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Archive - April 23, 2015

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You Make Life Better—A Love Letter

You Make Life Better—A Love Letter

Apr 23 2015

Browse archives for April 23, 2015

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Special Needs, Stories

Tagged with gratitude, love letter, special needs

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Our daughter has a rare chromosome deletion/duplication which causes developmental disabilities and epilepsy. Forever in Mom Genes is where I share stories and information about atypical parenting and family life. I'm glad you're here. Read more.

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This is the face of a child struggling through a m

This is the face of a child struggling through a math lesson online. Math. Ugh. Am I right? Hats off to virtual teachers. Patience of Job right there.

We put the class on mute, and I hauled out my old teacher manipulatives and walked Avery through the basics of place value. She listened attentively for a whole 60 seconds. Then out of the blue she shouted, “Squirrel!” (In her defense, there really was a squirrel on the fence outside the window.) My son called out from the next room, “Did she just say, SQUIRREL?? How cliche.”

Oh my god. I’m still laughing.

Home schooling is going great in case you were wondering. 😆

#squirrel #mathlesson #shortattentionspan #onlinelearning #virtualschool #covid2021life

[#ImageDescription: Girl sits at a dining room table with her laptop, an abacus, and math worksheets. She’s wearing headphones. She’s staring into the distance, looking slightly confused.]

#intellectualdisability #developmentaldisability #disability #neurodiverse #epilepsy 💜 #speechdelay #speechandlanguage #chromosometranslocation #chromosomedisorder #3Pdeletionsyndrome #9Pduplication 🇨🇦

Finally, sticky snow! I give this guy about 3 hour

Finally, sticky snow! I give this guy about 3 hours before he collapses. He’s not the most sturdy fella, but he’s a looker.

#nicepipes #snowfun #doyouwanttobuildasnowman #onlinelearning #recess #outdoorplay

[#ImageDescription: girl in pink and black snowsuit, black hat and sunglasses, sits on the snowy ground smiling up at a small snowman. The snowman has 3 black buttons, black rock eyes, a carrot nose and skinny stick arms. He’s leaning to the right.]

#intellectualdisability #developmentaldisability #disability #neurodiverse #epilepsy #chromosometranslocation #chromosomedisorder #3Pdeletionsyndrome #9Pduplication 🇨🇦

Is life easier without a small herd of animals to

Is life easier without a small herd of animals to take care of? Sure. Is it as rewarding? Not for us.

When Avery was about two and a half and still not walking, one of her physical therapists suggested we find something highly motivating to get Avery up and moving.

Within three months of adopting our dog Roger, our girl was walking; then running after her canine companion.

A few years later we welcomed a cat, @fureverkevin, to the family.

People said, "You don't even like cats. Don't you have enough pets? Aren't you allergic? Why would you get a CAT??"

Well...

A) Correct, I’m a dog person. Cats are weird.
B) You can never have too many pets, can you? Oh wait, cat hoarders.
C) Er, yes. I am a little allergic—hives, scratchy throat, red eyes swollen eyes, sneezy allergic.

So WHY get a cat??!!

Because. Her.

She loves animals. Dogs, cats, anything with fur.

Or without fur even. RIP Ernie (our beloved Skinny Piggie).

Pets have helped her grow. She plays school and house and hair salon with them. She whispers secrets into their fuzzy ears. They’re her guardians, her confidantes, her best friends.

THIS is why we share our lives with pets. Amen and achoo!

Happy #NationalLoveYourPetDay!

[Image Description: Girl in a plaid shirt is standing outside in front of a tree hugging her little Yorkie dog tightly into her chest.]

#kidsandpets #unconditionallove #therapyanimals #intellectualdisability #developmentaldisability #disability #neurodiverse #epilepsy 💜 #chromosometranslocation #chromosomedisorder #3Pdeletionsyndrome #9Pduplication 🇨🇦

Downward dog X 3. 📷 Avery #FlexibilityBlock

Downward dog X 3.

📷 Avery

#FlexibilityBlock #FitnessAtHome #OrangetheoryLive #WorkoutBuddies

[Image Description: Woman (me)dressed in a grey tank top with hair in a bun has her hands on a yoga mat, butt in the air. Two small dogs are nose to nose right under her chest.]

Ended a sweet Valentine’s Day with a virtual cra

Ended a sweet Valentine’s Day with a virtual crafts and games hangout that included a Mardi Gras float parade. A lot of fun was had by all. Especially Ken, who got a lot of beads. 😆

#WhateverFloatsYourFloat #VirtualParty #OnlineHangout

[#ImageDescription: Avery is wearing a pink sweater and a blue sparkly Mardi Gras eye mask, sitting at a table in front of a laptop. She’s holding up a shoebox decorated to look like a parade float with silver garland around the edges and glittery gems. Two Barbies and a Ken doll are sitting in the float ready to party.]

