Adventures of a Military Family of 8
No Anchor Can Hold Us Down...
Gardening is America’s favorite past time, but most gardens are not built for those with special needs. Studies show that people with special needs thrive outside and surrounded by nature. Follow these easy steps to build a garden for special needs kids. I know that my Son loves his garden area, the fact that he helped pick out seeds, plants and that he got to help with the planting makes him feel so proud of himself.
When my oldest son was a baby, I was one of those panicked new moms that worried about every little, tiny thing. The baby hasn’t pooped in the past hour, maybe he is constipated or what if it’s something worse? The baby sneezed twice, oh no, he’s sick, should I take him to the ER? Yes, I was that bad! I wish I knew how us Parents can learn about Protecting Little Lungs From RSV #RSVAwarenessMonth.
Technology is a necessity these days, even for children with special needs. As we advance towards computers, tablets, cell phones, and away from handwritten forms and printed books, we have to adapt our learning styles to what it most widely used. It has long been studied the correlation between the advancement of children with special needs and the learning tools they are exposed to. Here, we have compiled a list of 10 educational apps for children with special needs. We recognize the need for technology to further our children’s education.
When you have a child with special needs, it can feel overwhelming. Depending on what condition your child has it is vitally important that you learn how to be an advocate for your child. Here are some tips to help you be the advocate your child needs.
This is part of a sponsored collaboration with DiMe Media and Dreft. All opinions are 100% mine.
I used Dreft for the first time when my baby brothers were born in 1986, then in 1993 when my first child was born. It was an unspoken and demanding rule among ALL the Mothers I knew, that Dreft was the detergent you had to use when you had babies. I used it, I LOVED the “baby smell” it had, it was recognizable everywhere.
In 2000 I was pregnant with our 3rd child and she decided to arrive early and surprised us at 30 weeks, I remember as soon as I left the hospital; I stopped at the store and bought a bottle of Dreft. I washed everything that belonged to her, and that was the norm until she was almost one year old.
As we were at my Mom’s house preparing for her first birthday party, she spilled juice all over herself, my Mom took her party outfit and washed it in time for her party. As the guests were arriving I dressed her up, and we went to celebrate. About 2 hours later, my Aunt came to ask my what had bit the baby all over her face; naturally I went to see and the baby was covered in hives and her lips and eyes were swollen. As a “new Mother” for the third time, I panicked and rushed her to the emergency room, they gave her allergy medication and kept her for several hours until she was okay. That night when we put her to sleep at my Mom’s house, I kept checking on her every 15 minutes and within two hours she was having another allergic reaction; back to the hospital we went.
The doctors couldn’t understand what she was allergic to and suggested that maybe my Mother had mold in her home, or she was allergic to the dog. I knew that it was neither of those reasons, and I continued to keep a very close watch on her. That night I dressed her in her pajamas that I had brought from home and laid her on her car seat; she was fine through the night. The next morning when my Mom changed her clothes and dressed her in an outfit that my Mom had washed; a few hours later she was having an allergic reaction.
As we went to the hospital, and I told the Doctor I thought it was the clothes and detergent, he tested a pair of pants with the other detergent on her, and a shirt with Dreft; within two hours her legs were flared with hives. We discovered the problem, since then as she has grown up, I have tried to change her detergents; and to this day at 16 years old; she still breaks out in hives if she uses any other detergent on her clothes.
This means that every single blanket, pillow, stuffed animal, and couch cushion in our home, has to be washed with Dreft detergent. When Spring arrives and we spring clean the house, every single item has to be washed in Dreft, since she cuddles with everyone; and as we shampoo the rugs and carpets we have to use Dreft as well. In a way it has been a lot of work because we always have to be very vigilant when her Family and friends visit, she can’t hug or cuddle with them unless they are wearing something washed with her detergent, but at the same time; I love that at 16 years old; she still has the wonderful baby smell.
As we are preparing for our Spring and Summer activities, we have washed all of our picnic bedding, beach towels, as well as sports bags and her Spring and Summer wardrobe.
It’s always a big chore, but the smell throughout my house of a new baby, makes it all worth it. Dreft is the only detergent we are allowed to use at home. Maybe she will outgrow her allergies one day, maybe she won’t, until and if that happens; we will be using Dreft detergent in our home.
As a Mother of 6, I have seen my fair share of allergic reactions from the kids, and I am happy that at least this one has a pleasant outcome and a wonderful scent. The fact that this detergent is a hypoallergenic product, was recommended by her Pediatrician, is rated as the #1 baby detergent by Pediatricians, AND is gentle on her skin; makes for an amazing product in out home.
Scent is a powerful memory trigger, and the memories it brings when I smell her “baby detergent” are beautiful; they remind me of a tiny baby in my arms.
This is our “baby” throughout the house, if the cushions weren’t washed with Dreft; she wouldn’t be able to sit in any of them…
I am grateful to be working with Dreft again on a campaign that helps bring awareness to skin allergens, they were also awesome enough to send us one of each of:
Dreft Product: Newborn, Active Baby and Blissfuls
and a
$50 AMEX Gift Card, the best part?!?
They have a offered to give away the same package to one of my readers!!
If you want more chances of winning great prizes,
Entering this giveaway is simple,
Mandatory Entry:
Leave a comment below telling us what your favorite spring time activity is to do with your little ones?
Want to earn additional entries?
