Happy almost Thanksgiving everyone! There is so much to be thankful for this year with Zoe. She has once again proved herself to be a miraculous child. Since the new year she has started walking, started school. started talking more, gone on vacation, become her own charming person, and numerous other things too many to count. We are so blessed to have her with us and to learn from her. It's hard not to get introspective around this time of year, I start wondering why we are part of the 50% of CDH families blessed enough to be able to take their child home when others don't, why terrible things happen to innocent children, why pop culture gets more attention than finding a cure for childhood diseases and the list could go on. I think we, or maybe more specifically I , get so caught up in the day to day of life and trying to coordinate and make everything happen that I forget to take time to look at our little Zoe and thank God for her every day. Lately, the moments that make me happiest are at nap or night time when she is snuggled in my arms and her perfectly round cheeks make her look like an angel and I just want to never let go of her becasue I feel like i can protect her from all the sickness and struggles she still faces. I try to not think about the what ifs, they don't help at all. It never ceases to amaze me how she perseveres, she doesn't think twice about being hooked to oxygen, getting a shot, going to the hospital or any of her other daily medical routines. She has even started trying to help us clean her pump cassette at night and likes putting bandages on her dolls and animals... Maybe she'll be a doctor or nurse some day and find a cure for PH and CDH! I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately and tryign to remember to slow down and love every moment, not so easy to do when I have a show opening in a week and a child who won't nap. I will probably never come to terms with why Zoe is with us and other children aren't with their parents, but I will try to remember every day that we are so blessed to have her and that we have as much to learn if not more from her as she does from us.
Please keep Zoe in your thoughts and prayers this next week, she is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday the 29th for 4 procedures. They will be doing her annual cardiac Cath where they check her lung pressures to monitor her PH, a bronchoscopy, a CT scan of her lungs and surgically closing her G Tube hole, which still leaks a bit. Right now she has developed a bit of a cold so hopefully that won't keep the surgery form happening, I like to get these things done and over with.
To end on a lighter note, Zoe has developed quite a love for old school muscials. Right now her favorites are Kiss Me Kate, Singing in the Rain and Annie get Your Gun. There is nothing that makes me smile mroe than watching her dance and sing to "Too Darn Hot" from Kiss Me Kate. She steps around like the girl in the movie, raises her hands, jazz hand style, and says "hot Hot" ADORABLE!!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone and here's to a lovely start to the holiday season.