“You never know how heavy a burden you carry until its lifted off of you” – how true that is. Now that we are home, and Gavin is doing wonderful, wonderful, wonderful we can all live life as it should be lived. Its been such a relief to see him bounce back so quickly and better than he was before. We had a doctors apt today and they thought he looked great! In retrospect, I wonder if it was really colds or backlash to the problems that they operated on that was making him so uncomfortable, maybe a combo who knows. Either way he is just so full of life again. He is cooing and moving and eating like a champ and it couldn’t be more fun to watch his curious little mind at work. He is so interested in everything! Between him and Lauren they get like a million kisses a day! It is so fun to see him and Lauren light up at all the Christmas decorations! Lauren went to sleep last night with a candy cane under her pillow and dreams of Santa coming to her house. I can’t express enough how nice it is to be together again as a family, to have my daughter, son and husband together again, and happy and healthy and out of the hospital. (Bummer that Jay had to go back to work after the holiday weekend!) This is the best holiday gift that I could get! Hope this finds you all enjoying the super nice weather outside and spending it with those you love! I must admit I am looking somewhat forward to a little snow to get more into the spirit, but I am sure I will regret saying that. 🙂 I think Santa is coming to the Mills next week, so I think that Gavs is going to get his first glimpse at the big red man and Lauren will be elated, he comes in on horses, what could make Lauren happier than that?

What a great day, since leaving the hospital life has been full of good surprises. Gavin is eating like a champ, polishing off one—get this—and a half jars of chicken and rice (his new favorite) for dinner, so I took a picture of him so you can see his delight. The nurse called his little fat creases- bracelets…we need more bracelets or maybe we should call his little rolls his bling, because they are worth their weight in gold…so its wonderful!

The kids are both settled back at home and are so much more relaxed—it’s wonderful. I officially left today for two hours and Gav was excited to see the return of the juice sippy cup. Jay said that he picked it up with both his hands and stuck it in his mouth.

After rereading the hospital journals, I realized that I said that the doctor can’t help. I just want to clarify that his doctors have been wonderful, and I know if they could, they would fix him…sometimes I say things in frustration, but I just wanted to make sure I clarified, that although they can’t fix his problem, they are the only reason that he is alive, so I appreciate all they do!

Well, we are all still in our turkey coma, but hopefully tomorrow we will get out more and enjoy this beautiful weather! Lauren decorated the back window with some window paint to start getting the kids into the holiday spirit and we put up little trees in both their rooms. Gav is into the lights and Lauren needs hers on now to fall asleep.

I added a video of Gavin and his cousin, Annalyse, when she came to see her cousin in the hospital. Gav loves her (and baby dolls). I think that he is somewhat pleased he is no longer the low man on the totem pole, but as you can see, he is all about getting her hair, and hands on this video (and in this one he doesn’t take her nuk, but loves grabbing her nuk away). Hope all is well and you can all enjoy your good weekend! We can smile and relax—- all is calm!