April 2016 by Peekaboo

Peekaboo Northwest Arkansasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Family Magazine

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The

PEEKABOO

Family

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

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

Addi simmons Associate Editor

Columnist Kim and Jonathon with Ava, Grant and Holden Enderle. Photo by Main Street Studios

contributing writer/Editor Frances Wilson

Distribution/ Circulation Joyce Whitaker Judy Evans Marcedalia Salinas

Ben Lacy Dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s View

Columnist

Jeremy Whitaker Michelle Dodson

Peekaboo Publications

Veronica Zucca Story Design

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

Peekaboo Northwest Arkansas accepts writing contributions

Kristin Hvizda Dalai Mama

Columnist

Jennifer Cristofaro Events

Peekaboo nwa W h at ’ s I n s i d e | A p r i l | 2 0 1 6 16 |

Meet Jimi

18 |

mom strong: the struggle

22 |

Outtakes

24 |

Jacob’s Story

34 |

The Journey of a Wish

36 |

Kimberly-Clark & the Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County

38 |

Strokes on the Rise Among Young Adults Sweet Caroline

46 | 48 |

by: KC Tucker

by: Allisha Watkins by: NUK

by: Kayla Rodriguez by: Anna Rohweder

by: Jennifer Lindeen

Aiming for the Stars with LEGOS! by: Kenneth Timbrel

52 |

Dad’s View

56 |

My Child Has Oppositional Defiant Disorder

with Ben Lacy

by: Meagan Ruffing

62 |

Peekaboo’s 2016 Camp Guide Preview

74 |

Mumm’s the Word

76 |

The Dalai Mama

by: Leslie Gabardi-Seward & Chelsea Lamborn-Looney with Kristin Hvizda

COVER PHOTO BY: Main Street Studios

on the c ov e r : Ryleigh, 7 and Beckett, 2 , children of Kyle and Allisha Watkins of Rogers.

Cover Sponsored by: Northwest Health System www.northwesthealth.com

mainstreetstudios

from the editor A look ahead: If you have a story to share, or an idea for a story, please email editor@peekaboonwa.com and be a part of next month’s 100th issue! To be a part of the NUK outtake feature next month, email the final take and a funny or awkward outtake to editor@peekaboonwa.com See this month’s edition on page 22-23.

s a couple, Jonathon and I were invincible. The world was a playground, and bad things only happened on the news. But then, I held my firstborn in my arms for the very first time, and I felt like I had transformed--in a very similar fashion to the wolves in the Twilight movies (without the sharp teeth and body full of hair.) I would do anything to protect this little one. Officially a mama bear, I now had the strength of a thousand men. I could go a week without sleep. I could do ten things at once and still have a free hand to catch spit up mid-air before it hit the floor. I found strengths within me that I never knew were there (and wish I had in my college years, because they would have really come in handy.) While I was elated to find these strengths, however, the fears came on just as strong. The thought of any harm, sickness, or even hurt feelings happening to any of my three children became the equivalent of kryptonite to Superman. Common activities and errands became battle grounds, i.e. every car in a parking lot (moving or not) was a threat, every surface was covered in germs that were invetibable flu carriers, and any morsel of food a choking hazard. While I know that the world is a beautiful place that needs to be

14 April 2016

Photo by: Ever After Portraiture

explored, even a strong, tough bear cub isnt allowed to stray to far from its mama. Flash forward to today, and, after flying to Florida for spring break with my three littles--one of which is a true ‘threenager’--it became clearer than ever that parenting is still hard. Simultaneously, when it gets the hardest, I notice that everyone around me seems to have it figured out. Like when my screaming 3-year-old is standing next to a group of similar-aged littles sitting quietly in their strollers (obviously meaning that their parents knew what they were doing and I did not). The thing is, getting it right when it comes to being a mom is all about perspective. On that same trip, I found solace in my own “okayness” when I watched parents as they lost their patience at Disney World so maybe I should view my own children’s meltdowns as just opportunities to make other parents feel better about their own “episodes.” Instead of worrying about what we aren’t doing enough of, or who in our mind we aren’t living up to, we should focus on our own littles. Our lives are all about making memories, and introducing our kids to different activites that spark their interest and intrigue their imagination. Luckily for us, Northwest Arkansas makes it easy to fill our days with fun things just for kids. While putting the camp guide found in this issue together, I was able to sit down with Ava, Holden and Grant and fill our summer calendar with different camps, activities, and events that each of them are looking forward to. We even plan to create a summer scrapbook so that we can reflect back on this time in our lives...because there will only be one summer 2016. I encourage you to use this issue and future issues to sit down with your children and map out your month. Make the most of each day by doing something you love, and then let us share in your joy. Send us your favorite snapshot of your family enjoying all that NWA has to offer to editor@peekaboonwa. com. You just might see it in an upcoming issue!

i m i J t e Me ucker by: KC T

n the spring of 2014, our healthy and happy 3-year-old little boy, Jimi, began experiencing leg pains. After five visits to our local doctor for these symptoms, we were referred to a pediatric rheumatologist Throughout the multiple at Arkansas Children’s Hospital surgeries, difficult in Little Rock. We had a threetreatments, and our hour appointment with the extended inpatient stay, everyone at ACH treated Jimi, rheumatologist before heading and us, as if we were family. back home to continue our lives and (anxiously) wait for the results. Before we were even out of the city limits of Little Rock, we received a call from the rheumatologist. He asked if we could please come straight back to his office. My stomach sank and my heart raced, knowing they would not ask us to return for good news. The nurse held my hand as the rheumatologist explained to us that Jimi’s symptoms, blood-work and X-rays all pointed to leukemia. The doctors and nurses at ACH immediately sprang into action. We were admitted to 4-K, the hematology-oncology wing, and scheduled for a biopsy the following morning to determine what type of leukemia we were facing. The next evening we received Jimi’s diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (“AML”), and the following day, Jimi had a central venous line (a long, soft, plastic tube) placed into one of the large veins leading to Jimi’s heart. I’ve been called many things in my life–daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, volunteer, teacher, lawyer, and some other names that I probably should not put in print. However, on July 31, 2014, I began to earn my newest and most unexpected title: Momcologist. According to St. Jude’s, only about 500 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with AML each year. They use the term “acute” because of the aggressive and rapid progression of the disease. Basically, Jimi’s bone marrow was rapidly over-producing immature and abnormal cells called blasts. Because AML is so aggressive, the

16 April 2016

treatment has to be equally aggressive. Untreated, this disease can quickly kill kiddos. What we planned as a two-hour outpatient appointment resulted in almost 100 nights of inpatient treatment at ACH over the next five months. Jimi underwent extensive, often painful treatments and endured more than anyone should have to endure. Throughout his treatment, he remained amazingly positive and we attempted, as best we could, to follow his lead. Jimi lost his hair, couldn’t take “real” baths due to his CVL, and suffered intense headaches from the chemotherapy he had injected twice a week into his spine. However, Jimi never lost his desire to play or laugh at a good joke. His strength and resilience modeled to us how to navigate this unexpected and unwelcome chapter of our lives. Throughout his treatment, we more or less lived out of our car and on the folding chair or floor of Jimi’s room at ACH. We went home occasionally, only to be sent back to Little Rock in an ambulance a few days later because the hospitals in our area were not equipped to treat Jimi. Jimi’s grandparents dropped everything and took turns visiting us in Little Rock so that we always had time to get a much-needed cup of coffee, to engage in some grownup conversation, or to distract and play with Jimi when he needed someone other than Mom or Dad. Jimi’s extended family and friends visited often, made sure we had the

support we needed (including food in our bellies), and took care of things around our house when we could not. Our work families put in overtime plus and selflessly took care of our jobs for five months without a second thought. Throughout the multiple surgeries, difficult treatments, and our extended inpatient stay, everyone at ACH treated Jimi, and us, as if we were family. Jimi received excellent medical treatment, but also tremendous love and care from the doctors, nurses, and support staff at ACH. It truly took a village to heal Jimi, and we would not have survived without all of these amazing people. After Jimi’s final round of chemotherapy on November 4, 2014, I naïvely high-fived the doctors, nurses and staff on our way out of ACH. I was feeling great that we had survived the treatment, which is a major milestone not all AML families reach. Less than a week later, however, we were back at ACH and Jimi was the sickest he had ever been, and hopefully will ever be. Because of his extensive treatments and aggressive chemotherapy, his tiny little body was unable to fight infection, and our one and only child was in the PICU with sepsis and pneumonia. He fought a persistent high fever for ten days, and for the first few days was too sick to even talk. The doctors and nurses left no stone unturned and worked tirelessly to help Jimi fight these secondary illnesses and help build his immune system. We spent another 31 nights in the hospital after he finished his treatments. Today, Jimi is in remission and we travel to Little Rock regularly for check-ups. The possibility of relapse is about 50 percent during his first two years in remission, but, right now, he couldn’t be doing better. In the last year, Jimi has learned to swim and snow ski, and he’s also back in the dojo practicing karate. We are not taking a single minute we have with him for granted. Needless to say, our family and friends are huge fans of ACH, and we all couldn’t be more excited about the new hospital in Springdale! Not only will Jimi benefit from having world-class medical care just a few miles from our house, but our entire community, and generations of children to come, will have immediate access to life-saving healthcare. If you are at all inspired by Jimi, or any of the other kiddos who have benefited from the care at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, I hope you’ll join our family in supporting this year’s Color of Hope gala – as a volunteer, participant, or donor. The funds raised during this event will go directly to building our new children’s hospital in Springdale. You can learn more about the event here: http:// www.willgolf4kids.org/Color-of-Hope.aspx.

mom strong: the struggle by Allisha Watkins

Being a mother is learning about the strengths you didn’t know you had, and dealing with the fears you didn’t know existed. - Linda Wooten

elf-care is not selfish after all. Taking care of my own needs keeps me feeling happy and fulfilled; it makes those thousand small sacrifices I do make for my kids so much easier. Putting myself first from time to time ensures that I don’t grow bitter and resentful. As a mom, wife, daughter, leader and friend, I often feel over-stretched in all capacities of life. A healthy lifestyle is one of the hardest things to manage, as I attempt to strike a balance between challenging myself and relaxing in my comfort zone. Life is certain to hand you some kind of trial at one point or another, and it can be easy to just throw up your hands and be a victim. What’ smore, like most women, I consistently put myself to the bottom of the list. But why? Truth is, I am a better ME when I jump off this crazy roller coaster called life to simply focus a few minutes… on myself. I feel better, look better and act better when I am consistently making the choice to put ‘me’ first, regardless of whatever victim role is presenting itself. Truth is, I want to be the best role model I can to my children, and live a happy, fulfilled life with them. Faith and fitness are two critical areas of life we can all neglect from time to time. Despite my passion and desire to stay motivated, three nagging excuses never seem to fade.

No Time

When it comes to being healthy, this excuse can be valid in some exceptional cases. But, for the rest of us, not really. I have a seven-year-old and a two-year-old at home. I balance working, traveling and taking care of them. Life is full of unexpected meetings, phone calls, errands, late night work sessions, sick babies, and so on. In the midst of everything, it can seem like there’s just no time for anything else. When I think about all the little things that I do make time for on a regular basis… I actually do have time. The problem really isn’t that I don’t have time for exercise or eating healthy. It’s not like I have this big bag called “time,” and I can’t fit everything into it. The real problem is the way it’s all arranged. I don’t need more time; I just need to readjust the time I do have. Crazy, but our meal planning actually gives us MORE time to do the things we love and spend more time together.

No money

To maintain a healthy lifestyle, this problem is just nothing but a lousy excuse. There are plenty of exercises you can solution? do without expensive Another equipment or gym It’s obvious, even fees. Push-ups, squats, cliché. If I stopped the burpees, running… unnecessary spending what more do you I do now (i.e., coffee need? There is definitely shops, foods I can a cost involved for easily make at home, CrossFit, but the last but purchase in prething I want is to invest packaged form; fun but in something and then unnecessary toys for not follow through. the kids), I could save For those who say more than enough eating healthy is more money (and time)! expensive… it’s simply not true. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. It’s all about the preparation and creating efficiencies in your process to have an optimal strategy.

