June 2014

Peekaboo HAppy June 2014

Father’s Day

Northwest Arkansas’ Family Magazine

the PEEKABOO family Kimberly Enderle

Editor-in-Chief editor@peekaboonwa.com (479) 957-0532

Ava. Grant. and Holden.

Jonathon Enderle

Creative Director jon@peekaboonwa.com (479) 586-3890

/

Distribution/ Circulation Joyce Whitaker Judy Evans Marcedalia Salinas Colleen Cook Jeremy Whitaker Michelle Dodson

Peekaboo Publications, PO Box 1036, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712 Peekaboo Northwest Arkansas accepts writing contributions.

Please send inquiries to: editor@peekaboonwa.com or call (479) 586-3890 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.

www.peekaboonwa.com

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What’s Inside June 2014 peekaboo nwa 16 |A Father’s Day Without Dad by: Will Corporon

18 | Birthday Party Expo in Review 22 | The Incredible Bea by: Jennifer Risk

26 | The Value of Being a Dad

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and A Girl Scout by: Mike Camp

32 | Benefits of Exercise During Pregnancy by: Dr. James Gorman

34 |Morter Chiropractic: Our Family Legacy by: Dr. Sarah Morter Rowden

44 | Taylor-Made

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by: Dr. Wes Shelton

47 | Faith Through the Unexplained: Tucker’s Story by: Amy Hill

50 | Meet the Playstrong Therapy Team

66 | Being Their Refuge

54 |The Great Break-In

68 | Enjoy Birth

by: Kara Harvey

by: Spencer Presley

56 | Dad O’Clock with Ben Lacy

60 | Is Time Really Money? by: Brandon Norrell

by: Stefanie Lawson

by: Bethany Rine and Jessica King

70 | “One Boogie” by: Cody Ford

72 | Peek-A-News: Northwest

Medical Center - Bentonville

On the Cover

Sophia, 13, with Dad Ben Lacy, of Bentonville.

Ben is the Dad behind Peekaboo’s Dad’s View each month. Read this month’s edition on page 56.

Clothing available at Belle Boutique - now offering clothing for girls ages newborn-16. www.belleboutiquenwa.com Cover photo by Sweet Portrayal Photography www.sweetportrayal.com Cover photo taken at Shadow Valley in Rogers.

Don’t forget that the “Tee Off for Taylor” golf tournament is being held at Shadow Valley on June 28th, 2014.

More info at www.taylormckeen.com or read more on page 44.

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L

ast month our family went on a very special getaway. No, it wasn’t to some far-off place like the Bahamas, or backpacking across Europe, or even a place that required a plane ride to get there. While it was a quick trip weekend in Branson, it will go down in the books as one of my favorite trips to date. The reason? My entire family-- brothers, sister, parents, niece and nephews--all stayed under one roof at a lodge near Silver Dollar City. Three blissful days of bonding, laughing, eating, and playing as an extended family.

I took Ava, Holden and my niece, Symone, to Silver Dollar City to spend time with her Brownie troop. At the end of the day we were all incredibly tired--the good kind of tired, though, the tired that meant we had had a full day of memory making, but tired all the same. I had spent the past 8 hours sending pictures back and forth to Jonathon until my phone ran completely out of battery. So, when it came time to call for a ride, I was forced to become resourceful--and by resourceful, I mean I simply had to ask one of the thousands of people passing by if I could borrow their cell phone. It is harder than it sounds, so good thing I had a Girl Scout with me!

Just as I was dialing my dad’s number (as he had been the designated picker-upper) I spotted him coming around the corner to pick us up. Even though I was holding the hands of two of my own children, at that moment I felt like I was a little girl myself waiting for my daddy to pick me up.

That weekend and that moment made me realize just how truly blessed I am to have

such a great dad who I still get to make new memories with.

Sometimes I forget that my father didn’t just, poof, transform into a grandpa when I had Ava, but that he is still my dad, too.

Ava is just as lucky as I am to have such a caring and involved daddy of her own.

A few weeks ago, she decided to get her ears pierced, a request Jonathon had been nervously anticipating. He stood with Ava during her big day at Pigtails and Crewcuts in Fayetteville, comforted her and let her that it was going to be okay. He also helped pick the placement for the new little jewels on her ears. The ladies at Pigtails and Crewcuts did an amazing job, and Jonathon and I watched as our baby girl grew up, just a little, right before our eyes.

Happy Father’s Day to Jonathon, to my Dad, and to my Father-in-Law, and to all the dads across Northwest Arkansas!

Dr. Will Corporon and son Will

Dr. Will

n and

Corporo

Reat grandson

Story by Will Corporon

D

ia

A Father’s Day Without Dad

ad and I didn’t have a warm and fuzzy relationship when I was a little boy. That’s not to say he was without love or that he was rough --far from that. He was just... busy. After all, he was only 20 years old and an undergraduate working on a double major when I was born and, after his graduation, it was off to medical school. I certainly have many fond memories of those times, but I know Dad wasn’t around a whole lot in the first part of my life. However, once I started third grade, everything changed. He finally started his medical practice and from that time on, he didn’t miss much of anything.

Concerts, recitals, games... I’m not sure he missed more than a few the entire time I was in school. As busy as he was, he and my mom were always there, smiling and supporting. Family was more important than anything to my father.

He was doing what he loved, taking one of his grandkids to an event, when he and his grandson were ambushed and murdered.

On April 13, 2014, my world came crashing down.

My family’s world came crashing down. My father, Dr. William Lewis Corporon, and my nephew, his grandson, Reat Griffin Underwood, were gunned down and brutally murdered at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, Kansas, a Kansas City suburb. My dad was 69 and Reat was 14. Dad was taking Reat to a musical audition when they were shot. You probably saw it on the news or read about it. Maybe you didn’t. That’s not important. What is important is that in a matter of a few seconds, a deranged psychopath, apparently intent on killing

16 June 2014

Popeye and Oliv

Jews on that Passover/Palm Sunday, instead took the lives of my dad and nephew, who happen to be Methodist, and another woman, Terri LaManno, who is Catholic. Now, this Father’s Day, and all Father’s Days for the rest of my life, I will be missing the most important thing... MY father.

I was grilling hamburgers tonight and it dawned on me that I don’t think I have ever cooked anything outside without thinking about my dad. All my life Dad was “the griller.” He cooked a mean steak, and retty good hamburgers, too. He generally burned chicken, however, so he stuck to beef, and taught me to always put a little Polish sausage on, just for the cook. After I left home, it was always such a wonderful welcome to come back and enjoy a home-grilled meal. Dad always said when I’d come home that he’d “slaughter the fattened calf.” And it was always good!

Memories like these are what will sustain me for the rest of my years. I have a whole bunch of memories, thank goodness, but the same can’t be said for my baby girl.

My daughter, Olivia, just turned two. She loves going to Kansas City to her grandparent’s house. All the grandkids call my dad and mom Popeye and Yea Yea, cute names that my nephew, Reat, gave them when he was a toddler, and the names stuck. Olivia loves her Yea Yea, but she really loved her Popeye! He had a generous belly which, because he wasn’t very tall, covered up most of his lap. So, when she climbed on his lap she really just climbed on his belly. She loved sitting up there. He’d read her stories and many times they would take cat naps. It absolutely breaks my heart that Olivia will never have more than a few

fading photographs to remember her Popeye. I feel so cheated for her... for the other grandchildren, too, of course, but especially for her. She will never have a memory of him in her beautiful head. That’s so sad.

As this Father’s Day 2014 approaches and then slips into our memories, it’s important for people to know this about my family: We are Christians. My sister, brother, and I were born into a family of Christians and have, on our own as adults, continued along that path. We each married Christian spouses and are raising our children in Christian churches. I say that because I want people to know this about our family: 1. We know that Dad and Reat are in Heaven together. We have no doubts. 2. We know that God did NOT “do this” to us or “kill” my dad or nephew. We don’t believe God does evil things. But we absolutely believe that God has helped prepare us for this and will make good come from this.

Do you ever wonder how you will be remembered?

Father’s Day is as good a day as any to think about such a deep question. Lately I have, for obvious reasons. My dad was a practicing physician from the time I was a little boy until the day he died. I have heard from hundreds of former patients, many of whom owe their lives to my dad. They tell of his compassion and his humor and, more importantly, his humanness. That is a powerful legacy, but his didn’t end there.

He and my mom were also very involved in the arts in their hometown back in Oklahoma, and the fact that he was taking Reat to a musical audition when they were killed was certainly no fluke. Dad and Mom produced, directed and acted in dozens and dozens of plays and musicals. Dad even earned the Governor’s Award in Oklahoma for an original play he wrote and directed. At his death, we received many letters from people who were first introduced to the theater in one of my dad’s productions. Some have carried that passion and love of theater into their families and communities. That alone is a powerful legacy, but his didn’t end there.

Dad leaves behind a wife of 49 years, 3 children and 9 grandchildren. All three of us are active in our communities, in our churches, with our kids. Our kids are active at school, at church, in music, dance, sports, theater, scouts. Dad leaves us to follow in his footsteps and his guiding principles: faith, family, and community, and, by the grace of God we will do everything we can to make sure my father’s memory and legacy never fade.

So Dad, on this Father’s Day, 2014, my heart aches so much that you aren’t here, but you left me with your example of how to be a father. How to live in community. How to support and care for your fellow man. Your legacy is in my hands now, and I want you to know I will treasure it and care for it as you did your father’s before you. I love you, Dad.

o p x E y t r a P Birthday Celebrating life!

Last month, families were invited to the 2nd Annual Birthday Party Extravaganza at the Pinnacle Hills Promenade to experience many great birthday party hot spots!

On May 3rd, Peekaboo Magazine and Sugar Pie Social were honored to host Northwest Arkansas’ second annual Birthday Party Expo. Families were able to enjoy bounce houses, art stations, free gaming, pizza, live entertainment, pony and camel rides, giveaways, and much more! Each vendor also set up a birthday party preview experience. The expo’s headliner, Walmart, welcomed guests with multiple birthday set-up ideas using their great party products to give parents great ideas for their next event.

Walmart brought birthday party ideas galore for both boy and girl! Each table was set up using party supplies available at Walmart stores with creative ways to style each theme. You can’t have a birthday party without yummy dessert, of course, and Walmart had expo guests covered!

Free r fo cupcakeosne! every Northwest Arkansas offers a number of amazing birthday party hot spots and this year’s birthday party expo showcased some of our favorites. Guests were able to preview party locations to see what piqued their party interest!

Huge thank you

to our sponsors: Walmart Northwest Health System Farmland Adventures CSM Bakery General Mills Nickelodeon The Roark Group Imagine Studios Each expo-goer was a guest of honor!

Crafty Cottage The street was packed with families Jump Zone enjoying the day’s festivities. Live Malco entertainment by School of Rock and Lewis & Clark Bakstage Dance kept the energy high Crystal Bridges from start to finish.

