Sunday, January 23, 2011

Catching Up

I need to apologize for my lack of updates over the last little while.  I don’t know what Christmas did to me, but I have yet to catch up.  Both work an school mixed in with family have left me little time to blog.  I intend to do better.

A First Christmas

Our Angel’s first Christmas was  a special one.  I had forgotten the spirit a little baby brings into the home.  It seems to be even more present during Christmas.  EC and Keena were so cute with their sister wanting to show her all the sights, sounds, and traditions of Christmas.  Santa decided to get some DVDs for her to learn sign language.  These DVDs, called Signing Time have been a family favorite.  Keena and EC watch them regularly as we try to help our Little Angel learn to communicate.

DSCF9706

Angel’s First Road Trip

We were able to go and visit family in Idaho over the New Year.  It was Little Angel’s first road trip.  She loved it, especially all of the attention.  With her oxygen machine, we had to go a little white trashish and put some luggage on the roof of our van.  Ironically I forgot a piece to the oxygen machine so we had to track down an Idaho branch of Praxair.  They ended up just delivering oxygen tanks to get us through the trip, so we went all cousin Eddie for nothing.

My dad taught the kids a game he used to play with us as kids.  It is called “Fox and Geese”.  They all had fun.  It was a wonderful chance for us to go and visit family.a

DSCF9774DSCF9770

Game rules:  Fox and Geese - This game is played after a snowfall. First the snow is tramped down in paths to make a big wheel with spokes and a hub in the center. One player is the Fox and the rest are the Geese. The Fox tries to catch a Goose (who then becomes the next Fox). Players must stay inside the paths. If a Goose steps off the path, that Goose is caught. The only safe place for a Goose is in the center (hub). But only one Goose is allowed to be in the center.

A Christmas Present for Austin

While we were in Idaho we ordered a Christmas present for Austin.  We just got the proofs.  There may be some minor changes, but we are anxious for the ground to thaw so it can be placed.

image

Updates & Milestones

  • Little Angel’s pulmonary hypertension seems to be better.  We have an appointment with the pulmonologist on Friday for an update.
  • She does have severe sleep apnea that requires oxygen at night.
  • She has acid reflux that which complicates the apnea and the pulmonary hypertension.
  • She has grown so much.
    • She can use both hands to hold things.
    • She reaches and grabs rattles and toys very well.
    • Just recently she has learned to reach and grab with both hands for something right in front of her.
    • She loves her play piano exersaucer.
    • She can sit in her bumbo.
    • She has started eating rice cereal and baby food.
    • She has started laughing.
    • She still sleeps through the night.
    • She has become pretty social and looks when you call her name and smiles a lot.
    • She easily rolls over on her own.
    • Little Angel communicates very well.  Keena was paying the piano about a month ago and when she would stop, Little Angel would start whimpering until she started playing again.  She did the same thing watching signing time with me this morning.

DSCF9832DSCF9838DSCF9840DSCF9842DSCF9861DSCF9862

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Christmas 2010

"As we seek Christ, as we find Him, as we follow Him, we shall have the Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day each year, but as a companion always. We shall learn to forget ourselves. We shall turn our thoughts to the greater benefit of others" (Thomas S. Monson, "In Search of the Christmas Spirit," Ensign, Dec 1987, 3).

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas One and All

 

 

familychristmas

Keena (9) greatly anticipated getting her ears pierced this year. She has enjoyed wearing her mom’s earrings and saving to buy her own. She had three piano performances and one jazz dance performance. She loves to read, be creative, make videos, play with her sisters, help her mom, babysit and work on her Faith in God. She entered Reflections at school. The theme was “Together we can…”. She did a video http://youtu.be/DRdxowtpkNc on “Together we can spread the word to end the word.” She took second place at her school and second place at district. We are so grateful for her willingness to always help out and be an example to others!

EC (7) takes ballet and was in Coppelia for her performance this year. She started piano lessons and has had two performances this year. She loves having one on one time with each of her family members, enjoys school, playing with her sisters and friends and doing experiments. She entered Reflections at school and did a video http://youtu.be/E8ZjwDtI-Yc on “Together we can be more alike than different.” She received first place at her school and second place at district. We are so grateful for her love, smiles and hugs!

Austin continues to watch over us and bless our lives in many ways.

Alea (4 months) has added great joy to our family. She is continuing to grow and develop well. At her doctor’s appointment on the 15th of December she was 24.5 inches long and weighed almost 13 pounds. She is on ¼ liter of oxygen at night and off oxygen during the day. We are grateful for her happy nature. She is very patient and loving! http://awalkwithourangel.blogspot.com/

Chris continues to work at Novell as a Business Analyst. He enjoys his job. He has 6 months left of school and then will have a one year internship. It has been a great learning experience for him. He kept very busy this summer with the many projects he added to our yard. He enjoys playing with his kids, BYU football, cooking, extracurricular sports and being with his wife. We are so grateful for the many creative ways he helps us to have fun!

Jodi - I enjoy every minute with my family! I feel like I have learned so much over the last few years and am doing my best to simplify and learn to be a better mom and wife every day. I have a strong testimony of the gospel and am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ! He brings joy and peace to my life! The Lord blesses me every day, and I feel His love! I hope you all are able to recognize His hand in your lives. He lives and is full of grace and goodness! I feel truly blessed to know Him!

Our family was able to go to visit Chris’s sister in Nevada in February, go to Disneyland in April for spring break and go to a  Family Reunion in Idaho and a Family Reunion in St. George, Utah. We had many wonderful memories together!

We are so grateful for your love and support! We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love,

awalkwithourangel.blogspot.com

Friday, December 17, 2010

Monday, December 13, 2010

A highlight from yesterday


Alea was so much fun yesterday.  She actually wanted daddy.  When she saw me she would get a huge smile on her face and was always content when I was holding her.  She even fell asleep while I was holding her.  She never does that!!!  Good thing I don't stay home with her during the week because I would just play with her all day.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Hero Film Friday -BYU Football Team

This week our heroes are the Coach Bronco Mendenhall and the BYU football team.  They honored a young fan of theirs that has Down syndrome by letting him be part of practice. 
The feature starts at 18:33 in the video.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Today’s Fact About Down syndrome

Myth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to older parents.

Truth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to women younger than 35 years old simply because younger women have more children. However, the incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother.

DSCF9549