No moves

We’ve reached the bottom of the bottom, the real reason for all other reasons. The truth. I’m typically a quiet, reserved person in the gym and have always been that way. When I think about pushing myself beyond my limits and lifting heavy stuff in front of other people, I get super nervous. What if I’m not strong like all the other people? Gasp! What if I’m last?!?! (Note: This is typically the case, but I do get the most cheers!) In fact, being selfconscious is actually one of the top reasons people

don’t go to gyms... but that doesn’t mean it’s a good reason. Yes, working out in front of others can be frightening, but it keeps you accountable for your performance and training. Our coaches and peers are there to help us stay safe and succeed in our goals, which is a huge motivator you don’t typically get when you exercise alone. Honestly:that is the best thing about our CrossFit community no matter if you are the first to finish or last one standing, you can always count on having someone cheer you on to the end. The lesson here is find a friend, a peer... someone who motivates you.

I am a better ME when I jump off this crazy roller coaster called life to simply focus a few minutes… on me. And its as simple as that. The truth is, being a mother doesn’t have to keep you from conquering your own goals. In fact, being the best me starts with ME! And it’s always great to know I have my very own cheering section waiting for me at home. Get over it, get out and do it. Just do it.

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Every family picture posted on social media or framed and hanging in the hallway has a story behind it - a “real” story. A picture is worth a thousand words, but the outtakes are worth even more!

! s e k OU i i a I literally laugh out loud when I think of a family portrait session where everyone is lined up according to age, sitting perfectly still and smiling into the camera... That will never happen for us! With three kids aged six and under, the reality is they are in constant motion... at times cranky... and know that we will pass out chocolate hand over fist to get a smile! My husband and I act as a team... He cracks jokes to get the boys to smile and I try to keep smiling and looking at the camera while ducking for flying limbs as the baby practices her best contortionist moves! What seems to work best for us is when we just act like ourselves and love on each other... Those are my favorites. Morgan Schroeder Photography by: Jessica Ritchie Photography

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Sweet Jackson was a little unsure of his photo session at first. The image on the left is our very first shot and as you can see, he was a little overwhelmed! I quickly put him back into mom’s arms, and, after a few tickles from Dad, we had a wonderful photo session, with many more smiles and precious memories to capture his first year. Photography by Bethany Blair Photography.

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My photographer friend needed models to promote her Easter packages, and my boys were excited to help... then we tried to get them to add in some of the props... the boys were like, “Really, mom, ears?! What do we do with these eggs?! Throw them?!” - Amanda Webb Photography by Kelly Rae Photography www.kellyraebphoto.com

Amelia Smith, newborn shoot. Amelia is the daughter of James and Emmalyn Smith of Lowell. James is the owner of James + James Furniture. Photography by Main Street Studios

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When mom walked away from her 2-year-old daughter, Elinor, so that the photographer could take a picture of her three kids, this is what happened. Elinor was reaching for her mom, and would not stop crying, even though mom was just a few feet away. The Ruffing family was able to get the perfect picture, but only when mom had Elinor on her lap. Meagan & Gabe, Dylan (7), Hannah (4), Elinor (2). Photography by Lazer Lee Photography

If you would like to be a part of the May Outtakes, email editor@peekaboonwa.com with the final shot, the fun outtake, and photographer name. If you are not a photographer but have great shots on your camera or phone, we want to see those, too!

ow do I tell Jacob’s story? How do I convey the joy of his birth and, later, the mourning of what his life could have been? How do I make sense of it? These are some of the many questions I have pondered so many times since Jacob’s diagnosis. February 2014. I was finally getting to the end of a long birth process when I heard the monitor beeping. I saw the look of confusion on my husband’s face, but I knew what the beeps on the monitor meant. I knew the nurse was paging the doctor; I knew my precious unborn baby was in distress. His heart rate dropped and was not coming back up. Then, things became blurry and everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. I heard “Emergency C-section”— words many pregnant women fear. After it was all finished, Jacob came into the world at 7 lbs 7 oz., a perfect little bundle of joy. I was told he had a low APGAR, but that he would be fine; since he was full-term, he did not have to go to NICU. He looked and acted like a normal new born baby. His journey would continue just as normal.. what a relief!

JACOB’S STORY by: Kayla Rodriguez

Jacob Rodriguez has been a pediatric stroke survivor since before he was born. He is now 2 years old, and our guest of honor at Bellaflies Strides for Strokes 2016. For the past four years, our honoree has been a local child who has had a pediatric stroke. In 2013, we honored Bella Paquette (stroke at age 3 due to a virus that caused massive brain swelling), whose foundation we run; in 2014 we honored Ryley Williams (stroke at age 16 due to virus that caused a bacteria build up in his heart); in 2015 we honored Zane Johnson (stroke at birth); and this year we have the pleasure of honoring Jacob (perinatal stroke.) We are so excited to get to honor Jacob this year at Strides for Strokes! We met him last year at our event and have gotten to know him through his amazing mother, Kayla. She was kind enough to write Jacob’s story for us to help raise pediatric stroke awareness.

24 April 2016

Janelle Paquette Co-founder and President The Bellaflies Foundation

I think that sometimes, when one has a baby, even if it is not the first, one can tend to look past the subtle signs that something may not be just right. Those signs did not become clear until Jacob was about 6 months old. At a routine checkup, the doctor mentioned that Jacob was not meeting his milestones. His growth percentiles were below normal. The doctor asked me why Jacob only had a mitten on his right hand to keep from scratching, and if Jacob used both hands. “Of course he does,” I said, “I think he does. Why wouldn’t he?” As I began to watch this more closely, I realized I was wrong. He did not use his left hand. He kept it in a closed fist most of the time, with his thumb tucked tightly inside. His left elbow was slightly bent so that his arm tucked against his chest. Additionally, his left leg didn’t move the same as the right, either. As most moms would do in this day, I searched Google. Google can be a scary place. Words jumped off the screen at me: Cerebral palsy, spastic hemiparesis, hemiplegia, and stroke. No! My baby does not have any of these. I will just make sure he uses that hand more and it will be okay. As time went on, it became anything but okay. I realized Jacob’s journey might be changing from the normal we’d imagined. Because Jacob was not meeting his milestones, he was referred to physical therapy and then later occupational therapy. Depending on the results of therapy, Jacob’s pediatrician would determine

the next step. Although scary at first, therapy over time became an amazing place filled with triumph at the tiniest progress. Therapy was effective, but not sufficient. Jacob was fitted with tiny hand and leg braces, and was referred to a neurologist. I made the appointment, but remained somewhat in denial. This still could be fixed, I thought. Fast forward to January 2015. Before Jacob’s first neurologist appointment, I had researched as much as I could and prepared myself for all the possibilities--or at least I thought I had. Within 45 minutes, all my fears were validated. Diagnosis: Left Spastic Hemiparesis, Cerebral Palsy and Microcephaly, likely caused by a stroke at or before birth. I felt like my world was ending. I still held out hope that maybe it wasn’t a totally correct diagnosis. As silly as it sounds now, I believed the neurologist could be wrong. Jacob was referred for an MRI to confirm the diagnosis. The MRI was scheduled, and, in April, we took the long trip to Children’s Hospital in Little Rock for a sedated MRI. It is a little disconcerting to have your baby sedated for a test, but there was little choice. Weeks later, the scan was in. Jacob’s diagnosis was confirmed. It was not what I wanted to hear. Jacob had suffered a stroke in the right MCA territory of his brain, which means the stroke caused the left side of his body to be partially paralyzed, resulting in Cerebral Palsy and Microcephaly. Our journey had taken such a drastic turn. After the news, I entered a mourning period. I mourned for the loss of the healthy child I should have had; I mourned for the pain he would have to endure; I mourned for the fact that his childhood would be filled with doctors, therapy and many braces; I mourned for the school events he would likely miss because of his disability. After some time, the joy resurfaced. I am happy because I have a beautiful little boy who has an infectious smile, eyes that sparkle with mischievousness, and a happiness about him that many children will never experience. I have a child who has no fear and knows no bounds; I have a child who does not realize he has a disability as he plays with his siblings and as he approaches each day full of energy, ready to accomplish something new. Jacob is now 19 months old, and is learning to take steps. Those who know Jacob will tell you that, not only will he walk, he will be running everywhere, because he has no fear and the only boundaries are those placed upon him. He is so determined that he will do whatever he sets his mind to, and his gives me such hope. My hopes for Jacob are not like the hopes of most

mothers. I hope that my child will walk before he is 2. I hope my child will talk... eventually. I hope that my child will clap his hands together. I hope my child will dress himself independently, ever. I hope my child will go to school in a normal classroom and be able to learn in a normal class setting. I hope my child will wear the same size shoes on each foot. I hope Jacob never sees his Turn the page ...

disability as a confinement and never gives up becoming the person he wants to be as his journey continues. Sadly, there is not much awareness of pediatric strokes. I certainly never knew about it before I experienced it through Jacob, nor did I know that it happens as much as it does. I certainly did not know all of the possible effects on a child. It is my hope now that the story of Jacob’s journey will be shared to bring an awareness of pediatric stroke and the possible serious affects it can have on children. Jacob is only one of thousands of survivors. Jacob is so fortunate that he is born into a family and extended family who loves and supports him beyond measure, and will strive to help him become the very best that he can be. I expect that Jacob will have a most interesting journey, filled to capacity with goals and trials, twists and turns, overflowing with many rewards as he flashes his infectious smile all the way with a sparkle in his eyes.

Pediatric strokes do not discriminate, and are the #6 cause of death in children 18 and under. We want to change that! That is why we have Strides for Strokes every year. We not only want to provide much needed pediatric stroke awareness, but we also donate ALL proceeds to pediatric stroke research and education! We want to invite all of you out to our extremely family-friendly event on Friday, May 13 in downtown Rogers! Strides for Strokes has something for everyone! We have a professionally timed 5k, one-mile fun run, large auction, massage therapists, a kids’ fun zone including: an obstacle course, bounce house, face painting, bubble station, fire truck, PAL, superheroes, Panera Bread sandwiches and cookies for all registrants, music and MORE! The deadline for the t-shirt and goodie bag guarantee is on/before April 13. If you want to support Bellaflies, but cannot attend the race, we have something for you too! You can register as a virtual runner and we will ship the t-shirt to you. We have mailed t-shirts from Hawaii to Afghanistan! We love our local and virtual supporters worldwide! ALL proceeds from Strides for Strokes 2016 will be donated to the pediatric stroke research team at the University of California, San Francisco and to pediatric stroke education in collaboration with World Pediatric Stroke Association, and neurologists from Washington University and Harvard. To register and learn more about Strides for Strokes 2016 please visit: www.bellaflies.org/stridesforstrokes/ For more information about Bellaflies and pediatric strokes please visit: www.bellaflies.org.

We look forward to seeing you and your family on Friday, May 13 and “Making a Positive” with you in 2016!

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Success Stories from www.ercinc.org

I zzy

Elizabeth Richardson Center, Huntsville

Izzy is a happy 4-year-old little girl with global developmental delays due to her umbilical cord being wrapped around her neck at birth. When she began attending the Elizabeth Richardson Center in Huntsville at 14 months of age, she was passive with decreased strength, low tone throughout her body, and only used grunts and gestures to communicate. She did not walk without assistance until she was 21 months old. She has made great progress in both physical and speech therapies. She has just met a new milestone, as she has developed enough leg strength to push off and jump forward 2 inches. In speech therapy, Izzy is now producing final sounds and no longer adds extra sounds to words, which has increased her intelligibility and her peers are better able to understand her. She is more independent overall, as she now verbally asks for things she wants and has developed better balance and coordination to allow her to participate with other children in classroom and playground activities.

Holly

Elizabeth Richardson Center, Siloam Springs

Kenlie

Holly is a loving and unique 4-year-old who came to the Elizabeth Richardson Center (ERC) with a global developmental delay. At 20 months, she did not communicate verbally and did not consistently respond to her name. Holly is now very vocal and insists on saying “good morning” to anyone she passes, and is beginning to speak in nearly complete sentences. Holly’s social skills have improved exponentially in the nearly three years she has been with ERC in Siloam Springs. She participates in classroom activities, is very creative and has many friends. Whenever the class is singing, you can always hear Holly’s voice. She loves to sing. Holly’s parents are a vital part of her success. Their proactive approach in seeking early intervention services, even before she was two years old, was an important step in helping her achieve her goals. Holly is now a very active member of her pre-K classroom and is ready to take on kindergarten this fall.

