Well 2009 is quickly coming to a close and I often think about all the great things that happened this year.  It's been a pretty great year, but it's not been without it's trials.  Luckily, I have a great family with lot's of support to ensure that I am always getting the best that life has to offer.

My Mom had a banner year.  She's is the rock that I've built my foundation on.  She is always there to advocate for my needs and reminds people that even though I don't speak...I still have a voice and it will be heard.  She's always there for me 24 hours per day.  If I have a seizure in the middle of the night (which happens almost every night), she's there to help me settle down and get back to sleep.  She's decided that being a Mom is the most important thing to her and she's set her own professional goals aside to ensure that me and my sisters have the loving support of a Mom who is always there.  Don't worry Mom...I know one day you'll put that Master's Degree to work and return to helping other families and children overcome their own challenges.

My Dad was awesome in 2009.  He continues to serve our Great Country in the US Army, and for that I'm thankful.  I'm also thankful that he has some of the best leadership the Army has to offer.  His leaders found it more important for him to be home with me than to be in Iraq as his unit is deployed to help the Iraqi people take control of their country.  He also set some pretty big goals for himself in 2009 and we recently accomplished one of those goals.  Thanks to my Dad...I was able to complete my first marathon (see the video)!  My Dad pushed me and my wheelchair (almost 80 lbs) all 26.2 miles.  It took him almost 5 hours but that's only because he got a terrible hamstring cramp around mile 17.  He did so good that he did the first 13.1 miles in 1 hour and 48 minutes!  Also thanks to my Dad...I now have this great website.  Xavier's Journey has been a great way to share my story and get people involved.  I've been contacted by people that are just learning how to cope with special needs like Epilepsy and Cerebral Palsy, and they've found my story helpful.  Thanks Dad...I look forward to you pushing me for more races in 2010.  Running is great, and I rarely even break a sweat!

My 3 year old sister who is more like a big sister was my biggest helper in 2009.  She's had to grow up fast because of my special needs and sometimes she's more like a little adult than a young tike.  She's always there to get me my drink, or bring me toys, or help get me unstuck when I squirm under the coffee table, or bring Mom the diaper changing supplies in the event that I have a poop'tashrophe!.  In fact, I think much of my progress is because of the example and courage I see in my little sister.  She's made some great accomplishments this year too.  She knows her ABC's, can count to 20, can write her letters and her name.  She also ran a marathon.  She did 1-2 miles a day for 25.2 miles then did last mile of the St Jude Marathon for a total of 26.2 miles.  She even got a race number, race shirt, and finishers medal!  Thanks Mary Elizabeth...you are one special girl.

My baby sister was born late in 2008, so 2009 was really her debut year.  She followed right in the footsteps of her sister and started walking at 10 months!  Since then, Mom and Dad have had their hands full.  She only has two speeds...fast and asleep!  I really like having a baby in the house.  They have the coolest toys and I love to share them with her.  Did I forget to mention that she's the cutest thing since Shirley Temple?  Maybe even more cute, but I'm biased so don't take my word for it!

No story is any good without a great supporting cast.  My Grandparents are those cast members and their support is more than I could ever ask for.  Gammy, Grandmom, and Mimi all fill the role of world's greatest Grandmothers and their love, encouragement, and support help me and my family more than they'll ever know.  Pop Pop, G-Daddy, and Pop Dale win the award for the awesomest Grandfathers a boy could want.  Their guidance and role modeling have shown my Dad what it means to be a Father.  Thanks Grandparents for just being there...you don't know how many times you've really rescued Mom and Dad!

I can't believe that 2009 is almost over.  I really had a lot happen this past year.  My seizures became quite severe and at times I was having several per day.  Luckily, my Mom found me some great doctors at Children's Hospital in Birmingham, AL.  They really went after my Epilepsy and are determined to tear down that road block for me.  I had my first brain surgery in June and since then I have seen a significant change in my seizures and they're not happening nearly as often.  I'm crawling all over the house!  I had to do something with two sisters around.  Even though those girls are great...there are times when a boy just has to get away, and now that I can crawl there's no stopping me.  I also love to stand on my own, and try to pull up whenever I can get my hands on something to help me.  All my therapist think I should be walking in no time!  2009 was a great year, but it was only a stepping stone.  2010 should hold some great achievements for me, and I can't wait to share them with all of you.  

Stay tuned to Xavier's Journey and watch me tackle this thing called life...

 My dad came through on his promise to me.  On Saturday December 5, 2009, my dad and I completed the St. Jude's Marathon in Memphis, TN.  It was a lot of fun and the support from all my family and friends was great.  I would really like to thank Mark and Muriel from Faith and Family Foundation who provided me with a brand new jog stroller made for athletes with special needs.

