2:17 PM Friday, December 5 2008

Every day exciting “first things” are happening around our world  and we sometimes fail to realize it.  You know, things like, first time to ride a bike by himself,  first house they bought, first steps for the little one, first kiss…you get the picture.  This week we experienced a “first” that excited us.  Zoe smiled in response to us talking to him, and once to Isaac and Katelyn being silly while they were playing (they got down in the floor and were talking to him and laughing).  He has smiled before, but usually in response to gas in his tummy, or something like that.  I was talking to him face to face the other day, kind of tickling him on the tummy and he smiled back at me.  It’s enough to make your heart swell!  Okay, okay, enough with the mushy stuff.  Now for some updated information…

Since we last posted, he has visited some of his doctors, and here’s what’s going on.  His liver is no longer enlarged, and his bili count is nearly normal (it is supposed to be under “1″ and it is at 1.something and 2.something.  Anyway, the blood test before that showed it at 5.  This means his jaundice is almost completely gone, so that is exciting!  His eye health continues to improve as well.  The blood clots that were there are gone now, and his retinas are completely flat against the back of his eyes.  (Did we mention they WERE detatched?)  I know we did, it’s just amazing to say that again.  We travelled to Savannah for these check-ups and were blessed to stay at the Ronald McDonald house overnight again.  They continue to be a huge blessing to our family, I can’t say that enough.  While we were there we met Bailey’s family.  We talked with her mom and dad, and I want to ask everyone to please pray  for this precious little girl.  She was born mid-October, but was not due until sometime in January.  Obviously, she is a tiny thing (just 2 pounds when we were there) and she needs God’s power to work in her body.  I asked her parents’ permission to post about her and they would love for everyone to agree in prayer for her full recovery.  We give God glory for Holly’s recovery (we met her family at the RMH, and now for Kiersten’s recovery.  

Sometime back I wrote that I wanted my child to not just be breathing, but to experience the wonders and beauty of life.  ”Zoe” literally means “life as God has it” and his middle name, Ezekiel means “strength of God”.  We fully expect not just him to experience that, but our whole family as well.  That we may laugh together and enjoy life.  But also that we would be driven closer to each other in difficult times as well.  The Simpson house does not lack for giggles, noise, and altogether craziness, that’s for sure.  I am thankful, definitely in a way like never before.  Crazy as it sounds, I am even thankful for the indescribable exhaustion from lack of sleep at times.  I’m thankful because of the reasons I’m tired…3 incredible reasons.