tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59313398133651837512024-03-06T15:03:05.759-05:00Cowgirl Up!Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.comBlogger240125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-5259961444728024832015-03-10T14:43:00.000-04:002015-03-10T14:43:44.669-04:00Baby Carrier One WINNER!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a way to come back to the blogging world!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> A huge thank you to Baby Bjorn for sponsoring this first contest and for giving such an incredible prize.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The program used to select the winner is called <a href="http://www.randompicker.com/">Random Picker</a> and each entry was put into this program and the computer program generates the winner. When I started the blog almost 4 years ago I was putting slips of paper into a hat, but we are way more legit now! </span><br />
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<img alt="Baby Carrier One • Brown/Black • Mesh" src="http://www.babybjorn.com/ImageVault/publishedmedia/24vbddqt2nil33pv1jlj/baby-carrier-one-brown-black-mesh.png" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A huge congratulations to our Winner- Joseph Wright! Joseph wrote that the person who is his "Power of Two" is his wife Regina. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Selected project: </span><span id="ctl00_FrameNoContainer_LabelIDProject" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Cowgirl Up Baby bjorn</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span id="ctl00_FrameNoContainer_LabelProjectState" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The project is already locked.</span><br />
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<tr><td align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(241, 241, 241); margin: 0px; padding: 5px 10px;">1: baby bjorn</td><td class="resultItem1" style="border: 1px solid rgb(241, 241, 241); font-size: 9px; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 10px;">Joseph Wright</td><td class="resultItem1" style="border: 1px solid rgb(241, 241, 241); font-size: 9px; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 10px;"> </td><td class="resultItem2" style="border: 1px solid rgb(241, 241, 241); font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #494949; font-size: 10pt;" title="Winner ID: 41719963">0C75229E-FBCA-4210-9709-49931584DF77</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joseph, please <a href="mailto:jenniferdawntowell@gmail.com">email me</a> your full address and Baby Bjorn will mail the carrier directly to your home!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the entry, to enter the contest and to share your own "Power of Two" with me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In just two weeks we will be celebrating 3/21, which in our world is World Down Syndrome Day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Part of celebrating World Down Syndrome Day is promoting Random Acts of Kindness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe you can find an opportunity in the next two weeks to do a random act of kindness! Think about doing one in honor of someone you know who has Down syndrome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coming up next on the blog are topics including, "Is There a Poltergeist In Our House?" and "Would You Move to a New School District for Your Child?".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you again to Baby Bjorn for this wonderful giveaway!</span><br />
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-68636859405885690922015-03-03T07:57:00.000-05:002015-03-03T07:57:15.571-05:00Cowgirl Up is Back! The Power of Two and a Baby Bjorn Giveaway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you are a child of the 80's/90's you may remember the Indigo Girls song "Power of Two". It always stood out in my mind because it was such a testament to how life's challenges are much more manageable when shared. When halved. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The line in the song goes, "Multiply life by the power of two."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm from a family of three siblings and Tom grew up in a family of five brothers. We had initially decided we would probably like three to four children of our own, but each pregnancy brought its own unique challenges. After Joey was born he required a lot of extra care and ultimately seven different surgeries. We wanted the kids to all be about two years apart, but life has its own way of working things out. At one point we thought we would wait until Joey started walking to try for one more baby. With amazing timing, Joey started walking right around when he turned 4 in August last year and the next month his baby sister, Lucille Evelyn was born.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After Joey was born we questioned whether we had the energy and even the ability to have another child. He is an incredible and amazing little boy and to help him become the best person he can possibly be takes a lot of time and effort. There were many factors we thought about before trying for a third baby. We had lived in the world of children with disabilities and we now knew the reality of what can happen. We had spent nights in hospitals, hours in waiting rooms, minutes counting down the time until his next procedure would be over. What if another baby would also have a heart defect? Could we handle another pregnancy filled with endless doctors' appointments and ultrasounds? Could we do this all again?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of the day we just had to have faith that whatever would happen we would do our best no matter the circumstances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is where the power of two came in. Part of having another baby was to provide another sibling to both Tommy and to Joey. A sibling to help Tommy some day when Tom and I are no longer around. A sibling who might just take a tiny bit of the attention away from Joey in a completely healthy way. We thought a third child in our family would be wonderful for both boys. Someone to share the life decisions with Tommy and therefore multiply life by the power of two. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Lucy is herself quite a tiny little fighter. I remember going into surgery for a ruptured appendix almost a year ago in April when I was pregnant with her. I asked one of the OR nurses, "You're going to monitor her during the surgery, right?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their answer? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"No. This is an emergency surgery. We will check her before and after."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then I was out as the anesthesia kicked in. I will never forget that moment nor the two days leading up to it when I thought surely that if I was having so much pain it must be that I was losing the baby.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miraculously, she was fine through it all. Through surgery, CAT scans, MRI's, crazy doses of pain medication and antibiotics- she was fine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are one grateful, grateful family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So! Life with three kids. WOW! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is a lot, but it's amazing. We haven't really slowed down for a minute. Some days I wish we would so I could clean up the house more and be more on top of things, but since the day Lucy arrived it has been non-stop action. So much so, that she is now 5 months old and I am finally back to blogging. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm super excited about being back because part of the big comeback is a new header on the blog featuring all three kids- photos are by the talented <a href="http://www.nattakan.com/">Nat</a>. The new header design is by the <a href="http://www.littlebluedeerdesign.com/">Little Blue Deer Design.</a> The owner over at Little Blue, Shari, is a delight to work with and I love her designs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other super, super exciting thing is that with this first post back I am offering a FREE GIVEAWAY of the latest and greatest <a href="http://www.babybjorn.com/">Baby Bjorn</a> Baby Carrier One!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our wonderful friends at <a href="http://www.babybjorn.com/">Baby Bjorn</a> contacted me and to win your own Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier One, all you need to do is to leave a comment in the comments section sometime during the next 5 days and we will have a random drawing for a winner! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For us, part of being able to be on the go with the kids is being able to carry them with the Baby Bjorn. I have not one, but two Baby Bjorn carriers that I used with the boys and mine are at least 6 years old. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have things changed! The new Baby Carrier One can work as a front or back baby carrier. It also has cushioning in the waist band and instead of putting your arms through it like the old ones it fits over your head. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first time I tried it I did not even read the directions and I threw it in the car with me and Lucy as we raced down to run </span><a href="http://www.buddyuptennis.com/Welcome.html" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Buddy Up Tennis</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is <a href="http://www.buddyuptennis.com/Welcome.html">Buddy Up Tennis</a>? It's an awesome adaptive tennis program for people ages 5 and up who have Down syndrome. It is one of the main volunteer activities I have made a priority to keep participating in even though it is nuts with three little ones. I am so, so passionate about fitness for individuals with Down syndrome and for the opportunity for people with Down syndrome to have a variety of social and active opportunities, so this is the one thing I have committed to making happen no matter how difficult it might be at times to stay organized and to get to. If you are interested in your child participating in Buddy Up Tennis, or if you would like to volunteer, please send me an email at <a href="mailto:akron@buddyuptennis.com">akron@buddyuptennis.com</a>. I am the Athlete Coordinator for the Akron Chapter and we love all our athletes and our volunteers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not reading the directions for the new Baby Bjorn carrier was not my best idea, but with the help of a couple of moms who were also at Buddy Up Tennis, we were able to figure it all out and Lucy was quickly facing out and watching all of the action in no time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The updated version also has the option of a baby cover, which actually clips onto the Baby Bjorn. This is great because my old method was just stuffing a blanket into the front of it. I honestly did not think that there was much that Baby Bjorn could have done to improve on the carrier, but they really have. I'm so, so excited for this opportunity to give one away to a Cowgirl Up reader! These are valued at over $150 and they are awesome.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We actually use a number of the Baby Bjorn products and they are such great quality. We have one of their stools in each bathroom for the kids. We have one of their potty chairs (that's going to be our next major adventure with Super Joe) and one of their baby seats and Lucy loves bouncing in it an playing with the little wooden toys.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm so excited and so honored to share their great products with all our readers and can't wait to see who wins one!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please leave a comment answering the following question if you would like to be entered in the contest for a chance to win your own Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier One-</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who do you turn to when you need to multiply life by the power of two?</span></h3>
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-66778167850939418792014-09-19T06:54:00.000-04:002014-09-19T06:54:34.307-04:00What Happens to a Young Boy Who Has Down Syndrome When His Pregnant Mom's Appendix Bursts?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe this has happened to you before. You are on auto-pilot. Your life is so scheduled down to the very last minute of every day that you often find yourself wishing for more time, more sleep, more energy- anything that would help propel you through another day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had just announced that we were pregnant with our third child. I was 13 weeks along, teaching spinning classes 3 times a week, playing tennis, taking barre classes, working part-time, volunteering on multiple boards and raising two young boys. I had also been working at a feverish pace as a co-chair for a Down syndrome fundraiser that was going to take place on World Down Syndrome Day- March 21, 2014.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is shortly after we told the boys about the baby and a week or two before I got sick.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I say raising two young boys I mean that Tommy was in Pre-K five days a week and Joey was going to two different preschools on opposite ends of town. In addition to preschool we were also keeping up Joey's very intense therapy schedule consisting of Physical Therapy at the hospital on Mondays, Speech Therapy on Tuesdays, Occupational Therapy on Wednesdays, Horse Therapy on Thursdays and Music Therapy on Fridays.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the time I wondered how in the world we would keep up this pace throughout a third pregnancy, but we just keep plowing through day to day. As of March, Joey was walking only with the aid of his walker and very short distances, so there was a lot of picking him up and getting him in and out of the car. Some days I would be lifting his 36 pound body up and down from the car 7 or 8 times. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first crack in the armor was the morning after the big World Down Syndrome Day 70's Party I had co-chaired. (By the way- I still am not sure I ever adequately thanked every single amazing person who helped set up, helped procure auction items, who donated items and who attended the party - I am sure I still owe many people thank yous and I hope each know how amazing they are from their incredible donations to their help with making the decor and party incredible!!!). The day of the event I remember not sitting down once and barely eating or drinking from 1pm until about 1am when we were cleaning up. I thought I would collapse into a deep sleep when we finally returned home, but instead I was up all night with my heart racing and my stomach killing me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At 5am I drove myself to the ER so Tom could stay with the boys. After a long day of testing and trying to find the baby's heartbeat (FINALLY found it!!!) the doctor pumped me full of fluids and said I need to rest and not overdo it anymore. Ironically, the man in the room next door was being wheeled out of the ER and I overheard the doctor tell him they would be removing his appendix. "Whew!" I thought to myself. At least it wasn't my appendix.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The big fundraiser night. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rest of the weekend was spent in bed and I thought I was getting better and I vowed to try and slow down and take some things off the calendar for the rest of the pregnancy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rest of March and into April is a bit of a blur. Looking back now I think I was probably getting sick all along. I remember that at least once a week I had to ask for help getting Joey to and from Therapy because I just didn't feel well. At the time I thought it must just be pregnancy related. I thought I would perk up and feel better once we got further into the second trimester.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not that the pregnancy was secondary, but when you have two young children and one who has special needs- pregnancy kind of takes a back seat. There are meals to make, clothes to wash, backpacks to organize, bills to pay, work to be done. You know- there's just life that goes on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's taken me months to blog about what happened next. For months- literally months, I was catching up on everything. It was so strange not to write and not to describe Joey's journey for almost 6 months, but I could barely get the day to day things done.Looking back it is still so surreal. I hope that if this happens to another mom that she can find some comfort in our journey and see the many silver linings that can happen when life takes an unexpected turn for the worse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tuesday, April 15th we went to Columbus with some of our best friends and Tom's twin to see Bruce Springsteen perform. It was an awesome day. We had dinner at our favorite Deli- Katzinger's in German Village. The concert started almost exactly on time and The Boss delivered a stellar show! We danced in our seats for almost 3 hours straight while we rocked out to the Boss and The E Street Band.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bruce Springsteen in Columbus on April 15, 2014</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next morning I woke up not feeling very well, but I thought it must have been the late night out and lack of sleep from getting home around 1 am. Joey didn't have school that Wednesday the 16th, so I took him with me to my weekly tennis clinic. At this point there was a dull aching pain in my middle left side of my stomach, but I brushed it off as typical pregnancy pains or as something I must have eaten the night before. (Ironically I was incredibly grateful that it wasn't my favorite toasted challah/turkey/cheese/hot mustard sandwich from Katzinger's that was causing all the pain at the end of the day).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About an hour into the tennis clinic the pain started to get worse. Something was off. I just didn't feel well. I told the pro and my friends that I thought I should probably go into my doctor and quit playing early. I picked up Joey from the playroom and we headed over to the OBGYN office. At this point carrying him and putting him in his stroller was suddenly seeming very overwhelming and difficult as the pain increased.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I saw my OBGGYN and the nurse and they took one look at my green face and said it must be the stomach flu that was going around. I left with the office with a prescription for Zofran in hand. I called Tom on the way home and told him that I had to go to bed and needed help with Joey and with getting the medicine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He picked up the medicine and came home to take care of Joey until a babysitter could come help me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the day progressed the pain got worse and worse. It seemed to move slowly from my left abdomen to all over my abdomen. It started to be much more central and radiated across my entire stomach. I just kept thinking that this was unlike any flu I had experienced before.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember being in bed all day trying to get comfortable. Trying to make myself fall asleep. but it was impossible. Despite the Zofran I was vomiting and getting sick.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That night was the worst part. I could not sleep at all and the pain was radiating all across my stomach. I spent most of the night on all fours trying to get comfortable and wondering- just wondering if maybe this wasn't the stomach flu, but maybe this was a miscarriage. Was I losing the baby? How could the baby survive this? It seemed unlikely that she could make it through this much intense pain for this long. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day, April 17, I got out of bed and helped Tom get the boys ready for school. What I have now read is that if you don't catch what is going on with an appendix following the first 24 hours of surgery, there is an 80% chance the appendix will burst. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About an hour later I was back on the ground on all fours trying to get off the ground so I could get to the bathroom to throw up. That's when I finally called Tom and said I think we needed to go to the hospital. At this point the pain had intensified and was piercing, sharp and unrelenting. It was now on my right middle side.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tom came home to pick me up and he had to almost carry me to the car. It was one of the longest and most painful car rides of my life. Every tiny bump, every turn felt like a knife in my right side. I could not for the life of me figure out how I would make it much longer with this kind of intense pain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rest of the day was spent in the OB triage/ER at the hospital. The first thing they did was a high level ultrasound and I cannot describe the relief and joy I felt when we saw that baby girl's heart was beating and she did not appear to be in any distress. My worst fears were over - for the time being. Baby girl was doing well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now was the hard part- trying to get a diagnosis of what was happening to me. Never in a million years did I imagine something was wrong with my appendix. It just never even occurred to me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to the ER physicians, appendicitis and pregnancy is not at all uncommon. That being said, I had never in my life heard of someone who was pregnant suffer from it. That also being said- there is such a thing as being too tough and being too stoic. We were in the ER and getting testing for almost 12 hours before I shed a single tear. I was thirsty, hungry, in pain and scared. Scared to death. What in the hell was going on?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was one resident who mentioned the appendix and he seemed to feel pretty confident about it. At this point there was a disagreement with the OB team and the radiology team. The OB team wanted a CT Scan done immediately (well- about 6 hours after arriving in the ER), but the radiology team refused and said that I first had to have an MRI done because of the risk of the CT Scan to the baby. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Around noon we called my parents to tell them what was going on and that afternoon they started driving up to Akron from Dayton. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At this point I still had not been given any food, water or pain medicine and the pain was only getting worse. Being wheeled into the MRI room and then having to climb up on the MRI table was like climbing Mt. Ranier. The following 45 minutes was at the time some of the most painful and uncomfortable 45 minutes of my life. The tech kept telling me to hold my breath for what felt like a lifetime and then release it and stay completely still. The problem was the pain was only getting stronger and stronger and trying to hold my breath and stay still was excruciating. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I finally told him after 45 minutes that I couldn't do it any longer. The pain was too much. At this point they took me out and I was rolled back up to the ER. Then the doctor came in with bad news. My uterus was shadowing my appendix on the MRI and they couldn't read the MRI. I would now have to go back down for a CT Scan. We were nearing 5pm at this point. I truly thought I might die from all the pain. This was the first time I finally cried. The pain was getting far too intense. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is something to note- if you cry- you might actually get some pain medicine! Finally, after two days of increasing pain, someone took mercy and gave me some morphine so I could get through the CT Scan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The CT Scan was more of the same nightmare. Crawling out of the hospital bed- trying to get on the CT table. The excruciating pain that was barely touched by the morphine (again- if this ever happens to you- and I hope it doesn't- ask for pain medicine early on!!!) and trying to lie still.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After making it through the CT Scan, things started finally moving quicker. It was almost 6pm when the resident and attending came back to our OB Triage room and told us that they believed I had an appendicitis. We were given two options- one was to try to and treat it with antibiotics for 24 hours and the other was surgery. Everyone in the room agreed that surgery was the most viable option at this point. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Around the same time and it was decided the surgery was going to happen my parents and Tom's mom arrived at the hospital and I was able to quickly say hello to everyone and then have a moment alone with Tom before surgery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only problem now was that the surgery team was gone for the day and they needed to call everyone back to the hospital, so by the time we had our diagnosis and surgeon it was almost 8pm at night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PART TWO- They Promised Me the Pain Would Stop</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Part of the reason we felt surgery was the only option was by this point the pain was excruciating. It was not stopping and was only increasing. I asked the doctors if they would be monitoring the baby during the surgery. Their response was, "No. We will monitor the baby before and after the surgery, but not during. This is considered emergency surgery."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh. Okay. Not what I wanted to hear. What about the pain?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Surgery will definitely make the pain go away." Famous last words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The plan was to go in laproscopically and remove the appendix. The surgical and medical team believed that the appendix was still intact and would have a good chance of being removed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember being wheeled yet again around the hospital, only this time it was up to the Operating Room where we ran into a slight SNAFU. I had come into the hospital wearing a pair of oversized pajama bottoms, no underwear and a tank top and wrap top. Throughout the entire day in the ER I was in too much pain to change into a hospital gown. It was only when I was on the operating table that they realized I was still in my pajamas. One of my last memories before surgery was struggling through intense pain to take my clothes off in a freezing room full of strangers. The very last memory was when they put the mask over my mouth and nose and the room went dark.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of hours later I woke up in recovery and found out that they had tried to remove the appendix laproscopically, but once the surgeon was in the site, they found that the appendix was necrotic and had ruptured. Because it had ruptured they had to go in at the site of the appendix and instead of waking up with one scar I woke up with both a 2-inch laproscopic scar below my chest and a 7-8 inch surgical incision in my mid-right abdomen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soon I was in a hospital room on the Maternity Floor that would become my new home for the next ten days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The day after surgery was Good Friday and all I could think about was what would we do for the boys for Easter and would they get their Easter Baskets and egg hunt without me. The original plan was only to be in the hospital for a few days, however as I woke up and the pain medicine from surgery wore off I realized that the pain that was supposed to disappear with surgery was still exactly where it was when I had gone into surgery. What was going on? Was this just the recovery from the surgery? Would it really hurt this much?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was allowed some painkillers that are supposed to be allowed while pregnant, but every single time I took another pill I worried more and more about what I was doing to my baby. I couldn't get over the fact I had undergone surgery the night before.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My family and the nurses encouraged me to do the breathing treatments and to get up and walk as soon as possible so I would not get an infection or pneumonia in my lungs. I wanted so badly to walk. I wanted so badly be better, but I could not for the life of me explain the amount of pain I was still in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spent Easter weekend curled up in the fetal position in a hospital bed trying to cope the incredible amount of pain that still existed. On Easter Sunday the person who delivered meals dropped off dinner at 3pm and said she was going home because it was Easter. It didn't matter. I had no appetite. I didn't want to eat anything anyways. I will say, the hospital is a lonely place on a holiday weekend. The bizarre part was that I had spent the night in various hospitals over the past four years, but it was always with Joey who gave a me a purpose and a reason to be in the hospital with him. This time it was just me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My parents had stayed in town and had been taking care of the boys since the surgery. When it was time for them to go home, our sister-in-law and brother-in-law from New Jersey and Tom's mom helped stay with the boys for a couple of days. It would only be 48 hours until my mom would end up turning back around coming this time instead of for 4 days, for 30 days to help us get through the hardest parts of what was to come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Monday after surgery I was finally going to get a chance to shower. It had now been almost 7 days since I had washed my hair. I briefly got to see the boys on Easter afternoon and I know that my greasy hair and unwashed face had to scare them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tom helped me into the shower so I wouldn't pass out. At this point, 4 days after surgery, the intense pain had only increased and I had yet to feel the relief I was promised following surgery. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It felt so wonderful to wash and rinse my hair, but half way through the shower I asked Tom if someone had pooped in the shower. Disgusting, right? I thought for sure that someone had used the shower before me as a toilet. Instead I looked down at my large bandaged surgical site and realized that I was leaking brown and orange fluid out of it. It reeked. I cannot begin to tell you what the smell of infection is like coming out of your own body. I was so revolted I thought I was going to vomit in the shower. We quickly called the nurse and soon she was there examining the site.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sg56htg9DIo/VBs7E5xNUOI/AAAAAAAAF9k/pGJVUG_9x80/s1600/July%2B2014%2BIphone%2B1059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sg56htg9DIo/VBs7E5xNUOI/AAAAAAAAF9k/pGJVUG_9x80/s1600/July%2B2014%2BIphone%2B1059.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the next 24 hours the skin from my mid-stomach all the way around to my middle back was turning red. Whatever was inside me was spreading quickly and painfully. Again, I wondered how our baby girl was surviving this bizarre sickness?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The following days were a nightmare. The first thing that happened was that the surgical resident came to my room and decided to partially re-open the surgical site that was stitched closed. This was an 8 inch gash across my mid-belly. Without any lidocaine or any sort of numbing, she tore out half of my stitches and re-opened half of my surgical incision. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was at this point that the pain hit an all time high and I started suffering intense anxiety anytime someone would come in the room to touch or examine my incision. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The point of re-opening the incision we were told was to try and help drain the infection. Twenty-four hours of more pain and discomfort went by. My mom returned when I sent her the photos of the infection spreading. The nurse in her knew that something was not right. Friends and family were feeding and taking care of the kids. When my mom came back she became their mom and made them breakfast, packed lunches, took them to school, took Joey to therapy and stayed with me during the day at the hospital. What we thought would be 3 days in the hospital was getting longer and longer. When it was all over she ended up staying for 30 days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The day after the surgical resident partially opened the incision, the infection was spreading. Almost my entire midsection was red from front to back. This time the resident brought lidocaine and numbed the area before ripping out the remaining stitches. From that point forward I had to have what was once an incision, but was now considered a wound, opened and re-packed in twice a day dressing changes for almost 35 days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The weird part was I kept thinking that the worst of it all must be behind me, but that wasn't what was happening. Each day there was a new, unique form of torture in this insane effort to recover from having my appendix burst while being 17 weeks pregnant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know what I expected, but although the surgery team re-opened the incision, I guess I thought at some point they would re-close the 8 inch gash that was 2-3 inches deep before we would eventually leave the hospital. That did not happen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pain was still there and during the vitals checks each day I would rate the pain an 8, 9 or 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. I remember one of the nurses asking me what it would take to reduce the pain- I told her I had no idea. I was just praying that eventually it would get better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What we would learn over the next few days was that the pain had never left because the appendix had ruptured and there were two abscesses that had formed inside my body near the surgical site.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever had a sinus infection? Or strep throat? You know that insane pain in your head and throat that just burns? That is what this was like, but 20 times worse because the infection was inside my body and had been there for almost a week at this point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the surgical resident re-opened the incision the entire way I had to chug down a ton of barium sulfate. Then I was wheeled back down to radiology (how many CT's and MRI's had I had at this point? 5? 6? I couldn't keep track). </span></div>
