EXCITING NEWS!!

Lauren's casts came off last night in preparation for her new ones today.  Rita and I figured it would speed things along in the hospital, and that way, we were also able to give Lauren a good thorough bath last night and clean up her freshly freed legs.  Well, the dr's saw Lauren's feet today, and decided ... NO MORE CASTS!!  They are pleased with how Lauren's feet look, and have given Rita and I some exercises to use on Lauren whenever we change her diaper.  So, these exercises are to be done 10 times every four hours.  Rita and I said... "okay".  It's great to have her feet and legs out, so we have another 2 places to put her oxygen saturation monitor probe, and because it's good to see too!

Christmas was really nice.  First off, I woke up to "WILL!!  Breakfast is almost ready!"  I shook off my sleepy bewilderment, as I wasn't expecting breakfast, but followed my nose downstairs to where Rita had prepared a nice little breakfast to start the day.  It was a little bit of a late night as Rita and I atteneded midnight mass while Grandma Judy watched Lauren.  And next to the sat monitor acting a little funny, things went well!

We were joined late Christmas afternoon by Rita's dad and two grandmothers, and we had a nice Christmas dinner.  Thank you to all those who partook in the dinner!

More Lauren news:  She is now up t0 10lbs, exercising her arms more and more, and showing us her gorgeous eyes.   It seems she's gaining strenght each and everyday, and she's progressing so very well.  She's maintaining her fair complexion and we're thinking Lauren is going to have either strawberry blond or auburn hair.  We're quite sure there will be red in it somewhere!  I will toss on some Christmas pics when I'm done here, so please feel free to check out the picture section.

Now that you're back from the picture section (I'm  sure some of you went right away), I would like to share a poem that was emailed me today that I found to be quite fitting.  I will post it here, but if there's some legal junkie out there who tells me that I can't have it on, I will put up a link to where you can find it online.

A meeting was held quite far from Earth

It was time again for another birth.

Said the Angels to the Lord Above-

"This special child will need much love."

"Her progress may be very slow

Accomplishments she may not show

And she'll require extra care

From the folks she meets down there."

"She may not run or laugh or play

Her thoughts may seem quite far away

So many times she will be labeled

'different', 'Helpless', and 'disabled'."

"So, lets be careful where she's sent."

"We want her life to be content

Please Lord, find the parents

who will do a special job for you."

"They will not realize right away

the leading role they are asked to play."

"But with this child sent from above

comes stronger faith and richer love."

"And soon they'll know the privilege given

in caring for their gift from heaven."

"Their precious charge, so meek and mild

is heaven's very special child."                       -Edna Massimilla-