Elizabeth Richardson Center, Farmington

Kenlie began attending the Elizabeth Richardson Center in Farmington when she was 2 months old. She has a diagnosis of Spina Bifida and has weakness in both legs and trunk, with marked decreased strength and impaired sensation to touch in her left calf, ankle and foot with difficulty knowing what position that leg is in. Rene Bader, ERC Physical Therapist, measured and fitted her with SureStep SMO’s (ankle braces), which helped with better foot alignment and stability. At her annual physical therapy evaluation in December 2015, when she was 13 months old, she began walking with a reverse rolling walker, which Bader anticipated she would have to use for at least 3 to 4 months before progressing to walking without it. Then, Kenlie surprised us all when she began taking steps independently without the walker at the end of January 2016 at the age of 15 months old! Physical therapy continues to work on steadiness with standing, strengthening of legs and trunk and balance and coordination activity to promote better foot placement and controlled movements. Kenlie is all smiles and loves to come to physical therapy. We couldn’t be happier with her progress.

30 April 2016

Kiana

Elizabeth Richardson Center, Springdale

When Kiana first began with the Elizabeth Richardson Center nearly four years ago, she was very small, with a diagnosis of developmental delay and failure to thrive. She did not walk, talk or feed herself. As we got to know her in therapy, we discovered that Kiana was orally hypersensitive, would not allow anyone to touch her face and only ate baby food. She suffered from gravitational insecurity and was afraid to try to walk, get on the stability ball or swing. Her speech and language were both delayed. Through her determination, consistent attendance in a day habilitation program, and occupational, physical, and speech therapy, Kiana is doing so many things. In physical therapy, she is walking, running, jumping and riding a tricycle. In occupational therapy, she is able to complete a puzzle, feed herself, help dress herself and tolerate the swing and stability ball. In speech therapy, she now allows touch to her face and eats a variety of textures. She makes her wants and needs known verbally, and has mastered production of all her age level speech sounds. Kiana is a joy and an ERC success story.

www.peekaboonwa.com

TheJourney of a Wish

BY ANNA ROHWEDER

eptember 25, 2000 is a day that I will never forget. I was 7 years old and had just started first grade. It all started with what, at the time, the doctors diagnosed as strep throat. As the week progressed, however, I was not getting any better and the fever wouldn’t go away. After some blood tests, we knew something was very wrong. I was admitted to the hospital and my parents and I were greeted by a pediatric oncologist. As a little girl, when I heard my doctor use the word cancer I really didn’t know what it meant. I had heard of cancer before, but thought that it was something that only happened to adults. At the young age of 7, I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a form of blood cancer. My world, along with my parent’s world, was completely turned upside-down. Little did we know that the next five years of my life would consist of intense chemotherapy treatments, total body radiation and a move to Fort Worth, Texas to endure a bone marrow transplant procedure. There were many scary and painful memories during this time that a child should never have to face. The one thing that I remember most, however, is not a scary memory at all. In fact, it is one of the happiest memories I have from my childhood – a wish come true from Make-A-Wish. When I was told that I was eligible for a wish through Make-A-Wish, I finally had something happy to look forward to. Make-A-Wish was like a bright light in the middle of a dark tunnel for my parents and me. Choosing a wish was no easy task when I knew I could practically wish for anything that I wanted. After putting weeks of thought and consideration

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into my ultimate wish, I decided that I wanted nothing more than to get away from the hospital, chemotherapy and every aspect of having cancer. I wanted to set sail on the Disney Cruise Line with my family. Leading up to my wish, Make-A-Wish became such a powerful weapon in my battle with cancer. The countdown to my wish coming true was not measured in days or weeks; I would count down by the number of chemotherapy treatments I had left. I knew that the sooner I could get through whatever treatment or surgery was ahead, the closer I would be to being healthy enough to board a plane and spend a week in paradise. The anticipation to my wish made me stronger and more optimistic. When the time finally came to leave for my wish, the Chi Omegas at the University of Tulsa threw my family a Bon Voyage party. These girls were strangers to my family. We didn’t know them and they didn’t know us, yet they poured their hearts out to us and made every effort to make me feel like a queen. I remember thinking the Chi Omega girls were so amazing, and I soaked up every bit of attention they gave me. Along with pizza, cake and piñatas, the girls had decorated their sorority house to look like a beach. “Magical” is the perfect way to describe the time that we spent on the Disney Cruise Line. It was magical in every way. My family and I were treated like royalty when we were on that trip. Every night I would come back to my room and there would be some sort of

special surprise. One night it was a huge platter of chocolates in the shape of a cruise ship. Another night it was an invitation for dinner with the captain. It truly was the experience of a lifetime. I swam with dolphins in the Bahamas, danced with Mickey Mouse on Disney’s private island, ate never-ending ice cream, took pictures with all the Disney princesses, built sand castles, went snorkeling, and so much more. Every adventure kept me focused on being a carefree child – having fun instead of worrying about being sick. It gave my family the chance to enjoy time together without thinking about the next hospital stay or surgery. For those few days, Make-A-Wish gave me back my childhood. Make-A-Wish was the medication I needed to fight the long battle that was still ahead of me. About a year after my wish, I finished what I thought was my very last chemo treatment. Six months later, my cancer returned. This time was even more critical; I would need a bone marrow transplant if I was going to survive. There were many long and painful days in the bone marrow transplant unit at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Ft. Worth. On some of the hardest days, I remember my parents would start talking to me about my trip with MakeA-Wish. Just thinking about the magical time that I spent on the Disney Cruise would take my mind off some of the pain and put a smile on my face. I am happy to say that I am now 22 years old and healthier than ever. I’m now twelve years cancer free! I’ll graduate from the University of Arkansas this May and I look forward to beginning a career in advertising and public relations. When God brought Make-A-Wish into my family’s life, we had no idea the big plans that were in store for us. About a year after my bone marrow transplant, my mother accepted a job at Make-AWish Oklahoma and has been on the staff for eleven years. I have served as a Wish Ambassador for many years. This role gives me the opportunity to share my story with countless people. I volunteer at events and encourage other Wish Kids whenever I can.

When I went through sorority recruitment in 2012, I was beyond excited when I saw Chi Omega on my bid card. In 2014, I was blessed with the opportunity serve as philanthropy chair for Chi Omega and lead my chapter in fundraising efforts for Make-A-Wish Mid-South. That summer, my mom and I were honored when we were selected to speak at the Chi Omega national conference in Orlando, Florida. As the keynote speakers at the Chi Omega philanthropy luncheon, we shared our Make-A-Wish story with over 2,000 women. It was an exhilarating experience that I will never forget. One of the best opportunities, however, has been the chance to intern with Make-A-Wish MidSouth this year. Ever since my wish was granted, I have wanted nothing more than to give back to this wonderful organization and help bring the joy a wish provides to other children who are battling life-threatening illnesses. From giving presentations in schools, to meeting some incredible donors, to now helping plan the first ever Walk for Wishes in Northwest Arkansas, I have loved every minute of it.

LOCAL WISH KIDS AND SUPPORTERS COME TOGETHER FOR FIRST-EVER MAKE-A-WISH® MID-SOUTH WALK FOR WISHES® Free walk invites Northwest Arkansas community to support local wishes Make-A-Wish® Mid-South invites Northwest Arkansas residents to participate in the first-ever Walk For Wishes, a community-wide celebration of the organization’s mission and local wishgranting efforts. On May 7 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Arvest Ballpark, Wish Kids and their friends, families and supporters will come together to raise funds that will support future wish grantings of local children with lifethreatening medical conditions. Walk for Wishes is free and open to the public, and includes many familyfriendly activities. Registrants can sign-up and create fundraising teams at www.WalkForWishesNWA.org

I praise God every day for my health and for the plans He has had for my family and me throughout this journey. I gained a perspective from a very young age of what is important in life and that trusting in God’s sovereign plan leaves no room for worrying about what the future may hold. The mission of Make-A-Wish gave me hope that cancer wasn’t going to be the prevailing part of my childhood. My wish gave me strength to fight harder. It brought endless joy to my family during a long period of darkness. I will be forever grateful to the people at Make-A-Wish who made my wish come true, and I’m committed to give back to this organization now and in the future.

Kimberly-Clark and the Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County

or many NWA children and their families, child abuse is a painful reality. At the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) of Benton County, staff and volunteers are committed to helping abused children and their families receive the support needed to deal with their traumatizing experiences.. The Center is available to serve all Benton County child abuse victims under the age of 18--all anyone has to do is file a report, once, to the child abuse hotline. Kimberly-Clark, American personal care brand with several locations in Arkansas, became involved with the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) approximately 10 years ago. KimberlyClark was planning a team-building event, and wanted the event to have a charitable donation element. After careful consideration, they decided to partner with a restaurant chain to support the CAC. The Kimberly-Clark corporation is no stranger to charity work--almost all of their offices are involved in supporting their local communities around the world, both financially and from a volunteer standpoint, and the Rogers office is no different. The relationship between Kimberly-Clark and the CAC developed even further when Tearle Byers, a friend of the CAC, brought the ‘Sweetest Day’ celebration to Arkansas in 2005. Originating in Cleveland in 1922, the ‘Sweetest Day’ is observed on the 3rd Saturday in the month of October, and focuses on doing what you can to help the underprivileged--in CAC’s case, those who have been abused. Back in 1922, Herbert Birch Kingston, a philanthropist and candy company

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employee, wanted to bring happiness into the lives of orphans, shut-ins and others who were forgotten. With the help of friends, he began to distribute candy and small gifts to the underprivileged. The first Sweetest Day event in NWA in 2005 consisted of a small group of people, CAC supporters and staff gathered in a local restaurant. Kimberly-Clark supported this event by providing volunteers, and later, monetary sponsorship of the event. Since then, the Sweetest Day fundraiser has flourished. Last year, at the home of John and Karen Scholes, more than 125 individuals enjoyed live music, a catered meal by Bonefish Grill, and a silent auction. The event raised a record-breaking $55,000 for victims of child abuse in Benton County. This year’s event will happen on October 15, 2016, and Kimberly-Clark hopes that an even more amazing turnout will create more opportunities for the CAC to help local NWA families. Though the Sweetest Day event is one of the key vehicles in which Kimberly-Clark supports the CAC, Kimberly-Clark is also involved with other fundraising aspects for the center. The corporations supports and has volunteers at all the CAC fundraising events during the year, including the center’s ‘Glow Run’ on April 15, 2016; the ‘Sky Dive for Kids’ event on August 13 and 14; and the annual CAC dinner on September 22. This partnership has continued to grow over the years due to staff investment in the CAC’s efforts of empowering kids. This year, Kimberly-Clark is the presenting sponsor of the Glow Run, along with Walmart and Sam’s Club, who are serving as the founding sponsor. The Glow Run involvement began with a few Kimberly-Clark team members

and their families participating in the event when it was based from the CAC building in Little Flock nearly 16 years ago. As the event grew and moved locations to downtown Rogers, Kimberly-Clark gradually increased their involvement, from both a team participation and financial perspective. In fact, one of Kimberly-Clark’s team members, Shannon McFarland, is co-chairing the logistics for the run itself. Shannon has mapped out and measured the course, appointed course marshalls and hydration stations, and has recruited volunteers to spearhead other aspects of the run, together with the CAC staff. In addition, Kimberly-Clark has set a goal to get its team members to actually run in the 2016 event. In order to prepare for the event, they began a ‘Couch to 5K’ program, taking place at the end of the workday from Monday through Thursday. The team members run locally on NWA trails, with the ultimate goal of running a 5k. The Couch to 5k program has created a real sense of team spirit and commitment to not only get fit, but also support a great cause. Those involved are all looking forward to the Glow Run, both for the challenge and the camaraderie. “The Glow Run fits perfectly with Kimberly-Clark’s goal to have a healthy team and workplace environment, plus support the local community. By participating in the Glow Run, team members not only support the CAC financially, but also improve their overall health in the office,” said John Scholes of Kimberly-Clark.

Kimberly-Clark’s Mission statement is “To lead the world in essentials for a better life.”

Please visit cacbentonco.com or call 479-621-0385 to volunteer or information on the Glow Run and other events.

community, as well as a great incentive and teambuilding exercise for the Kimberly-Clark Rogers team, but, most importantly, the event itself helps provide the monetary means for the Children’s Advocacy Center to deliver on their vision to eliminate child abuse. Kimberly-Clark is proud to support the local community, and is especially proud to support the CAC and their mission to The Glow Run is a wonderful event for the local empower kids.

