November 2018 FREE Magazine
*Northwest Health Physicians’ Specialty Hospital is owned, in part, by physicians.
“I first met Dr. Stacey when he was caring for a close family member during a very difficult time. It was evident from my first encounter with Dr. Stacey and his team that they emphasize caring and focus on customer satisfaction in everything they do. When seeking care for myself the choice was easy. As a nurse, I know how important it is to look for quality in a healthcare provider. This team combines exceptional quality, service, and caring to create an experience that is second to none.�
Kristi, 40 Mommy Makeover, Cosmetic Surgery Patient
D. Heath Stacey, MD | J. Alex Kelamis, MD
137 W. Van Asche Loop in Fayetteville nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com 479.571.3100
Now seeing patients in Rogers!
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At Pediatric Dental Associates and Orthodontics you’ll discover that we go the extra mile for our patients! From the moment you see our office, you’ll know what we mean. We have a fully themed environment that is comforting and fun for your children. We offer preventive, restorative, and orthodontic services for kids ages 0-18. We also specialize in dental care for children with special needs.
1607 E. Rainforest Rd. Fayetteville, AR 72703
801 SW Regional Airport Blvd. Bentonville, AR 72712
Fayetteville: 479-582-0600
Bentonville: 479-268-5000
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We accept all insurances and we are in-network with Delta Dental, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, ARKids, Delta Dental Smiles, and MCNA. November 2018
No matter how small, every EMERGENCY is a
BIG DEAL Arkansas Children’s Northwest is the only pediatric emergency room in the region.
ER Open
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The
Family KIMBERLY ENDERLE Editor-in-Chief editor@peekaboonwa.com | 479-957-0532
JONATHON ENDERLE Creative Director jon@peekaboonwa.com | 479-586-3890
Kim and Jonathon with Gwen, Holden, Grant and Ava Enderle. PHOTO BY ASHLEY MURPHY IMAGES
FRANCES WILSON Assistant Editor
DISTRIBUTION/ CIRCULATION Joyce Whitaker Judy Evans Marcedalia Salinas
Jeremy Whitaker Michelle Dodson
BEN LACY Dad’s View
Columnist
Peekaboo Publications PO Box 1036 Bentonville, Arkansas 72712 Please send inquiries to: editor@peekaboonwa.com or call 479-957-0532 www.peekaboonwa.com Peekaboo may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Views expressed herein are those of the authors and advertisers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine.
PEEKABOO Northwest Arkansas accepts writing contributions
6 November 2018
MEAGAN RUFFING Columnist
DAVID HOVEY Story Design
When children need medical attention, they deserve special treatment. Northwest Pediatric Convenient Care is making it easier for children to get well, with our Urgent Care online check-in. The next time your child experiences an illness or injury, visit our website, answer a few questions, and pick a time that’s convenient for you. We’ll save your spot in line, before you arrive. It’s that easy. A team of skilled providers will then deliver the care your child needs in a comforting environment designed just for kids. To check in, visit NW-Physicians.com. Monday-Saturday: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
479-751-2522 3057 Springdale Ave. Springdale, AR 72762
HERE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR KIDS
DAY AND NIGHT.
Your world deserves world-class answers.
At Northwest Health, we want every patient to receive the care they need right here in Northwest Arkansas. As a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, our doctors have special access to Mayo Clinic knowledge,
expertise and resources at no additional cost. And you get the peace of mind that comes with knowing we’re here for you.
Talk with your Northwest Health physician about access to Mayo Clinic expertise right here at home. Call 833-757-WELL (9355) to request an appointment. Or, go to NorthwestHealthMayoClinicPartnership.com for more info.
NOVEMBER 2018
14 B. U. F. A.: Baby Up for Adoption by: Rachael Lopez
14 16 20 22 26 30
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November is National Literacy Month
Meet Ava by: Ava Johnson
B. U. F. A.: Baby Up for Adoption by: Rachael Lopez
November is National Literacy Month by: Meagan Ruffing
Mommy & Me Strength in Motherhood by: Jennifer Yeager
Meet Ava by: Ava Johnson
Adoption in Arkansas: Where Do I Begin? by: Justin Heimer
On the Cover
This month’s cover features children currently on the Arkansas Heart Gallery.
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32 42 44 48 50 54 56 62 64
Journey to Kora by: Melissa Coleman
Meet the Family Behind Mr. Sandless by: Frances Wilson
Opening Our Doors and Our Heart by: Clinton Cousins
Northwest Health Earns Accreditation for Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Being Eden’s Mom by: Dominique Paine
Blessed Beyond Measure by: Lisa Drewry
Dad’s View with Ben Lacy
Project Zero by: Tiphanie Gurwell
The NWA Regional Dance Company Presents: “The Nutcracker”
The Arkansas Heart Gallery is a collection of beautiful photographs of waiting children and teens, taken by professional photographers from every corner of our state. For more information visit www.theprojectzero.org 10 November 2018
Cover Sponsored by: Northwest Health www.northwesthealth.com
Symphony of Northwest Arkansas
Paul Haas, Music Director
SoNA & Walton Arts Center present
The Snowman: A Family Concert
DEC. 16, 2018 – 2PM Walton Arts Center
9
$
Experience a very special screening of the award-winning film “The Snowman” as SoNA musicians bring to life the extraordinary score in an afternoon that is sure to enchant your little ones. Sponsored by the Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation
Tickets On Sale Now! / sonamusic.org / 479.443.5600
If you have a story to share, or an idea for a story, email editor@peekaboonwa.com and be a part of the Peekaboo family!
From the Editor
HERE IS A LOOK AHEAD! _____________________________ DECEMBER is the guide you have been waiting for all year long! Our annual gift and holiday event guide is going to be our biggest yet. If you have a product or event you would like to include or an inspirational and uplifting story you would like to share email editor@ peekaboonwa.com by November 15th. JANUARY Update issue on your past favorite family’s stories - let us know who you would like an update from!
T
he holiday season is here in full force. Halloween is over (get your half price candy now!), and that means it’s nonstop, full steam ahead to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year! This time of year is pure magic, especially in the eyes of our littlest citizens. Before the gift-buying, gift-giving busyness of Christmas, we first get the month dedicated to giving thanks. There are so many opportunities for us as parents to show, firsthand, ways to give thanks. It is the perfect time to start the tradition of making an impact in the lives of the community members around us who appreciate a little extra blessing this time of year. In that vein, Northwest Arkansas has so many amazing, giving people in it, and this upcoming issue truly highlights that. Our November issue is one of my favorite issues to share each year-- I love that our ‘giving thanks’ theme is combined with highlighting adoption in NWA. In the same month that we focus on all that we are thankful for, we also feature families who make such a big difference in the lives of others. Through adoption, these families transform the life of a child (or children) and, in turn, are made better because of the love that they decide to share. Every year, I look forward to each and every emailed adoption story that I receive. These stories never fail to inspire me, because they are full of examples of true love and sacrifice. This cover of Peekaboo is a very special 12 November 2018
one, because it features children who are currently hoping to find their forever family! In addition, inside you will find stories of adoption – of families created by the purest kind of love. While I was in awe (and tears) over and over again reading each story of adoption, my heart still ached each time I thought about the sweet little ones across our area still without a home. I wanted to do something to help connect them with their forever families -- don’t miss the story from Project Zero on page 62, which also includes bios from children in foster care. No matter how a family was created, I am always amazed by how much beauty exists in their uniqueness. I especially love when I see a family who fully understands that, though their hands are full, there is still room in their hearts and homes–-enough to choose to add to their family through foster care or adoption. My own little brother was born in my parents’ hearts, and I couldn’t imagine me without him (even though he will say I was a classic big sister, and tortured him when we were kids). Even though this month is dedicated to Thanksgiving, it is also the month of Black Friday shopping, so we made sure to include a guide from our friends at Peppa Pig to help your kiddos create their must-have Christmas wishlist!
Until next time... Kim Enderle
peekaboonwa.com
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by: Rachael Lopez I am sitting down to write this after putting my sweet Rien to bed. This amazing young girl is now 4 years old, and right smack-dab in the middle of taking over the world. Our family has been blessed in so many ways. My husband, Ivan, and I have been married for 15 years and have three beautiful daughters. Emily is 19, and in her second year of college, Madelin is 18, and in her first year of college, and Rien is 4 and rules our home. When I found out Lana was expecting, I was told by her mother, who is a friend of mine, and was excited for her to be a new mother. I myself had two children starting high school, and had just moved from a minivan to a Honda Civic – ergo, a baby was not on our radar. We had prayed for many years for another baby, but had given up on us being the one to raise one. I was ready to help Lana in a supportive role, and was looking forward to the extra snuggles. When I was informed that Lana and the biological father were looking at adoption, my heart skipped a beat. Could this be what I had been praying for – should I even try? 14 November 2018
I wanted to do everything I could if she wanted to parent, but I also knew that if they chose adoption I wanted them to choose us... and, they chose us! Here’s Lana’s story, in her own words: “When Cory and I found out I was pregnant, we were unsure of what we were going to do--all we knew was that abortion was not an option. After a lot of thought and prayer, we came to the decision to do an open adoption. “Open adoption” means that we would still be very involved in her life, and she would know who we were. Then, after even more thought and prayer, we chose the family that would be the parents of Adrienne. Rachael and Ivan are close family friends of mine, and people that Cory and I have both grown to love and hold close in our hearts. They are amazing parents to two beautiful girls, and we know they’re going to be amazing parents to our baby girl, too. This was and is the hardest decision that Cory and I have ever had to make. We don’t need anyone making us feel bad for this decision, or giving us their opinion on it. Cory and I love Adrienne with
our entire hearts, and we’re doing what we think is best for her. We need all the love, support and prayers we can get.” - Lana The day we found out that we were going to be the parents to Rien was May 18, 2014. Ivan and I were having lunch with the biological parents, and Lana was 32 weeks along with a baby girl. We left that lunch with great excitement and joy. We would be parents again in just eight weeks! I received a text that night that Lana’s water was leaking, and thus she had been admitted to the hospital. While most people have to wait nine months to be parents, we only had to wait nine hours before our delivery began. The doctors were able to hold her labor off for five days before Adrienne Carlana Lopez was born at 33 weeks and 3 days gestation. She spent the next three weeks in the NICU. We were amazed at how helpful most of the hospital staff were to us. We were given a room at the Ronald McDonald house, I was given 12 weeks of leave from my job, and our friends, family, and church rallied to help us prepare to bring her home. This was our first infant adoption, and I was blown away with how much I loved this baby. I had suffered from postpartum with my two older daughters after complicated pregnancies, so to have such an instant bond was new to me. So, now we were embarking on parenting in our thirties. All the things that we had done with the big girls didn’t even apply anymore. Rien’s swing had more safety features than the big girls’ car seat, and I could not get over how much car seats had changed. The biggest thing that had changed was, by far, the information available on the Internet. All the things I had to learn the hard way the first time around were now just a keystroke away. We learned about the benefits of baby wearing, breastfeeding and the dangers of cosleeping. With adopting a premature baby, breast milk was going to be super important, and we were so blessed that
Lana felt the same. She pumped and gave us enough milk for Rien to be fed exclusively on breast milk for four months. Rien was on a three-hour feeding schedule, so Ivan and I were sharing the nighttime feedings, but Lana was pumping around the clock – every three hours. When I say that she is my hero, I truly mean it! In the beginning, Lana would come by every few days to deliver milk, and the precedent for our open adoption was established. We have been part of each other’s lives, and I have been so blessed to be able to hear my daughter talk about the day she was born. Rien will tell you, “I was in my Lana’s tummy, and I jumped out, and jumped in your arms.” Having an adoption this open, we have encountered so many people who have been rude, judgmental, and sometimes just mean. Some of the questions I have been asked are, “Aren’t you afraid she will take her back?” Let me start by saying this is an adoption, not a kidnapping. Rien is so loved and will know how loved she was by her biological parents. “Were her parents on drugs?” No! “Were her parents teenagers?” No. A lot of people don’t seem to understand that two hardworking people who had attended college would choose adoption, but I want people to know how hard this choice was, and how this loss for them has been a blessing for us. With our adoption, Rein has been able to be a flower girl at Lana’s wedding, and whenever I have had questions about health history I have had someone to ask. Sometimes the fear of judgment mixed with ignorance about adoption occasionally forces people to parent when they are not ready, rather than place a child in a home with loving parents. If there is anything I can offer with our story, it is that everyone can love a child. There is enough child to go around for any love you have to offer.
