and regroup.

We both need our personal time, and let’s face it, we need a break from the kids too!

46 January 2016

As many mothers can attest, having the twins took a real toll on me, especially because I’m small-framed.

Unfortunately, I was required to have several surgical procedures to repair the damage done during my pregnancy and their birth. Each surgery required two to four weeks of recovery, including no lifting more than 10 pounds. Thankfully, my mom, who is retired, was able to visit and help after each procedure. She was a huge support for not only me, but also my husband and kids. For us stay-at-home moms, life goes on, and

doesn’t have time to stop when Momma is down!

Because of my husband, mom, and a group of the best girlfriends a girl could ask for, our family made it through these struggles, and the kids even made it to school and activities (more or less) on time!

In addition to the huge milestones we shared as a family--first words, first steps, first haircuts, and first teeth, all times two for each of the boys--one of my biggest personal highlights of 2015 was going on a mission trip to Cambodia. In March 2014, while attending our annual women’s retreat for Prairie Grove Christian Church, a group of women spoke about their recent trip to Cambodia and their efforts working with children rescued from human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

My heart exploded. I immediately felt God speak to me that this was my mission to join. Our church partners with Rapha House (www.raphahouse. org), based in Joplin, Missouri, whose mission is to love, rescue, and heal children who have been rescued from trafficking and sexual exploitation.

The next trip would be in September of 2015. I felt led to go, but how on earth could I be gone for 16 days? Who would take care of the kids? How could I leave my family for nearly two weeks? Cambodia is so far away! How would Craig feel about me being gone for that long? All of these thoughts ran through my mind as I talked with a friend about this opportunity. She replied, “Just pray about it.” After months of praying and talking with my husband, family and close friends, I turned in my application and was accepted for the trip. My husband was 100 percent supportive, and offered to take a week of vacation to stay with the kids, while my mom would also help.

I felt so incredibly blessed to have unbelievable support from every angle!

I left for Cambodia with a team of 16 women, on Sept. 26, 2015, and returned on Oct. 11, 2015. We spent our time touring parts of the country, learning about the culture, doing devotions with the staff and children at the Safe Houses, working with prevention programs such as Freedom Salon and Kids Club, and spending quality time loving on these precious children. I was struck with the truth that we take so many things for granted here, and have no idea how blessed we all truly are. It was such a wonderful experience to not “need” all the necessities that we think we need here.

Words truly can’t describe my experience in Cambodia, from seeing the beautiful country to spending time with such precious children who have been through such unimaginable events in their life. Seeing God’s redemption and grace in their eyes changed my life forever. God’s children

truly are all over the world, and seeing another country worship and praise the God I praise was simply amazing. The highlight of my entire trip was meeting the girl whom my family and I sponsor through Kids Club, plus her family. I also met a boy who touched my heart and didn’t yet have a sponsor, and now we are sponsoring him, too! The women, children and Cambodia will forever hold a piece of my heart, and I long to return for another trip.

Spending time in a third-world country and returning to America was quite the transition.

Being jet-lagged was intense, and it was incredibly hard to process what I experienced in Cambodia while I was putting my “mom hat” back on. The second I walked off that plane, I knew I would have three excited kids and my husband waiting for me, and all my fears about returning to the busy-ness and “needs” in my life created a ton of pressure in my mind that I wasn’t used to. Of course, I very quickly learned that the kids just wanted their mommy back! The activities, playdates and school continued on, and I tried to adjust as quickly as I could for my family’s sake. It’s amazing how busy we can make life, and how we can feel pressured to do every craft, perfect every Pinterest project, attend every playdate, keep our kids as busy as possible, have a spotless home (like this ever happens!) and never say “no” to any event. Post-

Cambodia, I have tried to be more intentional about spending quality time with my kids and husband and simply just... slow down.

We are so abundantly blessed and love being surrounded by the best friends and family who support us in every way of our life. We are so excited for what 2016 will bring our family and know many more blessings are to come! For more information on sponsorships, please visit www. raphahouse.org and www.freedomstylist.org.

Also, please visit my blog to learn more about my trip to Cambodia and how else we may expand our family in the future! www.thepeltierblogspot.com

tribute 0 1 Ttoop another

Inspiring Year We were proud to be the pediatric therapy clinic trusted by more parents than any other provider in the region in 2015.

1

2

3

Our TEAM provided therapy care to over 700 local children on a weekly basis.

We opened the doors to another new clinic, offering over 10,000 square feet of additional treatment space.

4

5

Children began receiving services at the region’s first exclusively pediatric TEAM Aquatic Therapy Center.

Family Support Staff offered over 3,400 hours of time to families, providing support at IEP meetings, completing applications for public services, etc...

Serial Casting Services offered by TEAM meant that families could receive specialized treatment right here in Northwest Arkansas.

6 7

The TEAMworks nonprofit introduced the first Mid-America Accessibility Summit.

8 9

TEAM members volunteered over 2,000 hours both locally and internationally.

The TEAMworks local outreach offered art programs and adaptive recreation equipment to children in Northwest Arkansas.

10

Our staff traveled over 250,000 miles serving internationally... that is 10 trips around the globe!

Children’s Therapy TEAM offers:

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

Call 521-TEAM (8326) to learn more.

L E A D I N G P E D I A T R I C T H E R A P Y C A R E I N NWA

Believe in KIDS.

TEAMworks was honored to serve in Guatemala, China and Rwanda in 2015

Our UPDATE:

RUTH

PRAY

{

P

Story by: Tiffany Hansen

PRAY FOR RUTH

Photo credit: Left: Novo Studio.

Below: Kara Bird Photography.

