CdLS Sunday Blog Challenge - Gift Giving Ideas for the Holiday Season

Gift giving ideas for the Holiday Season Blog Challenge

Gift giving season is here! Kids with CdLS can be challenging to buy gifts for. What gifts has your child received in the past that he or she has enjoyed, and what do you think you're child will want/need this season?

I would have to say one of Joey's favorite things he has received in the past is his CD player. It is just a small blue one that I got for about $15 at WalMart. We play CD's on it for him at night when he goes to bed. During the day, we have to unplug it and put it somewhere because he will pull it down off his his dresser and try to play with it. Let's just say it has been through a lot and has held up pretty well. He also likes his keyboards ~ he has 3 or 4 of them in different sizes and colors that he really enjoys. Lego's are also a big hit with him ~ or any type of building blocks. He loves wooden blocks too ~ he can stack 4 to 6 blocks himself and then laughs and claps his hands when he knocks them over. He has also received some books in the past ~ the kind that have the sound boards on the side that make noise when you press the picture. He likes these too.

This year for Christmas I am going to try to get him a Fisher Price Kid Tough DVD Player that I saw on a fellow CdLS family's blog. I think he would like this and it sounds like it could withstand a lot of action. I am also planning on getting him a new toy box for his room ~ hopefully some kind of Little Tikes one or something along those lines. He also needs a new hand held massager. His bit the dust a few weeks ago. Joey is not too picky ~ if it plays music, comes in a box, or is something he can climb on, he is a happy camper!

This would Joey's idea of the perfect Christmas gift! :o)

Answers revealed....

Welcome to the answer phase of What Is That Anyway? It seems I have frustrated a lot of you this week which is what I set out to do! LOL Just kidding! I honestly didn't realize how hard these pictures were to figure out ~ of course I am at an extreme advantage because I know the answers. My sly ways paid off this week because there is no one that got all 3 answers correct. Next week I'll be a little easier on you, I promise. Let's see....

Now I just knew somebody visiting the blog would get this one right ~ although she is at an extreme advantage too...Cris is Joey's PT. She is the only one to guess this pic exactly right. Way to go!!!!

It is a picture of Joey's AFO's! (The braces he wears on his feet ~ back view)

Now this next one most of you that attempted a guess on this one got it right....

It's a Bumble Ball! (One of Joey's favorite toys)

And for this one there was only one correct guess...and that was by Natalie. You go girl! Here it is again.....

It is a glass of ice water with most of the water gone....

Hope you all had fun playing along this week...I hope I didn't make any of you too angry (Ahem, Justine LOL). I also hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and I will post more this weekend about our holiday. Right now I'm off to get the boys' hair cut. Wish me luck!

Special Exposure/Not So Wordless Wednesday

Welcome to the fourth week of What Is That Anyway? Last week we had one person that guessed all three pictures right and the rest of you got two out of three correct. This week I have decided to go back to cheating and sneak in some slightly blurred photos in an attempt to stump you all once again.
Doesn't seem fair, does it? ;o) Sorry ~ I guess I am just a big old meanie once again! Last week I also hinted that I may have some Thanksgiving themed pictures but sadly this has been proven untrue. I tried to think of what Thanksgiving type things I could photograph but came up with nothing. I thought about going to Walmart or some other store and snapping some pics of food or fall decorations but I figured I would look like a huge idiot. But I suppose I wouldn't have looked any stupider than I did last week at the park taking pictures of benches and fire hydrants. A woman did walk past me when I was photographing the bench and gave me a strange look. Anyway, if you are joining us for the first time, the game is simple. Just look at the pictures, leave your guesses in the comments section and visit us again tomorrow when the answers are revealed. Although this week I probably won't get the results posted until Friday as we will be traveling for Thanksgiving. Here's this weeks pics for your viewing pleasure. Good luck!
(Oh yeah ~ I'm not giving out clues this week either. Sorry ~ but if you really study them they are a piece of cake!)

Nicholas Schurke

Sadly, we have received word of the sudden passing of Nicholas Schurke, a member of our extended CdLS Family. Our hearts are aching and our thoughts and prayers go out to his Mom, Dad, and little brother and also to the rest of his family. Life really is fragile and you never know what each day will bring. I am sharing the message we received from his parents through our online support group, his obituary, and a precious photo. Please take a moment today to pray for this family and all children affected by Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. We hope the Schurke Family finds the comfort and support they will need in the weeks and months to come.

Hi Cdls family.
I have not been as active in the group as I used to be ,but felt I needed to share our grief with you.
Our son Nicholas Toffer Schurke age 4 passed away while sleeping on our couch last evening(11/20) .
We are unsure of the cause, but know that he was not feeling well as he was napping quite a bit and just not himself. We thought he was just getting his usual winter cold that usually lasts a few days and has him acting the way he was. I was holding him minutes before he passed away. I had layed him down to finish supper and relized he wasn't snoring like when I had left him. Only minutes had passed, but he was not breathing and after my CPR and 30min with the EMT's Chris and I decided it was time to let Nick rest.
I have cried alot and just when I think I am done another wave comes or another loved one calls and it starts all over again.
We will have a service in Minneapolis on Tues afternoon with burial in Ely on Wed moring.
I thank everyone for all the advice and support we have received through the years. It was a rewarding, but challenging honor to have Nicky as our son. He has changed our family in more ways than we can count.

