Seth

I finally figured out how to do the blue eyes on my camera, Sarah!

Turning Twelve!

I got a phone call from the executive secretary for the ward today to set up an appointment for Alex to have an interview with the Bishop. He's turning twelve! I cannot believe it! He can also go to the temple to do baptisms now. I remember turning twelve, how can I have a son who is that old now? He only has one more Sunday in Primary and he reminded me of that today as we were leaving church. He is excited to pass the sacrament. I wonder how his first Sunday will go? He'll also be joining the Young Men and will go on all their activities.

A funny note about Alex: last night when we went trick or treating it was very warm, 71 degrees with 89% humidity. Alex was dressed as Walker, Texas Ranger. He had a black cowboy hat, a dark button up shirt, his badge, and a pair of red shorts! I told him Walker never wears shorts, but he insisted on wearing them, especially with the warm weather we were having!

I Can Guarantee He is Not Always Hungry

Alex has Prader-Willi Syndrome. People with this syndrome are said to have an insatiable appetite and put on weight rapidly. While the rapid weight gain is true, the insatiable appetite is in question. We attended a conference where a study was done and their finding lead them to believe that they do not have an insatiable appetite, merely they are seeking out food because it brings them pleasure. I find this true with many things Alex does. If he likes something, he wants to do again and again and will use the event in his make believe play. For example, church. He loves everything having to do with church. He's obsessed with the Mormon Tab. He plays church with his Little People and every Sunday sits in his room and sings the Hymns. So in the case of food, food definatly brings people pleasure and they seek that out, and because of this we've mistakenly assumed that they have an insatiable appetite. Disclaimer: this is not a theory that is accepted by the PWS Association. This is merely a new theory. But I totally believe it to be true. Besides the research that was done, I have my own proof. On the counter sits eight bananas. Alex will not touch them because they have brown spots on them. He only eats bananas that do not have brown spots. I will not lock those bananas up and I can guarantee they will be there in the morning. Now if Alex was really starving all the time and would eat anything, I would expect him to eat those bananas. But he doesn't and he never has.

Sunday

Sunday mornings usually aren't too crazy around our house, well except maybe for today. I was taking my time getting ready for church this morning (we start at 9) because I have the help of the greatest guy ever! Well, at 7 this morning, the hospital calls in him because they are short nurses. So Todd has to leave and I'm left to get the kids ready to go on my own. The girls are pretty good at helping, so that was good. I'll admit, I am not that great at keeping this house together. Somewhere in the mass chaos of my life, Alex's white shirt did not get washed. Of course he doesn't say a word about this to me. He takes his shirt and sticks it in the washer, 15 minutes before we have to leave! So as I'm hollering at everyone to head to the van and asking Alex why he's not dressed, he tells me his shirt is washing. I tell him he's going to have to wear something else, and of course this is not possible. He pulls his shirt out of the washer and puts it in the dryer and I tell him I'm just going to have to leave him and come back later and get him. He's crying now and doesn't like this, but what do you do? I play the organ for Sacrament and by now it's a quarter to nine, fifteen minutes later than I usually leave. So we just leave him. I was thinking the whole way to church that I'll just ask someone else to play. I arrive and no one that I know who can play is there, so I just begin to play prelude. Oh, and I have to say, there's this sister in our ward, Rose, who watches after Seth for me when Todd is not there, and she is such an angel! Seth actually doesn't fuss too much when she has him. With anyone else he just cries the whole time! So I'm playing prelude scanning the audience to see if the three people I know who can play organ are there yet. No one yet and it's getting closer to the start of the meeting. I decide that I'll just play the opening and sacrament hymns and then go get Alex. Today was the Primary Sacrament Program and Alex had a part so I knew I needed to get him for that. The whole time I'm playing I'm also praying that Alex didn't decide to walk as he'd have had to cross a six lane road to get to the church! I was also hoping he wouldn't be too mad not to come to church with me when I went to get him! So after the sacrament hymn, I slip out the door and drive home to get Alex. We live maybe 2 minutes away from the chapel. When I arrive Alex is dressed and waiting! I was so happy I didn't have to fight with him! When we got to the church, Alex wouldn't go into the chapel. He just stood by the back door to the chapel until it was his turn to say his part. I missed Kate's talk at the beginning, but I did get to hear the other three children. It started out crazy, but turned out to be fine! And what's even better is that during Sunday School Todd arrived! They let him come home! It's going to be a great Sunday after all!

