Our active little munchkin...

Harper has been so active now that she is walking everywhere. She LOVES the park and we go there everyday. Her favorite is the swings, BUT every time we get off it's a tantrum because she loves the swing and NEVER wants to get off. 😁

We also tried a toddlers in tutus class and she did so well. She loves watching others and mimicking them. But unfortunately the classes are Wednesdays at 4:30 and I have a faculty meeting every Wednesday until 4:30. So I looked into another class and found a class called big muscle builders . How perfect, because she has low muscle tone! So we tried the class this past Saturday and she thoroughly enjoyed it! We signed her up for every Saturday through the end of May. She marches, and goes over, under, through tunnels, and swings on poles. Its similar to The Little Gym, but I think a lot better.

Another AMAZING thing I think EVERY mother should know is to make your child a smoothie!!!! When we were in Riviera Maya over the Christmas break, my aunt and mother in law had to watch Harper because she got sick the day before we left. Which by the way was a very difficult decision to make but it was what was meant to be and best for all of us. While she was staying with her auntie Lynne she had made her a smoothie each day. In the smoothie she put in spinach, about 4 oz of no sugar apple juice, 2-3 tablespoons of unsweetened applesauce, one to toddler yogurt, and fruit. Harper loved them. So of course when I came home from our trip, (which was much needed for me and my hubby) we went out and bought the blend tec blender to make her these smoothies. From that day on we have been making her smoothies and now I add Kale, carrots, liquid multivitamin, and DHA omegas. I suggest to all moms to make these. Every day Harper looks forward to her smoothies and since then (knock on wood, she hasn't been sick.)

I'll post some pics soon of Harper in her Toddlers in Tutus class and in her big muscle builders class. I'll also post some of our Christmas Riviera Mayan vacay.

The only update we have for now is her next neurologist appointment in April 4th.

Xoxo,
Amber

"FAITH- it does not make things easy, it makes them possible." Luke1:37

Thank you Victoria and Tom Magliaro's Hair Additions

One of my bestest friends and probably the friend I've known the longest has done something so special for our family! She works for her family's company, Tom Magliaro's Hair Additions, and they are doing a little fundraiser for Harper for the month of February. Since Aetna has said no to genetic testing, Vic thought she'd try to help raise money to pay for it. Every little bit counts....Soooooo sweet! I'm so very blessed and fortunate to have such wonderful friends! Below is the poster they have written up and they have one in each of their waiting rooms. Thank you again Victoria and Tom Magliaro Hair Additions, and of course to anyone who donated! :)


Can Harper Be Your Valentine?
This is the story about a little angel, Harper Reynolds…
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Her mom, Amber, grew up with Victoria and Kyle, and right before she began her student teaching in 2005, Amber worked with us here at Hair Additions. Some of you might remember her. We knew that we would eventually lose her to teaching, because she had always adored children.

In July of 2011, Amber and her wonderful husband, Brian, were blessed with their own little daughter, Harper. Nothing could have made them happier. Somewhere before she turned one year old, Amber and Brian became concerned that she was quite delayed in her development. Her muscle tone was weak, and she was way behind in sitting, crawling, and later, in walking, and talking. She wasn’t reaching the milestones that one would have expected of her age.

After numerous visits to various specialists (a neurologist, geneticist, speech and physical therapist) and putting poor Harper through an MRI, EEG, multiple blood tests, tubes in her ears, and leg braces, it’s been
determined that her brain is tremendously under-developed and that she will always be behind.

What does that all mean? That Amber and Brian and Harper and all their family and their friends will need to redefine their focus ---and applaud every little victory that Harper has and celebrate every milestone that she does complete. And help to make Harper’s life the best it can possibly be.

It’s a hard pill for any parent, any loved one to swallow. There is an in-depth genetic test that can help determine with more certainty Harper’s diagnosis, and can help Amber and Brian determine whether this syndrome would be passed onto another child. Thus far, their insurance company has turned them down. The test cost $7,000. All of their friends want to help them get this testing done.

For the month of February, Harper Reynolds is our Valentine. We know she and her family would appreciate more than words can express, if you all make this little angel your Valentine, also.

Thank you for any donations.

The staff of Tom Magliaro’s Hair Additions
Can Harper Be Your Valentine?
This is the story about a little angel, Harper Reynolds…
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