Getting It Off My Chest

 Hi, 

Today, I just want to write a letter. I don't really feel the need to explain the reasoning behind the decisions I make. What I feel the need to do is to open some people's eyes so they can realize that everything is not black and white. 

First, a little bit of a back story. 

I caught measles from the vaccination. I have not had the chickenpox vaccine, yet I've never had them. My brothers have had the chickenpox vaccine- one brother had chickenpox, the other has Shingles AT THE AGE OF 6. 

My son has ITP, which basically means that if his immune system is activated (even by allergies), there is a chance that his antibodies will act up and start killing his platelets, which could make a simple injury severe. When we caught it, his levels were at 1, and should have been between 150 and 300. He cannot have the typical meds because he's allergic, so he has to have steroids for treatment, which is an immunosuppressant. He's considered chronic because of how low his levels were and because it took 6 months to get him to 200. 

My daughter has many health problems. She has asthma, stomach issues, an immune deficiency, and is very prone to ear infections. She also catches everything and takes forever to get over it. Because of this, we had to pull her from public school, although she was getting vital therapies. She was missing 1/3 of the school days from being sick. Another thing with her is that she has had vaccine-related injuries and because we've opted to not vaccinate, I was actually bullied at the Dr's office by a nurse. Excuse me, but I saw what one vaccine did to her with lasting effects, I'm not interested in playing roulette with her future. 

This leads us to the pandemic. We have stayed at home for their and my family members' health. We have worn masks. We have put our lives on hold while we watch everyone going on vacation, having parties, and going out to eat. Now, those same people are telling me to get a TRIAL vaccine for their safety and their kids' safety, yet they were not willing to stay at home for my kids' safety. 

These people are pushing vaccine mandates even though it is not a fully proven safe vaccination. 

Guess what?!?! No! Vaccines are not safe for everyone. If you want it, fine, but leave me and mine alone. If you are worried, keep your butt at home like you were supposed to in the beginning. 

Another thing, you were not willing to keep your kid at home when they were sick for my kids' health and the health of her cancer-patient grandmother. Newsflash, you sending your sick kid to school could have killed my MIL and could have put my daughter in the hospital, if not worse. 

Now, you want to say get a vaccine for the greater good? NO! 

10 Wishes For My Kids

We all dream of better lives for our kids, for more happiness, and for success. But in all honesty, what does that even mean? Here are the things I really wish my kids see in their futures. 

1. Education: I would love to see my kids go to college and get degrees. However, that is not my wish. My wish is simply that they learn to read and do basic math to a working degree and that they learn how to learn. With these three things, they can learn and achieve anything they want. That is my wish. 

2. Success: I am not defining success as a good job, a fat bank account, and all of that. To me, success is having the life that you want and that you work for. That's what I want for my kids. 

3. Happiness. Just happiness

4. Love all around them. I hope they are surrounded by a spouse, kids, family, in-laws, friends, and pets that love them. 

5. To have what they need

6. To breathe fresh air and eat fresh food

7. To understand where what they have comes from and to respect those that come before them. To understand that people died for them and their freedom

8. To understand the true value in items and not just the monetary value (especially with heirlooms) and to know the stories behind them. 

9. Mental, physical, and spiritual health

10. More than anything else, A deep love for God

What is your biggest wish for your children? 

Meet Allie: Koda's Best Friend & Therapy Doll

Several years ago, for her 3rd Christmas, Koda got an 18-inch doll for Christmas. At first, it was "just a doll," but quickly became her best friend and confidant. Koda actually had conversations with Allie, before the rest of us. I would walk into her room and hear her talk to Allie. Today, Allie is a part of our family. My son even decided he wanted a doll (named him Peter, after Peter Parker) so he could play with his sister.

This was especially amazing because Koda didn't talk at all until after she was 3. Conversations with us didn't happen until much later. She has an expressive communication disorder. She still struggles, but I'm amazed at the progress she has made. 

There are so many stories I could share about how wonderful Allie is for Koda. Like in the photo above, her stomach was hurting bad (she has really bad episodes), so she hung out on the couch and watched a movie with Allie. While her stomach was still hurting, she was in much better spirits. 

Allie goes EVERYWHERE with us. I cannot even imagine if she got lost. Sometimes when we are on an adventure, she is okay with leaving Allie in the hotel room, but there are times it is a struggle, but I don't want her to lose her. I had this custom tag made on Etsy (not sponsored) in case there is ever a real issue. That way, there is less question if she wants to carry her along to a concert. 

If you have followed my Instagram, you have seen many images of Allie- playing, traveling, doing school, and even for her first haircut. You have also seen her pitiful head. However, Koda loves her the way she is. The hair of the doll got so tangled and disgusting that we couldn't do anything with it. My mom was going to attempt to attach a wig, and cut the hair off. The wig didn't work (we didn't know then that you could buy a doll wig for these, so she was going to cut down a regular wig). Koda was upset at first, but then eventually loved it. Now, she refuses to put a wig on her. 

