tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61418319553117882732024-03-16T00:07:53.127-07:00I'm Julia's MomBragging, boasting, ranting and raving about life with this fabulous girl.Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-72435929452626051362018-11-02T05:41:00.001-07:002018-11-02T05:41:39.628-07:00Different's Not Wrong - A Stitch Fix GiftA package arrived on our front porch today.<br />
<br />
A tiny box, marked fragile, from Stitch Fix.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAihxXKxP0LFSTUvmHBgfoBq_Ucjw0Hc17s_3AnV9ZyMn_UNuElH33mIFKWeqVu8M1soW1AL2EnnxxNNgMkWV8DI0hC-g7yAEud7NTarrOctIGqYeNhKGArTuyrBjom9l1DNfCa52ZUg/s1600/IMG_9750+2+copy+2.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAihxXKxP0LFSTUvmHBgfoBq_Ucjw0Hc17s_3AnV9ZyMn_UNuElH33mIFKWeqVu8M1soW1AL2EnnxxNNgMkWV8DI0hC-g7yAEud7NTarrOctIGqYeNhKGArTuyrBjom9l1DNfCa52ZUg/s400/IMG_9750+2+copy+2.heic" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
Curious. I hadn't ordered anything from Stitch Fix recently - and this box was too small to be a "fix" - wonder what it could be?<br />
<br />
Maybe this was a prize, or a thank you for completing that online survey they sent me last week? That must be it. Maybe the fragile stickers are because it's a mug? I would totally drink my morning coffee from a Stitch Fix mug! Great marketing idea guys- yay for a mug!<br />
<br />
I opened the box and instead of an impersonal mug, I found an envelope with my name handwritten on it.. wow, wasn't expecting that - I guess not very many people filled out the survey.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PijqYe5mFRXUcdMub726tR2H4pkfbcXnbGqRwCI0RndyOij6273vIbkcJg5lFFgu-rpwxYWOS8vcEwv0ywVTO-U5yq6W2ttXnCcOEbalx2Aiz-GL2Y4t4mIOag5NP5xV4Sqyx-Epjw/s1600/envelope.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PijqYe5mFRXUcdMub726tR2H4pkfbcXnbGqRwCI0RndyOij6273vIbkcJg5lFFgu-rpwxYWOS8vcEwv0ywVTO-U5yq6W2ttXnCcOEbalx2Aiz-GL2Y4t4mIOag5NP5xV4Sqyx-Epjw/s320/envelope.heic" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Inside the envelope, written on Stitch Fix stationary, I found a handwritten letter...<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
Dear Laurie,<br />
We stumbled across your Instagram post of your epilepsy warrior, Julia - </blockquote>
<br />
<br />
Umm, pause - I don't think this is about the survey...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_P7Y0_9Rv16GPZ18dU_mKNeuOadLdK8X_wMbJoVa69yfCrnpL0oHbQjy9TEBHhHZGAmGlXTld2NQE_dQh-GVXt0WFn7-Wa8pbtWhkVyhq37HMaRrWEQ9-RnKzt53mB6WHSXfAhQ-FA/s1600/letter.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_P7Y0_9Rv16GPZ18dU_mKNeuOadLdK8X_wMbJoVa69yfCrnpL0oHbQjy9TEBHhHZGAmGlXTld2NQE_dQh-GVXt0WFn7-Wa8pbtWhkVyhq37HMaRrWEQ9-RnKzt53mB6WHSXfAhQ-FA/s400/letter.heic" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
She captured the heart of every person here at Stitch Fix. We wanted to celebrate not only Julia, but the love a mother has for her daughter. We did a little research and found your blog post about the songs Julia loved. When we saw the re-written lyrics for "the song of the one-legged chicken," we knew we had to bring your words to life. We contacted Nashville musician, Steve Everett, to record your song for Julia. The CD's included all have the song burned onto them. We hope it brings a smile to your face - Julia sure brought a smile to ours.<br />
With all our love,</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Your Stitch Fix Family</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
Through bewildered tears, I opened the rest of the package to find a wooden CD holder with Julia's name carved into it along with the a pony and the words "Born with a Possibility."<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgph4ZgHpLykFuNZ_Kg_Gxl_NfJAk3MiMPRypjst8gAfW-sQEwKCbihIebdhbw3RX0kOzy4U6aF-3IgoguYF-IBFIxWM8mpe6JZKe_0lD9kz2tUbaKk4GiB-XBLWbbzVSF_wkQmAkiq8Q/s1600/IMG_7379+copy.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgph4ZgHpLykFuNZ_Kg_Gxl_NfJAk3MiMPRypjst8gAfW-sQEwKCbihIebdhbw3RX0kOzy4U6aF-3IgoguYF-IBFIxWM8mpe6JZKe_0lD9kz2tUbaKk4GiB-XBLWbbzVSF_wkQmAkiq8Q/s400/IMG_7379+copy.heic" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq04bWwuURQ3p_zb-COC4aFx-nJcu2VshEP4dgFdDy2Xk_FhXMjCg3Z52IJ5scnYKr2UGseDD0cpwTsPVHOPkdIl8dNNGTjUkkNDRDxcionIZcvV1-wqn3Mio_5NN9XonRieVfhiTuFw/s1600/wooden+cd.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq04bWwuURQ3p_zb-COC4aFx-nJcu2VshEP4dgFdDy2Xk_FhXMjCg3Z52IJ5scnYKr2UGseDD0cpwTsPVHOPkdIl8dNNGTjUkkNDRDxcionIZcvV1-wqn3Mio_5NN9XonRieVfhiTuFw/s400/wooden+cd.heic" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
and inside the holder, a CD covered with pictures of Julia with the title "Sweet Little Julia."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Vyvl0EVzR7d1L2PPKIqLQDEGIz9VXOt-9ntJkVIc1n-7-aTFkEQOnRCMQn6F3AqlsBfQnxHHXIUH3Bmdq1fAX2QDvLRrehaMKD8Za23a3wJohptpceil7qDlCHUsOgpZVKW3EF0fQw/s1600/cd.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Vyvl0EVzR7d1L2PPKIqLQDEGIz9VXOt-9ntJkVIc1n-7-aTFkEQOnRCMQn6F3AqlsBfQnxHHXIUH3Bmdq1fAX2QDvLRrehaMKD8Za23a3wJohptpceil7qDlCHUsOgpZVKW3EF0fQw/s400/cd.heic" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I followed the link included in the card to the song and stood in my kitchen crying as I listened to Steve Everett <a href="https://soundcloud.com/brooklyn-starr/sweet-little-julia/s-F57kC" target="_blank">sing the words</a> I re-wrote to a children's song about our sweet Jules.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGC0qfGfh0Fiws54rZzAlpk5nn9uo1luT-Bw3FLnNre2ZWA7FVs6Vc_Asi8FMQRMZZ0Omq8pP_ifDrIjOeogLlnDVGs8dSFOtqUX1wfyEKNeKRdpmggXZZBIf2j4S1lqDVTA0nK-E4_w/s1600/song.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGC0qfGfh0Fiws54rZzAlpk5nn9uo1luT-Bw3FLnNre2ZWA7FVs6Vc_Asi8FMQRMZZ0Omq8pP_ifDrIjOeogLlnDVGs8dSFOtqUX1wfyEKNeKRdpmggXZZBIf2j4S1lqDVTA0nK-E4_w/s400/song.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
My head was spinning, it still is.<br />
<br />
This was so completely and totally out of left field - to receive such an incredibly thoughtful gift from such an unexpected source... even as I try to write this down now to share it with others, I can't take it all in.<br />
<br />
Thank you <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/" target="_blank">Stitch Fix</a> for this incredibly personal and thoughtful and unexpected blessing. I am so touched and encouraged to hear that you all were moved by Julia's story. As her mom, one of my highest goals has been to spread the word to the world that different isn't wrong. I'm moved to tears and greatly encouraged to know you all agree.<br />
<br />
Thank you <a href="http://www.steveeverett.net/" target="_blank">Steve Everett </a>for sharing your talent in such a generous and loving way - to hear your beautiful voice singing Julia's name is a gift we will always treasure. Thank you for believing this is a message worth sharing - I hope it's a message the whole world will hear.<br />
<br />
I'm going to bed tonight exhausted from happy emotions, comforted by the thought that there are so many people in the world who see Julia and kids like her as a blessing and a gift. As right and not wrong.<br />
<br />
Here is the link to the song:<br />
<a href="https://soundcloud.com/brooklyn-starr/sweet-little-julia/s-F57kC" target="_blank">https://soundcloud.com/brooklyn-starr/sweet-little-julia/s-F57kC</a><br />
<br />
Here is the link to the blog I wrote:<br />
<a href="http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2016/12/better-off-dead.html" target="_blank">http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2016/12/better-off-dead.html</a><br />
<br />Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-78756774742175870562018-05-19T10:20:00.000-07:002018-05-19T10:32:45.516-07:00Reading: Slumber Parties and Promises<br />
In December I turned 39 and decided this would be a really good year to try some new things.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzJhmjqABTlQaqK9-UcMPiXUBQ1FELZvx_bi-uvPaSAeISHXWIgQAB03b6pPMkyBQvW5eJfPPq3-9NJ_kzA5u0pUG_RNANQ4fXQOLpE82FTJBIzP7So0bk5-4EDRr6DPCKmtECrXdYg/s1600/IMG_4001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="279" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzJhmjqABTlQaqK9-UcMPiXUBQ1FELZvx_bi-uvPaSAeISHXWIgQAB03b6pPMkyBQvW5eJfPPq3-9NJ_kzA5u0pUG_RNANQ4fXQOLpE82FTJBIzP7So0bk5-4EDRr6DPCKmtECrXdYg/s400/IMG_4001.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Denver Women's Press Club</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of those new things was auditioning for the <a href="http://stephaniesprenger.com/boulder-mother/" target="_blank">Boulder 2018 Listen To Your Mother</a> show.<br />
<br />
I auditioned with a piece I wrote several years ago called <a href="http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2016/02/slumber-parties-and-promises.html" target="_blank">Slumber Parties and Promises</a>, and was thrilled to get a spot in the show alongside 11 incredible women and writers!<br />
<br />
Due to licensing issues I don't fully understand, the actual show was not recorded, so we did a second reading a week later at the Denver Woman's Press Club and those were recorded.<br />
<br />
The link to the video is:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tOOoUA472o" target="_blank">Slumber Parties and Promises</a><br />
<br />
Thank you to the producers of the show: Stephanie Sprenger and Ellen Nordberg, for giving me this opportunity and helping me achieve my goal of trying new things!<br />
<br />
I highly recommend it!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-88270102373914023652018-05-14T11:36:00.004-07:002018-05-14T12:28:08.087-07:00Julia the BraveLast week Julia, my mom and I packed up the car for a last minute, nearly impromptu road trip to Albuquerque (thank you spell check).<br />
<br />
An opportunity presented itself for Julia to be assessed by a team of cortical visual impairment specialists at the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually impaired. They needed a few more kiddos to be a party of their new CVI assessment. Our long term Feldenkrais therapist, Ginger, is sister's with one of the women overseeing the assessment and she suggested Julia to them. <br />
<br />
Yes, was their answer! If we could make it to Albuquerque they would be happy to see her!<br />
<br />
The only time we've ever met with anyone regarding cortical visual impairment (CVI) was when Julia was two years old. Julia, my mom and I packed up and flew to Pittsburgh where we met with the leading CVI doctor and researcher, Dr. Christine Roman-Lantzy at the University of Pittsburgh. I remember how nervous and excited we were to meet with her and learn more about CVI. Julia was still a very sick little kiddo at that point. Her infantile spasms had just recently been resolved thanks to ACTH, so she was just beginning to awaken from 18 months of daily repeated seizures, super strong meds, and a chaotic brain wave pattern called hypsarrhythmia that destroys development and leaves kids in a zombie like state.<br />
<br />
During the darkest periods of hyps, Julia was not using her vision AT ALL. Zero visual response. She was a wiped out little girl and after seizures and brain disruption all day every day, she simply had nothing left for vision. As the fog of hyps started to lift, I remember one day Julia was lying on the couch in her bumbo, I reached towards her face to brush her bangs aside and as my hand came towards her face, she flinched.<br />
SHE FLINCHED!!!!!<br />
Visual response. WE HAD VISUAL RESPONSE! It felt like a breakthrough!<br />
<br />
It was in this phase that we went to see Dr. Roman to learn more about what was happening between Julia's brain and Julia's eyes. The main thing I remember about this visit was just how hopeful Dr. Roman was about Julia's potential - not just for vision but for development. She watched Julia with her trained eye, optimistic in her observations, undeterred by chromosome abnormality, a partial agensis of the corpus collosum, and 18 months of infantile spasms.<br />
The brain is amazing she told us, it will just keep working to find it's own way... and as Julia's brain finds it's way, so will her vision.<br />
<br />
We flew home with hope!<br />
<br />
And in the following months and years as the battle agains epilepsy continued to trend mostly in Julia's favor, we found Dr. Roman's predictions to be true. As her brain healed, her vision followed.<br />
The little girl who once had no visual response to anything started reaching for things, picking things up off the ground, maneuvering through her environment with increasing precision and speed. Her vision was not perfect, but she most definitely was using her vision!<br />
<br />
There are no CVI specialists in Colorado for us to see. So for the past 9 years since our visit with Dr. Roman, we've done our best to support Julia's visual development based on knowledge, advice and information we've gleaned from others. I think we've done a pretty good job, but when this opportunity came up, after all these years, to once again have CVI specialists assess Juila, and help us better understand her, I knew we had to go!<br />
<br />
We haven't taken a road trip with Julia well, ever. We haven't flown with her since the above mentioned trip to Pittsburgh. We haven't actually left the state with her since the above mentioned trip to Pittsburgh - so this kind of felt like a big deal. But we had to try.<br />
<br />
The plan was to leave Denver on Tuesday morning, drive 7.5 hours, and arrive in Albuquerque Tuesday afternoon, do the assessment on Wednesday, and drive back Thursday. Julia had a seizure Sunday night. And another one Monday morning. Was this a sign we shouldn't go?<br />
Wes pulled up our route to identify all the hospitals along the way. "If you have trouble here or here," he said to me, pointing to the map, "you'll have to use flight for life."<br />
Oh my gosh, I thought, what am I doing? Is it crazy to take this risk? Maybe we should just stay home. If she has a seizure in one of those spots and we can't stop it I'll never forgive myself...<br />
<br />
Side note: this is how life works with epilepsy - at least our version of it. You try to get brave and do things, like fly to visit your best friend in Arizona, or spend a long weekend at your aunt's cabin in the remote mountains - you think you can do it because things have been steady for awhile - you feel a little brave - and then bam, a seizure strikes out of the blue and all your confidence is gone and you retreat to the safety of your house where a hospital one block away and you can hear the ambulance sirens one minute after you call 911. You decide you don't need to be brave, you don't need to move around and mix things up - you just need to be safe, for her. Just keep her safe.<br />
<br />
So this was my mindset prepping for our trip on Monday - partly packing, partly preparing what I would say to the people in New Mexico when I called them to say we weren't coming.<br />
<br />
I'd like to say I had some sort of epiphany around all of this fear and bravery stuff that led me to a clear resolution, some Shawshank Redemption "Get busy living or get busy dying," moment - but I didn't. I just sort of watched Julia all day and since she didn't have another seizure I decided, with definite worry still, that we should go ahead and go.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloZAUPsRsUugBJaGRYWo0dQAmuNK6chQT3-uPCEaIc6wW-4WZuFZzEi160xmGAzXblmbViK2-eTx4glyHvVLbk5QBWuNT-WftEfqCIQFRUHgCbsIIq1OlrQ4KOlSi5RcvdYsdxgBSKQ/s1600/IMG_3778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1248" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloZAUPsRsUugBJaGRYWo0dQAmuNK6chQT3-uPCEaIc6wW-4WZuFZzEi160xmGAzXblmbViK2-eTx4glyHvVLbk5QBWuNT-WftEfqCIQFRUHgCbsIIq1OlrQ4KOlSi5RcvdYsdxgBSKQ/s400/IMG_3778.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road Warriors!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So we did. We left Tuesday morning with our SUV packed to the brim - the stroller and high chair taking up the majority of the space, an abundance of diapers coming in third, followed by toys, food, meds and clothes in that order. I made extra sure to leave the bottle of THC at home -as I did not want this innocent road trip to turn into a felony drug smuggling conviction.<br />
<br />
The trip went SUPER smooth!!!! I drove, my mom sat in the back with Julia who was a DREAM BOAT! I had stocked the car with every single noise making toy Julia typically likes to play with - but instead she spent the entire ride contentedly holding mardi gras beads and a single strand of gray thread - go figure.<br />
<br />
We made it to Albuquerque quickly - stopping just once in the booming town of Trinidad, Colorado for lunch.<br />
<br />
After just a few minor adjustments at our hotel (i.e. requesting to move to a handicapped accessible room on the first floor - I'll remember that next time), we got busy exploring the hotel hallways which are SUPER fun to run down, and went swimming in the hotel pool - which is basically Julia's most favorite thing in life!<br />
<br />
I won't do a play by play of every moment of our trip - but I will say that we had lots of fun! And none of the things I worried most about - mainly seizures, sleeping and eating in a hotel with Jules - panned out. She did amazing.<br />
<br />
On to the assessment!<br />
<br />
We arrived at the school on Wednesday afternoon for our appointment. The facility is beautiful! It is only a couple of years old and every part of it is designed for the visually impaired - I wish Julia could spend every day there!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5T4Mb0_3z_7Jy90ejH7Pk9fXXk9fs-qZ5sXwEjFmBZly43YpmDV7vIMGotz6ulbR1UdkkfAdeKu0IY3CSaEd2OWQ-9bAbe9JjGCqQLi15bHeBH9VDMfoZqpW3N7aFUJDiFCkDqIO0g/s1600/IMG_3814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="959" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5T4Mb0_3z_7Jy90ejH7Pk9fXXk9fs-qZ5sXwEjFmBZly43YpmDV7vIMGotz6ulbR1UdkkfAdeKu0IY3CSaEd2OWQ-9bAbe9JjGCqQLi15bHeBH9VDMfoZqpW3N7aFUJDiFCkDqIO0g/s320/IMG_3814.jpg" width="239" /></a>We were welcomed by the team and they encouraged us just to allow Julia to explore the room we were in and get comfortable in the space. Julia instantly started running in the open area - happy to be out of her stroller and playing! As my mom and were getting settled and introducing ourselves I could hear the team of teachers already making observations about Julia; how she was moving across the room, whether or not she was tracking objects with her eyes as she threw them in the air, whether she seemed to see where the objects landed, could she find the object again, whether or not she lots interest in an object, how big the objects were she seemed to like... and on and on and on.<br />
They had a table in the room with a variety of toys on top - she moved along the table feeling the objects, they noted she was looking away while she did this. She<br />
threw an object that landed between two chairs, they noted she was unable to find it and moved on quickly to something more easily accessible.<br />
<br />
They moved objects around her head from top down, behind around to the front, bottom up - when did she seem to see the object? At what point did it enter her visual field? Did she have to move her body in order to widen her field? Did she ever seem to move her head for that purpose?<br />
<br />
They put cards in front of her to see if she responded to contrasting lines. Not so much. A card with a high contrast face? Yes! If the face was faded and was not so high contrast? Nope, lost it.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7l_7FGcD5x8Do7SaT0G0GE0Uy5Zt8d_sGjVqfpw-bBFYxAK-elXW69RZGqSWgJJx0Tw5VwnyadiinuHIDKmU_-CwuxIaGusGqGigvaI8PtithM5tmrFxNAZKBXw0k126CctY3I-TWcA/s1600/IMG_3822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7l_7FGcD5x8Do7SaT0G0GE0Uy5Zt8d_sGjVqfpw-bBFYxAK-elXW69RZGqSWgJJx0Tw5VwnyadiinuHIDKmU_-CwuxIaGusGqGigvaI8PtithM5tmrFxNAZKBXw0k126CctY3I-TWcA/s400/IMG_3822.jpg" width="300" /></a>We went outside - she moved with ease through their skillfully designed playground - crossing textures without fear or hesitation. At home she sometimes gets stuck moving across textures, she can't always tell if things are flat or a step. That is common they said - and they thought it was good to see how well she was doing given this play ground was designed to make it easier for kids like her. We could see the difference.<br />
<br />
The assessment went on for over an hour, Julia started to get tired. She tripped a couple of times and at one point ran straight into one of the teachers who was standing in front of her. She's tired they said - she's not using her vision as much. I found that interesting and thought I should remember that - tired = even less use of vision - got it.<br />
<br />
We wrapped up - them sharing their thoughts with us and promising to send a full report once it was written up. We thanked them and said we would come back anytime if they ever thought seeing her again would be beneficial.<br />
<br />
We returned to the hotel, swam and had dinner outside in the lovely New Mexico air. Packed up the next morning and had another successful road trip home - getting fussy only at the end of the trip when we hit Denver traffic - and when I say getting fussy I don't just mean Julia.<br />
<br />
I asked my mom on the trip back what her takeaways from the assessment were. Together we came up with a few.<br />
<br />
1. <b><u>Julia's field of vision is fairly limited. </u></b> Put your hands on the side of your eyes and then think eyebrows down to chin - that's about the size of her visual field. Right away I thought of the bonnets worn in The Handmaid's Tale - that's Julia - just minus the awesome bonnet. In order to see more Julia has to move her whole body. If she throws a toy in the air, in order to visually follow it up she has to bend her whole body back, in or to visually follow it down, she tilts her whole body forward. Same when moving side to side. Her body has to move or she loses the object pretty easily. When she is sitting in her stroller or a chair where she is secure she seems to move her head in order to do this - but not if she is standing.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GfJVB8R3P41bq9MNOuZflG2UcvzV0wpcJGB1Hg50qSEbkgqKP0_TF8OOyv7Mldmkdob22eudjL4K9Np-327CdIGi5XjFKRaTyOWPuwMrIJ9iC-cL16ULEmb6izrFwEb0MaXXallgcQ/s1600/IMG_3833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1080" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GfJVB8R3P41bq9MNOuZflG2UcvzV0wpcJGB1Hg50qSEbkgqKP0_TF8OOyv7Mldmkdob22eudjL4K9Np-327CdIGi5XjFKRaTyOWPuwMrIJ9iC-cL16ULEmb6izrFwEb0MaXXallgcQ/s320/IMG_3833.JPG" width="320" /></a>2. <b><u>The distance Julia can see is fairly limited. </u></b>Before the assessment I would have said Julia sees maybe 6-8 feet out - but what we learned is that she is really only seeing about 2 to 2 1/2 feet out - beyond that things aren't really registering visually for her.<br />
<br />
3. <b><u>She's moving without seeing.</u></b> Given the 2 1/2 foot radius she's working with we realize now that most of her movement is without vision. She's moving based on sound and then she might get vision at the very last second. This explains why a lot of times she looks a little out of control when she is moving and I'm worried she's going to crash into something but often at the last second she will make a move and avoid a collision. I'm not sure why I didn't make the connection earlier - but the reason it looks like she's only seeing things at the very last second is because she is actually seeing things at the very last second. The rest of the time she's just sort of picking a direction and heading that way.<br />
<br />
4. <b><u>She NEEDS sound.</u></b> To go with what I just wrote above, she needs sound to help her maneuver. If she throws a toy and it hits the ground and she starts moving towards it, she's not moving towards it because she can see it, she's moving towards it because she heard where it fell. Which helps us understand why she LOVES things that make loud crashing sounds - the louder the crash the better! Without sound she would not know where to go. Sometimes at home she will move through the house making a loud "Hmm!" sound. To which one of us will respond "Hmm!" back to her. She will adjust her direction, Hmm again, we will Hmm back - and this continues until she finds us. "She's using sonar!" Wes said as I was sharing about the assessment with him. She's like a bat or a humpback whale my mom chimed in! Yes!!!! Our amazing little sonar using girl! For Jules vision is a little bit optional, but sound is a necessity.<br />
<br />
We learned so many interesting things last week about our girl - helpful things that we will take to heart and implement to continue to assist her development.<br />
<br />
But my overall takeaway, and perhaps my epiphany after all, is this: <b><u>Julia is so BRAVE.</u></b><br />
<br />
I learned that I have been over-crediting her use of vision. That actually she is using her vision less than I had been thinking over the past several years given how great she has been doing at moving and maneuvering - which in turn means, Julia has been doing a great job at moving and maneuvering these past several years without much help from vision.<br />
<br />
She just moves. She decides to go and she takes her next step.<br />
<br />
She moves, she adjusts, she moves, she seeks the input she needs, she moves, she moves, she moves, she keeps moving. And despite unseen obstacles, she is undeterred.<br />
<br />
Oh to be more like my brave daughter...to not need to see it all to take my next step, to be brave, to keep moving, to just move - because we have places to go!!!!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0Ob3frlAUz9zuTf0P4aex4dmADcDQWi08r-VVAUvoGfVPrpVWcS-SIxBWZECCyo88KoBgu-ti2gSXOdP-xNvAIXglH6z7sRmsLIUN7BY3sfPK01yr2rD5L9bAgOo4Z-YZNau3ru4BQ/s1600/IMG_3839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0Ob3frlAUz9zuTf0P4aex4dmADcDQWi08r-VVAUvoGfVPrpVWcS-SIxBWZECCyo88KoBgu-ti2gSXOdP-xNvAIXglH6z7sRmsLIUN7BY3sfPK01yr2rD5L9bAgOo4Z-YZNau3ru4BQ/s400/IMG_3839.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia the Brave</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-77267268077619020972018-03-15T08:07:00.003-07:002018-03-15T10:02:41.453-07:00Just Nervous<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="375">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hashtag"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Unresolved Mention"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073697537 9 0 511 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Sitting in the back seat of my Uber on the way to JFK airport this afternoon…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">We are stopped at a red light when a
car behind us honks. A car beside us honks twice in response. Another car honks, then
another and another. We are surrounded by a frenzy of honking cars but the
reason for the honking is not clear to me, nor to my driver, as evidenced by the fact that we are both swiveling our
heads around from side to side and front to back, trying to find the cause of the
honking. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">We find none. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">I’m instantly annoyed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Honking for no reason? Seriously? I imagine sticking my head out the window and yelling at
everyone above all the honking to “STOP HONKING!!!!!!!!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Instead, I keep all of my body inside the car and make eye contact with my
driver through her rear-view mirror, giving her a very exaggerated and knowing, “Geeze,
what is wrong with these people, am I right?” kind of look… </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">She smiles back at my agitated face, shrugs her right shoulder slightly and says to me calmly, “Most of them are
