Good Bye Summer - Hello Fall

Even with Mom recovering from back surgery, I have had a GREAT Summer!!

Daniel Seamons worked with me most of the summer and I had a good time with him, doing all my favorite and fun things.

In late August, my good friend and buddy, Kalin Hansen, came home from going to school abroad in Chile.  He brought home with him his beautiful wife Karen, that he met and married while he spent a year there.  Mom said things worked out really great because just as Daniel was going back to school, Kalin came home and wanted to be my support worker again.  We are working around his college classes, but he takes me out from noon to five, M-W-F.  Tues. & Thurs. it's only from three to five.  But I'm having so much fun.

Here's a picture of me and my good buddy Kalin.

We do a lot of things together. We go shopping, to the movies, bowling, play basketball & soccer, go to the park. We went to both the Franklin County Fair and the Logan, UT. fair. I had a ball at both!  Below are some pictures of the fun things we've been doing . .

   Kicking the soccer ball around. . .

Just relaxing and tying string on the merry-go-round at the park.  I love things than spin around.

  Playing on some of the equipment at the park.

 Bowling . . .

 Shucks, I only got 8 pins.

I like to go shopping and look at all the cool things, learning to keep my hands to myself, and deciding what I want to buy.  This cool skull is what I picked out and I LOVE IT!!  We're in the car on the way home, and I'm worn out from shopping.

My all-time FAVORITE thing to do is swimming!

I was teasing Kalin.  He kept signing for me to 'smile' for the camera.  So I just signed 'smile' right back at him.  Mom says I have a fun sense of humor. 

Ahhhh . . . the joys of life.  I LOVE this chair!!  It also keeps me up out of the water so I don't drink the pool water.  I still don't understand why they don't want me to do that.

 Yep . . this is the life alright.  I could stay here all day!       

I'm a happy guy.  Life is WONDERFUL!!  I'm king of my house, my family loves me, I get all the string, tape, and balloons that I want, and I've got a great buddy to do things with!  What more could a guy like me ask for?  Yep, I'm happy and blessed.
Posted by My Mom

Since Mom is FINALLY trying to get my blog updated, she's now going to post about my dental check-up from last month. When I get my dental work done, I have to go into the operating room in the hospital. I don't entend to let ANYONE get into my mouth unless I'm out cold. So, that's what they do....put me out cold. It's no big deal for me. I go in happy, the dentist cleans my teeth or does any work that needs doing, then I wake up, go home, and I'm usually happy. It was a piece of cake because I had no cavities this time.

Before.....
During.....

After.....

See, a piece of cake!

Posted by Mom

THE BIRTHDAY BOY!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I had a great birthday!! I got lots of birthday wishes from so many of you....Thank you for remembering me.

Because I get 'over stimulated' when there's lots of people around, it was just Mom, Dad and me. Mom made me this yummy Tagliatelle gluten-free pasta w/shrimp, veggies, in a garlic cream cheese sauce for dinner dinner. Mom is cool, she knows how much I love pasta! Oooo it was good. Then, for desssert I had an awesome gluten-free choc brownie/ice cream birthday cake.

Here's a picture of me before blowing out my candles.

Here's a picture of me enjoying my birthday cake...YUM!

Here I am playing with one of my birthday presents....I LOVE these things!

I stayed up really late on my birthday playing with the toys I got. Then, the next morning I did the same thing. I was so engrossed building things, that I completely forgot that I like to eat every two hours. I didn't stop until after lunch, and only then, because Dad made me come eat some lunch. And get this, I didn't take a nap at all that day!!!!! I ALWAYS take a nap sometime during the day. Man, I was just too busy! Yes sir, it was a great birthday!!

Posted by My Mom

A Letter To My Son

My Darling Son,

Soon you will be 27!! As I look at those years, I realize they have gone by so very quickly. As your birthday approaches there are things I wish I could say to you. Because of the challenges that afflict your body, and bind your mind, you would not understand. As I morn the loss of the verbal communication that we can never have here on earth, the feelings within my heart spill out of me with no place to go.

As other young men your age move on from their missions, graduate college, have jobs, get married and start having families, do you ever wonder what your future has in store? No, I suppose not, as the future is not anything you can comprehend. Because of your mind, what others consider "normal" everyday hopes and dreams, have been taken from you. But dear Jeff, after this long earthy journey ends, you will be given all that you have missed out on in this life.

If you were capable of ever asking, Why am I here? - This is the answer that I would give you. YOU ARE HERE TO BE MY TEACHER, and a teacher to those around you. One day, in the next life, you will be able to open this gift with joy and understanding.

