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Lions and pirate-princesses and Dorothy, Oh My!

Hi everyone.
Well, Halloween has now come and gone. It was a busy few weeks. We had lots to keep us going like carving pumpkins, decorating cookies, making candy apples, school parties and trick or treating galore. You know you are getting old when you have a child who is now too old or cool to dress up. We tried to talk Kiley into being Sarah Palin, but it was a no go. Haley was kind of a pirate princess-rocker hybrid. Emery was of course Dorothy. She loves her sparkly red shoes. Jax was the cutest cowardly lion you have ever seen. He hated his costume and spent most of the day with a very grouchy scowl.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Happy Birthday baby boy!

Wow! Our little man is 1. I can't believe a year has gone by since we first met our beautiful boy. It's been a crazy year, trying and wonderful, full of ups and downs. There are still many days that I struggle with his diagnosis, I'm sure at least partially I may always. Sometimes I get nervous and overwhelmed about what we are in store for. The future is a little scary and unsure, but the one thing that is not unsure is the enormous love we have for Jaxon. He brings so much joy and happiness to us. He is all smiles and charms everyone he meets. It's not uncommon for me to get 10 people a day tell me how happy or smiley he is. He is working twice a month with a physical therapist and we hope that he will soon get the hang of crawling. He has sturdy strong legs. I think he might be closer to walking than crawling. We love him so much and have been blessed by having him. Happy birthday baby boy!

Jaxon's new toy

So I came across this by accident on Ebay. It is a neck floatie for babies. It says you can start using it when the baby is 4 weeks old. I thought it looked fun so I bought it. We haven't gone swimming yet, but Jax does like using it in the tub. He just floats around and kicks his legs. It's kind of funny.

Another Great Summer

As Lindsey mentioned, it was another great summer. It has felt like we have been on the go constantly. I hope the kids look back and enjoy the memories we've created together. I know Lindsey and I are grateful for the opportunities we have been given to travel around and do fun things with our little ones.

We had the Physical Therapist at our house today working with Jaxon. He is slightly behind on some of his motor skills. We are working with him to do more rolling, crawling, etc. He has gotten quite adept at getting his way and throws little tantrums when he is made to do new things. I am grateful for the help we are receiving to better Jaxon and his development. I cherish each new bit of progress he makes.

My girls are growing up too quickly! It saddens me to see them mature so quickly. I know that is the way it is, but sometimes I wish I could freeze time. They are so beautiful and fun to be with. I enjoy playing around and being a big goofball with them.

Thanks again Lindsey for making this blog and the wonderful smilebox clips. They make me tear up, but in a good way. I love you and the kids with all my heart!!!

Make a Smilebox postcard

Make a Smilebox photobook

Jax

new blog look

Thanks to Shana for letting me copy all her ideas. I'm not very computer savvy so I have to copy others.

Emmies 1st day of kindergarten...

Well, we got through her first day of school. It wasn't as hard as I had anticipated. She was very excited and so ready to go. Her sisters helped her pick her outfit out the night before. She of course looked darling. I don't think it will be much of an adjustment for her. She has gone to pre-school for 2 years and she knowsprobably 10 kids already, from our neighborhood and school. I think the most exciting part of her day was getting to ride the bus home.
So now Jax and I will have a couple hours in the afternoon to ourselves. What will we do? Watch soap opera and eat bon bons? Maybe. Clean the house? Probably not. Take a nap? Sometimes. Shop? Definetely!

School is in session.

Well, the girls have begun yet another year at school. Haley is in 4th this year. She likes her teacher and has had some fun days already. Kiley is in 7th grade. She is going to a school that we are not in the boundaries of. She chose to go to this school because it is a brand new building and to make a fresh start for herself. This means that I get to drive her to and from school everyday. Yay! I'm not a morning person so it has been a bit challenging and it has thrown Jaxs' schedule all off, but it will force me to be the good mom I know I should be. Last year I went back to bed after waking the kids up. I had no idea if they had eaten breakfast (mostly no) or what they were wearing. (Sometimes awful) Lets keep in mind that I had a new baby. Anyway, I plan to make breakfast occasionally for them and all that good stuff. Wow, I'm really going all out.
I worried all day on the first day of school about whether Kiley was eating lunch alone. She only knows 3 people from her old school there. She told me she was sitting alone and then some girls from a couple of her classes came and sat by her. I was so relieved. Sometimes these Mama bear instincts kick in and you feel so protective. She is really liking most of her classes. Her favorite is called CTE. Basically it's home ec.
Emery got her kindergarten shots a few weeks ago. She was so brave. She starts school next Tuesday. She has been bummed that the other girls get to go to school this week and she doesn't.
Jax is just as cute as ever. He is getting so big. He seems to be a lot happier and better tempered these days. He still loves to be held and throws a fit if he doesn't get his own way, but he is sleeping a lot better which I'm sure is helping. We are trying to teach him a couple of basic sign language signs. Milk, more,... okay so maybe 2. He did milk once, but it might have just been a coincidence.
This summer has flown bye. I feel like it was a good summer. We made the most of it I believe. We managed to fit in several Star valley trips (thanks grandpa! We miss you) a trip to pineview, Lagoon, Cherry hill, Hogle Zoo, many park days and lots of fun evening walks. You've got to love summer.
I will post some pictures of their first days of school soon.