Fast Lane Entertainment The Naturals Partytime Ponies Warner Brothers Bricks4Kidz The Party Place Little Giggles Fun City The Little Gym Pinnacle Hills Promenade No party is complete without a few surprise guests! This year’s expo Build A Bear showcased Batman, Cosmo, Belle and Cinderella, Yum-Yo’s Strike, a firetruck, a few camels and clowns, Royal Inflatables and Bearemy from Build-a-Bear.

Party Place Sugar Pie Social School of Rock Bak Stage Dance Arkee Malarkee Clown Group Rogers Fire Department Samaritan Community Center Mary Kay Consultant Kristie Morrison The Pink Tomato Rogers Activity Center Golf Mountain The Party Place in Rogers created balloon architecture that lined the Say Cheez Photo Booth entrances, and then made sure each child had a fun balloon of their Yanette Pinatas Steve Berger Camel Rides own. Northwest Health System was on hand with some of their great doctors who brought fun activities for the kids to enjoy!

Kambow Kouture

Pony rides, camel rides and petting zoos were just a few of the attractions that kept guests busy all afternoon. Refreshments were never far, and included cupcakes, pizza from Fast Lane, candy, popcorn, cotton candy and much more!

The Incredible Bea Story by: Jennifer Risk

C

ontrary to traditional expectations, the one day in my life that sticks out the most as a turning point isn’t my wedding day, or even the days when my children were born. Of course, those are absolutely the best days of my life, and both are incredibly memorable in their own right, but, unfortunately, there is another day that takes the spot of being foremost branded onto my mind -- June 8th, 2011. I remember very specifically that it was a Wednesday morning, and I was making a salad in my kitchen. My nearly 21-month-old daughter, Beatrice, was watching “Sesame Street” in my bedroom, one of her favorite shows. I’d just checked on her, and she was sitting on the floor at the end on my bed, utterly content as Big Bird and Elmo taught her new and exciting numbers and letters.

22 June 2014

Photos by: Capture Me Photography

I then heard a ‘thud.’ Curious, but not overly worried, I went into my room and saw the old tube-style television that we had on a table in our bedroom on top on her.

I threw it off of her in a panic. She wasn’t crying, and I remember thinking that she was dead, which is not easy to write or even think about. I remember screaming and panicking at first, but then some kind of calm came over me. In my previous job, before I became a stay-at-home mom, I had to have recurrent first aid and CPR training. To this day I don’t know how I managed it, but I just went through the motions of the ABC’s (airway, breathing and circulation) to give my baby CPR. I also knew not to pick her up, as much as I wanted to grab her and tell her it was going to be okay. She was bleeding out of her nose, so I knew

I had to get her into the recovery position. I gently moved her into position and made sure her airway was clear, then called 911. I knew to make my house as obvious as possible to any emergency personnel who’d be arriving on the street, so I opened the garage door and the front door. I got straight back to Bea and just kept screaming her name at her. I didn’t think she was breathing, and I couldn’t find a pulse, so I started pressing on her little chest. I’ve never felt so desperate in my life, and I’ll never forget that sick feeling. But then, she started groaning, and every time I screamed she would groan a little more. I knew things were very serious, but I took that response as a glimmer of hope.

I couldn’t get in contact with my husband, who was at work in Rogers, but I did get my dad, who lives on the other side of Bella Vista.

The paramedics finally arrived, after what seemed like a lifetime, but was, in fact, just minutes. There must have been about six of them, including the fire chief and a policeman. I don’t really remember much about what they did. I was in shock. I remember shaking a lot without being hysterical or crying. I just kept going over and over what happened. They wanted to evacuate her by air to Springfield because she needed a level I trauma center, but it was going to be at least twenty minutes before they could get to our house since they were having trouble finding a place nearby to land the helicopter. I made the decision to get her to a hospital locally, both because we could get her there in less than twenty minutes, and then at least she’d be in an actual hospital. I sat in the back of the ambulance with her, holding her hand and saying over and over again how sorry I was for letting this happen to her.

I’ve never felt so afraid in my life. “I’m her mom,” I kept thinking, “I’m meant to keep her safe, and I failed.”

We arrived at the Mercy emergency room and met my dad and my husband. After all the initial checks, she went for a head CT scan. At this point, she had regained consciousness and was aware of who everyone was, but she was fully immobilized with a neck brace and straps to hold her arms and legs still, which, at her age, wasn’t easy to deal with or explain to her. The doctor told us that she had several skull fractures and they were worried about a bleed that was visible at the bottom of her head. Additionally, he wasn’t happy with the way one of her eyes was responding. After discussing it, we decided to move her to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. For this she had to be transported on the Angel One helicopter, and for that she had to be sedated and intubated. It broke my heart to watch this happen to my baby girl. We weren’t sure of the extent of her injuries, and there was no way of knowing how long they were going to keep her intubated and sedated once down at ACH--or, worse, if she was even going to wake up. Luckily, I was allowed to travel with her in the helicopter. They don’t

[ story continued next page ]

The edible Incr Bea

always allow parents to do this because of the strict weight limit. I was so pleased that I didn’t have to leave her side, but it did mean my husband had to travel down to Little Rock in the car alone. I can still see the looks on my husband and dad’s faces as we took off.

I sat holding her hand in the helicopter, numb. When we finally got to ACH, she was taken into a room for her arrival assessment. There must have been 25 people in the room, all either drawing blood, checking vitals, or taking X-rays. It was all so overwhelming, but I was allowed to stay and a parent liaison was there to talk me through everything and make sure I was okay.

After all Bea’s tests, she was moved up to the PICU under the neurosurgery team. They wanted to keep her sedated until all the tests had been completed to find out if she had any kind of brain injury. My husband arrived after his 3-hour drive, and we sat with her. All we could do was watch her. Every time I held her hand it caused her heart rate to increase, so the nurse asked me, as hard as it was, not to touch her, since they needed to keep her as calm and stable

24 June 2014

as possible. I felt so powerless. Eventually all the tests were completed. The bleed that was visible on the initial scan was no longer seen, which the doctors attributed to it being reabsorbed, which would make it not a bleed from the brain--brilliant news! She did have multiple skull fractures, though, and they were dangerously close to the blood vessels and nerves that supply the brain. Honestly, the difference was only millimeters--so close that the neurosurgeons decided not to perform any kind of surgery on the fractures just in case anything was disturbed. She also had a whiplash injury to her neck, so the neck brace had to be kept on. They wanted to wake her up, but she needed to stay in the PICU for monitoring to make sure there was no change. My parents arrived and they rotated sitting in with her to give my husband and I a break. She came around pretty quickly from the sedation, and I was so pleased to see her awake and trying to say the few words she knew!

She was clearly in a lot of pain, but they didn’t want to give her any pain medication, as it could interfere with them understanding signs of brain injury. She kept rubbing her head, but didn’t cry very much, and was overall such a trooper. Even the nurses were surprised at how she left her IV’s alone, watching them pull blood out without any fuss. We were able to stay in the room with her. It was so hard to sleep, as every time I closed my eyes I kept seeing what happened. She continued to surprise and charm all the doctors during her stay.

I remember one of the pediatricians doing the rounds and double checking to see if this was, in fact, Beatrice because he said after looking at her chart there was no way she should be this perky! After only two days in the PICU, she was moved to the normal neurosurgery floor and then, after another two days, it was decided that because of the risk of infection from being in the hospital it was better for her to be at home.

She had to wear the neck brace constantly for three months, only to be taken off to change it--which, as you can imagine, for a 21-month-old was not an easy task. It involved one person doing the changing, another holding her neck steady and another talking

to her with the bribe of choice, usually a donut. After all, every child has their price, and that was hers!

Joking aside, it was terribly nerve-wracking but, as time went on, we all got used to it--Bea included. We were told that we had to watch out for signs of a stroke, which was a horrible thought. Every time she had what were totally normal toddler ‘vacant’ episodes, I convinced myself she was having a stroke! Though this was never the case, she did suffer a left side facial nerve palsy, which caused her to have no movement in her eye and the left side of her mouth drooping.

Thankfully, this did correct itself over a period of time.

She still has a slightly sleepy left eye, but her vision is perfectly fine. The neurosurgeons were so pleased with how she recovered, and couldn’t believe that she had no brain injury with the amount and type of fractures she sustained.

For two and a half years, we thought our precious daughter had made what only we can call a miraculous recovery. That is mostly true, but, unfortunately, in January of this year we discovered that she has profound hearing loss in her left ear. We saw the ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor and, after reviewing her scans from 2011, he was pretty certain that it was caused by the location of one of her skull fractures from the TV falling on her. She has adapted incredibly well, but, due to the nature of the nerve damage her hearing loss is permanent and untreatable with a traditional hearing aid. The fact that no one--her pediatrician, teacher, grandparents or even us, her own parents-suspected, shows us what a remarkable, inspirational little girl she really is.

People often tell me that it was just an accident, or it could have happened to anyone. While they are right, I’m always quick to stress that the situation was totally preventable. We live with the guilt every day about what our daughter went through and that it shouldn’t have happened. We are happy to shoulder that burden, as I think anyone else who has been in a similar situation would. But, we can’t turn back time, so rather than dwell on it, we like to use it as an experience to help others develop awareness so that no one has to go through what we have or sadly worse.

There are two messages we’d like to send out, not just to parents but anyone who has young children visiting them. Firstly, and most obviously: anchor everything to the wall. Not just TVs, but also large pieces of furniture. It only takes a few minutes to do. Secondly, I want to stress the importance of going through basic first aid and CPR training for each and every parent.

The paramedic told me that I might have saved her life. Whether that is true or not, maybe it helped us have the outcome we did. Today, she is a typical 4-year-old, charging about, getting into trouble and being the most fabulous big sister to her little sister, Martha. Every night when I kiss her goodnight, I’m always so thankful that I still can. It’s a very humbling feeling, but one that makes me so happy.

The Value of Being a Dad and As parents, we are constantly juggling our schedules to accommodate all of the things we call ‘priorities.’ Whether we are spending our time at work, with our family, or running errands, there are always things left on the table at the end of each day that we didn’t get a chance to accomplish.

O

ne of my priorities is to create a work-life balance, no matter how difficult it becomes.

I know that in thirty years my children will remember the times I spent with them and most of my coworkers will have forgotten my career accomplishments.

When balancing my time with family, I look at this time on a 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 scale. This scale shows how our children enjoy spending time with us.

We can influence them a lot from 0 to 10 years of age.

Between the ages of 10 and 20; they begin to develop interests outside of the family and spend less time with us. When our children reach the age of 20, they are already out in the world, beginning to live the life we helped influence. Finally, by the age of 30, most of our children are married and will have children of their own, which will consume most of their time.

