Long Day

I love how sweet my baby looks, drinking his bottle.  It has been a bittersweet week, as I have weaned him.  He hasn't seemed to care much, but it has been hard for me!  I love nursing and the special bond it always gives me with each of my children.  But between trying to figure out how to get this little guy to gain more weight and figure out his allergies, it has been easier to put him on formula!

Yet again I am going to post and then put my picture up later.  I'm so tired tonight.  It was a long day.   Church was good, but tiring.  Olivia woke up with pink and goopy eyes so John stayed home with her and Noah. I took the others to church, and even though Sam was quite a bit of work, it went really well!

After church, we ate and rested a bit, then John's brother called.  His grandma is not doing well at all, and they don't expect her to make it through the night.  He left to go be with family.  I had a fireside I really wanted to go to.  Another ward was hosting a fireside about autism and other special needs, so I left the kids (except Noah) in the care of Chipper and went to the meeting. It was very good and I learned a lot of good stuff.  When I got home, all was well (I just will work to forget where Mitchell supposedly got locked in Chipper's room and crawled out the window, on to the roof, around to the shed and through the back yard) and they had even cleaned the kitchen.

Kids are now all in bed, and I'm ready to sort out the day and process everything.  I will be back tomorrow!

Today was a nice and relaxing Saturday.  It was beautiful weather, but I didn't even go out in it. I should have, but it felt nice to catch up on a few projects, stay in pj's most the day and just enjoy the kids!  John took Chipper and Abby to visit Grandpa Yarn, and they enjoyed that.  We're all still a bit in shock and trying to come to terms with how grandma is doing.  I especially feel for my mother-in-law and  my heart aches for her.

I've been reading a new book lately (mostly just when I lay by Sam for naps and bedtime).  It is absolutely fabulous!  I'm quite the picky reader, but this book does not disappoint.  If you are looking for an enjoyable read with fabulous characters who walk right off the page, then you  need to read The Help.

The picture above is a cute little project I finished up.  I will be posting more info about them on my store blog on wednesday!

Sun and Clouds

Today was such a beautiful day, weather wise!  The sun was out and the weather was a bit warm, making me extra excited for Spring to come.  I took Sam to the park this afternoon and he was in heaven!

But with the Sun, there were clouds.  Grandma Yarn (John's mother's mother) is dying and all we can do is wait.  They found MRSA in her knee and in an abcess they removed from her brain stem, so it is just a matter of time.  I know that for her, this is a blessed thing.   She has struggled with a lot of health problems for years.  But she will be missed.  She was not my grandma for the first 23 years of my life, but she has been for the past 15.  I love her so much.  I love her because she is not like most grandma's.  She isn't what you picture in a sweet old lady, although behind her sass, she really does have a sweet streak!  She will tell it to you straight and never mince words!  But I love her for it!  I have so much to say about her and how I feel, but the tears are just so abundant!  I don't know that my words are even making sense.  I will miss her dearly.  She will be the third loved one I have lost in under 6 months, and my heart hurts for it all.  It is a constant reminder that we are all terminal and every day is precious.

Another let down!

I'm totally weird, and I'll admit that!  But, I watch the news faithfully, every day, hoping for a big snow storm!  I wait all week, for the supposed big storm that will hit!  Well, today was like all the rest-very anti-climatic!  It was pretty for a few minutes this morning and then it quickly melted!  I guess I'm just left to covet all the storms in the east!

Mitchell's ear is a lot better tonight, but now it has started in with Olivia.  Oh well, I guess this is what to expect when one has six children!  Little Noah is gradually getting better, but he seems to be bouncing back the slowest.  He just seems to have so much crud around his eyes and it makes him look so tired!  Hopefully tomorrow will be better!

Another Tough Day

I am so tired of the sickies!!!  I am ready for them to be gone.  Poor Mitchell is struggling with an earache that has moved from his right ear, now to his left.  At least the pain isn't as bad in his right ear anymore, but still. I just feel horrible for him.  Noah was a bit better today, but still has some goopy eyes and a yucky nose.  I'm so ready to be done with this so I can get back to our routine.  I really wanted to go to my  yoga class tomorrow, but I just don't think he is quite well enough yet.