One of the best things about being a mom is sitting next to my children, reading with them, and having that moment of rest to soak it all in. The days can be long, but, as we all know, the years are short. Reading is one of the best, most encouraging, educational, and loving things you can do for your children. Being intentional about opening a book every day – even if just for a few pages – is a great habit to pick up, starting right now. Over the past 10 years of raising my three little kids, I have found these seven tips to be the fuel behind our reading time as a family.
1. by: Meagan Ruffing
Grab books celebrating the month you’re in. November is a great time to gather all your books about Thanksgiving, volunteering, family time, and even turkeys! It’s fun for kids to go on a ‘hunt’ for books with a specific theme in mind. Don’t have any? No worries. This is a perfect reason to head to your local library. There is no better place to take your kids than the library. It’s like a neverending free-for-all for a child’s imagination.
2. Let your kids pick out books they want to read. If your son likes Pokémon, let him get a Pokémon book. He will be more likely to read the book he’s interested in rather than one you insist he read. If it’s something he needs to read for school, maybe compromise. Tell him he can read 10 minutes of his Pokémon book, and then 10 minutes of his school book. You may just end up learning a thing or two about what he likes, while enjoying the fact that your son is becoming an avid reader.
3.
Carve time out in your day to sit down as a family. This might not be realistic every day, but aim for a few times a week to sit down together where you’re all reading your own books, or you’re reading one book together. Depending on your kids’ ages, you can pick a book that is suitable for everyone, and that holds the attention of those young and old. A book like Madeline is great for kids of all ages. It’s not too long or too short, and there are even a few French words in there that you can talk about together.
4.
Have a “Read-Off ” this month! There’s no better time to start a fun game of who can read the most than during National Literacy Month. Make sure you keep it friendly, and be mindful of your younger kids who might not be able to read as much or as fast as your older kids. Have each kid write down how many minutes they’ve read each night, and tally up the totals at the end of the week. Whoever read the most amount of time receives a prize (think Dollar Store item). To keep things 16 November 2018
motivating and in good spirits, have little prizes for runners-up, and be sure to praise each kid for a job well done. Make your Read-Off a monthly or annual thing.
5.
Head to a resale store and let your kids pick out an armful of books for $1 a piece. Your kids will think it’s the best day ever when you tell them there’s no limit to the number of books they can get. Resale stores usually have them for a dollar or less, which makes it a great time to stock up! You can also save even more money if you bring books from home that you’re not reading anymore and sell them at the resale store while you’re there. It’s a win-win.
6.
Pick a special spot at home or in your backyard. One of the great things about reading is that it can pretty much be done anywhere. Kids love to make a big deal out of the most ordinary things, and reading is no different. If it’s nice outside, grab a blanket, a few stuffed animals, and a couple of great books. Make it a pseudo-picnic
with little snacks and lots of reading together. Take turns reading aloud to shake things up a bit.
7.
Books are the gateway to information and education, so if your family is a little different, find a book that talks about it. Our family is affected by ADHD, so I like to find books about quirky kids being different to help my children understand that not everyone is alike. It’s a great pathway into a hard topic, and it creates a safe place for my kids to ask important questions. The same can be said if your family is fostering or adopting. November is National Adoption Awareness Month, so reading books about this can help spread awareness and allow all of your kids to find their own special niche in the family. Reading really is one of the best things you can do together. Use this month as a time to continue reading, or reintroduce reading in your family. So many wonderful memories of funny words, mispronounced verbs, and voice inflections will have you craving more time together as a family.
Meagan Ruffing is a parenting journalist and avid reader with her three kids. You can check out more of her tips on all things kids at www.meaganruffing.com.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
• School Assemblies & Workshops • Special Events & Camps • Corporate/Non-Profit Presentations • Awesome Party Concept
EDUCATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL AGES! www.super-sci.com • 479-444-0303
don’t let the flu don’t let the flu catch you! catch you!
Keep your children healthy this flu season.
Keep your children healthy this flu season. Call to schedule your child’s flu vaccine.
Call to schedule your child’s flu vaccine. Appointments available in Fayetteville or Pinnacle Appointments available in Fayetteville or Pinnacle Hills! Hills!
(479)442-7322 442-7322| nwapediatrics.com | nwapediatrics.com (479) Acute CareCare & Walk-In ClinicClinic Wellness Clinic Clinic Pinnacle Pinnacle Hills ClinicHills Clinic Acute & Walk-In Wellness 3380 N. Futrall Dr. 3383 N. MANA Ct., Suite 101 3730 S. Pinnacle Pkwy, Suite 3380 N. Futrall Dr. 3383 N. MANA Ct., Suite 101 3730 S.Hills Pinnacle Hills 3Pkwy, Fayetteville | 479.442.7322 Fayetteville | 479.443.3471 Rogers | 479.464.5597 Fayetteville | 479.442.7322 Fayetteville | 479.443.3471 Rogers | 479.464.5597
The flu is more dangerous than the common cold. The flu is many more children dangerous the seasonal commoninfluenza. cold. Each year, get than sick with
Each year, many children get sick with seasonal influenza.
Children are more likely to need medical when Children are care more likely to they have influenza. need medical care when
they have influenza. 18 November 2018
Severe influenza complications are mostSevere common in children younger influenza complications are thanmost two years old. common in children younger
than two years old.
Suite 3
Harmony Youth Dance Center Classes offered in Mommy and Me (ages 1-2), Dance Discovery (ages 2-3), Pre-Dance (ages 4-5), and Tumble Tots (ages 3-5).
Music and Song Jubilee Music NWA www.jubileemusicnwa.com
Programs especially designed for bonding.
Make new mom and tot friends at local spots catered to your little ones.
Art
Imagine Studios
Paint and Play www.imaginestudiosnwa.com For the littlest artists and their grown-ups. Kiddos ages 2-5 will participate in storytime, and then paint a canvas or ceramic piece based on the story of the day.
Dance and Jump HighRise
Kid Jump www.highrise.us If your kids (6 and under) are ready to dominate HighRise without bigger kids around, check out KidJump. 9-10am is exclusively for parents and children!
Altitude Trampoline Park Toddler Time jumpaltitude.com M-F 10am-1pm
Kaleidoscope
Mommy and Me Classes www.dancewithkda.com Dance classes for your tiny dancer. KDA offers Mommy and Me classes for dancers ages 10 months to 2 years! Monday 10-10:30am, Tuesday 10:30-11am, Friday 5:306pm.
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Music Together® is a research-based, developmentallyappropriate curriculum for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers designed to help you and your child engage in music-making in a musically rich, mixed-age, play-based learning environment. Kindermusik with Ms. Pam www.kindermusik.com Kindermusik is the world’s leading provider of music-based education for children from birth through age 7. We use the power and joy of music-making to help children learn and grow during the years most critical to brain development. Tunes 4 Tots t4t.musicclass@yahoo.com Tunes 4 Tots is a fun parent-child music class that focuses on harvesting a love of music while fostering a familial bond. Kids love learning with music!
Zumbini
www.facebook.com/zumbiniwithtara Rock and Roar together with ZUMBINI, music and movement class with musical instruments that children ages 0 to 4 years attend with their parent or caregiver(s).
Play and Learn Amazeum
Baby Buds www.amazeum.org Playtime with baby creates brighter futures and stronger bonds. Infants 6 to 17 months old and their favorite adult will play together in activities that encourage physical growth, social-emotional development, and emerging language skills.
4CB Babies
www.crystalbridges.org Oh, baby! Join us for this special program for the museum’s youngest visitors: infants ages 3 to 24 months and a caregiver. Spend time in the galleries looking at and talking to your baby about art before enjoying sensory playtime.
We’ll visit new artwork and make new discoveries together each month! This is a time to bond with your baby, so please make other arrangements for any siblings. $10 ($8 for members), register online or with Guest Services. PlayStrong Pediatric Therapy www.playstrongtherapy.com Baby and Me: Baby and Me classes are for babies 4 months - 12 months. It is a great educational tool for moms and dads that teaches infant massage, positioning, and developmental facilitation of gross and fine motor skills. Mommy and Me: Mommy and Me classes are for new walkers through 2-year-olds. Classes provide peer interaction, interactive music and reciprocal play, jumping, climbing, balance activities, and pregymnastic skill training.
Story Time
Bentonville Public Library: bentonvillelibrary.org Fayetteville Public Library: faylib.org Springdale Public Library: springdalelibrary.org Rogers Public Library: rogerspubliclibrary.org Siloam Springs Library: siloamsprings.com
Swim Time
Bentonville Community Center Preschool Playtime (Leisure Pool) www.bentonvillear.com Special swim time in the zero depth entry pool. During this time, the large water features will be turned off so that the little ones can enjoy the water! Monday/Wednesday/Friday 10:00am-12:00pm Jones Center Water Babies www.thejonescenter.net Water Babies is a 30-minute parent-child class for children ages 6 months through 2 years old. Joys of Swimming Swimming Lessons Mom and Tot thejoysofswimming.com Stroller Strides® bentonvillerogers.fit4mom.com Stroller Strides is a total fitness program that moms can do with their babies. It includes power walking
and intervals of strength and body toning exercises using exercise tubing, the stroller and the environment. Taught by certified and specially trained fitness instructors, it is a great workout for any level of exerciser. Stroller Strides instructors weave songs and activities into the routine designed to entertain and engage baby, while moms are led through a series of exercises specific to her role as mom. Hopes and Dreams Gymnastics www.hopesdreamsgym.com Parent and Me Camp Children ages 18 months to 3 years old participate in our motor development gymnastics program, “Parent & Me Classes.” With small ratios and equipment sized specifically for them, these classes offer a safe, fun environment just for them, while still focusing on basic strength and skill movements. The Little Gym www.thelittlegym.com/rogersar Ages 4 months to 3 years. It’s never too early for your little one to start learning and have some serious fun. Parent and child classes promote early development and provide a strong foundation for your child’s critical first three years.
