Alex's New Divice

Alex received a delivery at 8:00 this morning!  Alex was evaluated by a Speech Therapist, Occupational Therapist and a Physical Therapist in November to determine if Alex qualified for an augmentative device.  He worked with a few different types of devices and by the end of the evaluation it was decided that the IPad would be the best fit for Alex.  He qualified not only for the device, but for 12 hours of training as well. 
His new IPad 2 arrived this morning along with his case, stand and two people to introduce he and I to his new augmentative device.  Alex has the Alexicom Application on his computer and the creator of the application along with the business manager came over this morning to help us get started.  Alex will also have 12 hours of training on the program.  His teacher Ms. B along with his speech therapist (Ms. Maria), DDD Coordinator (Jode) and his rehabilitation worker (Ms. Lacey) will be joining us for training.  

The pictures above show his stand that is separate from his case as well that the speakers that are mounted in the case.  The volume is very loud and will allow Alex to use the IPad while he is in restaurants and other loud and overwhelming places that he might be in.  

Alex will be able to use his IPad at school as well as at home and therapies.  Each therapist and teacher will be able to create their own pages for Alex to use while they are with him.  We have locked the IPad (you can see the button covered in the large picture above) so that Alex won't be able to get out of the page that is needed to be worked on at the time. 

Having this device will be such a help to Alex.  We are very excited to begin the training and will update you as he progresses.  I have recorded a few videos of him using a few applications today.  We will need to work on attention and focus, but that applies to many areas of his life not just the IPad!

"Where are we going?"..."What are we doing today?"

Being a Mom requires many hats, but entertainer is starting to be the most draining!  Each day I hear the questions..."Where are we going?" and "What are we doing today?".  These questions are starting to age me!!  The weekends seem to be filled with the most questions, but holidays are filled with the questions as well. 

Yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  The kids were out of school and instead of therapy Alex had an appointment at Phoenix Children's.  We headed to the zoo with the rest of the city!  The zoo was so full that people were having to park at the Spring Training baseball parking lot.  I told the kids that if we couldn't find a parking place in the zoo lot we wouldn't be getting out of the car.  We saw a family leaving and luckily found a space.  We had a good time walking around the zoo (I was trying to wear them out before sitting in the waiting room!).  Amelia loves getting to be out walking and being a big girl. 
The zoo gives us free passes each year when we renew our membership.  This year we received passes to ride the carousel.  As we walk by each visit I usually hurry the kids along and repeatedly say "no, not today".  There wasn't a line and the tickets were in my wallet so it was a great opportunity to get to say Yes!  Adam picked the dinosaur, Addison rode a seal (I couldn't see her from where we were standing.)  Amelia was on a cat and Alex rode a coyote.  The kids had fun riding the carousel and it was a great way to end our day at the zoo.

After we visited the zoo we headed to Phoenix Children's Hospital for Alex's appointment.

To all of the other parents "Entertainment Coordinators" past and present blesses you :)  I am sure that I asked my parents this question frequently and most likely still do each visit.  May we all not cringe or run and hide each time the questions are asked, but be excited and up for the challenge!!  LOL

Tender Moments

 I received an e-mail on Friday saying that Alex was going to participate in Opening Exercises in Primary on Sunday.  Alex was asked to give the First Article of Faith. He and I practiced a few times and he came to the point of being upset when I brought it up. I was worried, but when he was announced he hopped right out of his chair and repeated each word into the microphone.  When the Primary was finished reciting the Article of Faith he stepped down from the podium and gave a teacher sitting in the first row a high five!  I can't truly express the joy and hearts flutter that this moment brought to my Sunday.  Alex is growing so much and he is truly becoming his best self :)

Throughout the school year I take treats into the kids classroom so that all of the kids can celebrate their special days with their classmates.  Amelia doesn't go to school yet so today we took in cupcakes to her nursery class at church. When we were getting into the car Amelia said "The cakes were yummy!".  Such easy words, but they warmed my heart.  She was excited and noticed the love being shared with her.  What a blessing she is to me.

Addison has been through a lot these last few weeks.  Her tummy is still not feeling the best, but she is trying to stay upbeat.  She is writing notes and sharing so many colored pictures with me.  The notes always express how much she loves her Dad and I.  She is also creating songs and preforming them for me.  Addison is so loving and talented.  I am loving the sweet young woman that she is becoming :)

Adam came down stairs tonight and shared (with tears in his eyes) that he misses Dadam.  I told him that I missed him as well and we chatted for a bit.  Adam is growing up so fast and has truly become a big help to me while Dadam is out of town.  I love that  he reads to Alex each night before they go to bed.  His relationship with Amelia reminds me so much of the relationship I had with Joel and Jared when we were younger.  I love watching Amelia walking over and sitting in Adams lap on the floor or giving him hugs before he goes to school. 

