October 2015 by Peekaboo

Peekaboo Free Magazine

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

Oct. 2015

The

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

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

Frances Wilson Kim and Jonathon with Holden, Grant and AVa Enderle. Photo by Main Street Studios

Associate Editor

Columnist

Distribution/ Circulation Joyce Whitaker Judy Evans Marcedalia Salinas

Jeremy Whitaker Michelle Dodson

Ben Lacy Dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s View

Columnist

Peekaboo Publications

PO Box 1036 Bentonville, Arkansas 72712 Please send inquiries to: editor@peekaboonwa.com or call 479-586-3890 Peekaboo may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Views expressed herein are those of the authors and advertisers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine.

Peekaboo Northwest Arkansas accepts writing contributions

Veronica Zucca Story Design

Jennifer Cristofaro Events

Peekaboo nwa W h at ’ s I n s i d e | O C T O B E R | 2 0 1 5 16

Two Peas in a Pod by: Ashlee Milliken

Can Survive by: Courtney Watson

A is for Avery/ B is for Bailey by: Erin Lowden

Wait... Which One is He? by: Brienne Austin

Dad’s View with Ben Lacy

Double Duty! by: Laura Porch

Out & About Fall Events

Immesurably More than I Imagined by: Amber Barrier

Downtown Bentonville

A Twin Tale: Home for the Season by: Jenny Schisler

Bundles of Surprise by: Sarah Clinkerbeard

The Luckiest Girl in the World by: Juli Braswell

8th annual

MOTHERS OF MULTIPLES Issue!

o n t h e c ov e r : Gavin & Evan, 8 months old. Sons of Jason & Cassie Dunn.

God’s Answered Prayer by: Lane Brown

A Skin Exam by: Emily Staggs

The Dalai Mama with Kristin Hvizda

Maddie & Katie, 7. Daughters of Tim and Sarah Clinkenbeard.

Ovarian Cancer: Diagnosis & Treatment by: Dr. Jason Hurt

Scotland & Jubilee, 2, Daughters of Robby & Amber Barrier

10 October 2015

Hunter & Spencer, 3. Sons of Dan and Brienne Austin.

Cover Photo by: Main Street Studios

from the editor A Look Ahead: Next Month: Annual Adoption Issue! Then: December Holiday Gift and Event guide coming in December! Do you have a product you want to see featured? Email editor@peekaboonwa.com

Created For You Photography

When Jonathon and I first started dating, I learned very quickly that Halloween was a muchanticipated holiday for him and his family when he was growing up. From his Teen Wolf costume he wore to school, deemed his “favorite costume of all time” because it was handmade by his mom, to the mummy costume that left him trick-ortreating in his underpants because it, too, was handmade (still with lots of love). Halloween was a big part of many of his favorite memories that he cherishes from his childhood to this day. Our little family has taken on this tradition very seriously, and each year we set out to create fun and memorable experiences for Ava, Holden and Grant. However, these memory-making filled days should not be limited to just those days that get a special label on the calendar. While holidays are great for making us stop and really take stock of what is important and to really invest time into making the day special, I really wish that I was able to make every day just as meaningful. I also want to appreciate even the “normal” days. I really want to have the same outlook on the day at hand as I will 5 years from now... To appreciate the here and now instead of reserve those emotions for days gone by. Take a moment to flip through the camera roll on your cell phone. Every single picture, especially the ones where your little ones looked so much smaller, tug at your heart strings and make you miss the ‘good old days.’ Unfortunately, most of those photos were snapped pre- or post-

14 October 2015

meltdown. They were probably taken around the same time you were wishing they would just get a little older, so things would be a lot easier. How amazing would it be to look at the “now” moments with the same tug at the heart and pure appreciation as you look at the moments from the past? Life is pretty crazy, and to claim otherwise would be nothing short of an untruth only applicable in the world of Facebook. But, just like Spring, I have always seen Fall as an opportunity to slow down and take it all in. To really notice the beauty in the little things -- like the changing colorscape painted on the leaves of the trees that we have passed by for months without giving them a second thought. There is something magical about a changing season. The possibilities seem endless, life feels renewed and clothing hidden in the back of the closet gets another chance to make a fashion statement. Another favorite part of October? Peekaboo’s annual families of multiples issue! I am so amazed by Mommies and Daddies who can raise not one, but two (or three!) babies at the same time. It is pretty amazing and this issue is filled, cover to cover, with great stories from families right here in NWA. I hope you enjoy this issue of Peekaboo as much as I did putting it together. Happy October, and have a safe and happy Halloween!

Two Peas in aPod T by Ashlee Milliken/ Photos by: Myra Wike Photography

his article has not been the easiest to write. I definitely think all mothers have “mom guilt” to some degree, but I have been plagued with it far more than normal over the last couple of years. Because of that, I hope to let other mothers out there know that they are not alone. With that in mind, please know I am writing this article not to gain your praise or pity, but rather to comfort any mom navigating the same journey and to educate our area. I want to share with NWA what it is like to become a special needs mom--moreover, a special needs mom to identical twin 3 1/2 year olds who have been diagnosed with Level 3 (or “severe”) Autism Spectrum Disorder.

You might have seen us in the “Twins and Multiples” issue of Peekaboo two years ago when my twins, Ruby and Lilly, were just 18 months old. At that time, they were about to start talking, had just begun walking, and we believed everything was looking up. In a weird way, I am thankful for their premature birth, because it meant we were already been in therapy with professionals that alerted us to the early signs common with autsim spectrum disorder. After Thanksgiving of 2013, they suggested I begin the process of getting the girls on the long waiting list for developmental testing. We were determined to figure out why our girls were not caught up from the developmental delays they were born with due to my rough

16 October 2015

pregnancy and being born premature. At that time, we also began hearing tests to figure out if an auditory issue was responsible for their delay in speech. After many inconclusive traditional booth hearing tests, we were referred to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) for a sedated hearing study for both girls. During this time, I was given the business card of a new professor, Dr. Peggy Schaefer-Whitby, at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Schaefer-Whitby is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and professor who began creating programs to service the growing autism community at the University. She is the Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for the Special education programs and developed the Applied Behavior Analysis program. She met with us through her new program she started called Project Connect, that has the mission of connecting families of children with autism to evidence based services. In February of 2014, she and I sat down for a pre-qualification evaluation and she advised us to follow up for further testing due to the possibility of the existence of developmental delays. She also suggested we begin “developmental therapy” while we awaited further tests. In June of that year, we went to ACH for the scheduled sedated hearing tests, in which the girls’ ears were found to be functioning at a completely normal level. In that moment when we got the

news, the reality of it all set in for Amery and I. That hearing test had been the last possible explanation for the girls’ delay in speech and development; now we knew the girls likely had autism, though we didn’t know where they fell on the spectrum. Over the summer, our appointment day at Dennis Developmental Center in Little Rock was finally set for January 29, 2015. That day was one I will never forget for the rest of my life. It seemed like we had to wait a lifetime for a diagnosis, one we were already 99.9 percent sure The most popular was coming. I response I get received over 30 when people find pages of different out that our questionnaires to answer on each girl, twins are both so I methodically are autistic is... gathered all of our “BOTH of them?” test results and Yes, both of them. our evaluations from our various therapies. Getting all of the paperwork together and covering all of our bases was important to me, because when we went to the appointment I wanted to leave with the absolute final answer on why the girls were not meeting their milestones. Once we knew that, we could create a plan for how we could overcome challenges from this point forward. Later on at the appointment, our team of evaluators mentioned how all the hard work we’d done had paid off--we ended up making the process much easier for them by ruling out every other explanation of delays. Because of that, my biggest piece of advice to parents is to do everything you can to gather all information and possible testing ahead of time, so your evaluation team can make the most informed diagnosis.

{ }

Even with all that preparation and over six months to prepare ourselves for that day, nothing ever prepares you for hearing the words which forever change the life you thought you would have with your kids and your family. We received the official diagnosis labeling them “severe,” because the girls were still non-verbal, which meant the doctors would not be able to test cognitive levels until Ruby and Lilly could better express themselves during the testing process. In our minds, we had prepared ourselves for high-functioning autism, but severe just sounded so…well, severe. I’d heard about the mourning period associated with a diagnosis like this, but I did not fully understand what it meant until leaving the clinic that day. I felt helpless and guilty, wondering if I might have done something to cause this. I felt it was my fault, as their mom, and I should have done something differently. but

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{ } I had no idea how to parent twins all day while their daddy was working, but, you learn as you go. I have learned to figure out how to be the best mom I can be to my girls.

honestly there wasn’t anything different I could have done. It was not my fault and I certainly could not have done anything different. The most popular response I get when people find out our twins are both autistic is...“BOTH of them?” Yes, both of them. After that, I usually hear how “weird that is” but, actually, with identical twins it’s way more likely for both to have the same diagnosis. I know the hot topic right now is what causes autism and how to stop it, but I am not here to argue that today, because my girls are a perfect example of genetics being completely responsible. Sometimes, it just happens. I know the hot topic right now is what causes autism and how to stop it. Is it vaccines or this or that but I am not here to argue that today because my girls are a perfect example of genetics. It just happens and we are near identical in all our version of autism but that is what I want everyone to realize even with my girls, that no two autistic kids or adults are alike and that is why it is called Autism Spectrum Disorder because it is a spectrum of symptoms and not every person will have everything. I often hear, “But they don’t look like something is wrong with them! They are so well behaved and so pretty!” I never know exactly how to respond to that. I never know exactly how to respond to that! Thanks? That’s the thing, though. You see, neurological conditions aren’t immediately apparent, and an autistic person will look just like anyone else. So, when you are judging that mom or dad in Walmart whose child (or children) are throwing themselves on the ground, just stop for a second. It might appear that parent is a “bad parent” because it APPEARS he or she is ignoring her child in public, but the thing is, you never really know what is going on! Studies show that reinforcing problem

behavior will only strengthen the desire to do it again, especially if they get a favorable outcome (a treat, something to quiet them, etc). What you might not know, is the parent is actually watching closely to make sure the child doesn’t hurt themsleves, all while acting like they aren’t paying attention. Instead of making rude comments and judging, maybe smile and show kindness in the darkness of their day. You could be the one that makes a difference in her life!

I have been told I am an inspiration because I’m the parent of not one, but two autistic children, when most might not be able to handle one. Honestly, though, I am nothing special. Most days I feel like an utter failure as a mother because I couldn’t get them to eat, or they did not want to brush their teeth that day. How could I ever be an inspiration? I will be the first to admit I had no idea how to parent twins all day while their daddy was working, but, you learn as you go. I have learned to figure out how to be the best mom I can be to my girls. Every day there are situations I have to research to find the best response on how to handle our life. The girls struggle with frustration because they cannot communicate their needs, which can lead to aggression or crying, all of which has helped me learn more patience than I ever thought I had. The girls struggle with sleeping, which has made me learn to function on little sleep as well, far less than I used to think I needed! I know I am not an expert on autism, but I am determined to find the best experts for my girls, and I am so lucky that I found Dr. Schaefer-Whitby and Dr. Lorah at the University of Arkansas. They are teaching us how to connect and teach our girls. We were lucky enough to be selected for an ABA-based preschool camp this summer through the Autism Center at the university, and because of that, Ruby and Lilly have been learning how to use Proloque2Go, a speech generating program, for iPads. Plus, I was able to find funding to get both girls their own iPad to use! Within just two days, my girls were able to begin effectively communicating their wants and needs for the first time ever, which has just been amazing to watch. During the second week, Ruby called me “Mama” for the first time and I cried. My baby knows

who I am! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so exciting that we are finally able to experience these milestones that we have been waiting years for. Just this September, we began a cooperative preschool through the University of Arkansas Autism Department and the NWA Educational Cooperative for autistic toddlers. We are very fortunate to be working with Dr. Lorah and Dr. Schaefer-Whitby along with their masters and doctoral students again. They are teaching our girls how to express all the knowledge they have learned over the last three years, and it is so exciting for others to finally see how bright we know they are. We are grateful to have found occupational, physical, and speech-language pathologists at Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Therapy Team and Therapy Tree that want to create the best collaborative teaching approach for both Ruby and Lilly. It has been inspiring to witness the growth and change in our daughters since our first meeting with Dr. Schaefer-Whitby over a year and half ago! We are also excited that this fall we will finally have an open spot

to participate in the Arkansas Autism Partnership program which will allow our girls to continue the ABA therapy in our home. Early intervention is so key in helping kids reach their potential, and I am thankful that many more resources are becoming available in Arkansas. Now we need to work on making all of these programs and services more readily available to the many children that need access to early intervention in order to be their most successful selves.