just nervous.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Oh..." I reply, surprised and a little humbled that she didn't just jump on my outrage bandwagon. I quickly add, “Yeah, good point...That’s a very wise way of thinking about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">The light turns green. My driver
proceeds with the route, while I proceed to process the wisdom she just dropped on me – wisdom that was way less about how to navigate the literal
“honkers” on the streets of New York City, and much more about
how to navigate the metaphorical “honkers” on every single road of
life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">“Most of them are just nervous.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">For reasons that may not be clear to me, nor do they need to be, t</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">he honkers are nervous.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">And uncomfortable - because nervous is usually pretty uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">So the nervous get noisy, and start honking. Because for a moment honking
makes us feel tough. And feeling tough, even for a moment, can sometimes feel better than admitting we feel nervous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">But what I was reminded of in the back seat of my Uber on my way to JFK, is that the next time I'm surrounded by honking, I have to remember that the honking is about the honkers, it has nothing to do with
me. The nervous honkers do not need a honk from me in response to their honking. They sure as
heck don’t need TWO. That won’t solve any problems. It definitely won’t stop the honking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">And the next time it is me who is the
one getting noisy and doing the honking, because I am the one who is nervous, and my nervousness has temporarily confused me and caused me to think I need to be tough, I can only
hope that instead of receiving honking in response, I’ll be lucky enough to be
in the presence of someone who understands honking, like my Uber driver today, who can calmly smile at me over all the noise I'm making and say, “I hear you sweetie. I hear
you getting loud. I know it's because something has you nervous and it's okay. We all get nervous
sometimes. It’s okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="375">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hashtag"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Unresolved Mention"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073697537 9 0 511 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-64829891521043730602018-01-05T08:39:00.001-08:002018-01-05T09:10:59.087-08:00You're Just Saying ThatRecently family members convened at my parent's house for a birthday celebration. The birthday we were there to celebrate was that of Frank, boyfriend of my youngest sister Claire.<br />
<br />
As is tradition for all birthdays in our family, at some point during dinner we go around the table and everyone says something we love or appreciate about the birthday person.<br />
<br />
When my turn came I knew exactly what I wanted to say; "I really appreciate you Frank because I remember noticing very early on when you started spending time around our family that you seemed to make a point of interacting with Julia. I watched you seek her out on your own and spend time getting to know her - and that really meant a lot to me."<br />
<br />
Frank smiled and replied, "I have to be honest, when Claire and I first started talking and she told me about Julia, her niece with special needs who was the 'best thing' that had ever happened to your family, I didn't really believe her. I thought that was just what people who have kids with special needs in their family say - what they are supposed to say about it - but that they don't really feel that way."<br />
<br />
The table was silent as we all took in what he had just said. We felt a little surprised and curious about this perspective we hadn't ever considered.<br />
<br />
We DO really mean it, we aren't just saying that...<br />
<br />
Frank continued, "But after just a few weeks of spending time around Julia and with your family, it's like Julia opened my eyes to something I had never experienced before and wouldn't have been able to understand without experiencing it. I realized pretty quickly that this isn't something you are just saying because you are supposed to - but you really mean it when you say she is the best thing."<br />
<br />
All I could do was smile at Frank, blink in my tears, and soak in his words.<br />
<br />
I DO really mean it, I'm not just saying that...<br />
<br />
But if I am honest, I probably thought the same thing Frank did prior to having Julia; that saying a child with special needs is the "best thing' is just what people say, it's the right thing to say, it's what people are supposed to say - you put on a good front and make the best of a bad situation, but we all know, you don't really mean it.<br />
<br />
And then I had Julia - and she introduced me to a part of the human experience I had not known before, and in doing so <a href="http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2014/06/who-got-deal.html" target="_blank">she changed me for the better</a>. What I may not have believed before, she made believable. Through her I learned that the families who rejoice over having a child with special needs are not putting on a front and are not just saying what they are supposed to say. This child they've been given is not even close to being considered a bad situation to make the best of, this child they've been given is their greatest gift. An unexpected gift, yes, but a potentially the best gift ever - if they are willing to open it.<br />
<br />
I hope everyone gets the chance Frank did, to come face to face with a Julia and experience for themselves what families like ours mean when we say our kiddo is the best thing that's ever happened to us.<br />
<br />
In the meantime though, you will have to trust me that I'm not just saying it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67zgIFKZV4cegTxiYY1_b1muJcDNk7_JGV4TvkDvUEq8BKMhMXl72RZAr7Hyf9JheB-Y992672mmqNKQi9zimcjypfrYBIkWTYnmcDI1oBbFhCbutlB7Oe03qovz4j23tx_E2QjXIfQ/s1600/Julia+Birthday+%25289+of+18%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67zgIFKZV4cegTxiYY1_b1muJcDNk7_JGV4TvkDvUEq8BKMhMXl72RZAr7Hyf9JheB-Y992672mmqNKQi9zimcjypfrYBIkWTYnmcDI1oBbFhCbutlB7Oe03qovz4j23tx_E2QjXIfQ/s640/Julia+Birthday+%25289+of+18%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia and Frank</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-14757304111235957992017-10-20T12:02:00.000-07:002017-10-20T12:07:37.110-07:00Drawer by DrawerJulia is doing this new thing with drawers: she opens them, she puts something inside of them and then she closes them.<br />
<br />
It's amazing!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-kvByaEaFKTNJp1y6kqDEOBFWqNegbXIYyvmUZpMgA-hnjLpQ_KaeuM_AlQidwGG12_kSofOpH_AHctGY1z92Zn6CsEYX5vutorQUEqc2nAFKDKruzlzgj3N5GxBHfTadQrlC0iSaQ/s1600/IMG_0634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-kvByaEaFKTNJp1y6kqDEOBFWqNegbXIYyvmUZpMgA-hnjLpQ_KaeuM_AlQidwGG12_kSofOpH_AHctGY1z92Zn6CsEYX5vutorQUEqc2nAFKDKruzlzgj3N5GxBHfTadQrlC0iSaQ/s400/IMG_0634.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I move with her along the length of our kitchen counter - drawer by drawer - offering her some random piece of clutter from the counter top so she has something to put away for mommy.<br />
<br />
And drawer by drawer we go... She opens the drawer, she picks up the item I've offered her, she places it inside the drawer, she pushes the drawer closed, then she slides her body over to the next drawer to do it all again.<br />
<br />
We sometimes get through 3-4 drawers before she loses interest.<br />
<br />
I wonder to myself as I watch her, what's changed in her brain recently, what new pathway has formed, making this a thing she now does? I have no idea, I'm not that smart. But something changed, because this was not something she would do before, but now it is.<br />
<br />
I think I could watch her do this with a thousand drawers and not lose interest.<br />
<br />
A lot goes in to opening a drawer, putting something in and closing it. When you really think about it, it's a pretty complex task: seeing and planning and moving and pulling and picking and placing and pushing and repeating and on and on... A pretty complex task, that Julia now does - now, at age 10 - not before, because her brain wasn't ready before - but now, because her brain is ready now and so now she does this thing.<br />
<br />
~~<br />
<br />
And I'm glad no one told me back when she was a tiny baby and I thought I needed to know things - that this is what she would be doing at age 10 and that I would be happy over it. Putting things in drawers?<br />
<br />
I wouldn't have understood. My brain was not ready.<br />
<br />
A lot goes in to separating from expectations and living in reality. When you really think about it, it's a pretty complex task: recognizing and feeling and honoring and grieving and seeing and loving and releasing and adjusting and embracing and on and on... A pretty complex task, that can't be done all at once because our brains aren't ready for everything all at once, they need time to change and form new pathways and get ready too.<br />
<br />
So right now, it just happens to work out that Julia's brain is ready for putting things is drawers (!!!) and my brain is ready to celebrate whatever it is Julia's brain is ready for. We maybe weren't ready before for now, but we didn't need to be. And we maybe aren't yet ready now for what is next, but we don't need to be.<br />
<br />
We are both perfectly ready for right now - just taking it drawer by drawer.<br />
<br />
<br />Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-14365588163394086982017-09-18T08:30:00.000-07:002017-09-18T09:05:37.792-07:005 Ways to be a Good Friend to a Mom of a Child with Special Needs<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A few months ago, my best friend invited
me to speak to her MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) group on the topic of "How to be a good friend to a mom of a kiddo with special needs."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I was
thrilled at the prospect of getting to share on this topic! </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Over the years I have thought a lot about how grateful I am for all of the things (big and small) my close friends have done
to be a good friend to me and hang in there with me through all the hard times. My plan
was to speak about my own experiences - but I decided it would be a more valuable conversation if I could offer to my audience the
perspectives and experiences of many moms of kids with special needs. So, I put a call out
on Facebook to my all of my "special needs moms" friends and asked them, "What have
your friends done over the years to be a good friend to you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Based
on their responses, I've put together my Top 5 List of Things You Can Do to be
a Good Friend to a Mom of a Child with Special Needs! (Drum roll
please....)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">5. <u>Teach
your kids about my kid.</u></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">For a
lot of us, (and this can of course vary), but for many of us, our
friend's kids are the only friend's our kid has. This is true in our case.
I am SO dependent on my friends kids to be Julia's friend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It
means so much to me to have close friends who have done a good job of talking
to their kids about Julia, teaching them about how to be her friend and making
them feel comfortable when they are around Julia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This
means my friends have had all the <a href="http://www.stephaniesprenger.com/2015/04/27/guest-post-born-with-a-possibility/" target="_blank">tough conversations with their kids </a>again and
again in order to help them understand and keep Julia fresh in their minds so
that when they see her they are more comfortable with embracing her. I
can hardly put into words how much this means to us - to have little friends
who move towards Julia rather than away. Because out there in the world
it can be really tough to be a kid with special needs and find kids who
comfortable being your friend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We
need our friend's kids to be our kid's friends, so if you will put the work in
to helping your kids love my kid, then you have been a really good friend to
me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">4. <u>Offer
to learn about my kid.</u></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">One
of the things several moms mentioned in response to my request is that they
really appreciate it when friends have asked "How can I learn more about
your kid?" "Is there a book I can read about the
diagnosis?" "Is there a video I can watch that will teach me
more about what you are working on or going through?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Friends
who want to know more about the nitty gritty of what we are going through stand
out to us! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In my
own life, I've had friends ask, "Can I watch a video of her seizures so
that I know what they look like?" "Tell me what to do if I see
a seizure so I can help her and you." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Other
moms mentioned it has meant a lot to them when friends offer to learn how to
take care of their kid so they babysit. This means a ton to mom's like me
because most of us aren't comfortable leaving our kids with hardly anyone
because our kids are so complex.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Another
example a fellow mom shared was that one of her friends asked her "What
can I do to make my visits less anxiety provoking for your daughter, tell me
how I can come over and make it easier on her."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">One
more thought on this particular strategy, I've found it to be especially
touching when a friend has shared with me how they have done something
differently because of what they have learned from us - for example, my friend
told me that she saw another special needs family at the park and in the past
she might have just not done anything or thought the best thing to do was to
not interact, but because of our relationship and all we had talked about over
the years, she knew that she should reach out and <a href="http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2014/09/just-say-hi.html" target="_blank">just say hi,</a> so she went over and
talked to that family! </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Letting us know how our story has impacted your life can
really be a boost! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">3. <u>Let us know we are not forgotten.</u></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The
overwhelming tone of the feedback I received on this topic is that so many moms
of kids with special needs feel forgotten. Sometimes it can feel like the
world is passing us by and we are still here, doing our best, but we feel like
no one remembers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">And I
get it, I really do. Normal child development puts you with other
families who are also experiencing normal child development. For most
moms, your social world revolves around the connections your kids make with
other kids - this makes sense. But for moms of kids with special needs (and
dads and grandmas and grandpas...), you don't have those natural connections,
or they are so much harder to find - so that can lead to feeling like the world
is moving on without us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I had
a friend ask me one time "How can I be a good friend to you?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">My
answer was, "I'm just afraid we are going to be left behind by
everyone."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">So
all that to say, anything you do to remind a mom of a child with special needs
that you remember her, is so valued! Texts, messages, cards, gifts - any
of those things may not seem like much or may seem fairly simple really do matter!
</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">To a mom of a kid with special needs who is feeling lonely and forgotten
by the world, your attention in any form can be huge! I can't say enough
how ongoing reminders of "Hey there, I see you, I remember you!"
can mean to a mom like me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2. <u>Show
up and listen (no answers or advice needed).</u></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Please,
please, please just show up! Swing by, say hi - that's all we need!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">You
are off the hook in terms of needing to know what to say or have any answers - we
don't know the answers anyway - it's all unchartered territory for the most
part. But if you can just show up, ignore the chaos, ignore any bad behavior
coming from our child, and just sit with us and listen: let us vent, let us
cry, let us brag, let us whine - you will be giving us such a gift! If
you show up in your sweats and bring chocolate even better! But mainly
just having a friend who can sit and listen, who will validate the tough things
we are going through, without giving advice, is invaluable! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We
all need this - right? Moms of kids with special needs just really, really
need it - and most of the time we are dependent on you coming to us in order to get it.
So please, swing by, show up, hang out for a bit - lend us your ear, show
us some love - in doing that you are being such a
good friend to us! </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1<b>. <u>Invite
us - please, please invite us!</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The
overwhelmingly NUMBER ONE thing you can do to be a good friend to a mom of a child with special
needs is to INVITE HER to things. Invite her, invite her family -
just invite!!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">She
probably won't come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Her
family probably won't come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Don't
be offended - just keep inviting them!!!! The invitation matters!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">There
is nothing more meaningful to moms like me and families like ours than getting
that invitation. It goes with some of the other things already mentioned on
this list - like reminding us we aren't forgotten and helping your kids be friends with our kid - that invitation means
SO, SO much! And over the years the invitations tend to stop. Friends assume
you can't come or your child wouldn't be able to attend (which could be very
true), so they just stop asking. And this then fuels that cycle of
loneliness.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
<o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="382">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Hyperlink"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073786111 1 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">So, if
you really want to be a good friend to a mom of a child with special needs,
just keep inviting her to do stuff - and don't worry if she can't come, leaves early, or cancels last minute because her kid is having a tough day - that is
just what happens - but know that you have done the meaningful part by extending her that invitation!!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">~~</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Thank you to everyone who took the time to read this list and consider this topic! This has been a great reminder to me that I can always do a little more to care for my fellow moms. And you may not even currently know a mom of a child with special needs, but I guarantee you know a lonely mom - and any efforts you make to show her love will matter to her! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">We cannot go wrong trying to care for each other.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
~~</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
Below are the unedited (except for names) responses I received. The words of my fellow special needs moms speak volumes:</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">I think this comes with both what not to do and what a
person can do... I hate when friends ask 'well, can't you just____' when they
don't understand why it's hard for us to take S. out of the house, that there's
nowhere to change her, etc... they'll say 'well, can't you just change her on
the floor' or 'can't you just carry her up the steps to get into somewhere...
like if it were that easy, we hadn't thought of that already (we just do this
every day of our lives). What a friend can do is: being incredibly
understanding when a special needs mom has to cancel plans, isn't available
much, be happy/content to just visit with coffee in sweats if that's all their
friend has the energy for (because chances are they've been sleeping every
night for years whereas I for example haven't slept more than a couple to few
hours at a time for EIGHT YEARS). It's also nice when friends/family send cards
to S. or me, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>just letting us know that
they haven't forgotten about us is nice because many of our friends have unfortunately
and we never hear from them anymore.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Don't exclude us... we may arrive late to something, or
have to cancel last minute, but that doesn't mean we don't appreciate being
invited to things...</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">This is my big one. My
friends continue to go out and do things. When I see a picture or hear about it
they are like well we didn't think you could go. Key word "think".
Why not ask me and let me say no I can't but thanks for the invite. Thanks for
including me, thinking of me or remembering I'm here.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Invite us - even if you don't think we can come. Also,
don't tiptoe, just ask the questions!</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Just listening, but not proclaiming they
"understand." I've had a friend compare having a child that's a
toddler to what I go through. But a friend that just listens and is there to
offer a hug and encouragement (preferably brings Diet Coke and chocolate) is
worth its weight in gold!</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">I miss the simple things, like a phone call to see how I'm
doing, I miss coffee dates, I miss a friend that says can I pick you up
anything from the store, I miss hugs when you get bad news, I miss human
interaction, I miss being included, I miss being thought about... I'm not sure
friends really exist for people like us anymore. I'm starting to lose my faith.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Don't sweat the behavior issues that come with our
challenges. Tell your own kids, and set the example of not showing shock and
discomfort... please. These infractions are small potatoes for a kid (and mom)
who needs to be loved by you. We have to pick our battles. Chances are I
correct him for it constantly and just need a break to ignore it for time to
visit with another adult!</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">If I'm whining, just let me whine about the latest thing
this week. But don't give me the whole pity party, just pretend you know what
I'm talking about. I'll get it out and then we can get on to more normal
conversation. I've always had a ton of respect for those I have found along the
way that don't know an ounce about what's going on but are willing to let my
whine and moan without pity in their voice or the wow shock factor in what is
going on. For us it's normal.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Offer to learn what you need to do so that you can watch
the special needs kiddo even for an hour occasionally. It shows that you care
about both the mom and the kiddo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"><br />
I had a friend ask if there were any books she could read to her son to help
explain why my son needs a wheelchair, that was nice.<br />
-just check in on us once in a while, even if it's just a text. And sometimes
it doesn't have to be all about the kids either. Because we can't go out as easily
means we do get forgotten sometimes.<br />
-from the other side, I often have to remind myself to do some of these things
in return. It can be so easy to get stuck in my own bubble...I need to do
better at that!</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">I second this one...I had
a friend check out some books at the library just so she could learn more about
what our lives are like.....that was so special to me and has given us new
topics to talk about when we do have time to visit.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Bring wine and Kleenex and an open ear. Not to give advice,
but to give an ear</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">I say bring some coffee (and cookies or other treat) and
just come spend time with us. We need regular adult conversation.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Just come by and sit. Don't worry that the house is turned
upside down or worry we are busy. Just come. Just text to say you care. Two
seconds of your time goes a long way for emotional support to me.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Sometimes I just need someone to listen and agree with me
that it sucks that my son has kidney disease and it just doesn't seem fair.
Every now and then you need that vs. "everything is going to be OK"
or "he will be fine."</span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"><br />
<span style="background: #F6F7F9;">I also appreciate when people ask me/are interested
in knowing about T.’s health issue. Don't be afraid to ask questions...it shows
that you care and are interested!!!!</span></span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Give the parent of the special needs child lots of grace.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">I just want to feel like a "normal" mom...I want
to commiserate...share successes and challenges...even if they are different<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">A couple of things that have really helped
me....sending me a text message when they saw something that made them think
about me...text me an encouraging quote or personalized verse....ie: S. can do
all things through Christ who strengthens her.....offering to stay up late so I
can call them after my son is in bed...the best time for me but too late to
call on the spur of the moment cuz it's after 10 pm, giving me a paper flower arrangement...brings
color and beauty into my life...but I don't have to take care if
it.....dropping off a frozen dinner or dump dinner kit....that I can make on
one if those nights when the day hasn't gone as planned....and being invited -
and understanding that I may not be able to respond on that first invite...but
that's really just my life that's keeping me being able to...your understanding
and still pursuing me is sometimes my only life line. Oh and if I ask you for
help with something that you can't do please say no...and then offer to find
some one for me who can...take the search for help off my hands...that is a
huge help.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">I really believe that the most powerful way to be
supportive is to just acknowledge that what they face is hard. No platitudes.
