Halloween was fun this year. Lil' Miss and Mr. M were Cinderella and Prince Charming. These are the only pictures I can find right now. Mr. M used his reverse walker to trunk-or-treat in the church parking lot. 'S' was trying to teach him to say "trick-or-treat" but he would only say "I want a treat". Close enough.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
A moving email from my father
I opened an email from my father 2 days after Christmas and was so moved by the content that I wanted to share it with as many people as possible! I hope it will fill the hearts of all those who read it as much as it did mine. I honestly feel that these words are examples of Christ like attributes and thoughts. Please, enjoy!
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Friday, September 7, 2012
A Mother's Struggle
Night before 1st surgery |
Wide eyed baby boy |
Zoo 2012 |
So, here we are. Over two and half years later and we're faced everyday with things that are hard for him. And we have to make him do them no matter how frustrated he is or how much he's crying. S is great at it! Me? I struggle! I know it's best to push him and make him learn, but it SO heart-breaking and I just want to do it for him. If I could take it away for him I would! Doing the hard things for him is as close as I can get to taking it away. I have to stop myself and try and picture the self-sufficient grown man that WILL do anything he wants to. Some people might think I'm a mean mom when I'm telling him he has to do it, or he has to figure it out. But I know I'm doing the right thing. He has to work hard!
The most difficult times for me so far are; he didn't say "mama" until he was 2 years old. He didn't sit up on his own until after he was one year old. He never held his own bottle. He couldn't communicate to us what he wanted/needed. When he's playing by himself because he can't keep up with the other kids. When he had some bad falls out of his reverse walker and wouldn't get back in because he was too afraid. When I have to send him in every three to four months to have painful injections into his tightest muscles to help release some of the tone(tightness). When he fell out of the car, face first, into gravel while he was trying to climb into his car seat. The first time some kids made fun of him. And the two hardest things I've had to do so far are 1. Hand over my beautiful, sleeping baby boy to a stranger who was going to remove the front of his skull, re-shape it and the put it back on, and 2. walk up to a hospital bed after said surgery, and not recognize the sleeping baby there but know that it's my son because he has the blanket I sent him into surgery with laid on top of him.
Playing by himself. |
Battle wounds from falling out of the car onto gravel. |
The happiest times for me so far are; when he said "mama". the first time he sat up by himself, when he started using sign language to communicate with us. the first time he swung on a "regular" swing. when I watch him playing when he doesn't know I'm watching. When he said "bye-bye" and waved for the first time. the first time he did the actions to a fun songs. the first time he folded his arms. when he cuddles up in my arms. his first prayer. when he's running away from me down a handicap ramp in his walk and giggling hysterically. when he took his first independent steps. when his stood up on his own, when he wakes up EVERY morning with an ear to ear smile and makes me feel like the most important person he knows.
Fell asleep in swing |
Tired guy! Camping 2012 |
One thing I do know is that our Heavenly Father honestly does love us and helps us (when we allow him to) and blesses us. I believe he sent Mr. M and Litle Miss together because they would rely on each other. It's not always him relying on her. There are times that she needs him just as much as he needs her. They challenge each other and teach each other. I think that as they grown they will find strengths in one another that they themselves don't posses and share it with each other.
Sibling fun in the back yard. |
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Camping 2012
This year for the 4th and 24th of July we had fun fireworks and so little miss M kept saying, "Daddy making a fireworks" I think she kept waiting for the explosion and shooting lights but it never came. She was thoroughly confused.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to get two two year old's to look at the camera and smile...at the same time? This is the best I got. I have no idea what little miss is doing but this really is the best shot.
Little miss is determined to be a big helper so she was very sure that you always needed her help.
My M-boy is such a sweetheart. He's almost always up for a cuddle. I just love it.
We spent some time inside playing games and working on some occupational therapy with Mr M to help him use his right hand. He's getting so much better. We also had a few rodent friends that figured out how to get into the trailer so they had fun seeing them scurry away when we ran after them with a broom.
S is very tech-y so we had the laptop, and the tablet to watch movies on and play games even though we were camping. One morning after breakfast it was kind of nice for us to all snuggle and watch "A Bee Movie" on the lap top. The kids thought it was fun.
