Autism Night @ Discovery Gateway

 The kids playing on the instruments.

 Sadie loved pretending to do the cash registrar.

 The boys enjoying the ride in the stroller.

Sadie girl pretending to be a news broadcaster.

Prayer

Grandma Llama gave Sadie a small toy flute and on the way home Sadie lost a piece of the flute. We couldn't find it when we got home so we told her we would look for it in the morning. After breakfast that morning she said I have an idea we can pray to Heavenly Father and ask him to help us find the flute. We all folded our arms and she said her prayer "Dear Heavenly Father will you please help me find my flute? I lost it. Will you please help me find it? In the name of Jesus Christ Amen." Ben went outside and looked around the car and he found it. When Sadie saw that he found it she was so excited. I asked her what we do next and she said put the flute back together. Then I reminded her that we need to thank Heavenly Father for helping us find it. Then we all folded our arms and she said her prayer "Dear Heavenly Father thank you for helping us find the flute. I love you! In the name of Jesus Christ Amen." Then after the prayer she was gitty and she said I told Heavenly Father I love him.
I love watching her grow and learn. 

The Talk

I finally had the talk with Sadie about Sawyer being a special brother. I wasn't expecting to talk about it this soon, but I felt like it was appropriate with the situation. We had watched a video of 2 brothers. One that had a condition where he was unable to walk and the other brother would pull him on the back of his bike and race. It was amazing how much love these brothers had for each other. After watching the movie I began to cry. Sadie asked me why I was crying and I told her I didn't know why. She looked at me and gave me a hug and kiss. I told her that Heavenly Father makes us all different. She asked why Heavenly Father makes us different and I told her that is what makes us special. I told her that Heavenly Father made Sawyer very special. I said "You know how Sawyer doesn't talk?" She said he will talk when he grows up and I explained to her that at Sawyer's age she sang "Praise to the Man" and Sawyer may never be able to talk. Then I told her that some people might call Sawyer the "R" word. She asked me what the "R" word meant and I explained to her that is meant retard or stupid, and dumb. I went on to tell her that if anyone ever said these things about Sawyer you just tell them No he is Not, He is a Child of God. I also told her that when someone talks to Sawyer and asked his name she can say his name is Sawyer. If they ask how old he is she can say 3. Then she can tell them that Sawyer is non-verbal, but she can help him talk. We acted out each scenario so she would know how to respond to each one of these situations.
 I'm so grateful for my little girl and her big heart. She amazes me every day with the love she shows her brothers and others.

Bishopric

About a month ago I had this crazy feeling that the bishopric was going to be changing in the ward and I felt very strongly that Ben would be put in. Which made almost no sense considering the ages of the children and Ben just turning 30. I told Ben about my feeling, but he just pushed it aside like it was nothing. Then about 3 weeks ago we got the call from the Stake President. We went in for the interview and took all 3 kids which I will never do again. Ben took the boys in with him to visit with the stake president while I took Sadie to visit with the counselors. I could hear the boys screaming in the other room with Ben. Eventually we all met together and when the stake president asked if he would be willing to except the calling of the 2nd counselor in the Clinton 14th ward bishopric I began to laugh. His face turned red and he was speechless. Which made me think it was even funnier. During all of this the boys where whining and we were having a hard time keeping the kids under control. Then I asked him who he was going to call to sit by me during sacrament meeting. When we were wrapping things up Sadie says "I need to go potty". At that point they said okay we will let you go.
Ben has been very positive about serving in his new calling. I'm still adjusting to not having him around as much and I'm not looking forward to 9:00 church with no help to get the kids ready, but I know as we make these sacrifices our family will be blessed.

Spencer 11 months

Spencer's true personality is coming out. This kid can be very stubborn when it come to getting dressed or getting a diaper change. He knows what he wants and doesn't back down. His favorite thing is playing with his sister Sadie and eating finger food. 

Spencer's first hair cut. It was time to cut the mullet.

Ben's Birthday

Happy Birthday to the best man I know. I love this man more than words can say. He is my rock! 

We had our annual birthday breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa Carr. This is Ben with his birthday gift. I broke down and bought him a hand gun. We have been wanting to get one for awhile. Now we can feel safe and protected in our own home.

Sadie's 5th Birthday

 Sadie's was so happy when she got the train set she wanted for her Birthday!

