Another sweet sleep photo

Sleep smile

Yes, he really is sleeping. :-) So sweet.

A new 'do

Timmy with his new frog in his new outfit

Opening presents

Merry Christmas!!!

May God bless you richly this Christmas!!!

Our day at Sea World

We enjoyed a fun (but rainy) day yesterday at SeaWorld. We went with our nurse and 3 of her kids, and we met up with her friend and HER 3 kids. We enjoyed a nice breakfast with Shamu (somewhere behind Marshall in the picture) and Santa.

Timmy woke up when my alarm went off early in the morning, so by that time, he was exhausted and slept through the breakfast and his visit with Santa. Later he did wake up and got to see some of the other shows and exhibits.  He got to see Clyde and Seamore as well as the Sesame Street 3D show.  (I really wish I had gotten a picture of him in the 3D glasses!).

A fun time was had by all!

A snuggle with Santa at SeaWorld

On the way to Sea World

Taking a nap on the way to have breakfast with Shamu and Santa.

Taz

New shoes

Check out Timmy's shiny new shoes. They are extra big and extra wide to fit over his new braces.

Yay! Hopefully this will give him some extra help with standing.

New ankle braces

To give Timmy ankle support for standing and to prevent his feet from turning in any farther, Timmy has cool new Taz ankle braces. (Taz is on the back of them.)

Timmy fix

A cute little pouty face while he takes his nap.

Highlights from Nana's visit

Nana was here for about the last week.  We were sad to see her go this morning.  Pictures from her visit are now available in the photo gallery.  Here are some of the highlights from her visit:

• Laughter and playing with Timmy (yes, he's even had some good giggles, although he usually giggles with a straight face!)
• Nana and Mama and Daddy went to the Candlelight Processional at Disneyland... Yay!  Fun!
• The ophthalmologist said that Timmy's eyes are healthy.  His tracking may come and go, but for now he does not have retinitis pigmentosa (tunnel vision/ night vision).  Also, some time around when the seizure meds were stopped (a coincidence? we don't know!), Timmy's eyes stopped "dancing".  Yay!  
• Timmy's medical supplies got organized, and the cleanliness spread.  The dining room table has now become a dining room table, because the desk has now become a desk.
• The Christmas tree is up, and the house is decorated for Christmas.  Timmy fell asleep when Nana and Mama were decorating the tree, and when he woke up his face lit up at the sight of the tree.  It was the closest thing we've seen to a smile in a long time!
• We met up with Timmy's teacher at the Christmas tree farm.  Timmy got to see the animals in the petting zoo.  He even got to drop some food into the pig's dish!  Those sheep were pretty loud, though.  They seemed a little scary.  The pine branch was prickly, and Timmy figured that if he hid his face from it, it would surely go away.  

Giving thanks

Now that the turkey and its trimmings have become leftovers, and life has quieted down at least for a few days, I wanted to take some time to list out a handful of the many things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving. So here goes:

• For Jesus's death on the cross and the hope of heaven.  For the hope that, as a citizen of heaven, Timmy's body (and Marshall's and mine, too for that matter) will be transformed to be like Christ's  - and that he will then have all the energy he could possibly need.  He won't need hand splints or leg braces.  He will be able to see and hear and run and jump and sit and stand and smile and giggle.  (See Philippians 3:20-21)


• For my husband, who has loved me and been my partner through the joys and trials of nearly 10 years of marriage.


• That the Lord has held our family together and provided for our needs. It has definitely not always happened in the way I would have liked or expected, but surely He knows what is best better than I do.


• For Timmy. For his comfort. For his newfound ability to fall asleep when tired. For the giggles and the smiles. For each time he holds up his head or makes progress toward sitting or standing or crawling. For the cute button nose and those adorable blue eyes with the long, long lashes.


• For the way that our families have supported us. For the sacrifices they have made to visit. For gifts of time, money, toys, clothes, music and handyman skills - just to name a few.  For video chats during the times when they are far away.


• For our nieces and nephews, both born and on the way.


• For so many friends who have given of their prayers, friendship, time, food, money, car, tires for the car, laundry skills, medical skills, haircutting skills, chiropractor skills, babysitting, dog-sitting, gifts & gift cards, clothes, furniture, diapers, trips to the store, etc., etc., etc., etc., etc. - even a star named after Timmy!  :-)  We are just in awe of everyone's generosity toward us this year, and so thankful.  I'm behind on my thank-you notes, but I want you to know that we appreciate it all.  It is also just so incredible to know that if we have a problem as a family, we have people that we can call who are eager to help.