by: Jennifer Yeager Manager - Bentonville Rogers FIT4MOM When I had my first baby, I remembering sitting on the side of my bed in tears, looking at my crying firstborn and telling my husband I couldn’t believe anyone would have more than one child. I was a stay-at-home, first-time mom and was overwhelmed with emotions I didn’t know existed. I remember thinking how it was my sole responsibility to keep this child alive, and I felt so unprepared. I felt alone and isolated. We had friends, but none that we were close with. We had a church family, but we were in a different stage of life than most of them. Not having that community was hard! After I was released by my doctor, I joined a new gym and got addicted to exercise. My husband had a job change, so I started going to the Walton Life Fitness Center. There, I made friends, some in the same stage of life, some with older kids, but we still connected. It was hard and awkward at first, because I’m an introverted only child with anxiety, but meeting those women helped. A few years later, one of the instructors, who was also a close friend, started at Barre Class at WLFC and I fell in love with it. She helped me get certified to teach, and, in October 2015, I started teaching Barre. Early the next year, we found out we were expecting our second child, and I continued teaching and started substituting classes at Bentonville Community Center. I taught fitness classes for nearly my entire pregnancy, but, more importantly, I continued meeting and connecting with people. This past summer, I got a call from a friend 22 November 2018
asking me if I would be interested in helping with their new FIT4MOM program. I had been to a lecture with FIT4MOM at a fitness conference the previous year, so I was excited to get this call! Within the next few days, I met with the owners at the local franchise and they offered me the Franchise Manager position for FIT4MOM Bentonville-Rogers. I feel like I’ve found exactly what was missing in my life. At FIT4MOM, we have programs and support for every stage of motherhood. Right now, we are offering Stroller Strides, an hour-long workout where moms bring their kids in strollers and workouts are designed to include the kids, by singing and interacting with them. We also have a program called Body Back Transformations, since we hear so many of our mamas say they want to get their body back! This is an 8-week course that packages together live workouts at some of our beautiful parks with recipes and eating plans, plus the accountability and community of these 8 intensive weeks together. On November 1, we will begin FIT4BABY, which I will be leading. This course focuses on the expecting mother by preparing her for delivery and keeping her moving safely throughout her pregnancy. I’m so excited to be teaching this class, and I’m looking forward to all the new mamas that I’ll be meeting. We will also be developing Our Village, a community of women in all stages of motherhood, and will have Mom’s Night Out, movie nights, and other events. We believe in Strength in Motherhood, and
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building a village as women of NWA raise their children. We are committed to supporting mothers, at any stage. I hope NWA mamas take advantage of having the FIT4MOM community here in our area, so they don’t have the same experience I did as a new mother. I also hope that other local mamas join us to build relationships with others.
We would love for you to join Our Village. bentonvillerogers.fit4mom.com
FIT4MOM FIT4MOM
DEDICATED TO THE STRENGTH IN MOTHERHOOD
FIT4MOM
DEDICATED TO THE STRENGTH IN MOTHERHOOD
DEDICATED TO THE STRENGTH IN MOTHERHOOD TRY YOUR FIRST CLASS FREE! TRY YOUR
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by: Sara Baker, MS, CSCS blog.Fit4Mom.com Breastfeeding can be an amazing, challenging, beautiful and messy (literally) STROLLER STRIDES | FIT4BABY | BODY BACK time for a mama. If you are able, and are Classes begin September 1st, 2018! choosing to breastfeed your babe, we know STROLLER STRIDES | FIT4BABY | BODY STROLLER bentonvillerogers.fit4mom.com STRIDES | FIT4BABY | BODY BACK that there are many misconceptions about Classes begin September 1st, 2018! breastfeeding and exercise out there. You SEPTEMBER 8TH 2018! may want a little more information on that... CLASSES BEGINbentonvillerogers.fit4mom.com FIT4MOM Bentonville/Rogers STROLLER STRIDES | FIT4BABY | BODY BACK and we’ve got you, mama. GOTHAM BOOK GOTHAM BLACK
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When a breastfeeding mom is returning to exercise, the following tips may help: To avoid volume depletion, Mom must drink plenty of water throughout the day. Of course, this is important even when she is not exercising, but even more so as she starts to workout again. Quantity recommendations vary. Extremely intense anaerobic exercise (e.g. HIIT workouts or other type of interval workouts) can alter the taste of breast milk. The sour taste is due to the lactic acid build-up. She may find her baby does not like to nurse after a high-intensity workout. Consider nursing or pumping prior to the workout (which can also aid in Mom’s comfort while exercising), or change the time of workout based on baby’s feeding schedule. Maternal odor or sweat may make baby not interested in nursing. Find a good, supportive bra. It is likely Mom’s breasts will still be a (much) larger size than normal. Therefore, it’s important to ensure Mom is supported and comfortable while working out. Take this as a time to invest in a few quality sport bras, even if it’s just for a few months - it’s worth it!
CLASSES BEGIN SEPTEMBER 8TH 2018! bentonvillerogers.fit4mom.com bentonvillerogers.fit4mom.com bentonvillerogers.fit4mom.com | #THEMOTHERHOODISREAL
Guitar / Bass / Ukulele Instructor
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Meet Ava:
I am Ava.
I am 12 years old.
I am a straight-A student and a member of my school’s Quiz Bowl team. I am an athlete; I play on competitive softball and basketball teams, and on my school’s basketball and volleyball teams.
I also have Type 1 Diabetes. Before I was diagnosed, I knew about Type 1 Diabetes because my friend and teammate Ryann has Type 1 Diabetes. I knew that she had to give herself shots, but I really didn’t know or understand anything about it. In the spring of 2017, I started to feel bad. I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know what. I remember waking up in the middle of the night and running downstairs for water because my throat was so dry that I couldn’t breathe. At softball practice, I would be exhausted after doing just one stretch. My teacher was letting me nap in an empty classroom because I was getting terrible headaches, and sometimes my headaches were so bad that I would throw up. My parents also noticed that I had lost weight. On May 12, my parents took me to the pediatrician’s office. My pediatrician was out of the office that day, so my appointment was with the nurse practitioner. My mom described my symptoms 26 November 2018
– weight loss, thirst, headaches, vomiting. The nurse told my parents I was perfectly healthy. She said that even though these sounded like classic diabetes symptoms, kids with diabetes were really sick when they went to the doctor. I wasn’t sick, but just to be sure, they did blood work. After we went for blood work, we went back to the pediatrician’s office to wait for results. When the nurse practitioner came back into the room, my pediatrician was with her. My pediatrician asked me some questions that I don’t remember, and then he felt my belly. He said a lot of things that I didn’t understand. My mom started crying, so I started crying, but I didn’t know why. My mom told me I was going to be fine, but I had Type 1 Diabetes just like Ryann. I still didn’t really understand. The next thing I knew, I was checking into the hospital. The nurse led me into a room, told me to change into a hospital gown, and stuck an IV in my hand. Then, she gave me a shot in my belly just like I had seen Ryann take. I was in a hospital bed for almost ten hours before the doctor came to see me. First, he told me to take off the stupid hospital gown because it made me look sick, and I wasn’t sick. Then he explained what was wrong. He said that I didn’t do anything to cause
Type 1 Diabetes. He told me that T1D is an auto immune disorder, where, basically, the Beta cells in my pancreas died, which means that my body can’t produce insulin. Insulin is just like oxygen – everyone needs it to stay alive. Since I can no longer make insulin, I now have to take shots every morning and every time I eat. My parents and I got a crash course in checking my blood sugar, counting carbohydrates, and giving insulin. When the doctor asked if I had any questions, my only question was, “Can I go to my softball tournament tomorrow?” He told me that I could go do anything I wanted. So, we left the hospital with this new diagnosis, some insulin, and a bunch of other medical supplies, and we went to Branson, MO so that I could play softball.
it stays in a safe range. In the past year and a half, I have learned that diabetes is manageable, but there are still things about it that I can’t control, and sometimes that is very frustrating to me. I have learned that the finger sticks, insulin shots, and juice boxes at 2 a.m. can’t stop me from doing all my activities. This past summer, my softball team traveled to Fort Walton Beach, FL, where we won a National Championship tournament, and I was awarded Most Valuable Pitcher for that tournament. My basketball team went to OKC to play in a MAYB National Championship tournament, and went 6-1 in our division. I made my school’s volleyball team, even though I had never played before. I made a promise to myself that I won’t ever let T1D stop me.
The next few weeks were hard. I felt like I had to change my whole routine and my whole life. To manage my blood sugar, I averaged 15-20 finger sticks every day. Now, I wear a continuous glucose monitor that helps me to know what my blood sugar is constantly throughout the day. My continuous glucose monitor is so important – especially when I am playing sports. Usually one of my parents (or sometimes a coach) is able to keep an eye on my blood sugar while I am playing to make sure that
Here are some things I would like you to know!
Type 1 Diabetes vs Type 2 Diabetes Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks the insulin-making Beta cells in the pancreas, and the
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pancreas is no longer able to make insulin. People with Type 1 Diabetes must inject themselves with insulin to live. Type 2 Diabetes is a metabolic disorder where the body cannot properly use insulin. Type 2 Diabetes is usually, but not always, caused by lifestyle choices. People with Type 2 Diabetes can typically control diabetes with diet and exercise.
Diabetes is not contagious. Diabetes is definitely not contagious, so please stop asking. Diabetes is expensive.
Diabetes has become a hateful word. People think it’s funny to make jokes about diabetes, but it’s not funny. When I tell people I have diabetes, they look at me oddly and assume that I ate too much sugar. I didn’t do anything to cause this, so I shouldn’t be made to feel embarrassed about having it.
Sir Frederick Banting discovered insulin in 1921. He and his team sold the patent for $1 so that people could have access to it. Since then, insulin has become a billion-dollar industry. In 2018, the cost of insulin has become so high that people with T1D are having to choose between paying for insulin or paying for rent. People are dying because they can’t afford to pay for insulin. Even with good insurance, my parents pay $125 for just one of the two kinds of insulin I need. Our technology is amazing, but, sadly, it’s not affordable for so many people.
There is no cure.
I remember when everyone at school found out, they all said, “Feel better” or “I hope you get better.” I hated this, because I physically couldn’t “get better.” There isn’t a cure, and, until there is, I will live with this every day. There has been a lot of advancements in technology, like my continuous glucose monitor, and soon there will be an artificial pancreas to make living with T1D easier. I pray that someday there is a cure!
Diabetes is unpredictable.
I do a really good job of managing my blood sugar, but sometimes it is out of my control. So many things other than food affect my blood sugar. Adrenaline, stress, sunburn, exercise, the time of day, hormones and illness are just a few of the things that affect my blood sugar.
Yes, I can eat that!
Of course, everyone should eat healthily! But, even with diabetes, I can eat whatever I want. Insulin doses are calculated by carbohydrates, so I give myself the exact same amount of insulin for 15 carbs of brownies or 15 carbs of apple.
Needles aren’t that bad.
Every time I give myself a shot in front of people, I hear “I hate needles, I could never do that.” If I don’t give myself shots, I will DIE. Honestly, the needles hurt. Sometimes they make me cry. But I don’t have a choice.
Low blood sugar is scary!
When I’m low, my body is so weak I can barely keep my head up. I feel like I could pass out any minute. My whole body gets shaky and I lose focus. All my senses get distorted, my vision goes blurry and my hearing gets muted. This is obviously not the case for me, but often adults with T1D are mistakenly accused of being intoxicated or on drugs when they have low blood sugar. 28 November 2018
Warning Signs of T1D
+ Excessive thirst + Frequent urination + Bedwetting or heavy diapers + Rapid Weight Loss + Increased appetite + Irritability + mood changes + Stomach pain, nausea + vomiting + Rapid, heavy breathing + Fatigue + weakness + Fruity breath
Absolute Pediatric Therapy recently celebrated our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY.