Read the original story shared at www.peekaboonwa.com/pray-for-ruth/

T

his past year has been so incredibly full for our family that it’s hard to believe everything we’ve gone through has been packed into a mere 12 months of time!

When I wrote the first article about our adoption back in November of 2014, we had no idea if our hopeful-adopted daughter, Ruth, would even make it to America, due to the continuous number of roadblocks placed in our way. However, we pushed, pressed, and prayed continually, and--by God’s mercy and grace alone--Ruth stepped onto American soil on February 12, 2015! Mark finally made his last trip to Ghana and watched as God, with His miraculous timing, prepared the way for Ruth’s homecoming with a surprise visa!

Years of battling for this little girl to join our family had finally come to an end. It truly took the work of a village—family, friends, senators, many in Ghana, and God’s power—to get this little girl home, and overcome all those obstacles. We rode down the escalator at XNA as a family of six, ready for the new part of our journey that was about to begin.

I’m sure we were all feeling different emotions, but we were and are surrounded by friends and family who have walked with us during this hard threeyear journey. These special people embody the community of Christ, and our family felt so much gratitude for it all.

What has happened since that escalator ride at XNA has been months of a different kind of hard–a beautiful kind of hard–that leads to greater learning and growing for each of us. After all, as any adoptive family of an older child might quickly agree, every day is a day of adjustments.

52 January 2016

Of course, our Ruth has had the most adjusting to do--from new foods, to family, to school, to winter, to an entire culture. She has accomplished so much, and has done so with amazing resilience and bravery. She was eager to learn to ride a bike, happy to get to sleep in “for hours and hours,” and has embraced all the newness of this culture with uncommon wit and ease. In many ways, she seems like a typical 9-year-old girl who loves getting her nails painted, wearing dresses and high heels, and who talks energetically about her friends at school.

But we also realize that there is so much more going on inside Ruth, things that stretch beyond the painted nails and pretty dresses. This process of healing and understanding, we believe, will be a lifelong one. Slowly and steadily, and sometimes boldly and without warning, we are seeing that love is beautifully hard. It takes patience, perseverance, and grace from every family member to learn what it means to hold each other together in love.

Ruth finally joining our family has given us a joy and perspective that our family would never understand if she had not been able to be with us. Though these past months have gone so quickly, we are cherishing the simple things in life, slowing down as we watch Ruth have so many new experiences. We will continue to walk in gratitude for every moment.

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Going L cal in

2016

by: Frances Wilson

Must Visits This Year

I

n the spirit of one of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions, we’re encouraging NWA to “travel more”--locally! Sure, New York, LA and San Fran all have their perks, but if you’d like to avoid the expense and hassle of planes, trains, automobiles and foreign hotel rooms, take our advice and have a “staycation” instead. After all, sometimes the most lovely and surprising things are right in your backyard.

We’ve rounded up some truly “Must Do’s” just in time for the new year.

Unmissable Activities: FayetteChill Basecamp 205 W. Dickson St Fayetteville, AR Take a stroll down Dickson street and stop at Fayetteville’s favorite brand’s new location on the main drag, plus the brewery next door (Puritan Brew Company). Dedicated to the outdoor spirit and practical, hip clothing, you’re sure to find something to pick up that says “Hey, I was here!” Follow them on Instagram for extra-cool outdoors-y inspiration.

Phat Tire Bike Shop 125 W. Central Ave Bentonville, AR Rent bikes here and go for a spin anywhere along the 36-mile long Razorback Regional Greenway!

The trail is almost completely offroad, and stretches from south Fayetteville to north Bentonville.

If you’re in the market for a bike for your kids, check out their “Trade Up” program, in which you can buy a new bike and bring it back in within three years for a 50 percent credit towards your kid’s “next size up” bike.

Grub and libations for the restless: Little Bread Company 116 N. Block St, Fayetteville, AR Little Bread Co., a favorite of Saturday morning farmer’s market-goers, has grown and changed a little over the years with new owners, but the core of deliciously fresh breads and sweets--best enjoyed under the beautiful flowered arbor outside-remains. Longtime employees heap praise on the “everything bagel with herb cream cheese,’”as well as delicious lemon berry tarts, while the B.L.A.S.T.T. sandwich, spicy chai latte, and those visually impressive, impossibly huge cream puffs get lots of love from their loyal customer base.

54 January 2016

Botanical Garden of the Ozarks 4703 N. Crossover Rd, Fayetteville, AR With 12 themed gardens, children’s area and a beautiful butterfly house, the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks is an entertaining place to take your family. Open every day from 9AM to 5PM and free to Fayetteville residents on Saturday mornings, the Botanical Garden has much to offer, includingadult and children’s classes, festivals, concerts and special grown-up events. Be sure to check and see what is going on at www.bgozarks.org.

Pressroom 100 NW 2nd St, Bentonville, AR When you visit the new Pressroom location in downtown Bentonville, delicious coffee, cocktails and food await.

Chef Michael Robertshaw crafted the perfect menu, using as many Arkansasgrown ingredients as he can. The newly expanded space opens early and closes late, as one of the first restaurants in Downtown Bentonville to offer extended dining hours until midnight.

Berry Natural 3059 N.College Ave, Fayetteville, AR Looking for a delicious way to curb those sugar cravings after the pie, cake and cookie-heavy holidays? Look no further than Berry Natural, whose incredible cold-pressed juices keep customers bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, with no sugar or caffeine hangover.

Co-owner Ashli recommends ‘Chlorophyll Me,’ a powerhouse drink containing local pea shoots, local sunflower sprouts (both from local outfit Wheatgrass Express), spinach, brocolli, pineapple, and apple. For those on the go, OzarkNatural Foods and Fayetteville Athletic Club both carry Berry Natural Juices!

