What a year

It's hard to find words to describe 2010 for our family. Pick a word that portrays a roller coaster of emotion. That's our year. Since roller coasters obviously have highs and lows, there is much we are eager to move on from, but even more that we hope to hold on to.

Since David came home from the hospital December 24th, 2009, we are thankful to say that 2010 was a year of RECOVERY. David accomplished the unthinkable. He surpassed all of his therapy goals, he returned to work and has continued to show improvements as we figure out daily what it means to live with his condition. This has been a roller coaster all in itself.

We celebrated the 1st birthday of our precious little boy, Zachary James. And soon after found out the shocking blessing that we would be expecting baby #2. Again...roller coaster. We are so grateful for this new little baby for so many reasons. Most of all, we know it has been God's gift to shift our eyes forward. It was a breaking point for us. It gave us hope. Instead of simply trying to get through each difficult day and feeling that there was no end in sight, God gave us the hope of our future. Of course we knew that life would go on. We knew that David would continue to improve, that one day we might feel "normal" again (whatever that means!). Instead our days became about more than survival. We are so thankful that the Lord granted us this perspective, reminding us of all the blessing that was to come. We were no longer stuck.

David has had his personal prayers answered. He finally feels like he is close to the dad he always dreamed of being. He can come home from work and play "chase chase" with Zach and go with him around the block on his bike. Don't get me wrong, he is absolutely wiped after, but he can push through the fatigue!

This being said, please continue to pray for my David. Thankfully, we have just seen a new doctor. While he was quite impressed with David's "comeback", we still have some serious areas of concern. If the doctors don't see improvements within the next couple months, we are looking at having to possibility build in outpatient plasmapheresis treatments into our life. (Plasmapheresis is the the removal, treatment, and return of (components of) blood plasma from blood circulation.) It really wipes out the body. This would be a great discouragement, but of course we will do it if it is necessary. So please pray for David's reflexes to return in his upper body and pray for the numbing in his feet to be gone. Can you believe it? My husband has learned to function without feeling in most of his feet? Still amazes me!

We have deepened friendships and made new friends with people who walked this journey with us. We have had the absolute blessing of being a part of a new small group that encourages us greatly. We were blessed to visit family all over the country. This was all beyond our wildest dreams! In the end we are more strengthened that ever in the hope we have through Christ Jesus. We are reminded daily that ALL power and strength is from Him.

Now I know we are already well on our way into 2011. But, my 38 week pregnant brain is a bit behind the times. So here are a couple pictures from the end of our 2010. The year that will go down as the craziest year of our life! (so far...and the last couple months of 09 are kinda clumped in there too) :).


Just a bit excited opening his presents!


Dear friends and sisters-in-law. 20 weeks and 36 weeks :)


Reading new CARS book with Gramps


Excited for his airport with Gram-B!


Lovin' his aunts and uncle! (and baby cousin on the way!)


9 month preggo piggy back ride :)


Visit to Huntington Hospital on Christmas Eve. Zach and David standing in the very hall where David learned to WALK!


Room 4108...longest standing resident.




David with some of the wonderful nurses and therapists that worked so hard to get him home Christmas Eve of 2009.


GQ by the Lake :)


Sweet happy boy!


Learnin' the moves! David is just a tad proud!


A stroll down memory lane as we decorated our tree. One of David's many 'interesting' purchases off the internet when left unattended in his hospital room. Let's just say I spent the first few weeks he was home returning the random things that showed up on our doorstep! In his defense, meds can make a person do some silly things :).


Ornaments! I was teary the whole time because I was NOT decorating the tree alone!


Getting Christmas tree with Boppie and Papa


Finally got a shot when he could hold an orange from the tree. Oh...my boy.


Christmas 2010. Just a bit different from...


Christmas 2009. Praise the Lord!