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<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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8XCA-Xn3mCY/VBs7GKdNERI/AAAAAAAAF-A/67gwFVstiHE/s1600/July%2B2014%2BIphone%2B1067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8XCA-Xn3mCY/VBs7GKdNERI/AAAAAAAAF-A/67gwFVstiHE/s1600/July%2B2014%2BIphone%2B1067.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barium sulfate cocktail.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was when they discovered the two abscesses of infection. One was extremely close to the womb and one was right near the surgical site. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An infectious disease doctor had now joined our team and it was decided that I needed to be put on IV antibiotics to try and kill the abscess near the womb because it was too dangerous to try and drain it. For the other abscess I was scheduled to get a drain tube inserted the following day to try and get rid of the infection.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That afternoon a special "port' team came to my room to put an IV Port in my right arm to receive the IV antibiotics. They were going to be too strong for the IV in my hand and would be much longer term than expected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over and over I was assured that the pain meds, the anesthesia, the antibiotics were all considered as safe "as possible" for the baby- but none of it comforted me. I still can't imagine what all of this was doing to our precious little one. I could feel the drugs pumped into my arm every day- multiple times a day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One week after the surgery I was taken down to radiology again and they first tried to use an ultrasound to place the drain tube. Unfortunately, the uterus was in the way and they decided it needed to be done via a CT Scan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was all fine and well, but here we were exposing the baby to yet another CT Scan and on top of it- I was awake and lying half in and half out of the CT Scan with an 8 inch open wound while the radiologist took a 12 inch long metal stick and had to pierce my stomach with it multiple times until we hit gold and found the abscess. I have been awake for two other C-Sections, but this was by far the worst and most painful and scariest procedure I have ever gone through. The sensation of them poking and watching the long metal rod go through my stomach was completely surreal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The minute they finally hit the abscess I knew it immediately because I could smell the infection. Yes- I could smell the infection. It smelled exactly like what was seeping out of my wound 3 days earlier in the shower. I knew they had hit the mark.</span></div>
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<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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-479fIWcWD_8/VBs7GHej9TI/AAAAAAAAF98/P5WItz0Xh0I/s1600/July%2B2014%2BIphone%2B1073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-479fIWcWD_8/VBs7GHej9TI/AAAAAAAAF98/P5WItz0Xh0I/s1600/July%2B2014%2BIphone%2B1073.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drain tube.</td></tr>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, without my knowledge, one of the drugs they gave my through my IV was Phenergan. While Phenergan is supposed to treat nausea and pain after surgery it has the exact opposite effect on me. I had it after I gave birth to Joey and vomited for almost an hour. Sure enough it was happening again. As soon as I made it through the procedure and was back in my hospital room I started vomiting again, which is painful enough when you are pregnant, but imagine violently vomiting with a new drain tube in your body and open 8 inch surgical incision. It was insanity. Would it ever get better? It didn't seem like it at the time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had not cried once during the entire time in the hospital other than the night of surgery when I was finally so exhausted, scared and hurting. The second time happened 8 days in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Infectious Disease doctor visited the day after the drain tube debacle to tell me that when it was time to go home he wanted to put me on a 30 day course of IV antibiotics to help make sure the infection was killed in both abscesses. When he left the room I finally cried again. I already felt like I was missing so much at home with the kids. How were they doing? I only saw them once the entire 10 days in the hospital because I was so sick every day that we didn't want to scare them. Now when I would finally be going home I would have to get IV antibiotics for a month? I had a drain tube in? I had an open wound where there was once a surgical incision? How did this happen? How would we make it? </span></div>
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<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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eT5pg7k_7bU/VBs7FLM6fQI/AAAAAAAAF9s/i8jSPWA6hRw/s1600/July%2B2014%2BIphone%2B1064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eT5pg7k_7bU/VBs7FLM6fQI/AAAAAAAAF9s/i8jSPWA6hRw/s1600/July%2B2014%2BIphone%2B1064.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port was inserted.</td></tr>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think it was at this point that it was finally dawning on me that the surgical incision was not going to ever be sewn shut again. I was realizing that I would be going home with this open, gaping wound that needed dressing changes twice a day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was as though we were living in the 1800's. Who goes home from the hospital with an open wound?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The idea of another 30 days of super-strong antibiotics also seemed impossible. It all seemed so strange and so surreal. Like it was happening to someone else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once the doctors found the infection and started to treat it, the intense stabbing pain had started to slow down, but now in its place was a new pain to deal with. The pain of an open wound on my abdomen while being pregnant and having an ever-expanding stomach.</span></div>
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<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P562CsALmv4/VBs7HR4cfmI/AAAAAAAAF-M/dMPXFtvQs9o/s1600/July%2B2014%2BIphone%2B1087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P562CsALmv4/VBs7HR4cfmI/AAAAAAAAF-M/dMPXFtvQs9o/s1600/July%2B2014%2BIphone%2B1087.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The surgical incision had now become an open wound.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After 10 days in the hospital, our team wanted us to stay longer, but we said we really wanted to go home. I was not getting any rest in the hospital with the constant vital checks, the wound dressings, the IV's. It was time to go home and try to get better.</span></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While we were in the hospital, my mom was managing our home and the kids and making sure they were all taken care of. Because she was taking such good care of the children, Tom was able to spend every single night with me in the hospital, which was an incredible blessing. I was still unable to get in and out of bed or to the bathroom by myself. </span></div>
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<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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Clhdfj2tLa0/VBs7JSTFNMI/AAAAAAAAF-o/TxoqQwsQXLo/s1600/July%2B2014%2BIphone%2B1141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Clhdfj2tLa0/VBs7JSTFNMI/AAAAAAAAF-o/TxoqQwsQXLo/s1600/July%2B2014%2BIphone%2B1141.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home IV antibiotic treatments.</td></tr>
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<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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h82dfCQj4mo/VBs7Ln4f1BI/AAAAAAAAF-8/b4ahWeLRe4U/s1600/July%2B2014%2BIphone%2B1159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h82dfCQj4mo/VBs7Ln4f1BI/AAAAAAAAF-8/b4ahWeLRe4U/s1600/July%2B2014%2BIphone%2B1159.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wound was slowly healing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_H2v__zlbmE/VBs7OPUSiOI/AAAAAAAAF_U/DB-RSA1ZyCM/s1600/July%2B2014%2BIphone%2B1206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_H2v__zlbmE/VBs7OPUSiOI/AAAAAAAAF_U/DB-RSA1ZyCM/s1600/July%2B2014%2BIphone%2B1206.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom had to learn how to give me the medicine.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For weeks after we were discharged I was unable to get to the bathroom by myself or get out of bed. I was so sore from the open incision that I literally could not even pull the sheets up by myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember when we finally got home from the hospital, Tommy wanted to pull the drain tube out because it upset him. At one point he looked at me and asked, "Are you faking it, Mommy?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Oh, Tommy, I wish I were faking it."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"That would be a lot better, wouldn't it Mommy?" he responded.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day he showed me a picture of me holding Joey and laughing. He said to me, "I want that Mommy back." Tommy was breaking my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was probably the worst part of being sick. It took away all my energy and all my ability to be the mom I want to be. From April 17th until today I have still not been allowed to pick up Joey. The surgeon did not want my incision to herniate or re-open. Eventually, after 3 week at home my mom helped me get a wound vac that would finally help close the wound. We were working against time, like in one of those action movies where the entire plot revolves around trying to get the bomb to not detonate before the end of the movie. We were trying madly to get the wound to close before my stomach got much bigger. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have had to rely on my mom, Tom and babysitters to drive the boys to school, take them to activities, take Joey to therapy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the first few months I couldn't even be alone in the house with Joey in case anything happened because I had no ability to take care of him in case of an emergency.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wondered how, just how, would these beautiful boys make it another five months with their mom not being able to all the things she normally would do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was so frustrated, so down, so depressed so many times this summer when I couldn't just throw the kids in the car and take them to the pool or the park or the ice cream shop on a whim. We would be invited to go places or on play dates, but I always had to have a babysitter with me to help me get Joey in and out of the car.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the entire summer we had a wonderful helper/babysitter who drove around with me. We carefully scheduled every week and every therapy appointment. We coordinated every swim lesson, every camp drop off and pick up and everything in between. For being someone who was used to be so capable and so able to do whatever she wanted, I suddenly had much more empathy for people who have a physical disability or elderly people who may move more slowly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking back now, there have definitely been silver linings. Back in April I just could not imagine what Joey would do without me being able to pick him up for 5 more months. Then I knew that this baby would be a third c-section (again- don't want the incision site to herniate with labor) and that I still wouldn't be allowed to pick him up for at least another 6-8 week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the help of some amazing people at Summit DD, we found an incredible summer camp program for him at Kids Country in Fairlawn. Joey was with all typical kids every day from 9 am until 1 pm and then he did his daily therapy sessions in the afternoons. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is where the silver linings come in. This where you see miracles in every day life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Slowly, but surely, our Super Joe has started to walk. He turned 4 on August 27th and I can say without hesitation that at home he is now walking more than he is crawling. He is getting there and it has been one of the silver linings of this entire adventure. He has gained so much physical and verbal independence. It's been incredible to watch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first few weeks home from the hospital were tough because he would hold his arms up and I would have to tell him that Mommy has a boo boo and can't pick him up. He was acting out at school and at therapy. Slowly, but surely he started to understand and from there we have just been watching his independence and confidence grow and blossom every day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know we didn't get to the pool or get to do as many outdoor activities as we would have liked to this summer, but Tommy also seems to have survived as well. He started Kindergarten and loves school, which is all we can ask for. Tommy is an incredible big brother to Joey and he enjoyed having a month to have Grammy make him omelettes every day and take care of him. That was another silver lining to everything. Because my parents live 3 hours away we don't get to see them as much as we would like, but the month my mom stayed with us the boys got to know her so well and they have such a special relationship because of everything that happened. She took care of them (and me! she changed my wound twice a day and gave me my IV medicine when I couldn't take any more home health nurses coming and going!) day in and day out and my dad came every weekend to see her and us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I still feel like I haven't completely caught up on everything. I tried to send thank yous to every single amazing person who so kindly brought a meal, or drove the kids or visited or stopped by for coffee, but I'm sure I've missed a few. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the hardest parts was not only accepting help, but asking for help. For the incredible help we received we are so very grateful and blessed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For my mom who was my nurse and advocate and who also fed, clothed, and took care of the kids- I don't know how we will ever thank you enough. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now we are turning our focus to this amazing little girl who is coming into this world tomorrow morning via a C-Section at 11:30 am. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This has been an interesting year. Since my surgery we also lost Tom's father after a long summer of watching his health steadily decline. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joey was in the ER with an upper respiratory virus in July that he finally was able to get over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the beginning August I ended up in the ER with trouble breathing and was diagnosed with the H1N1 swine flu.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two weeks later I was back in the ER with severe dehydration and contractions because I had caught the stomach flu.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh the worries I have had. Will she be okay? How did all the trauma and medicine effect her? I try to push the worries aside and focus on continuing to hold onto the faith that has gotten us all through this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had these same worries about a precious little boy who has Down syndrome. I worried about how Joey would get along without his Mom to pick him up and carry him along the way to every appointment and every therapy. What would happen to Joey when my appendix burst and I could no longer be his main caregiver? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will tell you what happened. He flourished. He thrived. He excelled. He gained independence. He is becoming such a big boy. As with so many things I have worried about in life- this too has turned out far better than we ever thought it would. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't believe the time has finally come. A third baby. A little girl. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For all the pain and all the heartache and all the suffering, we are so very blessed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To everyone who helped us get here we thank you for your kind words and love and support and encouragement. This has been a year like no other.</span></div>
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-28213797707601978242014-09-11T13:24:00.001-04:002014-09-11T13:24:18.124-04:00All Gave Some and Some Gave All -Life in the Navy Before and After 9/11/0<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a re-post from one I wrote in 2012. Looking back on that time I remember the amazing friends and service men and women I met and had the honor of serving with. Today I honor every single one of them and all of our current and prior service members. Having served in the Navy is still one of the proudest accomplishments of my entire life and I thank everyone who was a part of it- my Great Uncle Richard, Captain Norman and Captain Mitchell. I thank Amy, Jackson, Meredith, Joan and so many more friends for the memories and the times we spent. As Dickens said in <i>A Tale of Two Cities</i>-</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve started this blog in my mind at least a dozen times. On September 11, 2001, my husband and I were supposed to have our first date—sushi and a movie. At the time I happened to also be dating a Navy Fighter Pilot who was living in Norfolk, VA, but that’s kind of a complicated story and not relevant right now. That's what twenty-somethings do, right? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't have a digital camera in 2001, so you will have to forgive the quality of the photos as they are all photos of photos. They do paint a picture of some of the happier times I spent while training for and serving in the United States Navy JAG Corp.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>September 11, 2001</u></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sky was crystal clear and the weather was a beautiful early fall/late summer day. Cool in the morning and hot by noon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was in my office preparing for Physical Evaluation Board hearings where I represented service members in hearings to either improve their disability rating or help them prove that their disability did not impair their service to the military. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Petty Officer and Civilian I worked with at the Physical Evaluation Board.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the Coast Guard officers who worked at the Naval Legal Services Office.</span></td></tr>
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<b><u><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8:46 am<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of our Petty Officers had survived the bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen. He had been seriously injured in the October 12, 2000. Seventeen people died that day and 39 were injured. He had endured over a dozen surgeries and was still working at only about 30% of his previous capacity.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He walked into my office and said, “L.T.—a plane just hit the World Trade Center.” I looked up and remember wondering how in the world a plane could accidentally hit a building as massive as WTC. Initially we heard rumors that it was a weather plane. At the time I was busy reviewing my cases and I did not think very much about it at that moment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9:03 am<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When he came back for a second time we knew something was wrong and that while it was possible that <u>one</u> plane could possibly, accidentally hit the World Trade Center, there was no way that <u>two</u> planes could have hit it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: black;">9:37 am</span></u></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While those in New York had been living a hellish nightmare for almost an hour, suddenly the attack hit much closer to home. As soon as the Pentagon was hit, those of us in Washington, DC were thrust into the tragedy of 9/11. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Immediately our hearings were cancelled. Phones were ringing off the hook. Cell phones started freezing up because there were so many people trying to call family and friends to see what was happening.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rumors started immediately. We heard there was a bomb at the Capitol. We heard there were other planes that would be attacking D.C. Alarms started going off and soon Military Police were going floor by floor and were evacuating everyone. It was chaos. One of my friends, Joan, was doing her rotation from our office at our Pentagon office and initially, no one could make contact with her. I’ll never forget wondering where Joan was and whether or not she made it out. Thankfully Joan made it out alive. Traumatized, but alive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shannon, Joan and I in happier times.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The problem was—where do you go? Did I go back to my apartment in the heart of DC where I could see the Pentagon from my roof? Did I get in my car and start driving back home to Ohio? That was what I wanted to do more than anything in the world. I was a 26-year-old who had moved to Washington, D.C. on April 1, 2001 and now it seemed like the whole world was ending. My mom and I discussed that option, only I told her that now that I was an officer in the military that would be going AWOL and she advised me to get as much gasoline, cash and water as I could before heading back to my apartment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Lieutenant Bars</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember driving from the base into the city on that date, against traffic-- no one else seemed to be driving toward the chaos-- all the cars were leaving the city, but the Navy Yard and my apartment in Woodley Park were both located right in the city. I stopped to fill up my car with gas, to buy extra water for apartment. My uniform was messy and I wasn't nearly the picture of a put together office that I should have been, but almost immediately after the first plane hit, DC was paralyzed. I paid the cashier at the BP station and I'll never forget him looking me dead in the eye and saying, "Be careful, Lieutenant."<br /><br />Only a couple of months before we had all celebrated the Fourth on top of my apartment building where we drank cocktails and watched the fireworks across the national monuments. On September 11, 2001, the only site from the roof of my apartment was that of a huge cloud of smoke as the side of the Pentagon smoldered. Like a light switch, that innocence of the Fourth of July in 2001 was gone by September 11, 2001. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A call finally came through on my cell phone. It was the Lieutenant Commander I had been dating since moving to D.C. Trey was a fighter pilot and Top Gun instructor down in Norfolk, Va. He said they were rallying all the F-18's and that he would be flying cover over New York City. He told me I might not hear from him for a few days or weeks, but to watch the news. Our relationship was never really the same after September 11th. Both of our jobs and lives were much more intense after that. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trey in Key West on May 5, 2001.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first time as a backseat rider in Norfolk, Virginia.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We broke up a couple months after 9/11. Things just were not the same anymore. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I began dating Tom (my husband and true love) in 2002. I kept in touch with Trey and we remained friends, but he was deployed on the George Washington and in 2002 I received a phone call from a fellow JAG officer who let me know that Trey's plane had gone down over the Adriatic Sea. He never came home. At first I didn’t believe her because I had just gotten an email from him that very morning. I read it to her to somehow prove that he must still be alive. He wrote that he had watched “Legally Blonde” the night before and that the character, Elle Woods, Attorney at Law, reminded him of me and that he hoped to be home to see his family sometime near Thanksgiving. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was the last communication I ever received from Trey. His body was never recovered and the crash was called a "training incident".</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of years later I was in Savannah with my husband and we were at the British Pub right off of one of the squares.<span style="color: black;"> </span>We were sitting at the bar when I started seeing names of Navy SEAL’s going across the screen as deceased and killed in action.<span style="color: black;"> </span>One of those names was Jeff Taylor.<span style="color: black;"> </span>An incredible SEAL and a dynamic person I had met right before I went to JAG school.<span style="color: black;"> </span>I’ll never forget it—Jeff traded me his Navy SEAL fleece for my little old OSU Law School sweatshirt.<span style="color: black;"> </span>I thought he had definitely gotten the short end of that deal.<span style="color: black;"> </span>A group of us had all spent a weekend skiing in Snowshoe, West Virginia.<span style="color: black;"> </span>They had all just finished BUDS and I had just finished Officer Indoctrination School.<span style="color: black;"> </span>These guys were not just Navy SEAL’s, they were incredible athletes.<span style="color: black;"> </span>We all night skied and spent the weekend celebrating our time off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am the blonde towards the left shooting off the DDG Laboon on March 3, 2001. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the DDG Laboon.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trey and Jeff are just two of the incredible people I got to know while I had the privilege of serving in the military. There were officers like my Commanding Officer, Captain James Norman and my Executive Officer, Captain Fred Mitchell. There were colleagues—young attorneys, doctors and nurses like Joan, Amy and others. All of them were individuals who dedicated some (if not all) of their life to serving our country and who I looked up to as friends and mentors. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Officer Indoctrination School in Newport, Rhode Island.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Mess Hall.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The "O" Club.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our beautiful rain coats.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Physical training.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Graduation day from Officer Indoctrination School-- December 2000.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Army-Navy Game 2001.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trying to explain what September 11<sup>th</sup> meant and was like to experience is difficult. In the days, weeks and months to follow, living in DC continued to be difficult. There was the Anthrax scare in which all of our work mail was fried in a big machine before we could get it. There was the disappearance of Chandra Levy. Then, there was the D.C. Sniper. But we were young and idealistic and pursuing our dreams. As the saying goes, it was the best of times and the worst of times.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were the friends I knew and loved who are no longer with us. There are friends who are still in danger’s way every single day. All gave some and some gave all.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We remember each of them today.</span></span></div>
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-35582588814910156462014-08-26T23:41:00.000-04:002014-08-26T23:41:40.337-04:00Happy 4th Birthday Super Joe!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joey has a new trick among others right now. It involves him leaving the room and rushing back in and saying "I'm back!" It's hilarious and cracks us up every single time. It is also how I feel writing this post. Our last blog entry was March 20th. March 21st I was co-chairing a huge fundraiser for Down syndrome awareness on World Down Syndrome Day and then on the morning of March 22nd I was in the ER. Less than a month after that I was in the ER again, only this time it was with a searing pain that ended up being a burst appendix followed by 10 days in the hospital (which almost turned into 2 weeks, but we begged to go home) and another 30 days of in-home nursing care for my open wound (which was my Mom living with us for a month taking care of me and the kids), an IV port, a wound vac and many other adventures. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to brush Rufus at Victory Gallop</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other big news that has occurred since April 17th is that we are expecting our 3rd baby! Baby girl is due September 26th, but right now we have a c-section scheduled for September 22nd. We have our last ultrasound scheduled for tomorrow and we are all anxiously getting ready for baby along with Tommy starting Kindergarten and Joey getting ready to go back to school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ruptured appendix while being pregnant adventure is a story for another day. And what a story it is! Today is not the time to go into the wild adventure our family has been on since April. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead, today is a story of celebration. A story of gratitude. A story of counting blessings large and small.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A story of how I haven't been allowed to pick up Joey and hold him or carry him since April 17th and what that has meant for his growth and fortitude.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speech therapy with Miss Donna has worked wonders!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A story of a little boy who was given a 2% chance in utero of ever surviving and who is now thriving and growing and becoming a precocious, hilarious and intelligent big boy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's strange because I spent almost all of Joey's pregnancy worrying and praying and wondering what would happen. It seems as though I possibly used up a lifetime of worries during that pregnancy. During this pregnancy (which has had no short dose of drama, fears, health issues and more), I have not succumbed to that devil called fear. Now and then I worry about all the medicine I was taking when I was sick, about all the CAT scans and as most parents do I worry about what potential problems or issues baby girl may face, but if I have learned anything from Joey, it is that worrying will get you no where. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of that time and all of that energy I wasted wondering and worrying about Joey's life and his health- it was all a waste of precious time. Life moves much too quickly and the kids grow up much to fast for me to put any stock into worrying about things I have no control over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For our family, the silver lining that has come out of this very trying pregnancy is that Joey has learned incredible independence. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joey's hero- Tommy.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He has started taking independent steps! His language and speaking have skyrocketed. His memory and ability to remember people he has met before shocks and awes us every day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Part of his growth this year is due to him finally going a full calendar year without a single surgery. Prior to turning 3, Joey had 7 operations and 4 different hospitals. Heart surgery at Michigan, three eye surgeries at the Cleveland Clinic, ear surgery at University Hospital, and then multiple procedures including tonsils, adenoids and ears at Akron Children's Hospital.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His last surgery was a year ago. We think that finally being free of all the anesthesia and all the recovery has given him new wings and energy to grow like never before!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite an intense schedule that includes preschool every morning and then Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Horse Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Music Therapy in the afternoon- Super Joe is making super strides.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 2014 Buddy Walk.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does he ever get grouchy? Oh, you better believe it. Joey has a personality all his own! Don't ever believe the generality that people who have Down syndrome are happy all the time. Joey would love to disprove that misnomer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before Joey was born we thought so much about him having Down syndrome and what it meant to have Down syndrome. Then, when he was born, we would look at this little person and wonder if we would ever see beyond him having Down syndrome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think that is what is most incredible now. Days go by without us thinking about Down syndrome. We have truly come to a place where we see Joey first. We see an amazing, spirited little boy. Down syndrome has slowly but surely become secondary. It is still a priority for us to advocate for individuals who have Down syndrome and to support the Down syndrome community to the best of our abilities, but what is better is that Joey's life to us is not defined by him having Down syndrome-- it is defined by all the possibilities that all children have. Who will this little boy become? We don't know. We are just grateful to be along for the ride.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some major milestones-</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joey got glasses! Now the key is trying to get him to wear his glasses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joey has started walking!!!! THIS IS HUGE!!! He turns 4 tomorrow and we have all been working with him for years on this. He is not a full-time walker and we cannot go to the mall, park or doctor appointments without the use of a stroller- BUT- he is taking steps. Independent steps!!! ALLELUIA!!!!! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His horse trophy is present at every meal!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joey is officially a horse rider! He holds his own reins, he can stand and "post" on the horse. He is doing incredible. He just finished his first year at Victory Gallop and it has been a game changer for him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joey has a LOT of words. He talks a lot. He even has some unsavory phrases such as "shake your booty" and "punch your face" that he likes to say and get a big reaction from, but he's doing so well that it's hard to try and stop him once he starts talking. He will also parrot almost anything we say. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joey recognizes a lot of people. People he doesn't see everyday. He remembers names and faces. It's incredible to witness his personality and memory.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joey hasn't let go of his trophy since he got it!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today we celebrate all of our blessings that Joey has brought to our life. Today we thank God for giving us this amazing child. Today we are thankful to everyone who has helped us during this crazy time to take care of Joey and Tommy, drive Joey to his therapy sessions, pick up Joey at camp. We are just so very grateful for what started as a very tough situation and has turned into many blessings for our little boys.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy, happy birthday Super Joe. You are our hero, our blessing, one of our precious sons! Keep up the hard work- you are INCREDIBLE!!!</span></div>
Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-89426556330305574082014-03-20T23:14:00.000-04:002014-03-20T23:14:03.035-04:00Celebrating 2014 World Down Syndrome Day- No More Worries!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almost exactly four years ago we found out during our second pregnancy that our baby boy, Joseph David, had Down syndrome. We had a prenatal diagnosis and to this day I will never forget the geneticist telling my husband and I that our son did indeed have an extra 21st Chromosome. Trisomy 21. Down syndrome. Words I had never thought about before.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the time and for a long time after I remember worrying, worrying and more worrying. Worrying about things that I had absolutely zero control over. In some cases I felt like I was worrying just for the sake of worrying. I was worrying because somehow I had gathered from society that I should worry. How would we raise a child with Down syndrome? How would he get along with his brother? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I worried about whether he would ever date. Ever get married. Ever get a job. Would he have friends? Would he need more care and more love than I could provide him with? Would he be funny? Have a sense of humor? Fit in our family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My worries came in all sizes. Large and small. They were never-ending. Exhausting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And a complete waste of time. Oh, the time I wasted worrying. The nights I would lay in bed and worry and wonder what in the world would happen to this child of ours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The energy I spent was endless. I worried and worried and worried. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What we learned was that the worrying was pointless. Every little moment spent wondering and worrying was time that was wasted and that I could never get back. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today we practice a different approach to raising Joey. It's called living in the present. It's called being present. It's about enjoying Joey where he is right here and now and trying our very best not to worry about tomorrow, next week or next year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead of worrying we focus our energy and life towards helping Joey be the best he can be. We do Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Horse Therapy, Swim Therapy and we just added Music Therapy to the mix. We try to expose him to the world and help give him opportunities to socialize and just be a little boy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead of worrying we devote our family to advocacy for Down syndrome and to helping raise awareness by volunteering for organizations like <a href="http://www.standupfordowns.org/">Stand Up For Downs</a>, and <a href="http://www.buddyuptennis.com/Welcome.html">Buddy Up Tennis</a> as well as other organizations like <a href="http://www.usod.org/">The Up Side of Downs</a> and <a href="https://www.udsakron.org/">United Disability Services</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead of worrying we work on helping the world and the community realize that individuals with Down syndrome can do anything! Hold jobs, get married, workout and so much more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead of worrying about if Joey will ever have a job, I daydream about where he might like to work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead of worrying about if Joey will ever start to walk on his own, I daydream about when he starts running and I have to chase him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead of worrying about if Joey will ever be able to fully talk and communicate, I daydream about the funny things he will say.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead of worrying- we are living. We are celebrating World Down Syndrome Day 2014 and we hope you will celebrate with us. Thank you to everyone who helps make our world a better and more accepting place for individuals with Down syndrome every single day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To every single person out there with Down syndrome- this one is for you! Happy World Down Syndrome Day!!!</span><br />
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-15878649654387828242014-02-24T21:55:00.000-05:002014-02-24T21:55:05.820-05:00Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Month - Honoring Super Joe's Amazing Heart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We spend the majority of our time raising awareness and advocating for Down syndrome, however, there are other causes that Super Joe's life has helped us to become more aware of and that have made us more cognizant of the lives of families with children who have extra health concerns around us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">February is Heart Month and approximately<a href="http://www.ndss.org/Resources/Health-Care/Associated-Conditions/The-Heart--Down-Syndrome/"> half of all infants born with Down syndrome have a heart defect</a>. Many of those defects have serious implications and require surgical intervention.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we were just 22 weeks pregnant with Joey we learned that he might have a heart defect. Within two weeks were had a fetal echocardiogram and his congenital heart defects were confirmed. Joey was born with an Atrial Septal Defect, which is a large hole between the two collecting chambers. Additionally, he was born with an abnormal mitral valve, which in his case is a cleft mitral valve that causes leakage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most recently we found out he also has a PFO, which is a Patent Foramen Ovale. In 75% of the cases a PFO will close on its own shortly after birth. Usually this is a heart defect that is caught early on, but we did not know about Joey's until his last echocardiogram with his cardiologist. Plus, we have learned that Super Joe never settles on being "typical" or playing by the rule books- he usually has his own entirely unique spin on every condition. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learning about Joey's potential need for open heart surgery while we were pregnant introduced an entirely new world to us. Suddenly, fetal hydrops and a diagnosis of Down syndrome took the back seat and we were facing the facts that if Joey survived the pregnancy (of which he was given a mere 2% chance of being born) he would most definitely need open heart surgery to repair the large hole in his heart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead of maternity visits to the high risk fetal medicine doctor, suddenly we were in the waiting room of the Akron Children's Heart Center along with children of all ages waiting to learn the latest on our babies' heart condition.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.nattakan.com/">Nat</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joey's cardiologist at Akron Children's is incredibly professional, incredibly skilled and was 100% accurate in his diagnosis. I still remember the day he told us that Joey would likely need open heart surgery to repair his ASD. He said it with such compassion and care and he told us that he truly hoped he was wrong. Unfortunately, he was far from wrong. He was completely correct and from that moment on we started the long waiting game of trying to figure out when and where Joey would need his heart surgery after he was born.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking back now I can hardly believe the numbers of appointments, the stress, the worrying and the waiting that we all went through. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After he was born we would spend every day wondering if his lips were starting to turn blue. We wondered if he would go into congestive heart failure before we could get his heart repaired. I honestly don't really know how we survived those final months of pregnancy and then those long 9 months until he finally had his heart surgery at the University of Michigan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seeing Joey for the first time after his surgery was surreal. He was in a medically induced coma, his little body was swollen from all the fluids and his hair suddenly had taken on a strange neon yellow quality. He was alive. But he just wasn't quite Joey, yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After nine long days of Tom and I staying beside his bed day and night we were finally able to make the three-hour drive home back to Ohio. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember a conversation after we returned home with an acquaintance who made the comment that she didn't really understand what the big deal was since it was just a "routine heart surgery." Needless to say, we aren't really acquaintances anymore. Any surgery, any procedure is anything but routine for the child and the parents who watch their child go through it. For us, open heart surgery was unmarked territory. It was terrifying for all of those months through the pregnancy and then all of those months while we waited for his heart to grow bigger and to finally have the surgery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Knowing that his rib cage was being cut open while we sat helplessly out in the waiting area nursing cups of coffee, knowing that he would have drainage tubes and scars and that he would be in pain and would have no way of telling us was anything but routine. It was hell.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His first smile after surgery.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ms_8Ilsscr8/Uwpd0vIF-WI/AAAAAAAAE-M/zizmc6BTS4s/s1600/DSC_0254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ms_8Ilsscr8/Uwpd0vIF-WI/AAAAAAAAE-M/zizmc6BTS4s/s1600/DSC_0254.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tubes and wires were slowly removed each day.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But he made it. We made it. We all survived. Joey's Congenital Heart Defects are a part of our lives. We take any illness very seriously. We cringe when he eats a blue sucker or Popsicle. We continue his yearly appointments with cardiology.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And we wait. We wait for that day when his cardiologist tells us it is time to do it all again. When he tells us that the time has come for Joey to have another surgery to repair or replace his Mitral Valve. The problem is, when he had his first heart surgery, the surgeons were not able to repair his Mitral Valve because it was simply too small. Someday it will be time to do this all again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, Joey is doing amazing. He is thriving. He is learning. He is working on talking--his latest phrase is "I am strong!"while he holds up his muscles. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He is working super hard on learning to walk. He chases Hershey, Tommy and the rest of us. The past five months have been the longest he has ever gone without undergoing surgery and the difference in his health and stamina is remarkable. He finally has the opportunity to have all of the anesthesia out of his body and all of the trauma of the past three years of surgeries behind him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his first three years of life he had 7 surgeries at 4 different hospitals- Akron Children's, University of Michigan, The Cleveland Clinic (leading with 3 of those 7) and University Hospitals. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We think that 2014 is Joey's year. We are hopeful that by the time the Buddy Walk rolls around on July 26th that he will walk over the finish line on his own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whatever he does- it will fill our hearts with love and pride. However he does it will be his own unique way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are so proud of our Congenital Heart Baby and we are so grateful for the care and treatment he has received. If you have or know of a Congenital Heart Baby- we also send you our prayers and love for your own journey of the heart.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D822NaPgEmQ/UwpklepJlkI/AAAAAAAAE-0/8cNvtP7uYuE/s1600/Vday+Mini+2014+%252814%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D822NaPgEmQ/UwpklepJlkI/AAAAAAAAE-0/8cNvtP7uYuE/s1600/Vday+Mini+2014+%252814%2529.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.nattakan.com/">Nat</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As far as the next time he needs open heart surgery? We will cross that bridge when we get there and in the meantime we plan on enjoying every single day.</span><br />
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-84260961955485240242014-01-23T22:30:00.001-05:002014-01-23T22:30:34.319-05:00CONTEST! The Akron Rotary Camp Wayne Homes Chili Open 2014!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more than 88 years, the Rotary Club of Akron has sponsored the Rotary camp. This coming summer, more than 1,600 children and adults with disabilities will attend the Rotary camp. Campers will enjoy all the traditional activities you might remember from your own time at summer camp such as swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts, sports and games, team building and most importantly- making lifelong friends and memories. For parents who have a child with special needs, knowing that there is a safe and fun place for your child to attend summer camp is something that puts your mind at rest and heart at ease. Knowing that Joey will get to swim in the lake, make s'mores and stay overnight at a real camp is something that gives Tom and I a great amount of hope and gratitude for what the Akron Rotary Camp has created.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8SJdI-NtB9A/Ut3so6oLsVI/AAAAAAAAE8w/64rBpk76CZE/s1600/rotary+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8SJdI-NtB9A/Ut3so6oLsVI/AAAAAAAAE8w/64rBpk76CZE/s1600/rotary+1.JPG" height="380" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Akron Rotary Camp has an annual awesome fundraiser called the </span><a href="http://www.chiliopen.net/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chili Open.</a> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is held every winter and they have given Cowgirl Up! four Clubhouse passes (a $100 value!) to give away to a reader who would like to attend the Chili Open! All you need to do to enter is either leave a comment or send an <a href="mailto:jenniferdawntowell@gmail.com">email</a> stating why you'd like to attend the Chili Open this year and you will be entered into the random drawing. Results will be posted here and on Facebook next Wednesday. Good luck!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is the Chili Open? Imagine nearly 1,000 polar bear golfers converging on Hale Farm and Village in Bath, Ohio. On February 1, 2014, the historic Hale Farm will be transformed into seven golf courses with nine holes each. The hole distances will range from 65-125 yards. Hole-in-one and closest-to-the-pin prizes will be awarded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you aren't into Polar Vortex golfing, join the golfers and spectators as they enjoy all-you-can-eat Whitey's Chili inside the clubhouse.</span><br />
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<b>Date: </b>Saturday, February 1, 2014</div>
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<b>Tee Times:</b> 8 am to 2 pm (tee times will be assigned based on first-come, first-served preferences)</div>
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<b>Location:</b> Hale Farm & Village, Oak Hill Drive, Bath OH 44210 </div>
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<b>Directions:</b> <a href="http://www.wrhs.org/index.php/hale/planyourvisit/directions" style="color: #448ba2;" target="_self">http://www.wrhs.org/index.php/hale/planyourvisit/directions</a></div>
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<b>Fees: </b>$200 per foursome ($50 per individual, $30 of which is tax-deductible)</div>
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<b>Registration Deadline:</b> February 1, 2014</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.chiliopen.net/">Wayne Homes Chili Open Website</a>.</span></h3>
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-48612429825007919802014-01-20T22:29:00.000-05:002014-01-20T22:29:24.850-05:00"The Wolf of Wall Street" - What Does It Have To Do With Super Joe?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before a child is ever able to speak and express himself (this is called "<a href="http://main.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/brain_wonders_-_12_to_18_months.pdf?docID=10224&AddInterest=1503">expressive language</a>"), he is able to understand what is being said to him or around him (this is called "<a href="http://www.speech-language-therapy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34:ages&catid=11:admin&Itemid=117">receptive language</a>"). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a point of view we have emphasized since Joey was starting to roll over. As a family, we decided that we would speak to Joey as if he understood every single word we said and that we would hold him to the same expectations for behavior as we do our older son. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The problem is when you have a child who is non-verbal or who has delayed language skills it is hard to help everyone around that child understand that although the child may not be able to verbally express his or her feelings, the child <i>does</i> understand and comprehend far more than any of us know. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have had to part ways from two different therapists who were treating Joey for this very reason. One therapist called herself "retarded" in front of Joey and I during a therapy session and when I asked to please not use that word in front of Joey or any of her clients, she denied ever saying it. A different therapist said that Downs kids who were stubborn might be cute when they were 2 or 3-years-old, but not when they are 8-years-old. It was such a bizarre statement and it was only her, Joey and I in the treatment room. We also parted ways for the very reason that we believe that Joey's "receptive language" exceeds his "expressive language" and it is possible that it might always. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Part of the challenge of having Down syndrome is that it can take some individuals a second or two longer to process a conversation and respond. In a world where we all (myself included!) rush through our days and our conversations, that extra processing time can cause frustration and communication difficulties.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For Joey's sake, we continue to try and emphasize to everyone we know and interact with that while he may not have a quick answer to your question or comment, he more than likely <i>understands</i> the comment and if given enough time to process it he may have his own response. For us, we struggle to bite our tongues and not fill in all the blanks for him. For us, we struggle with giving him the time and energy he needs to come up with his own answers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did you ever know someone in school who was very quiet and who did not talk or participate in class? Some might say that the person was "painfully shy" or "socially awkward" in group settings. Maybe you were the quiet one. I know I was when we moved to a new town in 3rd and then again in 6th grade. Did you ever notice how the quiet person kind of just disappeared? How they were sometimes marginalized because they did not offer anything to the discussion? Sometimes being quiet can be equal to being forgotten about. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For Joey and for others, being quiet or taking time to respond does not mean he is not interested or shy, it just might mean he needs a little bit longer to figure out his response. Being quiet or having difficulty communicating also does not mean that the person can not hear or comprehend what is being said. That is the real danger I fear. That others will think that because Joey doesn't immediately respond, people will think he doesn't understand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What we are finding out and what we are celebrating is just how much Joey DOES understand and just how much he CAN say!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His Godmother observed him over Christmas Break and she was especially pleased by his progress and by his ability to listen to and follow directions as well as respond to conversations around him. It's been breathtaking to witness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He now knows at least 60-70 signs and he uses about 100 different words. He is also able to mimic almost any word we say to him! Slowly, but surely Joey is showing us just how much he does know about his world and surroundings. He says new words on a daily basis as opposed to when it used to be only every few months that we would hear a new word from him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the most exciting words he now says is, "Walk!" He will come and get my hands and say "walk"and then he has me hold his hands as we walk together. It's only mid-January, but 2014 has been incredible so far.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, to the question of what does "The Wolf of Wall Street" have to do with Super Joe?</span><br />
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" width="269" /></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fortunately, the actual story as shown through the eyes of Martin Scorsese has nothing to do with Joey. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, the way the story is told has far too much with how society thinks it is okay to marginalize and mock individuals like Joey who happen to have developmental disabilities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While Hollywood and those who award the actors and directors in it ("The Wolf of Wall Street" has received 5 Oscar nominations) seems unwilling to ever stop using the word "retarded" or to stop mocking individuals with disabilities, it would at least be helpful to provide moviegoers with a warning in the rating system. Perhaps an "MD" rating that means a movie Mocks Disabilities would work. At least then the consumers who have a disability, have a child with a disability or know someone with a disability would have the choice to not see the film.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The film is based on the life of New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort who was convicted of fraud and spent 22 months in prison. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Belfort and Jonah Hill plays his sleazy minion, Donnie Azoff. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beyond the excessive images of drug abuse, the over 500 times the f-word is used, the frontal nudity and orgy scenes are two scenes that I found far more distasteful and devastating than any of the other 3 hours of debauchery in this movie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We went to the movie with another couple and after the movie they asked me if we wanted to leave after the scene using the R-word. While I always want to leave movies that use the R-word, I now take it as an opportunity to tell others about the movie and to help give them the option to choose to not to waste their money on the movie if they so choose. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So with that spirit in mind, we stayed despite the following sickening scene that literally caused our little row of the four of us to go into an awkward and palpable silence because we each knew that if this character had a child like our own son, he would have disregarded him as less than a human.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this scene Belfort asks Azoff about the rumors that Azoff is married to his first cousin. Azoff confirms that he did indeed marry his first cousin basically because she was hot. He then goes on to ask Azoff if his kids are okay. And then Azoff says that yes, his kids are fine and they aren't like "retarded" or anything. Besides, if they were "retarded" he would <a href="http://twitchfilm.com/2013/12/why-the-wolf-of-wall-street-is-a-horror-movie.html">"drive north" and let the kid "loose in the woods.</a>" That he would say to them, "You're free, you're free now!" Azoff then goes on to say that if their kids were actually "retarded" he would put them in an institution for life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Michelle "Izzy" Galgana writes in "<a href="http://twitchfilm.com/2013/12/why-the-wolf-of-wall-street-is-a-horror-movie.html">Why <i>The Wolf of Wall Street</i> Is A Horror Movie</a>", "Just let that sink in a little."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In another scene, the Belfort character consumes so many expired Quaaludes that he has to crawl back to his <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jan/15/wolf-of-wall-street-disability-cerebral-palsy">Lamborghini in what he recalls is a "cerebral palsy phase"</a> as he narrates the scene. It was as shocking a comparison as it was disgusting and out of place. I know the age-old arguments that others will make- freedom of speech, artistic license, it's just words, it's just a movie and on and on.... to those arguments I say the following:</span><br />
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<img height="383" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/69062_600495296711063_463324047_n.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy released the <a href="http://blog.thearc.org/tag/the-wolf-of-wall-street/">following statement</a> in response to the movie:</span></div>
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“The Wolf of Wall Street is getting a lot of attention for how it offends audiences on many levels, but one aspect that hasn’t been discussed is its use of the r-word and its unacceptable mockery of people with cerebral palsy. Hollywood just doesn’t seem to get it. More than five years after people with disabilities protested at theaters across the country against Tropic Thunder, a film which included a highly offensive portrayal of people with intellectual disabilities, the industry is still using language and jokes that hurt audience members and don’t add any value to the artistic intent or point the film is trying to make,” <b>said Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc. </b>“Among moviegoers who have paid to see The Wolf of Wall Street in recent weeks are people with disabilities, their parents, siblings, and friends. It’s time for Hollywood to wake up and see that their customers deserve better.”</div>
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“The Wolf of Wall Street’s gratuitous use of an offensive term for people with disabilities, as well as its depiction of cerebral palsy, is outrageous. For more than 60 years, UCP has been working to ensure that people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities can live their lives without limits—including equality, inclusion and respect in our society—but it is very clear that our fight is far from over,” <b>said Stephen Bennett, President and CEO of UCP.</b>“While we understand that the film’s content is deliberately distasteful and excessive, it does not excuse it. It is astonishing that the film’s producers, director and actors deemed this kind of language and portrayal to be acceptable—they can do better, and we urge them to.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are so very right. We deserve better movies. As consumers, as humans, as parents, as individuals, as advocates, we deserve better. People with disabilities DO deserve equality, inclusion and respect in our society and the Arc and UCP is right- our fight is far from over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only thing I disagree with in their statement is the final line. In it they say they <i>urge</i> film producers, directors and actors to do better. I say we <b>demand</b> they do better. Our kids, our family members, our friends and our communities deserve it.</span></div>
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-74208734370193649332013-12-10T22:31:00.000-05:002013-12-10T22:31:08.480-05:00Will Joey Ever Walk? A Christmas Prayer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have had our Christmas cards for over two weeks, but every time I sit down to try and write this year's Christmas letter I find myself too sad, too conflicted and too confused to talk about the past year. The problem is that each year I start with last year's Christmas card and then write about the changes the next year has brought. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2011 Joey was not crawling and had just started sitting up at 18 months. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2012 Joey had finally started Army crawling and I wrote about all of our high hopes that 2013 was going to be the big year that he started walking and that we would all go to Disney World to celebrate him being a new walker.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We knew that Joey having Down syndrome would mean that he might face additional challenges in his life. Unfortunately, it sometimes feels like an inordinate amount of those challenges are occurring in the first 3 years of his life. The surgeries, the eating issues, the eye issues, the verbal issues and the gross and fine motor issues. At times it can honestly seem like too much. At times it just seems unfair. And not unfair to us. Unfair to Joe. There are days I just say, "Why, God? Why, Joe? Why can't he just get a break? Why can't something be easy for him for once?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then I have to pause and take a deep breath and remember that there are some things that do come to Joey easily. Like his beautiful smile and two perfect dimples. Like his incredible interpersonal skills and determination. Like his easy laugh and his super strong and warm hugs. To get a hug from Joey is to feel the arms of an angel around your neck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wouldn't be human if I didn't tell you that part of it is my problem. I want Joey to start walking and standing up on his own because HE IS HEAVY. And long. And three and a half-years-old. He's almost 33 inches long and weighs about 34 pounds. I'm only 64 inches tall, so when I hold him he is almost half of my height. What I am trying to do is to enjoy this time, live in the moment and enjoy that he still needs me and that we do spend so much precious time with him in my arms. That is what I try to focus on- enjoying the moment - our moment - for what it is. It's just that the in and out of the car 5-6 times a day and the up and down of lifting him up into chairs and up and down stairs can sometimes cause me to be quite weary. It just does. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other part is the yearning part of me that <i>wants</i> and <i>longs</i> for Joey to run alongside his big brother. The part of me that <i>wants</i> and <i>longs</i> for Joey to be able to keep up with his preschool classmates and friends. The part of me that <i>wants </i>and <i>longs</i> for Joey to have the independence he seeks every day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This part is hard. He has an agenda and he has places he wants to go and adventures he wants to have. He is such a 3-year-old. He wants what he wants when he wants it and how he wants it. His frustration has started reaching new levels. He has been acting out. Sometimes it's hitting. Sometimes it's yelling. For the most part it is typical 3-year-old behavior, but we also know he has extra frustration due to his verbal and motor delays. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will Joey ever walk? Yes. We know he will. And in the meantime we are doing everything we can to help him get there. He is now doing Horse Therapy and Swim Therapy alongside his regular PT, OT and private Speech therapy as well as the PT, OT and speech he receives at school. The Horse Therapy has been life-changing for Joey. His core strength is building. His confidence is building. He talks about Rufus the Horse all week long between his 30 minute sessions. When he is on Rufus he is like a new boy. He has no fear, but pure joy. For Rufus and the amazing friends at <a href="http://www.victorygallop.org/">Victory Gallop</a> we are so very grateful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since last year there IS progress. He has advanced from Army crawling to 4-point crawling (on his hands and knees). He has started pulling up to stand at spots where he can hold onto something. He can walk 10-20 feet if you hold his hands. This is progress. And this is what Tom always reminds me-- Joey always has made progress. He keeps moving forward. At times it can feel like the most painfully slow process ever, but it is always progress.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, not once has Joey's older brother Tommy ever asked me what is "wrong" with Joey. He doesn't see anything wrong with Joey. Tommy doesn't care that Joey can't walk, yet. Tommy treats Joey just like any little brother. He wrestles with him. He pulls him down to the ground to roll around and play. They fight. They laugh. They hug. They hit. They are are magical all year around in the fierce love they have for each other. Every morning when Joey wakes up he says, "Brother." His name for Tommy. The only thing he will call Tommy- Brother. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tommy in turn spends his day trying to convince Joey to play with him. On the way home from school the other day he said, "Mom, everyone in my class loves Joey." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I teared up. I swallowed and said, "That's so nice, Tommy. You know they love you too!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a balance, but they don't seem to notice and that is all that matters to us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our hope and prayer for the next year is that perhaps he could go for an entire year without a single surgery or hospitalization. It seems that every surgery and every hospital stay has just pushed back his progress that much more and has caused him to have to work that much harder. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our Christmas Prayer for this year is that Super Joe will start walking in this journey beside us. As much as we love holding him in our arms every day, we pray for him that he achieves this </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">incredible step forward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We hope it is answered this year.</span></div>