As for the picture above, I totally forgot until bedtime to take a picture today.  I mean, honestly, I can only stand so many pictures of sick children!  Abby is healthy (and still wearing her spaghetti mustache from dinner) so I snagged a pic!  Also, I almost forgot to mention that even though I've had sick ones to care for, Sam had a great day!  It was probably one of his best in a very, very  long time.  I've been using the oils on him, diligently, and I think they have a calming effect!  Today I did them 3 times, and each massage was about 15-20 minutes long.  That, combined with more sensory things are really paying off.  The other exciting thing about Sam is that he is starting to use sign language.  He will sign all of his colors and use them.  For example, if I give him a choice between rice chex or corn chex, he signed "green" for the box color of the corn chex.  It has been a lot of fun!  I know some colors, but not all, so today, he was trying to show us the sign for pink, and we just weren't getting it.  He wasn't happy with us and stormed over to the bookcase to find something with the color pink on it!  It was adorable and such a good sign!  I need to pull out my books and freshen  up my signing.  I think he is ready to really grow with this!

2 Weeks of Cub Scouts

I took this picture today to show what our focus is over the next few weeks.  This is one of the many reasons that I LOVE homeschooling.  Mitchell is finishing up his Webelos year of scouts, and I'll admit, it has come way too quick!  He still has quite a bit to finish to earn all of his awards.  So, we decided to use school time to finish it all up!  Today he earned his citizenship pin, as we spent several hours talking about laws, being a good citizen, the American flag, the national anthem, and lots of other fun things!  I had a blast!  I love scouting!  I truly can't say enough things about the wonderful program!

Still Sick

Are you as sick of reading about my sick children as I am of having sick children?  They are showing improvement, so that is a good thing!  Noah's fever is slowly going down, but tonight he is showing signs of pink eye, so that might be here to stay for awhile!  I just love this sweet picture of him!  He's trying so hard to feel well enough to play!

I've been doing a lot more writing lately, and really feeling like I am getting into a flow of things. I have started a writing blog (I seriously do have more blogs than shoes) and you can find it through the link at the top! I'm just getting started, but I want it to be a fun way for people to follow along as I take this journey!

Sick Babies

It was a very long day.  It was a day that is familiar to every mother who reads this!  There is just nothing quite as draining as having a sick baby.  Even sick kids aren't as difficult, and as tough as it  may be to believe, it's even just a little worse than a sick hubby! LOL!

First, I was awakened around midnight to Noah crying.  His cries seemed close rather than down the hall in the bedroom he shares with his oldest brother.  Instantly, the mother thing kicked in and I knew he was not in his bed.  I jumped up and ran out my door to find Sam carrying Noah down the stairs in the dark.  I'm so glad Noah let out a cry to let me know!  It was all I could do to remain calm so I wouldn't scare Sam and make him fall or drop Noah down the rest of the stairs.  I felt so much relief once he was in my arms safe again.

Also, at this moment, I realize that he has a poopy diaper (lots of these lately from teething or allergies or we don't know), so I change him.  I was exhausted as Saturday had been a full day!  John took Sam down to the spare bedroom in the basement to sleep because we were too afraid of him escaping again (he currently sleeps in our room on the floor because he is famous for getting up and wandering).  I guess I was just too tired to hear him getting out last night.

Once everyone was back to bed, I fell asleep again, only to be awakened again by Noah at 4 a.m.  He was poopy again and now running a fever.  I won't bore you all with the rest of the details, because I'm sure you get the idea.  A crying, whiney baby who wants to be held all day can be very tiring.  Sam's pink eye is looking better, but not gone completely.  And just a few minutes ago, Mitchell came down to tell us that he ached all over, his throat was sore and he wanted to throw up.  Needless to say, I will have to wait until tomorrow to upload the picture because I am headed to bed!

