Worries about my 13 month old

Sammantha is a beautiful and very smart little girl. She is very determined and has to be perfect in all that she does. For instance she knew how to walk but refused to and then one day she just did not crawl at all, and rarely does now. In fact she gets very angry and upset when she falls. She refuses to speak or sign and then all of a sudden she will sign and she has said Jesus and Dadda and Momma. Sammie has never really been very vocal in her expressions. She did not start to laugh or coo until she was 9 months.... And now she will laugh every so often but for sure not an everyday thing maybe a few times a week. Quiet often I will find her trying to put things in the light sockets after she has managed to get the safety plug out. She loves to put things into thing and then take them out and do it again over and over. She does like to scream a very high pitch scream, when she wants something. This is beginning to diminish slowly thanks to positive parenting, and our persistence in teaching her manners. We had family pictures taken last night and that was fun. The studio had a table with chairs and the kids were playing legos. Sammie sat in the red chair while we waited to have our pictures taken and played legos taking them out of the mesh bag and then putting them back into it again. After we were done with the pictures and waited for them to print, Sammie went back to the table and wanted to sit in the same chair, but there was another little girl in it, she persisted until the little girl gave her the chair( nice little girl) And Sammie was not being rude, I think just cute and the little girl wanted to give her the chair. That just seemed odd that a 13 month would even remember the chair. Sammie has an impeccable memory and knows how to follow directions very well and at such a young age. She was 4 months old when she started doing that. I had asked to to go and lay at the other end of her bed and as I was going to help her she rolled over and did it her self.

Things that I am worried about her refusal to eat just about everything that is placed in front of her. She does eat veggies!!! She loves her milk. She loves cheese. She will eat GF pancakes like they are going out of style. She will eat a GF PBJ sandwich. She will also eat Fruits. That is about all that I can think of that she will eat. She refuses meats. She refuses many textures, and so to feed her on her already restricted diet (corn free Wheat free)is very hard. We do not force her to eat and believe that when she needs to eat she will. She still has occasionally diarrhea probably from something that she finds on the floor from one of the other kids. Or she had the opposite and is very constipated.

So my worry is that she has many of the red flags that autistic children have. She does not like to be touched or snuggled she has gut issues, She is self injuries and has fits that last well over an hour. She is very black and white. She is extremely smart and needs alot of attention. Yes she is only one and does need a lot of attention, but instead of developing and moving she is becoming more dependent. Now I do not know if I am being a worry woart or not but because I have a son that is Autistic and has had a ton of the same issues as she has now it makes me think and wonder what is going on in their bodies. My Micheal had me worried but I am beginning to not think so much anymore because he is becoming quiet the social bug. Children that have Autism seem to be more worried about themselves and their world and not so much anything or one around them.

So at Sammie's 15 month appt we will talk with the Dr. and see what he thinks.

I have a whole slew of specialist already being that my son has seen them with his Autism. I have been through therapies and know what to do already so that is not the issue just hopping that as we work on things here at home that she will be able to grow and maybe never have to have a diagnoses. other then Wheat allergy.


Speaking of Wheat allergy we are going to go back to the GI specialist and see what else we can do because to this day I still have never seen a regular poop come out of this kid, poor little girl. Any ways enough about what I am saying I better go to bed.

If you want to look at a great and amazing blog about Autism and getting to the root cause of it then look no further because her is one http://findingtherootcause.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday to Sammie

Wow that was just about the fastest year I have ever had!!!! Sammie is 1 years old and full of energy!!!! Sammie is standing on her own when she wants. She cruses around furniture like a pro standing. She still thinks that crawling is the fastest method though. She loves putting things into things and is always looking for a cup to put her treasures in. She loves her sisters very much and is always following them around.
Sammie has a mind of her own, and lets everyone know this I have never seen a 1 year old like her thrash around and tantrum and she usually does not give up. She has not been very vocal , but lately she has become more interested in noise and is doing a lot of mimicking but us not very consistent with it. She is not very consistent in much of any thing. She was asked to fold her arms and she did proudly only during 1 prayer and that is all we have seen of it. She refuses to do what we ask her to do if she does not want to do it. Age typical I guess. Sammie had her 1 year check up and she is now 19lbs and 4oz. and she is 28n in tall kind of weird for me because all of my other children were much bigger then this by a year like 5lbs more. I guess that comes with her eating and the Allergy's that she has. She can not have any corn or wheat. She has what is called Congenital Sucrase-Isomaltase Deficiency. I am not sure that this is what she has because she can eat a lot of things just not a lot of grains. We limit her to rice and beans and she seems to do fine. She does not eat a lot though and it is frustrating because she is not gaining weight. But for the first time she has actually not had constant diarrhea with a horrible rash. for the most part her stool is regular. The kids are doing really well with not letting her have corn or wheat and letting everyone know that she can not have them.
I am beginning to think that she may have cileac because if she accidentally has any wheat gluten she has diarrhea shortly after she has had it. Poor little girl I hope that we can find out what is going on with her. Any way she is a happy 1 year old and loves her family and we all love her as well!!!

A Mothers Feelings

I appoligize for the long post but I needed to organize my thoughts so I can relax.

Ok so maybe I do not feel like this often but lately I have. I have 6 wonderful children that I love dearly. Yet lately I do not feel adaqute to help them with there individual needs. I feel that I have lost the support of good friends and am lost. I recently attended a class and the question was asked do you have the support of both your family and your friends when raising your children, espeaically your Autistic son. Of course my answer was yes but deep down inside I was searching for the friend that was there for me when I needed a break or the one that would see my need to get out for a minute to regroup. Or the friend that would say we love all your kids just the way they are because that is how Heavenly Father made them. Instead I was hearing them say we just can not do this any more. Your son is out of control and it is hard to be around him why can you not just put him in time out or why does he have to say those things can't you get him to stop. Or you should just spank him. Or this is what I would do. Well let me tell you, We do not spank because we feel that this just teaches the children to hit plus we used to and it never worked in the first place and we realized it when we had fewer kids. We have tried many things and found many things that have worked through prayer and scripture study and through insperation that we have followed. I know that My Father in Heaven is there to lead us in our parenting of His Children. He had entrusted them to us to love and nurture. I am grateful for this gift that he has given us to communicate with him through prayer.
I guess I just feel like when there is not someone to talk with and share feelings with about the fun things and the hard things life all of a sudden becomes harder and all I want to do is stay to my self and shelter my children from the pain I feel. It is hard to see your child want to make friends but the parents of other children will not allow it. How can that be, Christ would not do this, and his dicicples would not do that either. But we are all human and fall short of some things, I guess. I guess it is hard when others just ignore your family and do not put forth the effort to try just a little harder. To show love , instead they say we are afraid of your child or we do not want you to come over. I guess it is hard to hear things. I do have to say that Our son has made great progress and the Power of the Healing Atonement is working in his life as we are seeing him feel sorrow. He has the mentality to feel like a 4 year old even though he is 10. Yet he is extremely smart intellectuality beyond his years. He has no social skills and as we teach him it is a constant practice of what to do and when to do it. Why we do and how we do it. For me this is extremely difficult and overwhelming. Those that see this looking into the window never fully understand how me as a parent could let my son do this yet they never ask they just judge. There are just days when I ask Heavenly Father can you just give me an easy day just once please or an easy week. And when I feel like he has then it seems like he loads me full of trials again and says remember I am here do not forget me.

