Soccer

Andrew is now playing soccer. His team is called the Red Lightening. They practice twice a week and then have a game on saturdays. He is having a great time. He really likes it. Halloween was their first game. They have 12 kids on the team. And in an effort to give them more game time, they have two games going at the same time. Which is a little confusing, but they all handled it well. I think it was the hardest for the coach. Andrew liked hanging back and defending the goal. They don't have a goalie, but he was almost acting like one. It was fun to see him spring to attention when the ball came near his goal. He saved several goals. He saved one goal with a big kick and everyone cheered and he was almost startled, but was so proud. He kept saying, wasn't that a good shot? When the game was over, he asked if we were proud of him. And said, Daddy, I didn't give up. I was proud of my little boy who is growing up and trying to find his way in school and friends. I feel lucky to be his mama.

Michael

Michael has started eating with utensils by himself. He has been feeding himself for a while, but mostly using his hands. I still had to help with many things, things that weren't easy to pick up or required a spoon, etc. He has been stealing our forks for a while, but mostly just playing with them. Trying to poke his dinner, but not really getting anything. And then last weekend at Lynne's, he had his fork and my fork - one in each hand - and started actually getting some bites in his mouth. He was actively trying to feed himself with the forks. Then, to show how serious he was about his new, emerging skill he worked hard on some chocolate chip ice cream and really put a dent in that bowl with his spoon.
Before this weekend,I would periodically work on this with him - help him scoop something and move his hand to his mouth. But, I wasn't worried about it. I was not really trying to get him to do this. In therapy, there are exercises and things we would work so hard on and then as he accomplished them, we were so excited. This feels different to me. A different excitement, one that makes me cry. Michael decided by himself that this is what he wanted and he worked on it and tonight at dinner - ate stir-fry by himself. This gives me hope.

On a different note, the physical therapist and I think his right leg is shorter than his left. He always has his weight on the right with the left bent. We measured as best we could, he doesn't like other people - mostly doctors - touching him. But, it seems there might be a 1/4 inch difference. Sometimes, the bowing of the tibia occurs in those with neurofibromatosis, so we are going to see an orthopedist, get an x-ray and check it all out. Just what I was hoping for - one more specialist to add to the list of doctors that he needs to see periodically. Did I mention he hates going to the dr? :)

Emily's Birthday

We went up to Phoenix to spend some time with family and celebrate Emily's birthday. We had a really fun time. Jeremy took some professional quality pictures and we played games. We hope you had a fun time, Em. I had to include the photos. They make me smile. You relax your face completely and shake your head quickly while someone takes a picture!

Dress Code

During General Conference we have a very strict dress code. Michael was a little above the curve. He wanted both of the ties. It was a wonderful conference, even if I am a little late in posting about it.

Lately, I feel like Heavenly Father has really been listening to me. I am so grateful. I feel like he is aware of me. Last week I went to the temple. I have been worried about Michael lately. I kept obsessing about why his fontanels have not closed. They usually have by his age. So, naturally I am afraid he has a brain tumor that is growing (one of the reasons fontanels do not close on time), this is something that sometimes happens with people with Neurofibromatosis. I know that is not natural, I know that I am a worrier, it will most likely close in time. But, this scenario (the brain tumor - not the fontanels) is the one I have been afraid of since his initial diagnosis. I have been afraid I will lose him. That he will not survive. I was fasting about him and praying in the temple. I had the thought (one that I have heard and should know by now) that I needed to have faith, that faith is the absence of fear. And that Michael has a journey he needs to take, the reason he was sent to earth. And that whatever happens will be what Heavenly Father has planned for my Michael. And that I am blessed to be a part of this journey and that it will be filled with joy. I literally felt my fear be replaced with faith and joy. It was like a little ball of happiness inside me. So, who knows what is to come - I still have no idea if he has a long full life ahead of him or just another year. By the way, he seems to be really healthy right now. But, I know that Heavenly Father knows and is in charge and wants us to be happy.

The Diary of Anne Frank, the play that Jeremy directed at the University of Arizona closes this weekend. I went to see it with Lynne and we both thought it turned out really well. I was so proud of him and to see his name and picture next to the title of Director. It was a crazy time, but I think it was really good for him. Hopefully, another directing opportunity will come again. But I am grateful for now to be seeing more of him and for some of the stress to be relieved.

A Day in the Life

Woke up
Got a child out of bed
changed a diaper
get him dressed
Got a different child dressed
Woke up third child
Got dressed myself
made lunches
gathered books
made breakfast
fed a child
made sure other children were eating
cleaned up
made sure all three children had shoes and backpacks
drove one child to school
went to therapy - remembered backpack and ball to use for therapy
drove another child to school
dropped off remaining child at friends
drove to 1st child's school
volunteered in classroom
picked up child from friends house
drove home
cleaned up boys room
did laundry
folded laundry
put away laundry
picked up toys
watered plants
swept the floor
mopped the floor
made lunch
fed a child lunch
cleaned up lunch
picked up child from school
went to park for playdate
picked up another child from school
had friends over after school
made snack for friends
went on bike ride with kids and friends
dealt with tantrums
got everything ready for dinner
picked up husband
fed children dinner
cleaned up
put one child in bed
put another child in bed
helped with homework
read stories
cleaned up toys
help get child ready for bed
read scriptures
child headed up for bed
deep breath

and my house is still messy!

The backyard

Just one of the reasons I love our backyard and my husband.

coveting

I have a dream stroller. I know that it is silly to have a dream stroller. But ever since I first saw this stroller I have wanted one. It is a Phil & Ted's Stroller and it is crazy expensive. But twice in a week and a half I found one on Craigslist and someone got to it faster than me. So disappointing and again silly to get so excited about just the possibility of one. Even used, people are still asking more than I want to pay, but I would love to have one. And then if we have another baby, you just put on the doubles attachment in the back and it is a double stroller and it is a jogging stroller, too! You can lock the swivel wheel. It is really compact and folds up small. Ah. Oh well.

http://www.shopphilandteds.com/strollers.cp