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I wanted originally to share this as a big sappy post but life moves fast! Owen received his carpool tag the other day and it had his *new* name. Aside from legal paperwork, this was the first time I had seen it. He’s so happy to be an official Perry, once and for all! Picture description: Owen sitting in the car wearing a blue shirt and khaki shorts. He’s holding a bright green sign that has his name, Owen Perry. #NameChange #Son #Sunshine #BlendedFamiliesRock @richardp0615 🖤 https://www.instagram.com/p/CTFyKdGrVX21QDKpGC6xHSDiCX9fC46FI0J1Go0/?utm_medium=tumblr

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First day of camp! Love that excited face. Thank you @shinealightnc for offering an inclusive place for kids! I have been hesitant to send him to camp because of his visual impairment but after having a real conversation with Jessica from Wake Harvest, I felt so much relief knowing that he would be welcome and accommodated! I hope he has a great day…my not so little boy. Photo description: Owen standing in front of the summer camp building. He’s wearing a green Minecraft shirt and navy shorts. He’s holding a lunch box in his right hand. #SummerCamp #WakeHarvestSummerCamp #Raleigh #OpticNerveHypoplasia #SeptoOpticDysplasia #VIMom #disABILITY #VisuallyImpaired #SonShine (at Wake Harvest) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRjHaiah01HVVf6gYUw7uKrPLlJ363Adbym7WU0/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Went to bed seven. Waking up eight. So sweet and angelic when asleep. Happy almost birthday my boy 😍🧒🏻 Picture description: a close up of Owen lying on a dark blue pillow. He's wearing a green shirt and is sleeping. #Son #HappyBirthday #SleepyHead #MommasBoy #JuneThird #EightYearsOld #Gemini #OpticNerveHypoplasia #SeptoOpticDysplasia #disABILITY #VisuallyImpaired https://www.instagram.com/p/CPpGI45BP2o-if5J5l9aC19R1hYsRm4fylH4RU0/?utm_medium=tumblr

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The kids enjoyed the warm day today. They even thanked me for letting them "just play"...meaning letting them get dirty and gross. Of course wherever they explore, Levi follows. Picture descriptions: 1. Nature, Creek and kids and dog in middle walking around. 2. Owen and Levi on left and Elle on right in Creek. 3. Nature, kids and dog in distance playing in water. #Outside #NorthCarolina #LakeJohnson #Kids #Dog #Nature #Raleigh #BlendedLearningHomeschool (at Lake Johnson Nature Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLs6TW1nh1Llh7idW6uSbJqCPZzqd5QLHoG90w0/?igshid=1lzq03hbkgfjx

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Owen had his annual opthalmology appointment today! Not life changing news, but he was able to see the letters on the screen at 400 at 18 feet as opposed to last year seeing them at 15 feet. Basically what this means is that someone who sees 20/400 can see at 20 feet what those with normal vision can see at 400 feet. Although this is in a controlled environment this "test" has consistently shown improvement, despite zero changes to his optic nerves. He answered most of the questions himself and spoke about his sisters who he said he loved very much. He even got his math work done on the way there! Great job O! Picture descriptions: 1. Owen in his carseat holding iPad and smiling. 2-5. Owen in opthalmologist office chair doing various things with the tech and doctor. #OpticNerveHypoplasia #SeptoOpticDysplasia #VisuallyImpaired #VIMom #disABILITY #DukeEyeCenter (at Duke Eye Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLqDz0tnW32-UjxfbfRGFiZ_H-RGY_j1DbutzI0/?igshid=19ces0d41xodp

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Late post but wanted to share that Owen made his lunch today all by himself. I guided him through the steps, stayed patient (👀) and am really proud of him. His response to making his lunch was that "one of his dreams come true..."🌟 · · Picture description: a collage of 3 pictures showing Owen making lunch (a sandwich) and 1 picture of him sitting at table smiling. #OpticNerveHypoplasia #SeptoOpticDysplasia #VIMom #disABILITY #Son #LunchTime (at Benson, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CK0QmZpHxk2dB7IPs1e4HhaeLSsBaT1TECkJkU0/?igshid=u238br4rgxvy