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-58508480590710259152013-11-27T23:11:00.000-05:002013-11-27T23:11:30.650-05:00Am I Thankful for Down Syndrome?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Am I thankful for Down syndrome? Every single day. Joey came into our world with a bang that has not stopped. And at the end of the day we are still in a state of amazem</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ent that he ever made it at all. Was I always thankful for Down syndrome. No. Not at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Initially, we found out around 12 weeks into our pregnancy that Joey had fetal hydrops- fluid surrounding his body as well as a septated cystic hygroma that looked like a halo around his head that was also fluid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were told that probably due to a heart defect and a chromosomal variation (we no longer refer to Joe as a chromosomal abnormality) the fluid would continue to surround his body and brain and that in all likelihood, Joey would not survive the pregnancy. We were told not to expect the pregnancy to last past 20-24 weeks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were told he had about a 1.9 or 2% chance of making it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we were told that news, Down syndrome was the last thing on our minds. The next week I underwent a chorionic villus sampling (CVS) testing to try to learn more about what might be causing Joey's complications. A few days after that testing, we were told over the phone by a geneticist in another town that our baby had Down syndrome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, Down syndrome was not really on our minds. Instead, we were dealing with the idea that our baby boy would not survive. We were coping with these foreign and frightening medical terms like "septated cystic hygroma" and "fetal hydrops" and "congenital heart defect".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn't your "typical" pregnancy. And by typical, I mean that most women who are pregnant don't see a psychologist on a weekly basis in addition to visiting the high risk fetal medicine OBGYN two to three times a week. That's not what I saw when I viewed my other friends' pregnancies. At times I was angry. Other times I was depressed. Sometimes I was envious. I would see other pregnant women and wonder why we had to be living through this hell in which our little baby was given virtually zero chance of surviving. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think that sometimes it takes going all the way to those very dark, dark places to realize what gratitude means. To understand how fortunate and blessed your life is. It is easy to get caught up in a day to day existence of going through the motions. But sometimes in our lives we have a journey that is so shocking or so stressful or so difficult that it sharpens our very views of the world. It's like when you are at the eye doctor and he keeps flipping the lenses asking which one you see more clearly through. Joey brought the most clarity I have ever known in my life. For that my gratitude is unending and eternal.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-63I33H3G8xk/UpbAr6VboOI/AAAAAAAAE3s/PVAC_mTgrTs/s1600/2013+Family+Photos+138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-63I33H3G8xk/UpbAr6VboOI/AAAAAAAAE3s/PVAC_mTgrTs/s400/2013+Family+Photos+138.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.nattakan.com/">Nat</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once we had made it past week 20, then week 24 and finally week 28-- that was when I really started having more faith that this little fighter might actually survive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Around week 24 his congenital heart defect was confirmed and we were told that he would more than likely need open heart surgery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was after this point that I started to cope with Joey's diagnosis of Down syndrome. Cope, you ask? Yes, cope. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The point of this blog is to raise awareness, to be a resource for other parents and to try and take away the fear that new parents might have when they find out their child has Down syndrome, but long before I could try to do my own advocating, I had to face my own fears and I had to learn to cope and ultimately accept Joey's diagnosis. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My version of coping meant meeting with a therapist and discussing all the possibilities of this pregnancy and what it would mean to raise a child who would have special needs. My version of coping meant reading every single book and blog on Down syndrome that I could find. My version of coping meant grieving hard and deep for the better part of the pregnancy. My version of coping meant meeting some other parents and learning about their journeys. </span><br />
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<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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YuS28YxIZF8/UpbAv_lrv7I/AAAAAAAAE30/IoD5zJuUtBw/s1600/2013+Family+Photos+187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YuS28YxIZF8/UpbAv_lrv7I/AAAAAAAAE30/IoD5zJuUtBw/s400/2013+Family+Photos+187.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.nattakan.com/">Nat</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking back, much of my journey coping and grieving about having a child who had Down syndrome seems so very selfish. Much of it seems like a waste of time, but it was a journey, a process, and it was my process. The part that feels so selfish is that so much of my worry centered around me- how would I take care of a child with special needs? How would I find the patience to handle a child who might move at a more leisurely pace? How would I feel about how society treats my child? How would I feel if someone made fun of my child? How would I feel if my child didn't fit in at school? How would I deal with all the unknowns? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many of my fears were fears for how Joey would survive in this cruel and sometimes dangerous world for people with disabilities, but so many were self-centered.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-How1ZlLlLFU/UpbAOvgmsQI/AAAAAAAAE3M/L7SKG0RCB3A/s1600/DSC_0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-How1ZlLlLFU/UpbAOvgmsQI/AAAAAAAAE3M/L7SKG0RCB3A/s400/DSC_0080.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joey riding Rufus at <a href="http://www.victorygallop.org/">Victory Gallop</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite all of my preparation and despite all of my reading, I truly had no idea what Down syndrome was until I met our baby boy. I had no sense of just how "normal" Joey would be. I had no understanding of how much this little person would make us laugh. I had no idea how much he would bring our family together. I had no idea that we would all become his biggest cheerleaders. I had no idea that things like horseback riding would become one of the best parts of our week. I had no idea about the other families and children we would meet along the way. I had no idea about how much the world would open up and how much more empathy we would have towards all individuals with disabilities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had no idea how much clearer and sharper the important things in life would become. Or how much easier it would be to see and appreciate those things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had no idea that Down syndrome would end up not being something to mourn and lose faith and time over. I had no idea just how much Down syndrome would change all of our lives for the better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For Down syndrome and for having a miraculous little boy named Joey, I am forever grateful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you have something in your life that has helped you see the important things more clearly? Something to be eternally grateful for? I hope so. </span><br />
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<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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XoeRwwkxfxA/UpbApb5NE7I/AAAAAAAAE3k/6--SN4aLgdM/s1600/2013+Family+Photos+095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XoeRwwkxfxA/UpbApb5NE7I/AAAAAAAAE3k/6--SN4aLgdM/s400/2013+Family+Photos+095.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.nattakan.com/">Nat</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Thanksgiving 2013!</span><br />
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-48673005038566020972013-11-06T21:49:00.000-05:002013-11-06T21:49:54.182-05:00Thank You, Sephora!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They did it! Sephora removed the Kat Von D Painted Love Lipstick titled "Celebutard"! Tweets, <a href="http://jendawnscowgirlup.blogspot.com/2013/11/what-is-celebutard-and-why-should-you.html">blogs</a>, Facebook messages and more added up to one of the quickest responses I have seen thus far in this journey of trying to spread the word to end the word.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20.796875px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
<div class="hero" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 15px; orphans: auto; position: relative; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="hero-main-image" style="margin-left: 24px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 250px;">
<img alt="Kat Von D - Painted Love Lipstick" data-zoom="true" height="250" rel="#modal-view-larger" src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1266501-main-hero.jpg" style="border: 0px; cursor: crosshair; padding: 4px; vertical-align: middle;" width="250" /><label class="inline" for="1266477" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 5px; text-align: start; vertical-align: middle;">QTY</label><span style="text-align: start;"> </span><select class="form-control OneLinkNoTx quantitySelector " id="1266477" style="border-color: rgb(179, 179, 179) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(230, 230, 230); font-family: inherit; height: 21px; line-height: 1.428571429; margin: 0px; min-width: 43px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;"><option value="1">1</option><option value="2">2</option><option value="3">3</option><option value="4">4</option><option value="5">5</option><option value="6">6</option><option value="7">7</option><option value="8">8</option><option value="9">9</option><option value="10">10</option></select></div>
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<div class="purchase-info" id="primarySkuInfo_price" style="float: right; margin-left: 15px; width: 182px;">
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<h1 class="OneLinkNoTx" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
<span class="brand-name text-upper" style="text-transform: uppercase;">KAT VON D</span><br />Painted Love Lipstick</h1>
<div class="info-row" style="color: #666666; line-height: 14px;">
<span class="sku"><span class="label" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-size: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 2px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">ITEM #</span> <span class="value OneLinkNoTx">1266501</span> </span><span class="size"><span class="label" style="border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-size: 10px; margin-left: 6px; margin-right: 2px; padding-left: 8px; text-transform: uppercase;">SIZE</span> <span class="value">0.11 oz</span></span></div>
<div class="info-row variation with-new" style="color: #666666; line-height: 16px; min-height: 35px; padding-top: 2px;">
<span class="color"><span class="label" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-size: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 2px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">COLOR</span> <span class="value" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: black; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="OneLinkNoTx">Celebutard</span> - nude peach beige</span></span></div>
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<div class="sku-selector swatch-sq-sm" style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding-top: 6px; position: relative; text-align: start; width: 446px;">
<div class="sku-selector-content container" style="padding-top: 2px; width: 420px;">
<a class="product-thumb" data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>A-Go-Go</span> - reddish coral</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/painted-love-lipstick-P211912?skuId=1266477&icid2=KatVonD_LipstickLove_PaintedLove_Carousel_P211912_image#" id="sku-1133578" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1133578+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb" data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Agatha</span> - mod peachy pink</b><span>not in stock</span></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/painted-love-lipstick-P211912?skuId=1266477&icid2=KatVonD_LipstickLove_PaintedLove_Carousel_P211912_image#" id="sku-1266451" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="oos" style="background-image: url(http://www.sephora.com/images/oos-swatch-36.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: block; height: 38px; left: 0px; margin: 1px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 38px;"></span><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1266451+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb" data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Backstage Bambi</span> - hot pink</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/painted-love-lipstick-P211912?skuId=1266477&icid2=KatVonD_LipstickLove_PaintedLove_Carousel_P211912_image#" id="sku-1133586" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1133586+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb" data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Cathedral</span> - spiced pinkish brown</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/painted-love-lipstick-P211912?skuId=1266477&icid2=KatVonD_LipstickLove_PaintedLove_Carousel_P211912_image#" id="sku-1266477" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1266477+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb current" data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Celebutard</span> - nude peach beige</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/painted-love-lipstick-P211912?skuId=1266477&icid2=KatVonD_LipstickLove_PaintedLove_Carousel_P211912_image#" id="sku-1266501" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; cursor: default; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1266501+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you visit Sephora.com there is no longer a trace of the shade so insensitively called "Celebutard". . .</span><br />
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<div class="brand-banner" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 5px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<a href="http://www.sephora.com/kat-von-d" style="color: black;"><img alt="kat-von-d" id="productBrandImg" src="http://www.sephora.com/contentimages/brands/katvond/KatVonD_Logo_101513_Image.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></div>
<div class="product-information container" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding-bottom: 5px; position: relative;">
<form action="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?_DARGS=/product/include/skuTemplate.jsp" id="productAction_FormId" method="post" name="standardProductPage">
<div class="product-detail container" style="border-right-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; float: left; min-height: 138px; padding-right: 17px; position: relative; width: 450px;">
<div class="container" id="primarySkuInfoArea">
<div class="product-description container" style="min-height: 52px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; zoom: 1;">
<div class="purchase-info" id="primarySkuInfo_price" style="float: right; margin-left: 15px; width: 182px;">
<div class="container">
<div class="product-quantity" style="float: left;">
<label class="inline" for="1085612" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 5px; vertical-align: middle;">QTY</label> <select class="form-control OneLinkNoTx quantitySelector " id="1085612" style="border-color: rgb(179, 179, 179) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(230, 230, 230); font-family: inherit; height: 21px; line-height: 1.428571429; margin: 0px; min-width: 43px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;"> <option selected="selected" value="1">1</option> <option value="2">2</option> <option value="3">3</option> <option value="4">4</option> <option value="5">5</option> <option value="6">6</option> <option value="7">7</option> <option value="8">8</option> <option value="9">9</option> <option value="10">10</option> </select></div>
<span class="sku-price" style="float: right; font-weight: 700; padding-top: 4px; text-align: right; width: 100px;"><span class="list-price"><span class="currency">$</span><span class="price">19.00</span></span></span></div>
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<h1 class="OneLinkNoTx" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
<span class="brand-name text-upper" style="text-transform: uppercase;">KAT VON D</span><br />Painted Love Lipstick</h1>
<div class="info-row" style="color: #666666; line-height: 14px;">
<span class="sku"><span class="label" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-size: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 2px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">ITEM #</span> <span class="value OneLinkNoTx">1085612</span> </span><span class="size"><span class="label" style="border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-size: 10px; margin-left: 6px; margin-right: 2px; padding-left: 8px; text-transform: uppercase;">SIZE</span> <span class="value">0.11 oz</span></span></div>
<div class="info-row variation with-new" style="color: #666666; line-height: 16px; min-height: 35px; padding-top: 2px;">
<span class="color"><span class="label" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-size: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 2px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">COLOR</span> <span class="value" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: black; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="OneLinkNoTx">Lolita</span> - dusty rose</span></span></div>
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<div class="sku-selector swatch-sq-sm" style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding-top: 6px; position: relative; width: 446px;">
<div class="sku-selector-content container" style="padding-top: 2px; width: 420px;">
<a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>A-Go-Go</span> - reddish coral</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=KAT%20VON%20D%20Painted%20Love%20Lipstick%20P211912&skuId=1085612&productId=P211912&_requestid=219936#" id="sku-1133578" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1133578+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Agatha</span> - mod peachy pink</b><span>not in stock</span></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=KAT%20VON%20D%20Painted%20Love%20Lipstick%20P211912&skuId=1085612&productId=P211912&_requestid=219936#" id="sku-1266451" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><span class="oos" style="background-image: url(http://www.sephora.com/images/oos-swatch-36.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: block; height: 38px; left: 0px; margin: 1px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 38px;"></span><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1266451+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Backstage Bambi</span> - hot pink</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=KAT%20VON%20D%20Painted%20Love%20Lipstick%20P211912&skuId=1085612&productId=P211912&_requestid=219936#" id="sku-1133586" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1133586+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Cathedral</span> - spiced pinkish brown</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=KAT%20VON%20D%20Painted%20Love%20Lipstick%20P211912&skuId=1085612&productId=P211912&_requestid=219936#" id="sku-1266477" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1266477+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Coral Castle</span> - shimmering coral orange</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=KAT%20VON%20D%20Painted%20Love%20Lipstick%20P211912&skuId=1085612&productId=P211912&_requestid=219936#" id="sku-1266485" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1266485+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Hellbent</span> - blood red</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=KAT%20VON%20D%20Painted%20Love%20Lipstick%20P211912&skuId=1085612&productId=P211912&_requestid=219936#" id="sku-1085604" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1085604+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Homegirl</span> - dark plummy brown</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=KAT%20VON%20D%20Painted%20Love%20Lipstick%20P211912&skuId=1085612&productId=P211912&_requestid=219936#" id="sku-1131416" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1131416+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb current" data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Lolita</span> - dusty rose</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=KAT%20VON%20D%20Painted%20Love%20Lipstick%20P211912&skuId=1085612&productId=P211912&_requestid=219936#" id="sku-1085612" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; cursor: default; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1085612+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Lovecraft</span> - berry beige</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=KAT%20VON%20D%20Painted%20Love%20Lipstick%20P211912&skuId=1085612&productId=P211912&_requestid=219936#" id="sku-1266469" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1266469+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Prayer</span> - mauve brown</b><span>not in stock</span></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=KAT%20VON%20D%20Painted%20Love%20Lipstick%20P211912&skuId=1085612&productId=P211912&_requestid=219936#" id="sku-1133602" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><span class="oos" style="background-image: url(http://www.sephora.com/images/oos-swatch-36.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: block; height: 38px; left: 0px; margin: 1px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 38px;"></span><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1133602+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Ritual</span> - terracota suntan</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=KAT%20VON%20D%20Painted%20Love%20Lipstick%20P211912&skuId=1085612&productId=P211912&_requestid=219936#" id="sku-1266493" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1266493+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Rosary</span> - darkest burgundy red</b><span>not in stock</span></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=KAT%20VON%20D%20Painted%20Love%20Lipstick%20P211912&skuId=1085612&productId=P211912&_requestid=219936#" id="sku-1131408" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><span class="oos" style="background-image: url(http://www.sephora.com/images/oos-swatch-36.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: block; height: 38px; left: 0px; margin: 1px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 38px;"></span><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1131408+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Stiletto</span> - orange red</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=KAT%20VON%20D%20Painted%20Love%20Lipstick%20P211912&skuId=1085612&productId=P211912&_requestid=219936#" id="sku-1133560" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1133560+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Underage Red</span> - bright crimson</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=KAT%20VON%20D%20Painted%20Love%20Lipstick%20P211912&skuId=1085612&productId=P211912&_requestid=219936#" id="sku-1085596" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1085596+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is it exhausting even trying to figure out which battles you choose and which you don't? Absolutely. What's even more exhausting is the passion with which so many people have in hanging on to the word "retarded". This is just one of many, many battles, but this one has a happy ending, an ending that made me feel like doing some holiday shopping. </span><br />
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<tr id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5387"><td align="left" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5386" style="border-spacing: 2px;" valign="bottom"><a href="http://shop.sephora.com/r/c/r?2.1.3JG.2Un.15ATcS.OKTEEQ..H.2wDjy.27dg.bW89MSZrPXVzK25ld3MxKzIwMTMxMTA2K25hdWdodHluaWNlK2J1eWVyMyZtcDIwNDQ2PTE0MDcyODIzNDM%5fBMQcLcO0" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5385" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline: 0px;" target="_blank"><img alt="SEPHORA" border="0" height="59" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5384" src="http://img.delivery.net/cm50content/18607/60312/holiday_nav_04.gif" style="border: 0px; display: block;" width="200" /></a></td><td align="left" style="border-spacing: 2px;" valign="bottom"><a href="http://shop.sephora.com/r/c/r?2.1.3JG.2Un.15ATcS.OKTEEQ..H.2wDj%5f.27dg.bW89MSZrPXVzK25ld3MxKzIwMTMxMTA2K25hdWdodHluaWNlK2J1eWVyMyZtcDIwNDQ2PTE0MDcyODIzNDM%5fBFfILbU0" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline: 0px;" target="_blank"><img alt="MAKEUP" border="0" height="30" src="http://img.delivery.net/cm50content/18607/60312/holiday_nav_06.gif" style="border: 0px; display: block;" width="79" /></a></td><td align="left" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5428" style="border-spacing: 2px;" valign="bottom"><a href="http://shop.sephora.com/r/c/r?2.1.3JG.2Un.15ATcS.OKTEEQ..H.2wDk0.27dg.bW89MSZrPXVzK25ld3MxKzIwMTMxMTA2K25hdWdodHluaWNlK2J1eWVyMyZtcDIwNDQ2PTE0MDcyODIzNDM%5faMOLaG00" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5427" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline: 0px;" target="_blank"><img alt="SKINCARE" border="0" height="30" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5426" src="http://img.delivery.net/cm50content/18607/60312/holiday_nav_07.gif" style="border: 0px; display: block;" width="93" /></a></td><td align="left" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5430" style="border-spacing: 2px;" valign="bottom"><a href="http://shop.sephora.com/r/c/r?2.1.3JG.2Un.15ATcS.OKTEEQ..H.2wDk2.27dg.bW89MSZrPXVzK25ld3MxKzIwMTMxMTA2K25hdWdodHluaWNlK2J1eWVyMyZtcDIwNDQ2PTE0MDcyODIzNDM%5facSLaI00" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline: 0px;" target="_blank"><img alt="FRAGRANCE" border="0" height="30" src="http://img.delivery.net/cm50content/18607/60312/holiday_nav_08.gif" style="border: 0px; display: block;" width="106" /></a></td><td align="left" style="border-spacing: 2px;" valign="bottom"><a href="http://shop.sephora.com/r/c/r?2.1.3JG.2Un.15ATcS.OKTEEQ..H.2wDk4.27dg.bW89MSZrPXVzK25ld3MxKzIwMTMxMTA2K25hdWdodHluaWNlK2J1eWVyMyZtcDIwNDQ2PTE0MDcyODIzNDM%5fbMWLaK00" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline: 0px;" target="_blank"><img alt="OFFERS" border="0" height="30" src="http://img.delivery.net/cm50content/18607/60312/holiday_nav_09.gif" style="border: 0px; display: block;" width="72" /></a></td><td align="left" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5420" style="border-spacing: 2px;" valign="bottom"><a href="http://shop.sephora.com/r/c/r?2.1.3JG.2Un.15ATcS.OKTEEQ..H.2wDk6.27dg.bW89MSZrPXVzK25ld3MxKzIwMTMxMTA2K25hdWdodHluaWNlK2J1eWVyMyZtcDIwNDQ2PTE0MDcyODIzNDM%5fbcaLaM00" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5422" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline: 0px;" target="_blank"><img alt="GIFTS" border="0" height="30" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5421" src="http://img.delivery.net/cm50content/18607/60312/holiday_nav_10.gif" style="border: 0px; display: block;" width="70" /></a></td><td align="left" style="border-spacing: 2px;" valign="bottom"><a href="http://shop.sephora.com/r/c/r?2.1.3JG.2Un.15ATcS.OKTEEQ..H.2wDk8.27dg.bW89MSZrPXVzK25ld3MxKzIwMTMxMTA2K25hdWdodHluaWNlK2J1eWVyMyZtcDIwNDQ2PTE0MDcyODIzNDM%5fcMeLaO00" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline: 0px;" target="_blank"><img alt="STORES" border="0" height="30" src="http://img.delivery.net/cm50content/18607/60312/holiday_nav_11.gif" style="border: 0px; display: block;" width="80" /></a></td></tr>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5395" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding: 0px; width: 700px;"><tbody id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5394" style="width: 700px;">
<tr id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5393"><td id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5392" style="border-spacing: 2px;" valign="top"><a href="http://shop.sephora.com/r/c/r?2.1.3JG.2Un.15ATcS.OKTEEQ..H.2y6DI.27dg.bW89MSZrPXVzK25ld3MxKzIwMTMxMTA2K25hdWdodHluaWNlK2J1eWVyMyZtcDIwNDQ2PTE0MDcyODIzNDM%5fTXALZM00" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5391" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline: 0px;" target="_blank"><img alt="MERRYCRAZYSAMPLEBLITZ. Dash away with 8 free samples, packed in a keepsake basketweave clutch. Choose 1 of 4 holiday sets. Free with online purchase of $25 or more.* Use code BLITZ. SHOP NOW" border="0" height="203" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5390" src="http://img.delivery.net/cm50content/18607/60674/1-bi.jpg" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; display: block;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1383790277386_5429" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; height: 20px;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have any beauty needs-- check out the fun deal Sephora has right now- with any $25 purchase you can pick out a fun little bag of goodies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm stocking up on one of my favorites for everything from chapped lips, to raw little, runny noses-- Joey loves this stuff. I use it on his cheeks when they get chapped in the winter wind and on his nose when it's red from being sick.</span><br />
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<li data-slide-index="1" style="float: left;"><div class="product-item" data-index="0" style="float: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 146px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="product-image" style="display: inline-block; position: relative;">
<a data-productid="P42204" href="http://www.sephora.com/rosebud-salve-P42204?icid2=Rosebud_Perfume_Co._Must_Haves%20_P42204_image" style="color: black; display: inline-block; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Rosebud Perfume Co. - Rosebud Salve" height="135" src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s683490-main-grid.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; vertical-align: middle;" width="135" /></a></div>
<div class="new-love" style="height: 30px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 135px; position: relative;">
<a class="icon icon-love hover-enable" data-original-title="LOVE IT" data-product_id="P42204" data-sku_number="683490" href="http://www.sephora.com/rosebud-perfume-co#" style="background-image: url(http://www.sephora.com/images/icon-love.png); background-position: 50% 4px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: black; display: inline-block; height: 20px; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-decoration: none; top: 5px; vertical-align: text-top; width: 33px;" title=""></a></div>
<a data-productid="P42204" href="http://www.sephora.com/rosebud-salve-P42204?icid2=Rosebud_Perfume_Co._Must_Haves%20_P42204_link" style="color: black; display: inline-block; text-decoration: none;"><span class="product-info" style="display: block; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.4;"><span class="name OneLinkNoTx"><span class="brand" style="display: block; font-size: 11px; text-transform: uppercase;">ROSEBUD PERFUME CO.</span>Rosebud Salve</span><span class="product-price" style="display: block; font-weight: 700;"><span class="list-price"><span class="currency">$</span><span class="price">6.00</span></span></span><span class="flags" style="color: #999999; display: block; font-size: 9px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14px;"></span><span class="stars" style="background-image: url(http://www.sephora.com/images/icon-star-sm.png); background-position: 0px -11px; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: transparent; display: block; font-family: a; font-size: 0px; height: 11px; line-height: 0; margin: 6px auto 0px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-shadow: none; width: 55px;"><span style="background-image: url(http://www.sephora.com/images/icon-star-sm.png); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: block; height: 11px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; text-shadow: none; width: 52.0454px;"></span></span></span></a></div>
</li>
<li data-slide-index="1" style="float: left;"><div class="product-item" data-index="1" style="float: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 146px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="product-image" style="display: inline-block; position: relative;">
<a data-productid="P266126" href="http://www.sephora.com/rosebud-salve-in-a-tube-P266126?icid2=Rosebud_Perfume_Co._Must_Haves%20_P266126_image" style="color: black; display: inline-block; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Rosebud Perfume Co. - Rosebud Salve in a Tube" height="135" src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1267418-main-grid.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; vertical-align: middle;" width="135" /></a></div>
<div class="new-love" style="height: 30px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 135px; position: relative;">
