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One of the great perks of having to travel to so many taekwondo tournaments is earning rewards from things like hotel booking and the business credit card. In just under a year, we booked 10 hotel nights through hotels.com, so we decided to take advantage of their offer for a free unlimited night. Melissa and I left Nate with Mimi and Papa and headed to San Antonio for a one night vacation. We stayed a the five-star Hotel Valencia on the River Walk. They overbooked our room, so we got upgraded to a balcony room valued at $500 (for free). While waiting on the room, we took the tour of the Alamo. Then Meli and I spent the evening on the River Walk, taking the boat tour and eating at a wonderful Mexican restaurant.
Then we woke up and headed for New Braunfels and a day at Schlitterbahn Water Park. If you've never been, this is the best water park I've ever been to by far. They use natural water from a river to power all the rides. The best rides were these tube chutes that float pretty lazily at first, then you suddenly hit a rapid and fall.
While working on the pictures for the digital photo frame, I decided that I might as well put the pictures into an album and share our last five years together. It's now the picture on the left bar. Hope you enjoy.
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Nathan woke up to the basket that the Bunny left him, complete with a blue bunny, sidewalk chalk to lu-lor (color) with, and eggs with his first candy in it. After Meli played at her church, we went to her parents for lunch and an Easter egg hunt. There are also pics of a community egg hunt earlier.
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So, today, we had to take Nate to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Before you get worked up wondering how he is, I'll tell you that everything turned out fine. This was a follow-up visit from June.
When Nate was four months old, his doctor became concerned that he only looked to the right and didn't like to look to the left. So, we ended up going to see a wonderful physical therapist for some time over the summer. She wanted to have him looked at by an orthopedic specialist, but that was something that we just can't afford as small business owners.
Enter Scottish Rite. This has got to be one of the most wonderful charities we've ever been around (and as a pastor, I've seen a lot of them). We were able to get a series of spinal x-rays on a table designed just for babies. He had an evaluation by a team of doctors, nurses, therapists, you name it. I think there were eight or nine people in the room when Nate came in the first time. He got to see one of the top orthopedic surgeons in the country. The great news is that all of this was free.
The doctor there said that everything looked great and that Nathan's problems were muscular, meaning they would go away with time and with exercise. They did ask us to come back when he was walking to make absolutely sure. Today was that day.
The appointment was set for 1:15, but we left early due to the freezing rain in the area. We got there very early. After a lunch in the cafeteria, we went and checked in. The lady at the desk got us in to our spot. After a bit, we were in the exam room. The nurse practitioner watched him walk and them put him through the paces with a physical exam that tickled him to no end. The ortho came in, watched him walk, and then they gave us the great news. He was being discharged from their program. No more need to come back.
We received great news, but I can't help but think of all the others I saw while I was there. Many parents have not been given the same news that we got today, but those doctors are there, doing great things. I don't do this much, but, if you are reading this blog, maybe you would consider visiting their website at www.tsrhc.com and donating even a small amount to them to honor their work in helping our Nathan develop well.
Nate spent a whole day around his favorite thing in the world. Ball! First we got out the ball pit that Mimi got him. He had loads of fun getting buried in the balls and throwing them EVERYWHERE.
Then at night, we took him for his first ever game of bowling. He was more obsessed with the ball than pushing it down the lane. After the first try got stuck halfway down the lane, the owners came and brought him this thing to let him push the ball down a ramp to send it toward the pins. Every time that he would push the ball, he would say "Bye Bye Ball."
He even got to Hiya the whack a mole game for a while, even earning a little police badge from the tickets.
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Well, we're finally unpacked from our trip to Indiana. We had a great time with all the family. Riley and Owen just went nuts having a baby around them, and they did such a great job of being big cousins to him. In fact, I think Nate learned how to go from walk to run by just trying to keep up with them.
Mom had us all go out to a photo place and get pictures of all her family together. You'll see a few of those in the slideshow below. Even though Nate wasn't feeling real good, he still gave such great smiles.
We even had a moment to have lunch with Dad and Debbie, where Nate had a great time playing with his grandparents and the puzzle he got from them.
The flight home was a little interesting, but we made it and are now home. Hope you enjoy the pictures!
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Last Sunday, Melissa had her piano studio's recital at the local Methodist church. She only teaches a few people, so we were able to keep it small and special for everyone. Being a Christmas recital, I decided to try something totally crazy. I made my first foray into trying to buy clothes for my wife. I presented her with an early Christmas present of a dress and all the accessories for her to wear to the recital. She did a great job of playing her jazz version of Jingle Bells. She has always had a struggle with jazz, so I was so proud of her.
Nathan even got in the act a little, with people presenting him with Christmas gifts. He loves to play with the alphabet blocks he got from one student.
Last night, we loaded up the car and headed back to Deep East Texas to see Melissa's brother Jeremy our new sister-in-law Sharayah's wedding. Nathan did so good at the ceremony, staying quiet through pretty much the whole thing. Of course, the constant stream of Cheerios might have had something to do with that. :) Then at the reception, Nate was just the life of the party with everyone just loving him.
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Has it really been two years now since this scene? It's been amazing to see the way our lives have changed and grown together over the last two years. Now, with the addition of a third member to our family, this anniversary takes on a completely new meaning. Thank you to everyone who has enriched our lives as we celebrate this 2nd anniversary!
Nate got his first experience around animals (other than Hugo the hedgehog) when we went to the Ft. Worth Zoo. Little guy had a ball! He got to look around and see all kinds of things, but his favorite part was the carousel. He squealed and smiled the whole time that thing was moving.
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So, our first Easter Sunday with Nathan. We got him up and dressed, then gave him his first Easter basket. Sure, the eggs didn't have candy in them, but they did have a new pacifier which he loves! :)
We went off to church where they had an egg hunt after the service was over. Nathan "found" one which took him over a minute to decide it was his and pick it up.
P.S. - Hey Riley, check out the shoes :)
We finished the day be having Melissa parents over for their first Easter Dinner away from their own home in 30+ years. Then we had to have some fun and make him become the Easter Bunny. You'll see that in the later pictures.
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