One year ago, Absolute Pediatric Therapy set out on a mission to prove that quality, ethical and accessible therapeutic treatment was possible. Over the past year, APT has established Speech, Occupational, Physical Therapy, Early Interventions, Mental Health Counseling, Play Therapy, and full Psychological Testing, and Evaluation services. In one year, we have offered services to over 600 families and over 1,000 hours of therapeutic services to children... our APT superheroes each week. By definition, superheroes are larger than life, courageous, powerful, and seemingly able to overcome any obstacle with great physical prowess while doing great deeds at the same time! And that is exactly how we see each child at APT. In the past year, we have watched children, such as Leighton Harper make amazing progress while receiving services from APT. As an infant, Leighton underwent a heart transplant. He was deemed as "failure to thrive." Leighton was said to be incapable of "intelligible or meaningful speech." Unwilling to compromise quality care, Leighton's mom, Laine Virtue Harper, and family have been seeking quality services for Leighton for several years. Leighton's family went through at least FOUR other providers before finding Absolute. In his short 9 years of life, he has proven to be a fighter. Against all odds, and the nay-sayers who doubted his ability to succeed, Leighton continues to make amazing progress. Recently, Leighton began to say the words "more spin" -- absolutely amazing! Leighton is a true Superhero!
If you would like more information about Absolute Pediatric Therapy Contact LaDonna Humphrey at 479-250-4355 or at ladonna@absolutepediatrics.com
Absolute Pediatric Therapy | 2713 SE I Street #5 | Bentonville, Arkansas | (479) 250-4355
www.absolutepediatrics.com
by: Justin Heimer That is the question I get several times each week. People call and say they want to adopt a child, but don’t know where to begin or even how it works. Ever wonder the same thing? Usually, it will start with an inquiry through my website (www.myadoptionarkansas.com) where people tell me they think they are ready to begin, but have become confused by the research they have done. There are so many acronyms and nuances in adoption that many people who look into it quickly become overwhelmed. 30 November 2018
I always discuss adoption through the “five roads” analogy. You see, outside of step-parent adoption, there are really five main differentiated paths, or roads, that families can walk down that could lead them to adoption. One thing to consider is that once you start on a particular road, it won’t intersect with the others again. For example, if you decide to adopt through an agency, you won’t also hear about available children in the foster system. So, it’s important that you choose the road that is right for you.
THE 5 ROADS. 1. Foster to Adopt. If you are considering parents need through the process. I regularly adopting and are open to an older child, I strongly recommend the foster-to-adopt program. This road meets two specific interests a lot of people have for adoption well. First, it allows them to “help” a child in need. You see, there is a misunderstanding that I hear from people who say, “I want to adopt because I know there are so many babies that need a home.” That’s not really true. Honestly, I have almost no trouble finding a home for any baby. However, as the child gets older, it is much harder to find them a home. Adopting through foster care really does allow you to help a child that might not otherwise get a forever family. Secondly, it is free. Many people are shocked at the costs of some roads to adoption. Foster-to-adopt is the cheapest way to adopt, and can have the greatest impact. The biggest downside is that it can be difficult to adopt an infant through the foster care system. If you are open to adopting through the foster care system, check out The Call at www.thecallinarkansas/nwa/ or Project Zero at www.theprojectzero.com.
2. International Adoption. I have several
friends who have adopted internationally. In my experience, you have to have a unique desire to adopt internationally for this road to make sense for you. In international adoption, it is, again, hard to adopt an infant and it can be very expensive. The cost depends upon the location chosen and their requirements for in-country time. Those travel expenses can make international adoptions cost up into the tens of thousands of dollars. The upside to international adoption is that you may be truly saving the child’s life. Even kids here in Arkansas that have poor foster parents (thankfully, there are very few that do) will have basic needs met. However, there are still places in the world where a child who isn’t adopted will quite possibly die.
3. Adoption Agency. This and the next two roads
to adoption are the most common for our office to handle. These roads allow families to adopt infants born here in Arkansas. The costs vary between the options. With adoption agencies, you work with an agency who helps walk you through the process, with specialists there to answer your questions, and social workers who care for the birth parents well. Agencies can be a great road to adoption. The fees vary greatly, however; most of the ones I work with charge between $15-35,000, depending on the amount of care and resources the birth
recommend adoption agencies to families wanting to adopt. I think agencies are the best way to make sure everybody’s needs are met. The best agencies will take care of the birth mother while walking confidently with the adopting parents. We do legal work for some of the biggest agencies here in Arkansas, so I get a special vantage point to see how great they are, and how lucky we are to have them.
4. Doctor/Attorney Placements. Arkansas law
says that a baby may be placed by a doctor or an attorney. I, along with a few other attorneys here in Arkansas, will help match babies to adoptive parents. We all offer a different set of pros and cons. Generally, you won’t get the same level of attention that you would from an agency, but sometimes that can mean lower costs. Most of my adoptions cost less than $13,000, and our goal is to get almost all of our adoptions fully reimbursed by the federal adoption tax credit. The downside to working with an attorney is that the process may be slower. Few of us spend the advertising bucks that agencies do to help find birth moms.
5. Birth mother placement.
This is when you find out your neighbor’s sister’s friend’s cousin is pregnant, and doesn’t yet have a plan. I always tell families about this road. There is so much opportunity here if you cast a wide net. I recommend to couples who want to adopt that they should tell their plan to everybody they know. Who knows where the connection might come from? A woman who hasn’t chosen a family to place with will often times see you as a solution to their problem. This means that you aren’t competing with other families to get chosen, and the birth mom can still get great care if you bring an attorney with a social worker into the process as soon as possible. The other great thing about this is that the cost to do the adoption is far less if you don’t require being matched to the child. This means that your entire adoption could cost only a few thousand dollars. Of course, the downside to this is that it isn’t easy to find a baby, and it can be hard to be vulnerable enough to let everyone you know about on your desire to adopt. These roads can be long, and bumpy, and expensive… but they are your options. If you want to adopt, choose the road best for you and start walking. Your child may be waiting at the other end. peekaboonwa.com
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l u f i t u a e B r u O Journey
B Y: M E L I S S A COLEMAN
K
arl and I began dating in September of 2009, and were married a short 10 months later. We always knew we wanted children, but we waited a while before we started the process of growing our family. Adoption was never on our radar, honestly, until one day, we suddenly felt strongly that we should adopt. Initially, we thought that when it was time to start growing our family, we should have a biological child first, since we were already in our thirties. After that, we would adopt. After about a year and a half of not getting pregnant, however, we realized we were trying to put our plans in place, instead of letting God have control. He had told us to adopt. He did not tell us to adopt AFTER we had had a biological child. That was our plan, not His. So, we decided to start the adoption process and let the Lord write the story of our family in his perfect way. Whether we got pregnant first, or adopted first, wasn’t up to us anymore. We finally put it in His hands. We got approved by a wonderful adoption agency and got matched up with an expectant mother who wanted to place her child up for adoption. In June of 2014, our beautiful baby boy was born. We were in the hospital room when he was born. Karl cut the umbilical cord, and we took him home to start our lives together. Five days later, the last day that his biological mom legally had to change her mind about the adoption, we got a devastating phone call. It was our adoption agency. They told us that she had, in fact, changed her mind. They 32 November 2018
came and picked up our son, and took him back to her. It was absolutely heartbreaking. Our hearts were crushed. However, despite the sadness, through it all we had a peace that surpassed all understanding. We took a break from the adoption process to grieve and process through our loss, and, in September of 2014, we started the process again. In December of 2014, we again got matched with a an expectant mother who wanted to place her child for adoption. She was due with a baby girl in February. We met her, got updates from her about her doctors’ appointments, and anxiously (and cautiously) awaited the arrival of our daughter. On February 13, 2015, our beautiful daughter Kora was born. Those first few days at home with her were wonderful, but we were also anxiously awaiting the time when she would legally be our child. She became the joy of our life and we were head over heels in love with her. We didn’t take steps to prevent pregnancy throughout the whole process, so, we were ecstatic to find out when Kora was three months old that we were pregnant! It was such an incredible blessing! Our beautiful son Stockton was born in January of 2016, 11 months after his sister. It hasn’t been easy parenting two young children so close in age in our late thirties, but it has been so worth it! They are the joy of our life together. When parenting gets hard, we remember the months and years we longed for these precious kids. Once we took our plan off the table and submitted to God’s will, He wrote the story of our family more beautifully than we ever could have written it.
34 November 2018
500 SE Plaza Avenue Bentonville, Arkansas
November Dia de los Muertos
November 2 | 5-8pm Arts Center of the Ozarks, Springdale Gathering will take place at 5pm at Shiloh Square on Emma Ave. The procession from Shiloh Square to ACO will begin at 6pm. The procession will end at Arts Center of the Ozarks, where food trucks will be parked and Pan de Muertos will be served. Grab a snack and stick around for the free Ballet Folklorico performance. 7pm: 90-minute performance with Pan de Muertos. Experience spectacular Mexican and Latin American performance traditions from Latin Art Organization of Arkansas featuring Ballet Folklorico Catrinas and more. www.acozarks.org/celebracion-deldia-de-los-muertos/.
Bentonville Día de los Muertos Festival
November 2 at 7pm to Nov 3 at 5pm The Peel Mansion Museum, Bentonville Dia de Los Muertos is an important festival in Mexico and Latin America. It incorporates rich heritage, history, cuisine, music and a cultural tradition of honoring those who have passed away. During this celebration, a special altar is constructed and guests are invited to leave a memento remembering a loved one at the community altar. This family-friendly event will explore Dia de Los Muertos through art, dance, music, and food. Local artists are invited to participate in a special art exhibition. Guests are invited to leave a memento remembering a loved one at the community altar.
Library Story Times: Bentonville Public Library: bentonvillelibrary.org Fayetteville Public Library: faylib.org Springdale Public Library: springdalelibrary.org Rogers Public Library: rogerspubliclibrary.org Siloam Springs Library: siloamsprings.com 36 November 2018
First Friday // Toyland
November 2 | 11am – 8pm Downtown Bentonville The biggest toy event you may ever see. Walmart fills the Bentonville Square with vendors who give out toys all day. Kids and parents can go crazy together and have a blast.
Fall Forest Fun: Nature Night November 7 | 5:30-7:30pm Crystal Bridges, Bentonville Fall Forest Fun » Nature Night: Owl Prowl Give a whoot-whoot during this owl prowl. Learn an owl call and see if a feather friend answers you back! Free.
Peter Pan
November 9 and 10 Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville Peter Pan, who comes to hear the stories Mrs. Darling tells each night, has lost his shadow. After Wendy Darling re-attaches Peter’s shadow in exchange for a kiss, Peter becomes entranced by Wendy, and convinces her and her three brothers to return with him to Neverland - a magical world of pirates, fairies and a gang of boys destined to stay young forever. Join Walton Arts Center’s artistic affiliate Trike Theatre on a fantastic flight of adventure in this retelling of the classic tale of growing up!
Mother Nature Storytime
November 10 | 10:30-11:30am Hobbs State Park Mother Nature herself has become a permanent fixture at Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area. Every 2nd Saturday at 10:30am she visits the park to excite the imaginations of all the children around her. Theme: Stories the Osage Nation Tells. Meet Mother Nature in the lobby of the Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area visitor center located on Hwy 12.
Lights of the Ozarks Lighting Night Parade
November 16 | 6pm Downtown Fayetteville - Square Enjoy the amazing winter wonderland of lights on the Downtown Square. The lights illuminate the square each evening from 5pm to 1am. Nightly pony rides, fresh hot chocolate and festive holiday music.
NWA Boutique Show
November 16-17 Northwest Arkansas Convention Center Springdale www.nwaboutiqueshow.com Shop at over 150 boutiques, ALL under one roof, with gifts, home decor, clothing, gourmet food, children’s items, furniture and SO much more! It’s the holiday shopping event of the season!