Summer so far

Well, lets see...
This summer has been pretty good so far. The kids aren't driving me too crazy yet. We have had a couple of trips to Star Valley.
Kiley went to youth conference and then a week later to girls camp. Alex got to stay over one night with her as the priesthood holder. He kept threatening to embarrass her in front of her friends. (I think he was on his best behavior.) He did however, call me and tell me that there weren't enough tents so he was going to have to sleep in with all the leaders. Funny man, ha ha ha!
I have been trying to keep the kids entertained with sleepovers, adventures at the park, water balloon fights. I think it has been good.
I'm loving the warm weather, the walks in the evenings and getting icee's. Yum!
Emery was in soccer for a few weeks. She is an awesome goalie. She made a goal at the exact moment my head was turned talking to Kiley. Of course, that's my luck. We are proud of her.
Jax now sits up by himself pretty well. He is getting so big. What a chunky monkey. He has 2 teeth and 5 or 6 coming in on top. He isn't afraid to use them to bite me. (unfortunately) He has really strong legs and loves to jump up and down while holding him. He's a sweetie.
Haley had a dance performance a couple of weeks ago. She had been working really hard in her class and did an awesome job. She just repeats the dance as she walks all around. I don't even think she realizes she is doing it anymore.
Well, that's all for now. We will update again when something exciting happens.

Summers here

Well, I'ts here. I have fellings of excitement & dread. I love that I don't have to wake the kids up early, or have them home in bed at a certain time, but trying to entertain them for 2 1/2 months is quite a task. Already Emery is begging for things to do.
We don't have big plans this summer. We will be going to Star Valley as often as opportunity will allow. We have a trip to Wolfcreek with Alex's family in July. Other than that I guess it's swimming pools & parks. I'm going to have to get creative to get the kids up off the couch & doing something active.
Jax had his cardiology appointment the other day. The doctor said that things seemed good. His aortic stenosis hasn't progressed any more. Yay!!!! We will take whatever good news we can with this little guy. He's getting such a cute personality. He is now eating baby food and baby cookies. He loves to drink water from a cup. Sometimes I forget to hold him away when I take a drink and he always reaches for the cup and spills on both of us.
Well, that is the update for now. We hope you will check back often.

First off, I want to thank Lindsey for taking the initiative to start this awesome blog. I hope that our family and friends will check in on the blog now and again and make comments. I cherish the family and friends that we have even though I don't show it enough! So, THANKS to everyone who has supported our family throughout our lives, but more recently in regards to the first days we found out about our wonderful son Jaxon and his newly diagnosed condition.

It is impossible to explain what it is like to find out your child wasn't the healthy, normal, perfect little child you thought he was at his 2 week check-up. I will never forget a single word the doctor spoke to us that day. I've always been able to think or work my way out of any problem that I was involved in. I still very much have that mentality with Jax. We will work with him and give him everything we can. However, at the end of the day, there is no "cure" for Williams Syndrome. Right now there is a mixed bag of emotions. He is incredibly cute, social and shows good development. For that I am extremely grateful! However, on occasion I am overwhelmed by his future. I worry for his little heart and body and I worry for his mental/developmental progression. Although I do have great concern for Jaxon and his present and future well-being, I am largely positive about not only Jaxon's life, but our family as a whole.

Lindsey and I have overcome much, in fact, there are several of you who still owe me money on betting we wouldn't make it past our first year of marriage (12 year anniversary in July). I feel that Lindsey and I can overcome anything together and I believe some day we will look at our experience with Jaxon and be grateful for the opportunity to raise a child with special needs. I am also confident he has much to give and teach us. He has already taught me many things, with the most important being unconditional love. So far he has been nothing but pure love and satisfaction for me. If I am ever feeling down about his condition or problems he is having I just need to hold and/or visit with him and my mood completely changes. Anyone who has interacted with him knows that he has that impact on people. I have no doubt that his infectious smile and cuteness will overcome anyone that meets him throughout his life.

Well, I have probably bored anyone reading this to death. I am almost done. I just want to let Lindsey and the girls know how much I love them . It can be easy to focus too much on a child with special needs and leave the other children behind. I vow not to do that. They are so incredible and they help around the house and with Jaxon so much. I know that God has blessed my family and I greatly and I could never repay him for what he has done for us. Again, thanks to everyone who has helped our family throughout the years and don't be shy with your comments. We are going to continue to need everyone's support!