It is really hard for me to watch my other children suffer socially because they have to wear there brothers "label". My daughter will start school next year along with other kids at our church and yet I was not asked if she would like to be a part of a little preschool group. I know this sounds petty and stupid but when you know that she needs this to feel a part of something and crys and longs for a friend to come over to play. How do you tell her that all of her friends are at school and can not come over right now. I am at a loss of what to do. I do not like to hurt others and so I just do not say anything at all and then end up writing a book latter. like I am now. I just wish that I had a friend that I could cry on just once in a while or go out with and have a good laugh with. Do not get me wrong David and I do this but it is not the same when you have a girl friend that you can hang out with, someone that is home with their kids all day long. Someone that understands. I used to have many friends like this but I feel that my children have made them distant. And yes I will stand by my children 100% of the time my job is to love them and help them return to their Father in Heaven. I now feel like my friends outside of the church are closer and love my children more then the ones that I go to church with and share the same beliefs with the same goals and that is to get back to our Father in Heaven again. A dear friend of mine Allison's Kindergarten teacher just adores Joseph and looks past all the garbage and sees a sweet funny 10 year old much the way I imagine our Father in Heaven sees him. People like her I know will be blessed for their ability to love, no matter what.

I just hope and pray that I can feel more peace and know that I am doing a great job at being a mother of my wonderful and sweet children.

Canning season is about done

This year has been a light canning season for me!!! It has been nice knowing that I have already had enough stored on the shelves that I will have plenty for this year and also into the next year. I have done 40 quarts of peaches 25 quarts of pears and 40 pints of salsa. I have done 10 pints of strawberry jam and 10 pints of raspberry jam, and am still working on Blackberry jam. I just have applesauce left and I am also going to be drying apples as well.

I have had my canning things out and about and have not put them back onto the shelves because I use them often. Tonight I was getting the boys ready for bed and Spencer had my big canner in his room, I peered into it to find a pile of dirt and WORMS in it Spencer declared do you like my new worms house , because they like it in here. Can we keep them mom please!!! What a boy. He is always trying to save the worm and I just tell him that they like the dirt and need to stay in it to live so this time he just brought the dirt with them. What a cute little BOY!!!!!

Scripture Study

We have been doing Scripture Study sense the kids were young. We always just read 1 Column. I decided that we needed to start teaching the kids how to really study the scriptures and it would help the kids really apply the scriptures to their own lives. All of the kids have now been paying attention wanting to ask questions and answer questions. Now instead of reading 5 minutes our scripture study is now 30min to 1 hour depending on how much we read and discuss. and the Spirit is so strong as the kids begin to learn and love reading and gaining faith. I love the Teaching moments and how we are growing together spiritually. It has now been fun as the kids are learning and we do not have to ask the kids to listen, they want to listen. I thank my
Father in Heaven for answering our prayers.

Joseph is doing so well. He is growing so much and is learning to love school and the reason behind the boring work to get to the fun work!!!
Allison is reading and loves school and goes through book after book. She always has a book in her hands!!! She is also a big help with the baby!!

The three middle kids got in to some mischief while I was setting the table today. Spencer Maddie and Michael decided to make snow out of the laundry soap. I had to let them know that I was disappointed in them but inside I was smiling because they are always so creative!! Snow of all things what cuties. They did have to go to their rooms after the mess was cleaned up. They are always so busy but I still love them a ton.

Spencer is loving every minute of kindergarten and loves the learning!!
Maddie and Micheal are at home with me and play and help out mommy. We are thinking about putting Maddie into a preschool for her to get interaction with other kids her age.

Michael is in love with movies and wants to watch them all the time and we are constantly taking him out of the TV room. What a burger.

Sammie we just found out that has an allergy to wheat and we will be going into a GI specialist to do further testing on her. she also has and allergy to Corn, but this on did not show up on the test. So we will see what we can do. She breaks out with a rash and nasty diarrhea if she gets either corn or wheat. Her bottom instantly bleeds and she is constantly sad and cries a lot. Poor baby Hope we can get her diet in control, corn and wheat are in everything!!! I am glad that I have friends that live a GF life and have some recipes and I have done a little GF with my oldest son who is Autistic but now to eliminate corn will be alot harder because some of the flour mixes that I like have corn in them as well. But we will make it work and hope that she will grow out of them.

That is all for now!!!

It has been awhile

I have been on vacation a little to long!! I need to start blogging again.
We have had a busy few weeks!!! The kids started school again this year and Spencer is now is in kindergarten. That was a fast 5 years holy cow. I can not believe that I have 6 wonderful and amazing children and 3 of them are in school. Joseph is being home schooled this year until he gets into a charter school called OWL charter school. He starts tomorrow. Allison is in 3rd grade and loves it she is in the advanced learning Placement program and is doing great!!! And Spencer is so funny he came home from school and listened quite well, or else quite scared because in his prayers he keeps saying and bless me to be good so I do not have to go to the principles office. Oh I love this boy he is just amazing and wonderful!!!

Allison is having a hard time and I am not quite sure why? She is wanting a lot of attention and has been trying to get it by acting out. I feel like we give her a lot of attention. She is always a big help and never has to be told what to do. She rarely gets into trouble and so for her to be doing this and acting out like this is not OK and I am going to have to take her out and have a mommy daughter day with her and talk. she had been saying things like I do not like myself and I am ugly, I have no idea where she is getting this from and it makes me very sad to see her like this.

Joseph is doing amazing!! About 2 months ago I was praying about the direction that we should go to get help for Joseph. We were at a loss as what to do with him. We had tried all the meds out there and nothing seemed to work. He just keep having the same behaviors of course they would go away for a time or be manageable but nothing seemed to take them away. So the thought came to mind to take him off all his meds and everything would be fine. Now mind you I was a little apprehensive about doing this because we were getting ready to leave on vacation and the drive was 2 days. and I was by myself, David had to stay home and work. And so I went on faith and prayer and 5 days into our vacation Joseph was completely off all his meds and has been ever sense. Seeing him off his meds has been amazing. The only thing that I can see his that he is more aware of his senses instead of being underaware he is over aware. He has what is called sensory processing disorder and he does not process the senses like a normal person would. He loves to touch but hates being touched because it hurts him. He loves to make loud noises but when an unexpeted loud noise is made it scares him and he reacts to it in a defensive way making him aggressive. I know this is weird but now that he is not on any meds I believe that the OT we are doing to help him will actually help him. We are still seeing milestones in him and he is 10 years old. Like today he wanted to play the game picture picture. This is a game that requires writing and thinking and it is very hard for him to do this. And he did it and was happy to do it. With all the encouragement that we give him the better he gets. Also for the first time in 4 years he has wanted to read books that are fiction. Yes Joseph is a non fiction child if he could I think he would be building his car so when he turns 16 he can drive it. It would not suprise me if we had the parts that he would build one he already does it with other things like his remote control jeep he took it apart and then put it back together again and it works just fine still!!!! Any ways the mile stones are still coming with him!!!!

Sammie has learned to climb out of her bed, but will not show us how she does it kind of sacry because she is so little and tiny still even though she just turned 10 months. she is 18lbs and 28 inches long I think. she just got 2 more teeth and now has a total of 4 teeth she aways has her tongue out and a smile on her face!! She is an amazing little girl and I love her so much!!!

Micheal is now potty trained and doing great at it. He is so funny sometimes though. He will have to go potty but not want to and so he will say I do not want a chocolate right now I will go in my pants and then we run him to the bathroom and he will go. Or if he has already gone in his pants he will say Micheal does not get a chocolate because I went potty in my pants. He is so dang cute and adorable I wish I could hold him all day long.

Maddie is doing great and is such a creative little girl she could play for hours with her toys and not even know that the time has passed. Now with Spencer in school in the morning she has started to play with Michael or they both follow me around while we do chores in the morning and this week we will start going to the YMCA again.

I guess that is it for now!!!

Vacation is fun!!!

I love vacation and it has been fun visiting with Grandma and Grandpa pouliot and all our aunts and uncles. the kids have been so well behaved and very well entertained. I was worried about how Joseph would be but so far he has done excelent. We are on a mini vacation on our vacation visiting my Grandparents in Illinous. All 8 of my anuts and uncles are here and they are just amazing. They all have been great with my kids they are wonderful. This family is all about doing things together and building bonds even when we get old we all still play with each other. And everyone helps out everyone. If ever there were a more dedicated family to God, and Family it would have to be the Pouliot Family. I love them so much. Joseph has been great this whole trip and has not had many problems at all. He has also had a great time with very patient uncles my brother Seth and Micheal have been a great help to me!!! Thanks guys you are great with him. Amy my sister has also been great with him as well. We are having quite the trip and are having a blast being around cousins and family and such and will keep you updated on all that has been going on!!!

