I noticed it has been two weeks since the last update - and it has been a busy two weeks!! Everything specific to Gabe is on his blog, so feel free to check in there as well. Yesterday we celebrated Josh's birthday - I suppose I can let him reveal his age if he chooses. Josh and the older boys hung out in the morning, playing his vintage nintendo while Gabe napped. In the afternoon they played miniature golf while Gabe took his afternoon nap with Grandma - I guess I should have said "at" Grandma's...or maybe it was with....I'm not sure. I had to work all day, and it was very busy and hectic. I was exhausted when I hit the door, but did my best to rally and not be a party-pooper. We did go OUT for dinner, so that was a big help!! The boys and I had made a "cookie-cake" for Josh on Tuesday, since he prefers that to regular cake, which we all enjoyed with Josh's family (minus Kaci and Justin - here in spirit) after dinner. Last year we ate downtown in Indianapolis for Josh's birthday dinner, and it was awful. (Don't go to Alcatraz) This year was an improvement in many ways. Josh got several new shirts and money towards a GPS. Hmmmm....are those gifts suggesting something? I'll let everyone ponder that.

That brings us to today's very big anniversary. Today marks a full year that our family has been home together, whole and complete. My eyes are already watering, so this will be brief. I have another full day of work to get through! I think all I want to say right now is how much we appreciate everyone who has supported us this past year - and even when we first learned about Gabe's condition. It has been an incredible journey from there to here and we have all grown along with Gabe and also learned what we are made of. Some of it good and some of it not so much, but all of it part of an incredible tapestry of change and evolution.

Celebration!

It has been a busy summer for our family! We celebrated the fourth at Lincoln this year with Josh's family (almost ALL of them). It is always extra special to celebrate this holiday with family, but it was even more wonderful that the five us were together this year. Last year I spent the holiday at Riley, taping a small flag to Gabe's crib and watching the Indianapolis fireworks display from the top of the parking garage with the Hufty's and some of the nurses and their families. The boys were in Evansville with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Kaci and Aunt Brooke and Josh was working. This year, as we sat on a blanket beneath the stars and waited for the first burst of color and spark, Josh leaned over and commented "Better than last year, huh?". Amazingly I hadn't been thinking about the year before (I think I have made comparisons between this year and the last on a near daily basis) and that comment had the tears welling and then running down my cheeks. It was a definite role reversal as I am usually making those comments to Josh.

Despite some illness (mainly Justin and then Gabe) it was another great week at Lincoln. Everyone had a great time and arrived home safely, but exhausted. I am posting a slideshow of our time at Lincoln, which will summarize the week better than I could do in words. Josh and I couldn't be there for all of the festivities, so if anyone has some good pictures, I can always add them! It is a little lengthy, but enjoy if you have a few minutes.

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