Saying Thank You in a BIG way!

First time feeling the Pacific Ocean!

Jason, Lucy and I had an amazing opportunity to travel to Santa Barbara this past weekend and thank all of the people who made Lucy's shunt!  Medtronic's neurosurgery manufacturing facility is located there and we were invited to take a plant tour to see how shunts like Lucy's are made and speak as guests of honor at their Holiday Party.

It was an AMAZING opportunity and we had such a great time (I mean, not counting the sometime crabby toddler who was adjusting to West Coast time and dealt pretty well with an 8-hour travel day).  We got to walk on the beach and introduce Lucy to the ocean and enjoy 70 degree weather and have family nap time and get away from the hustle and bustle of the holidays for a a few days.

Visiting the zoo - best seat in the house!

Making friends? (And this mama is VERY glad there is glass between those two!)

And, best of all, we had an opportunity that very few families with hydro kids get to do - we got to personally meet, talk to and thank the people that contributed their time, labor and expertise to making Lucy's shunt - a tiny, implanted device that has changed the course of her future for the better in ways we will never know! It was an awesome, humbling experience and one that we were so blessed to have!

Watching the kids at the skate park and wishing she could join them!

The Holiday Party was a fancy, black tie affair and Lucy was definitely the hit of the party!  She was the youngest by a good 15 or 20 years and had probably the cutest dress there!  She smiled, danced and charmed her way into the hearts of every one of the 300+ guests at the event and I am sure that they will not soon forget how special she is and how important their jobs are to improving the lives of kids like Lucy.

Getting all dressed up for the Holiday Party! (And we didn't even get one picture of her in her adorable party dress!)