UKRAINE!!!!

Wow- what an amazing trip! Thank you to everyone for thoughts/prayers for a successful trip. I had to go back to work Monday and jet-lag definitely set in. I'm so glad to be home and missed my kids at work, but I must admit, I miss being in Ukraine helping these little ones. I'm still processing the whole week but wanted to fill in and write about everything while it's still fresh as well.

Day 1: Kramatorsk Orphanage
We met with the director of the orphanage first thing in the morning- they were happy to have us there to show them different options to help the sweet little ones. I was definitely nervous. I guess since first time I've been there and not knowing how everything runs. We started off busy going to different rooms with kids and talking to the caregivers of each room. I mostly held the little ones while Amy communicated with the caregivers of the rooms through a translator. This helped my nerves calm down a bit and realize it really is how we work everyday at our own jobs. The caregivers would give us information/background on each kid and we would show them ways to help them communicate better and they would ask questions. It was great to know they cared to help the kids.
Amy and I worked together in the rooms all day since we were the speech therapists on the trip. We both bonded with some sweet little ones that made our day = )

Our OT and PT groups had a great day as well with the kids. We also had an equipment specialist go on the trip with us. He was a huge help with the wheelchairs and walkers.

Day 2: Meet with parents, Kramatorsk
Today we went to a nearby center to meet with families that have chose to keep their kids even though they have special needs. Families in Ukraine have very very few resources to help them with special needs kids. Most people that deliver a baby with a disability will give them to an orphanage. I couldn't believe all the families waiting in line for hours just to see us. They were very grateful we were there to see their kids and told us repeatedly how they look forward to every year when we come to help. We were all very grateful and willing to educate/encourage these parents as they try to care for their little ones the best they can. It was crazy the amount of kids that could not walk at all or needed a walker to help them walk but didn't have anything to help them. A lot of the parents carried their kids EVERYWHERE. This was definitely a day for PT and our equipment specialist- they were very busy trying to get braces for kids to help them walk better, and getting wheelchairs/walkers for ones that desperately needed them.

Day 3: Another meet with parents day, Slavyansk
We drove by to a nearby town to meet with more parents that had kids with special needs. This day we broke up into 2 groups (each group had a ST, OT, PT) so each family would not have to go from group to group like we did the previous day. We saw a lot more kiddos this day as well so wanted it to run very smoothly. Again, the families lined up and waited patiently to meet with all of us. It was another productive day that ran very smoothly. We were scared PT/equipment specialist would not have enough supplies to help all the kids. We prayed and HE made sure that everything would work out!!

Danielle casted quite a few kids and will get braces sent to them = )

Day 4: Back to Antoshka Orphanage
This was our presentation day. We invited different professionals to this event and it was a full house. Each discipline (PT, OT, ST) would give a presentation on different ways to help kids with special needs. This was very beneficial for each guest and they seemed to enjoy everything we had to say. We also brought in some of the kids to demonstrate different therapy techniques they can work on. After the presentation we ate a wonderful lunch and got to go to the different rooms to see all the kids one last time and say our good-byes. This was an emotional day- I was sad it was our last day to work there. We divided up different toys/therapy items that we brought for each room to have.

Day 5: Orphanage in Kharkiv
We had to get up very early this morning and drive to this orphanage. We were all exhausted from the week and having to get up extra early. We made it safely and started to get to work. First, they decided to show us a video on all the therapies they provide to the kids. Next, they brought in kids and we started working! They let us go into a building that they would not allow us to go in last year. We were all grateful for that, but it was very sad. We gave the caregivers tons of advice to help this little girl, I just hope they follow through with everything so she can get better. We also left therapy materials here as well.

After working at this orphanage we left to eat dinner and then got on an 8 hour train ride to Kiev. It was an overnight train ride so we were all excited to get some good sleep.  Here are some pictures from the trip. Oh and I've had a lot of people asking about the food in Ukraine. Yeah, we all thought we'd go and lose weight, but it was a different story. We all ate way too much! They had great meals at restaurants and lots of fried potatoes. Ukraine's soil is very rich and they're veggies were so fresh and good!

We arrived in Kiev around 7am. We all got in our apartment and started getting ready for a full day of sight-seeing. This day was also my birthday- it was a great place to be on my birthday!
                     
                           University of Kiev

               
                    The churches were beautiful

   Lots of people getting married this day- thought the vintage limo was funny

    Pit stop for some yummy coffee

                 Mmmm....Bailey's

                Last night in Kiev

           Calling our HOGS!!!