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The decision to homeschool was big (and scary) for all of us. Definitely ups and downs, but overall very much worth it. Who else gets to do basic algebra with their 7.5 year old, at their request? Owen has been asking to do "math with numbers and letters" for a few months. Truth be told, mommy despises math with numbers and letters (and math in general) but here we are. Great job O! @richardp0615 #BasicAlgebra #AlgebraAtSeven #Math #Homeschooling #Homeschool #HomeschoolThroughAPandemic #OpticNerveHypoplasia #SeptoOpticDysplasia #disABILITY #Learning #COVID (at Benson, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJeTCccHKpiFnd5tOLEVm5g71JjU6W-0WViT8g0/?igshid=4lvndtslhp2r

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Super Mario & Cappy (the hat) from Super Mario Odyssey. #Halloween #SuperMarioOdyssey #SuperMarioAndCappy #SuperMario #Nintendo #Halloween2020 #NintendoSwitch @nintendo @nintendoswitches https://www.instagram.com/p/CHBYUXTHYP7LoO8lNi_tPFi8DEsD-YjRfihuqw0/?igshid=6egb2b5ao5gt

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Owen's #Braille lessons this week are all Halloween themed. He did some UEB contracted Braille with words like Halloween, witch, ghoul, and ghost that use strong groupsigns. Then we moved to some flashcards for more words and really focusing on using index fingers and not thumbs for reading! October is almost over but Blindness Awareness Month extends through the entire year in this house. #BlindnessAwarenessMonth #OpticNerveHypoplasia #SeptoOpticDysplasia #VIMom #Braille #HalloweenBraille #PerkinsSmartBrailler #BrailleFlashcards #UEBBraille (at Benson, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CG252loHpgN9lpml32lpT63mPl-E1G09u_kDVE0/?igshid=1cugpk76vtbfl

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The kids carved their pumpkins today. Elle's was a unicorn face, Owen wanted Super Mario (yes mom "helped"), and Ayda's is scary and supposed to be vomiting 🤣 #PumpkinCarving #Halloween #Pumpkins #SuperMario #Unicorn #CarvingPumpkins https://www.instagram.com/p/CGv3z2EncEJfEi6drtfo1KQrdSMfLr9GlrQRyU0/?igshid=1d2gyzhnkkqcs

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September 11, 2013, Owen received the diagnosis of Optic Nerve Hypoplasia and Septo-Optic Dysplasia. Diagnosis dates are hard, yearly reminders to families who have children with a disability. They are reminders that your child is different...then you're reminded again that being different is more than okay; One of the reasons? Because there are people like Ms. Shirley who come into your life BECAUSE of this difference. People like Ms. Shirley never leave even when their "job" is over, or judge when your child is stimming, or send "thoughts and prayers" when shit hits the fan. They are dedicated, patient, and full of real advice. So, instead of wallowing in the pity of mom-guilt this day, I have reflected silently about each professional person who has made this journey easier. Ms. Shirley just takes the cake. #OpticNerveHypoplasia #SeptoOpticDysplasia #VisuallyImpaired #VIMom #disABILITY #DiagnosisDate #Braille #TeacherOfTheVisuallyImpaired https://www.instagram.com/p/CFBUmHkHunzdctEYIQcvyM4WRNH_LvkQyAuCec0/?igshid=1m34urp8snegb