Since we clearly have limited time to spend with our children, it becomes critical how we choose to spend what time we do have with them. On October 11, 2006 I became a father for the first time, and seeing my daughter changed my outlook and mindset instantly.

My main focus became trying to be the best influence possible and providing her everything she would need in this life to be successful. I found early on how much we both enjoyed the time we spent

26 June 2014

together, which helped us build a special relationship.

Last year, my daughter Madelyn wanted to join her local Girl Scout troop, and parents were asked to sign up as well. I immediately raised my hand to ask the troop leader if a dad could sign up to be a Girl Scout. To my surprise, she said a dad could sign up! Following the meeting I went home to talk with my wife and daughter about signing up. After only a few moments of discussion, they both approved my application. My daughter had only one stipulation: she asked me not to wear my Girl Scout shirt in public. I complied.

You might ask why a dad would even consider signing up to be a Girl Scout. Well, for years I have shared with my daughter the importance of being able to stand on her own, be independent, and accomplish whatever she wanted to do with no limitations. Last year she asked if she would be allowed to be the President of the United States, because only boys were the President.

I told her not only can she be the President, but she would be the brightest, most beautiful President yet if she wanted to be. I told her to never allow anyone to tell her what she was allowed to be based on her gender. I had the opportunity to deliver on my words by becoming a Girl Scout.

I filled out the application, completed the required background check form and attended a training session. After submitting my application, I anxiously awaited the news and a few weeks later I received my official Girl Scout letter. I was an official Girl Scout in the state of Arkansas. I showed the letter to my daughter and she immediately smiled and gave me a big hug. I still have this letter, and will keep it as a reminder of how I showed my daughter the importance of having the courage to do something even when others don’t. You read it correctly: my

a Girl Scout

By Mike Camp

name is Mike, and I am a Girl Scout. Can it be true?

Are guys really allowed to be Girl Scouts? These are only some of the questions I receive when attending Girl Scout events with my daughter. I remember moms being involved in the Cub Scouts as a child, so why was it such a surprise for a dad to be a Girl Scout?

Not long into my new role as an Arkansas Diamonds Girl Scout, we were thrust into ‘cookie mania!’ After we received training on how to sell the cookies, my daughter and I embarked on a mission to sell as many as possible-together. We sat down to determine what our goal would be and who we would connect with to buy the cookies.

We both decided 500 boxes sounded pretty cool, so we put our plans into action to sell some cookies. With my daughter by my side, we began to take cookie orders from friends, family, co-workers and neighbors. I will be honest with you, I was a little worried on how we would be able to sell 500 boxes of cookies. I knew one thing for certain, though... there was no way I was going to let my daughter down. So, I told my wife to be prepared to write a check for a lot of cookies if necessary, and our family might be receiving boxes of Girl Scout cookies for their next few birthdays and holidays... not that anyone would mind!

I can proudly say that, after a few grueling weeks, we sold more than 500 boxes of cookies, which was the highest total in our troop. I tell people selling 500 boxes of cookies is pretty amazing, but what’s more amazing is that we delivered on our sales, considering neither of us had ever done this before. Unfortunately, when we were planning how to sell all of these cookies, we failed to think about the delivery strategy. When we picked up the 500 boxes of cookies, I was in total confusion as to how these cookies would be sorted and delivered. Where would we even store so many boxes of cookies?

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Summer Art Camps!

How would we keep them easily sorted for delivery?

So, with a garage loaded with boxes of cookies, we began to think of the best way to address the delivery strategy. Luckily, I have a brilliant wife and daughter who have a gift for logistics and keeping things simple. They were able to get all 500 boxes sorted and packaged for delivery in less than a few hours.

The delivery part of the cookie project was the most

enjoyable for me. I was able to take my daughter, with her little red wagon in tow, to deliver these cookies all over town. We walked throughout the halls of my office, our neighborhood, and my daughter’s school delivering cookies and enjoying this quality time together. Spending this time with my daughter was truly amazing; I was able to see her in action as she delivered the cookies, collected the money and visited with her customers. During our walks, we would talk about things going on in her life, what was on her mind, and, of course, how much she enjoyed this time with her dad. We were both pretty exhausted when the 543rd box was delivered in less than a few days.

Since joining the Girl Scouts last year, I have participated in a Christmas tree decorating event at a local senior center, a Christmas caroling event, World Thinking Day, and a cookie training event.

Throughout these events I have tried to project a positive role model for my daughter and the rest of her troop, while learning what it means to be a Girl Scout along the way. I may not wear the Girl Scout vest or actually earn badges, but I am a Girl Scout.

I don’t attend the monthly meetings, but our troop leader supports all parents to volunteer whenever we have events.

While attending these events, I have become accustomed to being one of the only dads present, which is the main reason for this article. I share this story because I want to inspire my fellow dads to get involved and to challenge the status quo when it comes to what role society says we should play as a father. As fathers, we want our children to have access to the best environment, the best opportunities, and the best experiences the world can offer. In order for our children to have these opportunities, we must provide an environment which supports these goals. One way we can prepare our children is by teaching them to challenge that status quo when necessary, and not to quit just because something is difficult or others may not agree with us.

Bottom line, there are more than a few benefits for me being a Girl Scout. One benefit is it allows me the ability to spend quality time with my daughter doing something she likes to do. I am also able to show my daughter how much I support her by being involved in her life and influencing how she sees the world.

Another benefit is that my company supports my volunteer hours through a program that grants $250 per quarter to her Girl Scout troop. Another benefit of being a Girl Scout is the ability to show my son what it means to be a confident man by having the courage to do something outside of the norm, and to show him what a loving father will do to support his children. ,

28 June 2014

So listen up dads, when your daughter asks to become a Girl Scout, show her how much you support her decision by becoming a Girl Scout too!

479.659.0999 1117 N. Dixieland, Lowell

Benefits of Exercise in Pregnancy

E

By James W. Gorman, MD, OB/GYN Parkhill Clinic for Women

very mother looks forward to a happy, healthy pregnancy. Early prenatal care, careful planning, attention to nutrition, and regular exercise can help the patient accomplish her goals.

An obstetrician can guide a mother through her planning, prenatal care and nutrition, but the expectant mother has the responsibility to pursue her exercise.

Exercise is important in all of our lives, but it is even more important during pregnancy. Through exercise a women can help to decrease her risk of gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that only affects a patient when she is pregnant.

With gestational diabetes, a pregnant body becomes less sensitive to the production of insulin, and that can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. Elevated blood sugar levels can cause both fetal and maternal complications. Regular exercise will help to balance sugar levels and avoid the insulin resistance that is associated with gestational diabetes.

Regular moderate exercise during pregnancy can also help to stabilize an expectant mother’s blood pressure. Exercise during pregnancy has the same healthful benefits to blood pressure that it does when not pregnant. But, it is even more important during pregnancy. Exercise can help to avoid a subtle upward trend in blood pressure. Exercise is not a treatment for preeclampsia or pregnancy inducted hypertension, but exercise may help to avoid more common blood pressure elevations that can limit a patient’s lifestyle.

Exercise during pregnancy will also help to manage a patient’s weight gain while she is expecting. Most mothers need to gain between 20 to 30 pounds during a pregnancy. Those pounds add up very quickly when you consider the weight of the baby (7 ½ pounds), placenta (2 pounds) increased blood volume (3 pounds), and swelling (2-4 pounds). Ideally, a mother should gain about 10 pounds of adipose tissue (fat)

in preparation for breast feeding. Regular exercise during pregnancy will burn calories and help a mother to limit her gain of adipose tissue.

Exercise in pregnancy is beneficial, but what type of exercise is safe? In general, a pregnant mother may continue whatever exercise during pregnancy that she enjoyed prior to conception. As the pregnancy progresses, the expectant mother will need to alter some of her exercise habits. Exercises that focus on abdominal muscles should be phased out as the mother progresses through the first trimester. These can lead to increased pressure in the low abdomen, and increased pelvic cramping. In addition, any exercise that is in the supine position (lying on the back) should be avoided as the pregnancy moves toward the second trimester. The bench press is an example of this type of exercise. Expectant mothers also need to monitor their pulse while exercising. A reasonable goal is that the maternal pulse should not remain above 140 beats per minute during aerobic exercise. With higher pulse rates blood may be shunted away from the placenta, and this could cause fetal compromise. Recent studies suggest that higher pulse levels can be safe, but if a pregnant patient is working hard enough to reach 140 beats per minute, that is good enough!

The best exercise is whatever a pregnant mother enjoys, and fits the above criteria. Walking, elliptical machines, stationary bicycles are ideal examples of good aerobic activities during pregnancy.

Weight training is another opportunity for pregnant exercise. A good rule of thumb is that any weight routine that can be accomplished 20 times (without straining) is appropriate during pregnancy.

Remember, you are just trying to stay fit during pregnancy, not become an Olympic athlete!

So, in order to enjoy the best pregnancy possible, stay active. Your exercise during pregnancy will help to avoid gestational diabetes, regulate blood pressure, and manage weight gain throughout your pregnancy.

Morter Chiropractic:

A Family Legacy Morter Health Corner

A

215 W. Poplar

s children, we all dream about what we want to be when we grow up, and I was not very different from any other child in that regard. I spent many years dreaming about my future. I wanted to be a teacher, or an actress, or maybe a marine biologist. As I started college, I was still trying to figure it all out, but I knew I wanted to interact with people, especially children. I had begun my journey into higher education, but little did I know where it would take me. My first choice for a profession at that time was psychology, specifically child psychology. I pursued my undergraduate degree with this focus, and, indeed, it wasn’t until after I had already completed my Bachelor of Arts in psychology that I decided I was nowhere near done with my education, and that I would be switching gears entirely. Suddenly,my destiny finally hit me and I knew exactly what I wanted to do, which was follow in my family’s footsteps.

There was no doubt in my mind: I was supposed to be a chiropractor! I had spent my whole life trying to figure out who I was when, in reality, it was right in front of me the whole time.

I was raised in a chiropractic family. My father is a chiropractor, and his father was a chiropractor. I also have many other relatives that are a part of the profession, including my husband, uncles, an aunt, cousins, and siblings. My grandfather, Dr. M.T. Morter, Jr., was a very passionate and dedicated chiropractor and overall healer. He even developed and founded his own healing technique in the 1970s called Bio Energetic Synchronization Technique, or B.E.S.T. This technique is practiced by physicians around the world to this day. He spent his life researching and

34 June 2014

story by: Dr. Sarah Morter Rowden photo by: EverAfter Photography

Rogers, AR

(479) 636-1324

educating, including time spent as the president of two chiropractic colleges. Dr. Morter was a dedicated doctor, and an inspiration to many physicians across the globe. More personally, he was a dear and revered member of our family--an inspiration to my husband and me on so many levels. He was a master gardener, fisherman, and grandfather. I could not be more proud to call him my mentor!

