Carlson Family

"I want pod"

2011-08-28T18:36:00.000-07:00

Wyatt is dangerously close to becoming an Ipad/Itouch addict. But I love that he has something he wants bad enough to verbally request it!

Wyatt's favorite activity

2011-08-08T19:00:00.000-07:00

Talk about cheap fun, nothing brings a smile to Wyatt's face more than getting to blow out a candle. Who needs toys anyway? :)

Another question answered

2011-08-08T18:54:00.000-07:00

This is another question he can answer for a few of the things he loves most...tickles, chips, candy, drink, and candle (yep, he loves blowing out candles).

Wyatt's new skills...

2011-08-08T18:47:00.000-07:00

Answering questions!! This may not seem like a big deal, but it is a BIG DEAL!!!!! You can hear him just repeat "chips" back to me at first, but then realizes he need to answer yes or no and says, "yes"! Check it out!

Wyatt Riding Ozzy Bear

2011-04-08T19:57:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness this dog is very tolerant!

For the Davis's :)

2011-04-06T19:48:00.000-07:00

You have made this Mickey-loving boy VERY HAPPY!!!

Day at the Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-10T16:56:00.000-07:00

Wyatt picking out his pumpkin

The girls picking out their pumpkins

Tractor ride into the pumpkin patch

Who knew a pile of hay could be so much fun to play on!

Angelina petting the goats.

In front of the chickens

Homecoming Parade

2010-10-10T16:51:00.000-07:00

I love living in a small town. When an event like homecoming happens, the ENTIRE town shows up! You can be walking down the parade route and see your kids' teachers, dance instructor, sunday school teacher, neighbor, etc all within a few steps of each other.

We had a lot of fun at the parade!

Little boys are so creative!

2010-10-05T15:28:00.000-07:00

Wyatt likes his toys clean. He often slips his toys into a running washing machine, a running dishwasher, or the toilet bowl to get them good and clean. On this day, he wanted to make certain that his elephant was shiny and clean, so he took a more "hands on" approach.

A few other random August pictures :)

2010-10-05T15:21:00.000-07:00

Playing at the Park

Angelina, Saige, Ozzy Bear, and Azalea at the park

Angelina's First day of school!!!

A few new members of our household

2010-10-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

THEN, on the third day of school, we added two new members to our household! Welcome Angelina and Azalea. Two very sweet, very beautiful little girls! I don't know how we keep getting so lucky to have such sweet, cute sisters join our family each time we open up our home. It had been 8 months since our last kiddos left, and we were definitely feeling that void. So many people ask us how we are able to do foster care, hearing so many sad stories, opening our hearts then saying goodbye......I think these pictures answer that question rather well. Look at these sweet, happy, innocent faces! These pictures were taken on their very first day in our home. I can't even imagine all the feelings they were having on the inside that day, but look how they are glowing on the outside! It is so worth it! :)

First Day of School

2010-10-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

Wyatt starting his second year in the ECSE program. Doesn't he look handsome!

Of course Mater had to come to school his first day too.

Saige starting her first day of 3rd Grade! Hard to believe we have a 3rd grader!

Ozzy Bear joins the Carlsons

2010-10-03T18:14:00.000-07:00

In August, we welcomed a new addition to our family. Ozzy Bear Carlson is our labradoodle puppy. It took us 2 weeks and about 20 votes to pick the name! Everyone had an opinion, but I think Ozzy Bear suits him well.

No, this isn't him. I swear Wyatt climbed in there himself and he loved it. He definitely could have stayed in the kennel all day and been happy. Crazy boy! :)

Wyatt was so excited the day we brought him home, that he fell asleep on the bench in our kitchen. Well, at least halfway on the bench.

Here he is! Ozzy Bear Carlson at 8 weeks. Puppies really are almost as much work as newborn babies...and you can't put a diaper on a puppy.

I've been reprimanded, so here goes...

2010-10-03T17:58:00.000-07:00

I've been reprimanded a few times over the last few weeks for not keeping up our family blog...so here goes a major catching up! We did do a few things over the summer, and had a few changes to our family.

In July, Saige went to Girl Scout Day Camp and had a blast! She came home every day with a million stories to tell about all the fun things she did. On the last night of Day camp we went up for family night, then Saige and I camped out over night with all of the Smithville Troops. Yes, camped....in Missouri...in July. It was fun, but hot and humid. Fortunately we had a decent breeze coming off the lake that night so we survived the 90 degree weather. Here are a few pics...

Our favorite vacation ever!

2010-08-03T14:06:00.000-07:00

The greatest sandcastle ever, and some boogie boardin' fun!

2010-08-03T13:46:00.000-07:00

John and Saige spent some time creating this beauty! Completge with clam shell accents aroung the edges, a bridge and a moat.

What a nice big sister! Saige let Wyatt destroy the castle not long after it was finished.

These are out of order a bit, but this is it. The completed castle, the artists, and the soon to be demolition team.

Hard at work.

Working on his tan!

We got to spend a day with our friends the Craners. Here is Saige with Allison and Sarah heading out to boogie board. These girls could have boogied all day!

Wyatt doing "frog jumps" over the waves

2010-08-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

Moody Gardens, Galveston, TX

2010-08-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

We did take one day of our non-touristy vacation and drove 40 miles up the coast to Galveston where we went to the Moody Gardens Aquarium. A bit pricey, but worth it.

Saige, Wyatt and I at the start of the tunnel 'o' fish

Saige with a big reef-looking thing behind her

Wyatt observing a stingray up close

Oh yes, I need one of these at home! Too bad they didn't sell them in the gift shop! :)

Entering the tunnel 'o' fish

Surfside Vacation continued

2010-08-03T13:17:00.000-07:00

There is definitely still a lot of damage from Hurrican Ike. Not all of the building have been repaired. I'm guessing this one will have to be demolished...

Evening wagon ride along the beach.

Taken a break in the shade

You know that SOMEONE had to be buried in the sand! :)

Saige heading out to boogie board to her heart's content!