Crepes Paulette 213 NE A St, Bentonville, AR Paula, who co-owns Crepes Paulette in Bentonville with her husband, speaks with beaucoup d’enthousiasme of their little food truck. “It seems like there can be something whimsical, even magical about eating out of doors--a small suspension of the usual that elevates the mood and energizes the spirit,” she says.

“That’s what I love most about our quirky little business. The air of conviviality that comes with the customers--while they’re enjoying their crêpes, yes, but also while they’re waiting and communing with others and the great outdoors.” On their carefully cultivated menu, she states that “Most people are familiar with the classic French sweet crêpes we serve, but we’ve been really amazed at how much folks love the savory buckwheat crêpes, which are very traditional but little-known here. And we’ve discovered over time that they pair brilliantly with all sorts of cuisines--one of our most popular savory menu items is ‘La Thai,’ which features a ginger peanut sauce paired with chicken and cabbage.”

www.peekaboonwa.com

55

Dad’s View with Ben Lacy

Let’s

Fake

! e r u t c i P a

No typo in the title folks; just calling it like I see it.

This one is about the ol’ family picture.

I’m sure y’all have recently assembled the team, purchased all new matching black shirts and khakis then hired a very nice photographer that immediately tells you to sit in wet, nasty leaves in your brand new clothes. My wife hearts this sort of thing; I do not. Probably one of those Mars/Venus conflicts, and this is one that the Venetians dominate.

However, the queen recently obtained a new iThingy and asked me to take the pictures off her old iThingy.

1,168 pictures and three hours later, the job was complete. Then, the battle lines were drawn.

Me: “You have over a thousand pictures on your phone?”

Her: “Yes.” Me: “Why can’t we just use one of those for the family picture?”

Her: “None of them are any good.”

Me: “Then why do you have a thousand pictures on your phone?”

We all know what happened next. I got a haircut, shaved the November beard and put on a new black shirt and khakis.

Time to fake a picture.

I say fake because, when is the last time you and the fam hung out in a rustic brick alleyway or lounged on rocks by a waterfall or gathered together in the aforementioned leaves? That’s just not natural, man.

Each time the Christmas card photo or family picture conversation starts, I beg and plead with

56 January 2016

Mrs. Lacy to let us take a real picture. Meaning, all of us in our natural state, not out somewhere posing in the Natural State. Think of lions at a zoo vs. the pictures you see in a book. In a book they are all big and bad and majestic, looking out over their land all Mufasa-style. Go to the zoo and they are all sleeping. Seriously, have you ever seen a lion even bat an ear at a zoo? Anyway, I’m off track yet again. So, I want to have a picture in our true habitat. That would be: Child #1 and the queen screaming at each other while simultaneously texting barbs back and forth; Child #2, mouth open with a very glazed look on his face holding an X-Box remote; Child #3 eating Cocoa Pebbles while playing his iPad, clad only in underwear, his uniform of choice; and me, sitting in my nasty, $10 orange garage sale chair with both hands clutching my head, endlessly wondering when my ear drums are finally going to blow, and the “She’s only going to grow to be 60 lbs,” but is now a 100-pound lab, trying desperately to sit on my lap.

That would be, as the ‘younguns’ say, epic.

have, at minimum, one curling iron and one blow dryer and one bathroom for each female in the picture. With us, it’s not just the girls who slow down the process; Child #2 has a new-found concern for his hair. But, the concern only applies to the front of his head. So, sort of like John Daly’s mullet where it is “business in the front and party in the back,” his hair is more “Abercrombie Model in the front and Lead Singer of the Cure in the back”.

Plus, when you fake a picture, there is bound to be turmoil. As you know, if you want to take a picture, kids won’t stop moving, but if you take a video, they become statues. And, if you have a teenage daughter (God bless you) then plan to allocate at least four hours for prep. Speaking of prep, make sure you

Then, there are the outfits. Our boys are very casual, so much so that I’m fairly certain they don’t know how to operate buttons and zippers, because they live in basketball shorts. Even when we go to church, there is much debate over attire: “But, Mom, I’m wearing black Nike shorts, so that IS dressy.” These dudes are so casual that they think black sweats are akin to wearing a tux since their legs are covered. But, despite all that, you endure and get the perfect pic. Mostly because you know mama’s threats are real, and you must get in line or suffer the consequences, but also because the older generation is likely right… someday you will look back fondly on these times. Or, just laugh at yourself for buying matching outfits and sitting in wet leaves.

Obesity is a Disease in Which Arkansas Ranks Number One

I

t’s a dubious honor, and one that poses a threat to the lives of many Arkansans, but we lead the nation in obesity. That’s right...

We are #1. So, what’s to be done? How many obese Arkansans have made well-intentioned resolutions at this time of year to get the weight off, just to find they cannot sustain the effort long-term?

As a state, what does ranking #1 in the U.S. for obesity look like for Arkansas? One in three Arkansans is considered obese.

Arkansas residents ages 45 to 64 make up nearly 42 percent of those dealing with this dangerous disease.

What is Obesity?

Obesity is a disease in which fat levels in the body exceed healthy limits, most widely defined as a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 or higher. Individuals with a BMI of 35 to 40 have clinically severe obesity that can lead to challenging health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, reflux disease, heart and lung disease, arthritis and joint problems.

According to the American Medical Association, a BMI of 40 or greater indicates a person

58 January 2016

is morbidly obese and such individuals are at very high risk of not only developing obesityrelated health conditions, but early death.

“Obesity is a very cruel disease,” says Roller. “My patients feel discriminated against e v e r y w h e r e they go,” he explains. “We make sure that they know that when they come to our practice, they are like a member of our family, and we do everything we can to make sure they feel that,” he adds.

