Christmas Update

I don't know that anyone even reads this, but just in case, I wanted to let you know we are still alive. :) We have been busy with life the last few months. Here is a little update about each of us.

Tade is plugging along in 2nd grade. He loves his friends, recess, football, and reading Diary of the Wimpy Kid books. He pretends he doesn't like the other parts of school, but I am pretty sure he is at least okay with the other stuff since he is doing so well in school. He is super excited for Christmas and is asking Santa for a football and Lego's.

Ashlynn has become my big helper. Sometimes she is a helper with a BIG attitude, but lately she has been a big helper with a sweet attitude, which is so nice and refreshing. She loves preschool and can't wait until next year when she can FINALLY go to Kindergarten. I think she just wants to get out of quite time in the afternoon however she can. I keep trying to tell her that one day she will wish she could have an hour of quite time every afternoon, but so far she doesn't believe me. She is asking for Squiknies and Barbies from Santa.

Carter is seeming like a really big kid lately. He is talking really well, which is really fun. Sometimes I still think of him as a baby, but he is my big boy now and it is kind of sad. Lucky for him, he still gets away with alot of things, since I see him as a baby, but I am starting to figure him out and try not to let him play me so easily. His smile is contagious and he is always making us laugh.

Easton is getting so big. He is almost 10 months old!!!! We just found out yesterday that he has for sure been diagnosed with congenital CMV, which means when I was pregnant I contracted the virus CMV and it caused some hearing loss and brain damage as Easton was developing. How has this effected him, you may ask. Well, his hearing is a moderate to severe loss, meaning he can hear sound, but can't necessarily recognize the sound. He has hearing aides that he is wearing as much as possible and with those in he is hearing pretty much normally. Yea! The virus has also caused some developmental delays. He is pretty much behind in almost every aspect of his physical development. We were lucky enough to have caught this all really early though so we have been blessed with physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and hearing therapy all through wonderful state programs that have been so amazing. So what can Easton do, you might ask. Right now we are working on better head control (which is getting better all the time), grasping toys and bringing them to his mouth, sitting (hoping to get accomplish this by a year old), eating solids, and babbling. His little life has been filled with lots of ups and downs, but we are so grateful to have him in our family and feel blessed to have the opportunity to be his parents.

Eric has been working so hard not only at his job, but also in trying to finish our basement and helping his mom work on hers. He never has any free time. He is always doing something for me, the kids, his calling, his job, whatever. We love him and are so happy that he is our husband and dad!

I have been busy just trying to keep things organized. Easton has lots of appointments, luckily most in our home, but if not then I am always begging babysitting off of someone. We are blessed to have left a wonderful ward where we still have many good friends and to have moved into a equally wonderful ward where we have been able to make friends too. Everyone has been super helpful with helping with my kids. I owe many people LOTS of THANKS!!! I am still working once a week and I am also activity days leader, which both keep me busy as well.

We are truly blessed and are grateful for this Christmas time. I love reflecting on my Savior's birth and have really felt the Atonement in my life this year as I have leaned on my Savior more for the peace and comfort that come through His sacrifice. We hope that life is treating you well and that you too feel PEACE and LOVE at this Christmas time!