Be a listening, non-advice giving (unless actually asked for) ear. Notice if a mom
is silent when around "typical" mom conversations. There are so many
times I have nothing to contribute because 1. my experience is so different
than typical or 2. I will be a major debbie downer. Also- I had a friend who
just dropped off a wine bottle labeled "for emergencies." It's little
things like that- meals during particularly hard times. funny memes. quick
messages of "I am thinking of you" etc. etc. Just showing up. And not
judging. We are all doing the best we can.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Knock on my door and bring me a cup of coffee. Offer to do
things at my house (like bring the party to me). I often feel guilty to leave
L. but wouldn't mind just having a grown up conversation. I have an amazing
friend that drops by with a ballon for L. and a bottle of wine for me. She gets
that I am not always in the mood to hang out or can't because I am busy with L.
but is cool with just checking in for 20 minutes with me.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> I have a friend that has sent our family gift cards
to different restaurants every month for over 2 years (since G.’s cancer
diagnosis) to help ease some of the burden at home. This has been the BIGGEST
blessing when facing doctor appointments, school pickups, sick days or just
exhaustion.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Let my kid spend some time with yours </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"><br />
<span style="background: #F6F7F9;">Ask how to deal with my son should a situation
arise.</span></span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">1. Invite my kids to typical kids party and include them in
the activities.<br />
2. My daughter with autism sits with a young couple at church. She loves it and
it's also a huge break for us.<br />
3. A friend would pick up my kiddo at school and hang out with her for an hour
or two every few weeks.<br />
4. A couple of friends have given my daughter piano lessons. She loves it and
feels so proud of herself.<br />
5. Acknowledge that my kids are different but love them for who they are.<br />
6. Cry with me on the hard days and celebrate with me the small victories.<br />
7. Advocate for others with disabilities, let my children inspire them to make
a difference.<br />
8.Pray for my kids with disabilities their typical siblings and my husband and
myself. Special needs are challenging to the whole family.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">1) Always inviting us to events/activities AND never taking
it personally when we decline because the invitation/event doesn't work for our
family. Let us make the decision about what we can or cannot do.<br />
2) Treating our child just like any other child.<br />
3) Accepting our entire family without our daughter's disability being a THING.
We're different, our friends know that, accept us anyway and don't make a big
deal about our differences.<br />
4) Listen with love.<br />
5) Don't judge.<br />
6) Focus on the positive, what our child can do, learning to do, etc.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">The #1 thing that my friends have done for me is include my
daughter in activities with their kids. It absolutely makes her happy. Most of
the time other kids will not play with her because she's different and does not
talk. It breaks my heart. My friends kids will take her by the hand and help
her.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Teach your kids that compassion is cool. Helping others is
cool. Sit with our kids at lunch because someday they may just be their boss or
co worker.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-size: 9.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Being eager to learn all they can about my child's
disability so they can understand how best to support her and us.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
<o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="382">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Hyperlink"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073786111 1 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-32537020307826989092017-01-17T10:18:00.003-08:002017-01-17T10:33:51.983-08:00My WHYYesterday I signed up for a weight loss challenge at my new gym. I know, I know - super cliche' to sign up for a weight loss challenge in January... but I actually thought it would be fun. I like group challenges and I'm just a teeny-tiny bit competitive - so I figured this was the kind of thing that might help me kick start the new year and lose those few extra pounds that, while not important in the grand scheme of things, do bug me a little.<br />
<br />
Part of signing up for the challenge was filling out a questionnaire about what was causing us to want to participate. What was our motivation? What was our WHY?<br />
<br />
That's easy. It's her. It's always her.<br />
<br />
"I have a nine-year-old daughter with special needs." I wrote, "She needs me to be healthy and strong for her - for many, many years to come. She is my WHY."<br />
<br />
And it's true. <br />
When my heart is about to explode but I'm pushing plus on the treadmill speed, she's my why.<br />
When my muscles are shaking but I'm reaching for heavier weights, she's my why.<br />
When I'm woefully chewing on a celery stick instead of enjoying a plate of pasta, she's my why.<br />
<br />
I want to be healthy for her. Strong for her. Feel good about me, for her.<br />
<br />
And it's not just my physical body she motivates me to improve. <br />
When I'm implementing new strategies to manage my escalating anxiety, she's my why.<br />
When I'm resisting my natural impulse to get angry with people who frustrate me, she's my why.<br />
When I make myself vulnerable by speaking against the injustices I see, she's my why<br />
When I risk disappointing people by saying no to things, and I hate disappointing people by saying no to things, she's my why.<br />
<br />
I want to be peaceful for her. Joyful for her. Brave for her. Rested for her.<br />
<br />
I have the honor of being the mom to this incredible little person who will need my care her entire life.<br />
And there is no more motivating WHY in all the world than to be able to do that for her.<br />
<br />
She will always be my WHY!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZ7YccVpaBRi0gZJBgtv4S2g9H0fwUgkV9Gxr-O6F6JQx9u3a12lMFAED0qRZL26k4r17ryQM9V7vr2VTFop5Q-TldbKsF5GyrJUTFlsCeksuToUL-UasXE1AltAfzxRhQXKHutW8Pg/s1600/whyblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZ7YccVpaBRi0gZJBgtv4S2g9H0fwUgkV9Gxr-O6F6JQx9u3a12lMFAED0qRZL26k4r17ryQM9V7vr2VTFop5Q-TldbKsF5GyrJUTFlsCeksuToUL-UasXE1AltAfzxRhQXKHutW8Pg/s400/whyblog.jpg" width="321" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-87305176236113564722016-12-15T08:08:00.000-08:002016-12-17T09:31:32.684-08:00Better Off DeadJulia's favorite album right now is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Tom-Halls-Songs-Hollow/dp/B0050AACNA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481746359&sr=8-1&keywords=tom+t+hall+songs+of+fox+hollow">Tom T. Hall's Songs of Fox Hollow</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSf5AYbs4Bpvvi7fusSzxEbSpkPCcrxmzBPLZMGvVZblFQPeUKSIkhhy-MOx6VKsVLATUIEGC5428kXgO4FXebajTyS_e72ya4seIMJgLBHem_FDaYYmZVM6sS-ABm0XnQC3-XdUOcg/s1600/Tom_t_hall_old_alb_1886322b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSf5AYbs4Bpvvi7fusSzxEbSpkPCcrxmzBPLZMGvVZblFQPeUKSIkhhy-MOx6VKsVLATUIEGC5428kXgO4FXebajTyS_e72ya4seIMJgLBHem_FDaYYmZVM6sS-ABm0XnQC3-XdUOcg/s400/Tom_t_hall_old_alb_1886322b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
She walks around the house holding her iPad up to her ear like a boom box, using her nose to navigate between songs like "Sneaky Snake," "How to Talk to a Little Baby Bird," and "I Wish I Had a Million Friends." It's a super cute album, very catchy - but she's been listening to it so much lately it's almost become white noise to my ears.<br />
<br />
EXCEPT for one certain little song. "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke32SKnz8qM">The Song of the One-Legged Chicken</a>..."<br />
<br />
It goes like this:<br />
<br />
A one, two, three, one, ready play~<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do you like true stories? I do</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That's why I'm singing this song</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The song about the one-legged chicken, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who lives in the straw on the floor in my barn</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I remember the day she was hatched out</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The vet came to see her and said, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"That chick has just one leg, she'll never grow up. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think that she would be better off dead."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
I said "No! Let's just let her keep growing, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we'll just wait and see how she gets."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Before very long she was hopping </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and pecking and chasing the bugs with the rest</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now she is a beautiful chicken, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
though she has only one leg</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When I go to see her each morning, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she hops from the nest and she lays me an egg</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And she cackles - booook, bok, bok, bok</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do you like true stories? Well I do, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that's why I've sung you this song</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The song about the one legged chicken </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who lives on the floor in my barn</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And suddenly the white noise clears and I am hearing a true story. Not the one he is telling - about the sweet little chicken - but a different true story about a different little chick I happen to know. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's the song of my sweet, little Julia... </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do you like true stories? I do</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That's why I'm writing this song</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The song about my sweet, little Julia,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who shows us every day that different's not wrong</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I remember the day of her ultrasound</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The doctor looked inside her head,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"You may want to consider aborting."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(He might as well've said "She'd be better off dead.") </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
We said "NO, let's just let her keep going</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We'll just wait and see how she gets."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Before very long she was breathing,<br />
and growing, and learning along with the rest (of us)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now she is a perfect, sweet daughter, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
although she is not like the rest.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When I go to wake her each morning, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she gives me a smile and I know I am blessed. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And she giggles. Heee! He! He, he!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do you like true stories? Well I do</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That's why I wrote you this song</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The song about my sweet, little Julia,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who shows us that different's not wrong<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8ryTMChetBC0aNWEcan5CDNcjUiNenCuyezsNGcfOYJz9KjDA1xIJL3M9gcyGg_lsg2hC40D0m6gNzJXAYMFOxKc3O58LkH1gwWjeb4RRHWpdSB5IrPM1Li-4Gi0DIVIm-EKLurSsw/s1600/betteroffdead1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8ryTMChetBC0aNWEcan5CDNcjUiNenCuyezsNGcfOYJz9KjDA1xIJL3M9gcyGg_lsg2hC40D0m6gNzJXAYMFOxKc3O58LkH1gwWjeb4RRHWpdSB5IrPM1Li-4Gi0DIVIm-EKLurSsw/s400/betteroffdead1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia Anne 9 months</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpD_2ZaslS1JzzvTm6KfAP5HNGasiRgNKVxaWK3Fa3LaHvsQhhAE1N1azdtjTxtBxEe4rOWNds4A7BBwgn6b0L1wwiz823cMVfH97Cw2hOjsnbph90z0X4vdBKELSKBQmwu1fvyNINRQ/s1600/betteroffdead2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpD_2ZaslS1JzzvTm6KfAP5HNGasiRgNKVxaWK3Fa3LaHvsQhhAE1N1azdtjTxtBxEe4rOWNds4A7BBwgn6b0L1wwiz823cMVfH97Cw2hOjsnbph90z0X4vdBKELSKBQmwu1fvyNINRQ/s640/betteroffdead2.jpg" width="377" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia Anne 9 years</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-61631653494946981762016-06-22T08:16:00.000-07:002016-06-24T06:21:16.161-07:00I Remember NineToday Julia turns nine.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2015/06/why-eight-is-especially-great.html">Every birthday</a> brings about its own unique set of emotions - this year I find myself as reflective as always, but not just on Julia's life, on my own.<br />
Because I remember nine.<br />
And not just fragmented, isolated, snap shot memories of nine. I REMEMBER nine.<br />
<br />
I remember starting third grade at a new school.<br />
I remember being the new girl.<br />
I remember feeling lonely.<br />
I remember adoring my third grade teacher, Mrs. M, and hoping she would like me back.<br />
<br />
I remember being boy crazy,<br />
I remember being mean to the kid in my class whom I thought was weird.<br />
I remember loving horses.<br />
<br />
I remember walking through the hallway one day thinking "I wish I could walk like a horse."<br />
So then I tried.<br />
And one of my classmates who was not yet my friend, tattled on me to the teacher I adored:<br />
"Mrs. M!!!! Laurie is walking weird!!!!!"<br />
I remember glaring at her thinking, "You don't get it, I just want to walk like a horse."<br />
<br />
I remember finally making a friend. <br />
And I remember the relief of finally making a friend.<br />
My new friend introduced me to her best friend.<br />
And my new friend's best friend loved horses just like me.<br />
So they added me to their pair. <br />
And I knew I was the third wheel but I didn't even mind, because now I belonged somewhere.<br />
And I remember how good belonging felt.<br />
<br />
And at recess when everyone else played on the playground, we went to the very back corner of the school's property and played horses. Our little corner was the stable and we had to take care of our horses and ride them and make food for them - which we did. Horses love mud pies in case you didn't know. <br />
<br />
And then one Sunday afternoon I remember my mom asked me to take a walk with her. And we sat down on a bench and took our shoes off, which I thought was kind of fun.<br />
And my mom told me that sometimes really sad things happen.<br />
And that my friend's best friend who was now my friend, who loved horses as much as I did, had fallen off her horse...<br />
<br />
And I remember my first funeral. <br />
I remember waving to the boy I had a crush on as we walked down the center aisle of the church to find a seat.<br />
And my mom told me not to wave at boys during a funeral.<br />
<br />
And when everyone started walking up to the front, I remember my mom saying "Sometimes it's better not to look," but I wanted to look.<br />
And then I remember thinking my mom was right. <br />
Her face was too pale and I couldn't see her freckles.<br />
<br />
The next week at school, I remember her big sister came into our classroom to clean out her cubby.<br />
I remember no one said anything to her.<br />
And I thought we should say something to her.<br />
But no one said anything.<br />
<br />
And weeks later at my horseback riding lesson, I remember being told I would be riding the horse today.<br />
Her horse. The one from...<br />
I remember being terrified and then feeling ashamed for being terrified and then telling myself I should try to be brave. And so I tried. But my lesson ended early that day. And my parents weren't even upset. They said it was okay to end early. They said I didn't have to ride that horse again. <br />
<br />
And I remember I didn't ride any horses again for a long, long time.<br />
<br />
I remember making more friends, some that would last the rest of my life.<br />
I remember having more crushes.<br />
I remember slumber parties and best friend necklaces and favorite books and hurt feelings and continuing to be mean to the kid I thought was weird.<br />
<br />
And I remember thinking about her...<br />
The girl we lost when we were nine, who decades later came back to us as a hurricane...<br />
My new friend's best friend who loved horses just like me.<br />
<br />
I'll always remember nine.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyY9WZnXk1go-jxVVcd6FGH33aFic2julu-2CgaPeH3L3N2z08aLS-J92n3S4VcCLt9f54rbTQRVMaXW8py4USx3Fc6CbKGRctRcn2m6r_9OkSAjnrY6Vmw6CGd7-JT096i_ix9Mvpw/s1600/horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyY9WZnXk1go-jxVVcd6FGH33aFic2julu-2CgaPeH3L3N2z08aLS-J92n3S4VcCLt9f54rbTQRVMaXW8py4USx3Fc6CbKGRctRcn2m6r_9OkSAjnrY6Vmw6CGd7-JT096i_ix9Mvpw/s400/horse.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-34293236850772827802016-05-10T06:55:00.002-07:002016-10-13T13:19:27.668-07:00Outlier: The Data Point I'd Like Thrown Out<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next month, Julia turns nine. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And besides being an accurate measurement of the amount of time Julia has been breathing oxygen on this planet, w</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">hat it means for Julia to turn nine and what it means for a typically developing child to turn nine have absolutely nothing else in common.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dhuZ_eXWDOLKS_8Z16_9J808jNwd2YBOjeYxPRokvItrrGhkAkxltM4B9YLrBHOJkd7KWdqI-zqM3vMOFBLTGJEeNsnTtG9T4JSxcD5ddFFI-e2rmEUfyUg0lLH-8PfEm1ld_76-3g/s1600/age.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dhuZ_eXWDOLKS_8Z16_9J808jNwd2YBOjeYxPRokvItrrGhkAkxltM4B9YLrBHOJkd7KWdqI-zqM3vMOFBLTGJEeNsnTtG9T4JSxcD5ddFFI-e2rmEUfyUg0lLH-8PfEm1ld_76-3g/s400/age.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia Anne, 8 years 11 months</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't even know what it means for the majority of the world to be nine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had to look it up. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And according to <a href="http://www.webmd.com/children/tc/milestones-for-9-year-olds-credits">webmd</a>, here are some things to know about typically developing nine</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> year old humans:</span><br />
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; list-style: none none; margin: 15px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; line-height: 24px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They grow about <span class="Measurement">2.5 in.</span> and gain about <span class="Measurement">7 lb </span>in a year.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; line-height: 24px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They can read and understand longer sentences up to 12 words.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; line-height: 24px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They can add and subtract 2-digit numbers, understand fractions, and are learning how to borrow and carry values.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; line-height: 24px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They like organization and planning, such as making plans ahead of time with friends.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; line-height: 24px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They think independently. Most children are improving their decision-making skills.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; line-height: 24px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They can accomplish increasingly more complex tasks and projects in school, such as book reports.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; line-height: 24px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They recognize basic social norms and appropriate behavior.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; line-height: 24px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They can control their anger most of the time.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; line-height: 24px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They have caring, solid friendships.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; line-height: 24px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They have overcome most fears that were common in earlier childhood. But they often start having more anxiety from common stressful situations, such as school performance.</span></span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 24px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;">They are curious about </span><span style="color: black;">relationships</span><span style="color: #222222;"> between boys and girls. Few will admit to this interest-most will insist that they are horrified by the opposite </span><span style="color: black;">sex</span><span style="color: #222222;">.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">That is quite an </span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">impressive</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"> list! Go typical nine year old's!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">But it struck me as I read through this list several times that the least helpful and most misleading way I could describe Julia to someone who didn't already know her would be to start by saying she is nine years old. I would have to walk back and correct every single thing that person would be assuming about Julia based on their knowledge of a typical nine year old.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">And this isn't new for us. This didn't just happen with turning 9. Turning 8 was the same way - so was 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">In fact, it was at Julia's six month check-up after answering "NO" to every single item on the developmental survey that I realized Julia 's path had already begun to diverge from her same age peers. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">I never did fill out another one of those surveys. If I was answering "no" at six months, what would I be answering at nine years? "No x 10,000?" </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">The older Julia gets the larger the divergence and therefore the less meaningful chronological age is to us. Honestly it means nothing. It is an outlier, it is irrelevant to understanding her, and I for one would vote for it to be thrown out. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHwU05-9LQ4FjwkIke9wz8xM4ZlKFdGbXeUX_5x2EQehculezxZia8y3KhurbxKMCjwTyjr_O0c3BMOLOQgTRO9myM3yTulW1jotOXjDNRrknJmifRBTDsKa_RlGCFPS6jfJeCEGoLA/s1600/age2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHwU05-9LQ4FjwkIke9wz8xM4ZlKFdGbXeUX_5x2EQehculezxZia8y3KhurbxKMCjwTyjr_O0c3BMOLOQgTRO9myM3yTulW1jotOXjDNRrknJmifRBTDsKa_RlGCFPS6jfJeCEGoLA/s320/age2.jpg" width="239" /></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Let me be clear, I do not sit around thinking about this in my spare time. I do not care how Julia measures up to other nine year old kids. I do not care how she measures up to other two year old kids. I love her exactly the way she is - so I don't like thinking about these age comparison issues because it forces me to measure her by what she isn't doing and that has never been <a href="http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2013/10/it-really-is-little-things.html">our approach to parenting her</a>.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"> No, this isn't a topic I want to be thinking about. It only comes up when programs we have her participating in tell us something has to change because of her age. Just age. Nothing else. Period. That's when it becomes an issue I have to think about. That's when I suddenly have to look at my child and compare her to other 9 year old's. It's not a comparison I want to make. I want to talk about what she can do, what she is doing, where she is developing and thriving. Trust me, I do not want to be spending my time building a case for why programs need to make an exception for Julia based on age.