I got the story out of her about this. My son was seeing a hematologist for his ITP (which was at the Children's' cancer clinic). She had Allie with her, of course. A little girl going through Chemo came in and she was bald. Koda was drawn to her because her Nina had just gone through Breast Cancer and her hair was just growing back in. The girl seemed uncomfortable, but looked at Allie and got a huge smile on her face. Seeing Koda's bald doll made her so happy. So, Koda wants Allie to stay bald in case she sees more bald kids- she will make them happy. 

Just the other day, I walked in on Koda teaching Allie sight words. It was an awesome sight! 

I have always known that dolls are wonderful learning toys for kids. I just did not realize how much of a difference they can make, especially with a special needs child. 

A little about Koda: Koda was born at 37 weeks and was breech. That may not seem like a big deal, but I didn't know I was pregnant, so I had no prenatal care and could not breastfeed her because I wasn't prepared. She did great as an infant, with some questions about her hearing. At 3, she was tested for autism, and even though she has many of the traits, she is not (many autism therapies work for her though). She was diagnosed with an expressive language disorder, sensory processing disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. She also has some hearing loss. Because of her communication disorder, we are having problems with sight testing. She has asthma and an immune deficiency. She is currently being tested to see what is causing extreme stomach pain, chronic constipation, and extreme knee pain. Through all of this, Allie has been her rock. 

ITP: What Is It And How I Changed Our Lives

In March, 2019, my son came to me with a sore leg, right by his groin. My husband and I both thought that he had played too hard and possibly pulled a muscle. We told him we would keep an eye on it. A week goes by and all of a sudden it was worse. I called and made an appointment with the doctor. We figured for some reason he had a swollen lymph node. He also had some red dots all over his legs and some on the rest of his body. 

By the next morning, it was so swollen and sore, he could barely walk. But, he didn't want me to carry him either because of the pain. As soon as the doctor saw his spots, he sent us for blood work. (luckily in the office). Turns out, those spots were a sign of his platelets being low. (Platelets are what causes our blood to clot). 

His platelets were at 1 thousand and should be at least 150 thousand. Then, the doctor tells me to keep him from doing anything that could get him injured, to stay in town (not go home) and he would call me shortly, after speaking with a hematologist. 

We were with my dad that day, so after I called my hubby and told everyone what was going on, my dad decided to treat Tbomb to a milkshake for breakfast (he'd already had a pop-tart that morning, but the kid was scared) while we waited for the doctor to call me back. 

That didn't take long. I figured it would be in the afternoon when he called, but it was less than an hour. He informed me that the children's hospital had a bed ready. What? My baby boy had to go into the hospital?

We grabbed some things in Walmart, went by the house to see dad, grandparents, and grab a few things and went to the hospital. After getting him in a wheelchair and getting past security, a nurse met us at the entrance to the children's hospital and got him checked it. 

The crazy was just beginning. 

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He's a trooper. Hopefully this dose of #ivig will do the trick and we'll go home tomorrow. #pleasepray #childrenshospitalofgreenville #itpawareness

A post shared by Cari | Chief This Handler💭 (@cari_on) on Apr 7, 2019 at 3:25pm PDT

Soon, the hematologist came by and told me that Tbomb has ITP. That they aren't completely sure what causes it, but that the antibodies attack the platelets. They are going to start him on an IVIG infusion.

Long story short, he had a reaction to the IVIG, so they ended up giving him 2 doses, but moving it slowly. It didn't work- they ended up putting him on steroids to suppress his immune system. After 5 days, his platelets finally rose to 9 thousand, still a long way from 150 thousand. 

They released him with strict instructions to not let him do anything that could cause him to get hurt (no hopper, no scooter, no bike, running, or even climbing into his loft bed. I was told that if he hit his head to get him to the ER. 

Over the next several weeks, he had appointments at the Children's Cancer Clinic (that's where the hematologist is) at least once a week, sometimes twice- with his blood platelets checked each time. Eventually (July), his platelets got back to normal, but we still had to be careful for a few more months. Even now, if he does hit his head, we have to watch very closely. 

This isn't over. There is no cure- he is in "remission." 

Basically, the doctors have no clue what causes someone's antibodies to attack the platelets in the case of ITP. With Tbomb, for various reasons, they do believe it is genetic. This means that it will never go away. Anytime his immune system is triggered, he runs the risk of the ITP "flaring" up. 

Even his allergies, which his are pretty bad, can cause this. So, he has to be on allergy medicine every day. I also keep him on vitamin C to help his body fight anything that does try to come up. 

I just thank God that we got him to the doctor and that now I know the symptoms- I didn't even know this was a disease. 

Moral of this story and so many others: trust your gut. If you feel your child needs to see a doctor, take them! If Tbomb had fallen and hit his head, he could have had bleeding on his brain and with no platelets, we could have lost him so easily. 

Keeping Special Needs Children Safe

Yesterday was End World Trafficking day. I have read books about human trafficking before but it wasn't until recently that I realized just how deep it all goes. I've shared some information to my stories. However, I went down the deep dark rabbit hole and learned some things that make it even more disturbing, although that doesn't sound possible. I did not share this stuff because it is so disturbing. I will leave it up to each person to learn that on their own. 