 Sadie wanted to go swimming for her birthday. Not the ideal thing to do in December, but we had a lot of fun at the Clearfield Aquatic Center. This is some of the cousins and a couple of friends.

 Happy Birthday to our Sadie Girl! She wanted a Super Why Birthday cake.

 By the end of the party this girl was exhausted. Sadie and I both came down with the flu and this poor little girl went to bed at 7:00pm on her birthday. We were sick for several days after her birthday.

Sadie's friends bought her the same thing. I thought it was funny so I had to take a picture of them holding the play dough sets. Good thing she loves play dough.

Christmas

 Sadie had a fun time this year opening her and the boys presents.

 Just as we expected Spencer preferred the wrapping paper this year.

 Dad helping Sawyer unwrap his present from Grandma & Grandpa Jeppsen

Grandma & Grandpa Jeppsen got Sawyer another puppy so he could have one for the road too. He has been loving both of his puppies. He decided to play with them together.

Getting Ready for Christmas

 Sadie telling Santa she wants a Dream Lite for Christmas. This little girl has been very good for the last month... I wonder why?

 Helping dad put the ornaments on the tree.

 This little ones smile brightens our day. Sawyer watching Signing Times while we set up the tree.

 Spencer's new toy for Christmas.

Chocolates

It wouldn't be Christmas without making chocolates. This is Sadie licking her fingers after dipping caramels.

Sawyer walking

Sawyer has started walking at the rightful age of 3. He loves it. He will walk around and just laugh like he is being funny. This is him at Grandma Carr's house walking around her wall.

Spencer 10 months

It is not easy getting a picture of a 10 month holding still. Spencer is not crawling but he sure gets around. He rolls everywhere. He can go from the living room to the back bedrooms. He has been getting up on all fours for a few weeks now. We love this little guy!

If You're Happy and You Know It

My sweet little boys clapping to If You're Happy and You Know It

Organizing

So we have been on this big kick of organizing all of our closets. I guess we finally got sick of not being able to find anything. Here is a before and after of our pantry.

Primary Children's Genetics

About 6 months ago I ran into a lady named Jodi that does ABA with her daughter. I wanted to get together and see if she had any ideas that would help me out in Sawyer's program. We had a great time getting to know each other and sharing experiences. Before I left she told me that Sawyer reminded her of her friends daughter. So I asked more questions and they really did seem to have a lot in common. She told me her friend thought her daughter had Pitt Hopkins syndrome. So I went home and did some research. After researching I felt like there was a good possibility that this could be what Sawyer has. It is a deletion or partial deletion on chromosome 8. So I made the appointment with the geneticist at Primary Children's. The appointment was 5 months out. Finally the day had come December 4, 2012. I was sitting in the waiting room with the boys in the double stroller waiting for Ben to meet me. I saw a lady with her daughter that had some characteristics like Sawyer. The spirit told me to go talk to her, but I thought it would be inappropriate so I ignored it. After a while I gave in and went over to her. I told her that her daughter was beautiful. I told her I didn't want to get to personal, but I was wondering if she knew what her daughter had. She said she would love to talk. As the conversation went on I found out that she also thinks her daughter has Pitt Hopkins, but she has yet to have the test done because the insurance hasn't been cooperating. I observed the interaction between the daughter and mother and was very surprised that it was the same interactions I get with Sawyer every day. The nurse then called her back.We didn't have time to get each others information. A nurse walked in to the our room later and handed us a piece of paper with the ladies name and phone number on it. 

Then the nurse came in and said there where Jazz players that had come to visit the children and asked if we would like to visit with them and get an autographed ball. So we got our picture and a signed ball. I think I was more excited than anyone else in the family. 

The visit with the doctor went well and he actually listened and he seemed to think that I could be right about Pitt Hopkins. They have decided to do a microarray test and if nothing is found we will do other tests. After I had left the office I called my friend Jodi to tell her of the experience I had of meeting this lady. She asked if her name was Stacy Davenport and it was. The lady I met in the waiting room was Jodi's friend she had talked about. I later called Stacy and we talked about all the similarities in our children. I know that I have been lead by the spirit to meet the people that our in my life and I am so grateful to finally find someone that has been through and is going through similar things. It will be very interesting if both of our kids have Pitt Hopkins. It is very rare conditions with only 250 children in the world being diagnosed.