Some pictures to share from today...

Christmas and Sledding

What a nice Christmas we've had for the last few days. We saw friends Thursday, spent Christmas eve with my brother/sis in law and nephew and then today we got to visit with our good friend Miss Susan and her family.  Arianna has received many wonderful gifts of all kinds...the one we enjoy and appreciate the most is the love many shower upon us.

Besides lots of new books, toys, future shopping spree's and donations that help with her Hyperbaric sessions for the little angel - SLEDDING was probably TOPS on Arianna's list this year!!

Thank you to those who helped make our first Christmas without mom a little easier by including us in your lives. We hope that 2011 will have many more blessings to come for all. God Bless and many hugs!

Christmas is almost upon us...

Hard to believe that Christmas will be here in a few days...Arianna will be totally spoiled by many people if she already hasn't been early this year.  Tomorrow we're visiting with friends for a quick gift exchange, having an early dinner with another little gift moment, Friday is Christmas Eve at my brother Dave's house and Saturday we will be at our friend Miss Susan's parents. Busy busy the next few days but helps keep our spirits up during our first Christmas without mom here.

Today we made it over for a hyperbaric session...Arianna is a little stuffed up and her ears really hurt her this time while pressurizing. She cried a bit and tugged at her ears and face but we made it through. We will go back next Wednesday for one final session for this year.

I've been doing some research for a private school that specializes in teaching children on the Autism spectrum and found Eaton Academy in Birmingham. Early January I will be visiting the school to see how their curriculum is, have a full tour and speak with the admissions office and see if there is a way to work out Arianna attending maybe fall next year. Will say prayers that God will allow this to happen if it is meant to be for Arianna. If not, we will look into other options for getting her the help and instruction she needs.

We hope you all have a very Merry and blessed Christmas. Can't wait to post pictures from our holiday visits.

Time Flies....

Can't believe how fast this year seems to have gone by. Tomorrow is my 40th birthday....my first without my mom being here to celebrate with me. I'll always be thankful to her for giving me life and for the years that we had to spend with her. Everything I am is due to her giving me the opportunity to be here. Arianna gave me a birthday present early...last weekend our friend Miss Susan took her shopping and she picked out 2 snowman ornaments for our tree and even chose my card and signed her name....I love it all! :)  This weekend they will be shopping for my Christmas gift...so thankful for family and friends this year for the holidays.

Arianna has had a couple snow days off of school this week..today was the first day of school for the week and Friday is the last until the new year. Will hope she has a good day getting back on track with things.  During that two week break coming up, Arianna will have two more hyperbaric oxygen sessions at TLC which I'm looking forward to. We are meeting a new pediatrician today for just a check up to make sure her height, weight and overall health is doing good. Glad to have found an office that doesn't state they have a "full immunization policy" to be a patient which is not only discrimination but absurd to think they can require such a thing when it is our personal right and choice whether or not to vaccinate. A very sore subject with me but happy to find a medical professional with an open mind in this area.

What are YOUR wishes for this holiday season and goals for the coming New Year??  For me/us...my wish is for Arianna and I to enjoy time with our family and close friends #1. Also to not forget the reason for the season - being thankful to God for all He has given us despite any hardships and trials along the way. I pray the New Year will bring more healing and the ability for Arianna to learn and understand even more than she has gained in 2010. I have many plans in store for hyperbaric, speech and occupational therapies as well as continuing her supplements and adding back in the gluten/casein probiotic that seemed to help earlier this year.

Many blessings to you all and may you have a wonderful Christmas!