Happy Birthday Emma Hope!

I can't believe that we are at this time of year already!  Even more shocking is that it was six whole years ago that the little miracle we know as Emma Hope was delivered into our lives, not kicking and screaming, but in and entrance filled with drama and anticipation - which makes so much sense now that we know her better!!

I can't quite recall my exact state of mind that day, or even the days that followed.  I am convinced that a transcendent peace was over me, us, as we waited and prayed and waited. 

However, I know that in the six years that have passed, as we celebrate the birthday of the one and only Emma Hope, I have run the gamut of emotions, and the overwhelming majority have been a combination of joy, awe and laughter.

I often assume that it's the case with most kids, but the number of times we hear how special, amazing, adorable, funny and smart Emma is, from people we barely know even, I am fully convinced that it's true about her.  It is my privilege and honor to be her mother, and humbling to think that she has been entrusted to me!

I wish you could all spend this day with Emma, or at least far more than you do.  It's incredibly hard not being able to share her, and Toby, with our family but we do what we can and trust that the opportunity will arise soon enough.

Thank you all for your prayers, and encouragement over these past six years.  We know that our hope and belief in Jesus Christ, and his purpose for our lives, has been our strength during this time.  However, your love and support has been a very real demonstration of the importance of family and friends.  It is through the heavy darkness that light shines brighter and clearer.

Happy birthday Emma.  We love you.

Here are a few great memories...

Toby loves trying hats on when we go shopping!

Such a handsome little guy!

Never forget

Six years ago we headed to Children's Hospital to deliver our baby girl, our Emma Hope.  We knew she would be critically ill, but to what extent and what would happen next were very much unknown. 

I have heard lots of disparaging remarks about the existence of the God of the Bible, and his son Jesus Christ.  Still, we chose then, as we do today, to put our faith, trust and hope in the promises given to us in the Bible.  (If you don't know what they are, lets talk.)

With my family far away, and my desire to control things, I kept everyone around us at arms length, and nowhere near the hospital.  But when things got real and poor Scott was standing strong for us both, God intervened.

He sent two angels our way - our pastors wife, and pastoral assistant.  Both totally uninvited, but most definitely welcome.  They stayed with us ALL NIGHT, sleeping on the floor and keeping watch, praying, when Scott allowed himself to sleep.  I would never have approved them visiting, but then, I don't know what's best all the time.

Probably the longest night of our life.  I was on oxygen because Emma's heart-rate kept dropping, and I had to lay on my one side the whole time for the same reason. 

I don't remember being aware of the drama around me, of the concern in Scott and the women's faces when the machine would beep.  I just tried to sleep, or play solitaire!  Now that is a supernatural peace!!

It lasted throughout the delivery where I cracked jokes and did not register the concern of the doctors, the urgency with which they had to get Emma out, and when I saw her, it was not how purple she was, or silent that struck me, but how big and beautiful those brown eyes were!

That peace continued for the days, weeks and months she remained in the NICU.  It continued through the surgeries and new diagnoses, and covers us at the most critical of times.

Don't ever tell me that God isn't real.  Maybe you haven't encountered him yet, but that doesn't mean he doesn't exist.  And he cares about you as much as he has cared for us.

Fall fun

For the first time we decided to take the leaves this year, mainly because the kids wanted to play in them.  And play they did!

Balloon Antics

Balloons are a staple of birthday party decorating for me.  We get helium filled ones, but once they start to lose pressure, after about 12 hours, they become a nuisance and get thrown out.

This time we found a way to have fun after the party, using static!

Rub a balloon on the wall and it sticks!

Then if you rub them on your shirt and throw them up, they stick to the ceiling.  Instant jumping game!!

And then there's sticking them on your body!

Party people

Today was Emma's pajama birthday party.  We've done a number of themes and although a Rapunzel party would have hit the nail on the head, I went with a nod to a sleepover - not quite ready for that!