             Watching the Hog/Ole Miss game in the hotel

It was hard saying goodbye to Alex & Olga this night! Olga was our translator all week and had gotten together our schedule for the week, she was amazing. Her husband is Alex and he did great helping us out all week as well. They definitely made it feel like home all week and were like family. None of us went to sleep saturday night and was hoping to get back on a sleep schedule. We left Kiev at 2:30am to go to the airport. We flew from Kiev to Frankfurt, then to Chicago and then to Fayetteville!! We landed around 5pm- it felt amazing to be home!!
Andrew and I went to Bonefish for a late birthday dinner for me. It was of course delicious- they have fontina chicken right now as a special and it's soooo good!

Tomorrow I leave again (last trip for awhile) for Nashville, TN to watch the HOG/Vandy game Saturday. I'm going with my bff Whitney, her aunt Bib and her fiance and his friend. We decided to leave early to have some fun before the game = )
Have a great week!

Busy, Busy

Wow! What a busy week. It's going to be a quick blog with some updates because I'm an old lady and it's almost my bed time = )

Ukraine trip is coming up!!! We spent last Tues/Thurs evening to get everything packed up for the girls that left a week early and for the rest of us leaving THIS SATURDAY! You can see all the wonderful work the ladies are doing this week here- TEAMworks Blog! (http://www.teamworksukraine.com/?cat=4) I'm not really nervous anymore just very excited and can't wait to be there.

I took my dad to try out Tusk & Trotter last week. Of course yes, I've been there but knew he would like it. He got a yummy burger and I got a pork chop with delicious mashed potatoes.

Friday, I went to CrossfitNWA and got a brutal workout in.

Told you it was brutal = ) BUT, I can do pull-ups without a band now- WOO HOO!! Saturday they were still pretty sore, and I had to wrap my hands that day while tailgating because I didn't want stuff to get all in the blisters. So, I looked like a boxer, ok maybe just a weirdo. Now I'm just trying to get these hands healed before Ukraine. And yes, I was wearing my hand guards during the workout, but they were making me slip off the bar so I took them off. Probably the last time I do that!!!

Friday night I had some of my BFF's over for some dinner. I cooked chicken enchiladas and we had some cheese dip/salsa. April brought some cinnamon rolls from Briar Rose in Farmington. OMG, pop them in the microwave and they were to die for. As Andrew said, just looking at them made you think 700 calories (but there were probably more, ha)

On Saturday, Andrew and I went to Fayetteville to cheer on our Hogs. We started with some tailgating with great friends. Best of all, we beat Auburn!!

Oh look at this little cutie during tailgating!

Now I'm off to do reports, Russian lesson, and lay stuff out for packing. OH WAIT! Who's been watching Kardashian Wedding special- love it!!!

Please keep our group in your thoughts/prayers for safe travels and to reach out to everyone to show how kids with disabilities can do anything any other child can do. Let them understand the importance of therapy and how He has plans for these precious kids = )

Have a great week
~Kara~

Wonderful weekend

Woo Hoo what a great win for our HOGS!! What a great weekend! My mom came into town this weekend to visit and for some BBBBQ. She got here pretty early Friday, and of course we went and ate lunch first = ) We went to the Green Bean in Rogers (at Village on the Creeks). This place is amazing! Bad thing is, they're only open M-F for lunch. I know sad day- I really wish they were at least open on Saturdays. This place has soups, salads, sandwiches and will sometimes have some sort of cookie bar for dessert and muffins. Everything is made with fresh ingredients- hence why it's so GOOD! I got a ham sandwich w/provolone cheese, and my mom got a turkey/fruit salad.

               The picture doesn't do it justice- I wish my sandwiches looked this pretty!

      

After lunch, we went and picked up my grandma and headed to Daisies & Olives. Daises & Olives is a flea market in downtown Prairie Grove. They have some really cute stuff. Mom and I found a couple of things that we loved = )

                 I found this great wood piece for $15! Yeah some of you crafty people are probably thinking I could do that for cheaper- but I'm not crafty and thought it was a great deal = ) We haven't decided if we're going to hang it or make a table out of it.

They had tons of the cute hogs with wings but then they also had these little hogs- they're different and mom and I had never seen them. So she got me one for my birthday and of course had to buy herself one

After doing some shopping and fighting the traffic, we decided to brave more traffic and hit up BBBBQ. I must admit I love going. Now as for the traffic- not so much! I have horrible road rage (hey, at least I admit it), and all this traffic was awful. It wasn't so bad in Rogers except for when you got on the interstate- AWFUL!! My mom, Sarah P., and Whit all went out together. We also met up with some other friends later in the night. We had a great/interesting night! 

