We had a wonderful visit with my sister and her family, but are now getting back into our routine. There is, however, a sense of newness. For one, we are in a much different place than we were when Gwendolyn was first diagnosed. It isn't a place without grief, fear, or heartache, but it is a more comfortable place to be in now that we have come to better terms with our new life. And over the last few weeks, Gwendolyn has definitely made developmental leaps and we are struggling to keep up with her new demands for more stimulation, socialization, and independence…and less naps. Having active nephews visiting forced us to think outside of the box so that Gwendolyn could be included and allowed us to explore a new physical play avenue for her. And thanks to that time with them, there will be many more football games in our future. Keeping Gwendolyn stimulated is a constant challenge for us — in part from fear because we never want her to feel trapped and in part because toys are not made for a child with minimal movement who mentally craves new experiences. It keeps us on our toes and pushes us to think in a new way, be creative, and look to all the many things Gwendolyn can do. Thanks to our wonderful family (and Santa), Gwendolyn has many new toys and we are enjoying watching her explore them and grow.