Make a Holiday Ornament
November 17 | 10-11am Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, Springdale Kids of all ages are invited to make and take a holiday ornament. The program is part of the museum’s Shiloh Saturday series for families. shilohmuseum.org
Teddy Bear Tea
November 24 | 3-5pm Inn at Carnall Hall, Fayetteville Join us for a fun and festive event to kick off the holiday season and start a new tradition for parents, grandparents and children in Northwest Arkansas! The event will feature cookies, a hot chocolate bar, a Letters to Santa station and even an appearance by the man of the season himself, Santa Claus, complete with a professional photo to capture the memory! https://jdrf-arkansas.ejoinme. org/2019JDRFRunfortheRosesHopeGala
FOR CLASS DETAILS CONTACT YOUR LICENSED ZUMBINI INSTRUCTOR:
TARA MATTINGLY • 479-616-3923 www.zumbini.com Fall 6 week session - FREE preview Class Tues October 30th @ 9:00
Tues @ 9:00 • Wednesday @ 10:00 • Thursday @ 9:00 Be prepared to DANCE, SING, CLICK SOME STICKS, HOP LIKE A KANGAROO and have some FUN with your little one.
Christmas Parade of the Ozarks November 24 | 6-8pm E. Emma Avenue, Springdale Meet us on Emma Ave to get in the Christmas spirit with music, lights, rodeo queens, and “Merry Christmas” wishes. Begins at 6:00pm at the rodeo grounds and continues through Downtown Springdale. Happy Holidays!
Fireside Photos with Santa
November 24 | 3-6pm E. Emma Avenue, Springdale Photos with Santa in the rustic cabin at the Shiloh Museum of the Ozarks. Avoid the lines and make advance reservations at www.downtownspringdale.org
Modern Christmas Carol
November 30| 6-9pm The Peel Mansion Museum, Bentonville We’ve transformed the mansion into an interactive representation of A Christmas Carol. Come experience Christmas past, present and future, portrayed through period-themed rooms, food and drink pairings, and live music. Get your picture taken with Santa while tasting delicious sweets provided by General Mills and Rick’s Bakery in our dessert tent.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
November 30 | 7-9pm Arts Center of the Ozarks, Springdale The classic animated television special comes to life in this musical stage adaptation in which Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts Gang discover the true meaning of Christmas. www.acozarks.org/a-charlie-brown-christmas
Designed to let you and your little ones 0 to 4 years old wiggle, sing and learn together, the ZumbiniTM program is where the science of child development meets the magic of Zumba.
Look and Feel
YOUR BEST
At Women’s Health Associates, we want you to feel confident about every aspect of your life, including how you look. That’s why we offer a number of aesthetic services designed to help you be your best self at every stage of your life.
FACIALS Designed to help you put your best face forward, let us help you discover a more beautiful and youthful-looking you. All facials include an in-depth skin analysis, cleansing and exfoliation of the neck, face, and décolleté. Also Offering: Dermaplaning | Microneedling | Chemical Peels | Microdermabrasion
INJECTABLES AND DERMAL FILLERS As we age, our faces naturally lose subcutaneous fat and the “plump” look of our youth. Injectables and dermal fillers can be used to help diminish facial lines and restore volume and fullness in the face. Plump thin lips, enhance shallow contours, soften facial creases and wrinkles, and improve the appearance of recessed scars. Offering: BOTOX® Cosmetic | JUVEDERM®
INTIMATE WELLNESS CO2RE Intima vaginal treatments help restore your vaginal health… and help you rediscover what you’ve lost. The procedure only takes a few minutes and many women report symptom relief after the very first treatment. The treatments use laser energy to stimulate healing and renewed collagen that results in increased elasticity and natural lubrication, decreased urine leakage, and more pleasurable sex.
BODY CONTOURING Love the idea of reshaping your body, but not the reality of incisions or scars? Our non-invasive procedures don’t require any incisions and deliver noticeable results. The treatments work to improve the appearance of cellulite, reduce dimpled skin, and tighten skin on the abdomen, love handles, hips, thighs and other areas that require fat reduction. BodyFX addresses problematic fatty tissue in larger body areas such as the abdomen, back (flanks), and thighs. MiniFX addresses problematic fatty tissue in smaller areas like the neck, arms, and knees. Forma tightens the skin on the face, neck and hands. Also offering: Photo facials with Lumecca | Laser Hair Removal | Waxing | Spider Vein Treatment
500 SE Plaza Avenue Bentonville, Arkansas
EAT WELL, PLAY WELL was produced and is toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. This exhibit was made possible by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) grant from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Experience Until 1.20.19
Experience Until 5.12.19 Magnificent Me! is made possible by the Arkansas Discovery Network, a unique statewide museum partnership, of which the Scott Family Amazeum is a member.
New Exhibits Open Now!
amazeum.org
1009 Museum Way | Bentonville, AR
Make Downtown Springdale part of your family's holiday traditions...
Christmas on the Creek generously presented by:
Christmas on the Creek Saturday, November 24
In Shiloh Square and along Emma Avenue Handmade Winter Market 3 - 6 p.m. Live Music, Kids' Mini-Train Rides, Face Painting 3 - 5 p.m. Lighting of the Region's Largest Live Christmas Tree 5:30 p.m. Rodeo of the Ozarks "March of the Toys" Christmas Parade 6 p.m.
Fireside Photos with Santa Saturday, November 24 and Saturday, December 1 3 - 6 p.m.
Plan to make this year's pictures with Santa Claus extra-special in the beautiful rustic log cabin at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History! Avoid the wait and make an advance reservation, as well as find additional details about all of our holiday fun at www.downtownspringdale.org.
...join us for a Christmas to remember!!
MEET THE FAMILY BEHIND
by: Frances Wilson At Mr. Sandless, a certified green floor refinishing company for Northwest Arkansas, commitment to quality and practicality go hand-in-hand. Independent owner and operator Sid Johnson, who is also a remodeling contractor, has been in the flooring business for 15 years. Because of his breadth of experience, he believes that going sandless when floors need to be refinished is better for both the environment and his clients. “Sanding floors is messy, costly, and an overall pain and disruption,” says Johnson. “Generally, sanding takes four to seven days,” he continues, “and the dust is a known carcinogen. The odors from the stain and finishes linger for weeks.” In addition, floor sanding can be a fire hazard. Via his Mr. Sandless company, he offers a solution, a process that “typically takes one day, is certified green, and has zero dust.” Their system is quite versatile, as it can be used on any stone, hardwood, laminate, antique/historic, cork and bamboo, vinyl plank, or tile flooring, and options are available for both residential and commercial locations. You can choose a matte, satin or gloss finish, and Mr. Sandless even offers wood stains if you’d like to color your floors, as well as services to hide any not-so-great stains (pet or otherwise) that your floors have endured over the years. Not only does the process take a single day, but you can actually walk on it that same day, once all the necessary steps have been completed. And it’s non-toxic and lead-safe, which is a boon for concerned parents and pet owners. In fact, the Mr. Sandless brand was accepted to refinish the benches and handrails at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia in 2007, after a strenuous series of tests by a team of health inspectors. Mr. Sandless has so much confidence in its services that it comes with a 5-year warranty, which is more than what is offered with traditional sanding.
Sid, the aforementioned owner of our local branch of Mr. Sandless, and his family originally hail from Mississippi, but chose to move to Northwest Arkansas in February of 2015 after much thorough research. Northwest Arkansas – specifically Fayetteville – seemed to have everything that Sid and his wife, Erin, wanted for their (at the time) four children. “We wanted our kids to have every opportunity in life, especially a top education. And NWA has exceeded our expectations!” says Johnson. Since moving here, and loving it, they’ve had two more children, bringing the total number of members of their family to eight. Their oldest, Tristan, is a 17-year-old senior at Fayetteville High School, while Madison, the next oldest, is a sophomore who plays softball for Fayetteville High School. Zachary is in junior high, while Noah is 8. Holden, now 2 years old, was the first child born in Arkansas, followed by Everett, the youngest, who is 2 months old. As a bustling family unit, the Johnsons love to enthusiastically explore their new home, and are always on the hunt for new restaurants to try, ‘mom and pop’ unique shops to check out, and farmers’ markets to discover. Hiking in Devil’s Den and hanging out as a group on and around the many lakes and streams of Arkansas is always a bonus. Of course, they do miss their family in Mississippi, but the family absolutely loves Northwest Arkansas and all that it offers – especially in the outdoors. Sid is an avid fisherman, after all, and Erin loves road trips with the family that she so enjoys raising – they’ve been to 39 states together thus far, visiting national parks like Devil’s Tower, Yellowstone, and the Great Tetons along the way. Erin also enjoys delicious coffee and time at the beach. When asked what specifically his family loves best about Northwest Arkansas, Sid says, “Too much to list! Everything from the beautiful outdoors and awesome climate, to the simple life contained inside the hustle and bustle of NWA.”
Open ment! l l o r En e WINTER SPRING 2019 TRIKE ACADEMY NEW LOCATION! Trike Theatre 902 SW 2nd St. Bentonville, AR 479.464.5084
LEARN MORE & ENROLL www.triketheatre.org
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by: Clinton Cousins Hello, my name is Clinton Cousins. I am 37 years old, and married to a wonderful woman. We have lived in northwest Arkansas our entire lives, and until we became foster parents, we knew almost nothing about fostering. However, now we are not just foster parents, but we also advocate for homes, as well as speak to church groups about fostering and the Call. Now, we have been foster parents for an accumulative seven years and, as near as we can remember, we have housed about 75 children. Amanda and I met in 2002 – February 24th, to be exact, and we knew pretty soon after that we were perfect for one another. By May, we were engaged, and on October of that same year we were married. We were so ready to be parents. We even went as far as to have a nursery prepared shortly after we were married. We moved a few times, and always moved our nursery into our next house. After a disappointing visit to the doctor, where we intended to discuss the possibility of getting pregnant, we decided that other measures needed to be taken for us to create our family. Adoption abroad was the first thing we looked into, but we decided there was such a need for fostering locally. In October of 2008, we became an open foster home. In fact, the very first day that we opened, we received a phone call about a 10-month-old little boy. That next week, he moved in and never left. That first placement became our first child, Zack. He is not our oldest, but we have had him the longest. During our first time as foster parents, we housed roughly 55 children in our home. Some for months, or even years, and some for simply a few hours. Sometimes kids fit in at our house, and sometimes they had a hard time. Once, after Zack had arrived, a scared 8-year-old girl 44 November 2018
and her siblings came into our home. From the moment I met this little girl, I thought she was the most gorgeous little girl in the world, and it wasn’t long before her guard came down and she fit in very well at our house. As her case hit road block after road block, we grew to love her so much that when the opportunity to adopt her came up we were so happy. After asking her if that was what she wanted (and her saying yes!) we could not wait to have her as our second forever child. Her name is Sara, and she is a junior at Huntsville. She is a homecoming maid this year, and I get the honor of escorting her on her walk. After Zack and Sara officially became Cousins children, we decided to take some time off. Our children had never been on vacation, and we had never been on vacation with them. As we were winding down our ‘open home’ status, a phone call came in asking if we would be interested in a newborn from the hospital, and, since that is basically the ‘holy grail’ of fostering, we jumped at the chance. Casen is now six, and, surprisingly, looks just like us. He was most assuredly the perfect addition to our family. We are so happy that we decided to say yes one more time. After we closed our home in 2013, we still wanted to do something. So, we tried the foreign exchange student program and met our Italian daughter! She still comes and visits us, and we love her like our own. The exchange student program just never filled the void we had in our home for foster kids, however. Then, the CALL came to Northwest Arkansas, and it was the catalyst that we needed to inspire us to return to fostering. The Call has literally changed fostering in NWA. From the training, to the sense
of community that was lacking the first time we were foster parents, we really felt the difference this time around. The community has stepped up to help with the struggles of fostering. Local groups, like 4H and (since the CALL is a Christian organization) the local churches, have come on board, and thus foster parents no longer feel like they are struggling with problems alone.
have to ask. We really are blessed to have the help that we do. When new kids come into our home, everyone in our family and church treats them as if they have always been a part of our family. I still remember the first time my parents met Zack. He was welcomed by them and accepted immediately, and every child thereafter has received the same treatment from my parents, as well as Amanda’s parents.
