Monday, February 21, 2011

A Birthday Celebration!

Happy Birthday, Alex!

Alex, age 3
Yes, my baby is turning 15. 
He is pretty awesome, plays instruments, sings, acts, makes the best butter popcorn I've ever had.
Alex has a tender heart, quick mind and an endless source of humor.

This is a pretty big deal. 
Some of you may remember Alex from the picture above.
He was still learning to talk and communicate.
He had about 20 words and I am pretty sure 10 of the revolved around trains.

Where do I start with celebrating Alex's life?
This kid is an amazing testimony to God's miraculous work.
Here is just a tiny glimpse into his journey.

He had a dangerously high bilirubin count (23) shortly after he was born.
Alex never was able to take a bottle and had to be fed through an eye dropper when I wasn't around.
He was put under anesthesia at 18 months to test for glaucoma.
Alex walked at 19 months due to low tone in his legs.
He was entered into EI services at 2.5 due to suspected PDD-NOS (mild autism).
Alex was still receptively and expressively delayed in communication at age 3 (amongst other things.)
He participated in an expensive exclusive preschool run by an SLP and OT at age 3.
Did I mention he had a sleep disorder that woke him (and us) up every hour....until age 5?

This just scratches the surface.
But, gosh, he was (and still is) cute as a bug!
He was the squishiest, most huggable, loveable toddler/preschooler you ever met.
It makes perfect sense that he is super intelligent, right?
And those birth defect eyes! 
Who wouldn't melt in those giant pools of chocolate brown?!?!

By the time Alex was in kindergarten he had lost all his diagnosis.
He was placed in the gifted program in third grade.
Alex is our odds breaker, our miracle, our reminder of what God can do
 in and through us if we just trust Him.
I thank God for Alex everyday. 
With all the struggles. 
He is our joy giver.
I can't wait to see what God has in store for the next 15 years!

Fun memories:
Jingle bell, jingle bell hey!
Rolling down hills, hugging lamp posts and laying on concrete
Seminary wide man Alex hunts
Tucked in sweatshirts
Toast and water diet
Bell ringing on his new bike at 7 a.m (on a Saturday) through the seminary apartment complex
after he successfully learned to pedal a bike
Belt obsessions
SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!
Thomas the Tank Engine
George of the Jungle
Blues Clues
Penguins on Scooters
Capes and bicycles
Darth Vader
Endless (and I do mean endless) costumes
Beanie Baby worship services
Chef Alex
"Hey! Who put this meat in my hamburger? That's bisgusting."

Friday, February 11, 2011

Pink is Not Just for Valentine's!

Sorry for the flurry of blog posts and then the looooooong hiatus.

Life has been, ummmm, overwhelming exciting lately.

The last several weeks have brought us suprise after suprise after suprise. 
I have been working on catching my breath.

A few of the highlights include a midnight run to the hospital, illness,
disappointments, loss, etc.

I have settled into our life of uncertainty.
I struggled for awhile, but am now experiencing peace in the midst of turmoil.
It helps to stop fighting God and start trusting Him.

I'm there now.

So, here is the latest. 
The agency I work for has made drastic staffing cuts over the last several days.
Many people received pink slips who have worked for the agency for decades.
I did not receive just a gift in the mail

.......yet.

Positions funded by Empowerment grants have not been reviewed yet.

That would be me.

It is likely my special package will be arriving in the mail in the coming weeks.

We are okay.
God has a perfect plan. Not necessarily an easy plan, but a perfect plan, nonetheless.
But, a full life is not always easy.

So, changes are likely coming for the Gael family.
We are not special nor should we expect to be spared from what so many other families are facing.
We are  a little lost in the forest.
But,
we have options and hope.

Please don't worry about us.
All our moving has provided us with a tremendous network.
We've got a plan.
We will be okay because He made a promise:

But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.


Photo by Alex Gael