It did get me thinking about my little Snapper. There is so much that she doesn't understand that most kids her age do. She will wander off given the chance, she loves people and never meets a stranger, and she is so very trusting. This makes me worry for her safety. However, because of these traits, there are things we already do that aid in keeping her safe. I want to share some of these with you. They may help keep your child or a child (or special needs adult) safe. 

Note: This isn't just about trafficking. The headlines about trafficking just made me decide to do this post. If you have a special needs child, you understand how challenging this can be. 

1. I do not use my phone while the kids and I are walking around in public. If my husband calls, I park the kids. If I am on the phone, I can't give them my full attention. My son is good at staying close by, but given the chance, my daughter will wander off. 

2. We have harsh consequences. If we are walking across the parking lot or somewhere and one of the kids pulls away from my hand, they know that they lose their tablets for a week with no option of earning it back. We had to start doing this because my daughter was terrified of airplanes and helicopters and if she saw or heard one, she would run blindly, even in a parking lot. It has worked so far. 

3. Snapper has to wear her "in case of emergency" bracelet everywhere. It has on it her name, communication disorder, and mine and her dad's cell phone numbers. If she does wander off, she has that security. 

4. If we are going to be in a crowd (concert, mall, etc), she is on a wrist leash. Yes, she's almost 7, but if it keeps her safe, its what I will continue to do. We still hold hands, but it is a little extra security in a crowded place. 

5. Talk to your kids. It is so easy to let our kids live in bliss. We don't want to ruin the world for them or make them scared. But, it is necessary to talk with our children about safety. Boys and girls and not just about good touches/ bad touches and secrets. Talk to them about what to do if someone grabs them or tries to get them to get in a car. We told ours that while most people are good, there are bad people out there. If someone tries to get them, scream "fire," kick wherever they can, knock things off shelves, make as much noise as possible. We told them not to worry about hurting the person or breaking things- they are saving their own lives and that is more important. We even got them to practice. 

This was a very important talk for my children because they love people and are very trusting. They still are but they have this little bit of information and permission if they are in danger. 

6. Check out the latest technology. There are GPS trackers, kid-specific phones, phones made for people with autism, and even watches that can call in an emergency. If it is in your budget, consider investing. We bought a GPS tracker a couple of years ago, but it was not what it was made out to be. My husband and I have been considering kid phones for them. 

Do you have any tips? As I learn new tactics, I will update this post. Good luck and my prayers are with you. 

Getting Our Home Ready For Dad In Charge: 5 Ways To Prepare

Last year, when my son was in the hospital for a week, things got a little crazy in our home. It was quick and we were in no way prepared. After he was released, I started preparing in case it happened again. Some things cannot be prepared ahead of time, but I've figured that out too. I'm still making changes around the house to help in case dad finds himself wading the waters alone(ish) again. 

Please don't take any of this as my husband isn't involved. That is not the case. I work from home, he does not. I'm also a type-A personality. He is not. Also, he just didn't want to call me with questions while our son was in the hospital. He would, but he would feel bad about it. I've done these things as a way of also helping him cope. That experience shook us both and preparing in case it happens again gives us both a little security. 

Here are some changes I have made that I think will prepare us in case this happens again, or any other number of things that could happen to put us in the same situation. 

1. I wrote a list out of things that would be needed at the hospital. That way, if the doctor sends us, I can stop by the house and grab things. If it is a big emergency and I can't go by the house, I can give the hubby the list and he can bring us things. 

Here are 10 ways to help kids cope in the hospital. Some items here might be good to add to your list. 

2. I also have a list of things to prep ahead of time if I can. I made this list because at a checkup, I was afraid they were going to put him back in the hospital. I prepare a few days of clothing for the other child- I put clothing, hair bows, accessories, and undergarments in a Ziploc bag. I then put a sticky note with what day it is for and which shoes to put with them. This was really handy when miss priss was going to public school and Dad had to get her ready. He also had a note with times he needed to know, what she needed to get on the bus, and school phone numbers. If this happens again, I will make a list of what the other kid needs to leave the house- backpack, mask, water bottle, etc. Everything goes into a basket that he can access easily. I also prep medications for the week. 

3. Stay on top of housework. This may seem like a given. However, sometimes we get behind. One thing that keeps me from getting too far behind these days is knowing what I came home to after Bomb was in the hospital. I was so very behind on laundry. We had been having a lot of family time and I just hadn't done it. I wasn't expecting a hospital stay. My husband had his hands full while I was gone with our daughter. By the time he was released, it was like everything was dirty and took me forever to get caught up. Now, every time I get behind on laundry, I think about that and get caught up again. 

4. Organized a kid shelf. This not only makes it easier for him but for me too. The kids' special dishes, lunch box items, snacks, drinks, and medications all go on the shelf (my kids don't mess with meds, but if yours do, take that into consideration). Everything is labeled. Two large baskets have snacks- one is labeled "help yourself" and the other "ask first." Anything with sugar or that has to be cooked (popcorn) is in the ask first bin. Everything else, they can help themselves to. However, they still have to ask if they can have a snack because we don't want to fill up before meals. We don't limit snacks though- just make sure we have healthy-ish options. 