**Updated to add photo.  This was Chipper at his scout meeting Sunday night.  He just earned his First and Second class!

Pink Eye

It's amazing how one little thing can show up in the morning and just change the course of the whole day!  We had a lot planned for today, and when Sam woke up, his eyes were red, red, red.  I had our Stake Humanitarian day planned for the morning and John was going to take Sam to speech.  We had the babysitting arranged and things planned for the afternoon.  I was still able to go and do the projects like I wanted, but the afternoon was crazy.  Sam was not feeling well, I think his eyes bothered him quite a bit, and he had quite the melt down.  He ended up falling asleep in my arms for 2 hours.  Here he is tonight, looking quite a bit better.  I treated him only with essential oils, which has become the norm in our family.  So far, so good.  Every hour, we would apply purify (a blend of several citrus oils, cilantro, pine) to the area around his eye.  I didn't put it in his eye, just above his eyebrow and around.  I also gave him an aromatouch therapy massage, which helped calm him a lot.  This is an amazing massage using 8 different oils and rubbing them into the back and feet in such a way that it really works it into their spine.  I'm hoping he looks much better tomorrow!  Noah is teething (3 top teeth at once) so that has added to the fun!  All in all, it was still a good day.

The Power of Opposites

I had an interesting experience today.  And it left me with a lot to think about and ponder.  Darkness is an interesting thing.  It can be so full of fear.  It represents that which we do not know or understand.  It can be all consuming if we allow it.  But darkness can be other things, as well.  Without darkness, we couldn't have light.  Without darkness, we may never be forced to feel our way around and search for the right path.  Darkness strengthens us and tests us and in the end shows what we are really  made of.  I am grateful for darkness, just as I am grateful for light.

Sam had gymnastics today, and part way through his lesson, I found him wandering upstairs.  None of his teachers even knew that he escaped.  No one was looking for him and when I went to speak with the director of the program, I learned that this isn't the first time he has gotten away.  In fact, the last time, he made it to the parking lot before they caught him.  I won't get into all the details, but basically Sam won't be going back.  They feel he is not fit for their program (a community rec center gymnastics program) and I should find a private one on one class for him.  It wasn't so much that I minded him not being welcome because he is special needs and not like the other children, therefore a bit more work, it was that they knew from the beginning what his challenges were and they told me it wasn't a problem.  But also, I was bothered by the way I was treated.  I was made to feel that I had done something wrong or that he had done something wrong.  They were very careful to cover their end of things.  I felt discouraged.  I felt sad that everywhere we go, Sam doesn't fit in and most of the time, he isn't welcome.  I am learning to grow a very thick skin.  It isn't easy to be looked at when you are in a public place and your almost six year old has a complete meltdown, requiring you to pick him up and remove him.  Between the looks and even comments I have received, I know that people don't understand.  Sam looks like a normal cute boy, and I'm sure many have questioned my parenting ability in the midst of these things.  I can see it in their eyes. 

As I work to create a normal, fun childhood for Sam, I am constantly met with obstacles.  There are more "can't"s than "can"s and a lot of heartache as I work to find normal activities with regular kids that won't break the bank.  That moment, leaving early from gymnastics, because we were no longer a good "fit" was a very dark moment.  Lots of thoughts went through my head.  Maybe I could write a letter or even write really nasty things about them on facebook and my blogs.  But the truth of the matter is, what good would that do?  It would only keep me in the darkness and focused on the negatives in this situation.  It isn't worth it.  They run a wonderful gymnastics program there, and it isn't their fault that  Sam is not like other children.  But it isn't my fault and it isn't Sam's fault either.  So, I get to be creative!  I get to find the light in this situation and make it better.  What a wonderful opportunity.  And seriously, I couldn't be more pleased.  I am positive that we are not alone in our search for activities.  I didn't put Sam in gymnastics so he could be the gold medalist in the 2024 Olympics (just threw that number out there, it probably doesn't even match up!). I put Sam in gymnastics so he could have fun, be around kids his age, and feel like he had an activity just for himself!  It was great exercise and helped to strengthen muscles that don't come easy for him.  I thought about putting him in soccer, as sign ups are going on right now, but I asked about a special needs team and they don't have one.  I know Sam well enough to know that being on a soccer team would mean lots of open grass to run away on!  So, really, we wouldn't be making any progress.

