HUSBANDS....UGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll give you just a few minutes to really look at this picture and to think about how this happened.



Minutes up-  Bradley of all things decided to tote Matthew downstairs instead of making him walk downstairs like he suppose to. (part of his therapy) decided to FALL with Matthew in his arms down the steps.  Matthew of course hits his head and his eye on the steps, thank God they were carpeted.  So off we go to JR Jones.  Thank goodness I knew the PA so she took us right on in. 
This picture doesn't do it justcie, Matthew's eye was actually almost swollen shut last night when this happened.  The PA cleaned around his eye and examined his pupil and his vision and gave us instructions to wake him every 2-3 hours and ask him questions just to be sure he is still coherent, which made for a long night.
After 2hrs there and a $150 copay, we came home with a minor black eye and a HUGE carpet burn above the eye and on the eyelid. 
You wonder why such an emergency, the eye Matthew blackened is the eye that has the small cyst on the pupil so needless to say I rather be safe than sorry.

Boys and Gymnastics

Yep, you read it right, GYMNASTICS.  Since hippotherapy didn't pan out we've tried something new and to my surprise Matthew somewhat enjoys it.  It takes him a little bit to warm up to the class but once all the other kids get going so does he.

Matthew can actually do this balance beam with one foot on it and one foot on the floor, which isn't bad for his age.  At this session he wanted to do it with both feet so he needed a little help.

At this session was "Bring A Friend"day.  So we brought cousin, Nathan.

Just to think, two years ago doctors said that Matthew wouldn't be able to walk, talk,etc.  I guess they didn't have this in mind either.  If you don't believe in the power of prayer, let me just REMIND you, see the picture above, this is God at work.
To all those parents dealing with the unbearable daily challenges of raising a "special needs" child, please, please remember you're not alone in this HUGE task.  GOD IS THERE, he may be in the shadows but he's ALWAYS there.  He has given us a trusted gift that he wouldn't just give to anyone, he's given us these precious children that he knows we will cherish and look to Him for strength, guidance and patience to raise His children for His service.  What an honour.

Reuniting

Isn't it beautiful, we just got back from the beach visiting some friends.  A group from church decided to take off a weekend for a little r-n-r and to do a little reuniting.

Matthew hasn't seen David and Jean since his first birthday, he was right at home.  It took him a little bit to warm up to their dog though.  Below are a few of our group pictures.

(Janelle, Mom, Allene)

(Me, Mom, Allene)

And of course, being a toddler, you have to play in the sand no matter how cold and windy.  Yes it was cold and windy, the sand stung as it hit your skin.  You couldn't tell by looking at Matthew though.

I think Matthew's occupation/profession might be a "chef", yes a chef, he will honestly eat anything and I mean anything.  His favorite dish at supper was of all things, cold slaw, he ate so much of it I just knew it was going to make his belly hurt.

If you've never been to a church service (Southern Baptist) in the south, especially on the coast, YOU NEED TO ATTEND ONE!!!!!!!!!!!  Sunday morning we went to a little church, reminded me of our church here at home.  Bolivia Baptist, the music was GREAT and the sermon was AWESOME. 
However, Matthew by all means and of all the times decided to be a little boy and crawl under the pews, race his race cars on top of the pews and the kicker---- tried to do a somersault in the floor. (I'll explain this later) Talk about driving my patience mad, my goodness.  It was so bad that one of the ladies in the church came and asked me if she could take him to the nursery.  Once to the nursery, he was everywhere being Mr. Nosey.
Knowing my blood pressure was probably raised a little bit that Sunday, I have to tell you that I am so so Grateful to God that Matthew is able to act like a little boy and do all the things that little boys do.  He's God's perfect little angel.

I saved the best for last.  Before leaving our hotel, Mom and Matthew found a new ride.  This is the new "train".  Matthew has been into Thomas the Tank Engine here lateley.  Isn't he adorable!!!

Motivation

Walking outside is now conquered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too Cool!

This week has been another crazy week in the Marshall household but I couldn't resist this cute picture.  Matthew has been sick with the flu and an ear infection.  Leave it to our son to get the worst of worst, but we're building our immune system.  He actually didn't act all that sick and he had a low grade fever so the flu was pretty mild, thank God we caught it early.  Just wanted to post this cute picture of  Matthew being too cool even while being sick.