Christmas Card Letter 2016

Dear Friends & Family,

In September of this year we took a fabulous trip to Exuma, in the Bahamas with some dear friends. For five blissful days we turned off our phones(!), snorkeled, swam with the pigs, ate great food and belly laughed until our sides felt like they would explode. It was as rested as we have felt in a decade. But the minute the plane landed the text messages began to show up. In our absence, Oliver’s care team was really struggling with his behaviors. We returned sunburnt and happy on Monday; by Wednesday our beloved nurse John said it was time for a 2:1 ratio for Oliver. Two adults, for Oliver, every waking hour...Lord have mercy. 

We always knew he’d need extra care and it would get harder over time, but the speed at which his care escalated was astounding. He was getting more and more aggressive and unpredictable. It seemed there was no explanation for this new behavior. I went on a hiring spree and found more caretakers, coordinating over 400 hours of care for Oliver in October alone. In addition, his sleep began to be interrupted, promoting outbursts and all manner of behaviors at night. 

Eventually, we found our way into 2 ERs along with 2 hospital admissions trying to find answers. Finally, after 16 days in the hospital, bilateral viral and bacterial  pneumonia, and two serious bouts with GI problems, we finally returned home. 

In the midst of the pain Oliver went through we were blanketed in love (and amazing food) by our friends and family. Over 20 of you came to help at the hospital, sometime spending the night, sometimes walking through the halls with us before the next medical test. Over 50 of you brought meals, and countless others called, texted, sent gifts and emailed your love. We never felt alone. We felt as sad and unsettled as we ever have, but never alone. Never alone, always loved. The blanket of friendship enveloped us the whole time. 

     

And speaking of friends, many of you have helped our real estate company grow over the years and we could not be more grateful for your support. This October (despite the crazy hospital stays) Lanier Property Group reached the 100 transaction mark for the year! Our LPG team of 16 took such great care of our clients and company while we dealt with Oliver’s medical needs. They closed deals, brought us food and surrounded us with words of encouragement. This has always been the dream: a workplace marked by true teamwork and servant leaders. Until you test things you don’t know how it will work...now we know. We have something remarkable in our team. Teamwork really does make the dream work. 2017 will bring with it LPG’s 5th year in business. We are thankful to be here; to grow and to keep serving the clients and the city we love. 

Oliver is home now and has returned to his sweet and silly self. His blue eyes glitter with joy when we play “One Direction”

or “Coldplay” videos for him to dance until his heart is racing with happiness. He still needs round the clock care, but his

kisses and hugs are more treasured than ever. We take nothing for granted. The fragility of life is always wafting through the air at our house. 

Just like those three men on the first Christmas, we hope you find a few other wise men (or women) to travel alongside of you. We hope you encourage one another to keep looking to the true north star, even when darkness is all you see. We hope somewhere along the journey you share roaring laughter with sun-kissed faces. We hope you'll see that your best gifts complement and do not compete with one another...that together what real friendship does is make each person deeper, more whole, more true. In the joys of these sweet friendships you might just glimpse a sliver of the eternal. Love in action. Sacrificial love. Love that has no end. Never alone. Always loved. 

Merry Christmas,

Andrew, Stephanie & Oliver