Ummm, I think this is a new form of yoga...Toddler Beach Yoga??

Surfside Beach, TX Vacation 2010

2010-08-03T12:30:00.000-07:00

This was absolutely the best vacation we have had! Vacations are supposed to be a break from a routine, vacations are all about trying something new, vacations are about experiencing a new environment. When you have a child with Autism, vacations are absolutely the furthest thing from relaxing! Children with Autism like routines. Children with Autism like "sameness". Children with Autism are usually NOT content in a new environment, or with trying new things. Every vacation we have taken up until now has been....stressful to say the least. This summer we tried to plan a vacation that both Wyatt and the rest of our family could enjoy. He loves sand, he loves water, so do we. We looked for the closest beach we could drive to, and found Surfside beach texas to be the perfect vacation spot for us. There is not much to do in this town except the beach, and several miles of beach homes, two restaurants, and a convenience store. We didn't care. We were there for the sun, sand, water, and some relaxing family time. We didn't have the distractions that we would have had in a more "touristy" town with lots of stuff to do. We established a great routine...wake up when we want to...hang out in our pajamas all morning...put on our swimsuits...walk the 50 steps it took us to get to the beach...and relax. Nice. Can't wait to go back!

Saige collecting shells in her bucket. The beach was full of clam shells, I've never seen so many in my life. We also saw a dead baby shark wash to shore (no it wasn't the tar balls that got him), and a few jellyfish.

Wyatt taking a break, relaxing with a refreshing CarpiSun in hand.

The view from our condo. 50 steps. That's all. Oh how I wish we could be there now!

(more to come, couldn't fit it all in one post...)

Our little friend this week

2010-07-22T13:59:00.001-07:00

This is Gabriel. He has been our little friend this week, but leaves to go back to his foster parents tonight.

Saige has LOVED having a baby around and has been a huge help! :)

Wyatt....has not been so interested in Gabriel. He is very careful to not step on him when he is laying on the floor, but other than that he has not shown much interested or even noticed him much. That's alright, it's better than fighting over toys or attention! They have both been pretty content all week!

Wyatt dancing to fireworks on 4th of July :)

2010-07-17T16:33:00.000-07:00

Wyatt's reflection

2010-06-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

Wyatt has recently discovered his reflection in the mirror, the dishwasher, the oven, the refrigerator, shiny doorknobs, etc. He REALLY enjoys looking at himself and making various faces. It pretty cute, but not nearly as cute as what we witnessed yesterday. We just about died when we saw this it was so cute! Thank goodness my camera was handy and charged! I don't think we have to worry about Wyatt's self esteem...what do you think? :)

Third annual Father's Day taste testing competition!

2010-06-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Jello...Ice cream...and this year COOKIES! Our more recently started family tradition is a Father's day taste testing competition. This year the challenge was cookies! As you can see, this competition involves great concentration, years of preparation, strategy, skill, and of course some awesome blindfolds!

John preparing mentally....

Dad, giving it his all.

Jeremiah, perhaps saying a little prayer before the competition began...

And the winner.......

It was a tie between Jeremiah and John! Although John I believe was officially appointed winner because as a part of the new, healthier John....he did not actually taste any of the cookies. How did he do it? Using touch and smell...I have no idea how you hold an Oreo, smell an oreo, and you don't actually put it in your mouth. Now that takes some serious self restraint!

Worlds of Fun

2010-06-17T06:07:00.000-07:00

If you are planning a trip to Worlds of Fun this year, make sure you stay until the sun goes down. They have added a light display through about 1/2 the park that is really pretty spectacular. Okay, it's no Disneyworld, but I was pretty impressed. Viewing the lights through 3D glasses reveals flashing hearts all along the pathway. They had bubble machines going, projectors shooting images onto the sides of buildings, and strobe lights. Not bad.

Saige and I tearing up the racetrack!

Saige and John tearing up the racetrack!

Saige and Wyatt on Snoopy Mail (Wyatt's favorite ride by far)

Saige and Wyatt on the kangaroos (I remember riding this when I was little! That makes me feel old.)

Look mom! No hands!

No, Wyatt didn't go on the Prowler. But my daredevil daughter did! I can't believe all the rides she goes on...and loves to go on! This is the first year that she is tall enough for EVERY ride at the park, and she will actually go on EVERY ride at the park. She has no fear. I think I was at least 12 or 13 before I would go on an upside down roller coaster, and she is going on them at 8!

Having a bit of a "Staycation" this week in KC

2010-06-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

A few days off from work...a whole city to explore...what to do? We have had a bit of a vacation in our own city this week. Monday we went to Coco Key. Wyatt was totally in his element (water, slides, etc). Addie and Saige had a great time too, as you can see we did not get a single picture of the two of them. It is kind of nice to have a child old enough to not need to be watched every minute, especially since it nearly takes two of us to make sure Wyatt doesn't escape (or drown). Saige and Addie took off as soon as we got there, they did check in occasionally, but we didn't see them a lot. The got wet, worn out, and had a great time though!

Here's a video of Wyatt on the water slide. He did this about 300 times that day!

Saige's Dance Recital June 2010

2010-06-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

Pictures of the actual performance...at some time in the future. Here are a few we took afterwards. Thanks to grandma, grandpa and Addie for coming to support Saige (and sitting through 2 1/2 totally...um... thrilling hours of girls in tu-tu's! :)

Wyatt singing Wheels on the Bus

2010-06-07T12:28:00.000-07:00

He actually does it much better than this, but never when I'm recording him of course! Pretty amazing though!

House painting complete!

2010-06-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

Not a shocking change, but we love our new house color! It's amazing how a fresh coat of paint makes a house seem brand new. Check out the before (on the left) and the after (on the right)!

Backyard fun

2010-06-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

For Afton...

2010-06-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

It looks like the video story is no longer on the news station's website. Here is a video I recorded of the story playing on our TV. Not the best quality, but it works!

Riding Calvin

2010-05-19T05:29:00.000-07:00

My favorite cowboy!

