Daily Struggles

A very common Preston pose!

In the playroom at the hospital.

(He managed to pull his IV out there too!)

Our little man at Diamond Children's Hospital with pneumonia.

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  Autism can affect many. Not only the person who has it but also those who love and care about that person.


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  Autism is hereditary. This is my belief as well as all of Preston's doctors and teachers agree.


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  You cannot cure Autism! It is a neurological disorder. In other words, they are wired different from most of the population.


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  Being Autistic is hard in a world that doesn't accept "different", "special" or "unique" individuals.


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  Autistics physical bodies can look "normal" but most have medical problems they will deal with the rest of their life.


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  What is "normal"?


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  Teaching an Autistic child is challenging and rewarding.


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  Seeing the world threw their eyes is important to knowing HOW to teach them.


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  But the most important thing you can learn about Autism: Accept change, love them unconditionally and encourage them to be WHO THEY ARE!

Some of you will not agree. Some of you will.

But I have come to accept

and love this little man forever.

He's my boy!

He's my hero!

He can do anything and everything we can.

His father is a great example.

Bills! Bills! Bills!

Reasons to pay your Bills:

• You may not love your house but it is nice to have heat/AC
• Going naked isn't an option above the age of 2
• You can't see as well in candle light; even if it is romantic :)
• Water is essential for your body, inside and OUT
• No one wants to live next to "the dumpster" and burning trash is illegal
• I guess you have to feed the kids (dash of water, crust of bread)
• Walking everywhere is NOT an option!
• Having money when you retire is really nice
• Fueling the cars helps them drive

And Lastly,

• Cold showers, need I say more :)

School is Back in Secession!

Yeah baby! School is back on and I am so grateful. Jake started Project Able at Tolson Elementry. He was born tongue tied and we thought he would be able to overcome that physical problem. It happens all the time. But his tongue started to curve down and he couldn't speak clearly, blow bubbles or stick his tongue out. So last August we had his tongue clipped and arranged for private speech theropy. It helped tremendously but he still needs a little more. He was accepted into the Project Able in TUSD and we placed him in with other kids that have this problem. He LOVES school. He's ready every morning even though his school doesn't start until 11:50am. His speech theropist Kim says he's a real delight and is a quick learner. He is however stubborn. An Affleck stubborn? No way...LOL!

Preston is at Richey Elementry Project Able for high functioning Autistics and loves his teachers. He is making slow but steady progress with his social skills. He is also making more eye contact. We are discussing having him put into ABAT. I think that's what it's called. It basically pushes Autistic kids in theropy to work on their particular deficientcies. Preston's is attention, comprehension and social awareness. He gets this at school and he'll get even more next simester when he attend main stream kindergarden. We are very grateful for good teachers that help him learn and grow in his own way. And he developes his talents his way also.

Zoey and Emily have both lost another tooth yesturday and today. They are really excited since the Tooth Fairy pays double when sibbs lose at the same time! They are also happy to be back at school and among their friends. The birthday invites are coming in and sleepover too. They're keeping they're rooms really neat so they can go to such events. Yeah for me!

Michael is the best baby! He talks to me non-stop and takes a 3 hour nap. This is such bliss! We get alot of stuff done at home with all the quiet. I'm not used to such things in my house. He is gettng so big and has been walking since August last year. He "helps" with the laundry, feeding the "cats" and "sweeping" the kitchen. I will take some pictures of him helping. It's really cute.

Gary still loves working at Raytheon. Especially since his new boss is LDS and he has some common interests with him. He works really hard and gets appreciated for his attitude. He got a see's chocolate box and movie tickets for christmas. I really liked the chocolate!

I am working on my "Christmas" cards. So have patience and they will get to your home.

Love ,

Marti & Co.

Happy New Year

All the Affleck's (plus Dee & Marlene Larson) except Uncle Steve and Aunt Teresa :(

The proud parents of Zoey!

Daddy & Zoey before being baptized

A naked Jake...shocking! NOT!

"Santa" Preston

Emily the "Angel"

Zoey & Mikey the "Wise Men"

The Christmas pictures were taken on December 24th, 2009 just before the "acting" of the nativity began. All the kids were excited except Preston. He really wanted to be Santa. We spent our Christmas with the Affleck's in Loveland, Colorado. It snowed for 2 days straight when we got there and the kids had so much fun sledding and eating it! (Those pics to come later when I get them from my sis in law. Our camera broke.)

While we were up there, Zoey was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She turned 8 in October but we waited so that most of our family could be there to support her. She was so beautiful all in white. She says the water was really hot! Murell Johnson, a friend of the family got the font ready for us. He did such a great job conducting too. Thanks again! Zoey cried when she received the Holy Ghost. It was a very spiritual experience that I don't think she or her family will forget. She of course wrote everything down and drew a picture when we got back to Grandma's house.

We had a good time visiting all Gary's cousins too. On New Year's Eve, Gary, Preston, Emily and Zoey all went to his cousin Debbie's house to ring in the year. I stayed behind with Jake and Mikey who were sleeping. They later woke up @9pm and proceeded to keep me up with them until 2am. That is when the rest of the family came home. My little party-ers were really pooped but had a great time. I should have joined them since the other 2 woke up but noooooo; I thought they would go back to sleep. Boogers!

