Mia's 6 moths

Hey Mia!

First I just want to say, I wish we had better lighting in our apartment, and that I was a professional photographer. My pictures don't do you justice.
Now that THAT'S out of the way, let me just tell you, HAPPY SIX MONTHS!!

What a night huh? You'd make friends and then they'd poke you and make you sad. Also, all those machines beeping (especially the IV fluid)! People coming in and out of the room, poking you, listening to your heart beat, taking blood pressure. You handled it a lot better than I would have, that's for sure. You were probably too exhausted to notice, but I felt bad for the babies around us and how much they were hurting and crying.

I betcha you weren't planning on going under the knife (again), at your sixth month mark. Yeah. Me neither. I was actually planning on celebrating both your and your brother's half way mark by taking you to Sandy to see the release of the butterflies. I thought since we had been home for 2 days, because of your cold and shunt malfunction symptoms, you guys would enjoy some fresh air and watch butterflies fly away! Instead, we have other things to celebrate and we are celebrating in a different way.

The hospital gave you a nice blankie for your half birthday huh?!

Today we celebrate the easy access we have to medical care. I know you've heard me complain about the Emergency Room because it turns into the Long-Waiting Room. But I am quite grateful for the care they've given to you, and all the other kids around us. I see other parents walking the hallways worn out, tired, worried, and I just feel for them you know? Their baby is sick or hurting, and so is mine. How wonderful it is to live in a time when medicine has evolved so much and they can help you with your hydrocephalus. We live so close too!

Next, we can celebrate that you have a new shunt! You're probably going to have more stitches than last time, once you get out of surgery. For that, I'm sorry. It hurts me to see you hurt. They'll take out the old one and then open you up on your other side and put in a brand new one! They'll probably shave more of your hair off too. That makes me sad too because your curls are my favorite. But, it's okay! They'll grow back! Just think of how much more comfortable you'll be without that lump on your neck and the pressure in your head!

Then, once it's all over, we'll get to take you home! Bret misses you already. When I went home to get my stuff, he kept looking for you everywhere! Even in the diaper bag! He kept saying, "Me?! Me?!" Daddy and I explained where you were at, and he held me tight. He's going to be so excited when you get home and he can give you kisses again. I know you'll love it too because honestly, you guys are ridiculous in how much you love each other. Bret makes you laugh when no one else can.

You are my sunshine. Everyone who meets you, loves you instantly. You make everyone feel special with that smile of yours! Even the I.V nurses today, they felt so bad they had to poke you so many times, and with that grace you have, you just smiled at them and loved them instead. How do you do it? I'm falling apart over here, and yet, you remain strong. So, because you're strong, I know I can be strong too.

I love how attentive you are during our bedtime routine. We read all of Bret's favorite books and you sit there on my lap, enjoying them just as much as your brother. Then, you squeal in delight when we sing primary songs before we say our prayers.
l have felt so worried about you this week. Dragging my feet to the E.R because as good as it is, it's just not a place I've missed. Then, when we pray, when I sing to you and your brother, I can feel God's love for us. I don't feel so worried. I don't feel so anxious. I feel like, maybe I can do this. I see your dad working so hard for us and then coming home in between jobs just to give you a blessing and bring us all hope and peace. And you know what I think?  I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR OUR FAMILY!

So let's celebrate all of those wonderful things on your 6 month mark!
1.Modern Medicine
2.A new shunt
3. Coming home
4. Our family

Love you baby girl!

Just in case anyone wanted to know what song I belt out to my kids every morning, because I have found it so relevant to my life lately, here it is!

"He's the God of every story
He sees each tear that falls.
We may not understand, but one thing is certain,
He is faithful, He's a faithful God.

His ways are holier.
Than we could ever comprehend.
When our world is shaking, 
He hold us in the palm of His hand.

He's the God of every story.
No matter what I'm going through.
I may not understand, You are God and I am just a man.
Yeah I'm forever trusting in Your plan.
One thing is certain
You are faithful, You're faithful God."

          -Laura Story (God Of Every Story)