Bentley turns 13!

Bentley is 13!! Yes, officially a teenager!  What could be scarier than that?  He had so much fun on his birthday, his smile tells it all! 
As usual, we had some last minute planning going on...I know that's weird!  Lenn asked "do you want to take a friend with you?".  I think that is when the cheesy smiles began.  We usually just do things as a family because we are so last minute and we never know what Owen might throw in there.
Lenn and the kids went and picked up the friends and came back to get Owen and I.  It was a little squishy but no one minded.  The kids giggled pretty much the whole ride. 
As we turned to head up Logan canyon, we noticed the go cart place was open.  We quickly changed our plans to include a stop there.  We have wanted to take the kids there but never have so Bentley was ecstatic to be able to go there.

During the wait!

Once Lenn bought tickets for the kids and watched a little, he had to go back and buy one for himself!

Abby was not a lover of this!  Her face showed stress the whole time!

After they got done, we all got in the van and someone mentioned "let's do it again", so they all piled out to go race again.  This time Abby rode with her friend and had a better time!
In the first race Bentley got bumped by one and then the other and flipped around.  He was giggling through the whole thing.  I wish I got it on camera.

And they are off.....on the second race.

I believe they said 'no bumping' but looked what happened!  Bentley's friend got the bump and hit this time.

The real reason for this trip was the Utah State football game. 
Big Blue came around so I went and grabbed him to get a picture with Owen.  Owen really was happy at this point but once I lifted his shade all smiles were off!  It really was perfect football weather: not hot, not cold and no wind.  Owen was perfect temperature wise, which is hard to get anymore.

Then Lenn and I both noticed the clouds coming in.  We were sitting apart so we were texting each other about the storm.  We decided to wait until half time and then Owen and I would finish the game in the van to avoid a down pour.  We watched the clouds closely and at half started for the van.  That's when the excitement began!  Owen's vent was alarming and Owen did not look good but my thought was to get to the van and do a cough assist.  (We have the new cough assist that runs on battery, yay!! Thanks Staci!)  After Lenn suctioned and it kept alarming we knew something was not right.  Lenn looked and it was a low pressure alarm, which means there is a leak somewhere.  We got Owen in the van and could not find the leak.  Lenn handed me the bag and I bagged while Lenn kept looking for the leak.  He found it but it was not good!!  The stroller tire had rubbed a hole in the tubing, yes the tubing that brings breath to Owen!!  Not good to say the least!  I remembered the duct tape and told him where it was and he fixed the hole.  Owen was pretty spent but was okay.  It took him awhile to recover.
In the mean time, the down pour had begun and the kids were still in the stadium.  Lenn had left his phone with them and each time I called, Bentley told me they wanted to stay.  The game was a blow out so we thought they would want to leave, no way!  'The game was awesome' Bentley told me and was mad when I told him they had to leave before it was over.  They were soaked and still giggling.  I didn't hear one complaint from any of them!

This year Bentley wanted cheese cake for his birthday cake.  I wasn't sure what to do with myself, not planning and making a cake was a little weird for me.  It was so easy and yummy too!

Happy 13th birthday Bentley!  He is just a goof almost all of the time.  I can't get a normal picture very often, he is always making some kind of face!

First day of (Face Time) Preschool!

Under different circumstances we would have sent Owen to Kindergarten this year, but since his birthday is after the first of the year, (by three days), we were able to choose to keep early intervention coming instead. 
I had a Mom come to me and ask if I wanted Owen to be involved with their preschool group and have them come to our house.  It was so sweet of her to ask, but no thank you!  Kids are way to sickly during the school year to be around Owen that much.  Instead we came up with the Face Time idea.
Owen enjoys it and from what I have heard the other kids do too!  I am grateful for the people who have been placed in our lives: very thoughtful, loving and kind.
That same week the same Mom took her iPad to story hour at the library to include Owen again.  He likes watching what is going on, but mostly loves watching all the kids.  

Owen's first day of preschool and guess what he chose for his show and tell?  Yep, Curious George.  He still loves George!

First day of School 2013

Another year has begun!! Bentley started 7th grade and is in the high school this year.  I can not believe my little boy is no longer in the elementary!  They grow up way to fast!  Abby started 5th grade and was so excited to have her kindergarten teacher back.  She loves her! 

Such a goof!



Abby loves her kitty's!