Medication baskets are- weekly meds (has everything I need to set meds up for the week and their weekly pill containers), Kid meds (Tylenol, Benedryl, ibuprofen, stomach meds, pain relief cream, etc). There is also a plastic shoebox with medications for when they are sick, as well as the extra stock of other medications. I really need to size this one up. 

Also on this shelf is our "sub folder" for school with review work that can keep life a little normal. I can grab some for the kid that needs it and dad can hand out work to keep our other one on track and give some normalcy to life. It also has a bible for quick reference, the home inhaler pouch (inhalers are always in hot pink bags for easy spotting), nightly reading, and soups and sodas for sick kids. 

5. I try to keep a few freezer meals on hand that the hubby can just throw in the oven and cook for him and the little. Yes, he is perfectly capable of cooking for them, but if I can do something simple to help out, why not?! Also, I try now to make sure that we stay up on stocking the freezer and pantry. We don't want to run out of everything. 

A note from me on this: 

Most of these things actually benefit my anxiety more than anything. My husband is perfectly capable. When something like a child in the hospital happens, it throws everything off and no one is on top of their game. It also created new anxiety in me. I worry now and doing things like this helps me to not worry so much and if it does happen again, my husband will feel more in control. He felt helpless with Bomb in the hospital. 

Keep Medical Needs Handy With Too Sweet Boutique

Disclaimer: I was sent products to review. All opinions are my own.

I've not been blogging like I like to because so much has been going on. I know- isn't it always? But, I haven't been able to concentrate much as my daughter has needed me so much more. We actually ended up having to pull her from school and homeschool her. Her stomach and knee pain are progressively getting worse and she's just been getting sick so much and having a hard time fighting off even a simple cold. Doctors' offices have been our second home.

It turns out she has something going on with her stomach, yet we haven't gotten to the bottom of it, has growth abnormalities in her knees, causing the knee pain and has a primary immune disorder- IGA deficiency. This is what is causing her to get sick so often and not be able to fight it and likely what causes all of her ear infections, sinus problems, and bladder infections. We still have a lot of appointments and testing to deal with. This week she sees the allergist, immunologist, and will get her asthma testing. Being a control freak, I have to do all I can to help along the way.

The big way we are changing things now is that she has to wear masks, gloves, and use sanitizer constantly. This means it has to stay handy for her. While looking for a solution, I came across Too Sweet Boutique.

Too Sweet Boutique is run by an amazingly sweet lady that understands the struggles we have and has created a product to make things simpler and more fun for little ones. She even makes them doll-sized, which made Koda so happy because her best friend has to be just like her. 

Since Allie now matches her and has to wear her mask as well, she feels a little better about having to wear it and gloves when we are out.

These pouches are generally made for insulin pumps and other diabetic supplies but can be customized to meet most medical needs. Guess what?! There is even an armband size available. How awesome! If you have a child with medical needs, I would definitely check out Too Sweet Boutique. Plus, she's sooo sweet!

The First Five Signs I Taught My Kids

I've always loved learning sign language. I had the awesome opportunity in the fifth grade to take a class, so it started a true love. In fact, if I ever go back and finish college, I would love to minor in American Sign Language and tutor special needs children and parents that are homeschooling.

When Tbomb was a baby, I taught him a handful of signs when he first started trying to talk. I taught more, food, drink, and love. With snapper, things were a little different. I didn't teach her in the beginning like I had intended to. I had one I was homeschooling and I had my plate full. I wish I had done it anyway.

Well, when she still wasn't making any noises at 2, we were getting concerned. We realized then how quiet of a baby she really was. While we were doing testing and trying to figure out what was going on with her, I started teaching her sign language. I felt like this would give her a way of communicating and it really did help not only ease her frustration and mine, but I feel like it allowed us to bond in a unique way.

When we decided to teach her, I put a lot of thought into which ones to teach her first. They needed to be simple, be useful, and be fun. She picked them up easily and even started teaching family members so they could communicate with her. It felt good.

Here are the signs we settled with for her first five.

Each word is linked to a video showing the proper way to sign it.

1. EAT

2. DRINK

3. MORE

4. PLEASE

5. GIRAFFE (Giraffes are her favorite animal and have been since she was about 3 months old so we thought it would be fun if she learned the sign for something she loved!)

She picked up sign language really easily and that is actually why she was not diagnosed with Autism by her developmental pediatrician. She wanted to communicate and showed that the ability was there- just not yet for speaking.

Here are some free resources to help teach your children to sign.

• Handspeak (dictionary)
• LifePrint (free courses)
• Sign Language 101 (learn sign language online for free)
• ASL App

Doll Therapy: Child-Sized Medical Kit For Dolls

Disclaimer: I received items to review. All opinions are my own.

My daughter's biggest cheerleader is her brother and her best form of therapy is her doll. Bailey is her best friend, goes everywhere with her, talks with her, and is vital to helping Snapper understand and cope with changes and the left hooks life throws at us sometimes. If it weren't or her doll, I believe that she would have an even harder time dealing with her Nina's breast cancer diagnosis and my mother's recent hospitalization.