Strokes Among Young Adults on the Rise

hile recent years have seen an overall decline in the number of strokes in the United States, research published in the American Academy of Neurology Journal suggests the number of strokes among younger adults is actually on the rise, with about one in five victims below the age of 55 now. “Since the mid-1990s, the number of strokes in younger adults has increased by approximately 53 percent,” said Dr. Rebecca Aleck, Internal Medicine specialist with Northwest Health System. “This trend is alarming in the impact it has on young families, when a parent who suffers a stroke is often physically and economically disabled before or during their most productive years.”

Experts attribute several factors to the increased incidence of stroke in young adults, with the greatest focus around the issue of obesity. A study of more than 2,300 people in the Baltimore area indicated that obese young adults were 57 percent more likely to experience a stroke than their non-obese peers. Much of that increased risk might be connected to the co-conditions often tied to obesity, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking. “Even though more than half a million young adults suffer annually from a stroke, 73 percent of those interviewed indicated they would NOT seek treatment at a hospital when faced with the classic symptoms,” Dr. Aleck said. “Nearly Dr. Rebecca Aleck three in four stated they would opt to ‘wait and see’ if their weakness, numbness or impaired vision symptoms went away on their own. This is a lack of awareness that can lead to devastating results.” Medical experts agree that medical treatment must be delivered for a stroke within three hours of the first symptom. This is the window during which treatment can minimize or even reverse brain damage. A lack of awareness results in patients that don’t seek immediate treatment. But to date, only limited public health and research efforts have been dedicated to addressing stroke in young adults. The authors of one study suggest people should memorize the acronym “F.A.S.T,” which stands for: “Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911.”

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In 2015, Arkansas ranked number one in the United States for stroke-related deaths. The clinical teams at Northwest Health System hospitals in Bentonville and Springdale have partnered with the “AR Saves” program since 2011, and have developed protocols for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients as well as continually working to educate the community on the signs of stroke.

Many strokes are preventable through simple but critical lifestyle changes. Eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight, ensuring a daily dose of physical activity, controlling blood pressure, controlling blood sugar if you are diabetic and refraining from smoking are considered the most effective means of avoiding the devastation of a stroke. The Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale is a 25bed rehabilitation unit providing 24-hour nursing and medical care. They offer skilled and intensive therapy for patients that have suffered a stroke, spinal cord injury, amputation, hip fracture, brain injury, major multiple trauma, joint replacement and other conditions. According to BJ (George) Deimel, MD., Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist with Ozark Orthopedics, acute inpatient rehabilitation has shown to increase functional status at time of discharge, improve BJ (George) Deimel, MD long term functional outcomes and increase the chance of returning to home and/or work following a stroke.

“These patients are often in the prime of life, so helping them regain their functional independence is of extreme importance as they attempt to reestablish their roles in their respective c o m m u n i t i e s ,” Deimel explains.

Face drooping Arm weakness Speech difficulty Time to call 911

“Our rehabilitation unit is located within the acute care hospital, giving us around-the-clock access to all of the hospital imaging and lab services, medical and lab specialists. We offer private rooms, and every patient receives an individualized, intensive rehabilitation program that is coordinated to include all necessary medical and therapy specialties with at least 15 hours of therapy per week. Patients and their loved one will meet regularly with the entire team to ensure all rehabilitation goals are being met. Our number one goal is to get our patients back to enjoying life and doing the things they want to do as soon as possible.” For more information about stroke symptoms and risk, visit northwesthealth.com. Or, to schedule an appointment with a physician who can help you craft a prevention plan, visit northwesthealth.com or call (800) 734-2024 to connect with a physician.

CALENDAR

2015

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

Special Events: April

Bentonville Block Party Downtown Square 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. On the first Friday of every month, between April and November, the Bentonville Square is transformed into a huge block party filled with live music, great food and lots of fun for an entire day.

April

Rain Garden Workshop Hobbs State Park Conservation Area 9 a.m. This FREE event will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Hobbs State Park Visitor Center, and includes lunch and an opportunity to tour area rain gardens. If you are interested in attending this event, RSVP by calling Bryant at (479) 769-4266 or by emailing bryant@ beaverwatershedalliance.org.

April

Rogers Historical Museum 4-7pm Please join us for the Museum’s Expansion Kick-Off! Enjoy entertainment, food and family fun at this free community event.

April

8-10

Vintage Market Days Benton County Fairgrounds Bentonville nwarkansas.vintagemarketdays.com Vintage Market Days is an upscale vintage-inspired indoor/outdoor market featuring original art, antiques, clothing, jewelry, handmade treasures, home décor, outdoor furnishings, consumable yummies, seasonal plantings, and a little more. Vintage Market Days events are so much more than a flea market. Each Vintage Market Days event is a unique opportunity for vendors to display their talents and passions in creative venues.

April

2nd Annual Young Meteorologist Weatherfest Fayetteville Public Library Fayetteville 10 a.m. to 1p.m. Meet local weathermen Dan Skoff, Garrett Lewis, and Darby Bybee. Activities for all ages include demonstrations of a tornado machine, simulations of floodplain models, displays of the latest high-tech Storm Spotter vehicles, online meteorology games for kids, a special weather presentation by KNWA chief meteorologist Dan Skoff and the KNWA Storm Spotter team, a chance to be a weather star on FPL-TV, and an opportunity to meet Owlie Skywarn, the NOAA/ National Weather Service’s mascot. There will be food trucks, face painting, prizes, and more. In the event of bad weather this event will be rescheduled for Saturday, April 30.

April

14-17

Walmart FLW Fishing Expo Beaver Lake FLW provides unparalleled fishing resources and entertainment to anglers, sponsors, fans, and host communities.

April

Discovery Tots Workshop Amazeum Bentonville 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Discovery Tots encore workshop 10 -11 a.m. Ages 18 to 36 months old and a caregiver per child/adult pair: Amazeum members $10 non-members $15 Advanced registration and payment required.

April

Cherishing Children 5k Glow Run and 1-Mile Fun Walk Rogers Our glow-themed run is a familyfriendly event that raises awareness to empower children to and their voice and speak up against abuse. Get your “glow on” with face and body paint • Food/snacks on sale from local vendors. • Live entertainment beginning at 5 p.m. • Family-friendly environment with inflatables and activities for all ages

April 42 April 2016

NWA Heart Walk Arvest Ballpark

8 a.m. Rain or Shine Join us in the fight against heart disease and stroke and start your own Heart Walk team or join an existing team! The Heart Walk has been designed to promote physical activity and heart-healthy living in an environment that’s fun for the whole family! This year, more than one million walkers will participate in more than 450 events across the US...and NWA is one of the largest! Free: No Fees. Walkers are eligible for a Heart Walk t-shirt once they have raised a minimum of $100

April

Celebrate Earth Day! Fayetteville Public Library 4 p.m. A celebration of Earth Day! Using watercolors, glitter, glue, and pasta, we will be making our own unique Earths to take home in order to remind us of all we have to appreciate on our beautiful planet! This workshop is free and open to those in grades K-5.

April

Second Annual Youth Literature Festival Bentonville Public Library 9 a.m. Authors, illustrators, workshops, book sales, book signings festival. Mission: to connect our community with authors and illustrators to spark imagination, inspire young learners and nurture a lifelong love of reading, writing and creativity!

April

RAZORFEST University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Wooo Pig Sooie! The Arkansas Razorbacks football team will play its annual Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 23. Kickoff is scheduled for noon at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Champions for Kids will also host RazorFest in Lot 44 from 9-11:30 a.m. The event will feature a fun zone, games, music, mascots, giveaways and an autograph session with many Razorback greats. Both RazorFest and

the Red-White game are free and open to the public. SOAR - An Evening with Bentronville Christian Academy 6-9pm Night of fantastic food and entertainment, exciting silent auction and prizes. Bentonville Church of Christ bentonvillechristian.org

April

22-24

42nd Annual Dogwood Festival Siloam Springs - Downtown Food vendors provide a variety of home-cooked foods. The KidZone provides rides and activities. Organized by the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce’s Volunteer Dogwood Festival Committee.

April

Sherlock Holmes Mini Lock-In (Grades 5+) 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Fayetteville Public Library Join us for an after hours Sherlock-themed event at the library! During this event we will play the novelty game of Cluedo Sherlock Edition, explore all over the library during a competitive scavenger hunt, and make Sherlock-themed perler bead designs. This event will also include pizza for dinner. This event is free and open to those who are in grades 5th and up. All supplies will be provided Registration required.

April

Spring Artsy Crafty Fayetteville Public Library 10:30-12pm Get creative at FPL! Families can drop in anytime between 10:30 a.m. and noon on April 30 in the children’s library to enjoy a wide array of fun self-guided craft projects. Volunteers will be available for assistance.This event is free and no registration is required.

Sweet

Caroline

by: Jennifer Lundeen

y husband, a baseball player, and I, a sorority girl, met in college at Southern Arkansas University. Once things got serious and our conversations turned to kids, we were happy to discover that we both wanted children--two, to be exact. My husband ended up working in DC, and, after 9/11, we decided to step up our plan and try to have children sooner. My pregnancy went perfectly, and I was never sick. I had to be induced, however, because Caroline went two weeks past her due date. The birth was definitely hard on both myself and our new little one. She lost oxygen briefly, and her little head was terribly bruised from the forceps and vacuum that had to be used to get her out. When she was born, we checked her over to make sure everything looked okay. We declared her perfect, and we gave in to our relief and elation at being successful new parents! We noticed that, as a baby, she never cooed, never looked you in the eyes, and didn’t bat at toys the way we expected. Caroline didn’t hit any milestones, though we paid close, worried attention. She never babbled, and was late crawling. She didn’t walk until age two. Her pediatrician told us not to worry about it--as if that would work--and said that kids simply ‘develop at their own pace.’ When she turned 1, we had her evaluated by the Benton County Sunshine School, and she qualified for speech therapy. A therapist came to our house twice a week, but we didn’t see any progress. Caroline never even tried to make any kind of discernible sound. At age 2, we had her evaluated by Schmeiding Developmental Center, when she was officially diagnosed with PDD-NOS... which is the diagnosis given when a child is too young to be diagnosed with autism. We kept thinking and saying to each other, “No way! Not our child,” and, “She’s a girl... doesn’t this only happen with boys?” This time was rough and scary for us. We

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tried so hard to get used to our situation and figure out how best to help her. We placed her in Sunshine School when she was three, and she had immediate major separation anxiety, accompanied by plenty of temper tantrums and anxiety. After all, she was (and is) nonverbal, so changes can be very confusing and frustrating for her... and us, as well, as we try to communicate with her and give her what she wanted and needed. I was depressed and stressed out. Several of her doctors weren’t sure about the autism diagnosis, and posited theories of cerebral palsy and dyspraxia. We felt like we were missing something. Four years later, at age 7, she was clearly diagnosed with Autism and Apraxia by the Dennis Developmental Center. The trauma that we felt at hearing this definite diagnosis, and coming to believe it, felt like we had experienced a death of sorts; a death of what we would never experience with our child. We had to make peace with ourselves and our expectations, and come to the realization that she may never talk, either to us or anyone else. We would never hear “Mommy,” “Daddy,” or “I love you.” I became jealous of what other moms could and would be doing with their daughters, and also guilty for feeling that way. At first I wondered, “Why us?” and “Why would God punish us?” Was it our fault? Eventually, however, after many days and nights of soul-searching, I realized that he had actually BLESSED us, and given us a beautiful gift. God knew that we would give Caroline the very best care possible and love her endlessly... so he gave her to us. We not only support her emotionally, but she receives speech, occupational and physical therapy daily, and we have also tried alternative treatments such as ABA, HBOT and Tomatis Listening therapy.