CANcer SURVIVE by Courtney Watson

“We can’t always see where the road leads, but God promises there’s something better up ahead-- we just have to trust him.” Psalm 56:3

My name is Courtney Watson and I am a breast cancer Survivor.

n April, 23 2015, my entire world changed forever. The lumps that I had found in my right breast were confirmed to be cancer. Estrogen, Progesterone, Her2/Neu positive– grade III invasive ductal carcinoma. I will NEVER forget the day when I was told I had breast cancer. What I was wearing, where I was standing, what the weather was like--it’s all ingrained into my memory. Nothing could prepare me for that moment. Once the doctor said the word “cancer,” I heard nothing else. The type of cancer I have is very aggressive, and my doctor told me that I would need chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, ovary removal, and years of oral cancer-fighting drugs. I was completely frozen. All I could think about were my two young children. “Am I going to die?” I thought, “I have to raise my kids! What are my kids going to think when I lose my hair? Why me?” It was like everything was happening in slow motion, like a very bad dream that you cannot wake up from. I was told that I would definitely be losing all of my hair, and soon, usually around day 15 after starting chemo. I stood speechless and in total shock, thinking about how quickly my normal life had just turned upside down. I was now a 34-year-old mom fighting for my life. My entire family was in shock for some time. We cried, cried, and then we

22 October 2015

cried some more. In a way, we had to grieve for the life I once had, because we knew it would never quite be the same. It was amazing how quickly the support started pouring in. We weren’t really sure how to react to this news, but it was comforting to have friends and family help us digest everything and to be surrounded by love. My kids, surprisingly enough, adjusted to mommy’s bald head very well. My 2-year-old daughter loves all my wigs and

wants to try them on all the time, and my 6-yearold son thinks mommy’s bald head is pretty cool because it makes mommy look tough. In early May of 2015, I started my first round of chemotherapy. I received six rounds of chemotherapy over the course of 18 weeks, and I received six hour treatments of four different types of chemo every three weeks. I will continue to get one treatment of Herceptin via my port every three weeks for a full year, to continue to fight the Her2/Neu. The days in treatment are long, but my group of nurses at Hi g h l a n d s O n c o l o g y, my sweet husband, family, and friends managed to make chemo a fun day for me. From just sitting and chatting, to bringing me my favorite Starbucks drinks, popsicles, and/or cinnamon rolls. I always have great company and laughs. The side effects following the days of treatment on your body from chemotherapy are not fun. It pretty much knocked me out of commission. There were days I couldn’t lift my head off my pillow. I didn’t have the energy to play with my kids. I struggled with anemia, low blood counts, nausea, aching bones, hot flashes, and other symptoms. The symptoms would last 7-10 days, then I would slowly get my energy back and feel more normal. I try to make the most out of my normal days and spend as much time with my kids and family as possible. I have also continued to work throughout treatment. For me, staying busy and in routine is a way to keep my mind occupied and off of everything going on. I finished my last round of chemotherapy on August 19, 2015, and got to ring the celebration bell! The nurses at HOG gave me a sweet certificate for graduating chemo. It is my favorite diploma ever! After finishing treatment, I had a final MRI to show how the cancer had responded to chemotherapy, and remarkably, I had a great response. The MRI showed that my two tumors were no longer present! We are ecstatic with the news. I also had surgery to remove my lymph nodes and the results also recently came back NEGATIVE! Chemo is one thing, but having both breasts removed is by far the most terrifying part of my journey. My double mastectomy and first reconstruction surgery is scheduled for the end

I worked for P&G for 9 years and have always been an involved volunteer in the local NWA Pantene Beautiful Lengths Cutting Event. Pantene partners with the American Cancer society to provide real human hair wigs to women going through chemotherapy treatment... for FREE. I was the first one to donate my ponytail when the first Pantene cutting event was held in NWA in 2007. That year there was a total of only 10 donors. Who would have thought that only 8 years later I would be the one affected by cancer? It all came full circle this year when I was the one in need of a wig after going through treatment. Before losing my hair and shaving it, I saved my ponytail to donate to Pantene Beautiful Lengths event this year. I was also an honorary cutter and on the receiving end of a wig from Pantene and the American Cancer society. There were more than 300 donors at the event this year, and there have been over 4,300 ponytails donated locally since the event began in 2007. It is amazing to see how much the event has grown over the years, and it’s so special to me. I can’t wait to grow out my hair again to give back to someone else going through treatment!

of October this year. It is an 8-hour surgery, and I am pretty nervous, but I have the best doctors and faith that it will be okay. It’s easy to say, “Just take them off!” But, for me, the scars that will remain in their place are so much more. They will be a daily reminder of where I have been, where I am now and what I will continue to battle forever. Throughout the past six months I have adjusted to my bald head and I have enjoyed not using the blow dryer every day. I get to sleep in longer because I can now get ready for work in less than twenty minutes! One of the best parts about having cancer (yes, there is a good side) is meeting so many amazing women also battling. They listen and truly understand what you are going through. These women are strong, ambitious and determined to make the most of the situation given to them. We have made friendships that will last a lifetime. My life has forever been changed by cancer. God and my faith got me through this year and gave new meaning to my life. I had the choice to let cancer get the best of me, or to smile and make the most of every day with a new perspective on life. Before being diagnosed, I was usually stressing and worrying about the small things. If it wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t right… and I would love to say that I am now completely carefree, but that isn’t the case. However, I have gotten better at looking at stressful situations and realizing they are nothing compared to what I have been through. Life is too short to spend time worrying about the small things.

A is for Avery B is for Bailey

Story by: Erin Lowden Photos by: Kenny Lowden

y husband’s 34th birthday was to be his biggest birthday yet, in more ways than just another wonderful year together! That day, we had decided to schedule the ultrasound for our fourth pregnancy. It was a large, fun affair. Our family does the “gender reveal party,” so we were having all of our family and close friends over to celebrate. We went to the appointment, feeling some trepidation, but mostly excitement. All was normal until the tech did two swipes over my belly, stopped suddenly, and said, “I’ll be right back.” We had been to enough ultrasounds (three of our own) to know that this wasn’t normal. Instantly, we started to think of all the things that could be wrong with our little baby. Very shortly, however, her boss came in with a huge smile on her face. We thought to ourselves, why in the world would she be smiling? Isn’t she getting ready to tell us that something is wrong with our baby, after all? She then did a couple swipes herself with the ultrasound wand and said, “Do multiples run in your family?” What? Wait one minute... no, no, they don’t! That’s all we could say. I had moments of tears and laughter during the remainder of the ultrasound, where I just kept looking at two babies instead of one. On the other hand, my husband Kenny, had to be directed to the bathroom because he spent so much of the ultra sound sick to his stomach! We had the tech write down the genders of the twins on a card so we could find out that evening with our family and friends. Wow, was that a long day! Nobody knew we were having twins, so this was going to be the best gender reveal party ever! We recorded the whole thing. We had planned on our son reading the card that revealed the gender. However, there was one problem. We had only taught him that, if there was a letter “B,” the baby was a boy, and if there was a letter “G,” then the baby was a girl. When he opened the card, he was very confused! There were way more letters on the card than we had talked about. So, I helped tell everybody that Baby A was a girl, and Baby B was also a girl! Now everyone was just as confused as our son, and then they started screaming “TWINS!” It was still so surprising to hear that word. My

24 October 2015

parents were in complete shock, but my in-laws were so excited! It took a couple of months to get used to the idea of having twins. During those months, though, we had something else occupying our time and our worries. Kenny had been getting fevers of 104°F over and over. We had been to numerous doctor appointments and even more ER visits, but they couldn’t figure out what was going on with him. He would go to bed fine then would wake up early in the morning with the shakes, then his fever would spike. He started having what we soon would call “episodes,” further apart at first, then closer together as time went on. It would take him about three days to feel better, but, as time went on, the episodes began taking a toll on his body. He just seemed to be getting worse. While dealing with his sickness, Kenny was transitioning into a new job, so, when it came time for my first scheduled ultrasound for what we knew were twins, I told him I could go by myself since he had missed so much work. I had been to plenty of them in the past, so it was no big deal. Well, as we would soon come to realize, nothing would ever be “normal” for our family from then on out. When the doctor got to Baby B’s heart, I noticed that he spent a lot of time there. When I asked him about it, he told me that Baby B had a significant heart defect and I would need to go to a specialist. After the last few months we had, the news of Baby B’s heart just seemed to be too much to take. We had so much stress in our lives at that time, but, thank goodness we’re blessed to have lots of family and friends for support. The specialist had even worse news for us. Baby B’s heart was not doing well. We started to go to UAMS in Little Rock for ultrasounds with their fetal echo cardiology team. Every time we went down there, it seemed like they would find something else wrong with Baby B’s heart. At this point, we hadn’t named the girls yet. When we were at one of the appointments, however, they asked us if we had

picked out names for the girls, and we told them that, while we hadn’t decided yet, we were thinking Avery for Baby A and Bailey for Baby B. For the remainder of that ultra sound, they called Baby B Bailey, and we left Little Rock that day with names for our twin girls! At that point, the doctors were sure that she had “transposition of the great vessels,” which is when the pulmonary and aortic arteries are switched, as well as a VSD, which was a pretty sizeable hole between her ventricles. Also, something wasn’t right with her pulmonary valve. Having all three of these defects was very rare. We were getting used to the idea that we no longer fell into the category “normal” or “boring” anymore. Our life was anything but those two words. Bailey was very safe in utero, because my heart did the pumping for her, so the doctors wanted her to stay in there and get as big and strong as possible before I delivered. After all, she would need to have surgery before she was a month old. Additionally, I would need

to deliver at UAMS so that Bailey would have all the medical staff she needed. We would need be as close to Arkansas Children’s Hospital as possible, because she would need to be to be transported there immediately. I had to be extremely aware of labor symptoms, because my hospital ride had been lengthened from twenty minutes to three or four hours to Little Rock. Thankfully, I made it to my scheduled 38 week induction. They induced me at midnight, and I delivered by 8 the next morning, Kenny at my side with only a slight fever that day. My delivery went very smooth and I had the girls about 27 minutes apart. The next couple of weeks were pretty emotional. Avery and I were able to be released from the hospital so

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that we could go to the children’s hospital to see Bailey. By looking at her, you would have never known there was anything wrong. Over the next several days, they tried a couple of procedures that were less invasive to see if they could put off a more invasive procedure, where they would eventually place a stint. Nobody can possibly prepare you for what your newborn will look like after a procedure like that. It wasn’t so much the incision, which was impressive. They preformed one that went from her heart to her back. Honestly, it was how lifeless she looked afterwards. If there was a time my faith was tested, this was it. After we got over the shock of what was happening, we had no other option but to move forward. Our days became focused on what medicine she would get off of that day, and what we needed to do to get her healed so that we could finally go home. One week after Bailey’s surgery, at three weeks old, we finally got our wish and were able to head home. The doctors told us that this was just a temporary fix though, and her next surgery would be much more involved. After getting home and settling into our new normal of having twin newborns, we decided that the only way we were going to figure out what was wrong with Kenny was to go to the Mayo Clinic. Once the twins were about four months old, we made the long trek to Minnesota. After about two weeks of tests, his Mayo doctor decided that the problem came from a hole in his esophagus, which was causing him to aspirate his stomach acid. Basically, when his stomach acid would hit his lungs, his lungs thought it was pneumonia and would initiate the really high fever. Finally, an answer! For a temporary fix, Kenny was to take some acid blockers and sleep at 30° angle. Now we were able to devote all of our attention to Bailey’s much-anticipated surgery. We had mixed emotions about it. We wanted the surgery because that was what she needed to be well, but, at the same time, it was a really big surgery, which was scary. We had a monitor at home that kept track of her oxygen levels. The doctor told us that when these levels

stayed low on a consistent basis, she would need the surgery. That machine seemed to rule our life for a few months. Her oxygen level would go down drastically with each “cold” she got that winter, which meant a trip to Little Rock because of her condition. Our little Bailey surprised us though. We were fast approaching the twins’ one year birthday, and she was only just starting to show signs of needing the surgery. Bailey’s team of cardiologists saw no reason to wait any longer to do surgery, since she was at a healthy weight and her heart was still strong. On top of it all, Bailey got an ear infection the night before surgery, so we had to reschedule her surgery to a very long four weeks later! For the second time, we got all of our kids situated at our friends’ and families’ houses and took Bailey to Little Rock for surgery. Although we knew that the procedure they were going to perform was very risky, there was a certain amount of calm and peace that came over us as we handed our baby girl to the surgeons. We had prayed so much and knew that she was in God’s hands. We had done our part, and now it was up to Him whether she would make it through the surgery. After a long 12-hour open heart surgery, she was finally out, and doing pretty well. However, the next day, the doctors seemed really concerned about how one of her valves was working, which had never been a problem before surgery. Our only option was for them to open her back up and see what was going on. In surgery, they discovered that one little stitch was causing a big problem. They fixed it, and she was finally on the road to recovery. Bailey was kept sedated for nine days while they waited for her heart and lungs to start working on their own. There were good days and bad days. Sometimes what started to be a bad day would end being a great day, and sometimes vice versa. We depended a lot on our Father in Heaven and family and friends. Bailey did really well, and we were able to bring her home after a little more than three weeks. We’re happy to say that Bailey is still doing really well. She and her twin sister are 2 1/2 years old now, and keeping us on our toes! Our life is as “normal” and “boring” as it can be with five kids, but we are thankful for it every day. Bailey will need a valve replacement in a few years, but right now she’s a very normal toddler. After all of our trials we have definitely learned one thing... our Father in Heaven is in control.

