Family Fast on Sunday

Already called Mom about this, but with California's budget(or lack thereof) the way it is, our county Regional Center is going to close in mid-March because it won't have funding to pay their providers. They coordinate everything for children w/developmental disabilities & delays. This is who contracts out Andrew's speech therapy(his therapist was about to put in an request for an increase in hours, but now it's doubtful he'd get it), and Collin's in-home behavior therapy(he gets it about 4x's per week right now). Anyway, the thought of no services from the county is really freaking me out right now. This is also how I get my respite(or re-imbursed babysitting) for the boys. There's a couple things I'm able to do (but this week only) a petition asking for a budget to be passed by the end of next week & the protection of the rights of the people receiving the services, and then a few phone calls & letters.

Blessing of James

James is going to be blessed on Sunday Feb 8 , 2009 @ 8:30 am at the Westerville building. Everyone is invited.

Misson Update...

Well, my stake president was contacted by the person in Salt Lake City looking over the medical information in my papers. Normally, they 'honorably excuse' people with Asperger's from going on a proselyting mission. My stake president (who happens to be a psychologist) convinced him to move my stuff along, but to keep it on hold until he got to know me better. So, Mom, Dad & I went to the stake center tonight to talk with our stake president; It seemed to go well. And, he said that he now had enough information to pass on to the person in Salt Lake City.

The stake president's new information will go, along with my papers, to the 5 Seventies next Thursday. If they excuse me now, according to our stake president, it will be for spiritual reasons as opposed to my Asperger's. So, that's the latest with my missionary call status.

Jon is on his way

Jon left this morning for Ohio. He was able to stay for Harrison's birthday yesterday, but had to leave today so he can make it to drill on Saturday. So be on the look out for him and a few extra prayers for him while he's on the road would be appreciated. Thanks

Happy Birthday Deanna!

Hope you had a good one!

Happy Birthday Harm!

hope it's a good one!

I got to meet Elder Rasband(Presidency of the 70) today

Today, we actually got to stake conference ahead of time. That in and of itself was amazing. As we were sitting, with 15 or so minutes before it started, one of the counselors in the Stake Presidency introduced us to Elder Rasband, who was visiting. He told a little of our situation(w/Tom away) to Elder Rasband, and Elder Rasband took a few minutes to talk to us. I don't remember much of what he said, as it was rather brief. They asked how it was going and without thinking too much I said that I was so thankful to be "adopted" into 2 families in the stake to sit with us. I do remember that he had such a strong spirit about him and was impressed that he wanted to meet w/people before the conference started.

Anyway, I missed a quite bit of the talks, Collin was having a really hard time w/so many people there(shouldn't have suprised me, but I had forgotten). Elder Rasband spoke at the end. He was talking about the church's gratefulness & increased faith for Prop. 8 passing here. At the end of his talk he was talking about President Monson always being concerned about the widows, poor & needy even before he became the prophet and that we should do the same. Then he talked about single parenting and the need to buoy those up in the stake(single parents, widows, poor, needy), and not to assume someone else is helping out. I was almost in tears, not only because I am sure he was referencing our family but also we have had soo much service this week(house cleaned, kids babysat multiple times including when I was sick for a couple days)--not typical to get so much at once.

Rhonda and James Are Home

Rhonda and James came home today. James passed his hearing test yesterday. The hospital took some pictures. They are posted at http://www.growingfamily.com/webnursery/hospitals/5774/frame_test.asp?URLID=2536287717
The pics will only there for a week.

Welcome James Tarlton!!!!

8 lb 10 oz

christmas cards

i forgot to send out the christmas cards this year. i'm sending most of them to mom & dad's. i need addresses for andi & todd, jon & jenn, and deanna & jeremiah though.

andrew's update

andrew is doing REALLY good w/his speech therapy. he's been working w/the speech therapist since august. i am just amazed how his language has just exploded this past month. andrew's starting to put 2 words together & is almost on par w/peers for the # of words he has. i credit it to the speech therapy and the electric toothbrush massage the therapist has us do above his top lip & now by the bottom corners of his mouth. we're pretty sure language was so behind because of poor muscle tone/coordination. it's improving a lot w/the massaging. still can't get a lot of letters yet, so once he's 2 the therapist is going to ask the county for 1 more hour a week(that's how much we get currently).

here are some of his favorite things to say:

"du(juice) t(please)" as soon as he wakes up
"ta tay"(thomas train)
"ddd"(dvd)--he knows what's important to him...lol
"see tha"(see that)
"hi day"(hi daddy)
"talla"(collin)
"lella"(yellow)
"o"(orange)
"lie"(lights)
"dih tee"(big tree)
"dih tay"(big train)
"lih tay"(little train)
"buh-buh"(bubble, although 30% of the time he uses D instead of B)
"wa-wa"(water--we got that 2 weeks after starting the toothbrush massaging)