As I said, I owe my livelihood and career choice to my family, mostly my grandfather. As I completed my Bachelor’s degree, my now-husband and I attended a chiropractic seminar with thousands of chiropractic physicians in attendance. We were there to watch my grandfather receive a lifetime achievement award from the most prestigious chiropractic college in the country. After walking around and admiring all of the people in attendance, my future husband decided to join me in my journey to become a chiropractor.

We both applied and were accepted at the same time, enabling us to attend chiropractic college together. We had been sweethearts since junior high, and now we knew we wanted to pursue a lifelong passion of helping people together. After all, we make a great team! We graduated from Parker College of Chiropractic (now Parker University) together in April of 2010, and were married in June of 2010. We opened our family practice in September of 2010 in downtown Rogers, where we both grew up. We have absolutely loved every second of our journey.

As our story continues to unfold, we have grown our family to include our precious daughter, Evelyn Grace.

She will be two years old in July, and has received chiropractic adjustments her whole life. One of the most amazing gifts we could have given her was to

be adjusted by her great-grandfather daily for the first month of her life. A common misconception of chiropractic practice is that children are adjusted the same way adults are adjusted, which is far from the truth. A pediatric adjustment is extremely safe and gentle, allowing the child’s body to function at its highest potential. I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by so many healers always working to keep my child healthy. Evelyn continues to be adjusted at least a few times a month.

Having a baby changed me as a wife, a doctor, and as a person. I now have a much clearer understanding of what parents go through and worry about with their children. I specialize in working with women during pregnancy and children all the way through adolescence. While I was in my first few years of chiropractic school and practice, I spent much of my “extra” time in school, studying and attending seminars to learn everything I could about pregnancy, childhood, and how chiropractic could help. Now, being a mom, I am so glad that I did. I can now relate to my patients on a completely different level.

I have now expanded my scope of practice to working with children with learning and developmental delays.

I am so passionate about helping children live their lives to their fullest potential. I support parents in their sometimes difficult process of making the best decision for their child, and I believe that if there is a natural and safe way to change a child’s life, then I want to be a part of that process. There are so many choices out there for parents today, and I always encourage parents to do their research, so that they know all of their options. If I can help educate or give resources to parents, then that is what I do.

Looking back now, it is almost funny to me that I “didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up.”

How could I have been anything else? I cannot even imagine my life any other way. Of course I was destined to be a chiropractor! As my grandfather always asked me, “Have you decided to be a chiropractor yet?” Why did I fight it so hard? Why wasn’t it obvious from the beginning? Sometimes I ask myself these questions, but, honestly, it just wasn’t time for me to know yet. It is pretty awesome that the hard work and dedication that brought my grandfather the lifetime achievement award is what changed my whole world. He was always the reason behind my choice, in every aspect.

I am so honored to be a part of such an amazing family. My grandfather passed away in May of 2013 and his loss was felt around the globe. Our family was supported and reached out to by so many people, some local, but many from across this country and internationally as well. He left behind an amazing legacy and lasting contribution to my family, my profession, and my community. My heart will forever be grateful for his presence in my life.

I love you and I miss you, Grandad!

www.homesbyjonathon.com

479.586.3890

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36 June 2014

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Sun

Tues

Mon 1

Trail Mix Concert Tour 1-7pm Crystal Bridges Trail 1-3pm Frisco Trail in Fayetteville 5-7pm Features by Artosphere Festival Orchestra ensembles, Street Drum Corps, and more!

Free and Open to the Public

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Wednesday Family Day at Pigtails & Crewcuts. in Fayetteville 1 Haircut at full price, 2 Haircuts at $2 off, 3rd gets $4 off, etc.

Baby Bookworms at the Fayetteville Public Library at 9:45AM Toddler Time at the Fayetteville Public Library at 10:30AM Baby Crafty Teen Crew Craft for teens 13-18 yrs.

6:30pm Rogers Public Library Friends of RPL Community Room

8

Sidewalk Sundays Walmart Museum - Downtown Bentonville Come join us to kick-off The Walmart Museum’s family fun series....Sidewalk Sundays!

Drop in anytime between 2-5 Demonstrations from the Northwest Arkansas Fencing Center Balloon Twisting Visit the Spark Café for tasty treats! ....and much more!!

15 Art and imagination come together on Storybook Sunday.

Walmart Museum - Downtown Bentonville Bring out your inner artist and assemble colorful creations inspired by classic stories.

Presented by Abrakadoodle and the Walmart Museum.

22

Sidewalk Sundays Walmart Museum - Downtown Bentonville Break a leg! Not literally. But do break out your inner thespian and enjoy an extraordinary theatre experience. Fun with Trike Theatre.

Presented by The Walmart Museum.

Drop in anytime between 2-5 Visit the Spark Café for tasty treats! ....and much more!!

Creative Constructors Rogers Public Library 6:30pm Get ready to use your imagination and have some building fun! Your child will have the opportunity to build with the LEGOS® and DUPLOS® provided. This event is for ages 0-12.

For more information all 621-1152 ext.

26. No registration is required.

Baby Bookworms at the Fayetteville Public Library at 9:45AM Toddler Time at the Fayetteville Public Library at 10:30AM Baby

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Summer Blooms Experience Crystal Bridges 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Join our Trail Guides for a seasonal experience of Crystal Bridges’ Trails. Trail past several outdoor sculptures. The walk includes some hills, but is well worth it!

Please wear appropriate footgear.

Free, no registration required.

Bentonville Public Library 1:30 PM-Dramatic Book Club with Trike Theatre 4:30 PM-Teen Volunteer Summer Training

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Summer Blooms Experience Crystal Bridges 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Join our Trail Guides for a seasonal experience of Crystal Bridges’ Trails. Trail past several outdoor sculptures. The walk includes some hills, but is well worth it!

Please wear appropriate footgear.

Free, no registration required.

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Sidewalk Sundays Walmart Museum - Downtown Bentonville Science Experiment Day Can you power a truck with magnets?

Find out the answer, and learn more, Drop in anytime between 2-5 Visit the Spark Café for tasty treats! ....and much more!!

We

30 Pinnacle Hills Promenade and the NWA Mall

10 Two Punch Tuesday at Pigtails & Crewcuts in Fayetteville Double punch on loyalty card for every haircut every Tuesday!

Family Night Events - Every Tuesday at Chick-fil-A in Rogers and at Bentonville location from 5:30P - 7:00P

Two Punch Tuesday at Pigtails & Crewcuts in Fayetteville Double punch on loyalty card for every haircut every Tuesday!

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Family Night Events - Every Tuesday at Chick-fil-A in Rogers and at Bentonville location from 5:30P - 7:00P TUESDAY ‘TIL 8 Rogers Historical Museum Every Tuesday, 5 - 8 p.m. Bring your family and explore the museum galleries at night, play in the attic, take a house tour, or do a hands-on activity.

Two Punch Tuesday at Pigtails & Crewcuts in Fayetteville Double punch on loyalty card for every haircut every Tuesday!

24

Family Night Events - Every Tuesday at Chick-fil-A in Rogers and at Bentonville location from 5:30P - 7:00P

Wednesday Family Day at Pigtails & Crewcuts. in Fayetteville 1 Haircut at full price, 2 Haircuts at $2 off, 3rd gets $4 off, etc.

Wednesday Family Day at Pigtails & Crewcuts. in Fayetteville 1 Haircut at full price, 2 Haircuts at $2 off, 3rd gets $4 off, etc.

Wednesday Family Day at Pigtails & Crewcuts. in Fayetteville 1 Haircut at full price, 2 Haircuts at $2 off, 3rd gets $4 off, etc.

Thurs

ed

Sat

Fri

4 Fayetteville on College and 6th St. Bentonville on Walton Rogers on Walnut and Pleasant Grove

11

12

Springdale Public Library Raptors! Birds of Prey (Kids) 10:00 Chispas Spanish Story Time for Families (Español) 4:00 Kibbles & Books Reading Sessions (Literacy Building) 5:30 14th Annual Wine Festival waltonartscenter.org 3 Day Festival

18

Baby Bookworms at the Fayetteville Public Library at 9:45AM

Rogers Historical Museum Summer Storytime Every Friday, 10 a.m., at Education Annex Youngsters age four through eight can enjoy a story, hands-on history objects, and a craft with this series of free programs.

14th Annual Wine Festival waltonartscenter.org 3 Day Festival

19

Toddler Time at the Fayetteville Public Library at 10:30AM

20

Rogers Historical Museum Summer Storytime Every Friday, 10 a.m., at Education Annex Youngsters age four through eight can enjoy a story, hands-on history objects, and a craft with this series of free programs.

Western Days Friday, June 20 - Saturday, June 21, 2014 Parsons Stadium home of Rodeo of the Ozarks. Springdale rodeooftheozarks.org Western Day’s - Bulls, Broncs & Barbeque Championship - BBQ Contest & Western Trade Days.

Springdale Public Library Scott Davis, Magic (Kids) 10:00 Chispas Spanish Story Time for Families (Español) 4:00

25

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14

4th Annual WELLFEST! 5k and 50-mile bike ride Bob Henry Park Siloam Springs bridgestowellness.org/wellfest/ Features 10- and 50-mile bike rides and a 5k race. The all-day event also includes free options for families such as a 5-mile bike ride, a 1-mile fun run and a family fun challenge. Other free activities include Zumba, CrossFit, yoga, Tae Kwon Do, pickleball, Frisbee and culinary delights, which features healthy cooking demonstrations and recipes.

21 Celebrity Chef Throwdown to benefit the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mercy NWA Magnolia Gardens, Springdale Ar 2p-5p www.celebritychefthrowdown.com Tri-Sport Kid’s Triathlon 8am Fayettevillle Athletic Club http://trisportkidstriathlon.com

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June 2014

T

aylor-Made

Story by: Dr. Wes Shelton

T

aylor McKeen Shelton was born on April 10, 2012. My wife, Ella, and I had waited so long to have children and our lives were falling into place and becoming everything I had planned for. I am a big planner, and I like things to go exactly how I envision them going. I have realized in the past year that no matter how carefully I plan, in the blink of an eye everything can change forever.

Ella and I grew up together in Batesville, Arkansas.

We both came to college at the University of Arkansas.

We were friends off and on since the 5th grade and we started dating during our junior year of college.

Together, we moved to Memphis when I started dental school at the University of Tennessee, another one of my life-long plans. After dental school, I decided to specialize in Periodontics, which would require another 3 years of training, but would allow me and Ella the chance to move back to the area we had loved

44 June 2014

since college: Northwest Arkansas.

I started my practice in July of 2010, and, by the next July, Ella was pregnant with Taylor. We always knew that our first child would be named Taylor McKeen, which was a combination of my mom’s maiden name, Taylor, and Ella’s mom’s maiden name, McKeen. It was what we had always planned and it was perfect. We were so excited about his arrival and we were beginning to plan for his future. I envisioned him wake-boarding at the lake in the summers and snow-skiing with us in the winters. He would play all the sports--at least the ones Ella would allow. He would excel at everything he did. I wanted the very best for him and I worked hard to make sure he had everything he needed and more.