Bailey even got a port when her Nina did.

Bailey got a port like Nina @melissageorge_paranormalauthor 

A post shared by Cari | Chief This Handler💭 (@cari_on) on Apr 18, 2018 at 8:50am PDT

 To help her cope with all of this and her many visits to the doctor's offices, Sophia's Doll Clothes send Snapper a child-sized medical kit for dolls and an awesome backrest pillow.

I walked in her room the other day and she was sitting at her backrest pillow, with Bailey at hers. Bailey had her lapdesk and Snapper was taking her temperature. Snapper informed me that she was sick. She didn't stay like that long enough for me to take a photo, but it was adorable!

Snapper had to go for her check-up with her regular pediatrician this past week, so naturally, Bailey went along- as did the blood pressure cuff and the syringe. The nurse was so sweet and checked Bailey's vitals- then her doctor even gave Bailey a checkup! Snapper is really shy and is not a fan of checkups, so this really helped.

The set is of high-quality construction and will stand up to lots and lots of play. Even Tbomb can play without breaking it and that is saying something. All of Koda's dolls, stuffed animals, and even the dogs have been getting checkups. I cannot express how much this set has helped her. It really is therapy for her.

The set includes a case that fits everything, stethoscope, otoscope, thermometer, blood pressure cuff, clipboard/ medical record/ pencil, and bandage. Not only is it sized just right for a child to doctor her doll, but I love that it includes a blood pressure cuff when not many sets do.

This is a must-have for all girls!

Is Your Child Stressed? Let Her Imagination Soar

I have been writing a lot about helping children deal with sickness (either theirs or a family member), especially cancer. Well, there is another element to that which spreads across all situations. Stress. Yes, I know that the "old folks" don't believe children get stressed. But, they do. I know this to be a fact because I had a very stressful childhood. Luckily, I can pick up on the hints in my own children. They get stressed too, especially now- watching their Nina be so sick. They worry about her so much because they are so close to her.

Besides talking with your children, I believe one of the best ways to help them in stressful situations is to encourage them to use their imaginations. This isn't easy for all children. My son has a wonderful imagination, which he uses while he is drawing, reading, playing minecraft, playing outside, playing inside, and even riding in a car. Because of Snapper's problems, imagination is a little harder for her. I think it is a combination of her communication and anxiety disorders, but I am not a child psychiatrist.

The best way I have found to help her imagine, besides books, is her doll. There are several ways to help your children with 18" dolls (American Girl, Our Generation, My Life As, Sophia's, Gotz, etc). I started snapper out with trying to get her playsets that were similar to what she does. She has school stuff, outside stuff, and even a backpack, water bottle, and tablet to take with her. From there, I started getting her things that were like other people. Her Nina is an author, so I got her glasses like she wears and a laptop. Her dad likes to play XBox, so I got her a controller, etc. From there, she started playing with other things she likes, like a horse for her doll, cooking things, and snorkeling toys. Whenever we are doing something new, Bailey gets something to help ease Snapper into something different.

Right now, we are working on imagining things that are not in everyday life, like fairy tales and the like. I wanted to share some things that will help. Gotz and Pottery Barn Kids teamed up and created some amazing products that will help your little girl go outside the box. I hope these things from Pottery Barn Kids will help your little girl.

Not only do they have perfect items for a fairy tale playtime, but they have amazing carriers, outfits, furniture, and accessories to make any little girl gush with excitement!

Experience New Worlds with a Sensory-Friendly Screening of Ready Player One at Regal this Saturday

