Merry Christmas!!

Preston's first Christmas...I knew it was going to be pretty wonderful being a parent, but today my heart feels so warm. Although my parents are both recovering from colds and weren't able to come over today and we didn't do our normal Christmas scurry to all of the various family members houses, it felt amazingly nice to stay home with Preston and reflect on our year, and be thankful that we have him at home in our arms.

He is blossoming like crazy the last two weeks and getting interested in standing and pulling up, wanting to do the motions of walking (assisted of course), and tolerating more time on his stomach, reaching for things and attempting to crawl. We've come to terms that the three months inpatient and his medical condition(s) will likely mean he will take longer meeting his milestones, but we've watched him come along way. He is saying Dada, Da do, Baba, dog, book and mouths mom...but won't say it......darnit. He recognizes us in pictures and lights up when he sees us after arriving home from work.....and that feels so amazing.

Sometimes it takes a little reminder from someone that isn't by our sides daily. Tim, Tyler's dad was down from Idaho today and mentioned how impressed he was with the progress that P has made in three months time since his last visit. And he reminded us of what Preston's capabilities were just that short time ago and how much more he's doing now.

Also today we find ourselves reading a blog of another family who's baby was transplanted this past week down at LPCH. This baby is a twin and his sister had a transplant earlier in the year and they are going through the same experience again with their second twin baby. I'm sure it's extremely hard to be inpatient for Christmas.....well, it's tough no matter what day of the year it is, but Im sure its extremely hard for them today. The baby had some complications earlier in the week and briefly stopped producing urine, which is always a worry with a transplanted kidney, and so Tyler and I were both hoping for the best and then were relieved to find out that he was creating urine again. It's amazing how a little pee can make you excited, especially when your rooting for, and praying for a family that you've never met. I know I've said it before but its been a huge help to know we're not the only ones going through this and that it is being treated by world class doctors so close to home.

As I get ready for bed tonight, I find myself wide awake, my mind is racing. I had such a wonderful day here at home, even if we did just stay home, relax and not do much. I won't be sleeping anytime too soon. My racing mind is thinking about what's to come, what lies ahead and the planner in me is trying to think....just how are we going to do "this". I guess it's knowing that Christmas is now done, another year has almost gone, and we have some pretty HUGE things were about to encounter this coming year.....and I feel like I'm going into it with a blindfold on. Since we know that his surgeries are inevitable and his kidneys aren't going to fix themselves, I've been trying to mentally prepare. Preston has come so far this year already and I know that we will have a few bumps in the road but it (hopefully) will not be as trying as the as trying as this past year.

So everyone, hug your babies tight....no matter how big/old they are, count your blessings, live every day to the fullest, and just ENJOY the ride.......MERRY CHRISTMAS!