I wanted to send out a quick update for all of you sweet people who have been praying for us today. I'm doing this from my phone so excuse any grammar mistakes!
Surgery went well. We will learn more from the doctor tomorrow when he rounds. It took a little longer than expected, as it took an hour for them to get her IV in. This is not surprising to us...she's always had issues with this.
She was doing well in post-op until they brought her up to the Peds floor and moved her. She was pretty hysterical for about an hour and a half. She's better now but still waking and crying. Really, Chad and I just want her to sleep. It's pretty heartbreaking not to be able to do anything or even hold her. It's hard to say if she is in pain or just scared and confused by everything. Regardless, it's been a difficult few hours for us.
Continued prayers are appreciated.
-pain control
-healing
-mom and dad emotions and exhaustion
-her tummy (constipation is a big issue post surgery that can cause real issues)
Again, thank you all for sticking with us today and sending up prayers on Elena's behalf. It is such a comfort to us to know that we aren't in this alone.
We will keep you posted.
Xo
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Prayers Requested!
Elena will be going in for surgery this next week. See here for a synopsis.
We need all you prayer warriors to lift us up in the next couple weeks. Here are some specifics:
-Safety for all of us traveling
-Prayers that her hip wouldn't be as bad as it appeared on x-rays
-Dr. Nuzzo, other doctors and Nurses who will be caring for her
-Peace and calm for Mom & Dad
-Elena's Recovery/pain levels
-Calvin, as we will be away from him
Most importantly, pray for a successful surgery without complications. We will keep everyone posted this week. Thank you, thank you for keeping our family lifted in prayer as our Elena has to endure this difficult surgery.
xo
Emm
We need all you prayer warriors to lift us up in the next couple weeks. Here are some specifics:
-Safety for all of us traveling
-Prayers that her hip wouldn't be as bad as it appeared on x-rays
-Dr. Nuzzo, other doctors and Nurses who will be caring for her
-Peace and calm for Mom & Dad
-Elena's Recovery/pain levels
-Calvin, as we will be away from him
Most importantly, pray for a successful surgery without complications. We will keep everyone posted this week. Thank you, thank you for keeping our family lifted in prayer as our Elena has to endure this difficult surgery.
xo
Emm
Friday, November 14, 2014
Ronald McDonald House
Last Friday was the annual Ronald McDonald House gala. If you remember, we have attended the last three years with a group of our friends. It's always such a fun event and gives us an opportunity to celebrate an organization that is so near and dear to our hearts.
This year we had THREE tables...that's right! 30 of our friends and family attended with us. And this year we had a surprise for them. Earlier this fall, our friends at the RMH asked us to be their feature family. What an honor! We were so happy to have a chance to share our RMH story and raise awareness (and hopefully donations!) for them. To this day, we still don't feel like we have been able to give enough back to them, for what they gave to us while Elena was in the hospital for 20 days.
For those that aren't familiar with the RMH, it is a haven for families who are thrown into situations with sick children. We spent that first night at Riley in the RMH. I remember thinking, "how did I get here?" No one ever thinks they will need the services provided by the RMH, until you do. Most of the families have no other choice. They can't afford a hotel or three meals a day outside of home. The sanctity it provides is unmatched, both physically and mentally. We were so proud to be able to share their message and will continue to do so.
You can see our video below, but it will also be up on their website soon. Feel free to make a donation or sign up to volunteer your time while there! Here's their website: http://www.rmh-indiana.org/
Click HERE to watch our video!
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This year we had THREE tables...that's right! 30 of our friends and family attended with us. And this year we had a surprise for them. Earlier this fall, our friends at the RMH asked us to be their feature family. What an honor! We were so happy to have a chance to share our RMH story and raise awareness (and hopefully donations!) for them. To this day, we still don't feel like we have been able to give enough back to them, for what they gave to us while Elena was in the hospital for 20 days.
For those that aren't familiar with the RMH, it is a haven for families who are thrown into situations with sick children. We spent that first night at Riley in the RMH. I remember thinking, "how did I get here?" No one ever thinks they will need the services provided by the RMH, until you do. Most of the families have no other choice. They can't afford a hotel or three meals a day outside of home. The sanctity it provides is unmatched, both physically and mentally. We were so proud to be able to share their message and will continue to do so.
You can see our video below, but it will also be up on their website soon. Feel free to make a donation or sign up to volunteer your time while there! Here's their website: http://www.rmh-indiana.org/
Click HERE to watch our video!