When we opened our home the second time, we knew what we were getting into. We did not set out to adopt children, but to foster to simply help out. We are not ruling out adopting again, but want to focus more on fostering, as we know how difficult it is. We are super excited to be back into the role of foster parents – it really is our calling.
Amanda and I both completely believe that fostering is exactly what we were meant to do. It is definitely our calling. If we are not fostering, then we feel like we are missing something. There is no other feeling in the world like the excitement of a new kid moving into our house for us to help – even our kids now get excited as new kids move in. We not only work with DHS to meet our kids’ needs, theses days – we also love the role we have found ourselves in with the CALL. The more we inform and advocate, the more people understand and the more accepting they are. We don’t just want our kids, adopted and foster, to survive. We want them to strive to be more than the statistics expect them to.
Right now, in our home, we have three adopted kids ages 16, 10, and 6, and four foster children ages 13, 6, 20 months and 4 months. With seven kids, we have a kid that attends each school in the Huntsville School District, from special needs preschool to high school. My wife, Amanda, has made fostering a full-time job, as there is an appointment or visit or a court hearing every day for at least one of our kids.
Raising seven children, all from different backgrounds, has some pretty crazy struggles and more than a few stressful moments, but we do love our job.
Our support system is our family, our church, and our friends, and they have all stepped up to the task. When some help is needed, we just
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Northwest Health earns accreditation for Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Medical Center-Springdale, working in conjunction with Roller Weight Loss and Advanced Surgery, has earned accreditation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) as a comprehensive center with adolescent qualifications. It is the only program in Arkansas to have earned the adolescent accreditation. The bariatric surgical program was already accredited as a comprehensive center through MBSAQIP®, a joint program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). This achievement assures patients who are seeking surgical treatment for severe obesity and its related conditions that they have a high-quality choice for receiving treatment at a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality of care. The MBSAQIP standards ensure that bariatric surgical patients receive a multidisciplinary program, not just a surgical procedure, which
improves patient outcomes and long-term success. Accredited centers, like the one at Northwest Health, offer preoperative and postoperative care designed specifically for severely obese patients. The comprehensive adolescent program was developed to address the specific needs of teenagers through young adulthood. “The impact of childhood obesity cannot be overestimated as it has both immediate and longterm effects,” said Dr. Joshua Roller, Bariatric Surgeon and Medical Director for Bariatric Surgery at Northwest Health. “In fact, it has been suggested that the increase in childhood obesity between the 1960s and the 2000s may have led to the increase in Type II diabetes diagnoses in both children and adolescents. More than 20 million people in the U.S. currently have diabetes. Obesity has been found to lead to 95% of type II diabetes.” “These talented surgeons and staff members have changed thousands of lives for the better through the bariatric weight loss service we offer,” said Denten Park, Northwest Health Market CEO.
“We’ve worked with Dr. Roller and his team to provide bariatric surgery on both our Springdale and Physicians’ Specialty Hospital campuses for a number of years now and are proud of the comprehensive services that have been developed. The achievement of this latest accolade attests to the high quality of services we collaboratively provide.” In the United States, around 15.5 million people suffer from severe obesity, according to the National Institutes of Health, and the numbers continue to increase. Obesity increases the risks of morbidity and mortality because of the diseases and conditions that are commonly associated with it, such as type II diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, among other health risks. Metabolic and bariatric surgical procedures have proven to be effective in the reduction of comorbid conditions related to severe obesity.* The multidisciplinary team works together to provide medical, nutritional, educational and behavioral support to create a customized weight loss treatment plan with the patient. The team helps teens develop healthy lifestyle habits and prepares
them for bariatric surgery, and also provides postsurgical weight management strategies. Dr. Lauri Anderson serves as Pediatric Medical Advisor for the adolescent program. Adolescent weight loss surgery candidates should have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, or 35-39.9 with obesity-related medical conditions, such as type II diabetes, sleep apnea or high blood pressure. For more information, call (479) 757-2040 or visit www.NorthwestHealth.com/ weightloss To earn the MBSAQIP designation, Northwest Health met essential criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure and protocols for care, ensuring its ability to support patients with severe obesity. The center also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its processes and outcomes, identifying opportunities for continuous quality improvement. The standards are specified in the MBSAQIP Resources for Optimal Care of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patient 2016, published by the ACS and ASMBS.
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by: Dominique Paine I am the mother of an amazing 4-year-old girl named Eden. She is fearless, loving, determined and so very smart. As most parents do, I think my child could rule the world one day. She’s meant for something great, but she’s not your typical kid. Eden was diagnosed with autism and ADHD. That means that every day takes a conscious effort from her. She must slow down and think harder than most to accomplish things like sitting still, following directions, communicating and avoiding sensory overload. It’s hard to explain the things that come with autism. The stimming, the meltdowns, the overload, the sensory seeking, the delayed speech and the picky eating. If you don’t live this life, you probably don’t understand it. There are some things I struggle with more than others. I struggle with strangers’ looks and comments. I struggle with those ‘family fun’ public events that are really 50 November 2018
anything but fun for us, because they usually end in Eden being overloaded. And I struggle with letting go of what I thought my child would be like. Please don’t misunderstand me – I love my child, and life with her is infinitely better than it was before her. But, when trying to conceive, and while waiting those long 9 months to meet my child, I never once dreamed of her having autism. I dreamed of taking her to the Crescent Hotel for Easter egg hunts, like I did with my niece when she was small. I dreamed of taking her to the farmer’s market, amusement parks and all those things that I saw as ‘normal’ for kids. But, I’ve had to let go of what I think we should be able to do and embrace what we can do. That is a very hard thing to do, and something that I must work at constantly. I’ve learned that sharing what I see as a weakness can not only free me from the weight of those feelings, but also help someone else realize they are not as alone as I once thought I was in this life. So, here it goes…
To those who feel I’ve ghosted them… I didn’t mean to. I love and miss you. I think about you a lot and wish I could see you much more than I do. I wanted to show up to your wedding, your baby shower and your child’s birthdays. But, that is not a luxury we have. And that is a luxury. Try having to carefully calculate everything that could possibly set off your child and finding a way to navigate that out of a tote bag before you even leave the house. That’s what we do. Going to an appointment? Okay. Let’s take Eden’s tablet, three toys, four books, two activities and fruit snacks. Because if all else fails, fruit snacks get that girl’s attention. But, don’t forget that those all have to be things she doesn’t have regular access to, or they aren’t going to help at all. Birthday parties, BBQs and public family fun events are overwhelming for Eden, and once she is overstimulated, she is unable to calm herself down, and I feel both embarrassment and shame when she is having a meltdown. To the strangers that stare and give unwanted advice… this is not a discipline problem. Let me repeat that to make sure it was understood. This is not a discipline problem. It is real, and my child struggles with it daily. I’ve heard everything from “She needs a spanking” to “She’ll grow out of it.” She won’t grow out of this, because it’s a permanent condition. Please stop saying this, as what it does
is make an already exhausted mom feel like her child’s struggles do not matter. Funnily enough, I find that kids are more understanding than adults. Adults want to fix it, kids accept it. In fact, the most profound reply I got when telling people about Eden’s diagnosis came from my 12-year-old niece. She immediately understood many of my feelings without me expressing them. If you can’t help but stare at us, give us a quick smile when we see you. A smile is much more encouraging than a scowl. There is a popular quote that I often want to tell people: “My child is not giving me a hard time; my child is having a hard time.” Eden works harder to fit in and act the way everyone expects her to act than we can even understand. She has been in more than one type of therapy for almost two years now, and we are currently on a waiting list to get 20+ more hours of therapy per week added in the evenings. She really is trying, and we are doing everything in our power to help her do better. But, it seems everything in this life comes with a long application and a waiting list. To the mom who feels guilt about anything: being a mom is hard, but the rewards are unparalleled. However, regardless of the rewards, guilt is a very
Turn the page
at times I must recite a mantra to remind myself that ‘I don’t have the power to alter genetics.’ I don’t know if I will ever not feel guilty, but I was unprepared for how powerful that feeling would hit me. At times, I think I have moved passed it, and then it hits me as hard as ever. If you feel guilt, you are not alone, by any means. I have an entire support group that shares those feelings.
There is a popular quote that I often want to tell people.
“My child is not giving me a hard time; my child is having a hard time.” powerful feeling. I think all mothers feel guilt over whatever mistakes we feel we have made, and we always feel as if we are making mistakes. As a special needs parent, I feel this, too. At times, it’s guilt over not being able to understand what Eden wants or needs. Other times, I feel guilt because she has autism. Guilt that perhaps myself or my husband John passed it down to her, or that something might have happened during my pregnancy. It came from somewhere, and how am I not supposed to feel responsible for my own child? I’ve talked with a therapist about this, and
Being a mom is the most amazing job I’ve ever had. Eden loves me beyond words. At times, she stops playing just to hug me, and then goes back to what she was doing. She grabs my face and covers me with kisses, gives me long hugs and will put her face in front of my lips to make me kiss her over and over. It is obvious to me that I am where she feels the safest. My life with her and John is amazing. Even with the hard days, I know that I am very lucky. Eden has made amazing progress and continues to do so. Almost every day, I see that she has learned something new, something that I thought perhaps she never would. She has also made astounding progress with her speech. We continue to seek out services to help Eden learn to cope with overwhelming situations and be all that we see she can be. Because, as her parents, we want what is best for her. We want to see her succeed at whatever she chooses to do with her life. She has the determination to do anything, but we must be her advocates and help her get there--and, at times, even fight for what she needs. One day, we hope to hear that Eden no longer needs therapy and that she has learned the skills necessary for daily interactions to be easier for her. One day, I hope to see my child learn to drive a car, go on a date or live on her own. However, the future is uncertain for us. We take it one day at a time, celebrate each thing she learns to do and hope for the best. Until then, if you see us out and about, just give an encouraging smile and maybe a kind word or two. Kindness is something we could all use more of, and I’d like to think that when Eden has grown up, more people will extend kindness to her, rather than judgment.