<a class="icon icon-love hover-enable" data-original-title="LOVE IT" data-product_id="P266126" data-sku_number="1267418" href="http://www.sephora.com/rosebud-perfume-co#" style="background-image: url(http://www.sephora.com/images/icon-love.png); background-position: 50% 4px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: black; display: inline-block; height: 20px; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-decoration: none; top: 5px; vertical-align: text-top; width: 33px;" title=""></a></div>
<a data-productid="P266126" href="http://www.sephora.com/rosebud-salve-in-a-tube-P266126?icid2=Rosebud_Perfume_Co._Must_Haves%20_P266126_link" style="color: black; display: inline-block; text-decoration: none;"><span class="product-info" style="display: block; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.4;"><span class="name OneLinkNoTx"><span class="brand" style="display: block; font-size: 11px; text-transform: uppercase;">ROSEBUD PERFUME CO.</span>Rosebud Salve in a Tube</span><span class="product-price" style="display: block; font-weight: 700;"><span class="list-price"><span class="currency">$</span><span class="price">6.00</span></span></span><span class="flags" style="color: #999999; display: block; font-size: 9px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14px;"></span><span class="stars" style="background-image: url(http://www.sephora.com/images/icon-star-sm.png); background-position: 0px -11px; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: transparent; display: block; font-family: a; font-size: 0px; height: 11px; line-height: 0; margin: 6px auto 0px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-shadow: none; width: 55px;"><span style="background-image: url(http://www.sephora.com/images/icon-star-sm.png); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: block; height: 11px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; text-shadow: none; width: 50.0753px;"></span></span></span></a></div>
</li>
<li data-slide-index="1" style="float: left;"><div class="product-item" data-index="2" style="float: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 146px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="product-image" style="display: inline-block; position: relative;">
<a data-productid="P164932" href="http://www.sephora.com/minted-rose-lip-balm-P164932?icid2=Rosebud_Perfume_Co._Must_Haves%20_P164932_image" style="color: black; display: inline-block; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Rosebud Perfume Co. - Minted Rose Lip Balm" height="135" src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s956359-main-grid.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; vertical-align: middle;" width="135" /></a></div>
<div class="new-love" style="height: 30px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 135px; position: relative;">
<a class="icon icon-love hover-enable" data-original-title="LOVE IT" data-product_id="P164932" data-sku_number="956359" href="http://www.sephora.com/rosebud-perfume-co#" style="background-image: url(http://www.sephora.com/images/icon-love.png); background-position: 50% 4px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: black; display: inline-block; height: 20px; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-decoration: none; top: 5px; vertical-align: text-top; width: 33px;" title=""></a></div>
<span class="product-info" style="color: black; display: block; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.4; text-decoration: none;"><span class="name OneLinkNoTx"><a data-productid="P164932" href="http://www.sephora.com/minted-rose-lip-balm-P164932?icid2=Rosebud_Perfume_Co._Must_Haves%20_P164932_link" style="color: black; display: inline-block; text-decoration: none;"><span class="brand" style="display: block; font-size: 11px; text-transform: uppercase;">ROSEBUD PERFUME CO.</span>Minted Rose Lip Balm</a></span><span class="product-price" style="display: block; font-weight: 700;"><span class="list-price"><a data-productid="P164932" href="http://www.sephora.com/minted-rose-lip-balm-P164932?icid2=Rosebud_Perfume_Co._Must_Haves%20_P164932_link" style="color: black; display: inline-block; text-decoration: none;"><span class="currency">$</span><span class="price">7.00</span></a></span></span><span class="flags" style="color: #999999; display: block; font-size: 9px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14px;"></span><span class="stars" style="background-image: url(http://www.sephora.com/images/icon-star-sm.png); background-position: 0px -11px; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: transparent; display: block; font-family: a; font-size: 0px; height: 11px; line-height: 0; margin: 6px auto 0px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-shadow: none; width: 55px;"><span style="background-image: url(http://www.sephora.com/images/icon-star-sm.png); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: block; height: 11px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; text-shadow: none; width: 50.917899999999996px;"></span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here is another awesome stocking stuffer--</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="brand-banner" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 5px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<a href="http://www.sephora.com/lavanila" style="color: black;"><img alt="lavanila" id="productBrandImg" src="http://www.sephora.com/contentimages/brands/lavanila/5850_logo_279.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></div>
<div class="product-information container" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding-bottom: 5px; position: relative;">
<form action="http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?_DARGS=/product/include/skuTemplate.jsp" id="productAction_FormId" method="post" name="standardProductPage">
<div class="product-detail container" style="border-right-color: rgb(240, 240, 240); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; float: left; min-height: 138px; padding-right: 17px; position: relative; width: 450px;">
<div class="container" id="primarySkuInfoArea">
<div class="product-description container" style="min-height: 52px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; zoom: 1;">
<div class="purchase-info" id="primarySkuInfo_price" style="float: right; margin-left: 15px; width: 182px;">
<div class="container">
<div class="product-quantity" style="float: left;">
<label class="inline" for="1005214" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 5px; vertical-align: middle;">QTY</label> <select class="form-control OneLinkNoTx quantitySelector " id="1005214" style="border-color: rgb(179, 179, 179) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(230, 230, 230); font-family: inherit; height: 21px; line-height: 1.428571429; margin: 0px; min-width: 43px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;"> <option selected="selected" value="1">1</option> <option value="2">2</option> <option value="3">3</option> <option value="4">4</option> <option value="5">5</option> <option value="6">6</option> <option value="7">7</option> <option value="8">8</option> <option value="9">9</option> <option value="10">10</option> </select></div>
<span class="sku-price" style="float: right; font-weight: 700; padding-top: 4px; text-align: right; width: 100px;"><span class="list-price"><span class="currency">$</span><span class="price">19.00</span></span></span></div>
<div class="sku-messaging" style="padding-top: 3px; text-align: right;">
</div>
</div>
<h1 class="OneLinkNoTx" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
<span class="brand-name text-upper" style="text-transform: uppercase;">LAVANILA</span><br />Vanilla Grapefruit Fragrance</h1>
<div class="info-row" style="color: #666666; line-height: 14px;">
<span class="sku"><span class="label" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-size: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 2px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">ITEM #</span> <span class="value OneLinkNoTx">1005214</span></span></div>
<div class="info-row variation with-new" style="color: #666666; line-height: 16px; min-height: 35px; padding-top: 2px;">
<span class=""><span class="value" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: black; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold;">0.33 oz Eau de Parfum Rollerball</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="sku-selector swatch-sq-lg border" style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding-top: 6px; position: relative; width: 446px;">
<div class="sku-selector-content container" style="padding-top: 2px; width: 420px;">
<a class="product-thumb current" data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>0.33 oz Eau de Parfum Rollerball</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-1005214" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; cursor: default; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1005214+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 62px; vertical-align: middle; width: 62px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s977363+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 62px; vertical-align: middle; width: 62px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a><a class="product-thumb " data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray</span></b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/vanilla-grapefruit-fragrance-P174901?skuId=1005214&icid2=LAVANILA_Editors_Picks%20_P174901_link#" id="sku-977363" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><br /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's nice when a story has a happy ending, isn't it? Happy Wednesday and thank you again, Sephora for listening to your customers, parents, families and everyone who wants to shop in a world that respects all of our differences.</span></div>
Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-30364468053938860812013-11-05T20:59:00.003-05:002013-11-05T20:59:42.911-05:00What is a Celebutard and Why Should You Care?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to the description on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Celebutards-Andrea-Peyser/dp/B00BDKIMZG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383698565&sr=8-1&keywords=celebutards">Amazon.com</a> of the 2009 book <i>Celebutards</i> by Andrea Peyser, a Celebutard is, "A compound of <i>celebrity, debutante</i>, and <i>retard</i>, this blunt term describes lazy and egotistical stars with too much money, fame, leisure time, and media attention, but too little common sense or knowledge, who love to spout off on topics about which they have zero expertise." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On page two of her book, Peyser claims that the term is "not meant to denigrate those struggling either with youth or with genuine mental challenges." Right. She then goes on to explain that being a Celebutard is, "a choice, rather than an affliction." </span><br />
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<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51fiVDuX2wL._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do I think a Celebutard is? I think it is a synonym, just another version of Retard or Tard. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Celebutard is just another way for people to call someone a retard, but in an updated version. Whatever the definition of it is, it's a slur. A disability slur. It's hate language. It reinforces the pop culture phenomenon that supports the use of the word retarded despite efforts by national organizations (<a href="http://www.r-word.org/">Spread the Word to End the Word</a>) and bloggers to try and end the use of the word retarded. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why should you care about this new version of retarded? You should care because the language we use as a society and the language we endorse as a society says that as a society we are willing to allow the bullying and making fun of individuals with intellectual disabilities. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I'm not just talking about individuals with Down syndrome or autism. I am also talking about individuals who have suffered traumatic brain injuries, individuals with learning disabilities, individuals with Alzheimer's. In what world is it acceptable to mock individuals who have an intellectual disability? Where does free speech cross the line into hate speech? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today there was a lot of activity in the world of activists and watchdogs in one of the groups I belong to that advocates for individuals with Down syndrome as well as other individuals with intellectual disabilities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the members pointed out that Sephora was promoting a lipstick in the Kat Von D line that is called "Celebutard". </span><br />
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<img alt="Kat Von D - Painted Love Lipstick" data-zoom="true" height="250" rel="#modal-view-larger" src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1266501-main-hero.jpg" style="border: 0px; cursor: crosshair; vertical-align: middle;" width="250" /><label class="inline" for="1266477" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 5px; text-align: start; vertical-align: middle;">QTY</label><span style="text-align: start;"> </span><select class="form-control OneLinkNoTx quantitySelector " id="1266477" style="border-color: rgb(179, 179, 179) rgb(204, 204, 204) rgb(230, 230, 230); font-family: inherit; height: 21px; line-height: 1.428571429; margin: 0px; min-width: 43px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;"><option value="1">1</option><option value="2">2</option><option value="3">3</option><option value="4">4</option><option value="5">5</option><option value="6">6</option><option value="7">7</option><option value="8">8</option><option value="9">9</option><option value="10">10</option></select></div>
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<span class="brand-name text-upper" style="text-transform: uppercase;">KAT VON D</span><br />Painted Love Lipstick</h1>
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<span class="sku"><span class="label" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-size: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 2px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">ITEM #</span> <span class="value OneLinkNoTx">1266501</span> </span><span class="size"><span class="label" style="border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-size: 10px; margin-left: 6px; margin-right: 2px; padding-left: 8px; text-transform: uppercase;">SIZE</span> <span class="value">0.11 oz</span></span></div>
<div class="info-row variation with-new" style="color: #666666; line-height: 16px; min-height: 35px; padding-top: 2px;">
<span class="color"><span class="label" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-size: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 2px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">COLOR</span> <span class="value" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: black; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="OneLinkNoTx">Celebutard</span> - nude peach beige</span></span></div>
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<a class="product-thumb" data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>A-Go-Go</span> - reddish coral</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/painted-love-lipstick-P211912?skuId=1266477&icid2=KatVonD_LipstickLove_PaintedLove_Carousel_P211912_image#" id="sku-1133578" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1133578+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb" data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Agatha</span> - mod peachy pink</b><span>not in stock</span></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/painted-love-lipstick-P211912?skuId=1266477&icid2=KatVonD_LipstickLove_PaintedLove_Carousel_P211912_image#" id="sku-1266451" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><span class="oos" style="background-image: url(http://www.sephora.com/images/oos-swatch-36.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: block; height: 38px; left: 0px; margin: 1px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 38px;"></span><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1266451+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb" data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Backstage Bambi</span> - hot pink</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/painted-love-lipstick-P211912?skuId=1266477&icid2=KatVonD_LipstickLove_PaintedLove_Carousel_P211912_image#" id="sku-1133586" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1133586+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb" data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Cathedral</span> - spiced pinkish brown</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/painted-love-lipstick-P211912?skuId=1266477&icid2=KatVonD_LipstickLove_PaintedLove_Carousel_P211912_image#" id="sku-1266477" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: black; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1266477+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a><a class="product-thumb current" data-original-title="<span class='swatch-tip'><b><span class='OneLinkNoTx'>Celebutard</span> - nude peach beige</b></span>" href="http://www.sephora.com/painted-love-lipstick-P211912?skuId=1266477&icid2=KatVonD_LipstickLove_PaintedLove_Carousel_P211912_image#" id="sku-1266501" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; cursor: default; display: block; float: left; padding: 1px; position: relative;" title=""><img src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1266501+sw.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 36px; vertical-align: middle; width: 36px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay- who else completely loves Sephora? Loves visiting, loves trying on new colors, loves buying just about anything from Sephora thanks to their super friendly return policy? I do! I have always loved make-up and I especially love the clean, beautiful shelves full of all shades of eye shadow, lipstick, lip gloss and every mascara option possible. It is a place of possibilities and fun. A place you go to purchase something you never truly "need" but always something you want for yourself or to give to make someone else's day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those of us who have a child who has Down syndrome or any intellectual disability already have to sit on pins and needles every time we go and see any movie for fear that there will be a joke mocking those with intellectual disabilities. This summer it was the movie, </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Heat</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Do we want to have to shelter our kids when we go to the mall to buy makeup as well? No!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, within hours, advocates had inundated Twitter and Sephora's Facebook in-box and page decrying their promotion of this offensively named lipstick.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Supposedly the shade has existed for almost five years, but was recently promoted by Sephora, which caused the outrage. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By 8:00 am this morning, a friend and fellow parent and advocate had sent me this <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-stagliano/sephora-celebutard-lipsti_b_4205976.html">Huffington Post blog</a> about the lipstick. By 8:34 am I sent a message on Facebook to Sephora saying that I find the product offensive and that I hoped they would stop promoting it and selling it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At 8:24pm, Sephora had sent me this message: </span><br />
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<a class="_b9" data-hovercard-instant="1" data-hovercard-offset-x="-18" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5931339813365183751" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: default;"><abbr class="_35 timestamp" data-utime="1383701040.411" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #bfbfbf; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;" title="Today">8:24pm</abbr></a><br />
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Hi Jennifer,</div>
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Thank you for messaging us. Yes that is correct, we are deeply sorry that the name of this lipstick has caused offense, and we will be ceasing the sale of this shade both in our stores and online.</div>
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Best regards,</div>
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Melissa
Sephora Facebook Team</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sephora- I hope you are true to your word. As of right now, the shade is still active on <a href="http://www.sephora.com/painted-love-lipstick-P211912?skuId=1266477&icid2=KatVonD_LipstickLove_PaintedLove_Carousel_P211912_image">Sephora.com</a>, but I hope that by tomorrow, it is gone. I don't care if Kat Von D keeps the shade and changes the name-- that is exactly what I hope happens. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have over 500 Sephora bonus points that I am saving for something super awesome, but I was prepared to boycott your store, and I am really excited about not having to do that. If you are true to your word-- thank you for listening to our community. Thank you for showing that you value what your consumers will and will not tolerate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for considering that perhaps the term Celebutard is the type of hate language you will not tolerate either. Thank you for sending a message that says you value humans more than you value hateful pop culture phrases.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, back to what I have really wanted to blog about. Super Joe's Super Fall! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are talking about new words, new milestones and a season without a surgery. Joey is going to the public pre-school and his private pre-school and he has the busiest schedule of any 3-year-old I know. Monday through Thursday are therapy days and school days and Friday is his "day off" when he gets to go to the same school as Tommy and take Creative Movement. All of this hard work is paying off. Joey is saying more and more and he is working very hard at learning how to walk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monday: 8:30 am - 11:00 am: Akron Early Learning Program</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Physical Therapy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tuesday: </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8:30 am - 11:00 am: Akron Early Learning Program</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm: Speech Therapy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wednesday: </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8:30 am - 11:00 am: Akron Early Learning Program</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Occupational Therapy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thursday: 9:00 </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">am - 12:00 pm: All About Kids Preschool</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm: Therapeutic Horseback Riding</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday: </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9:00 am - 12:00 pm: All About Kids Preschool</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm: Creative Movement Class at All About Kids </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Tuesday! Be the change you want to see in the world!</span></div>
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-25153850799190651082013-10-03T21:07:00.001-04:002013-10-03T21:07:03.990-04:00Mamalode Buddy Walk Giveaway ~ Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we celebrate October and Down Syndrome Awareness Month, here is a chance to win some amazing prizes from <a href="http://mamalode.com/">Mamalode.com</a>, which is having a major giveaway of past Mamalode issues! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you participated in a Buddy Walk this year and as a team raised at least $50, you are eligible to win a great prize!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you heard of Mamalode? Do you subscribe? Here is a little of what they are about...</span><br />
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Mamalode is a magazine. A website. A movement.</div>
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Our readers are moms, and their “me-time” is rare and precious. We do our best to deserve to be where they spend it.</div>
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Motherhood can be very shattering, both from the pressures on the outside and the love from the inside. It is a full plate, and often what gets pushed aside is YOU-- well, here at mamalode we create a bigger plate.</div>
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There is room for it all at mamalode.</div>
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There is room for you.</div>
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Your stories, songs, fears, hopes, celebrations, belly laughs and most of all your rousing hellos as you meet each other, understand each other and hopefully, along the way, find yourself.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you participated in a Buddy Walk, you should definitely swing by their Facebook page and enter for some of the fun prizes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy October and happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month, friends!</span><br />
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Mamalode Hearts the Buddy Walk ®</h1>
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<a href="http://mamalode.com/writer/27" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #f36d21; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; font-size: 0.7em; left: 80px; line-height: inherit; position: relative; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase;">BY ELKE</a></div>
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<article class="text row" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px -0.4375em; max-width: none; width: auto;"><div class="small-16 small-centered large-18 large-uncentered columns" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; float: left !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.4375em; position: relative; width: 626.65625px;">
<img alt="Mamalode Hearts the Buddy Walk ®" src="http://mamalode.com/images/uploads/post_images/3_WH_main_buddy_walk.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /><br />
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I am a huge fan of the <a href="http://www.ndss.org/Buddy-Walk/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #f36d21; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Buddy Walk</a> which is a program aimed at inclusion and acceptance of people with Down Syndrome. There are Buddy Walk events around the country (over 250 this year). It is a way for communities to come together, a way for awareness to be raised, and a way for individuals to raise money for more programs and support.</div>
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But most of all, it is a way to love.</div>
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Our local Buddy Walk is organized in memory of a little guy named Danny who in his much-too-short life was a great teacher of love. I was lucky enough to know Danny and his family.</div>
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So in honor of Danny and in support of Buddy Walks everywhere, Mamalode is giving away:</div>
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• 100 Mamalode Six Packs (Six of our back issues including the two featuring <a href="http://www.kellehampton.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #f36d21; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kelle Hampton’s</a> stories and covers–the <a href="http://www.mamalodemagazine.com/collections/current-or-back-issues-1/products/enough-summer-2011" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #f36d21; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">ENOUGH</a> and <a href="http://www.mamalodemagazine.com/collections/current-or-back-issues-1/products/flow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #f36d21; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">FLOW</a>issues, plus four more.) These will go to 100 people who let us know that they have raised over $500 dollars for their local Buddy Walk. Winners will be chosen by random number generator.</div>
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• 10 Mamalode full libraries (all 17 of our back issues, including the two Kelle Hampton stories/covers) and big Mamalode shout outs on social media about their great work. These will go to 10 people who let us know they have raised over $1000 for their local Buddy Walk.</div>
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• 5 free downloads of our <a href="http://www.kellehampton.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #f36d21; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">iPad edition of Mamalode’s Greatest Hits</a> (64 page, ad free, iPad magazine with the best from our first five issues) will be randomly selected by any entry that mentions iPad so we know who has one. Minimum amount raised to be in the random iPad selection: $50 or more.</div>
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HOW TO ENTER:<br />
Leave a comment on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mamalode" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #f36d21; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">facebook page</a> letting us know:<br />
• How much you raised<br />
• Where you live<br />
• If you are interested in the iPad edition<br />
• Why you support the Buddy Walk <em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">(optional)</em></div>
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Winners will be contacted directly through facebook private messaging to get your mailing address.<br />
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><a href="http://www.elkegovertsen.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #f36d21; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Elke Govertsen</a> is the founder of <a href="http://www.mamalode.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #f36d21; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Mamalode</a>. She loves the Buddy Walk and thinks you are totally rad, especially if you are out there walking, spreading the word or raising money to support your local Buddy Walk. Love on.</em></div>
