More excitement from Day 7

Sam has a school teacher that comes each day. Mrs. Rivera.

The Morgans came for dinner. Happy Meals and Subway. Thanks, Morgans! Sam decided to kneel on the bed all by himself.

We went to "Monday Night Live" in the evening. Watched a Christmas movie and did some projects. Sam is sitting up very well in his wheel chair. He'll soon be able to use his own chair.

Check him out! (Day 7)

Sam's Surgery

Sam had a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy on December 14, 2010. The procedure should relieve a lot of his lower body spasticity and make walking much easier and his future physical development much more normal.

Day 1: Surgery day. This was taken just a little while after he came out of anesthesia.

Day 2: Sam was feeling a little better, but still not able to move. He wanted to open his presents from Grandma and Grandpa Mundy. One was a new Nintendo DS. He was excited and gave me this "smile". He was too tired to play it, but told everyone who came in the room about it.

Day 3: Playing DS with Ben. Sam played a little too.

Day 4: Sam is OUT! Sam got out in his wheel chair and saw some of the hospital. He did some therapy in the gym and had a great time. He also got dressed!!

Day 6: Ben and Sam hanging out.

Leaf Monster

Ben's Baptism

Ben was baptized on November 13. It was a beautiful day. He was baptized with two of his friends from church, and there were tons of family and friends here to support him. Rob was here, Grandma and Grandpa Mundy came, Nana Dolen, our good friends the Dillmans, and so many friends from church. I'm so proud of you Ben!

Diving in Michigan

Today Rob taught Ben to dive. In three minutes. He said that's the fastest he's ever seen someone learn! Ben wore himself out diving over and over.
He didn't want to stop.
Take a look...

Cousins

This was taken in July. I just ran across it again.
Had to post it!
Addie, Ben, and Saige.

Smarty Pants

Suddenly Sam is drawing and writing like crazy! Writing real words! And he just started Kindergarten! I had to share these. He did all of these during Stake Conference last week.

Monster.
He tried to spell it, then I helped.
I think those are people in his mouth.
Yikes.

This is Sam's bus. #437. Nice detail...steering wheel and headlights.

Dragon.

This one cracks me up...

I See Ben and Sam "FEGKK".
That's the kindergarten spelling of "Thinking" if you're not too good with the "TH" sound. Check out the picture. They really are thinking!

Visit to Michigan

I didn't capture much of my visit in pictures, but we had a great time. It is so beautiful there. Feels like visiting the coast, but better because you have fall colors too.

Gorgeous weather, beaches, walks on the pier, watching the kite surfers, ice cream, football, finally some time with my sweetheart...Awesome!

Lego Creations

Once in a while I take a picture of on of my favorite Lego ships before I toss them

back in the Lego bin.

What is that thing on the back?!
Nice touch with all the pivoting panels.
Solar powered ship?
Space policeman with alien and conehead guy. Are they his prisoners? His friends?
Did the conehead misbehave? Wish I knew.

What we do to shoes...

Here are Ben's new school shoes after about 9 weeks of school...

These were good ones too. Good quality. Supposed to last a long time.

And here are Sam's. Believe it or not, this is the front and back of the same shoe. And yes, that's daylight you're seeing through the toe. From the back, they look new! We never outgrow shoes or jeans. They wear out too fast.

Taekwondo

Ben has started taking Taekwondo at a school here in Liberty. He LOVES it! On Saturday, he tested and graduated from white belt to yellow AND broke a board with his fist! I was holding the board, so I didn't get a picture of that, but you can see all of the students lined up in the picture. He is the second person in the second row from the left.

ER Visit

A couple of weeks ago, we took our first trip to the ER. First trip in over thirteen little boy years. Pretty good. Sam had severe pain near his hip/groin area. His teacher called from school to report the pain, and by the time he got home I could barely move him from the couch to the floor. Broken bone, appendicitis, what could it be? Turned out to be severe constipation. Sam was an excellent patient as usual, and charmingly made several friends in the ER. Here he is sporting his temporary Spider man web-shooter, or IV tube, whichever you want to call it.

Sam and his cane

Sam can now walk using his quad cane without help.

Sam with the Pack

Caught this in the cul-de-sac today.
Thought it was very cool...

Ben is an AWESOME READER!

Ben has now finished Diary of a Wimpy Kid Books #2 and #3! Over 200 pages each. He sometimes sits and reads for an hour at a time. Only a few books left in the series.
What will we read next?

Sam ROCKS the Responsibility Chart!

Here is Sam completing his Morning Responsibility Chart.

The chart helped us get each task done in less than five minutes (except breakfast), and has made our mornings MUCH nicer. It took us about two weeks to fill. He does ALL of these tasks independently, and they are all new skills since the beginning of the year.
Time for a treat little man!

Ice cream or Silly Bands?
He says he wants both.

POOF-TASTE

Sam said tonight while brushing teeth, "New POOF-TASTE!" I got them new toothpaste yesterday. I asked him to say it several times because I thought it was so funny. He gets letters mixed around sometimes. He could tell it was wrong, but thought it was funny too and didn't know how to fix it. I showed him how to say it correctly, but it was cute.

Crush

Sam got off the bus today...

Sam: I LOVE that house (pointing across the street)
Mom: Across the street?
Sam: Yes. The girl.
Mom: You love the girl at that house?
Sam: She has... in her hair (motioning to show a bow). And a green shirt... at recess!
Mom: Oh! You see her at recess? Is she pretty?
Sam: Yeah.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid...

HOORAY for Ben! Ben just finished reading the first "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" book last night. 224 pages he read all by himself in less than two weeks. This is the first time he's ever read a book like that. I told him we would order the next book when he finished the first. Book 2 is on it's way! GREAT JOB BEN!

Missing My Sweetheart

Yes. I miss him. A lot. So this post is dedicated to him.

These are a few of my favorite pictures.

This makes me smile. Saw him surf in person for the first time a
couple of weeks ago. Very cool.

At Sea World in January. Beluga Whales behind.

No caption needed... except that I LOVE this picture, and this moment.

Helping Sam-O.

Helping Ben.

Thanks for being everything I need, babe.
I LOVE YOU!

First Day of School

FIRST DAY of 2nd Grade for Ben, and FIRST DAY of Kindergarten for Sam!!

Waiting for the bus.

Riding the lift...he loves this part.

Bye Ben!

Ben going into Mrs. Jones' Second Grade room.

Sam, with his para and some classroom friends. They all waited outside until Sam got off the bus and walked in together. It was very sweet. Sam has Mrs. Bentch this year.

Love you guys! Have a GREAT DAY!