Can you believe it?
Devin is six months old. WOW.
The little man had his six month check-up on Monday.
I am happy to report: All is well!
He weighed 17 lbs 7 oz - 50th percentile.
He measured 28.5 in long - 97th percentile.
The Doctor’s office absolutely loves Devin. They thinks he is the most adorable baby ever! They told us to keep doing what we are doing. He is happy, healthy, and growing like a weed!
I love a perfect report!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Power of a Good Primary Teacher
I read this sweet story on Mormon Mommy Wars and just wanted to share here. I think this is a true example of someone having the pure love of Christ within.
**********
This morning, almost ten months after our ward split, I headed back to our old building to hear my friend’s son give his welcome-home talk. When Beanie heard I was going to the old church, his face lit up- for the first time this year. He raced to his room, frantic with excitement- and rushed back to me, asking my help in reaching his “best church shirt way up high”. Since January, church has been more of a nightmare than usual- and church with an autistic child is enough of a nightmare- trust me.
Over the years, during sacrament meeting, Beanie has broken my teeth loose, given me countless nosebleeds, and busted my lip numerous times- he doesn’t process noise (or touch) well, and when you combine chatter, organ music, singing and people too close, it’s a recipe for disaster. When he gets agitated, he head-butts- hence my face battering.
But don’t judge him too harshly- like so many autistic children, he’s also a wonderful, loving, sweet boy- you just have to know how to work with him, and have patience. Lots and lots of patience.
You can probably imagine what a joy Nursery was for him- and his leaders. But the Lord has been kind to us, and there were two other mothers in our ward with autistic children- both older and both wiser than me, with older children, and both willing to help me. It was in Nursery that Sister Love was called to be Beanie’s special teacher. Sister Love is a young grandmother, but most of her children don’t live nearby, and she took it upon herself to learn all she could about Aspergers and how best to serve Beanie. She was loving and patient and infinitely kind to a confusing child not her own. I’ve heard people stand and say how they love the primary- but watching Sister Love with Beanie cracked my heart wide open.
When January rolled around and it was time to move up to Sunbeams, I was sick with worry- but our wise Bishop moved Sister Love up with Beanie. She became his Sunbeam teacher. After she had been with him almost a year, he finally let her touch him. She never forced him- only acted as a warm sun, eventually making him feel so safe he opened up and loved her back. And when he opened up his heart to her, it was a flood. He would climb up in her lap and just melt. She moved up with him two more times. Sister Love would even sit with us in Sacrament meeting- she would have a bag of comforting things just for Beanie- and he would nestle in next to her and relax. Relaxing is a big, big deal, when a child has Aspergers. And I would sit and cry tears of gratitude.
So in January, our ward split. The first thing I checked on the new map was where Sister Love landed. My heart was leaden when I saw her house, on a boundary street, simply on the wrong side of the road. Beanie did not understand- not any of it. Not why were at a different building, not why the seats were different, not why the rooms were different or who these new children were in his new class. And most of all, not why Sister Love was gone. He was a wreck.
Sister Love came over the night of the split, and Beanie had been waiting for her at the front window. When she pulled in the driveway, he flew out the door and ran down the walk, flinging himself into her arms, and sobbing. (I can’t even type this without tearing up). She came in and we did our pathetic best to explain that sometimes things like this happen, and we have to be brave.
Since January, Beanie has had four different primary teachers, and another was called last week. He hates church. Now days, he spends most of the second and third hour with me, only occasionally venturing into Primary.
So today, he put on his best shirt- which for Beanie is huge- and ran downstairs to color a picture for Sister Love. He even wrote his name on it, in careful, giant blue crayon. We got to the chapel before she did- she usually sits alone in the back- and Beanie was antsy and excited, and constantly keening towards the doors. I saw her come in and sit down before he did.
Carefully taking his hand, I walked him outside the chapel and down the hall, towards the folding chairs in the gym. When she saw us, she came into the hallway, fell to her knees and gathering him into an enormous, teary hug. He took her hand, full of laughter and news, and bounded off with her to the back row, leaving me standing in the hallway with tears running down my face.
He spent the rest of the hour cozies up next to her, quietly chatting and sharing his tales and adventures, his little face glowing.