Today is a day that is difficult for many people.  So many people do not understand that their "crosses" are actually their strengths.  In my perspective of the world, I see how wonderful it is to be blessed with the gift of faith.  For example, I have to have faith that my parents will feed me, toilet me and ensure that I am not left alone for long lengths of time.  I know that I will be cared for and all of my needs will be provided for by my parents, my sister's, my grandparent's, auntie's and uncle's as well as my friends and companion Mr. James. For this I give thanks for my faith in humanity!

Being thankful for having special needs is my greatest appreciation.  My disability allows me to sit back and enjoy watching the world around me, I love watching people be goofy and silly...my dad also enjoys this past time.  I often make my sisters laugh when I sneak up on them or grab their toys.  I also like splashing them in the tubby with water!!  Recently my splashes have equaled that of Shamu, the orka whale, at Sea World Orlando, so you see, bath time is one of my favorite times of the day.

I wanted to take the opportunity this Thanksgiving day to personally say "Thank You" to all my 'fans' from the website!!  You all have helped me have one of the best years of my life.  Thank you for your prayers and well wishes, I'm sure much of this effort has allowed me to enjoy yet another Thanksgiving with my Dad!!  As we all know, he is the coolest guy in the family.  But please don't forget about his comrades from 1-15 Infantry 3rd Heavy Brigade 3rd Infantry Division who are serving and sacrificing time away from their families this Thanksgiving day in Iraq.  They are providing for the Iraqi people a new perspective on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  

We must remember to give thanks to all our deployed and state side military personnel who work tirelessly and often alone in order to keep in tact our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness!  Please evaluate your gifts and crosses today and know that you can be happy if you fill yourself with thanks!

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween.  Here's a little video of my "costume" this year.

Is this man extraordinary or is he what all of us should be despite our physical gifts or limitations?

He has many more videos on YouTube.  Check them out when you feel like the odds are stacked against you.

Well, my dad completed the half marathon this morning in Atlanta, GA.  He left the house at 0450 in order to arrive in time to park and get to the starting line.

The race was the first one by race organizer 13.1 who are putting on a series of half-marathons around the county.  The race was well organized and really fun with music though out the course.  The course snaked it's way through the Oglethorpe University's campus and Brookhaven neighborhood which has some very beautiful and majestic homes.  It was a great day for a race with the weather hovering right around 60 degrees.

His time was a bit slower than he wanted.  He finished in 2:04:33, but the course was much hillier than he expected.  I would have liked to "run" the race with him but my jog stroller was not allowed on the course.  That's why you guys need to get the word out about my site.  That way people can contribute to the fund to help my parents buy me a specialized racing wheelchair!

I'll be sure to have my dad post some race photos when they're ready.

Well my dad is doing really well with his Marathon training.  We've had a bit of a monkey wrench thrown into our training plan though due to all the flooding in Georgia.  The Columbus Riverwalk is currently closed to the public because of high-water on the Chattahoochee River.  It's currently at 28ft and flood stage is 32ft.  The path that my dad does his long runs on is underwater so we've had to find alternate routes.  Yesterday, he ran 12 miles around Windsor Park.  It was hard because there are some really long and steep hills but it was a good challenge for him.

Next Sunday, Dad will run the inaugural Atlanta 13.1.  I won't be participating with him because we couldn't get a waiver to allow him to push my jog stroller in the race.  He'll use as a training run and will try to make it a 13.1 mile tempo run to see what his marathon pace will be.

Our long term goal is to one day have a racing style wheelchair that my dad can push in future races.  Since it will be a wheelchair and not a stoller, it will be much easier for me to participate in the races with my dad.  Race organizers usually don't have issues with wheelchair participants, but strollers are most times not allowed on the race course without special exceptions.  In order to make that happen though, I will need donations to help in the purchase of one these $2000+ specialized pieces of equipment.  If you would like to be a part that happening, you can click on the either donation link in the right column of my website.

Thanks and wish my dad luck in Atlanta this coming weekend!

Researchers have discovered that mice that are missing the PRG-1 protein have seizures and the fits stop when the protein is returned to the brain.

The specific protein referred to is one encoded by plasticity related gene-1 (PRG-1) and is found only in the brain, according to the researchers. Its calming effect depends on how the protein interacts with lipids that provide a signaling function in the brain.

Hopefully, research like this and the EPGP Project, which I am participating in, will one day help people that suffer with Epilepsy live a seizure free life.

I was not yet born, but my Mom and Dad remember that day very well.  Today, we honor those that died during those terrible events.  I would also like to thank every member of our Armed Forces, Firefighters, and Police that work hard and put themselves in harms way in order to keep us safe and protect our freedoms.

NEVER FORGET...

What were you doing that day?  Leave a comment and share your story about your memories of that day.  Help us younger Americans that were too young or not yet born learn what that day meant to you and America.

We had a great time visiting all the Grandparents in North Carolina and Florida.  Enjoy the video although it's almost 10 minutes.  Sorry, but it was a long vacation and there was a lot to share.