Mother’s Day

I had a lovely Mother’s Day!  Jason took over the boys, so I was able to sleep in past 5AM!

The big girls made me a wonderful breakfast.  They also bought me some wonderful flowers and a balloon – so sweet!

At church, Lizzy spoke in Sacrament meeting.  She was assigned to speak on a Christ like attribute she learned from her mother.  (No pressure – hope I taught her something!    )  She talked about patience.  It was a really nice talk.  She is kind.  The primary sang – Joy and Bella were adorable!  Joy was very animated and I kept hearing “Mom” coming from Bell.  One sweet Mama came up to me afterwards and shared the sweetest message.  Her baby, also named Joy and also with Down syndrome, passed away when she was a baby.  She told me she felt her baby girl was singing to her through Joy.  We embraced.  Mother’s Day is such an interesting day – so difficult for so many.  I hope I am always cognisent of others.

Primary gave me some flowers, and I was the spotlight of the day – so cute, watching the kids try to figure out who had red hair, green eyes, 2 brothers and 6 sisters, favorite temple is the SLC temple, and favorite food – chocolate! 

For the third hour at church, all of the women meet together.  There was a buffet and several sweet speakers.

For dinner, Sandi and Gary brought over everything – roast, potatoes, carrots, salad, and dessert.  Jason, Gary, and Lizzy cleaned up the kitchen.

Becca brought over a cute Grammie necklace and shirt.

I got to talk with my Mama for 37 minutes.

I really don’t think the day could have been better!  I felt loved and appreciated!

Randomness

Sweet baby Benny                              My azaleas

School pictures: look at how proud Joy is!  Her school gave medals to all of the kids who did well on the KPREP exams last year.  Joy doesn’t take the KPREP, but she does take a modified version of the KPREP – and she did really well.  (Her teacher is fabulous – seriously, he taught her what perpendicular means!)  So Joy was given a medal just like everyone else in front of the whole school!  She was so proud!  She slept in that thing that night 

KSB has a facebook page, and about once a week they post.  I have found some gems there!  Look at my Kai Kai in the library listening to a presentation.  I have no idea what made him smile, but I love the picture!!

My shadow, my Ellie                        I am so excited for these!  What do you do when your kids want to be outside, and let’s say, they have special needs and might, oh, I don’t know, run off or strip down to the buff -  just cause?  Well, you probably should sit out with them.  Now if you aren’t swinging them (over and over again) or jumping with them (Kai Kai Mama jump?), you probably want to read, but since you can’t read without readers and the sun is glaring on the book/screen, then you combo the readers and the sunglasses (exhibit A).  Now one day you might be browsing on Amazon and see a collection of readers that include something called a gray reader (exhibit B).  Now if this happens, you might squeal and get so excited and desire to bless the people that make these!!!  And that would be the story of my new readers  

My monkeys leaving therapy

This came home from KSB.  It has Kai’s name on the inside.  I can’t see how they could get him to do that much gluing, painting, and applying, but maybe he did!

Joy is still obsessed with Halloween and zombies.  Her teacher totally gets her!  She brought this home from school.  Love it!

And, so exciting!!!  Her Fireman Sam figurines came in the mail!!  She has been wanting and wanting for them, asking every day, “fireman sam toys?”

Annual Neurosurgery Appt

Alex did great!  We had to be downtown at the hospital at 6:30 AM.  He had an unsedated MRI (unsedated!!!!!!! – yes, he moved a ton, but they were able to get enough pictures to see what they needed.)   I can’t count the number of MRI machines I have been inside, squeezing in to sing, pat, and reassurance little ones.

Then over two hospitals to our appointment where we waited for three hours to be seen by neurosurgery – but great news!  His shunt looks fabulous – his ventricles are nice and small.  And we have new pictures to go over with neurology.  So, I’d say a good visit!!

Since we didn't sedate him, he was able to go on to school.  I was able to see my Kai leaving music and heading to lunch.  He was walking with the aide for the class and, most importantly, he was happy!

While signing Alex in, the ESL teacher and I meet up.  We were able to catch up on Kai’s English acquisition progress.  We talked about the summer and what would best suit Kai’s needs.  She is so proud of him that he put together a three word sentence: “KaiKai Mama help.”  He is coming along, slowly, but surely.  Because he can’t see, so many of the usual methods for ESL just don’t apply.  In her experience, language acquisition  is slower than without the visual impairment. (There just isn’t a lot of research into ESL and VI.)

I thought it was a great day!

Just Another Day at the Turpin House

We were exposed to a confirmed case of Whooping Cough (pertussis).  So after consulting with our doctor, we felt only three needed to be tested to see if they caught it.  To the hospital we must go.

After taking care of that and getting them all started on preventative meds, Sammi and I went for a walk.  The weather is beautiful.  Spring is here.  (Jessi’s allergies are killing her)  I am amazed at the beauty of wildflowers (or weeds if they are growing in your yard.)

We also attended Lizzy’s last school Orchestra concert.  They were amazing!  I am so proud of her work this year!  She got first chair (or principal player) for viola.  She was accepted into Chamber and Phil for next year.  She is doing so well.  (She had a solo!!)

I think she liked the stop at Comfy Cow afterwards

Another Licensed Driver!

Today was the day – the driving test we have all been waiting for!

And she did it!  She passed with flying colors!!

(the only bitter part of the day was finding out how much our auto insurance just went up!)

Joy celebrated with a tea party (yay for Spring!)

Our “Saturday”

With Jessi working full time, the days she has off are not always on the weekend.  This Thursday happened to be one of the those glorious days she had off.  And as it turned out, we weren’t needed to watch Ellie and Bennett, so I made sure Jessi and Sammi enjoyed their “Saturday.”  We grabbed some lunch and headed to a park.  It was a very blustery day, so Sammi grabbed a kite.  What a peaceful day!

The bliss in watching Sammi fly her kite!  She was having so much fun, such pure, unadulterated joy.  Jessi and I just sat and watched her.  We noticed that small grove of trees at the end of the field.  I figured there had to be some water there!  (It was calling to me!)And I was right!

Such a fun “Saturday!”

A Beautiful Day!

Our weather in Kentucky has been crazy!  But today was beautiful!

Ni xiang zai waimian wan ma? (Would you like to play outside?)  I didn’t have to ask twice!

Love the Spring!!

Les Miserables

Gary, Sandi, Jason and I went to see Les Miserables last night.  Once I allowed myself to forgive them for leaving out so much of the book, it was really good!  The sets blew me away!Fantine truly had the voice of an angel. My favorite character is still the Bishop.  Truly a great message!

So grateful we still have babsitters (not too much longer : (  )

Elizabeth’s Baptism

We drove to North Carolina to attend our cousin’s baptism.  I took Joy and Bella with me.  I want them to learn more and more about Jesus and baptism, so when they are ready, they too can be baptized.

We were on a trip – which to Joy means lots of McDonald’s  - happy day!

We made it to NC!

Cause I thought it was pretty!

I was happy to see my parents and my sister and her family.

We completed this puzzle – that little girl there is a puzzle champ!

Joy and her cousin Elizabeth

Aunt Kathie with Joy and Bella

Grandpa and Grandma with Joy and Bella

Driving home – more McDonald’s, of course!

While it was nice to get away and see family, I missed my Kai Kai.  And evidently, he missed me too.  Sunday night, he feel asleep holding my arm and I heard him say Mama a couple of times.  Sweet boy!