Happy Birthday Jake!

Jake turned 11 years old yesterday! I can't believe he's 11! For some reason it seems so much older than 10! He has been wanting an Ipod Touch for about two years but he wasn't ready for one. They are so expensive and we wanted to make sure he would take care of it before we got him one. He needs to pick out a case for it now :) His best buddy Drew came over to play X-Box (pretty much all night!) and they had pizza so he had a good time :) Happy Birthday AVERY Jacob! We love you!

Please don't forget about my kick-off on becoming a successful Thirty-One Gifts Consultant! I've only had a couple of orders but I do have a couple of catalog parties in the works :) I really want to send Reece's Rainbow a nice check! I'm donating my entire profit this month to Reece's Rainbow so order away, you won't be disappointed! Contact me if you want to host a catalog party or have any questions! Cammie.heflin@gmail.com or order directly from my website and click on the Reece's Rainbow pary :)
www.mythirtyone.com/cammieheflin/

Proverbs 31

All of you who read this blog know that I am passionate about Down syndrome. Especially orphans with Down syndrome. I really want to adopt again but unfortunately money is always in the way :) So many people have told me that I have to have faith and just go for it, God will provide. I've decided to do a little challenge with myself. I have a few friends that are very successful selling Thirty-One Gifts and I've blogged before about their products. I absolutely LOVE them. Thirty-One Gifts is named for Proverbs 31 which describes a virtuous woman who exhibits hard work, wisdom, encouragement and care for others. Because of these qualities she is worthy of reward, honor and praise. So here I am, a Thirty-One Gifts consultant!!!

I'm not going to host parties unless someone asks me to. I would be more than willing! However, like I stated, I have friends that sell and have parties and I do not want step on anyone's toes! So I am throwing myself into this and really hoping that my blog friends and Facebook friends and Twitter followers will support this endeavor! I am involved in a challenge to sell at least $1000 my first month as consultant. If I make this goal I will donate my profit to Reece's Rainbow :) If this proves to be successful then I will donate 21% to Reece's Rainbow and our local Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks from here on out and save the other for us to have WHEN we commit to adopt again. I'm refusing to say IF here :) I read blogs daily about having FAITH about things so here I am, throwing myself into FAITH that this will be successful if it is meant to be :)

If you would like to be on my mailing list for special promotions, sales, etc. Please email (Cammie.heflin@gmail.com) me so I can get a list made :) There's something big happening THIS WEEK so don't miss out! What I LOVE about these products is the ability to personalize them :) Who doesn't want a bag that brags about our chromosomally enhanced children??? Not sure why but I can't move these pics to where I want them!

Help me meet my goal!

Taking Things for Granted

I'm not really a person that takes things for granted. I am so appreciative of all of the things that we have. However, there are times that I catch myself taking things for granted. A couple of months ago we switched Addy's medical supply company to one that provides everything we need in one place so I'm not calling all over to get the things she needs. I have been extremely pleased with them :) They are a smaller company in Springfield and one of the ladies I deal with has a son on a g-tube so she "gets it" :)

When Addy and I were in California visiting our besties (aka, Heather and Zoey) I was mixing up Addy's formula for the day of our travel home. I somehow miscalculated or mis/mixed and didn't have quite enough for her entire day. I knew that I had a can in my van in Kansas City so I knew we'd have enough to get us through the night but it still stressed me out a little! Fortunately I can water down pureed foods and put them through her tube in a pinch.

Addy's formula is supposed to be automatically billed on the 25th which means it should ship within a couple of days. The place that Addy's formula is coming from is somewhere in New York. It arrives in Springfield and it is sent FedEx to me. Last month it arrived on the 6th which was ok because I still had a can. A can lasts a few days (at the cost of about $70/can). Last Thursday night I realized that we only had one can left after I mixed her Friday feeds and half of Saturday. Just enough to get us through until Tuesday. I called the office on Friday to see if it had been shipped yet. Unfortunately they were closed for Good Friday. I left a message with the service that it was urgent that I hear back something on Monday. Monday morning I called but forgot they didn't open until 10. I got super busy at work and didn't get a chance to call back but about noon I received a call from the man that handles the enteral supplies. He said that Addy's formula was ordered on March 23rd and arrived at their warehouse on Sunday night! He said that it was out for shipment :) Thank goodness!! Well, yesterday at 4 o'clock when I got home we still didn't have any supplies!!! I called and got a hold of a man that I hadn't dealt with before but he was the best! He went looking and searching to see what the deal was. I told him that I would come to Springfield and get it if for some reason it hadn't been shipped, Addy only had enough formula for one more feeding. However, they only keep Boost and Pediasure on sight :( Addy is highly allergic to all milk products so that was definitely a no go! Fortunately after about 45 minutes of searching he was able to track down FedEx and they called to let me know that Addy's shipment had an ETA of 12 minutes! Sure enough just 12 minutes later FedEx arrived with our shipment! I was soo thankful! I really appreciated everyone working so hard to make sure that my girl would have her food!!!

It was one of those moments when I realized how much I take these medical supply companies and delivery trucks for granted. It's not like I can run out to the store and pick up something for Addy to take. Once we ran out and thought we could supplement with her old Prosobee formula to get us at least a few feedings and she had a horrible reaction to it. She'd taken it for years so it surprised everyone. Addy's GI system is apparently a mess and I will never take ELECARE for granted again. I just wish we could somehow get enough that we would have a little extra at the end of the month for emergencies, however, insurance companies frown upon that!!!

