Super Beans - Ella's Story




Ella was welcomed into her family in the early summer days of 2009.  She came with some resistance but with her chin up – a reoccurring theme in the years to come for Ella and her family. 

The first time Krista held Ella she was overcome with joy but had a lingering concern for her beautiful new child.  Her motherly intuition had been tipped off when she first gazed at Ella’s gorgeous almond eyes.  Doctors and nurses continually told the family that Ella was a perfectly healthy newborn but her struggles couldn’t help but be noticed that she was showing signs of Down Sydrome. 

Finally on day three of their prolonged hospital stay, Ella’s doctor admitted to believing there was a possibility of Down Syndrome and referred them to a specialist for further testing.

As a parent it breaks your heart when your doubts about your child are confirmed.  All you want is somebody to tell you that there is nothing to worry about and that your child is perfectly healthy.  For Ella’s family, their hearts were heavy when the doctor started talking about specialist appointments, possibilities of heart abnormalities, trips to Children’s Hospital, and everything that comes along with a diagnosis.

A visit to Children’s Hospital was not the answer.  The genetic specialist told the family that usually after the physical examination there is a 90% yes or no confirmation but Ella’s case still left the doctors uncertain.  Ella had the typical folded over ears, palmer crease, and of course, her eyes but she had better muscle tone, was more alert, and there was no history of genetic disorders in the family.  Ella had to undergo chromosome testing, which finally confirmed that she had an extra chromosome resulting in Down Sydnrome or Trisomy 21. Since children with Trisomy 21 carry an extra copy of the 21st chromosome, it means that they have an excess of any genetic material contained in it. For this reason, children often have a flattened bridge, congenital heart defects, physical and intellectual developmental delays, along with many other potential health risks. It was discovered very early in Ella’s life that she had a hole in her heart. Thankfully, it was not too debilitating and would most likely close on its own (which it did).


It hasn’t been easy, but four-year-old Ella carries the courage many of us can only hope for in her healed little heart. She has the resilience that only comes through a determination to overcome adversity and stereotypes. She has people who believe in her, give her the opportunity to fulfill her potential, and who not only want her to succeed but who know she will succeed. And when you have a child with special needs they are not to be taken for granted. They are a rarity in the world that focuses on the ability instead of the disability. It is because of encouragement from her cheerleaders and her own hard work that Ella is able to live a very full life. She goes to preschool, has friends, dances, runs, makes art, sings, laughs and fights with her older brother.  She never stops playing in the midst of her struggles.  In September, Ella will start kindergarten – at a French Immersion school.

Ella is one amazingly inspiring Super Bean that we can all learn from!



You Wouldn't Play in That! - So we meet again.



"When I started Peekaboo Beans, it was because I believed that our children should have better options in clothing. Clothing is so much more than just what we put on our bodies. It is what makes us feel good about ourselves, it helps us define our personalities and contributes to our uniqueness, it makes us feel completely comfortable, or completely uncomfortable (if in the wrong clothing)..."

- Traci Costa
Peekaboo Beans, Director of Play


Clothing is so much more than simply what we put on our bodies. It is what makes us feel good about ourselves, helps us define our personalities, and contributes to our uniqueness.  It makes us feel completely comfortable, or completely uncomfortable (if in the wrong clothing)...

Peekaboo Beans is here to spread the message for beans across the land: "let me play.”  Stats show that if given the chance, children would choose to play outside with their parents and friends 9 out of ten times, yet the staggering statistics show that children are spending on average 8 hours a day in front of media devices.

Our mission is to provide the ingredients for a playful life.  Children should be able to play free from stiff, restricting clothes.  Doesn't your kid deserve to look good without being held back? 

We have created a new platform of videos showing how ridiculous it looks doing an activity in the wrong clothing.  As adults, we know what is appropriate to wear for different activities, so why would we not do the same for our children?  Sometimes you just have to ask - would you play in that?

Run. Bounce. Play. Freely.


You Wouldn't Play in That! - So We Meet Again.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH


What every Mom should know

With Mother's Day fast approaching we take some time to celebrate the glorious Mothers we have and that we are!

As a Mom, we are always learning, growing, teaching, assisting, perfecting, creating, supporting, protecting, listening, and celebrating... just to name a few. Mothers wear many hats and we want to take a moment to recognize a few of the things that make us so unique. The staff from the Peekaboo Beans Playground (our playful head office) compiled a list of a few important things that every Mother should know:

How to make a boo boo better
How to cut your child’s bangs
Where the nearest bathroom is
How to say No
How to perfectly cook homemade macaroni and cheese
How to pack for a weekend away all in one bag.
Where the nearest Starbucks is
What makes your kids laugh
How to sew on a missing button
Trust your instincts
Where to stash the backup crayons/coloring book in case of emergency
Know the words to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Know where your child is most ticklish
Where the wine is stocked!
Where all the drive-thru services are
That baby wipes aren't just for bums
How to pack the perfect ice-cream cone
PLAY
How to handle "potty talk" with a straight face
Understand the language of a 2 year old
How to scare away the boogieman
How to do 3 things at once with only 2 arms
Where the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa live
That you don't have to be perfect.


Happy Mothers Day to you all!