Computer Update

Welllllll....I finally have word on the computer.  There isn't one.  I  was told that the paperwork that I filled out last February 11th was never submitted??!! I think I need to keep from saying much...but will say that after getting beyond my anger, frustration and huge disappointment...decided that , as asked,we are going to begin the process again.  I am not being given any reasons for why, but have simply been told that Noah will have to be re-evaluated for the computer.  I can and do choose to focus on the greater, positive possibilities that  there are now TWO different  eye gazing computers available as opposed to only ONE having been available since beginning the computer "thing" 3 or 4 years ago...so I may be able to get one like I REALLY wanted for him a couple years ago.!  That is GREAT news!!  The other cool thing is that, now having a van for him...all I had to do was say, "When can we come in?"...rather than having to check with David to see when we could work out schedules to get him there.  Also, if additional visits are required, I will easily be able to do that BY MYSELF...I cannot tell you how incredibly exciting that is!!!  One more REALLY good thing is that our visits will now be at their offices that are only about 3 miles from our house, as opposed to CHKD in downtown Norfolk a 1/2 hour and 15 miles away(with REALLY difficult and challenging parking...even and especially disabled, there are never any parking spaces available...so it's up 4 to 5 levels of ramp parking).  It's all good...
I am taking Noah in for Botox treatments on Monday.  We saw the doctor back in October, and Noah was due for his shots then.  There is only one rehab doctor at CHKD...2 have left within the last year.  That means there is only one doctor to see all the patients AND do botox treatments.  They told us in October that they could not guarantee an appt for botox until APRIL, but would try to fit Noah in when there was a cancellation.  We got a call this week, and again..."When can we come in?"...I CAN DO IT ALL BY MYSELF, NOW!!!!  Botox is important to keep Noah's limbs from being too tight all the time and will hopefully help his muscles relax a bit!!
Just wanted to let you all know...and will let you know what happens from here with the computer...I love God's goodness and his faithfulness to our son and our family!!!  Much love to you all!!!  Lisa

It's a New Year

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Years!!  Ours was sweet and wonderful...had Hannah and Nic here for over a week, the time with them was sooooo nice!!!  It was a wonderful, as well, for we had a new van to take Noah places with us!!  We went to see the lights at the Botanical Gardens in Norfolk not once but twice.  The first night, we made the mistake of going on Military family night, and waited 1 1/2 HOURS to just get in!!  It was fun, though!!  It was Noah and I, Hannah, Nic and Emma.  Nic told constant jokes for the duration, kept us all in stitches...so the time passed quickly and the lights were too short, but WONDERFUL...for those of you who may not know what the "lights" are...here are a couple pics:

They are lights that line a path at the gardens and the cars drive through and look at the various displays.  The Gardens have a "garden theme" throughout with the various seasons...this year synchronized to music at one part...soooooo cool!!  We did take pictures of "us"... here is everyone minus me(even Lucy our dog after her shave that day:)!)...

 Emma and Lucy(Emma had Lucy entertaining people in other cars with her Bichon wave:)!!)

 Noah with his blanket to keep warm while we had the windows open!!

Hannah and Nic snuggling together...awwwwwwww!!!!

I took Noah back the night after, as everyone was busy doing other things...and it was even better...even sweeter.  The weather was warm, I rolled all the windows down(the side windows on this van ROLL down...never heard of such a thing before...but sooooo cool!!!) and we took a LONG stroll through the lights again(no waiting line this night)!!  The sweetest thing was looking in my rear view mirror at him and watching him looking back and forth out of both windows, up and down at all the lights...so engaged with the splendor and beauty...it truly touched my heart!!!
Emma and I took Noah with us to Williamsburg a few days before Christmas...about an hour from our house.  We visited the Yankee Candle Shop there(HUGE store with lots of Christmas stores along with the candles).  Emma took Noah to a spot where snow falls on you...Noah LOVED it!!  Emma and I sang to the Christmas songs on the radio while driving..having fun with each other, and Noah was "splitting a gut" behind us....at one point, Emma and I looked at each other and with tears, I said, "Emma, THIS is Christmas...this is IT!!"...she was crying too.  This was as close to "normal" as we could get...driving...shopping...singing...laughing...having fun...being together...the van has been life changing for Noah and our family......wow....what a blessed Christmas we had!!!!
We are hopeful for great things this year...for our family and for yours...and that the love of our Savior will abide, abound, and will advance throughout us and the places we live...much love to you and yours!!!!  Lisa