Then the idea came.  I could create a weekly play date at the park and invite any other children in our area with special needs or even just other kids who wanted to get together.  I will plan games that will not only be fun, but have sensory things involved as well.  Each week will be different and exciting and fun.  Afterwards, for those that wanted to stay, we can have a lunch and visit while the kids play.  I'm sure I am not the only parent in my area with a special needs child, and somehow I want to find the others and connect with them!  I have big ideas for this, but they are also reasonable.  I know my limits (well, I try anyway), but if I can't take Sam to a safe and appropriate activity with other children, I will create it!  I'm excited.  I'm thrilled to know that there is always an opposite reaction for every action.  For as dark and isolated as I felt, I can turn it around and experience that same amount of joy on the other end!  I love that! 

I will admit that sometimes I feel overwhelmed with my challenges.  I see only the dark and find a lot of pain and loss there.  I love this little boy with all my heart, and it kills me sometimes to see him work so hard for what comes natural to most other people.  But, then I am reminded that he is raising me to be the type of mother I could have ever only dreamed about being.  He is giving me the strength and the courage to climb mountains I would have otherwise avoided.  He is teaching me to love every person I meet because I don't know their story and I don't know their pain.  And believe me, that is the brightest light I can imagine!

The Next Mozart

This little guy LOVES music!  Now in all fairness, he comes by it honestly.  Music is a big thing in our house.  Not that we have exceptional talent or anything, just that we all enjoy it so much!  Chipper plays the piano, all the time, even when it's not the most convenient time.  Mitchell can hear a song a few times and sit down and pick out the notes for it.  Abby has only recently started playing, but she loves it. 

Well, anytime that Chipper or I or anyone is sitting at the piano, Noah crawls in, pulls himself up and dances along to the  music. I think it is safe to say that the front room is his favorite room in the house!  Today, I was practicing a song, and of course, he came right in to join me.  I lifted him up to my lap and let him play the keys.  He thought that was the best ever!  He would pound a few notes and then turn back to me with the biggest grin!  Then back to pounding on the piano!  I just couldn't resist snapping a picture of that  smile!

New Look

I decided to slim things down and go with a more professional, clean look!  It's not very scrappy, but I really like it.  I'm sure I'll continue to play with it, as well as  my other blogs, but it's just so fun!

Tonight was Mitchell's Blue and Gold Banquet for scouts.  This was him getting a couple of awards.  He only has 2 months left of cub scouts. I know I do the countdown every month and express my sadness, but dang, it's just going way too fast!

There are always so many things I want to blog about, but then I think I just get chicken.  Sometimes, I'm able to just lay it all out there, but other times, I stick to the facts of the day.  Facts are much easier than emotions.  The truth is, I have a lot of emotions inside that I constantly try to sort through and put in the right place. 


One of the main emotions is how invisible I feel.  Does anyone else ever feel this way?  I admit that I spend a lot of my free time, hiding behind a computer and typing things rather than talking, but when it comes to real world things, I feel like I just blend in the background.  Have you seen that commercial for depression where the person just blends into the couch or the bus or the freezer section at the grocery store?  That's how it feels.  And I don't think it is caused by depression, because I'm happy, overall.  I just feel that for most of my life, I'm either trying too hard to be noticed or I just fade into the background.  I know that I have a lot more guts to write things out on a blog than I do to say in real life.  I used to think it had to do with my weight and feeling so ashamed about that, but I think its deeper than that.  I'm still searching for the reasons, because I am determined to fix it!  I'll have to keep you posted, though, because I am definitely a work in progress!

Ssh, Don't Tell Daddy

This is Noah's favorite thing to play with! If daddy leaves it open for even a minute, we find Noah over there pounding away! And just look at those eyes! Can you ever get mad at someone that cute???

My Bookends!

It's what I lovingly call my oldest and my youngest, and here they are together on the couch! I came downstairs this morning to see the two of them hanging out! Does it get any cuter? I love how much all of my children love their baby brother, but it's especially fun to see how much the older kids enjoy him. They are such a big help!

We had a good day today, in fact, it was an almost perfect day! Chipper and I went to the music store and found more music for him. He is becoming quite the pianist and can't get enough. He plays constantly and goes through music faster than I can buy it! He doesn't just learn an entire song in a matter of weeks, but memorizes it as well. Some that you can hear often at our house include, The Entertainer (played at a faster rate than Joplin ever intended, I'm sure), Walking in Memphis, How to Save a Life and Loving You by Jason Mraz was the new one he got today!