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(only I did not know it!) When I finally made a personal connection by giving him my pinky in a pinky promise, he came with me. My promise was, “Things will not be perfect, but I promise to love you and keep you safe.” I told Landon that night that we would stop at the store to get something to play with, and anything he wanted for dinner. He wanted mushroom pizza. I thought to myself, “What a special boy who likes mushroom pizza!” That night, my husband got the baseball gloves out of the attic and they played catch as the sun set. I put Landon to bed, and he talked and talked to me. I would rub his back. This became a nightly ritual. He loved that snuggle time. Many stories came from that quality time. Many children like Landon experience hyper vigilance. He taught me that this quality time was sacred. One night, he got up in my arms like a toddler and sang, “Rock my baby, rock my baby,” just as innocently as he loves the song “Hush Little Baby.”
by: Lisa Drewry If one word sums up our family, it would be ‘blessed.’ We are blessed beyond measure to have three sons who God has entrusted to us and planned for us to raise. In the midst of two ordinary days, our lives were changed forever due to the persistent pull of God’s call in our lives. Every person has a story. Family, history, relationships intertwine by the stories we share. Cultures are developed in storytelling. Landon’s story is one of so many adoption stories. Early on, I remember asking our case worker, “Is this real? Can this really happen?” Not only is Landon’s story real, it is an example of what lives and breathes in our local community. I have seen mounds of paperwork at the local DHS office stacked to the ceiling with real stories, real families, and real children. We have been involved with the Cherokee Nation Indian Child Welfare unit for a few years. ICW actively recruits, trains and certifies Native American families to meet the needs of Cherokee children for foster and adoptive placement. When I first met Landon, he was on the floor of the DHS office playing with a toy. I am sure he wanted to get a good look at me first, because prior to this, he was playing hide and go seek 54 November 2018
Words of inspiration were spoken to me by a very positive person in my life, my former principal Janet Schwanhausser. After all, Landon did meet her twice at the beginning of the year in her office. Philippians 14 says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe.” That is one message I want to share in telling Landon’s story. He is a shining star, and we have them glowing all over in our house to remind us each day. I want to inlcude an excerpt from one of Landon’s favorite books, Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You, by Nancy Tillman. In the green of the grass… in the smell of the sea… in the clouds floating by… in the top of the tree… in the sound crickets make at the end of the day… “You are loved. You are loved. You are loved,“ they all say. My love is so high, and so wide and so deep, it’s always right there, even when you’re asleep. So hold your head high and don’t be afraid to march to the front of your own parade. If you’re still my small babe or you’re all the way grown, my promise to you is you’re never alone. You are my angel, my darling, my star …and my love will find you, wherever you are.
The story does not stop here. You see, God always has a plan. He does not provide us an outline.
Landon was the beginning of our story, and my husband gave him the nickname “Number One.” Landon was placed with us on April 9, 2012, and then 6-month old twin boys were placed in our home by the same worker that placed Landon on November 9, 2013. This was a rare blessing, because workers are often so overworked that they leave. Friends and co-workers were willing to allow their schedules to be interrupted to listen to God’s call. They were not too distracted to answer. Even our son, Landon, was not too distracted to answer. He understood that the babies needed a home, what that felt like, and the importance of being available. DHS pulled up into our driveway on a Saturday morning, and it was love at first sight. They were beautiful. We brought Theodore and Thaddeus, gifts of God, into our home, and Tad was sick, very sick. They were born prematurely at 29 weeks, and had been exposed to drugs and alcohol in the womb. As a result, their lungs were underdeveloped. The DHS worker gave us a binder that had medical records and information we would need to take them to the doctor. She stayed about 30-45 minutes, we signed a form, and she left. I stood there, holding a very sick little baby, wondering when I would feed them next and how to make a bottle. The binder had a plethora of information, but I just couldn’t comprehend it. This is when I called my friend Janet and asked if she could help. She brought dinner over and noticed how sick Tad was. She asked questions, and did not want to startle me, but noticed that he was struggling to breathe. She educated me on the warning signs, and we took him to the ER. They did X-rays and gave him a steroid. Afterwards,
Janet stayed to help write a schedule with doses of needed medications. My husband stayed awake the rest of the night to make sure he was breathing. I felt inadequate for the job. “I’m just a mother,” I thought. “I’m not equipped for this mission. Why am I so blessed with two precious little ones?” It was Janet who reminded me that night that “This is bigger than you.” When God calls us to do something bigger than we can accomplish, he will equip us by working through us. We learn to rely on his strength, not on our own abilities. Simply put, God doesn’t look for abilities; he looks for availabilities. We had two other blessings in our lives: Jennifer Keefauver and Dara Yeager who were Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). They did not allow minor things to get in the way of being a volunteer for such an important endeavor. Think about it. How often do schedules, long to-do lists, and our immediate line of sight trump the things we claim to love the most? All of the people in this story were available. If you are available, will you consider saying, “Here I am” to a child who needs your response to an urgent situation? Not one of us is qualified, but together we can do His work and give Him glory. Landon is now 14 and doing well! He has been with us for 7 years, so half of his life. He was placed at age 7, after having been in several foster homes from the ages of 5-7. He likes to play practical jokes, loves technology, and has recently struck up an interest in music, possibly playing the piano. All three of the boys are strong, healthy, and active now.
For more information on the Cherokee Nation Indian Child Welfare unit visit http://webtest2.cherokee.org/Services/Indian-Child-Welfare
You are reading this after the monumental extravaganza known as “Homecoming” has ended; however, I’m writing this right in the midst of the chaos. When did this event become a cross between the Academy Awards red carpet and the invasion of Normandy? Good Lord... the posters, the pictures, the primping, the planning. Like most things, high school homecoming has changed a ton since my days. First of all, there didn’t used to be specially designed Banksy-level HOCO posters. In fact, I asked my date (now wife) at Sonic. Take that, you little whippersnapper... it only cost me a Route 44! Secondly, we wore jeans and T-shirts, since we went straight from the football game to the “dance.” Y’all with your Beyoncé level dresses are cray-cray. Next, nobody from my era in their right mind would have called homecoming “HOCO.” Pretty sure that would have landed us in detention, as that had a very different meaning last century. But, the last element that boggles my brain is the pack mentality of attendance. Meaning, most students go as a group, not as a couple. Lots of “triend zone” activity. Sure, some pair up and go through the whole peculiar poster process, but the platonic pack seems to be predominant. I guess they all hang out as friends, group text as friends, Snapchat as friends, etc., so this behavior makes some sense. “Friend zone” it is! These days, for us, the party has strayed from the parents. Meaning, the teens no longer hang at home. They’re good kids, so that doesn’t really worry me, except for the whole driving in Northwest Arkansas thing, which should be televised as a new extreme sport. Anyway, our 56 November 2018
high schoolers have a collection of kiddos they routinely hang with, which leaves the queen and I sans kids most weekend nights. While they now live in the “friend zone” with their gang, we now live in the “no friends zone.” Why? Glad you asked. Most of us here in NWA are transplants. Therefore, we’ve left behind our grade school friends, high school friends and college friends to chase the chance of grabbing a wee bit of Walmart wealth. When the teens were toddlers we had built-in adult(ish) friends from our kiddos’ daycare, PTO, youth sports, etc. Back then, we would joke about attending the first basketball practice, since it meant meeting our new best friends! But, now, our offspring are off on their own... no tee-ball teams, no daddy/daughter dances, no basketball buddies, no built-in friends. And you know what? It’s kinda sad. You see, it’s hard to procure a new posse. Looking for fresh friends in your 40’s kind of has a creepy, Cable Guy vibe. Sure, there are some work partners and some church chums, but it’s not the same as commiserating with those that have been in the trenches with you. There’s just something about complaining about a coach (I was one for years and I know your true feelings) or moaning about a math teacher that draws us together. So, like our terrified teenagers, it is now time for us to take the spooky new step of asking some other folks to dinner, to develop new relationships, to find a new crew and to establish new cohorts. No clue where to find them, not sure how to ask them out, but I’m considering making a poster.
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I have always enjoyed an active lifestyle and played multiple sports. When I was in junior high I struggled with scoliosis and stress fractures in my lower back. After the growth plates closed I continued playing sports, but no longer monitored my scoliosis. In college I ran track and competed a heptathlon. I had some pain off and on, but nothing that caused me to see a doctor or chiropractor.
It wasn’t until after I had given birth to my second child that the pain in my lower back suddenly changed. When my daughter was 3 months old, I went from being active to not being able to pick up our 10 pound little baby girl from her crib. I had gone to see my doctor about the pain and they took a round of x-rays. The results showed disc degeneration in my lower back. They informed me that my only option was back surgery, which was disheartening. My options to manage my pain were very limited, as I couldn’t take any aspirin or ibuprofen due to being allergic. My life and future was quickly looking very devastating. To think that I may not be able to even run and play with my kids hurt. We also wanted to have another child, but the fear of my body not being able to handle the pregnancy was difficult. I decided to look in to natural solutions for help. I started seeing a chiropractor in Hot Springs Village. I found out that a combination of doTERRA essential oils, chiropractic care, and supplements started helping. I was adjusted regularly before and
during the early stages of my third pregnancy, and my back started feeling better and better. Then my husband accepted a job in NWA and we moved. I knew I needed to find a new chiropractor quickly, and I wanted to find someone that would be able to treat my baby after he was born. I couldn’t be more thankful to have discovered NWA Health Solutions and met Dr. Sarah. I was 30 weeks pregnant during my first appointment into my 3rd trimester and Dr. Sarah helped me to get rid of all the aches and discomfort from moving and spending a lot of time on the road. She also helped my body to prepare for labor and delivery.
Not only did we work on physical aspects of my mobility and lower back movement, but Dr. Sarah was so encouraging. She told me her story about her home births and inspired me to realize my dream of a fully natural birth. I felt like she was walking with me, and lifting me up during my pregnancy. Child birth in general can bring fear, but Dr. Sarah was truly reassuring and kind, offering her support and knowledge. Having someone who specializes in prenatal and post-natal care, as she does, has given me so much guidance and eased my worries with many aspects that took such a toll on my body during my last two pregnancies. We had Baby Oliver treated with Dr. Sarah for the first time at 5 days old, and he is a thriving healthy and happy baby today!
Jenni Parish
A chiropractic physician who specializes in pre and postnatal care, treating the traumas of birth and starting mother and child off on the right foot. My 3 year old struggled with constipation her entire life. After a couple of months of treatment with Dr. Sarah, she is now completely regular. My son Luke came into the clinic last week with his Mom struggling with some gastroesophageal ref lux and a bit of constipation. Baby Luke was also experiencing overall uncomfortable and restless nights. After the first visit with Dr. Sarah he was relieved of his constipation and ref lux.
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By: Tiphanie Gurwell Project Zero Outreach Coordinator, NWA
+ Did you know that Arkansas has over 4,000 children/teens in foster care and that nearly 375 of them are waiting to be adopted? + Did you know that nearly 200 Arkansan foster teens will age out of foster care each year? + Did you know there is no cost to adopt a child through the state foster care system? + Did you know that not all foster kids are in a foster home, that some of them are in group homes because we don’t have enough open homes to take them? + Do you know the difference between a foster child and a waiting child?
There seems to be a lack of knowledge regarding adoption through foster care that needs to be shared. This is where the partnership between The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and Project Zero, a local non-profit comes into action. When I first volunteered for Project Zero, my heart was broken as I walked around and viewed the Heart Gallery that was filled with the faces of beautiful waiting kids. I had never seen anything like it, and, more than that, I never knew this “issue” existed. A foster care crisis, in my own backyard? I always knew that there were foster kids, but I never realized that some of these foster kids could never return home to their biological family. I had misconceptions about the system and about the need for more open homes and advocates. As I began working for Project Zero in 2016, God really changed the way I looked at the world. I couldn’t seem to do anything without thinking about these kids/teens. Along this journey of raising awareness, I have met so many people who seem to have all the same misconceptions and ideas of what a foster child is like as I did, especially concerning foster teens. They hear stories that turn them away and they assume each child is “troubled” or some “problem” that the state needs to fix. They are not the state’s “problem,” and they are not our “problem,” because they aren’t a problem at all – they’re kids who have been victimized or neglected in some way. Every waiting child is different. Their trauma is different, their skin color is different 62 November 2018
and their story is different. Each child carries something so special and unique, and they deserve a chance to be cared for and not forgotten. They are not disposable--they need and desire to be loved just like any other child in the world. I cannot begin to tell you how many kids I get the privilege of meeting who ask the question, “Have you found me a family yet?” I have spent so many events watching teens advocate for themselves by overworking to impress a family. So many times, driving home after an event, thoughts run through my mind – all the faces, all the questions, all the kids whose names were not on an inquiry list. I just break down and cry, burdened for them to find a family, to find that joy and hope in life again, and to have the opportunity to be free from the inconsistencies they face and the chance to just be a child. Project Zero works diligently alongside DCFS to host multiple matching events per year, all across the state of Arkansas, in order to see that each waiting child has an opportunity to meet their potential forever family. In 2017, Project Zero helped nearly 130 kids find their forever families. We want nothing more than to see that number increase, until there are ZERO waiting children. The biggest need we have at Project Zero is to have more partnerships and sponsors--businesses, churches and local community members to join us in this cause. These kids deserve the best while they wait, which is why our events are geared to making every waiting child feel as special as possible. We want to provide more than just a fun day--we want to gift them with the best clothing, backpacks, toys and prizes. The things we take for granted are the things they treasure, and that is not limited to material items. These children/ teens cherish the attention, the hugs, and the quality time they receive from loving adults. An immediate need right now for DCFS is more open homes, and families who are willing to consider all waiting kids, including teens and those with special needs. We need people who are willing to make a small sacrifice to say YES! It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. Believe it or not, the one
thing I have heard from almost every family who has said “yes” is this, “I went in thinking I would change a child’s world, but turns out they actually changed mine.” So, what are you called to do?