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-67280733768529499812013-10-01T23:42:00.000-04:002013-10-01T23:42:32.331-04:00col*lab*o*rate: to work jointly with others ~ Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To collaborate. <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collaborate" target="_blank">Merriam-Webster</a> defines it as working with another person or group in order to achieve or to do something.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes it's hard to work with others, isn't it? Sometimes you know what you want and you don't even want to hear what someone else wants or why what you want isn't possible or isn't what you should really want.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6tggkjaWmyg/UkuNYQmXRpI/AAAAAAAAEzA/HZO47w2nfJc/s1600/1+Tommy+light+saber.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6tggkjaWmyg/UkuNYQmXRpI/AAAAAAAAEzA/HZO47w2nfJc/s400/1+Tommy+light+saber.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's where collaborating comes in. Coming together to jointly achieve a goal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After an unexpected meeting occurred to revise and reduce Joey's services as laid out in his IEP, I was angry (to read about how angry I was, visit <a href="http://jendawnscowgirlup.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-i-failed-as-parent-and-advocate-iep.html?showComment=1380597549244#c3920103084501670574" target="_blank">this post</a>). I was hurt. I was scared. I felt so ridiculously alone. I was confused. It took me a good four days to react and to figure out that we needed to come up with a new plan to address what had happened.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That being said, what started out as shock, anger, confusion and dismay has turned into a major learning lesson as we begin our journey navigating the world of IEP's (Individualized Education Plans). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dare I say we are lucky? Fortunate to have had something like <a href="http://jendawnscowgirlup.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-i-failed-as-parent-and-advocate-iep.html?showComment=1380597549244#c3920103084501670574" target="_blank">this</a> happen so early into Joey's education? I think so. One of my friends said the silver lining in this was just that- that we ran into a speed bump early on and that it forced us to figure out some very important things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We learned so much by going through this that the next time something comes up, we will be much more prepared. We will never be fully prepared, but we will at least have a plan and we at least now have realized just how many amazing resources we have and how many people we know who work in schools or who have experience and advice for the road ahead.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ROiZKn5901w/UkuNZpwBJKI/AAAAAAAAEzc/1lJePoLUAkg/s1600/1+Joey+and+Tommy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ROiZKn5901w/UkuNZpwBJKI/AAAAAAAAEzc/1lJePoLUAkg/s400/1+Joey+and+Tommy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also learned what it means to get the key players into a room together and collaborate. To work together to problem solve and troubleshoot and break down the existing challenges and goals into smaller, more manageable ones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What Exactly Did We Learn?</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. We learned that there are advocates and people who will attend IEP meetings with you. Some local resources include <a href="http://www.summitdd.org/" target="_blank">Summit DD</a> and <a href="http://www.thearcneo.org/" target="_blank">The Arc of Summit and Portage County.</a> After calling one of my Mommy Mentors (ie- moms who have been there and done that), I ended up calling The Arc and an advocate immediately agreed to attend our IEP meeting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. We learned that we can request an IEP meeting at any time during the school year. We learned that we can take the IEP draft home, read, re-read and even take it to our private therapists for them to review. We learned that <a href="http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/service/t/down-syndrome/default/" target="_blank">The Thomas Center for Down Syndrome</a> (which we are taking Joey to in January at Cincinnati Children's Hospital) will actually review their patients' IEP's. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. We learned that we have friends and acquaintances who are teachers, therapists, counselors, teacher aides and parents who have been maneuvering the IEP process for many years. We learned that if we send out an SOS-- there are people there to help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. We learned that most educators, therapists, administrators and aides want your child to succeed. We learned that sometimes being in this process every single day might mean that you aren't as aware of the effect it has on families and children. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. I learned that I do not ever want Joey to attend another IEP meeting. I learned that I do not ever want him to hear a therapist or educator say he has a "zero percent chance of meeting a goal" ever again. We know that he can understand much more than we realize and I am committed to making sure he does not attend another IEP meeting until he is at an age where he can express his feelings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. We learned that there are many, many families who have struggled with their own ambushes whether at school or work or in a relationship and that they too experienced similar feelings of being uncomfortable and upset. We learned that it is our right to stop a meeting when we feel that uncomfortable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. We have asked that in the future we have advance notice so that both Tom and I can attend the meeting together with an advocate and so we can get child care for Tommy and Joey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. We learned that the power of pictures is incredible. We brought pictures of what we wanted to do for Joey's cubby and we also brought a photo of him standing at the toilet. The goals that were removed were hard to remove when it was so obvious that he can and will reach those goals. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X2jTKj-roII/UkuNZCbyxhI/AAAAAAAAEzM/o5wmCZiCYiA/s1600/1+joey+sink.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X2jTKj-roII/UkuNZCbyxhI/AAAAAAAAEzM/o5wmCZiCYiA/s400/1+joey+sink.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joey- trying to climb up to the sink at It's All About Kids.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, How Did the Meeting Go?</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The meeting went really, really well. We brought our advocate and while she did not have to say a single word other than to introduce herself, we felt much more calm just having her sit there with us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We discussed multiple things at the meeting. We asked that in the future we be given advance notice because both Tom and I are totally invested in Joey's success and we BOTH want to be present for every decision made involving his schooling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We asked that his Physical Therapy be returned to 145 minutes, which it was. His PT assured us that he is getting even more than that, but one thing we have also learned is that unless it is in the IEP, it is not required. His PT had some excellent ideas and insight into what is motivating Joey and how he is doing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was probably the best part of the meeting was just getting this group together and learning about how Joey is doing and what he does at school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main things we discussed were the two Occupational Therapy goals that were removed (ie- him hanging up his backpack in his cubby and him sitting on the potty without resisting for 45 seconds).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We assured the team that these are things that we will follow through with and work on with him both at his public and private pre-school as well as at home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once the team started discussing the goals and breaking down the various ways to make them achievable (ie- lowering the hook in his cubby, adding his photo in his cubby since he cannot read, yet, letting him sit on the potty with his pants on to start with) the room was energized and the tension disappeared. The two goals were reinstated without resistance and we are working on helping Joey achieve those goals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is where the collaboration came in. We all started thinking, talking and working together and it was awesome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The therapist who had set up the initial "conversation" apologized when I said how shocked I was that it was an organized meeting to change Joey's IEP. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The glue of the meeting was Joey's teacher who filled in the gaps and was able to tell us about the things he is doing in class and how she thought we could incorporate the two goals into the day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the group meeting, Tom and I stayed at the school for awhile to observe Joey's class and see him in action. We are getting daily sheets from his teacher that show the activities he participates in and what is nice is that Tom drops him off in the morning while I take Tommy to his preschool and then I pick Joey up when he is done at 11am. That gives me the daily opportunity to see his teacher and hear how his day went.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What gives Tom and I both so much relief is that Joey's teacher is truly passionate about teaching children with varying special needs. She is always energetic, excited to see the kids and we are grateful to see how he has started to warm up to her and the new school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will this be our last road bump in the schooling process. Nope. I'm sure it won't be. And that's okay. We have learned so much from this one experience that we are looking forward to seeing how we can keep striving to maximize Joey's education and his learning process to help him be his best self.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For all of the wonderful insight, emails, comments and Facebook messages-- we are so very, very grateful-- thank you for your thoughts, ideas and support.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is going to be a major year for Super Joe! He is truly starting to try and "cruise" on furniture. He is climbing up things we never thought possible. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We hope you will join us this month as we celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month all of October!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy October and a <b>very happy belated 5th Birthday</b> to the most amazing big brother of all. Thomas Henry. Tommy enjoyed a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle birthday party this year. Happy number five, Tommy!</span><br />
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-22102355655900804722013-09-23T22:46:00.001-04:002013-09-23T22:46:43.718-04:00How I Failed as a Parent and an Advocate - An IEP Lesson Learned the Hard Way<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"How is school going?" I was asked by a friend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Um, well. That's a really good question. Up until September 11th I thought school was going really well. That is, the four days that Joey had been in the public school Early Learning Program. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vVt-HUMtHZQ/UkD5sY9bqKI/AAAAAAAAEx8/EZuVW1xO7S8/s1600/Joey+Emma+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vVt-HUMtHZQ/UkD5sY9bqKI/AAAAAAAAEx8/EZuVW1xO7S8/s640/Joey+Emma+2.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.nattakan.com/" target="_blank">Nat</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The week before, one of his therapists had called to "get more details" about Joey's use of a mobile stander and then asked when I could stay after school to "fill in some information" for her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course I would stay after school and talk about Joey and what he is learning to do, what he has tried to do, what he is working on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had no idea that walking into his school that day I was actually being brought into a formal meeting with multiple therapists, a student therapist, his teacher and other individuals who work with him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little did I know that what I thought was going to be a one-on-one casual meeting with one of his therapists was actually going to be a full on IEP Revision meeting of which everyone else seemed to know was happening except for me. Or my husband. Or Joey who had just gotten out of school and was so excited to see me that I spent the entire time trying to hold him and look at him while he turned my face to see his (which is totally adorable, by the way).</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.nattakan.com/" target="_blank">Nat</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was already a little unsettled after watching the memorials of September 11th on the news all morning and watching the planes collide into the World Trade Center again. On September 11, 2001 I was a fresh Lieutenant Junior Grade working as a JAG officer in Washington, DC. As a result of September 11, two of the men I had met and dated while in the Navy where both killed while serving overseas in the aftermath of September 11. It's a tough day. It's not an excuse by any means, but I was definitely not on my game.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Furthermore, I have this ridiculous problem in that I want Joey's school and teachers and therapists to like me and to like him so that they treat him well. I don't talk about this much, but having a child who cannot speak and who cannot walk and leaving them in the care of strangers for 2 1/2 hours is one of the hardest things I have EVER done in my life. I want to trust everyone in his school. I want to believe that they have Joey's best interests at heart. I want him to be a good student and to learn and to rise to their challenges. I want him to be a success. I want him to be happy-- but at the end of the day, it's their word I have to believe and it's their word I have to listen to-- simply because Joey has no way of telling me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So when I asked to see his therapist and was ushered into a large room with multiple people and a conference table I was flabbergasted. What was going on? Wasn't I just meeting with his therapist to fill in some details?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vapd6qxm5lg/UkD5r07FMdI/AAAAAAAAEx0/d8WfoSZryis/s1600/Joey+Emma+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vapd6qxm5lg/UkD5r07FMdI/AAAAAAAAEx0/d8WfoSZryis/s640/Joey+Emma+4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.nattakan.com/" target="_blank">Nat</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No. I wasn't. I was right in the midst of an IEP meeting that I had no clue was going to happen. I didn't have Tom there. I had Joey sitting on my lap climbing all over me and the entire time I was trying to please the adults in the room instead of looking out for Joey's best interests.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't even begin to list the ways I failed as a parent and as his only voice. His only advocate. The only person in that room who has a moral obligation to do right by him. Oh, how I failed. It was an epic, epic fail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So much so that I stayed up all night that night and the next night playing it over and over in my head and asking myself why I let it happen. Why didn't I say I wasn't comfortable? Why didn't I ask for it to be rescheduled? Why?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They cut his therapy by half-- which I understood to a point. A fair reduction would have been 40% and that is what we are going to try and go back and revise. And the reason a reduction is fair is that when the IEP was written, the school assumed Joey would be there 5 days a week, but instead he goes there 3 days a week and then to a private preschool (It's All About Kids)the other 2 days of the week. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then they removed two of his goals for the year because they told me he had "Zero percent chance of meeting those goals during the year." Can you believe it-- I just sat their and shook my head up and down as though I agreed to these cuts. As though I agreed to their determination that these goals were clearly beyond Joey's abilities over the course of the school year. That is what was the worst part of the entire situation- not that they were having the meeting without letting me in on it ahead of time, but that I didn't resist. That I didn't disagree- that I didn't stick up for him. That is what really kept (and keeps) me up at night.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He just seems to be interested in toilets and in standing. I feel like we could meet these goals...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He had been at school only 2 days when these decisions were made. This "meeting" took place on his 4th day of school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The goals that Joey has "zero chance of achieving" by June 2014.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Standing up and hanging his backpack in his school cubby.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Sitting on the toilet without resisting for 45 seconds each day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seriously? Seriously?</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joey painting at It's All About Kids- the private preschool he attends.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And yet-- the people pleaser in me came out. I SIGNED THE IEP.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Nooooooooooooo," you say.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yes," I say. I did it and I would never in a million years recommend that anyone do what I did that day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am an attorney. I went to law school. I went to JAG school. I KNOW BETTER THAN TO EVER SIGN SOMETHING RIGHT AWAY!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was an epic fail. One that has caused me incredible heartbreak and stress over the past two weeks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the weekends we drive around looking at other neighborhoods wondering if we should move school districts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We went to the IEP training. We heard horror stories. We told ourselves that wouldn't be us. We would know better. We would do better by Joey. Well, let me tell you, the best intentions line a road to hell and back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who am I to preach to advocate and be the voice for your child, when I can't even do it myself?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've beat myself up and down over this and we are moving forward with a new meeting tomorrow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My best advice to other families is to take a deep breath.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are in a situation you are uncomfortable in-- tell them so and ask to reschedule to a better time when your support person can be there and you can have appropriate child-care so you can focus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Phone a friend. This is why we are so active in our local Down syndrome community. When I was on my second night of not sleeping I called one of my Mama Mentors. She immediately knew what to do. She put me in touch in with an advocacy organization and they walked me through the next steps.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I called the school, said I would like to rescind my signature and would like a new meeting so that my husband could also attend and so we could have child care for Joey so we could focus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, we have talked about these goals and we are working on them at home. We are working on them at his private preschool (which offered to immediately try to work on these goals). We have strategies and ideas about how to make these goals work-- a photo in his cubby, us practicing with a lower hook at home and slowly building up, us putting him on the potty 3-4 times a day for 45 seconds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We want to work with the school. And from what we have seen we really believe that his teacher is an excellent teacher. We realize there are budgets, there are measuring tools, there are bureaucratic elements that feed into every decision, BUT we also realize that this is Joey's life and if we need to start learning how to really advocate and how to put his and our best foot forward only 3 weeks into his public school experience, then so be it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are now up to the task. I have accepted my failure and forgiven myself (mostly), but I'm still stinging from the experience. It felt like an ambush. It felt like a party that everyone else knew about except for me. It hurt. It still hurts. The pain is a very present reminder of how much we have to learn. Of how we need to learn to navigate the system in a way the best benefits Joey. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wish us luck-- and best of luck and may all the strength and fortitude be with each and every parent out there who is walking the road of being both a parent and an advocate for you child with special needs.</span><br />
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-77418785755167377612013-09-09T22:43:00.000-04:002013-09-09T22:46:15.509-04:00Happy Post-Surgery, Happy Buddy Walk, Happy 3rd Birthday, Happy Pre-School, Super Joe!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">August was an incredible, but insane and exhausting month. I've had this post in my head for almost a month now. Joey had his tonsils and adenoids out on August 8th and things have not slowed down for a single second. It was like August was a month in super fast forward. At one point, someone asked me why didn't try to schedule Joey's surgery at a better time- my answer was that in this life and in our situation, we no longer do that. We do his things when he needs them done regardless of what is going on around us and then we forge ahead with abandon and pray for the best.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we tried to plan every event or ever trip around when Super Joe might be sick or might have a procedure-- the plain truth is that we might not ever plan a single thing. Tom and I have made a conscientious decision to not live like that. We do our best and if Joey or even Tommy for that matter is sick, we reschedule or come home early.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That being said, August WAS INSANE!!!</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Like mind-boggling, incredibly stressful, crazy moments of bliss, constantly on the go, not a second to take a breath, insane. Whew! This will be a post that should have spanned over four weeks, but here you go- it's all in here in one giant August wrap up. Happy Fall, ya'll!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">G-pa and Grammy came in from Dayton to walk with us.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Post-Surgery: Joey Turned a Corner</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So. Tonsils and adenoids. Very interesting. About 1/3 of the people I spoke to had children who had no complications and no problems with having their tonsils and adenoids removed. The other 2/3 I spoke to had hydration problems, sleeping problems and feeding issues. We were in the latter group. We were told it would take him about 10-14 days to get through the worst part and then 2-3 weeks total to be back to normal. Joey was right on this schedule. He learned new words from his hospitalization that include "No" and "Ouchie." He would literally lie on the floor clutching his throat saying ouchie. It was one of the saddest things I have ever seen and I would have been sadder had I not been so completely sleep-deprived. He slept ok the first couple of nights, but then for the next 10 days he would literally wake up at midnight, 2 am, 4 am and 6 am and we would have to rock him and hold him. He was eating and drinking a bare minimum, but because he had a couple wet diapers and tears, we knew he wasn't completely dehydrated. I said to Tom that it felt like we had a newborn again, only this one was in pain and weighs 30 pounds (although thanks to 2 weeks of very little food he is down to a slim 29 pounds!).</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saddest pose ever.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, there was the lingering smell of what my mom said was the scent of gangrene. We were warned that he would have bad breath and that brushing his teeth would not help. No one told us that his mouth and breath and anywhere near him would literally smell like death. Rotting tissue. Wow! The first night it set in we went into his room and thought he had a poopy diaper-- nope. That would just be the gangrenous odor of cauterized flesh in his mouth. On one of the first days I had the misfortune of looking in his mouth while he was screaming at us for trying to give him his medicine and I almost passed out. It looked like gray and green ill-colored mountains of dead flesh were lining his throat. YIKES!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The recovery was bad. It was really bad. It took two of us to try and get some of the ibuprofen in him-- EVERY 4-6 HOURS!!! Poor Tommy was traumatized by watching Tom hold Joey and me try to force feed him his medicine. It was a vicious cycle. He didn't want to take his medicine because his throat hurt, which meant he also didn't want to eat or drink, which made his throat hurt even more and so on and so on. I tried it all. Pudding, ice cream, popsicles, freezing the medicine into other forms, applesauce, yogurt, milkshakes. Super Joe was just not going to eat or drink until he was desperate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm probably suffering from blocking out the whole heart surgery, but those 9 days in the hospital after his heart surgery were honestly easier than trying to help him recover the two weeks after his tonsils and adenoids were removed. My theory is that after heart surgery, there were nurses and doctors making sure he was okay, but after this latest surgery it was just us trying to do our best at home. Oh, and apparently he had HUGE adenoids, which is why he kept rubbing his little nose like crazy saying ouchie and dripping tons of mucus for 10 days.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not even his favorite fudgsicle could tempt him.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh my. We made it. In the midst of all this I looked at Tom and said, "Am I being delusional by believing that somehow this will help Joey not to be so sick this winter?" His response? "Probably. Don't get your hopes up." He's our resident honey badger. I still have high hopes for this year. I'm praying for a healthy and productive year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Thank you to all the mamas who left comments, or emailed or sent Facebook messages with helpful information. I printed it all out and took it with me to the hospital and it helped us be much, much more prepared!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 2013 Northeast Ohio Buddy Walk</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joey's surgery was on the 8th and Buddy Walk was on the 17th. He was not quite himself, but he was a trooper for the entire day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over this one day, every year, we gather to celebrate awareness, to celebrate community and to raise money for our local Down syndrome advocacy and programming organization-- </span><a href="http://www.usod.org/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">The Up Side of Downs</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. This was my third year on the committee and my role has grown to being in charge of obtaining food donations for the walk. We had 3,000 hot dogs, 500 cups of Menchie's frozen yogurt, two huge carafes of Starbucks, Eat 'n Go cookies, gluten-free cake balls, airline nuts, juice boxes, water, over 600 baked goods from Main Street Muffins and more! It was all gone by the time the walk was completed. This had to be the largest crowd we have ever had attend. Somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000 families, individuals, teachers, therapists, friends, loved ones and others who all come together and walk to raise awareness and money for individuals with Down syndrome in Northeast Ohio. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At 6:00 am, my mom and I met Nat at Starbucks where they loaded up our car with two huge carafes of hot coffee and then we headed to Progressive field where we set up the food and beverages for all the people attending the walk. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every year we have a team we put together and ever year there are new team members as well as veterans. Some years people can't make it and I always tell them-- don't worry!!! There is always next year! This year's group was incredible. All the friends and family who either donated or walked- it was incredibly overwhelming and we are so grateful for helping us to improve the lives of individuals with Down syndrome in our community. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://www.standupfordowns.org/" target="_blank">Stand Up for Downs</a> crew! Tagline: You should totally donate!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our goal for Joey was to be able to walk across home plate this year at the Buddy Walk, but we aren't quite there. That being said, he tried and with some help was able to cross home plate with a little help-- a few of us cried- it was the best part of the day as a proud mama.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Big Bottle of Wine and Rubber City Roller Girls at Retro Dog</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The night of the walk we had a major fundraising event to cap off the weekend. Our dear friends, Jon and Mark had worked with Susan at <a href="http://www.regencywinesellers.com/" target="_blank">Regency Wine Sellers & Bar</a> to sell chances at winning an incredible 18L bottle of wine, which is called a Melchior. Between all of their incredible efforts, they managed to raise almost $2,000.00 for the Up Side of Downs 2013 Buddy Walk!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all gathered to celebrate and draw the winning name! The couple who won were not there that night, but where thrilled to receive the call. The rest of us spent the evening enjoying the fruits of a summer of fundraising and celebrating the success of this year's walk. It is so hard to express our gratitude and sincere thanks for the efforts of our families and friends who embrace and work so hard to help make the Buddy Walk a success. We try our best and we are so very grateful for your support and love and your dedication to continuing to making the world a better place for people with Down syndrome.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The party didn't stop at Regency Wine Bar-- we rolled right into Sunday afternoon where Jon and Mark had once again worked their magic with Lisa of <a href="http://www.retrodog.com/" target="_blank">Retro Dog</a> and helped organize a fundraiser with the magical <a href="http://www.rubbercityrollergirls.com/" target="_blank">Rubber City Roller Girls</a>! We cannot wait to take the kids to see one of their "bouts" this winter!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you haven't visited <a href="http://www.regencywinesellers.com/" target="_blank">Regency</a> or <a href="http://www.retrodog.com/" target="_blank">Retro Dog</a>- we hope you will visit both and support these locally owned businesses and if you think about it-- please tell them thanks for supporting our community. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joey Turned 3!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is so much to say about Joey turning three. To start, Tommy and I cleaned out the play room before his birthday and put all of the toys we deemed to be too "babyish" for Joey in the attic. Part of Joey's growth and progress is based on us treating him like a big boy and placing big boy expectations on him. We expect him to learn how to act while eating at the dinner table. How to behave during church. We are working on him saying or signing please and thank you. One of our dear friends, who has a 30-year-old son with Down syndrome told me early on that it is important to try and continue to introduce age appropriate toys, books and shows and to promote acting your age. I couldn't agree more. When people remark on our "baby" we kindly, but firmly say, "Oh no. He's not a baby, he's a big boy." The point of our response has very little to do with the person saying it and everything to do with the fact that we know Joey understands way more than he can communicate and so we try to communicate the message we want to reinforce.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had thought that when Joey turned 3, he would be able to walk. This hasn't happened, yet. That being said, he works so very, very hard at it and his therapy and his exercises every single day. This little man might not be walking, but he is crawling at the speed of light, he bear crawls on hard surfaces and as of today he is an official dangerous climber! I mean DANGEROUS! Super Joe climbed up on a kitchen chair and then proceeded to climb up on the kitchen table. I was standing right next to him, but was curious as to how far he would make it. Watch out world! When Joey starts walking I have a feeling he won't be walking for long and will soon be running!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why is he 3-years-old and not able to walk, you ask? We ask the same question. I had a great conversation with his PT at school and she told me that because Joey has such severe hypotonia (ie- low muscle tone), walking is just that much more difficult for him. For him to move his legs takes an incredible amount of effort. I have also read that many individuals who have Down syndrome and have some speech difficulties, do so because of the low muscle tone in their facial muscles. Can you imagine? You want so badly to say something, but your own muscles are fighting against it? You want to express yourself, but it's just that much harder. Or, can you imagine wanting to run after your classmates or your siblings, but you just can't make your legs work quite the right way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't imagine. I don't know what it is like for Joey to experience these kinds of frustrations, but what I do know is that he works tirelessly and with incredible devotion and tenacity and he will achieve his goals and his hard work will pay off. Before we know, Super Joe will be flying.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We celebrated his 3rd birthday at Retro Dog and it was awesome! Both the kids and adults tried all kinds of different hot dogs, hamburgers, fresh-brewed Thirsty Dog Root Beer and regular Beer and we finished with an incredible cake by Marty Draime. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What will this year bring for Joey? If I could have any say in it I would wish that he has a year full of joy and love and that it is a year free of surgery and sickness. Those are my birthday wishes for you, precious Joe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two trips to Dayton- Grammy's Birthday and My 20-Year High School Reunion</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rest of the month was filled with a trip to Dayton to celebrate my mom's birthday with a wine tasting dinner and lunch with the kids. Tommy had a blast and kept asking when we would be going back to Dayton- luckily we went back the next weekend, so his wish came true.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next weekend we headed back down to celebrate my 20th high school reunion. The weekend started with a football game at my old high school. We sat in the middle school section, which seemed slightly less scary than the high school section (how can high school still be scary 20 years later???). Tom's assessment of the middle school section was that it was a "swirling mess of pre-teen hormones and face paint." Spot on. But it was still fun and the boys had a blast with their cousins and Aunt Lu Lu and Grammy and G-Pa.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday afternoon we took the boys to the reunion picnic and it was such a neat afternoon. The best part was meeting everyone's beautiful kids and catching up. Joey slept for half of it and we should have known that this was a clue that something was going on, but we had no idea he was getting sick.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So much had changed, and so much had not. What was most moving was realizing what a great school we all had the good fortune to attend and what neat and unique and kind and beautiful people we went to school with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The organizers and their families did a bang up job of organizing the weekend- down to the pinatas divided into age groups at the picnic to the map of the United State showing where everyone had come in from. It was a magical and moving weekend and I am so grateful to the years I spent in school with these friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday night was full of catching up with more old friends, reminiscing and spending time in the photo booth trying to photo bomb each other. We all told each other that we had not changed a bit and we all meant it in the nicest way possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We do have one nationally known actress who went to middle school and graduated with our class. We were cheerleaders together for almost six years throughout middle and high school and she is still the beautiful, kind and sweet-- Sherri Saum.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sherri is currently starring in the ABC Family television show "<a href="http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/the-fosters/cast/lena-adams" target="_blank">The Fosters</a>", which is produced by Jennifer Lopez. She came to both the 10 year and 20 year reunion and is so beautiful and sweet in person. It was such a treat to see her. Her new show is awesome-- they are starting to film ten more episodes, so more to come!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you, class of 1993, Firebirds! What a weekend- full of memories both old and new. Cheers!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kettering Fairmont High School- Class of 1993</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joey Starts Pre-School- at Two Schools and Tommy Starts Pre-K</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tommy is back at It's All About Kids for Pre-K before he starts Kindergarten next year. He loves his class so far and invited each of them to his birthday party the very first day of school. He and Joey have both been tired and a little grouchy since the start of school- I think we all have, come to think of it! They are thrilled to go to school, but the early mornings and full days are taking a bit of getting used to after our summer fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joey's schedule is a little more complicated. He attends an Early Learning Program through the Akron Public School on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for a couple of hours in the morning. He has only had two days of school there so far, but he seems to be adjusting to the new environment pretty well. The first day of school I picked him up and told him to tell his teacher "thank you." Joey had another plan- he pointed at me and said very clearly and very loudly- "No!" Our little man is developing his own opinion and personality. On Day Two he did a tiny little thank you sign to his teacher. We are getting there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other two days of the week, Thursday and Friday- he attends It's All About Kids with Tommy, but in a different classroom. I didn't realize how much this would mean to the boys until we all went to Joey's new school for orientation the week before it started. It was a great orientation and we got to visit Joey's classroom and attend a book fair and have the boys fingerprinted and photographed. As we walked to the car, Tommy looked at me and said, "I don't want Joey to go to this dumb school."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />"Tommy! We don't use that word." I tried to address the delivery of his message instead of the message itself because I was trying to figure out the right thing to say and I needed to buy myself some time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It came to me. "Tommy, this school is going to help Joey learn to walk and talk and do all kinds of things. It's going to be a really good school for him and half of the week he will be here and the other half he will be with you again like last year."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That seemed to work, but it spoke a lot to me as to how close these two boys are. They are definitely happier on the days they go to school together. The school world is one we will continue to explore and try to manage as best as possible over the coming years. I have already spoken to two private schools that Tommy will visit about the possibility of Joey attending those and was told by both that at this time they cannot make any promises about their ability to have Joey attend their schools because they don't know how well he will function at that time. The doors are definitely not closed-- we will just have to wait and see what will be best for Joey, what will be best for Tommy and what will work best for our family as a whole. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We go into the world of having a child with special needs attend school with open hearts and minds and we pray for the best for Joey. We also pray for the family of another special needs blogger mom and my heart breaks when we read about how some people are <a href="http://thestatuswoe.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">pushed to the edge</a> when trying to make it all work and make the puzzle pieces fit. Please say a prayer for Issy and her family and for all the kids with special needs and their teachers and therapists and families as we all start this new school year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hand/Foot/Mouth Disease, Huh???</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we left the madness and fun of August, we headed into September last week with new schedules and routines to learn. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Friday morning, the new plans and schedules all came to a screeching halt. Joey woke up with bumps and blisters and sores all over. His little hands were swollen with tiny red dots. He had them on his torso, all over his feet and they were starting to spread to his face and mouth. What in the world? We thought it might be strep or even chicken pox and headed to the doctor as fast as we could get in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once we got in they sent us straight to the rash room. Ever been to the rash room? We average a visit about once every 1-2 months, so we know right where to go. It only took the doctor a couple of minutes to examine Joey and determine that our little man had Hand/Foot/Mouth Disease. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Is that a real thing?" my husband asked when I called him. Um, apparently. I finally checked Tommy head to toe and found that he too had H/F/M as he had the same sores on the bottoms of his feet. Luckily for Tommy, he had a much more mild case, which is what usually happens to Super Joe. Sickness just hits him hard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The nice thing about H/F/M is that by the time you realize the kids have it, it is almost over. All of a sudden the boys' low fevers the weekend before and their sleepiness and tummy problems made a lot more sense. I thought it was a case of the Summer's End Blues, but turns out it was real.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay! Whew! That was a lot to get through, but it is now September and we are all caught up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a very happy week and try to spread some sunshine out there. When people act or say things in a way you don't understand-- try to give them the benefit of the doubt and see how much easier your day goes.</span></div>