I was wiping tears with a torn tissue out in the hallway when the two more-experienced moms who had helped me found me. They had just watched what happened- and as mothers of spectrum children, they were also teary and emotional. They wanted me to know they were going to petition the Stake President (in this ward as well) and the Bishop to let Sister Love change wards.
I have no idea what will happen. It may or may not be allowed- but none of those rules detract from the power of one person, guided by the Spirit, to actually be the hands of the Lord here on Earth.
**********
This morning, almost ten months after our ward split, I headed back to our old building to hear my friend’s son give his welcome-home talk. When Beanie heard I was going to the old church, his face lit up- for the first time this year. He raced to his room, frantic with excitement- and rushed back to me, asking my help in reaching his “best church shirt way up high”. Since January, church has been more of a nightmare than usual- and church with an autistic child is enough of a nightmare- trust me.
Over the years, during sacrament meeting, Beanie has broken my teeth loose, given me countless nosebleeds, and busted my lip numerous times- he doesn’t process noise (or touch) well, and when you combine chatter, organ music, singing and people too close, it’s a recipe for disaster. When he gets agitated, he head-butts- hence my face battering.
But don’t judge him too harshly- like so many autistic children, he’s also a wonderful, loving, sweet boy- you just have to know how to work with him, and have patience. Lots and lots of patience.
You can probably imagine what a joy Nursery was for him- and his leaders. But the Lord has been kind to us, and there were two other mothers in our ward with autistic children- both older and both wiser than me, with older children, and both willing to help me. It was in Nursery that Sister Love was called to be Beanie’s special teacher. Sister Love is a young grandmother, but most of her children don’t live nearby, and she took it upon herself to learn all she could about Aspergers and how best to serve Beanie. She was loving and patient and infinitely kind to a confusing child not her own. I’ve heard people stand and say how they love the primary- but watching Sister Love with Beanie cracked my heart wide open.
When January rolled around and it was time to move up to Sunbeams, I was sick with worry- but our wise Bishop moved Sister Love up with Beanie. She became his Sunbeam teacher. After she had been with him almost a year, he finally let her touch him. She never forced him- only acted as a warm sun, eventually making him feel so safe he opened up and loved her back. And when he opened up his heart to her, it was a flood. He would climb up in her lap and just melt. She moved up with him two more times. Sister Love would even sit with us in Sacrament meeting- she would have a bag of comforting things just for Beanie- and he would nestle in next to her and relax. Relaxing is a big, big deal, when a child has Aspergers. And I would sit and cry tears of gratitude.
So in January, our ward split. The first thing I checked on the new map was where Sister Love landed. My heart was leaden when I saw her house, on a boundary street, simply on the wrong side of the road. Beanie did not understand- not any of it. Not why were at a different building, not why the seats were different, not why the rooms were different or who these new children were in his new class. And most of all, not why Sister Love was gone. He was a wreck.
Sister Love came over the night of the split, and Beanie had been waiting for her at the front window. When she pulled in the driveway, he flew out the door and ran down the walk, flinging himself into her arms, and sobbing. (I can’t even type this without tearing up). She came in and we did our pathetic best to explain that sometimes things like this happen, and we have to be brave.
Since January, Beanie has had four different primary teachers, and another was called last week. He hates church. Now days, he spends most of the second and third hour with me, only occasionally venturing into Primary.
So today, he put on his best shirt- which for Beanie is huge- and ran downstairs to color a picture for Sister Love. He even wrote his name on it, in careful, giant blue crayon. We got to the chapel before she did- she usually sits alone in the back- and Beanie was antsy and excited, and constantly keening towards the doors. I saw her come in and sit down before he did.
Carefully taking his hand, I walked him outside the chapel and down the hall, towards the folding chairs in the gym. When she saw us, she came into the hallway, fell to her knees and gathering him into an enormous, teary hug. He took her hand, full of laughter and news, and bounded off with her to the back row, leaving me standing in the hallway with tears running down my face.
He spent the rest of the hour cozies up next to her, quietly chatting and sharing his tales and adventures, his little face glowing.
I was wiping tears with a torn tissue out in the hallway when the two more-experienced moms who had helped me found me. They had just watched what happened- and as mothers of spectrum children, they were also teary and emotional. They wanted me to know they were going to petition the Stake President (in this ward as well) and the Bishop to let Sister Love change wards.
