Bridget Cella, e-Pro Realtor

As many Gloucester County residents do I received my flyer, a publication of the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Issue IV 2009. I, as many do, perused the bifolded glossy paper for anything that may be of interest to me and that I may be able to share with you.

JOIN THE GLOUCESTER COUNTY "VIP" LIST

Little did I know that Gloucester County even had one, but if you give them your e-mail address they will update you with information about upcoming events such as free concerts, movies, family activities, and other county news and events.

Go to http://www.gloucestercountynj.gov/ and click the VIP Icon

or click this VIP icon to sign up today!

SOME OTHER THINGS YOU CAN FIND THERE:

Sheriff Sales - Tax Records - Available Properties (Eco. Dev) - Health Sanitary Inspection Ratings

Many of you know the effect that children can have on your lives. Soooo many emotions let loose by the fact that a little part of yourself will carry on for the world to see.

I can still remember the day my husband and I decided to have kids, we were sitting in our family room (ironic, don't you think!) watching TV wondering what to do on that Saturday afternoon. We both looked at each other and thought, we are bored, let's have a kid!

Needless to say after a few months of disappointment we finally had achieved our goal and we anxiously awaited our arrival. Of course, we were the first amongst our friends to have children, we had the party house, the hang out spot.

Every holiday was a reason to gather friends and family for a barbaque or get together of some sort. "That's all gonna change once the baby comes." they all would say. "Nah!" we said to each other. Needless to say they were right!

But oh how much FUN we had, late night feedings, screaming all hours of the day and night, poopie diapers and no friends to be found. Our lives had DEFINITELY changed! It wasn't all bad, we loved making faces at our beautiful little boy! He was progressing with all of his milestones just like the book said he would.... unitil ....

He was almost two and his vocabulary was very limited. He didn't look at me or my husband and say "Ma or Mom or Da or Dad". He didn't zoom his cars around the room or put food on the "stove". Instead he would line up his cars, put together 10-20 piece puzzles, knew every letter of the alphabet, carried around pieces of his play food only to put them together with many other "objects" he would find around the house, unrelated. He didn't want to be held or hugged or kissed.

Our "perfect little boy" wasn't perfect (by everyone elses standards). Now what?

(BTW - both of my boys are perfect, just for the record!)

In two months we would be expecting our next bundle of joy, with the concerns arising for our first little guy we had to have him tested. Could it be Autism?"No, he has good eye contact" we would say to everyone, he doesn't stim or do rock or have twitches.

So, being the good parents that we are, decided to get him evaluated by a Developmental Pediatrician. Anxiously awaiting the appointment we began to question, well, maybe he could have it but he is very high functioning. The appointment came and went and it was official - he didn't have anything wrong. He was a boy, give him time.

What a relief we thought, the new baby came and our attentions were focused on him. A second little boy, who never stopped screaming! AHHHHH! Calgon take me away!

Needless to say our days and nights were long and hard, ok, now to make a long story short:

Our youngest son, who was failing to meet his milestones, was diagnosed at 13 months with Angelman Syndorme, a very rare disorder that effects the 15th Chromosome. He will probobly be non-verbal, have seizure disorder, may not walk, may never be potty trained, be cognitively no higher than a 5 year old throughout his life. But, how beautiful he is!

One month later, our oldest was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome, a very high functioning form of Autism that effects the social and emotional aspects of his life. He was now almost 3 and a half.

So what do we do now? Well I must say, we went to DISNEY WORLD!

"And we have been every year ever since!"

We had the trip planned and it was a welcome relief from all of the new information we were having to absorb. What few friends we still had became fewer as our children would not or could not participate in a lot of the "normal" activities that our friends who now had children could.

Instead we have formed new relationships,with people who have an understanding of what we are going through on adaily basis. And even if they don't know exactly what we go through, they understand why we may not be able to do things, they accept our children for who they are PERFECT!

