Donut Falls

Tyler is quite the outdoorsman, and loves to bike, snowboard, hike, surf--if around an ocean. I think probably one of the hardest things about having Caleb as his son, is not being able to do all of these things as a family. He and Holden had done this hike before and he wanted to try and do it with Fin and Caleb. He carried Fin on his back and pulled Caleb in the sled. Round trip is over 3 miles, walking uphill in the snow, carrying Fin and pulling Caleb. I know he is crazy!! But he is willing to try and do everything he can to do things as a family. My boys are very lucky to have him as their dad!!!!

We finally made it to the Falls but it was an uphill climb, we left Caleb and Holden at the bottom and tried to climb up to them. I was literally crawling on my hands and knees up the side of the snow. We decided it was not worth it to try and see them with how dangerous it was. Caleb was also freezing by then, as well as Fin. Caleb is not used to being that cold, and he cried most of the way down. We chalk it up to another memory for our family!

Ready to head up the trail
On the way

Almost done! Caleb was definately done!!!

Happy

Look how happy my boy is!! They sent these pictures home from school with him. They all love to watch him swim because he loves it so much. I wish they were able to take him in the pool more!

Unexpected Kindness

This experience actually happend last summer, but feel that I need to write it down for my own memory. Whenever go out in public and I don't really want to haul Caleb's feeding pump with us, and don't want to take very long, then I do it "manually." Which just involved an empty syringe hooked up to his extension tube, which is hooked up to his G-tube. It usually just take a few minutes this way, because gravity is what is making it work, instead of the pump. Wherever we are, I usually try to find a quiet, semi private--if possible, spot to feed him. 99.99% of the time we get stared at--for LONG periods of time. I just try to smile at them and then they usually move on. We happened to be at the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point last summer. It was time to feed him so I found a quiet cubby to try and feed him. As I was feeding him, an older Asian woman, and what I would guess was her granddaughter, walked by very slowly, she looked right at me and smiled. They passed and then turned around and came back, she quietly came over and kissed Caleb on the head, and then left again. A minute or two later she came back and they sat down a minute, she had her granddaugther to ask how old he was and if he was my only child. After I answered she just smiled again and left. It meant so much to me what she did, when normally we are just a "show" for everyone to stare at, she took the time to see Caleb for who he really is. Someone Special!!

A Special Needs Child
by: Julie J. Hunter


Their eyes are bright and vibrant and full of unspoken promises and of dreams yet to be revealed. In the eyes of these children I see a wealth of possibilities. I spy promises unspoken that are left to the imagination. Their tomorrows are something I am humbled by. Their realities are yet to be realized and I am left to ponder their delicate footprint that has yet to be revealed. To me, they are a wonderment that has been woven into an unbreakable web of pure love. These children leave us with the amazing gifts of a Heavenly Father that chooses us to share in the nurturing of one of His true angels. I am humbled by His choosing and wary of my impact. I walk softly, at times holding my breath. I do not want to fail these angels, these gifts. I am aware, for reasons, that I have yet to understand that I have been lent a beautiful key that open's a door to God's amazing love. This love is pure and kind and comforting. It does not discriminate or curse anyone who comes within its sanctified path. We are given these seemingly short moments in time to share in one of God's greatest gifts, the life of a Special Needs Child. If you let them in, they will change you in your core. These beautiful children will make you realize how wonderful our lives are and how much fuller our spirits are for having been lent these miracles. These children make us more complete human beings by simply allowing them to touch our hearts. You will have the unfortunate experience of dark days, and tremendous moments of grief and misunderstanding. But in the end, when all is said and done, you...we...will be more complete, more whole, more loved, more patient and kinder because we were chosen to meet, touch, hold, hug, adopt, parent, comfort, nurture and most of all love a "Special Needs Child." How could we ask for anything more.

Amazing!

At the end of Caleb's second grade year, they had built another special needs school on the other side of the valley. I was devastated, his teacher, Penny, was so awesome with him, and was moving over there, and I was not too thrilled with who he was going to have. Luckily at the end of the summer I got a call from his Kindergarten teacher, Dolly, to let me know, that with only a few kindergartners coming in, she would be able to take on Caleb's class too. I was thrilled. By the third day, Nancy (in picture below) who is one of the aides, told me she had already fallen in love with Caleb. She is so amazing and awesome with him. Dolly retired at the end of the school year, and he got a new teacher, but lucky for us, we got to keep Nancy. She is so good to him, she doesn't let him get away with doing whatever he wants, I attribute so much of his progress to her. The other aides call Caleb her little shadow, everywhere she goes, Caleb is usually following. I never have to worry when I send him off to school, she not only respects him, but she loves him, what more could a mother want?

Everyday she writes in his little notebook what they did for the day. I never know what I am going to find when I open it up. He can be quite the grump somedays. The other day she sent home a note that just made my day.

It read "Caleb made my day by giving me a great big hug, he sang in my ear, and basically made me the happiest person ever."

How could that not make me happy?? We are very lucky and blessed to have someone as amazing as Nancy in our lives. Now if we could just keep her until he is 21!!!!

Slacker

Christmas this year was kept pretty low key. We had an early Christmas with my parents since they were flying out to Nikole's in Minnesota.

We had a dinner at Jan and Doug's on the day before Christmas Eve, with Emily, Bryson and Fam. As well as Landon, Jill and Fam. The kids always love to get together and go hog wild.

Christmas Eve was just our little family this year. Something we have never done before. Tyler read some stories, we made sugar cookies for santa, and then the boys opened their new jammies.

Christmas morning was really fun especially with Finley. He caught on real quick to opening the presents, and he took the time to want to enjoy each one before moving onto the next. He got a new "big" puppy to match his little puppy, as well as some other toys he has enjoyed. Holden got a new pair of skis, gloves, clothes, and some fun games. Caleb as usual could care less, he got a "back-up" for his most favorite Wiggle radio, as well as a huge load of AAA batteries. He burns through the batteries in days because he never puts the radio down.

Tyler's family-minus Emily's family came over for brunch. Tyler made yummy waffles, eggs and bacon. Afterwards we played some games, and Michael Jackson's Wii game while the babies slept. Once they woke up we all went bowling. Afterwards we headed over to Jan and Doug's for a spaghetti dinner that she whipped up.

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Bice's

Christmas morning

Finley with Grandma Jan

Bowling