Letting them go...so very hard!

As a mother we are taught to protect them and to keep them safe. This is what makes letting him go so hard yesterday. I admire all those that fight for our country and keep us safe. It is just easier when it is not your little boy. Of course, as you can see from the pictures, he is not our little boy any longer. In my heart he will always be my baby boy, because he is! The following pictures are him telling his goodbyes to family members.

Prayer Request and Thanksgiving...

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Praying that your day will be filled with family, friends, food, fun and praises for all that we are so fortunate to have. God is good, or no I mean AWESOME and that He continues to bless us all. We are so lucky to live in a country that is free. Free to worship and free to roam as we may! Blessings to all your family and thanksgiving for all that have prayed for our family and our sweet Annabel.

I do have a few request for some special Angels...Yes, this will include Annabel, but two others who have touched our lives in so many ways. My friend Connie, underwent surgery yesterday for a suspicious mass in her colon area. She came through the surgery well but they will not know anything for another 8-10 days. Connie, is mommy to several (5) but to a special Angel, Mallorie Rose. She is on Annabel's sidebar. Praying that she continues to recover from her surgery and that God will give her good results from the reports. Please keep her family in your prayers. Connie has done so much for Annabel and myself. She connects us with many programs that Annabel is entitled to receive. This is her job but she carries it so much farther than her job.

As you have all heard me speak of our hero, Dr. B. They have also discovered a large mass on her ovaries, and she had lab results that came back not good at all. She has just received this news. She cares for so many with the mind and heart of Christ. So many were sickened by this news as she touches so many in our community. Not only as a wonderful physician but as a friend also.

Our third Angel who needs prayers is Annabel. Several things have been going on with Annabel, but yesterday she had hit a brick wall. She had been running a temp, not eating, diarrhea, lethargic. As soon as we brought her in Dr. B looked at me and knowing the hospital was not where anyone wanted to be, she suggested that we just put her in for the day and bolus and just pump her up with IV liquids and antibiotic. It was looking like Annabel had a type of colitis. This is happening regularly as of the last few months. When she gets down she just can get herself back up. We put her in and even though she wasn't where they wanted her to be, we were discharged home last night at 8:00. We are running her pump around the clock and hoping to keep her hydrated. We will spend this day as family and then reevaluate tomorrow. I feel we are doing everything at this point that she was getting in the hospital, except of course the care from her sweet nurses.

Please know that your families are in our prayers and that you all have a very blessed Thanksgiving Day.

"The Blind Side"...

Let me start by saying I am not a big movie goer. As a matter of fact, maybe only twice a year. Today my twins ask me to go see The Blind Side. After whining and thinking I was way too tired, I decided to go. This may have been the best movie I have ever seen. It wasn't violent, wasn't nasty, yes, emotional and also funny. I never once thought when will this be over or that I was tired of sitting. Nope, not even ever thought of going to the snack bar. I was totally into it the entire time.

Nope this is not a movie review. Something hit me early on in the movie that parallels our life with Annabel. It is not the events in the story or even the outcome. It is the emotion and the things that have changed in our life since bringing her home. I have to say for anyone who knew me prior to Annabel my life was fairly comfy. I had the family I always prayed for. When we did bring Annabel home it was not because I longed for another child in anyway. Nope, at my age I was so done. As a matter of fact, my twins will be graduating this year and then we could really be relaxing. God I truly believe thought differently. Just as in the movie, Big Mike came into his new families life, so did sweet Annabel. When I brought her home it was too be very short. This is what got me through the early days, that I wouldn't be doing this forever or even that long, no never 4 1/2 years. What kept running through my mind during the movie was like how Big Mike changed his family, Annabel has changed us all. Each and everyone in my family has been touched and forever changed by Annabel. Is she so called "normal" like the rest of us(ha), is she like the same color as us, did she take away that comfy, no trouble life I had as before??? All I can say like Big Mike in the movie is that she could not be a more perfect fit. Her "normal" is so perfect to all of us, her color is the most beautiful color we have ever seen, and even through our tough times with her health issues she has taught us so much and I know will continue to teach us.

If anyone has the chance, please go see this movie. No it is not violent, no sexual overtones, no vulgarity but just such a feel good movie. Again, I am reminded of how many who read this blog how Annabel has touched your lives also and through her life you have touched ours. Thank you.