SPEECH - bob, Bob, BOB!!

I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in a long time!  Last night, mom was trying to get dad to get up and take out the dog. He was sound asleep on the floor and didn't hear her.  I said mom.....You can say Baa.....Try to say Bob.   So she started with Baa.  Then we all started laughing. I don't know why everything was so funny last night. I think laughter is such a good stress relief. My mom is a great example of that!  She has such a great attitude and laughs quite often, I guess that is what keeps us going. Anyways.....So she kept say Baaa and dad kept sleeping. Then she said Bub....which was even funnier.  Then it went to Uh, Bub, Uh Bub.  Then all of a sudden she said Bob!!!! She was so excited she just kept laughing and dad slept through it all.  So I said, louder mom. She hasn't been able to speak very loud. So when she said it louder she laughed even harder. Finally dad woke up and said what. Then he realized mom had said it. I am not to sure now if he is excited she can say his name now or not.  She is really getting very good at it and can really say it LOUD and CLEAR.  Here is a video of it.

SPEECH - More therapy!!!

Yesterday Russ, her speech therapist said he is so impressed with mom. He asked the insurance for 12 more weeks of therapy. He said he has never had anyone this long. He really feels she is coming along great.  YEAH!! Pray for her that the insurance will give her 12 more weeks.

SPEECH - Happy Birthday

Mom's speech is slowly coming along. I was surprised at how much she had to learn all over again.  I sat in on a therapy session where he worked with her on moving her tongue. She had to learn to stick her tongue out and move it side to side.  He had been working on it for a couple of weeks and then all of a sudden she just started doing it. The therapist was very excited.  The first word she learned was BYE BYE.  She was pretty excited as was all the therapists at the center. Now everytime she leaves they all have her tell them bye bye.  She now can say Monday and Happy Birthday very clear.  Several times she has slipped and said a word very clear without thinking and then catches her self and laughs and laughs. For example the other night Allen and I and the kids had left for a dinner and when we came home I said did you enjoy your quiet night home. She rolled her eyes and said annoyingly sum sum sum. I said What no one was home it had to have been quiet. She said sum sum sum Dad, sum.....then realized she said Dad and started laughing.  I guess dad slept and snored the whole time. 

Mom wants to help out and do something. She decided she was going to help with dishes. So she rinses and puts them in the drainer. Her and Makenna practice singing while they do dishes.

Mom has always loved music and has loved to sing.  We have found that when she sings she makes more sounds than Sum, sum, sum.  She sings with the tune and makes sounds to the syllables.  She has a music speech app on her IPAD which her and Makenna practice singing to.   By the way....we LOVE her IPAD and the SOFTWARE she has been able to get for it. She uses it ALL the time. She keeps it in her purse and will practice in the car, at drs appointments, and on her days off from therapy.  I think it has really helped her alot and I have noticed more progress since she has been using it. Thank you to those of you who made it possible for her to have it.

Baby Zoe's Blessing

Mom, Dad, Kerri and Gina spent the weekend down at Robins house.  On Sunday we all met up for baby Zoe's blessing at church. 

We took a family pictures of  mom and dad and their kids. We sure felt like a small family with Todd missing. It really hit us all hard that he is not with us anymore.

Springfield Zoo

We decided to get out of the house and do something with all kids while Gina was visiting.....so we went to the ZOO!

Right as we pulled up to the zoo this peacock was strutting out in the parking lot.

Mom, Dad, Daughter Cindy and Granddaughter Makenna

Mom being silly!

Grandson Grant

Enjoying the Animals

Grandsons, Eli, James and Gavin

Grandson Colton and Granddaughter Maddie

Colton and Grandson Corbin

Colton and Grandson JD

Grandson Gavin

Granddaughter Sadie

1st Grandchild to graduate

Dad and Moms first grandchild graduated this month. AUSTIN WILKINS.  It has been really fun to have them involved in so many of our childrens activities.

During graduation the graduates gave carnations to women who meant alot to them.  Austin gave Grandma one.

Show and Tell

Mom and Dad inherited Grandpa Hoffman's turtle named Herky. Grandpa found him in Los Angelos when he was about 12 years old.  He has kept him all his life.  Grandpa went into a nursing home this year and Dad took him home to Washington. Now he is here in Missouri.  We think he is about 100 years old.  We took him to school for show and tell.  He was quite a hit! We ended up being in three rooms and other teachers kept stopping us in the hall.

River fun at Robins House

Mom had a three day weekend off of Therapy so we headed to Robins for the weekend.  Gina also came out to visit for two weeks with JD and Corbin. We went to the river and the boys all canoed.  The rest of us enjoyed the "Beach".  The water was very clear and you could see to the bottom.  We even got moms wheelchair to the rivers edge.

Baby Zoe

Gavin Cliff Jumping

Gavin Snorkeling

Lizzie and Makenna walking the river

Makenna, Sadie and Lizzie floating the river

The younger kids attacked the first canoe that made it back.

Joseph and Colton

Caiden

Kerri, Maddie and Marci

Grandma and Maddie practicing "Bye Bye"

  Mom needed to go to the car to get out of the sun.  Maddie and JD climbed in with her. The funniest thing happened. When we weren't paying attention, Grandma was teaching Maddie how to say Bye Bye.  Mom just learned how to say Bye Bye this week.  So she tells everyone Bye Bye and gets so ticked and excited she can say something other than Sum, sum, sum.  I got lucky enough to get it on video :)

 

Kansas City Temple Celebration

We went up to Kansas City and stayed the night. Moms first overnight outing.  She did GREAT!  We were so excited to have a handicap room with a roll in shower :)   

Some of us SWAM

 and some of us SLEPT!

Mom and Dad 6 grandkids and 4 adopted grandkids in the temple celebration.  The temple celebration is a huge event that celebrates the culture in the Kansas City area in honor of the new LDS temple.  Our modern day prophet Thomas S Monson was in attendance. There was over 3000 kids that participated.  Our kids practiced for months before the event. Then they had one practice with all 3000 kids...It was AMAZING!  The seating was limited and only parents and siblings and grandparents could get tickets.  It was a lot of fun. 

Austin is right in the middle in a yellow shirt

Kansas City LDS Temple Open House

We went to the Kansas City LDS Temple Open House.  It was so beautiful.  Mom really enjoyed the outing. 

Pedicure Times and Shooting Games

Makenna loves to give Grandma a pedicure.....

and Grandpa has taught her to be quite a good shot! 

Zoes Baby Shower

It was so fun to have Kerri and Robin here for Robins baby shower.  Kerri helped me plan it. 

I think it wore Mom and Zoe out!  Once everyone was gone they could not stay awake and took a nap together.