David we miss you and wish that you were here to enjoy in all the fun and excitment that we have here. We will be home soon to give Daddy big hugs and kisses!!!!

Our Family Reunion Maughan Style

We had a fun Family reunion. We went to Logan Ut. That is were my family all oringally came from. They were asked by Brigham Young to settle what is now know as Cache Valley. There are all kinds of historcal sights that were fun to see knowing that they were part of my family history. I would like to say that if it were not for my GGGGG Grandfathers family that Cache Valley just would not be the same. I am greatful to my fore fathers for all the work and dedication that they had and the faith that they had in our Savior to come to America and follow the saints to the promised land. For if it were not for them I would not be where I am today.

It was so much fun visiting with all my cousins that I have not seen in years. It was so much fun. I love family and how they make us feel. Thanks for a great time family!!!!

Sammie is 8 months and moving everywhere

Well I have not been very well at keeping up on all of Sammie's Milestones so I figure I would update a little. Samantha is into everything and going every where. At 7 months she figured out that her belly was not that bad. I knew that her liking her belly would soon mean a new beginning for her and all new discovering for her as well. And soon she figured out that if she pushed with her legs she could scoot along and lunge herself to where she needed to go. I could not believe it my little girl was now moving around and getting her toys. Soon after that she figured that she could rock on all 4's . What a cute little girl. My freedom of not worrying about what was on the floor was about to come to an end. And now at 8 months it has ended. She is now crawling and adventuring out more and more. Leaving mommy's sight and getting into everything. This is kind of weird that my little baby is growing up before my eyes. Samantha now has two words she says Mama, and Dada. Way to cute. I love it when she says our names. She loves her Daddy, the minute she hears her dad she lites up and starts bouncing and jumping around. She is so cute. I will have to take pictures and let you see how cute she is so soon I will get some up.

Anyways we are thinking that she is allergic to corn. anytime that she has corn or something with corn in it she has diarrhea and breaks out in a bright red diaper rash that burns her skin. We have eliminated corn from her diet and it goes away, every once in awhile she will get a taste of something and sure enough she is having diarrhea and diaper rash it is a never ending cycle with it. I hope that we can pin point and figure it out all the way. We need to get into the allergist and Dr's to see what can be done.

To all my friends with allergies I am so sorry I feel what you are going through.

What a weekend!!!

Well I have found a quiet moment to sit and update. Yes it is 12:30 am but when you are the mother of six wonderful children, wouldn't you rather be playing with them too!!!!

This weekend we have had a blast having my parents come down to visit!!! Allison our 2nd oldest had her 8th birthday and was Baptized. So Grandma and Grandpa came down to witness this special event. What a wonderful feeling we had. Allison was so excited to be baptized. She told everyone that she saw. She invited every one of her friends( she is a great missionary). When she was baptized she said while she was getting dressed that she was so cold that she was shivering. How sweet for her, knowing that soon she would have the Holy Ghost given to her and descend upon her, helping her to make decisions in her life. As she becomes older and more mature, I pray that I might continue to be a good example to her that she may gain a stronger testimony and follow the Savior because she wants to. I love my children and think that they are all sweet spirits sent down from Heaven to live here on earth.

For the 4th of July we sat around with my family and played out side with the kids watching them do funny things. Ok so we also watched Grandma be funny:) Her is a sample of what we did!!!!!!! I hope the video will upload? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6hXFMAdS3Q

We also waited until dark and them watched the sky light up with fire works. The kids had fun with Sparklers and such. Them we came in and went to bed it was late.

Monday we had a slow start from being up late. But by noon we left to go to the lake and have some water fun!!!! The kids played on the beach and built sand castles. They swam in the water and little Micheal he carried around a bag of chips and shared with every one.

I had to leave and Take Joseph to see the Dr. which was sad because Joseph just wanted to stay. We did hurry back and played for about another 2 hours. When I got back Aunt Sally and her girls were there as well. Just imagine 2 grandmas and a mommy out in the lake having a blast and being guffy!!!! It was great!!! What a grand day we had!!! I wish that we could do this more often. After the lake we headed back home and Grandma and Grandpa stopped and got Pizza for everyone and we came back and had dinner. Now all the kids are being processed for bed and we are in for a quiet night!!!!

Allie and Mommy

Today was such a fun day!!! Allison and I got to go to Roaring Springs Water park!!! I love spending time one on one with my kids. Allison did a reading program at school where the kids had to read 600 min to get a free pass to the park. She read 900 min and was thrilled to get her ticket. We were there for 4 hours and she was so excited to play. I forget how much energy young kids have. We went on almost all the rides!!! Even the scary ones!! Allison wanted to go on all the rides and yes mom is a chicken, but I had to be brave for her and so I went on all of the scary ones too!! Allison is an amazing girl and I can hardly believe how old she is now. It seems like just yesterday I was holding her in my arms and cuddling her and taking her and Joseph in walks to the park in the bike carrier, and along the green belt. Oh the memories that will forever be in my heart and mind. And oh how many more will come our way. Family is a wonderful BLESSING that our Father In Heaven has given us. I love you Allison!!!!

My Garden

I can not believe that I actually grew this in my garden!!! There will be more to come as the summer gets hotter.

This year I have planted a few new things. I am excited that so many of my plants are turning out so great!!!! I planted Broccoli and it looks amazing!!! I also have Lettuce and Spinach

To all my readers

I am letting you know that I am going to try and attempt to keep Sallys Sweet Delights up and going. Any advise on how to get readers would be great. I would also like to get some giveaways going on there as well!!! I do crafts and sewing projects, I also do recipes and lots of them. I do not know what to give away as winners to post about trying new recipes? Any ideas would be great!!! I will give away a set of girls hair bows to the best comment and idea!!! You can go and dream at my Artfire studio and them post and let me know which ones you love!!!! Here is the link to my studio http://www.artfire.com/users/sallysweetdelights

Also check out my blog http://sallyssweetdelights.blogspot.com/ so you know what you are up against!!!!

Have fun and may the best idea win!!!!

Allison's 8th Birthday

I just had to post a few things about her birthday. It was so much fun. The girls that she had over made little magnets that they colored with markers. Allison loves Hannah Montana, and so she played pin the Microphone to Hannah's mouth. They liked that game!!! After we did that we had cake and ice cream!!! Allie opened presents of course she had a blast and loved everything that she got. Thank you girls for making her day a special one.

As part of Allison turning 8 she had the choice to get her ears pierced. She of course has chosen to do so. I took her to get them done and after 30 min of telling her that it would be fine and it would only hurt for a few seconds she said no not now maybe I will do this latter. I told her that she was brave and that there would always be time to get it done when she was ready for it and that she did not have to rush into it. I was a little sad because she was ecstatic that she was getting her ears done and could barley wait for it to get done until she saw the little gun thing that they put the earrings in with. This proves that she is still my little Allie the one with such a cute little laugh and such a big heart. I love you Allison!!!

Allison's plans for her Birthday and more

I love my days when I can sit and relax and enjoy doing nothing except snuggle my children!!! To bad today was not one of them. I am going to be having an 8 year old in exactly 2 minutes. Allison was born at 12:17 am on June 19th!!!! Wow that went by fast!!!! So yes she is going to be having a birthday party for her. She is our real party animal and social butterfly!!! She wanted a Hannah Montana Cake, so we compromised with Hannah's guitar in stead thinking it would look cuter and easier but for me that was not the case but non the less it is done and she likes it!!!! I have also been busy getting all the laundry done that seems to never go away!!! Always a load to do and then some. I have to clean and vacuum tomorrow and that should be it and then we will be ready!!!!

