3 Months Old

 

Some of Sara's 3 month highlights include:

 

*Still loves to be rocked and she enjoys her swing if nobody is holding her. 

*She is sleeping 7-9 hours straight at night!  I have to really work to keep her awake until about 7:00 pm. 

*She still does not like her carseat or being in the car.  She does calm down a little quicker now though than she used to.

*She has amazing smiles and an amazing pout, complete with her bottom lip sticking out.

 

 

We love this little girl.  I am always a little sad when our children begin to outgrow their clothes and need to move to the next size. She still wears some 0-3 month but she is beginning to wear the 3-6 month size.  They sure don't stay little very long!

 

All of Me

Thomas was shown a You-Tube video of John Schmidt playing this song and he thought it was the coolest thing ever so, of course, he decided to learn to play the song as well.  He has worked and worked and worked to master it.  I am in awe when I sit and watch him play and see how far he comes from the first time he plays a piece.

Flashback

When I saw this it reminded me of when Thomas would do the same thing with Gideon. The only difference is Thomas looks a "tad" bit older this time around! He is a master of doing homework and holding siblings. I love watching our children help with their younger siblings. Spring is often seen carrying Sara on her hip facing out so she can still use her other hand. She is already learning the skill of multi-tasking! I've got to remember to snap a picture of her doing this sometime. It seems the everyday moments I too often forget to capture.

Thomas with Sara

Thomas with Gideon

 

Great to Be 8!

A couple weeks ago Joel and I were able to go with Sammy to his "Great to Be 8" program. Hard to believe this year we will have our third child baptized.  As much as I try to deny it, I guess we are getting old!  Sammy was so happy to go to the program.  When Bishop started talking to the kids Bishop asked, "Why do you guys think I am happy and excited to be here?"  Sammy was sitting with all other kids so he wasn't by us at all and Sammy quickly raised his hand to answer Bishop.  Joel whispered to me, "He's going to say because of the treats."  Sure enough, Bishop called on Sammy and he said, "Cause there's lots of treats after."  Trust Sammy!  Everyone got a chuckle out of that.

Sammy and Bishop MacPherson who is also our Home Teacher

 

Sammy is a great kid.  I love looking through pictures and seeing the sparkle in his eyes and his personality just shining through the screen back at me. I can't help but smile when I see him.  Heavenly Father knew I needed to be reminded throughout life of daily joys and that is why He blessed us with Sammy. Although there are struggles and he tries our patience on a daily basis, there really are so many more blessings that he brings to us and our family.  I pray he can continue to gain an understanding of his divine nature and his potential.  If he has a solid understanding of who he is and where he wants to go, he will get there.  And his personality will make that journey amazingly fun for him and everyone else along for the ride!

First 2 Months as a Deacon

Thomas has been in the Deacon's Quorum for almost 2 months now.  He has had many opportunities already to participate in different activities ranging from combined activities with the YW, snow campouts, the Klondike, Duty to God activities, Scouts, and even the Deacon's 3-on-3 basketball tournament.  He loves being in Young Men's.  I'm so grateful for a wonderful, inspired program that will help him grow and develop physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually.  The new youth lesson format is amazing and he has taken hold of that and enjoys preparing to come to lessons on Sunday to participate more fully.  It's been inspiring to watch him study his scriptures each night as well as work through the Duty to God program.  He comes prepared each Sunday to share something he has learned or been touched by during his scripture and Duty to God studying.  I know Joel enjoys having him in Deacon's Quorum. 

Sammy's Surgery

We have wondered for a few years if Sammy could hear very well.  We have taken him to his Doctor and had them do hearing tests and he has had hearing tests at school as well.  He always passed these tests so we just figured he was ignoring us or choosing not to listen to us.  We would often get very frustrated that he wouldn't answer or he would ignore what were asking him to do.  So, it was a welcome answer when we received a letter a couple weeks ago from the school informing us that Sammy had failed the hearing screen at school.  Joel took him to the pediatrician while I was in Washington and he failed that screening as well so he was referred to an ENT.  Last week we went to the ENT and the audiologist tested him and confirmed the finding that he suffers from hearing loss.  Both ears were completely full of fluid and probably have been since birth.  The doctor explained to us that what he hears is like what we would hear if we were all the way under deep water in a swimming pool and there were people on the deck talking.  That muffled sound we would hear underwater is all he has heard all his life.  I am shocked, amazed, and grateful that he learned to cope well enough to get as far in life as he has with such difficulty.  First, he couldn't see well and now we find out he couldn't hear well either.  Poor kid!  They scheduled surgery for today.  When Sammy learned they were going to drill a little hole in his eardrum and suck out the fluid his first response was, "Are they going to suck out my brains too?" 

