I'm sorry to those of you who want to read my blog frequently. Yes, I have a lot of posts ready to write, but at the same time I've just been a little down/frustrated/sad lately. I wish Harper Kate was "normal" so many days, yet I love her just the way she is. I wish Harper Kate didn't have seizures, yet I can't imagine life without them. I wish Harper Kate could look in my eyes and know how very much I love her and she could say it back, yet I don't know if I'll ever hear those coveted words come out of her mouth! I think it's the month of January. While the weather has been so beautiful here, I wish we would at least have a winter. The sunshine has tried to brighten my attitude, but some days I just am "down." I wish I knew how to explain it to people. It's not that I sit around moping all day long feeling sorry for myself. That would not do ANYONE any good. And it isn't that I don't feel God's love surrounding me every day. I don't know...It's a strange thing this life I'm living.
On a positive note we have been incredibly blessed with so many friends we've met in Newnan. They are wonderful and I couldn't ask for better people to support, love and care for us as each one of them have. Harper Kate has a sweet friend named Hannah who is exactly 1 week younger than her. She is an absolute doll and her mom has been an incredible inspiration for me. While I have been down, God has gently, but constantly reminded me that our situation could be much harder. You see, Hannah should be a little sister ( and while she still is) her big sister is in heaven. I strongly encourage you to read her blog. I get so much of my strength from reading her blog every day. I look at Jessica & Peter knowing they miss their sweet Elizabeth every day and yet you wouldn't know it. I look at them and feel blessed that I still have my sweet angel with me. When we made a trip to the hospital a couple weeks ago (more on that later), God once again reminded me to give thanks for my situation. There was this man I rode the elevator with. He asked why we were there, so I told him. I asked the same question, knowing we would leave in a couple days. He informed me his 2 1/2 year old little boy, Garrett, had just found out he had leukemia. Can you imagine? I really can't! I can't imagine spending so much time up at the hospital. I found myself quickly thanking God for pneumonia! All that to say, that while I feel sad some days, I also find myself blessed.
Last week at my Bible Study I attend on Thursday's I broke down with my small group. I sat there, surrounded by women who love Harper Kate & me dearly. They each sat there, crying with me, then each of them in their own way, whether with words or a gentle look each encouraged me more than any of them will ever know. My leader read the Jesus Calling devotion for that day. I truly believe it was meant just for me that day. I'll leave you with it, in hopes it will encourage one of you.
No worries...more exciting & positive posts coming soon I promise! :) Harper Kate's first Christmas, New Years at the beach and coming Feburary 11.....HER FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!
"Give up the illusion that you deserve a problem-free life. Part of you is still hungering for the resolution of all difficulties. This is a false hope! As I told My disciples, in the world you will have trouble. Link your hope not to problem solving in this life but to the promise of an eternity of problem-free life in heaven. Instead of seeking perfection in this fallen world, pour your energy into seeking Me: the Perfect One.
It is possible to enjoy Me and glorify Me in the midst of adverse circumstances. In fact, My Light shines most brightly through believers who trust Me in the dark. That kind of trust is supernatural: a production of My indwelling Spirit. When things seem all wrong, trust Me anyway. I am much less interested in right circumstances than in right responses to whatever comes your way."
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Month #8
Boy are you getting big?? You are 27 inches long and you weigh almost 15 pounds. You continue to sleep through the night and take a morning and an afternoon nap. Finally, you are able to start taking small bites of baby food,stage 1. You love carrots and sweet potatoes! That was a very exciting day to watch you taste food for the first time. You loved it! Therapy continues to well and you are making progress. Your hands are starting to come to midline lying on your back which is a huge accomplishment because that takes so much strength. It shows us that your muscle tone is starting to get stronger and will spread to your neck as you continue to get older.
We took a couple of visits to Doctors, spent a week at Scottish Rite hospital and went to Birmingham to watch the Penn State-Alabama game with Doc! We also went on your first "shopping trip" with Cookie while we were there. We got you some clothes at Once Upon A Time. They were so cute!!
During month 7, you had continued spitting up a lot and it was causing you so much trouble. I was cleaning up spit up all the time and you spit up your medicine almost every time I gave it to you. Daddy and I went to see Dr Meyers, your GI dr,and he set up a meeting with a pediatric surgeon. The surgeon recommended for a g-tube to be put into your stomach since it seemed like you would be eating from a tube for an extended time,and while they did that surgery, he wanted to do what is called a fundoplication. That procedure tightened your esophagus so that you wouldn't be able to spit or throw up. Daddy and I were a bit nervous, but it seemed like the best thing to help you so all the doctors thought. We decided to go ahead with it,and so in September we took you to Scottish Rite Hospital for the procedure.