2010-05-19T05:16:00.000-07:00

Wyatt's second horse therapy session with Katie, Rachel, and most important of all Calvin! What a perfectly georgous Missouri spring day. Blue skies, fluffy clouds, green grass, and a horse ride.

Wyatt rode for about 50 minutes (yes, that's 5-0-). For a kid whose attention span is normally 2 minutes max, this was pretty phenomenal. In fact, when it was time to go Wyatt grabbed hold of the saddle and protested getting of Calvin. I think he is looking forward to his next ride already!

Missouri Autism Reform Passes!!!!

2010-05-12T19:21:00.000-07:00

May 12th, what a great day for kids in the state of Missouri. After years of a hard fought battle, they have finally passed insurance reform in missouri for kids with Autism. Up until now, 99% of all insurance plans in the state of missouri excluded coverage for ABA therapy, speech therapy, and Occupational therapy for kids with Autism. Why? Because they could. Insurance companies would not even pay for a parent to take their child to a Developmental Pediatrician to be tested for and diagnosed with Autism (We received an $8000 bill from Children's Mercy to prove it). Now, insurance companies are required by law to cover these necessary treatments. Parent no longer have to go bankrupt, borrow money, or move to areas that have better laws to pay for such treatments. These kids have such a bright future now. I am both excited and greatful for all those parents who made the trip to Jeff City over the years to lobby for this reform. Your work has paid off and so many families (including mine) are eternally greatful!

As a side note, here's a link to a story featuring Wyatt's Autism preschool today regarding this important legislation. What a cute kid we have been blessed with!!!

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=596416@kshb.web.entriq.net&navCatId=4295

Wyatt first Horse experience

2010-05-05T15:54:00.001-07:00

Wyatt had his first horse therapy session today and he loved it! Wyatt loves horses, and all animals. Unfortunately we are just not big animal people at our house, so we decided to try some horse therapy. This first session was mostly about being introduced to the stables, the horses, how to brush, etc. Next time he'll get to ride!!!

A dog even came by to say hi. Wyatt was in heaven!

He at least got to sit in a saddle, next time the saddle will be on a real horse!

Woah, not sure wht to think at first

Brushing the horse

Petting a foal who is 1 month old. Very sweet!

Loved those nostrils!

Saige's Art Show

2010-05-04T06:48:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure where she gets her talent from, but Saige sure is a great artist! Here is a picture of her in front of her "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" poster.

Here are a few of her art projects this year. Great job Saige!

A song from the heart...

2010-04-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

Wyatt loves Chicken Little right now....LOVES IT! It is a really cute movie with a really great theme. The thing I love the most about it though is that Wyatt loves to sing along with all the songs.

I love that my sweet boy who has so much trouble even getting a word or two out can sing along with a song like this! Music is such a powerful tool!

How awesome is this?!?!

2010-04-07T07:31:00.000-07:00

Wyatt LOVES the movie Chicken Little. LOVES IT, LOVES it, LOVES IT! So on our trip to St. Louis he watched it about a hundred times. There is a scene where Chicken Little is singing the Queen song, "We are the champions" and Wyatt started singing it with him. This is HUGE...HUGE...Huge! (and it's also very cute) :)

St. Louis trip

2010-04-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

We had a great time in St. Louis Easter weekend. Here are a few snapshots of what we did...

Saige and John went to the City Museum.

They climbed up and down, slid all around, and got totally worn out!

Saige even took a ride on an elephant

Wyatt on the lawn in front of the Arch. Tickets sold out quickly that day, so we didn't get to go up into the Arch. Maybe next time!

Saige, John and Wyatt in front of a beautiful tulip garden just outside the St. Louis Zoo.

Saige and the chimpanzee (I tried to get her to give him a kiss, she opted not to)

Wyatt was totally into the penguins! Do you remember the book Mr. Popper's Penguins? I think we may need to turn our basement into a penguin paradise.

John and Saige on the train at the Zoo.

Saige's 8th Birthday Party!

2010-04-05T06:57:00.000-07:00

Slumber party for ten girls....what was I thinking?!?!?
Actually, it was a lot of fun and all the girls did really great. My strategy was to keep them busy. So here is a short synopsis of the festivities...

Sang Happy birthay to Saige and ate pizza and birthday cake.

Had a "follow the string" treasure hunt to find their goody bags.

Made paper flowers, I was surprised at how easy these were!

Here is Wyatt eating his gluten free, casein free chocolate muffin. Does he look like he's enjoying it? I think so.

This was about the cutest cake ever, I can't really take credit for it. The ladies in the bakery at Hy-Vee are awesome!

Here's the birthday crew with their sunglasses, and leis posing for a picture!

April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day!

2010-04-02T17:41:00.000-07:00

Take a moment to pray for the 1 in 110 children born with Autism. Take a moment to pray that our lawmakers will finally start to devote our country's resources to searching for a cause. Take a moment to pray for the 1 in 110 families that are full of love and hope for their child. Take a moment to pray for a cure!

April is Autism Awareness Month!

2010-04-01T12:29:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDMMwG7RrFQ A great look at life with Autism.

Daddy Spice, and Girly Spice

2010-03-30T23:02:00.000-07:00

Father of the Year committee....look no further! I still can't believe he let me record this. John would do anything to make his little girl happy!

So proud!

2010-03-19T11:48:00.001-07:00

Saige came home from school one day this week and the following conversation ensued...

Saige: "Mom, I was telling my friend today that Wyatt gets speech therapy and she said that means he's dumb"
Me: "Really? What did you say to her?"
Saige: "I said that he's not dumb"

So then we had a talk about Wyatt's challenges, about not ever calling someone dumb or stupid or making fun of anyone that is different, about why kids sometimes make fun of other kids just to make themselves feel better, and of course we told her how proud we were of her for standing up for her brother.

The next day she came home and this is how our conversation went...

