Ben's Bells

Today Caroline and I took part in something very special! 

Caroline holding a Ben's Bell at Red Rocks Amphitheater

Some of you may have heard of Ben's Bells, a Tucson organization.  They were in the news right after the tragic shooting at the Safeway this year.  Ben's Bells blanketed the Tucson area with bells following the shooting.  

Ben's Bell's mission is to spread kindness.  Nine years ago, Jeannette and her husband Dean lost their three year old son Ben, very suddenly due to illness.  In her grief she realized that she may look normal on the outside, but on the inside she was filled with pain.  Jeannette began to wonder how many other people were just like her, hurting so deeply, but no one could tell by looking at them.  During that time the smallest acts of kindness kept her going.  Out of her grief and the kindness of others came Ben's Bells.  It started small, with the bells being made in their garage.  She and her family made bells and hung them around Tucson with notes encouraging people to spread kindness.  It grew and grew, and it is now spreading across our country. 

My friend Jenny helped to bring a wonderful gift to Colorado with her desire to make and distribute Ben's Bells.  This morning we met at Red Rocks Amphitheater to meet Jeanette and to get our bag of bells.  Many of my Super Mom friends were there.  We have all been so touched by other's kindness to us on our individual journeys.  Ben's Bells is a project we can all support.  It was a chilly morning with bundled children, and most of us bouncing from side to side to keep warm as we watched all the people who like to exercise in the amphitheater.  We had breakfast together and listened to Jeanette tell us about Ben's Bells and its mission.  Then we were handed our bells and sent off to hang them.  The goal was to fan out across the greater metro area hanging bells where others could find them. 

On the long drive to Red Rocks that morning, Caroline and I talked about all the kindness we have received from others.  This talk gave us an idea about how we would like to hang the bells.  To us each bell would represent a person.  We planned to hang the bells someplace that meant something to us in connection with our memory of their kindness.  This turned out to be quite a journey that had us driving well over 80 miles to hang our bells.  We went to two different hospitals, one store, two restaurants, four neighborhoods, two schools, one lake, one park and more.  With each bell we hung, we stopped and talked about why we selected that spot and who it was to honor.  The bells are very colorful and Caroline took great care in selecting which color went with which person. 




Caroline hanging the very first bell. 



Our drive became a mobile day of counting our blessings! 

I am so thankful to have gotten to be apart of Ben's Bells.

Vampire Teeth

Yesterday, as I picked Max up from preschool I watched him add a plastic zip lock bag to a growing stash of plastic bags in his backpack. I must have looked puzzled because one of the teachers said, "just look at it as Max's way of recycling."


Here is the conversation that followed:


Me: Max why are you collecting zip lock bags?
Max: I need them.
Me: Why?
Max: To make vampire teeth.
Me: oh...


I looked at the teacher, thinking I would hear that they just read about vampires, and that would explain everything. I got a shrug. Nope, your average early intervention preschool does not include vampires in the curriculum.


Me: Vampire teeth, Max?
Max: Yes, Vampire teeth.


We headed out the door towards the car. I tried one more time to understand.


Me: Max how will you make vampire teeth out of zip lock bags?
Max: I need the bags to customize them. Customized, vampire teeth Mommy!


I dropped the subject, I do not get the complexities of vampire teeth construction or customization.


Prior to treatment, it was understood that Max's brain was under fueled due to his metabolic disorder (Glut 1 DS). I remember Ray and I often saying to each other, "Can you imagine what Max will be like fully fueled?" Well now we know! You give Max's brain the fuel it needs and you get a child who clearly no longer has a speech delay. You also get a child who has an imagination that knows no bounds.

Is the world ready for Fully Fueled Max? I have a feeling this kid is running on Premium.
 
Physically we are seeing a fully fueled boy too.  Here are some photos from this mornings home PT session.  He can now jump on a bed, so exciting!



Jump!



Jump!





And Roll!



The Gift of a Quiet Day

Today has been one of those days....a good, quiet, peaceful day.    

There were no birthday parties to attend, or errand to go on, and the lawn did not need to be mowed.  The fridge is filled with food, and there are leftovers to cover quite a few meals.  The house is very clean, thanks to a recent wonderful dinner with Ray's cousins.  I am not sure about the state of the laundry, but we have clothes enough for today.

Today was an outside day, a barefoot day.  The sprinklers went on for the first time this season and the kids loved watching them and playing near the spray.  We have a wonderful back porch, but for some reason our driveway is the place we always end up.  Max drove his car around and then took a turn on his Big Wheels.  He pulled me in a wagon (our version of physical therapy) which cracks me up.  Caroline and I drew chalk pictures and drank soda.  She played basketball with Ray and I played lasers with Max.  Both kids played with umbrellas.  I am not sure why there is a household fascination with umbrellas right now, but there is.  Max calls them rebrellas. 

Caroline had a long play time in her room and Max is still napping as I type this. 

I think this day may be the best Mother's Day gift ever! 

I wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day and some peace and quiet and sunshine!