Christmas 2007

These 2 kids are the best gifts any mom could ever ask for!

Family Shot (Honey too!)

Stockings

Christmas Devotion

Santa Gifts

Spaghetti Dinner

Our Miracle Boy

On November 16, 2006 we did not know that our lives would be changed forever.
I still can hear the sirens, see the flashing lights, remember our uncontrollable crying out, and then the sound of the chopper taking him from us. "He's in your hands now Lord we prayed."

(For more details of that night read my letter to Nathaniel.)

Well, here we are now 1 year later to tell WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR US!

Nathaniel suffered a severe Traumatic Brain Injury. One major opperation he underwent and overcame was a Ventriculostomy. It is a neurological surgical procedure. It is done by surgically placing a tube through the skull such that it terminates in the ventricle of the brain. Ventriculostomy is done primarily to monitor the intracranial pressure as well as to drain CSF (primarily) or blood to relieve pressure from the CNS.

Here are some photos of our journey in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit:

While he was in coma Aunt Nancy wrote us a poem.
Nathaniel...
Now I lay me down to sleep
And Jesus, He is with me.
Tenderly His mighty power,
Heals me more each passing hour.
Angels are all around my bed
Now I can rest my little head.
In Jesus' name my loved ones pray,
Entrusting me to Him each day.
Live by faith each moment, and God will lead the way!

Jeremiah 30:17
"For I will restore you to health and heal you of you wounds," declares the LORD...
Love, Aunt Nancy November 18, 2006

Pop Pop came up with this:
Pray
Until
Nat-E
Comes
Home

With all the prayers Nathaniel began to improve little by little. Here are photos of our experience in the regular pediatric unit:


December 15, 2006 we were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Jackson is the #1 Hospital in the country for patients with Brain and Spinal Cord Injury. It was a Miracle we lived so close. We were told we would be inpatients for at least 6months to a year...Little did they know, God had a better idea! They also told us he might never walk again?!?!? Nathaniel recovered so quickly. We were only there for about a month. Note: It felt like the longest month ever, but we made it! We were allowed to take him out on "day passes" on the weekends. One weekend he was able to go to church and sing his Christmas special on stage. Still blind, Kayla his little sister was a Big Helper. Then we were able to take him home for Christmas (just for the day), yet another Miracle! Below you will find pictures of rehab, singing on stage, and Christmas at home. But what you will not see pictured is our Christmas Day Miracle. Christmas Eve we were laying alone on our hospital bed. Just me, Nathaniel, and Jesus. We had a time of singing praises, praying for a miracle, it was a very special Christmas Eve. Well, God heard us praying that night. When he opened his eyes Christmas morning the BEST Christmas gift ever was revealed. He pointed to objects in the room, naming them. "Light, TV, Vent" What does this mean? My son can see? Lord! Thank You! Of course their were tears and unexplainable excitement. We took a walk in the hallway, I wanted to see if he could see other things. And Yes! You saw the tree in the hallway! Just one week prior I was told he would most likely NEVER regain his sight back. We were so thankful that the Lord spared your life and healed him. We were ready to raise a blind son! But God had different plans! We had the best Christmas of our lives:


One last event. Their was a circus coming in town January 2007. Prior to the accident Nathaniel had asked to go. When they told me we would be in rehab for a year, I was sad that now he would not be able to go. Well, Once again another Miracle...Instead of a Year in rehab we were in for 1 month! We were discharged just in time for the circus. It was called "The Greatest Show on Earth." But we think the miracle we experienced was "The Greatest Show on Earth!"


Here are some pictures of some of the people who came to visit you. There were many others, that I don't have a picture of. (sorry) There were 2 weeks that visitors could not even come in your room, they had to visit us in the waiting room.


Here is a slide show to sum it all up:

My name is Nat and I'm here to say
That I'm a living miracle, Hey, Hey
You see last Novemba, I fell on my head
They thought that I was surely dead
But God had better plans ahead
What we learned from this ordeal
Is it's not just how you really feel
We serve a living God whose Power is real
You see I was in a coma for what seemed for-ev-a
While God and the Angels would leave me neva
I had wires and tubes comin out of me
While people everywhere loved and prayed for me
My Pop Pop said let's give Satan a punch
We're gonna send the Devil out to lunch
P.ray U.ntil N.at C.omes H.ome they cried
We want him to live and not to die
Well in Round 1 Satan thought he had won
I was on the ropes they thought I was done
But God showed up strong in Round numba 2
And turned the Devil all black and blue.

