Encouraging families living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and other Invisible Disabilities
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*All expenses for this trip were paid by the author. Greece Here We Come We visited Greece in November 2018 and had fun being tourists in Thessaloniki. Elena (Ned’s trainer in Ohio), her mom Irene, and her friend Vasilis were our tour guides as we enjoyed delicious Greek food, visited beautiful historical landmarks, and shopped. We were on a special mission during our volunteering vacation in Greece. Miss Bee, Ned,...
Why We Visited Greece Elena, our service dog Ned’s trainer at 4 Paws for Ability is from Greece. We learned that Elena visits Los Angeles, our home town, to sing at Greek festivals and special events every year. Since Ned came home with us 4 years ago, Elena has visited with us each year. Elena invited us to visit Greece but a trip of this magnitude took several years to...
FASD Families Need Support Every time I speak about FASD, I discuss the village that supports my family. This is my most important and desperately needed treasured group of friends and family. It takes a village to raise children with FASD. I am a single mom of two adopted children. My son was diagnosed with FASD at the age of fifteen and my daughter was diagnosed with FAS (Fetal Alcohol...
In January 2014 my family was assigned to the January 2015 service dog training class. I was elated but shivering thinking about the severe winter weather we would encounter. Winter coats in Los Angeles are hoodies and we wear summer clothing year-round. Two adults are required to attend the entire training session. This ensures that at least one dog handler (a parent) is able to focus on the training and...
Miss Bee dressed in a tiara and cape during the spaghetti fundraiser for her service dog.
Planning Our Trip Visiting New Orleans – The Big Easy, has been on my bucket list since I wrote one as a teen. When Miss Bee and I were invited to tag along with friends Tracey and Amanda on their spring break vacation I was thrilled. Three women and a teen, the odds of enjoying this trip were sure to be in my favor. Not only has Tracey known...
Stoneview Nature Center Nestled in the Baldwin Hills are two family-friendly parks connected by a hiking trail. On the east-facing side of the hills is Stoneview Nature Center. This lovely gem off the beaten path is an easily manageable park that opened in April 2017. Hiking and a workout in the Baldwin Hills is a unique experience in a natural setting. There is a quarter-mile dirt path surrounding the perimeter...