WHO:	Regal invites adventurous movie fans to enjoy the fun, action-packed universe of Ready Player One. This film is rated PG-13.
WHAT:	My Way Matinee sensory friendly screening of Ready Player One
WHEN:	Saturday, April 21 @ 10:30 a.m. (Tickets are $6.50)
WHY:	Come join us at Regal for the latest My Way Matinee movie, Ready Player One, this Saturday, April 21, at 10:30 a.m.
WHERE:	The following Regal Cinemas:
	Regal Augusta Exchange Stadium 20 & IMAX – Augusta, GA Regal Crossroads 14 & RPX – Taylorsville, UT Warren Broken Arrow 18 – Broken Arrow, OK Edwards Eastvale Gateway Stadium 14 – Eastvale, CA Regal Eastview Mall 13 – Victor, NY Regal Gallatin Valley Stadium 11 – Bozeman, MT Regal Grand Parkway 22 – Richmond, TX Regal Lone Star 19 & IMAX – Tomball, TX Warren Moore 17 & IMAX – Moore, OK Regal New Albany Stadium 16 – New Albany, IN Warren West 17 & IMAX – Wichita, KS UA Washington Township 14 – Sewell, NJ Regal North Hills Stadium 14 – Raleigh, NC Regal Franklin Square 14 – Gastonia, NC Regal Branford Stadium 12 – Branford, CT Edwards Fresno Stadium 22 & IMAX - Fresno, CA Regal Tikahtnu Stadium 16 IMAX & RPX - Anchorage, AK Regal Peoples Plaza Stadium 17 - Newark, DE Regal Natomas Marketplace Stadium 16 & RPX - Sacramento, CA Regal The Loop Stadium 16 & RPX - Kissimmee, FL Regal Goldstream Stadium 16 & IMAX – Fairbanks, AK Edwards Grand Teton Stadium 14 - Ammon, ID Regal Hollywood Stadium 20 & RPX - Greenville - Greenville, SC Regal Rockville Center Stadium 13 – Rockville, MD Regal Warrington Crossing Stadium 22 & IMAX - Warrington, PA Regal Village Park Stadium 17 – Carmel, IN Regal Louisiana Boardwalk Stadium 14 & IMAX - Bossier City, LA Regal Colonie Center Stadium 13 & RPX - Albany, NY Regal Mayfaire Stadium 16 & IMAX - Wilmington, NC Regal Manahawkin 10 - Manahawkin, NJ Regal Winrock Stadium 16 IMAX & RPX - Albuquerque, NM Regal Galleria Mall Stadium 16 - Poughkeepsie, NY Regal Destiny USA Stadium 19 IMAX & RPX - Syracuse, NY Regal Nanuet Stadium 12 & RPX - Nanuet, NY Regal Virginia Gateway Stadium 14 & RPX - Gainesville, VA Regal Biltmore Grande Stadium 15 & RPX – Asheville, NC UA Kaufman Astoria Cinemas 14 IMAX & RPX - Astoria, NY Regal Southwind Stadium 12 - Lawrence, KS UA Sheepshead Bay Stadium 14 IMAX & RPX - Brooklyn, NY Edwards Boise Stadium 22 & IMAX - Boise, ID Regal Bridgeport Village Stadium 18 & IMAX - Tigard, OR Regal Salmon Run Stadium 12 - Watertown, NY Regal Opry Mills Stadium 20 IMAX & RPX - Nashville, TN Regal Coldwater Crossing Stadium 15 – Ft. Wayne, IN Regal Barkley Village Stadium 16 IMAX & RPX - Bellingham, WA Regal Deerfield Towne Center Stadium 16 - Mason, OH Regal Pinnacle Stadium 18 IMAX & RPX - Knoxville, TN Regal Grand Central Mall 12 – Vienna, WV Regal Short Pump Stadium 14 & IMAX - Richmond, VA Regal Niagara Falls Stadium 12 – Niagara Falls, NY Regal Stonefield Stadium 14 & IMAX – Charlottesville, VA Regal Oaks Stadium 24 – Oaks, PA Regal Champlain Centre Stadium 8 – Plattsburgh, NY Regal Valley River Center Stadium 15 & IMAX – Eugene, OR Regal El Dorado Hills Stadium 14 & IMAX – El Dorado Hills, CA Regal Westfork Stadium 13 – Pembroke Pines, FL Regal Texas Station Stadium 18 – North Las Vegas, NV Regal Dickson City Stadium 14 & IMAX – Dickson City, PA Regal Citrus Park Stadium 20 – Tampa, FL Regal Cape Cod Mall Stadium 12 – Hyannis, MA Edwards Canyon Country Stadium 10 – Canyon Country, CA Regal Fox Run Stadium 15 & RPX – Newington, NH Regal Rancho Mirage Stadium 16 & IMAX – Rancho Mirage, CA Regal Bella Bottega Stadium 11 – Redmond, WA

About My Way Matinee:
My Way Matinee gives everyone the opportunity to experience a movie once a month with the sound turned down and the lights turned up. All screenings for the sensory friendly movies will begin at 10:30 a.m. for the special ticket price of $6.50. For additional information, please visit www.regmovies.com/mywaymatinee.


About Ready Player One:
The trailer for Ready Player One can be found here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kijNjrTqeRs.

5-Minute DIY: "Friday Jar" For Homeschoolers

I came up with this concept a few years back. I was trying to get my school week wrapped up, paperwork done, and prepared for the next week so that we could enjoy the weekend as a family. It was only going to take me about an hour to do everything, but the kids were just not having it. Every couple minutes they were yelling for me, bored, or needing something. I found myself wishing I had more work prepared for them, but also not wanting more work for myself each week.

I found the solution- our "Friday Jar"

This may be one of the simplest things I have ever done and it lasts all year. I just refresh it at the beginning of the year and then again at Christmas time.

All you need is popsicle sticks- I just had colored ones on hand- and a plastic jar, I used a small Duke's jar.

Start with about 20 sticks and write different activities that your children can do on their own and even get the materials needed on their own, if possible. When it is time to wrap up your school week, get them to choose one or more sticks and do the activities- bonus points if they are fun and the kids do not think of it as school work. This would also be a great way to do assessments and spelling tests.

Folic Acid During Pregnancy? 73% Lower Chance of Baby with Autism

For the longest time, the cause of autism in children has been unknown. People blamed it on genetics, and other blamed it on genetics combined with environmental factors, and most definitely oxygen loss at birth is a cause too. However, recent studies have shown that taking folic acid and multivitamins during pregnancy doesn't only lower the odds of neural tube defects in the fetus, but it also reduces the risk of the child ending up with autism.