We researched everything, beginning long before he was born, always looking for anything we could do that would help him excel. I loved every step of the process.

Taylor looked just like me, but he had Ella’s personality. He loved meeting new people and was so friendly. He loved getting dressed up with his hat to complete his outfit. Taylor was only 14 months old, but could work a room like an adult. He had such a sweetness about him and was such an easy child. Ella and I always talked about how lucky we were to have Taylor, and he was perfect in our eyes-exactly how I planned.

On June 15, 2013, all of my best-laid plans came crashing down. Ella and I were getting ready for Father’s Day weekend at the lake, and the last thing we had to do was to get Taylor ready. We went together into his room to get him and we knew immediately that something was terribly wrong.

Taylor wasn’t breathing. We performed CPR and called the paramedics. They arrived and Ella and I stood amidst a whirlwind of activity, watching as they worked to save what we both held most dear.

There was nothing that could be done... our sweet Taylor, who was so full of life mere hours before, was gone. In an instant, everything I had planned for and prepared for was gone. My world was upside down. I watched as Ella’s world crumbled around her and I felt so helpless. This was an event I never planned for, and everything was out of my control.

In the following months, Ella and I found the Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood program.

We came to learn that SUDC happens so much more than anyone really knows. SUDC is defined as the sudden and unexpected death of a child over the age of 12 months, which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation is conducted. This group has over 600 families that have lost children between the ages of 12 months and 5 years of age, and the number, unfortunately, grows every day.

Ella and I decided to form a foundation in Taylor’s name to provide financial support to the SUDC program. We want to someday have answers for Taylor’s death, as well as for all the other families in our situation. The Taylor McKeen Shelton foundation was formed in July 2013 and we were able to donate $15,000 to the SUDC program by the end of 2013. We raise money through private donations as well as the sale of our merchandise with Taylor’s logo.

We are having our first annual “Tee Off for Taylor” golf tournament at Shadow Valley on June 28th, 2014, along with a dinner, silent auction and live music event that evening. For more information on Taylor’s foundation and tournament, please vivit www.taylormckeen.com or www.facebook.com/taylormckeenshelton.

Faith through the Unexplained

Tucker’s story I

t was December 8th, 2010 when I became a mother for the very first time. My husband, Nathan, and I held our son, Tucker, and thanked the Lord for blessing us with this child and giving us a glimpse closer of His love for us. The pregnancy and delivery were flawless, and Tucker was beautiful and healthy.

by Amy Hill

He was almost 15 months old at the time and was just coming off of an ear infection, but still didn’t seem to be feeling well. I had laid him down for a nap after he had fallen asleep in the chair with me. My last moments with him were spent rubbing his back while he looked up at me several times right before he went to sleep.

My husband came home while he was still asleep and I left to go teach a thirty-minute cheerleading lesson. In the middle of spotting back-handsprings, my phone started ringing and it was my neighbor Amber telling me to come home. I knew it was bad by the sound of her voice, and all I could say was, “Who is it?” She told me it was Tucker, and my heart had dropped into my feet.

Once home from the hospital, we jumped headfirst into baby mode, having no idea most of the time what we were doing. We knew how to love, though, and that is exactly what we did. Of course, Tucker was an easy one to love. He grew into a rambunctious child who wanted to play and eat graham crackers all day, never shying away from adventure.

I quickly discovered that my most important role as a mother was to teach my children about Jesus. One day in February 2012, I sat at my kitchen table feeling an urgency to pray over Tucker’s life. I kept repeating the phrase, “Lord, just let him know you.” That day, at my kitchen table, I let go of any worldly desire that we long for our children. If Tucker never grew up to go to college, to marry, to have a successful career, I was okay with that, as long as He followed Jesus. I prayed the hard prayer that day, but a necessary one.

A couple of weeks later, on February 28, 2012, God answered that prayer in the most literal way imaginable. Tucker went to be with Jesus.

My husband had gone in to wake him up, but he was not breathing, nor did he have a pulse. My husband and friend Amber did CPR on him until the medics arrived, but he was not coming back. As I pulled up onto the scene, there was a sense of shock and disbelief as my eyes searched for my son.

I was told he was in the ambulance and that they still couldn’t find a pulse, but were trying to intubate him before going to the hospital.

Neighbors and people I didn’t even know were crowded in our yard and my husband yelled “Pray!” At once, we all huddled together, shouting out prayers for God to bring him back. At the hospital, Nathan and I ran to where there was team still working on him. We stood at the end of his bed with arms in the air crying out to God to save our son. When the doctor started saying, “Anybody have any other ideas?” I knew he was gone.

I looked at Nathan and said “He’s with Jesus.” as tears fell from my face.

We immediately went to his side and stroked his long hair that always seemed to fall in his eyes. I kissed his cheeks that I kissed hundreds of times in his life. I grabbed his hands and told him to go be with Jesus,

[ story continued next page ]

that it was okay. We sang “Jesus Loves Me” to him, which was his favorite song, and then we said a prayer.

The pain was absolutely paralyzing, and the unknown answer as to why our perfectly healthy son died in an instant was beyond confusing. We spent the next days and weeks wrapped up in the arms of our family, friends, and community that surrounded us. We buried ourselves in God’s Word and His promises.

We told God that we didn’t understand, but we prayed that His glory would be revealed I desire answers. Even when think I have reached a through Tucker’s story and that his new life Igood place in my acceptance of the grief cycle, I will in Christ would point people to Jesus. phase suddenly find myself asking

I remember the pathologist calling us, finally, and feeling anticipation, knowing that without a doubt I was about to get my answer for what it was that took my son’s life so abruptly. To my surprise, there was no answer. He seemed stumped. He said he called not knowing what he was going to tell me, other than that he could not find even a trace that indicated that something was wrong with our son. He went on to say how sorry he was and that he was going to spend more time examining him but to rest assured there was nothing that we could have done to prevent this.

My emotion and reaction to this news surprised me.

Instead of rage, or confusion, or fear, or guilt, or doubt...

I felt peace.

I know this isn’t normal, and I can’t even begin to explain it, especially since I was expecting concrete answers. I was expecting, cancer, aneurism, seizure...something that would point me specifically to a purpose for why his life was taken. This forced me to look to the unseen, something I was becoming familiar with at that point. If my son was going to die without medical reason, I felt peace that he was with his Creator, and that was enough for me.

They call it Sudden Unexplained Death in Children.

(SUDC) When a child dies after the age of one for unknown reasons, they are too old for this to be a case of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It was something I had never heard about until it happened to us, and then I heard about it far too much.

I am fully aware that death was not supposed to be a part of the story, but, because we live in a fallen world, tragedy strikes in many forms. There is great importance in researching the unknown. I have stumbled upon numerous stories of parents losing their perfectly healthy children with unanswered questions.

There is a whole site dedicated to researching cause/ prevention/awareness with SUDC. My friend Ella Shelton, who lives in Bentonville, AR lost her son,

48 June 2014

Taylor, in the same way. She is doing some amazing things through the Taylor McKeen Shelton Foundation to raise awareness and money to go towards research for SUDC.

“why” again. We are our children’s caretakers and it is only natural to feel entitled to understand why they were taken from us. I truly believe my peace comes from knowing where he is now.

Tragedy takes people in different directions. There is no right or wrong direction, and we are all just trying to figure this grief thing out in this place we always called home. I don’t call it home anymore. I know where my home is, truly, and my heart yearns to be there.

It was our daily prayer for God to give us glimpses that He was with us, and that Tucker was with Him. He answered those prayers through the people around us, the scripture He showed us, the dreams He gave us, and the blessing of our identical twin boys. I don’t try to understand Him and why this had to happen, but I do trust Him because of what He has shown me.

Today, our twin boys are named Maximus and Gideon and they are 15 months old. They came into this world fighting, due to being born at 31 weeks and spending five weeks in the NICU. I can’t begin to explain the emotion involved watching them fight for their lives, especially after watching my healthy little boy lose his life. They are now healthy, active little boys that will forever be a reminder of God’s faithfulness.

It has been two years since that traumatic night of losing Tucker. I have found that there is an internal battle that I have with time. I rejoice as it passes, but hate the fact that every ticking minute is another moment without him. If ever I tell my story, the most common remark is “I don’t know how you do it.”

My answer? There isn’t much alternative. I choose to remain faithful through the madness and unanswered questions.

I know that nothing is “owed” to me. There is nothing in this world that is mine, even my children. We all come from the same Creator who has given all of us the precious gift of life if we choose to trust Him. It’s just not the life here on earth that we think it is. It is life with Him, in an eternal glory He calls Heaven. It’s a place that Tucker calls home. And I can’t wait to get there.

Meet the Play Strong Pediatric Therapy Team by: Kara Harvey

We are a family. It’s cliche, but it’s true.

In March of 2014, we opened PlayStrong Pediatric Therapy, Inc. because we saw a tremendous need in our community. We heard story after story of waiting lists for children who needed therapy services, and we wanted to help and to take action.

We hold a few fundamental ideas at our core and are dedicated to staying true to them. First, put the children first and treat them like they are your own.

Secondly, know your field and continue to learn.

What’s more, hire therapists who are skilled and have integrity. Lastly, and most importantly, always remember that any blessings are not of ourselves but from God. We have long-term goals of giving back to the community and to go on mission trips to educate and serve those who are not able to receive therapy services.

We have been blessed to have a talented and compassionate group of therapists to start up with. We have a team of nine occupational, speech and physical therapists, including our sisters and husbands. Maybe that’s why we have this palpable feeling of family in our office… because we really are. We have been trusted with great kids and very involved parents, both of which truly make all the difference. It takes a committed parent to perform therapy activities at home, ask questions and be involved in their child’s plan of care.

We asked one of our committed parents to be our office manager. Her two sons are autistic. She has, with love, worked relentlessly with them. She is a role model to us because she has never given up on her kids, even

50 June 2014

479-246-0101 / 4408 W. Walnut Street in Rogers when things were incredibly hard. I remember her telling me how her oldest son didn’t like her to hold him when he was a baby, and would even push her away. Later, when he wasn’t talking as much as peers his age, she was desperate to find a way in. There were a lot of tears and hard work from there to here, but he is eight years old now and has been integrated back into the mainstream classroom, making progress every day. He still receives occupational, speech and physical therapy services to work on his body awareness, organized functional play with peers, pragmatics, and appropriate social interaction. She takes her younger son, who is five, to a recreational t-ball team’s practices so he can participate with typically-developing children. While aware that her sons have autism, she strives to treat them normally and expects them to have manners as any other child would. They are truly blessed to have her as a mother, and we are blessed to have her running our office.