My husband Dan and I were young college students when we married in December 2004. We knew we wanted children, but it was important to us that we have the opportunity to finish our education. I graduated and began teaching while my husband worked through school, an internship, and ultimately a graduate degree. I treasure the time we had to grow as a couple. We were able learn how to live with each other and manage a household.

Wait,h

whic one is he?

by Brienne Austin With Photos by: CareTouch Photography

t’s a question I hear most days, and one I fear will define the entire lives of my 3-year-old identical twin boys. Hunter and Spencer were born to share most things, from their birthday to their face, and thus I often wonder how I can help them feel valued and needed as individual members of our family.

30 October 2015

We moved to Northwest Arkansas in January of 2009 with a new job and the desire to grow our family. It grew quickly, and we welcomed our daughter, Sadie, in October 2009. It was hard to adjust to a new baby after having had so much time together as a couple, but Sadie is a true delight, and she made becoming parents a joy...so much so, that we decided to add to our family again and announced that Sadie would become a big sister in August of 2011. However, our twin story does not begin there! One day, I was talking with some friends who were also pregnant. I looked at their expanding waists and back at mine and said, “You know, our bellies are really just about the same size.” The problem was they were both three months ahead of me in their pregnancies. One friend commented that maybe I was going to have twins. I shrugged it off, but it got to me. My mind began to reel, and I thought about how my aunt gave birth to fraternal twins. I remember thinking about how that could be genetic or something, and I couldn’t get it out of my mind. My next doctor’s appointment was at 17 weeks. When the time finally came, I said, “I’m sure you hear this all the time, but do you think I might be having twins?” The doctor took the Doppler out and went over my stomach for a bit. He said, “Nope, just one,” and reasoned that second pregnancies usually fill out sooner. In addition, my belly was barely measuring half a week ahead, and he hadn’t found a second heartbeat. We laughed it off and went on our way. I put it out of my mind and never thought of it again. The morning of our 20 week ultrasound, I was

very excited, because it was gender reveal day. I lay down on the table and the technician began. However, after a second, she stopped, took a deep breath and said, “So...there are two babies here.” Clear as day, there were two spinal cords visible on the screen. I burst into tears and my husband couldn’t stop laughing. We were having twins! How could this happen? We had asked and the answer had been a definitive “no.” How were we getting this news? Finding out we were having twins totally trumped any gender reveal we were expecting! At that point, who cares what their gender is--there are TWO! The doctor pulled us into an exam room and explained that we were on the “twin track.” I have to admit, from the very beginning, I struggled emotionally with the fact that our boys would be identical twins. Would I be able to tell them apart? Would I be able to treat them as

individuals and not as a pair? Would they always be in competition with each other? Early on, the word twin became the “T word” and I insisted that we would not refer to our babies as “the twins.” I also worried about the impact they would have on Sadie...would the demands of two babies overshadow her and her needs? Hunter and Spencer were born in April of 2012, at 35 weeks and six days. My water broke after leaving a routine ultrasound, and they were born 13 hours later, just 10 minutes apart. I literally had to say to the nurse, “Can someone please take this baby?! I think the other one is coming!”

Turn the page ...

Transitioning to taking care of the physical needs of two babies went really well, and I was relieved to find I could tell Spencer and Hunter apart. This, to me, is where the real work of raising twins began, as I worked to understand their sibling relationship and the part Dan and I would play in it. By nature, identical twins are fascinating, and there is a sense of magic about their bond. There are so many myths about twins. For example, there’s always a “good twin” and a “bad twin,” twins can read each other’s minds, or they always have a secret language and are as close as two people can be. The reality is, at least in our family, they are just two different people that happened to be born at the same time. This little pair was so cute, and I suddenly understood the desire to dress them in matching little outfits. However, Dan and I had decided early on that, in general, we would not dress them alike. We felt it would reinforce the idea that they were just a pair and would not give us the opportunity to see them as unique and distinct from each other. Dressing Hunter and Spencer distinctly would be a visual reminder that they are not a set but two different boys. They are allowed to assert their independence from each other as they choose what to wear individually. From a practical standpoint, as they’ve grown, it’s simply easier to tell them apart from across the room so I’m not constantly calling for the wrong child! I struggled for a long time with the idea that everything had to be equal. Even during my pregnancy I wondered how I could possibly give Hunter and Spencer the same love and attention I had given Sadie. I mourned the precious one on one time I would have to give up with each of them. After they were born, it was a balancing act. I felt if I spent 20 minutes cuddling Spencer, then I needed to spend 20 minutes with Hunter. However, I finally came to the realization that if I wanted to be true to my ideals of individuality for

, t i ch hi w a W

one is he?

them, then our relationships would develop naturally in different ways. I couldn’t think of things in terms of what seemed to be fair and what wasn’t. As the boys have grown, I have different relationships with each of them. Spencer and I are very close. He has always been one to come and check in with me throughout the day with just a little pat on the knee to say “Hey, I’m here, and I’m making sure you are, too.” Hunter is a thinker and showed early signs of independence that were only so glaringly obvious because of the connection Spencer and I share, and that’s okay! I want Hunter and Spencer to know they are loved as individuals. Dan and I see our boys as distinct from each other, and our connection with each of them is different. They are not interchangeable! However, in writing about my boys, it has been difficult for me to write about Hunter and Spencer and not group them together as a pair, because, inherently, they are. There is a fine line between treating the boys independently and yet respecting their bond as twins. I don’t want to take that relationship away from them. God sent them to our family together and knew it would be what they, and our family, would need. In that way, I want to embrace their birth, allow them to grow together, and not downplay their twin relationship. I now laugh when people ask me “Wait, which one is he?” I cringe a little inwardly but appreciate their desire to really know Hunter and Spencer. I love that they are willing to see them as individuals and want to know who they are talking to!

Dad’s View

Front Porch vs.

Back Deck People by Ben Lacy

You know how people are always saying there are only two kinds of people in the world? Like… Those that lead vs. those that follow Early birds vs. night owls Cat people vs. Dog people Beach people vs. Mountain people IBM vs. Mac people People from NYC and... everyone else You could go on and on… so I will! Here’s my dichotomy: Front Porch People vs. Back Deck People Me, I’m a ‘Front Porch Person,’ but let’s explore the differences.

34 October 2015

The Back Deck

The family and I have been fairly nomadic over the last decade or so. We’re always in NWA, but we’ve adjusted the real estate Rubik’s Cube more than our fair share in order to find the “perfect spot.” Goldilocks would be so proud. Each time we moved to a new apartment or house, there has been great concern over the back deck or patio. Oooohhh, does it have a huge space for entertaining? Is there a water feature? Is there a place for the grill? Are there outlets for a TV? Cable? Is there a fire pit? We have always had a perceived need for mega amounts of outdoor space to host grandiose brunches and extravagant parties! Seersucker and big hats and champagne and caviar, chop, chop! Then there is the reality of the time spent on the back deck and the activities involved; namely, having a beer and a slice of Eureka pizza once or thrice a year--very little time actually spent in the “out back.” Actually, that’s not quite true. I do spend quite a bit of time on the lanai, but not lounging or lucidly enjoying libations. Nope, mostly edging, trimming, cleaning, waterproofing, staining and maintaining an area that nobody ever visits, except me and the smelly mutt. Rarely does anyone hang out on the back deck, because nobody is ever there! More on that later... But, before I move on, I must share, as this is the (grumpy) Dad’s View. Just off the deck is my second favorite place: the back yard (note: serious, scorching sarcasm). Here you will find an array of very ornate pots with very dead plants, an overgrown garden of nothing you would seriously entertain eating in the first place, and the bane of my existence: the Playset. Folks, we’re nearing the holidays, so here’s a tip from jolly old St. Ben. Don’t, under any circumstances, allow one of these mega wooden monstrosities in your back yard, unless you want to earn your doctorate in Weed Eating Technology or launch into an intricate

study on the nesting habits of wasps. Seriously, in the last 10 years my kids have spent 10 minutes of their lives on this thing, while I’ve spent a year of my life manicuring this mammoth. Another backyard gift idea to avoid, the trampoline, or as it is affectionately called around my house: The Offspring Accident Accelerator. Okay, off track again. As we all know, I have a severe lack of focus that I attribute to BSOS (Bright Shiny Object Syndrome). Back to the back porch? Why the disdain? Aside from the aforementioned issues with wobbly-wooden-kiddie-structure maintenance, the real reason is a cultural shift.

The front porch I’m nostalgic and have been accused of having an old soul (and old other parts, as the salt is starting to trump the pepper on my noggin’). People used to sit on their front porch, and that was their Facebook, their Instagram, their Twitter--and, I guess if they are forgetful, their Snapchat. They found out about each other the old fashioned way--by gossiping and reading other people’s mail. Seriously though, the front porch was vital to communication and information. Sure, you didn’t get to see 50 pictures a day of somebody’s pug on Facebook, but you really got to know people. The good, the bad and, oh yes, the ugly.

Front porches are smaller than they used to be. Back decks are bigger than they used to be. I heart the old measurements.

Recently I’ve been spending more time on the front porch; initially, much to my neighbor’s dismay. There have been lots of sheepish waves as they pulled into their garages, and several peeks out from behind the curtains. What in the heck is Lacy doing sitting out on the front porch? Did the queen finally give him the boot? Maybe it was the shotgun across my lap and my Cracker Barrel rocking chair (you know you want one!) - just kidding. Then, one day, a squirrel got the business end of a transformer and the electricity went out in our ‘hood – forcing all to come out of their domesticated caves. While most still clutched their i-Thingys and had a difficult time adjusting to sunlight, all chatted and actually talked to each other. Many next-door neighbors had never even met each other! They saw it wasn’t so bad, and a new generation of Front Porch people was born. So I hope there are more Front Porch people out there. More people that really want to get to know their neighbors and the kiddos. Sure, some of them are going to be kinda scary, but it’s nearly Halloween and let’s face it, we’re all a little spooky.

i double duty! by: Laura Porch

t was about a year after we got married that we decided to start a family. Clay and I figured that it would take us a while to get pregnant and we could just have a “laid back” second year of marriage. Much to our surprise, we were pregnant after the second month of trying! We were very excited about the pregnancy and we made our first doctor’s appointment. As we waited for the appointment to arrive, I experienced all the symptoms of pregnancy, like tiredness and nausea. The first few weeks were a real struggle not to fall asleep or get sick at work. At our first appointment I was 11 weeks along. After the informal question-and-answer session, I asked the doctor if we could get an ultrasound to see the baby and he said yes. I was so excited because I wanted Clay to see what was making me so tired and sick all the time. During the ultrasound, we learned, much to our surprise, that there was not one baby, but two!! How could this have happened, I thought? I never expected two! Our emotions were all over the place, from giggling to tears of joy. This is the last thing I thought he would tell us. He also told us that the babies looked healthy and we left the appointment in shock.

