twenty ten

2009 came and went, faster than I could even imagine. Years never flew by this fast before did they? If only time went this fast when I was in middle school. The new year always makes me think/re-evalute how things have gone in my life and where I see some changes being made. I wouldn't call them resolutions, because then they'd never happen, Resolutions have a funny way of being great for about 5-7 days and then fade the minute life gets busy. So, I don't call them that anymore. I've grown a lot this year and am hoping this continues into twenty ten, but the key to this growth was that some major life changing stuff took place that shifted my outlook on just about everything in my life. The real question is how do I keep that focus and drive when things start to get "comfortable" in life? No, I don't want life to karate chop me in the gut this year, but often those are the times we rise to the occasion and take life by the horns. So here's to an amazing 2010! Don't blink, it'll be gone that fast and Grey will be enrolled at college. :)

Another Great thing about the New Year is looking back at what happen last year. The Gibbs family had some big moments last year and Greyson told us he wanted to highlight them month by month as he remembered. So Here he is...


If some of you didn't catch all that, here's an interpretation of what he said

1. January
This was the month that Greyson was supposed to be born. January 29, that was the day we had in our head for months, tht was gonna be his birthday...Until a few days earlier when LEigh had the amnio in which we found out his lungs weren't quite ready. So we "lived it up" for two extra weeks!!!

2. February
Can't really think of anything this month. :) hehehe
February 12 the little Gibblet officially gets a name, Greyson Neal Gibbs, born at 7:48 AM weighed 7 lbs, 7 oz, he took hold of my heart instantly and hasn't let go!
Our proudest moment!!! Grey has surgery to close the opening in his back at around 4pm, by 8pm we get to see him again. Tough little guy.

3. March
It's determined that Grey indeed will need a shunt. Something we thought we could somehow avoid. March 5 was the day. To be honest it was much harder than his closure surgery. At this point he was home with us for over a week and we were getting to know him. It was heart-wrenching to hand our 3-week old baby over to the doctor to have brain surgery. tough day. But Grey came through brilliantly and has had no shunt issues to date. WE pray everyday this will continue.


4. April
Grey gets fitted for his first pair of AFO's. These were to specifically to help straighten the curve in his feet. Quite possible the tiniest, cutest things ever. Today, his physical therapists often comment on how straight his feet are now.

5. May
Grey has his dedication at church. A very important and meaningful day for Leigh and I. It was shared with our friends and family. Also, it was Leigh's first Mother Day! Grey and I did our best to make it special :)

6. June
My first Father's Day! Grey painted me a picture and we spent the day on the water. Grey goes swimming with his new lifejacket.

7. July
Greyson has to continually endure his parents impromptu photoshoots! At the park, in the pool, inside, outside, everywhere. He's a good sport.

8. August
Family vacation at Lake Mitchell. Greyson does it all, tubing, seadoing, surfing, fishing, everything we did, he did. He also starts to eat real baby food, and loved it!

9. September
Emotions hit us both as we recall that day in September when we found out about Greyson's Spina Bifida. We've come a LONG way since then, But more importantly so has Grey.


10. October
Grey turns into the cutest, most ferocious fire-breathing dragon ever!!

11. November
Thanksgiving Day! So many things to be thankful for.

12. December
This is what Christmas is all about!


what a year! Thanks for being a huge part of it!!!

love Andy, Leigh, & Greyson

The Holiday Weekend

...and Exhale...ahhhhh.

Yes, we can finally breathe as we've come to the end of a very busy, but very amazing Christmas weekend. Yup, this one goes down as the best Christmas ever, hands down. So you might have guessed that there were plenty of pictures taken to document the G-man's first Christmas. And we didn't let you down. So here's some photos to sum things up. enjoy.
Christmas Eve we spent some time with Grey's Great Grandma Gibbs. This was her 96th Christmas...Greyson's first...crazy.

We then went over to my mom and dad's house where Grey received a wagon from Grandma and Grandpa...he loved it!!!

He pretty much stayed in the wagon most of the evening.

Aunty em and Uncle jimmy got him a drum...perfect thanks guys, thats not gonna cause a ruckus in the house!!! hahaha.

Grandma loved it just as much! :)

Christmas morning, bright and early...I guess Grey was extra excited and decided to get things started early.

Family Christmas at the Gibbs House

Did a tornado hit? nope, just the normal mayhem involved at the Neal house on Christmas morning.

The day after Christmas we went tubing with the family.

Grey fit perfectly in the tube :)

He loved it!