We provide occupational, physical and speech therapy services for children who are babies to up to 18 years old. Much of the therapy is hands-on, as we help the child’s body move through and learn new positions and movements. We focus on a team approach, emphasizing the connections between therapies with multiple common areas of treatment where the different disciplines can be treated alongside each other. We also have disciplined specific areas for more specialized treatment interventions. We treat developmental disorders, genetic syndromes, cerebral palsy, autism, feeding and sensory disorders, toewalking, torticollis, and more.

We would be honored to serve your child. Please contact us at 479-246-0101 if you have any questions regarding your child’s development.

The Great Break-In by: Spencer Presley

utpour.com http://creativeo

ur dog woke us up this morning around 4:15AM, and who was chasing him. I only put my gun down barking hysterically. I got out of bed in my boxers when I heard the officer come in the door. He instantly O to quiet her down, attempting to calm my wife as well drew his gun on the intruder and started yelling at in the process. Jacqueline was freaked out, but I wasn’t really worried, because I’m the kind of manly man who scoffs at actual intruders being a threat in the house. So, nonchalant and half-dressed, I’m walking down the hall trying to adjust my eyes to the light when I see him-- the dude in my laundry room.

Our laundry room is separated from the kitchen by a glass-paned wooden door with a dog flap at the bottom, which this guy was sticking his head through.

The door was locked, but the frame has warped with the humidity and no longer fully shut. He didn’t know that, though... yet. Upon seeing me, he guy started to yell at me about someone trying to kill him and that he was being shot at. He wanted me to unlock the door and let him in, and he seemed scared. Jacqueline was standing in the hall behind me, and I told her to go get “that thing,” which is apparently my new super-secret code word for the gun in the night stand. The guy got back on his feet and pushed on the door, which instantly opened for him. Joy. I pushed it back and told him to stay in the laundry room, using my best toughguy voice, adrenaline racing through my veins. By this point, I was not sure if he was the threat or if there was someone else in the yard or street who was the threat.

I didn’t know if he, or they, had a gun, either.

I snatched the phone and dialed 9-1-1 as I grabbed my Smith & Wesson .38 special (thanks, Grandpa!) and headed back to the kitchen. I pointed the gun at him and told him to back up into the laundry room.

This was way more exciting, and terrifying, than I imagined, like being on a roller-coaster.

As I waited for the police, I started asking the guy questions (at gunpoint) about where he came from

54 June 2014

him, just like in movies. At this point, I returned to my bedroom and put some pants on to save some dignity.

They took the guy out on my porch and started to question him. He said someone was chasing him and shooting at him, but the officer told me that he had been parked close by for over 30 minutes and had never heard a thing. Then they realized the guy has a warrant. Then they discovered that he thinks he’s in California. You know, that state 1,800 miles away?

That’s right, the guy is certifiably B-A-N-A-N-A-S. For some reason, he hid all the stuff in his pockets behind my washing machine. A pack of smokes, his wallet, a cell phone and a piece of paper with the Salvation Army’s address on it, only a block from my house. They ended up taking him to the hospital to check him for drugs and have him evaluated for a case of the crazies. I followed up the next day to see if he was held on any charges, which he wasn’t. No harm, no foul, I guess.

We’ve all heard the saying “Never pull a gun if you’re not willing to use it” and I’ve always wondered what I would do if I were ever in the position. In the end, I was ready to take whatever actions necessary to protect my family, and I’m thankful that I didn’t need to use my weapon. Though you never actually hope to have an intruder break into your home while you’re sleeping, I know this situation is secretly on a lot of guy’s bucket lists. Before that night, I had imagined similar scenarios over and over again, and I have to say this played out pretty much how I expected it, except I was usually looking much tougher in my imagination... and wearing pants. You learn a lot about yourself once you hold a man at gunpoint in your underwear.

Dad O ‘Clock .... a time of transformation between corporate chaos and parent pandemonium

What is the most important time of your day?

Is it that first welcoming, hot cup of coffee? A good night kiss to your little ones? The first, soft, warm glow of Facebook on your iPhone (yes, I’m talking to you, Mrs. Lacy) each morning? For me, it is, without a doubt, “Dad O’Clock.” No, I’m not talking about the magical, mystical “5 o’clock somewhere” time of day.

Dad O’Clock is much more vital, and, while it isn’t at the same time each day, it is a very important part of every day for me.

So what is Dad O’Clock? Dad O’Clock is that small window of time that exists between the “work day” and the “home evening.” It is a time of transformation between corporate chaos and parent pandemonium, where the disorganization of your organization transitions to the dysfunction of your domicile. It is the time where the guy at work morphs into the guy at home. It is usually a small expanse of time that can be easily disregarded, but is oh-so-important.

The reason? For me, there has to be a time-out between being the corporate ladder-climber and the official rugrat-chaser. There has to be a break between the two “me’s.” Call it a dual personality disorder, or the maleness of only being able to focus on one task at a time, or just plain Type A nuttiness--whichever, guilty as charged. The fact of the matter is that the successful worker bee in me is woefully awful at being a father, and the “fun dad” in me would get slaughtered at work. It’s gotta be one or the other with me. No teeter-totter, no balance--one or the other.

Most of the time my Dad O’Clock is spent on an 11-minute commute home (sorry for those of you who have to traverse on I-540 each day--oops, I mean Interstate 49!). The time is usually spent forgetting about work, dodging the Walmartian exodus on 8th street and letting Jimmy Buffett remind me again that his job is way better than mine. It is, briefly, an 11-minute solo vacation. Does that sound selfish?

Yep. Does that sound harsh? Maybe. Is it important?

H-e-double-hockey-sticks yes. It is a time to relax, reload, reset, zone-out and Zen-out.

Sometimes Dad O’Clock gets altered, changed, or

56 June 2014

Dad’s View by: Ben Lacy discombobulated, and that’s when the wheels come off the wagon. Case in point: Kid #3 gets sick at school and the aforementioned Mrs. takes him to the doctor.

On the way to the doctor, Kid #1 and Kid #2 are deposited at my office and immediately expect “Dad” to be sitting at his desk. The thing is, the guy at the desk isn’t “Dad.” It’s the employee known as Ben Lacy.

This employee has laser focus, a pile of projects on his desk, is on a conference call and always stressing over poor spring metrics. Kid #1 and Kid #2 want to talk to Dad about their day, to con Dad into going to Braum’s, and debate with Dad on why they have to go to school.

Sorry kids, Dad ain’t here. The guy that looks like your Dad doesn’t give a Fig Newton about any of that stuff.

He’s trying to figure out how to explain to the bigwigs why there is a digit missing from the end of this year’s ship forecasts.

The absence of Dad O’Clock time creates a rough and grumpy transition from employee to father, which then leads to major guilt when Dad eventually comes back “online”–and we end up at Braum’s anyway.

Honestly, if you can’t solve a problem with Duck Tape, WD-40 or Braum’s Cookies-and-Cream Ice Cream, then it can’t be fixed.

I wish it wasn’t this way, but many of us have very different “work” vs. “home” personalities. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since I highly doubt that my mad skills at Battlefield 3 would translate in a corporate environment, and having Jedi-level Microsoft Office artistry really doesn’t impress the kids. We all have our core traits and values that should always be lurking regardless of our environment, but we often have to contour them to the habitat we inhabit.

A friend of mine has a baseball cap in his office that he puts on every night when he leaves. That hat is a physical signal to him that the work day is done, and from that point forward he transitions quite well. I’ve also heard of people who have “Work” written on the “on” portion of their light switch and “Home” on the “off ” area. Not a bad plan, either. But for me, I need an 11-minute vacation to melt the rigid structure of the day and let the “other guy” out like some sort of reverse Hulk... minus the greenness and buffness.

Time Money

by Brandon Norrell

Cliché phrases like this one hold next to no weight in our culture anymore. They have been overused and without purpose or substance.

We’ve all heard that “time is money,” but what does that really mean? In my opinion, cliché, oversimplified phrases like this one hold next to no weight in our culture anymore. “Time is money.” This popular cliché can be used to hurry people through life, telling them that their hours have to be perfectly productive to be worthwhile. Ben Franklin, a true pillar of this great nation, a man who was proud of his blue collar roots, and an altogether brilliant thinker, was the person to coin the phrase I mention in this article, but I think he had a different meaning in mind. For instance, he also said, “You may delay, but time will not.” To me, both quotes work together to tell a simple

truth: Time has inherent value. Time isn’t something that is “costing” you, or even making you money, in its passing. Instead, time is a currency all its own. As somewhat of a business-minded person, I like the idea of time being its own specific currency. It causes me to muse that I then have the ability to earn time, and, even better, I get to spend it, and at times save or invest it.

So, as I always ask myself, what does this concept mean for me as a dad? Great question! I bet some really smart writer somewhere has already answered that for you, and I recommend Googling that until you find something. Thanks for reading this article, and I hope this pointed you in the right direction... ha!

Okay, I’m just kidding about reading some other article. Let’s move forward to a few ideas I have. I would like to preface this by saying that this is a new way of thinking for me, and by no means do I feel I have mastered the idea or the art of spending my time wisely.

Why am I even writing this? Because... I am busy. That just about sums it up. I also know that you are busy, and the people around you, and your kids and family, and everyone is just busy. We are a fast food, get it and go, “life’s too short,” “sleep when I’m dead,” instasocial, “don’t stop, get it, get it” type of society. That culture can build great character traits and train the I met my wife five years ago, and living with her was this super cool little 2-year-old dude, Parker.

As she and I grew closer, so did he and I. I enjoyed it, but I quickly realized time was very important to both of them, and they both deserved quality time.

mind to function quickly and efficiently, but it can also lead to some detrimental practices. I met my wife five years ago, and living with her was this super cool little 2-year-old dude, Parker. As she and I grew closer, so did he and I. I enjoyed it, but I quickly realized time was very important to both of them, and they both deserved quality time. But, now, five years later, it seems so much is going on, and so many things are pulling all three of us that is very difficult to give the proper time to each other. An old pastor of mine used to say, “You spell love T-I-M-E.” To me, this means two things: one, in order to love something you have to invest time into it, and two, if you love something you will want to spend time with it (or him or her).

So, with all the things life throws at you, and all the healthy and potentially unhealthy things that pull your time, how can we spend this commodity wisely to benefit those we love?

Earn It Lets start where every checkbook starts: earning.

Before you can spend or invest, you first have to bring something in. When thinking of time as a currency, what does it mean to earn it, or even create it?

Obviously, we can’t add hours to the day yet--though, if anyone figures out a way to do that, please let me know! Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” This tells me two things: one, we must have a conscious plan in order to be effective, and second, our plans must have a purpose from the heart.