36 October 2015

The next few months we prepared, as best we could, for our two new arrivals. As we neared 28 weeks of pregnancy, however, one of the babies started leaking amniotic fluid out of their sac. My doctor immediately put me in the hospital, and I was to stay there until I delivered, which could potentially be another six weeks! Since I am a pediatric physical therapist, I was well aware of the problems that can come with preemies. I was scared and worried, but I knew that the hospital was the best place for both me and my babies. I tried to push these thoughts to the back of my mind and focus on the positive. I knew that I would never have this time to myself again, so I kept busy with visitors, watching movies, and doing some paperwork. At 30 weeks, I could no longer hold off and I went into labor. Our son Brady was born weighing 2 lbs 15 oz, and our daughter, Caroline, was born weighing 3 lbs. They were small, but doing well for their age. They were transferred to the NICU at Willow Creek, where they spent the next six weeks learning to eat by mouth, regulate their body temperature, and gain weight. There were a lot of ups and downs while at the

NICU, but we tried to stay positive and focus on our new babies that were here. When we got to bring them home, we were so excited that we didn’t even worry that much, even though they were so small at only 4 lbs! The first year went by like a blur, but we definitely learned how to survive. About four years later, I had this pull to have another baby. I thought to myself, “My first two kids are at a really good age, and if I could just add one more to our family, we would be complete.” It took Clay a little more time to warm up to the idea, but I slowly talked him into it. After about four months of trying, we got the good news that we were pregnant. I didn’t know if it would even happen again, but it did, and I was over the moon with the thought of a little brother or sister for Brady and Caroline. I made my first doctor’s appointment and waited for it to come so I could see our new bundle of joy. I was a little concerned that twins could happen again, but odds were, we would only have one baby. Well, the odds weren’t in our favor, because at our first appointment we discovered we were pregnant with twins, again! We were much more shocked this time than last, to

tell the truth. My doctor took really great care of me during the pregnancy, and was more cautious this time than last. I made it to almost 33 weeks How co uld before I went into labor. Our this hav happen e twin girls, Charlie Ann and thought? ed, I Maggie Dean were born I expecte never d two! on September 3, 2015, weighing 4 lbs 6 oz and 4 lbs 4 oz. They went to the

a 2 + 2 =4

NICU for a little over two weeks, then we got to take them home on September 20 to join our family. We are still trying to figure out how life is going to work with four kids, but we definitely know that we are blessed and excited for our future.

Out&About

Fall Events in Northwest Arkansas

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Crystal Bridges Youth and Family Programs Friday, October 19 600 Museum Way Bentonville crystalbridges.org Wednesdays, October 7, 14 and 21 1-2:15 p.m. Preschool Art Class “Show Me Shapes”

October 23, 6:30 - 8 p.m. Family Workshop “Family Game Night”

The Wyeth family had strong traditions for Halloween. What symbol could represent your family tradition? Create your own board game based on this family tradition! $10 (Free for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

Let’s cover the basics of art and create with shapes, using a variety of supplies and techniques. All materials are provided. $45/3 classes for one child plus an adult ($36 for members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

October 24, 7-10 p.m. Teen Night “Fright in the Museum”

October 8, 11:30-2 p.m. Preschool Playdate “Fall Colors”

Downtown Rogers Oktoberfest

Enjoy art projects, story time, and creative play inspired by fall’s changing colors. October 11 11 - 12:30 p.m. Member Fall Picnic at Family Sunday

Join the Museum for our Member Fall Picnic to celebrate you, our Members! Enjoy the outdoors with great food followed by activities, live music, and lots of fun at Family Sunday! This picnic is especially for Museum Members.

High school students are invited to Crystal Bridges for live music, dancing, art, and fright! There will be a costume contest, light refreshments, and more. Planned by the Museum’s Teen Council. Free, no registration required. .......................................

Saturday, October 3 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Frisco Park ROGERS

offer an array of original, one of a kind, and limited-run items including illustrations, printmaking, music, jewelry and accessories, pottery, handmade goods, salvaged and re-purposed goods, and hand-picked vintage. .......................................

Hobbs State Park October Must - Dos Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day Saturday, October 3 Hobbs State Park, Rogers

Ready to take on the trails on your mountain bike? Bring your bike, helmet, and kids as we take fun rides, skills refinement, and good fun. Fall Festival Sunday, October 4 / 1 - 4 p.m. Hobbs State Park, Rogers

Step back in time during this family-friendly celebration of the Ozark way of life. Meet a blacksmith, a flint knapper, and Civil War Soldiers as you meander the half-mile paved trail. .......................................

Features the Steve Meisner Polka Band from Whitewater, Wisconsin, Johnsonville brats and Oktoberfest beers from Premium Brands of NWA. .......................................

Women’s Wellness Workshop

Homegrown Festival

At this workshop, Dr. Gartside will help you understand: The nature of major illnesses that affect women, Why preventative solutions are the same for most illnesses. Leave with a 30-day wellness challenge and a real plan to take your health back.

Saturday, October 3 Twin Springs Park Siloam Springs

The Homegrown Festival showcases local handmade goods, curated vintage, and local food from around the region. Vendors

Saturday, October 24 12:30pm Bentonville Community Center invisionchiro.com

Historic Ghost Walks

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October 15, 16, 23 and 24 Rogers Historical Museum 322 S. 2nd Street ROGERS www.rogersar.gov/museum

October 9 -11 Benton County Fairgrounds BENTONVILLE

Just in time for Halloween our popular ghost walks around downtown Rogers are back! Come hear stories of murder, mischief, and mayhem in the Rogers area from costumed interpreters. Walks will be October 15, 16, 23, &24 and will begin at 7 p.m. for 30 minutes with last walk starting at 9 p.m. Suggested for ages 12 and up. Cost is $5 per person. Call the museum to sign up and reserve your spot. .......................................

Fall in Love with Fall October 16 - 18 / 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Devils Den State Park WEST FORK, AR

Help us celebrate the coming of fall in the Ozarks! Kids can design their own costume, join in the “nighttime walk around” candy collection, or crawl their way through the “box cave.”

Vintage Market Days

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

Little Gym Fall Festival October 30 Little Gym - Rogers

4:30-5:30 under 3 years old; 5:30-7:00 3-12 years old. Lots of fun games/ prizes and kids can also trick or treat around the businesses in the square.

Out&About

Fall Events in Northwest Arkansas

No Veggie Left Behind

Pumpkin Patches

Corn Mazes

October 31 Bentonville Farmer’s Market Downtown bentonville

McGarrah Farms

Wear your costumes and join in the fun. We’ll be having costume contests for all ages, we’ll even include our furry friends! So grab your costumes and your grocery bags, we shall clean out the Market and leave No Veggie Behind! .......................................

www.mcgarrahfarms.com

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk October 17 9 a.m. Village on the Creeks Rogers

Join Northwest Arkansas in the nation’s largest network of breast cancer awareness walks! No registration fee! Register now at www.makingstrideswalk.org/NWAR .......................................

Halloween Event at the Princess Party Palace October 24 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. www.PrincessPartyPalaceNWA.com Fayetteville

Decorate your own Stage Coach with the glass slipper princess, Photo Booth with the Tower Princess, Apple Games with the Apple Princess, Glitter Tattoos, Cupcakes, Lemonade and Halloween Dance Party

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

44 October 2015

Huge pumpkin patch, hay bale maze, tractor-pulled hay rides, & more! You can pick your own pumpkins! (479) 451-8164

Ozark Corn Maze Come get lost with us! Fall family fun. 7.5-acre corn maze (farm scene), 4-acre pumpkin patch, petting zoo, corn cannon, cow train, hay maze, kids’ play area, covered picnic tables, pony rides and helicopter rides (only on certain weekends - watch website and Facebook for dates!). 12880 Hwy 112 Cave Springs

www.ozarkcornmaze.com

Farmland Adventures Giant corn maze, a mini maze, a kid’s play area, pony rides, a petting farm, wagon rides, a pumpkin patch, pig races and campfires. 5355 Parsons Road Springdale (479) 799- 5033

Farmlandadventures.com

Out&About

Fall Events in Northwest Arkansas

Bright Light Fright Ride Friday, October 9 401 SW A Street Downtown bentonville

Family night ride though Downtown Bentonville! Decorate your bike with LED and glow lights and let’s have some fun! This event is free and open to the public. Meet behind Pedaler’s Pub on the concrete area. .......................................

Mall-O-Ween Saturday, October 31 6 - 8 p.m. Northwest Arkansas Mall FAYETTEVILLE northwestarkansasmall.com

Children ages 12 and under are invited to trick or treat participating merchants for goodies and treat bags while supplies last. Costume Contest starting at 6 p.m. with prizes awarded to top three in each age group based on creativitiy and originality. .......................................

5K and Family Fun Walk D.E.B. Project October 24 Grace Point Church BENTONVILLE www.debproject.com

DEB Project H2O (Help 2 Others) 5k run and

walk. This event will help raise money for children in need in NW Arkansas and bring awareness of Foster Care/Children in need in our community. The event will be held on Saturday, October 24, at Grace Point Church, 1201 NE McCollum Drive, Bentonville. The event will kick off at 7 a.m. with a 5k followed by the family fun walk at 8:30 a.m. ........................................

Dracula Trike Theatre October 29-November 1 TrikeTheatre.org A play for young audiences perfect forthe season. Tickets available online at triketheatre. org.

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Gulley Park Glow in the Park Glow Run and Outdoor Movie Thursday, October 29 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Gulley Park FAYETTEVILLE

Join Fayetteville Parks and Recreation for a fun filled night at Gulley Park! Under the moonlight – the evening will begin with a 1-2 mile “Glow Run” that will give participants a chance to sport some flashy neon accessories and navigate the Gulley Park trail under the light of the moon and fellow runners. Following the run, Glow in the Park will feature an outdoor showing of a family friendly Halloween movie. Register for tickets at fayetteville.onlinesignup.org

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Fayetteville Literacy Festival True Lit Wednesday, October 7th 7pm

Fayettevill Public Library FAYETTEVILLE Fayetteville Literacy Festival Meet Lois Lowry .......................................

Treats at the Tracks Family Carnival Thursday, October 29 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Arkansas Missouri Railroad SPRINGDALE

Treats at the Tracks will provide a fun, safe place for families to come Trick-or-Treat on the Train, enjoy carnival games and live music, and have lots of fun. There will also be a haunted train for the older and braver kids. Proceeds benefit the House of Hope Rescue Mission. Admission is $5.00 (Kids 2yrs and under are Free). .......................................

June Bug Reruns Fall Consignment Sale October 14th - 17th Frisco Station Mall 100 N Dixieland Road rogers

www.junebugreruns.com .......................................

www.peekaboonwa.com

Immeasurably

Family Photo by Simply Bliss Photos Birth Photos by Lacy Tomlinson Photography

More Than I

Imagined by Amber Barrier

It wasn’t a new thing for me -- expecting a child. At this point in the game, I had already been pregnant four times, and now I was going for the fifth. My husband, Robby, and our four children (ages nine, six, three, and one at the time) had moved from Little Rock to Harrison, Arkansas just a few months prior. The move was especially trying due to the morning sickness I’d been experiencing in the first trimester of my pregnancy. When we got settled in Harrison, I called a local midwife so that I could begin seeing her for prenatals in lieu of an obstetrician, and found it to be a fluid transition from my former midwife. As is typical, my midwife found no reason to order an ultrasound at that point during my pregnancy; at our monthly visits we listened to the baby’s heartbeat, took measurements, and all of the normal prenatal actions. My first child, born in 2003, was a girl, and the next three of my babies were all boys, so I have to admit, during my fifth pregnancy I had my heart set on having a girl. As I was quite anxious to know either way, I elected to have an ultrasound performed and made an appointment. In midJanuary of 2013, at 18 weeks pregnant, Robby, the kids, and I headed to Springfield, Missouri to go see the new baby for the first time!

50 October 2015

As I laid back onto the exam table, with Robby and the kids seated next to me, the ultrasound technician asked me to raise my shirt to expose my belly, and she said we could all watch what she would be doing on the big TV-type screen in front of us. I explained to her that we were there to see the baby only. We wanted the sex to be written down and sealed in an envelope (something Robby and I had done with each of my prior pregnancies) so we could read the results at home. As the tech put the wand to my stomach, an image appeared on the screen, and she paused. Then she turned to me and exclaimed, “Do you see what I’m seeing?” Alarmed at what she could possibly mean by that question, I asked, “What is it?!” I’ll never forget her reply, “There’s two!” I gasped, turned back to the screen, and the reality of what I was seeing hit me, “There are two! It’s twins!” I then burst into tears of complete shock and utter joy! The tech excused herself and I looked to my husband for his reaction. Honestly, he just kind of sat there, staring at the screen, with a look of absolute confusion on his face. It was at that time that my tears of happiness turned into hysterical laughter. I simply could not stop laughing. Like a deranged pregnant lady, I laughed and I cried. I’m sure that it was quite a sight to see.

