Timmy's combination birthday and Christmas party with Endocronologist

12 Days Of Christmas - Special Needs Kids Version

                The Twelve Days Of Christmas Special Needs

 

On the first day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: 

a child with special needs.

 

On the second day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: 

a heart full of love for my child with special needs.

 

On the third day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: 

an ache in my heart and a heart full of love for my child with special needs.

 

On the fourth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me:

a tear in my eyes, an ache in my heart and a heart full of love for my child with special needs.

 

On the fifth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: 

an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with special needs.

 

On the sixth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: 

a ray of hope, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with special needs.

 

On the seventh day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: 

a sense of humor, a ray of hope, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with special needs.

 

On the eighth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: 

supportive friends, a sense of humor, a ray of hope, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with special needs.

 

On the ninth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: 

remarkable doctors & therapists, supportive friends, a sense of humor, a ray of hope, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in heart and my heart full of love for my child with a special needs.

 

On the tenth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: 

an appreciation of small accomplishments, remarkable doctors & therapists, supportive friends, a sense of humor, a ray of hope, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with special needs.

 

On the eleventh day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: 

a sense of pride and courage, an appreciation of small accomplishments, remarkable doctors & therapists, supportive friends, a sense of humor, a ray of hope, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with special needs.

 

On the twelfth day of Christmas, the good Lord said to me: 

Reach out and share your sense of pride and courage, your appreciation of small accomplishments, your remarkable doctors & therapists, your supportive friends, your sense of humor, your ray of hope, your unsuspected strength for the tear in your eyes and the ache in your heart and your heart full of love for your child with special needs.

 

(Aurthor Unknown)

www.caringbridge.org/visit/nicholemaples

November 2012 school podcast

Emily's Inquiry Project 2012 Slideshow

Emily's Inquiry Project 2012 video

 



 



Timmy's 9th birthday 2012 photos and videos

101 Mobility Costume Parade

Halloween 2012 photos and video

October 2012 school podcast

Nate's first haircut

September Podcast 2012

Grandparents Day 2012

Fall School Pics 2012

Emily School Pic 2012

Timmy School Pic 2012

Timmy and his friend Parker.

Vaccum obsession

Note: Notice the picture on the TV screen.

Most kids at the age of two years want to watch Barney, Elmo, or Sponge Bob.

Not Nate! The other morning I was flipping through the stations on T.v. trying to find something educational to entertain Nate for a few minutes. I passed by the infomercial of the Hoover Turbo vacuum cleaner. Nate happened to notice the ad on the T.v. He started throwing a temper tantrum requesting to watch the infomercial. Strange as it may seem, he stood in front of the T.v. for the entire 30 minutes that the Hoover Turbo infomercial aired.

Most kids at the age of two request toy cars, dolls, action figures, or tea sets. Oh No, not Nate! He request a vacuum cleaner!

Now how lucky can I get? This kid LOVES to help clean! Can I be lucky and his cleaning obsession, addiction or his OCD last through his teenage years?

I know what Santa is bringing this little guy for Christmas....

Sshhh, let's not tell him, but Santa may bring him a cordless vacuum which actually will pick up the trash on the floor.

Playground Fun, August 2012

Once upon a nurse.

July school podcast

Happy 2nd Birthday Nate!

Atlanta, GA Trip, Savanah and Misc

Atlanta, GA Coca Cola

Atlanta, GA CNN

Atlanta, GA Aquarium

Special Friend

Deaf Blind Conference 2012 - Picture Slideshow

Sunday's school podcast - Graduation

School podcast Bike Friday

Timmy's class party

Hearts of Steel by Vanessa Bishop

This poem was written by Timmy's teacher, Vanessa Bishop.  So touching and true.

Emily's Zoo Inquiry

Emily's first grade class with their Zoo Inquiry.  Each child had to choose a different animal to report on.

True Friendship

A True Friend isn't judgemental or have low expectations of you, like your parents or teachers may have. A True Friend only expects you to be who you are and the best that you can be.

 

A True Friend doesn't taunt or tease you, so that you strike out physically and are the one to get into trouble. A True Friend is a person who brings out the good qualities in you and in the process makes you smile.

 

A True Friend gets overly excited with the smallest of your accomplishments.

 

Timmy is Alli's True Friend!

 

Here are a couple of pictures of Alli helping to give Timmy his medication and his snack.

 

How adorable!

 

 

Nate's Chicago Trip

Nate and Dad's trip to Chicago in May, 2012 for uncle Earl's wedding.

Miracles

While I was pregnant with Timmy I heard terms like Holoprosencephaly, Down Syndrome, Bilateral Anopthalmia etc. The meaning and complexity of these terms were so overwhelming. I delved into research to help me to better understand my son's condition and so I would be able to educate family and friends of my son's complex medical condition. It was apparent that my family or any of our friends understood the situation we were preparing to face.

While pregnant and soon after my son's birth I was introduced to terms like Special Needs, Disabled, Mentally Challenged, Retarded. Before my pregnancy with Timmy the meaning of these words and the affect these words had on others when used never crossed my mind.

Upon hearing of my son's medical condition and hearing these words being used by medical professionals, friends and family, the meaning of these words struck a raw nerve in my heart and head.

Over the past 8  years I have spent many hours analysing these words. For some reason the meaning of these words, in my opinion, just don't fit anyone who has a medical condition of any severity.

Special Needs - Everyone in humanity, young and old and creatures of Nature are "special" in their own way. And we all have "Needs." So why should this term be used for only a select group of people?

Disabled - When this word is used by persons in society it means; The inability to preform a given task. Well, this isn't true. If a person with a medical condition of any severity, is given the opportunity to "try" and if the given task is or can be adapted the person has the ability to carry through with what is asked. Parents or other caregivers of those with medical conditions have to be creative, inovative, and demand things which will help their loved ones to be "abled" in society.

Mentally Challenged - EVERYONE in society is lacking cognitively or behaviorally in some area. No one person is "perfect" in all areas. Some may be perficient in the areas of spelling, reading, math etc. but have psychological problems. While those who do not have psychological problems may have trouble with spelling, reading, math etc. So this term doesn't apply to a select group of people.

Retarded - It is my opinion, those who use this word are the ones who are "Retarded." People who do not take the time to ask questions, to try to educate themselves about others in society and to get to know those with medical conditions as a "whole" person are simply the ones who are lacking.

I chose to use the term "Uniquely Gifted" or "Unique Needs" to describe my son's medical condition.

The meaning of the word "unique" is; One of a kind.

The meaning of the word "gifted" is; Having a special talent.

Well these two words used together describe my son and others who are different for what ever reason.

The above video shows just how having HoPE, patience, being strong, the will to help and determination can bring about MIRACLES!

With HoPE,  Love, Caring, Patience, Strength, and Determination MIRACLES can come to be for everyone who is UNIQUELY GIFTED!

Sunday - May 2012 School Podcast

New Hanover Spring Concert

Timmy's brother Zachary has the last solo in this song.

Spring Smiles

Katie - Until We Meet Again

Fun Day 2012