Wrapping up the Summer '17

We had a great summer. We made a list at the beginning of the summer of ideas-it is not a bucket list- I find those feel a little overwhelming if the idea is to put that kind of pressure on yourself to do every thing on the list- but, I digress, we did do most of them. We had a lot of swimming days and biking outings. Rowan has improved leaps and bounds on his strider this year. It is so fun to have him keep up with the other boys. He even tried his legs at a pedal bike but didn't have the patience to learn, but I was proud of him for trying.

Just as we were about to begin school we were hit with terrible air-from the fires going on all over 

Central Oregon. I must say, it is still a strange "season" to get used to...fire season? Every summer since we have moved here we are warned and asked to take precautions about fire safety because of hot summers and trying to keep the fires at bay, but also since I have moved here there have been humungous fires. This year was by far the worst. We were checking the air quality multiple times a day just to get windows of time to go outside, and sometimes we would not be able to leave the house at all. Luckily, the boys were fine- well Kaj and Josh were fine- they have been playing with Legos so much this summer and I have not stopped them. I love having them play so well together and make all these creations. 

I will now take some time to talk about Legos. I did not grow up with Legos. We did not have them in our house. I believe that it is because they are small and they are everywhere my mom did not want to go down that road. Mom?? Whatever the reason-it is all good. My Barbie world would not have let Legos infiltrate that anyways. So, fast forward, to my current life with 4 boys, and it has only been the past few years we have become a Lego House. I was hesitant- for the very same reasons I mentioned above. I did not want all these tiny Lego everywhere all over the house-that you can step on, and babies can eat them, and they are never ending...and they are. They are absolutely all of those things but...my boys can be in a lego world as I was in a Barbie world. I am sometimes invited in. And they figuratively and literally build the story as it goes. It's cool. And-they create amazing things! Yes, I am bias, I get it. But they do! I am amazed to what they can create. I think it is great that they are using their minds in this way, and because I really believe it is talent they are developing before my eyes-I mean you never know. Also, it links boys together. If there are friends over and perhaps interests are across the board. The common ground is Legos. Amen. 

heading to Phil's trail

summer boys

My boys really are so fantastic. They are helpful. They can be so kind and considerate of each other and myself. I am a lucky mom. Also, Jonah has also been so much fun this summer. He is at such a fun age. He loves the brothers and he sure can get a lot of attention and he eats it up. He laughs and laughs even more when he sees they are laughing also. He is really quite adorable. He is really adventurous

despite his inability to walk. He can climb everything and he does. I am super excited to see what he is all about next year, because he sure has me me wrapped around his finger. It was a great summer. I am realizing more and more...my boys are growing up..😕 I am not thrilled. I am noticing their boyish faces transforming and it is weird. Still cute. But so weird. They get so excited to be older and I get kinda excited to, but then I think: mm better not.

new red wagon

juniper pool

splash pad

Utah Trip 2017

Why does this trip seem like so long ago already? But, it totally does. It was a really fun trip. A while back when Sam was first going to be taking his new job at OHSU, and anticipating a schedule where he would be gone 3 days of the week I knew I was going to have to break up my time, so I planned a trip at the end of July as the boys were finishing up their swim lessons. But, as the trip got closer it ended up that Sam's parents would be in Utah as well as his sister at that same time- just happenstance, and so Sam decided to take time off to come with me and the boys...oh...and because we also ahem got a dog that we would have to drive back! 😂 

Megan and Alan had their whole family at Cate and Erik's house and our family stayed with Whit and Justin. It was a strange trip in that way because we usually have a home base with mom and dad where we could all be together but with my parents house in the making it just wasn't possible. Megan and I talking afterward would say we had a great trip with Whitney and Justin as she had a great trip with Caitlin and Erik but it just didn't feel as together. Despite that it was a really fun trip. We made a lot of plans, the kids had a blast playing together, and hanging out at night was a a lot of fun. Whitney and Justin let us stay for a week. It went by pretty fast, but a week be a long time for visitors so it was really nice of them. 

In a nutshell- we did a hike, went to the water park, had a BBQ, did family pictures, saw some friends, spent some time with Sam's family, had a sister morning, and had a great time. 