Upon returning home a couple of hours later, I could no longer stand the anticipation of finding out the sex of the babies, and I told Robby I was opening the envelope. During the ride home, I’d been trying to convince myself that twin boys would be awesome, though the thought of twin girls was almost too good to be true. I loved and I wanted these babies no matter what, but in my heart I couldn’t control that longing for another daughter after nine years and three precious little boys in a row. As I opened the envelope, I removed the slip of paper, flipped it open, and read: “Baby A and Baby B… we are both GIRLS!” The sounds of disbelief and amazement that came out of me in that moment are ones for the record books. According to what was inside that envelope, I WAS HAVING IDENTICAL TWIN GIRLS! I knew my life had been forever altered, and I realized that a dream I’d never known I had--the dream of mothering two infants at once--had just come true. Everything in my world was about to light up like mesmerizing fire with the two blessings in the form of twin girls that were soon to come. Fast forward five months to me at 39 1/2 weeks pregnant. My pregnancy and babies were healthy, although I was extremely uncomfortable, and I’d switched to an unlicensed midwife that could follow through with my homebirth wishes. For

“

Everything in my world was about to light up like mesmerizing fire with the two blessings in the form of twin girls that were soon to come.

”

weeks, I’d been walking around dilated several centimeters--we were just waiting on the babies to decide on their birthday! On June 12th, I began having severe pain in my back. Knowing full well what labor pains are like, I knew this was something different. In tears I spoke with my midwife by phone, telling her these weren’t contractions, and that the pain was intense. Her thought was the babies were somehow pinching a nerve and it was causing me serious discomfort. She offered to meet me at the home of a mutual friend (which was the agreed-upon birth location due to its close proximity to the hospital, just in case we needed to transfer) and see what she could do to relieve me. Turn the page ...

“

I knew my life had been forever altered, and I realized that a dream I’d never known I had -- the dream of mothering two infants at once -- had just come true.

”

We met there around midnight and she immediately checked my dilation and effacement progress. At that point I was seven centimeters dilated and almost completely effaced. Coincidentally, by the time the exam was over, the nerve issue was hardly bothering me at all. She offered to stretch my cervix just a bit to see if it would throw me over the edge into labor and I was all for it! It took her approximately three seconds to do the stretching and immediately I began having regular contractions. Whew, I was officially in labor! Over the next few hours, the contractions gained in intensity and I did a number of things to keep

my comfort level up, such as laboring in the tub, changing positions frequently, praying, keeping the lights low and playing some beloved worship music, joking and laughing with my midwife, husband, doula, photographer, and sister-in-law in between contractions, and literally leaning on my husband for support. My oldest daughter, Ireland, had come along for the birth, just as she had been present in the past for my other home births, and she did her best to keep me comfortable as well. When it was getting close to 3 a.m., I began feeling the urge to push. At that point, I was fully dilated and effaced and ready to go! I began pushing with my contractions while standing up, and then moved onto the birth stool that my midwife had brought along with her. Within minutes, Baby A began to crown and, with another couple of pushes, at 3:04 in the early hours of the morning, she was born! She was perfect and as healthy as can be, minus the serious scowl on her darling little face. We named her Scotland Kelia. As we were looking her over and basking in the joy of having that baby girl in our arms, I suddenly felt something pop out of me! The midwife took a look and it was a bulging bag of water. The contractions started up again and, just 14 minutes after her big sister was born, Jubilee Maeve made her world debut! Jubilee was also healthy and joined right in with her sister in being adored by everyone around her. It occurred to me in those moments after their births that my heart’s deep cry had come to pass two times over! I was exhausted from labor and delivery, but I was so indescribably grateful to my God, the One who gave those girls, as well as all of my irreplaceable children, to my husband and I. My heart felt so full. Recovery took longer than normal, which is expected for a birth of multiples, but my midwife and family took impeccable care of me. Breastfeeding was a little challenging in the beginning, but it didn’t take me or the babies long to catch on and master the process like professionals! We didn’t stop for a year and a half after we began--something I am thankful went so smoothly. Scotland and Jubilee are now two years old and are a pair of immeasurably bright lights in my life. They’re both feminine, happy, mischievous, and they look almost entirely alike. Everywhere we go we receive comments on how precious they are. People love them and they love people! Although it’s been two years since their births, I am still completely ecstatic over them. It never fails; each morning when I wake those beauties up, I squeeze them tightly and say, “I love you and I am so very happy that you’re here.” My twin girls, my dreams come true.

Follow our family blog: www.amerrychaos.blogspot.com Send us an email: thebarriers@gmail.com

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DBI Notes l he can “An individual has not started living unti idualistic indiv his of nes rise above the narrow confi humanity.”— concerns to the broader concerns of allKing, Jr. er Luth tin -Mar

n our offices we talk about Bentonville – a lot. Obviously much of this is because of our work but we also focus on how lucky we are to live here. Our team feels privileged to live in a community which values diversity and actively works toward inclusion of all citizens. For that reason we are incredibly excited and proud to partner with the Walmart ADAE (Associates for Disability Awareness & Education) group to bring the free Disability Rights Museum on Wheels (DRMW) to Bentonville all day on October 20th at the Parks & Recreation grounds downtown. The DRMW is an accessible self-contained motor vehicle that features interactive learning opportunities and emerging technologies. It presents an eye-catching exhibit that invites visitors to participate in hands-on learning about the disability civil rights movement and the Americans with Disabilities Act’s (ADA) impact on technological innovation. We hope that you will take time to visit the museum with friends and family and use this as a learning opportunity to increase diversity and inclusion awareness. We will also have other relevant community activities – so see you downtown!

- Team DBI.

We look forward to seeing you and your families’ downtown Bentonville! 56 October 2015

Upcoming October Events... October First Friday Downtown Bentonville Presents Oktoberfest! One of our most popular First Fridays, this event includes traditional music and foods inspired by the Bavarianbased Oktoberfest. Included in the event is the PepsiCo Mug Root Biergarten, the brat-eating contest. Sponsored in part by PepsiCo, Walton Arts Center, City of Bentonville, The Walmart Museum, Bentonville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and KUAF.

Slaughter Pen Jam October 2-4 Mountain Bike Race and Festival for youth and adult racers. Festival includes live music, show by Real Encounter-BMX stunt riders, and vendor showcase.

Tinkerfest at Amazeum October 10 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. A full day of amazing family fun dedicated to tinkering and making!

No Veggie Left Behind Last Day of Farmer’s Market October 31 Wear your costumes and join in the fun. We’ll be having costume contests for all ages, we’ll even include our furry friends! So grab your costumes and your grocery bags and let’s clean out the Market and leave No Veggie Behind!

Food Truck Lunch October 19 11 a.m. Downtown Bentonville Inc. has created a new series all about our Local Food Trucks! Once a month the DBI team will be hosting a party at a food truck in the downtown area. Look for Pop Up Markets, Live Music, Food Specials and lots more! Our next event will be held at the Crazy Pear Food Truck. Notes at Night October 8 Live Music at The Hive in 21c Museum Hotel featuring Sam Hunt. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Sponsored by Signature Bank Glow Ride October 9 7 p.m. Family night ride through Downtown Bentonville! Decorate your bike with led and glow lights and let’s have some fun! This event is free and open to the public. Meet behind Pedaler’s Pub on the concrete area. In Partnership with HLARG and the Walton Life Fitness Center

A Twin Tale

Home for a season “Willow Creek Women’s hospital became my home for a season and it was a very good home.”

By: Jenny Schisler Photos by: Katie Cole Photograpy

y husband James and I found out that we were having twins when I was only 11 weeks and 6 days pregnant. We probably wouldn’t have found out as soon, but, three days before my appointment I had told James that I definitely felt that there were two babies in there! Though my great-grandmother had two sets of fraternal twins herself, I never seriously thought that I would have a set of my own. My woman’s intuition was firing though, and I hinted at it enough through the routine appointment that my obstetrician rolled out a small ultrasound machine in the room just to check. Right then and there, we found out that we were having two babies! And the rapidity of my pregnancy didn’t stop there. Fourteen short weeks later (at 25 weeks and 6 days), one of the babies’ amniotic sacs ruptured, and my water broke. This time, we were scared to death. It was a Sunday morning, December 7 to be exact, and I thought I was going to go into labor that day. I was so afraid that we could lose them both if they came this soon. We rushed to the emergency room at Mercy Hospital as fast as we could possibly go,

58 October 2015

and once there, we were quickly moved to the labor and delivery floor. I was administered a steroid shot to help the babies’ lungs develop, and given an IV medication to help prevent labor. After a couple of hours, my husband and I were transported by helicopter to UAMS. I didn’t know back then that there was a place called an Antepartum Unit, or that I could stay in a bed literally until the babies were born, but that`s exactly where I went and what I did. I learned my condition was called PPROM, or “Premature Preterm Rupture of Membranes.’ I was admitted to UAMS and placed on full bed rest until I had the babies. I could only get up to take a shower every other day and go to the bathroom. Though I knew that this was necessary for my girls, it was so incredibly difficult to relinquish my duties as a mom to my firstborn daughter, 2-yearold Eden, and as a wife to James. If you know me, you know that I never sit still, and I love to run. I had to learn the very difficult lesson of being still and patient for the good of the sweet babies I was carrying, no matter how badly I wanted to get up and move my achy body. James stayed in the hospital room with me while we were in Little Rock, which was an amazing blessing. Luckily, he works for the Wal-Mart home office, and they graciously allowed him to work remotely. The medical team checked my vitals and the babies every three to four hours around the clock, and if I got a fever or showed any signs of labor, they told me that they would roll me straight to the operating room for a C-section. This is why James wanted to be close, because he could miss their birth if he was in Northwest Arkansas. James’ parents would bring our daughter as often as they could, but being separated was excruciating for all

of us. We stayed at UAMS for a grand total of 31 days, and we even celebrated Christmas as a family in my little room! Our daughter was able to spend the night with us to open presents Christmas morning. We received excellent care around the clock from amazing doctors, nurses, and hospital staff there, but it was very difficult to be so far from home. I began to look into being transferred to Willow Creek under the care of my Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor, Bernard Canzoneri, after the third week in Central Arkansas. It was a small miracle to pull off the transport, honestly. The babies had to be stable and growing perfectly, and every doctor and facility involved had to approve the ambulance transport and stay in the new facility. On January 7, I was finally transported by ambulance to Willow Creek Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital, a mere 15 minutes from our home. We were so happy and relieved to be back in Northwest Arkansas with our family and friends! It took a small army to care for our home and little girl while we were over three hours away, and we would still need them to hold it together, but it was lightyears easier. Our friends and church family served and cared for us in countless ways, and our families sacrificed time, money, and energy to make sure our daughter was cared for and we had everything we needed. I was admitted to Willow Creek and given a spacious labor and delivery suite, with plenty of room for friends to visit and for my little girl to play. The nurses, cafeteria workers, and cleaning ladies quickly became my friends. While I was still a patient just passing the slow hours and days, my nurses encouraged me and talked to me about their lives. Dr. Canzoneri was kind and attentive, checking on me and the babies every single day, even on Sundays! Dr. Wagle, one of the neonatologists, visited me and helped me feel prepared for the NICU. The radiologists would come to my room and check on the babies every couple of days, and the cafeteria staff learned my favorite drink and knew my name and room number. When I called for special meal orders, they made me feel important and happily obliged. On my birthday, Ms. Carol and a few other hospital administrators even brought me a cake and sang for me! Our family was truly cared for at Willow Creek. My c-section was scheduled for Sunday, February 1. For safety, you can only carry a baby with PPROM to 34 weeks. One week before that, however, I went in to labor on my own.

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Home for a season

On that Sunday, January 25, around noon, I went into labor, and by the early afternoon our babies were born. Evelyn was 4 lbs. 3 oz. and Elizabeth was 5 lbs. 6 oz. There were two full teams ready and waiting to care for them in the operating room. Dr. Canzoneri held them each up over the cape for me to see before they were whisked away to the NICU, because I needed to spend several hours in recovery before I could go upstairs to officially meet them. I had taken a tour of the NICU in my wheelchair the previous week, but it feels much different when you are rolling in to see your own tiny babies. Any NICU is not a place you want to spend any time, but the compassionate nurses and the excellent doctors, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, and occupational therapists at Willow Creek made our stay the best it could be.

