One Year Anniversary!

Last Wednesday the 24th of March was Jaimee's 1 year survival anniversary. I didn't want to think about the CPR, the frantic feelings, the clock that sticks out in my mind, the chaos in the emergency room, I just wanted our family to have a FUN day! And that we did!

We spent our day visiting our favorite people. We had a fantastic lunch at Northridge Hopsital with the wonderful Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) staff. It was so great to see Dr. Semnani and all the nursing staff. We missed Dr. Kang and all the night shift but we did get to see some of them last December and they will see us again! We had our favorite Greek food from the Firehouse, took pictures and chatted about all of Jaimee's progress. They were thrilled to have us and we wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else. We Love You All!

Next we drove up to our former home town and met up at a local park we use to frequent in Littlerock. It was so great to have so many people come! Jeff and I were so touched that so many would take the time out to come visit us and see Jaimee walking-they were thrilled and we were thrilled to see all of our good friends and missed those that couldn't come. I think I counted over 40 children alone! The kids had a ball playing and running around. We love and miss all of you and thank you for the well wishes of those who couldn't make it you are always in our thoughts and prayers. Jeff and I laughed this morning when we talked about how great it was to see our friends and we agreed that we like to "collect friends". We do seem to do that wherever we go and how blessed we are to have so many wonderful friends everywhere we have lived.

So on we press forward still dealing with challenges and realities that sink in every once in a while. Today I went to buy new high tops for Jaimee because she has been burning wholes in the front from dragging her toes as she walks and I saw another 4 year old girl getting a cute pair of high heeled sandals and I was having another "moment" wishing and wondering when my little girl will get the chance to wear shoes like that again. So the reality hits us here and there but with faith we move forward. Tonight I realized I have nothing to be sad about but that what I have been given is a gift. I read a book about a learning disability that JD has and it is all about how it is a gift. Disabilities and handicaps are really a gift to all of us. When understanding is limited we speak slower, when speech is unavailable we speak slower, when movement is strained we move slower with more intention, more patience, more love, more caring, more understanding. There is a whole other world of compassion and sweetness that has been opened to our family, to me and to Jeff that we never saw day to day but is a part of every handicapped child. Jeff went to Outdoor School this past weekend with JD and others with learning disabilities and handicaps and one child was so mentally and physically impaired that you wouldn't think he would have gotten much out of the weekend but when he was on the bus all he could do was squeal and scream with delight because that was all he could do-he couldn't talk but he showed emotion, sweet pure elation. What a gift. How enormously grateful I feel right now that our Father in Heaven gave us such a gift. A favorite scripture of mine says, "I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." The weakness isn't necessarily made strong physically, it is also spiritually, humble and sweet like a child. These children have such a pure love about them, a family member recently described Jaimee as a "love child." The New Testament says, "And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me." What a gift to be closer to our Savior through these beautiful children.

Please keep Jaimee in your prayers as she has begun a new kind of therapy called Developmental Therapeutic Vaulting, aka, Horse Riding Therapy @ Strides in the Valley. She started classes last Friday and based on the initial evaluation we are hopeful for more great improvement. Her speech continues to smooth out, up to about 7-8 word sentences, eating and drinking better, cognitive abilities just about up to age level, hoping the Equestrian therapy helps now with her ability to walk better.

Thanks for checking in with us and keeping our family in your prayers.

Mardee