Misc. May 2011

This post is a random catch up of most of May!
Abby is growing up so fast and it getting into hair and looks. It is a little scary, she is eight! She loves to change her earrings several times a day but I think the newness will fade and she won't have to change them to go feed the lambs!! She loves playing with the camera and taking pictures of herself and whatever else comes along.

Bentley is doing 4-H again this year. He got two lambs, just in case, but he can only show and sell one. So.....introducing... Jimmer and Fredette! We were big Jimmer fans this year and Bentley thinks he is wonderful so he decided those would be perfect names for his lambs this year! Just for clarification, he is not a BYU fan just a Jimmer fan. Bentley and his class played their recorders at the Jr. High Band Concert. They did great. I have to share this picture because when he sat down he made sure he was behind his music stand.

These are daffodils from my flower bed, they are beautiful this year. I love them. They remind me of a great service that was done for us the year we brought Owen home. We had to move to SLC until we got everything in order with equipment to bring him home. We moved home in July and needless to say the yard was more than a mess!! A youth group from the SLC area were coming up for youth conference and had asked around for a service they could do. Somehow we were chosen. One of the leaders brought these daffodils to plant for us and each year that they come up I am reminded of that great love and service in our behalf.

Bentley is published!! I know a lot of kids were probably chosen for the book of poems but I am still proud of Bentley. He is a good student and can do just about anything he sets his mind too.

Wild Horses

Wild and free they run.

Through the shrubs and past the trees.

They eat mild green grass.

Colorful as they run past.

They run like speeding lightning.

And then there is Owen. He looks so old when I cut his hair, but he has to stay lookin' sharp. We are still able to help control his comfort (a huge blessing). He has his days though and last week he had more than his share. Once I adjusted his feeding again he was better. I am thankful he is still able to take in some calories.

Abby's Field Trip

This year I went with Abby's class on their field trip to:The Geyser at Soda Springs,The hot pools in Lava Hot Springs andthe Pocatello zoo. In the past I had often wondered why they try to fit so many things into one day, but after going with them I understood it perfectly. We weren't even to Soda Springs yet, (about an hour away), when we were already getting the question "are we there yet?".
Each and every person that works patiently in the school system should have all of our respect. It was so cold that day, but it didn't dampen their spirits at all.

Owen's Appointments at Primary's

Here is another angel that we have been so blessed to have in our lives since Owen. This is Dr. Murphy. WE LOVE HER!! She is absolutely amazing to us and Owen. I finally remembered to get a picture with her.
Owen's appointments went well. His weight hadn't changed much at that time, which was great. Dr. Murphy was amazed at how well his bowels were working because of how slow they sounded. Every doctor is always amazed at how well Owen has done. They give us the credit, but for me the credit all goes to our Heavenly Father.

Here is another little angel, her name is Lauren. She and Owen were in the NICU together and we were able to meet her and her parents, Keith and Rushell, when we were making the big decision of whether to trach Owen or not. When we met this little girl we knew it would be okay. She still has her trach but is only on the vent at night. Her parents were great support to us and have cheered us on. I have even called Rushell for quick emergency advice and the calls end with "I will say a prayer for you". Such a sweet family. We are so grateful we were able to meet such great people like them and others through this journey we now call life!! We wanted to get a cute picture with Lauren and Owen but it wasn't going to happen. One of the doctors had just changed Owen's breath rate for a trial run and he did NOT like it at all. Of course that is when we had our visitors. As soon as it was changed back and we were out of that room Owen was back to being himself again.
After his appointments we went upstairs to meet another NICU Mom going through the same decision about to trach or not. While we were there we were able to see a lot of our 'NICU family'. It was great to see them, in the hallway just for a visit! After we left there I realized I didn't take one picture of any of them, I was so sad. But we love them all!

Abby's clogging recital

Here are a few short clips put together from Abby's recital.

Clogging and Arrow of Light

Bentley earned his Arrow of Light award in Scouts. He was pretty excited to get everything done to receive this before he turned 11.

This is Bentley at his best! He would always pose like this if I would let him. I usually don't share his goofiness but I thought I would this time. I need to enjoy this part of Bentley more. He is a funny kid and I need to laugh more and enjoy each moment. It seems like he only wants to share this side when I am trying to get him to do something else though. I am trying to learn to take a deep breath, laugh and then get back on track.

Here he is all dressed up for the part. We were afraid he was going to get to wear that lovely triangle for quite sometime, but it finally washed off.


Now for the girly stuff.....

This is the one picture I got of Abby in her costume before the show. I should have embarrassed her, made a scene and took more but I didn't.

My camera doesn't take great shots in the dark but here she is, (second one from the back), doing what she LOVES. I am not kidding when I say she loves clogging. When she thought the December recital was it for the year she started begging Lenn and I to let her clogg the next year. Her practice was on Wednesday's and she had to have a special outfit each week. I am quite sure they are worn out from the washer but they were her clogging clothes and she HAD to wear them each week. She didn't care what the kids in her class said about it either. That's my girl, determined as ever.

She had a great teacher and hopes she will teach again next fall after having a new baby. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

I have video so as soon as I take the time I will post that too.