I stayed downstairs in a complimentary room until I recovered from my surgery and I could move up into the twin room with our girls. I had been a bedridden hospital patient for 53 days straight, and it felt strange to be able to get up and walk around the hospital freely! I started going to the cafeteria for my meals and seeing more of the hospital staff, and I became friends with several other NICU moms who were on the same journey. We ate together, took our CPR and infant massage classes together, and laughed and cried together. I pumped breast milk around the clock and took it upstairs in the middle of the night in my pajamas. I think I scared the night guard a few times with my crazy hair! The nurses taught me how to care for the girls, and I was able to help them change their diapers, take their temperatures and bathe them. I liked having the same nurses consistently. They got to know us and the girls well, and I became very close with several of them. The staff worked with all of the therapists to make sure I could hold the girls for “kangaroo care” each day, and that was a really special time for me. One nurse worked on wires and monitors for two hours to make sure I could hold them together in a chair between the isolate beds, and the lactation consultant helped me navigate the tricky process of tandem nursing twins when they were big enough to start. Dr. Lin and Dr. Wagle always took the time to answer our questions and explain the girls’ treatment plan. One of our girls’ PKU screenings came back positive for a variant version of a rare genetic disorder called Galactosemia, and the staff worked hard to run the proper tests and coordinated their efforts with ACH. They were attentative and compassionate through this process, working to coordinate everything we needed to take care of the girls when we got home. They scheduled our follow up appointments, physical therapy initial visits, and connected us to the geneticist and dietician from ACH to help with Eve’s genetic disorder. Once the babies were eating well, breathing well, and growing, we were allowed to go home! On February 17, after I lived in the hospital for 75 days, we took our precious girls home and we were together as a family for the first time since my water broke in December. We are so thankful for all of the people that helped and served us on our journey. Willow Creek Women’s hospital became my home for a season, and it was a very good home for all of us.

Everyone has a different normal. Advice from Parents, for Parents

“Personally, admitting that your child has special needs can been quite a challenge. It is hard to swallow. Getting used to the schedule of therapies and doctors’ visits is an eye-opening experience. My advice to parents is to just take everything one day at a time, one therapy at a time, one doctor’s visit at a time. Don’t get too stressed out with the process. No matter how slow the progression, forward is still progress!” -TEAM Dad Scott McKenzie “What has helped the most is my child’s therapy TEAM! It helps to have a place to go to speak with other parents and therapists who understand. Others often don’t understand my situation. I often feel harshly judged for my parenting by those who do not understand. My advice to new parents is to document everything that has to do with your child’s medical condition. I suggest creating a binder or notebook.” -Anonymous TEAM Mom “I highly recommend that a new parent research, reach out, and educate yourself as much as you can. You are not alone. There is always some type of community or group that you can lean upon. Putting my faith in God and letting Him help me with the struggles has helped me, as well as leaning on family for support.” -TEAM Mom Yolanda Whitmore “Our greatest challenge is making sure my daughter wears her braces. What keeps me going is my daughter. She won’t stop going. She keeps me going. My advice to new parents is to do what the doctors and therapists tell you, and work with your child.” -TEAM Dad John Cartmell “My advice to parents is to listen to all those who have gone through this before you. Start early with therapy and find information from sources, like parents and therapists. Parents go through it 24/7 and can be a valuable resource, so listen to what they have to say. My greatest challenge is getting my two kids to their different schools and to their appointments. What has helped us get through the challenging times is our therapist. I can ask her anything, and she tries to find the answers if she does not know them already.” -TEAM Mom Cindy Worthen “Start with understanding that your child is perfectly and wonderfully made. Just because they need different things and have different abilities doesn’t make them any less perfect. Our child uses behaviors to communicate. The hardest part for us is figuring out what those behaviors mean. We are learning how to communicate with our daughter without making her feel overwhelmed or anxious. It helps to have therapists and friends who have been through similar situations. We try to remember how beautifully she has been created.” -TEAM Mom Ginny Mooney

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Bundles Surprise Of

by: sarah clinkerbeard photos by: Tiffany Loera photography

It was a cold, Autumn day and I had a terrible sinus infection. I went to my doctor, who was also a friend from high school, and he proceeded to do the normal screenings for a cold. Upon pushing on my stomach, he asked if I could be pregnant. He said my ovaries felt a little swollen. I immediately said “No!” At the time, our daughters were almost 4 years old and 18 months. My doctor suggested we do a pregnancy test before he would prescribe any antibiotics.

About five minutes later, a bubbly nurse came in smiling saying “Congratulations, it’s positive.” I sat in disbelief for a long time. Did she really just say I was pregnant? That night, I told my husband and he couldn’t believe it either. As with my other two girls, I called my OB/GYN to make an appointment. I went in about eight weeks along and he suggested that I go ahead and have my pap smear, since I would be due for it in the middle of my pregnancy. While he was doing the pap smear, he got a smile on his face and told the nurse to get the ultrasound machine ready. I was curious why he would want to do an ultrasound so early. I feared something was wrong or I was further along in my pregnancy, since I didn’t even know I was pregnant in the first place. My doctor, who was always very serious, walks in the ultra sound room with a huge smile on his face. I laid on the table. My husband and two girls were by my side. Dr. Willet asked if we were ready. We thought by now we were pros at this stuff and we both said, “Yeah, we’ve done this before.” As soon as he put it on my belly, you could see the two little sacks. I froze for a minute and then said, “Is that two?” He said “Yes!” He said that during the pap smear, he knew it was multiples, but didn’t know how many. He also said that was why my ovaries were so swollen when my other doctor felt them during the exam for my sinus infection. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so I did both. The twins, Maddie and Katie, have been bundles of surprise ever since that day. People always say, “Did you want twins?”

66 October 2015

How do you answer that question? I always say, God knew they were supposed to be here and blessed us with raising them. I don’t think anyone can plan what life will be like after having twins or even a single birth. You take one day at a time and just do your best.

y mom and dad already had three children, two boys and a girl, and were two weeks from being due with what they thought was their fourth child when they found out there were two of us… twins! My sister and I were born in Pasadena, Texas and were six weeks premature, weighing a little over 4 pounds each. We were discharged home, but, while home, I stopped breathing and Daddy performed CPR to resuscitated me. My parents frantically loaded all 5 kids up and, once there, the nurse looked down and noticed Jeni was blue and initiated CPR. My dad stepped in and resuscitated her as well. With underdeveloped lungs, we had both had a lung collapse, and the doctors there said there was 50% chance of us surviving. Jeni and I were placed together in that isolette and transported to Texas Childrens where they said we were some of the healthiest kids there! Mom and Dad were unbelievably relieved and thanked God for that report and our stay there. Once home, Daddy had to use an electric toothbrush covered in foam on our backs, pat us to loosen to phlegm from our lungs and then thump our feet to make us cry to get it out. They had to do this every 3 hours and agreed to take turns; however, Mom cried the first time she tried, so Daddy took over and never made her attempt it again. That right there explains the love of my parents to this day, and how amazing they are to each other and as role-models... never thinking about themselves before others. My parents were both teachers and instilled such positive qualities in all of us kids. They encouraged us to be anything we wanted to be… except teachers. Not that they didn’t love teaching, they just wanted more for us than they had financially, and always had work to do at home. We couldn’t

68 October 2015

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Meet Juli

Juli Braswell At a Glance

Occupational Therapist(OT) in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Willow Creek and also at Pathfinders Inc. in Cave Springs. She is also an Independent Promoter in The Limu Company. Juli is married to Brent and has four children-Colton(20), Brynn(17), Talan(9), and Alexi(7).

go on vacations or buy stylish clothes, but we were never short on love and a celebration of a thankful life. Mom constantly reminded us, “Don’t you EVER complain, because I promise there is someone in the world worse off than you!” My twin sister and I have a special bond. We laugh at the same jokes… even if nobody else gets them, we finish each others’ sentences, we have the same excitement and mannerisms, and we sense what is happening in each others’ lives. We share a lot of the same friends, but also have our own. We still share the same very best friend, who always stays neutral in any argument or tiff. Whenever we visit and stay with each other, we still sleep in the same bed and talk and giggle and have to have a leg or arm crossing because it’s comfortable that way (we always say it must be how we were in utero..ha!); we feel sorry for people who don’t get to experience “twinship”… it’s so much fun!

I am proud of my parents and proud of my family. We all (ALL 20 of us!) started meeting up and taking family vacations together over the last 5 years! Our parents received some extra money when my grandmother passed away and they decided that they wanted to “make memories” instead of use it on material things that wouldn’t last or might not matter in the long run. We all look so forward to it and cherish the time we get to be together out of our busy lives! In 2010 we went on a Disney Cruise (and were referred to as “that fun and crazy family”) and then to the beach for several years, sharing a big beach house and taking turns cooking meals. This year we get to go on another Disney cruise but this time over Christmas! I love my whole big bunch of family and how much love and laughter we share… Oh man, I am the luckiest girl in the world!

God’s Answered Prayer Story by: Lane Brown | Family photo by: Emily Hignight Photography

I grew up with a weird fascination for twins. Not a day went by that I didn’t pray for twins...honestly! So, it was a little crazy, but not too unexpected, when I ended up marrying a twin! We had two boys, four years apart. I laughed at my childhood prayer and obsession with twins after my first son was born. What was I thinking? I began to think to myself that my husband must have been the answer to those silly prayers for twins all my life. I had definitely taken those prayers back and couldn’t believe I had prayed for that for so long. What was my deal? Well on June 17, 2013, God’s timing and sense of humor was shown to me, big time! At the time, I was so excited to be 10 weeks pregnant with our third child. I was out for a run one Saturday afternoon, keeping up my fitness to make sure this was a healthy pregnancy and suddenly had to stop dead in my tracks. I felt a searing, stabbing pain that took my breath away, and worse, my mind instantly jumped to miscarriage. I made an appointment first thing Monday morning, and the health care provider said their team would perform an ultrasound just to make sure everything was okay. “Great!” I thought. After all, I couldn’t wait to see that sweet little miracle God blessed us with! When the appointment came, it was just my husband, along with the ultrasound tech of course, in the room. As soon as she stuck the wand on my stomach, I instantly saw two sacs. My heart sunk... literally. She and I looked at each other at the same

time and spoke together, “Are those TWINS?!” We were incredulous! “Were you trying for twins?” she asked. I couldn’t reply, and I instantly went through every emotion you could possibly go through in about 30 seconds. Then I was just in complete shock and couldn’t stop repeating, “Oh my goodness, oh my goodness!” My husband’s reaction? He stood up with hands raised, yelled, “YES!” and reminded me, “Hey, you prayed for this!” All I could think was, “That may be the case, but you ARE a twin. You didn’t raise twins!” After hearing all the stories his parents told about my husband and his brother when they were little, I was a little nervous. Okay, very nervous! After checking the babies, she told us they were fraternal and seemed to be growing just fine. That moment was purely amazing. It was so much fun telling everyone, and I will never forget each one of our family member’s faces and reactions when we told them. Just the best! What’s even more interesting is, scientifically, the only way for twins to be passed on by the father’s side is by possibly passing a gene to his daughter to hyper ovulate or release multiple eggs. My dad has no twins in his family and there are none on my mother’s side either. Twins are literally nowhere in my family. Since it doesn’t have anything to do with the man, obviously I am not having twins because my husband is a twin. I simply had, against the odds, released two eggs and they were fertilized. It was God’s answered prayer from so long ago that I had totally taken back!

As soon as the shock of twins died down a little, it was time to find out their sexes. Drum roll please... two more boys! Yep, that makes a grand total of FOUR boys! Really, God, your sense of humor just keeps on going! After being put on modified bed rest for two months, I began showing pre-eclampic signs for about a week. I was given three steroid shots for their lung development and, at 35 weeks on the dot, my doctor made the decision to deliver. This was both because of my health and the weather, as some of you will remember the particularly bad ice/snow storm in the beginning of December 2013. My belly measured 53 cm, and I am 5’2” with a short torso. I. Was. Huge. I was miserable, too, and so afraid they were going to be big babies given my history of that! I was also very nervous for them, because they were only 35 weeks. You hear the words “highrisk” and “NICU” all the time when you’re pregnant with multiples. During the entire pregnancy I prayed I would be able to carry these babies until they would be able to come home with me from the hospital with no NICU stay. We welcomed Dalton and Keegan into the world on December 9, 2013, weighing in at 5 lbs 3 oz and 7 lbs 2 oz, respectively, exercising their lungs beautifully. Keegan even came out peeing on the doctor! They needed no oxygen and immediately came to my room! Answered prayers all around. This time, all the ones I hadn’t taken back.

www.HomesByJonathon.com

Here is what makes my story even more interesting. My twins were born just two days before their daddy and uncle’s birthday! We were even in the hospital on their dad’s birthday. Plus, my twins were only ounces away from what their daddy and uncle weighed, even going so far as to be the same two pounds apart! Mine were 7 lbs 2 oz and 5 lbs 3 oz, while their dad and uncle were 7 lbs 5 oz and 5 lbs 9 oz. Mine are blonde and brunette and so are my husband and his twin. Their personalities, so far, seem to mirror the one they resemble as well. Mine look and act nothing alike, and the same is true for my husband and his brother. It truly is fascinating! Having twins has definitely proved to be challenging and life-changing, especially when you nurse them for 14 months, and all over again when the toddler stage hits! However, the older they get, the better it gets. I am so blessed by my four guys and thankful God ignored my take-backs in my prayers for twins!

www.peekaboonwa.com

A Skin Exam... Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t That Just for Adults? By: Emily Staggs, MSN, APRN, DCNP

The answer to that question is a resounding NO!