I couldn't get a good picture- but this 4-wheeler/street legal bike was so cool. It was all decked out in Hog stuff

   Mom could not keep her eyes open due to the flash on the iPhone- this was like our 5th attempt and dying laughing

On Saturday Mom and I did a little bit more shopping. Then that night we + Andrew went and tried a new restaurant I've been dying to try!! The Table Mesa owner's opened up an Italian restaurant on the Bentonville square called Tavola Trattoria. It's right around the corner of Table Mesa and very delicious! Everyone must try it. My mom and Andrew both got spaghetti & meatballs (made from Kobe beef) and I got the chicken alfredo. 

I have to show off our new table/1930's refrigerator = ) I know random! Andrew and I have been looking for a table to put in the living room for decoration/to put decorations on. We've went to Flea Markets and have found great tables but they weren't in good shape and really expensive. Well, Andrew's dad found us a 1930's refrigerator- you know the one's they used to put their milk bottles in. He sanded it up for us and it looks perfect. I LOVE it. I didn't really know what to expect when Andrew told me about it (b/c I don't know if I've ever seen one) but it looks great in the living room.

Random picture of the sweet girl- she thinks she's a big ole' baby

It's going to be a busy week- my dad's coming into town tomorrow and this week I'm helping 2 of the girls from my work pack up for Ukraine!!! There are 2 ladies going a week earlier than the rest of us. Please keep them in your prayers for safe travels and for a great experience with families/orphanages. If you're not my friend on Facebook then you missed the video. Here's a video that can help show you a little bit of what we will all be doing in Ukraine = )  http://vimeo.com/26656175  Also, if you'd like to donate (any amount is great and tax deductible = ) go here: http://teamworksukraine.com/give

Hope everyone has a great week!
~Kara~

Short & Sweet

Wow- well blogger has changed- I was just getting used to it too ha! Now I have to figure this one out = (


Nothing to exciting has really been happening lately. I can't remember if I mentioned this before, BUT a a bunch of ladies from my work have been training for a marathon. Or should I say most of us are doing a half-marathon. Ok, for all you people that are amazed that I do CrossFit does not mean I'm a good runner! I despise running!!! Well I take that back- I like it but in short distances, like a mile and that's it ha! Well we're up to 6 mile week UGH! I actually haven't ran it yet- whoops- getting a late start on the 6 mile. 
I went last week on the 5 mile run with a friend up at Crystal bridges trail in Bentonville. Oh I love this trail, so pretty!! However, my left knee started killing me! Had to stop and walk awhile. I've never had a knee injury so I don't know what's up with it. I had a PT (physical therapist) from work tape me (not just tape around my knee but fancy taping hehe) and my knee felt amazing!!! I finally broke down and went to RushRunning to get fitted for a new pair of teenies- and there's a big difference. I'm just anxious to run the 6 miles now and see how my knee acts.


Friday night I went over to Big Kara's to get started on my Halloween wreath. I bought all my stuff for it at Hobby Lobby when I could get it half off =) I also bought some at Michael's in Tulsa. Big Kara is awesome at wrapping the tulle and getting it right, so I just leave it to her! Here's the final product- I love it! Thanks friend- I owe you some tini's!

Did everyone watch the upset Saturday? I was a nervous wreck. Andrew and I went to Louie's in Rogers and hung out with some of his friend from work. It was a packed house!!! There was a Bama fan there and we had to have some words- told him he needed to calm the Bama cheering down = ) Don't worry I was nice about it. It was a very long day and I was exhausted from screaming at the TV.


This picture has nothing to do with the Bama game- but this is Whit, Drew and I in LR tailgating. Big Kara told me how we made the Arkansassports360 facebook page. So I had to share of course.

Today I went and ate lunch with Andrew's grandma. Andrew and her go out to eat some usually during the week, but it's when I have clients. So she finally got to take me. We went to MiMi's Cafe and it was yummy. Afterwards, we went to Gordman's and I found this cute little pumpkin, and yes I had to have it.

AHHHH- I can't believe the Ukraine trip is getting so close! I think I'm ready, maybe! Some people asked me about the flyer I put up last week. Amy, who is also going on the trip, has a better sized one, so here it is. Hopefully it's readable now = )

Who's excited for all the TV series to start back up? I'm super excited but have so much to watch- it's true and sad at the same time. I'm going to watch a new series called "Revenge". The first episode was very good. I definitely recommend it.

Also, I bought Bridesmaid's today and watched it. Love that movie! HILARIOUS!

My mom is coming into town this coming up weekend and I cannot wait!!! 

Have a great week everyone!