Saige: "Remember that girl that said that thing about Wyatt?" (gotta love the details an 8 year old gives you)
Me: "Yes"
Saige: "Well, I had a talk with her today"
(Oh boy)
Me: "What did you say?"
Saige: "Well, lots of stuff. I don't really remember." (Again, gotta love the details an 8 year old girls gives you)
Me: "Oh, well what did she say?"
Saige: "She apologized to me and said that she was sorry for calling my brother dumb."

I wish I had a few more of the details of the conversation, but I'm proud of her nonetheless for being such a great big sister and a great advocate for kids with challenges. Way to go Saige!

Saige's Baptism Day

2010-03-18T13:41:00.000-07:00

What a special day we had on March 13th! Saige was able to be baptised with so many friends and family members gathered around her. She is such a sweet and special girl and we are so proud of her!

Happy 8th birthday Saige!

2010-03-13T10:51:00.000-08:00

We love you!

Happy Birthday Serenade

2010-03-12T16:44:00.000-08:00

I need to blog more about Saige...

2010-03-03T13:34:00.001-08:00

I know I do. I don't know why I don't, she's a perfectly adorable "almost 8" year old. I sometimes focus too much time on Wyatt. It's understandable, this is a busy season in his life too. But sometime I worry that Saige gets lost. But not Monday night. Monday night is when Saige has her dance class. Saige shines at dance, her class is doing a dance to "It's a hard knock life" from Annie. I love it! Saige and I saw Annie on Broadway, okay not in New York, but it was at the Music Hall down town, almost as nice as New York.

Monday night she didn't shine at dance class because she got every move right, or because she was necessarily the best in the class, but it was what happened after dance that made her shine. John got held up at work, so Saige, Wyatt and I ventured to dance class on our own. I don't like taking Wyatt. The waiting room for parents is about 12 feet by 12 feet. There is nothing for him to do there, nothing for him to really play with (at least nothing he is supposed to play with). When this has happened in the past, I usually send Saige in on her own and Wyatt and I watch a movie in the van in the parking lot. But I needed to pay our bill for that month, so we all went in. I started talking to some of the other parents, Wyatt was doing okay, so we stayed in the waiting room. He was doing so well, I was chatting, watching Saige in between conversations, all was good.

As the dancers and their parents from the class after Saige's started arriving, the number of the people in the room increased, the volume in the room increased, the commotion increased. For typical kids...no big deal. For kids with Autism....BIG DEAL! I noticed Wyatt concentrating more and more on the two little toys in his hands. If I so much as touched them, he would groan. This is not like him. I knew what was happening. The sensory stimulus in the room became too great, so he was fixating on the toys in his hands, trying his best to block out all the other noises, sounds, lights, etc that he just couldn't deal with.

I knew the scene that was about to unfold. I helped Saige gather up her things, told her I would need her to be responsible for carrying her own stuff which included a dance bag and two boxes with her new ballet and tap shoes in them. I scooped Wyatt up, he let out an extremely loud yell and immediately did what we call "the dead man's drop"...his arms go straight up in the air so I have nothing to hold on to in order to carry him out. With the continuous and loud yell, all eyes are now on Wyatt, on me, and probably a few on Saige. Normally in a situation like this I probably would have had a few of the ..."just wait till we get home" thoughts run through my head along with a long list of punishments to be implemented, but with Wyatt I know he can not help it.

I take a deep breath, scoop all 40 pounds of him up off the floor kicking and screaming, losing shoes, toys, and who knows what else in the process and make a B-line for the door. I tried to hold his feet close to me to keep him from kicking anyone, I'm not sure if i was successful or not, all I knew was we needed to get out that door. He wouldn't be better until we were out.

We made it out, only to have Wyatt scream and scream and scream in our van. I had to wait him out, he wouldn't let me buckle him in.

I digress...the point of the story...Saige not once looked embarassed, Saige not once got upset, Saige not once seemed a bit frustrated with Wyatt. Saige loves her brother. She kept trying to talk to him, kept asking me what was wrong with Wyatt. Kept trying to make it all better. Sweet girl. So proud of her, she did truly shine that night.

"Hi mama"

2010-02-25T08:56:00.000-08:00

So, I may be using my blog as a little bit of a "brag board". Is that a sin? Wyatt's speech has gotten so good in the last few months that I just can't help myself!

In this video, I'm trying to get him to say "Hi mama" which he eventually does. I think he called me grandma at first which I can totally understand because it has been way too long since the last time I had my hair dyed :) but I won't hold that against him (he has some pretty great grandmas!)

"Hi gama, Hi papa"

2010-02-24T08:50:00.000-08:00

Isn't the rate of Autism climbing because we are more aware of it now?

2010-02-23T09:52:00.000-08:00

I get this question A LOT. This graph shocks and horrifies me. It didn't transfer well, so here's the original link.
http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science_news/top_ten_autism_research_events_2009_prevalence.php
In summary:
In 1975 1 in 5000 children diagnosed with Autism.
In 1985 1 in 2500
In 1995 1 in 500
In 2004 1 in 166
In 2009 1 in 110.

So the answer...yes and no. Yes some of the increase is due to changes in diagnostic criteria, better knowledge, and increased awareness. But in the last 5 years there has STILL been a 57% increase in incidence. Does this answer the question?

More spontaneous speech: Ball!

2010-02-23T07:16:00.000-08:00

Wyatt's progress with spontaneous speech continues! Today he walked up to me with a beach ball, handed it to me, and said "ball, ball, ball". Who knew a ball could be so much fun!

Wyatt says "Wyatt"

2010-02-11T09:48:00.000-08:00

Wyatt recently learned how to say his own name, and I think it's just about the cutest thing ever!

Before.....After.....

2010-02-11T09:17:00.001-08:00

This has been a long time coming. We finally could not look at all the fingerprints, scratches, faded crayon marks from an attempted cleaning, or smudges anymore and we had our great room painted. The pictures don't do it justice, it really turned out fantastic! The color changes from gold, to green, to beige throughout the day depending on the lighting. We love it!

(notice all of the samples painted on the wall in this before picture...it took us a long time to decide on a color)

Way cute game!

2010-01-22T12:19:00.000-08:00

This is for our wonderful therapists who we miss very much!