The answer to that question is a resounding NO! The skin is the largest organ in the human body and protects our vital organs from the outside world. The skin begins to develop around six weeks gestation and does not stop developing and protecting until the body as a whole expires. In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s society, people are more health-conscious and interested in maintaining brain health, colon health, and heart health. Unfortunately, skin health is often overlooked and considered a concern for older adults. Although children rarely develop squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma, there are still lesions or conditions that they may be born with or could develop early in life, which may warrant evaluation by a dermatology health care provider.

What are some of the things children may need to see a dermatology provider for? There are many skin conditions that occur in children. A few of the more common conditions, or lesions, that are seen in dermatology clinics are atopic dermatitis, molluscum contagiosum, hemangiomas, and congenital nevi. Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as eczema, is a chronic, itchy rash that develops in 20 to 30 percent of children before the age of five. Those with AD often experience flares that are exacerbated by certain triggers, which may include allergens, stress, seasonal changes, infections, or irritants. AD may also be associated with other medical and dermatological conditions such as keratosis pilaris, pityriasis alba, ichthyosis vulgaris, allergic rhinitis, and asthma. Remission occurs in 70 percent of children before adolescence, however, people with AD tend to have lifelong skin sensitivity and may continue to flare in adulthood. Early evaluation and treatment may prevent thickening of the skin, scarring, discomfort, and emotional distress to both children with AD and the parents taking care of them. Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a type of wart caused by the poxvirus. These lesions look like shiny, pink bumps and may occur anywhere on the body. As the name implies, MC is contagious and may be spread through direct contact, scratching, shaving, or fomites such as shared clothing and bedding. MC is a common, self-limiting condition that may last months to years without treatment or may be easily treated by a dermatology provider. Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are vascular birthmarks that occur in 4 percent of infants. They may appear as a bruise at birth and tend to rapidly grow between five to seven weeks of age. IH usually stabilizes around four to six months of age and are followed by spontaneous involution that occurs over years. These lesions may be superficial, deep, or mixed and may occur anywhere on the body. Most commonly, IH are localized, however, some may be associated with structural anomalies and lead to complications such as ulceration or even vision or airway impairments.

Advanced Dermatology & Skin Care Center www.advancedskinmd.com 479.268.3555

Congenital nevi are pigmented birthmarks that occur in 1 to 3 percent of newborns. Congenital nevi may be flat, raised, small, large, smooth, rough, and may even have hair growing in them. These lesions will usually grow with the child and require periodic evaluation, especially during puberty. Many small and medium sized lesions are benign, but larger lesions have an increased risk of malignant transformation and may require a biopsy to rule out the possibility of melanoma.

What exactly does a skin exam involve? A full-body skin exam consists of the thorough inspection of all of the skin from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet. This exam takes about 10 minutes and should be completed annually by a dermatologytrained provider. Dermatology providers often use a non-invasive tool called a dermatoscope to examine skin. A dermatoscope is a handheld device that consists of a magnification lens and special lights and filters that allow better visualization of morphologic features and subsurface skin structures that are not seen by the naked eye. This invaluable tool enhances assessment and improves the diagnosis and management of skin conditions. If abnormal areas are noted during the skin exam, a skin biopsy may need to be completed.

What can parents do to maintain the skin health of their children? Skin cancers are directly linked to the amount of sun exposure that an individual receives over their lifetime, thus, the importance of daily sun protection cannot be stressed enough. Parents should have a dermatology health care provider complete a baseline skin exam on their children and should return for additional examination if any changes are noted. Parents should monitor any lesions for changes at home on a monthly basis. Outdoor activities should be limited between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and children should seek the shade when outdoors. Children should be encouraged on a daily basis to wear hats, sun protective clothing, and sun-block. Sun-blocks should be broad spectrum, contain physical sunscreens such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, have an SPF of 30 or above, and should be applied and re-applied to any sun exposed areas. Teenagers should also be educated on the dangers of indoor tanning and should avoid the use of tanning beds. Most skin conditions that children experience are benign and most skin cancers are curable if diagnosed and treated early. Skin exams are indeed for adults, but having children examined at an early age and stressing the importance of sun protection early in life may prevent many of the dermatological problems that adults face today.

Local Private School Wins National Blue Ribbon Award By Ericha Shaffer

“

To explain in words what this award means to us is so hard because it’s so big…so hard to wrap your mind around.

”

Mrs. Karla Thielemier, principal of St. Vincent de Paul, recently said about winning the National Blue Ribbon Award as a high-performing exemplary school. It’s the highest honor bestowed upon a school by the U.S. Department of Education; out of 1,200 schools in Arkansas, only 41 public and 3 nonpublic schools have received this award in its 34

year history. St. Vincent’s will be the 4th non-public school ever to win this prestigious award. During the five year evaluation period, St. Vincent’s students consistently scored in the top 15 percent nationally on standardized tests. Also, a lengthy application and narrative was submitted to the Council for American Private Education in areas of curriculum, assessment/use of data, school culture, teacher professional development, and extra-curricular activities. Once all applications were reviewed, the Council recommended St. Vincent’s to the U.S. Department of Education as one of only 50 non-public schools to be considered.

How did winning this award become reality? “It’s been a joint effort with our staff and families. What makes us unique is for any child to thrive and excel, they must be surrounded by people who love and care about them. The relationship with the school, church, and family is critical.” There is a long continuous relationship with each child. Cathy Walker, technology facilitator, tried putting it into words, “It’s when you’re worshipping with people and have known the family and the child for several years that creates a different dynamic rarely found in other schools. Parents and students are greeted by name when walking through the door; we know the names of their pets, grandparents, socio-economic and cultural background—it’s a different feel, the culture within this school. We get to know everyone, but beyond that, we get to know the person. This is a family. It’s intangible. We welcome everyone. That intangibleness is what makes a difference.”

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The teacher, program coordinator, and principal are a team whose philosophy is to teach the whole child and “meet them where they are.” To do that, students are assessed in reading and mathematics and from that data, gaps and strengths are identified to create a personalized learning progression plan. At St. Vincent’s, all learning is individualized. Each student is given time to meet with teachers who keep a record of the strengths and skills being worked on or needing

improvement. Technology was key in meeting criteria for this award. A computer program assesses each child and they are given objectives to help fill in any gaps. Because students are closely monitored via the teacher and computer software, issues are caught early before becoming habit. New Chromebook Yoga tablets are currently utilized by students in 6th-8th grade as are Discovery Education’s science and tech books. The tech books’ language/reading level can be

www.svdprogers.com

“

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. —Proverbs 22:6

”

changed which enables all parents to be included in their child’s education. Students with dyslexia can have the text read to them. If a student excels in math, they have a computer program whose levels go from Kindergarten through Calculus. Mrs. Thielemier believes “if a child’s given what they need to succeed, the goal is very high, our standards are very high, then students will always rise to our expectations.” A particularly challenging area was maintaining test scores over a five year period with a constantly changing student population. Presently, 351 students are enrolled Pre-K through 8th grade. The growth of Walmart, JB Hunt, Tyson’s, etc. produced a major shift; the students and student population became more diverse. A large number now come from all across America and from all over the world. At this time, St. Vincent’s student population is 68 percent Caucasian, 23 percent Hispanic/Latino, 7 percent Asian, and 2 percent African-American. There

are also Catholic and nonCatholic students—Protestants, Hindus, and Buddhists. St. Vincent’s goal is to provide a “home” for these children and their families coming from so many different places. How are scores maintained when there are students whose first language isn’t English? It’s the relationship between the school and its families combined with the learning progression plans that make it possible. One might think it was easy for a private school to win this award. After all, they don’t have the challenges public

schools face, right? This is the furthest thing from the truth. In reality, St. Vincent’s has these students, too. As long as a child shows growth and the school can meet their needs, they can attend just like anyone else. St. Vincent’s teachers are trained in dyslexia and the school utilizes computer programs to assist these students. Students can receive accommodations on standardized tests if they have a 504 plan or an IEP (Individualized Educational Plan). Additionally, speech and occupational therapists and ELL (English Language Learner) specialists come from Rogers.

What if I can’t afford to send my child there? Public Schools to work with qualifying students. St. Vincent de Paul endeavors to provide an affordable Catholic education. Roughly 94% of its students receive a reduction in tuition through church subsidies, an endowment fund, or tuition assistance. Lower tuition rates are also provided to Catholic families, discounts to those with multiple children attending, etc.

am o

Dalai Mama

splant in , and tran e f i w ,

A NW

The

by: Kristin Hvizda

Deep thoughts (well not that deep) on life as

Owning Your Age and Post-baby Bod

had the opportunity to sit down and read the latest issue of Marie Claire from cover to cover this week. (Shocking, I know!) It felt almost indulgent to read the beauty-centric issue undisturbed. I expected to walk away from the issue feeling empowered and invigorated. Instead, I walked away from the fashion magazine feeling hyper-aware of my fading youth. How did I fail to previously notice my deepening forehead wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and laugh lines?! Suddenly, I couldn’t look in the mirror without focusing on the areas of my face begging for preventative Botox. Did I really just allow a magazine to strip me of my confidence and make me feel insecure about aging? In the span of an hour, I went from a Cameron Diaz, too cool to care about wrinkles attitude, to a Real Housewife of the OC, frantically googling the best anti-aging treatments. I never imagined I’d be one of those women who care about getting older, yet I found myself feeling slightly devastated by my slipping youth. Although I think I look pretty good for 32 years old and two pregnancies, all that “life” has left its mark. After allowing myself to wallow in the self-pity of my aging face and post-baby(ies)body for a moment, I immediately switched to shaming myself for caring about something so shallow. Where is my zen-like self-acceptance when I need it? Apparently it was equally annoyed with my moment of self-loathing and left me to work it out on my own. What I’ve come to accept is that these feelings are normal. Every mother goes through a period of adjusting to her new post-baby body AND throughout the years as she ages. Apparently self-love/acceptance, both physically and mentally, is an ongoing process. We go from awkward preteens, to blossoming teenagers, to adults (who may or may not just

78 October 2015

be beginning to accept our bodies) and then, as a cruel twist of fate, we are forced to re-start the process. Between the massive changes our bodies undertake birthing children and the merciless encounter with gravity as we age, the physical changes women undergo throughout their lives is annoyingly persistent. No one is immune, either. Even if you are lucky enough to lose all the baby weight, your skin is never the same. For instance, I may look perfectly normal when I stand up, but while in downward dog my stomach transforms to a wrinkly 90 year old woman’s tummy who’s seen way more life than I. It’s pretty ironic that while performing my daily yoga sequence, in an attempt to carve out a place of peace and introspection, I’m face to face with the part of my body that I struggle to accept. Well played, yogi masters. The full round breasts of my youth have literally had the life sucked out of them by my children. Suddenly, my pre-baby body that I used to be insecure about is the measure of all that was good and right with the world. Even my knees are starting to look wrinkly! (Is knee juvaderm a thing?) Sadly, it’s only going to get worse. There is no going back in time, only forward, and for women it seems to be more of a downward slope than our male counterparts. While men are considered more distinguished and sexy as they age, women tend to process their aging as less beautiful and worn. Life is seriously unfair sometimes. In our youth-obsessed culture our infatuation with a youthful appearance and vitality are deep rooted. Even those of us who thought we’d be immune, start feeling disheartened once our first wrinkles begin to emerge. In our culture, aging tends to be something we fight tooth and nail. Even the words we associate with aging feel almost like curse words when they leave the tongue- “elderly,” “aged,” “old.” These words are not inherently derogatory,

but our culture has such disdain for aging that they’ve taken on that meaning. It’s unfortunate, because in other cultures aging is well-regarded. It is considered a blessing to live until old age, and the elderly are respected and honored for their wisdom and life experience. Our culture, however, would rather “burn out than fade away,” but at what price? This mentality almost cheapens the experiences that have left their marks on our body. Instead of celebrating our age, we try to cover it up, appear younger, and erase the years, thus erasing the physical reminders that got us here. So, what’s a mature woman to do?! Are we relegated to tankinis and bee venom facials? God, I hope not. I’m not even going to attempt to tell you how to age gracefully. I don’t think aging gracefully is a onesize-fits-all-truth. Instead, it’s a personal journey that every woman has to discover for herself. However, I do think that we can frame our aging and body changes in a way that can promote self-love and confidence, instead of making us feel that our best years are behind us. Instead of framing our wrinkles as a sign of aging, we should regard them as a sign of life and happiness. I have laugh lines because I laugh a lot. That’s pretty awesome when I stop and think about it. I’ve laughed so much in my 32 years, that my face remembers and wants me to laugh even when I’m feeling stoic. My stomach isn’t the tight flat surface of my youth. Instead, it’s wrinkly and squishy because

I was blessed enough to carry two children within it and feel their movements, kicks, and hiccups. My breasts hang lower than they used to because I was able to breastfeed my children. My children prospered and grew fat from the milk I produced and I was able to look down into their eyes as they suckled from my breasts. Would I trade a perky C cup for that experience? Never!