So, I have to mention the story about the hike. It was this little trail off Wasatch. We had never hiked it before, but it looked like a short one that led to waterfall. It was great. There were uphills, but the kids were all able to do them, and we didn't need to stop for longs breaks we made it to the end in one shot. The older kids began scrambling up this hill. We sat and watched them, and I was just telling them that I did't worry a lot of Kaj and Josh- I trusted them, and I truly was not worried. Fast forward 5 minutes and Kaj falls from the waterfall. He really did. The older kids with help from Sam were climbing up by the water fall, it wasn't that high up, and it seemed like it could be neat for them to do. Kaj was pretty excited to be up there. He even did a little dance. He had reached for out to touch the water, and you guessed it, fell. 8-10ft. I saw him land. It was awful. He landed on rocks, His head hit a rock. I screamed. I grabbed him and carried him out of the water to the side so I could better assess what had happened. I looked at his eyes and asked him questions. I looked at his head which was really just a dent looking thing where he had hit, but I had expected much worse. Sam was getting the other kids down, and came over to make sure Kaj was alright. Kaj was saying to me over and over, "I am dying. I am dead." That was scary. But, he was ok. It was really a terrifying moment that I kept thinking things can change so fast. We were all enjoying the outdoors, this beautiful hike as a family and suddenly - it could all change. 

Kaj ended being fine. Which felt miraculous, actually. Later talking to my sisters, who had missed the fall, they looked over to see him on the ground and said it looked like he hadn't just been gently placed there. Also, my family was so nice they had told me how great they thought I handled it, and how calm I stayed...later on Sam told me I shouldn't have grabbed Kaj 😳 cause if he hurt his neck etc. but, for that day I was thinking how great I had been in that crisis situation. I also have to say it was amazing to see in that situation how everyone rallied. Alan, who was wearing a boot on his leg for his own injury to his tendon was helping Rowan down the mountain. (that is not an easy feat) Thinking of this later that when I was saying I don't worry about Kaj and Josh I really did believe that but, I realized that a lot of my energy is spent worrying about Rowan. But, it reminded me...I have to worry about all my kids. Accidents happen. We were very fortunate. 

Aforementioned-the kids had a lot of fun together. It was also very sweet to see the interactions Rowan had with his cousins as well as Whit and Justin. Bless Whitney's heart- she vacuumed with Rowan every day while we were there. Sometimes multiple times a day. And lucky for us that daily vacuum continues since we have been home. 

We were able to go up to Midway to see my parents new house. It is very beautiful in a beautiful place, and it is exciting to think that our family visits will be up there. My dad showed us the plans for the basement and I could really envision everything as he explained. I left thinking how amazing it would be if we lived closer to have the boys go over to learn from Pappy. I definitely miss living closer to family. 

The boys also could not have had more fun with their cousin, Ben. Ben is 12. He is good kid. It was fun seeing the boys look up to a kid who is just a little older than them. 

We also really enjoyed visiting with the Hughes. We sure do love them. We only spent the day with them but it was as if we never left. It is nice to have people in your life who you know time, distance won't change things between you. Just love.

I hope my kids will have those kind of relationships with the family that lives far away. It was a great trip and I look forward to the next one.