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So our morning kayaking went from 0-100 REALLY fast. · · The Neuse River was moving fast today. After trying to help Owen navigate under the Business 64 bridge he fell off his kayak after hitting a stationary log and then water capsized mine, with Elle and I in it. Because of the current, there was definitely a few seconds of terror: Mom saving both kids kind of terror. Whew. Between them wearing life jackets (yes I learned my lesson today, I will wear mine from now on), Angie hauling ass to us, adrenaline and a bunch of reminders to stay calm, we're okay. · · After a while of Owen and I floating in the Neuse (eww) the Raleigh Fire Department (Station 21 and Station 10), just so happened to be training today in this area and helped us out! They retrieved my kayak and eventually Owen's. They pulled Owen and I onto their boat and brought us to Anderson Pointe canoe/kayak launch. Out of the whole ordeal we only lost my oars and sunglasses which I can absolutely replace. · · Thank you Angie for keeping Elle calm and safe and a super big thank you to Raleigh Fire Department Firefighters Alex, Chris and Brandon; as promised, we will bring cookies next shift! #NeuseRiver #OldMilburnie #AndersonPoint #Kayak #KayakUhOh #WearYourLifeJacket #RaleighFireDepartment #RFD #Raleigh @raleighgov @angrodriguez520 (at Anderson Pointe, Raleigh, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEPS1gCnHUFbjwH08YiHCMFDjehG3Eq7PvA1Qc0/?igshid=1q6g2nwtqdnt1

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Owen worked hard today with his Braille lesson. He wanted to do math. For the most part I'm letting him lead his Braille lessons by choosing what he wants to work on. The picture is him reading addition problems. Earlier he created addition problems using his #SmartBrailler. The pink folder was created by his former TVI using Velcro and Brailled numbers and symbols. We have them in different colors for addition, subtraction and letters. #PerkinsSmartBrailler #BrailleMath #Braille #VisuallyImpaired #disABILITY #OpticNerveHypoplasia #SeptoOpticDysplasia #Homeschool #BlendedLearningHomeschool #NorthCarolina @richardp0615 (at Benson, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEHfeoynkLC_qTjbjmCmfLGN23mSHQbJdW0ciM0/?igshid=1k0aadmnh35q

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Grandma's lawn crew. She pays them in popsicles and ice cream. @richardp0615 #GrandmasCrew #GrandmasLawnService #Grandkids #JohnDeere #JoCo (at Smithfield, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDensxQHFAbQtVCvbqpOjQcd2xxu4HjilwGxLw0/?igshid=tsgm5lsb4tuy

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Owen had his seven year check up today (much after his birthday due to a reschedule from his doctor's office). A good growth report as usual! Dr. V shared a good story about how Owen was one of his first patients seven years ago - more than likely it was on his first full day at Cary Pediatric Center. We're still very thankful for him and how he has helped Owen. Then a surprise for O - gelato with Ms. Shirley! #WellnessCheckUp #Seven #Growth #Pediatrician #Gelato #TVI (at Cary/Fuquay/Apex Pediatric Centers) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDR3zkUHZsl6pkQjpSBWsrhuyowg7mM6F8dTMY0/?igshid=1lxfomuda60d6

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Owen helped make his own breakfast this morning. Life skills are important and of them all, breakfast is at top of Owen's list. #LearningLifeSkills #LifeSkills #ThingsTaughtAtHome #Breakfast #CookingBreakfast #VisuallyImpaired #disABILITY #OpticNerveHypoplasia #SeptoOpticDysplasia #VIMom (at Benson, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDG7Vl9ndnAoUCLArRpXJamUcIjKl_4cwiQ71g0/?igshid=9jjxgi40zn94

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These are just some of the professional pictures taken by @akiramedia from July 8 and July 9 at the @indojaxsurf camp in @wrightsvillenc. I can't get over how great they are. What amazing shots of Owen and his instructor! Check out Owen standing fearlessly on that board!!! · · · · #OpticNerveHypoplasia #SeptoOpticDysplasia #VisuallyImpaired #VIMom #disABILITY #Surfing #IndoJaxSurfCamp #IndoJaxSurfCharities #VISurfCamp #ItTakesAVillage #IndoJax #FutureSurfer #Fearless #AtlanticOcean #WrightsvilleBeach #WrightsvilleBeachNC #HangLoose (at Indo Jax Surf School) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCgm11jnDvi5pWd_V7IG-83FeSuDEVgea3FkWw0/?igshid=18xcaffgi0uh9