I have no idea what will happen. It may or may not be allowed- but none of those rules detract from the power of one person, guided by the Spirit, to actually be the hands of the Lord here on Earth.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Ah nuts, we missed it!
Last night, Devin was waking up from his nap on the couch and before I was going to feed him, I left the room for a minute and when I came back, this is what I found.....
Can you guess what he DID?!?!?!?!?!
If your guess is rolling over all by himself, you got that RIGHT! I can't believe I missed his first roll over!
Today, he practiced and mastered the rolling over part, but hasn't quite figured out how to roll back to his back yet. He'd get so frustrated and I would help him get on his back again and the next thing I knew, he's back on his stomach again and he's frustrated again. The process never ends! :o)
Here is a video of his roll over for your enjoyment:
Can you guess what he DID?!?!?!?!?!
If your guess is rolling over all by himself, you got that RIGHT! I can't believe I missed his first roll over!
Today, he practiced and mastered the rolling over part, but hasn't quite figured out how to roll back to his back yet. He'd get so frustrated and I would help him get on his back again and the next thing I knew, he's back on his stomach again and he's frustrated again. The process never ends! :o)
Here is a video of his roll over for your enjoyment:
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Cereal Mess....
We had Devin’s well check up a couple of weeks ago on July 21st. He has grown!
14 lbs 7 oz. (44th percentile for weight)
27” long (98th percentile for height)
Since we have a growing boy on our hands, we started trying a bit of cereal. Devin was quite unsure at first. He was probably thinking “what is this coming towards my mouth and where is my milk?!” I am not sure exactly how much cereal he actually got IN his mouth....
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Where did the time go?
Being a full time mom (& supermarket), a full time wife, and a full time employee definitely keeps me plenty busy these days. It doesn't give me any time to update this blog as much as I'd like to, but, but, yes a BUT......somehow, (I know I can do this) I'm going to try my hardest to squeeze this into my now crazy world. I just have so much to blog about that I want to share........and while I have to admit that my life as a mom, wife, and coworker has been an extremely tiring, hectic, stressful time for me (to the point I have broken out in hives twice so far), I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world. I absolutely love being a mom to my precious little man and wife to the most sweetest awesome patient loving guy! They both give me the greatest joy and totally worth every minute of my life!!
Stay tuned for many more posts....well, we hope so! :o)
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Fourth of July
We had everyone over at our house for a BBQ on 4th of July. Afterwards, we did our mini fireworks on the street. The little kids had a ball and it was so fun to watch them. Devin did pretty well, he basically just wasn't sure if he really like the noise, but he really liked the sparklers. And then as it got dark, we all went to our back yard and watched the Big Fireworks from there. Thanksgiving Point once again put up a great show. We are definitely in a prime spot to watch Fireworks, nothing like hanging from the comfort of your home, and not having to worry about fighting traffic & finding a place to park & gather.
Katrease, Bret, G-pa Miller hanging out
Bret & Katrease playing horseshoe
Bret & Katrease playing horseshoe
Jim, Marc, & Randy drooling over the meat...
Brady's cracking a big smile!
Brady's cracking a big smile!
Becky, Deejg, Sharie, & the twins
Devin's playing with his cousins
Devin's playing with his cousins
Jimmy, Abby, Vereena, Deejg
Devin & Daddy
Devin & Daddy
Brady, Carrie's holding twin Colton
Mommy & Devin watching the street fireworks
Sharie & Vereena
Marc's showing off
Marc's showing off
Megan's happy she got a hold of two
Katrease
Jimmy
Megan's putting up a good show.
Megan's putting up a good show.
Sleepy Devin
Abby's creation
Abby's creation
Vereena too..
Enjoying the fireworks!
Abby crashed during the BIG fireworks!
Enjoying the fireworks!
