I don't know why we keep getting blessed like we are, but I pray, hope it continues!

Every day our son wakes up, breathing, or not sick, is a great day for us.  Every day any of us wakes up breathing is a good day; it's better than the alternative:  being underground!

My name is Preston Wood.  I have a wonderful wife, Sarita, and we have two beautiful children, our four-year-old son, Preston, Jr., and our six-year-old daughter, Peggeen.  We also have a wiggly pomeranian (aptly named "Mr. Wiggles") and a Maine Coon kitten named "Mushmouth"  (he was born with some facial deformities; he looks a little different than most cats).

They are the lights of my life; I can't imagine my life without any of them, especially my wife, and our children, in particular, Preston, Jr., our son.

You see, Preston was born with special needs.  He has severe cerebral palsy and can't walk, talk, or feed himself.  He needs a lot of help to do things, but the smile that lights up his face is nothing short of miraculous.  He is always smiling, it seems; it seems life gives him plenty to smile about, even in light of all his medical needs.

Now, Pres can hear, can see; he just can't do much of anything else.  He spends his days lying in his crib (or sitting in his wheelchair), waiting for us to get him ready for the day (or fed, changed, bathed).  It's hard, but we've learned to see the good about him, his life.  Life for him is simple, uncluttered, joyful.  There's no room for anger, hate, bitterness in his world.

Preston is a giggler.  Anytime we pay attention to him, or take care of him, he is laughing in his own special way; it causes us to smile, and it makes us happy to be able to care fo him, or, at least, to be his parents.

We oftentimes get sad because our son will probably never walk or talk, but he's a lot better off than some people.  At least he still has his sight, his hearing.  He could be without any of those things. 

He can see the twinkling Christmas lights, the smiles on the faces of his family, his beloved pets (they sleep with him just about every night, keep him nice and warm), and he can hear the Christmas music piping through the speakers of our stereo system, the sound of the fire popping in the fireplace, or the happy barks of our dog, the contented purrs of our kittycat.

These are some of the things that bring him the greatest joy.  In addition, he loves being around people; this is when he turns his smiler on full force; people can't help but be drawn to him when they see his bright red hair, huge blue eyes, or see his drooly grin plastered upon his face, hear his contented noises.  He may be a little boy with an overwhelming disability, but he somehow brings out the best in people, particularly around the holiday season.

Preston causes people to think about being thankful or the many blessings that they have in their own lives.  He is our greatest teacher; we have learned so much from him just by being his parents.

Christmas is not only the season for love, goodwill, or Santa Claus: it's also the season of miracles; our son has proven that to us each and every day that miracles can, and do, still happen.  Any day he is still here, with us, and not in the hospital, is reason alone to celebrate!