Caleb's 6th birthday

Happy Birthday dear Caleb!

Caleb had a wonderful birthday! There was such a special spirit in our home as we reflected on the past 6 years. 

6 years ago we were driving to the hospital on cold winter morning to have a new baby boy. We didn't know if we would have even have the chance to say hello before we would have to say good bye.

6 years ago we were told we'd likely have days or weeks. We were encouraged to purchase a burial plot. We left the hospital on hospice care.

6 years ago we came home to a room full of hospital equipment and hearts full of worry.

6 years ago on my way to that hospital, I kept thinking to myself, in a few hours my life will never be the same.

It hasn't.

And I am forever thankful.

Each of the children helped pick a gift from the birthday bag to give to Caleb

A special friend

With a special delivery all the way from New Hampshire.

Thank you Ben.  Tears.

Remind you of UP?

A special "I Spy" quilt from a special family.

A surprise visit from two of our favorite people! 

Bright balloons snuggles and foot-rubs were the perfect gifts!

This special grandma shares the same birthday!

Granny B wrote Caleb a special birthday story.  

You can read it here.  Have a tissue ready. 

The one and only Grandpa B

Brother Buddy Matthew "Match"

Uncle John and Aunt Alisa

Big Brother Josh'ers'

Little Brother Mitch'ie'

Pretty proud parents

Wink around the World

Caleb celebrates his 6^th birthday this week!  

Our little miracle turns 6!  

He is old enough to be in kindergarten, 

and he has two wiggle front teeth.  

To an outsider looking in Caleb’s physical capabilities haven’t changed very much since he was a baby.  

His body isn’t able to hold his head, to sit or to stand.  

His mouth doesn’t know how to eat.  

He needs help to breathe.  

His eyes don’t always see and his muscles need help to stretch and reach.  

He loves to be held.  

Yet, insiders know

 though Caleb can’t lift his head. He lifts.  

Though his mouth can’t eat, his smile radiates.  

Though he needs help to breathe, his breathes hope.  

His eyes don’t always see, but he winks.  

His muscles need help, but he reaches out.  

He loves to be held, but it is he who holds us.  

Caleb loves- really loves.  

His little wink reminds us every day that love is his mission. 

So this year Caleb has a special birthday wish.  

WINK.  

Find a way to love someone.

 Let’s see if we can send a wink around the world for my little boy

 who has never uttered a word yet says so much with a little 

WINK.  

If you'd like to take the challenge, leave us a comment telling us where you're from- then spread the word!  Let's see if we can share a Wink around the World for my little boy who has never uttered a word, yet who says so much- with a little wink.

 

Happy New Year!

Hope your new year is full of love.

Our little Angel

Caleb was the angel in our Christmas Nativity this year. Dallan was his voice saying, "Fear not, I bring you good tidings of great joy...." I think it touched all of our hearts deeply, because we know that Caleb could very well have been in the angel choir that night.

Read what my mom wrote about our little angel here.

A time for hope

Ho Ho Ho!

Merry Christmas!

Think Caleb liked PT today?

I'll let you be the judge...

But if you're asking me, I'd have to say...

YES!!

Brotherhood

There's no other love like the love for a brother. There's no other love like the love from a brother. ~Astrid Alauda

Touched

Do you know what is so special about Caleb's blurry hand?

It was MOVING to touch his favorite vision toy!

He reached out and touched it on purpose!

It is rare for us to see Caleb reach and  touch something

but he continually reaches out to touch our hearts every day.

Thankful

Oh my heart is full of gratitude

 for these special boys

and for the knowledge

that we can be together forever.

Happy Thanksgiving.

May your hearts and your tummies be filled!

Thanksgiving Daily

6 of us

Tonight on our way to the BYU basketball game Mitchell asked, "Daddy, how many tickets do we have?"  Dallan responded,  "One for every body in the family."  Mitchell then proceeded to count, "Mom, Dad, one special guy, and 3 talking guys- SIX of us!!

My Purr...fect little Pirate!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween

From our Spooky little family

To yours!

Ahoy there matey!

Hope ye' land lubbers

get a lot of loot!

Together we can...love

Matthew recently wrote this for school:

I have a brother who has a special body.

He can’t walk. He can’t talk. He can’t move his body in the way he wants. But does have his own language of love. One of the ways he tells me he loves me is with his wink. He is always winking because he only has one eye.

He shows me love when I lay by him. He is like a teddy bear because even though he can’t talk, he always listens. I can tell him my problems and he makes me feel happy.
When I’m having a hard day, I lay by him and he helps my bad feelings to melt away. He helps me to feel peaceful.

When I hug my brother I like to do a special arm lock with his arm and mine. My brother can’t hug me back, but when I want him to hug me I help him by putting his arms around my neck. 

I can tell he’s happy when I’m around. When I come home from school and I’m near him, he usually gives me a smile.

My brother teaches me that love is the most important thing ever. He tells me with a feeling. He tells me with his heart. He shows me you don’t have to have a perfect body to love perfectly.

Show and Tell

Tomorrow I am helping Matthew's class with a Halloween art project.

His teacher e mailed me to tell me that Matthew would like to "Show and Tell" Caleb while I'm there.

I was touched.

Matthew isn't self conscious about his little brother.

He is proud.

He knows how special he is-

and when you experience something extra special.

You want to share.

I know just how he feels.

Conference weekend...

Frosting Halloween cookies with cousins

Swinging all together!

Snuggles and songs from Papa.

We had a wonderful conference weekend.  We were touched by inspired council and we were surrounded by people we love!

My favorite quote from general conference:  

"To live with gratitude in our hearts is to touch heaven."

Thomas S. Monson