I am recovering from a break down so to speak about my oldest son and some involved people that should not be involved the way they want to be with out asking my permission. The nerve of some people. But because I know how not forgiving others can hurt ourselves I have forgiven and am moving on and hope that in the future those that need to communicate with me will before they let everyone else in on their plans except the Parents!!!!!

So all I have to say right now is I love you Allison and happy Birthday to you!!!!!!!

Some funny potty training scenes

Michael is so funny!!! He has been talking about and trying the potty thing for about 3-4 months now. But just this week he has wanted to do it more and more. I coupon shop and was able to get pull ups (which I never buy anyways) for $3 and thought that was a great buy!!! I told Michael that when he wanted to go potty in the toilet he could and so he wore one because they were Toy story of course. What child will not wear a cartoon for under wear or diapers. I showed him that the stars and the wagon wheel would diapear if he wet and that we would have to throw them away in the garbage if that happened and put a new one on to try again. So a while later he had to go potty and he said no I make my star diapear see mom watch it funny!!! What a character he is!!! So that was the first day and it was quite a day and I just helped him get a new one and so on. Well the next day I said to him that if he went in the toilet he would get a chocolate if the star was still there!!! So I guess it is a combanation of both the star and the chocolate and him being ready and wanting to do this!!! I think a week of doing this maybe two weeks because I forget to remind him to go and should do it more than I am he will be ready to go!!!Yay for big kids and their funny things they do!!!!

So I walked into the bathroom and here is what I have seen from my son in the past week:

Mom I am standing on the toilet to pee Michael standing on the rim of the toilet aim for the water in the bowl trying to pee!!!

Michael putting his head in the toilet to see his pee and poo literary cm away from the water yuck

Michael with is bum in the toilet leaning back to relax while going pee

Michael standing in the toilet water saying he is swimming

For those of you that are grossing out that is ok I have done the same thing all week long.

I do clean the toilet daily so it makes me feel a little better but not much. I do have to say though at least it is not in public ones that is just plain wrong if it were.

Michael is our dare devil no fear child and shows us daily and scares me plenty as well

1st day of Summer break

We had a great day the kids had swim lessons. It was so cute to see little Michael in the water learning how to swim!!! Maddie she is a fish she loves the water and same with Spencer they love water and could live in it if they could. Michael he has had tubes in his ears for about a year now and ever sense then does not like water in his ears so he was not to thrilled that he had to get wet. The tubes are now gone and we do not have to worry to much about it but he still does not like to go under water at all. I am not going to press the issue to much and have let his teacher know this as well. Anyways we are having to much fun with summer. The kids have been playing with friends yes and even Joseph has been!!!! I love it!! Oh let it be like this all summer long no fighting and lots of happiness:)

Update about Joseph

I just wanted to let you know that over all I can not believe how well Joseph has been doing. I have been taking a parenting class with the group out in Caldwell American Mothers for about a year. On of my good friends teaches the class and we use the book Positive Parenting by Glen Latham. Joseph had his honey moon period after he came back from the hospital the 2nd time and and we held our ground with him. He then tried to test us and when he figured out that the rules were not going to go away at all and we were not going to budge one bit then he pretty much go over it. He will still try to test us but it is less and less and the temper tantrums are less and less. We have also started working on more behaviors like respect and appropriate use of words. We let him pick the consequence and that has seemed to work well. He gets mad and then realizes that he choose to use the words and he also set the consequence and wants us to not use it but then knows that we will not give in and so he does his "time" and is done. The melt downs are less and less. The family is happier and the kids actually like playing with Joseph more now!!! Sorry I and just going on and on, I guess with all my kids there I did not get to tell you how he was really doing, or what was going on in much detail.

We are also looking into a few Homeopathic Doctors. Nancy recommended one to us that we are going to try and see. Just thought that I would let you know what we were doing, I hesitate telling many people because it is not so popular by some professionals but we have put much thought and prayer in this and feel that this is what we are to do. Yes he will still be taking the meds he is currently on right now. But we are going in to have tests and different things looked at as well.

Summer Fun

I am excited for the summer. We are going to be doing science this summer and my kids are so excited about doing it!!!! I am also excited about doing it. I think that I am all ready for it!!!!! I love watching my kids get so excited about the little things in life.

Allison is having fun planning her 8th birthday and is getting her ears pierced as well!!! She is also going to roaring springs water park and having friends come over. She is so dang cute. I can not believe that she is getting baptized this summer that 8 years went by too fast. Where is the time going. I remember that just a few short years ago I thought that this day would never come and that my babies would stay small forever and now they are becoming such big kids. Like I said where has the time gone!!!!

Just plain tired today

Today I have been so tired. Why can I not go to bed at a decent hour. Well tonight I am going to go to bed early. Like right now.!!!!! We did have a good day. The kids have their last day of school tomorrow. I can not believe another year down. This is going by way to fast:( It is fun to watch them grow and develop and become more like their Father in Heaven, but why do they have to do so fast. A friend of mine just recently reminded me that it was in the Lords time and not my time. I just need to remind myself of that quite often. Good night world and I will see you in the morning!!!!!! Sleep Must have Sleep

Allison was just acceppted to the ALP class

I can not believe that My sweet Allison is doing great in class!!! She has all A's and loves to read she is always wanting to go to school and when she is home she teaches her brothers and sisters in her Classroom. Gives them stars and everything for good behavior and reads to them. They could sit and for hours let Allie instruct them. She will be in the Advanced Learning Placement Program in the district this next year. WE are so proud of her!!! She will do great in the program and excell even more in her academic career. I love her so much. She will be eight next month and I can not believe how fast that has gone. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were splashing in the puddles and making mud pies and swing on the swings and rocking on the rocking horse. Kids are so amazing I just want to spend every moment that I have with them before they are gone. She now loves to play tether ball read books (she is a book worm) play school with the kids. She is learning how to cook and is getting quiet well at it. She wants to be a teacher when she grows up and goes to college. She is a great saver of her money and has a goal to buy a wii. What a cute girl she is becoming. She is also the biggest helper a mommy could ever ask for. I love you Allison!!!!!

Joseph sings in the Talent Show

A few weeks ago Joseph came to me and said he was singing in the talent show!!!!I was a bit suprised because he is not a people person and seems to be shy. Well our children teach us something new everyday I guess. Well today was his talent show. He and 2 other boys sang the National Anthem "The Star Spangled Banner"!!! How cute he was and so brave he stood!!! I love you Joseph you are the best!!!!

Allison and the Tether ball

I would have to say that these girls are so cute!!!!!

What a beautiful little funny girl that I have here!!!

Allison has found a new sport that she loves!!!! She can not get enough of tether ball. So for her birthday we are getting her one. Her grandpa had a tether ball pole that David used when he was her age and is giving it to us. She is now using a pole that you hang flower planters on and has tied a rope to it and has a soft squeeze ball that she has made into a tether ball. What a cute little creative girl I have!!! She does not know that for her birthday she will be getting a real tether ball from us!!!! Oh the excitement that she has for life. I love this girl!!!!

Finally Pictures again

Well we had to get a new camera because I can not live with out taking pictures so many things that I have missed like Sammie turning 6 months Spencer loosing his first tooth and many cute times with the kids doing funny things. You never realize how much you use your camera until it does not work!!!

I am posting Pics of my garden that I have been working on this spring and am so excited for it to grow!!!!

I have done the square foot garden this year and love it so far.

Spencer lost his 1st and now 2nd Tooth AND MUCH MORE

Can I beleive it, no I can not, but it is true my new born infant of 5 years is loosing his teeth. Wait a minute didn't these teeth just grown in and we were ewing and awhing about them and how cute they were:) It is hard for me to think that my kids are growing up so fast before my eyes.