The whole crew
All my Pi Phi loves (well, the Indy ones anyway)
My brudders
Monday, November 3, 2014
Three Years
In one second, one phone call, one blip in time, our lives were shattered. I screamed. I couldn't even muster a prayer from my lips. I just began screaming Jesus' name. I still can hear myself. I can still feel the panic in my gut. I arrived at the Riley Hospital ER that day all alone to find out whether my baby was alive or dead.
It's been three years and that day is as fresh in my mind as if it happened yesterday. The flashbacks can be crippling. The pain is still so immense. I'm not sure if it will ever ease. Regardless, life moves on but I'm powerless against the memories of the day that our lives changed forever. They are always waiting just below the surface, ready to consume me at a moments notice. My days are dotted with reminders of our crushed dreams....the other morning at breakfast, our eyes brimmed with tears watching a dad with his three year old daughter out for a breakfast date together.....the other day when I overheard a little girl tell her mom that she loved her....when we go for a walk and stop to watch the little cheerleaders cheering for the local youth football team....the other night when a million little Elsa's came to our door shouting "Trick or Treat!" and watching their eyes light up at the sight of candy. All of those are reminders of a life our little girl will never get to experience. In each of those moments, my heart breaks just a little more.
Chad and I often talk about how little we were able to comprehend during those days at Riley. I guess it would be safe to say we were in shock, unable to even imagine the life that we now live. We literally had no idea that Elena would be forever changed. We assumed once the medication wore off, she would spring back to life and all would be well. And reality sure smacked us upside the head that first year. When I think back to her first year of life, all I can remember is an inescapable, lingering darkness. We were always teetering on the edge of being consumed by it. Looking back, I would call it the depths of despair. I can't explain to you how unbelievably sad it is to say that my baby's first year of life, we were all fighting for survival. I remember nearly nothing but sadness.
The second year brought reality and fear. It was (and still is) scary to face the future. We began to understand what our lives would look like....therapy, doctors, wheelchairs, equipment, likely permanent feeding tubes, surgeries. We finally understood that there would be no "snapping out of it". But, I also remember there being hope. I remember beginning to understand (again) that God's plans are not our plans. And even though we had planned for complete healing for Elena, that perhaps God's plan would be more fulfilling. I began to realize that we will never know why, but it isn't always the why that matters.
Right now I feel as though I'm in a place of perpetual healing. I have far, far more good days than bad days. Most days are treated as normal life and are genuinely happy. But the hard stuff is always lurking there too. It can hit out of nowhere. The healing is ongoing. The grieving never ends. It gets more bearable, but it never ends. I'm really good at spontaneously bursting into tears (part of this is genetic...I come from a long line of criers) but tears are healing. I'm realizing that it will take longer than three years to recover from the trauma we've endured and that's ok.
Any time you face a major life altering moment you have a choice. You can crumble into a pile of nothingness and be sad forever or you can do your best to pull it together and fuel your purpose in life with the perspective gained and realize despite EVERYTHING you have endured, you inevitably have WAY more to be thankful for. It felt as though we crumbled for a bit but we clung to each other and to our faith to pull us to our feet. We have felt our way through the darkness, often desperately clinging to single strand of hope for the past three years. You must keep your eyes forward and not dwell on the what happened but focus on how you recover from it. It's beginning to feel like we are emerging, no doubt stronger. God has given us grateful hearts. We have been overwhelmed by the love and support of all our family and friends. We have been humbled by the impact our sweet little girl has had on the hearts of many.
Three years ago Elena's precious little heart stopped beating. By the grace of God, He breathed life back into her and in a way, she was reborn. For a little girl who has never uttered a word, the lives she has touched is pretty amazing. For three years our motto has been Ephesians 3:20, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or even imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." We knew God was capable of physically healing Elena and we clung to this verse. But perhaps God saw more opportunity. Maybe the physical healing isn't the most important part, but it's the spiritual healing. I know God IS doing immeasurably more than we originally asked for, or that our prayers ever could have imagined.
It's too difficult to try and think about what our lives would look like today if November 3, 2011 had been different. I would do anything to change what happened that day. Unless you've experienced it, you can never imagine what it's like to watch your child struggle like Elena does. As hard as life has become for Chad and me, it will never come close to what Elena has to deal with. This anniversary will always be incredibly difficult. I'm sure that will never change. It was the worst day of our lives and set us on a course we could have never imagined. But Elena lived that day and we will be forever grateful for that. We have experienced the lowest of lows and the highest of highs in just three years, but we continue to move forward with thankful hearts. We're thankful for life, every precious second, and the perspective we now have. Most importantly, we're blessed every day by our sweet Elena, her story and all we learn from her. She is love, perfect, innocent, pure love.