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">But this is where we are. Again.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Every June, regardless of what else is going on with her - other people tell us her age is the thing that matters to them - and therefore a change must occur. I get that for typically developing kids this might work - because chronological age accurately represents an entire data set of similarities these children share. But that's not the case for Julia - choosing to categorize her based on age not only seems irrelevant, it seems random, because none of her other data points match being nine. </span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">So if we are going to make a decision based on one singular data point (which is not how data is used effectively, but whatever...) - why not look at all of the data points we have to choose from for Julia? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Here you go, here is 9 year old Julia in data points:</span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Size:</span></span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Julia is the weight of an average six year old (thank you cannabis oil for that).</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Julia is the height of an average five year old.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Julia has the head circumference of an average 14 month old.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">At her most recent neuropsych evaluation,</span></span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Julia's gross motor was that of an average 14 month old.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Julia's fine motor was that of an 5 month old.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Julia's receptive language was that of an average 9 month old.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Julia's expressive language was that of an average 3 month old.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Julia's overall cognitive level was that of an average 6 month old.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 24px;">Julia's broad independence level was that of an average 11 month old.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Diagnostically</span></span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 24px;">: </span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 24px;">Julia has a chromosome abnormality.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 24px;">Julia has epilepsy.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 24px;">Julia is legally blind. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 24px;">Julia has global developmental delays.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">So where does Julia belong? </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">I have no idea. </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Clearly these data points are all over the charts. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">But t</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">he one thing I DO know is that I would never pick just one of these data points on the list to make a decision about her. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Determining where a child like Julia belongs requires thoughtfulness and consideration that goes far beyond all of the data points we have available to us, let alone just one. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">We have to consider what Julia CAN do beyond what a battery of tests says about her. Where would she have the most likely chance of fitting in given her unique way of interacting? Where will she be safe? What is best for Julia?</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">No single data point can answer those questions and honestly, no amount of data can capture who someone really is.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">I have to confess this is one of the most frustrating things I have experienced as the mom to a child with special needs - this tethering to a data point that is meaningless to us. The structuring of programs around chronological age which is irrelevant in our world. I know that's how the typical world functions - but Julia isn't typical. These structures were created based on what typical kids are doing at a certain age - she isn't a typical kid. She isn't doing what they are doing and yet, that age category is what people running programs use to tell us where she belongs. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Nothing makes me feel more misunderstood than this issue - especially when it happens with staff in a "special needs" program.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Right now in our home state of Colorado, there are programs Julia would greatly benefit from based on where she is developmentally, but she cannot attend these programs because she is too old. When she was the "right" age for these programs she could not benefit from them because of where she was developmentally. How is this a helpful way to structure special needs programs?</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"> How is it helpful to set up programs for kids with special needs and then hold them to a categorization that doesn't take in to account their special needs? How is it helpful to set up a program for kids with special needs and then tell their parents "We can't make exceptions for you?" Isn't the whole program an exception? Our whole life with Julia is an exception. Please show me one area in which exceptions aren't the norm for us. Isn't the purpose of a program for kids with special needs to help us with those exceptions? To think outside the box with us about what might be best for our child given how different she is from her same age peers? </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Instead of helping us think and work outside of the box, it often feels like more boxes are just piling up inside the original box.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.algebraicthinking.org/sites/default/files/images/Tilted2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://www.algebraicthinking.org/sites/default/files/images/Tilted2.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">And yet, my child is a freaking starburst. </span></span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 24px;">She doesn't fit inside a box.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.all-free-download.com/images/graphicthumb/starburst_310598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://images.all-free-download.com/images/graphicthumb/starburst_310598.jpg" height="640" width="635" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">She is fantastically complicated (that's not bragging, that the definition of a child with special needs). She requires flexibility and creativity and resources. If you don't want to give her those things fine, we will do it on our own - just don't claim to be a program that is meant for her then. You are essentially a typical program following typical rules, leaving us in the same place we would be in without you. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">And to anyone who might be formulating a response to me suggesting I am selling Julia short by pointing out how she isn't like a nine year old, let me stop you right there. I am the last person to sell Julia short - I am in awe of this child and what she can do. My singular focus as her mom is to give her the best life possible to continue to grow into the person God made her to be. Which means I have to be realistic about what she can and cannot do right now. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">What IS selling her short is making determinations about her based on one piece of data. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">It is selling her short to think she is so simple and unaware as to not be impacted by being placed with kids whom she has nothing in common with. It is selling her short to dismiss the benefits to her that can come from making exceptions for her. That, my friends, is selling her short. And it is selling us as her parents short as well. We will not be talked out of doing what we feel is best for our child. ever.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Okay, I think I am done.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">If you made it to the end of this rant - thank you. If you are a fellow special needs parent who feels the same way I do, my heart goes out to you, you are not alone. If you are fellow special needs parent who doesn't feel the same way as I do, that is great! I'm happy this is one issue you aren't dealing with - our journeys definitely aren't all the same. If you are a provider working with kids with special needs and you took the time to think about what I wrote, thank you so much! It means a lot to have my perspective as a parent considered (even if you don't agree with it) rather than dismissed or instantly argued with. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Bottom line, in my experience with Julia, age is neither a helpful nor accurate way to categorize, segregate, or make decisions about her. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 24px;">I believe we can do more good for all kids IF we are willing to see them as more than data points.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-40615826077628082632016-04-13T11:35:00.002-07:002016-04-13T11:58:33.648-07:00Can We Talk About the SwingA couple of weeks ago Jules and I drove to our favorite park. We have to drive a little farther for this particular park, we pass closer parks on our way, but we go to this one because of the Swing. This park has an adaptive swing Julia loves, so the extra minutes to get there are more than worth it.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5iyMBtXSiu5LOJcjOtKq9opUchjgKNATXVSg6PfpT4xG3PupWW4MKNRfFHXxQjlJ3t0Yt_Er7ggfSJLRBDgqUWSiz0yoMdXliKrcn7kbCH-Kd7_0ME8OPi1pP8xKj9McxA0beAMXQQ/s1600/swing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5iyMBtXSiu5LOJcjOtKq9opUchjgKNATXVSg6PfpT4xG3PupWW4MKNRfFHXxQjlJ3t0Yt_Er7ggfSJLRBDgqUWSiz0yoMdXliKrcn7kbCH-Kd7_0ME8OPi1pP8xKj9McxA0beAMXQQ/s400/swing.jpg" width="301" /></a>As we were parking on this particular visit, I noticed someone was in the Swing, which is somewhat rare. I was excited to see it was being used! We approached and saw a little girl maybe 4 years old in the Swing being pushed by her 19 or 20 year old nanny. The little girl was having a great time, laughing and smiling. And why not? The Swing is super fun - not just for kids with special needs, it's a fun swing for all kids! <br />
<br />
When the nanny saw us walk up she instantly stopped pushing the girl and told her she needed to get off the Swing. The little girl was in tears.<br />
<br />
"No, no, no," I said to the nanny. "She can keep swinging, we can wait our turn!" <br />
<br />
The nanny looked hesitant, like maybe she should not accept my offer, but I reassured her we could wait, so she said to the little girl "You get two more minutes then we need to share."<br />
<br />
At this point I am thrilled. This is what kids do on the playground right? They take turns. They share. They learn to wait. Such great stuff for Jules to experience!<br />
<br />
Two minutes passed and the little girl finished her turn swinging. We thanked her for sharing with us then she ran off to play elsewhere. I put Jules in the swing and she proceeded to crack herself up each time I gave her a big push, her laugh echoing across the playground. And I felt like I was on cloud nine: Sunshine and swings and kids and sharing and laughter - all was right with the world.<br />
<br />
After about 10 minutes I told Jules she needed to get out of the Swing and give other kids a chance to use it. There were no kids waiting for the Swing at that point but I felt like we should take a break just in case someone wanted to use it. That's a good mom move, right?<br />
<br />
It took less than a minute for the original little girl to run back over to the now empty Swing and proclaim loudly that she wanted another turn. I was smiling at her, thinking "Yes, of course, now it's your turn!" But this time her nanny told her no. This swing was not for her, the nanny explained, she could do something else instead. The little girl protested, and silently I protested too, but the nanny picked her up and carried her away to another part of the park without further discussion. My heart sunk. I wanted the little girl to come back and swing on the Swing, the Swing she thought was so fun, the Swing that in my mind was not just for Jules but was also for her.<br />
<br />
A few minutes later while Jules was still playing in the wood chips, another little girl ran to the Swing and started trying to climb in. Her mom quickly walked over and sternly said "That one is not for you, it's for other kids, it is not a toy for you to play with." And without looking at us the mom took hold of her daughter's hand and walked her to another part of the playground, leaving us alone with our Swing.<br />
<br />
And my heart sunk a little deeper. I felt like shouting to the whole playground, "Friends, come back! Please, come back by us, play near us, share this fun Swing with us, and keep thinking of this whole place as being for all of us!" But I stayed quiet.<br />
<br />
Jules took another spin in the swing. No one else came around while we were there. Then we packed up and drove home. And my heart continued to hurt. For weeks it has continued to hurt. I felt sad and still feel sad. Sad that somehow in those tiny interactions a message was sent to those two little girls to stay away from my little girl - micro messages that are tough to spot and nearly impossible to retract - but that over time become the ways of the world...<br />
<br />
And here is the thing - I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW that both the nanny and the mom were totally trying to do what they thought was right regarding the Swing. I know they were thinking that because we were there they were supposed to let us have it. I know that. And I know their actions were coming from good intentions and I appreciate them trying to be so considerate - I really, really do. It just hit me that in their efforts to be considerate they were sending the wrong message about the person they were trying to be considerate of. And those little girls heard that being considerate to Julia meant to move away from and separate from her. And that makes me sad.<br />
<br />
I started to wonder, if kids are told the Swing is not for them but for others, what do they then think about the kids they see in the Swing?<br />
<br />
If we tell kids the Swing is different and off limits are we accidentally telling them that the kids who use the Swing are different and off limits?<br />
<br />
Every time we scoop our kids up and move them away from another person what are we telling them about that person? <br />
<br />
I don't know.<br />
<br />
I don't want this to come off as another, "Hey everyone out there, do this differently when you are around people with special needs." I know that gets old. I know most people are trying super hard to get it right, whatever right is. Honestly, I just saw this as an opportunity to think about our messaging to kids, because it struck me so clearly as I watched those interactions play out that what an adult meant to be a message about consideration could so easily be interpreted by a kid as a message about segregation.<br />
<br />
So maybe if we can just try to watch this little thing, this little part of our communication, this subtle message to our kids that different is something to distance from rather than something to move towards, if we can shift from "them not you," to "all of us," maybe, just maybe we can change the ways of world. <br />
<br />
Yes, one step towards each other at a time, we can change the world. Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-16734974041977503832016-03-15T10:21:00.001-07:002016-03-15T11:59:40.842-07:00The Sad Ones<span style="font-family: inherit;">Several years ago when Julia was about two, I met up with a friend for coffee at Starbucks. We had just settled in to our seats with drinks in hand when two little ladies shuffled by us. Upon further inspection and a little eavesdropping I realized the pair was an elderly mother with her adult daughter - the daughter had Down Syndrome. Both my friend and I observed them for a few moments before turning back to each other. I was about to comment on how precious the two of them were when my friend spoke first and somberly said, "Some days you see the sad ones." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm sure my face fell. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sad ones? I had not expected that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't remember what I said in response, I probably just tried to move us quickly on to safer ground. But the moment stuck with me. We had just witnessed the very same scene but saw two very different stories. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I saw happiness and family. I saw something I prayed for in my own story -which is many more years with my daughter. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My friend saw sad.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">~~</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have this fear that people think our story is sad. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I fear that no matter how many times I profess the <a href="http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2014/03/shes-not-sad.html">opposite</a>, some people will continue to think my words are nothing more than a positive spin on a negative story. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I fear that no matter how many different ways I try to explain that Julia is a <a href="http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2015/02/why-god-why.html">blessing</a>, people will assume I am simply making the best of a bad situation. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I fear the assumption will remain for some that we are putting on a brave face to hide our disappointment. That we are somewhere between <a href="http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2014/06/who-got-deal.html">saints and martyrs</a> for loving our child. That we are admirable for continuing to put our best foot forward given the hand we've been dealt, but the bottom line remains our story is sad and we are the sad ones.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And while I know I will never change every person's mind on this, the fear of being so grossly misunderstood drives me to keep trying. <a href="http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2015/02/she-doesnt-need-healing.html">Julia deserves that.</a> </span></span><br />
<br />
So once again, for the record, we are not sad about Julia. We are not enduring her, we are not tolerating her, we are not suffering as a result of her. We love her and we like her. And it hurts when loving her is seen by some as heroic - it hurts because nothing could be farther from the truth. It does not take heroism to love our child - and I wonder what I am doing wrong in telling our story that some would still think this is the case.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Regarding the compliments, I am grateful for them and humbled by them. I know they are being given in kindness, but I do not make the connection between Julia and these qualities. I hope I would be that kind of person with or without Julia. I want to be a positive, optimistic, grateful, strong, brave, vulnerable, compassionate person period. Not in spite of something. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And the same goes for the opposite. When I am not those positive things (which is most of the time). When I am moody, and negative, and anxious, and snarky, and grumpy, and overwhelmed - I am those things by my own doing - with or without Julia. She is not to be blamed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If I am positive it is not an act of overcoming Julia, if I am negative it is not to be blamed on Julia. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you see any good in me, it is by the grace of God. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And when you see the bad, the fault is my own. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A lot of people are happy in seemingly hard situations and miserable in seemingly great situations - I think we have to stop assuming we understand situations based on appearances and let people tell us how their story goes - and then believe them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My story with Julia is a good one. My situation makes me happy. She is my best gift. She is not the <a href="http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2016/01/dear-julia-you-are-not-problem.html">hard part</a> of my life, she is not where I have to be brave or dig deep. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In her memoir, Lena Dunham wrote this in response to people praising her: </span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/2728058-it-s-not-brave-to-do-something-that-doesn-t-scare-you" style="font-size: 14px;">It's not brave to do something that doesn't scare you.</a></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is how I feel about my life with Julia. I'm not being brave, she doesn't scare me. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What scares me is thinking about life without her, that is when I have to be brave. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A little girl with epilepsy died suddenly two days ago. She had been doing well recently, she wasn't even in a really bad place with seizures. But she died. Unexpectedly. At the age of 13, while sleeping in her daddy's arms, because of epilepsy. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This scares me. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And this is the sad story. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But not ours. Not yet. Not while we are still together.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">So friends, will you promise me something? </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Will you promise me you will try to fight the thought that we are a sad story. Will you trust that the story I am telling you is the true version? That Julia is a blessing, without qualifiers. And every moment we get with her only makes this story better. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">And if, God willing, we are given many more years together, and we get to be little old ladies, leaning on one another as we shuffle side by side through Starbucks - will you promise to think to yourself when you see us go by, "Some days you get to see the really happy ones." </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">And that will be the truth.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGusTcx38_jwLriVPB1jCMvWfTRmVucQQ26USJlW1vQ6ItK_PvmBuIg3ebfIqB2hI_5-7FuppBB14_gZ2nHe4HpnO31ojnjMsjIZRcHKEfUcf8AAEhfCxcfyIzVoMBO8LFY4WoUq8W1A/s1600/sadones1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGusTcx38_jwLriVPB1jCMvWfTRmVucQQ26USJlW1vQ6ItK_PvmBuIg3ebfIqB2hI_5-7FuppBB14_gZ2nHe4HpnO31ojnjMsjIZRcHKEfUcf8AAEhfCxcfyIzVoMBO8LFY4WoUq8W1A/s400/sadones1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-61527885168540396292016-02-18T17:20:00.002-08:002016-02-19T07:28:18.273-08:00Julia and Coco: Nearly 8 Times Julia Channeled Her Inner Coco Chanel<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiPzxz8g3WVX7B6OqcSUg4hIYSH3dTlI0e0JVkP6sia_UEgoH5aGoPzdR2tBS-baSQGwgV2T89vzXPvB-pMOK8NwD_0RV8ZtXAE5S7MQw8xNBG953v_4h2_4D6BevEbRUBG_7QG1Nag/s640/blogger-image--1623531487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtt3D6ylvwR2a92sjmi9ivMipWFpeuXOPAzvZ5ruIoQ5i1IGaFPHCY7_FECt7qg2MYYT0sASoI55R6REQd56yGsfm3cO8284YAT_sUAymVDe8oCcHLMO1P9Ict3XmCwnbBoq3EUy8NnA/s640/blogger-image-124611405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So Julia is a fashionista and Coco Chanel was an advocate... who knew? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1. Best decision ever!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzdjncigmI-bxiFhYyeekIO1w78KMTGVJrON5oDoQgijceO00d7fqi4OjCLcmP3I3sYdI26nLgMu-toPZq4nIyGrrBb4YsnR2pQc7r8m9A4Y44jftXvwJiiBoAYdTyvqVsa1zTLE7UA/s640/blogger-image--1974779708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzdjncigmI-bxiFhYyeekIO1w78KMTGVJrON5oDoQgijceO00d7fqi4OjCLcmP3I3sYdI26nLgMu-toPZq4nIyGrrBb4YsnR2pQc7r8m9A4Y44jftXvwJiiBoAYdTyvqVsa1zTLE7UA/s400/blogger-image--1974779708.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Jules, you've opened my eyes to the beauty and necessity of differences.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9d9c23lGiPpvjApvs01UO07xhgGGtKWF9McRjIPGjgyO9jWW5j07-d36j84ZlE9bbMRcUOkWs97JtlLoiCPpZfgWGDJqsRkoFJnHGfS1et1d3NJPil3KfnK7aVPwgDOljBEDh9tqqg/s640/blogger-image--316943735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9d9c23lGiPpvjApvs01UO07xhgGGtKWF9McRjIPGjgyO9jWW5j07-d36j84ZlE9bbMRcUOkWs97JtlLoiCPpZfgWGDJqsRkoFJnHGfS1et1d3NJPil3KfnK7aVPwgDOljBEDh9tqqg/s400/blogger-image--316943735.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Every day little lady, every day!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtt3D6ylvwR2a92sjmi9ivMipWFpeuXOPAzvZ5ruIoQ5i1IGaFPHCY7_FECt7qg2MYYT0sASoI55R6REQd56yGsfm3cO8284YAT_sUAymVDe8oCcHLMO1P9Ict3XmCwnbBoq3EUy8NnA/s640/blogger-image-124611405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtt3D6ylvwR2a92sjmi9ivMipWFpeuXOPAzvZ5ruIoQ5i1IGaFPHCY7_FECt7qg2MYYT0sASoI55R6REQd56yGsfm3cO8284YAT_sUAymVDe8oCcHLMO1P9Ict3XmCwnbBoq3EUy8NnA/s400/blogger-image-124611405.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Even more so!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiPzxz8g3WVX7B6OqcSUg4hIYSH3dTlI0e0JVkP6sia_UEgoH5aGoPzdR2tBS-baSQGwgV2T89vzXPvB-pMOK8NwD_0RV8ZtXAE5S7MQw8xNBG953v_4h2_4D6BevEbRUBG_7QG1Nag/s1600/blogger-image--1623531487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiPzxz8g3WVX7B6OqcSUg4hIYSH3dTlI0e0JVkP6sia_UEgoH5aGoPzdR2tBS-baSQGwgV2T89vzXPvB-pMOK8NwD_0RV8ZtXAE5S7MQw8xNBG953v_4h2_4D6BevEbRUBG_7QG1Nag/s400/blogger-image--1623531487.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
