Last year, we spent a week at the beach and I remember how different it was. Kaleb could still move around a bit, he still gave us smiles and laughs without seizures - which is no longer the case. It seems like a lifetime ago, yet oddly almost like yesterday.
During our trip, we got up early one morning and I held Kaleb in my arms as watched the sun come up over the ocean. On another day, we got to watch a momma sea turtle cover her eggs she laid in the sand and make her way back into the sea where she disappeared. The beach we were on was private so there weren't many people around and we could really appreciate the beauty that was before us. It was almost like seeing things for the first time. They were more beautiful than I remembered and will forever remain that way in my heart and my memory.
The last couple of days of our trip we were joined by the rest of the family so that we could have one vacation together to remember forever. We were able to capture in photographs the kids playing in the sand. We also watched the curiosity of our littlest nephew as he pondered his cousin Kaleb's state. It's always something to watch little ones around Kaleb they just don't know what to make of him, and the lack of fear that I saw as little Connor got closer to Kaleb touched my heart. He was most curious as to how Kaleb was being fed, and asked questions in the only way he knows how. The innocence of children is an amazing thing. I also find it very sad that they will not have that innocence for too long and I don't envy my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, as they have to explain to their boys what's happening to Kaleb, and what waits around the corner for him. I'm just glad we will have lots of pictures to show them one day, they may not remember this vacation, but hopefully, Kaleb will live on to them in these pictures.
Today, Kaleb is comfortable and as healthy as he can be, and for that we continue to be grateful!