This will be the first of two posts this weekend. This one will be a regular post covering the past two weeks of James’ life. In the second one, which I will try post tomorrow, I’ll share pictures from an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime trip we took last weekend.

Ear Infection

We did have a little concern that James wasn’t going to be able to make the trip. After Stacy got James up on Monday the 7th and was getting him ready for school, she sensed that something was brewing. He had some ear drainage and was a bit congested. The pediatrician’s office wasn’t open yet so she was left with a decision: keep James home from school, call the doctor’s office when they opened, and see if he had an opening to see James; or take James to school, call the doctor’s office when they opened, and see if he could squeeze James into his schedule. She ended up dropping James off at school, waited in the parking lot until the doctor’s office opened, called, and they had an opening. Stacy went back into the school, grabbed James, and went to the doctor. Stacy was right. The doc thinks it was the start of an ear infection and started James on a round of antibiotics and ear drops.

School

Do you remember that rather bad school picture that I shared with you in October? In case you have forgotten, here it is…

Pretty bad, huh? Stacy asked to have his picture retaken without the vest so that you can see more of his shirt and with his eyes more open if possible. His new picture looks so much better, doesn’t it?

James won an award this week for being respectful, responsible, and safe.

As a reward, he was able to go to school in his pajamas on Friday. Say hello to Jimmy the Elf:

A kindergarten teacher at a school in Chicago contacted us through James’ Facebook page and explained that her class was learning about caring and compassion for all. She asked if her students could make and send James Christmas cards as part of the lesson. Here is James with those cards:

How awesome is that?

Christmas Card

Speaking of Christmas cards, ours have gone out. I think I say this every year, but I wish we could send one to all of you, but that just wouldn’t be reasonable. While only our closest family and friends will get a card, don’t think that we don’t appreciate all of the love and support each of you has sent our way.

All this talk about Christmas has me wanting to start working on our “special trip” post this afternoon. It was such an awesome trip, and I can’t wait to share it with you all.