“It is a fact that obesity shaves an average of seven years off a person’s life,” says Roller. “Combine that with the fact that if you have a BMI of over 35 (meaning you are 60 to 70 pounds overweight), the chances of you losing it on your own is less than 1 percent.”

Despite daunting statistics, the good news for obese Arkansans is that there are real long-term solutions! Dr. Roller and his associates at Roller Weight Loss and Advanced Surgery, Yong Kwon, MD and Joshua Mourot, MD, are the only group of all fellowship-trained bariatric and advanced laparoscopic surgeons in the state of Arkansas.

Together with the clinical team at Northwest Health System’s Nationally accredited bariatric surgery program, collaborative efforts are focused on helping change the lives of obese patients to dramatically improve not only quality of life, but also longevity.

Roller explains, “I got into this type of surgery because it is truly one of the most rewarding there is.” And he adds, “We have created a complete and comprehensive program that we tailor to the individual patient’s specific needs so that, when people are ready, we help them change their lives for the better.”

What is Bariatric Surgery Exactly?

Dr. Roller specializes in bariatric surgery which is an umbrella term for the many types of weight loss surgeries and procedures available.

Roller Weight Loss and Advanced Surgery represents the only group of fellowship-trained bariatric and advanced general laparoscopic surgeons in Arkansas offering the most modern and extensive weight loss surgery techniques available to help patients take control of their weight and reclaim their health. According to Roller, the patients’ specific needs determine the best surgery option. For example, a person with rheumatoid arthritis or gout will not necessarily be best served with the same kind of bariatric surgery as someone with Crohn’s Disease.

What’s Involved?

The patient’s journey to better health through weight loss surgery begins with attending a free, informational seminar at Roller Weight Loss and Advanced Surgery or watching the informational seminar online at www.rollerweightloss.com. Information about weight loss surgery options and what to expect after surgery are provided. Once registered, patients will meet with a Bariatrician, a bariatric medical specialist, who will conduct a thorough medical evaluation and

order all appropriate tests and consultations. Additionally, patients will meet with a bariatric dietitian to review both pre-and post-op nutritional plans.

After the initial consultation, all documentation is submitted to the insurance company for approval of the procedure. If any additional information is needed, the insurance company will notify the surgeon’s office. Once insurance approval is obtained, the next appointment is with the surgeon prior to the patient’s scheduled surgery.

Roller emphasizes that what happens after surgery is also very important. “Our program is uniquely different because of the followup care we provide after surgery. Our medical and surgical teams are there to give our patients the best possible chance to maximize weight loss and ensure long-term success. Close, long-term followup with our medical team is so important to helping our patients become healthy again. Once you have surgery with us, you become a part of our family. Our patients matter to us,” Roller said.

Joshua E. Roller, MD

Minimally Invasive Bariatric and General Surgeon

In addition to an intentionally frequent follow-up schedule with the team at Roller Weight Loss and Advanced Surgery beginning right after surgery and spanning over weeks, months and years, bariatric patients are offered a monthly support group meeting to help them along their journey.

Having a Financial Impact Weight loss surgery also reduces the financial burden associated with obesity. Take the example of Type 2 diabetes. Ninety-five percent of Type 2 Diabetics suffer from obesity. The average cost for that is $13,700 per patient, annually.

“The cure rate for diabetes after weight loss surgery is 77-80%, and often we see it disappear within only a few days after the surgery,” says Roller.

According to Roller, many obese people also suffer from knee, hip and back pain. The average spinal surgery can cost upwards of $100,000 and a knee replacement surgery averages about $50,000.

Roller estimates that as many 50 percent of spinal surgeries for obese patients can be avoided after significant weight loss with bariatric surgery. In addition, many knee and hip surgeries can be avoided after weight loss surgery if they are still needed, and their effectiveness can be significantly increased after.

Roller cited a particularly heart-warming patient story.

“He emailed me to say he had broken some of his ribs while snow skiing, and he blamed me,” Roller said. “He then thanked me saying that without the surgery, he never would have been up on that mountain having the time of his life and that surgery allowed him to go and be involved on a family vacation, something he hadn’t done in over 15 years. He said he would be glad to break a couple of ribs every year to be able to have that kind of time with his family. He also said he bought a boat, and was now water skiing in the summer.”

The average person can only last on a diet for about three months before giving up and returning to their normal habits that put the weight on in the first place.

Bariatric surgery allows patients to get the weight off without feeling hungry or deprived so they can begin exercising and

Joshua Mourot, MD Minimally Invasive Bariatric and General Surgeon

Yong S. Kwon, MD

Minimally Invasive Bariatric and General Surgeon

forming new, healthier habits that promote a healthier way of life. ”Our patients finally know what it’s like to be full and satisfied after eating small portions of food.”

If you struggle with obesity, you have quality options to begin your journey to a healthy life. Make 2016 the year you take control and start living the life you want and enjoying the life you have! Call 479-757-2040 for information and assistance in registering for an informational seminar. Or visit us at https://northwesthealth.4bariatrics.me/.

Obesity is a Disease in Which Arkansas Ranks

?

My Child Has Been Diagnosed With a Disability

Now What

Kate Lunsford, Marketing Director, Elizabeth Richardson Center

very day at the Elizabeth Richardson Center, we guide families through the unknown of having a child with a developmental delay or disability.

Every situation is unique--even children diagnosed with the same disability can encounter challenges vastly different from one another.

Often, the most difficult part is hearing and processing the news that your child has been diagnosed with a disability. When parents learn about any difficulty in their child’s development, this information comes as a tremendous blow. Upon learning their child may have a disability, most parents react in ways that have been shared by all parents who have also been faced with this challenge.

One of the first reactions is denial.