After that, John took all the kids, except Noah to visit his parents, and I enjoyed a quiet house! I was able to write over 1,000 words on my book and it felt so nice to enjoy the quiet!

Valentines Day

We had a pretty good day. John and I celebrated last night by going out to dinner and exchanging gifts. We had a rule this year, for gifts it couldn't be traditional--no chocolate, no flowers! He got me a year's subscription to a writing magazine (I can't wait) and I got him the MLB package, so that we can watch every Brave's game this year! We are both excited and had so much fun together!

Today was church and for Sunday dinner, we made steaks and chicken. I also made gluten-free brownies (that I tried to cut into hearts, but they didn't come out of the pan very well for me) with vanilla ice cream. I wanted to add cherries that I had bottled last summer, but it was my last bottle, and it was fermented. Just my luck!

In all the excitement of the day, I didn't get a picture done until tonight! Fortunately, my ever photogenic little girl was quick to volunteer! She's such a darling! Last night, before she went to bed, she left love notes on all our pillows. John's was a hand drawn pig that said, "Hogs and Kisses". Sam's note said "will you play heartball with me?" And mine said, "Roses are Red, Violets are blue, pancakes are red on valentines day." Glad she could leave me a reminder! LOL!!!

Chuck E. Cheese

Every Saturday, Sam and I drive into Provo for his private speech lessons. This was our second week doing this, and it's a lot of fun! We just love his therapist and she has made so much progress with him already! She is the first person to successfully get Sam to say his whole name "sssaaamm" and do it on a consistent basis! After he works so hard at speech, I reward him with a little play time at Chuck E. Cheese! He looks forward to it all week long! Today, Chuck E. came up to him, and he totally didn't know what to think. This picture shows the distance he kept and even after Chuck E. had moved on Sam kept looking back over his shoulder!

Dental Work

Poor Mitchell. Today was a tough day for him! He had to have some dental work done, and because he is so terrified of the whole process that it is impossible for a dentist to work on him (and still keep his fingers), we had to have him put under by general anesthesia to have 3 teeth extracted and a filling filled. It's nice to have all the work done, but boy is it an ordeal! I'm so glad my other kids all have better teeth and less fear. Mitchell had a lot of health problems as a child, and took lots of medications which is what I blame for his soft teeth!

Anyway, he was pretty loopy on the drive home and for about the first hour. He kept staring at his hand and then slapping himself. It was funny and not, all at the same time! After that, he bounced back quickly and you'd never know it by tonight. I think what he hated the most was having to have fluids only for most the day!

Valentine's Hair

So today was Abby's Valentine's party, and I just had to do something fun and special with her hair! I have a favorite hair blog (proof that there is truly a blog for and about everything in the world) and I found this cute little do on it! It was so easy! I did both hers and Olivia's, exactly the same! I love those mornings, when I send my kids out the door, and they don't look like orphans! i wish I were disciplined enough to be this good every morning!

And for anyone interested in checking out lots of darling hair do's, click HERE!

Where is Winter???

So while the East coast is working to dig themselves out of one of the worst blizzards in years, out here in the west, I think spring is coming early! I can't believe how gorgeous the weather is and spring fever is beginning to get in my blood! I just know I'm being fooled and we'll still get a few good storms before it's time to pull out the lawn mower, but it is nice to enjoy the sun and outdoors! Growing up in Southern Nevada, I don't think I would have ever called 45 degrees warm and balmy, but for February in Utah, we might as well pull the swim suits out! This picture says it all! Noah loved being outdoors and playing on the steps. He was so happy. I think I have 30 pictures of him, but this one is my favorite!

Sweet Kids

This little note is seriously one of the absolute highlights of being a parent! Last night, we went out for dinner to our favorite restaurant (Golden Corral) for family home evening! We had a blast and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. It was the first time we had been there altogether since the night before Noah was born (10 months). On the way home, Olivia complained that her tummy hurt and soon after getting into bed, she began to throw up. While we did all the things (okay, I didn't do much, John is the sweet one who steps in and handles all puking messes in our house) Mitchell, snuck downstairs and slipped this note onto the counter. What a sweet gesture. He wanted her to know he was thinking of her!