I had read, during my exhaustive nights of research, that many non-verbal autistic children experience seizures. I watched her carefully and never noticed anything out of the ordinary... until around age 3, when she started doing a strange eye-roll combined with blinking behavior that we assumed was a form of self-stimulation, or “stimming,” like many autistic kids do. These episodes seemed to occur more when she was sick, however, and she would become ataxic, which means she would lose coordination of her muscles. One pediatrician became very concerned, and contacted Arkansas Children’s Hospital. ACH confirmed that it was some kind of seizure activity or abnormal brain activity due to her autism. Over the next 9 years, she endured EEG’s, MRI’s and genetic testing at ACH and LeBonheur CMC in Memphis. We tried all kinds of different medicines, but nothing worked. Infections would exacerbate the seizures, so we would give her antibiotics and increase her anti-seizure medications, only to have the seizure activity worsen to the point that she would become extremely ataxic and would sleep for days. We constantly tried to explain to her neurologist that we didn’t see any improvement, but she insisted on keeping her on the same protocol for all nine years. We hated watching her suffer, with what felt like no one to listen to us. We were frustrated, confused and terrified. We just wanted her seizures to stop, and to have someone listen to us, and present us with some other options. In late 2014, her seizures increased to the point that she had more days with seizures than without. We decided to get a new opinion and discovered Dr. Judith Weisenberg, who diagnoses hard-to-treat epilepsy, at Saint Louis Children’s Hospital. She agreed that her seizures were abnormal and that her treatment needed to change. Finally! One month after our initial visit with Dr. Weisenberg, however, Caroline’s seizures became intractable, and she slipped into a coma. We were terrified. She was flown from Bentonville to St. Louis, immediately admitted to the PICU, given phenobarbitol, and intubated. Her brain basically shut down. Her little body was simply worn out from all the seizures. She had tubes coming in and out of every part of her. She had multiple blood and urine tests, EEG’s, MRI’s, an MRS and a spinal tap. She also developed MRSA, pneumonia, a UTI and phlebitis while in the hospital. She stayed in the PICU for 2 weeks, and then was moved to spend 2 more weeks in Neuro Rehab. Dr. Weisenberg was determined to find the cause, and we are forever grateful for her determination. After much testing, Caroline was finally--finally!-diagnosed correctly with GAMT, a very rare genetic disorder (so rare that it only affects 80 people in

the world!), in which her little body has a creatine deficiency. She is now on a daily regimen to negate the affects of this disorder. GAMT can cause autismlike tendencies, seizures and movement disorders. At long last, someone had figured out what was wrong with our beautiful girl! It was frightening to hear this diagnosis, but we were also incredibly relieved and thankful that we actually had an answer that made sense, and that would improve our lives together. Caroline is still non-verbal and autistic, but she is thriving, happy, adores her service dog Rider, and simply loves life. Rider is her best friend, and probably the best thing we’ve ever done for her. He follows her around, keeping her calm and safe. In fact, when she was coming out of her coma at STL Children’s, he was the first thing she asked for! We saw her gently raise her hand and pat her leg, which is the sign for ‘dog.’ It was so amazing and sweet! We’re also happy to report that, though she initially was very upset about being sent to school, she now adores it! We are so happy, so grateful, and so blessed.

hat do you think of when you hear the word ‘Lego’? You might recall with a wince how unkind those infamous plastic bricks are to bare feet in the middle of the night, and/or the rattling sound they make as the vacuum sucks them into oblivion. You might involuntarily hear your kids singing that “EVERYTHING IS AWESOME” song from The Lego Movie for three months straight in the car ride to school. You may even remember, with a twinge of melancholy, a distant childhood of your own, when you painstakingly created that pirate ship Lego set, only to have your little brother destroy it and feed it to the dog. For me, however, as a special educator, Legos have a much more positive connotation. Far from regret or annoyance, they make me very, very happy! To me, Legos mean communication, reinforcement, and creativity. Last year, I received an ‘AIM to Educate’ (Autism Involves Me) grant to acquire some new equipment and supplies for my classroom. After much thought, I decided to use these much-needed funds to buy specialized kits from the education division of Lego. These Lego kits were originally designed for math and literacy instruction, but I was also able to incorporate them into pivotal

response and discreet trial activities, too. Imagine the look on my students’ faces when I introduced Legos to them for use in instruction! They were instantly engaged and inspired to tell and write stories. Math problems were a cinch with these concrete manipulatives, creating perfect examples for geometry, number sense, addition, subtraction, and algebra. Students were even encouraged to use their communication skills to request specific bricks from teachers and other students. All this positivity was made possible through the work of AIM. Moreover, typical peers like to build with Legos, too! I used the materials from the AIM grant to form a club for both typical peers and my exceptional students. Together, they used technology and Legos to create stop-motion movies and social stories. Not only did my students benefit from the initial social interaction with their peers, but they also were able to explore different social scenarios through the eyes of their friends. They created social stories for using the library, celebrating Halloween, enacting proper hallway behavior, and eating at the table, just to name a few. As a teacher of students who have autism, I was very excited about the relationships my students were building and the valuable ‘soft skills’ they were attaining. Increased attention to task, communication, and motivation were all immediately evident after my students used these materials. Along with the Legos, I was also able to purchase music therapy supplies for my classroom. The AIM to Educate grant paved the way for a complete curriculum, with musical instruments included, to teach and reinforce everything from social skills to basic academic concepts. At my school, it’s not uncommon to see me strolling about with a ukulele, ready to spontaneously burst into song. The AIM grant has truly changed our educational lives!

ow exactly do I put into words the crazy wonderfulness of this God-sized journey we have been experiencing for the past year?

Several people have asked along the way, and I pretty much lose all the words. Then, only adjectives seem to surface... adjectives like wild, amazing, hard, emotional, humorous, sobering, overwhelming, fulfilling, and everything inbetween. But going beyond descriptive words? Well, that gets a little difficult, because it involves the heart. So, we’ll see how this goes… What led us to foster and The CALL in NWA? Well, technically, the first official steps of our journey began about a year ago, though, in true God-like fashion, He’d been planting seeds and preparing each of us long before then. He’s pretty awesome like that. My hubby, Cory, and I had always talked about adoption, even before we married. We knew it was something we both wanted to do; we just weren’t clear on the specifics. The more we discussed it, the more we figured we’d adopt after having a couple littles of our own. Not long after trying to start our family, however, we discovered I had some health stuff going on that would make conception very

50 April 2016

D ad ’s

by: Ben Lacy

w Vie

Land the Chopper [ ] Comparing kids is a very, very dangerous game. No two are alike and comparisons can hurt deeply; especially amongst siblings.

’m not an outdoor aficionado, but I do dig the trail systems of NWA. While you won’t find me rampantly running through them (busted up my knee in college and, oh, yeah, I’m out of shape) or powerfully pedaling around them (last time I hopped on a 2-wheeled contraption, two teeth popped out) you will find me and Sadie the Wonder Mutt traversing through the wild woods around Crystal Bridges. My intent for these walks is to escape the Walmartian vs. Vendorvillian antics, while Sadie’s intent is to fertilize and mark territory. We’re both content.

One brisk Saturday morning, we were walking downhill from the Bentonville Square towards the south Crystal Bridge entrance. Trail traffic was sparse; just the occasional dedicated jogger or lost museum patron looking for “that 21 hotel.” With my headphones firmly secured on my noggin, I was lost in peaceful bliss until my sixth sense kicked in and could feel someone behind me. Turning around, I found a child of 7ish, with super rad surfer hair and an even radder (and definitely broken-in) scooter. Despite his age; the kid was flying solo. He was patiently waiting for me and my smelly, schizophrenic dog to get out of the way. Moving to the side so he could pass, he gave me a head nod and a “thanks man” before hitting light speed as he raced down the trail. About that time, my phone began buzzing like a billion bees as I received a flurry of texts from the queen of the manor and one of our offspring. One of the kids, not naming names, but one of the older ones, was preparing to take a bike ride to the Bentonville square (approximately 1 mile from our house). Here is a sampling of the 23 texts I received in preparation of this great journey:

52 April 2016

Where is my helmet? Where is my bike? Where are my green socks? Where is my long sleeve blue shirt? Where are the pants I wore yesterday? Is it safe to ride there? Will you meet me? Do you think it will be okay? Where is my hoodie? How long will it take to get there? What’s the weather like? Where’s a knapsack? Do we have any bottled water? Is my phone charged (um, aren’t you texting me from it)? I’m fairly certain Sherpas don’t have to deal with this many questions when they prep tourists to ascend Everest. Why was this kid so unprepared for a 10-minute bike ride? I mean, come on; jump on it and go! Despite the chill, my body became quite warm with anger over the onslaught of texts; then it became apparent why our child was not prepared. The apparent reason was his parents (Cue the “Ride of the Valkyries” music from Apocalypse Now.) We’re always there to do whatever they need. Yep, we’re helicopter parents. Back to my slaloming scooter friend. Weary from SMS overload, my mind went back into autopilot mode as the headphones were slammed back on and I grumpily continued down the trail. While day-dreaming, I nearly tripped over the aforementioned scooter; however, it was sans

pilot. With my ears rocking at quite a loud volume, I didn’t hear the sounds of my newfound-friend as he writhed in pain just over the rock wall that follows the path. His brakes had failed him and he had crashed and flipped over the wall. After quickly checking him out, it appeared that all his appendages were pointed in the way God had planned and that blood loss was at a minimum. I helped him up and he did a quick check to make sure everything was fully functional, then sat on the rock wall to catch his breath. Asking him where his parents were he replied, very nonchalantly, “Oh, they’re further up the trail.” I then went into full helicopter pilot mode, asking him “Are you okay? What can I do? Do you need water? Can I stay with you? Want me to find your parents? How ‘bout a Fresca?” (obscure Caddyshack reference for you old folks). The kid, with a slight smile, replied “Thanks, but I’m good. I’ll be fine here by myself.” He said it in a very generous, but also pointed way. Basically “Yeah, pops, I appreciate the concern, but you can go about your business. Move along.” I’m telling you... the kid was cool. As ESPN’s Stuart Scott used to say “He’s as cool as the other side of the pillow” (RIP my man). How was he so prepared to manage a crash-and-burn situation by himself, while my kid was so flustered to go on a 10

minute bike ride? Why can’t my kids, like him, be more independent? Comparing kids is a very, very dangerous game. No two are alike, and comparisons can hurt deeply; especially amongst siblings. Things like, “Why can’t you get grades like your sister?” or “Why can’t you throw like your brother?” can cut kids to the bone and leave some serious scars. Telling my kids that they should be more like the scooter shooter would be rude, mean and frankly, unfair. Yes, kids do have a part in developing their independence, but I felt that this one was squarely on me. Instead of asking why my journey-phobic child isn’t more like the scooter-flipper, I need to ask why I’m not more like his parents. Obviously skater dude’s parents have given him knowledge, confidence and independence--in my opinion, a solid trifecta. On the other hand, I’ve probably leaned too hard on safety briefings, paranoia and fear of the big, bad world. So, moving forward, the plan is to land the chopper, and, instead of helicoptering around and being at their beck and call with an “ask and you shall receive” attitude, I’m going to teach them some independence. My new mantra; “When in doubt, figure it out.”

www.peekaboonwa.com

Why is crawling so important? by Melissa Foster Children’s Therapy TEAM Occupational Therapist

hen a parent shared with me that she thought her 8-month-old baby girl, already pulling up on furniture, may skip crawling and move right to walking., my response was, “WAIT! But crawling is so important!” Here is why…

It strengthens the upper extremity. In layman’s terms, this means the shoulder, arm, and hand, down to the finger tips. Even better, when a baby crawls while holding an object (toy car, rattle, etc.), this strengthens all the tiny intrinsic muscles of the hand, which are vital for handwriting skills later on. It develops eye-hand coordination and visual perception. When crawling, a baby often looks up, then to her hands, then up again. This switching back and forth between near/far vision is important. Looking at the classroom board, then to the desk, and back again. Same thing. Babies who crawl develop fundamental skills needed later on for school, music, sports, etc.

It improves coordination of the right and left sides of the body. In crawling, four different sections of the body must all work together in unison. Right arm, left arm, right leg, left leg…. it’s very complicated to get all four areas working together in a rhythmic pattern. It improves sensory development. As a child crawls with her hands open, she naturally encounters many different textures. Smooth, cold tile. Fuzzy carpet. It is common for children who skip crawling to later have tactile sensory defensiveness.

Three tips for promoting crawling 1. Make a fun environment. Make sure that there is an open space for crawling. When near furniture, the child will tend to pull herself up and walk while holding on. Provide toys on the floor and spread them out to promote crawling from one toy to the next.

2. Hold off on baby walkers. These mobile play devices on wheels are very common. However, infants placed in baby walkers don’t have as many opportunities to crawl. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend them because of safety concerns.

3. Get on the floor with your baby. She may not want to be on the floor by herself, so get down on the floor and play with your baby! At times, model crawling yourself. Siblings present? Make it a family affair! Even if your baby has already started to prefer walking, you can still encourage additional crawling practice.

