Hanging in there... taking it day by day

Hi friends... sorry it has been so long since my last blog but among all the other crap going on in our lives it is with deep sadness that I tell you we suddenly lost my stepfather, Gerald (Jerry) Sopkowiak on January 24th unexpectedly.  My mom and her two dogs, Max and Sugar, have since had to move in with us as it is too painful and lonely an hour away in such a big house.  We put her house on the market in Fernandina and have been busy getting all of her affairs in order.  Last week I was down with the flu for 4 days and am just getting back to the land of the living.  God must certainly think I am wonder woman with all of the trials and tribulations he has put upon me these past two years.  I am rolling with the punches facing adversity and jumping through hoops to make our lives as normal as possible under the current circumstances.  Please keep my mother in your prayers as this has been a very very difficult transition for her and I pray that she finds peace and comfort, her home sells quickly so that she can close that chapter of her life and begin a new one here in Jacksonville in a new place she calls her HOME.  Being strong for her has kept me from falling apart with grief myself, ... he was a father to me and a grandpa to my boys for 21.5 years and always there for me at the drop of a hat with whatever the boys or I needed.  I am surely going to miss him as will my boys.

 On a positive note, Alex has been moving right along in his therapy... still going twice a week, except for last week as I was down with the flu.  He has been working on walking on uneven surfaces such as grass, sidewalks, streets etc without his cane.... still a little difficult at times... but working at it nonetheless.  Life goes on... we are taking it one day at a time.... baby steps at times... leaps and bounds others.... knowing that God has great things in store for us....IN HIS TIME, not ours.  He has come so far yet still has a VERY long way to go!



We all take for granted things that come natural to us... watching this next video brings tears to my eyes as I watch him struggle to do something so easy as walk backwards.  He is a trooper and keeps on going, even when he doesn't feel like it.  Love our therapist and their patience with him... they have become our family away from home going thru this together....a bond that can't be broken.




We have decided to go thru with the baclofen pump surgery however we will be putting it off until August.  I'll keep you all posted on that as it gets closer to that time frame.  Alex not excited about it however knows it will help in the long run.  Please continue to keep us all in your prayers....we still have our ups and downs and life is never simple for us..... yet we are very very grateful for the life we do have with Alex.  He continues to make us laugh every day..... embarrasse me, especially Brooks, lol...make me cry....love me bunches....aggravate Chad and my mom to no end by pushing their buttons but we are truly blessed in more ways than one.  THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE DAY WITH MY HANDSOME BOY!  Thank you God for our beautiful, crazy, hectic life.... I give you all the Glory, Honor and Praise... AMEN!

PEACE~LOVE~N~THUMBS UP!
LISA