Grace's Exciting Adventures in November 22

Hi. Let me start by saying.. it feels like I haven't written in awhile, so I'm sorry.. but thanks for coming back and continue to read about our journey.

Grace is amazing! She is certainly coming into her own. Her eating is 'thru the roof'; for example she loves going out to eat. Just the words, want to go out to a restaurant tonight will turn her into a very excited little girl; and for those that know her personally you know that her excitement (for anything!) is contagious! Last night, we had Rotary and we go to a local restaurant.. Grace had chicken nuggets and french fries. Her new thing this month - a couple of things around food, is she is loving ketchup (the 'dip') and stove top stuffing. Grace ate ALL 4 chicken nuggets last night (without a mess or most of the chicken on her lap) and while at Nonna's she ate alot of stuffing. I hope these two along with other things she eats really helps her to gain some weight... (god knows it would with me :(

Yes, we went to visit my MIL in New York for the Thanksgiving holiday.. Grace did so great on the way up (me, not so much.. I'll just say "Lake effect snow".. I would never drive at night again!) She was so excited.. and honestly watching her excitement (like watching any of our children's excitment), it's just so awesome. She knew for awhile we were going and we like to pick her up from school and head right out; so we did that again and she was just great. She actually slept for a couple of hours on the way up (Good job, school wearing her out!). We got in very late, alot later than we anticipated because of bad driving conditions and she was just great. And when we got there, she was so happy to see Nonna.

There's not alot to do up in those parts..but we managed to go out daily.. walked around, shopped and out to restaurants! On Thanksgiving, it was warmer than it had been.. we had a nice walk around the yard and street; had a great Thanksgiving day with Nonna.

Grace is loving other children and she does have a cousin up in NY, Johnny Jr. who just turned 13. Great kid and he came in and said, 'hi grace' and she was so excited to see him. We continued to blow out the candles on a couple of cakes, one for dad's birthday; and then one for all of ours.. Grace loves singing Happy Birthday and having candles to blow out.

I can't say enough on how far she has come. Sometimes I just sit back and watch her and she is definitely my miracle little girl.. and growing up so fast! (the good thing is I'm getting younger!) :)

As we move into the month of December and the holiday season.. with my Christmas shopping for my family nearly done.. I want to wish all that is reading this.. just happy memories for the holiday season, peace & love. Hug those children of yours.. no matter where they are in their development - they are the miracles that keep us going.

with love,

Pattie, Gary & Grace (and Maxwell)