 

Joel took him to the hospital early this morning.  Sammy was really excited to go in for surgery and told me the other day that finally, after his surgery, he would be fixed.  He thought it was cool that Wild Kratts was on TV when he got to the pre-op area.  He did great through the surgery and has tubes in both ears now.  The tubes will stay in for up to 2 years and he will need to go for checkups every 4 months until they come out.  When he got home he was sitting at the table eating some breakfast and Joel and I were talking to each other.  Sammy looked at us with this shocked look on his face and said, "You guys sound so weird."  We asked what he meant and he told us that our voices sound different than each other.  Then Joshie and Gideon came up talking and he asked, "Everyone has a different sounding voice?"  He was shocked to find out that we all have different voices.  He said we used to all just sound the same.  He also has had some difficulty in the car when Sara is crying and others are talking.  He covers his ears and complains that it is too loud when it is nowhere near as loud as it has been in the past when he never complained before. 

 

I'm so grateful he is now "fixed!"  I'm grateful for doctors and medical knowledge. I am grateful he was diagnosed.  I'm grateful he can hear better now.  I feel so bad for the times I would get upset with him and frustrated at him when he really was struggling to hear.  I know I can't take those times back and we have to move forward from here.  I'm so grateful that Sammy is such a happy, go-lucky kid that doesn't let much get him down.  His personality has been and will continue to be a blessing to him as he endures trials and struggles throughout life. 

These are a Few of my Favorite Things...

This is how we find Gideon all day long for the last week or so.  His dump truck in one hand and a purse in his other hand.  Now, to be fair to Gideon, he does call the purse a bag and it is full of matchbox cars!  It just cracks me up whenever I see him walking around with his purse and dump truck. He is very possessive of them as well and gets upset if someone else tries to play with one of his favorite things.

Basketball Season

Basketball season is upon us once again.  This year Sammy and Spring have decided to play so our Saturdays for the last 3 weeks and for the next 5 weeks are full of games.  I love seeing how excited they get playing ball.  They have fun and they love it.  I really like the Upward Basketball program and the emphasis they place on learning the game and being good sports.

Spring was ecstatic to be on the same team as Ava this year and Ava's dad is her coach.  It is fun to watch her excitement and see her improvement each game.  She is learning to move around the court so well and has great control of her body.  Her defense continues to be stellar.  She set a goal for her last game to get 3 steals and she did it while only playing 1/2 the game (the time they play is pre-determined for each game throughout the season so every player plays equal times throughout the season).  She made a couple amazing picks in the game allowing her team to drive to the basket and score.  I was amazed at a couple of her incredible assists as well.  I love watching her cut and drive to the basket.  It is neat to witness her challenge herself and set goals for herself.  She is a great ball player.

Sammy decided to play basketball this year for his first time ever.  He wears #12, just like my number in high school!  To say he loves playing would be a gross understatement.  I don't think words could describe his happiness and excitment for practice or games.  He is always moving on the court. He works to get open and is an incredible defender.  I don't think his feet are ever still during the game.  He is usually the first one up and down the court. He, too, was happy to find out that his good friend, Ben, from school is on his team and his dad is the coach as well.  I think the thing I love the most about watching Sammy play basketball is the pure joy that is written on his face.  He is constantly smiling no matter what is going on.  There is no doubt that he is in heaven!  I think another amazing thing is how genuinely excited he is when anyone scores a basket.  I think he gets just as excited, if not more, when anyone else scores a basket as he does when he scores a basket.  His coach is really good about making sure each player has the opportunity to score in each game (and there are 10 kids on the team).  The coach keeps track of who makes each basket so he can help direct the team to pass to those that have not yet scored in that game.  In Saturday's game it was the last period and Sammy had not scored yet in that game so the coach was directing the team to get the ball to Sammy.  Each time they passed to him he would drive in and then find an open teammate and pass off so they could score.  He loves shooting baskets but I think he loves being on a team even more.  He didn't mind at all that he didn't score this last week. He was just in pure joy playing the game.  I think Sammy will go so far in life simply because of his love for other people and the joy he feels when others are successful.