5. Yes you are!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbo1LTj5L94LzaQfEJb6C0c1XNcxxAWhs5ZY88N8cRF6UXRSop3uMbTrBiXwxykDi0NMjRzzdjDK3WmcOWBB40WohFJKaNQxrlzs3w33H2CT9IXs33P5ECw3HRgZ1FBuWNxDrNGyqjIg/s640/blogger-image-1933226082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbo1LTj5L94LzaQfEJb6C0c1XNcxxAWhs5ZY88N8cRF6UXRSop3uMbTrBiXwxykDi0NMjRzzdjDK3WmcOWBB40WohFJKaNQxrlzs3w33H2CT9IXs33P5ECw3HRgZ1FBuWNxDrNGyqjIg/s400/blogger-image-1933226082.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
6. Julia, you are the most fun!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvs9HgGavLkitYcnz27YwXed5scbtmdpHXmGKgSI8xqNUk66PGfDkEO4gnxla6mwGv_3xjAUMD-lAKKBl_kWlUB0imKgjDcZhhoOXEvD4P7PnMIMyoHi9jMpUpC2cPZU4Nb1U6-VnEw/s640/blogger-image--1227540609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvs9HgGavLkitYcnz27YwXed5scbtmdpHXmGKgSI8xqNUk66PGfDkEO4gnxla6mwGv_3xjAUMD-lAKKBl_kWlUB0imKgjDcZhhoOXEvD4P7PnMIMyoHi9jMpUpC2cPZU4Nb1U6-VnEw/s400/blogger-image--1227540609.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
7. Well, obviously!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iLbhGh7jtb3qPe2zCDejW34j7hATvYzejE4JvBOfZSsM1FsYjgf2eATcWoemJgyrfDz94funNMIf2TMBG6wvvfHQByT-f3xxhkQVBXg2ToEySg-ooglQWhIJwbCb0hP1OaQT1DUeoA/s640/blogger-image-2013120970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iLbhGh7jtb3qPe2zCDejW34j7hATvYzejE4JvBOfZSsM1FsYjgf2eATcWoemJgyrfDz94funNMIf2TMBG6wvvfHQByT-f3xxhkQVBXg2ToEySg-ooglQWhIJwbCb0hP1OaQT1DUeoA/s400/blogger-image-2013120970.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
8. So this one isn't actually a Coco quote, hence the "Nearly 8 Times" title, but it is often attributed to her and I love it, and I feel like it's something Coco would have said...you know, since I knew her so well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUtvtiiR2XrIH07tXXxn8nHhCjA6vPbU-HGGBjqQODUB8B61CC_sVXJC2Ho1gFY9szHj8vZ_WPWcxUVQoC9JYMiKVsWWFNOitQBgHYdmUDunHJ95UzLinIz0Iv6D7tvJEEt1meeTiQA/s640/blogger-image-1366828921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUtvtiiR2XrIH07tXXxn8nHhCjA6vPbU-HGGBjqQODUB8B61CC_sVXJC2Ho1gFY9szHj8vZ_WPWcxUVQoC9JYMiKVsWWFNOitQBgHYdmUDunHJ95UzLinIz0Iv6D7tvJEEt1meeTiQA/s400/blogger-image-1366828921.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Bonus Photo: It's really quite easy Coco, what's not to understand?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHagrcmBy0mZtTe6RvfwTQMUfn8WmbkKedW5860jlhlUTubnqzp9dh8aARpT927mJir-Ug8oEq_UkigaHNTweyyQniCrhijwUTrkbu_d8k30CyGP-KBBlThA1P0dvlCC8lorlLApBhA/s640/blogger-image-1790803322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHagrcmBy0mZtTe6RvfwTQMUfn8WmbkKedW5860jlhlUTubnqzp9dh8aARpT927mJir-Ug8oEq_UkigaHNTweyyQniCrhijwUTrkbu_d8k30CyGP-KBBlThA1P0dvlCC8lorlLApBhA/s400/blogger-image-1790803322.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-51614263294073725942016-02-10T17:56:00.004-08:002016-02-11T09:52:59.991-08:00Slumber Parties and PromisesEvery Wednesday night Julia spends the night at my parents' house.<br />
<br />
It's true - every single week - on Wednesday night - my mom hosts Julia for a sleepover. <br />
<br />
I think she does this because she and my dad like having Jules around. She also does it to give us a little break in the middle of the week. And back when Julia wasn't sleeping much it was a way to ensure we got at least one really good night of sleep every seven days. These are the reasons she might give if you asked her why...<br />
<br />
I'm not sure though if she remembers that every time she does this, every single week when Julia spends the night at her house, she is also keeping a promise she made to me 8 years ago after Julia was born.<br />
<br />
~~<br />
<br />
Most of my pregnancy and the early months of Julia's life were entirely focused on the questions of survival and diagnosis. Will she live? What are we dealing with here? <br />
<br />
Life beyond that wasn't in my realm of consideration, I could no longer picture what happens next... <br />
<br />
The first time I remember grieving for the future I once envisioned caught me completely by surprise - I guess that's how grief works. <br />
<br />
A Pottery Barn Kids catalog arrived in the mail one day when Julia was still a baby - we had no money at the time, but I remember wishfully flipping through the pages thinking about all of the beautiful things I wished to buy for Julia one day, <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">when my eyes landed on a white trundle bed with two smiling little girls sitting on it.</span><br />
<div>
<br />
And I crumbled.<br />
<br />
Will Julia ever need a bed like this?<br />
What does it mean if she never needs a bed like this?</div>
<div>
Will she ever have a slumber party?<br />
What if she never has a slumber party?<br />
What if she never has a slumber party because she doesn't have friends?<br />
What does that mean if she doesn't have friends?<br />
What does any of this mean?<br />
How does this work?<br />
She survived - but now how do we live? How do we do this life?<br />
<br />
Somehow I packed us up and we made our way to my mom's house where I fell into her arms and cried and cried and cried and cried and told her about the trundle bed and my fears.<br />
<br />
She just held me.<br />
She mercifully did not try to answer my impossible questions.<br />
She thankfully did not try to reassure me that my fears were wrong, nor did she try to convince me everything would be alright. She just held me and let me cry and gave me time to feel what I needed to feel.<br />
<br />
And then she said to me the one thing she could say with certainty, "I will have slumber parties with Julia."<br />
<br />
And I knew she would. I knew my amazing, devoted, self-less mom - who always puts her words into action, would have slumber parties with my girl. No matter what came next - no matter how the rest of life worked out - I knew without any doubt my mom would make good on her promise.<br />
<br />
~~<br />
<br />
So every Wednesday morning as we pack Julia's bag and I say to her, "You are going to Mimi's house today and you get to spend the night tonight!" what I'm really saying to both of us is, "Mimi loves us and she keeps her promise."<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6mIOhfB7SPJ5wVdIU-vdKPV0Q9nIn3niVGJ9o-d2Oa4avnuGq-A_RTMQtBFaY71_MG_nc1qlFXZ99YVQ4y_Rp5p5vg8carwKm0X2l5uFsUTu7f9jTuTHDutpPIOkSIFIyHP9WswSAA/s1600/11169961_10152896990428471_2370488336689166820_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6mIOhfB7SPJ5wVdIU-vdKPV0Q9nIn3niVGJ9o-d2Oa4avnuGq-A_RTMQtBFaY71_MG_nc1qlFXZ99YVQ4y_Rp5p5vg8carwKm0X2l5uFsUTu7f9jTuTHDutpPIOkSIFIyHP9WswSAA/s400/11169961_10152896990428471_2370488336689166820_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jules and Mimi (and Macaroni the Doodle)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-52084065830886921632016-02-03T17:19:00.001-08:002016-02-03T19:21:21.730-08:00Bathroom Remodel or My Best Christmas Present Ever!<br>
Hello friends!<br>
<br>
I am once again hijacking my own blog to do something a little different - I am writing my very first home makeover blog about our new main floor bathroom!!!! And I'm super excited about it - so prepare yourselves for a many, many exclamation points!!!!!!!!<br>
<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDS5V034Fehyphenhyphen60CK4A07LFDdYh7QUkvRXtws-mY3JhAqD6zEq9a7fVEfwiB0YCtp-sUsPB3hyvTotbi-0_xwbrEbPqw9R3YQdPIuMJHuDzER-iY2yFnlhyphenhyphen3VjSiPyoT5XctyqoWraHg/s1600/before+and+after+mac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDS5V034Fehyphenhyphen60CK4A07LFDdYh7QUkvRXtws-mY3JhAqD6zEq9a7fVEfwiB0YCtp-sUsPB3hyvTotbi-0_xwbrEbPqw9R3YQdPIuMJHuDzER-iY2yFnlhyphenhyphen3VjSiPyoT5XctyqoWraHg/s320/before+and+after+mac.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before and After modeling courtesy of our Golden-Doodle Macaroni</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<b><u>Quick background:</u></b><br>
<br>
We moved into our house a little over a year ago - it's a 1950's ranch that had been flipped prior to us buying it. Some of the flip was good, some not so good. The only bathroom on the main floor fell into the not so good category. The original tub remained and had been glazed, and the finishes were not well done (the tile was bumpy and not cut straight), but the main issue was just that it was super small. The tub served as a convenient, but not optional, foot rest when you sat on the toilet. The space between the tiny vanity and the tub was about 18 inches. Twice Julia walked in, bumped into the vanity and fell into the tub- thankfully both times I caught her by the ankles before she crashed, so it was kind of funny - but also really scary.I worried about how this room would work for us as she gets bigger. So all that to say, I really hated this bathroom. Really. Hated. It.<br>
<br>
Shortly after we moved in we consulted with my husband's Uncle Al, who is a contractor, to get his opinion on our options for this awful room. He suggested that when we were ready to do a remodel we could take down a wall and borrow about 36 inches from the adjoining bedroom. We loved that idea and started day dreaming about a time down the road when we would be able to do a full gut, expansion, and remodel. To say I obsessed about this would probably not be an exaggeration - I have a tendency to fixate a little when it comes to home decorating possibilities... Wes loves this about me!<br>
<br>
So fast forward to this past Christmas. We were still in the day dreaming phase in regards to the bathroom when I received a call from Uncle Al telling me he had drawn my name for the family gift exchange and he was going remodel the bathroom for me as my gift!!!!! WHAAAAAT?????? I couldn't believe it - he was going way, way over the suggested $50 limit. He reassured me it would be his pleasure to do this for us and so on January 5th the project began!<br>
<br>
We had lots of fun picking out appliances, fixtures and finishes - for all of my hours watching HGTV, I had never actually experienced going through a remodel before. It was so much fun and we absolutely LOVE the final result. It's DREAMY!!!! And most importantly it's now so much safer and more accessible for Julia - which is truly an amazing blessing for us! Oh and also, I can now move on to obsessing about other things - yay!<br>
<br>
So without further ado, I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story!<br>
<br>
<br>
<u><b>Before:</b></u><br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78Z32QD12NZKKmpKIvqVkPELIEdmXQ0yW70RQdTMBH3AHMeqzkje5ezCZowONtIhUPM_61r7edM1FhLpiUFVU0ZGIwZyrQX9xvCrx5ddcMZ93f1K7iR_Q8ZiRRqfdeEEZ8OUlBUR2Qg/s1600/before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78Z32QD12NZKKmpKIvqVkPELIEdmXQ0yW70RQdTMBH3AHMeqzkje5ezCZowONtIhUPM_61r7edM1FhLpiUFVU0ZGIwZyrQX9xvCrx5ddcMZ93f1K7iR_Q8ZiRRqfdeEEZ8OUlBUR2Qg/s320/before.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Macaroni, demonstrating how cramped the old bathroom was!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgci2BZweNUUtjf5J6SQfhrENgtSjej_6pnDA2tPcfV8aVD2v9YqUB45aNleh0ovsMUdB55T41BSLQVhRTz9ejMYWLMesmQ8zDforw9QPfIntjFBssg39N_jAFq5WeTFRnlrJfsQTJd0w/s640/blogger-image--590517177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgci2BZweNUUtjf5J6SQfhrENgtSjej_6pnDA2tPcfV8aVD2v9YqUB45aNleh0ovsMUdB55T41BSLQVhRTz9ejMYWLMesmQ8zDforw9QPfIntjFBssg39N_jAFq5WeTFRnlrJfsQTJd0w/s400/blogger-image--590517177.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old bathroom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHyJ5pd1TMfuMvWNDEWBFj6N75uwvnFYelb7JUgOVk5ASaln3P_0eeuqyJK67EnorpYT2RBRLVq-8bnexoKGTA88FNlzoEfpUeYSYdZgmhKmW3qnFUod_8oH9cU-6MQt04PxVMLZduQ/s640/blogger-image-453281223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHyJ5pd1TMfuMvWNDEWBFj6N75uwvnFYelb7JUgOVk5ASaln3P_0eeuqyJK67EnorpYT2RBRLVq-8bnexoKGTA88FNlzoEfpUeYSYdZgmhKmW3qnFUod_8oH9cU-6MQt04PxVMLZduQ/s320/blogger-image-453281223.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original cast iron tub.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUP7eHrYZWiVxbhyphenhyphenuCuZNwF7RLdoyueleYz8fHpMn3thiA8Ri0jG0l8DmEum8gcC2361QSfZBMpgjQakPeSerdE9pIZINCRJxa5AY7YOY0vq3tFDKSKEXTji0dKKqR52DiuPCqs8vsg/s640/blogger-image--1547014982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUP7eHrYZWiVxbhyphenhyphenuCuZNwF7RLdoyueleYz8fHpMn3thiA8Ri0jG0l8DmEum8gcC2361QSfZBMpgjQakPeSerdE9pIZINCRJxa5AY7YOY0vq3tFDKSKEXTji0dKKqR52DiuPCqs8vsg/s400/blogger-image--1547014982.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny vanity, boring finishes... blah!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b><u><br></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b><u><br></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b><u>AFTER!!!!</u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b><u><br></u></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgep5Ch7o3nomBFBqYMYy7ZwxELQDoFWBjxf8T0daAHY_5zLewJ6Ibn-7O2xqL7q7rtlek1M2-skp_jD6FFHMpSKmuk-Se0UF8AAu9L3LBNG9dfBC1Un2g0gxm3Ua2ZvvD9LDhjLU0yBA/s1600/after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgep5Ch7o3nomBFBqYMYy7ZwxELQDoFWBjxf8T0daAHY_5zLewJ6Ibn-7O2xqL7q7rtlek1M2-skp_jD6FFHMpSKmuk-Se0UF8AAu9L3LBNG9dfBC1Un2g0gxm3Ua2ZvvD9LDhjLU0yBA/s320/after.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Macaroni's haircut along with the newly expanded bathroom means he has plenty of room now to relax!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b><u><br></u></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesyg5JVojUuM8VhcvSfdmGzcrKIszJj2BVNPfdyHZMC7qUTmg9uD1SGqHL29Em51J_561stAqweI8ZDlDLXprTDcx4H7qW3CqhL5w4NMwrzK_tuxyjYNTw757exKSQOG-q2CKD52EFg/s640/blogger-image-178537634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesyg5JVojUuM8VhcvSfdmGzcrKIszJj2BVNPfdyHZMC7qUTmg9uD1SGqHL29Em51J_561stAqweI8ZDlDLXprTDcx4H7qW3CqhL5w4NMwrzK_tuxyjYNTw757exKSQOG-q2CKD52EFg/s400/blogger-image-178537634.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay!!! The wall was bumped back creating an extra foot and a half of space!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgka4Y5FOnYaaTFYSnlnRGPFkUwc5mkGAWNmSqjpg3xB4u9YSIqIqOFiPYh-dwx3uHSUPt4J2yYwHcxXKelyl4avRzMraZbJzTxCIX6ypoWFka1gACyz25JAc0iBNw5Cjm8fln7L6ttZw/s640/blogger-image-1251396499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgka4Y5FOnYaaTFYSnlnRGPFkUwc5mkGAWNmSqjpg3xB4u9YSIqIqOFiPYh-dwx3uHSUPt4J2yYwHcxXKelyl4avRzMraZbJzTxCIX6ypoWFka1gACyz25JAc0iBNw5Cjm8fln7L6ttZw/s400/blogger-image-1251396499.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lot's of room for Julia to walk in and not tip into the tub!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgZvwC8mGq7Wv-QmxGUh-VhAQXFH5KRi1r2K4ZTfJqHpKoYSEPiWOTXw0EAQubYtsqzYwphHBnuojktHjz5jTJjVpEfzDw6vJ7iPZJDuIRtbonC01EUPyaf-XnsALJQ-Lo8ftXq5x7Q/s640/blogger-image--1993275509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgZvwC8mGq7Wv-QmxGUh-VhAQXFH5KRi1r2K4ZTfJqHpKoYSEPiWOTXw0EAQubYtsqzYwphHBnuojktHjz5jTJjVpEfzDw6vJ7iPZJDuIRtbonC01EUPyaf-XnsALJQ-Lo8ftXq5x7Q/s400/blogger-image--1993275509.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The walls are a white beveled subway tile. <br>
The paint is a brownish-black called Pepper from Behr.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwyUqVTRHMT0zjZx7daw_5UhyPRi35TR3BlFTZ-ffzQhvG3a8aO1biaDi7nxPH5zCWHBmba9pqka4S_ymgAHQ0MZnmKKzAJriuixboy_DBYGZvRv7grOkKnL1D19UVVPHM2YvaLbrSg/s640/blogger-image--250785942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwyUqVTRHMT0zjZx7daw_5UhyPRi35TR3BlFTZ-ffzQhvG3a8aO1biaDi7nxPH5zCWHBmba9pqka4S_ymgAHQ0MZnmKKzAJriuixboy_DBYGZvRv7grOkKnL1D19UVVPHM2YvaLbrSg/s400/blogger-image--250785942.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We love the rough, concrete look of the floor tiles in contrast with the white wall tiles.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_SCwxF-eRGCFYHzqPsfrxYinKmjrC80pbsF8ASi_RHUPfgsw9SVIxWA_5S_mfwlDzFd7b4JQ1kmEQ2-542Ii_zOYn9gqahzTJdHQkB7W3Nbmglf3vDRhicZJj-CfjHoJT-nTP6btRQ/s640/blogger-image--606567999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_SCwxF-eRGCFYHzqPsfrxYinKmjrC80pbsF8ASi_RHUPfgsw9SVIxWA_5S_mfwlDzFd7b4JQ1kmEQ2-542Ii_zOYn9gqahzTJdHQkB7W3Nbmglf3vDRhicZJj-CfjHoJT-nTP6btRQ/s400/blogger-image--606567999.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new tub is great for a little girl who loves to create tsunami waves!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcaf_UqHAhQVZz8s-oKVWCrgwP9n1SGzVHovH3gqKw80IMhv0rkXqPQtwkK9Pi9VGA_lDNcKb0ZfuE9eLzm5womhlVX3Vuit2GzkQYZ8Zni2hj_PRAOPg7haO1ReVWIjo_lheoTOkcg/s640/blogger-image-870011096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcaf_UqHAhQVZz8s-oKVWCrgwP9n1SGzVHovH3gqKw80IMhv0rkXqPQtwkK9Pi9VGA_lDNcKb0ZfuE9eLzm5womhlVX3Vuit2GzkQYZ8Zni2hj_PRAOPg7haO1ReVWIjo_lheoTOkcg/s400/blogger-image-870011096.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We love how the tile turned out!<br>
I was planning to go with a darker grout but the tile guy talked me into white and I think he was right!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cDNoAB6_rGDk8p5lbOCg4Q75CTbAEatOFiMTdm4kAaTllNyMETUiW3woNGudTaFXU-VExnBLHuRhe0iYjXTQOjYImkbR3VIgFOML98n7d5aahehTrDtu_8qog_jvNUnC0dRVG-q7og/s640/blogger-image--1700819842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cDNoAB6_rGDk8p5lbOCg4Q75CTbAEatOFiMTdm4kAaTllNyMETUiW3woNGudTaFXU-VExnBLHuRhe0iYjXTQOjYImkbR3VIgFOML98n7d5aahehTrDtu_8qog_jvNUnC0dRVG-q7og/s400/blogger-image--1700819842.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you for blessing us Uncle Al and Aunt Jan!!!! <br>
We love our new awesome bathroom!!!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br>
A few more pictures for people who like to see the in-between:<br>
<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyl8xT5U0g1hBuzRlg5arj30j6ZDbgym-yJlP3yDVXaD8LDXP7OMjYDVhaVoCyPfW6IvgqDKwr2SOTuzRSbHPPU2gr9hLKh__Wif3jDfnzSlUCbYn6nOB44LHLbeUn0dKCg5Lezg8pCQ/s640/blogger-image-1214185287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyl8xT5U0g1hBuzRlg5arj30j6ZDbgym-yJlP3yDVXaD8LDXP7OMjYDVhaVoCyPfW6IvgqDKwr2SOTuzRSbHPPU2gr9hLKh__Wif3jDfnzSlUCbYn6nOB44LHLbeUn0dKCg5Lezg8pCQ/s640/blogger-image-1214185287.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gutting!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_s5v3jyrYAy0KVI-YxHdgMuKVKMMDfHdYW-2dyHADOgOav2ptnkJNhZrfvrce0pOftQIUNgGi7hUCrzlDnLD82G7n7AxPa182bh3NBE8F2JIZrHVsjdUIDxSqOhQC_Ny6c86xmTwQA/s640/blogger-image-1485036131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_s5v3jyrYAy0KVI-YxHdgMuKVKMMDfHdYW-2dyHADOgOav2ptnkJNhZrfvrce0pOftQIUNgGi7hUCrzlDnLD82G7n7AxPa182bh3NBE8F2JIZrHVsjdUIDxSqOhQC_Ny6c86xmTwQA/s320/blogger-image-1485036131.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wall came down!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumAYdTBERjg0VQHCbl-N-VCV4WLOF_7VCCdaXXkf2OOU8gpurTPlqRdKdmoQcStJksgCftPuGvewuNitkhQ1mRD6ccre2MGSiqPRxwN5dU_osdohJk4KjHVLvJ0NT0g7yY9fGybG5cA/s640/blogger-image-1868770251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumAYdTBERjg0VQHCbl-N-VCV4WLOF_7VCCdaXXkf2OOU8gpurTPlqRdKdmoQcStJksgCftPuGvewuNitkhQ1mRD6ccre2MGSiqPRxwN5dU_osdohJk4KjHVLvJ0NT0g7yY9fGybG5cA/s320/blogger-image-1868770251.jpg" width="240"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new bump out! <br>
Julia's room is adjacent so we added a lot of insulation.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP4U18ZSVvwpK36KNrAfot2RR-IONefU1_WblqyvSXnd13Jp2Y3HbZKK_1jLJsPlNdyFdgtU9LaH33H5ljOp-Fo5SZYUoV3bTptGGBPY1SOzwZ51M0Z689z5-VzSb5R__lb6KPzr8vg/s640/blogger-image-363330864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP4U18ZSVvwpK36KNrAfot2RR-IONefU1_WblqyvSXnd13Jp2Y3HbZKK_1jLJsPlNdyFdgtU9LaH33H5ljOp-Fo5SZYUoV3bTptGGBPY1SOzwZ51M0Z689z5-VzSb5R__lb6KPzr8vg/s320/blogger-image-363330864.jpg" width="240"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New tub is in!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6K8XxMOvCgrTFHE1gtpIILNHU_Nwbe3ik9hbRFb5jVnKZ9IhBA53Q4V7Fw8cTbqySCdHKnZGIAciL8DMs_p6Z5edtP5Wte0OmzY6d8eq3QtlVezSCVyCeTnfyKvp731a655G3rSUiQ/s640/blogger-image--1995666888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6K8XxMOvCgrTFHE1gtpIILNHU_Nwbe3ik9hbRFb5jVnKZ9IhBA53Q4V7Fw8cTbqySCdHKnZGIAciL8DMs_p6Z5edtP5Wte0OmzY6d8eq3QtlVezSCVyCeTnfyKvp731a655G3rSUiQ/s640/blogger-image--1995666888.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got to do the paint! <br>
I LOVE the color - Pepper - my new favorite!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqfhZpln_mZTD1op2Qt6x7ccaAT09DtEPXNSsH10wy_mjHi1kxgHV0V2AUEkEGAQBADRz7uyGZU_loX_xwBDtjTmGSXlJYRmheWCvrzbNY6cS4ASlasvl-JpEHIUqh5fTuQwz8V0Ymw/s640/blogger-image--592415305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqfhZpln_mZTD1op2Qt6x7ccaAT09DtEPXNSsH10wy_mjHi1kxgHV0V2AUEkEGAQBADRz7uyGZU_loX_xwBDtjTmGSXlJYRmheWCvrzbNY6cS4ASlasvl-JpEHIUqh5fTuQwz8V0Ymw/s640/blogger-image--592415305.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old floor had to be leveled.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCPr_b-BfIb3LIGnKKLfDnsQ7q7zcIv4oG0qZiX989EikKbQUb5yPl7sxOBYDZQtEXg_gsDFRfSFdqU2H1S42w9TOL8bXIXQRGubeem1qWncg039FW_Cz1XGKi94-Jzdeez0iQ21jgA/s640/blogger-image--1053284064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCPr_b-BfIb3LIGnKKLfDnsQ7q7zcIv4oG0qZiX989EikKbQUb5yPl7sxOBYDZQtEXg_gsDFRfSFdqU2H1S42w9TOL8bXIXQRGubeem1qWncg039FW_Cz1XGKi94-Jzdeez0iQ21jgA/s640/blogger-image--1053284064.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New floor down!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xzQngVwtA6mgL3WmSxn_tDx3T9Ajip1sSDEG5RbaVnIH2daupaK3GBk-i1A-Jw8YbP65d5S88JDbHe_cWpmU9lzg65s3-CbYSjXRzRss5tW6IY-PVHsWlmqSz_hhCajSeihM0rPEyA/s320/blogger-image--2146994698.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiled walls up!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br>
I am so very grateful for this amazing gift - best Christmas gift ever!!!!<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-74219833649358505552016-01-28T11:56:00.000-08:002016-01-28T17:36:51.076-08:00Medical Marijuana: A Year in ReviewOne year ago I shared a blog about Julia <a href="http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2015/01/julia-is-going-green.html">starting medical marijuana</a> and wrote this line:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
If all goes as planned, Julia will start medical marijuana on Monday.</blockquote>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufJFgDA5aNY1pZumGmjnrdhyYyT53HINaHhP2nCx-OWZJogx6VKuBPB6rsC1_3Off2kEfeYHk8Br3sXjLOKY0vQMu7R_cBwTJuMOvOTtjnHZa9e4hw2w5RPnptL0ZzXUHKyAkG_86Vw/s1600/walking+with+pillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufJFgDA5aNY1pZumGmjnrdhyYyT53HINaHhP2nCx-OWZJogx6VKuBPB6rsC1_3Off2kEfeYHk8Br3sXjLOKY0vQMu7R_cBwTJuMOvOTtjnHZa9e4hw2w5RPnptL0ZzXUHKyAkG_86Vw/s400/walking+with+pillow.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia the Flower Girl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well, all did go as planned and if all continues to go as planned Julia will hit her one year anniversary of taking medical marijuana on Monday.<br />
<br />
What a year it has been!<br />
<br />
So many things have happened...<br />
We have gained new friends as a result of choosing this path. <br />
Our story has been widely shared.<br />
We have been praised and we have been critiqued.<br />
We have been called trail blazers and we have been called child abusers.<br />
We have become advocates, we have seen laws pass, we have felt attitudes shift and we have watched some of our medical refugee friend's return to their home states!<br />
<br />
In 12 short months we have witnessed progress!<br />
<br />
But on a more personal level, the main question people have about this past year is:<br />
Has it worked for Jules?<br />
<br />
And the answer is yes! Thank the Lord, yes! It has worked, it IS working!!!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DtGf0segoNwNmeHk_N9J392s9swpf3986eHArzx9Cjb3H0_cZxBPQq5WXpeqKs5EMW94mA8TkmeP2kM8mpovowvmSlmOeVj5LP-GxNtFM4BHj_fVB4-ahoBEdoJvRQ-6Sqx0bQJv4g/s1600/12115957_10153241707588471_6529948271374926676_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DtGf0segoNwNmeHk_N9J392s9swpf3986eHArzx9Cjb3H0_cZxBPQq5WXpeqKs5EMW94mA8TkmeP2kM8mpovowvmSlmOeVj5LP-GxNtFM4BHj_fVB4-ahoBEdoJvRQ-6Sqx0bQJv4g/s320/12115957_10153241707588471_6529948271374926676_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia and her new buddy Macaroni</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