Today is the oldest you’ve ever been and the youngest you’ll ever be again. - Unknown

I’ve lived a lot of life in my 32 years. I’ve had a lot of experiences and you can see them in my eyes, across my forehead, within my face, and throughout my body. I’m happy and proud to wear those experiences. Ironically, the very experiences that have given me the most joy are the ones that have changed my body so drastically. I hope I’m blessed enough to continue aging, and get more lines and wrinkles and experiences. I’m not ready to stop aging. Perhaps, when we think about our bodies as the vessels for those amazing life experiences, we can appreciate the signs of aging as the blessings that they are.

DalaiMamaKH

The Latest on Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis and Treatments by: Jason Hurt, MD, OB/GYN

varian cancer happens when normal cells in the ovary change into abnormal cells and grow out of control. The ovaries are organs that are part of a woman’s reproductive system. Ovarian cancer occurs most often in women ages 50 to 65, and sometimes runs in families. Symptoms of ovarian cancer can include: Your abdomen getting bigger Feeling bloated or having abdominal pain Feeling full or having trouble eating Needing to urinate often When ovarian cancer begins to grow, some women might not notice their symptoms much. When the cancer grows, the symptoms become worse. These symptoms can also be caused by conditions that are not ovarian cancer, but if you experience these symptoms, you should let your healthcare provider know. If your healthcare provider suspects you have ovarian cancer, he or she might order 1 or more of the following: Ultrasound or other imaging tests These tests create images of the inside of the body and can show abnormal growths. Ultrasounds can find abnormal growths on the ovaries, but they cannot tell whether the growths are caused by cancer. Sometimes less serious health problems, or even normal changes that happen during a woman’s menstrual cycle, can cause these “growths.” Blood tests There are several blood tests that can help diagnose ovarian cancer. They include tests called CA 125, OVA1, and Risk of Malignancy Algorithm (also called ROMA). These tests can also help decide

if surgery should be used to diagnose ovarian cancer. CA 125 is a protein in the blood that goes up when a woman has ovarian cancer. The trouble is, this protein also goes up when a woman has other health problems that do not involve cancer. The test can help find ovarian cancer, but it is not very accurate. Ovarian cancer screening is a way to look for early signs of ovarian cancer in women who have no symptoms of the disease. To screen for ovarian cancer, doctors can do a blood test called CA 125, an imaging test called an ultrasound, or both. These tests are not very accurate, but doctors sometimes recommend them for women who are at high risk of ovarian cancer. Experts do not recommend ovarian cancer screening for women who are not at high risk. The goal of screening is to find cancer early, before it has a chance to grow, spread, or cause problems. Unfortunately, there is no good proof that screening for ovarian cancer actually helps women live longer. It is not clear who, if anyone, should be screened for ovarian cancer. For now, experts agree that screening is not appropriate for women at low risk. This includes women who do not have a family history of ovarian cancer or a cancer gene. Screening is sometimes appropriate for women who still have their ovaries and who are at high risk. This includes women who have a family history of ovarian cancer or a gene that increases their risk of

5330 Willow Creek Dr, Springdale 479-582-9268 Creeksideobgyn.com

80 October 2015

ovarian cancer. Women at the highest risk include those who have had genetic tests showing that they carry genes known as the “BRCA” genes or have a genetic condition called Lynch syndrome (also called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer or “HNPCC”). If you have a family history of ovarian cancer or have genes that put you at risk, discuss the pros and cons of screening with your healthcare provider. Decide, with input from your healthcare provider, if screening is right for you. The main benefit of screening is that it might help find cancer early, when it should be easier to treat. This might lower the chances of dying from ovarian cancer. The main drawback of being screened is that it can lead to “false positives,” meaning that screening indicates that a woman might have cancer when she does not. This can lead to unneeded worry and to more tests. Sometimes, a false positive test could lead to unneeded surgery. Most women with abnormal results find out they do not have cancer after further testing. Some women with abnormal results need surgery to know for sure if they have cancer. The only way to know for sure if a woman has ovarian cancer is for a doctor to do surgery and remove the ovary. During the surgery, usually another doctor will look at cells from the ovary under a microscope to check for cancer. If cancer is present the doctor will

usually continue surgery and treat the cancer by removing as much of it as possible. Most of the time, this involves doing a surgery called “total hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy.” During this surgery, the surgeon removes the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, and the uterus. If the cancer has spread to other nearby organs, the surgeon might remove those, as well. Cancer staging is a way in which doctors find out how far a cancer has spread. For most women, having surgery to remove the cancer is the first part of treatment. Further treatment will depend a lot on the stage of the cancer, a woman’s age, and her other medical problems. Some women might not need any further treatment after surgery. Other women might need further treatment such as chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the term used to describe a group of medicines that kill cancer cells. After treatment, patients are checked periodically to see if the cancer comes back. Follow-up tests usually include blood tests, exams, and imaging tests. Patients should also watch for the symptoms listed above, because having those symptoms could mean the cancer has come back. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any symptoms. If the cancer comes back or spreads, more surgery or chemotherapy may be necessary. If ovarian, breast, uterine, or colon cancer runs in your family talk to your healthcare provider.

At a Glance

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

ARTS and MUSIC

At a Glance

Crystal Bridges (Pg. 87) (479) 418-5700 crystalbridges.org Trike Theatre (Pg. 57) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org

First Security (Pg. 39) www.fsbank.com; www.onlyinark.com

BANKS

CHILDCARE/NANNY SERVICES

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 81) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com Better Beginnings (Pg. 42, 83) (800) 445-3316 arbetterbeginnings.com Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Little Lambs Preschool (Pg. 37) (479) 273-1011

CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIAN Morter Health Corner (Pg. 33)

(479) 636-1324

CHURCH First Baptist Church Rogers (Pg. 63) fbcrogers.org

CLOTHING CONSIGNMENT Junebugs Reruns (Pg. 62) junebugsreruns.com

DANCE/CHEER/TUMBLE/STRETCH

High Pointe (Pg. 61) (479) 544-1457 www.highpointedance.com The Little Gym (Pg. 33) (479) 636-5566 tlgrogersar.com

DENTIST

Advanced Dermatology & Skin Care (Pg. 75) (479) 268-3555 Dr. Nick DDS (Pg. 88) (479) 876-8000 DrNickDDS.com Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry (Pg. 12) (479) 631-6377

DERMATOLOGY

NWA Center for Plastic Surgery (Pg. 2) (479) 571-3100 nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com spa810 (Pg. 59) (479) 877-7041

EDUCATION/TRAINING

The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 49) (479) 441-4420 (Fayetteville) Fayetteville Public Library (Pg. 79) (479) 856-7000 faylib.org The New School (Pg. 48) thenewschool.org Walnut Farm Montessori (Pg. 86) (479) 271-9424 walnutfarmmontessori.com

84 October 2015

FAMILY FUN / ENTERTAINMENT

Community Creative Center (Pg. 41) (479) 571-2706 Crystal Bridges (Pg. 87) (479) 418-5700 Downtown Bentonville Events (Pg. 56) www.downtownbentonville.org Farmland Adventures (Pg. 19) (479) 799-5033 farmlandadventures.com Fast Lane Entertainment (Pg. 69) (479) 659-0999 www.fastlanebowl.com Fayetteville Public Library (Pg. 79) (479) 856-7000 faylib.org Imagine Adventure World (Pg. 52) imagineadventureworld.com Little Giggles (Pg. 45) (479) 268-4949 McGarrah Farms (Pg. 43) (479) 451-8164 Ozark Corn Maze (Pg. 25) www.ozarkcornmaze.com Princess Party Palace NWA (Pg. 53) princesspartypalacenwa.com Rogers Activity Center (Pg. 8) (479) 631-0336 ext. 438 Rogers Historical Museum (Pg. 45) (479) 621-1154 Starlight Skatium (Pg. 47) (479) 444-STAR Super Science (Pg. 35) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com Trike Theatre (Pg. 47) (479) 464-5084 www.triketheatre.org Walton Arts Center (Pg. 67) waltonartscenter.org

FOOD / DRINK

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

HAIRCUT / SALON Pigtails & Crewcuts (Pg. 4)

(479) 935-4121 spa810 (Pg. 59) (479) 877-7041

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Northwest Primary Care of Springdale (Pg. 9) nw-physicians.com Tate HealthCare (Pg. 71, 85) (479) 271-6511 www.tatehealthcare.com

HOUSE / HOME / PLAYGROUND Natural State Treehouses (Pg. 82)

(479) 387-0701

JEWELRY AND GIFTS

David Adams (Pg. 51) davidadams.com

LEARNING CENTER

MARTIAL ARTS ATA (Pg. 20)

WOMEN’S HEALTH

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 81) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 49) (479) 441-4420 (Fayetteville) Peace Kids (Pg. 66) (479) 621-5683

Bentonville: (479) 273-1212 Fayetteville: (479) 443-5425 PRO Martial Arts (Pg. 55) (479) 250-9899

OPTOMETRIST

Pediatric Vision Development Center (Pg. 71) nwavisiontherapy.com (479) 795-1411

PEDIATRICIAN

Best Start Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 17) (479) 575-9359 Bentonville Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 21) (479) 273-5437 The Children’s Clinic at Springdale (Pg. 9) (479) 751-2522 MANA NWA Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 38) (479) 443-3471 Morter Heatlh Corner (Pg. 33) (479) 636-1324

PHOTOGRAPHY Main Street Studios (Pg. 11)

(479) 524-2004

PLASTIC SURGEON

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

PRESCHOOL/ PRE-K

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 81) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 49) (479) 441-4420 (Fayetteville) Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 29) Lowell: (479) 770-0744 Siloam Springs: (479) 524-2465 West Fork: (479) 839-3359 Mary’s Little Lambs (Pg. 37) (479) 273-1011 The New School (Pg. 48) thenewschool.org Peace Kids (Pg. 66) (479) 621-5683 Walnut Farm Montessori (Pg. 72) (479) 271-9424 walnutfarmmontessori.com

THERAPY

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 81) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com Children’s Therapy T.E.A.M (Pg. 65) www.childrenstherapyteam.com The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 49)

(479) 441-4420 (Fayetteville) Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 29) Lowell: (479) 770-0744 Siloam Springs: (479) 524-2465 West Fork: (479) 839-3359 Tate HealthCare (Pg. 71, 85) (479) 271-6511 Birth Center NWA (Pg. 28) (479) 372-4560 bcnwa.com Creekside Center for Women (Pg. 80) (479) 582-9268 creeksideobgyn.com Lifespring Women’s Health (Pg. 61) (479) 271-0005 lifespringhealthcare.com Morter Health Corner (Pg. 33) (479) 636-1324 Northwest Breast Imaging Center (Pg. 15) (479) 757-4135 Northwest Primary Care of Springdale (Pg. 13) (479) 927-2100 Northwest Women’s Health Associates (Pg. 7) (479) 503-2525 Parkhill Clinic for Women (Pg. 31) (479) 521-4433 Siloam Springs Women’s Center (Pg. 73) (479) 524-9312 siloamwomenscenter.com Willow Creek Hospital (Pg. 5) (479) 757-3000

Experience. Discover. Grow.

Walnut Farm Montessori School Building a Foundation for Growth

Montessori Toddler Program 18 months-3 years old Walnut Farm offers flexible 2, 3, and 5 day toddler programs available in half day and full day options.

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

Enrolling Now

479-271-9424 • info@walnutfarm.org

www.walnutfarmmontessori.com

1-Visit Technology

Dr. Nick uses the latest technology to make your visit a gentle experience. He is a leader in dental CEREC CAD/CAM Technology and 3D imaging, allowing beautiful solutions in a single visit.