Ways to help.. .
+ Become an open home to adopt or foster by visiting fosterarkansas. org + Visit TheProjectZero.org to view our online Heart Gallery, + Sponsor/donate or volunteer + Raise awareness + Host the Arkansas Traveling Heart Gallery at your church or business. For scheduling, you can email cara@theprojectzero. org + Visit us on Facebook @Project Zero or Instagram @the_project_zero & Share our posts! + Visit our YouTube channel @Project Zero & share a waiting child’s short film to help give them a voice! +
About Project Zero: Project Zero’s mission, in partnership
with DCFS, is to raise awareness about the need for adoptive families through the Arkansas Heart Gallery (an online exhibit and three traveling exhibits), short films featuring waiting kids, and through promotional products and speeches. We build hope in and relationships with waiting children/teens through exciting monthly events that are filled with new experiences. And finally, we help connect waiting children/teens with the right forever family through our partnership with Arkansas DCFS, through ‘connection’ events that bring waiting families and waiting children together and through one-on-one interaction with interested and waiting families.
Jawaun
15-year-old Jawaun is one of our more unique youth hoping to be adopted. Jawaun has no problem forming and maintaining connections with others and he’s also not afraid to defy stereotypes and do what he enjoys – he’s a big fan of sewing, and would like to pursue a career in fashion design. His self-confidence and his ability to be comfortable in his own skin is rare in a youth his age and is truly inspiring. But life is not all roses for Jawaun. He struggles with the trauma he suffered in his younger years, and sometimes has issues with appropriate boundaries and behaviors. And he loves being a part of a family and is keenly aware that his biological family is not there for him any longer. He needs a family that can give
Jakayla, Javeon, Jniya, and Jakeria
him the space to explore who he is, and who he wants to become, while also providing him with consistency, structure and loving support. In other words, he’s a teenager who also happens to be in foster care! If you’d like to learn more about what makes Jawaun tick, just let us know!
Ikeast
Hair bows and dressing up are some of Ikeast’s favorite things, so she had to have a bow in her picture here on the Heart Gallery. When she can’t dress up herself, this 13-year-old girl likes to play stylist for her Shopkins dolls. Like many pre-teens, Ikeast is having to work hard to learn effective boundaries, abide by the rules, and control her emotions, even if she feels like being a bit dramatic. A two-parent household that can hold her accountable, while still encouraging and enjoying her imagination, is best for Ikeast. Setting up positive expectations and reasonable limitations in a loving environment would be good guideposts for her as she continues to grow into a young adult. Ikeast is very attached to her two little brothers who have been adopted, so you would need to be willing to help continue to keep those contacts between the children.
Bobby
As a general rule, children don’t come into foster care because they did anything wrong. Children in care are good kids who have endured various forms of trauma at the hands of those whose sole job should have been to love them and keep them safe. This is true for Bobby (15) as well. His parents subjected him to years of neglect and abuse before he came into foster care. As you might expect, that trauma has had an impact on Bobby, but he refuses to let it define him. He has worked hard to learn positive ways to cope with stress and has made remarkable progress. At his core, he’s just like any other active 15-year-old. He loves to fish and be outdoors, and, unlike most teens, he loves to actually work outside – he has quite the green thumb! He just wants a family to love him and be there for him when he needs guidance and support. Consistency. Support. Love. This is what Bobby wants, needs, and deserves. In return, he’s ready to work hard to prove himself worthy of those gifts. We hope the old saying about a picture being worth a thousand words is true. Take a deep look into those eyes and think – am I the one that this child’s been waiting on? If you’d like to learn more, please let us know. Age: 7, 8, 10, 11
While visions of sugarplums may dance in some heads during the Christmas season, for generations of girls, it’s visions of Sugarplum Fairies. What girl doesn’t dream of the delicate costumes, traditional music and dancers that seem to float after watching a production of the classic ballet, “The Nutcracker?” Dorothy Taylor has been making those visions come alive for 24 years. “Every young girl I know can identify with Clara and her late night adventures,” Taylor said. The story of the Nutcracker is the story of a little girl, on her best behavior at her parents’ Christmas party, who, unexpectedly, receives a special gift. Naturally, her brother is jealous. When the party is over, the fantasy begins and Clara gets to meet the Sugarplum Fairy and watch as dozens of magical creatures dance just for her. For some little girls, the dream of becoming a dancer is just a dream. Dance takes time and dedication, as well as the money for lessons, costumes, shoes, and rehearsal fees. Some families just can’t do it. That was the motivation behind Northwest Arkansas Regional Dance Company, and “The Nutcracker” production is a perfect fit for the nonprofit group. Several local businesses realize the value of the nonprofit dance group, and help out with a sponsorship. More sponsorships are available. Five
levels of sponsorship let businesses decide how much publicity they will receive for their fee. All sponsors will be listed on the back of the official Nutcracker T-shirt. Open tryouts were held in August and September, and everyone was invited. Not only did NWARDC accept dancers from other studios, they also encouraged novices with no experience to try out. Once parts were assigned, rehearsals began on Sunday afternoons. There are less conflicts with sports and school activities on Sundays, Taylor explained. This also means busy high school students can experience a real performance without committing to regular classes. It is also a chance for the youngest angels to see if dance is truly something they want to pursue. “They’re already talking about what parts they will try out for next year,” Taylor said. Many of her students grow up dancing “The Nutcracker” each year. Angels and Soldiers become Candy Canes and Waltzing Flowers. Eventually they can try out for the solos: Clara, the Dew Drop Fairy, the Snow Queen, and, of course, the Sugarplum Fairy. Attending the Nutcracker is also a tradition for many families. While the NWARDC cast is young, the performances, backdrops and costumes are professional quality. NWARDC is headquartered at Ballet Westside. 101 East Chestnut Street in Rogers.
NWARDC’s Nutcracker will be presented at the Rogers High School on December 8 at 7 p.m. and December 9 at 2 p.m., Tickets are available at the door. For more information : (479) 636-6678 64 November 2018
2 hour facility rental includes your choice of activities, party room, party host, pizza, drinks and party supplies
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At a
ARTS and MUSIC
Amazeum (Pg. 39) (479) 696-9280 Crystal Bridges (Pg. 7) (479) 418-5700 crystalbridges.org Imagine Studios (Pg. 46) imaginestudiosnwa.org Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (Pg. 11) sonamusic.org Trike Theatre (Pg. 43) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org Walton Arts Center (Pg. 58) waltonartscenter.org
BANKS
First Security (Pg. 57) www.fsbank.com; www.onlyinark.com
CHILDCARE/NANNY SERVICES
ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 51) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com
CLOTHING
Oh Baby Boutique (Pg. 55) ohbabynwa.com
DENTIST
Mint Dental Care (Pg. 53) (479) 385-6308 MintDentalAR.com Pediatric Dental Associates & Orthodontics (479) 582-0600 (Pg. 4)
DERMATOLOGY / SKIN CARE
Advanced Dermatology (Pg. 27) advancedskinMD.com Hull Dermatology & Aesthetics (Pg. 46) (479) 254-9662 NWA Center for Plastic Surgery (Pg. 2) (479) 571-3100 nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com
EDUCATION/TRAINING
Alan Redmon (Pg. 23) (479) 544-8250 nwaguitarlessons@gmail.com Super Science (Pg. 17) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com Thaden School (Pg. 13) (479) 268-5321
FAMILY FUN / ENTERTAINMENT Amazeum (Pg. 39) (479) 696-9280 Crystal Bridges (Pg. 7) (479) 418-5700
68 November 2018
To advertise email: editor@peekaboonwa.com Rogers Historical Museum (Pg. 49) (479) 621-1154 Starlight Skatium (Pg. 33) (479) 444-STAR Strike Zone NWA (Pg. 66) strikezonenwa.com Super Science (Pg. 17) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com Trike Theatre (Pg. 43) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org Walton Arts Center (Pg. 58) waltonartscenter.org
FOOD / DRINK
TCBY (Pg. 3) (479) 636-8229 (TCBY)
Home care
Nook & Cranny Housekeeping (Pg. 24) (479) 871-3822 Mr. Sandless (Pg. 43) mrsandless.com
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Arkansas Children's Northwest (Pg. 5) ARchildrens.org/nyla The Diva Dive (Pg. 33) thedivadive.com Fit4Mom (Pg. 23) bentonvillerogers.fit4mom.com Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 34) fccare.org Northwest Health-Mayo Clinic (Pg. 9) NorthwestHealthMayoClinicPartnership.com Zumbini with Tara (Pg. 37) (479) 616-3923
JEWELRY AND GIFTS
David Adams (Pg. 69) davidadams.com (479) 444-7778
law office
Adoption Arkansas (Pg. 72) myadoptionarkansas.com Danielson Law Firm (Pg. 52) (479) 935-8313
LEARNING CENTER
Academic Math and Language Therapy (Pg. 19) (479) 253-3256 www.amltherapy.com ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 51) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com Aloha Learning Center (Pg. 69) (479) 696-7889 K12 (Pg. 45) (877) 344-8785
PEDIATRICIAN
Absolute Pediatric Therapy (Pg. 29) absolutepediatrics.com Best Start (Pg. 59) (479) 575-9359 Northwest Pediatric Convenient Care (Pg. 8) (479) 751-2522
NWA Pediatrics (Pg. 18) NWApediatrics.com Ozark Pediatrics (Pg. 57) (479) 544-9432
PHOTOGRAPHY
Main Street Studios (Pg. 47) (479) 524-2004
THERAPY
Academic Math and Language Therapy (Pg. 19) (479) 253-3256 www.amltherapy.com Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 34) (479) 524-2456 NWA Health Solutions (Pg. 61) NWAhealthsolutions.com (479) 636-1324
ULTRASOUND
Baby Face & More (Pg. 13) (479) 270-7391
WOMEN'S HEALTH
Fit4Mom (Pg. 23) bentonvillerogers.fit4mom.com Parkhill (Pg. 11) Parkhillclinic.com Siloam Springs Women's Center (Pg. 67) (479) 524-9312 Tulsa Fertility Center (Pg. 25) TulsaFertilityCenter.com Women's Health Associates (Pg. 35, 38) whanwa.com
To advertise and become a part of the Peekaboo Family email: editor@peekaboonwa.com
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