I had to earn my time with Parker. I had to prove to him that I both wanted and enjoyed spending time with him. It is my job to schedule that time, letting him know that this is just for him and I and that I am excited about it. Earning time is more than just finding it. If I am finding time, but it’s sporadic or without direction or purpose, it looks different to the people I love. A couple of years ago I was saddened

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and shocked to hear Parker tell his mommy that I didn’t play with him very much. In my head, I was taking out time for him all the time. I coached his ball teams, I took him to church, and we did special things together. Looking back, I realized I needed to be more intentional with that time, and I needed to let him know that he was important. I needed to purposefully schedule things that were just him and I. This may all sound simple and like common sense, but, obviously, I was missing it. So, “earning time” is both effectively managing time with a healthy work/life/play balance as well as earning the trust of your loved ones by prioritizing them regularly and with purpose.

Spend It

Just like with money, “spending” time is the fun part, but, like with real money, spending has responsibilities.

Maybe you are lucky and you don’t have any monthly bills that you have to pay, but, personally, I do. Every month I go through the budget and analyze the money coming in versus the money going out. And then, after I ensure that we can live and eat, we try and have some money to play with. As we continue to think about time as a currency, we first need to make a budget.

Take a few minutes and set up your ‘time’ currency income/ out-go just like you would with your money. Inventory your time, if you will. You have to factor in sleep, work, quiet time, personal time, relationship time, your family, some fun, and then free time. This seems like a lot, and maybe even impossible to handle all at once, but if we can do it with our finances when it seems difficult, we can budget time. If we truly treat our time as a currency and we budget it and use it wisely, how rich could that make us? Just like any good budget, there is generally a little “wiggle room” or “miscellaneous” factored in, and that should still be the case here. This will not be easy, but I am positive it will be rewarding for you. Spend your time on work and other responsibilities like you would your mortgage and gas bill, and then you can ensure the rest of your time is spent with a purpose, with joy and love.

Save It The final piece of currency we are going to touch on is: saving and investing. When you think of a savings account or an investment, you think of something that is growing in order to serve a greater purpose in the future, or something that will pay you back and/or help you survive in the future.

62 June 2014

We all understand that your children, or all children for that matter, need someone to invest in their lives.

As a baseball coach for the younger generation, it is fun to see them grow and change, of course, but, as a coach, I make it my goal to coach with a purpose. I am not there to fill in because someone else wouldn’t do it. I am there to do something specific: teach kids about teamwork, leadership, perseverance, baseball fundamentals, sportsmanship, and the art of handling competition, both winning and losing. The joy of coaching in the here and now is to see them understand and achieve these things throughout the year, but the biggest reward is to see them 5-10 years down the road as young men and women who have grown up with an understanding and a commitment to excellence on and off the field.

What is the best way to invest your time into your child? This goes back to earning the trust and proving they are worth your time. The difference between spending time and investing time is the consideration of the future. The key is to be intentional with the activities, conversations, and attitudes presented during the time you spend with your little ones.

Taking your child to a baseball game is a great way to “spend” time with them. “Investing” time, however, is taking your little one to the baseball game, and also participating in communicating, conversation, and being ultra-sensitive to teaching moments. At the surface these two things look identical, and you may think, “Of course I would do those things!” However, I bet if you take inventory of your time you will discover, as I did, that I was going through the right motions, but leaving out some pieces. Spending time on my phone, being too into the game, or talking to people around me are all completely healthy things to do at a game, but all could potentially tell your little one that other things are more worth your time. More importantly, you could miss a conversation that they will hold onto forever. Not to mention, the travel time there and back is a great way to talk about their lives and what excites them and scares them. These oneon-one conversations are a chance to speak truth into their lives about their worth and value and incredible talents--to replace the negative talk of the world with positivity and love. Taking this time one-on-one also reinforces that they are worth your time. Believe me, kids understand that life is busy. Honestly, they see it now more than we ever did when we were kids.

Time is money? More like treat time as money. If we can change the way we look at time, I believe we, and the people around us, can all walk in joy and peace. So much stress comes from time and money and the lack thereof. I believe changing the way I budget my time has and will continue to impact my relationship with Parker, my wife, my business and everyone I interact with. I want to be someone who has a child who grows up as an honest man of integrity, who makes a difference in the lives around them, and himself leaves a legacy of time well spent, and well invested.

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Being their Refuge O

ver the past several years, I have had the privilege understand your child’s emotions, and enables them of witnessing a number of friends and family to feel heard. members work heroically to become a safe place for their foster or adoptive children who are dealing Respect their privacy. Yes, there are with traumatic histories. As I have watched the great times when a parent needs to reach out to a trusted lengths these loving parents go to in their efforts to friend for advice in a difficult situation with a child, but help their children heal from past hurts, I have come all to often I notice parents trumpeting their children’s to place immense value on playing the role of “refuge” struggles or mistakes to their group of friends or, in the life of another. It is a great honor and privilege worse, over social media, like it is part of a stand-up when a child feels safe with you--regardless of comedy act. As a parent, I have many moments whether that child belongs to you biologically or where I think, “I’ve got to either laugh or through adoption--and not to be taken lightly. cry about this,” but it is important to Unfortunately, I often work with families in remember that stories about my kids which the parent-teen relationships have are not just my stories… they are “Being a refuge completely eroded and any former bond their stories as well. Little Bobby is for our children of trust the parents had either come by one day going to be embarrassed to is not a one-time naturally or had worked to achieve have discover that his mom’s entire social achievement.” disintegrated. media network knew he had a habit of biting his sister, or got sent to time-out Being a refuge for our children is not a one30 times in one day, or got kicked out of time achievement; rather it is an ongoing process preschool for bad behavior. in which we must continually send them messages that communicate that they are of value to us, that their feelings and opinions matter to us, and that they Respond dependably. If you want to be can trust us to respond in dependable ways to their the one your child continues to turn to for reassurance needs. If you’re hoping to build a stronger bridge of and love as they grow older, learn to respond to them trust between you and your child, or perhaps repair in ways that foster those feelings. Listen to their stories a crumbling one, here are a few practical tips you can before passing judgment. Use a calm voice, even when they are cranky and loudly emotional. Maintain employ immediately. predictable boundaries and discipline tactics so they Pursue them. Children tend to love being know what to expect from you. guided in conversations that help them learn how to Being a safe place for our children certainly does not express their feelings and how to discuss events (even mean that we will never disappoint them, tell them no, small ones) that are important to them. One great or upset them. Instead, it means that they trust that way to do this is to have a daily “pow-wow” with your our love for them is unconditional and we will always child, in which they express their “pow” for the day endeavor to act in their best interest. I urge you to take (something that was disappointing, sad, frustrating, some time to earn that trust today. etc.) as well as their “wow” (something that made them feel excited, happy, proud, etc.). This simple If you would like to learn more or work to repair a tool can transform your conversation from the bland, damaged relationship with your child, please contact “How was your day?”/“Pretty good” back and forth, Stefanie Lawson at the Center for Psychology and into an insightful discussion that helps you better Counseling. Stefanie works with individuals and families and is currently accepting new clients.

(479) 444.1400 see ad next page..

Enjoy Birth How dads can help ease the transition into life with a newborn

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any parents are shocked when they face the first few weeks of life with their newborn. It is a time of transitions, when almost no one in the house is getting sleep and basic need fulfillment is hard to come by. One of the most helpful things for parents to do is to take some time before the baby’s birth to make a plan for how they will deal with this joyous but life-altering upheaval. As a mother recovers from her birth, sometimes her partner can be left without a clear picture of how to help. Here are four helpful tips on how to ease the initial postpartum transition:

1 Help out with domestic tasks.

New moms are often cautioned to rest as much as possible and to sleep whenever baby sleeps. They are told that dishes and laundry can wait. That advice can be a source of stress for a new mom.

Soon, dishes pile up and laundry accumulates into a mountain

range of dirty clothes. When this happens, people are left to dig through the dirty hamper for something to wear and without dishes to eat off of. These basic human needs (food and clothing) become stressful added obstacles of massive mess. Helping out

2 Help her get help.

The subject of visitors can create some tension when a family is expecting a new addition. Nobody wants to offend overjoyed friends and family who are really excited to see the baby. However, sometimes visitors come to see the baby and unwittingly leave the parents in the position of playing “host” to a train of visitors. This can be trying to an exhausted new mom. It may be useful for the two of you to create a plan for visitors and perhaps even hire help before the baby is born. Determine how long visitors can stay, where they’ll stay, and a way to indicate to one another that it may be time to wind down a visit. It may also be helpful to know what relatives or friends on either side that she thinks may be able to support her.

Some families like to brainstorm a list of things they need help through a kind letter put out for visitors to see:

with chores is a practical way to help ease the burden right after the baby is born. Just loading the dishwasher in the morning, taking out the trash, running the vacuum or switching laundry loads can make a huge difference to her happiness and family functionality.

“Dear friends and family,

We are overjoyed that you are here to visit little baby. We have appreciated all of the offer s for assistance, and have found that it can be really hard to think of what all we need when we’re asked. To help everyone know what we need most , we came up with this list together:

3 Switch laundry loads 3 Bring a meal 3 Hold baby so new mom can shower or nap 3 Take our older kids out for awhile

Thank you for being a part of this excit ing time with us, and know we’re so grateful for everything you’ve done!”

3 Be aware of her physical and emotional recovery.

Birth is a significant life event that requires a significant physical recovery. Whether Mom will have a vaginal birth or a cesarean birth, she will need to take special care of herself during the initial recovery. There are three things that she especially needs: water, food and rest. These are seemingly basic, but are often the first things that fall by the wayside when a new baby is added to the family.

Check in with her regularly on these three things and lend a hand or help her find someone who can. She will be one happy new mama!

Emotionally, it is normal for her to experience some baby blues for a few days to a week after birth. She may feel tearful, sad, overwhelmed, lose her appetite or have trouble sleeping. However, these feelings sometimes become much more intense and can indicate postpartum depression or anxiety. Talk together before the birth about a plan to speak with her healthcare provider if these symptoms are severe and prolonged, so that she can get help and support right away.

4 Prepare yourself to jump in wirh newborn care.

Learning about newborn care is one of the most useful things for both parents. It can help take the burden off of a new, recovering mom, and it can also help you feel more prepared for the inevitable times when you’ll be caring for baby alone. Most parents are told that it will come to them naturally, and while it is true that you will get the hang of it, it can be an overwhelming learning curve for many people. Many birth classes help prepare you a little for newborn care, but there is a lot of reading that can be done to help you prepare as well. One of the tips our students have found to be most helpful is to look for videos online! A quick search can be a perfect solution to a newborn care dilemma.

With a little bit of planning, discussion and implementing some of these techniques, you too can have a smoother transition into life with your precious new addition!

