Joy

As we close out on 2017, the hardest and scariest year we have had, I choose to focus on the Joy we have had.

Not to forget the struggles, fears and loss of the "easy" life we had.  These challenges and struggles we have faced the last several months have taught us to cherish each moment. Take nothing for granted!

Moving to a new town is always challenging in some ways.  The need to settle the family into a new home, kids into a new school, building a circle of friends and support. Never did we expect to endure a life changing experience as drastic as Childhood Cancer in the first few months of being here. 

While we do not have family in the local area we were able to lean on our Military family in those first crucial hours. Finding care for Nathan and Lily as we were tossed into the whirlwind of the PICU and learning what the next step would be for Cyndey's medical needs.   Phone calls were made and numerous families were ready to help anyway they could. From meals, helping Jared get things situated at work allowing him to focus on family, gift cards to help with fuel expenses and other expenses that came up while living and traveling between two cities and preparing our home with new accomodations for Cyndey's wheelchair.

We can't express enough how Thankful we are for the quick responses and endless prayers from everyone.

Cydney continues to progress each day.  Working hard through her therapy and school sessions.

This week she has started showing interest in using a tablet. The coordination to move her finger around in a controlled manner to perform the tasks required is something that has been hard for her.  She also read a few sentences during school on Monday! This is a huge step as we get an idea of where she is academically and cognitively as well as what she is able to see.  There is some optical nerve damage, although an official vision test has not been done. Up to this point her speech was not at a place we could do a proper vision test to determine what she is seeing and how well she sees. 

As we enter the new year we will be having her assessed with the school district in order to line up any and all services she needs to get on track academically. 

Sibling thereapy is the best therapy! Seeing the kids play together and encourage Cydney to play along is fun to see and hearing the belly laughs from the next room is heartwarming. Nathan gets the best laughs from his jokes and whoopie cushion sounds. Lily's silly antics and loudness also bring out the deep down belly laughs. 

May you and your family find Joy this holiday season!