It's been three years and that day is as fresh in my mind as if it happened yesterday. The flashbacks can be crippling. The pain is still so immense. I'm not sure if it will ever ease. Regardless, life moves on but I'm powerless against the memories of the day that our lives changed forever. They are always waiting just below the surface, ready to consume me at a moments notice. My days are dotted with reminders of our crushed dreams....the other morning at breakfast, our eyes brimmed with tears watching a dad with his three year old daughter out for a breakfast date together.....the other day when I overheard a little girl tell her mom that she loved her....when we go for a walk and stop to watch the little cheerleaders cheering for the local youth football team....the other night when a million little Elsa's came to our door shouting "Trick or Treat!" and watching their eyes light up at the sight of candy. All of those are reminders of a life our little girl will never get to experience. In each of those moments, my heart breaks just a little more.
Chad and I often talk about how little we were able to comprehend during those days at Riley. I guess it would be safe to say we were in shock, unable to even imagine the life that we now live. We literally had no idea that Elena would be forever changed. We assumed once the medication wore off, she would spring back to life and all would be well. And reality sure smacked us upside the head that first year. When I think back to her first year of life, all I can remember is an inescapable, lingering darkness. We were always teetering on the edge of being consumed by it. Looking back, I would call it the depths of despair. I can't explain to you how unbelievably sad it is to say that my baby's first year of life, we were all fighting for survival. I remember nearly nothing but sadness.
The second year brought reality and fear. It was (and still is) scary to face the future. We began to understand what our lives would look like....therapy, doctors, wheelchairs, equipment, likely permanent feeding tubes, surgeries. We finally understood that there would be no "snapping out of it". But, I also remember there being hope. I remember beginning to understand (again) that God's plans are not our plans. And even though we had planned for complete healing for Elena, that perhaps God's plan would be more fulfilling. I began to realize that we will never know why, but it isn't always the why that matters.
Right now I feel as though I'm in a place of perpetual healing. I have far, far more good days than bad days. Most days are treated as normal life and are genuinely happy. But the hard stuff is always lurking there too. It can hit out of nowhere. The healing is ongoing. The grieving never ends. It gets more bearable, but it never ends. I'm really good at spontaneously bursting into tears (part of this is genetic...I come from a long line of criers) but tears are healing. I'm realizing that it will take longer than three years to recover from the trauma we've endured and that's ok.
Any time you face a major life altering moment you have a choice. You can crumble into a pile of nothingness and be sad forever or you can do your best to pull it together and fuel your purpose in life with the perspective gained and realize despite EVERYTHING you have endured, you inevitably have WAY more to be thankful for. It felt as though we crumbled for a bit but we clung to each other and to our faith to pull us to our feet. We have felt our way through the darkness, often desperately clinging to single strand of hope for the past three years. You must keep your eyes forward and not dwell on the what happened but focus on how you recover from it. It's beginning to feel like we are emerging, no doubt stronger. God has given us grateful hearts. We have been overwhelmed by the love and support of all our family and friends. We have been humbled by the impact our sweet little girl has had on the hearts of many.
Three years ago Elena's precious little heart stopped beating. By the grace of God, He breathed life back into her and in a way, she was reborn. For a little girl who has never uttered a word, the lives she has touched is pretty amazing. For three years our motto has been Ephesians 3:20, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or even imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." We knew God was capable of physically healing Elena and we clung to this verse. But perhaps God saw more opportunity. Maybe the physical healing isn't the most important part, but it's the spiritual healing. I know God IS doing immeasurably more than we originally asked for, or that our prayers ever could have imagined.
It's too difficult to try and think about what our lives would look like today if November 3, 2011 had been different. I would do anything to change what happened that day. Unless you've experienced it, you can never imagine what it's like to watch your child struggle like Elena does. As hard as life has become for Chad and me, it will never come close to what Elena has to deal with. This anniversary will always be incredibly difficult. I'm sure that will never change. It was the worst day of our lives and set us on a course we could have never imagined. But Elena lived that day and we will be forever grateful for that. We have experienced the lowest of lows and the highest of highs in just three years, but we continue to move forward with thankful hearts. We're thankful for life, every precious second, and the perspective we now have. Most importantly, we're blessed every day by our sweet Elena, her story and all we learn from her. She is love, perfect, innocent, pure love.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Six Months!