After a rough and sleepless night (again, my dear husband was the one to stay up with her) she was back to her usual self today! I didn't actually even see or know about the note until today and was very touched by it.

It really is these little, simple gestures and moments that make up a life. Amidst all the drama, the worry, the big events and the important occasions, life is made up of millions of simple moments. It's the words we speak, the love we show and even just the tiny gestures of showing we care. I just had to document this for today, because I feel like it represents so much! I hope Olivia always knows and remembers how much she is loved by her big brother. And I hope her big brother always remembers to love and care for his little sister.

Valentine Box

I am so in love with this little box! I made it for Abby to take to school for her valentine party. It was so easy! I just put together a sheet of pictures of her with her friends, her sister, her baby brother, etc. Then I printed off 4 sheets of it on my regular printer. I cut and glued it onto a box and then applied a light layer of modge podge (coolest stuff EVER) and then added a few flowers and ribbon! I love how it is all about her and will be a fun keepsake box to use afterwards!

Super Bowl Sunday

Here was the food I made for us to watch with the Super Bowl tonight, and even though our team didn't win, we still had a blast! I love making yummy food for the family and sitting back and relaxing!

Sewing Project

So I've been in the mood lately to do some sewing! It's been close to 2 years since I have sewn anything, and in fact, a few weeks ago when I pulled out my sewing machine, a very important tiny screw was missing! 4 phone calls to Sears, 3 incorrectly shipped orders and I finally have my screw and can use my machine! So, I made these little dresses today, for my girls. I still have to finish the straps on Olivia's tomorrow morning before church! I bought cream shirts for them to wear underneath so they don't freeze, and I can't wait to see them in them! I'm excited for more projects!!!

Also, today, we had an amazing private speech lesson with Sam! It was the first private lesson we've done in over a year. He did so well! For the first time, I got to hear him say his name "Sam", instead of "Am". She really worked with him on combining letters and it was so fun! I'm excited to keep this going. Even tonight when I would say, "what is your name", he would stop and think about it and then slowly say "ssssam" It was awesome!

My New Best Friend

First I want to apologize by how much this blog has been about Sam lately. But, it is indicative of how much this has fillled our lives, as well! And I really want a record of this journey, not just for me, but for him, and for anyone else who may ever find themselves wondering what is going on with their child! I never realized how difficult it would be to find answers. I was naive enough to believe that if something wasn't quite right, I would pack my child up, go to a doctor, tell him the concerns and get an answer as easy as that. Rarely has that been the case in my journey of motherhood! I have had to search and pray and search and talk to others and pray some more and search within more times than I can count! I could spend all night describing some of the amazing, scary and totally out of the blue things we've been through. My children have stumped more than one doctor before! I joke that by the time I'm done raising children, I will have earned my own medical degree--I don't say that real jokingly! I have had to learn a lot and I understand more about all parts of the body than I ever learned in College Biology! I love it though. I love learning and expanding my knowledge and experience. I wouldn't trade this for anything!

The book I posted above is the book the teacher lent us. I have loved reading it and have found so much helpful information! I am again, very excited to see what we can conquer with Sam. Today was another good day. It wasn't quite as perfect as yesterday, but I also had more things going on. There is definitely a correlation between me being even a little stressed and how he reacts. Mostly though, I'm trying to reassure him over and over again how much we love him, how good he is and how hard he is working.

I'm thankful for the friends I've met on this journey, even if I haven't met them in real life. Jewel, who often comments here, is one of those friends. She and I share a lot about this journey with boys who are quite similar. It always helps to know you aren't going through things alone! Jewel, I soooo appreciated your comment yesterday and really loved the insight you gave! It was one more piece of information to file away and help me better understand what Sam is dealing with. I truly can't imagine what it would be like to feel as though part of my body didn't exist. I can't comprehend what our boys face every day!

Hot Dog Game

Today went so well! I am amazed at how some extra sensory input could really make a big difference for him. The other thing I worked on was having complete patience with him. I didn't rush him, I didn't get frustrated, I just loved him. It was a wonderful feeling and one that we both needed! When we went to Wal-mart, there was a firetruck parked outside. Rather than rushing him into the store and barely noticing his excitement, I took the time to walk him over to it and let him touch it. He was in heaven! We talked about what it felt like and looked like and then he was ready to go on in the store. Everytime something caught his attention, I let him touch it and talk about. Yes, it made the trip a little longer, but we made it through without a single episode of him running away and without any melt downs. I don't know if that has ever happened!