L E A D I NG P E D I AT R I C T H E R A P Y C A R E I N No rth w e s t A r k an s a s

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

Call 521-TEAM (8326) to learn more.

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warm water pool

Believe in KIDS.

My Child Has Oppositional Defiant Disorder 6 Behavioral

Signs For to Look Out

Meagan Ruffing is a parenting journalist living with a 7-year-old who has ODD and two younger children who try to keep up with the circus. She and her husband graduated from the 16-week PCIT program with Dylan and are celebrating each milestone of success. Her forthcoming book, “Overwhelmed to In Control: Keeping Things Simple When Life Gets Tough,” comes out this summer. Visit Meagan at www. meaganruffing.com and follow her on social media at www. facebook.com/writermeaganruffing.

By Meagan Ruffing

knew my son was different when his tantrums lasted hours at a time. I would dread waking up in the morning because I didn’t want to have to face another day with Dylan’s defiant behavior. Each day was an all-out war between the two of us, and it was over anything and everything. Sometimes he would yell at me because his underwear was too high or too low, and it wasn’t ‘right’. He wouldn’t wear sneakers because they were too big or too small, even though he’d worn them just the day before. Sometimes he’d spit at me because I’d send him to time out for telling me he hated me. Situations like these would go on every day, all day. My husband suggested that we try ParentChild Interaction Therapy (PCIT), a treatment program that reestablishes the relationship between parent and child. Therapy programs like PCIT are imperative to changing the dynamics in a household where a child has a disruptive behavioral disorder such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Dr. Brandi Noirfalise, counselor at Sac River Counseling said, “When parents come in to receive PCIT, there is often negative behavior going on in the household. We try to normalize that experience for the parents.” The first part of PCIT includes Child-Directed Therapy (CDI) where, “We try to redevelop that relationship between the parent and child,” explained Dr. Noirfalise. “I have seen families

56 April 2016

come in, and they’re distraught. After they go through the program, it reduces stress.” The second part of PCIT is Parent-Directed Therapy (PDI) where the parent works on leading the play while the child works on listening. “PCIT is recommended as the first line of defense as treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD),” says Dr. Noirfalise. “We want to treat kids at the behavioral level before prescribing medication.” “The difference between PCIT and other forms of therapy,” said Dr. Noirfalise, “Is that it’s evidencebased practice. It was developed specifically for children with ODD and ADHD. It [PCIT] focuses on the relationship between parent and child.” If you think that your child could have ODD, please seek help. Early intervention can help you and your child get through the tough times and give you the answers you so desperately need. Here are six behavioral traits that stood out to me as problematic:

Tantrums: Tantrums that lasted hours and hours over absolutely nothing. Throwing, hitting, 1 spitting, crying, screaming and yelling with no end in

sight. These tantrums are much different than your typical toddler meltdowns. Trust me – you will know the difference.

Defiant Behavior: Doing the exact opposite of what is asked of your child, whether 2 it is something small like brushing their teeth or something big like not hitting. Children with ODD thrive on challenging other people; especially adults. The key is to not engage in their behavior but rather, set boundaries and keep a routine that works for your family.

Mood Swings: One minute your child is happy and laughing, and the next he’s grumpy and 3 mad. This could be over something as minute as a toy not working the way he wanted it to. Children with ODD tend to be hyper-sensitive, and when they cannot control everything around them they get overwhelmed, which can look like severe mood swings. You should have your child evaluated for Bipolar Disorder if you think the mood swings are severe enough, or if there are members of your family who suffer from this illness.

Therapy programs like PCIT (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy) are imperative to changing the dynamics in a household where a child has a disruptive behavioral disorder such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).

Lack of Sleep: Interrupted sleep can add to an already explosive child. A lot of 4 children with some sort of behavioral disorder either

have a hard time falling asleep, staying asleep or both. Think about how you feel as the parent when you get less than your fair share of shut-eye. You’re probably grumpy, on edge and a little impatient. The same goes for your children. Now add to that a mental disorder and you’ve got a recipe for a very difficult day.

Praise: Children with ODD don’t always like praise. If this is the case in your situation, 5 find something that she does like, such as imitating

play. Imitating play is exactly what it says. When she makes the cow jump, you make the cow jump. When she vrooms the car on the carpet, you vroom the car on the carpet. This type of play therapy can be done anywhere, and it validates to the child that you are engaged, listening and interested in what she is doing.

Lack of Affection: Children with ODD do not always show affection. Try not to 6 make a big deal about it, and just move on. Relish the moments when he does give you a hug.

Most importantly, hang in there. Don’t be too hard on yourself as the parent, and give yourself a break when you need it. Having a child with ODD is extremely difficult and can feel very isolating. Try and find a support group in your area or join an online forum where you can get support from other parents who know what you are going through.

Camping Skin Bummers By: Andrea Thompson, PA-C

See Ad Next Page

Skin Bummer #1

Skin Bummer #2

A sunburn is definitely a bummer, considering the burning pain and itch that comes along with it. The good news is that it can easily be prevented by taking a few precautions. First, know that you are exposed to the sun, rain or shine. The sun is at its strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Second, be mindful that not all sunscreens are created equal! Look for a broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with a SPF rating of at least 30. Your sunscreen should include the ingredients zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Apply sunscreen generously daily, and allow 20 minutes for complete activation prior to exposure to sun and water. Sunscreen must be reapplied every 2 hours, and immediately after swimming or sweating profusely. Finally, while sun screens offer wonderful sun protection, they are not perfect. In addition to sunscreens, prevention of harmful sun ray exposure should also include protective clothing made from a SPF fabric, wide brimmed hats, and protective eyewear with UVA and UVB protection. These are important additions that will help prevent sunburn.

Contact with poison ivy, poison oak or sumac can be miserable. Skin that comes into contact with these plants (including the leaves or stem) may develop flat or raised red patches and plaques to linear vesicular, blistering and weeping plaques. Be prepared to identify the plants and how they may look depending on the seasons. Avoiding contact through identification and protective clothing is helpful. Direct skin contact is not the only way to become exposed to the oils from the plant. For example, a family pet camping with you that came into contact with the plant may pass to you. The oil will continue to spread until all areas or items contaminated have been washed.

If a sunburn does occur, having a few items in your first-aid-kit will be helpful. Applying hydrocortisone cream to the affected area may help relieve the burn. Ibuprofen is a very effective anti-inflammatory that will help with pain. Additionally, cool compresses are a great way to offer relief and decrease inflammation. Be sure to cover sunburned areas and avoid further sun exposure. Not only is a sunburn uncomfortable, but it also increases the risk of skin cancer.

When camping, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always smart to pack cortisone cream and Benadryl. These over-the-counter medications help relieve the itch. Open, wet dressings are very helpful with the itch, and help dry the area if weeping. Open wet dressings are simple to make. Have a piece of thin material (such as a pillow case), soak in very cold water, wring out and wrap affected area. Keep it in place for 20 minutes. This may be repeated as often as needed. If poison ivy is unresponsive and or extensive, see your provider. A course of oral steroids may be necessary.

Sunburn

58 April 2016

poison ivy

Skin Bummer #3 insect bites

When camping, you are bound to have an interaction with some unwanted critters. While mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects have the potential to transmit disease, they mostly only cause itchy lumps and bumps. These may be treated symptomatically. Before you leave for your camping trip, be sure to pack an insect repellent containing DEET and wear protective clothing to avoid bites. Everyone should be checked daily for ticks. If any ticks are found on the body, they should be removed immediately. Items in your first-aid-kit should include cortisone cream and oral Benadryl to relive itch. Cool compresses will sooth and also relieve itch. Decreasing the need to scratch will help reduce risk of secondary infection. Insect bites usually improve or resolve in several days. Concerning symptoms that need medical attention include an expanding red rash, fever, chills, headache or joint aches. A blistering rash or dusky appearance may indicate a bite from brown recluse spider. Early intervention for these symptoms is imperative.

Skin Bummer #4

scrapes and cuts Camping can certainly bring on cuts and scrapes as you are hiking the trails or swimming in rivers and lakes. Should you receive any scrapes or cuts, clean the areas with soap and water, then apply Vaseline (petroleum jelly). This will allow the area to heal and deter crusting. Avoid the use of hydrogen peroxide and iodine-based cleansers, as they actually hinder healthy tissue from healing. Applying antibiotic ointment is a common choice, but usually not necessary. Overuse of antibiotic ointments may cause a rash and resistance may develop. Immediate redness at the wound site is normal and a sign of inflammation as you heal. See your provider if signs of infection such as swelling, expanding redness and or yellow discharge develop. I hope these tips will be helpful for you and your family to avoid and treat camping skin bummers!

view e r P e d i u G 5 Camp 2016 join t he f un!

School of Rock -2603 W Pleasant Grove Rd Suite 106 Rogers 479-936-8838

orite camps for Here are a few of our fav guide can be found kids this year! The full aboo and online in the May issue of Peek .com at www.peekaboonwa

camp listed? Want to see your oonwa.com to be a

Email editor@peekab ource for parents part of this amazing res nsas! across Northwest Arka

SCHOOL OF ROCK offers rock music camps for musicians of all skill levels who play guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and vocals. Students ages 7-18 can develop their musicianship and learn new skills in a creative and fun environment. Our camps emphasize live performance through workshops, clinics, and group rehearsals, where students learn about playing together in a band and developing stage presence. Our camps are a great introduction to School of Rock, or a perfect complement to our year-round program. Save 30% when you register in April and mention Peekaboo!

Nerdies

Tech Summer Camps 509 W Spring Street, Suite 260, Fayetteville www.nerdies.me Choose from a variety of sessions, including Video Game Development, Kid Coding, Be a Youtube Star, Robotics Challenege, Movie Making, and more. Weekly sessions run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., starting June 6 and ending August 5. Nerdies Summer Sessions are limited sized week-long day sessions which will give your ‘nerd’ something amazing to do this summer. We will expose them to different ideas while challenging them in a cool, relaxed environment.

New Life Ranch, 918-422-5506 160 New Life Ranch Dr. Colcord, OK

www.newliferanch.com Larson’s Language Center Summer Camp and Summer Club! (Ages 3-13) - 479-633-9900 www.larsonslanguagecenter.com 1730 W. Poplar St. Rogers

Learn Spanish while playing! Foreign language, crafts, cooking, games and more! Our 2016 Summer Camp has new hours (Before and after camp care) More fun, more language exposure, and more experiences.

campinvention.org

(800) 968-4332 Science, current topics and creative problem solving collide with activities in a team setting. For kids grades 1st-6th depending on school district. 5 days from 9 a.m. -3:30 p.m. Starts in June and goes through July.

62 April 2016

Stephanie’s Musique 3218 N. Thompson Street, Springdale stephaniesmusique.net (479) 756-0740 Private guitar, vocal and piano lessons, kinderbach classes, “my first piano” adventure camps, and much more!

Rogers Activity Center --

Summer Day Camp and Summer Sports Camps 315 West Olive Street -www.rogersarkansas.com/recreation

Choose the weeks you want. Camps run from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.. 1st through 7th grade. Field trips, fun activities, breakfast, lunch and snack! Also offering Summer Sports Camps to enhance your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skills in their favorite sport.

Fast Lane Entertainment Summer Camps! (479) 659-0999 www.fastlanebowl.com

June 6 -10 and July 11- 15 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. (or 1 p.m. with lunch option) For kids ages 5-11, with activities including bowling, laser tag, spin zone bumper cars, play structure and arcade! Campers will recieve camp t-shirt, lanyard, and snacks.

Kaleidoscope 900 SE Village Loop Bentonville kaleidoscopedanceacademy.com

Trike Theatre, 209 NE 2nd St. Bentonville, www.triketheatre.org

Trikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2016 Summer Camps: Register now and create memories that will last a lifetime. Fine arts camps, production camps, and young actors camps!

w e i v e r P e d i 5 Camp Gu 2016 Imagine Studios

SUMMER ART CAMPS 2016 at Imagine Studios

479-619-6085 imaginestudiosnwa.com Fire up your creativity and join the summer fun! At Imagine Studios, campers will expand their imaginations as we explore the world of art. We’ve got so many themes that you’re budding artist will be sure to find inspiration with us! Weekly 1/2 day sessions are offered in the morning and afternoons Monday through Thursday. Campers are welcome to bring a sack lunch and stay for the day.

