Moving Forward...

Life has been crazy for a while and overwhelmingly stressful, painful, trying, challenging and exhausting to say the least.  But, despite all of those things...I want to relish the time I have with my children and my life as I know it, now.  Seeing the good that is happening around me every day.  The kids are growing up and I want to make sure I take the time to see my children and love them for what they are today and every day.  

First Elizabeth...what a doll face.  She amazes me, to say the least, with her personality and the things she says.  She is talking so much now!  Her vocabulary is astounding and I love that I even see her manners in her speech.  Feelin' like I had some input there...way to go me. hehe. =)  So to document what she's been saying I'll start a list here and now.  

Eli's Word List:

1. mama
2. dada
3. Ben/Benny
4. doggy
5. kitty
6. cow
7. pisa (pizza)
8. cup
9. sku (school)
10. bus
11. baby
12. horsy (horse)
13. punkn' (pumpkin)
14. cookie
15. toy
16. fower (flower)
17. pay (play)
18. baf (bath)
19. no
20. ouwie
21. stop
22. ge' down (get down)
23. now
24. bye-bye
25.  eat
26. sit down
27. you kay? (you okay?)
28. sowie (sorry)
29. nose
30. eyes
31. ebow (elbow)
32. knee
33. hay (hair)
34. toe
35. belly
36. silly
37. Mickey
38. Hi!

...and I'm sure I forgot some, but for now...that is one looooooooong list.  But we get the idea, she's talking a lot.  We've had the chance to hang out a lot more with our friends from church and I love that she has little friends now that she asks about on a daily basis.  It's so cute to here her in the middle of the afternoon and hear her call them out by name from her room.  So cute, I tell ya!!  She is a real lover of hats too.  I've found her wearing an Angel's baseball hat, her princess hat, a witch's hat and pretty much anything that will fit over her head, as a hat.  It's quite amuzing.  She has also taken a liking to helping me out around the house.   She wants to help sweep, clean up and even put her dishes in the sink after she eats.  What a girl!  She has really made things semi easy for me.  And to top it all off, she has started wanting to sit on the potty!  I Love it!!!  So let's hope in the next month, this girl is potty-trained. =)

And Ben.  Oh Ben.  He is the happiest little kid I know.  He has the most amazing smile that make all around him melt at first sight.  His happiness radiates through his countenance.  And it's so infectious that it's hard to be upset with him at all.  Our challenges with Ben have been numerous.  He still has a real challenge with putting everything in his mouth and it is really hard for me to leave him alone by himself for long.  He has also started to take a liking to Elizabeth and I have loved watching the 2 of them interact.  I know Elizabeth loves to play with him, but Ben has a hard time knowing how to behave with her and what is appropriate.  With his Autism, this is bound to be a problem, of course.  I have to monitor their play to make sure he doesn't become too rough with her, but at times it does occur and my little Eli...well, she will be one strong little girl.  For months we have tried to get his ABA therapy back and it has only come with frustration and more frustration.  I am working hard to get these services back for him,  so I hope it won't be too long before he starts.  Ben attends pre-school every day for 3 hours in the morning and he takes the bus to and from school.  He still is not speaking, but I know he loves school and his teacher.  He is loved by all his teachers, not only at school but at church too.  He is a handful in sacrament meeting, but I figure all children are.  But as we go each week, I know he is learning to behave and understanding what is expected of him each week.  The primary presidency has been very helpful to us, and in allowing Ben to stay in nursery this year.  They called someone specifically for Benjamin, to help in nursery and watch him as he interacts with the other children.  Again, I know they love him and want what is best for Ben to make it a pleasurable experience for him at church.  And a peaceful one too.  

We are taking things one day at a time over here.  Life has taken a different course for our little family and I am trying to make sure the kids have what they need.  Not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually.   I have made it a priority to keep our lives moving forward and in a positive direction.  Always hoping for the best and trying for the best.  I know the Lord is with us at this time.  

Love...Sara, Ben & Eli  xoxo