First, you taught me what it means to experience the kind of love that exists only between a mother and her child. Sometimes I thought I would expire from sheer elation. Sometimes I thought I would expire from sheer exhaustion. Both could claim Mother love to be their sire.

From the very beginning of your life, you suffered with many life-threatening health conditions, surgeries, and physical challenges; you taught me patience, tolerance and long-suffering. You also taught me about sacrifice, charity, service, and what it means to forget one's self. I yearned with every fiber of my being-would have given every fiber of my being, to have you whole. But that was not to be. You then taught me to accept and cherish you for who you were, not for what might have been. You have taught me to study, learn, fight and to never give up.

Throughout the years you have taught me what is truly important in this world and quite frankly, what is not. Most of all, you have taught me what it means to align my will with that of God. To know that, in every case, His ways, His means, His timetable, His truth, are all that is worth having. You have taught me how much He loves me, and how much trust He has placed in me, by allowing me to have you in my life. I know that if I am ever to return and live with Him, I needed all the things that only you, would and could teach me.

You, my son, ARE A TEACHER, and the gift of knowledge has no price!

Thank you for all that you have taught me. I love you beyond measure, forever, and always.
Your loving Mother

Posted by My Mom

There's Going To Be a Lot of Catching Up To Do Someday!

In February Mom's back started getting bad. She has had a lot of pain ever since! Something about a bulging disc pressing on a bunch of nerves. Nothing seems to be working and the doctor is talking surgery. To be quite honest, she's been no fun at all. Plus, she hasn't posted anything at all for me. I've been having lots of fun this summer with my support worker Daniel. He's a cool guy, and I like doing things with him.

My great Dad has been doing almost everything for me and for Mom. He has learned how to help me with all my personal cares, fix my food, clean up after me, and well, basically everything that Mom always did. I wanted Mom to post this for me, just so you guys know I'm still around, happy and enjoying life.

Posted by My Mom

2011 Has Begun!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Wow, it's a new year with lots of great and enjoyable things to look forward to. Well, that's what my Mom says anyway.

This is how I spent New Years Eve.....


Yep, that's me under all those covers & pillows. I'm sound asleep and so was everyone else here at home. I don't really understand all the fuss about New Years Eve. When I'm tired, I want to go to bed. Mom and Dad must feel the same way, because they do the same thing. Mom said there was a time when they used to stay up and ring in the New Year, but they are old now and need their rest.

Now that the holidays are past, I'm looking forward to doing some snow shoeing, and X-country skiing with Common Ground when they start. Mom is encouraging me to get more exercise so I'll be stronger when I go and do the fun winter things Common Ground has planned. She thought it would be good for me to start walking. So she and I are walking on the treadmill everyday. We make a great team! She motivates me and I motivate her.

Here's a picture of me walking on one of the treadmills at home. Mom usually walks on the big one next to me, but she got off to take the picture of me.


I think it is so cool to walk on the treadmill and I really enjoy it. I like it better than walking outside because it's nice and FLAT! Remember, I don't like walking on uneven ground. Plus it's only 15 degrees out...to cold for me!

Posted by My Mom

Christmas Was So Fun!

WOW, what a fun Christmas I had! It was just Mom, Dad and me, but it was just great! Dad came into my room to wake me up at 7 A.M. He had been awake since 5 A.M. and wanted to wake me up then, but Mom wouldn't let him. She wanted to sleep a bit longer but Dad kept asking her every 30 minutes if he could go wake me up. Finally at 7, she gave up trying to sleep, and when he asked her again if he could wake me up, she said yes. Dad came into my room and woke me up and signed that Santa Clause came and brought presents. As most of you know, I move pretty slow, but when he told me Santa came, I flew out of my bed. When I went into the living room and saw the balloons and presents, I was so excited, and I just kept smiling and laughing. I popped a couple of balloons first then Dad started handing me the presents. I loved opening them and had to examine each one thoroughly before I could move on to the next one.

After I opened all my gifts, we ate a yummy breakfast. I surprised Mom by communicating to her that it was time and I wanted to see what was in our stockings. That's the very first time I have ever done that. But I knew that after breakfast we always get our stockings. Since she didn't say anything, I did! She and Dad were proud of me for doing that. I got more neat toys and candies in my stocking.

I loved all the toys I got and true to form, I had most of them broken by that evening. I LOVED playing with and taking apart my toys. And when I had nothing but pieces left, I LOVED playing with the pieces. I didn't even stop to take a nap during the day like I usually do. I was totally engrossed with playing and taking everything apart. Mom put some of the things away....things that she needs to help me play with, but that was okay with me. It was really a GREAT Christmas!!! Here's some pictures Mom took.....

Posted by My Mom