We had a great day today!!! I had a yard sale and made some head way on decluttering. I also Worked in my garden. I am so excited about gardening this year maybe because I am not pregnant and can bend over to pull weeds and can use the shovel. I also have worked in the back yard, making a fire pit so that we can have camp fires this summer and do fun things!!! I have been loving the warm weather and have been soaking up all this sun:)

Well I hope to have some Pictures of the kids soon. Our camera is broken, it was handled by curious children and now does not focus. Hence the yard sale money is towards a new camera!!! So on Monday or Tuesday we will have one again.

Stay tuned for my post of Joseph singing the Star Spangled Banner at the school talent show. I am a bit nervous for him because I am his mother and think that my little boy is so dang cute!!!!! He is not the type of kid to stand up in front of people and sing so this shocked me when he told me that he was going to do this:) I am proud of him for doing this!!!!

Poor Baby

My little girl Sammie is so miserable. She has an ear infection in her right ear and can not seem to get happy. I give her meds as often as I can and it helps to take the edge off but she is not herself yet. I hope that now we have some antibiotics in her that she will start to feel better soon. We went to the Race for the Cure and I had her in the wrap all morning which she loves so I thought that her sleeping was normal because that is what she does any time I put her in it she falls asleep. I got home and all she wanted to do is be held. Then latter that afternoon she started running a fever and got a terrible barking cough. So today she woke up and was miserable and pulling at her ears. I looked at her ears with the ear scope and sure enough it was red and bulging. Poor thing we went to quick care and got everything taken care of and waited at the store to get her meds, which by the way for me to go to the store on Sunday and walmart even was way weird for me because it is to be a quiet day and it is nothing by quiet there. Anyways we are home and she is sleeping now. Poor little girl I hope that she is on the mends now.

Our day bad and them ended up GOOD

So it has been on of those days where I feel like nothing has been accomplished:( I had an appointment this morning and had to leave by 9:45 am and my sitters kids got sick and she had to cancel so it was a scramble to find another one at 9:00am this morning. Thanks Lauren you are a life savor. Love you lots tell your mom thanks!!!! I took Joseph to the Neurologist and left feeling like the appointment was a waste of time. He basically said that I just needed to go to a better Psychiatric DR for Joseph one that has more training in Autism. As if we do not go to an Autism clinic with some of the best Dr.s in the State for this already. He highly recommended that we go to Dr Levaell. We have seen him already, and was not impressed with him. But at last we will try again. I strongly feel like Joseph does not have Autism and if he does it is not the whole cause of his behaviors. I have done research on Sensory Processing Disorder and he fits all these symptoms to a tee. I had no idea that that there was even something out there like this. Why do the Dr.s just assume that it is Autism and that there can not be anything else out there to explain it. Or are they the same thing but the Dr.s just want to give out drugs so they say nothing about SPD. Occupational Therapy is a way better route to go first before trying drugs right. I was talking to his OT at school and he has a sensory background and says that the drugs can cause a chemical imbalance and cause more behaviors on top of the other ones that were present due to SPD. What if I have done this to my baby, what a bad feeling I have. Although recently I went to the temple and was told that He would be healed and so I rely on my faith in Jesus Christ to bring comfort to my troubled soul. I hope and pray for answers to my questions and that I will be lead to the right Dr. Our next route is the Endocrinologist. Joseph has started going through Puberty already and I am wondering if this is to young or if it is right. So onto another Dr. we go!!! I feel sorry for Joseph and having to go to Dr after Dr. I know he is probably wondering why I worry about him so much and just want him to be a kid.

On a brighter note he did get to be a kid tonight. He was getting ready to go to the YMCA with is best friend his dad. When one of his friends called and wanted to come over to play. What someone wanted to play with Joseph, yes!!!!!!! As a mother it makes me feel great to know that there are kids out there that know how to interact with Joseph. He had fun at first he did not know what to do but soon they were all playing hide and seek!!!! Oh the good old days of childhood games. By the time it was time for everyone to go home nobody wanted to including Joseph he was having so much fun it was amazing to see.

Yet another reason I feel like Joseph does not have Autism. He can play with people and he wants to. He just has a hard time reading the social cues but once he knows how to them he does great and has a blast. We need more of this and more often so that the Drs and Therapist can see for them selves that he can do this. It just takes practice and when you have not practice when you are a little guy then it gets harder and harder the older you get. Also if you are at school and the kids pick on you and tease you all the time who wants to make friends? I would not want to. Anyways that is my story and I am sticking to it!!!!!

Spencer has his 1st lose tooth

Last night Spencer realized that his tooth was loose and started to freak out. When we finally found out that that is what was wrong we were re-leaved and explained to him that it was ok and the tooth fairy would soon be here to visit and leave something in place of his baby tooth. Then a new tooth would soon start to grow in. He is now letting us wiggle his tooth but it was not until this morning that he let us. He informed us that "I am now brave enough to let you wiggle my tooth mommy"

Oh I can not believe that my baby is now loosing teeth and getting ready to start school this fall. That was way to fast for me!!!!!

Sammie has her 1 st Tooth!!!!

With little fuss Sammie now has her 1st. tooth.

She also had her 6 month check up she is 14lbs 2 oz. She is 25 1/4 in tall and her head circumference is 16 in. She is pretty little for a 6 mon old of mine as all my children were 14 lbs at 4 months. Samantha is eating food and can actually swallow the food. She loves rice and any vegetable or fruit that we give her so far. She is sitting up and rolling over both ways now and loves to be vocal although she does not laugh or giggle yet. We try to get her to but she just does not like to or care to.

Some frustrations with Dr.'s and Professionals

So looking back to all of what Joseph has gone through it seems like a mother has an instinct and that our Father in Heaven is all knowing and he really knows what Joseph needs as well as how to bring peace and comfort to our souls as we go through these trials. I have learned that just because a Dr or a Therapist has been through years of school does not mean that they know what is best for your child. That no amount of medication will make my child normal, because to him he is normal, that it does not hurt to do your own research because you know exactly what your child does with all the emotions attached to the behaviors be hind what he is doing. When Dr's tell you something that it is ok to disagree with the Dr and tell them why you are disagreeing with them. I have also learned that it is very important to listen to the Spirit and let its peace fill your soul. It is also very important to follow inspiration. I learned this one the hard way. When Joseph went into the hospital the first time he was taken off all his meds except his Zoloft. We did this once already and the results were much the same he became very aggressive with out reason. Very aggitated and impulsive. The Dr that was doing his med managment did not know what to do so he had us put him back on Ablify and sent us to a Pyciatric Dr. She just increased him on the med until it did not work and that was when we were addmitted to the hospital for a med change. So the Dr upped his Zoloft and took him off of Ablify. and added tenex. Wow he was amazing for 2 1/2 weeks and then a bomb hit. He became very impulsive and agitated he could not control him self and said that his mind was racing. He lost his sense of danger and played with fire which previously he was overly cautious. After he started the fire he was nervous and did not know what to do. He also put a plastic bag over the babies head and wanted her to die. He was very dangerous, not saying that he is still this way anymore. He is very stable and can now tell why we do not do those things as well as other dangerous things. I am very glad that I have my son back. I guess that I am just mad that the Dr called it a manic episode and labled him as bi polar where he is not like this at all. The only other time he was like that was when we put him on Zoloft the first time. You can not tell me that this was the a manic episode unless you look at the same reactions he had the 1st time. The only thing was is that the Abilfy was not completely out of his system yet and so he did not get as bad and I could tell something was happening and gave him the Ablify again. Can Dr.'s and professionals just admit that they made a mistake. What to do? Anyways I hope that this time around will be better and that we will make progress. So far we are and it has been great. Joseph is easily redirected and if needed will go to time out if necessary. Anyways those are my feelings. Oh yes and his therapist and OT are a little nervous to work with him do they not understand that this was the meds that did him in and not who he really is? Some people, well I am glad that I have a mothers intuition!!!!!!

Sammie and 6 months already!!!!!