Our Rowan Bears

It's been a little over a month since we got an official diagnosis for Rowan. For a long time I did not think it was even necessary to go through the process because to me Rowan was just a quirky, sweet little almost 3 year old. (Which he still is all of those things only he is now 3) It was after beginning speech sessions, and reading more about his speech pattern, which is called echolalia, that I finally decided to proceed with the clinic here that would diagnosis him if there was anything. He was put on the autism spectrum at a level 1. Level 1 has more to do with language and some social differences. It didn't come as a shock, I had taken notice of enough social things and of course, language, being the biggest and most obvious. I had also been reading, and whenever I read anything about mild autism it sounded like our Rowan bears. I was fine learning this because I felt prepared for it, but with that being said, there are still things I am trying to figure out how to navigate: Talking to others about Rowan, especially. I don't want to feel like I am labeling him, I sometimes don't want him to be treated any differently, wondering what will help or hurt him, and wondering what is necessary.
There are hard days. There are even harder realizations sometimes. Noticing how at social gathering with a lot kids Rowan will spend his time alone, in classes he is not sitting with kids his age, but sitting with the teacher. There have been a lot of supportive conversations from family and friends. After the appointment that day he was diagnosed I talked to my mom. I don't think I will ever forget her words, "I think the most advantageous thing Rowan has going for him is your family." A lot of encouragement a long these lines have come from sisters and close friends. It does help to hear.
We had gone to a BBQ and it was there that when Sam and I talked afterward we both noticed how Rowan spend the whole time by himself. I decided to talk to older boys the next morning. I told them that even though Rowan looks the same as everyone else he learns differently, and he is special, and we know that. They were very surprised to learn he was by himself that whole time. Josh sweetly told me,"I asked Rowan to come and jump with me, but he didn't want too." It's that they are trying. That counts for a lot. Later that day I overheard the boys as they took Rowan's hands that they were going to play with Rowan "because we're his only friends." Friends can come along later, and friends come and go anyway, so to have his brothers be his friends is the best it can be. They are so lucky to have each other. I think there will be  lot of teaching moments, and may help the boys learn empathy in a very real way. I know they love him, and will always care for him.
Rowan is sweet. He is lovable, he is quick to give a smile, happy most of the time. He loves playing in the water, building with magnets, listening to, "We will Rock You," watching Elmo, and loves his guys. (this includes doggy, goofy, a pillow, elmo, and cookie monster.) I love Rowan. My heart breaks some times for him, and he is always at the forefront of my mind, and I am excited to hear all his has to say one day. I am thankful that he is in our family, and thankful to be his mom.

Family Firsts: Part 2: Trip to the Coast

Sam was able to take 2 weeks off in May and we decided we needed to take advantage of that time. We planned our first trip as a family to the Coast. We headed down to Newport and would stay a few days. 

Even thinking back on the trip now I think so fondly of it. What was is about this trip?? Perhaps this was one of the first trips that I felt like Jonah was old enough that I didn't feel confined to nursing him the whole trip long, or the ambiance of the ocean- the excitement and joy on my boy's faces when they were playing at the beach- it was a delight. We loved that trip. 

It was strange driving into town we came up over a hill and suddenly it was as if you could drive into the ocean - if, of course, you wanted to drive into the ocean. In this case, we didn't. There was a sign as we were locating our hotel that read: If you pass this point you are in the Tsunami Zone. Craazy! The boys were sweet right as the trip began and they thanked us for bringing them to the beach before we had even gone. Our first hotel was not so good. The people were friendly enough... probably because they were high on drugs! Truly though, it was a drug hot spot. They looked like they spent their days and nights using meth and we did not like the looks of the shady folks. It was the kind of place where I didn't really want my kids to touch anything, and you shower with your shoes on. Unfortunately we arrived too late in the day to make any changes that night so we made the best of it. We made mac n cheese for the boys and soon enough they were fast asleep. We changed hotels for the next couple nights. 

The next morning we got to the Aquarium as it was opening. The weather was perfect, and the boys were so excited. It was pretty cool. A lot of the exhibits were outside and you walked around big rocks to see the animals. The boys did not complain while we were there, and Jonah was a great baby and a good kick off to the vacation. 

 Later we hit one of the beaches. I had forgotten that these beaches, though sandy and beautiful, are cold! Luckily, Sam had thought of this, because if I had planned it out the way I had it in my mind we would not have a had jackets and they are a necessity. Despite that, the boys loved it!! They ran to the ocean as if it were an old friend.  In my mind's eye I saw Megan and I as kids doing the same thing so many years ago. When we played tag with ocean also. Rowan, who is my water boy through and through, was so in love with the ocean. He laughed and ran, and definitely did not want to leave even after he was drenched and shivering from the cold.
We hit the downtown area the next day and went to see the sea lions on the dock, and walked around.
But our trip was all about the beaches. We went to several. We went one night to fly a kite on the beach, we went again the last day before heading out of town, and it was perfect. The last one we had planned a lot better. We had dry clothes at the ready, we had them in the right clothes to start, and we stripped them down walking to the car. We spent the whole time running with the waves as a family. Me, holding Jone Jone, running back and forth with the waves. The last wave was the hail Mary to our trip. It wiped every one out if one fell swoop. In fact, Rowan, try as he did to outrun the wave fell under luckily Sam was right next to him and grabbed him the second he went in. Sam and I laughed and knew that was our cue. It was too cold there to be completely soaked. But, it was a great ending.
We plan on taking the boys again this summer. But, these memories are ones I will hold dear. I loved being with my family, and seeing how happy everyone was, and it made my own overflow.