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-60430429777395964122013-08-11T21:44:00.000-04:002013-08-11T21:44:00.649-04:00Super Joe- Post Surgery Blues<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This will be short, sweet and quick. Joey did awesome in surgery on Thursday to have his adenoids and tonsils removed and his ear tubes reviewed. He did need a little oxygen post-op as well as some morphine and Decadron. He came out of being intubated with a very "croupy" cough according to his surgeon, so they kept him on Decadron (a steroid) during his hospital stay.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This mini-car was a saving grace! Surgery wasn't until 12:15 and Joey last had food the night before at 7pm.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a scary incident on Friday when Grandma and Grandpa brought Tommy to the hospital to visit. Joey had gotten some of his medicine and then after his nurse left the room he started choking, and choking and choking. Tommy stood to the side of Joey and kept saying, "Just keep calm, Joey, just keep calm, Joey." I was holding him and it got scarier and scarier. They think his throat must have spasm-ed and then sealed because he started to turn blue and could not breath. Tom ran in the hall screaming, "My son is choking!" and I remembered in the back of my head to pull the cord out of the wall if there was an emergency and so I pulled it. Within seconds there were 10 nurses in our room and he finally started to breath on his own. That was our big excitement in the hospital and we were so glad when it was over. I felt horrible that Tommy had to be there, but he was such a great big brother.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally sleeping after surgery.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He recovery and post-surgery has been a lot like some of the other experiences we had heard about. He has very little appetite and for the most part doesn't want to eat or drink at all. He's gone from a boy who loves to eat and drink his milk and water to a boy who might eat once a day and might drink half a sippy cup. As long as we can keep a little something in him and as long as he keeps having wet diapers- we can hopefully stay out of the ER. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His breath is even more ridiculously ghastly than I had imagined. We were warned and warned again and I had no clue that his breath could really be THAT bad! Well- it is. It's comical- I feel bad because I feel like the entire house smells like his breath. Aggghh!! Poor kid-- cannot imagine what that tastes like!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we've got the bad breath, his not wanting to eat or drink and then there is the process of trying to get his medicine in him. Joey. Hates. Taking. Medicine. He just does. He's had too much of it in his life and he cries and chokes and it takes Tom holding him and me squeezing a tiny bit of liquid ibuprofen in his mouth over about a 10 minute period. Normally I will just crush up the kid ibuprofen, but since he won't eat, that hasn't been working. I made home made chocolate pudding and put it in there- no dice. We gave him vanilla Haagen-Daaz (thank you, Uncle Tim!) with a quart of Hershey's syrup, plus the ibuprofen crushed up in it- no dice. Super Joe can smell the medicine a mile away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since getting home on Friday he has mostly laid on the floor saying "Ouchy". It is seriously the saddest thing ever. If we can get enough of his medicine in him he perks up, but it's been a major challenge trying to get it in him every 6 hours. For 7 days. Bubba has been extra cuddly, but also extra angry. Kind of like we are living with a mini Jekyll and Hyde. He will either want you to hold him or he has started scratching my face. It kind of hurts my feelings. But I get it. Every six hours I force feed him some nasty berry-flavored liquid ibuprofen he hates. I really do kind of get it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What else? Oh yes-- we found out that Joey definitely can say the word, "No." Ask him any question right now and he will quickly say, "No."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other than that- he's going to get through this. We will get through this. Lots of people do. Just kind of bummer right now. But friends and family have been super kind with meals, Popsicles, balloons, a mini bottle of rum (thank you!!!) and more- thank you for the kindness and prayers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought 2 weeks off of all his therapies was a bit extreme, but he isn't even at the point where he is able to leave the house, much less exert any extra energy. It is nice to be able to focus on getting him better. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope you have a great week and maybe by the next time I can sneak in a chance to blog, Super Joe will be back to himself!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have to go to bed because Joey just went to bed 2 hours ago and we have to be up in 4 hours to give him his medicine. Night!</span></div>
Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-5240022186795683322013-08-07T23:18:00.002-04:002013-08-07T23:20:24.102-04:00Mommy- Why Are Joey's Hands and Feet Blue?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was Thomas Henry's question tonight when we talked about Joey having surgery again tomorrow. I explained that Joey had to go into the hospital and that I was going to stay the night with him, but that Daddy would stay the night with Tommy. And that's when he said, "Mommy- why were Joey's hands and feet blue?" And I turned around. Then he said, "Mommy- why couldn't Joey breathe that day?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I said, "Well, honey, Joey had pneumonia that day, but we didn't know it and he was very, very sick. But then he went to the hospital for awhile and he got much better. This next surgery is going to try and help him not get so sick anymore."</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-teoWsAtzjWA/UgMLzKfx57I/AAAAAAAAEh8/fg8k5DLGNBU/s1600/Santa+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-teoWsAtzjWA/UgMLzKfx57I/AAAAAAAAEh8/fg8k5DLGNBU/s640/Santa+5.JPG" width="482" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Mommy, I'm going to stay the night in the hospital with you and Joey."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Oh, honey. Only mommies or daddies are allowed to stay the night because the rooms are very small, but Joey and Mommy should be home by Friday. And-- you and Daddy get to stay up extra late while we are gone!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He seemed skeptical and suggested that I take some DVD's for Joey to watch, "Great idea, Tommy. Let's make sure to pack some of Joey's favorite shows. Great idea!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh- my heart swelled up for a moment. On one hand, Joey has no idea what is about to happen and on the other hand Tommy doesn't exactly know either, but he knows it's a trip back to the hospital. He's a good brother. Such a good brother. We are both going to miss Tommy tomorrow night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tomorrow morning, we take Joey in for him to have his tonsils and adenoids removed. He's had some breathing issues when he gets sick and he has had multiple episodes of croup and a brutal case of pneumonia this past spring that he is finally (knock on a MAJOR piece of wood) getting over. It seriously took him about 3-4 months to get over pneumonia. All kinds of secondary upper respiratory infections. The eye surgery on June 21st didn't help much and just re-irritated his airways, but he seems (again- knock on wood) to have finally reached a calmer place.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ChPq_Q4PuMY/UgML4XLBUeI/AAAAAAAAEiQ/N4OvxDemqO4/s1600/Picture+169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ChPq_Q4PuMY/UgML4XLBUeI/AAAAAAAAEiQ/N4OvxDemqO4/s640/Picture+169.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His operation is scheduled for 12:15 pm at Akron Children's and then he and I will stay the night and hopefully go home on Friday. If you think about it- please say a little prayer that all goes well and that this procedure will help him to not be as sick this year. Every sickness and every hospitalization sets him back just a little bit more and they all add up. We have big hopes for Super Joe as he turns 3 this month!</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NID_c4Nat20/UgMLzCr5GcI/AAAAAAAAEiE/5pAugtmQyCM/s1600/towel+towells.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NID_c4Nat20/UgMLzCr5GcI/AAAAAAAAEiE/5pAugtmQyCM/s400/towel+towells.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He has come so far in the past year and as my husband says-- Joey always makes progress. Sometimes it can be slow, but he always makes progress. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5gFAlerRNHw/UgMLzIdlQiI/AAAAAAAAEiI/4od9M0cYT6Y/s1600/TH+hugging+Joey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5gFAlerRNHw/UgMLzIdlQiI/AAAAAAAAEiI/4od9M0cYT6Y/s640/TH+hugging+Joey.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the Buddy Walk video we made for him this year and it is a great testimony to all of his hard work and progress.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you would like to walk with us on August 17th-- you can register the day of the walk. <a href="http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1060906&lis=1&kntae1060906=D2F637CF736445DA893A84D667B359D7&supId=359792844" target="_blank">Here is more information on the walk.</a> </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt5" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;">www.onetruemedia.com</span></a></div>
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-39348312966284087922013-08-05T21:36:00.000-04:002013-08-05T21:36:54.650-04:00Join us at Yoga Bliss on August 9th!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U6Zr_yZJEVM/UgBMbhUp7AI/AAAAAAAAEg8/A9YM2PVdjfg/s1600/Joey+Medal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U6Zr_yZJEVM/UgBMbhUp7AI/AAAAAAAAEg8/A9YM2PVdjfg/s640/Joey+Medal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joey earned his Victory Gallop medal today after finishing his first session of horse therapy. His face says it all!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our local Down syndrome organization, <a href="http://www.usod.org/about-us/programs-and-services" target="_blank">The Up Side of Downs</a>, hosts a Buddy Walk every year. For the past three years I have worked on this committee and have helped try to raise money, raise awareness and help the chairs put on an incredible walk that over 4,000 people attend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For our family, the local Buddy Walk is an incredible day of joy, camaraderie, seeing friends we don't get to see often enough, meeting new friends and making memories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A small portion of the proceeds from the Buddy Walk (7% to be exact) go to the National Down Syndrome Society, which is one of the larger national advocacy organizations for Down syndrome. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other 93% of the money raised is used locally to serve over 800 families caring for a loved one with Down syndrome. Some of their amazing programs include: <span style="color: blue;"><strong style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.usod.org/support/parent-to-parent-network" style="text-decoration: none;" title="title">Parent to Parent Network</a>, </strong><strong style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.usod.org/support/northeast-ohio-buddy-walk" style="text-decoration: none;" title="title">Buddy Walk</a>, </strong><strong style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.usod.org/support/family-grant-program" style="text-decoration: none;" title="title">Family Grant Program</a>, </strong><strong style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.usod.org/support/scholarship-program" style="text-decoration: none;" title="title">Undergraduate Scholarship Program for General Education (K-12)</a>, </strong><strong style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.usod.org/resource-directory/" style="text-decoration: none;" title="title">Directory </a></strong><strong style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.usod.org/resource-directory/" style="text-decoration: none;" title="title">of Local, National & International Resources</a>, </strong><strong style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Parent Support Groups, </strong><strong style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Disability Awareness Program, </strong><strong style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Education Conferences and last but not least-- Social Events.</strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yoga Bliss Benefit on Friday, August 9th from 7-9pm</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is our third year of walking in the Buddy Walk since Joey was born on August 27, 2010. Our goal for this year was for him to walk by himself in the walk, but we are not quite there. He is working really hard on this and we have no doubt that by the 2014 walk he will walk across home plate at Progressive Field. This year we will help him across-- but he's getting there!!! Every day he gets a little bit stronger!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lUZjH_HhD68/UgBMgpz74SI/AAAAAAAAEhI/xGOxdzDXq2A/s1600/joey+door.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lUZjH_HhD68/UgBMgpz74SI/AAAAAAAAEhI/xGOxdzDXq2A/s640/joey+door.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joey playing peekaboo with his door.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year, some of Joey's friends are lending helping hands in all different ways to help us raise funds to continue the very important work of The Up Side of Downs. My parent's have donated the purchase of all the hand fans for this hot day, another friend has donated radio air time, another friend has donated ad space, another friend has donated gluten-free cake balls, another pair of friends have donated an 18 Liter bottle of French wine that we are selling raffle tickets for (email me <a href="mailto:jenniferdawntowell@gmail.com" target="_blank">here</a> if you would like to purchase a raffle ticket for that one!) and Tracy has donated an awesome Yoga Class Event to help our Buddy Walk team raise money!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first event is this Friday, August 9th from 7-9pm. Our talented and beautiful friend who I teach spinning with, is also a yoga instructor and she has put together an incredible evening of Vinyasa Yoga for all levels. Tracy is one of those amazing moms, teachers and humans who I met when I first moved to Ohio and who I have admired and aspired to be more like since the day I met her. Here is all the info on this awesome event she has created:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 22.0pt;">Join <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tracy</st1:place></st1:city> in supporting Joey's All Stars and the Up Side of Downs Buddy Walk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 22.0pt;">FRIDAY,
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BLISS <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Located behind
Macy’s at <st1:address w:st="on"><st1:street w:st="on">3045 Smith Road</st1:street>
<st1:city w:st="on">Akron</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">OH</st1:state></st1:address>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Your <b>$35 donation</b> includes a ninety minute
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">opportunity to win one of many <b>GREAT</b> <b>PRIZES</b>, refreshments, child care and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">all kinds of <b><i>yoga-feel-good</i></b>!
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Prosecco, desserts and chocolate will be served afterwards!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">All proceeds
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Please sign
up in advance…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">i</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">ndicate your need for child care. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic, sans-serif;">To sign up-just call Yoga Bliss: 330-576-6687</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Let’s pack the house for Joey!!</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">GREAT</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;"> <b>PRIZES</b>!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Fraraccio Designer Blowout and Conditioning Treatment for Two (Value:
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have any questions about the event, please send me an <a href="mailto:jenniferdawntowell@att.net" target="_blank">email</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We hope to see you on August 9th for a beautiful evening filled with exercise, positive energy and fun!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you can't make it to the Yoga Event- we hope you can walk with us on Saturday, August 17th at the Buddy Walk. Registration begins at 9am. Or, join us as a virtual walker by clicking <a href="http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1060906&lis=1&kntae1060906=AAF4DE9F7A5D4608B550D05A35B5133F&supId=359792844" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To order raffle tickets for the 18 Liter bottle of French Bordeaux-- click <a href="mailto:jenniferdawntowell@gmail.com" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Namaste and Happy Monday!!!</span></div>
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-71494829833003773312013-08-01T22:26:00.000-04:002013-08-01T22:26:03.004-04:00Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy Recovery Strategies for Children with Down Syndrome<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One week from today is the day! Joey is going in for a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. This will be his sixth or seventh surgery (I can't believe I am losing track) before he turns three at the end of August.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have tried to come up with every excuse in the book not to go through with it and to figure out a way to cancel it, but I can't. He's had too many stressful breathing situations when he gets sick. A case of Croup usually sends Joey into the hospital and sometimes it sends him in for a few nights. After his last eye surgery in June he had multiple scary breathing issues from the swelling in his throat from being intubated. He just doesn't have much room in there and when he gets sick it gets really hard for him to get enough oxygen. Add that to his congenital heart disease and we get completely freaked out when Super Joe can't breath. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo: Physical therapy, Speech therapy, Swim therapy, Horse therapy, Occupational therapy ... And it's only Wednesday. Super Joe and I are beat!!" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/p480x480/971728_10200742022007498_1784392193_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleepy Joey. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The good news is that I have heard multiple stories of little ones coming through their T&A recovery without a lot of difficulty! The bad news is that none of those little ones I heard about have Down syndrome. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People with Down syndrome often have much <a href="http://www.ndss.org/Resources/Health-Care/Associated-Conditions/Ear-Nose-Throat-Issues-Down-Syndrome/" target="_blank">smaller passages and airways.</a> Because Joey hates taking any medicine (we will have to crush up his jr. ibuprofen and sneak it into yogurt) and because he is not able to verbalize most of his feelings, I expect that we will be facing some challenges following his procedure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is an excellent discussion on the issue of airway obstruction from the NDSS website:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ndss.org/Resources/Health-Care/Associated-Conditions/Ear-Nose-Throat-Issues-Down-Syndrome/" target="_blank">AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION AND SLEEP APNEA</a></span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Airway obstruction is common in children with Down syndrome, with some studies suggesting that nearly all persons with Down syndrome have some form of sleep-related obstruction. Loss of sleep due to apnea and poor quality sleep due to sleep disordered breathing can result in sleepiness and disturbances in fine motor skills, and can also affect behavior and learning. Many people with sleep disorders fall asleep with passive activities such as riding in the car or school bus. Long term complications of sleep apnea include systemic hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure and even death.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the airway is blocked during sleep. This can be caused by the small upper airway, large adenoids and tonsils, obesity, collapse of the airway due to hypotonia of the muscles of the throat, and increased secretions that can be characteristic of persons with Down syndrome. Obstruction can also occur from glossoptosis, a condition where a relatively large tongue falls back into a smaller airway during sleep.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Obstructive sleep apnea is often overlooked by caregivers and medical professionals, as sleep disturbances often occur unobserved or have been present for so long that parents assumed that was “normal” for their child.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>A comprehensive clinical exam, X-ray, and thorough sleep study should be conducted if sleep apnea is suspected.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Airway obstruction can be treated both medically and surgically, and sometimes both treatments are necessary. Saline spray can keep the airway clear. Other medical options include the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine during sleep, which provides some pressure with each breath, keeping the airway open while a person sleeps. Weight reduction may also help address sleep apnea. Surgically, removal of the tonsils and adenoids (T&A) is the first line of treatment of airway obstruction and sleep apnea in children with Down syndrome. Although removal of the tonsils and adenoids is usually curative of most sleep apnea in children, more recent studies suggest that this is not always the case with individuals with Down syndrome and further evaluation and treatment may be needed after T&A.</b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy Recovery Strategies for Children with Down Syndrome</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been trying to talk to other moms and find some strategies for helping Joey recovery from his T&A surgery next week. One of Joey's friends just had the T&A surgery and did not eat for almost 8 days. His family relied on pediasure and Motrin to get him through. They also found that days 3-6 were much more difficult than days 1-2 post-surgery. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One mom I spoke to recommended that in addition to making sure to give Motrin on a regular schedule to also make sure that Joey has plenty of liquids so that he doesn't get "backed up" if you know what I mean on all the pain meds. I love that advice!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, there is another mommy blogger over at <a href="http://ellietheurer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Chronicles of Ellie Bellie Bear</a> (her daughter is simply GORGEOUS) and she is a nurse so she has some wonderful mommy with a degree advice. Please note-- this is not medical advice in any means-- it is just meant to be one parent's experience to help some of us other parents. Always consult with your physician for medical advice (instead of relying on the internet and Google like I often do). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here you go- a mommy advice guide for T&A survival! Thank you so much <a href="http://ellietheurer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Miss Anna</a> for sharing your experiences with Ellie and her T&A journey!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. The pain varies from individual to individual. It depends on just how "attached" the tonsils are to the throat. Some kids have huge wonking tonsils but they just hang by a thread. Other kids have smaller ones (or large ones) but they are firmly adhered to the throat by a whole lot of tissue. You will not know for sure how Super Joe's are until they actually remove them. As in, you cannot tell just by looking into the throat. . .</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This is why some kiddos are bouncing off the walls two days later and why others (like my kiddo) moaned and groaned and laid around.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">2. Hospitals have different rules around the US. Bear desatted a lot during sleepy time. 79-88%. She got to have some O2 on over night. Surprisingly, they let her go home. It was up to the doctor and the thought was Bear was oxygenating low pre-surgery so let the poor kid recover at home. At CHOP, kids have to be satting >95% without oxygen even when asleep. This can lead to living in the hospital for a few days. Honestly, if we had been at CHOP, we would still be there. . . okay I am exaggerating but we would have been there a few days at least. </span><u style="background-color: yellow;">My thought is to charge the iPad, bring the charge, bring spare clothes. (KEY MOMMY POINTS!!!)</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">3. The more hydrated the child is, the easier the recovery.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>When they remove the tonsils and the adenoid, scabs will form. Keeping those scabs moist decreases pain. Hydration also prevents trips to the ER due to dehydration. Fluids include semi-solids too--think ice cream and apple sauce. I had this kiddo chugging apple sauce because she wouldn't drink anything else. STRAWS--okay some docs say no to straws after T&A while others say no restrictions. (just as some say they can go to therapies when feeling better while others say no for 2 weeks).</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4. The 5-10 Day Mark:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>As with any scab, it will fall off--this occurs 5-10 days post op. When the scabs fall off, it hurts and there is a risk for bleeding. This why kiddos often need an increase in pain meds. That being said, some kids are running around like wild banshees and you would never know that the scabs fell off.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>With Ellie, on day 6 she slept. A LOT. I think she was only up for 6 hours total. She also wouldn't drink. That was the only day she would not drink. That was the day she lost most of her scabs. She lost the rest after week 3.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5. MUCUS or SNOT or DROOL or all of the above</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>It will be thick. Really thick. And copious. Surgery is surgery and as you already know, cutting into tissues is trauma and trauma leads to swelling and fluids. Expect to see some snot for several weeks post-op. Expect to hear some snoring as well--remember the swelling.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">6. </span><span style="background-color: yellow;">Don't forget the iPad and spare clothes. A few sets.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>You know what is fun? Post op emesis (vomiting). What is even more fun is dried blood post-op emesis. Right after you change into the bedtime clothes. Bring several shirts. Between the ice cream, the snot, the drooling, and the vomiting, you will want something semi-clean and non-smelly to sleep in. I learned this the hard way. The iPad is so that you can google everything that looks funky. Or to play Signing Time over and over and over again to keep Super Joe calm <span class="emoticon emoticon_smile" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yK/r/r-s1sSegbX6.png); background-position: 0px -730px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: top; width: 16px;" title=":)"></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>7. This may be the most important one for pain and recovery: CHEW CHEW CHEW.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I know this sounds strange but you want to keep the jaw, cheeks, and neck muscles loose and relaxed. Especially the neck. Tensing up will increase the pain. Relaxation helps with healing. Gummies, fruit snacks, whatever to move those muscles. Like you mentioned in your post--I avoided all red items--red juices, red pedialyte, red gummies, red jello.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo: Super Joe! Working hard at swim therapy!!" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/p480x480/999162_10200733671798748_599960191_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joey is now up to five different types of therapy: PT, OT, Speech, Horse and Swimming!!!! He really loves his Horse and Swimming therapy, tends to be a little bit ornery in OT and Speech and often ends his PT sessions in tears from working so hard. He makes us so proud at each session- even when he is not feeling well he tries his hardest!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Super Joe's doctor wants him to take a break from all of his therapies for the two weeks following his surgery. In the meantime, we are trying to LIVE IT UP before his next adventure!!! This past weekend, this meant a day at the Summit County Fair (thank you Jennifer M. for telling me it was going on!). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Growing up in Western Nebraska there was one time of year that was more than special, more than awesome-- it was magical. It was the Box Butte County Fair. I remember driving over there with my Grandma Freimuth while she entered a photograph, a painting or a baked good into the fair. I remember attending rodeos and watching the older cowboys and cowgirls ride horses and lasso cattle. The memories are a little fuzzy and vague, but this weekend's trip to the fair brought it all back home. What memories are you working on this summer?</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joey going after Daddy's caramel apple.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tommy showed off some serious, mad dart skills. Is he going to be an expert at parlor games like his dad?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joey has become very fond of horses after his sessions at Victory Gallop. He didn't understand why he couldn't ride the horses at the fair.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learned my lesson on this one- I was staring too long at this beautiful bird when its owner came over and offered to give me a better look at it while I took its picture. Yikes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Fun Slide".</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite ride!!! The helicopter. The four of us all got to go on it together.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a wonderful weekend!!!</span></div>