And here is what I mean by working:<br />
<br />
<u>First:</u> Medical marijuana (some call it CBD oil, Julia's exact oil is called <a href="http://haleighshope.com/">Haleigh's Hope</a> and has both CBD and THC in it), has provided Julia with seizure control!<br />
<br />
This is the main point - right? To keep those *bleeping* seizures away. And so for this main, most important purpose, it has absolutely worked!<br />
<br />
We had a few bumps in the road, especially early on as we worked to find the correct dosage. One of the side effects of this medicine has been an increase in appetite, so Julia gained weight faster this year than she ever has before. There were a couple of times when we got behind in her dosing due to not realizing how much weight she had gained. When this happened she did have a few seizures, but once we adjusted the dosage we gained back seizure control. We also still see seizures when she is sick or getting sick, (that happened earlier this week in fact) - but seizures when she is sick is to be somewhat expected. Overall though, when the dose is right and she isn't sick, we are not seeing seizures - amazing!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<u>Second:</u> Because medical marijuana worked for seizure control, Julia was able to wean off of all other medications.<br />
<br />
Julia took her last dose of Keppra back in March, so for 11 months now she has <i>only</i> been taking medical marijuana. This in and of itself is incredible because she had been on Keppra and a cocktail of 13 other pharmaceuticals since she was a tiny baby.<br />
<br />
Getting Julia off of Keppra was part of the reason we chose this journey - we were concerned about what years of taking pharmaceuticals was doing to her little system, we suspected Keppra specifically was causing her to experience extreme agitation, rages and an overall sense of discomfort in her own skin. We wanted to see what she was like if she was not on that medication - and now we have!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<u>Third</u>: Julia has had an incredible, incredible year developmentally! <br />
<br />
My opinion is that this developmental jump is the result of being off of Keppra more than being directly caused by marijuana. So, just to connect the dots, being on marijuana allowed her to get off Keppra which has then allowed her to flourish developmentally because she is no longer as agitated, distressed and distracted by the side effects of Keppra. <br />
<br />
Again, this is not scientific, this is just my best guess about these changes - Julia is non-verbal and cannot tell me exactly how she feels, but through observation - mine, my husband's, family members and other people who know her well - we all agree she is a changed little lady. She is and always has been our fabulous little Jules, but we just feel like she is MORE Julia now, more her true self. A calmer Julia, a happier Julia, a Julia who can tolerate new situations and different stimuli so much more than she used to be able to. A Julia who simply yet miraculously seems more comfortable in her own skin. <br />
<br />
And as a result of feeling better, Julia did a ton of new things this year: she wore sunglasses! She went on play dates and actually had fun. She held on to the rope of a tire swing. She let me clean her ears with a Q-tip and trim her nails with clippers without either of us crying. She started drinking out of a new kind of cup after using a baby bottle for 8 years. She repeatedly found the letter "J" on her toy laptop - "J for Julia!" She let us give her hugs and kisses more often than before. She lets me hold her hand, and she touches soft things which used to seem unbearable. She pets her puppy, Macaroni. She learned how to make her horse "trot" in therapy. She made up her own funny game with my dad where she carries a pillow to him and he says, "Oh thank you Julia, you brought me a pillow, I needed a pillow," and then she promptly throws the pillow as far away from him as she can and starts cracking up... She is quite the tease!!!<br />
<br />
She started making noises again this year with her sweet little voice and even initiates a little conversation with us of "Hmm, Hmm, Hmm, Ha-Ha-Ha!"<br />
<br />
And this winter for the first time ever, she played in the snow because she was finally able to tolerate wearing a hat and mittens!!! My heart could barely hold all of my happiness.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-y8zD4W2LR0gfNmEY15n4X6raz2M6cHe6ULuv0UaGylSr43DB98nccb26YEStJZMcKJ7L8UP1Y9TjHKvGijXHFE3qL4BoxCR4rUhHOTio6R54598XMrTLXVDUQWGGfhgYkVsNYFP2VA/s1600/10295734_10153382722698471_3154576725145106724_n+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-y8zD4W2LR0gfNmEY15n4X6raz2M6cHe6ULuv0UaGylSr43DB98nccb26YEStJZMcKJ7L8UP1Y9TjHKvGijXHFE3qL4BoxCR4rUhHOTio6R54598XMrTLXVDUQWGGfhgYkVsNYFP2VA/s400/10295734_10153382722698471_3154576725145106724_n+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hat, sunglasses and mittens. Boom!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's been a crazy, wonderful, blessed year - we have hardly been able to keep up with and keep track of all the good things happening for our girl. I've been both saddened to fully realize and amazed to observe how much change can come as the result of not being constantly distracted and distressed by sensory stress and overload. She really had been dealing with a lot of negative side effects from those other drug, and now that she is feeling better because of marijuana, so many worlds have opened up to her in just one year.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
So has it worked? Yes! It has worked for Julia, for now.<br />
<br />
Will it work forever? Probably not.<br />
<br />
I don't say that to be a downer, it is just reality. Staying away forever is not typically the way seizures work for kids like Julia. Seizures, for kids like Julia, keep finding a way back. I've said this before and I'll say it again - in the battle against epilepsy you have to have a deep bench.<br />
<br />
As much as we all would love a miracle drug that will keep these seizures away forever, it's more realistic that in Julia's lifetime we will need multiple miracle drugs - one after another after another - to keep fighting off these relentless seizures and give our girl a chance.<br />
<br />
So the reason we share our story is not simply to promote marijuana - although of course that is a big part of it - but no, we share our story in order to advocate for MORE TREATMENT OPTIONS and access to all treatment options!!!! We believe everyone in this fight against epilepsy should have access to marijuana. We also hope and pray for more treatments to be discovered. We hope researchers keep researching, we hope pharmaceutical companies keep testing and developing new drugs, we hope tech companies continue improving technology related to seizures, and we hope media outlets increase sharing stories like ours to raise more awareness about epilepsy. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2015/07/what-medical-marijuana-debate-is-really.html">Our fight is not for marijuana</a>, our fight is for the life of our child.<br />
<br />
My prayer as we continue to share our story to anyone who will listen is that minds will keep opening, attitudes will keep changing - and people will learn to be more frightened by the word SEIZURE than they are by the word MARIJUANA. And that will lead to lives being saved.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsr5MHBYOm0HCST2b8wIAZnky_bjPVZWLFa-Ps7nAywlv7oTqg68p8CzuidhPlTNcCTiC8_ayBBraU4I923vpb0Xp-r5-6FJPhf295RoJN2fCQABy83YetK9d_BQPTDksi6uQaPtPAA/s1600/12346333_10153352243853471_8008056946599157946_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsr5MHBYOm0HCST2b8wIAZnky_bjPVZWLFa-Ps7nAywlv7oTqg68p8CzuidhPlTNcCTiC8_ayBBraU4I923vpb0Xp-r5-6FJPhf295RoJN2fCQABy83YetK9d_BQPTDksi6uQaPtPAA/s400/12346333_10153352243853471_8008056946599157946_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia and Scooter </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;"> #marijuanaismedicine #parentsforpot #haleighshope #bornwithapossibility</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-3482558888154576652016-01-25T22:47:00.001-08:002017-01-26T06:03:45.016-08:00Dear Julia, You Are Not the Problem<h2>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h2>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal;">Dear Julia,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I read a post last night when I was trying to fall asleep written for parents like me, parents of extra special kids like you - and what I read really bothered me because it seemed to be saying that life is really really hard for people like me because of kiddos like you. I read it twice and then a third time to make sure I hadn't read it wrong or missed the point (I do that sometimes), but again and again and again what I heard most of all was the author saying how hard life is because of kids like you. </span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And, well, that didn't sit too well with me babe, so I had to speak up - because while the author may have been speaking for himself, he absolutely, 100% does NOT speak for me. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yes, life can be stinkin' hard - but Jules, I pray you hear this one thing from me if nothing else - the hard in life is <u>NEVER</u> because of you.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You, my love, are never the problem. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Neither are you the battle. </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You never cause me to feel embarrassed, defeated or done. Other parts of life do that for sure, probably a little too much lately, but never you. You are not my hard part, you are not a problem I endure.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Like most people, there are things in my life that sometimes make it hard for me to want to face the day... </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Some days my problems come in the form of work stuff: Meetings, deadlines, reports I don't want to write, and paperwork I'd rather not review.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sometimes it's relationship stuff: A fight with your dad I don't want to apologize for, a misunderstanding with a friend that turned into a 6 month standoff, hurt feelings and unspoken resentments threatening to boil over in every direction. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sometimes it's the stuff in my own head that's been there for as long as I can remember: Insecurities, unfulfilled dreams, 5 extra pounds, repeated mistakes and the mocking voice on replay reminding me: "Still not good enough, still not good enough." </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And on many days, like this morning for example, the battle is with the stuff impacting you. The problems you have to deal with are also my problems. Seizures I can't make stop. Needs I can't meet because I can't understand what it is you need. Systems meant to help that actually feel more like a burden. Fears I'm missing something that might make life better for you, criticism and misunderstanding and hurtful actions from people who don't understand our lives. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Those are my problems. Those are my hard things. Those are the "unending battle" things, the "I feel defeated and embarrassed" things, the "I'm kind of at the end of my rope things."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You, Julia Anne, are none of those things. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You are not my hardest thing. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Not by a long shot. Not by the longest shot to the farthest galaxy.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And let's be honest, this is not because every single moment with you is blissful and easy and a walk in the park - no, this is because you and the hard things that sometimes happen with you are NOT the same thing.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seizures are hard, but you are not seizures.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tantrums are hard, but you are not a tantrum. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Lack of communication is hard, but you are not refusing to communicate.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Judgement from others is hard, but you are not the one judging.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You, my precious daughter, are not the hard things. In fact, w</span>hen I look at you the hard things get easier.</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So while it is very true that life can be hard, and life can be lonely, and life can feel defeating at times and we all need to hear that we aren't alone and it's OK to feel down... It is also true that </span><i>everyone</i><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> can feel these things, not just parents like me with kiddos like you. Being human is hard. Being alive means we have problems. No one person is the cause of our problems and you, Julia, are not the cause of mine. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You, sweet girl, are a reason to figure out the hard things and deal with my problems. You are a driving force to be a better me. You are the source of so much of my happiness and the reason for most of my pride. You've added to my life purpose, wonder and meaning. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You are my good thing. </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My very best thing.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And if anyone ever claims to speak on my behalf and states otherwise, it is a lie.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Love, </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Your grateful mom</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3m8oJ9lKfwMZTbXW7TafFol3Aaueq31nhZ_L99QiZ8v7hebgrxQpU6vWB56C-dphH1isn8oOKKBwzxherRQuhXtR-svNEEmgQ_q6k4g0AdBINzsVaHYg3dnvbmm27rdIE8qdnLCmLw/s400/blogger-image--845443364.jpg" width="400" /></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
</div>
</div>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-89109994538597321252016-01-19T18:37:00.004-08:002016-01-20T06:05:35.096-08:00How Not to Ask About My Child's ProgressToday we had an appointment with Julia's eye doctor whom we haven't seen in over a year.<br />
<br />
I was excited to update her on all the positive changes and developments that have occurred since we last saw her. It really has been such a great year for Jules.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8LSmhvHyV-GJZYXRAuqj5zTLqCb5EN4FJE_4vR_ZpwOxjWafy6CIWP8eOdxjHtSEKBcj4VOBZQvegsmW-vwtMjZ050Wij3S3S4PJcWtmH8pPNHR-wqot4bmbZPKh5PBlZ8JasGFYcw/s1600/wagon+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8LSmhvHyV-GJZYXRAuqj5zTLqCb5EN4FJE_4vR_ZpwOxjWafy6CIWP8eOdxjHtSEKBcj4VOBZQvegsmW-vwtMjZ050Wij3S3S4PJcWtmH8pPNHR-wqot4bmbZPKh5PBlZ8JasGFYcw/s320/wagon+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
"What's changed?" she asked and I began to tell her that since we switched medication a year ago the biggest positive side effect has been in Julia's sensory tolerance - she can handle so much more sensory input than before - she seems more comfortable in her own skin and that has opened up a ton of new opportunities for her!<br />
<br />
The conversation went on:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Doctor</span>: So tell me about her fine motor development.<br />
<br />
Me: <i>(with a big smile on my face)</i> Well, she is touching so many more things than she used to, she will pick up small things with her fingers and she will let her hands touch a variety of textures that used to really bother her. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Doctor</span>: Is she cutting?<br />
<br />
Me: Cutting?? <i>(I'm thinking to myself what is cutting? I work in the mental health field so all I could think of was self-harming. Is she asking if Julia is self-harming?)</i><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Doctor</span>: Yes, cutting. Is she holding scissors and cutting paper on her own?<br />
<br />
Me: Ummmm no. No, she's not doing anything like that. <i>(Now I'm thinking to myself what in the world?? Where did cutting paper come from? Did you not hear anything I was just saying to you about what she is doing? Self-harming was a more realistic question than holding scissors and cutting paper.) </i><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Doctor</span>: Oh, well is she holding markers or crayons and coloring?<br />
<br />
(<i>At this point I'm pretty sure my smiley face which had recently turned to a confused face now became a defeated face and my feelings of excitement started feeling more like embarrassment, had I oversold Julia's progress?)</i><br />
<br />
Me: No, she's not holding markers and coloring, she doesn't really do anything like that. I guess when I said she was doing great I just meant for her - not, I guess, what you are thinking of. <br />
<br />
<i>(I felt like crying.)</i><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Doctor</span>: Oh I know that, I just needed to get a sense of what you meant by 'doing better.'<br />
<br />
Me: Nod my head. (<i>But I was thinking there are about a hundred other ways </i><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">to find out what I meant by 'doing better' that wouldn't involve making my positive update feel more like a disappointment.)</i><br />
<div>
<br />
~~~<br />
<br />
I realize this is not a huge deal, so for those of you already formulating your critique of me and my over-sensitivity, I'll save you the time - I get it, it is not the end of the world that Julia's doctor asked me questions in this way. It's just a little thing - but still a little thing that kind of stung. And sometimes we need to talk about little things. I left that appointment thinking there really does need to be a certain level of awareness and sensitivity when working with kids who have developmental delays and their parents. Their achievements and accomplishments look SO different than typical development, they can seem tiny in comparison to regular milestones, they can get lost in the land of normal - but for the kids and those of us who love them they are monumental, ginormous, incredible, amazing!!!! And so when asking about our kid's progress, I believe there are simple ways to do it that allows the provider to get the information he or she needs without making the parent or kid feel like they are a disappointment or their achievements aren't a big deal.<br />
<br />
Instead of asking: <br />
Is she doing _____? <br />
<br />
Ask:<br />
What kinds of things is she doing?<br />
or<br />
What <i>new</i> things is she doing?<br />
or<br />
What does she like to do/play with/touch these days?<br />
<br />
Questions can be specific to a body part (hands, fingers, eyes, etc...) or a therapeutic skill set (OT, PT, SLP) - but should NOT be specific to an actual activity or task (cutting, drawing, running, talking...). And open <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">ended questions are almost always preferable to closed / yes or no questions. When you ask open ended questions we as parents get to compliment and brag on our child's accomplishments rather than giving attention to tasks currently beyond their ability. And even more importantly, if the child understands the conversation going on around them, questions asked in this way give him or her the opportunity to hear people talking about what he or she IS doing, not about what he or she is NOT doing. I know which conversation I would prefer to hear.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
It's a little thing, I know, but it does make a difference, and if there is one thing I've learned from being Julia's mom it's that little things matter quite a lot.<br />
<br />
I'm so stinking proud of Julia and her amazing accomplishments - let's talk about those things!!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIN258uykMaB2tQwx1NZdbmy6ul8sjkdaSISFO7AfG0yBF2PyrjUPxSRkkpXUg7sV2ST37c2pmLT3kZn1gt05FJoNfZ6uDLKxyi_CggRQbiZLfL3FZ-OkIAldCrpJhZDePr3BJaEfTA/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIN258uykMaB2tQwx1NZdbmy6ul8sjkdaSISFO7AfG0yBF2PyrjUPxSRkkpXUg7sV2ST37c2pmLT3kZn1gt05FJoNfZ6uDLKxyi_CggRQbiZLfL3FZ-OkIAldCrpJhZDePr3BJaEfTA/s320/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-34778775961495317812015-12-22T09:52:00.001-08:002015-12-22T12:48:31.508-08:00Three Movies to Explain Our LivesI was driving to church Sunday morning contemplating important thoughts about the Christmas season - namely which holiday movies I still need to watch before Christmas on Friday.<br />
<br />
I'm not a huge movie watcher but when the holidays come around watching certain movies feels like part of the tradition of the season. I still need to watch Elf, A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation and White Christmas to keep the spirit of Christmas alive. I've got some work to do!<br />
<br />
As I made my mental list of Christmas movies, another movie question popped into my head: What is my life movie list? Which movies would I say describe or at least help describe our lives? Which movies might I recommend to someone who wanted to understand us better? <br />
<br />
There are three.<br />
<br />
1. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day_(film)">Groundhog Day</a> starring Bill Murray<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz08ixypK-HHV0Aqp5z7JyFyU1wBOzRQW7RLE8GlATutaw760KrJV6ymnJZITTDOFaufkz4TmwdmwLUHhkNNWqSerOqmoMWMqsC2e7H9ppy5zzE9DL0_bMcGZqiJnv1ur48fTp-Kh5qw/s1600/Groundhog_Day_%2528movie_poster%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz08ixypK-HHV0Aqp5z7JyFyU1wBOzRQW7RLE8GlATutaw760KrJV6ymnJZITTDOFaufkz4TmwdmwLUHhkNNWqSerOqmoMWMqsC2e7H9ppy5zzE9DL0_bMcGZqiJnv1ur48fTp-Kh5qw/s400/Groundhog_Day_%2528movie_poster%2529.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;">Murray plays Phil Connors, an arrogant </span>Pittsburgh<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;"> TV weatherman who, during an assignment covering the annual </span>Groundhog Day <span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;">event in </span>Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;">, finds himself in a </span>time loop<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;">, repeating the same day again and again. After indulging in </span>hedonism<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;"> and committing </span>suicide<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;"> numerous times, he begins to re-examine his life and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day_(film)">priorities</a>.</span></span></blockquote>
<i>Why Groundhog Day? </i><br />
<br />
Well, when you have a child with significant developmental delays, time slows down.<br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">T i m e r e a l l y s l o w s d o w n.</span><br />
<br />
What is often accomplished by typically developing kiddos in weeks or months can be years in the making, if ever, for our kids. Development at this pace can at times feel a little like life is on repeat - the same day over and over and over again. <br />
<br />
But it's not a bad thing - and that's one part of the movie I love and connect with - the main character, Phil, is reliving the same day over and over again (I just read on wikipedia that it was probably 30-40 years that he stayed in this one day) but he's becoming a better person from it. What he first thought was a curse, he eventually realized was a blessing. And while I've never thought of Julia as a curse - I think the lesson Phil learned still applies - we've learned with every day how blessed we are by Julia. And as a result of her unique pace of development, we've also learned to slow down, to focus in, to see the details that can get missed when life is zooming by at normal speed. I think we've learned to appreciate small change and recognize that small is still significant and should not be taken for granted.<br />
<br />