This is one of Wyatt's many "back and forth" games he has recently decided he loves to play with us. They are silly, and to an untrained eye don't look like much. But for kids with Autism, THIS IS HUGE!

I especially love the look on Saige's face when she sees Wyatt participate. She has become quite a good little speech/ot/special instructor for him. She tells me now that when she grows up she wants to be a therapist, a teacher, a fashion designer and a model. Go for it girl!

This boy needs a dog!

2010-01-22T12:14:00.000-08:00

We do not have good luck with pets. We had two cats die in our first two years of marriage. We had a dog at one point, but he had to "go live with his mommy" (at least as far as Saige is concerned). The other day we "dog sat" our neighbors pooch and, despite our past history, I think this boy needs a dog! Wyatt immediately started panting like a dog, and chased Truman around this entire house the whole time he was here. The stumbling block, John. I've got some major convincing to do. Any ideas?

Last day

2010-01-01T10:52:00.000-08:00

I don't even know how to start or finish this blog post. Some of you may already have heard that Micheala and Mariah have moved to their biological grandmother's house on December 30th. They have lived in our home for two years (since November 2007), and had been in foster care for nearly 2 1/2 years (beginning August 2007). It has taken a while, but their maternal grandmother has been given guardianship of all four girls. Although it doesn't feel like it, this is how it is supposed to work. Foster care is supposed to be temporary, kids are supposed to be with their biological families if at all possible, and being in stable homes with their biological families really is the best place for them.

We've had conversations with many people about why we do foster care, and it is always difficult to explain. It is something we have truly felt inspired to do. We feel a calling to do it. We feel good about what we were able to provide for the girls while they were in our home. Love, comfort, stability, education, warmth, and security. We have learned that there is much we can not control. We can't control what happens in their lives from this point on, but we can feel good about the last two years and hope that we made some impact on their lives that will carry them through an challenges that may come.

We apologize for not letting many people know ahead of time. It was partially because we didn't know if this would all go through for sure, and partially in an effort to help this be as smooth as possible for the girls. They were truly excited to get to live with their grandma and with their sisters again. We really tried to focus on the "positives" over the last few weeks and not so much on the sadness of leaving their current life behind. We focused on being around their biological family again, getting to go to a new school, getting a new bedroom, new toys, new house, new neighborhood, new teachers, and making new friends. It was an exciting time for them instead of a sad time which is what we felt was best for them.

I thought I would try to answer many of your questions as briefly as I can...

Yes, their grandmother is allowing us to remain in contact with them.

Yes, we've heard from them already and they are doing fine.

No, they don't live in the KC area so it will be difficult to actually see them again.

Yes, we will foster again, but not for several months.

Yes, we are all doing fine. It is a BIG adjustment period for us that will take a while, but we are managing and are settling into our new routines.

Yes, we miss them terribly.

After the big "good bye" on Thursday, we took Saige to Build a Bear for a little "Bear therapy". I think she did a great job dressing her new tiger. We also went to see the Princess and the Frog that night, then to Coco Key on New Years. Yes, we are trying to distract ourselves.... :)

Thank you all for the love, friendship, and compassion you have shown to these sweet girls over the last two years! I know their lives have been made better for it!

Christmas morning 2009

2010-01-01T10:38:00.000-08:00

My "surprised" look (I picked out my own Christmas gift)

Mariah with dress up stuff, Saige with her DS

Wyatt loved his tunnel toy, Micheala with her genuine "surprised" look!

Christmas stockings

2009-12-31T09:13:00.000-08:00

We have a tradition that every year we make our own Christmas stockings. We get the felt stockings and some puffy paint and create a lasting memory! Here is the finished product...

Christmas Morning breakfast

2009-12-31T08:56:00.001-08:00

I must say that our Christmas morning breakfast was nothing short of a gourmet meal. Okay that's a little bit of a stretch, but I found this recipe for Blueberry Sizzle French Toast that is FANTASTIC! Thought I would share it with you...

BlueBerry sizzle French Toast

1 loaf French bread, cut into 2" cubes

8 Large Eggs
(3 c milk, 4 t sugar, 3/4 t salt 1 T vanilla)

(4 T melted butter, cinnamon/sugar)

Blueberry sizzle topping:

1 1/2 c blueberries

1 T Butter, 3/4 c maple syrup, dash nutmeg

Place bread cubes tightly in sprayed 9 x 13 pan. Beat eggs, milk, sugar, salt and vanilla. Pour over bread. Cover/refrigerate overnight, 6-36 hours. Bake uncovered at 350 for 45 minutes. Remove; baste with melted butter. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon/sugar. Bake 5-10 minutes more.

In a nonstick skillet, cook clueberries in melted butter 3 minutes. Add syrup and nutmeg. Bring to boil. Serve warm over French toast servings.

**We found that it tastes great with or without the blueberry drizzle. We also tried topping it with powdered sugar instead of the blueberry drizzle and that was yummy too!

Finally Festive

2009-12-18T11:10:00.000-08:00

It's taken us a while this year to get the Christmas decorating, Christmas baking, and Christmas shopping done. But we are finally festive!

This kid loves to be scared!

2009-12-17T14:44:00.000-08:00

Wyatt is so funny, he absolutely loves to be scared, he loves the anticipation of being scared. In this video he is watching the scene in CARS where Lightning McQueen and Mater are tractor tipping. Lightning McQueen makes a loud sound when he revs up his engine, then the tractor wakes up and tips over. Wyatt wanted to watch it over and over and over again and had the same reaction every time. So funny!

Thanksgiving Point

2009-12-17T13:18:00.000-08:00

Had a fun evening at the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point. I think the erosion table was the biggest hit! This was right up Wyatt's alley....sand, water, splashing, making a mess...he was in heaven.

More Thanksgiving Picts

2009-12-17T13:07:00.000-08:00

The kids had a great time playing in Grandma's backyard, there were several days that were warm enough to be out without coats on which gave everyone time to burn off energy. One of their favorite things was to play in the leaves, they even helped grandma bag up a few.