So this was a just a scary little reminder to appreciate all of the blessings we have when it comes to our special kids!

Happy Easter!!!

My Easter pix are less than desirable this year! Jarika didn't come home until this afternoon so she wasn't here for the morning chaos! I forgot to take her picture with her basket :( She says she's too old for that anyway lol!
I love how both of the boys are watching Addy look at her "Punzer!" That's Rapunzel in case you were wondering :)

After church the kids checked out their baskets and found that the Easter Bunny wanted the boys to pick out new bikes and Addy a new swing :) Addy LOVES to swing and hers has seen better days, it's all cracked! The boys just got home with their new bikes, I'll have to get pix later, it's dark! We will get Addy's swing next time I'm in Springfield. I don't love the swing she has, she needs a better harness system, she likes to go high and fast!



I hope everyone had a beautiful day like we did! He is Risen!!!

Dirt :)

If you have read my blog for awhile you know that I have been stressing over Addy's complete lack of play skills. She has completely turned the corner lately! Spring break she proved to be a typical toddler by dumping everything everywhere and putting things in and out of her shopping cart repeatedly :) I'm LOVING these new skills!!!

At our preschool we have a gigantic dirt box. Yes people, it's filled with dirt :) Some of our staff have a love/hate relationship with the dirt box. The kids LOVE it! Addy has spent the last year and a half sitting in a wagon or in front of the school doors where she can see her reflection and sing to herself. Her amazingly wonderful teacher decided the other day that Addy needed to move and play during recess and put her in the gait trainer :) Sneaky thing she is! Addy tolerated it just fine but apparently it did the trick because yesterday she discovered the dirt box :) I was at Head Start working when I got a text and this is what I saw :)

I was cracking up, so out of character for Addy! Not only is she in the dirt box, she has it on her face!!! Woo hoo Addy girl!!!

I went out today during recess so I could watch her play. She went right to the dirt box and climbed on in and had a blast!!! She was playing appropriately too! She was digging with a shovel, putting the dirt in a pail and wheelbarrow and even fighting over a toy :) Some people thought that I would freak that Addy got filthy. I am not a freak over getting dirty, clothes wash :) Addy is always dressed to the nines but she does wash. However, after recess she tackled the paint and the paint won :) So we now have a play shirt. I don't think we've ever one of those before!
She's even walking in it!!! We can barely get her to walk outside at all, different terrains freak her out!

Check out the bum!

Yes she is dumping dirt all over her head :) I LOVE that she has to have a bath because she is dirty from playing, so proud of you Addy boo!!!

Bloggy slump

I've been in a blogging slump. Not sure why, I guess not a whole lot going on and my camera lens is on the blink. Cooper had his 13th birthday on the 19th of March but my pix are on my phone since that is when I realized my lens was messed up! I will upload them later and have a Cooper post :) I pulled out my old lens to get some pix of Addy dancing this morning. I think she's starting to get a cold, she's got a runny nose this morning :( However, she is always up for dancing with the Chipettes :)

I love surprises! LOTS of PIX!

Many of you most likely are my Facebook Friend and know the gist of this post :) Last week my mom offered me some of her frequent flyer miles so Addy and I could go to California to celebrate the amazing Zoey Grace's birthday! I wanted to surprise her mom, Heather, and it worked! I didn't tell anyone besides her daughters and husband that I was coming :) I didn't want anyone to spoil the surprise!

We arrived late on Friday night and came home late last night. I actually climbed into bed at 4 this morning! We had a 3 hour drive from the airport and I am beat! I went to work on two hours sleep and functioned extremely well! Now, not so much! Hoping I can make it through The Biggest Loser tonight before I hit the hay but that's doubtful! lol

I cannot express how much I enjoy hanging out with the Needham family. They are absolutely amazing. You know when you have a true friend, that you really connect with. Heather and I are like that, our girls are so similar :) they are extremely special little girls! Heather is phenomenol, she is constantly on the go and is an amazing mother. Her children are all rockstars in my opinion! Her older girls are so sweet and are fantastic with their little siblings! You can tell how much they all love each other :) I sat in LAX yesterday with tears streaming down my face because I didn't want to leave! Heather said she WILL come here! She better!! When she does, I expect as many of our Midwest friends to come and visit too, we'll have a blast!!!

The pictures are just a small recap of our whirlwind weekend, enjoy the amazing cuteness!

Charlie, Zoey and Addy playing with the Ipad :)
The girls had lots of hugs to give each other :)
Addy like Charlotte's Barbie guitar! How cute is that!
Addy loved Zoey's mirror so she could watch herself sing with Elmo's microphone!

Heather had errands to run on Saturday to prepare for the party but took time out to drive me down the coast so I could see the mountains and put my feet in the sand for a bit. I absolutely love the ocean!

How adorable is that Charlotte??? She played Ring Around the Rosie with Addy :) It cracks me up that Addy is five and Charlie is two and they are the same size!
How beautiful is Miss Zoey??? I LOVE LOVE LOVE her!!!

Carter kept asking if he could take Addy home :) He's super sweet!

Heather getting some Jax lovin! Addy calls him "Jacksey" :)

Extra Chromosomes only Please!


Addy and Taylor :)
Going in for a hug on Joe
Addy and Arina :) We called her the little Ukrainian tornado!!! That tiny little thing is a busy, busy girl!!! She tackled Addy three times! Full body slams, that girl is tough! Mine is quite the little weenie! lol

We also had the honor of meeting M.E. What an amazing young lady!