My goodness is time flying! Cal turned six months old yesterday! What a little sweet pea this kid is.
Calvin is busier than ever. He's rolling all over, jumping in his jumperoo like a maniac and has discovered just how loud he can squeal! He is so easily distracted by anything right now. It's like everything in the world is new and he MUST explore it right away. It's completely mesmerizing to watch. Watching him explore with his eyes and his hands is so foreign to us. It never gets old. You can practically see his brain operating on overdrive.
So far, he's been a great eater, which is so thrilling to us! He always frowns after the first bite, then grabs the spoon out of your hand to shove it in his mouth. We haven't found anything yet that he won't eat. He loves it all...apples, sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, pears, carrots..you name it! All that eating he's doing is showing too. His cheeks, his thighs, his belly...so much chunk to kiss on! As much as we anticipated him being a mini-Chad, it appears our Cal is turning into a Frey. He's looking more like my baby pictures every day. His hair is darkening. His eyes are looking more like mine in color. The cheeks are alllll me. Chad has high hopes for a basketball career with his six month stats. He was well over the 90% in height and weight, not that it means much but Chad just hopes Cal gets the Frey height so Chad can fulfill his hoop dreams through Cal :)
The last couple days he has started this fake, uncomfortable laugh that is pretty funny. I'm not sure what it means yet, but more than likely it's his prelude into "PICK ME UP MOM!!!". It was so funny at his doctor appointment today watching him act like an animal. He was grabbing at everything..the stethoscope, the paper on the exam table, the doctor's face, the ear-looker-thing...all of it, he wanted ASAP. He was a complete wild man. Elena and I were giggling at him the whole time.
Both of these kids are all smiles. I feel so fortunate that both of our kids are happy and easy going. Now don't get me wrong, they both can test Mom's patience, but for the most part it's all squeals and giggles around our house. Calvin is really finding his voice. There's lots of ahhhhhhs, dadadadadas and eeeeeeeeeeks! He instantly grins when you look at him, showing off his two new bottom teeth. He still loves that thumb and his feet. His favorite right now is jumping. He does it all.the.time. He's pretty close to figuring out how to crawl. He gets up on his hands and knees and rocks. I'd say in the next month or so he should have forward movement figured out. He can back himself up pretty easily but it's tough coordinating everything to move forward!
He is bringing our house a new joy every day. All of us love the spirit he brings, even Elena. She loves listening to him babble and often babbles (or laughs) right back. Even Pete doesn't mind when Cal grabs his face or pulls on his floppy ears. Chad and I continue to delight in every new discovery, and every new change in our sweet little guy. Gosh, we love him so!
What a happy, happy six months it's been.
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Calvin is busier than ever. He's rolling all over, jumping in his jumperoo like a maniac and has discovered just how loud he can squeal! He is so easily distracted by anything right now. It's like everything in the world is new and he MUST explore it right away. It's completely mesmerizing to watch. Watching him explore with his eyes and his hands is so foreign to us. It never gets old. You can practically see his brain operating on overdrive.
So far, he's been a great eater, which is so thrilling to us! He always frowns after the first bite, then grabs the spoon out of your hand to shove it in his mouth. We haven't found anything yet that he won't eat. He loves it all...apples, sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, pears, carrots..you name it! All that eating he's doing is showing too. His cheeks, his thighs, his belly...so much chunk to kiss on! As much as we anticipated him being a mini-Chad, it appears our Cal is turning into a Frey. He's looking more like my baby pictures every day. His hair is darkening. His eyes are looking more like mine in color. The cheeks are alllll me. Chad has high hopes for a basketball career with his six month stats. He was well over the 90% in height and weight, not that it means much but Chad just hopes Cal gets the Frey height so Chad can fulfill his hoop dreams through Cal :)
The last couple days he has started this fake, uncomfortable laugh that is pretty funny. I'm not sure what it means yet, but more than likely it's his prelude into "PICK ME UP MOM!!!". It was so funny at his doctor appointment today watching him act like an animal. He was grabbing at everything..the stethoscope, the paper on the exam table, the doctor's face, the ear-looker-thing...all of it, he wanted ASAP. He was a complete wild man. Elena and I were giggling at him the whole time.
