Snow Fun Time and Christmas 2009

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful, since we've no place to go...let it snow...let it snow...let it snow. There have been so many great times and memories during this holiday season. From teaching Annika new Christmas songs (which she knows very well, including the motions to away in the manger..not bad) to building an impressive snowman with pomegranate nose and "spikey ball" smile to the annual "bite size" snickers for Old St. Nick. Yeah so we ran out of cookies, but Santa sure loved the "bite size" snickers. Santa gave Annika the piggy bank she was looking for (Hey Dave Ramsay...I'm starting her at 2). I was so thankful to have a lot of time off to spend with the kids and Sherry. There are many things that I learned over the holidays.
1. Bless You Michael Keaton because I could never be Mr. Mom (Sherry you rock!!)
2. Reminded again how important extended family is and how much fun they are
3. Never ask "Who made this"?
4. Just how much I love to eat and how much I hate to work out...Does Tiger Woods 10 Count?
5. Making Snowmen is a blast and a workout...am I out of shape or is Frosty just that grueling to create
6. RottenTomatoes is one of the greatest websites ever...
7. Santa Claus is real...I saw his shoe prints on the roof...I think he also drank some of my spiked egg nog
8. Lastly, how thankful and truly blessed I am to be married to such a wonderful woman who has sacrificed so much this year to do everything in her power to do everything for her children in a very trying year. Road Trips, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, ER Visits, Surgeries, etc.. Now this Monday January 4th is just another hurdle in the journey. We know your thoughts and prayers will be with everyone involved during Jackson's surgery. We will keep you as updated as we can as much as we know as soon as we know it.

We hope you all had a blessed 2009 and we will see many of you soon in 2010...Keep the Faith

God Bless Us Everyone (sorry couldn't resist a Tiny Tim Line during the holiday season),

Eric

 

 

 

 

Jackson's First Birthday Pics on December 5th, 2009

Jackson's 1st Birthday...What a Day to Celebrate!!

Wow...to think that 1 year has already gone by when Jackson was born on December 5th, 2008. I remember the day like it was yesterday, a blessed day with the birth of a new child, yet at the same time the most helpless and afraid I have even been in my entire life. So many lows and what feels like absolute Mike Tyson punches to your gut...possibility of glaucoma, a very rare syndrome (M-CM...what is that?), hydrocephalus surgery, developmental delays, Chiari Malformation, Decompression Surgery....and the list goes on. What more does one beautiful little kid have to go through...really? Of course, it's hard not to feel this way...I mean J has gone through more pokes, prods, surgeries then someone will have in their lifetime.

Despite these hardships we refuse to take the woe is us attitude...why? Honestly, we are happy and so blessed as a family to have Jackson. Do I wish he could hold his head? Crawl? Eat regular food? Play on a sports someday? The answers to these questions is yes..yes..yes..and yes. However, he through the grace of God has taught us so much about how we live our lives, what things are important, how to treat other people, appreciation of things we took for granted in the past, and so much more. I have so much admiration and love for Jackson and those that are born with special needs. I have special prayers that God will work in the hearts of those that contemplate the abortion of children with special needs (90% abortion rate of children diagnosed with downs syndrome in the womb). I can tell you that Jackson is Perfect and has made Sherry and I better parents and ultimately better persons...Thank you God..

Happy Birthday Jackson from your entire family who loves and always will for who you are......my prayer for my son is that God continues to give him progression in his development, good health, and a fullfilled long life where his disabilities will be overshadowed by his ability to impact the lives of so many more people...NEXT FIGHT...January 4th, 2010...He'll Win...Not going to lose with the corner he's got. Stay Strong...Keep the Faith..