You've Come A Long Way Baby!

Max turned 3 yesterday! We can't believe that it was 3 years ago that our lives were turned upside down, when my 2 week trip to Chicago turned into 5 months. We look back and don't know how we survived, by the grace of God I'm sure. But most importantly Max survived and today he is a strong and happy little boy. We couldn't have hoped or prayed for more than he is today. He is our constant reminder that miracles can and do happen. By the way, yes, that is Bas's hand in the first photo.

Max's Verjaardag op de Peuterspeelzaal

Today was Max's birthday celebration at Pre/Play school. He actually turns 3 on Sunday. The pics are taken while the class was singing songs to him. It is very educational experience for me, culturally speaking, to watch how birthdays are celebrated in Holland. I think birthdays, no matter the age, are a bigger deal here than in the states. It is hard for me to find a medium between the Dutch and American ways. Like for school, for birthdays, kids bring an edible snack and a goody bag for each of the classmates. I made some cookies but decided goody bags for 3/4 year olds was a bit much.

Another tradition they did in school today, besides the songs (an English "Happy Birthday" was sung among the other Dutch songs), is the birthday hat. I must say he teacher did a bang up job on the hat. It was very cool and Max seemed to like it. I think Max enjoyed the celebration this morning because the rest of today he was singing the birthday songs...to himself...mostly in Dutch!

Yeah!...that's an understatement

Great news everyone...Bas's syrinx has shrunk! We were both beyond thrilled when the neurosurgeon showed us the images and we could see with our untrained eye that the pocket of fluid was smaller. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. The syrinx is still there but has shrunk from 9mm to 7mm. That is actually a big jump. Even if the syrinx never gets any smaller this is good.

We have waited 2 years (3 if you count from the onset of his symptoms) for this and now can finally think about moving on with life. Yeah!

A Beautiful Sunday

It is sunny and about 75 degrees and Bas is out biking and Max is NOT taking a nap.

We biked into church this morning and after had coffee with some members of my old church, Peace CRC in South Holland. They are here touring around. Of course on the way home Max fell asleep on the back of the bike for the 10 minute ride from church to our house. And that means no real nap for today. Oh well, it is very rare that he doesn't get his nap in. And anyway, I hate to say it but Bas is on his own tonight with Max as I have movie night with some American women.

Tomorrow is a big day for us. We go for Bas's 6 month(post surgery) MRI. I'll let you know the outcome.

Here is one more pic from Chicago. This was taken on Easter Sunday at a park by my mom's house on Lakeshore Drive. As you can tell, it was cold, about 35 degrees. The kids from left to right Kate Buikema, Grant Wiarda, Max, Gabrielle Wiarda and Seth Buikema...all of Grandma's babies!

We're Back

After 2 weeks of freezing in Chicago, we are back in Amsterdam. And when I say freezing, I mean it. And to make matters more painful, while it was snowing in Chicago, it was 80 degrees and sunny in A'dam. I've decided I have bad luck when it comes to the weather.
But we did have a wonderful time in Chicago, seeing family and friends. I was able to celebrate my first Easter at home in 5 years which was really nice. Of course Max was spoiled by Grandma and all his aunts, uncles and cousins.
We even ended the trip on a high note with Grandma flying back to A'dam with us. Having her help with Max on the 8 hour flight in priceless. She was here with us until today when she flew to London to visit with the Essenburgs and attend a cooking class with Deb. Grandma will come back next week Thursday, just in time for Max's 3rd birthday!

P.S. Thanks again for the Thomas hat for Max Kristin!

P.S.S. Thanks to my brother Joel for all the pics.