Grandparents and Playing

We have had another busy week. We had ECI therapy and vision assessment, family in town, chiropractor visits, respite nurse, and Christmas card pictures on Saturday.

Jacen's new word is "pampoo" for shampoo :)

Some of you ask for specific prayer requests, so here is one for you. I have been struggling lately with exhaustion, trying to figure out how to balance play time with Jacen, playing and therapy with Nathan, housework, exercising, time with Kyle, appointments, etc, etc, etc. I am also struggling with our current situation as far as emotionally and mentally dealing with praise and happiness that Nathan is still with us, but how to find our "normal" since his time with us is longer than everyone has predicted. It has been a huge adjustment for me to not go to work every day. I miss my coworkers and teaching more than I sometimes realize. I know this is where I need to be right now, but prayers for me would be greatly appreciated! (Mom I am ok, but if people are asking for specific prayers requests, I felt that explaining what was on my heart and mind lately was what I needed to do.)

We have been working on brushing our teeth. Yay!!! He is trying now!

Jacen loves to be outside, so I have started having to put on warmer clothes in the mornings. It is cold some mornings!!!

Grandpa and Mimi came to visit!!! They helped us with odds and ends around the house, brought presents, shopped for a Christmas card outfit, taught Jacen how to drink out of a straw, loved on the boys, played with the boys, and spoiled the boys!!!!!

And let Jacen eat lots of sweets!!!!

Grandpa and Mimi also got a crib to put in our room for Nathan. So now if Nathan wants to sleep on his own, I get to sleep in my bed instead of on the floor with him. We still usually spend part of the night in the recliner, but hopefully it will continue to get better!

Nathan was patiently waiting for everyone to get dressed for church, so i gave him his glow worm. It looked at times as if he was holding it. Precious boy :)

Friday we had a play date with Jennifer Watson (one of my former coworkers from Wilson) and her son Nathan. Isn't he a cutie :) I forgot to get a pic of Nathan and Nathan. Oops :(

Patches, Chair, Dentist, Outside, Horses, and Family

Another week of taking lots of pictures and having a really hard time narrowing it down.

Jacen is officially walking!!!!

The doctors have now eliminated one of Nathan's medications. His liver enzymes are in the normal range, so he no longer has to take Actigall.

Jacen loves to try to play with Patches, but as soon as Patches grabs the rope to play tug Jacen lets go and starts giggling :)

Daddy bought Jacen his own chair. He wanted Scout to sit with him :)

 First Dentist Visit

We took the boys to the dentist, Dr. Johnson, for the first time last Monday. We got to see his wife Julie, who is a member of the Palliative Care team at Covenant, while we were there. She and that team are very special people to us. The boys got their teeth checked, fluoride, and stickers!!! Nathan wasn't bothered by any of it, but Jacen was NOT happy!!!!

Jacen continues to love to play outside. He now ventures into the grass by pushing his four wheeler to where he wants to go. Although now that he decided to finally start walking, I am sure there will be more pictures to come of him playing in the grass without pushing toys!!!

This day he wanted to get to the other gate. He then explored the windows to his bedroom, and the water hose.

We took another stroller ride and saw the horses again!!!!

Jacen's favorite place to be in the house!!!! We are going to have to figure out how to keep him off!

He had blueberry pancakes for the first time this weekend! Daddy even made him a Mickey Mouse shaped one. I think he liked them :)

Grandma and Aunt Sam came this weekend to visit. This is the only picture I remembered to take. Ugh. Oh well. While they were here, Kyle and I got to go out to lunch just the two of us. Yay!!!!

HALLOWEEN

We went to Trunk or Treat at church. There were lots of people, so it was pretty overwhelming. We enjoyed seeing friends, watching Jacen walking, watching Jacen interact with other kids, and taking pictures.

Nathan, our Superman :)

Spiderman, Superman, and Owen the Monkey (Carianne, one of my friends from college, met us at Trunk or Treat - it was great to see her and her family!!!!)

Caleb hugging Jacen - Caleb is so sweet!

Caleb and Jacen goofing around. They had the best time playing with Nathan's candy bucket!!!!

Our kids and the Lufts :)

The only way I could get Jacen to take a picture was to promise him candy. He has started walking now pretty much on his own though, so before I could snap a shot he was to me ready for the candy. Oh well :)

We went to Kyle's work on Thursday to Trick or Treat. It was fun to see his coworkers and show off our Super Heroes!!!!!