My favorite part of the movie in terms of how it relates to us comes at the end when after countless repeats of the same day, waking up to the same Sonny and Cher song, Phil finally wakes up to a new day, the next day, but the song playing on the radio alarm clock is the same song it has been for all the days prior. So you could initially miss the fact that something is different except that you have heard the repeated line so many times your ears are tuned in perfectly for those repeated words and you instantly pick up on the fact that you are hearing a different part of the song. This is how it feels sometimes when Julia does something new - you could miss it if you aren't very tuned it. You could miss it if you are looking for<a href="http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2013/10/it-really-is-little-things.html"> something bigger</a>. You might think this thing is the same as the before thing unless you are so familiar with the before thing that you know it forwards and backwards and inside out. And when you know something that well, you can't help but notice when the littlest shift occurs. And it might not seem like much to someone else - someone who thinks change means switching to a new song. But no, it's not a new song. It's not going to be a new song, and it's definitely not going to be a new album or artist or genre. It's the same song, our song, but new lines - and oh how sweet those new lines can sound!<br />
<br />
<br />
2. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/50-First-Dates-Adam-Sandler/dp/B00190L018">50 First Dates</a> starring Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7XpNNHm4A-uJI7zNaJd_VpvoyxcztaTgMsXJQpn9yx5_DbqXwo0wMr6AM-D4H9xXJZ3kH_UsIDEvjo-5pUOpAipvCjRcxlDcSO_3_UcgDlUcql_CFEMRJptxTJvSuaE8xXyDqru5aw/s1600/50firstdates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7XpNNHm4A-uJI7zNaJd_VpvoyxcztaTgMsXJQpn9yx5_DbqXwo0wMr6AM-D4H9xXJZ3kH_UsIDEvjo-5pUOpAipvCjRcxlDcSO_3_UcgDlUcql_CFEMRJptxTJvSuaE8xXyDqru5aw/s400/50firstdates.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A Hawaiian island playboy has to use his imagination to win over the girl of his dreams when he discovers she has no short-term memory. Every night he is erased from her memory so he has to make her fall in love with him all over again the next day...and the next...and the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/50-First-Dates-Adam-Sandler/dp/B00190L018">next</a>!</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<i>Why 50 First Dates?</i> <br />
<br />
Julia has a very rare type of epilepsy called Electrical Status Epilepticus during Sleep (ESES) - this means that while she is sleeping her brain goes into a long continuous seizure. This is a non-convulsive type of seizure, her body looks as though it is peacefully sleeping, but inside her brain is actively seizing. Because this is so rare there isn't a ton known about it's full impact on the brain's functioning - but needless to say when 95% of your sleep is a seizure, there is an impact.<br />
<br />
When we first got the diagnosis I thought of this movie 50 First Dates and how the main character, Lucy, has a form of amnesia that causes her to wake up each day thinking it is the same day. Sort of the opposite of Groundhog Day where the actual day itself is repeating and Bill Murray's character is the only one aware of it - in this movie time is passing normally for everyone except Lucy, who wakes up every morning and is "reset" back to the same day. I wondered if this is what it is like for Julia with her sleep seizures, she lives a full, active day with us but when she goes to sleep at night her brain cannot retain what she learned and it is lost. This is not scientific or medically grounded- it's just how I think about it, and fuels some of the questions I ask myself: How much is she able to retain? And how much is lost? In the movie you see over time that despite the amnesia not being cured, Lucy is on a deeper level retaining new information. And I know Julia is also learning and retaining - but not in the way we do - because her brain has so much to deal with at night.<br />
<br />
The other part of this movie that I love so much is what the rest of the characters do to support Lucy and care for her. Lucy's dad, brother and neighbors work hard every morning to keep her from being traumatized by her amnesia. They go to great lengths to protect her from what they fear will hurt her. And then Adam Sandler's character enters the story and he falls in love with Lucy before knowing about her condition and he quickly joins the rest of the team in doing whatever it takes to help her and be in her life, because she is so worth it. They don't question it - they don't complain that it's too much work - they just love her and so they do what she needs. <br />
<br />
This is how I feel about Julia - there is no question - we just do what needs to be done to be with her and love her and make life work for her as best as possible. It's not a martyr complex, I'm not seeking praise for it - it's just what we do because we love her. In the movie it's just what they do - I guess because they feel that repeating one day with the person you love is worth more than a lifetime of days without them - so that's what you do.<br />
<br />
<br />
3. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awakenings">Awakenings</a> starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPaKKSD3IxHO0OoLueoeAl4X-fBwgKH2PMjXaSvRwbuAyiIAtpS76-lmqa8-qjkal5mqzc2iJo_MNvH3ZQroFxYjwoqNxxtaj4F4mwc2ojvH0Z1kleLkMGO8_uviVXSE8pdwspTsgwA/s1600/Awakenings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPaKKSD3IxHO0OoLueoeAl4X-fBwgKH2PMjXaSvRwbuAyiIAtpS76-lmqa8-qjkal5mqzc2iJo_MNvH3ZQroFxYjwoqNxxtaj4F4mwc2ojvH0Z1kleLkMGO8_uviVXSE8pdwspTsgwA/s400/Awakenings.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 17.9111px;">The story of a doctor's extraordinary work in the Sixties with a group of catatonic patients he finds languishing in a Bronx hospital. Speculating that their rigidity may be akin to an extreme form of Parkinsonism, he seeks permission from his skeptical superiors to treat them with L-dopa, a drug th</span><span class="_dgc" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; line-height: 17.9111px;">at was used to treat Parkinson's disease at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awakenings">time</a>.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<i>Why Awakenings? </i><br />
<br />
We have been fighting epilepsy since Julia was seven months old. The first type was a devastating form called Infantile Spasms (IS). IS basically stole her from us for 18 months. Julia was nearly in a vegetative state because of the effect this type of seizure has on the brain. When we finally found a medicine that worked for her, we experienced our own awakening - development that had been lost started to return - it felt like she was waking up and rejoining us. Just like in the movie, we had her back! And for a while we thought we had her back for good. But then we started to lose her again, this time to ESES - this other type of Epilepsy that was once again stealing her from us a little at a time. We fought back again and found another drug to keep her with us. But even that has now started to wear off - the ESES is coming back. And while we haven't lost her yet and will do everything in our power not to lose her again - losing her to epilepsy is something I think about and fear. Like in the movie - medication can sometimes only work for so long and then what? Will our precious love be reclaimed by epilepsy? I pray this isn't the case - but it is a real fear. <br />
<br />
I saw this movie long before I had Julia, long before I had heard of forms of epilepsy that rob your child of their development - but the movie always stuck with me. It was like I was meant to have it in my head before all of this happened - maybe as a lesson or reminder to appreciate what we have while we have it and to celebrate every moment we are given - because in truth all our moments are indeed numbered.<br />
<br />
~~~<br />
<br />
So that's it. My life movie list. I hope you will consider watching these movies if you haven't seen them already, I think they are all pretty great! Or maybe watch them again with my perspective in mind if you are so inclined! And please, share with me some of the movies you feel help explain your own life, I'd love that!<br />
<br />
Oh, and one last but crucial thing I have to say about this list as a whole - two out of the three movies listed are comedies. That in and of itself is important in trying to explain us. Our lives are more comedy than tragedy. More joy than sadness. More laughter than tears. We spend more time enjoying the journey than fretting over it - and even in our moments of sorrow we know we have so many reasons to smile. Not a bad plot line in my humble opinion!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntb3G9kENOgBCGtoI-t7B47Gte8Ee9lsOb-F_uAyKSdu1hfIkMKUTop89_mUk0CLeodP_J34rCDqCTbCSeoa7N-Ad5HiCm8YbbexFgKFZTk-JjQII2vxpifAPrN9ziS_AaY1RjJgCow/s1600/IMG_4312+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntb3G9kENOgBCGtoI-t7B47Gte8Ee9lsOb-F_uAyKSdu1hfIkMKUTop89_mUk0CLeodP_J34rCDqCTbCSeoa7N-Ad5HiCm8YbbexFgKFZTk-JjQII2vxpifAPrN9ziS_AaY1RjJgCow/s640/IMG_4312+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia Anne, age 8: Our little star!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-72410446782043458242015-11-03T07:07:00.000-08:002015-11-03T08:50:56.708-08:00Tiny Hope for Haiti Dear Friends,<br />
<br />
Confession, this is not a typical I'm Julia's Mom: brag, boast, rant or rave. In all honesty I'm stealing this platform today to share with you another part of my heart.<br />
<br />
Some of you may already know this about me, but for those who don't, I have fallen head over heels in love with a ministry in Haiti called <a href="http://www.footprintsoftheson.org/index.html">Footprints of the Son</a>. I can't even remember how I first encountered them, but once I heard about the amazing work they are doing for kids with special needs in Haiti, I was hooked!!!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16bbiz5ai-D7EyD4VFF5FSUHXuyNf0TcONzOjHuD9mNohvqpMWm3Xm3F3cEeQNSfr_giUIHPqBC5CzRBfFUam4k_FQhJKcy97qm9duvno5JTPv0NcRzwHsMUQHTAS0bXTQPNOtWk4oA/s1600/toto+school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16bbiz5ai-D7EyD4VFF5FSUHXuyNf0TcONzOjHuD9mNohvqpMWm3Xm3F3cEeQNSfr_giUIHPqBC5CzRBfFUam4k_FQhJKcy97qm9duvno5JTPv0NcRzwHsMUQHTAS0bXTQPNOtWk4oA/s400/toto+school.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toto learning sign language from his awesome teacher!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Their founder, Heather (who has become one of my heroes) and her husband Papito, run a school for children with special needs.<br />
<br />
In Haiti kids with special needs are often turned away from local schools and have nowhere to go.<br />
<br />
Footprints of the Son provides a place where these precious kids are wanted and valued.<br />
A place where they belong! Where they are cared for, and fed, and get to learn!!!! <br />
<br />
The school is also a form of respite, which is another part of Footprints of the Son's ministry, the kids go to school to get loved on and the parents get the opportunity to rest or go to work in order to continue caring for their family - it's such a beautiful and needed partnership. <br />
<br />
Footprints comes along side these precious families who would otherwise not be getting any type of support.<br />
<br />
<br />
In addition to school and respite, Footprints of the Son also provides outreach support to families in the community. With the outreach program they help with things like food, medical needs, and medical supplies. <br />
<br />
The work they are doing is astonishingly beautiful. Beautiful and miraculous and important and inspiring - and you can probably understand why I fell in love!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUwWi3dmetwUZaHioWfEJyZMeBTLEjQG0qBzFogSAWO7zSqC9TKQjXzrzHk-UmlbwcQsUsfo4NHjlKvV3R6dsxUQVccwc-xb2yXQSMjqSzdCUtFLCMeTXMdkD5kkXW5QhiL_R0GCgCQ/s1600/intake+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUwWi3dmetwUZaHioWfEJyZMeBTLEjQG0qBzFogSAWO7zSqC9TKQjXzrzHk-UmlbwcQsUsfo4NHjlKvV3R6dsxUQVccwc-xb2yXQSMjqSzdCUtFLCMeTXMdkD5kkXW5QhiL_R0GCgCQ/s400/intake+family.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papito conducting an intake for a new child in the outreach program!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So in the past few months I've had this idea running in the back of my mind that I might start a non-profit here in Colorado in order to offer more support to Footprints of the Son. I've been mulling over the options, reading articles about starting a non-profit and trying to think of the best way to roll this idea out - at some point, down the road, in the future, when the timing feels right...<br />
<br />
But, all that changed last week when I spoke to Heather and she informed me that as of January, Footprints is losing a significant portion of their monthly operating budget previously funded by another organization. <b><u>One third of their monthly operating budget - gone.</u></b> And they have two months to prepare.<br />
<br />
Suddenly all of my thoughts and worries about how to perfectly roll out my idea for a new non-profit became really unimportant, because there is no longer any time for that - they need our help now!! This budget loss could impact their ability to keep serving the kids and families who need them so much.<br />
<br />
So, here is my big roll out friends: I'm starting a non-profit called the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tinyhopefoundation/">Tiny Hope Foundation</a> and we are going to try to help Footprints of the Son with the immediate budget deficit they are facing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgle52tPoyyITTXptPhQskjlAh9IMce85CWdsncAqsNBpw0U28eRQZFPtnJ2dqdyLpFd2pgpblkihwSvox5xyptFINZu78fs3SyLvLPhzMe5vegWOY9V6-EvC0LyQLg76S40Q_P8lPUXA/s1600/quotescover-JPG-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgle52tPoyyITTXptPhQskjlAh9IMce85CWdsncAqsNBpw0U28eRQZFPtnJ2dqdyLpFd2pgpblkihwSvox5xyptFINZu78fs3SyLvLPhzMe5vegWOY9V6-EvC0LyQLg76S40Q_P8lPUXA/s320/quotescover-JPG-28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We aren't set up yet, we are just getting our thoughts organized, we don't even have email (and by we, I mean me, it's just me at this point) - but the need is now, so despite not being organized, we (me) are asking for your help!!!!<br />
<br />
If you have a heart for Haiti, or kids with special needs, or missions work, or are looking for a worthy cause to support this holiday season.. If anything in all of my rambling has tugged on your heart, here is what you can do to help:<br />
<br />
1. <b>Donate</b> to the <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/647r9ytc">Tiny Hope for Haiti Gofundme Campaign</a><br />
(Please note: We are using Gofundme because we are not yet set up as a non-profit and do not have tax exempt status, so this is the best, immediate option.)<br />
<u><i>Please help us raise at least <b>$6,000 </b>before the end of the year to create a three month budget cushion</i> </u>so that Footprints can cover their monthly costs come January without disruption to the care they are providing. This will also allow for some time while we all work together to get additional longer term funding plans in place.<br />
<br />
2. <b>Share - </b>please share this post or the <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/647r9ytc">Tiny Hope for Hait GoFundMe</a> link with your friends and family. Maybe this isn't exactly your thing but you know of other people who would eat this up - please share with them. Footprints of the Son is a very tiny ministry and I am just one person with a tiny blog - but I know with your help and the power of the internet we can spread the word and grow their support!<br />
<b><br /></b>
3. <b>Pray</b>- of course please pray, always pray! Heather is so much better about this than I am, she would have this at the top of the list and I have it third... So in addition to praying for the kids and the funding needs to be met, maybe you can also pray that I become a little more like Heather!<br />
<br />
4. <b>Follow </b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/tinyhopefoundation/?ref=tn_tnmn">Tiny Hope</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FootprintsOfTheSon">Footprints of the Son</a> on Facebook. This will allow you to stay updated and connected with us regarding this campaign and also to learn more about other ideas for fundraising and support we are working on!!! I'll be sharing more information about several additional ways you can help in the coming weeks and months! (Sponsoring individual kids, giving food blessings, sewing dresses, sewing bibs, donating clothes and medical supplies, attending fun fundraisers, visiting Haiti...) Super exciting stuff!<br />
<br />
<br />
Thank you so much my dear friends for reading this and for considering it a blessing to be able to help! My heart is just bursting with anticipation over the beauty and blessings that will come from this great need!<br />
<br />
With so much love and gratitude, <br />
Laurie<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/647r9ytc">Tiny Hope for Haiti</a><br />
<br />
#tinyhopeforhaiti #tinyhopefoundation #footprintsoftheson<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4aqV2eDaRLQYja49PKV3CeQpRPS6LMrcw4XtfBbvKdmP3CASJ63eKgktYb4klOugzAU3Ht3s942u8Qguz0uuFQNN4UNrFVd0T9IiTS2jqWNxIC11XujaUSKGkinrs_gH-qACf8cRDw/s1600/heatherandlaurie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4aqV2eDaRLQYja49PKV3CeQpRPS6LMrcw4XtfBbvKdmP3CASJ63eKgktYb4klOugzAU3Ht3s942u8Qguz0uuFQNN4UNrFVd0T9IiTS2jqWNxIC11XujaUSKGkinrs_gH-qACf8cRDw/s320/heatherandlaurie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I met Heather earlier this year! We did a quick wheelchair hand off during her layover. I'm the one who looks starstruck!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<ul><ul>
</ul>
</ul>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-66338682253660047332015-10-05T19:15:00.003-07:002015-10-06T18:43:25.174-07:00What I See<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When you look at this picture you most likely see three little girls on a tire swing and I don't disagree.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlqOGmqNz8yF1FA0sEcpmhteYms1h7Q5mpatB1cOpmzaPlpS1oOXm0MtHDHf51gfj5fPWqxEIl6lO6EHo8qyys1S25dRN44XZW7AucVhyphenhyphenZsQhaI7kntxc2DoPW61sShNSYcmDoanVGg/s1600/IMG_2427+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlqOGmqNz8yF1FA0sEcpmhteYms1h7Q5mpatB1cOpmzaPlpS1oOXm0MtHDHf51gfj5fPWqxEIl6lO6EHo8qyys1S25dRN44XZW7AucVhyphenhyphenZsQhaI7kntxc2DoPW61sShNSYcmDoanVGg/s640/IMG_2427+%25282%2529.JPG" width="491" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But if I let myself look a little longer, specifically at my daughter in the middle, I see more. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here is what I see:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I see a little girl who used to be completely blind, looking at something.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I see a little girl who for most of her life would not touch anything, holding the rope and allowing her hands to scrunch up against the fists of her friends.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I see a little girl who used to throw herself backwards whenever she was in the upright position, sitting ON A TIRE SWING, leaning in towards her buddies, being a part of the moment with them.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I see a little girl who used to become overstimulated and overwhelmed with every new experience, spending the day at a farm she's never been to, on a swing she's never sat on, doing an activity she's never done before, staying calm and having fun.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I see a little girl whose neuropsych testing earlier this year described her as having the cognitive ability of an 8 month old, continuing to hold on to that rope because she is smart enough to know she will fall off if she lets go.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I see a little girl whose prognosis as an infant was "vegetative state" if her hundreds of seizures a day did not stop, alert and engaged, interacting and participating in a play date.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I see a little girl who has been <a href="http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2014/11/the-slippery-slope-of-no-restorative_18.html">repeatedly deemed </a>by her health insurance company to have "<a href="http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2014/01/no-restorative-potential-open-letter-to.html">no restorative potential</a>," bursting with potential, overflowing with possibilities, perfect exactly the way she is, filling her own unique spot in this world, and in absolutely no need of restoring to anything for anyone.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I see a little girl whose doctors warned before her birth "<a href="http://www.imjuliasmom.com/2014/11/not-salvageable.html">may not be salvageable</a>," alive and joyful; making the world a better place simply by being who she was made to be. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And I see two precious little buddies, unaware of everything I am seeing, simply loving on their friend, no questions asked. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Three fabulous girls? You are absolutely right. I see that too.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-36022498612787782172015-08-07T08:00:00.000-07:002015-08-07T08:17:12.357-07:00To My Fellow Pro-Lifers, Please stop using this argument!There is an argument often used among my fellow pro-lifers that makes my skin crawl every time I hear it.<br />
<br />
The argument follows these 4 general steps:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>An abortion was wanted or recommended, for whatever reason.</li>
<li>It didn't happen, for whatever reason.</li>
<li>And the child ended up being: fine, healthy, wonderful, perfect, a superstar, (insert list of specific impressive achievements here)!!!!!!!!</li>
<li>So therefore I am pro life.</li>
</ol>
<div>
Wait what?????</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So it's a good decision if the baby turns out "fine"? </div>
<div>
It's a good decision if the child ends up having an impressive resume? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That is what you are saying here when you use this argument: It's a good decision if the doctor ends up being wrong, it's a good decision if the baby is smart, healthy, attractive and successful, and it's a good decision when the baby becomes someone our culture thinks is great. You are saying with this argument that those are the reasons to be pro-life.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You point to the positive attributes and outcomes of a non-aborted baby and say "Ha - take that, save the babies because some of them might end up being smart or famous." That's a terrible pro-life argument. It's actually not even a pro-life argument - it's a pro-outcome argument. And what about the cases where this outcome doesn't occur? Where does that leave you? If the baby does have disabilities are you then saying the abortion would have been a good choice? If 20 years later the baby is a drug addict living on the streets would you lament that decision not to abort?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
This argument makes it seem as though the jury is out on whether or not the decision to keep the baby was a good one until we find out what kind of person the baby becomes. That's not pro-life. And talk about pressure on this life: "Okay baby, I was going to abort you, an abortion was recommended to me - but I didn't do it, so now you better prove me right."<br />
<br />
Hell no!<br />
<u><b><i><br /></i></b></u>
<u><b><i>If</i></b></u> you are pro-life and <b><i><u>if</u></i></b> you claim to value every life, then the decision not to abort is a good one regardless of what happens next in the baby's life.<br />
<br />
Regardless of the baby living for 10 minutes after birth or 10 decades.<br />
Regardless of the baby being perfectly healthy or having disabilities.<br />
Regardless of the baby going on to live a charmed life in the eyes of our culture or a challenged one.<br />
<br />
When we use this type of example, the pro-life argument moves from being about the belief that a pre-born baby is a life in need of protection to a justification that the life is worth saving based on what the life later becomes. And that's not pro-life!<br />
<b><i><u><br /></u></i></b>
<b><i><u>If</u></i></b> you believe, like I do, that a pre-born baby is a life worth protecting <i>then that is all that matters</i> - it doesn't matter what that person ends up doing or becoming after birth - that life is still worth protecting and no further justification is needed.<br />
<br />
So please stop using this argument!!! Every life is inherently valuable, every life matters - that's all you have to say.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-86736155235380666212015-07-14T06:30:00.000-07:002015-07-14T10:23:00.390-07:0021 Ways Special Needs Moms are Killing It at Motherhood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Thanks to an informative and hard hitting article recently released by Elite Daily, we all now know that young, cool, <a href="http://elitedaily.com/envision/millennial-moms-photos/1098988/?utm_source=huffingtonpost&utm_medium=tr&utm_campaign=p10k80" target="_blank">millennial moms are killing it at motherhood.</a> Phew, I'm so relieved!<br />
<br />
