I never understand why people complain about lack of sleep with a newborn because I get a lot more sleep with a newborn than I ever do while I'm expecting! Our family has had a wonderful, wonderful time with our new baby! She is such a jewel and we are so blessed by her presence and membership in our family!
I keep a journal for each of my children. My goal is to write in it twice a month and so far I have been able to keep up with that. I just got a journal for my newest baby, Lucy, and I really enjoyed sitting down to write yesterday. I already have so many sweet memories with my new daughter, and one of them is my Dad! I have treasured and loved the experience I have had of introducing my children to their Poppy. My Dad really seems to come down to earth, and get really sober and sincere when he has held my children. Watching him hold Lucy for the first time was a neat experience for me, and afterward he commented on what a spiritual experience it was for him to hold her.
We go over to visit (except when we have a new baby we're keeping out of the cold!) at least once a week and it is so much fun! Lately it has cracked me up to watch my Dad my children. The other day my brother Ammon found this little alligator bank at DI and bought it because it was just like one we had as kids. It is this ceramic bank, the alligator is sitting and his mouth is open and happens to be where you drop your coins in, if you dare to put your hand into and open alligators mouth! :) My son James was toting that bank around and making my Dad nervous, he was so worried James would drop it. In one final act of desperation, and after several lengthy explanations, my Dad decided to give James a very visual lesson. He grabbed the bank and said "James, look how easy this could break!" and with that he grabbed the head of the alligator and ripped it off. James looked very confused as Poppy was giving this demo and I was laughing my head off!!! Oh Dad!
Tonight my Mom (love you Mom!) and I were talking about him and she was saying how hard it is to notice his progress because she is there to watch that pot as it slowly comes to a boil. Really though, he is doing a lot better since last Thanksgiving. Last year he sort of felt to me like Brian Regan looks when he talks about Pluto---okay you'd have to see that---but he felt to me like someone floating around in the air with not a clue about what was going on. This year he is still not, not, not, not, not, not at all himself, but he really has improved. He seems to be able to follow along a little better and seems to have way more of "a clue" than he ever has before. So even though I expect he never will be "Dad" again that he was, I hope and I pray for continued progress in his on-going and life-long recovery.
The hard thing is being reminded of the way he was. But who am I to complain? I am not living with a TBI so I feel silly for even saying that. I miss my Dad a lot. I will have him back one day, I know it. I am really excited for that. I love reading the scriptures and feeling how much compassion the Savior had for the sick. I love to read how He healed them. Each account is so miraculous and I can't help but wonder what it will be like to see my Dad's healing take place, and to wonder what it is I will write down about that.
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