January 1st came way to soon and we packed up the van and kids (Irene wouldn't keep them) and headed back to Tucson. We stayed in Albuquerque, New Mexico overnight in a really comfy La Quinta Inn. I got the kids bathed that night cuz we thought the shower head didn't work. Little did we know that when Gary tried to fix it, it was clogged with sand from a previous patron as a joke. How do I know, cuz when we turned the shower on and took the head off, we were then splattered with sand from head to toe! I hate being punked! After that incident we went to bed and no one woke up until 9:30am the next morning. That has never happened! We then packed up again and pulled into our driveway @6:30pm. I was glad to be home and so were the kids. Before I could even get the van unloaded, Gary was hooking up his charging station he got for Christmas and putting the new memory in the computer, then after I asked him to help again, he proceeded to hook up the new Wii. I just laugh because he really is so easily distracted.

A new year has begun and I have already broke my diet, not written my thanks you notes, read my scriptures everyday, worked out or cleaned my house. So, it looks like 2010 will be very similar to 2009. Hopefully I will still become a better person each day as I TRY to do all that I can. I hope that you will all have a great new year and remember that you are loved here in Tucson.

Happiness, Health and Heartfelt Love to all !

Marti & Co.

Christmas Season

We are all excited to get away from Arizona and spend some time with family. We really miss having fun with family. I can't wait to play some games with my in-laws and maybe catch a movie with my father in-law and brother-in-law Matt. We're movie junkies! (Love you guys!)The new Sherlock Holmes movie looks really good. I'm also looking forward to visiting with my sister in-laws. I don't get to talk to them often. This time of year is when I get to spend time with Gary's family and participate in their family traditions. I love that they read the christmas story on Christmas Eve. We now have enough people to act it out. Maybe Mom will get to be in it this year. (So sorry about last year.) I have a great picture of it last year. Just need to get it off the other computer. I'm also excited to add a new tradition this year; the Wii! My kids are so excited. They saved ALL year to get the Wii. It just happens it's at this time of year. We're very proud of them.

But the best part of this season is remembering Christ's birth. He is our Savior and He came here for all of us. I am truely grateful for His sacrifice and His love. I would not have the blessing of His glorious gospel without Him. He is our Redeemer and our Friend. I love the music of this season that is a constant reminder that Jesus Christ is our Lord. I do love the gift giving and the decorations; don't get me wrong. But this year I am more focused on the giving. I hope that all of my family and friends will have a good holiday and remember what Jesus gave to us. Help someone out this year and give the gift of hope and love. Share the gospel with your family and friends. Even if they are not receptive, give them the gift of YOUR love. We all need to feel that from our family. I'm grateful I get love from all of mine and Gary's family. What a great blessing!

We love you!

The Affleck's
(Family picture to be posted when I have lost 40lbs. (J/K) That won't happen soon, so tomorrow when the other computer is working.)

Many illnesses too :(

Before pnemonia struck Zoey, this was what she looked like for Picture Day at school. Emily had her pictures done the day before with her hair straight. But she really wanted her hair done again. I got up an hour earlier to curl Zoey's hair. She really wanted her hair curly for her picture. I put so much hairspray in her hair it didn't even look like it had moved all day long when she got home. Emily's also! I was amazed. I think they looked so cute. Within 3 days though, Zoey was in the hospital ER @ the new Diamond's Children Hospital @UMC. It took 4 1/2hrs to been taked back to a room and another 1 1/2 to see the doctor. They did x-rays and you could see the softball size in her lower right lung. No wonder shes couldn't bend over or walk for a day. they gave her an IV and antibiotics and debated for an hour weather to keep her there. She did better in an hour and they decided to send us home because she didn't have the swine flu. Which most of the ped patients did that were admitted. She is slowly recovering. We go for my x-rays tomarrow. Hoping all is well and she will be able to go back to school. She's lost 4lbs and looks very unhealthy. Her appetite is coming back though. Thanks for all the prayers on our behalf. Please continue because we have Jake with strep and Emily with Croup. We will get through this winter healthy; at least that's what I say every morning to myself!

Many happenings....

Jake loved looking at all the monitors and snakes!

September:
We went to the Tucson Reptile and Snake Show in September. The kids LOVED IT!!!! Zoey really wanted to buy a Blue Tongued Skink for her birthday. We figured the amount out and how long it would live and what we would need to take care of it. IT's like a child that will never leave your home cuz he lives until he's 40yrs old. It costs as much to raise this thing too. We said no way but she really begged us. In this picture it peed on her shirt. And not just a little. Emily looks scared but she loved it too. Preston wouldn't put the thing down. I even picked one up also but then screamed when it started moving. It was so much fun there. The oder was very gross to say the least.

October:
We were at the Foothills Mall to pick up our Family Portrait clothes. Mikey had so much fun on the green gecko. He kept looking at it like it was going to take him for a ride any minute. Then a couple nights later he fell asleep in his high chair from ehaustion. His upper tooth finally broke through. He wasn't getting much naptime. I am thankful he finally slept the whole night through again. I also found this onsie and socks at Target for dirt cheap. Elmo is the only thing he will stop and watch on the TV. He just stares and then starts laughing histarically. It's so fun to watch.

We told the kiddos that we wanted to have another baby. I was suprised to see Emily happy about this discission. She wants another sister. I really hope the Lord hears those prayers. I would love either but I am leaning towards another daughter. I must be a glutton for punishment. Gary even helped pick a name out for another girl. We are keeping that a suprise until we find out if we'll have another baby though. Other then these fun things we are happy here.