Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real ~ A Very Special Christmas Party

Our local hospital puts on an amazing party for all of the special needs kids in our area each year.  It gets bigger and more spectacular each year.  This year the party was held in a huge venue that could accommodate fire engines, police cars, moon bounces and many tables with exciting activities (all inside).

Pretty ~
This is a really exciting event that the kids look forward to all year.  This year the kids all wanted to get their hair colored with temporary dye.


Our youngest daughter is pretty  in pink, her favorite color! 
She was delighted with her new hairdo.


There were several craft tables for the kids
to make pretty gifts for their friends and family.

Happy ~
It makes me so happy that there are events like this where my kids can be who they are and not worry about sensory issues or medical issues.  Everyone there knows what it is like to live with extra difficulties.  It is truly a non-judgmental environment.


A Bingo game where everyone wins if they play long enough. 
The girls won teddy bears and Tom Sawyer won a sensory ball.


Even my husband got his hair dyed! 
Tom Sawyer got a dragon painted on his face as well.

Funny ~
I think the highlights this year for the kids were the moon bounce slide and the balloon man.  The balloon man was really impressive.  He made this incredibly funny hat for Tom Sawyer.


He also made these really cool balloons with little balls that rolled back in forth inside.  My husband is holding them in the picture below.  Yes, my dh is a character in front of a camera at times.


Real ~
In March it will be one year since starting Tom Sawyer's special diet.  What a year it has been!  We have seen our grocery bill double, miraculous improvements in Tom Sawyer's behavior and health, and we have come to accept this new way of eating as a way of life.  Lunch was provided at this wonderful party, but Tom Sawyer could not eat any of it.  A few months ago, I would have resisted going to the party because of the food issues.  However, I have learned to work around it, so I called ahead and found out what was being served.  Then I bought safe organic soda, organic hot dogs, a grain-free bagel and some organic gummy bears.  Tom Sawyer was able to enjoy everything his sisters had and without getting sick. 


He did however have a reaction to the hairspray and/or face paint.  Oy!  This allergy thing is very hard.  However, I am grateful that we are on the right road to making him healthy and happy. 


Lastly, I have wanted to get my face painted by the face paint artist for years.  However, the line has always been so long, and I didn't want to take away from the kids.  The artist was hidden in a corner this year; and we found her with a very short line, so I got to get my face painted, too.

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Blessings,
Dawn

8 comments:

  1. Looks like you all had a wonderful time! Love the face painting--- I've secretly always wanted to do it, too!

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  2. That is such a great event that is offered. I'm glad that you got to get in on the facepainting fun this year! Your husband looks like quite a character!

    Your son is really lucky to have a mom who is willing to go to such effort to ensure that he doesn't miss out on the experience, but is still healthy. I love that you called ahead and then made sure that he could have the same food. Great idea!

    I am considering taking gluten out for our son (he has Aspergers and many people with kids with autism say that it makes a big difference in behaviour), but it seems like so much extra work. Reading your posts always makes it seems a bit more achievable. When I decide to take the leap, I'm sure I'll have a lot of questions for you.

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  3. That's so awesome that your community has an event like that! How wonderful that all the kids can go, have fun, and be themselves. I first learned I was allergic to face paint when I washed it off and had a heart-shaped rash on my cheek ;) The holly looks great!

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  4. That's wonderful! What a blessing! I secretly want to spray my hair hot pink and purple. :-)

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  5. What a great event! I love the pics of the kids having fun. I totally would have gotten the face paint for myself too!

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  6. It is nice that you have a party like this to go to. I don't think mine would go for the hair coloring, however. LOL

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  7. That looks like an awesome event! So glad you have something like that! I would love to attend as well!

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  8. What fun! I love non-judgmental events like that; what a blessing for both the children and the parents. The balloons and face-painting are great! You look very pretty. I'd love to have my face painted and my hair sprayed, but I'd probably be like Tom Sawyer and end up reacting to both of them! I'm so glad that he could have the same menu as everyone else. I've been doing a lot of calling and packing special meals, too. Lots of work, but so worth it.

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