The Little Gym

2603 W. Pleasant Grove, Suite 118, Rogers, AR 479-636-5566

Little Gym’s expert instructors fill each three-hour camp day with fitness and fun. Obstacle courses challenge them. Arts and crafts engage them. And group activities, snack time and special events give them time to interact and build their social skills – all in a non-competitive, nurturing environment.

Just a few examples of camps available include: ClayTime: Play with clay--learn handbuilding techniques such as pinch pots, coils, and slab to create pottery plus explore techniques with air dry clay and salt dough. Learn about the kiln and how to glaze pottery pieces. Ages 6 & up 8:30-11:30 AM Flower Power: Feeling Groovy? Join us as we explore the art of all things 60s, including creating POP ART in the style of Andy Warhol. All the cool cats will be at Imagine Studios. Peace, Love & Tie Dye! Ages 5 & UP 12:00-3:00 PM Modern Masters: Learn to paint in the style of modern masters such as George Rodrigue, the Blue Dog artist, and pop artist James Rizzi. Artists will work on drawing and painting using watercolor and acrylics. Ages 5 & UP 8:30-11:30 AM Under the Sea: Life is better Under the Sea... and so is the art. From mermaids to sea turtles, explore life under the sea with Miss Melanie. Projects will be canvas, watercolor, clay, and ceramic. Ages 4 & UP 12:00-3:00 Art Rocks! With music and musical instruments as our inspiration, artists will create canvas, ceramic, and watercolor art, including a rock star guitar painting. Ages 5 & UP 12:00-3:00 And Many More!

64 April 2016

Super Science

1034 Reed Valley Rd Fayetteville, (479) 444-0303 super-sci.com Super Science one-day camps are most popular with 4 to 12 year olds. We keep kiddos busy with Estes rocket building and launches, T-REX dinosaur tooth (fossil) casting, a light and laser Show, fun science games and more, culminating with all-youcan-eat cotton candy. Yes, there is science behind the invention of cotton candy!

Most amazing and original summer camp ever! Make new friends! Martial Arts Action! Pizza Party! Bullying Prevention! Board Breaking Tricks! Games!

ATA Martial Arts Fayetteville – 479.443.5425 Bentonville – 479.273.1212

Crystal Bridges Summer Camps www.CrystalBridges.org

Register now for Crystal Bridges summer camps for kids 6 to 12! Explore the museum galleries and grounds, enjoy art-making and theatre activities, make friends, and have fun! All materials and healthy, nutfree snacks are included in camp fee.

Ozark Natual Science Center www.onsc.us 479-202-8340 Family Weekends - May 20-21 Spring Nature Lovers Weekend. Celebrate spring by exploring the forests, creeks, hills and fields of your Ozark Backyard. Summer Family Camp June 17-18 Discover the natural world of the Ozarks hiking forested trails and wading in shaded creeks.

Aloha : Mind Math | Reading | Writing (479) 426-3419 www.alohamindmath.com 100 SW 14th Street, Bentonville Offering Programs for ages 3-12 - Half Day Camp. One-of-a-kind summer camp! A perfect choice for your child to rediscover the joys of reading, while engaging in creative writing. All in a safe

Bentonville Parks & Recreation 479-464-PARK (7275) parks@bentonvillear.com Camp Bentonville is back and ready for a great 2016! From Camp Memorial to Camp Downtown Bentonville, showcasing tennis camps, soccer camps, Abrakadoodle camps and more, you are sure to find a camp that guarantees your child will have a fun-filled summer!

66 April 2016

Allison Carr Shares Her Story of

e s a e s i D t r a e H g Survivin and How Northwest Health System Was There

llison Carr had a heart attack in 1988 at the young age of 23. She was the picture of healthy living – maintaining an active lifestyle, eating well, and raising her young family. Doctors suspected her heart attack was caused from stress and put her on medication. In 2000, Allison began having extreme fatigue and, after undergoing tests, doctors discovered Allison had a leaky mitral valve, often a complication from a heart attack. The mitral valve controls blood from the heart’s left upper atrium to the left lower ventricle, allowing blood to flow one direction through the heart into the body. Because Allison’s mitral valve wasn’t operating correctly, she had open heart surgery to replace it with a titanium valve. Over the years, Allison suffered heart and respiratory failure and two strokes. Doctors performed two additional open heart surgeries, replacing the titanium valve with a larger one and repairing a torn leaflet. Allison is currently being evaluated for a heart transplant and is living with a dual pacemaker defibrillator that Dr. Michael Green implanted at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale.

68 April 2016

“Dr. Green saved my life twice! He has been my doctor for more than 15 years. I had the best care with Dr. Green and the team at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale. Everyone always took the time to listen, and address any concerns I had,” Allison said. Despite living with heart disease for almost 30 years, Allison keeps a positive attitude and enjoys time with family, especially her grandchildren. Allison credits the incredible support of her family for keeping her going over the years. She says living with heart disease is difficult, but possible if you are your own health advocate and know your body. Allison is working with the American Heart Association and Go Red For Women Event to share her heart journey to encourage other women to be proactive with their own health. Go Red For Women will be held on Tuesday, February 16 at John Q. Hammons Center, with day-of-event passes costing $100. For more information about the event, visit nwagored. heart.org or call (479)-439-6800.

www.davidadams.com

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

Ozark Natural Science Center

Inspires Meet Christy:

I walked across the stage holding my diploma from Hendrix College on a sultry, hot May day in 1998. My favorite high school biology teacher, Ellen Turner, was there and quickly asked me what I planned to do with my biology degree. She insisted I come work with her at the Ozark Natural Science Center (ONSC), where she was the Education Director. She described a place so incredible that it made her leave the classroom after 25 years. I knew I wanted to work with this amazing woman in this wonderful place! As I drove out to ONSC for my interview, I found myself deep in the Ozark woods on a dirt road. As the trees gave way to a beautiful facility, I knew this was a special place. Soon, I was leading groups of 5th graders on their two-day program of learning by exploring the Ozarks. The program uses the experiences of hiking the trails to connect and reinforce the scientific concepts learned in school classrooms. It literally brings classroom learning to life. The students brought with them enthusiasm and endless questions. I have so many wonderful stories of learning at ONSC--like the time we saw a glowing fungus called Foxfire on our night hike, or the time we identified bobcat tracks in the mud when they hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been there the day before. I also observed in the students those intangible benefits that canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be measured on a science test. For example, the confidence that comes from hiking up a steep hill to a beautiful overlook or facing the fear of the dark on a night hike. I led groups at ONSC for almost two years and learned a lot about the natural history of the Ozarks from Ellen,

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other naturalists and student observations. From my chance encounter with Ellen at graduation, I found my passion in education and science. I finished my Ph.D. in 2010 and began working for the University of Arkansas. I often meet college students who went to ONSC as 5th graders, and the memories they share are heartwarming. I kept up with ONSC over the years, and knew at some point I would get involved again. Then in the summer of 2013, ONSC founder Ken Ewing reached out to me. The Center needed a new economic model to be sustainable, and it needed some new energy behind it. This was my chance to give back to ONSC, and I took it. Ellen had moved back to Arkansas, and we both joined the Board, so we were together again! Ellen helped launch a new outreach program called ONSC L.I.V.E. (Learning in the Virtual Environment) to reach kids, parents, and teachers with videos of exciting science information. After a grant from Cox Communications, the program is off and running! With a grant from the Walton Family Foundation, we are expanding our reach to Northwest Arkansas schools, bringing in more and new schools. The reality remains that this wonderful, high-quality program costs a lot to deliver on, and quality is not something we can compromise. It has been 18 years since that fateful day at graduation when a simple question led to a career in environmental education, a Ph.D. in biology, and the satisfaction of coming full circle to serve ONSC, a place that not only teaches science, but changes lives... including mine.

Meet Ellen: After graduating with a degree in biology, I returned to graduate school to study field biology and soaked up information about a fascinating natural world that I had not known existed. After earning my master’s degree, I was eager to offer learners of all ages the same kinds of opportunities that I had been given. I knew that I could provide some amazing experiences if only I had just one acre to devote to outdoor learning! In 1989, my one-acre dream came true. Outdoor enthusiasts Ken and RuAnn Ewing announced their plans to develop the Ozark’s first outdoor residential natural science facility, now known as the Ozark Natural Science Center. They pulled together a founding board and we went to work. Early in the process, we developed a description of an ideal site for the Center. We circulated that list to area natural resource organizations, and eventually we were encouraged to speak to the owner of a piece of private land that joined the north and south sections of the Madison County Wildlife Management Area. Ken Ewing called the landowner and explained our plan, and the owner answered, “I am not interested in selling, but I might be willing to donate my land!” Despite our early success, we found that developing a not-for-profit facility is slow, hard and tough. We raised funds in every way imaginable, from barbequing chickens at Walmart in 102-degree summer heat, to calling on potential donors oneby-one, often leaving empty-handed. We were determined and encouraged by the many kind gifts that professionals in the area offered. Architects donated plans for the facility, contractors offered materials and machines, individuals offered skilled and unskilled labor – from painting to tilling to pulling weeds. Generous donors in Northwest Arkansas and beyond have provided the funds needed to bring over 50,000 children to ONSC since programs were first offered in 1992. While the fifth grade overnight school program is the signature ONSC program, we have always engaged students of all ages. The night hikes are among the best of the 5th grade program experiences. I loved the closeness that I felt with my group when we were out on the trails, using no artificial lights, and gazing at a night sky studded with stars and planets. We heard coyotes call, owls

hoot and flying squirrels squeak. Students who had been a bit loud and unruly at the beginning of the ONSC experience walked quietly on the night trails, speaking softly and clearly in awe of the world around them. Today I teach biology at the Northwest Arkansas Community College. On the first day of class, I ask my college students how many have visited the Ozark Natural Science Center; invariably they smile as they raise their hands. Many tell me that the ONSC experience was one of the best in their lives. I am grateful to the dedicated and passionate ONSC staff, all who are dedicated to the ONSC mission. As Northwest Arkansas continues to grow, we are finding that fewer and fewer children get to spend time outdoors in wild places like those at ONSC. The experience is stimulating students’ knowledge about, and interest in, science. ONSC opens up a view of the natural world to all who visit, offering a place to learn, hike or cherish the peace and natural beauty of the Ozarks.

MUMMS the

Word

You see, her son has what many of us families struggle with: ADD. Before our boys started kindergarten, we were both a nervous wreck because we imagined ourselves sitting down for the first parent/teacher conference and hearing, “Your child is so sweet and well-mannered but… we may need to work on reigning in the energy a little bit.” Thankfully, our sons have beyond exceeded anything we could have hoped for, and her son in particular has gone without needing any medical assistance to help him focus. She explained that their elementary school was issued a oneyear grant that allowed the students to have P.E. every day. Their students also get two recesses or ‘brain breaks’ daily to help them center themselves, release some energy accumulated while working diligently, and then refocus and get back to work. Seriously?! Where has this been and why is this not at every school? Funding issues, I suppose, but there are many ways around that.

Feature by: MUMMS Founders Leslie Gabardi-Seward & Chelsie Lamborn-Looney

y best friend of 17 years and I were sitting in Mazzio’s one evening with our families, reveling in the fact that we had once dreamed of play dates and dinner dates with our children... and now, here we were! How are we ‘adulting’ already, and how is it possible that these precious children belong to us?! Only, those beautiful and whimsical sentiments were soon followed up with the reality that her daughter had just lost an entire personal pizza to the petri-dish that is the Mazzio’s floor, our sons had swapped straws so many times that, by that point, we thought a little immunity building wouldn’t hurt, and the amount of up-anddown movement between them was insane. Most of us with kids can relate. When do they ever stop? How is it possible to pack 70,000 lbs of energy in a little, 45 lb body? That very debate between my friend Chelsie and myself was what planted the seeds for what we are striving for today.

