The Holidays

It's been a while since our last post on Kendall, and she has been making GREAT strides. It seems that over the past couple of months, she 'woke up', interacting more and more with us each day. She seems very much aware of her environment, and especially whether or not mommy and daddy are near. She's starting to understand that if she cries, someone will come and pick her up. It's wonderful - we joke that now it's like having a 'real' baby! Her smile is the absolute best thing in the world, showing a mouthful of perfect teeth. She also loves her brother to death, following him with her eyes everywhere he goes. It seems that no matter what he does, she's enthralled and always has an ear to ear smile when he's around.

We took the kids downtown again this year for Thanksgiving, and though it was very hectic and a lot of work, it was such a memorable experience. I'm glad we do this every year, and I'm looking forward to adding another Little one for our outing next year. Kendall really took everything in, smiling and cooing at everything.

Christmas is just around the corner, and at this time both Kevin and I can't help but reflect on the last 16 months. So many ups and downs with Kendall, and the months before her diagnosis were so brutal and heartbreaking that I cannot imagine how we even survived - or how Kendall survived. One of our therapists told me that when they first evaluated Kendall earlier this year, they did not think she would make it. She was so frail, malnourished, and sickly. We are thankful each and every day that she is healthy now, and that she is free from many of the debilitating symptoms most kids with WHS suffer from. We are so very lucky for everything she's brought to our lives and for the pure joy she brings to us every day. We really take so much pleasure in the tiniest things, like her reaching out to us to be held. She is so special and innocent, I can't sit and look at her without running over to kiss or hug her. We're looking forward to this Christmas and hope we can really enjoy it this year.

However, with all the stress we have to deal with each and every day, it still dumbfounds us that people magnify little petty issues so much - especially around the holidays. I just can't stomach the drama and insensitivity of people who have no clue what we go through on a daily basis, and who make no effort to try to understand. It's sad and disappointing, but we've accepted we cannot change things and are happy with the amazing people we do have in our lives. We remain grateful to those who have been so supportive to us, and our unconditional love and warmest holiday wishes go out to you!!