Both of these kids are all smiles. I feel so fortunate that both of our kids are happy and easy going. Now don't get me wrong, they both can test Mom's patience, but for the most part it's all squeals and giggles around our house. Calvin is really finding his voice. There's lots of ahhhhhhs, dadadadadas and eeeeeeeeeeks! He instantly grins when you look at him, showing off his two new bottom teeth. He still loves that thumb and his feet. His favorite right now is jumping. He does it all.the.time. He's pretty close to figuring out how to crawl. He gets up on his hands and knees and rocks. I'd say in the next month or so he should have forward movement figured out. He can back himself up pretty easily but it's tough coordinating everything to move forward!
He is bringing our house a new joy every day. All of us love the spirit he brings, even Elena. She loves listening to him babble and often babbles (or laughs) right back. Even Pete doesn't mind when Cal grabs his face or pulls on his floppy ears. Chad and I continue to delight in every new discovery, and every new change in our sweet little guy. Gosh, we love him so!
What a happy, happy six months it's been.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
It's Been a Bad Day
It's been a long emotional day and I'm totally exhausted. I haven't had one of these days in a long, long time. I feel like I need to get my thoughts out before I collapse into bed, so buckle up! If you're looking for an upbeat post, stop reading.
Elena's hip. That blasted hip. My poor little baby.
As I mentioned before, Elena will be having hip surgery later this year to correct her hip dislocation. We are traveling to New Jersey to have the procedure done by the only doctor in the country who does this particular surgery. It's an alternative to a practically medieval surgery suggested by her local orthopedic doc that literally saws her entire femur in half and replaces it back in the socket. Not an option for us. The route we have chosen is much less invasive and has an amazing track record of no repeat surgeries.
The downside of this is that we are putting our trust in a doctor who has never seen nor touched Elena. This entire process is based on trust. We trust the other families at the Jackson Center who have put their children through this exact procedure. We trust our gut that this is the right decision for Elena. We trust this doctor who is cutting edge and incredibly knowledgeable about orthopedic issues in CP kids. We trust God that He will provide peace and healing through the next few months. We trust.
Last week, Elena's doc had us get new x-rays since her last ones were from May. I could tell myself just by seeing the image that her hip had gotten worse. I didn't know how much worse until the doctor emailed me this morning, practically panicked that Elena's hip was nearing the point of no return. Cue the hysterical Mom. To make a long story (and day) short, we are likely moving her surgery up and will have to brace her in a horrible metal brace 24/7. This is all in the hopes that we can avoid an additional procedure in the case that her hip is too far dislocated.
I could never try to explain to you the guilt that I feel, the weight of the decisions we have had to make for our daughter in just the short three years of her life. Every day Chad and I strive to make the best choices for her, relying on her doctors, therapists and our family at the Jackson Center. Some are small, like should we start Elena in a new PT program. Some are huge, like should we pursue a hardcore medication like Baclofen to help Elena's tone (one we struggled with for 2.5 years). We make a decision and pray for the best. When our expectations fall short, it can be soul shaking. That was today.
I know there's nothing I could have done differently and that her hip digression isn't in any way my fault, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm choosing to put my sweet little baby through a painful surgery and recovery that she won't understand. Even though it is the right thing, it doesn't make the gut wrenching decision any easier.
Days like this make everything else trivial. That thing I was complaining about last night. Those new fall boots I've had my eyes on. That family vacation we had planned. That project that needs finishing at the house. I would give it all, every last bit of everything I had, to have my baby be whole again. Days like this, I regain my perspective.
I'm so incredibly grateful for Chad today, with his quiet understanding and support. He's the only other person in the world who understands this burden that I bear. He knows why this is so frightening, so emotional. The support I received this afternoon at the Jackson Center was a Godsend. These moms understand the difficulty in having to make these decisions for your children. And for Lara, who has been in my shoes with Jackson and is leading the charge for Elena. She took the time to calm me down, explain things, and assure me. Just what I needed.
As always, I'm confident we will conquer this battle. It's just the getting there that is the hard part. And as usual, we'll need to be surrounded by your prayers to get there. We never get through these tough times without your prayers and support. Today, it took a small army to get me through so I'm sure it'll take more than that to get us through the next couple months.
For now just pray that her hip doesn't deteriorate any further and that she would be tolerant of the sure-to-be miserable bracing she will have to endure. And for strength and peace. I'm sure in days ahead there will be a struggle to find either. We'll keep you posted.
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Elena's hip. That blasted hip. My poor little baby.
