Merry Christmas 2008

WOW! What a year 2008 has been. I guess the biggest news of 2008, for those of you who are new here, is the expanding of our family with our beautiful son. What a joy he has been! We always knew our family wasn't complete but had no idea how God would grow it. Then, when we least expected it, he brought a 22 pound, bouncing baby boy into our lives. Things have never been more gloriously the same.

For those of you who don't know The Mini Mister was born with a giant omphalocele. His intestines, liver and the rest of his abdominal organs were on the outside of his body. It was the largest defect they had ever seen. It was so large that he has no abdominal musculature. He came home February 5, 2008 after 14 1/2 months in the hospital with a feeding tube in his nose. He wouldn't eat or drink anything. After a little over a month at home he was eating and drinking and no longer requiring a feeding tube. He loves pizza, chicken nuggets, french fries and can eat his weight in Cheerios. He has come a long way and has been through so much. We ask for your prayers. January 20th he will have another surgery to further repair his defect. He will likely be on a breathing machine for a bit after surgery. I know God has brought him this far so I trust He will take him through this also. Remember us as this time comes upon us. Pray for his medical team for skill and wisdom. Pray for his comfort, minimal time on the ventilator and that this won't create additional problems for him. Pray for us, his family, for peace and comfort during this time.

We continue to homeschool. Sasha is 12 and in the 7th grade. Yellow Bird is 9 and in the 3rd grade. They are both doing so well. They love having a baby brother and are a huge help. Sasha has become active in the youth group and works with the puppet team at church. Yellow Bird started competing in gymnastics this year and did very well. She is still a horse fanatic.

Leopold is teaching in Galveston and I started a new job as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner at UTMB in Galveston. I'm still employed for the moment and hopefully that won't change. It has been a rough few months for Galveston and UTMB to say the least. Things are slowly getting better but please still remember all those impacted by Hurricane Ike in your prayers. It is still an ever presented issue impacting many on the island.

Check back. I will try to keep this updated. Things have been very crazy lately.

Lots of love and Christmas blessings.

Sophie