We're Alive!

Yeah, it's been a long time since we've posted anything.  Why?  Computer illiteracy (and a small dose of apathy).  We have more than one google account and when they changed their login format, we couldn't figure out how to get into this particular account.  For a long time.  Then I was too lazy to figure it out- I usually only have 10 minutes of time to spare for anything lately, so it got shoved to the back burner.

But we are alive and well!  Had a good winter, overall.  I think we are the only ones we know who didn't mind the extra snow one bit.  Even if we did get snowed in a lot.

Nate has started two new treatments, one of which is really helping him avoid infections.  He went from 50% attendance at school to more like 80%.  Yea!  The other one is still in the works- hopefully we will see progress (fewer seizures) soon.  He's doing really well in his goals at school-learning to make choices by pushing buttons, spending time in a stander, etc.  He loves to listen to rhyming books and rhythmic songs!

Naomi was really worrying us by not progressing in her gross motor skills, but in January and February something finally "clicked" and she seemed to discover that she has legs for a reason!  She sat independently, learned to get in a sitting position all by herself, army crawled, really crawled, pulled to a stand and cruised along furniture all in a whirlwind eight weeks.  Yea!  She turned 1 in March and now just needs to learn how to eat anything other than formula in a bottle.  She's still the calmest, happiest baby you'll ever meet, and we love her to pieces.

Hannah is the live wire around the house!  She loves being eight and is trying so hard to do everything just right- and gets really, really frustrated when it doesn't work the first time.  She loves Naomi a bit TOO much- we often have to remind her (i.e. demand) to "back off!" and "be more gentle!"  She is always looking for jobs to do around the house...for the right price, of course.  Sigh.  ;o)  She's getting really insightful about the world around her and asks some pretty good questions.  I'll have to remember one for a post.

Hyrum has his ups and downs- he's getting more anxiety as he gets into the pre-teen years.  He is getting much better at communicating things, though, and that helps tremendously.  We have some pretty insightful conversations now and again.  He adores cats and I figure that if we ever move, we will have to bring Joyce (the outside cat that won't leave) along or Hyrum will mourn her forever.  Hyrum still loves to be a class clown and loves inventing dramatic statements to see what people's reactions will be.  That can get interesting!  Once again, a future post...

Rusty still loves his job, and Michelle still loves her kids, and we are doing well.  It's a tricky stage in our family where there is hardly enough time to meet everyone's basic needs, but we know it will get easier as they get older.  Life is good.