Bethany Rine, CLD, CCCE Jessica King, RN, Professional Labor Doula www.enjoybirthclasses.com

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ne of the keys to nonprofits helping strengthen our community is through partnerships, both with each other and with sponsors. Recently, a notable partnership has formed between Youth Bridge, a nonprofit devoted to helping at-risk teens for the last 50 years, and Feed Communities, a new organization that works to increase access to healthy foods and improve healthy food choices. Their first foray together will be an event called O.N.E. Boogie, a fundraiser at Garner Farm, located at 3390 Mission Blvd in Fayetteville, on June 28 from 2-5 PM. Tickets are $20 for one and $30 a pair. The event’s intention is to showcase that opportunities now exist to combat homelessness and

hunger in our community.

by Cody Ford

O.N.E. Boogie will feature food, music and fun. Many healthy food vendors will be on hand with samples for those in attendance. Several local musicians, including local legend Benjamin Del Shreve, will perform.

The event began several years ago as the “Breakfast Boogie,” which took place at George’s Majestic Lounge on a Saturday morning. However, Youth Bridge’s development director, Dr. Nancy Hairston, saw the need and the opportunity to expand the message and partner with another great nonprofit in the area: Feed Communities.

“We want the Northwest Arkansas community to know that opportunities now exist to do something about homelessness and hunger in our community,” said Dr. Hairston. “Both of these issues affect those around us, but people don’t always realize just how connected they are. We need to raise awareness of this and get people engaged to help others in our community. That’s why we are happy to partner with Feed Communities for this event.”

Based in a former church at 221 South Locust Avenue in downtown Fayetteville, Feed Communities works with individuals, organizations, schools, universities, government agencies and foundations to create sustainable partnerships to achieve their mission.

Feed Fayetteville is their pilot program that works to alleviate hunger and create community food security by cultivating a local sustainable food network.

Youth Bridge, a non-profit agency, is dedicated to serving youths and their families in the areas of abuse, neglect, addiction, homelessness, mental health issues and behavioral problems. Youth Bridge has provided transitional living programs to girls between 16 and 18 years of age and young adults between 18 and 23 years of age for over 24 years.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 479-575-9471 or online at YouthBridge.com.

YouthBridge.com or FeedCommunities.org

peek-a-News: Northwest Medical Center at Bentonville Volunteer Auxiliary Wins 2014 American Hospital Associations Hospital Award for Volunteer Excellence (HAVE)

10,000th Baby Delivered at Northwest Medical Center – Bentonville On May 12, 2014, Braxton Lee Gorman, 9 pounds, 3 ounces was the 10,000th baby born at Northwest Medical Center at Bentonville to parents Kristi and Dr. Aaron Gorman. Todd Hannah, MD, OB/GYN with LifeSpring Women’s Healthcare was the delivering physician.

The Volunteer Auxiliary of Northwest Medical Center at Bentonville won the American Hospital Associations (AHA) Hospital Awards for Volunteer Excellence for their “Sock-It-To-Me” program, in which they collected over 2,000 pairs of new socks for disadvantaged children in the community.

“We are thrilled to receive this award for a program inspired by the real childhood experience of one of our volunteers,” JB Johannsen, President of Volunteer Auxiliary said. “There was a time in her childhood during which it was said, ‘Happiness was a new pair of socks.’ We were so moved, we took up the cause with great shared enthusiasm!”

Since opening in 2003, Northwest Medical Center at Bentonville has offered obstetric services and today delivers approximately 100 babies a month.

The 2014 drive will generate donations of children’s underwear, which is a muchneeded item for this underprivileged population.

“We are very excited to be part of this family’s special day in welcoming their new baby into the world,” Dan McKay, CEO, Northwest Health System said. “We are grateful for the confidence our physicians and the Gorman family placed in our hospital and staff in choosing to deliver here. It is a special day for all of us.”

“We feel blessed to be able to come together to help the children in our community in this way,” Cindy Sadler, Volunteer Coordinator, Northwest Medical Center at Bentonville said.

“Our volunteers not only give our patients their time and kindness, but they then extend that generosity of spirit to the community! Our employees and now even some of our patients who have heard about the drive are giving to help us buy more for the kids,” she said.

According to McKay, combined deliveries between Northwest Medical Center at Bentonville and Northwest Medical Center Willow Creek Women’s Hospital mean that Northwest Health System delivers 10% of babies born in the state of Arkansas annually.

72 June 2014

At a Glance ARTS and MUSIC

At a Glance

Abrakadoodle (Pg 51) (479) 856-6651 abrakadoodle.com Crystal Bridges (Pg. 53) (479) 418-5700 crystalbridges.org Imagine Studios (Pg. 27) (479) 619-6085 imagine-studios.com Trike Theatre (Pg. 63) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org

BANKS

First Security Bank (Pg. 28) www.fsbank.com

CHILDCARE/NANNY SERVICES ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 57) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com Better Beginnings (Pg. 9) 1-800-445-3316 arbetterbeginnings.com The Kid’s Studio (Pg. 25) (479) 268-6675 www.thekidsstudio.com Larson’s Language Center (Pg. 44) (479) 633-9900 www.larsonslanguagecenter.com Mary’s Little Lambs (Pg. 33) (479) 273-1011 Seeking Sitters (Pg. 24) (501) 203-3097 www.seekingsitters.com

CHURCH

Unitarian Universalist (Pg. 77) www.uubcar.com

CLOTHING / FURNITURE

Belle Boutique (Pg. 58) www.belleboutiquenwa.com Little Darlings (Pg. 63) (479) 464-8492 Northwest Arkansas Mall (Pg. 64) (479) 521-6152 www.northwestarkansasmall.com

DANCE/CHEER/TUMBLE/STRETCH

iNFiNiTi (Pg. 59) (479) 715-6840 www.infinitiathletics.com Kaleidoscope Dance Academy (Pg.21) (479) 464-5977 kaleidoscopedanceacademy.com

The Little Gym (Pg. 12) (479) 636-5566 tlgrogersar.com

DENTIST / ORTHODONTIST

Arkansas Braces (Pg. 71) www.arbraces.com Dr. Brown - Orthodontics Exclusively (Pg. 35) www.drbrownbraces.com Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry (Pg. 8) (479) 631-6377

DERMATOLOGY

Hull Dermatology and Aesthetics (Pg. 15) (479) 254-9662 hullderm.com NWA Center for Plastic Surgery (Pg. 2) (479) 571-3100 nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com

EDUCATION

Central Children’s Academy (Pg. 15) centralchildrensacademy.com (479) 443-4037 Shiloh Christian School (Pg. 80) (479) 756-1140 Walnut Farm Montessori School (Pg. 78) (479) 271-9424 walnutfarmmontessori.com

FAMILY FUN / ENTERTAINMENT

All About Mickey Vacation Planning (Pg. 60) (479) 461-6519 Fast Lane Entertainment (Pg. 31) (479) 659-0999 www.fastlanebowl.com Mad Science (Pg. 19) (479) 444-0303 www.madscience.org/nwa New Life Ranch (Pg. 79) NewLifeRanch.com NWA Legends Soccer (Pg. 19) NWALegendsSoccer.com Ozark Natural Science Center (Pg. 75) (479) 789-2754 The Party Place (Pg. 13) thepartyplacear.com (479) 230-9494 Rogers Activity Center (Pg. 69) (479) 631-0336 Rogers Aquatics Center (Pg. 17) (479) 936-5482 rogersaquaticscenter.com Starlight Skatium (Pg. 55) (479) 444-STAR The Walmart Museum (Pg. 29) (479) 273-1329 walmartstores.com

FOOD / DRINK

Cherry Berry (Pg. 38) (479) 876-8085 TCBY (Pg. 3) (479) 636-8229 (TCBY)

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

A. R. Chiropractic (Pg. 45) (479) 236-3606 ARchiropractic.com Dr. Jim Elkins (Pg. 57, 71) (479) 636-0300 Ginn Foot and Ankle (Pg. 25) (479) 254-1975 www.nwafoot.com Morter Health Corner (Pg. 49) (479)636-1324 morterhealthcorner.com

Tate HealthCare (Pg. 61) (479) 271-6511 www.tatehealthcare.com

HOME and YARD

Carpet Smart (Pg. 4) (479) 750-0117 / (866) 795-8520

JEWELRY AND GIFTS

David Adams (Pg.51) davidadams.com

LEARNING CENTER

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 57) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com Bricks 4 Kidz (Pg. 29) (479) 268-4345 www.bricks4kidz.com Gideon Math and Reading Center (Pg. 21) (479) 521-6500 www.gideonmathandreading.com Larson’s Language Center (Pg. 44) (479) 633-9900 www.larsonslanguagecenter.com LearningRx (Pg. 73) (479) 715-6870 www.learningrx.com/bentonville

MARTIAL ARTS

ATA (Pg. 39) Bentonville: (479) 273-1212 / Fay: (479) 443-5425

OPTOMETRIST

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

SURROGACY SERVICES

Gifted Journeys (Pg. 42) (818) 505-3026 www.giftedjourneys.com

THERAPY

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 57) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com PlayStrong Pediatric Therapy (Pg. 22) (479) 246-0101 Dr. Thomas Terry Lawson (Pg. 67) (479) 444-1400 www.terrylawson.com Tate HealthCare (Pg. 61) (479) 271-6511

WOMEN’S HEALTH

Enjoy Birth (Pg. 14) enjoybirthclasses.com

Life Spring Women’s Health (Pg. 73) (479) 271-0005 lifespringhealthcare.com Northwest Women’s Heatlh Center (Pg. 7) (479) 503-2525 Northwest Willow Creek Women’s Hospital (Pg. 5) (479) 684-3000 Parkhill Clinic for Women (Pg. 33) (479) 521-4433 Siloam Springs Women’s Center (Pg. 30) (479) 524-9312 siloamwomenscenter.com Washington Regional Her Health (Pg.77) (479) 463-5500 wregional.com

PEDIATRICIAN

Best Start Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 23) (479) 575-9359 Bentonville Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 43) (479) 273-5437 The Children’s Clinic at Springdale (Pg. 11) (479) 751-2522 Harvey Pediatrics (Pg. 55) (479) 254-1100 harveypediatrics.com MANA NWA Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 52) Wellness: (479) 443-3471 Urgent: (479) 442-7322

PETS

Phenom-A-Dog (Pg. 45) (479) 202-5303 phenomadog.com

PLASTIC SURGEON

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

PRESCHOOL/ PRE-K

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 57) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com The Kid’s Studio (Pg 25) (479) 268-6675 www.thekidsstudio.com Larson’s Language Center (Pg. 44) (479) 633-9900 www.larsonslanguagecenter.com Mary’s Little Lambs (Pg. 33) (479) 273-1011 Walnut Farm Montessori School (Pg. 79) (479) 271-9424 walnutfarmmontessori.com

SALON - HAIR AND NAILS

Pigtails&Crewcuts (Pg. 49) (479) 935-4121 pigtailsandcrewcuts.com

www.peekaboonwa.com

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