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-35234326910608184212013-07-16T20:48:00.001-04:002013-07-16T20:48:37.992-04:00Trying to Explain What it is Like Being "The One" and Joey's Next Surgery: August 8th<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Super Joe led us down quite a path last week. Starting with a 102-103 temperature for a few days, not eating or drinking, laying around almost constantly and then ending up with an un-diagnosed and inexplicable rash on his trunk, back, neck and face.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I asked the doctor, "Is it <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stevens-johnson-syndrome/DS00940" target="_blank">Stephen Johnson Syndrome</a>?" which is a rare, serious reaction to medication. Nope. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Is it <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/scarlet-fever/DS00917" target="_blank">Scarlet fever</a>?" Nope.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's when he asked us to get a CBC done to check Joey's blood count. That's when we discussed some very scary possibilities. That's when my heart sank to my stomach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the time we walked out of the office, we found out that Joey's white blood count was 13,000, which is slightly elevated and his doctor believes he had some kind of bacterial infection. We went home with strict instructions to call and bring him in immediately if anything changed over the weekend. Whew! This week-- he is like a new child. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you noticed that by the 4th of July summer starts to speed ahead in fast forward? Where June seemed to meander along and summer seemed like it had just started, here we are in mid-July and we are barreling toward the start of a new school year. How did this happen? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On August 8th, Joey will have his fourth surgery in one year. The first three were eye surgeries and on the 8th we will check into Akron Children's for a night or two (hopefully no more than that, Super Joe!) for him to get his tonsils and adenoids removed. Between his excessive cases of Croup, his Reactive Airway Disease, his enlarged tonsils and adenoids and his breathing difficulties when he is sick-- it is time. I have looked for every reason and every excuse I could find to not go through with the surgery, but it is time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He has to take 2 weeks off of all his therapies. That means no speech, no OT, no PT, no horse therapy and no swim therapy for 2 weeks. I have heard that some children recovery easily and quickly from having their tonsils and adenoids removed and I have also heard that some kids have a pretty hard time. One mom said her little guy wasn't the same for almost 3 months. Other moms have said that once you hit the 2 week mark you should be good to go. Still others have said that day 3-5 is when you have to be careful about staying on top of the pain meds. I also read on a great blog that you should stay away from red Gatorade, red Popsicles and red Jell-O so as not to be confused in case the surgical site starts to bleed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have any advice on this surgery? Please leave a comment or send an <a href="mailto:jenniferdawntowell@gmail.com" target="_blank">email</a>. Your help is greatly appreciated! We are hopeful that this will be his last surgery for a long, long time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miss You Can Do It</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition to parades, parties, sparklers and doctors appointments, part of the holiday weekend (or week-- it seemed like it went on and on and on-- which is not a bad thing!) we spent watching two awesome documentaries on HBO. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The first was <i><a href="http://www.hbo.com/sports/mcenroe-borg-fire-and-ice/index.html" target="_blank">McEnroe/Borg: Fire & Ice</a>, </i>which is a fabulous documentary on their tennis rivalry and the mental toughness this sport demands.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second documentary was my choice and I have been saving it up because I knew I couldn't watch it alone. I also wanted to watch it with my husband and my parents for a slightly selfish reason. I wanted everyone to watch <i><a href="http://www.hbo.com/sports/mcenroe-borg-fire-and-ice/index.html#/documentaries/miss-you-can-do-it/index.html" target="_blank">Miss You Can Do It</a> </i>with me because I had already started watching it by myself one afternoon and it does an excellent job of giving a snapshot of the various families and their lives with their children who have special needs. It shows moms and dads discussing the day they received their child's diagnosis. It shows a young girl at horse therapy. It shows a mom doing daily physical therapy exercises with her daughter. I felt so drawn to the documentary and so drawn to each of their lives because it was comforting to see how other families do it and how they get along on a daily basis. </span><br />
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" 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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two of the beautiful Miss You Can Do It contestants.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.hbo.com/sports/mcenroe-borg-fire-and-ice/index.html#/documentaries/miss-you-can-do-it/index.html" target="_blank">Miss You Can Do It</a> </i> tells the incredible story of Abbey Curren, who has Cerebal Palsy, won Miss Iowa 2008 and started a pageant for little girls who have special needs. To hear Curren speak about her own journey and the responsibility she feels towards other girls with special needs is a testament to hard work, perseverance and living a life in which you are grateful for all of the blessings you are given. It is both heartbreaking and heartwarming to hear each of the featured contestants journey to the pageant. If you watch it-- you might want to have a box of tissues close and I dare you to try and decide which girl you hope wins the pageant--as this documentary illustrates-- they are clearly each winners in their own right.</span><br />
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src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" 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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abbey Curran- Miss You Can Do It Founder. </td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being "The One"</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did I want my husband and my parents to watch </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.hbo.com/sports/mcenroe-borg-fire-and-ice/index.html#/documentaries/miss-you-can-do-it/index.html" target="_blank">Miss You Can Do It</a> </i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">all together for selfish reasons? Kind of. Sort of. They are each (along with so many other family members and friends) part of our little community that helps us out on a daily and weekly basis. That being said, I try to never complain and to never make a "major" deal out of our daily lives, but there are times, when I just wish someone in my little circle of life knew what it was like. I wish they could be me for one day and understand why there are times when I am too tired to talk. Too tired to make dinner. Too tired to be the mom/friend/daughter/person I wish I could be every day. There are days when I just wish someone else understood what it is like in our house being "The One."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stopped working after 10 years of being an attorney to be The One. The One who takes Joey to every appointment. The One who keeps track of every Explanation of Benefits. The One who tracks how much of our insurance deductible we have hit (Joey maxed out his in January- a new record). The One who crawls on the floor of the hospital trying to encourage Joey to take a step in the gait trainer while his therapist helps move his legs. The One who has post it notes and lists of appointments to make, appointments to change and schedules to adhere to. The One who takes notes and tries to follow through with Joey's various goals. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The One who tries to help him not cry when he gets on what must look like a very big horse to him. The One who dries his tears. The One who tries to only go to places that are stroller-friendly because my shoulder and hip are getting so very tired and sore from carrying my handsome and wonderful 32 pound little man. The One who tries to keep her chin up and not cry when I see him struggle. The One who tries to balance her time between a very active 4-year-old and a 2-year-old. The One who tries to not feel guilty about not giving Tommy enough time because his younger brother simply needs more time and attention. The One who sometimes lies in bed knowing that the minute my feet hit the ground it will be non-stop until bedtime. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The One who tries to stay healthy and fit and get in exercise. The One who tries to also know when to say no and when she needs to just take a break. The One who doesn't want to be treated differently, but who also wants people to get it. The One who wants Joey to be included in any and every thing, but who sometimes struggles to figure out how to make it work for him. The One who has to decide if an outing is too hot, too loud or just too difficult for Joey. The One who has to sometimes throw caution to the wind and not worry about Joey getting sick so he can have fun with all the other kids. The One who tries to stay calm with every appointment. The One who prays at night for strength...for guidance...for understanding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The One who new at 13 weeks into the pregnancy that she was carrying a baby who has a syndrome that about <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/opponents-of-20-week-ban-complain-down-syndrome-babies-cant-be-aborted-100127/" target="_blank">90% of the time is aborted</a> when parents find out pre-natally that their child has Down syndrome. The One who had no idea how she would ever be patient enough or good enough to help care for a child who has extra needs. The One who still isn't sure some days how she can get everyone through one more procedure and one more surgery. The One who loses track of things sometimes despite all efforts at keeping it together. The One who sometimes just wishes that SOMEONE and EVERYONE could be The One for One day just to understand and just to be in these shoes and truly understand what it means to be The One.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the same time, I don't ever want anyone to feel bad for us, to feel pity for our lives or to look at us as poor things. I just want to let the world know that I love our children so incredibly and very dearly, but there are days that I am sometimes tired and there are days that it is sometimes hard being The One.</span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In what area of your life are you The One? Your job? Your home? Your school? How do you cope with it when you wake up not feeling like being The One? How do you explain to everyone else in your life what it is like being The One?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whoever is The One in your life...maybe give them a hug today. Send a note. Go easy on them. Everyone is just trying to do their best.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Tuesday!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2013 Northeast Ohio Buddy Walk Info</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our local Buddy Walk is August 17 at Progressive Field. Ninety-three percent of the money we raise stays locally in Northeast Ohio. Our local organization, <a href="http://www.usod.org/" target="_blank">The Up Side of Downs</a>, is a wonderful organization who helps everyone from expecting parents to parents helping their adult children with Down syndrome transition into the world of living independently and to working. This organization has been a source of comfort and support since we were pregnant with Joey-- they are awesome!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two quick notes:<br /></span></div>
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<li><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On-line team registration ends this Friday, July 19th-- visit <a href="http://www.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=1060906&lis=0&kntae1060906=A2315FE51B774AD5B1BB3BCEA7DFBFD0&supId=0&team=5550096&cj=" target="_blank">this link to join Joey's All Stars Buddy Walk team.</a></span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joey's All Stars (aka Super Joe) T-shirts are available to order until Monday, July 22nd. </span></b></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">T-shirts are available as follows:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ladies Tank Tops are a $17 donation (cost to make is $12-- $5 donation to the team) and available in S, M, L, and XL</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regular Adult T-shirts are a $10 donation (cost to make is $6-- $4 donation to team) and are available in S, M, L, XL and XXL</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Youth T-shirts are a $10 donation </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(cost to make is $6-- $4 donation to team) and are available in S, M, L</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Long-sleeve technical tees are a $20 donation (cost to make is $15-- $5 donation to the team) and are available in S, M, L and XL</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year you can pay for shirts with cash, check or Pay Pal. If you would like order a shirt, please <a href="mailto:jenniferdawntowell@gmail.com" target="_blank">email here</a> and state size, quantity and type of shirt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope to see you on the 17th for this awesome day!!!</span></div>
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-4921329733054321462013-07-03T14:35:00.005-04:002013-07-03T14:35:55.894-04:00"Your Son Has Helped Other Children"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img alt="Photo: Happy Monday!!!!!" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/p480x480/1010784_10200564322085111_547931659_n.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those are the words Joey's eye surgeon told us at his follow up appointment last week. He said he was sorry that Joey had to go through 3 eye surgeries this year, but then he said that he had learned so much from Joey's case and that Joey's various eye issues have "helped other children" because he will carry those lessons with him through the rest of his career. He said that each child and each surgery he performs helps him learn and that the uniqueness of Joey's case would be especially helpful to future cases and patients.</span><br />
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<img alt="Photo: They are off to the OR! One dot over each eye so no one accidentally operates on his legs." src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/p480x480/1003116_10200509145265725_1684074909_n.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />His words meant so much to us. It was a nice way to wrap up what has been almost 40 various trips up to the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye institute in the past year. His words reminded us that sometimes Joey's journey is much larger than just Joey or our family- it goes beyond that. It goes to the other children his doctors treat, it goes to friends and family. His little life has grown beyond just us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It Wasn't Brown Syndrome!!!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We found out after surgery that Joey does NOT have Brown syndrome! His surgeon was so shocked because he was convinced that Joey had it that he tested Joey's right eye 5 times and each time the eye moved seamlessly. At that point, they moved on to Plan B, which was to go back into the left eye (for the 3rd time) and operate on the upper muscle and try to tighten it to stop it from wandering and pulling way up to the left and off the grid.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joey was the first case of the day and for the first time ever he came out of anesthesia with much less hoopla and anger. He was much more relaxed and calm. Is it because this was the third time? Maybe because he is older? We weren't sure, but things seemed to be easy, breezy, peezy (as Tommy says) as we were able to head back home to Akron early in the afternoon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WHY CAN'T HE BREATH???</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Easy, breezy, peezy didn't last very long. By Friday night he was coughing and having some trouble breathing. On Saturday it was worse. On Sunday, while he was napping he was coughing, so I went in to see him and he was literally foaming at the mouth because his airway was so restricted. I picked him, frantically called Tom who had gone into work and then Joey vomited all over me and was able to breath again. For a split second I thought about calling 911-- I'm not sure why I didn't. I always have that fear that I am being the crazy mom. Do you ever feel like that? How do you know when to make that call? How do you know when to go to the ER?</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo: Post Op follow up! Not Brown syndrome- Joey's surgeon told us that despite him having to have 3 eye surgeries, Joey's case has helped other kids from all his surgeon learned from Super Joe. Pretty awesome!!" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p480x480/1000685_10200544026737740_1679569774_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's up, Doc? Are we good here?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the time his follow up appointment rolled around he had started to breath better, but had us scared to death. We have slept with all bedroom doors open and the monitor volume on since the surgery and there have been a few nights where we brought up the old pack and play and had Joey sleep in our room with us. The funny thing is how big he looks in the pack and play! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joey kicked off this week by refusing to cooperate during PT on Monday morning- I mean just refusing. It was one of those embarrassing refusals. The kind that make you feel like a failure as a parent who cannot "control" or convince her child to comply. I will just put this out there-- therapy is AMAZING for Joey, but it is a hot, stressful sweaty mess for me. I worry about him being a good little student. I worry about him doing well. I worry about being there on time. I worry about what we have to get to next. Monday was no exception, Joey was stubborn, he was crying, he would just lie on the ground and put his head in his little hands. "Oh for goodness sake, Joe," I kept thinking to myself. "Just do it already."</span></div>
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<img alt="Photo: Am so honored to be one of the 30 for the Future from the Akron Chamber of Commerce. Holding my future right here!!!" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p480x480/267306_10200550076968992_1781700120_n.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the day progressed his attitude and spirit declined instead of improving and before I knew it his temperature was 102 degrees. Ugh. Why had I been so hard on him? Why had I been so annoyed and disappointed in him during therapy? Here he wasn't feeling well and was burning up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fever has lasted for three days now and Super Joe just isn't quite himself. </span></div>
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<img alt="Photo: Uh-oh, Super Joe!!! Please feel better little man!!! 102 temp, no appetite and he napped from 1pm-6pm when I went in and woke him up. Got to get this bubba better for the 4th!!!" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/p480x480/1044064_10200572575051430_979862041_n.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He napped from 1pm until 6pm on Tuesday and I finally went in and woke him up. He has been lying on the ground, falling asleep, crying and has not been himself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We went into the doctor on Tuesday and he tested negative for the Strep Test and his lungs sounded pretty good, so they sent us home with a prescription for a chest x-ray and a CBC work up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today we had his ENT visit because one of his tubes has fallen out. Based on the past 8-12 weeks of continual sickness, his enlarged adenoids and swollen tonsils and his reactive airway disease, his ENT has decided that in the next 2-3 weeks we need to get Joey in to have his tonsils and adenoids removed and to have his ear tubes replaced.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The key will be getting Super Joe healthy enough for this to happen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, post surgery, his doctor wants him to not to do any therapy for 2 weeks following the surgery. Ugh. No PT, OT, Speech, Horseback riding or swim therapy. UGH. UGH. UGH.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Therapy brings tears out in both of us. Joey cries through his discomfort and through being pushed to new levels and past his limits. I try to hold back tears and hide them as I argue with myself and tell myself not to save him, but to let him work through it because it is good for him. As a Mama Bear and a Warrior Mama-- I want to save Joey. I want to make life easier for him, but therapy and all of his various procedures are just necessary parts of our life right now that will all help make his life easier and better in the long run. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do I want him to miss 2 entire weeks of therapy--NO! It stresses me out to even think of it, but if it helps Joey to feel better and be able to stop being sick all of the time, then it will be worth it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although his various appointments and therapy can be trying and can be tough-- we are always grateful for the amazing therapists and his amazing medical care. These are the people who are always looking for the best way for Joey to learn, the best way to keep him interested, the best way to bring out the best in him. I see Joey's therapists more than I see most people and they have become friends and confidants.</span></div>
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<img alt="Photo: Joey was such a brave boy!!!!! He rode Rufus for about 15 min and never cried. He looked like he wanted to cry the whole time, but he never did and he almost smiled!!!:) We are so proud of you Joey!! What a great start!" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p480x480/998112_10200501329590338_178193539_n.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How do you help your kids or your family push through the hard times? Do you ever want to save them, but know you have to let them learn? How do you cope?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you seen the new HBO Documentary "<a href="http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/miss-you-can-do-it/index.html" target="_blank">Miss You Can Do It</a>"? The next blog post will be about this new documentary. Wow. It hits home in so many ways. Watching these families and their journeys and their children's journeys....all I can say is, wow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope you and your family have a wonderful Fourth of July!!!</span></div>
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<img alt="Photo: Super Joe!!! Got our call- reporting to Cleveland Clinic at 6:30am." src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/p480x480/998903_10200506255313478_1970475004_n.jpg" /></div>
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-46572758303688988132013-06-20T22:22:00.001-04:002013-06-20T22:22:06.481-04:00Living Life on the Edge of the Cliff - Super Joe's Next Surgery<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last night I had the pleasure of hearing a wonderful tribute by a friend of mine about a friend of ours who had passed away. The speaker is a Stage 3 breast cancer survivor and our friend who passed away had a degenerative muscle disease. The speaker talked to the audience about living life right out there on the edge of the cliff. Living life so fully and with such appreciation because life has put you out there on the edge and you can choose to appreciate every single second and leave nothing left behind or you can cling to that cliff and concentrate on all you might lose if you end up going over the edge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our family felt like it was pushed out to that ledge when we learned about Joey's diagnosis while I was pregnant with him. We felt like the air had been sucked out of our lives. We felt like life as we knew it was over. And to be honest, life as we knew was over. Thank, God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life as I knew it before was great. Life before was lovely. We had Tommy, who was, knock on wood, pretty healthy. We had our little family. Our routines. Our little life. Life was good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The experience of being pregnant with Joey and having Joey is what pushed our lives to living on the edge of that cliff. His very existence was like a focus lens on a camera. Suddenly the world became sharper and clearer. Suddenly it was easy to see what was worth wasting time and energy on and what wasn't. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life on this edge is incredible. Having Joey as a son has helped me to try and be a better parent, a better wife and a better person. Mind you-- there is plenty of room for improvement and this is an ongoing effort at being "better"-- but it is an effort that evolved from being Joey's mom. Having Joey has helped me to slow down the urgency with which I used to rush through life. Having Joey has helped me to appreciate the little things as well as the big things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of weeks ago my parents kindly treated our family to an entire week at the beach. Joey had been in the hospital with pneumonia a few weeks before the trip and then the night before the trip he was sick again, but this time with Croup and an upper respiratory infection. We were determined that sickness was not going to keep Joey or any of us from a week away from it all and we took him in to see the doctor on our way as we headed down South on 77. With a handful of prescriptions we took off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Super Joe was sick the entire week and, yet, by the time we were packing the car back up for the long drive home I turned and looked at my husband and said, "This was the best week of my life." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it was. It was incredible. We played. We slept. We swam. We grilled out. We were lazy. We didn't go to a single appointment. We didn't visit a single doctor. We didn't fill out a single form. We didn't spend a spare second on the phone with the insurance company. We didn't return calls. We didn't check email. We lived life right on the edge of that cliff and enjoyed every single second with complete abandon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday is Joey's eye surgery that was supposed to take place a month ago, but got put on hold when he had pneumonia. We met with his doctor on Monday and we have our surgical plan for Friday. His doctor is moving to Dubai and Friday is his last day of surgery in the States for a couple of years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He told us that his entire practice is pretty much wrapped up and in a good place except for Joey and he wants to make sure Joey is in a good place before he leaves. We appreciate this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This time around I am having Tom go back to the operating room and put the gas mask on Joey. It's one of the worst parts of these surgeries. They want the parent to go back and put the sleepy gas mask on the child so your child is comfortable. I hope it has made Joey comfortable because walking back to that cold OR and trying to hold your child down while he squirms under the pressure of your hand holding a gas mask to his face is a bit much to handle for a third time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Originally, Tommy wanted to go to his brother's surgery and we entertained the idea, but it would just be too hard on all of us. We usually have to be there by 6am and Joey isn't allowed to eat or drink, so we try not to do that in front of him. Then there is the time between when he is out of surgery, but hasn't woken up. Let's just say he doesn't exactly get up on the right side of the hospital bed. He wakes up angry. Really angry. Pissed, in fact. Pissed that he hasn't eaten, pissed his eyes hurt, pissed his throat hurts from being intubated. We decided we could have Tommy come another time when everyone involved is older and more able to deal with the drama. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The surgeon's plan is that after Joey is under general anesthesia, the surgeon is going to test Joey's right eye for Brown syndrome. If he does have Brown syndrome (a tightening of a tendon that does not allow the eye to fully move), then the surgeon will pull back the tight tendon and implant a small silicone "spacer" and then he will pull the tendon back down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If this is what happens it will be a little more involved than his other eye surgeries and the risks are greater for infection or extrusion (in which the implant pops out). My concern is if this will make Joey uncomfortable and what can we do to make him feel better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If it is not Brown syndrome, then the surgeon is going to go into Joey's left eye and try to tighten up his wispy and loose muscle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, to sum it up-- Joey will either have surgery on his tendon in his right eye or on his muscle(s) in the left eye.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As our surgeon told us, Joey is not "vanilla." Which I think is awesome. Oh, hell no, he is not vanilla. He is Rocky Road and he is also living life on the edge of the cliff and loving it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What in your life has pushed you to live life on the edge of the cliff? Has it made you a better person? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a great week and if you think of it-- please send a prayer or two to Super Joe that he the surgery and recovery are not painful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Thursday!</span><br />
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5931339813365183751.post-19681584571994794702013-06-12T13:56:00.004-04:002013-06-12T13:56:41.829-04:00Stand Up For Downs Contest WINNER!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The stories of everyone's families and connections to Down syndrome were so awesome that we ended up picking the winner the good old fashion way-- we wrote down all the names, put them in a hat and drew a winner!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime-- there is still time to purchase tickets to the 7:30 pm show at The Tangier!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0000bf; font-family: tahoma, new york, times, serif;"><b>Here are the important details:</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0000bf; font-family: tahoma, new york, times, serif;"><b><a href="http://www.thetangier.com/entertainment.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Tangier</a></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #0000bf;">7:30 PM</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0000bf;"><br />Featuring Headliner- Gary Gulman (see a sample <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-jPTswNlwo">here</a>)and Featuring Mike Polk, Jr. (see a sample <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw7sjgBYC-s">here</a>), Josh Womack and Rob Snow</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #0000bf;"><br />Tickets are $30-$50 (to learn how to win a pair of $50 VIP tickets-keep reading!)</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0000bf;"><br />All proceeds go to Stand Up For Downs</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To find out more about the incredible money we have raised so far and where it is going, visit my blog post <a href="http://jendawnscowgirlup.blogspot.com/2013/06/it-is-laughing-matter-contest-stand-up.html" target="_blank">here. </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back to the important part-- our contest winner to 2 VIP tickets valued at $50 each is.... drumroll..........</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CHRISSY D!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chrissy, I will send you an email about your tickets and how we can get them to you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To everyone who entered-- thank you and to everyone who is coming-- thank you!!! This is going to be a super, super fun night out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We hope to see you there!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, we are working on getting Joey signed up for therapeutic horseback riding!!!! He can start when he turns 3 in August. We met an awesome family in the DS Club on vacation and the mom, Meg, told me that her son started walking soon after he started riding therapy. We are so excited for Joey to try this option out. Has anyone else done this? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Wednesday!</span><br />
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Jenny Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606622799302380804noreply@blogger.com0