“This cannot be happening to me, to my child, to our family.” Denial rapidly merges with anger, which may be directed toward the medical personnel who were involved in providing the information about the child’s problem. Anger can also color communication between husband and wife or with grandparents or significant others in the family. Early on, it seems the anger is so intense that it touches almost anyone, because it is triggered by the feelings of grief and inexplicable loss that parents don’t know how to explain.

What is going to happen to this child when I am gone?” Then other questions arise: “Will she ever learn? Will she ever go to college? Will she have the capability of loving and living and laughing and doing all the things that we had imagined?”

There is also fear of society’s rejection, fears about how brothers and sisters will be affected, questions as to whether there will be any more brothers or sisters in this family, and concerns about whether the husband or wife will love this child. These fears can almost immobilize some parents.

Then there is guilt—guilt and concern about whether the parents themselves have caused the problem: “Did I do something to cause this? Am I being punished for something I have done? Did I take care of myself when I was pregnant?” Much self-reproach and remorse can stem from questioning the causes of the disability.

Fear is another immediate response.

“What is going to happen to this child when he is 5 years old? when he is 12? When he is 21?

Confusion also marks this traumatic period. As a result of not fully understanding what is happening and what will happen, confusion reveals itself in sleeplessness, inability to make decisions, and mental overload. Parents hear new words they have never heard before-terms that describe something they can’t fully understand. They want all of the information, yet it’s apparent they can’t make sense of the information they are receiving. Often parents are just not on the same wavelength as the person who is trying to communicate with them about their child’s disability.

62 January 2016

Powerlessness. They cannot change the fact

?

that their child has a disability, yet parents want to feel competent and capable of handling their own life situations. It is extremely hard to be forced to rely on the judgments, opinions, and recommendations of others. Compounding the problem is that these “others” are often strangers, with whom no bond of trust has yet been established.

Disappointment that a child is not perfect poses a threat to many parents’ egos and a challenge to their value system. This jolt to previous expectations can create reluctance to accept their own child as a valuable, developing person.

During this period of time when so many different feelings can flood the mind and heart, there is no way to measure how intensely a parent may experience this constellation of emotions.

Not all parents go through these stages, but it is important for parents to identify with all of the potentially troublesome feelings that can arise, so they will know they are not alone. There are many constructive actions that you can take immediately, and there are many sources of help, communication, and reassurance--like the Elizabeth Richardson Center.

Since 1963, the Elizabeth Richardson Center has helped families dealing with these exact issues. We know what you’re going through, we know that you’re confused and looking for guidance, and we can help. Our five Child Development Centers are conveniently located throughout Northwest Arkansas --Fayetteville, Springdale, Farmington, Huntsville, and Siloam Springs. Each center provides a full-day developmental program for children ages six weeks to five years along with on-site speech, physical, and occupational therapy.

At each location, an on-site nurse is also available to serve children with special medical needs.

If your child has been diagnosed with a developmental disability or delay, please contact the ERC Child Development Center nearest you. With early intervention and therapies, your child has a bright future ahead of them!

www.ercinc.org Fayetteville 443-4420 Farmington 267-5760 Huntsville 738-1751 Springdale 927-1350 Siloam Springs 373-6488

Excerpts taken from: Smith, Patricia McGill (January 2014) You Are Not Alone. Center for Parent Information and Resources. Retrieved December 1, 2015 from http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/notalone/

Our UPDATE:

Zero

to FOUR In Less Than a Year

By ALEX Fittin

November 2014

66 January 2016

To read the original story online: www.peekaboonwa.com/zero-to-three-in-less-than-a-year

W

hen I last wrote an article about our crazy life, it wasn’t all that crazy yet. In fact, we had no clue what God had in store for us. I have to laugh now, thinking back to all I thought I knew. God has most definitely taught me more about patience and trust and faith in the past year than I ever could have imagined.

Let me back up a bit and recap. My husband Bryan and I have been married for 3 and 1/2 years.

Around, I don’t know, date number two or so, I told him about my passion for domestic adoption and was super excited to hear that, not only was he NOT freaked out that this crazy person had just dumped a thinly-veiled deal-breaker on his lap, but was totally on board. When we had been married for almost two years, he signed up for information about domestic adoption in Arkansas and I started looking at the Arkansas Heart Gallery. We fell pretty hard for two brothers who we thought looked to be 8 or 9 years old. It wasn’t until after we had signed up for foster care licensing and training through the CALL and inquired about them, (read: sent 1,000 annoying emails to their adoption specialist) that we found out they were actually 12 and 13 years old. We were shocked and a little unprepared for teens in our still-baby marriage, but we decided to stick with it. This is about where I left off in my last article. Oh, except that I was also pregnant with our first biological child at the time. That was the first clue to people that we were nuts, as if the adoption of two kids who were older than our marriage wasn’t enough.

“

Somehow, even through my new-mom emotional roller coaster, God’s voice still came through telling me that this “no” just meant another “yes.”

”

From start to finish, our training and licensing process took about eight months. When our home was finally opened in January, I couldn’t wait to email the boys’ adoption specialist to let her know that we were officially able to move forward in the process. Our son was born in December, and, like the insane woman that I am, I thought I was ready for more kids, in all of my hormonal glory. We were pretty devastated to find out that the boys’ foster mom had decided to keep them. Somehow, even through my new-mom emotional roller coaster, God’s voice still came through telling me that this “no” just meant another “yes.” We knew that she had probably made this decision based on the fact that we were interested and she didn’t want to lose them, and we were happy that they would get the stability that many kids in foster care so desperately need. Bryan pushed for us to wait a little longer before moving on, and, though my stubborn self would never admit it to him, I am so glad he did. I am eternally thankful that we got to enjoy our first baby. Motherhood has been among the top best things that have ever happened to me, and definitely that ever will.