#intellectualdisability #IDD #developmentaldisability #disability #neurodiverse #epilepsy 💜 #speechdelay #speechandlanguage #chromosometranslocation #chromosomedisorder #3Pdeletionsyndrome #9Pduplication 🇨🇦

Hallelujah for Zoom classes helping to keep kids a

Hallelujah for Zoom classes helping to keep kids active and connected. 💃🏼 💕

[#ImageDescription: Girl dressed in a t-shirt and shorts is following a dance routine on a computer screen in front of her. A small dog, in desperate need of a haircut, is sitting on the floor behind her, watching her dance.]

#hallelujah #letsdance #expressivemovement #getlowdanceco #rEcessOakville #togetherbutapart

* 💜 * 💜 * 💜 * 💜 *

#imagedescription #intellectualdisability #developmentaldisability #disability #neurodiverse #epilepsy 💜 #speechdelay #speechandlanguage #chromosometranslocation #chromosomedisorder #3Pdeletionsyndrome #9Pduplication 🇨🇦

This look of disgust is brought to you by today’

This look of disgust is brought to you by today’s personal hygiene class. They’re watching a video about the billions of bacteria that live in our mouths. Ew.

Coincidentally, in the class before this one, Avery asked me to help open a computer document. It was only AFTER leaning right into the screen, like right up close, during her LIVE class, that I noticed the black sesame seeds stuck between every single one of my teeth. Dear god.

I blame our new favourite family breakfast. It’s so healthy, filling, and ridiculously good. And super seedy, obviously.

I meant to include a photo of this meal, but forgot to snap a pic before gobbling it all up. So I took a shot of Avery’s nearly empty bowl. Swipe right to see why I’ll never be an Insta foodie star.

Anyway, apologies to Avery’s EA for the “seefood” display this morning.

And, here’s the recipe for Mandelade Breakfast. It’s amazing.

-30g raw chopped almonds and/or walnuts
-20g raw seeds (pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, et.)
-1 cored & diced apple
-2 tbsp water
-1 tbsp coconut oil (optional)
-cinnamon powder, vanilla, to taste
-hemp hearts
-yogurt (optional)

-Heat dry pan and carefully toast nuts and seeds.
-Add remaining ingredients & stir well.
-Reduce heat, cover and cook 5 mins.
-Serve with a sprinkle of hemp hearts and coconut yogurt (optional).
-Enjoy! And...brush teeth!!

[#ImageDescription: 1. Girl sitting at her computer desk wearing a teal track suit, hair in a messy bun. Looking at a video playing on her laptop. Her expression is “thoroughly grossed out.” 2. Blue bowl containing seeds, nuts, and yogurt. 3&4. Avery sitting at the kitchen island eating her breakfast.]

#mandeladebreakfast #gutfriendly #breakfastofchampions #plantbasedmeals #virtualschool #dentalhealth #lifeskills #kidswithdisabilities #needtofloss

#intellectualdisability #IDD #developmentaldisability #disability #neurodiverse #epilepsy 💜 #speechdelay #speechandlanguage #chromosometranslocation #chromosomedisorder #3Pdeletionsyndrome #9Pduplication 🇨🇦

Tomorrow is a PD Day so her class is easing into a

Tomorrow is a PD Day so her class is easing into a long weekend with PJ Day and a movie. So much excitement. She even dressed her doll in her pajamas. The dog (yes she’s on the coffee table) wasn’t on board with jammies today.

#insideout #virtualschool #teacherswhomakemagic

She was thinking outside the box and built Kevin a

She was thinking outside the box and built Kevin a “Kitty Castle.”

[Image Description: Girl leaning over a small castle made from 3 boxes. A fat orange cat is napping inside the structure on a fuzzy pink blanket.]

#kingofthecastle #imagination #artsandcrafts #learningthroughplay #kidsandpets

#imagedescription #intellectualdisability #developmentaldisability #disability #neurodiverse #epilepsy 💜 #speechdelay #speechandlanguage #chromosometranslocation #chromosomedisorder #3Pdeletionsyndrome #9Pduplication 🇨🇦

This is where the kids live now. 😆 #dontforge

This is where the kids live now. 😆

#dontforgettowrite #quinzee #canadianwinter #snowfort #theoutside #tinyhouse #nICEdigs #siblings

[Image Description: Mound of snow with an opening carved out in front. Two kids are inside, peeking out.]

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