Just some news and "Thank you's"

Well, we've been home for 3 1/2 weeks now and Nash is doing great! He started back at day care last week and was so excited. He had so much fun with his friends and was happy to be out of the house!! We had lots of people come to our house to watch him while Chris and I went back to work. My parents, my sister Annie, Chris's parents, Uncle Steve, Deb Deb and Chris's brother Chad all took turns hanging out with him and giving him special attention so he could heal faster before he had to go back to day care.  Thanks guys!! 

He has been healing SO good that he is moving around everywhere and trying to stand up (with the cast on)! He's not supposed to but its been hard to stop him. He even woke up from his nap the other day and had taken his cast off himself! We asked the doctor in Florida before we left if other kids had ever taken their cast off themselves.  They said "Oh no, you won't have to worry about that"  HA!! They don't know our little man...He's pretty clever :) Such a stinker...He's done it 3 times now so we have to watch him VERY closely. Next step is duct tape!

Busted!

His favorite spot :)

I also wanted to take some time to write about some of the fantastic people that helped contribute to the Super Nash Fund. We've had some of the most wonderful things done for us and I wanted to mention a few.

The church I grew up in, Otley Reformed Church, in Otley, IA, has been a great support to us.  My parents and my sister Teresa's family still go there. They have been keeping the congregation informed and updated on Nash since he was born. I know that we are in a lot of people's prayers there.  My mom told me that there was a little girl named Anna that wanted to do a fundraiser for Nash.  She and her mom, Meg, wanted to bake cookies and sell them to raise money.  They worked very hard and made LOTS of cookies and gave us a wonderful donation.  What a blessing that little girl is in our life and we've never even met her!! We are going to be in Pella in a couple weeks so I hope we get to meet her soon :) Thank you, Anna, and to everyone who bought her cookies, and kept Nash in your prayers!!

Our friends, Beth and Stu Kaump along with Terry and Linda Brecht, have a BBQ every year to celebrate their son and brother, Timmy's life.  He was one of Chris's best friends from a very young age and he was a wonderful person and friend to lots of people.  He passed away 5 years ago and he is dearly missed. The BBQ brings old friends together to remember what a great guy he was. Beth has made t-shirts every year and sells them to everyone who wants one. She also makes "friendship" bracelets for people to wear to remember him.  This year, the Brecht family asked us if they could donate the proceeds from the t-shirt sales to the Super Nash Fund. We were so touched. They said that's what Timmy would have wanted. Their donation alone was a huge help with this trip and we are so grateful for them! Thank you Beth, Stu, Linda and Terry. You have been beyond generous. We believe Timmy is Nash's special angel. Peace....Timmy B.

Showing off his Timmy Bracelet

Thanks to everyone else who has ever put a donation in the 'Super Nash Jar' at the salon. Thanks for "extra tips" from my wonderful clients and friends. Thank you to our family members who have given us jars of coins or written checks to the Super Nash Fund. For the people who stop in my mom's store in Pella, IA and donate to Nash after she tells his story. Thanks to the girls I work with and Mary and Janette (the salon owners) for being so generous. Thanks to the employee at Lowe's who helped us create Nash's contraption and after telling him Nash's story, he bought all of the parts for us. Thank you to anyone who has ever said a prayer for our family or even thought of us during this crazy, intense, difficult and exciting time.

We have been so blessed with ALL of the people in our lives. Nash has a very long road ahead of him with surgeries, multiple leg lengthenings, daily physical therapy and lots of traveling. We couldn't have started this whole process without everyone's help. It's funny how other people know what you need before you do. It's the people who have been there, that know you need them but don't want to ask. We can't even express our gratitude in words. There's even been talk of a Tailgating themed Fundraiser with a Bean Bags Tournament and Chili cook-off this fall and a Superhero Race and Carnival next spring! If you would like to be a part of or help with any of this please contact my sister, Annie, at avanderwerff@newaldaya.org  I will post details as soon as I know more :)

And he's still smiling :)
How can you not love this kid!?