Abby was excited to be back to school to see her friends everyday, she found one before she even got to school.

 On day four Bentley finally had a few new school clothes.  I probably shouldn't admit this but o'well.  Things were crazy and it is hard to get away so I ordered online thinking there was plenty of time to have them shipped, boy was I wrong!  It took over 10 days to get his things.  Then his shoes didn't even fit, he needed a 10 1/2!! 
So yes, my son went to school in last years school clothes and he survived!  He didn't think he would be he did.

Happy 5th and 7th grade Bentley and Abby!
 

Blessings and Miracles

I am so far behind on blogging but I have GOT to get this written down before I forget!
I have mentioned how blessed we have been and it really hit me at fair time about a month ago.  We have a friend who watches Owen for us sometimes.  She herself is an angel!  This year Owen went to two days of fair but our friend, Vonda, watched him for us on the third day. 

It was getting about time to finish up and head home when I got a call from Vonda saying Owen is NOT happy.  My first impulse is to panic, but something inside always keeps me calm until after!  I started asking her questions that I have NO idea where they came from.  She answered and immediately I started telling her to check his numbers and do this and that and call me back in a few minutes.  As I hung up with her super powers kicked in, I couldn't find Lenn, again! And he didn't have his phone!!  This was seeming just a little too familiar.  I started taking down the canopy and putting everything in the van by myself while Abby went in search for Lenn.  I got everything put away and decided to go looking, after all it was the Rich County Fair not the Utah State Fair.  I ran to the where the exhibits were and found them.  I waved them over and said come on, we've got to get home.  We ran back to the van, why I didn't drive over there I do not know!! (Sorry for the site of the out of shape woman running in flip flops for any one who witnessed).

We headed for home and Vonda called and said he was doing better.  I still couldn't relax though because even though Lenn can drive fast minutes can be too long for Owen at this point.

We got home and figured things out and all was well after Owen had a very long nap with some oxygen!  I could not ask for a better person to have been with Owen during that time, she stayed calm and just cared for Owen.

After I looked back at everything that went on, I had a million things come to my mind.  How blessed we really have been!  Why I asked those certain questions, and had those exact answers, I have NO idea except that I know my Heavenly Father put those words in my mouth.  I was just His tool that day to help our Owen.  I was in awe that day as I reflected how many times He has taken care of Owen in spite of us.  Bentley and Abby have watched Owen when needed, we try to never be far away but sometimes if I have to run one to town or something the other one watches him.  In all those times Owen has never even had a messy diaper!  I know that sounds silly but they could not change him and he would be upset and not do well until he was changed. 

This fall when Bentley started football practice I would take him in and Abby would watch Owen.  One day I had this knot in my stomach and Owen was not very happy so I texted Lenn and told him he would need to take Bentley that day. Here is the great part about Lenn, he said 'okay that's fine'.  He never questions my thoughts or decisions when it comes to Owen.  Not ten minutes after they left Owen needed a few sets of his cough assist, which Abby cannot do.  I immediately thanked my Heavenly Father for making me stay home that day!  I could go on and on about the many miracles in our behalf with Owen.

Again Saturday night, we had another miracle/blessing happen.  It was Bentley's birthday and the plan was to go to the Utah State Homecoming game.  I had a feeling I should stay home but at last minute we decided we wanted to celebrate as a family. (Since I will blog on this later, I will get to the point). While taking Owen to the van his vent started alarming. Lenn suctioned him but it kept alarming.  He double checked the alarm and it was low pressure.  We couldn't find the leak so I started bagging him while Lenn looked for the leak. He found the stroller wheel had rubbed a hole in the tubing. NOT good!!  I then remembered the duct tape I had left in the van when cleaning it out and told him where it was.  He did a great job taping it and it held until we got home!! Huge blessing and miracle.  The miracle is that I actually listened to the little voice that told me to keep that duct tape in the van earlier this summer!  I am so grateful for that little voice and that I listened.  I know Lenn would have figured something out but I am grateful for duct tape!!

I know Owen still has work to be done here or he would not be here!  There is nothing that even makes sense why he is still happy, healthy and comfortable.  We do not care that it does not make any sense we are just happy we have had this time with him and pray we will enjoy all that we get.  Our Heavenly Father really does love each one of us and sends blessing and miracles daily.  Look for yours today!  They may be little but I promise they are there.