We sent grey down by himself...hehehe



It was truly an amazing Christmas and was soooo much fun to have Grey around for all the festivities. Hope everyone else had a wonderful time as well.

love,

Andy, Leigh, & Greyson

Merry Christmas!!!

We wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and to show you one of Grey's new "tricks." It's funny to think about how much he once hated this snowman, and now this snowman is helping him to sit up!! Have a wonderful and safe Christmas!

The Gibbs'

Our last day...

Today was the last day of our first parent and child session at the Conductive Learning Center. Let's just say that we ended MUCH better than we started! :) This last week was by far Grey's most successful! He cried much less and was actually able to stay awake until the end. :) It's remarkable to see the changes in him just during these three short weeks. At the beginning of the session he was able to sit on a stool while holding with both of his hands onto a bar. Today, he is able to sit on the same stool while only holding on with one hand and waving (kind of) the other, he is also able to bend down and pick something up while still holding on with one hand, and comes back up. At the beginning of the week, while standing he needed help with both his upper and lower body. Today, he can hold onto the bar and I only need to help with keeping his legs straight for him. He also sat up from lying down for the first (and second, and third...) times during this session. BIG accomplishments for such a little guy!! :) Looking ahead, we will be attending the CLC once a week in Jan. twice a week in Feb. and doing another 4 week parent and child session in March.

Greyson also had a urology appointment this week. We are very pleased to let you know that things are looking good in that department! His kidneys and bladder have not changed since his last ultrasound 6 months ago. We were told that his kidneys are small, but they have always been small and they are growing, so the doctor isn't too concerned with that. We will go back again in 6 months for some more testing.

No pictures to post today...but look back this weekend for some pictures of all of the things that he has been working on these past few weeks!

Love to all,
Leigh

Grey...the elf on the shelf

Yesterday, I was able to jet out of work for a bit and watch the Conductive Learning Center's production of "Elf on the Shelf" When I got there I was handed a program and as I looked it over I saw our very own Gibblet's name as "Elf to be named." Yep, Grey had a part, albeit a small part, they still included him in their Christmas program. :) I thought that was pretty cool! If you've ever been to any kids productions of anything, it usually is just a mass of craziness, crying kids, and a lot of waving to parents. And for that reason I love these things. For years I've always enjoyed watching my nieces and nephew in the church Christmas programs, anticipating/placing bets on which kid will cause the biggest ruckus! I love it! Yesterday's performance didn't disappoint.

Here's a picture of Grey and Mommy before his big part. Cool costume huh?


Then it was time for Grey do do his thing...which happened to be to shake his head back and forth. It's kind of his latest trick. (soon to come video of him doing this :) The funny thing is it related to the Elf Christmas story that the kids were telling. So funny!


Finally after the program was finished, guess who came to visit? Grey was pretty excited!!!


Happy Holidays

The Gibbs'

Sleeping beauty...

That is what Grey was called as we walked out of class today. :) The last 15 minutes is spent working at the parallel bars standing, and he just couldn't make it today. He was sitting on his little stool sound asleep! We tried to sing to him to wake him up, but nope, he was a goner! This week started off rough...VERY rough. Monday was not a good day for either of us. Grey cried...LOUD for at least an hour of class and didn't want to participate in the lying program AT ALL...but as always he seemed to perk up a bit for our individual session. Tuesday was better and today was the best day that we have had. He still let us know that he wasn't really interested in the lying program, but he didn't cry as much or as long. His individual program went well and he was working hard on kneeling and pulling himself up to stand. When I say this, I want to make it clear that he isn't actually "standing." We are working hard on getting him to bear weight, and I think he is starting to just a bit. What he is doing is using his arms to pull himself up and strengthening his core and back while I hold his legs straight. He does a great job, and I am just amazed at how strong he is. We go back again tomorrow for another "exciting" day. :) As always, we are hoping that tomorrow will be even better than today. :)

I couldn't post without leaving a picture...here Grey is showing us how much he "love" the snow...hehehehe

Grey's Holiday Spirit

So the Gibbs house is all decked out and "Christmasy" these days, and one item that keeps getting some attention at the house is the singing snowman. Now if you ask me how we got this thing in the house, I couldn't tell you...But know for sure I had nothing to do with it. Nevertheless, it's been making an appearance every year around this time for the last 4 or 5 years.

Greyson's feelings about the Snowmen have come full circle... Here, take a look at the video. You'll see what I mean.



The Gibbs'