Nana and Cookie came to sit with us and take care of their "babies" while we took care of you. When we got there that morning you were so happy. The nurses and doctors were so sweet and let mommy carry you all the way back to the double doors until they put you on the rolling bed. I got a few tears in my eyes while I was walking away, but Daddy was strong and made me feel much better. When we got back to our room, Nana and Cookie were there and sat with us while we waited. We talked, read magazines, and tried to keep our minds off of how long you were gone. the nurse called from the OR to let us know they were starting anesthesia and to let us know when they were starting surgery. Everything went wonderfully and they took you to recovery.
You had a hard time coming out of the anesthesia and we had to wait a while to see you. That was really hard for me. I was sitting in your room when they wheeled you down the hall. I stopped in the middle of talking to Cookie because I heard your precious cry down the hall. I was so relieved to see you,but you were so fussy! I think you just didn't feel well, but you cried all afternoon. Daddy held you and got you comfortable (as he always does). Daddy and Nana went to get some lunch for all of us while Cookie and I stayed with you. Nana held you for a little bit, but then she had to leave and go take care of Jackson. Cookie was able to stay so that Daddy could go back to work the next day. Cookie would spend the spend the day with you and me at the hospital, go out and buy daddy and me dinner and then go to her hotel. She did that for three days. On the second day, we were stir crazy and you were happier so we loaded you up in the radio flyer and took you for a walk outside. You loved it!! We spent a few hours doing that over the next couple days. Cookie left the last day and we waited to be discharged from the hospital. When Daddy got off work, he came to get us. Your first (and hopefully last)hospital stay was a success!! You have been so much happier and now are going to be able to really learn how to eat!
We love you little princess and so does everyone else. We are so proud of your progress and will continue to pray every day for you! Here are some pics from the month.
We took a couple of visits to Doctors, spent a week at Scottish Rite hospital and went to Birmingham to watch the Penn State-Alabama game with Doc! We also went on your first "shopping trip" with Cookie while we were there. We got you some clothes at Once Upon A Time. They were so cute!!
During month 7, you had continued spitting up a lot and it was causing you so much trouble. I was cleaning up spit up all the time and you spit up your medicine almost every time I gave it to you. Daddy and I went to see Dr Meyers, your GI dr,and he set up a meeting with a pediatric surgeon. The surgeon recommended for a g-tube to be put into your stomach since it seemed like you would be eating from a tube for an extended time,and while they did that surgery, he wanted to do what is called a fundoplication. That procedure tightened your esophagus so that you wouldn't be able to spit or throw up. Daddy and I were a bit nervous, but it seemed like the best thing to help you so all the doctors thought. We decided to go ahead with it,and so in September we took you to Scottish Rite Hospital for the procedure.
Nana and Cookie came to sit with us and take care of their "babies" while we took care of you. When we got there that morning you were so happy. The nurses and doctors were so sweet and let mommy carry you all the way back to the double doors until they put you on the rolling bed. I got a few tears in my eyes while I was walking away, but Daddy was strong and made me feel much better. When we got back to our room, Nana and Cookie were there and sat with us while we waited. We talked, read magazines, and tried to keep our minds off of how long you were gone. the nurse called from the OR to let us know they were starting anesthesia and to let us know when they were starting surgery. Everything went wonderfully and they took you to recovery.
You had a hard time coming out of the anesthesia and we had to wait a while to see you. That was really hard for me. I was sitting in your room when they wheeled you down the hall. I stopped in the middle of talking to Cookie because I heard your precious cry down the hall. I was so relieved to see you,but you were so fussy! I think you just didn't feel well, but you cried all afternoon. Daddy held you and got you comfortable (as he always does). Daddy and Nana went to get some lunch for all of us while Cookie and I stayed with you. Nana held you for a little bit, but then she had to leave and go take care of Jackson. Cookie was able to stay so that Daddy could go back to work the next day. Cookie would spend the spend the day with you and me at the hospital, go out and buy daddy and me dinner and then go to her hotel. She did that for three days. On the second day, we were stir crazy and you were happier so we loaded you up in the radio flyer and took you for a walk outside. You loved it!! We spent a few hours doing that over the next couple days. Cookie left the last day and we waited to be discharged from the hospital. When Daddy got off work, he came to get us. Your first (and hopefully last)hospital stay was a success!! You have been so much happier and now are going to be able to really learn how to eat!