Whenever the kids are naughty we make them look at us. We used to point at our faces to get them to look. Now, whenever I tell Miss M to look at me, whether she's in trouble or not she points to her chin and turns to look at us. I have a feeling we are going to have a lot of pictures like this...
Mr M has really gotten into cars lately. He loves to have at least one at all times. A lot of times I find him crawling/scooching around the house with one in each hand and one in his mouth. He has some sensory issues that we're working on so for him to have something in his mouth is not uncommon. Because he doesn't walk on his own he was almost always covered in dirt, rocks, and wood chips. I found that harder for me than I would have thought. I was always trying to watch their hand or dust off their clothes and it was an endless battle that I found I couldn't win.
Just a few camp grounds away was a little creek. It was beautiful and VERY COLD. The twins enjoyed throwing rock into the water and climbing over rocks and trees.
This is a miracle to have such a cute picture of her especially with her looking normal and smiling. Ever since she was a baby whenever someone would pull out a camera she would refuse to smile.
Mr M is always happy and doesn't care who knows it. He's gotten very inquisitive and very sneaky. It took a little bit for me to catch on and stop blaming Little Miss for everything. Poor girl!
We figured it would be a little difficult for Mr M to use his reverse walker while camping but we wanted him to do lots of walking and taking good steps. He walks well while holding a hand and gets very excited. Little Miss is as sweet as can be. She'll run ahead, turn around and say to her brother "walk to me, walk to me" to encourage him. She sure is a blessing in our house. I'm so glad that they are both here.
Mr M! What is it about toddlers, especially boys, that they have to find a way to COVER themselves with dirt. Diaper changes were always a surprise while we were camping.
We're training them young how to drive Papa's truck!
All in all it was a fun trip and looking back at the pictures I'm glad we did it. One thing I learned is that I liked camping a lot more when I was a kid. Camping was a lot more fun when I was little and didn't have to be the one packing, and cleaning, and cooking, I guess I owe my parents a big thanks for all the times they did that for us kids. The memories I have are wonderful and now I get to help create those memories for my kids no matter how much work it is.
Monday, May 14, 2012
What I've learned about a church calling...
Have you ever known a person that throws around their church calling title like he/she is more righteous because they have that calling? Have you ever been in a ward that views the RS presidency or Elders Quorum presidency as "better people" than maybe a primary worker? I'm reminded of that scene in "The Singles Ward" where the EQ president walks into the guys apartment and introduces himself as "Brother so-n-so, of the EQ president" like you should be so blessed to know him and to have him in your presence.
We've been praying for ways to serve others and the opportunity arose to do just that. Sterling has been called to be 1st counselor in the EQ presidency. He's been in the presidency before but I'm viewing it a little bit differently this time. Maybe it's because we had been praying for ways to serve others that makes this time different, I'm not sure. I feel incredibly humbled this time. Sterling isn't more righteous, isn't a better priesthood holder, or isn't even a better "Mormon" than anyone else. In fact, his calling is to SERVE the Elders, which makes them kind of his "boss". He is only doing the Lord's work. Not his, not mine, not the Bishops not even the Stake Presidents work. THE LORD'S WORK!!! How much more humbled does a person need to be to do that Lord's work. I'm feeling very blessed to assist and sacrifice time with my husband so that he can do the Lord's work.
When I was asked to be 1st counselor in the RS a while ago I remember being ecstatic. I was stoked. I couldn't wait to start. I didn't know what I was supposed to do or how I was going to do it but I was pumped. It wasn't long after our whole new RS presidency was set apart that we found out the new president and her family were moving out of state. It was a few months away and I was devastated. I loved the time I was in the presidency with those wonderful ladies. I created some great friendship and they were amazing examples of humility. When the new presidency was called it was mostly new people. All but one of us were released and I was pretty sad. Even now, as I write about it I have a bit of sorrow in my heart. We didn't have much time and didn't do big and extravagant things for the ladies in the ward but, I believe and I think that other ladies believe that were called for a purpose and we DID make a difference. We did what the Lord had planned for us to do. I remember when a new presidency was called and one of them stood up to bare her testimony and she said that she knew that the old presidency (us) was in just long enough so she could get something finished. It felt like a knife being shoved in as I heard this. I felt like chopped liver. We weren't there simply as a place holder. We were in that calling as a presidency for a REASON. Maybe that reason was to teach ME. I developed such a love for RS during those three or so months. It is an organization ordained of God and for me to serve my God and my Savior and develop my testimony of RS might be the only reason we were there but it was worth it.
