Happy 7th Birthday to the Hoy House!

To celebrate our 7th year as the Hoy House, we visited the Downtown Aquarium on Thursday. Alyssa and Jackson have gone before with their Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Steve, and since they enjoyed it so much, we thought it would be fun to have dinner there for our family birthday.  It was fantastic and we didn't even get a chance to do all of the activities.  The tank in the restaurant was amazing.  The kids were enamored with the fish that was as big as Darren and the sting rays that had spots like a cheetah.  The food was good, and we all enjoyed the cheesecake and raspberry sherbert dessert (even Matthew)!  And to end the evening, Alyssa, Jackson and Darren took a ride on the ferris wheel.  Great fun!

The visit to the aquarium was made richer with the kids affection for Finding Nemo.

What a difference a year has made.
Last year, Mattie slept through the dinner, and this year, definitely not!

Big smiles all around!

Jackson ate butter directly from the dish.

The little face you see is Jackson peering down at Matthew and me.

Hand Surgery Postponed

Matthew has to be healthy for 2 week before hand surgery. We knew this would be a challenge, especially in winter.  Matthew hasn't been well for 2 weeks in a row since mid-October. Exactly 2 weeks before the January 6th surgery date, Matthew started coming down with a cold...and then a stomach bug...and then an eye infection...and then an ear infection...and finally a sinus infection.  He hasn't been able to shake it in the week since.  Hand surgery is an elective surgery and thankfully is not time sensitive.  So, we have postponed surgery and our pediatrician is working with us on a medication plan to hopefully get and keep Matthew well.  The new date is February 3 and we pray he will get and stay well for it!  

Matthew's beautiful 4 fingered hands.

Random Holiday Bits

When the kids would ask about Matthew's lack of thumbs, we would say "that is how God made him."  On Christmas morning, sitting down at breakfast, Alyssa asked me "why did God give Matthew only 4 fingers when everyone else has 5?" My response--"I don't know, honey. I don't know.", but Darren's was much better--"That must be all he needs".

Alyssa went around Christmas Eve and Christmas day singing "All I want for Christmas is my 3 front teeth".  She lost her 3rd tooth on Christmas Eve Eve.  She has a few more loose, but if she loses anymore, she'll be able to stick her tongue out without opening her teeth.

Jackson has been all about Christmas.  Every day for the past 2 weeks he has gone around wishing us a Merry Christmas.  He only wants to watch Christmas shows (Prep and Landing I and II being the favorites) and he loves turning on the Christmas tree lights.  He might be a little morose when we put away the Christmas decorations in a few days.

Matthew loves music.  Lately, he will crawl over to the piano, pull up on the piano bench, and touch the keys.  He also picked up Jackson's recorder on Christmas day and began whistling into it.  He also loves to 'dance'.  Watching him move his head to music makes me so thankful that his hearing improved!

Matthew got me a present this year. He started making the mmmmm sound.  He might not be calling out 'mommy' yet, but I am now certain he will in time.

The kids loved all of their Christmas bounty and more so, we had so much fun being with each other and family.

My Favorite Images

These are some of my favorite images from the past week.

Alyssa in her Xmas dress (sewn by Grandma Joy)

Jackson proving that all you really need for fun is the box the toys came in.

I love watching my Dad play with the kids.  He is an amazing Granddad.

If this vacuum was the real thing, we would have the cleanest house in Houston.

Matthew playing in the baby area at the Houston Children's Museum.
He had a grand time!

Also at the Houston Children's Museum, Alyssa and Jackson had a ball in the Cyberchase area.

Jackson just pulled a stool over so he could control the giant computer on his own.
He called it his 'rocketship'.

12 Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: a child with a disability.

On the second day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: a heart full of love for my child with a disability.

On the third day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: an ache in my heart and a heart full of love for my child with a disability.

On the fourth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: a tear in my eyes, an ache in my heart and a heart full of love for my child with a disability.

On the fifth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with a disability.

On the sixth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: a ray of hope, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with a disability.

On the seventh day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: a sense of humor, a ray of hope, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with a disability.

On the eighth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: supportive family and friends, a sense of humor, a ray of hope, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with a disability.

On the ninth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: remarkable doctors and therapists, supportive family and friends, a sense of humor, a ray of hope, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in heart and my heart full of love for my child with a disability.

On the tenth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: an appreciation of small accomplishments, remarkable doctors and therapists, supportive family and friends, a sense of humor, a ray of hope, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with a disability.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: a sense of pride, an appreciation of small accomplishments, remarkable doctors and therapists, supportive family and friends, a sense of humor, a ray of hope, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with a disability.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, the good Lord said to me: Reach out and share your sense of pride, your appreciation of small accomplishments, your remarkable doctors and therapists, your supportive family and friends, your sense of humor, your ray of hope, your unsuspected strength for the tear in your eyes and the ache in your heart and your heart full of love for your child with a disability.

-borrowed (with minor edits) from Babies with iPads

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our family to you and yours!  

Happy Christmas Eve

Jackson was joyous to open the Star Wars advent and find the Christmas tree.

Our Lego Star Wars characters singing "Hark the Herald"
(a la Charlie Brown Christmas)