Abby crashed during the BIG fireworks!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Great Grandma & Grandpa Miller
I received these pictures from my in-laws. We visited Great Grandma & Grandpa on Memorial Day. The other two babies are Devin's twin cousins, Treydan and Colton. (Normally, I can tell the twins apart, but in this picture, I'm not so sure. Devin's in the middle in the green blanket and I believe Great G-pa is holding Trey and Great G-ma is holding Colton.) They aren't identical twins and they are only a month younger than Devin. I'm so glad he's got cousins so close to his age, they will get to play with each other one day. It'll be fun. :o)
Trey, Great G-pa, Devin, Great G-ma, Colton
Devin's catching a snooze....
Devin's hanging with Great G-pa
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Blessing day & Kiddie Kandids
Devin had his baby blessing on June 7, 2009. Here are the pictures of his special day. Isn't he adorable? We also had his professional pictures taken 5 days later. We started out in his blessing outfit and he was one happy child, but by the time we got to his casual outfit, he was getting pretty tired and hungry, so we didn't get a smile out of him. Oh well, but we definitely got what we came for - his blessing picture!
All the men that were in his blessing circle.....
From left: Kevan Lowe, Russell Hansen, Jim Miller, Grandpa Miller, Dad & Devin, Grandpa Lowe, Kevin Edwards, Bret Woofinden, Bryan Matheson, and Marc Lowe. Not pictured: Brandon Riddle, Nate Bateman, and Adam Bateman.
Grandpa & Grandma Lowe with Devin....
Grandpa & Grandma Miller with Devin...
Us three with the grandparents....
Us with our dear boy....
After the blessing, we gathered at Grandpa & Grandma Miller's house for lunch. We had Tacos & Taco Salads, Brownies, and Ice Cream. It was real yummy!
Professional pictures at Kiddie Kandids
All the men that were in his blessing circle.....
From left: Kevan Lowe, Russell Hansen, Jim Miller, Grandpa Miller, Dad & Devin, Grandpa Lowe, Kevin Edwards, Bret Woofinden, Bryan Matheson, and Marc Lowe. Not pictured: Brandon Riddle, Nate Bateman, and Adam Bateman.
Grandpa & Grandma Lowe with Devin....
Grandpa & Grandma Miller with Devin...
Us three with the grandparents....
Us with our dear boy....
After the blessing, we gathered at Grandpa & Grandma Miller's house for lunch. We had Tacos & Taco Salads, Brownies, and Ice Cream. It was real yummy!
Professional pictures at Kiddie Kandids
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Our newest addition.....
We've been trying to post pictures of our brand new baby for several weeks, but our computer wouldn't let us. It was causing a lot of problems....so last week, we decided it was time to get a new one. Now we can finally update our blog. We apologize for taking so long to those who have been patiently waiting. Thanks for your patience! :o)
Now let us present pictures of our precious little boy from birth to now. We are loving every minute with him - he brings us a lot of joy & happiness and we're very, very blessed to have him with us.
Devin Warren was born on March 20, 2009, he weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. and was 20 inches long. Two weeks later at his two week doctor's check up, he grew 2.5 inches. We think he is going to be one tall boy like his daddy.
We had so many visitors that night....we feel so loved! We didn't manage to take pictures of everyone who came, but here's a few that we did.
His homecoming day two days later from the hospital....
Random pictures when we feel like taking pictures of our little guy, we were able to catch him a couple times with a smile. Every time without fail, he would be ready to smile at the camera until he sees the "focus" light which turns his face to a curious look. He is definitely smiling a lot more these days. :o)
He is always making faces like the last picture above. He's a funny little fella, always making us laugh with his many facial expressions......
Now let us present pictures of our precious little boy from birth to now. We are loving every minute with him - he brings us a lot of joy & happiness and we're very, very blessed to have him with us.
Devin Warren was born on March 20, 2009, he weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. and was 20 inches long. Two weeks later at his two week doctor's check up, he grew 2.5 inches. We think he is going to be one tall boy like his daddy.
We had so many visitors that night....we feel so loved! We didn't manage to take pictures of everyone who came, but here's a few that we did.
His homecoming day two days later from the hospital....
Random pictures when we feel like taking pictures of our little guy, we were able to catch him a couple times with a smile. Every time without fail, he would be ready to smile at the camera until he sees the "focus" light which turns his face to a curious look. He is definitely smiling a lot more these days. :o)
He is always making faces like the last picture above. He's a funny little fella, always making us laugh with his many facial expressions......
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