The McPhail Adventure

Family Update

2008-08-22T14:37:00.001-07:00

So it's been over a year since we last posted...holy cow...so much has happened and is happening. I guess the first of which is that we have our third boy on the way and he looks a lot like thatcher's picture that I posted last july:):)

Thatcher or Chach as we like to call him is almost 9 months now and growing like carzy...he is crawling everywhere and trying with every ounce of strength he has to stand and walk...I can already tell he is going to be an independent one. He loves to explore and experience new things for himself...but also LOVES to be cuddled and squished:)

Sawyer is doing better than ever. We have him on a strict Gluten, Casien, Milk, Dye and sugar free diet that now also excludes main staples such as soy tofu, peanut butter and strawberries. When he is off all of these things he is a different boy and it is so fun to see the real Sawyer grow and learn and develop his amazing personality and sweet heart.

All that to say this has probably been the most challenging year of our lives. Remodeling the house has been an amazing adventure but C.J. and I both agree that we won't take on such a large project with kids again:)

We have also gone through so much with Sawyer. We are just now seeing some of the fruits of our past year of labor and we still have a long way to go. Praise and Glory to God for giving us strength and unity as parents because I KNOW we could not have made it without his grace, wisdom and guidance.

Sawyer was accepted in to the developmental preschool through clackamas county ESD when he turned 3 in April. This has been a huge blessing for our family because it is free and it allows him to socialize with other kids two days a week. When we started preschool we had not yet started the diet and his cognitive, developmental, communication and motor skill scores showed it. He has been diagnosed with a communication disorder and a secondary diagnosis of being developmentally delayed and he also has sensory integration and modulation issues to deal with.

I guess one of the most challenging things about Sawyers condition is simply to stop caring what others think of him or our parenting skills. It's been hard to stop feeling like I have to explain to every stranger we pass that he is "delayed and has sensory issues" no one cares anyway and most just seem to roll their eyes probably thinking he is just a bratt. Anyway, although the stare and eye rolling shouldn't matter I still seem to go to bed so many nights broken, discouraged and feeling like I have failed my son.

Sawyer is so amazing in SOO many ways. I love his laugh and his smile. I love his adventurous spirit and his ability to go off on his own and play not caring what other children or adults think of him. He is strong and he is a leader and I know God will use these traits to make him an amazing man...we just have to survive childhood first:):)

More to come later:)

Lindsay

Family Time

2007-07-11T19:27:00.000-07:00

Sawyer is getting absolutely huge...he is talking like crazy and he can even pat my Stomach and say baby. Today we found out we are having another little boy his name will be Thatcher...McPhail - We're not exactly set on a middle name yet. I am attaching Thatcher's first pictures one of which is proof that he is a boy:)

I have also included some pictures of this summer and our last trip to Medford.

House Updates

2007-07-11T19:09:00.000-07:00

So I've really been bad about keeping the blog updated. So much has happened over the past 2 months so we have a ton of pictures. There ahave been a lot of ups and downs working on the house...but mostly ups:):) This has been one of the biggest but most rewarding challenges of our marriage and we are so excited that God has given us such an amazing house to raise our family. I will be better at adding pictures as we go in the future...it has just been a "work in chaos" as C.J. calls it:)

More House Updates

2007-07-11T18:15:00.000-07:00

Oregon City House

2007-05-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

Here are the pictures of the house we're buying in Oregon City. We move in in about 2 weeks. It needs a lot of work, but we are so excited!!! Notice what the foundation is made of in the picture under the house:):)

40 days and 40 nights

2007-04-13T14:06:00.000-07:00

Hi all. So much has happened I the last month and a half. CJ and I really took the season of Lent seriously this year and asked God to show us something amazing and give us clarity about where we need to be in terms of his kingdom. Well this is what happened in 40 days of prayer no wine, cheese or TV ahhhhhh!

We are pregnant, we sold our Rover and got a diesel beetle and we are selling our house in order to downsize so I can stay home once the baby is born. Whew that was a busy month:):) Soon there will be two munchkin heads on this site instead of just Soy Ginger Latte:)

We are really excited about the changes God has brought about, and we can't wait to share the journey and the accompanying dramas with all of you:)

Here is a new video of a zerbert match between Sawyer and I...hopefully this one will work:):)

Zoo Days

2007-03-18T21:12:00.000-07:00

We had such a great weekend! Dooder (Grandma) was here and it was beatuliful wheather! We went to the zoo and had a great time! Sawyer seems to be trying to talk more than ever. he is repeating words like crazy, which is totally a new thing within the past month. Tuesday we have an occupational therapist coming in to do some sensory evaluation and therapy...it will be interesting to see what she finds. We will keep everyone posted. Meanwhile, here are some pictures and there will be another video coming within the next few days. We love you all:)

Talkin, Talkin, Talkin

2007-03-02T20:51:00.000-08:00

Sawyer is soo close to talking. We have seen so much improvement over the past week. He started speech therapy and has had two sessions, and it's amazing to see how his little mind is developing. For those of you who don't know Sawyer was evaluated by Multnomah ESD and he is severely delayed in communication and social skills. He just seems to be blooming now. I almost cried last Sunday at church when I walked in and he didn't want to leave becuse he was playing with other kids. Social interaction is key to his development... and it's not something he gets a lot of. It's so fun to delight in the simple things like Sawyer making a new sound or not pummeling another kid at the play area in the mall:):) Praise God, He is so good!

The Adventure Begins

2007-02-28T22:04:00.000-08:00

2007-02-28T21:20:00.000-08:00

The McPhail adventure is sure to be an exciting one. There is never a shortage of drama in this house and we thought this blog would be the best way to share The Days of Our Lives with you.

Sawyer's Talking

2007-02-28T21:12:00.000-08:00