As I mentioned before, Elena will be having hip surgery later this year to correct her hip dislocation. We are traveling to New Jersey to have the procedure done by the only doctor in the country who does this particular surgery. It's an alternative to a practically medieval surgery suggested by her local orthopedic doc that literally saws her entire femur in half and replaces it back in the socket. Not an option for us. The route we have chosen is much less invasive and has an amazing track record of no repeat surgeries.
The downside of this is that we are putting our trust in a doctor who has never seen nor touched Elena. This entire process is based on trust. We trust the other families at the Jackson Center who have put their children through this exact procedure. We trust our gut that this is the right decision for Elena. We trust this doctor who is cutting edge and incredibly knowledgeable about orthopedic issues in CP kids. We trust God that He will provide peace and healing through the next few months. We trust.
Last week, Elena's doc had us get new x-rays since her last ones were from May. I could tell myself just by seeing the image that her hip had gotten worse. I didn't know how much worse until the doctor emailed me this morning, practically panicked that Elena's hip was nearing the point of no return. Cue the hysterical Mom. To make a long story (and day) short, we are likely moving her surgery up and will have to brace her in a horrible metal brace 24/7. This is all in the hopes that we can avoid an additional procedure in the case that her hip is too far dislocated.
I could never try to explain to you the guilt that I feel, the weight of the decisions we have had to make for our daughter in just the short three years of her life. Every day Chad and I strive to make the best choices for her, relying on her doctors, therapists and our family at the Jackson Center. Some are small, like should we start Elena in a new PT program. Some are huge, like should we pursue a hardcore medication like Baclofen to help Elena's tone (one we struggled with for 2.5 years). We make a decision and pray for the best. When our expectations fall short, it can be soul shaking. That was today.
I know there's nothing I could have done differently and that her hip digression isn't in any way my fault, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm choosing to put my sweet little baby through a painful surgery and recovery that she won't understand. Even though it is the right thing, it doesn't make the gut wrenching decision any easier.
Days like this make everything else trivial. That thing I was complaining about last night. Those new fall boots I've had my eyes on. That family vacation we had planned. That project that needs finishing at the house. I would give it all, every last bit of everything I had, to have my baby be whole again. Days like this, I regain my perspective.
I'm so incredibly grateful for Chad today, with his quiet understanding and support. He's the only other person in the world who understands this burden that I bear. He knows why this is so frightening, so emotional. The support I received this afternoon at the Jackson Center was a Godsend. These moms understand the difficulty in having to make these decisions for your children. And for Lara, who has been in my shoes with Jackson and is leading the charge for Elena. She took the time to calm me down, explain things, and assure me. Just what I needed.
As always, I'm confident we will conquer this battle. It's just the getting there that is the hard part. And as usual, we'll need to be surrounded by your prayers to get there. We never get through these tough times without your prayers and support. Today, it took a small army to get me through so I'm sure it'll take more than that to get us through the next couple months.
For now just pray that her hip doesn't deteriorate any further and that she would be tolerant of the sure-to-be miserable bracing she will have to endure. And for strength and peace. I'm sure in days ahead there will be a struggle to find either. We'll keep you posted.
Elena rocking her hilarious new neck brace (to help with her head control). I mean this girl even looks adorable with this ridiculous thing on!
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Happy Birthday Mamaw!
This past weekend we celebrated my Grandma's 90th birthday. She's my only surviving grandparent left and she's still feisty as ever at 90. We are so fortunate to continue to celebrate her and the amazing 90 years she has lived. I never tire of hearing her stories of life through the Great Depression, World War II and everything in the world that has changed since.
My Mamaw has always been so special to me, not only because she was always entertaining us and acting silly to get us to laugh, but because she laid the foundation of faith in our family. She has wrapped her entire family in prayer her whole life. I've never felt it more than the last three years with everything we've endured with Elena. She is our prayer warrior. I'm so grateful for her.
I only hope that I can have her strength, faith and fire (and ridiculous wit!) when I'm 90. I love you, Granny! You're the heart of our family!
My Mamaw has always been so special to me, not only because she was always entertaining us and acting silly to get us to laugh, but because she laid the foundation of faith in our family. She has wrapped her entire family in prayer her whole life. I've never felt it more than the last three years with everything we've endured with Elena. She is our prayer warrior. I'm so grateful for her.
I only hope that I can have her strength, faith and fire (and ridiculous wit!) when I'm 90. I love you, Granny! You're the heart of our family!
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