While I was thinking about it I thought I would do Sammie's Milestones. Can you believe that she is 6 months old. That was fast. Samantha is sitting up and has been for 2 weeks now. She is rolling over from back to tummy and occasionally from tummy to back. She is eating rice now and swallowing it with out spitting it out now. She loves baby food and can not get enough of it. She just cracks me up with how she sticks out her tongue. It is always out and very long and pointy. Sammie as also discovered her voice and is quite vocal. She has also just yesterday decided to take a bottle which has made her a lot happier. I feel kind of bad of thinking that she was starving and not being satisfied. I love her so much and she is so happy and content. She is a Daddies girl unless she is hungry and them she wants her mommy. I still nurse her but she is being supplemented now. We were going to ween her because she wanted nothing to do with a bottle or formula and then she started drinking my frozen milk supply and then when that was gone we tried formula and she did not like it. But last night she must have been so hungry that she nursed and them had 4 oz of formula. Wow poor little girl. Now she has been very happy today and is very playful. It is good to have her sweet little spirit back and her personalities still is emerging and it is fun to watch it grow and blossom.

I feel so blessed

I am feeling so blessed right now. I feel at peace knowing that I am doing everything that I can right now to be a good mom to my kids. There are some days that I do not feel that, but they are getting less and less. I am sure that if this trial that we are in gets to much that my Father in Heaven will continue to hold me up and help me through it. I love the comfort that the spirit brings to me and as I ask for it daily I can tell the difference from the days that I have rushed out the door or the days that meditation and those few quiet moments that I have are rushed. I feel grateful that I have a great support system and team of professionals to get us through this. My number one priority is that my family is first. I can not lose site of what has brought me to this point. That is my marriage for ETERNITY to my ever lasting HUSBAND DAVID. Oh how I adore this amazing man!!!!! He has so much love for me and I love being with him and miss him when he is away. He is always there to listen to me and has so much patience with me. I think if I had to put up with me I would have a hard time. I can be crazy at times. Then there is my wonderful 6 smiling and happy faced children they are just amazing little miracles each and every one of them is so different. I can not help but thank Heavenly Father for their amazing and strong willed personalities. As I mold and guide them and pray for them as they receive their own testimonies in the Gospel, and watch them grow it amazes me at their love for learning what is being taught to them and how much they really understand. Some people tell me how strong I am and what a great mom I am at this time of my life with all the things going on with Joseph and my thoughts to this is I owe it to my Savior for I feel like I am not alone and that at this time he is carrying me through this, I have to put my trust in him and see what is in store for me. If I worry about it day in and day out I will neglect my other children and loose out on valuable time that I have to develop a bond with them. It is not worth it, I have asked for help from my Savior and he has so willing offered to take my burden from me. So yes I love my son and pray for his continued recovery and safety and peace of mind and in return I get the assurance that GOD IS IN CHARGE. He has guided me to those that can help him become stable again. To that I say thank you. I am so grateful for my dear friends that have also been there for support and love and a shoulder to cry on. For the counselors and Dr and their recommendations that have gotten further help for volunteers that watch my other children when I am at the hospital, not having to worry about my sweet children and if they are safe or not. My heart is so full I think there are too many words to express how I feel and it is hard for me to say it all. But Thanks to all of you that are here and help me out it keeps me going and if some of you can not tell it has opened the flood gates to share the wonderful message of the Gospel with friends and family, about Our Savior Jesus Christ. He is here and loves us very much and will never let us down. No matter what we are going through. I encourage all of you to read the BOOK OF MORMON and if you do not have one I will give you one it is the most amazing book I have ever read. and wish for all to read it. I love yo all and should really go to bed it is very late.

LOVE YOU ALL

Another Update on our sweet little boy!!!

I got to go and see Joseph tonight and it breaks my heart to see my son this way. Yet I have this peaceful feeling that everything is going to be OK. I pray that Heavenly Father will heal him and make him Whole again. Whether that be with Meds or not it will be the Will of our Father. I know and have Faith that because of the Atonement that Joseph will be healed and he is going to be OK. When I went to the Hospital he still had a hard time listening and following directions. And then he did not want to do any thing. We read a book and then laid there as I scratched his back for 2 hours and snuggled with him in bed and he laid there with his hands curled up to his chest. Knowing what your child is capable and seeing that he can not even do this is just heart breaking. I would love to give him my brain and trade him places so that he can have a normal childhood. Yet to him this is who he is and nothing will change this. I do not know if he would know what to do with normal. He has mentioned to me that he wishes that he could be a good boy and asked why did I have to be born like a bad child and do bad things all the time. And when you hear things like that you just want to cry and ask yourself what did I do wrong.

The Dr. Is putting him on a new Med today TriLiptal, and Rispadal fast acting meltaway tabs. I sure hope that this will help. I pray that as we make these choices that we intune with the spirit and know as to the Lord wants us to do. The Dr. is leaning towards adding a new diagnoisis along with the others he already has, BIPOLAR dissorder. This is all so hard for me to take in and why at 9 years of age does this have to happen to my sweet little boy of whom I love so dearly. He is amazely sweet and kind but them he will snap for just a few days and then he is back to his sweet self again? I just wish that there was more that I could do to help him.

I love you Joseph I am fighting for you and will not give up this fight until the Lord calls us Home again!!!!!

How things go at our house!!!

We are doing well. I love days like this. So quiet and all the kids got along. It was a smooth day. Kids are so fun and make me laugh. Michael is a mountain climber, and every time I turn around he is climbing onto the table or the counter, today he tried to climb out the window. Crazy kid!!!!

Joseph is making little progress right now. He is really struggling and I hope and pray that he will be able to make it through. I know that I have been sent this Sweet and loving child for a reason and I am starting to now understand why. I have always wanted to have a special needs child and I never really thought that I had one until recently. I guess when they are born to you they are normal to you and so you know nothing better. I pray that we can find answers. We have the best Pediatric DR. in the valley and he is having a hard time finding a med that will work. We are hoping that soon he will come out of this and be able to get some progress. I am currently working on OT sensory integration paper work to show his Dr that I believe that he has a lot of sensory issues. I am listing all his symptoms and such and have a meeting with his Dr. this weekend. I have a meeting with his IEP team at school to let them know more concerns and I am hoping that I can get somewhere with this. I pray that I will be led to the right answers and bless him and his team of Dr and professionals to get him the right help that he needs.

Tomoarrow we are taking the kids to the zoo and then to Camels back park. It is going to be fun!!!!

Update again

Today was a crazy day but a good day as well. I will post an email as I have not the energy to continue to type this out. This is written to the School but it does explain what we have been going through with our child.

I am Sally Smith Parent of Joseph Smith at Lewis and Clark Elementary.

I am very concerned with the counselor at Lewis and Clark Elementary Courtney Moryer. My son Joseph Smith has been Diagnosed with Autism and has been struggling greatly with it. On Monday he came home with a note from school that he was having a bad day. Today he had a counseling appointment and could not sit still and was very aggressive and in others boundaries, and very non compliant. I felt that I could not control him and felt that he could not function at all by him self. I told the counselor that I would not feel comfortable leaving him there and that if there was no one to be with him that I would have to take him home. She said that he needed to make right choices and he would be fine. Even when I told her that he tried starting a fire in our house put things in the light socket and put a bag over his 5 month old baby sister this weekend. I knew that the students were at risk around him as well and I could not let Joseph or any others get hurt. I felt that she was not doing her job as a school counselor.

I talked with the OT today and she said that she would follow him and be with him today until he had to be picked up at 3pm. So why is it that the counselor could not see this, that he needed someone with him to help him calm down, yet the OT knew this was necessary. I need him to be safe at school and know that he is not going to be hurting others. I know that Miss Horn his teacher has suggested that he get a one on one and I have also suggested that as well. Yet nothing has happened. He has private insurance and Medicaid as well so I would hope that it is not an issue of funding. Please let me know what we have to do to get this for him. He is also going to be getting an IBI worker we are in the process of getting this approved by the state. Could there be a chance that we could have his worker come to school with him? What is it going to take to get things going for him?