As a Mom we have so many days that are busy and full of emotions.  I am so grateful for the days like today where I can truly take the time to feel and express the amazing joy I have being a Mom to my four wonderfully special children.  I am truly blessed and grateful for the gifts Adam, Addison, Alex & Amelia bring into my life.  The tender moments are few and far between sometimes, but I am thankful for them.  What cherished treasured memories they are giving me :)

Pinewood Derby

 Adam has been so excited about the Pinewood Derby.  When the Primary Presidency came to talk to him about turning 8 one if his first questions was about when the pinewood derby was.  He and his Dad have been working on his car the past week.  Adam drew up his vision and his Dad was able to cut out his car and make it a reality right down to the tail fin!!  Adam and I visited the Boy Scout Office and found lots of stickers and other novelties to make your cars run and look their best.  Did you know that they had colored wheels?  As you can see Adam picked red :)  

 Adam was ready to weigh in and race when he woke up this morning.  Having to wait until 6:30 was a tall task!  Dadam, Adam, Addison and Nanee headed to the church to watch the races and cheer on DMC (Dolphin McQueen Car)  and Adam. 

Adam's car had a ruff start, but once Dadam glued the tire axles DMC started winning!  As you can see from the above pictures he enjoyed a few winning races.  Adam didn't take home First Place, but he did receive an award for Most Artistic.  With this being his first year in scouts I think we can say that we learned a lot and we are all looking forward to putting that knowledge to use next year :)

Way to Go Adam!!!

Addison's First Talk

 Addison gave her first talk in church yesterday.  She not only gave her talk, but she helped me write it and pick out the pictures and clipart that she wanted to use.  I was truly proud of her and excited for the joy that it brought to her.  She was a little quiet, but other than that she was perfect.

I have added the pages of her talk below.  We had pictures and text on both sides of the paper so that as she read the other children could read along and enjoy the pictures too!

On a side note, after blood work, an x-ray and tests we found out today that Addison's Crohn's Disease is active again.  Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  She has started drinking Ensure (strawberry flavor) twice a day and she likes it!!  We will keep you all in the loop. We see the doctor again in 2 weeks :)

Celebrating Amelia's 2nd Birthday

 Our Amelia is turning 2!  Dadam's school schedule needed us to celebrate a little early this year.  Amelia and I had fun picking out all of her birthday party supplies.  As you can see Puppies were the theme of her party.  We found fun plates, napkins, balloons and of course a pinata!

 Christmas was a good practice run for Amelia.  She needed a little cheering and then she was truly a pro!

 Grandma & Grandpa gave Amelia the Little People Zoo for her birthday.  Amelia loved her cousin Brinly's Zoo that she was given at Christmas.  Perfect!!

 Amelia received a fun new phone from her friend Mia.  She can listen to recorded messages.  Her purses have been very busy these past few days.

 Nanee went along with Amelia's Birthday theme!  She gave Amelia a cute puppy that can walk and bark.  Amelia likes to turn the dog off and on and says the doggy is sleeping!!

 Amelia was very nervous and self conscious while Happy Birthday was being sung.  Her older siblings blew her candle out, but we relit the candle and worked with Amelia until she blew the candle out all by herself.  You can see above in the pictures her practice was not only a success, but cute as well.

 The pinata was a cute little dog this year.  Amelia carried it around the store before we bought it.  I was really nervous about the pinata being broken open.  I didn't know if she would be willing to hit the dog and or how she would feel about her older siblings and friends hitting her dog.  Luckily she went first and did pretty well through the whole thing.  When it was all over Dadam asked if she wanted the dog and Amelia said no and kept picking up her candy :)

 The pinata was really quite funny this time around.  The videos will allow you to truly get a feel for the amusing fun that screaming "hit the dog" can bring.

All of the kids enjoyed getting to scoop up the candy!  Amelia wasn't really getting the hang of the candy, but the kids took the time to stop and help her put some candy in her bag.  

Amelia's real birthday will be later this week and we will have a little celebration for her then as well.  I can't believe my baby is almost two!!  Time flies so fast.

A New Year's Surprise!

 Jeff & Sharon Ketcham and Family

 Last year my Great Aunt Nancy passed away.  Aunt Nancy was my Grandpa Lund's sister.  I met Aunt Nancy for the first time at my Grandparents home in Florida on the day of my Grandpa Lund's Memorial Service.  She and I hit it off and became pen pals.  We wrote for a good year and then I am sure it was me that trailed off.  In the picture above we are standing in Aunt Nancy's yard in Ohio where she raised great dane dogs. 

This Christmas I wrote to Cousin Jeff and his family to wish them a Merry Christmas and share my love for his Mom.  I was surprised when I arrived home after Christmas to find a package in our mail from Jeff and his family.  The above pictures were in his package along with a note to catch me up with his family.  These pictures above are of my Grandpa Lund and Great Grandma Urban.  Wasn't he handsome!!  Such an amazing gift :)  I am truly grateful to have received such wonderful family treasures.