We love you little princess and so does everyone else. We are so proud of your progress and will continue to pray every day for you! Here are some pics from the month.
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| Outfit #1 on shopping trip |
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| Outfit #2 on shopping trip |
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| shirt of outfit #2 |
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| Roll Tide, Game #2!!! |
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| Whit & HK...HK is saying "Whit, Bama is soooo much better!" |
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| Lying with daddy after surgery |
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| I love my daddy! Happy girl! |
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| Lying in the hospital bed thinking, what is going on?!?! |
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| First time outside in the wagon. I think she is looking up at God saying, "Thank you Lord for getting this tube out of my nose!" |
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| BEAUTIFUL face! |
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| Sleeping with mommy in the hospital |
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| Oh hey everybody! Look at my new face! |
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| "Oh come on Bama! What are you doing?!?!" |
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| Asleep in the car. |
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| The best napping position |
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| Check out the eyelashes! |
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| Out for a walk |
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| Bama Game #4...Roll Tide Roll |
Friday, January 6, 2012
Month #7
Month number 7 held a very exciting event for you. You went on your very first plane ride. Daddy works for Delta and so we get fly for free. We had to wait until the doctors told us it was ok for you to fly and so we decided your first flight should be to Birmingham to visit family. We flew Friday night after work and Poppy and Jackson came to pick us up. You did great on the plane. You didn't makes peep. Daddy was relieved that you didn't fuss on the plane. He didn't want any trouble. Hahaha...
You continued to grow and weighed about 14 lbs, and continued to sleep well through the night. Miss Linda still had you taking small bites of rice cereal, but you really didn't like them very much. Your hands are still fascinating to you. You love to bring them to your mouth and chew on them. Your hands are also what helps to calm you down when you re upset. Your therapists are really excited about that because when you first came, you weren't able to calm yourself down at all. Eye control is a big thing for you. Until now, your eyes have wandered a lot and not had much control over them. This month you finall started to control your eyes for a few seconds. Miss Amy was really proud of you for this accomplishment.
We had a couple of fun visitors this month too. Lisa came to visit. She went with us to a couple of dr appointments and helped me with you a lo. While she was here visiting, I got the stomach bug!!! Luckily, Lisa was here to help with you, because I couldn't function. :). I don't know what I would have done without her. Jennifer and Shannyn also came to AtLanta to do some shopping and so I met them for breakfast before they headed back to Nashville.
You are a delightful miracle and joy to everyone who comes in contact with you. I love your personality which is coming out more and more each day. For a child that has some difficulties, you are the happiest baby I could possibly imagine. Daddy and I love you more each day and thank God for giving you to us. We couldn't imagine having any other child!
You continued to grow and weighed about 14 lbs, and continued to sleep well through the night. Miss Linda still had you taking small bites of rice cereal, but you really didn't like them very much. Your hands are still fascinating to you. You love to bring them to your mouth and chew on them. Your hands are also what helps to calm you down when you re upset. Your therapists are really excited about that because when you first came, you weren't able to calm yourself down at all. Eye control is a big thing for you. Until now, your eyes have wandered a lot and not had much control over them. This month you finall started to control your eyes for a few seconds. Miss Amy was really proud of you for this accomplishment.
We had a couple of fun visitors this month too. Lisa came to visit. She went with us to a couple of dr appointments and helped me with you a lo. While she was here visiting, I got the stomach bug!!! Luckily, Lisa was here to help with you, because I couldn't function. :). I don't know what I would have done without her. Jennifer and Shannyn also came to AtLanta to do some shopping and so I met them for breakfast before they headed back to Nashville.
You are a delightful miracle and joy to everyone who comes in contact with you. I love your personality which is coming out more and more each day. For a child that has some difficulties, you are the happiest baby I could possibly imagine. Daddy and I love you more each day and thank God for giving you to us. We couldn't imagine having any other child!
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| Just happy on the couch..holding onto my ball (which is an accomplishment!) |
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| EXHAUSTED at therapy! |
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| beautiful little angel girl! |
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| my battle wounds after some blood work |
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| more blood work wounds |
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| FIRST plane ride with Daddy!!! |
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| We went shopping with Cole, Eli, Gage, Aunt Abby & Nana in Bham |
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| Out for a stroll.... |
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| FIRST BAMA GAME!! |
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| Roll Tide Roll! |
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| Lisa came to visit! |
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| Breakfast with Jennifer & Shannyn...I miss you girls! |
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