A Blessed Christmas.

This Christmas was truly amazing.  Even though it didn't really "feel" like Christmas because we stayed home and didn't get to travel to family's houses, we had some really amazing people who made Christmas extra special for us.  Our families came to us this year, which made it so much easier on us.. (we will make up for it one day, I promise.)  Having family here made it feel a little more like Christmas.  Thank you to our extra special, wonderful, amazing families.  Like I said in an earlier blog, the North Oaks Maternal Units sent us a really special basket for Christmas, and the North Oaks Medical Center Pharmacy personally delivered us Christmas dinner to our house.  Pretty awesome, right?  Thank you again!  

THEN, my Dad's side of the family (the Hotard's) decided not to play the "exchange game" this Christmas, but instead buy gifts for Tripp and I.  I just wanted to break down in tears.  What a wonderful, wonderful thing to do.  They sent blankets and toys for Tripp and they sent pajamas (which is pretty much the only thing I wear these days), pedicure sets, shampoo, razors, bath products, crest white-strips, sunless tanner, camera cards.... pretty much anything I could want and everything I use, they bought for me.  It was truly touching and soooo very thoughtful.  What they did made my Christmas a little  LOT brighter.  Thank you Hotard family- last night, I took a shower, used my new shampoo, my new face scrub, my new razors, my new foot scrubber, and slipped into my new PJs.  I felt like a new woman.  Thanks to you guys.  That was really really special to me.  It made me realize what family is all about and how important family really is.  

There were so many people who sent us cards for Christmas and who did really really nice things for us. It really makes you feel like the world isn't such a bad place after all.  There are some really great and really special people out there.  Thank you to all the people who helped make Tripp's first Christmas and Randy and I's Christmas a great one.  We love you.  

Tripp really enjoyed his first Christmas.  I know he doesn't understand, but Randy and I had fun getting ready for Santa.  I know one day I will look back and be glad I have all these cheesy pictures.  

Randy and I decided to exchange our gifts Christmas Eve night so that we could focus on Tripp Christmas morning.  And we decided to let Tripp open ONE present on Christmas Eve.  It took him a little while to warm up to his first present... it was my favortie.... a Handy Manny Tool Set!!!

Tripp wrote to Santa, saying: "Dear Santa, please save some cookies for Mommy and Daddy.  Aren't I "Nice"?  I told him he was already on the nice list, but I guess he just wanted to make sure.  

Santa left 2 cookies for Mommy and 2 for Daddy, and a whole bunch of presents for Tripp...

Daddy helped Tripp open his presents and he sat up like a big boy the WHOLE time!!  It took him a little while to give out the smiles, though.

But his favorite present of all.... his swing!!  He was totally at peace in his swing.  I think we will be spending a lot more time outside now.  Thank you God.

He was awake ALLLLL day today.  I don't know if it was the excitement of Christmas (ha) or the visitors we had, or what?  But this was the ONLY 10 minutes he slept all day... (and today was bath day, so he was NOT a happy camper for bath!) Whew, Christmas will wear you out!

The past 3-4 days have been REALLY great.  Thank you, thank you GOD.  I know it's the steroids, but hey... we will take whatever we can get.  The steroids are making his mouth look AWESOME.  You can actually SEE all his teeth now that the sores have shrunk a little. Boy I am going to miss seeing those precious little teeth!  He is still in pain because he has some molars that are still coming in, but the Motrin helps him with that.  I thank God for everyday that I get to see him happy and feeling better.  Does this make your heart melt??? Does mine!

Can you believe that is actually his mouth looking GOOD?  Anyway, I haven't posted in a while, so I have some more random pictures... Hope you enjoy and I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you all a very Happy New Year!!  Please pray that everything goes well with Tripp's surgery on the 31st!  Thank you!  God Bless!!

Such a big boy!

Yes, this is a smile!!  I could pee on myself laughing at this picture.

 It totally brightens my day!!

Just eatin' crab.... you know he's from Louisiana.

Nilli Vanilli.... Yes Sir.

My cute little toes...