We went in to see his med Dr. Today at 4pm and she admitted him to the hospital this is the second time in a month and he has already missed 9 days of school. I need help and feel as though I am not getting much from the administrators at Lewis and Clark. They listen but I feel that they do not follow through very well. What do I do? I do not want to cause problems but at the same time I need my child to be safe and feel safe. Please feel free to call me. I am busy with 5 other children as well and Joseph is the oldest, I would love to get together and have a meeting sometime. So that we can discuss what I as a parent can do to get the help that I need. I would need at least 1 day to find a sitter for my kids. Thank you for your help.

By the way I have had nothing but positive help from all of the OT and Speech Therapists they are great!!!!

I hope that we can figure things out and get him the help that he needs. He is very sick and I pray every day that we will find something that works so that he can enjoy his childhood. I know that all things are for our good, and that I need to have a positive attitude about this so I smile. But inside I ache for my son. I want to go into his mind and trade. I would do anything for him so that he does not have to go through this but our Father in Heaven knows him best and I pray that as I go through this that I will feel the guidance of his Spirit and that I may be led to those that will help him get back. He is a very tender hearted boy full of love and kindness that just needs help.

Thankyou for your Prayers and if I am not writing much it is because I am doing research to see what else is out there for him and taking care of my family (5 wonderful children at home 1 in the hospital and my wonderful and amazing husband of whom I adore.) I am on face book and I check my email daily as well. I will be on here periodicly and will update as often as I can. Thanks and Love you all!!!

Joseph is so loving this watching the egg turn color

Here area few pics of the kids and Easter

Spencer is fascinated with the egg and keeps asking if he can peel it yet

Michael liked the feel of the Yellow water so much he decided to dye his chin as well

And Easter is never complete unless you have a Family Picture to remind us why we needed a Savior!!!!!

Look they are all smiling in some way or another are they not so CUTE!!!! I love my kids all of them.

We had a good Spring Break and now it is time to get back

We had a good spring break and now it is time to get back into our School routine again. I would not say that it was the best but it was good. All the kids had fun and we did get to play and swim at the YMCA. On Wednesday Night Joseph's Meds did not work all that great and have pretty much stopped working. I am very worried about him and hope that we can figure things out. We may be putting him back into the Hospital, or sending him to a group home. I hope that we will figure this out soon. He is such a sweet and loving boy that has so much potential and can accomplish anything that his Father in Heaven has in store for him. He did want a blessing tonight and David and our Home teacher gave him one. I was very happy that he was able to them do this for him. Thanks for the prayers on his behalf they are much needed. I know that we can find the right answers for him and we will with our Father in Heavens help.

Spring Break is here and we are going to have fun

I am so excited about our spring break!!!!! What to do with all the time we have, Lots of playing at the Park and The YMCA and going into Boise.

Joseph is doing amazing. His Med change has made a huge difference. WOW I have a boy that is mine again and I LOVE it. I am amazed of what I put up with for so long. I still have to us my own tactics to get him to do what he needs to do but not to often and when I do he is very willing, it does not drag out to long. I believe that with all the prayers that are being said on his behalf and with our FAITH our Father in Heaven is answering our prayers. Thank you for all your support everyone.

Joseph is Home

We got the Phone call from the nurse today that we have been waiting for for 1 week and 6 days, The doctor has written discharge papers. I can not tell you how excited I was!!!! Just this time 2 weeks ago David and I had been discussing taking him to the hospital. I can not believe how long ago that seems. When having a son a child taken from your home, makes everything different. The days seemed to take to long and I was constantly relying on my Father in Heaven for gudiance and strength to get our family through this trial. Also so Joseph would feel of our love for him. I felt so relieved to know that he was now on his way home!!!! While he was in the hospital he went through some intense anger management classes with other children his age. These kids had 4 groups a day where they would work on goals and discuss ways that they could control them selves. We have a lot of learning to still do, and as we are consistent we will prevail!!!! As a family we have decieded to do a family group nightly. This consists of making a daily goal to work on for each of us. We write each of our goals on a paper that goes on the fridge for the day. We then go around the table and say one nice thing about each other, in creative ways not always the same way. Tonight we went around the table and the person they were sitting next to had to say something nice to them each taking a turn. After that we sing a song and then read scriptures as a family. We have a prayer song "Let us Gather in a Circle and Kneel in Family Prayer" Then we pray. We then have Story time and bed. The kids are all in bed by 8:30 and then the house is pretty quiet. Although we are still going rounds with Michael trying to get him to fall asleep. Crazy kid just can not settle down and fall asleep. It is a work in progress with him. Any ways we will have a fun time with this more structured evening I hope. We have already been doing Prayer Scriptures and Stories so there are just a few add ins. My goal is to help the other kids under stand the need for Joseph to have a very structured routine. That is it for now

Update on our Family Life as we have known it this week

Our Family is doing well. Joseph is doing well. He has now been in the Hospital for 1 week and 2 days. He is now off of one med completely and doing well. They will be starting him on a new med and upping another one so we are hoping that he will do well. I am a little nervous to bring him back home into a sort of chaotic environment compared to the very structured on that he has been in for the last week. He thrives on routine and when you have a large family with 6 children 4 being under the age of 5 it does get a bit hard to follow a routine to the tee and that is what he loves. There is always a lot of things going on at once. I guess we will see how things go in the next couple of days with his med change and how he will be at home. We are hoping by the end of this week we will be able to bring him home. Thank you for all your prayers and help through this trial that we are going through.

The other kids are missing their big brother and ask when he is going to come home. They are always remembering to pray for him so he can get better and come home.

Let the Potting training begin!!!!!

I did this with Spencer and Maddie and now it has once again worked to my advantage!!!!! I do not say to my little ones lets put our underwear on and go potty on the toilet. I simply let them do it when they are ready. For the last 2 months Michael has shown a lot of interest in going potty and loves to climb up on the toilet and sit there for ever. He just never figured out how to go. Well today and of all places in Sacrament meeting he announced to me "pee come in out, pee come in out" So I thought that I would humor him and let him sit on the toilet. He sat there with wide eyes and he concentrated on trying to let the potty come out and then he did it. HE DID IT!!!!!!!! Yea for me and then again when we got home he did it again. I think that I like the wait until they are ready thing and when they do it all by them selves it makes it so much easier on the mommy. He is so darn cute. I love him so much!!!!!!

Sammie is 4 months

Wow this went by so fast. Where does the time go. She is doing great developmentally. She is rolling over, she is laughing and blowing a ton of bubbles and she loves her tongue. She loves her jumperoo she also love her exer saucer. She is eager to start sitting up yet has not quite mastered it. She will I am confident by another month!!!! She grabs anything and chews on it. So she has mastered that. I do love her a ton. She has just started to eat rice cereal. And loves it a ton. She is the first ever baby that has absaluttly swallows this nasty rice cereal and wanted more. She is a delight.

She weighs in a 12lbs 2 oz. and 25 in long. yes she is my smallest little one most of the other kids hit 14 lbs by 2 months and were at 16lbs by 4 months.

I am a little concerned because for the last month she has been extremely fussy and hard to console. She is very agitated. But when we went into the Dr. She did not show off any symptoms. Why do they always do this for us. They are so sweet. We actually did not get her shots because she to me was not right and wanted to hold off a week so this week I need to schedule an appointment and let the Dr know what I have seen by watching her. She is very stiff and screams after during and before eating. she will fall asleep and then be awakens suddenly and scream some more. She has diareah quite often like 2-4 times a day, and spits up which is a new thing now. This has been going on for sometime now.
I was talking to a few friends that have said maybe acid reflex. We will go and have it checked out to see if this might be the case. I hope that something will help. But at least she did not do this when she was first born. I do not think that I could have handled it then.

By and By she is a remarkable little cute girl and pictures will follow soon, As life slows down enoungh for me to post more.

