Merry Christmas!

Christmas is a wonderful time of year.   For a week or so, things seem to slow down, you enjoy friends and family, and appreciate the things that so often are missed as we race through life.   Last year at the Christmas eve service, I remember holding Lu during Silent Night and Jules and I couldn't believe our eyes.  Lucia was unusually aware of her surroundings as she looked around the room full of candles and seemed inspired by the music.  It was amazing.   Back then, Jules and I would cling to each one of those moments.  The moments where Lucia would acknowledge her mom and dad with a smile or a giggle as they were so few and far between.  Last Christmas seems like a lifetime ago!  

With a special kid, you watch closely for any small achievement and go wild when it happens.   This year seems to have been full of milestones both large and small.  Lu smiles and giggles almost daily now.  She rolls from her stomach to back with ease (almost ease).  She drinks from a bottle.  She screams when she's mad (its funny how happy her cute little temper tantrums make us).  She plays the piano.  She plays her drums.  She uses her legs in the saucer thing.  She uses oxygen only at night.  She stares into her mother's eyes and occasionally, after careful consideration lets out an "AAAAAAAWWWWW".   Her hair is almost long enough for a ponytail.  She loves music.  She will sometimes smile when I come home from work.  She'll bang on almost anything.  She sits in her bumbo.  She enjoys sitting on my lap at a dinner party watching our friends and family eat.  She loves taking a bath with Jules.  She loves going on a jog with the me and dogs.  She loves it when I tickle her face.  She loves to be in warm water.  While maybe small, these things are huge.  

Little Lu was also able to travel the world this year.  She went to Mexico, Philadelphia, Ohio, California, Washington D.C., Seattle, New York, Hawaii, and South Carolina.  Seriously?  Yes.  She met friends from all over the world at the PKS Kids Conference.   For Jules and I, these friends became family.  

In addition to traveling, our friends hosted the second annual St. Lucia party and raised over $40,000!  It's mind blowing knowing there are so many people that care for our daughter.  Lucia's cousins seem to especially care for her.  There is a baby in Juliet's belly that will also love his or her big sister.  

Thinking of the future can be hard at times but I know that Lucia and her friends are Angels.   I know this Christmas that God has a plan for us all.  Last year at this time, we prayed for smiles and giggles.  This year we are so grateful for those smiles and giggles and pray that our Lucia continues to be our happy little girl.   Merry Christmas

Love, Jason, Jules & our little Lu