In fact, because studies conducted in Israel had found the correlation between lower instances of autism and mothers taking folic acid during pregnancy, it is recommended that pregnant women continue to take folic acid during the entire pregnancy.

The study that was conducted showed that women who took folic acid during their pregnancies were 61% less likely to have a child diagnosed with autism compared to pregnant women who did not take folic acid. It has also been stated that taking these supplements was linked to a 73% chance of autism not affecting the unborn baby.

Therefore, it is incredibly necessary for women that are trying to conceive take folic acid at least 3 months before they conceive to give it time to build up in their system before the baby is conceived. Once they are pregnant, they must not stop and continue. That will tremendously lower the risks of autism ever affecting the child.

As mentioned before, folic acid may help reduce the instances of autism, but there are other unknown or known factors that come into play that can indeed cause autism to happen to the child.

For instance, there are more and more genetic defects being found that can be passed down to the child which can increase the chances of autism. Therefore, in that case, if a pregnant woman or the baby's father passed down those genes, will autism be prevented from her taking folic acid? Probably not entirely but perhaps the child will end up being on the higher end of the spectrum, which is a lot better than a child being severely impacted.

What is Autism?

Autism is a neurological disorder that affects speech, social skills, and overall development. It is a spectrum disorder which ranges from mild (high functioning) to severe (low functioning).

A child that is mildly impacted by autism will need plenty of help and therapy ranging from speech to occupational therapy while they are young. Therefore, if the autism is mild and the therapy has been successful, then these individuals may end up living independently like anyone else, or at the most have a minimal amount of monitoring. However, people that have autism and are on the higher functioning end will be able to likely work, they can hold conversations, and they also can have friendships and relationships. Some may be able to drive, but others cannot but they can take public transit on their own.

Individuals that are severely impacted by autism cannot speak, many of them are still in diapers as adults, and need 24/7 care even after plenty of therapy and help while they were younger. Those who are moderate may be toilet trained, have limited speech and may be able to do menial tasks such as washing tables.

Therefore, if you end up having a child with autism, be prepared to get the child early intervention so he or she has odds of being functional adults unless the impact of autism is moderate or severe. Again even if there may be a genetic component involved, it is advisable for women to take folic acid no matter what. Because it is quite possible that even if the child will end up with autism from genes, then the severity of it will be minimal if folic acid is taken.

My Story

I can tell you from experience that I believe there is truth to this study. While I was struggling to conceive my daughter, I took folic acid for a very long time due to being on Clomid and having to have intrauterine insemination since my husband's sperm count was low. My daughter is smart, witty, and definitely not under the autism spectrum at all. I took folic acid, and I ate well during my pregnancy with her. Most importantly, the delivery was smooth and there were no complications at all. She has a mild case of ADHD which is most definitely genetic because I also have it. However, it can be frustrating when it comes to school, but it certainly helps with your creativity. Both she and I can agree with that.

However, my son has mild autism and severe ADHD. Because I struggled to conceive the first time, I did not use protection after my daughter was born. I was certainly open to having another child but was assuming that we would have to go through treatments again. But lo and behold, after thinking that I was having a very long cycle which is typical for women with PCOS, it did get to a point that not having a period for 12 weeks was even odd for me. I went to the doctor. I did not at all think for a second that I was pregnant because of the struggles the first time around, and secondly other than not getting a period, I had no symptoms. But to my shock, I was already 3 months along and because I didn't take folic acid, and I ate sushi and had one glass of wine, I was very worried. My doctor told me not to be concerned so I started taking folic acid anyway even though it late to begin.

However, unfortunately, my son had a bowel movement in the womb and inhaled meconium so severely that he lost oxygen, and was on life support. He did get better but he has autism which is mild but has severe ADHD. He had plenty of therapy and is at a residential school getting more intense help because he is high functioning. He is just dealing with the other complication of the severe ADHD which should get better in time, so he will likely (and hopefully) be quite independent as an adult with some help.

My point of talking about this is that my daughter does not have autism and I took folic acid before and during my pregnancy with her. My son has autism and I did not take folic acid until I found out that I was pregnant which was probably too late to start. However, my feeling is that his traumatic birth was the cause even more so than me not taking folic acid.

Since this study has been conducted, this is excellent for women to know if they are worried about having a child with autism- especially one that may be severely impacted. My daughter knows what she will do to ensure that the odds are with her that her children will not have autism when she is ready to have kids!

Karen, thank you for sharing your story. 

Visual Schedule + Launch Center Tips (Early Learning Resources)

Disclaimer: I received these items to review. All opinions are my own.

Snapper's developmental pediatrician suggested something at our last visit to help her with her anxiety. She doesn't do well with change and craves routine, but when we have a different schedule, she does not adjust well. The doctor suggested a visual schedule.

I've tried several, but nothing seems to stand up to her or give us the functionality we need. However, Carson-Dellosa had the perfect solution!

This is exactly what we needed. The portable visual schedule pocket chart works brilliantly for both kids. Actually, it comes with a set of 3. There are 6 activity pockets and a storage pocket (I have the storage pocket folded up behind). It also velcros closed for travel and for your child to carry with them. It is very durable and will work for any family or classroom. 