There's this guy in our ward who is mentally handicap, I'm not sure what he has, but every time he comes up to me and sees me holding Seth, he always comments on how bright Seth's light is shining! I love that! One angel talking to another!

Acceptance

I don't know when it will fully hit, but I have come to the realization that Seth will not hear normally on his own. We went to Walter Reed to get another ABR done to see where Seth's hearing levels may be and to see which of the past results it would favor. He is still measuring at the severe to profound hearing levels. And as I sit back and reflect on Seth and his speech, yes, he is probably way further behind than those his age, and yes, he doesn't say as much as other's his age. So, we again were presented with the option of Cochlear Implants. We will talk to a specialist in November. She will send us to another specialist who will review what Seth can hear, and advise us what options we have for Seth. If we went with Cochlear Implants, I hate the thought of taking away any natural hearing he does have. But then again, even if it doesn't have a very favorable outcome, what's the worse that could happen? We learn sign language? That's not bad at all! In fact, I'm sure we'll start learning to sign before we do any of this.

A few months ago we had a stake meeting and during the opening song I turned to my left and noticed the whole front section was signing the opening song! (We have a deaf branch in our stake.) It brought tears to my eyes to see it, but not tears of sadness. It's hard to explain what it was, but perhaps it's only the beginning. So, get your copy of Signing Time and let's begin!

This is for Tonnia

When I saw this, I thought of you and me, Tonnia! This was too funny!

Nothings of the week

It seems that it's easier to post when something exciting is going on or the children have accomplished something. But as this week has passed and I've pondered what to blog about, it seems like there was nothing "huge" that happend. And if I wait, several weeks could go by. The children only had a four day week. Friday they were off for the teachers to attend a state conference. Kind of like how Utah use to have UEA weekend. Kate has joined the Safety Patrol. She gets to wear a bright yellow belt and a badge and help children cross the street safely. She is very happy about it. She has to be at school half an hour earlier than the rest and stays after as well.

Alex's final day at his old middle school was on Thursday. He shows no emotion about it. When I first told him he was changing schools, he told me no. But I just kept mentioning it to him so he would get use to the idea, and now he is excited to go to the new school. He will start up tomorrow morning, and lucky him, he gets his own school bus which will pick him up right in front of our home.

The Primary Sacrament Meeting Program will be next Sunday. I've got five kids taking part in it. This will be the only time that five of the children together will participate. By the time Seth is in Sunbeams Kate will already be in Young Women's. So, this will be something special. Karsten, Dane, and Emily all have their parts memorized. Kate actually had to write a talk, so hers is a little longer and she thinks it's impossible to memorize. And Alex, well, who knows if he's got it memorized. He probably does, actually, but will never tell me he does. I'm going to make a small poster with his words on it so the congregation can understand what he is saying. He will be turning 12 here in a few weeks. I can't believe he is that old! He is so happy about being able to pass the sacrament. And you know he'll be making sure everyone else is doing it right as well! It's crazy how time passes so quickly. Karsten hardly seems like a little toddler anymore. He's four and a half! I was just thinking of how I miss the two year old stage, when they are walking around and want to try everything and are learning to talk and all. I'm thankful Heavenly Father allowed me to have this experience one last time, as I can't have anymore. The kids are great! Yes, we do have fights, and quarrels, and disagreements amongst them. But, oh well. I loved Elder Bednar's talk that he gave in General Confrence "More Diligent and Concerned at Home". http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1117-6,00.html When he described the things that their kids did during prayer or FHE, it made me laugh and it sure was comforting to know that we all go through it! Even the apostles have gone through what we are going through trying to raise a family! Anyways.