I read in a recent survey posted by Autism Speaks and IAN Network about how the relationships of families who have a member that is effected with Autism have viewed their relationships and it was astounding to me. 44% reported that the fact that their child (or family member) had Autism had a negative impact on their relationships with friends and their social network.

But then again, as I look back at my own, I tend to agree.

SO the next time you meet an old friend or new one that is dealing with the daily struggles of having a child or family member with any disability, give them a minute of your time and a lifetime of understanding! It will mean the world to them.

As you may or may not know, my son Nicholas, now 7 years old suffers from epilepsy and Angelman Syndrome. I came into contact last year with CLAYTON'S HOPE.

An organization that was started by a mom who's perfectly normal son was stricken by the average cold/flu and became a victim of multiple seizures.

Here is the info about the walk and a link to their story!

In 2007 Clayton's sister decided that she would like to
start a walk, so that money could be raised for Epilepsy
Research. She named the walk "Steps for Seizures" and
that is how our event began.

Please join us as we walk...
For those that can't
and those that can
For those whose daily lives include seizures
and for those whose don't
but love someone whose does.
Mostly, so that together we can raise
much needed funding for Epilepsy Research!

Date: November 7, 2009
Place: Washington Lake Park
Amphetheatre
Time: Registration/Check In: 9:00am
Walk begins: 10:00am

REGISTER HERE

There will be face painting for the children, complimentary refreshments and
snacks, a disc jockey entertaining us and various companies offering
complimentary items. Those registering by October 21st will receive a
complimentary T-shirt at check in on the day of the walk. T-shirts will not be
available the day of the walk unless you have pre-registered. We will have
wonderful prizes for the the 2 individuals raising the top pledge amounts and the
captain recruiting the largest team to walk. Click on the link to the left to print out
a registration form, pledge form or sponsorship opportunities.

And...
We are thrilled to announce that:

Boomer-1 will be appearing at our event!

Who is Boomer-1 you may ask?
It is a specialty made chopper designed for Geesechasers and named after
Bob Young's beloved Border Collie. Please visit their site to learn further
information about this wonderful company and the cycle that they will be bringing
to the Steps for Seizures event, www.geesechasers.com.
Of course, you must register to view Boomer-1 and be a part of this wonderful
day! Hope to see you!

Find more information on the Support Group

Buy Clayton's Hope Baseball Caps in the store!

View a clip from an interview with Shelby Myers - Claytons Mom!

This information is being passed on with permission from the foundation! Please make every effort to participate or donate!

Contact Clayton's Hope

Yes, I finally did it!  After growing up in Maine and only haveing had rafted in the Lehigh Gorge of Pennsylvania, I finally rafted the Kennebec River in The Forks, Maine.

The falls they call "Magic"

 

My husband and I enjoyed the trip very much, thanks to our friends Fred and Nicki for taking us down and Rapid Shooters for taking these awesome pictures (which I purchased from them at www.rapidshootersmaine.com)

Now that I am back safe and sound in New Jersey, call me for all of your real estate needs!

 

Maybe you have had the opportunity to visit this very special place, maybe not.  If you haven't stopped by yet now is the time to visit their new location:

Family Clay Time

117 Greentree Road

Turnersville, NJ

232-2529

Here are a few of the items that I have created!

 

 

My son's footprints in the sand!

This was given to me from my husband for Christmas, it can take a few weeks to set up after the kids set their footprints.  Allow ample time if you would like to surprise your loved one!

 

 

 

 

My husband's cereal bowls!

I created one with my son and the other was given to him as a gift from his niece!

 

 

 

 

My wine bottle trivet! 

 

Sits on my stove everyday and is a reminder of when I got married!  Established 1998!

 

 

 

 

My serving platter with my family name!

 

This item is awesome, I have given one to my buyers as settlement gifts with either their settlement date or wedding date on the back!  It will be a great piece to show their friends and family who will ask where they got it!

 

 

 

 

 

So if you haven't had a chance to be creative yet!  Stop by and give it a try!

Enjoy!