I used some photos I had used before while trying to make a visual schedule work and they were perfect. For my 1st grader, I simply wrote the task on a plain white card to encourage reading. I could not have found anything better than this set from Carson-Dellosa. 

Tips For Setting Up A Launch Station: 

1. Know what you need: Ours must have backpacks, coats, hat, tablet cases, schedule, lanyards, reminders, timer, and buckets for dry erase crayons and watches. That may seem like a bit much, but that's the only way I can keep a handle on it all. 

2. Give each kid a side and a color. 

3. Decide what should be in reach. I put backpacks, coats, hats, and tablet cases up high so I can decide when they get them. The other stuff that I am trying to teach them to be responsible for goes within reach. 

4. Include a message board: I painted a cookie sheet with chalkboard paint- I can write notes or stick them with magnets. 

5. The buckets allow their watches and dry-erase crayons to be in reach, but I can also put bows and jewelry for the next day in them. 

6. Find what works for your family- even the location. Ours is in the kids' room because that is what works, but it may not for you. 

Early Learning: Easily Teach Counting and Number Awareness

Disclaimer: I received products to review. All opinions are my own.

So, I love being a part of the Carson-Dellosa Brand Ambassadors. I had the opportunity to review a bulletin board set, and knew just what I would do with it!!!

Numbers 0-20 Bulletin Board Set

Carson-Dellosa products are always my favorites, so I knew that I would find the perfect use for this set and it didn't take me long at all to find it! 

My daughter (4-year-old) is a very hands-on and repetitive learner. Sometimes teaching her new letters and numbers can be a challenge. I've been trying to find a different way of teaching her numbers and it finally came to my doorstep! 

I give her the number card and she has to put the correct number of stars on the 10 frame. Its working pretty well. As she learns her numbers, I can even fold the number card to hide the representation and have her put the correct number of stars on the 10-frame. I love using bulletin board sets for learning activities. 

You could also laminate the pieces so that they last longer, and even put velcro on the 10-frame and stars. 

This could be a great classroom activity or center practice, as well. 

5 Reasons Pre-School Years Are A Prime Time For Learning

Much of the discussion about education focuses on the K-12 years, but some early childhood education experts suggest serious learning can start even earlier and pay dividends for the child in years to come.

 “Young children have the capacity at a very young age to be academically challenged, and we need to educate them strongly during those years instead of waiting until they are older,” says Alise McGregor, founder of Little Newtons (www.littlenewtons.com), an early education center with locations in Minnesota and Illinois.

“Children’s minds are like sponges when they are very young. Under age 5 is the most important time for development and our best opportunity to set up children for success. If we strongly educate children at a very young age, while their brains are so pliable, by the time they reach kindergarten, their brain capacity is much higher.”

Recent research confirms that the first five years of life are particularly important for the development of the child's brain. Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child reports that in the first few years, more than 1 million new neural connections are formed every second, building the brain’s architecture. 

This growth of the brain’s network establishes a fertile foundation for learning, thus an opportunity to be better prepared for grade school and beyond, experts say. One analysis of several studies, “Impacts of Early Childhood Education on Medium- and Long-term Education,” showed that children exposed to high-quality pre-kindergarten education performed better academically in later years. Early education also led to higher graduation rates, fewer special education placements and less grade retention.

McGregor suggests five reasons parents should consider ramping up their pre-K child’s education:

• Socialization. Socialization with people other than the child’s family in a safe environment is an essential foundational element. “It’s important to introduce our children to other children and support their transition into their own friendship groups, and the earlier we do this, it helps children overcome shyness and gain self-confidence,” McGregor says. 

• Personal experiences. These assist the brain’s organizational development and functioning in many situations, helping children develop learning skills as well as social and emotional abilities. “A good early-education center creates an environment where imagination, love, and innovation all come together for a daily adventure,” McGregor says. 

• Enthusiasm for Learning. Lessons can be given in a fun and exciting way that will encourage children to be effective learners. “Feeling inspired and excited to learn takes root in preschool,” McGregor says, “and can last a lifetime.”

• Learning respect for others. A fundamental building block for happiness, friendships, and success in life starts early by learning how to share, cooperate, take turns and be nice. “By carrying on conversations, following rules, listening, accepting consequences of actions, the child learns early how to start getting along in the world,” McGregor says. 

• Resilience. It’s important that early childhood educators and parents work together to develop resilience in children as early as possible. “By creating a consistent and stable environment with clear expectations and predictable consequences, children can develop skills in managing themselves and their emotions,” McGregor says. “They may experience bumps, bruises or losing a game, but this is the foundation for building coping strategies for greater challenges in life.”

“The first five years of life are the most critical,” McGregor says. “It is far easier to train a child than it is to fix a broken adult.”

 

About Alise McGregor

Alise McGregor is the founder of Little Newtons (www.littlenewtons.com), an exceptional child care center focusing on early childhood education with four locations in Minnesota and one in Illinois. She is the author of an upcoming book, Creating Brilliance. Also a nurse, she has a B.S. in Exercise Physiology with a cardiac rehabilitation emphasis.