We spent some time exploring Provo Canyon and other scenic areas.

We also saw the lights at Temple Square. It looks so pretty this time of year. We attempted to take a nice picture for our christmas card while there, but it is nearly impossible to get all 4 kids looking at the camera at the same time in 15 degree weather, amidst a crowd of thousands of people, and all have a smile on their face. Didn't happen. Gave up. I'm not sure I'll get Christmas cards out anyway. :)

Thanksgiving at Daniel Summit Lodge

2009-12-17T12:57:00.000-08:00

We were in Utah for Thanksgiving and spend Thanksgiving day at the Daniel Summit Lodge near Strawberry Reservoir. They had a fantastic holiday lunch and beautiful scenery! The kids had fun playing in the snow and swimming in a pool all in the same day!

Wyatt loved playing on the deck, we saw lots of deer tracks in the snow, but never saw any deer. It was beautiful to be up in the mountain and so close to nature.

Dear Blog: I have ignored you long enough...here goes nothing....

2009-12-17T12:48:00.000-08:00

Wyatt is adjusting well to his new schedule in school. He is going between two schools now, which means still lots of driving for me, but he has such great teachers! We are truly blessed to have wonderful teachers and therapists helping him gain new skills all the time. However, this is what he looks like at the end of the day....

Totally exhausted! He has about 6 hours of therapy/classroom time every day monday through friday, so he has been falling asleep on the bus ride home with some regularity these days.

Let's get it done this year!

2009-12-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

http://www.ksdk.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=54038142001#/Health/State+lawmakers+considering+bill+requiring+autism+coverage/48541678001/48340612001/54038142001

Autism bills have been "pre-filed" in both the Missouri House and Senate this year. Let's get it passed this year! Of the 12 most common neurologic disorders, Autism is the ONLY one that insurance is allowed to deny coverage for both the diagnosis and treatment. This is a real problem, affecting real families. One in 100 children born today will be diagnosed with Autism. ABA therapy makes a huge difference in the development of these children, but it costs between $60,000 and $100,000 per year. These bills will go a long way to helping these kids lead meaningful lives. ABA therapy in the preschool years can make the difference between having a self sufficient adult, or having one who will rely on government assistance for their entire life. Doesn't it make sense to spend a little money now, to save a lot later? Not to mention that these kids deserve to receive the therapy they need!

Deep thoughts today

2009-11-15T19:59:00.000-08:00

The grass is not greener on the other side....the grass is greener where you water it.

It finally happened!

2009-11-12T17:30:00.000-08:00

Finally, finally, finally!

Early on after Wyatt was diagnosed, John made a comment about how Saige at about 18 months would run back and forth between us giving us big hugs every night before she went to bed. I had forgotten about that night time routine from days gone by. The comment he made was something to the effect that he was sad Wyatt wasn't doing the same.

Then.....it finally.....happened!!! Last night Saige, John and I were sitting in a circle on the floor. I would say, "Wyatt, give mama hugs." He would run to me and give me a big bear hug. John would say, "Wyatt, give dada hugs." Again, big bear hugs for dada. Then Saige, "Wyatt, give sissy hugs." Big bear hugs for Saige. It was an AWESOME moment. A milestone. Not the kind the doctor writes down in the chart....It truly is the small things that count.

I remember a line from one of Jenny McCarthy's books about her son that always stuck with me. (Probably because I cried like a baby when I read it). She said that the love her son gives her is "Louder than words".

It is true.

Belated Halloween pictures

2009-11-12T06:12:00.000-08:00

I'm only two weeks late...

I think the girls loved handing out the candy more than getting it!

A bumblebee, a princess, superman, and a baseball player!

Couldn't resist posting these picts

2009-11-10T06:55:00.000-08:00

Three years! No way...

2009-11-09T06:35:00.000-08:00

November 1st:
I know everyone says this, but time really does fly by so fast! I can't believe my baby has turned three! I remember very vividly Halloween night three years ago. I was FED UP with bedrest, I decided for myself that three weeks was enough and if I delivered at 35 weeks, this baby would be okay. So I took Saige trick or treating to 4 or 5 houses, then let John do the rest, and the next morning we said hello to a healthy, perfect baby boy! The past three years have certainly been an adventure, boys are so very different than girls. But what a sweet boy we have! Wyatt's has been learning the "Happy Birthday" song at school and learning to fill in the blank when his teacher stops singing (Happy birthday to _____). So when our family began to sing Happy Birthday to Wyatt, Ben, and John it was so fun to hear Wyatt trying to fill in the word "you" as they sang. The look on his face was so sweet because I think he kind of understood what was going on. He even tried to blow out his candles.
He also enjoyed opening his presents for the first time, I think his Hoops and Yoyo card was his favorite (thanks mom)!

Picture of the family birthday party for Wyatt, Ben, and John

Wyatt with his Hoops and Yoyo card (who needs toys anyway)

Wyatt at only a few hours old! Yes, he came out smiling!

Saige, proudly holding her new baby brother!

Random pictures

2009-10-30T14:18:00.000-07:00

I haven't had much time to blog, but here are few quick pictures...

The kids at Wyatt's preschool Halloween party. (Wyatt's in the cape, Saige is in the baseball cap)

Saige dressed up for 60's day at school.

Here's our superhero again at his preschool's party!

A day at the park...

Bath time fun

At Loose Park...

Check out my awesome kid!

2009-10-21T18:47:00.000-07:00

Wyatt has continued to make AWESOME progress lately. I used to keep track and count all of his new words, but after 100 I lost track! Here is a video of a work session we did at home. He does 23 hours of therapy each week, not all this structured, but it's hard to describe to people how much time, energy, and effort you put in to get just the smallest amount of progress. I had no appreciation for the milestones Saige met as a toddler, for each and every word she said, and for her developmental progress. The progress just came...it's of course very different with Wyatt, but we truly rejoice with each new skill he gains!