In March, we said no to another boy. After our staffing (information-gathering meeting) on him, we realized that we were unprepared to care for his special needs, and couldn’t shake the feeling that it was supposed to be two boys, not just one. He was also younger, in the age group that we were originally interested in. That same month, we saw a news special on a teenager who was out of our area. Even thought we had said no to the first boy because he wasn’t in a sibling group, this one felt more right for some reason. I did an inquiry on him, and two months later, we finally got a visit with him. It was unexpected and awkward to say the least. We could tell that he wasn’t very interested, which came as a huge shock to us. Don’t all waiting kids jump at the chance at a forever family? And, I mean, not to toot our own horn or anything, but we’re pretty cool people, right? We were confused and doubting, but still hopeful that he would choose us. A week later we got the call

Turn the page ...

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Because of his age, I have felt that I couldn’t write on the blog I have always poured myself into. I was afraid of him learning things before I was ready for him to. We felt prepared for what we had been trained to deal with: troubled foster kids. The problem was, we seem to have found one of the few kids with no deep and lasting issues. He was and is hurt by his past, sure. He remembers everything.

What we realized that we were unprepared for was a normal teenage boy.

Bryan transitioned much easier than I did. He I am not a quiet-whispers–from-God kind was a teenage boy once. of person. I am more of a reality checks He remembers. I on the other hand was just and kicks-in-the-pants kind of person. taken aback by this gross boy that I suddenly had to do laundry for. He is so well behaved, but like all other teenagers in the history of ever, is selfish, has to be reminded to brush his teeth and shower, and has a case of what I have affectionately named “teenage dumbhead,” which I’m told he won’t grow out of until his 20s.

from his caseworker, Brady Bunch (not kidding), that he had decided on another family with more kids around his age. I was crushed, but Brady had more to talk about. He asked me if we would be interested in meeting yet another boy from the same group home who was around the same age, a teenager. We said yes, of course, and a meeting was set for a week later. The visit went so well. He was sweet and funny, and took initiative to get to know us. It seemed so perfect.

We followed all of the next steps in the process, and the goal was made for him to come live with us before school started. I am impatient, so waiting 3-ish months was hard, but, in hindsight, I am so grateful for the extra time to prep our house and marriage for a new kid.

There were a few minor hiccups along the way, but he finally came to live with us on August 16, the day after his birthday, the day before school started, and 11 months after our initial training. It was a whirlwind to say the very least.

Zero

The next part of the story is tricky. In the name of being honest, I want to describe in detail all of the emotions I went through.

I want to explain how I felt and the polarized emotional days I went through, and am still going through. But, in the name of protecting him from some ugly truths, I feel trapped. I’ve felt trapped from the beginning.

I spent a really long time asking God where He was in this. Why had He led us to this place with this kid and with all of the passion that it took to get us here, just to take that passion away and allow things to get really, really hard? I mentioned in my last article that I am not a quiet-whispers–from-God kind of person. I am more of a reality checks and kicks-in-the-pants kind of person.

God told me with no uncertainty that I needed to hang in there and stop feeling sorry for myself, and that this was still His plan even though it didn’t feel like there was anything in it for me

to FOUR In Less Than a Year

anymore. It’s been a long process of letting love grow and of letting go of my previous notion that love for this strange boy living in my house and eating my food would just materialize. I hope that this entire background story hasn’t been tedious to read, because this is actually where the story gets good. I had to set up the groundwork in order to truly see God’s glory in all of this.

A week and a half after our oldest son, we’ll call him Clark (not his real name) came to live with us, I found out that I was pregnant, much to our surprise. Our youngest was 8 months old at the time. Even without the adoption story, this was crazy-pants. I mean, you almost just had to laugh at the circumstance, and people did, a lot. We told Clark about the pregnancy, and we were so happy that he was excited about it instead of bummed that some of his new attention would have to be shared. We trekked on. We became a friendly joke to those who heard our story. “Aren’t you the family that has a baby, is adopting a teenager, and you’re pregnant?” Like I said, you just had to laugh. I was dealing better with my emotions every day. I was learning a new routine and a new normal for our growing family. We found out that the new baby is a girl, and we were thrilled. With all of the boys in the house, I was excited to have reinforcements on the way. God gave me just enough time to

process and start feeling ok with everything before dropping the next bomb in my lap.

I was in the car line to pick up Clark from school one Thursday when I got a call from his adoption specialist. What I thought was a courtesy call just to check on us turned into shock when I found out that Clark’s biological mother had delivered another baby who needed a home. He was 2 weeks old, and was being released from the NICU that day. They asked us if we would consider adopting him as well. I lost it. I’m sure my reaction was sitcom worthy. All I could get out was the word “okay” in response to every new piece of information. I called Bryan frantically. The conversation on both of our parts went from “We can’t do this, can we?” to “I mean, we have to do this, right?” I made a few other support-system calls and then got back with the adoption specialist to let her know that we could take him on Sunday. We told just a few people and got to see probably the coolest reaction of a community jumping in to help that I could have ever pictured. Overnight, we had a guestturned-baby room with clothes, a crib, a glider, a changing table, more boxes of diapers, wipes, and formula than I could keep track of, a meal train set up in our honor, and people I don’t even know

Turn the page ...

done by a long shot. Come April, I will essentially have triplets. Grady just turned 1, but in the days before his birthday, we often joked that “this time last year, we had no kids.” I will have two in the same grade and one in the grade just above them. Three in college at the same time. I could go on and on with all of the crazy realizations we make every day. Jumping back into the sleepless nights has been pretty miserable, and, because of some health issues for the baby, this structured mama can’t be so structured anymore. It’s been a hard adjustment for all of us, but we know more than ever that God is in this and He is actively and so very obviously helping us every step of the way.

