Blog? What Blog?

So here's to New Year's resolutions that usually fade out about February. I'm going for it, and want to make a goal to post here at least once a month. The kids are all growing up so fast and they change every day. Anything I can do to remember these times and hold onto these sweet moments will be well worth it! Moments like going through a certain boy's backpack and finding a beautifully drawn picture with the words "babis eat from booboos" as the caption. It's going to be a great year!

The "R" Word

So I am diving into a post that I have been thinking about and losing sleep over for a long time now. My intentions are not to jump on my high horse and preach about things even foreign to me. My intentions are to bring awareness to those around me who love me and my family and to start making the changes in our small corner of the world that my daughter was sent here to make. The truth is...the word "retarded" is offensive to many people with special needs. I'm not gonna lie...I have used this word as slang before and never saw too much harm in it. However, things are different now and I am asking if we could all try a little harder to be sensitive to those around us. What if we all taught our kids who then could teach their kids who could teach their friends...what a difference we could make. I am so grateful to live in a community with such loving people who are supportive and encouraging. Lets spread the word....but not the "R" word. :)

Randomness from the Leonards

Eme's Blessing and Updates!

I'm a little behind on.....well everything lately! Emersen was blessed a few weeks ago and it was a great day. There are a few things I will remember about that day...

-How nervous her poor daddy was...he wanted it to be perfect, and of course it was.

-The red boots aunt Lacy wore...loved them and loved her being there.

-Turning around in Sacrament Meeting to see Jacksen (who was sitting with my parents) wearing the HUGE blue star clown sunglasses he snuck into the church bag.

-The amazing love and peace I felt that day.

-The sweet words in her blessing, knowing that she was going to bring so much joy to everyone around her.

The day was perfect and I'm so grateful to all of our friends and family who were there to share it with us. Emersen is doing great! I wish I had a more recent picture (coming very soon)! She has actually been tube-free for 2 days now. The doc said after about two months her blood vessels would relax and there was a chance she would no longer need the oxygen....I think I got that right but I also may have just totally butchered what he said. Anyways, it is so nice to stare at her perfect little face without her "entourage" of equipment :). She continues to have a very sweet and calm personality. Everyone who holds her comments that they could sit and hold her forever. Jacksen cannot get enough of her...they have a special bond that Eric and I just love to watch. She looks at him different than anyone else and turns to wherever his voice is in the room....yes, it makes me a little nervous that they may already be conspiring against me....but I also think he has the most tender heart and will be a great big brother to her.

Sometimes I cannot believe I have four children and the direction my life has taken, but my family brings me more joy....and laundry :) than I could have ever imagined.

Emersen Montana Leonard

Our sweet little girl was born on October 17 weighing in at a whole 5 pounds 11 ounces. The labor wasn't too bad and my shortest by far. I had to wake Eric up to tell him to move his bed because the doctor was on his way in so I could start pushing.... oh to be on the other side of things :).
After Emersen was born, the nurses seemed a little concerned about her color and so dad accompanied her to the special care nursery for some oxygen. Not long after that, while I was back in the delivery room all alone, Eric called to tell me they thought something might be wrong....she had some features consistent with down syndrome and they were going to send off a chromosone test right away for further testing. I'll never forget the way I felt at that moment. I was terrified and instantly started to pray that I would be able to handle whatever was about to come my way. It seemed like forever until Eric and the nurse came back to talk to me....she explained their concerns and after she left Eric and I cried. Not because we were sad or dissapointed, but because we were so afraid of what the future held for our sweet girl. It was the longest night for us both...lots of tears and no sleep. The next day, when we went to see Emersen again, we found out that she has a heart defect common among children with down syndrome, which would require open heart surgery at the age of 4 months. About 1/2 hour later, we found out that she had a possible bowel obstruction and we would be flying to Phoenix for surgery that night. We were very fortunate that once we were in Phoenix, the doctors thought that her tummy was fine and the surgery wasn't necessary. While we were there however, we met with the pediatric cardiologists that would be performing her surgery and got lots of great information! We are now back in the Flagstaff NICU where she is learning how to eat better and get stronger. Because of her heart condition, eating for her is like running a race....very tiring! Her stamina has to improve and she has to have all of her feedings by mouth before she can come home. She is such a tough girl and I know she is trying hard. I don't know how long we will be there but I try to be grateful for the time I get to cuddle her and bond with her without the normal interruptions of home.
Eric and I feel so humbled and blessed to have Emersen with us. I look forward to learning about down syndrome and being an advocate for my sweet little angel. She has blessed our lives already...she has shown us how much love is around us. I continue to be overwhelmed everyday at our friends and family and their support. I think she has only begun to touch those around her and remind me of what is truly important. We are so thankful to all of you who have prayed for us and continue to encourage us every day. I can't wait for you all to meet our precious girl and feel her amazing spirit. I know she is going to be a source of great joy to our family and we thank our Heavenly Father every day that we get to be her parents.

Yes, I am aware that I have been on a slight blog vacation...my computer has a virus and won't let me upload new pictures....which is usually my motivation for posting.

I'm going to try and catch up but it could take a while....things don't slow down much around here.

Jacksen and Ty both started school a few weeks ago and are having a blast! They have great teachers and are learning lots of fun (and not so fun) stuff. They have picked up a couple of new phrases....ex. manboobs, buttcrack, and barf the cheese????? I am hoping they are short lived and they learn quick that not everything said on the playground is ok for home :)

Ady stays busy with me at home...she goes to an activity group and a mom and tot swim class. We have lots of fun taking trips to Flag to the baby doctor and shopping for her new baby sister. On our last trip she was dragging a huge pony around Marshalls....Grandma told her maybe Santa would bring it to her for Christmas and Ady (who is 2) said...but Grandma, its on sale! She is already quite the bargain shopper.

Football season is in full swing...Eric stays busy at work! The boys are also playing soccer so the weekends are busy now too. I'm trying to keep up with everyone....I mostly move with a slow waddle these days....only weeks left until we can meet baby girl Leonard, which may be her name if we can't agree on anything by then.

I'll end with some of the fantastic things that have come out of my children's mouths lately!

Tysen: "I have this new girl in my class...she is half French and half Human."

Adysen: (Mad at me for telling her no) "I don't like your baby anymore."

Jacksen: (He was feeling the baby kick) "You should kick her back."

Fun at Knoll Lake!!

First day of school!

So You Think You Can Dance?

Tysen came home a couple of weeks ago and said he signed up to audition for the school talent show. Eric and I had no idea he had it in him. He had to do it in front of the whole school and parents but we were so proud of him and wanted to share it with you! It still cracks me up everytime I watch it.....enjoy!