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The two of us have done so much research via medical sites and educational sites, and are reaching out to doctors, psychologists, school counselors and other moms to make sure we aren’t the only ones who really think there is a method to this “needing more movement” madness. The literature and statistics pointing towards what the benefits of movement in the body do for kids academically, physically and emotionally are staggering. To clarify, we are not suggesting that more movement throughout the day will eliminate any need for assistance outside of the added physical activity. That is to be addressed between you and your child’s physician. What we ARE saying is: this certainly can’t hurt! The average day for an elementary student consists of many hours working fervently, and then getting a 30-minute recess at some point during the day. If your school is like my kid’s school, their specials (ie: art, computer, P.E.) are on a seven day rotation, so sometimes my kids don’t even have P.E. in a week’s time. If it’s winter and below 32 degrees? Forget about it. They are stuck inside all day. I pick

up my kids from school on a day when I knew it was too cold for them to be outside for recess, and my son looks as if he could crawl out of his skin because he has been told to be quiet and still all day. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m just not okay with that. What we want to achieve with bringing awareness to how instrumental movement is, is to hopefully have ‘brain breaks’ made mandatory throughout the district. There are a multitude of ways to implement this with zero financial burden on the schools themselves. The teacher can use movement by incorporating it into a math lesson. What is 5+5? Do that many jumping jacks. It’s really THAT simple! The key is to make it mandatory so that we can all be assured that our kids are getting the most well-rounded education they can. School isn’t, and shouldn’t, just be about figuring out how much we can cram into one day. We are responsible for building a foundation for them to build upon for the rest of their lives. Teaching kids from an early age to cope with stress caused by any situation – education in this instance – is crucial. The best way to retain information is to allow your brain to take a breather, or by hitting the “reset button.” Brainbreaks and body movement 2 - 4 times a day would make a huge difference in the lives of every child. Not every child is apt to have the wiggles and

necessarily need to get up and move; however, those who do, get a better chance at making it through the day. Those who could technically manage without breaks may need it for reasons aside from the release of excess energy. These exercises can be done with the entire class or even partners. This could be a great incentive to help a young child who may be shy, learn to come out of their shell by being given an ice breaker of sorts. Obesity has more than doubled in children in the last three decades. How can more movement be a bad thing? Or even an inconvenient thing? My doctor has always said, “…at least 20 minutes a day.” There you have it. Two brain-breaks for kids at ten minutes a pop and they have their daily dose of exercise! The stats are real, the literature is real, and the results in these schools around the country taking the initiative are real. It’s time we punch the ticket for that train and get our kids moving! We hope to take this to the school board here in the very near future and what YOU can do to help us is, find us on Facebook and like our page: “MUMMS: Mothers Urging More Movement in School.” Ff you feel compelled, email or write your school board urging them to mandate more movement for our kiddos. Better bodies, better minds, better future!

The Dalai Mama

by: Kristin Hvizda

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

Finding Beauty in the Outtakes of Life

e’ve all had the feeling... you know the one I’m talking about. The sweet satisfaction you feel when you capture the perfect representation of your family in a picture. That precious moment when the underrated talent of a photographer, captures the “perfect storm” of surrender to bribery and collective motivation to end the torture of the photo session. That brief moment between your kids fighting, your husband losing his patience, and you scowling at the ensuing circus. The split second when everyone is miraculously looking in the same direction, smiling without goofy grins, and the annoyance in your eyes has been momentarily replaced by the appearance of genuine happiness. Victory!

No doubt about it, such photos feel like a win. They feel like a win because we know how hard a journey it was to get that photo. We know that, beyond this seemingly perfect picture, was a 45 minute photo session that felt like 8 hours, where everyone was uncomfortable, sweaty, and annoyed. And beyond that day, we know that it’s been a year of meltdowns and repeating yourself. 365 days of navigating picky eating, accidents, and mini disasters. Sure, we know our family really loves each other, in theory. We know that deep down under all the bickering, threats, and eye rolling we really are a tight-knit crew. We know that we are blessed and beyond lucky to be living the crazy existence we call our lives, but after all the failures and imperfections that come with raising young children--is one nice picture too much to ask?! At the end of the day capturing a fleeting moment of “perfection” in a photograph is meaningful, because in some strange way it

76 April 2016

serves to validate our efforts. Yet, on some level those “perfect” pictures, which we love to gaze upon and proudly send to our friends and family, sort of feel like a lie. Those pictures in no way represent our real lives or the blood, sweat, and tears it took to capture them. What more accurately depicts our families are the outtakes. Those pictures that capture the silly moments, the fighting, the anger, the laughter, and the big toothy grins that aren’t necessarily pretty but are chock full of emotion. The outtakes show our personality, our flaws, and our humanness. They show our everyday realities, instead of the picture we wish to portray. When you first become a parent, it’s a complete shock--or at least it was to me. I didn’t have any nieces or nephews and hadn’t spent any real time around kids. I had no idea what to expect, but was pretty sure from the abundance of Christmas cards I received and Facebook posts I explored--with little ones

posing prim and proper--that parenting would be a piece of cake. I bought into the “fantasy parenting” we like to portray hook, line, and sinker. Well, as you all know, that was a crock. Those pictures in no way represent what life is really like with little ones. I wondered what was wrong with me and my kids, that we never seemed to have those “Facebook worthy moments.” No one tells you that behind those perfect pictures are thousands of disasters and disappointments that can leave many moms disillusioned. So, the question becomes... why we don’t celebrate the outtakes for what they are--a truer reflection of ourselves and our reality? Perhaps because we have a tough time reconciling the good with the bad, the anger and the love, the contentment and the restlessness present in our lives. In some ways, we are still striving to portray the perfect life, the perfect kids, and ultimately that we are the perfect parents (even if only to ourselves). But what we fail to recognize is that the perfect life is not devoid of the bad. Life encompasses it all. I remind myself that even those moms who seemingly have it all together- who always have a smile on their face, whose children are always well-dressed and stain-free, who run 6 miles every day, and put three amazing meals on the table- have “stuff ” too. We all have “stuff ”. That “stuff ” is what makes this life and not some fantasy. So, while you’re busy pre-staining every single item your child wore for the day (including their underwear), magic erasing crayons off the wall (for the 3rd

Be thankful for the bad things in life. For they open your eyes to the good things you weren’t paying attention to before. Unknown

time this week), and/or wiping your fifth poop of the day (none of which were yours) remember that this is all par for the course. The idea of the perfect little family and the perfect little existence, where such moments do not exist, is fiction. If you want that beautiful family and you want to experience that insatiable love that makes your heart feel like it’s bursting, you will inevitably have to experience the “crap” of it all too. It’s the inevitability of life, unfortunately. The bad is a necessary companion to the good, a symbiotic relationship in which one cannot exist without the other. When we grasp this and really understand this to be a truth, then perhaps we can truly find contentment in those moments. I say contentment because I’m not at the point yet where I can find joy in them. I can, however, roll my eyes, smile to myself, and know in my heart that my family is worth the “crappy” parts. I hope the same for you.

Educational Entertainment for all ages!

Northwest Arkansas

• School Assemblies & Workshops • Corporate/Non-Profit Presentations • Special Events & Camps • Awesome Party Concept

www.super-sci.com www.super-sci.com •• 479-444-0303 479-444-0303

At a Glance

ARTS and MUSIC

Crystal Bridges (Pg. 83) (479) 418-5700 crystalbridges.org Kindermusik at The Little Gym (Pg. 49) (479) 636-5566 School of Rock (Pg. 70) (479) 936-8838 Stephanie’s Musique (Pg. 25) (479) 756-0740 Trike Theatre (Pg. 49) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org Walton Arts Center (Pg. 15) waltonartscenter.org (479) 443-5600

First Security (Pg. 44) www.fsbank.com; www.onlyinark.com

BANKS

CHILDCARE/NANNY SERVICES

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 53) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com Better Beginnings (Pg. 78) (800) 445-3316 arbetterbeginnings.com Early Learning Academy (Pg. 69) www.wacd.net Gentry: (479) 736-9012 Rogers: (479) 899-6675 Springdale: (479) 717-2586 Mary’s Little Lambs Preschool (Pg. 31) (479) 273-1011

CHURCH Overdrive (Pg. 27)

www.overdrive.church

DANCE/CHEER/TUMBLE/STRETCH

Kaleidoscope Dance Academy (Pg. 28) (479) 464-5977 www.kaleidoscopedanceacademy.com The Little Gym (Pg. 49) (479) 636-5566

DENTIST

Dr. Nick DDS (Pg. 57) (479) 876-8000 DrNickDDS.com Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry (Pg. 12) (479) 631-6377 Rogers

DERMATOLOGY / SKIN CARE

Advanced Dermatology / Skin Care Center (479) 268-3555 (Pg. 58-9) NWA Center for Plastic Surgery (Pg. 2) (479) 571-3100 nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com Spa 810 (Pg. 39) (479) 435-7200 - Fayetteville (479) 877-7041 - Rogers

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EDUCATION/TRAINING

Bentonville Christian Academy (Pg. 19) bentonvillechristian.org The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 4, 30) (479) 441-4420 (Fayetteville) The New School (Pg. 13) thenewschool.org (479) 521-7037 Super Science (Pg. 77) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com Trike Theatre (Pg. 49) (479) 464-5084 www.triketheatre.org

FAMILY FUN / ENTERTAINMENT

Crystal Bridges (Pg. 83) (479) 418-5700 Fast Lane Entertainment (Pg. 32) (479) 659-0999 www.fastlanebowl.com Fayetteville Public Library (Pg. 43) www.faylib.org/summer Imagine Adventure World (Pg. 63) imagineadventureworld.com Imagine Studios (Pg. 37) (479) 614-6085 Nerdies Summer Sessions (Pg. 65) (479) 715-0622 www.nerdies.me Ozark Natural Science Center (Pg. 67, 72) (479) 202-8340 onsc.us Princess Party Palace NWA (Pg. 20) princesspartypalacenwa.com Starlight Skatium (Pg. 27) (479) 444-STAR Super Science (Pg. 77) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com Trike Theatre (Pg. 49) (479) 464-5084 www.triketheatre.org

FITNESS

ATA (Pg. 21) Bentonville: (479) 273-1212 Fayetteville: (479) 443-5425 FreeRide Studio (Pg. 75) freeridestudio.com (479) 802-6245 The Little Gym (Pg. 49) (479) 636-5566

FOOD / DRINK

TCBY (Pg. 3) (479) 636-8229 (TCBY)

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Northwest Primary Care (Pg. 8-9) nw-physicians.com Tate HealthCare (Pg. 73, 81) (479) 271-6511 www.tatehealthcare.com

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

David Adams (Pg. 69) davidadams.com (479) 444-7778

LEARNING CENTER

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 53) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com Aloha (Pg. 63) (479) 426-3419 The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 4, 30) (479) 443-4420 (Fayetteville)

MARTIAL ARTS ATA (Pg. 21)

Bentonville: (479) 273-1212 Fayetteville: (479) 443-5425

OPTOMETRIST

Pediatric Vision Development Center (Pg. 47) nwavisiontherapy.com (479) 795-1411

PEDIATRICIAN

Bentonville Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 66) (479) 273-5437 Best Start Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 17) (479) 575-9359 Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 40) (479) 524-2458 Siloam Springs Living Tree Pediatrics (Pg. 61) (479) 282-2966 Northwest Pediatric Convenient Care (Pg. 7) (479) 751-2522

THERAPY

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 53) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com Children’s Therapy T.E.A.M (Pg. 54-55) www.childrenstherapyteam.com The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 4) (479) 443-4420 (Fayetteville) Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 40) Lowell: (479) 770-0744 Siloam Springs: (479) 524-2465 West Fork: (479) 839-3359 Tate HealthCare (Pg. 73, 81) (479) 271-6511

WOMEN’S HEALTH

Birth Center NWA (Pg. 41) (479) 372-4560 bcnwa.com Northwest Primary Care of Springdale (Pg. 8-9) (479) 927-2100 Northwest Women’s Health Associates (Pg. 51) (479) 553-2525 Parkhill Clinic for Women (Pg. 31) (479) 521-4433 parkhillclinic.com Siloam Springs Women’s Center (Pg. 82) (479) 524-9312 siloamwomenscenter.com Willow Creek Hospital (Pg. 5) (479) 684-3035

PHOTOGRAPHY

Main Street Studios (Pg. 60) www.mainstreetstudios.net

PLASTIC SURGEON

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

PRESCHOOL/ PRE-K

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 53) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com Early Learning Academy (Pg. 69) www.wacd.net Gentry: (479) 736-9012 Rogers: (479) 899-6675 Springdale: (479) 717-2586 Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 40) Lowell: (479) 770-0744 Siloam Springs: (479) 524-2465 West Fork: (479) 839-3359 Mary’s Little Lambs Preschool (Pg. 31) (479) 273-1011 The New School (Pg. 13) thenewschool.org