In my mind I've gone back over the opening addresses of Prophet, Apostles, and other General church callings and they speak with such love, and so much humility for what they have called to do. I vow to remember and learn from their humility and to magnify my calling no matter what it might be. I am called by the Lord to do whatever it is I am asked to do.
Why am I putting this soap box testimony on our blog? Honestly I'm not sure but I've felt pretty strongly about it. Besides, I'm pretty sure not many people look at our blog so perhaps it's all just for me to remember and to make it more solid by putting it out there in words.
We've been praying for ways to serve others and the opportunity arose to do just that. Sterling has been called to be 1st counselor in the EQ presidency. He's been in the presidency before but I'm viewing it a little bit differently this time. Maybe it's because we had been praying for ways to serve others that makes this time different, I'm not sure. I feel incredibly humbled this time. Sterling isn't more righteous, isn't a better priesthood holder, or isn't even a better "Mormon" than anyone else. In fact, his calling is to SERVE the Elders, which makes them kind of his "boss". He is only doing the Lord's work. Not his, not mine, not the Bishops not even the Stake Presidents work. THE LORD'S WORK!!! How much more humbled does a person need to be to do that Lord's work. I'm feeling very blessed to assist and sacrifice time with my husband so that he can do the Lord's work.
When I was asked to be 1st counselor in the RS a while ago I remember being ecstatic. I was stoked. I couldn't wait to start. I didn't know what I was supposed to do or how I was going to do it but I was pumped. It wasn't long after our whole new RS presidency was set apart that we found out the new president and her family were moving out of state. It was a few months away and I was devastated. I loved the time I was in the presidency with those wonderful ladies. I created some great friendship and they were amazing examples of humility. When the new presidency was called it was mostly new people. All but one of us were released and I was pretty sad. Even now, as I write about it I have a bit of sorrow in my heart. We didn't have much time and didn't do big and extravagant things for the ladies in the ward but, I believe and I think that other ladies believe that were called for a purpose and we DID make a difference. We did what the Lord had planned for us to do. I remember when a new presidency was called and one of them stood up to bare her testimony and she said that she knew that the old presidency (us) was in just long enough so she could get something finished. It felt like a knife being shoved in as I heard this. I felt like chopped liver. We weren't there simply as a place holder. We were in that calling as a presidency for a REASON. Maybe that reason was to teach ME. I developed such a love for RS during those three or so months. It is an organization ordained of God and for me to serve my God and my Savior and develop my testimony of RS might be the only reason we were there but it was worth it.
In my mind I've gone back over the opening addresses of Prophet, Apostles, and other General church callings and they speak with such love, and so much humility for what they have called to do. I vow to remember and learn from their humility and to magnify my calling no matter what it might be. I am called by the Lord to do whatever it is I am asked to do.
Why am I putting this soap box testimony on our blog? Honestly I'm not sure but I've felt pretty strongly about it. Besides, I'm pretty sure not many people look at our blog so perhaps it's all just for me to remember and to make it more solid by putting it out there in words.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Potty Dance
Our squirty girl has potty trained. We started hard core pull-up-your-big-girl-panty wearing on Wednesday. The twins have school on Tuesday and Thursday so my window was very small. The teachers at school are great and I felt that they could follow through with potty training as well but I wanted her to have a consistent place that she could feel safe in while she was mastering it. Well, she did it in one day. She was dry for school today (Thursday) when I picked them up. I am so happy. We still have to do diapers for nap time and bed time but we're taking it one step at a time. People see a lot of the accomplishments that Micah does but Mattea is equally amazing and we're so happy she's our little squirty girl.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
For Papa!
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