Rules:
Homeschooling any child can be a huge challenge, but homeschooling a child with autism can be a much bigger challenge then you ever imagined. Any parent, who has more than one child, knows that each child is so uniquely different. Although kids with autism have some similarities in behavior and temperaments, they are just as unique as everyone else. If you’ve homeschool a typically developing child before, you need to start with a fresh mindset because this will be a much different homeschool experience for you and your family.
When you have your little bundle of joy, you have a look at that little face with so much love and adoration. It only takes a few weeks to realize your little bundle is full of energy, but you chalk it up to all children are different. As the years go on, your child with ADHD will start to show signs and symptoms of this troubling disorder. From the lack of attention to impulsivity, there will be days you just don’t know what to do! As a parent of a child with ADHD, I can fully understand the frustration, but I have discovered 6 ways to help your child with ADHD to make your life easier.
When you are pregnant with a child, you may have dreamt of the things they would hopefully do someday. You have high hopes and aspirations for the successful life they would live. When you get a diagnosis, of really any medical disease or disorder, the shock may feel a crushing blow. Hearing that you have an autistic child is not easy for any parent. There are some things, which may help you to remember, on the really tough days.
Disclaimer: This is part of a sponsored collaboration with DiMe Media and Dreft. All opinions are 100% mine.
My #Amazinghood Experience with Dreft plus Giveaway
Dreft welcomes families to the big, messy, beautiful journey of #Amazinghood with its new line of laundry care products.
Babies go through a lot of changes within their first few years, leading to different needs for different life stages – especially when it comes to their laundry.
I am happy to be able to post about “My #Amazinghood Experience with Dreft plus Giveaway” because it’s a dear brand in my heart. Many moons ago, when my now 15-year-old daughter was a baby; I only used Dreft. It was just common sense as a Mom of a newborn. As she got a little older I decided that we were going to start washing her clothes with the same detergent we all used. I will never forget that day. After her bath, I put on a sleeper and gave her, her favorite blankie. I cuddled with her on the couch as I did every night. She started being a bit fussy, I noticed her face a little red so I took off her blankie thinking she was just a little hot. 15 minutes later, she’s crying. I look at her and her face is broken out, her lips and eyes are swollen; she looked like a little boxer. I freaked out and had my Mom rush us to the emergency room. After a few tests, they said she was having a severe allergic reaction to the new detergent. To keep her on Dreft for a few more months (she was 8 months at this point). After she was 14 months I tried the grown-up detergent again. Same reaction, same recommendation. 4 years later, same thing, same recommendation. She is now 15 years old guess who gets congratulated in the detergent aisle or cashier lane?
She can roll around in dirt, sweat up a storm while she plays in every sports team, every season; but she can not use regular detergent. She literally swells up like a bad case of Botox experiments.
These are my “Couch Blankies”
This is her, at 15 years old; STILL using her blankie and napping on my couch…
Make sure to download Dreft’s “Amazing Baby Days” app now available for FREE on the App store. This one of-a kind app helps parents – and parents to be – capture the amazing moments of pregnancy through their baby’s first year and has recently been updated so that moms and dads can make keepsake movies from photos and videos captured within the app!
I skeptically tried the new different baby stages detergent’s and we had no reaction!
Understanding that laundry needs for little ones change as they grow and develop, Dreft, the #1 baby laundry detergent choice of pediatricians, the #1 dermatologist recommended brand for baby clothes and a trusted brand for more than 80 years, has expanded its product line-up to better meet the different life-stage needs of babies and their families. Now with Dreft’s new line of laundry care products, families can focus less on the mess and more on the amazing moments they share together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_pgiOH1a_g&index=1&list=PLUUY9_XLg2LkOWJr72_i8rwd0jrCoF2_l
And can I tell you personally about the scents?!?!
The Dreft Newborn stage is the well-known baby clothes smell we smile with.
The Dreft Active Baby Stage Two smells amazing, it gives it a little “cooler” kick,
The Dreft Blissfuls Stage Three in-wash scent boosters is the bee’s knees!!!
It has a “Rosey” smell, and when you use it on your favorite adult blankie; it’s just perfect!
Being that I have to wash not only her clothing with Dreft, but I also have to use it on all the common things we use like my “couch blankies”, and her siblings’ and my bedding; I am glad that there are 3 different scents now that I can use to give my home a different mood in each room.
Whether parents want to swaddle their newborn in fabric washed in gentle, hypoallergenic Dreft Newborn detergent; gently tackle tough stains while developing babies explore their world with Dreft’s NEW hypoallergenic Active Baby formula; or experience that delicious, nostalgic baby scent with NEW Dreft Blissfulls scent-boosting beads – Dreft is there for every amazing step of the way.
I am happy to be able to bring you a giveaway in which YOU can also fall in love with the new scents!
Thanks to my wonderful sponsors, this giveaway will include:
NEW Dreft product line-up (1 of each)
Little Me receiving blanket (1 blanket)
Ingenuity Booster Chair (1 chair)
Aden by Aden & Anis Lovey (1 Aden)
Carters 5 Year Memory Book (1 memory book)
To Enter:
Make sure you leave a separate comment with name/link you used for each entry. You may enter as many times as you wish.
Mandatory entry:
Giveaway ends June 1st at 11p.m. Must be 18 & up to enter. Open to US only. Winner will be notified immediately after giveaway ends, and winner will have 12 hours to respond with information or second winner will be chosen; fast turn-around for prize information submission.
Congratulations, comment number 14 is James Robert!!!!!