My Mom, My Hero

I have had so many thoughts the past few months and have wanted many times to sit down and record them; however, I never allowed myself the time knowing the emotions that would come as I did so.  I want to remember these last few months for the many great blessings that have been realized through the darkness of hearing the word Cancer.

 

In July my mom called to tell me she had been diagnosed with Uterine Cancer.  I can't adequately describe the feelings that rushed through me when I heard her say this.  My heart ached for her.  I could hear the fear and pain in her voice even though I know she was trying to be brave and strong for me and for all of us.  I wanted to do something to just take that pain away and make it all better.  I knew I did not have that power.  As I struggled with the feelings of wanting to take that pain away I realized that is part of the Atonement.  There was a point during the Atonement when our Savior suffered this sickness and all the heartache and pains just for my Mom.  He had her in mind and felt all she was going through.  He was the one that could truly succor her in this time.  I learned I could turn to Him as well at this time because He also suffered the pain and worries I felt as my mom was going through this battle with cancer.  I know our Savior comforted us all through this time and how grateful I am for this part of the Atonement and the opportunity this experience gave me to gain a deeper appreciation and testimony of it.

 

My mom has gone through surgery, a month of daily radiation treatments, and 6 rounds of chemo.  Twice while receiving chemo she had reactions where her blood pressure went either really high or really low.  She also went in each day following chemo for shots to boost her white blood count.  These caused her to be very achy throughout her whole body but she never took pain medication.  Through all of these treatments and procedures she was amazingly positive and upbeat.  When I would call to see how she was doing she was always positive.  She never complained, never asked, "why me?", never questioned why she was having to go through this.  Even when I knew she was sore and tired she was happy.  She always asked what the kids were doing and how we were doing.  She was more concerned with us than she was with herself.  She is amazing and my hero for all she has undergone and how positive and optimistic she has been.

 

I'm grateful for the opportunities it has given our family to fast and pray for her.  Even though many miles separate us all we have been able to feel a special closeness as we all have prayed and fasted for our mom together. I am grateful for the opportunity it gave our children to learn the power of fasting and prayer. At a very young age they have been able to see the blessings that come from this simple act of faith.  Their testimonies have been strengthened from this and I hope they remember this at times when they are struggling.  I hope they will remember the power that comes from fasting and prayer.  Sometimes I feel guilty that we have all experienced such great blessings and we weren't the ones that had to undergo the treatments and struggles. 

 

My mom completed her treatments at the end of last month.  She was told that her chances of the cancer returning are 1%.  How blessed we all are.  How grateful I am for a loving Father in Heaven that has granted us our deepest desires for Mom to be so strong through this battle in her life.  I will forever be grateful.  Mom has always been a hero to me and her strength through this all has added a new dimension to her well earned title of "Hero!"

14 Years

Yesterday Joel and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary.  Joel came home from work with white roses for me.  White roses have been special to us for nearly 20 years now.  We had white rose corsage/boutonniere at prom and my wedding boquet was made of white roses.  The kids were wondering why Dad brought me more flowers because I still had the ones from when I came home from Washington.  Mary told me now I have enough to share with her.  When we told them it was our anniversary Spring said we should have told her sooner so she could have made us a card.  Mary asked if she could go on our anniversary with us!

 

I am so blessed to be married to Joel.  He makes me smile everyday.  He works hard for our family and, yet, always has the time and energy for the kids and me when he gets home each day.  He is gentle and tender with our children and has such desire for our children to learn the gospel, gain their own testimony, and reach their potential in this life.  I learn so much from him on how to teach our children in everyday moments.  We enjoy attending the temple together and the opportunity that allows us to remember the covenants we have made.  Joel has always made me feel so special and important to him.  I love our time together and cherish the moments we get together.  My heart is full of appreciation to my Father in Heaven for blessing me with a husband that cherishes me and our children.  I am grateful for eternal marriage and eternal families.

Sammy's Piano Debut

Sammy began piano lessons a few months back.  He seems to enjoy it.  He told us he wants to play percussion or guitar when he gets to 5th grade in the band.  His piano skills will help him! Here is a video of him from this morning.