In this work session we use a color block schedule to identify which task is next (he matches the color block to the work box), then he is working on matching the colored pegs to the correct slot on the peg board. He needed help with the first two, but then gets the last three on his own. I love that he tried to say all the colors too. I think he said each one except yellow.

"Penguin", "sheep", "frog"

2009-10-21T18:35:00.000-07:00

Another therapy activity Wyatt enjoys. It's a bucket full of beans and various animal figures. He finds an animal and then we name it.

"I want bubbles", "pop"

2009-10-21T17:58:00.000-07:00

Grocery discussions

2009-10-15T12:11:00.000-07:00

John and I are having a "discussion" about our family food budget. Perhaps you have had similar "discussions". Since I'm the one that does most of the grocery shopping and food preparation, I think he loses touch with how much it costs to feed a family of 6. I went back in our recent bank statements for the past three months and added up what we spend at Walmart, Hyvee, Big V, Target, Whole foods, and Costco for the entire month. I was shocked! It really is a lot of money, and it does also include certain household items as well. But I thought that perhaps he was right (did I just say that?). BUT, then I did a google search for food budget calculators and linked to this site at the USDA.

http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/FoodPlans/2008/CostofFoodFeb08.pdf

For our family of 6 on the moderate plan, it figures $1169 per month. On the low cost plan it would be $1056. Let's just say I'm not admitting to anyone being "right" yet, I am well within the parameters that good ole' Uncle Sam has figured and that is including Wyatt's gluten free casein free foods which are at least 3 times as expensive as regular food.

The "discussion" will continue....

Octoberfest

2009-10-10T09:56:00.001-07:00

Picts from Smithville's Octoberfest this morning....

Saige dancing to "Gitchy Gitchy Goo" with her Dance class

Saige and I marching with Brownie Troop 32 in the parade

...and Hot Dog Man....not sure what bet he lost to have to wear this in front of all Smithville, but a funny picture anyway!

Homecoming parade

2009-10-08T13:01:00.001-07:00

I love that we live in a small town with some small town traditions. One of those is the Homecoming Parade. It is, to say the least, a BIG DEAL! The entire town shuts down, school is let out early, every boat, trailer, firetruck and tractor within a 5 mile radius is deployed to carry hyped up high schoolers around the streets of Smithville while throwing huge amounts of candy at screaming children along the way. The parade is of course the precurser to the football game which the ENTIRE, yes I said ENTIRE, town attends. This is the first year we went to the parade. In years past I have not wanted to venture out on my own with four children to supervise, but this year we decided to go for it!

Here we are loaded up in the wagon waiting for the parade to begin

Saige was way too cool to have her picture taken that day. :)

My pictures don't do it justice. I was trying to snap them while making sure Wyatt didn't get run over by a fire engine! But it was a lot of fun, and the kids got a lot of candy.

Wyatt's favorite place to hide

2009-10-08T12:58:00.000-07:00

Darn YouTube

2009-10-08T07:40:00.001-07:00

In surfing the net this morning (like I don't have a million other things I should be doing), I searched on YouTube for autism videos and saw many that depressed me and others that inspired me. Then I found this beautiful song/video. Truly inspired, but darn it I cried all the way through it! Darn You Tube! If you need a good cry, an uplifting cry, watch this video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hiQYurSJCQ&feature=related

1 in 91

2009-10-06T13:40:00.000-07:00

1 in 91 children, 1 in 58 boys......do you think we are in crisis yet? When will we put enough resources into researching causes and cures for Autism? How high do the numbers have to go? In the 1990's it was 5 per 10,000 children. In 2003 it was 1 in 150. Now 1 in 91 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Are you alarmed yet?
http://www.autismspeaks.org/donate/we_need_answers.php
This legislative session the state of Missouri along with many others are considering passing legislation requiring insurance companies to pay for the diagnosis and treatment of ASD. Many people don't realize that insurance companies will not even pay for you to take your child to a developmental pediatrician to have them diagnosed with Autism. We received Wyatt's diagnosis about a year ago, and our insurance company denied payment because he was diagnosed with Autism. If he had been diagnosed with any other disorder that day, they would have paid the bill in full. Not only do they deny payment for diagnosis, but even worse, they deny payment for treatment!
Autism is the only neurologic disorder that insurance companies refuse (and they do this legally I might add) to pay for speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and behavior therapy. Discrimination?
As this legislative session gets underway, I'll continue to post updates and links to sites where you can write your representatives to urge them to vote for Autism insurance reform. Please support this worthwhile cause! These kids are worth it!

Super moms don't need sleep, but I do :(

2009-10-01T12:59:00.001-07:00

I remember shortly after giving birth to Saige one of the nurses jokingly saying that she hoped I enjoyed my last night of good sleep for the next 18 years. I laughed, and being a new mom didn't think much of it. Now, I'm not saying I haven't slept through the night since becoming a mom 7 years ago, but you definitely sleep differently with little kids in the house. You definitely sleep differently when you hear one of those kids coughing all night long. You sleep differently when you just gave one of them tylenol and put them back to bed, but you don't know if their fever is going down or not. You sleep differently when you know one of them has had rough day and you wonder if they are sleeping or laying awake. You sleep differently when your mind is racing trying to plan out the schedule for the kids for the next day. And you definitely sleep differently when your almost 3 year old wakes up at 3 a.m. and decides to use your bed as a trampoline for the next 8 hours before he finally decides to crash. Bed time will come early tonight. Is 6:00 too early?

Happy Birthday to Mariah! Finally she's 4!

2009-09-25T07:04:00.000-07:00

Mariah has been planning her birthday for at least the past 11 months, and finally she is 4! Mariah is full of cuteness, smartness, and a whole lot of SPUNK! This lovely barbie cake from Wally World was literally half frosting (no kidding), so we are all waking up from our sugar comas this morning. We love you Mariah!

When Aunt Rachel comes to town...