Sarah and Chris
mom to Angel Nick 4yr and Logan 1yr

Nicholas Toffer Schurke, 4, of Zumbrota
The Republican Eagle
Published Monday, November 24, 2008
Nicholas Toffer Schurke, 4, of Zumbrota, died Thursday at his home. Born March 6, 2004, in Duluth, Minn., to Christopher and Sarah (Wetzel) Schurke, he grew up in Zumbrota and was attending preschool in Zumbrota. He enjoyed watching loud bands in parades, paging through books and taking rides in his stroller and red wagon.

Survivors include his parents Christopher and Sarah Schurke of Zumbrota; one brother, Logan; paternal grandparents Roger and Merryl Schurke of Andover, Minn.; maternal grandparents Thomas and Rebecca Wetzel of Ely, Minn.; paternal great-grandmother, Lois Schurke of Minneapolis; maternal great-grandparents Howard and Lil Olson of Fargo, N.D., and Arn and Lee Wetzel of Wells, Minn. He was preceded in death by paternal great-grandparents G. Roger Schurke and John and Jean Koehler.

Funeral will be 1 p.m. today at Oak Haven Church, 1555 Constance Blvd. N.E., Ham Lake, Minn., with the Revs. Tim Walker and Tim Cook officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Ely Cemetery, Ely, Minn. Visitation will be one hour before the service today at the church. Pallbearers will be his uncles, Jay and John Wetzel and Chris and Nate Schurke. Memorials are preferred to Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Foundation, 302 W. Main St. Suit 100, Avon, CT 06001, info@cdlsusa.org. Arrangements are with the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Larson Chapel in Zumbrota.

CdLS Sunday Blog Challenge - What are you thankful for?

Our CdLS Sunday Blog Challenge for today:
As Thanksgiving rapidly approaches, take a moment to reflect on what you are thankful for and post it on your blog.

I have been thinking about this a lot today. There are many, many things I am thankful for and our lives are full of many blessings. We have tons of reasons to be thankful this holiday season and this challenge gives me a chance to reflect on these things and fully appreciate our lives. It gives me a reminder to be grateful for all the little things that we sometimes take for granted.

1. I am thankful for my children, my husband, and our entire family.
2. I am thankful for our friends and neighbors.
3. I am thankful that my children, my husband, and myself are all healthy.
4. I am thankful that even though things are tough sometimes, we try to find the bright side of a situation.
5. I am thankful for my dishwasher.
6. I am thankful to wake up every day and see the beautiful faces of my children.
7. We went to a high school football awards banquet tonight. It honored the senior players and reflected on their high school years. I am thankful that John is only a freshman and we will still have him with us for a few more years.
8. I am thankful for naps (when I get to take one!)
9. I am thankful that we will be warm this winter.
10. I am thankful we have a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, and food in our tummies. There are so many people who do not have these things.
11. I am thankful for all the people who make such a great difference in Joey's life every day. I am thankful that they care so much about him.
12. I am thankful for all of our CdLS family and friends. I am grateful that they are there to give us joy, comfort and support.
13. I am thankful that I have little hands to hold.
14. I am thankful for each step of progress that Joey makes.
15. I am thankful for all the accomplishments all the children make. I am thankful that I am here to enjoy these moments with them.
16. I am thankful for comfy shoes.
17. I am thankful for sunshine, a warm breeze, and the smell of fresh cut grass.
18. I am thankful for tiny hugs, sloppy kisses and when my children tell me they love me. I am thankful I am able to tell them I love them too.
19. I am thankful for books to read and music to listen to. I am thankful to be able to read the words and hear the songs.
20. I am thankful for the memories I have and the memories I have to look forward to.
21. I am thankful for Nick Jr. and Noggin (keeps the kiddos entertained!)
22. I am thankful to be able to have a good laugh, a good cry, and a good night's sleep.
23. I am thankful for peanut M&M's.
24. I am thankful for garage sales.
25. I am thankful for yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

What are some things you are thankful for? For more CdLS Sunday Blog Challenge participants, click here.

Note to Jill and Justine: Red pickles are something that we have had on special occasions since I was a kid. My aunts make them and this year my mom's been saving a jar for Thanksgiving sent from my aunt in Minnesota. They are red, I think colored with red candies, and they don't taste like regular pickles. They have a great flavor that I can't really describe. I was a young kid the last time I helped anyone make them so I can't recall all the details but they are good, good, good! I will find a post a recipe sometime. :o)