So 7 little girls joined Emma at 6pm, at our house, for a party.  I had balloons and streamers (my signature decor!) and on our new plush rug, blankets and pillows for the movie climax of the night - Tangled!

However, they all had a rambunctious streak that I'd not seen when they are just two or three together, and the sofas became diving boards for the pillow pool!

I let it go for a few minutes - Toby does it all the time, and when one declared "Emma, your party is a blast!" Which she immediately relayed to me, I was all in on making Em's party a hit.

After a couple more I was over that and concerned for what's left of the 9 year old springs and put an end to it!!

Thankfully Kim (in her adult footie pajamas, still gorgeous!) was on hand to corral the kids!  We got them seated to design their own t-shirts!  A pack of boys white undershirts and some fabric markers and you have both an activity and favor!!

Of course they lost interest after 10 minutes wanting to bounce some more.  Kim had them doing freeze dance (aka musical statues), while I set up for cake!

Then it was on to pin the tail on the unicorn (although more than one pointed out it already had a tail.  So picky!!)

We made it by projecting the image from my laptop onto some old door boxes Scott had from work, then painting it, and I made a back drop too.

The tails were low tech streamers and tape!!

Then cake!

This is the best pic of the cake - totally forgot to take one!  It's Rapunzel if you can't tell - Emma chose it herself.

Then gifts.  She got quite a few Rapunzel things, and her friends were all very aware of her obsession!

Great reaction to the first doll!

Her own nail salon.  Oh boy!

Then we sat them all down to watch the movie...

They were quiet until they got popcorn and scoffed 6 bags of it!!

We wrapped up about a half hour before the movie finished as the non-obsessed girls were restless and it was almost 8:30pm.  Emma wanted to wrap up because her "best friend" Michele had come late and she wanted to show her her toys.  (Michele is my friend, my age, and Emma's Sunday School teacher!! Michele is awesome with kids, and they have a very cute bond.)

All the while, Scott and Toby had gone to play mini-golf and generally stay away!  They came back before the end and both kids were up until 10, not long before we crashed.

So, there will be more gifts on Wednesday as that's her actual birthday, and I will be parent helper in her class that day as a treat.

I still can't quite believe she is turning 6 already!!

The new rug is a hit!!

We managed to get out of the doctors at 8:15am, and I got Emma to school by 9! A great win.

Although neither of Emma's ear tubes are actually functioning and she has some fluid in one, the doctor doesn't want to do another surgery after just one infection.

So, we'll go for a recheck in January and see how the winter goes.  She usually can get them in fast for surgery.

Then it was home for the carpet guys.  We don't want to have fitted carpet because we have the wood floors, but we wanted something soft and warm to walk on.

Toby tried to help, bless him!

And then when it was finished, he had a fine time!!

We had to wait for Scott to get home to put the furniture back, so the kids and I hooked up the DVD players and laid out on the rug to watch it!  That's never happened.

New rug

Today we get our new area rug in the living room.  It's actually carpet that will be cut to size and bound in the room so it goes around the corner. 

All the furniture is stacked in the dining room so the kids got to "skate" when they got up this morning!

We didn't spend much time at home, heading to the hospital for an ENT (ears) appointment.  Given that her tubes are not in place and she has already had an ear infection this fall, I'm anticipating another surgery!

Day Off

We spent the morning in New Jersey at our friends house because the kids were off school for local elections.  Emma got to live her dream of jumping in a pile of leaves!!

Emma managed to dress up again - ready for Christmas!!

You can see her single front tooth quite well here!

And by the time we left, they were exhausted.

We don't get to see those guys more than a few times a year, but it's so good when we do.  Everyone needs friends who love them despite their flaws.  Thanks Chrissie ;)

Three years difference, still love each other!!

Snaggletooth

Emma lost another tooth and swallowed it!  She's only left one of four for the tooth fairy so far.

And the one we thought would be next wasn't it, so she has one in front with a gap either side!!

Driving to church and it struck me just how big Toby has become.  My baby!!