When he came home from school, we played the hot dog game with him. I had explained to the older kids, while Sam was in school, what sensory disorders are and how we can help Sam. I told them all about the hot dog game (I got the idea from the book the teacher lent me yesterday) and everyone was so excited! I have to say, this is a fabulous game for ANY child, not just one with a sensory disorder. After we finished with Sam, Abby and Livvy had to take their turns and it worked into 30 minutes of great fun for all! It was such a difference from the fits and fighting and other things we have endured.

Here's how to play:

You lay out a sleeping bag and have the child lay on their tummy at one far end. You have them keep their head off the bag. Then you tell them that you need to prepare the hot dog. You can use a big ball to roll over them, but we didn't have one, so we just used our hands (all the kids helped). We told Sam to say "bop" (stop) or "o, o, o" (go) depending on what he wanted. He loved having that control!

After we prepared the hot dog, we applied ketchup. You can use any type of texture item from a washcloth to a brush or anything. We didn't have a lot of tools, so we used our hands and just did a tickling type motion up and down his body. He loved that!

Next, we applied the mustard. For that, I just used my fingers to bounce up and down him. Again, he giggled the whole time. Last, we added the chopped onions. For this, I used a back massager and ran it up and down. He really loved that and didn't say stop for a very long time! In fact, several times, we would ask if he was done and he just said, "go, go, go"! Too cute!

Once we were all done preparing the hot dog, we rolled him and wrapped him up! Then, with him wrapped in the sleeping bag, we moved him back and forth until he said stop. And then we ate him! So fun!

We also played with cars in shaving cream at the table, and they all enjoyed that, as well. It's fun to do these activities, that are meeting a crucial need for Sam, but also fun for the other kids! It was a perfect day! I'm so thankful for these ideas and for this journey. It is rarely easy, but I love how much it has pushed me and made me look deep for answers. I am a big believer in prayer and these challenges have pushed me to my knees more than once! I am grateful that I can pray and find the direction I need. Most times the help comes through other people, countless angels on earth willing to help me, but I have no doubt that ultimately, it all comes from God!

Patty Cake

One of Noah's newest and favorite things is patty cake! I merely need to mention the words and he instantly begins to put his little hands together! I just love how fun they are at this age! He is such a sweet baby!

Other important things today was a meeting with Sam's teachers. I think it went really well. His main teacher gave me a book of ideas for children with sensory integration disorders. I can't wait to try some of the ideas. Sam is extremely sensory seeking, which means he needs a lot of sensory input. I once had it explained that he needs a lot of input to all parts of his body, for his brain to remember that they are there. And apparently, if he is focused on getting the input he needs, he can't seem to focus on anything else. It's almost like a young child who has a difficult time getting his food needs met. He would think about nothing else until he got the food he needed. For Sam, it's that way. A lot of his acting out he does to fulfill this need. I'm excited to try the techniques and see if they help. When he is mellow and not acting up, he is a very sweet boy. I love him so much and just want to see more of the real Sam, rather than feeling frustrated with him on such a regular basis!

I will keep you all posted, on what we do, and it will be fun to document our journey here!

6 more weeks of Winter

I stole the idea from a fellow CT member to do a Groundhog Meatloaf for Groundhogs Day. Doesn't it look tasty? I had so much fun with this! I laughed the whole time I made it, especially when it looked more like a pig than a groundhog! But I think the best was how the family referred to it? "Can I have some more groundhog?" "Is the groundhog all gone?" I promise it was just ground beef, but it was a little fun to pretend that we actually ate the groundhog because he saw his shadow! He should have had better news for us!!!

Thrilled!!!

Doesn't he look thrilled doing the dishes? Hm, I wonder which he hates more--dishes or me taking his picture! Oh well, today was a busy day, and I completely forgot to snap any pictures until tonight. Most of the rest of them were gone to bed already, so poor Mitchell gets to be my subject tonight! I don't have much to write about, because I'm tired and ready for bed! However, today existed and we survived and nothing too big happened!