I was on the mat and Jesus touched His boy Nat
I stood to my feet, there was no defeat
My loved ones cried and began to shout
Nat was really down but he sure ain't out
Jesus stepped in when they rang the bell
And sent the Devil right back to.....
( NAT ! ) OK, mom what else rhymes with bell

Well my name is Nat and I'm here today
Because God listens when his children pray
Hey, Hey what do you say
I'm outta here gotta run and play.....

TO: Nat love, Pop Pop

Going through a trial yourself?

Please remember our story of How Good God is!

God knows what's in your heart and what you need before you ask. Even when you don't know for sure, God knows, because He knows you. He knows the outcome of every situation and He's guiding you even when you might fell that you have lost your way. He knows how much you can bear, and He will give you strength and fill you with His grace and blessings as He walks with you every step of the way. He is surrounding you with His love and holding you gently in the palm of His hand.
- Sharon Valleau

God Understands the Pain!

This is a card that really encouraged us in difficult times.

God Understands the Pain
As your shepherd the Lord is always watching...always keeping...always providing...always defending...never forsaking. You are never forgotten and always LOVED.
- Roy Lessin

When there are no easy answers...When you are facing something you thought you would never have to face...When you wonder how you will ever pick up all the broken pieces...God is there for you!

HE WILL BRING YOU THROUGH-
Not Somehow, But Triumphantly!

Decorating for Christmas 2007

We had alot of fun...decorating the tree, listening to Christmas music, decorating cookies, and then reading a book about the "True Meaning of Christmas" under the tree. I must say, you two make life so much more enjoyable. You are goofballs and keep us smiling!

Merry Christmas!!!

Mommy's Little Vase

Years ago my Aunt Nancy gave me this vase. Her suggestion was to only use it for flowers that the kids pick for me. I am so glad I took her suggestion. It is always sitting by my sink, waiting for a sweet child to fill it up with pretty flowers or even with weeds!

Wordless Wednesday

Kayla) "Will you play Barbies with me?"

Nathaniel) "Sure"

This is how boys play with Barbies!

Tiny Talk Tuesday

For more more Tiny Talk Holiday Edition visit Mary.

Why do we celebrate Christmas?
N) Cause it's Jesus' Birthday
K) Cause all the snow falls down and we bring presents

What is your favorite food/treat to eat at Christmas time?
N) Cookies melted in milk
K) Candy

What would you like for Christmas?
N) Went and got a catalog and pointed to almost everything...so I guess nothing specific
K) Barbies and a playhouse and more baby dolls

What is your favorite Christmas activity?
N) Doing Christmas Art
K) Art Projects

What is your favorite Christmas decoration in our house?
N) The Nutcrackers
K) All of them

What is the best part about Christmas?
N) Jesus' Birthday
K) It's Jesus' Birthday and cause it's fun when we get presents

Why do we give presents?
N) Cause it's a Birthday Party for Jesus and He wants to give us some presents.
K) Cause it's Christmas

Why do we have a tree to decorate?
N) I don't know
K) So we can celebrate Christmas

What songs do you like to sing at Christmas time? (sing some for me)
Rudolf the Red
N) Nose Reindeer
K) Frosty the Snowman

What are some of the special things we do during Christmastime?
N) Have Hot Chocolate and I hope we have a snowball fight.
K) Decorate the house

Where are some of the special places we during go Christmastime?
N) I hope Dollywood.
K) Church

Do you know where the presents are hidden? Did you peek?
N) Under the tree and in your bedroom. No
K) Under the tree. No

Tell me about your favorite ornament and why it is special.
N) My bell from the hospital and no one can touch it because it's special.
K) My bear cause I got it when I was a baby

What should daddy buy mommy?
N) Rings and Tulips
K) Tulips and Roses

What should mommy buy daddy?
N) New Slippers
K) A New Computer

Why was there no room at the inn?
N) Cause their was a crowd
K) There were so many people

What gifts did the wise men bring?
N) Jewelery box and little bottles of stuff.
K) Gold and presents

How does Santa get into our house? How does he find it?
N) Points to the fire place
K) He opens the door. He walks.

Do you think you've been good so Santa will bring you a present?
N) Yes
K) Yes
Mom) Define good.

What food should we leave for Santa?
N) Cookies and Milk
K) Cookies

Will you get to see Santa?
N) No
K) No

How does Santa make it to all of the houses?
N) His fast sled
K) Quick

How did Santa get so fat?
N) All the Cookies
K) Cause he eats lots of food

My Sweet Kayla

Look, Mommy! I got you flowers!

Long Lost Cousins

Nathaniel (6), Kayla (5), & Courtney (6)

After being apart for 3 months, we were

able to go visit for Thanksgiving!

The first thing Courtney said was:

"Finally, I almost forgot what you looked like!"