Zero

to FOUR In Less Than a Year

praying for us and offering an extra pair of hands.

The Grove Church has our hearts forever, along with friends and non-friends all over the country.

We can’t possibly thank everyone enough.

This has been so hard. The hardest thing I’ve ever Experience. Discover. Grow.

eeee

Walnut Farm Montessori School Building a Foundation for Growth

Montessori Toddler Program 18 months-3 years old Walnut Farm offers flexible 3 and 5 day toddler programs available in half day and full day options.​

• Well prepared, peaceful environments that support learning and development • Dedicated, nurturing, trained teachers • Developmentally appropriate curriculum that fosters cognitive development, speech and language development, fine and gross motor skill enhancement • Nutritious meals prepared onsite daily for full day students • Before and after school programs offered Walnut Farm Montessori School is the first and only school accredited by the American Montessori Society in the State of Arkansas and the first school to offer a natural playscape environment for exercise and exploration. Our school provides an authentic Montessori education for ages 18 months to 12 years.

Enrolling Now

Contact us today to schedule your tour of our enriching toddler program

479-271-9424 • info@walnutfarm.org

www.walnutfarmmontessori.com

70 January 2016

I hope you see now why I had to lay all of that groundwork. I spent so long wondering where

“

It’s been a hard adjustment for all of us, but we know more than ever that God is in this and He is actively and so very obviously helping us every step of the way.

”

God was in all of this. I couldn’t see the plan, and I had to learn to trust that it was there even if I couldn’t be a control freak about it and see the “worth-it” parts early on. If we hadn’t have been interested in those original two boys, we would never have found out that they were teenagers and opened up to the possibility of adopting teens. If we hadn’t inquired about the boy from the same home as Clark back in March and if he hadn’t have said no to us, we would never have met the caseworker that introduced us to Clark. Best of all, if we hadn’t have said no to the other boy, we wouldn’t have learned that God wanted it to be two boys. If we had said no to Clark because he was only one boy, we would never have learned God’s real plan, that it was going to be two boys all along.

I’m not going to lie, we are still living with bated breath wondering what God has in store for us next. I hope He gives us a break, but I know now that even if He doesn’t, He will equip us for whatever is in store for us. People tell us that we are saints or something, but we know the truth that we have been pretty big brats throughout this process.

We have definitely not made God’s job any easier.

I’m just so glad that he chose us for this journey, even the hard parts.

Imagine

A Childs Adventure World By: Addi Simmons

Imagine:

A Child’s Adventure World is new to Northwest Arkansas and a welcoming breath of fresh air in children’s entertainment. The play center, which allows kids to create an imaginative world around them by using minimalistic “back-to-basics” toys, first came about due to a family’s frustration.

Orie Quinn, owner of Imagine, said when he and his wife used to go out and play with the kids, they didn’t really like the play options available in the area.

“We watched our kids be imaginative and play and make up games at home, so we came up with this idea of themed areas that were imaginative and really kind of divided into specific aspects of play,” Quinn said.

Quinn and his wife put their heads together to come up with a unique play environment built around real-life themes that would allow the kids to create, have fun and learn all at the same time.

There are different centers set up in the play place, and in the center of the building is an area where parents can sit and relax while supervising their kids.

The themes in each center include a variety of play toys and structures. There is a market where kids can grocery shop, a racetrack, a construction area, a fire station, a large wooden train and a cottage.

In these imaginative little worlds, kids can be whoever they want to be and explore each area, making the whole experience one that is exciting, creative and interactive.

Quinn is a local chiropractor, and said being in the medical profession gives him an extra sense of vigilance when it comes to dietary needs and sanitation. Because of this, Imagine offers healthy, organic snacks that kids love in addition to being cautious of possible food allergens.

72 January 2016

The play center is also always clean and tidy

due to thorough sanitation procedures that are implemented. Throughout the day the play center is cleaned using sprays with antibacterial essential oils, and during off-hours a more rigorous cleaning process takes place. Quinn also said that keeping everything organized has helped keep the place tidy.

“It’s amazing how many people clean up after themselves,” Quinn said. “If it has a place, then kids want to put it back. That was a positive, unexpected thing that came out of keeping everything well-organized.”

Because Imagine uses minimalistic toys and refrains from technology, kids are encouraged to be more creative with their playtime. “The idea behind using a lot of wooden toys was to get back to real toys, not so much of the technology and stuff, but a real chance to be creative and imaginative,” Quinn said.

Imagine Adventure World currently offers monthly price packages and drop-in rates for parents and kids. They also offer birthday packages, which allow a certain amount of children in for a specific amount of time depending on the package, in the birthday room at the play center.

“The kids really seem to play together for their birthdays,” Quinn said. “At some other places the kids just scatter and never really play together, but that’s one of the cool things we’ve gotten feedback about – that they’re actually playing with each

other and interacting.”

Although Imagine only just opened to the public in October 2015, the owners are already looking to the future to incorporate an even better experience for the children and parents.

They hope to eventually have fun, creative and educational classes available and possibly expand the play place in the distant future to more intricate and advanced themed centers.

Quinn said that ultimately they just want Imagine to be a place for parents and kids to go that isn’t super expensive and just have a good time. “It’s amazing how creative kids can be,” Quinn said. “The more they have confidence in their ability to create, the more they will create.”