2009-09-25T06:54:00.000-07:00

When Aunt Rachel comes to town, it's party week! We love it! We all but clear our schedules, and we live as tourists of KC for the entire week even though we all grew up here. This week has included a trip to T-Rex/Legends, a trip to the Independence Visitors Center, a trip to Deanna Rose (sad we missed that one due to a puking kid), big family dinners at mom and dad's, and a slumber party for the kids at Grandma's tonight. I keep forgetting my camera, but I remembered it for our T-Rex outing. Here are a few picts!

"The cow says moo"

2009-09-25T06:39:00.000-07:00

It took him a few tries, but he finally got it! First he said, "The cow says go" then "the cow says boo", then we finally get to "The cow says mooo". Yeah! I can't believe we are getting two word combos and now even sentences!!!

Congrats Saige!

2009-09-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Saige for winning the "Respect" award for the second year in a row! We sure are proud!

" I love you!"

2009-09-17T08:44:00.001-07:00

Refer to the previous post. This is a kid who one year ago made no eye contact, had no words, scored at a 9 month old level for communication (15 months behind his actual age at the time), scored at a 5 month old level in social-emotional skills (19 months behind his actual age at the time), and wasn't even aware of another person in the same room with him.

Listen closely and you can hear him say "I love you"! My heart still jumps every time I hear him say this! And yes, sometimes I cry too! :) Happy tears. We love our little boy!

Awesome progress!

2009-09-17T08:32:00.000-07:00

Wyatt has had some fantastic progress lately! In June we started him on the Gluten Free Casein Free diet (yes the one Jenny McCarthy talks about, yes there are no completed medical studies "proving" it's effectiveness, yes it may have been a shot in the dark). His progress speaks for itself, or shall I say Wyatt now speaks for himself! :) The diet is no "magic cure", he also has received HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS of hours of therapy as well. The diet seems to make him more available for learning, more attentive, it just seems his head is clearer therefore he is able to take information in better. Before starting the diet in June, Wyatt had maybe 5 words that he said only occasionally, now three months later I have a list of over 80 words that he uses regularly, he completes simple sentences, he imitates sounds, he can tell you a cow says moo, he can find his box of cookies...bring them to me...and say "I want a cookie". AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING! This video shows just a small part of his progress. If you listen closely, you can here him say "I want a cookie".

Very interesting article

2009-09-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

http://www.smithvilleherald.com/200909095791/news/schools/district-eyes-full-day-kindergarten.html

Interesting not only because it means Smithville Schools may FINALLY have all day kindergarten in the near future, but also because Micheala has her picture in it!

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

2009-09-14T18:06:00.000-07:00

We call this hair-do their "Mickey Mouse do" for obvious reasons. :)

It's my favorite!

Am I missing something??

2009-09-14T15:35:00.000-07:00

A few teeth! Saige lost both of her front two teeth in the same day. She got an extra bonus from the tooth fairy that night! I just love the toothless look of a seven year old.

Did I just say that??

2009-08-26T18:29:00.000-07:00

As a mom, there are certain things that come out of your mouth when you are speaking to or disciplining your children that you never thought you would say. I'm not even talking about explatives &*#@, and I"m not even talking about yelling. They fall right out of your mouth, and then you ask yourself, "Did I really just say that?"

So today, I hear some screaming coming from the basement and I make the trek downstairs to figure out who the offender is. Two kids are crying, so I ask what happened. After a tearful explanation from both sides I give my words of wisdom to the girls, "It is NOT okay to bite your sister's bum. How would you feel if someone bit your bum?" What??

The other day I say to Saige, "Go smell Wyatt's bum for me and tell me if he needs a new diaper." What??? I wonder how many times a day we say "bum" in our house. Probably don't really want to know. Enough random thoughts for today....

The dance party after the fashion show

2009-08-20T19:42:00.000-07:00

...and yes, I did marry him for his awesome dance moves!

Fashion Forward

2009-08-19T19:23:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, we are all about fashion in our house. Here's a preview of the latest fashion for fall, I do believe these ensembles are straight from the runways of Paris!

I do wish I had cleared off my countertops before the fashion show commenced...pretend you don't see the clutter...

First Day of School 2009!

2009-08-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

Yes, we survived the summer....barely. And today was the first day of school! I'm not laying on the couch eating BonBons yet though, Mariah and Wyatt don't start school until tomorrow! (jk about the bonbons, what are they anyway??)

Welcome to Holland

2009-08-14T06:28:00.000-07:00

By Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability-to try to help people who have not shared in this unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this...

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip-to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michealangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?!" You say. "What do you mean Holland? I signed up for Italy! I am supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy all new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would have never met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. but after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around...and you even begin to notice that Holland has windmills...and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy...and they're all bragging about what a wondeful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away...because the loss of that dream is a very, very significant loss.

But...if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things...about Holland.

******************************************************************

Thanks for sharing this with me Val.

Thinking of you this day....

2009-08-04T15:08:00.001-07:00

Two years later, not a day goes by that I don't still think of him. Not a day passes that I don't remember what it felt like to hold such a special little one who had only recently been in the presence of our Father in Heaven, and who would soon join him again. What a sweet little boy! He blessed so many in the short time he was here. Until we meet again someday...
I am a child of God
And he has sent me here
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me
Help me find the way
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.

Date night

2009-07-23T11:08:00.001-07:00

John and I were actually able to go out to eat last night....without the kids! Yeah! It was definitely overdue. We had a great dinner at Swagat Indian Restaurant. But, after 10 years of marriage, it gets more and more difficult to come up with interesting conversation. I was reminded last night of an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond (love that show), when Ray and Debra are out to dinner and they too have trouble finding anything but the kids to talk about. So they end up making conversation about the delicious bread and butter the waiter brings to the table. Well, last night for some reason our conversation headed down the wrong path. We discussed "What would you choose for your last meal if you were on death row" and "What would be your preferred 'way to go' ". What the heck?!? It was actually quite funny, but oh my! I think we need to double next time. Anyone interested???

Swimming with Great Grandpa

2009-07-19T08:47:00.001-07:00

How many kids can say they swam with their Great Grandpa!? Not many I'm sure. We had a great time with Grandpa, and we successfully wore the kids out at the same time.