I was inspired by the responses this article generated from "regular" moms like my friend <a href="http://www.stephaniesprenger.com/2015/07/07/one-semi-cool-gen-x-mom-is-killing-it/">Stephanie Sprenger</a> who are also killing it at motherhood in their own unique way. I decided to jump on this "killing it" bandwagon and write a response of my own, giving a little shout out to my particular brand of motherhood: The Special Needs Mom.<br />
<br />
So, with a little help from my friends, here are 21 Ways (we know there are about a billion more) Special Needs Moms are KILLING IT at motherhood on a daily basis:<br />
<br />
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We've learned to keep our cool even in the most intense of situations:</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouVWAmVANp9d2Z2rWZl1p5qft0_dnSr-hiP-wGaNiQseluvBcmPM4uR2pOPeEt_ofPKbj2q2NNsqIVx6aGlqIJjys94qUfobJwwE2WyjgqYojgrPUtybtmocz2fBa7Wnpo-F4_CAQGA/s1600/keep+our+cool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouVWAmVANp9d2Z2rWZl1p5qft0_dnSr-hiP-wGaNiQseluvBcmPM4uR2pOPeEt_ofPKbj2q2NNsqIVx6aGlqIJjys94qUfobJwwE2WyjgqYojgrPUtybtmocz2fBa7Wnpo-F4_CAQGA/s640/keep+our+cool.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> How is she still standing???</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Make it Work" has become our life motto, because adaptation is the name of this game:</b></div>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcvBtdKrBK0usR1XEzheEptGx0_Wl3F7M6IW3V7sYOUau2xrT1T3PrV5Hyy_Ufrwgp00zfZZPxvalTPf_GdSTCCvepJ8ptLkhZFqqN11b3LpKqSFbhO1qGrotAKY2QFRxkNqObFst5Q/s1600/adaptability.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcvBtdKrBK0usR1XEzheEptGx0_Wl3F7M6IW3V7sYOUau2xrT1T3PrV5Hyy_Ufrwgp00zfZZPxvalTPf_GdSTCCvepJ8ptLkhZFqqN11b3LpKqSFbhO1qGrotAKY2QFRxkNqObFst5Q/s400/adaptability.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anything is possible with duct tape and zip lock bags! Make it work!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Obeying the "suggested age range" is for weaker minded women:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXBmbk6yDWq8L3OP2-HPwKY1lTwIewIcA5WLqM8w7bcQh-kPlLMSonM-USBNGZZxZU6OseYLIOg_Z_dA3i8tERNAd3z_syR6EKGLFgejzbUW-B_yx4XX-BlWvuoNnnDA5BfliDPak7Q/s1600/improvising.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXBmbk6yDWq8L3OP2-HPwKY1lTwIewIcA5WLqM8w7bcQh-kPlLMSonM-USBNGZZxZU6OseYLIOg_Z_dA3i8tERNAd3z_syR6EKGLFgejzbUW-B_yx4XX-BlWvuoNnnDA5BfliDPak7Q/s400/improvising.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A seven year old in a pack-n-play - why the heck not?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We've taken fashionable accessorizing to a whole new level:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOrwkoz9O0rt6zohnJwQSqjj_B_Lb7eYhB2jKODD7a4sZ-krZoHg_N2miLBsrFi2ecR4Lhyphenhyphenua6ZtL5idIftZJ85Wy_butQN0NjYb1BwweE7YadEtVnQXovDUwf1ouzHyDRs9QmO8msQ/s1600/fashion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOrwkoz9O0rt6zohnJwQSqjj_B_Lb7eYhB2jKODD7a4sZ-krZoHg_N2miLBsrFi2ecR4Lhyphenhyphenua6ZtL5idIftZJ85Wy_butQN0NjYb1BwweE7YadEtVnQXovDUwf1ouzHyDRs9QmO8msQ/s320/fashion.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Vogue has nothing on you!<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We can pack for a trip to the hospital with our eyes closed (which might actually be a good idea given we probably aren't getting any sleep at home and for sure won't be getting any in the hospital):</span></b><br />
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSU30r5s_GJy_yscXf4FxtXEj15wwQTHLrL4fXES1Ximv69wwG-aILq11u2sq3NYnh3v12-j_N1DQSoEPYd54XdU2pJoz5N8Xcm56Ld0Plc-46HUL5RNgUz1z8EMat1u_erVdWD5WZQ/s1600/packtoys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSU30r5s_GJy_yscXf4FxtXEj15wwQTHLrL4fXES1Ximv69wwG-aILq11u2sq3NYnh3v12-j_N1DQSoEPYd54XdU2pJoz5N8Xcm56Ld0Plc-46HUL5RNgUz1z8EMat1u_erVdWD5WZQ/s400/packtoys.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's all about the toys people!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We spend more time trying to make the doctor's office seem fun than millennial moms spend in tattoo parlors:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMWSuhPgbfw2VGy4GA8MhvliHM1LC_KNR48GwUCWCVOgTe0YHIiHYDran6ncB5NjIr56sVKorTOieoLb3e7vOGDWAsWw3krJOJ7KxdclUejQx_yAh5ppTUmdhP-I0TsXxPCgrsXCW-Q/s1600/waitingroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMWSuhPgbfw2VGy4GA8MhvliHM1LC_KNR48GwUCWCVOgTe0YHIiHYDran6ncB5NjIr56sVKorTOieoLb3e7vOGDWAsWw3krJOJ7KxdclUejQx_yAh5ppTUmdhP-I0TsXxPCgrsXCW-Q/s400/waitingroom.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheels on the Bus for the 100th time? But of course!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And we've</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> become experts at turning incredibly complicated medical information into reader friendly Facebook updates to keep friends and family in the loop:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvJx_nf-VzuVBOFy8p9OWj9HRDsE1DsLAWKMCqrl32a_-CJg7cR94sMCc0xzrLWmaelMvw74chEafagce3_Kjhwa9IImfvaP9G4DkopyXDp9Fr2XDHStgNxOD2KZGg9KUSy0JirB0Rg/s1600/medical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvJx_nf-VzuVBOFy8p9OWj9HRDsE1DsLAWKMCqrl32a_-CJg7cR94sMCc0xzrLWmaelMvw74chEafagce3_Kjhwa9IImfvaP9G4DkopyXDp9Fr2XDHStgNxOD2KZGg9KUSy0JirB0Rg/s400/medical.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">So basically, here is latest...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When we say our kids are attached at the hip we sometimes literally mean it: </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hPEYl8B85Y7d_JxrNg7nCK08c5ScU9rGYa7rodEaEKq81R9MuMiywr1TDPUdvEeQmk7CqwX5ReCJZ4Eu5lpUHHxOOn3dsOBMjATC362eO6hLUcM1j4nk6q3QTSBoGwH3Hxz48JMqhQ/s1600/strong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hPEYl8B85Y7d_JxrNg7nCK08c5ScU9rGYa7rodEaEKq81R9MuMiywr1TDPUdvEeQmk7CqwX5ReCJZ4Eu5lpUHHxOOn3dsOBMjATC362eO6hLUcM1j4nk6q3QTSBoGwH3Hxz48JMqhQ/s400/strong.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">No really, he is actually attached to her hip. Go buddy!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We can add matchmaker to our long resumes because we rock at picking out perfect best friends for our sweet babes:</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpem6GypzT2CS2e-Tr1prinSg_syFFJT-wWuvbZERld6dXVAqcmi552chPhsfXCBJMiuEJ9a2nrY_G0zySpVR7-s4H_GS7i9eZFrm9fEdAtW_5rAcPv2PMYuDFaYHDZszcOJlnq6qBA/s1600/bestfriendemily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpem6GypzT2CS2e-Tr1prinSg_syFFJT-wWuvbZERld6dXVAqcmi552chPhsfXCBJMiuEJ9a2nrY_G0zySpVR7-s4H_GS7i9eZFrm9fEdAtW_5rAcPv2PMYuDFaYHDZszcOJlnq6qBA/s400/bestfriendemily.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BFF's!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKJn9J7XLuY1SZV1Qriv4v4ryXQD70DcJAeZ8SU7rAMPeOYY6CyNt2xEezNh1dtOEDVSeIBAFig-xutXRIVeZHAtfp5MPX2bdRrOK5D7QXKpyFCoYfCOWAYsPN1dBphJ1PX7c8IdPvQ/s1600/protection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our awesome kids are outside the box, so we are constantly thinking outside the box:</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnwjTPaTxECSqx-v5KB-hekGQ6YrW7xDKoZJDmMscrO5x8uDzGyXFyUGTwrKSFTZ6aKEPlVMIOjTrOgxoZD-fy1lVkEYGXZlLarAg9TpkySUqmFCrDe8vv9lLRgLpYTUkmXth7jtvnQ/s1600/oliver+goat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnwjTPaTxECSqx-v5KB-hekGQ6YrW7xDKoZJDmMscrO5x8uDzGyXFyUGTwrKSFTZ6aKEPlVMIOjTrOgxoZD-fy1lVkEYGXZlLarAg9TpkySUqmFCrDe8vv9lLRgLpYTUkmXth7jtvnQ/s320/oliver+goat.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Therapy Goat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrCFlBLqEd8Z3VV-yVDk4LkwDjiLYPPbKd3BOXLROCoxXIsOMDOmfhrLK6IGny814y-4wPCdPYbE-v05HrQ74E9wEsc2tTHzBOcB4GVRef4BXyO6xfIfMFBACPc1LJYzdcX8lEW4dDQ/s1600/sarah+animal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrCFlBLqEd8Z3VV-yVDk4LkwDjiLYPPbKd3BOXLROCoxXIsOMDOmfhrLK6IGny814y-4wPCdPYbE-v05HrQ74E9wEsc2tTHzBOcB4GVRef4BXyO6xfIfMFBACPc1LJYzdcX8lEW4dDQ/s320/sarah+animal.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Therapy Penguin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zqEKjSN4CvOJj5pmJ-H5R034aG4ji-AduX88VkrKscoWcoqXXeybDyjvSKXUuQ_YbPbxDZ24_Uf2ytDfNOTIOTwXYiorfxWlkpwQo4vjhJudHGnyGF4sRFyBHrcGwA9Afdr_jgq1gw/s1600/aligator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zqEKjSN4CvOJj5pmJ-H5R034aG4ji-AduX88VkrKscoWcoqXXeybDyjvSKXUuQ_YbPbxDZ24_Uf2ytDfNOTIOTwXYiorfxWlkpwQo4vjhJudHGnyGF4sRFyBHrcGwA9Afdr_jgq1gw/s320/aligator.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Therapy Alligator - why not?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Our homes look like one big therapy session and we are actually kind of proud of that:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSrmd3kVa3gX9uGNiXniOLf7qK5KvJ2C5NlfDTdvv6m6KFoRj-YDMq6AOyDQa2pysacfGKe_FjG1vCkPCSGOq0MGjPD7ZjeqUV64QFl3h2zif67cA_DCXe33u5hbij3P1tw5-72BrUA/s1600/house+into+therapy+gym.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSrmd3kVa3gX9uGNiXniOLf7qK5KvJ2C5NlfDTdvv6m6KFoRj-YDMq6AOyDQa2pysacfGKe_FjG1vCkPCSGOq0MGjPD7ZjeqUV64QFl3h2zif67cA_DCXe33u5hbij3P1tw5-72BrUA/s400/house+into+therapy+gym.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What CAN'T you do with a pool noodle?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is nothing we won't try if it means giving our child a chance to experience something they might love; no mountain we won't climb, no ocean we won't cross:</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWztaaX2vlbNQwvLwTfwC0Pwx1gBEGJnTssvi5cZFXPSX8igBh1jT_4PowpP6uigK3oqVGTa5bKfJWKdAwDLWLKSbVr8CAHNZiHWHRYRWtBOIPYhsgajOlWMr-XqAPc5wqQ_HjOxmLg/s1600/strong+kayak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWztaaX2vlbNQwvLwTfwC0Pwx1gBEGJnTssvi5cZFXPSX8igBh1jT_4PowpP6uigK3oqVGTa5bKfJWKdAwDLWLKSbVr8CAHNZiHWHRYRWtBOIPYhsgajOlWMr-XqAPc5wqQ_HjOxmLg/s400/strong+kayak.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anything for you, anything!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life has taught us there are so many things we cannot control, so when we find something we CAN control, (like a healthy, delicious diet) we control the HECK out of it:</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0Q3Se4mbeAL-t9c5Zgyw9GHerfWHY5Df_GgYagKSFLpLOUQBQhBKBGeijQPlCLJmXDSWKIVuAOH-gcB7Nhh5GKqicL_h5QGWEDRcxHiLVUm4hCBNsiK4I99yGzVTHUKU1BvVnzup_Q/s1600/puree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0Q3Se4mbeAL-t9c5Zgyw9GHerfWHY5Df_GgYagKSFLpLOUQBQhBKBGeijQPlCLJmXDSWKIVuAOH-gcB7Nhh5GKqicL_h5QGWEDRcxHiLVUm4hCBNsiK4I99yGzVTHUKU1BvVnzup_Q/s400/puree.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIoS29eGCxuHJ_a_77AL-b7tPLsyDlyGqLJ6ti3ngo3vsGbOgQqTRfuGRI2FAdbvd-2gGM7JNiO0TMfzI0jBNi3IY759Y7eec8foo3f6UfNd-yX0FVhVNT1pAy5xjKIw3bh1PPdoNcQ/s1600/puree3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIoS29eGCxuHJ_a_77AL-b7tPLsyDlyGqLJ6ti3ngo3vsGbOgQqTRfuGRI2FAdbvd-2gGM7JNiO0TMfzI0jBNi3IY759Y7eec8foo3f6UfNd-yX0FVhVNT1pAy5xjKIw3bh1PPdoNcQ/s400/puree3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goddess of Puree!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-weight: bold;">We are killing it in so many ways - like raising the world's most compassionate siblings:</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hk2WEFrWSCL0RSKmqARJumDbkOQiFflRF0mXtkzyS60QL-P_u2cY6kxZS7nOJfs_m-ua3qPbBDIcJI8GToeHAkvc7GKuqbL_46hEu5aQVh7ia0lWrO3MlwNEhvl5qb4B8mMOy4fwXQ/s1600/awesome+siblings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hk2WEFrWSCL0RSKmqARJumDbkOQiFflRF0mXtkzyS60QL-P_u2cY6kxZS7nOJfs_m-ua3qPbBDIcJI8GToeHAkvc7GKuqbL_46hEu5aQVh7ia0lWrO3MlwNEhvl5qb4B8mMOy4fwXQ/s400/awesome+siblings.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Special needs siblings rock.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And never taking anything for granted: nothing, nothing, nothing, never, ever, ever:</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtShxc14PlN6GXb7QIw1mE7OvfXb33LsazV_an8KfOOpnzov2ClTXVFLcslw6_9OkoD6GtRjkOYebkqASmMN1UXTLdgKrYUZXTeDDbp9GV2UPHjnUHBdFiiT0MBNnbNachAuRNaG0jcw/s1600/brave+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtShxc14PlN6GXb7QIw1mE7OvfXb33LsazV_an8KfOOpnzov2ClTXVFLcslw6_9OkoD6GtRjkOYebkqASmMN1UXTLdgKrYUZXTeDDbp9GV2UPHjnUHBdFiiT0MBNnbNachAuRNaG0jcw/s400/brave+face.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every tiny moment is monumental.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We know all too well how fragile this life is. Every single second, every single breath is a gift:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEVgvdrZ_etMqSHAVdvp3a3P5TfjjjdZ9HpuIIcBOClUixjF8r4HMMYJv29PGMyo-y3duobvxLPhXMAlJK2mBWdTNj_DexAUXnKeQYpO0xEd6fUmSv-BVEa5p-CXk_7qTteNrpSL_fw/s1600/brave+Jay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEVgvdrZ_etMqSHAVdvp3a3P5TfjjjdZ9HpuIIcBOClUixjF8r4HMMYJv29PGMyo-y3duobvxLPhXMAlJK2mBWdTNj_DexAUXnKeQYpO0xEd6fUmSv-BVEa5p-CXk_7qTteNrpSL_fw/s320/brave+Jay.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You make brave look beautiful.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In between therapy sessions, doctors appointments, more therapy sessions, homework from therapy sessions, IEP's, cooking those amazing diets, fighting with insurance companies, finding the paperwork necessary to start the fight with the insurance company in the first place, researching new diagnoses, researching treatment options for new diagnoses, and scouring Pinterest for new home therapy ideas, we still know how make time for ourselves and live it up a little:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hosFZG6I7vPSb4QQxDvfVNDPw7h3-e5XiNeXN5t2nywHlp4ALyIYHNFokiz4iaUV_I01UwQbXqiJjPxuTeAiguyl1lSJDKDfO2E-cRg6rpWbUcSOct5DcToHmCOtOfYZ5-npow5KKg/s1600/datenight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hosFZG6I7vPSb4QQxDvfVNDPw7h3-e5XiNeXN5t2nywHlp4ALyIYHNFokiz4iaUV_I01UwQbXqiJjPxuTeAiguyl1lSJDKDfO2E-cRg6rpWbUcSOct5DcToHmCOtOfYZ5-npow5KKg/s400/datenight.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">A nap was part of the date night, I promise!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Part of what makes all this killing it possible is we have partners who are also killing it:</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzLS16f5NqjAnK8wKz2XybwDxIUkKpxsvtbNVZWVrd8H0O0vd05r-wWu_8xqUEGvY7v1nHu-EQOeo961rhKLiDc74x-OpN9JjeS-kgnirm-2emELTJjLqR4VmrUhfUru6nQsdJ_Z0Sg/s1600/pick+good+partners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzLS16f5NqjAnK8wKz2XybwDxIUkKpxsvtbNVZWVrd8H0O0vd05r-wWu_8xqUEGvY7v1nHu-EQOeo961rhKLiDc74x-OpN9JjeS-kgnirm-2emELTJjLqR4VmrUhfUru6nQsdJ_Z0Sg/s320/pick+good+partners.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I picked a good one - he is cute AND he cooks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And we have an amazing village full of other special needs mom's who are killing it too (it's most likely a virtual village, but that is just fine, we've worked hard to find each other and virtual villages are still villages!):</b><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtAW1y5kcxu0N87e1EtVQ7BEgCDkyJgBJc-0hexXc9Nqj-r4lNrO7cAarFZis_JIlNAPIl9WK-cMmTDglieE-i4Nkqh9Bu0ejXA1a2HFrxbHF3hT9b2TAPT9W2GG6cX31Eaf49h7COQ/s1600/makenewvillages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtAW1y5kcxu0N87e1EtVQ7BEgCDkyJgBJc-0hexXc9Nqj-r4lNrO7cAarFZis_JIlNAPIl9WK-cMmTDglieE-i4Nkqh9Bu0ejXA1a2HFrxbHF3hT9b2TAPT9W2GG6cX31Eaf49h7COQ/s400/makenewvillages.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And sometimes when the stars align we actually get to meet in person! Imagine that.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the beautiful things about the villages we've cultivated is the way we love each other fiercely in the hardest of times:</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kvJJ2s52JPZKsjec8ojQX_wcwAGEZfaS-3MaBgWEp6h4rNYLFLw1shZgCIYB-YMRlfty9Q6uKqN-WkQu2EuCp0IErsMs5TJrlT7tVaUTA10WjX1cnDLR6VLu7by5J6qHHG9zaDrBHw/s1600/love+each+other.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kvJJ2s52JPZKsjec8ojQX_wcwAGEZfaS-3MaBgWEp6h4rNYLFLw1shZgCIYB-YMRlfty9Q6uKqN-WkQu2EuCp0IErsMs5TJrlT7tVaUTA10WjX1cnDLR6VLu7by5J6qHHG9zaDrBHw/s400/love+each+other.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memorial Quilt for our precious Jay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We haven't just accepted this unexpected life we've been given, we've embraced it, big time!!! And we look pretty darn beautiful doing it, if we may say so ourselves!</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRO2Vg86I6amEWglr-qQnFebrJnkzx6BHo5Jzkh7rglt02v4h5C9vLoDp-Q5Vp8j8ERHGOBXdde84T4MxrVIliDQgJFTMSqUQbF-jy5bCy1U6xJP_QG4FchfvAc4qIzoigvZjyIWQCZQ/s1600/sammy+brave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRO2Vg86I6amEWglr-qQnFebrJnkzx6BHo5Jzkh7rglt02v4h5C9vLoDp-Q5Vp8j8ERHGOBXdde84T4MxrVIliDQgJFTMSqUQbF-jy5bCy1U6xJP_QG4FchfvAc4qIzoigvZjyIWQCZQ/s400/sammy+brave.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">#SNmomkillingit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: start;">What did we miss? Share your "killing it" pictures with us online using the hashtag #SNmomkillingit</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141831955311788273.post-48352597462309447622015-07-01T15:13:00.000-07:002015-07-29T04:47:11.905-07:00What the Medical Marijuana Debate is Really AboutThe debate goes on - yes or no to medical marijuana?<br />
<br />
As a parent who is currently giving my child medical marijuana for epilepsy it's hard for me to understand the resistance. The answer seems so obvious to me, why wouldn't we try this???<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEiDibE79enqNMpSCKRbpbylSWfUGsfMMwrQJxsnBF7NLe__-XHhTfIcsHiDrhGi8i9-OkbnNMwRsZEtEBsVhVjjAoUNOSR0iEGc_rGAh_lNpXl4d2O06dCfR1xcWVTDUVMgGEPdE_dQ/s1600/Riding+gear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEiDibE79enqNMpSCKRbpbylSWfUGsfMMwrQJxsnBF7NLe__-XHhTfIcsHiDrhGi8i9-OkbnNMwRsZEtEBsVhVjjAoUNOSR0iEGc_rGAh_lNpXl4d2O06dCfR1xcWVTDUVMgGEPdE_dQ/s400/Riding+gear.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia Anne, age 8, medical marijuana for 6 months</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But yesterday after reading responses to another mom's <a href="http://themighty.com/2015/06/why-im-talking-about-medical-marijuana-even-if-it-makes-you-uncomfortable/" target="_blank">blog</a> on this topic, I started thinking that maybe the resistance is because people misunderstand our cause and misunderstand what this whole debate is really about. That is the only way I can make sense of the people who are looking in from the outside shaking their heads and poo-pooing this treatment option for reasons that seem either irrelevant or ridiculous to us parents. The only way these comments make sense is that these people are entirely missing the point.<br />
<br />
And the point is this - this debate isn't even about marijuana - it's about our kids! And it's about epilepsy! Desperate parents looking for additional treatment options for our precious kids suffering through epilepsy. Period.<br />
<br />
If you think those of us who are speaking out and fighting this marijuana fight are doing it because we love marijuana so much, you are wrong. WE LOVE OUR KIDS! And therefore we love anything that helps our kids. And right now marijuana is helping my kid. If it were kangaroo dung that was shown to stop seizures then you can go ahead and consider me a lover of kangaroo dung.<br />
<br />
There are some who have suggested that we marijuana parents aren't being honest about whether or not marijuana is really working for our kids, that we are enhancing reports on it's effectiveness and lying about seizure control. I find this to be so insulting. And again the only way I can make sense of someone saying something like this is that they fundamentally do not understand what it is like to have a child with epilepsy. They do not understand that this whole movement is about saving our kids from a devastating and deadly condition and that marijuana just happens to be one option that is showing some promise in helping our kids.<br />
<br />
I know people who have moved across the country to Colorado and are camping- yes, camping - in order to try this treatment option for their child. Do you really think they would chose to camp over being in their own home if it wasn't helping? I know families who are living separately with one parent in their home state working while the other parent is here living in temporary housing with their child because medical marijuana is the only thing that has reduced her seizures. You think people would do that out of loyalty to a treatment option? No, they do this for the love of their child. You don't make this type of sacrifice for a lie.<br />
<br />
When or if marijuana stops helping Julia, my allegiance is to Julia, not marijuana. I won't stick with something that doesn't work because I so badly want her on marijuana -that doesn't make any sense. What I so badly want is for her: 1. Not to die from a seizure. And 2. Not to be miserable from the side effects of the drugs we give her to stop the seizures.<br />
<br />
So if marijuana isn't working or stops working we will move on to the next thing that might help her. But we will also keep fighting for every other family to have the chance to find out if it might work for their child.<br />
<br />
Seizures are tricky folks, and perhaps that is another thing non-supporters don't understand, seizures keep finding a way back. Especially for the population I am talking about here. I'm not talking about a child who had one seizure as a baby because of a fever. I'm talking about kids who have been suffering from seizures daily for their entire lives. For these kids, their seizures are relentless and they keep coming back. Therefore we HAVE to keep trying to find new ways to fight them off. In this battle against epilepsy the seizures keep coming back and we keep working to fight them off. There isn't a cure, there is only treatment after treatment - and so we need a long list of treatment options. We need a deep bench. I believe that everyone in this battle should have the right to add marijuana to their list of options - again, not because we love marijuana but because we love our kids.<br />
<br />
The only reason we are talking about marijuana with the general public is not to change your minds . about it, I honestly don't care if I change your mind about marijuana - feel the way you feel about it. No, the reason we are going public with our stories is because we have to try to change your mind about <b><i><u>allowing</u></i></b> it to be an option for families like ours. I do not think your dislike or doubt or need for more evidence should to have the power stop families like ours from being able to try and save our child. We want the ability to try. That's all we are asking for.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5T6BJa66W7b9B4FkrF4a34fb01AZj2S170AjPm0XvKYKRfzzYsNKQoVLb-l-rJC33ZNHfA3Qba-s7zy_TdZl85EFwhNuUqd8MwAsQQHJm0v-bt59TPsc2vANm0yCYJ_OTt15DXLrIzQ/s1600/HH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5T6BJa66W7b9B4FkrF4a34fb01AZj2S170AjPm0XvKYKRfzzYsNKQoVLb-l-rJC33ZNHfA3Qba-s7zy_TdZl85EFwhNuUqd8MwAsQQHJm0v-bt59TPsc2vANm0yCYJ_OTt15DXLrIzQ/s320/HH.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haleigh's Hope: 23:1 CBD to THC<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
For those of you claiming you need more research to be convinced, we don't have time for the years and years of research you require in order to give us your blessing on this issue. And what will years and years of more research do for us anyway if you really think about it? It will give us a big fat inconclusive maybe. "Maybe this drug will work for your very complicated child." Which is exactly what we have now with every other drug out there to treat epilepsy - we have a "maybe." Maybe Keppra will work, maybe Topomax will work, maybe Sabril will work, maybe Banzel will work, maybe Valium will work, maybe Lexapro, will work, maybe the keto diet will work, and on and on and on - these options have years of research behind them and guess what we still get... a maybe. <br />
<br />
So why would you require us to sit around twiddling our thumbs, watching our children seize, their lives at risk with every single seizure, just for the research to confirm what we already know - everything is a maybe.<br />
<br />
So please, when you hear this argument and read our stories don't make it about your personal feelings regarding marijuana - make it about these kids, make it about access to treatment, make it about the right to try, make it about parents trying to save their kid's lives. And if you are brave, maybe for a moment make it about you or someone you love being in our shoes. Wouldn't you want people to give you the right to try? <br />
<br />
You don't have to love it, you don't have to agree with it - but please do not block it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxj4DadF3Gxv3fip5nodhmNDCylP8siBfZKVsBm9GTRd6SX4ouXW_hq79bDPZGiFWp7B_vLMBzq3hScUMc8WaqxLXu009f1Mvxz_SvaxfnBDCKM6s-WrYtpztJWclTZjX0KNKh0UCWg/s1600/9461335f03a97e48992f676d72ad45d5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxj4DadF3Gxv3fip5nodhmNDCylP8siBfZKVsBm9GTRd6SX4ouXW_hq79bDPZGiFWp7B_vLMBzq3hScUMc8WaqxLXu009f1Mvxz_SvaxfnBDCKM6s-WrYtpztJWclTZjX0KNKh0UCWg/s400/9461335f03a97e48992f676d72ad45d5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08808664497045014066noreply@blogger.com15