I’m just now starting to get my legs back underneath me. It’s been a very long 5 weeks that have had lots of trials, struggles and high points. Some of you might have jumped here from the http://www.notreadytogiveup.com site so you might be new to this blog. If so, welcome and I hope you enjoy it. An update on Katie is that the support we have received so far (while not huge) has gotten us to start planning. Last week I contacted her pediatric surgeon and asked for information about the doctor she wants us to go see on the east coast. So even though we are a long ways away from being able to do that we are starting to gather information we need to plan the trip. Kind of an exciting time just to think that it might happen at all.

As a family I just celebrated my birthday this week and thankfully with kids it really doesn’t matter who’s birthday it is. To them it’s “a” birthday and a good cause for excitement. We’ve lived large mainly with a few day-trips to natural bodies of water to get thoroughly soaked and to try and find water snakes. Katie seemed particularly motivated to get soaked and find snakes and I’m pretty certain she’s moving down a path of becoming a veterinarian as an adult. Her fascination with insects, animals and wildlife in general is becoming a visible passion and she’s only 5. We’ll see if that lasts long or not…

Along with Katie’s passion for animals is her passion to watch Man Vs. Wild on The Discovery Channel with dad and older brother Grant who is 6. The new episodes are on Friday night at 10:00 our time so we let the kids stay up until 11:00 to watch the show. It’s a family favorite and it’s the only show we sit and watch on T.V. so we make the most of it.

Aside from that things are moving right along and we are making each day count not just as individuals but as a family unit which is great.

- Rex