Sawyer

Sawyer started swimming lessons on June 1st. She was so excited about them. She did a really good job and has been enjoying them. She finished her 1st 2 week session of lessons. Only 3 more sessions to go. She did so well she advanced to the next level. Way to go Sawyer! I am sure it's because of her awesome 1st swimming instructor, Uncle Travis. I thought she'd need more work so I signed her up for the same class when I was first signing her up. Oh well, way to prove mom wrong!

Look at her go!

Sawyer has been wiggling another one of her teeth. Today before church she said mom look as she was able to easily move her tooth around with her tongue. I said, "Sweetie that is ready to come out, why don't we pull it out." She told me it wasn't ready. Later as I was getting ready I see her in her bathroom leaning over the sink. It took her probably close to 30 minutes but she pulled it out right before we left for church. I was sad but actually I think she looks a little better as a toothless granny!

The other day we were swimming at Grandma and Grandpa Evans' house. I looked and Sawyer had gotten my camera and was taking pictures of herself, the dogs, the horses, birds in the sky, the grass, and various other things (about 20 pictures worth). Thank goodness for digital otherwise I would have paid to develop film and been pretty upset to have spent money on those pictures. Anyway, I kept this one that she took of herself, most were a close up of the inside of her nose.
Here is one that she got of Abby and me swimming. I believe I am trying to get Abs to do "airplane". Amazingly she is frightened of the water. However, I am glad considering her personality. It is funny though. Count your blessings where you can, right?

Abigail

This wasn't what I was going to write, but as I was sitting down starting to post this event went about. Abby got up from her nap and has been trying to "go" since. She got dressed and then Brendon got up from the couch and came in and laid down on the bed. She then came to me saying, "Oh no, oh no daddy bed!" She was so distraught because daddy got up, she thought to go, and came and laid down on the bed. Anyway, I was going to say that Abby has been pretty good this last week or so. We haven't had to find her because she escaped, and she has been pretty pleasant and a good helper. With that being said a few days ago she was out in the backyard playing and I went to check on her and I found she had been picking grapes. Not just a few, but a whole bunch. I was sad, because they were almost ready. Oh well, hopefully by next year she will realize we don't pick stuff off the plants in the garden. She had to sit in time out for this one so someday it will sink in.

Luckily we still have a few bunches left on the vine. I don't think this is her first time picking them but this is the most she has picked. That's what you get with a curious 2 year old.

These are just some random pictures of Abby that I just love.

It's always fun to go into the girls room after they are asleep, you never know how you are going to find Abby. When she is trying to go to sleep she grabs random things around the room and falls asleep, how precious!

I thought this was hilarious for a few reasons, one the fact that Abby has fallen asleep with princess dress up shoes. The second reason being that her and Sawyer's legs are the same way!

Finally, Brendon caught a shot of Abby throwing a fit over something. This actually doesn't happen too often but when she does it's quite funny!

Matthew

So you'd think that in the hospital when Matthew was diagnosed with hypotonia that I would have looked it up and found out more about it. No, I just took it at low muscle tone and figured Matthew would get strong and grow out of it. Then I found out a little more from one of his therapists that it is his controlled movements that are hard. It's not that he has no muscles. I said okay and took it at that. Well, I was still wondering why he was developmentally behind. Well, we saw a geneticist and we will be running more tests to rule out disorders or to diagnose. Which is good. Hopefully we will find an answer, and know more of a plan for his life. Anyway, back to being behind. Well, the geneticist explained that muscle strength and muscle tone are different. Muscle strength is obvious it's the strength of the muscle, but the muscle tone is a neurological problem where the brain doesn't communicate to the muscles. So there is a delayed reaction, or they can be behind developmentally, answer to my question/worries. So, I finally came home from that appointment and finally looked it up. Hello, why I didn't do it 6 months ago. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypotonia Here is the website that I looked at to find the information, if you're interested. Matthew is doing well and is holding his head up pretty well. He even impressed his therapists. I am now really working on him realizing he has hands. Hopefully that comes soon. Overall he is really well. I will keep you posted on our findings when we start getting the testing done from the geneticist. Oh he also got his first tooth, yeah!

Here is Matthew posing for his picture, see how well he is holding his head on a flat surface. A few months ago this wasn't happening. Way to go buddy! He looked so cute in his Sunday clothes with his tie, shoes, and mohawk so we took a photo op. What a cutie!

The Spirit is Wonderful!

I just have to write that I love the Holy Ghost and I am grateful for it in my life. I am learning to listen to Its small voice. The past week or so there have been a few instances where I have listened, and I have seen the blessings immediately. I have also had the opportunity this past week to see how 14 or so years ago I listened to the Spirit and because of it I was able to help a friend of mine out this last week. It is such a neat blessing to see the benefits of that event, even 14 years later. The Lord is so kind and so good to me and my loved ones. I know that this church is true, even when life is hard and really crappy things happen, it never seems so bad with the Savior helping us through. And as long as we are faithful and endure to the end we won't be alone. Amid life and its heartaches and trials, I am truly happy when I stop and take a moment to think and reflect on my life and the blessings I receive daily.