For more information about pricing packages or Imagine in general, call (479)-249-8020 or visit: imagineadventureworld.com

At a Glance

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

At a Glance ARTS and MUSIC

Crystal Bridges (Pg. 39) (479) 418-5700 crystalbridges.org Trike Theatre (Pg. 27) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org

BANKS

First Security (Pg. 42) www.fsbank.com; www.onlyinark.com

CHILDCARE/NANNY SERVICES

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 29) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com Better Beginnings (Pg. 74) (800) 445-3316 arbetterbeginnings.com Early Learning Academy (Pg. 57) www.wacd.net Gentry: (479) 736-9012 Rogers: (479) 899-6675 Springdale: (479) 717-2586 Mary’s Little Lambs Preschool (Pg. 23) (479) 273-1011

CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIAN

Morter Health Corner (Pg. 63) (479) 636-1324

CHURCH

The House (Pg. 41) welcometothehouse.com

CLOTHING

Anna Grace Formals (Pg. 29) annagraceformals.com

DANCE/CHEER/TUMBLE/STRETCH The Little Gym (Pg. 19) (479) 636-5566

DENTIST

Dr. Nick DDS (Pg. 67) (479) 876-8000 DrNickDDS.com Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry (Pg. 79) (479) 631-6377

DERMATOLOGY / SKIN CARE

Advanced Dermatology / Skin Care Center (479) 268-3555 (Pg. 71) Lips & Lines (Pg. 69) (479) 330-1201 NWA Center for Plastic Surgery (Pg. 2) (479) 571-3100 nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com spa810 (Pg. 35) www.spa810.com (479) 877-7041 (479) 439-6027

EDUCATION/TRAINING

The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 8)

76 January 2016

(479) 441-4420 (Fayetteville) NWA Classical Academy (Pg. 15) (479) 715-6662 Gideon Math & Reading (Pg. 61) gideonmathandreading.com Larson’s Language Center (Pg. 68) (479) 633-9900 The New School (Pg. 11) thenewschool.org Ozark Education, Inc. (Pg. 4) ozarkcca.org Walnut Farm Montessori School (Pg. 70) (479) 271-9429

FAMILY FUN / ENTERTAINMENT

Community Creative Center (Pg.71) communitycreativecenter.org (479) 571-2706 Crystal Bridges (Pg. 39) (479) 418-5700 Fast Lane Entertainment (Pg. 78) (479) 659-0999 www.fastlanebowl.com Imagine Adventure World (Pg. 72) imagineadventureworld.com Ozark Natural Science Centter (Pg. 64) (479) 202-8340 onsc.us Phat Tire (Pg.55) (479) 715-6170 Princess Party Palace NWA (Pg. 12) princesspartypalacenwa.co Starlight Skatium (Pg. 53) (479) 444-STAR Super Science (Pg. 53) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com Trike Theatre (Pg. 27) (479) 464-5084 www.triketheatre.org

FITNESS

FreeRide Studio (Pg. 33) freeridestudio.com (479) 802-6245 Phat Tire (Pg. 55) (479) 715-6170

FOOD / DRINK

Crepes Paulette (Pg. 55) (479) 250-1110 TCBY (Pg. 3) (479) 636-8229 (TCBY)

HAIRCUT / SALON

Pigtails & Crewcuts (Pg. 50) (479) 935-4121

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Northwest Primary Care of Springdale (Pg. 13) nw-physicians.com Tate HealthCare (Pg. 28, 77) (479) 271-6511 www.tatehealthcare.com

HOUSE / HOME / PLAYGROUND

Natural State Treehouses (Pg. 75) (479) 387-0701

JEWELRY AND GIFTS

David Adams (Pg. 73) davidadams.com

LEARNING CENTER

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 29) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 8) (479) 441-4420 (Fayetteville) Larson’s Language Center (Pg. 68) (479) 633-9900

MARTIAL ARTS

ATA (Pg. 51) Bentonville: (479) 273-1212 Fayetteville: (479) 443-5425

OPTOMETRIST

Pediatric Vision Development Center (Pg. 65) nwavisiontherapy.com (479) 795-1411

PEDIATRICIAN

Best Start Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 17) (479) 575-9359 Bentonville Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 21) (479) 273-5437 The Children’s Clinic at Springdale (Pg. 9) (479) 751-2522 NWA Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 38) (479) 443-3471

PLASTIC SURGEON

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

PRESCHOOL/ PRE-K

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 29) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com Better Beginnings (Pg. 74) (800) 445-3316 arbetterbeginnings.com Early Learning Academy (Pg. 57) www.wacd.net Gentry: (479) 736-9012 Rogers: (479) 899-6675 Springdale: (479) 717-2586 Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 31) Lowell: (479) 770-0744 Siloam Springs: (479) 524-2465 West Fork: (479) 839-3359 Larson’s Language Center (Pg. 68) (479) 633-9900 Mary’s Little Lambs (Pg. 23) (479) 273-1011 The New School (Pg. 11) thenewschool.org

THERAPY

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 29) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com Children’s Therapy T.E.A.M (Pg. 48) www.childrenstherapyteam.com The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 8) (479) 443-4420 (Fayetteville) Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 31) Lowell: (479) 770-0744 Siloam Springs: (479) 524-2465 West Fork: (479) 839-3359 Tate HealthCare (Pg. 28, 77) (479) 271-6511

WOMEN’S HEALTH

Birth Center NWA (Pg. 30) (479) 372-4560 bcnwa.com Lifespring Women’s Health (Pg. 69) (479) 271-0005 lifespringhealthcare.com Northwest Primary Care of Springdale (Pg. 13) (479) 927-2100 Northwest Women’s Health Associates (Pg. 7) (479) 503-2525 Parkhill Clinic for Women (Pg. 41) (479) 521-4433 Siloam Springs Women’s Center (Pg. 43) (479) 524-9312 siloamwomenscenter.com UAMS (Pg. 80) uams.edu Willow Creek Hospital (Pg. 5) (479) 757-3000

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