Sorry it has been a while

We have had a lot going on here for some time now. We admitted our oldest son into the Hospital. Talk about a very hard and emotional step in our lives. To trust him to the care of someone other then us is very hard to do. But it is the right thing and we are at peace with the desiscion that we have made. He was becoming violently aggressive and we were no longer able to keep all of our children safe. He was not happy with our desiscoin, and it may take him a long time for him to feel happy again. He will be there a minimum of 1 week but more then likely 2 weeks. We pray that he will have a good learning eperience and know that we love him , but more importantly that his Father in Heaven is right by his side through this whole journey. We love and pray for him and that he will feel of our love and know that we love him and want him to get the help that he needs so that he will beable to succeed in life and make it back with his Father in Heaven. Please pray for him that he will be comforted.

We are shopping

We are shopping for a bigger family van. How much bigger can we get. We are going to look at one tomorrow. It is a Dodge Ram Wagon 2000. It has 13,000 miles on it and we offered them 4000 and they said yes!!!! I hope that the test drive goes well, because then on Monday we will purchase it. We also have to pray about it and make sure that this is right for us. We will have to sell our other van which is posted on craigs list so I hope that I can get it sold!!!! I will update all on the status Monday on what we are going to do?

Blowing Bubbles

Sammie is getting so big!!!! She is 3 months already. Her new thing is she loves to blow bubbles. David and I make rasberry noises at her all the time and she loves it. She has been trying to mimick it for so long now and she finially has done it. Way cute to watch. She is also becoming quite the mover she pushes with her feet and moves around. But she refuses to be on her tummy much. She loves it when Allison holds her. She is loving Joseph too, he has been taken away by her and loves her so much. He is growing up and is starting to figure out who he is as well. Sammie puts up with the younger kids. They are a little more rough with her then she would like. Maddie thinks the world of her but does not like to be the dolly all the time. Sammie loves the sleepy wrap. She is in that a lot. Anyways she is doing great and is a great sleeper as well I have been blessed with such a great baby and a wonderful family.

Michael and his fedish with movies

Michael loves movies. The first thing he does when he wakes up in the morning, goes to my room and picks A DVD to haul around for the day. He is very mad at me when I will not let him take it. HE says "no Michael's movie I watch it now please." This goes on all day long. Now if the computer is not being used by anyone and it is unlocked he comes to the computer and by himself he turns on a variety of different movies that we have loaded onto the computer. What a guff ball. I can not believe that he can actually oppereate the computer all by him self like that. I really can not do anything around him if I do not want him to figure it out.

Oh and to tell you how serious he is about movies here is a story:
We once owned the movie Santa Clause 3 but it was scratched and did not work anymore so I through it in the trash can outside because I did not want him to carry it around the house all day and think that it was OK. The next morning I hear him up and then the door opened this is 6:30am. I get up and he is going outside to get the movie so I bring him in and tell him that we can not get the movie because it is in the garbage. Later that morning after the big kids were gone to school he comes in the house with the movie. What I thought how did you get that? I went out to put it back and he had gotten a crate and stood on it to reach into the yucky garbage can and retrived his movie. I then went about my day did preschool lunch and then nap time and as soon as he woke up he moved the wipe container to the door and stood on that to reach the chain that we have to unlock it and get his movie. He was too short and could not reach. So he got a tote that I had gone through earlier and pushed that to the door, still not tall enough so he stacked the wipe container on the tote, still not tall enough so he went to the kitchen and got a cup. Yes he is a master stacker and climber. No he did not get a chance to see if this would be tall enough. Mom spoiled the fun. I don't know I felt it was just a bit to risky for a 2 year old. He finally watched the garbage man take it away on garbage day and said his good byes to it.


Ok so he is really obsessed with movies. Yet he does not sit and watch more then 15 min of a show? Funny Boy

Spencers thoughts

Spencer is such a grown up he cracks me up!!!! He is always saying things like "Guess what mom I am your boy Spencer". Or "guess what mom I love you". He is the best little boy. He is also a big helper. He loves to bring me the baby even when she is sleeping! I am still working on that one. He has such a tender heart and a sweet spirit to him. He and Maddie are always together and are slowly letting Micheal join them. Love my kids

Rubber Bands

Yesterday I was making dinner and Maddie just wanted to be held. I have a wrap and she wanted to ride in it so we put her in it. I was cooking noodles for Alfredo. She asked me " Mom why are there rubber bands in the water" I am telling you this girl thinks of it all!!!! She was very concerned and I had to explain to her that they were noodles. Trying not to laugh the whole time. She is a darling 4 year old. I love her guts!!!!!!

The ups and the downs

Why have I been having so many ups and downs lately? I just want to be happy again, with a non fake smile. I feel like I am always sad. I just want to cry, but yet when someone asks how I am doing I say I am fine, because if I don't then I start crying and I can not express how I feel. I have felt like I am not a good friend and that people are annoyed with me. I don't know what I do but or what I don't do. I guess I should not let things like this bother me but I am being altra sensitive lately and I just want to crawl into a hole and hide.

On a lighter note Michael is learning to be "Gentle" to Sammie. He has not scratched and poked at her for 2 weeks now:) I wish that other people could see that. I guess it just takes time. We are all over pertective of our own kids. I would probally not let my kids play with kids that were not gentle if I knew that they were going to get hurt. Yes Michael is a little rough but he was not this way until Sammie was born.

I feel like people judge me and think that I am a bad Mom. Hey I just look at it as challenge, and with a tear in my eye that I have very rough boys that do not realize their strength yet and my job is to keep reminding them that gentle is ok.

Do you ever feel that life is never ending and that as you accomplish one trail another one is coming to get you. I know that as I read the Scriptures and Pray I am blessed with inspiration on how to deal with our trials. I am grateful for all that I know and for a loving Heavenly Father who loves me no matter what I do.



OK so I guess I am done for now and sorry if this was a sad post but we are all sad sometimes I just have been more so lately then others.

Life is good

I love my husband and I love my kids they are all just so great!!!!

It is always good to see someone taking the time to walk with your son that has little to very few friends. I am grateful to mommies that teach their children to love all kids out their no matter what they may be.

I love my Oldest Daughter Allison for always watching out for her brother, even though she may get annoyed with him from time to time she loves him deeply. I know that I must be doing something right because my kids just love each other and they show verbally and physically and emotionally. And quite frequently. Any ways must go to bed Sammie is calling me...... Mommy I want milk she says hurry mom run!!!!!

Wow!!!!

There are days that you wonder if what you are teaching your children is sinking into their little minds. Then when the oldest ones says, I am changing my life so that I can live with my Father in Heaven you know that what you are teaching them is working. We were making cookies and everyone got to taste the dough and mommy said no more as we had eaten half of the dough. We were making them for friends. Our oldest took some more dough after mommy said NO. So I said no cookie for him. So being a mommy of 6 kids and being very busy I had forgotten that I had said that and offered everyone a cookie, He said no and I asked why he did not want one. He replied because you said no, because I took some cookie dough when you said no. And I have decided that I want to change because I want to live with Heavenly Father again. I know that the spirit teaches even the youngest of us because we all need it!!!!!!

Snow in Caldwell is fun to do

Spencer and Michael in their snow fort

Daddy Spencer and Michael the creators of construction designers

Look at these very cold boys and how proud they are of their master piece

So it snowed a while back and this what the boys did!!!!

Sammie is growing up another mile stone

Just as happy as can be chillin out

What a cute little smile

Now that is a smirk if I saw one :)

Allie came to me and said there now Sammie is happy
I taught her about Jesus. I came to see and this is what she had done. I love little children they are so close to their Savior!!!!

Sammie on Grandma Smiths Blanket a Blankie that she loves to lay on and play with
Mom and Dad when all the other kids are in bed!!!!

So I can not believe that Sammie is almost 3 months old. Where did all that time go? The last few days she has started to grab for her toys and has been able to grasp them. That is so amazing to me. She also looks and finds her mom and then does not let her eyes wonder far from me. She is such a sweet little angel. Her little voice as it cues is so soft and quiet. I love her so much, ever y thing that she is and does is just so soft.